Letter 17: There is abundant evidence that you have reached the first rank in the art of medicine, and that your moral...

To Zeno. There is abundant evidence that you have reached the first rank in the art of medicine, and that your moral character and temperate life match your professional skill. But now comes the crowning proof: though absent from Alexandria, you are winning the entire city to your cause. You have left a sting in her, like a bee's. Homer was right: "One physician is worth many other men" [Iliad 11.514]. And you are not simply a physician but a teacher of the art, so that what physicians are to ordinary people, you are to other physicians. This is why I am putting an end to your period of service abroad and sending you back to your homeland. The Alexandrians need you — and I honor their wishes because I think they are right.

To Zeno1 [362 early. Constantinople] There is indeed abundant evidence of other kinds that you have attained to the first rank in the art of medicine and that your morals, uprightness and temperate life are in harmony with your professional skill But now has been added the crowning evidence. Though absent, you are winning to your cause the whole city of Alexandria. So keen a sting, like a bee's, have you left in her.2 This is natural; for I think that Homer was right when he said "One physician is worth many other men." 3 And you are not simply a physician, but also a teacher of that art for those who desire to learn, so that I might almost say that what physicians are as compared with the mass of men, you are, compared with other physicians. This is the reason for putting an end to your exile, and with very great distinction for yourself. For if it was owing to George that you were removed from Alexandria, you were removed unjustly, and it would be most just that you should return from exile. Do you, therefore, return in all honour, and in possession of your former dignity. And let the favour that I bestow be credited to me by both parties in common, since it restores Zeno to the Alexandrians and Alexandria to you. 1 Zeno had been exiled by George, the Arian bishop of Alexandria, in 360. He was a friend and correspondent of Libanius. George had been murdered by the mob on December 24th, 361. 2 For this echo of Eupolis, a sophistic commonplace, cf. Vol. 1. Oration 1. 33a. 3 Iliad 11. 514.

[Πρός: Ζήνωνι.] Πολλὰ μὲν καὶ ἄλλα σοι μαρτυρεῖ καὶ τῆς ἰατρικῆς τέχνης εἰς τὰ πρῶτα ἀνήκειν, καὶ ἤθους καὶ ἐπιεικείας καὶ βίου σωφροσύνης συμφώνως πρὸς τὴν τέχνην ἔχειν, νῦν δὲ προσῆλθε τὸ κεφάλαιον τῆς μαρτυρίας· τὴν τῶν Ἀλεξανδρέων πόλιν ἀπὼν ἐπιστρέφεις εἰς σεαυτόν· τοσοῦτον αὐτῇ κέντρον ὥσπερ μέλιττα ἐγκαταλέλοιπας. εἰκότως· καλῶς γὰρ εἰρῆσθαι καὶ Ὁμήρῳ δοκεῖ τὸ Εἷς ἰητρὸς ἀνὴρ πολλῶν ἀντάξιος ἄλλων. σὺ δὲ οὐκ ἰατρὸς ἁπλῶς, ἀλλὰ καὶ διδάσκαλος τοῖς βουλομένοις τῆς τέχνης, ὥστε σχεδὸν ὃ πρὸς τοὺς πολλούς εἰσιν οἱ ἰατροί, τοῦτο ἐκείνοις σύ. λύει δέ σοι τὴν φυγὴν καὶ ἡ πρόφασις αὐτή, καὶ μάλα λαμπρῶς. εἰ γὰρ διὰ Γεώργιον μετέστης τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας, οὐ δικαίως μετέστης, καὶ δικαιότατα ἂν ὀπίσω κατέλθοις. κάτιθι τοίνυν ἐπίτιμος καὶ τὸ πρότερον ἔχων ἀξίωμα, καὶ ἡμῖν κοινὴ παρ’ ἀμφοτέροις χάρις ἀποκείσθω, Ἀλεξανδρεῦσι μὲν Ζήνωνα, σοὶ δὲ ἀποδοῦσα τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρειαν.