Letter 103: The horn of Amalthea [a mythological symbol of abundance and good fortune] has arrived in your province: Eutherius,...

The horn of Amalthea [a mythological symbol of abundance and good fortune] has arrived in your province: Eutherius, a man who is good in every respect. Everything you would have done for Armenia if you had been its governor -- you can expect the same from him. He has rhetorical skill, gentleness of character, a commitment to justice, and a desire for glory. These, I believe, are why the emperor placed him over cities whose good governance is essential to the security of the empire. When he asked me what was the finest thing he'd see in your province, I said, "Philagrius" -- and I went through the qualities I know you possess. Or rather, the small portion of them I know, since a complete account would be a massive undertaking, requiring a great deal of time. And you, for your part, should consider him the finest thing to see from the great city [Antioch]. Even if, in his modesty, he claims to be second to many, don't be fooled -- he may be surpassed by many in wealth, but in beauty of soul, he can hold his own against anyone.

**To Philagrius** (357/58) The horn of Amalthea has come to you — Eutherius, that thoroughly good man. For whatever you yourself would have done for Armenia had you been governing it, just such things you should expect will come to it from him as well — a man in whom reside rhetorical eloquence, gentleness of character, the practice of justice, and a desire for glory. It is for these qualities, I believe, that the emperor too has set him over cities whose good governance is the security of the empire. When he asked me what was the finest thing he would see in your region, I said "Philagrius," and I recounted what I know of you — or rather, only a small part of what I know of you, for to tell everything would be a great labor and would take a very long time. You, for your part, should consider him the finest thing to see from the Great City. For even if he, wishing to be modest, says he is second to many, do not let it escape you that while he may be surpassed by many in wealth, in beauty of soul he has the power to surpass them all.

Φιλαγρίῳ (357/58) Τὸ τῆς Ἀμαλθείας ὑμῖν ἀφῖκται κέρας, Εὐθήριος ὁ πάντα ἀγαθός. ἃ γὰρ σὺ τὴν Ἀρμενίαν, εἴπερ ἦρχες, ἐποίη- σὰς ἄν, ταῦτα χρὴ προσδοκᾶν εἰς αὐτὴν ἔσεσθαι καὶ παρὰ τοῦδε, ἐν ᾧ λόγοι τε ῥητορικοὶ καὶ πρᾳότης ἤθους καὶ δι- καιοσύνης ἄσκησις καὶ δόξης ἐπιθυμία, δι’ ἅ μοι δοκεῖ καὶ βασιλεὺς ἐπιστῆσαι πόλεσιν ἃς οἰκεῖσθαι καλῶς τῆς βασιλείας ἐστὶν ἀσφάλεια. ἐρομένῳ δέ με, τί κάλλιστον ἐπὶ τῆς ὑμε- τέρας ὄψεται, Φιλάγριον ἔφην καὶ διῆλθον ἃ σύνοιδά σοι, μᾶλλον δέ, ὧν σύνοιδά σοι μικρά· τὸ γὰρ ἅπαντα πολὺ μὲν ἔργον, πολλοῦ δὲ χρόνου. καὶ σὺ μέντοι τὸ κάλλιστον ὁρᾶν νόμιζε τῆς Μεγάλης πόλεως. καὶ γὰρ εἰ οὗτος σεμνύνειν αὐ- τὴν ἐθέλων πολλῶν εἶναί φησι δεύτερος, μὴ λανθανέτω σε πλούτῳ μὲν πολλῶν ἡττώμενος, κάλλει δὲ ψυχῆς ἔχων κρατεῖν.