To Florentius. (359/360)
When your letter arrived summoning Priscian, the man dearest of all to me, there was much murmuring in the city, as though you were doing something greater than our hopes; and crowding around, each man, becoming a prophet of his future rank, counted the man blessed.
For me, however, what had been done was very much in accordance with my expectations, for I had known you to be a good man, and it was no marvel that such a man should do such things. Yet, while I called the summoned one blessed, as did the others, I thought I ought to count blessed you too, the counselor, and the one who accepted the proposal, and our city as well.
For to lead to power those who are worthy of it is praise for those who lead no less than for the one who receives the honor, since Jason too, when he embarked Heracles upon the Argo, was thought to be a man of sense. And who would not have rejoiced with the one for being able to bring safety, and with the other for having seen well the man with whom he ought to sail?
And now this Heracles will accomplish whatever you set him to, worthily of every good repute; and partners in the good repute are both Florentius, who gave his judgment, the one who knows how to act rather than to talk, and the emperor who was persuaded, the one who upholds the inhabited world.
And our community too has been adorned. For Priscian was born elsewhere, but that for which he is admired, this he has from my city, which, receiving him as a lover of eloquence, made him full of eloquence. One mixing-bowl stood for us, and we drank together.
And for this reason he used to join in prayer for me when I held my assemblies, while I sang the praises of this man when he prevailed in lawsuits, which he conducted so soundly that for the judges his nods served in place of written documents.
And to contend with care in pleading is not yet so great a thing; but this man at any rate, speaking on every occasion and in every place and about whatever subject, would seem to speak deliberately, so that there is never a time when he thinks it fitting to neglect his words.
Yet the beauty of his character surpasses the prime of his words. For now he has come to gray hair, but before he passed into manhood he displayed the qualities of old men, both in other respects and indeed in his tongue, which, as Anacharsis enjoined, he kept under control. And now no more would a syllable of the things that are justly kept silent escape him than it would escape the statues.
But you will think that I am lengthening my discourse to no purpose toward you, who, since you were privy to these things about him, summoned him; yet I have gone through them not for the sake of teaching his character, but to show that the nurse has a share in the things that come and will come to her foster-child from you.
Therefore, as one who in all things looks to us, making display, and through the orator gratifying the community, transfer the man for us, bringing him into a rank befitting both you and him, and do not cease lending your aid to the good among men.
For by this alone you would surpass those before you who administered the very same things that you now administer. For the name is the same and the power equal, but it behooves you, while they rushed after money, to appear glorifying the affairs of those men who have some share in virtue. For it is a fine thing that afterward there should be sung of the others their wealth, but of you your vote.
**To Florentius** (359/360)
When your letter arrived summoning Priscianus, dearest to me of all men, a great buzz went through the city that you were exceeding all expectations, and people crowded around congratulating the man, each one becoming a prophet of the office to come.
For my part, what you had done was very much in line with my hopes, for I knew you to be a good man, and it was no wonder that such a man should do such things. But while I counted the one who had been summoned fortunate, as everyone else did, I thought I ought also to count fortunate both you who gave the counsel and the one who accepted the recommendation, and our city as well.
For to advance to positions of power those who are worthy of them is no less a credit to those who do the advancing than to the one who receives the honor — since even Jason, when he brought Heracles aboard the Argo, was thought to show good judgment. And who would not have rejoiced with the one for his power to save, and with the other for his good eye in seeing with whom he ought to sail?
So now this Heracles of ours will carry out whatever task you set him in a manner worthy of the highest praise, and sharers in that praise will be Florentius, who gave the recommendation — a man who knows how to act rather than merely talk — and the emperor who was persuaded, he who upholds the world.
Our community, too, has been honored by this. For Priscianus was born elsewhere, but the quality for which he is admired — that he owes to my city, which received him when he was a lover of eloquence and sent him away full of it. One mixing bowl stood between us, and we drank together.
