Letter 237: May this pregnancy of yours produce heirs not only to your estate but also to your wisdom -- that wisdom you have...

To Themistius. (360?) May this pregnancy of yours produce heirs not only to your estate but also to your wisdom -- that wisdom you have long displayed as more richly varied than a meadow in bloom. Whether you surpass those who share your name, I cannot say, but we rhetoricians are certainly outmatched by you. Until now I congratulated Phrygia, which received both you and your marriage. But now I congratulate the Great City [Constantinople], which has recovered you and gained your bride as well. And I count blessed the man who will see Constantinople while you are not away -- for he will truly see it as a great city. The practical business we have entrusted to Clearchus. But from you, let Eustochius be honored by being recognized for what he is. And what he is, is a man of excellence -- in matters where one needs a transparent friend, we all turn to him. Honor him with the greater gift as well. By "greater" I mean the chance to hear your discourses. If you are presenting new work, he will share in a fresh feast. If that is not what you are doing at the moment, entertain him with the old pieces -- or better yet, you will surely entertain him with new ones, for whatever you utter off the cuff is no worse than what you have written.

Θεμιστίῳ. (360?) Ἀλλ’ εἴη ταύτην γέ σοι τὴν γαστέρα κληρονόμους τεκεῖν καὶ μὴ μόνον τῆς οὐσίας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς σοφίας, ἣν δὴ λειμῶ- νος ποικιλωτέραν δεικνύων πάλαι κρατεῖς, εἰ μὲν καὶ τοὺς ταὐτὸ σοι καλουμένους οὐκ οἶδα, οἱ ῥήτορες δὲ ἡττήμεθα. τέως μὲν οὖν τῇ Φρυγίᾳ συνέχαιρον, ἣ καὶ σὲ καὶ τοὺς γάμους ἐδέ- ξατο, νῦν δὲ τῇ Μεγάλη πόλει σέ τε ἀπολαβούσῃ καὶ προσ- λαβούσῃ τὴν νύμφην, μακαρίζω δὲ καὶ τὸν οὐκ ἀπόντος σου τὴν Μεγάλην ὀψόμενον πόλιν, ὅτι αὐτὴν ὄντως ὄψεται μεγά- λῆν. τὸν μὲν οὖν τῶν πραγμάτων πόνον ἀνεθήκαμεν Κλε- άρχῳ, παρὰ σοῦ δὲ Εὐστόχιος τιμηθήτω τῷ νομισθῆναι τοῦτο ὅπερ ἐστίν. ἔστι δὲ καλὸς κἀγαθός, κἀν τοῖς πράγμασιν ἃ φίλον σαφῆ ζητεῖ πάντες ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἐρχόμεθα. τίμα δὲ αὐ- τὸν καὶ τῷ μείζονι, καλῶ δὲ μεῖζον τὸ σῶν ἀκοῦσαι λόγων· οὓς εἰ μὲν καινοὺς δεικνύεις, καινῆς θοίνης μεταλήψεται τὸ μέρος· εἰ δ’ οὐκ ἐν τούτῳ νῦν εἰης, τοῖς παλαιοῖς αὐτὸν ἑστία, μᾶλλον πάντως αὐτὸν ἑστιάσεις καινοῖς· ὅ τι γὰρ ἂν φθέγξῃ, τοῦτο τῶν γεγραμμένων οὐ χεῖρον.