To Iamblichus (359)
I am not in the least vexed at being exhorted; rather, I rejoice at your urging me on, since by this it is made clear to me that you yourself are also active.
Now as for taking care that we do not pass from horses to asses [decline from better to worse], both the divine one [the uncle] and I approve of this, and we have seen this in you.
For I think that already something is coming to us from there. And we hope that it will be settled well through the magistrates.
And when Modestus was about to run by night toward Cilicia, in the evening I bring in a document, having entered the gifts therein, and Olympius was not absent. But he, saying that he was pleased with the rest, since they had no bulk, kept thrusting away the oil. And when we would not give way, he went up [to a higher authority] in order to inquire what would be better to do; but, as happens in the uproar concerning the departure, he was deprived of the vote about this matter. It remained, therefore, to wait.
For you, however, it is not possible to remain [...], but it is necessary to come here, both in order to fight against the exaction from Thrace and to escape altogether that counsel which is profitable to men without name, but would not render more illustrious those who, such as you, have inherited it.
**To Iamblichus** (359)
Not only am I not annoyed at being urged on, but I actually rejoice when you press me, because by this you show me that you yourself are also active in the matter.
Now, your concern that things not go from horses to donkeys — your uncle approves of this, and so do I, though we have not yet seen the outcome. For I believe something is already making its way to us from that quarter, and we hope it will be well settled through the governors.
As for Modestus, who was about to set out for Cilicia by night, I brought him a letter in the evening in which I had listed the gifts, and Olympius was present too. But while Modestus said he was delighted with the other items, he pushed away the oil, claiming it lacked substance. When we would not relent, he went upstairs, ostensibly to deliberate on what ought to be done, but amid the commotion of his departure he was robbed of any decision on the matter. So there was nothing left but to wait.
As for you, however, remaining where you are is no longer possible; you must make your way here, both to fight the tax demand coming from Thrace and to escape altogether the city council — which profits men of no distinction, but would hardly add to the luster of men like yourself who have inherited it.
I am not in the least vexed at being exhorted; rather, I rejoice at your urging me on, since by this it is made clear to me that you yourself are also active.
Now as for taking care that we do not pass from horses to asses [decline from better to worse], both the divine one [the uncle] and I approve of this, and we have seen this in you.
For I think that already something is coming to us from there. And we hope that it will be settled well through the magistrates.
And when Modestus was about to run by night toward Cilicia, in the evening I bring in a document, having entered the gifts therein, and Olympius was not absent. But he, saying that he was pleased with the rest, since they had no bulk, kept thrusting away the oil. And when we would not give way, he went up [to a higher authority] in order to inquire what would be better to do; but, as happens in the uproar concerning the departure, he was deprived of the vote about this matter. It remained, therefore, to wait.
For you, however, it is not possible to remain [...], but it is necessary to come here, both in order to fight against the exaction from Thrace and to escape altogether that counsel which is profitable to men without name, but would not render more illustrious those who, such as you, have inherited it.
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.