To Themistius. (358/59)
I do not congratulate you more on governing the city than I congratulate the city on handing you the reins. You have no need of power, but the city has great need of a good leader. And who could be a better leader than you, through whom the city has come to be prized by men -- some who possess virtue along with wealth, and others who lack money but have a nature better than money?
But these poor men, my good friend -- let them fill up the city council if you will, but if anyone tries to collect gold from them, stop it, so that their participation in your city's honors does not become a source of suffering.
The rest will take their cases to whomever they think will secure them justice. But you -- look after a man who is both your friend and mine, a man who has nothing but his reputation. This is Julianus, brother of Hierocles in both blood and character.
When I saw him registering among your council members I laughed, knowing that his poverty would soon get him struck off the rolls. Then I checked my laughter, thinking it should be enough for you to have a man who, given the chance to grow rich dishonestly, refused. But when a letter arrived saying that even this man had to contribute gold, my laughter turned to alarm...
To Themistius (358/59)
I congratulate you no more on governing the city than I congratulate the city on handing you the reins. For you had no need of power, but the city had need of a good leader. And who could rank before you in her eyes — you, through whom she has grown greater among men, some of whom possess virtue together with wealth, and others who lack money but have a nature worth more than money?
But these poor men, my dear fellow, do wish them to be full members of the council; and if anyone demands gold from them, put a stop to it, so that their sharing in your city's honors does not become the cause of their ruin.
Now the others will make their case to whomever they think will secure them justice. But you — preserve for me our mutual friend who possesses nothing but his good name. This is not the famous Julian I mean, but the brother of Hierocles in both birth and character.
When I saw him being enrolled among your number, I laughed to myself, thinking that his poverty would very soon get him struck from the list. But then I checked my laughter, reflecting that it should be enough for you to have a man who, when he might have grown rich by dishonorable means, refused to do so. But when a letter arrived saying that he too must put down gold, then instead of laughing I was thrown into alarm, and I thought it necessary to take refuge in the clemency of Hermogenes. And so we did.
When Hermogenes learned the facts, he rescued our friend from those who were dragging him off — men for whom the dragging would have ended in nothing but the dragging itself, since there was nothing to take.
So Hermogenes released him. But there remains another bond, and unless you loose it, our friend will be a riddle to us — at once released and still bound. But you will solve the riddle by confirming the first decision with a second, and by coming to the aid of a man who is both well known and in debt. This I know for a fact, and he is not ashamed of it.
When you speak on the matter of his lack of means, perhaps no one will contradict you. But if there is anyone so wretched as to refuse to say the same as you, send him to Phrygia — and he will come back to you convinced that Julian is a poor man.
I do not congratulate you more on governing the city than I congratulate the city on handing you the reins. You have no need of power, but the city has great need of a good leader. And who could be a better leader than you, through whom the city has come to be prized by men -- some who possess virtue along with wealth, and others who lack money but have a nature better than money?
But these poor men, my good friend -- let them fill up the city council if you will, but if anyone tries to collect gold from them, stop it, so that their participation in your city's honors does not become a source of suffering.
The rest will take their cases to whomever they think will secure them justice. But you -- look after a man who is both your friend and mine, a man who has nothing but his reputation. This is Julianus, brother of Hierocles in both blood and character.
When I saw him registering among your council members I laughed, knowing that his poverty would soon get him struck off the rolls. Then I checked my laughter, thinking it should be enough for you to have a man who, given the chance to grow rich dishonestly, refused. But when a letter arrived saying that even this man had to contribute gold, my laughter turned to alarm...
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.