To Gorgonius. (355/56)
The moment has come for you to do a service to all of Hellenism. Himerius makes his living by teaching, his place of instruction is Athens, and his estates are in Armenia. The man deserves the highest honor but receives not even a small one — certain Lycurguses have attacked and are driving out Dionysus [i.e., enemies of culture persecuting a man of letters], and his property there has become Mysian plunder. Yet the damage to him is only financial, while those who offend against the god who gave us eloquence do not even realize it.
It befits you to be among those who prevent such things, not those who cause them — and it is easy for you, sitting as assessor and sharing in the governance. Show the enemies of the Muses that there are friends of the Muses more powerful than their foes, and by a single act give thanks to the gods of Greece, give thanks to the letter-writer and to the man this letter concerns, and teach your son Aquila that eloquence is not without honor.
The moment has come for you to do a service to all of Hellenism. Himerius makes his living by teaching, his place of instruction is Athens, and his estates are in Armenia. The man deserves the highest honor but receives not even a small one — certain Lycurguses have attacked and are driving out Dionysus [i.e., enemies of culture persecuting a man of letters], and his property there has become Mysian plunder. Yet the damage to him is only financial, while those who offend against the god who gave us eloquence do not even realize it.
It befits you to be among those who prevent such things, not those who cause them — and it is easy for you, sitting as assessor and sharing in the governance. Show the enemies of the Muses that there are friends of the Muses more powerful than their foes, and by a single act give thanks to the gods of Greece, give thanks to the letter-writer and to the man this letter concerns, and teach your son Aquila that eloquence is not without honor.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.