To Priscianus. (360)
That you, surrounded by so many responsibilities and pricked by anxieties about the war, still take thought for how we might gain a new student -- and refuse to accept that any amount of business could excuse you from looking after my interests -- what example from the poets' celebrated friendships could surpass this?
As for that man [a rival rhetorician], ever since I returned, he has not stopped taking shots at me. But if his arrows failed to stick -- if, like Ajax, my body proved stronger than iron -- then thank Heracles and the hide of the Nemean lion.
This archer, embarrassed that he was using your resources against an innocent man, cast about for some pretense of self-defense. He has fabricated a charge: that I raised an outcry over his visit to Hermogenes. You know my temperament in such matters, and whether anything of this sort could actually wound me. These are excuses, my noble friend. The truth is, he has placed himself in another camp, and since he cannot justify that choice, he cures one wrong with another by blaming me for his own defection.
For my part -- and you have not been deceived about this -- I am so mild-tempered that I mourned the death of one of his sons and treat the surviving one, Zeus preserve him, with every kindness. I invite him alone, of all that household's pupils, to my public lectures -- and this despite having been insulted by both of them, or rather, by the father.
The clever Theodotus made this man a partner while Strategius held the office, and I bore that -- how do you think? -- with my uncle grumbling about it. But when Strategius left office, Theodotus gave it to that man alone. And after treating us this way, he is indignant that we do not crown him with honors! But even this, if you command it, we shall do -- knowing what he is, yet not daring to disobey you.
**To Priscianus** (360)
That you, beset by so many affairs and stung by anxieties over the war, should still consider how a student might be sent to us — and should think no business great enough to keep you from attending to our interests — what figure celebrated for friendship among the poets will this leave us still to admire?
As for that man, from the moment he arrived he never ceased hurling his shafts. But if his arrows did not stick, if the body of Ajax proved stronger than iron, let thanks be given to Heracles and the hide of the Pontic beast.
This archer, then, ashamed that he had turned your weapons against a man who had done him no wrong, sought to fashion the appearance of one acting in self-defense: he fabricated a charge, accusing me of raising some outcry over his visit to Hermogenes.
But you know my character in such matters, and whether anything of that sort could sting me. These are pretexts, my noble friend. The truth is that he has stationed himself in another camp, and since he cannot justify his decision not to stand with me, he heals one wrong with another by assigning the blame to me.
Yet I am so gentle — and you have not been deceived about this — that I mourned for him when one of his sons died, and the one who survives (and may he survive, Zeus the Savior!), I treat with kindness in all other respects and invite him alone from that household to my rhetorical displays — though I have been insulted by both of them, or rather, if you prefer, by the father.
For this man the clever Theodotus made a partner of Strategius when Strategius held office — and I bore that, how do you think? — with my uncle complaining. Then, when the office ended, he made the other man sole partner once again.
And having shown himself such a man toward us, he is indignant that he does not receive a crown of praise from us! But even this, if you command it, I shall do — knowing full well what he is, yet not daring to disobey you.
That you, surrounded by so many responsibilities and pricked by anxieties about the war, still take thought for how we might gain a new student -- and refuse to accept that any amount of business could excuse you from looking after my interests -- what example from the poets' celebrated friendships could surpass this?
As for that man [a rival rhetorician], ever since I returned, he has not stopped taking shots at me. But if his arrows failed to stick -- if, like Ajax, my body proved stronger than iron -- then thank Heracles and the hide of the Nemean lion.
This archer, embarrassed that he was using your resources against an innocent man, cast about for some pretense of self-defense. He has fabricated a charge: that I raised an outcry over his visit to Hermogenes. You know my temperament in such matters, and whether anything of this sort could actually wound me. These are excuses, my noble friend. The truth is, he has placed himself in another camp, and since he cannot justify that choice, he cures one wrong with another by blaming me for his own defection.
For my part -- and you have not been deceived about this -- I am so mild-tempered that I mourned the death of one of his sons and treat the surviving one, Zeus preserve him, with every kindness. I invite him alone, of all that household's pupils, to my public lectures -- and this despite having been insulted by both of them, or rather, by the father.
The clever Theodotus made this man a partner while Strategius held the office, and I bore that -- how do you think? -- with my uncle grumbling about it. But when Strategius left office, Theodotus gave it to that man alone. And after treating us this way, he is indignant that we do not crown him with honors! But even this, if you command it, we shall do -- knowing what he is, yet not daring to disobey you.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.