Letter 429
To Themistius, philosopher in Constantinople. (355)
I rejoice for both philosophy and the emperor -- for him, because he knows how to honor the finest gift the gods have given mankind; for philosophy, because it is admired even by those in power. And both should be grateful to you, for you are the reason each has received what it did.
I already knew all this before your letter arrived, from the dispatches that reached our excellent Strategius. He shared both your letter to him and what the good emperor wrote to the Senate about you. We had to learn the contents through a translator [the letter being in Latin], but nothing was obscure, and our delight was immense. Indeed, rumor had preceded even the official letters, and it proved accurate -- the documents quickly confirmed it.
The finest thing in all of this was that you did not reject the means by which you could join the Senate, while gracefully declining what would have brought wealth. That was how to both accept the honor and prove you deserved it.
As for me: my bodily ailments advise me to stay put. But know this well -- even if I were in perfect health, I would have counseled myself to remain. Here my lecture halls overflow with eager young men. Elsewhere...
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.