Letter 61: I feel a mixture of joy and its opposite.

To Olympius. (359/360) I feel a mixture of joy and its opposite. That Priscianus's fortunes are advancing is a festival for me. But being separated from the man who, in his devotion to my interests, imitates my own uncle -- that is no light matter. But it was only fitting that not only the best of doctors but also the best of orators should attend the emperor. And so for a long time Olympius has been close to him, and now the orator has arrived too. Make his life there no worse than life at home by making your own friends his friends. You did not gain your influence without effort, but he, with your power behind him, will gain his quickly. No one prepared such a harbor for you; but he will win his crown without a struggle, thanks to your labors.

**To Olympius** (359/360) A certain mixture of pleasure and its opposite possesses me. That Priscianus's fortunes are advancing — this is a festival for me. But that I am separated from the man who imitates my uncle in his devotion to my interests — this is no light thing for me. Yet it was necessary that not only the foremost of physicians but also the foremost of rhetoricians should attend the emperor. And for this reason Olympius has long been close to him, and now the rhetorician has arrived. You will make his new home no worse than his own by making your friends his friends in common. For you did not win your influence without effort, but he, through your power, will win his quickly. No one prepared such a harbor for you in advance — but he, from the fruits of your labors, will be crowned without raising a hand.

Ὀλυμπίῳ. (359/360) Κρᾶσις ἔχει μέ τις ἡδονῆς καὶ τοὐναντίου τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἐπίδοσιν λαμβάνειν Πρισκιανῷ τὴν τύχην τοῦθ’ ἡμῖν ἑορτή, τὸ δὲ διεστάναι με τοῦ τὸν ἐμὸν θεῖον εἰς τἀμὰ μιμουμένου τοῦτό γε ἡμῖν οὐ κοῦφον. ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἔδει μὴ μόνον <τῶν> ἰατρῶ ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶι ῥητόρων τὸν ἄκρον συνεῖναι τῷ βασι- λεῖ. καὶ διὰ τοῦτο πάλαι μὶν Ὀλύμπιος ἐγγὺς ἐκείνῳ, νῦν δὲ ὁ ῥήτωρ ἀφῖκται. ποιήσεις δὲ αὐτῷ τὴν ἤν οὐ χείρω τῆς οἰκείας κοινοὺς αὐτῷ φίλους τοὺς σαυτοῦ καθιστάς. σὺ μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ἀπόνως ἴσχυσας, ὁ δὲ ἐν τῇ σῇ δυνάμει ταχέως ἰσχύ- σει. σοὶ μὲν γὰρ οὐδεὶς τοιοῦτον προητοίμασεν ὅρμον ὁ δὲ ἐκ τῶν σῶν ἄθλων ἀκονιτὶ στεφανώσεται.