Letter 512: If things had worked out and you had been part of the triumphant company that Themistius assembled around him, our...

To Hierocles. (356/57) If this had come to pass, and the chorus which Themistius assembled and led to victory had you among it, nothing of happiness would have been wanting to us. But as it is, the gods did not grant all things; rather, the one [Themistius] we beheld in person, while with you we conversed by letters. You too were right to call us blessed back then, and now we call you so in turn; for then the good came to us, whereas now it turns about and goes to you. So enjoy it, and lend your ears to a long narration, and make use of a teacher of new affairs, the very man whom you used to teach the old ones.

Ἱεροκλεῖ. (356/57) Εἰ δὲ τοῦτο ἐγεγόνει καὶ σὲ εἶχεν ὁ χορὸς ὃν νικῶν συν- έστησε Θεμίστιος, ἀπῆν ἂν ἡμῖν εὐδαιμονίας οὐδέν. νῦν δὲ οὐ πάντα θεοὶ δόσαν, ἀλλὰ τὸν μὲν ἑωρῶμεν, τοῖς δὲ ὡμιλοῦμεν γράμμασι. μακαρίους δὲ καὶ σὺ τότε ἡμᾶς ὀρθῶς ἐκάλεις καὶ νῦν ἡμεῖς σέ· τότε μὲν γὰρ ὡς ἡμᾶς ᾔει τἀγα- θόν, νῦν δὲ ἀναστρέφει παρὰ σέ. ἀπόλαυε δὴ καὶ πάρεχε τὰ ὦτα διηγήσει μακρᾷ καὶ χρῶ διδασκάλῳ νέων πραγμάτων, ὃν ἐδίδασκες τὰ ἀρχαῖα.