And so he used to join his prayers to mine when I presided over my assemblies, and I would sing his praises when he prevailed in the courts, which he conducted with such soundness that for the judges his very nods carried the weight of written law.
Now, to speak with careful preparation when one is contending in a case — that is not yet so remarkable. But this man, at every moment and in every place and on whatever subject he happens to speak, would seem to be speaking with deliberation, so firmly does he believe that one should never be careless with words.
Yet the beauty of his character surpasses even the grace of his speech. For though he has now reached grey hairs, even before he came to manhood he displayed the qualities of an old man, and among other things he mastered his tongue, just as Anacharsis commanded. Even now an ill-considered syllable would no more escape him than it would a statue.
But you will think I am going on at needless length to you, who summoned him precisely because you knew all this. I have gone through it not to instruct you in his character, but to show that the nurse has a share in the honors that come and will come to her nursling from you.
Therefore, as one who is performing before all of us as spectators, and who through this orator will be conferring a favor on the whole community, raise our man up and bring him to a position worthy of both you and him, and never cease lending your support to men of merit.
For by this alone you could surpass those who administered the same office before you. The title is the same and the power is equal, but whereas they rushed after money, you must show yourself as one who brings distinction to men who have some share in virtue. For it is a fine thing that in days to come people should sing of their wealth — but of your judgment.
When your letter arrived summoning Priscian, the man dearest of all to me, there was much murmuring in the city, as though you were doing something greater than our hopes; and crowding around, each man, becoming a prophet of his future rank, counted the man blessed.
For me, however, what had been done was very much in accordance with my expectations, for I had known you to be a good man, and it was no marvel that such a man should do such things. Yet, while I called the summoned one blessed, as did the others, I thought I ought to count blessed you too, the counselor, and the one who accepted the proposal, and our city as well.
For to lead to power those who are worthy of it is praise for those who lead no less than for the one who receives the honor, since Jason too, when he embarked Heracles upon the Argo, was thought to be a man of sense. And who would not have rejoiced with the one for being able to bring safety, and with the other for having seen well the man with whom he ought to sail?
And now this Heracles will accomplish whatever you set him to, worthily of every good repute; and partners in the good repute are both Florentius, who gave his judgment, the one who knows how to act rather than to talk, and the emperor who was persuaded, the one who upholds the inhabited world.
And our community too has been adorned. For Priscian was born elsewhere, but that for which he is admired, this he has from my city, which, receiving him as a lover of eloquence, made him full of eloquence. One mixing-bowl stood for us, and we drank together.
And for this reason he used to join in prayer for me when I held my assemblies, while I sang the praises of this man when he prevailed in lawsuits, which he conducted so soundly that for the judges his nods served in place of written documents.
And to contend with care in pleading is not yet so great a thing; but this man at any rate, speaking on every occasion and in every place and about whatever subject, would seem to speak deliberately, so that there is never a time when he thinks it fitting to neglect his words.
Yet the beauty of his character surpasses the prime of his words. For now he has come to gray hair, but before he passed into manhood he displayed the qualities of old men, both in other respects and indeed in his tongue, which, as Anacharsis enjoined, he kept under control. And now no more would a syllable of the things that are justly kept silent escape him than it would escape the statues.
But you will think that I am lengthening my discourse to no purpose toward you, who, since you were privy to these things about him, summoned him; yet I have gone through them not for the sake of teaching his character, but to show that the nurse has a share in the things that come and will come to her foster-child from you.
Therefore, as one who in all things looks to us, making display, and through the orator gratifying the community, transfer the man for us, bringing him into a rank befitting both you and him, and do not cease lending your aid to the good among men.
For by this alone you would surpass those before you who administered the very same things that you now administer. For the name is the same and the power equal, but it behooves you, while they rushed after money, to appear glorifying the affairs of those men who have some share in virtue. For it is a fine thing that afterward there should be sung of the others their wealth, but of you your vote.
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.