To Themistius. (359)
When I petitioned you on behalf of others, I thought that I was conferring a favor upon them; but if you should do anything gratifying for Olympius, I consider that you will be receiving a favor rather than granting one. For this is the man who made Macedonia prosperous when he had only just emerged from boyhood, and who thereafter shunned governing more than others have sought it.
To justice he has so given himself that everyone who is wronged takes refuge in him, anyone who transgresses the laws fears him, and our magistrates have a single eager concern: to obtain his vote.
And I myself, having inherited a friendship from our fathers [a hereditary family friendship]: he toils in every way on my behalf, while from me comes only praise for his zeal; for I could do nothing equal in return. But do you at least requite the man, or rather render small things in place of great ones on our behalf.
This man passed over into your council from the greater one; and you will forgive me if I call the council of the Romans greater than this one of yours. Let there be granted to him, then, from you what was his from them. What then? For them it sufficed that his name be enrolled among themselves.
Or rather, neither grant this nor demand from him more than his means allow. For in an examination of the best men Olympius stands first, but where money must be contributed he stands last of all; and it will be very easy for you to learn the measure of his property from those appointed over these matters.
You must therefore keep watch, whenever it is necessary to levy contributions of money, that you do no injustice, and still earlier than that: when you summon the councilors, that you do not remove this man from here.
For his mother too is living in this man's hands, and living indeed for this very reason, because she is permitted to see him. And his name could not endure absence abroad. And his affairs, if any such thing should happen, will go to ruin. But you would not consent that these things be destroyed.
Persuade yourself, then, that you will both help us by these same means and do what befits philosophy, and secure for us an untainted exemption.
**To Themistius** (359)
When I have commended others to you, I believed I was conferring a favor on them. But if you do anything to oblige Olympius, I consider that you will be receiving a favor rather than giving one. For this is the man who made Macedonia prosperous when he had scarcely left boyhood behind, and who afterward shunned office more than others have sought it.
He has so devoted himself to justice that every man who suffers wrong takes refuge with him, every man who transgresses the laws fears him, and our governors have but one ambition — to win his vote of approval.
He and I have inherited a friendship from our fathers. He labors in every way on my behalf, while from me he receives only praise for his devotion, since I could do nothing to match it. But you — repay the man, or rather, give him some small thing in return for great things, on our behalf.
He has transferred to your senate from the greater one — and you will forgive me for calling Rome's senate the greater when yours has you. Let him receive from you, then, what he received from them. And what was that? They were content simply to have his name enrolled among their number.
Better still, neither grant him this nor demand of him more than his means allow. For in any assessment of the best men, Olympius stands first; but where contributions must be paid, he is last of all. You can easily learn the measure of his estate from the officials charged with such matters.
You must therefore be on your guard: whenever money must be levied, see that you do him no injustice — and even before that, whenever you summon your senators, see that you do not uproot him from here. For his mother is alive and in his hands, and alive precisely because she can see him. She could not endure the separation. And his affairs, should any such thing happen, would be ruined. This you would not wish to see destroyed.
Persuade yourself, then, that by these same measures you will be helping us and acting in a manner worthy of philosophy, and secure for us an untroubled guarantee of his safety.
When I petitioned you on behalf of others, I thought that I was conferring a favor upon them; but if you should do anything gratifying for Olympius, I consider that you will be receiving a favor rather than granting one. For this is the man who made Macedonia prosperous when he had only just emerged from boyhood, and who thereafter shunned governing more than others have sought it.
To justice he has so given himself that everyone who is wronged takes refuge in him, anyone who transgresses the laws fears him, and our magistrates have a single eager concern: to obtain his vote.
And I myself, having inherited a friendship from our fathers [a hereditary family friendship]: he toils in every way on my behalf, while from me comes only praise for his zeal; for I could do nothing equal in return. But do you at least requite the man, or rather render small things in place of great ones on our behalf.
This man passed over into your council from the greater one; and you will forgive me if I call the council of the Romans greater than this one of yours. Let there be granted to him, then, from you what was his from them. What then? For them it sufficed that his name be enrolled among themselves.
Or rather, neither grant this nor demand from him more than his means allow. For in an examination of the best men Olympius stands first, but where money must be contributed he stands last of all; and it will be very easy for you to learn the measure of his property from those appointed over these matters.
You must therefore keep watch, whenever it is necessary to levy contributions of money, that you do no injustice, and still earlier than that: when you summon the councilors, that you do not remove this man from here.
For his mother too is living in this man's hands, and living indeed for this very reason, because she is permitted to see him. And his name could not endure absence abroad. And his affairs, if any such thing should happen, will go to ruin. But you would not consent that these things be destroyed.
Persuade yourself, then, that you will both help us by these same means and do what befits philosophy, and secure for us an untainted exemption.
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.