To Datianus. (359/60)
That that city [Constantinople] is greater than our city, and indeed far greater, and beautiful even more than great, and that it surpasses not only us but all cities in the gifts that come from the sea—these things cannot be denied; but what we have suffered I will not hide from you.
There was an opinion among us that the god—that god who is swift through his wings and powerful through his arrows [Eros]—had stirred you toward this city more than toward that one. And he does this very thing also in the bodies of men. Often someone has passed by a man hook-nosed and fair and given himself over to one dark and snub-nosed, because Eros, I suppose, delights in things that are out of place.
And this city we consider to be your beloved—call it whatever you wish—while that hook-nosed and royal one is not, indeed, neglected, but is not the object of so great a torch [of passion]. And learn that the opinion is not unreasonable.
If someone were to bestow more upon one of two women and less upon the other, about which of the two would you say he had been more in earnest? Is it not clear that the one on whom the expenditure is greater is also the one for whom the longing is greater?
"Me, then," says the city, "you have adorned with many houses as with harbors, and with many baths, some within the wall, others right before the gates; and you planted gardens and built men's halls, [places] of good cheer [...]. These handmaids surround me on every side, the fields too sharing in beauty. Yet you, after such great expenditures, have turned elsewhere?"
If the city should say these things, and the ambassador should say them—and he will say them, for indeed the city has commanded it—what will you reply? Of words perhaps you will not be at a loss, being resourceful in difficulties; but for us the task is not to hear a speech, whatever you may say, but to see the things we need.
And consider that the embassy seeks these two things: first, to give back to us our savior who was raised among us; second, the king's Nestor. Do not, then, refute the brilliant promises of Obodianus, who, having said that he would by all means persuade you, set off.
But when you have praised him among those there, you will also dignify the whole council by his judgment, for the man is truly more beautiful in soul than in form. And do you set the coping-stone upon your many benefactions by granting him to announce to us: as I said, as I persuaded. The man is near.
And when we have received him who is named after Calliope—for the bird of Zeus would not fall short of Zeus—inasmuch as he set you before his fatherland, we will love him; but inasmuch as he did not long ago bring back both himself and you to this city from so great a tongue, we will accuse him; and the penalty, if you so bid, we will remit.
**To Datianus** (359/60)
That your city is greater than ours — and greater by far, and more beautiful even than it is great — and that it surpasses not only us but all cities in the gifts it receives from the sea: these things cannot be denied. But what we have suffered, I shall not conceal from you.
There was a belief among us that that god — swift on his wings, mighty with his arrows — had moved you toward *this* city more than toward *that* one. He does the same, after all, even with human bodies: many a man has passed over a fair-skinned, aquiline beauty and given himself to one dark and snub-nosed, Eros, I suppose, taking delight in the perverse.
And so we believed that this city — call her what you will — was your beloved, while that aquiline, imperial one was not neglected, certainly, but did not burn with so great a flame. And learn why our belief was not unreasonable.
If a man were to lavish more on one of two women and less on the other, which one would you say he was more devoted to? Is it not obvious that where the expenditure is greater, the desire is greater too?
"*Me*," says our city, "*you adorned with many houses like so many necklaces, with many baths — some within the walls, others just outside the gates — and you planted gardens and built banquet halls, confections of delight. These handmaidens — the estates, themselves partaking of beauty — stand all around me. And after such expenditure, have you turned your gaze elsewhere?*"
Should the city say these things — and should the ambassador say them too (and say them he will, for the city has instructed him) — what will you answer? You will not be at a loss for words, perhaps, resourceful as you are in impossible situations. But we want to hear a deed, not a speech — whatever you might say — and to see what we need.
Consider this embassy to be seeking two things: first, to restore to us the savior who was raised up among us; second, the emperor's Nestor. Do not, then, prove false the splendid promises of Obodianus, who departed declaring that he would certainly persuade you.
But when you praise him before the company there, you will also do honor to our whole council through his judgment — for the man is truly more beautiful in soul than in form. And you: crown your many benefactions with the capstone by granting him this message to bring back to us: "*I spoke; I persuaded.* The man is on his way."
And when we receive the one who bears the name of Calliope — for the bird of Zeus would hardly be parted from the son of Zeus — we shall love him because he placed you above his homeland, but we shall accuse him of not having long ago brought both himself and you back to this city with that great tongue of his. The penalty, however, if you command it, we shall remit.
That that city [Constantinople] is greater than our city, and indeed far greater, and beautiful even more than great, and that it surpasses not only us but all cities in the gifts that come from the sea—these things cannot be denied; but what we have suffered I will not hide from you.
There was an opinion among us that the god—that god who is swift through his wings and powerful through his arrows [Eros]—had stirred you toward this city more than toward that one. And he does this very thing also in the bodies of men. Often someone has passed by a man hook-nosed and fair and given himself over to one dark and snub-nosed, because Eros, I suppose, delights in things that are out of place.
And this city we consider to be your beloved—call it whatever you wish—while that hook-nosed and royal one is not, indeed, neglected, but is not the object of so great a torch [of passion]. And learn that the opinion is not unreasonable.
If someone were to bestow more upon one of two women and less upon the other, about which of the two would you say he had been more in earnest? Is it not clear that the one on whom the expenditure is greater is also the one for whom the longing is greater?
"Me, then," says the city, "you have adorned with many houses as with harbors, and with many baths, some within the wall, others right before the gates; and you planted gardens and built men's halls, [places] of good cheer [...]. These handmaids surround me on every side, the fields too sharing in beauty. Yet you, after such great expenditures, have turned elsewhere?"
If the city should say these things, and the ambassador should say them—and he will say them, for indeed the city has commanded it—what will you reply? Of words perhaps you will not be at a loss, being resourceful in difficulties; but for us the task is not to hear a speech, whatever you may say, but to see the things we need.
And consider that the embassy seeks these two things: first, to give back to us our savior who was raised among us; second, the king's Nestor. Do not, then, refute the brilliant promises of Obodianus, who, having said that he would by all means persuade you, set off.
But when you have praised him among those there, you will also dignify the whole council by his judgment, for the man is truly more beautiful in soul than in form. And do you set the coping-stone upon your many benefactions by granting him to announce to us: as I said, as I persuaded. The man is near.
And when we have received him who is named after Calliope—for the bird of Zeus would not fall short of Zeus—inasmuch as he set you before his fatherland, we will love him; but inasmuch as he did not long ago bring back both himself and you to this city from so great a tongue, we will accuse him; and the penalty, if you so bid, we will remit.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.