Letter 511: I have long known your skill in governing, so I am certain you are handling your present post with all proper care.

To Araxius. I have long known your skill in governing, so I am certain you are handling your present post with all proper care. Even if I had not known you before, I could have discovered your character from your friend. A man who enjoys the company of Themistius -- that is something I never needed to ask about, because I knew at once that such a person takes seriously the question of how to live well. That is why I attached myself to Themistius constantly, both when I was with him in your city and here at home -- as if we were physically joined. I never stopped spending time with him, both to hear something worthwhile and to give my fellow citizens the impression that I was a decent sort of person, on the strength of my delight in excellence. When he brought me your letter, the pleasure was doubled -- by the letter itself and by the quality of the messenger. After exciting me with stories about you, he set out on his journey. I would be speaking with you now in person, if my mother's old age had not held me back: she badly needs my help. But if that were not keeping me here, nothing else would have persuaded me to stay rather than come to you. Perhaps I will see you even while staying put -- I see Fortune carrying you toward the place you ought to come. Or perhaps, if your current governorship is extended, someone will find me at your side. As for the outrage I have suffered, in the gods' name, demand justice for me. Do not consider it more frightening that many people know about the slander than that I should go without redress for such insults. You know perfectly well how to manage this -- you understand both the general principles and the specific legal routes. I, for my part, will not endure listening to the boasts of men who got rich dishonestly while I live in poverty.

Ἀραξίῳ. (356/57) Πάλαι σου τὴν περὶ τὸ ἄρχειν ἐπιστήμην εἰδώς, ὅτι Καὶ τὴν παροῦσαν μετὰ παντὸς ἄρχεις τοῦ προςήκοντος, οἶδα. Εἰ δὲ μὴ καὶ πάλαι σε ἐτύγχανον εἰδώς, εὗρον ἄν σου τὴν ἀρετὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ φίλου. ὅστις γὰρ ὁμιλῶν ἥδεται Θεμιστίῳ, Οὐ πώποτ᾿ ἠρώτησα γινώσκων, ὅτι τοῦ ζῆν ὡς ἄριστα Ποιεῖται λόγον. Διὸ δὴ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐκεῖ τε συνέζων αὐτῷ καθάπερ συμπεφυκὼς καὶ τῇδε ταὐτὸν ἐποίησα. συνὼν οὐκ ἐπαυσάμην, ὅπως τε ἀκούοιμί τι χρηστὸν καὶ δοκοίην τοῖς πολίταις εἶναι μὴ κακὸς ἀπὸ τοῦ χαίρειν τῷ καλῷ. γράμ- ματα δέ μοι σὰ κομίζων διπλῆν ἐποίει τὴν ἡδονήν, αὐτοῖς τε τοῖς δοθεῖσι καὶ ὅτι τοιοῦτος ἦν ὁ φέρων. καὶ δή με καὶ μετεωρίσας τοῖς περὶ σοῦ λόγοις ὥρμησε πρὸς τὴν ὁδόν. καὶ νῦν ἔ σοι διελεγόμην, εἰ μή με τὸ γῆρας τῆς μητρὸς ἔκαμψε πάνυ χρῇζον ἐπικουρίας. εἰ δὲ μὴ τοῦτο μένειν ἔπειθεν, οὐ- δὲν ἄν με τῶν ἄλλων μᾶλλον ἔπειθεν ἢ σοὶ βαδίζειν. ἴσως μὲν οὖν καὶ μένων ὄψομαί σε, τὴν γὰρ Τύχην ὁρῶ σε κομί- ζουσαν οἷ δεῖ σε ἐλθεῖν· ἴσως δὲ καὶ τῆσδέ σοι τῆς ἀρχῆς μηκυνομένης ἐμέ τις ὄψεται παρὰ σοί. τῆς δὲ ὕβρεως ἣν ὕβρισμαι, πρὸς θεῶν, ἀπαίτησον δίκας καὶ μὴ τὸ γνῶναι πολλοὺς τὴν συκοφαντίαν μᾶλλον ἡγήσῃ φοβερὸν ἢ τὸ μὴ λαβεῖν με δίκην τοιούτων ὑβρισμάτων. ὅπως δὲ ταῦτα ἔσται, καλῶς εἴσῃ τά τε ἄλλα ἐπιστάμενος καὶ δικῶν ὁδούς. οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε οἴσω τὰ τῶν κακῶς πεπλουτηκότων ἀκούων ἐν πενία.