Letter 567: I was not upset when the imperial stipend was transferred to others.

To Gymnasius. I was not upset when the imperial stipend was transferred to others. I needed to be completely free of that dependency, and the transfer accomplished exactly that. I consider the man who took it away a benefactor. As for the money owed to me from the previous period, which the recipients never paid back, I spoke to the governor. I added that the contempt hurt more than the financial loss -- but I was speaking to no purpose. He said nothing in reply, and it was clear he did not blame the people withholding the money but resented those demanding it. Let him join the ranks of the unjust. Meanwhile, Iamblichus, whom you admired when he was here with us, you will be glad to see among you. Introduce him to the Great City [Constantinople] -- tell them who the man is, where he comes from, and that he deserves honor from the children of Greece. It will be an ornament to both of you: to him, being praised by your voice, and to you, praising such a man.

Γυμνασίῳ. (357) Οὐκ ἠχθέσθην τῆς ἐκ βασιλέως τροφῆς ἐπ’ ἄλλους μετα- στάσης. ἴδει γάρ με τελέως ἐκεῖθεν λελύσθαι· τοῦτο δὲ ὑπῆρξε τῇ τῆς τροφῆς μεταστάσει. τὸν μὲν οὖν ἀφελόμενον εὐερ- γέτην ἡγοῦμαι, περὶ δὲ τῶν χρημάτων, ἃ τὸν πρὸ τοῦ χρόνον οἱ λαβόντες οὐκ ἀπέδωκαν, εἶπον πρὸς τὸν ἄρχοντα καὶ προσ- θεὶς ὡς τῷ καταφρονεῖσθαι πλέον ἀλγοίην ἢ τῇ ζημίᾳ, μά- την ἔλεγον· ἀπεκρίνατο μὲν γὰρ οὐδέν, δῆλος δὲ ἦν τοὺς μὲν ἀποστεροῦντας οὐκ αἰτιώμενος, τοῖς δὲ ἀπαιτοῦσι μεμφόμενος ἀλλ’ ἐκεῖνος μὲν ἔστω τῶν ἀδικούντων, Ἰάμβλιχον δέ, ὃν ἐθαύμαζες παρ’ ἡμῖν, ἡδέως ὄψει παρ’ ὑμῖν καὶ διδάξεις γε τὴν Μεγάλην πόλιν, τίς τε καὶ ἐκ τίνων ἁνὴρ καὶ ὡς ἄξιος τιμῆς Ἑλλήνων παισίν. ἀμφοτέροις γὰρ τοῦτο κόσμος, τῷ μὲν ὑπὸ τῆς σῆς ἐπαινεῖσθαι φωνῆς, σοὶ δὲ τὸν τοιοῦτον ἐπαινεῖν.