Letter 59: Even if you cannot have all that you desire, you have at least half of it.

To Albanius. (359/360) Even if you cannot have all that you desire, you have at least half of it. For you, who love our city, have in your midst no small part of it -- the excellent Priscianus, who cared about your troubles, whose speeches you attended, and who, when you praised Modestus, lent distinction to your words. Repay the man with praise, and teach beloved Ancyra [modern Ankara] what manner of man this is, in both eloquence and character. Surely a man who knows how to speak is a windfall for any city. I expect you will once again find yourself drawn to your old attachment, once you learn the reason for his journey. The emperor himself has developed a desire for this man's tongue. And mastery in those contests is both a great thing in itself and the beginning of still greater things. Let anyone who sees this stop thinking rhetoric is without honor. For where it truly exists, it is powerful -- and it can say to those who look down on it: "Strength is still mine." [An echo of Homer]

**To Albanius** (359/360) Even if you cannot enjoy the full measure of your desire, you have at least half of it. For since you are in love with our city, you have no small portion of it in the excellent Priscianus — he who looked after your labors, whose recitations you attended, and who, when you were praising Modestus, lent distinction to your words by putting them forward. Repay the man, then, with your praise, and teach beloved Ancyra who this man is in eloquence and in the qualities of his character. A man who knows how to speak will surely recognize the treasure in these gifts. And I believe you will embrace your old love once again, if you learn the reason for his journey. A longing for his tongue has seized the Emperor. And victory in those contests is itself a great thing, and becomes the beginning of still greater things. Let no one, seeing this, think rhetoric without honor — for it is powerful among those where it truly exists, and to those who look down on it, it can say: "Still the strength abides in me."

Ἀλβανίῳ. (359/360) Ἀλλ’ εἰ καὶ μὴ πάσης τῆς ἐπιθυμίας, τοῦ γε ἡμίσεος ἀπολαύεις. τῆς γὰρ πόλεως ἡμῶν ἐρῶν ἔχεις αὐτῆς οὐκ ὀλί- γον τὸν καλὸν Πρισκιανόν, ᾧ τῶν σῶν ἔμελε πόνων, οὗ προβάλλοντος ἤκουες, ὅς, ὅτε ἐπῄνεις Μόδεστον, οἷς ἔλε- γες περιέθηκε δόξαν. ἀμείβου δὴ τὸν ἄνδρα εὐφημίαις καὶ δίδασκε τὴν φιλτάτην Ἄγκυραν, τίς οὑτοσὶ τοὺς λόγους καὶ τὰ τῶν τρόπων ἤθη. πάντως δὲ αὐτῶν τὸ ἕρμαιον ἀνὴρ ἐπιστάμενος λέγειν. οἶμαι δέ σε τῶν παιδικῶν αὖθις ἕξε- σθαι, τῆς ὁδοῦ τὴν αἰτίαν εἰ μάθοις. πόθος ἔλαβε τὸν βα- σιλέα τῆς τούτου γλώττης. καὶ τὸ κρατεῖν ἐν τοῖς ἀγῶσιν ἐκείνοις αὐτό τε μέγα καὶ μειζόνων ἀρχὴ γίνεται. πρὸς ταῦτα ὁρῶν τις μὴ νομιζέτω ῥητορικὴν ἄτιμον, ἰσχυρὸν γάρ ἐστι παρ’ οἷς ὄντως ἔστι, καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ὑπερορῶντας ἔχει λέγειν· ἔτι μοι μένος.