Letter 736: I knew perfectly well that you would be among the first to share in my joy, since I also knew you were among the...

I knew perfectly well that you would be among the first to share in my joy, since I also knew you were among the first in your affection for me. But do not imagine that the pleasure I get from those who praise me now is greater than what your praises have long given me. The man I consider the finest speaker alive -- to be told by him that I speak brilliantly pleases me more than if every person on earth were to shower me with compliments. Yet all this good cheer is blunted by the trouble in my head. Against the first attacks, Eucarpion fought with medicines and removed the worst of it. Then, fearing a relapse, he took up the battle with a blade. If something good comes of it, credit Eucarpion. If the affliction prevails, look for the cause in me -- I could not endure everything the art demanded. I do not know whether I will compose speeches again. But I have sent you the one I recently delivered -- I could not find the earlier ones. The servant assigned to that duty was off chasing a runaway goldsmith who had made off with a great deal of money belonging to many people.

Δημητρίῳ. (362) Ὅτι μὲν τῶν μάλιστα συνηδομένων ἴσῃ, καλῶς ἠπιστά- μὴν, ἐπεὶ κἀκεῖνο ἠπιστάμην, ὅτι μετὰ τῶν μάλιστα φιλούν- των τυγχάνεις ὤν. μὴ μέντοι νόμιζε τὴν ἀπὸ τῶν ωῦν ἐπαινούντων ἡδονὴν μείζω τῆς ἀπὸ τῶν σῶν ἐπαίνων πάλαι μοι γιγνομένης. ὃν γὰρ ἡγοῦμαι τῶν νῦν λεγόντων ἄριστον, τούτῳ λέγειν ἄριστα δοκῶν εὐφραίνομαι πλέον ἢ εἰ πάντες ἄνθρωποι πάντα ποιοῖεν λέγοντες. ἀλλὰ πᾶσαν ταύτην ἀμβλύνει τὴν εὐθυμίαν τὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς κακόν. πρὸς τὰ πρῶτα μὲν ἐπολέμησεν Εὐκαρπίων φαρμάκοις καὶ τῆς ὑπερ- βολῆς ἀφεῖλε, δείσας δὲ μὴ πάλιν εἰς ταὐτὸν ἀφίκηται, μετὰ σιδήρου πεποίηται τὴν μάχην. εἰ μὶν οὖν τι γένοιτο χρη- στόν, Εὐκαρπίωνι τοῦτο λογίζου· τὸ δεινὸν δὲ εἰ κρατοίη, παρ’ ἐμοὶ ζητεῖν τὴν αἰτίαν, ὡς οὐκ ἤνεγκα πᾶν ὅσον ἤθελεν ἡ τέχνη. λόγους δὲ εἰ μὲν αὖθις ποιήσομεν, οὐκ οἶδα· τὸν δὲ πρῴην ῥηθέντα πέπομφά σοι, τοὺς γὰρ ἔτι πρότερον εὑρεῖν οὐκ εἶχον. ὁ γάρ τοι τῶν παίδων ἐπὶ ταῦτα τεταγμένος χρυ- σοχόον ἐδίωκεν ἀποδεδρακότα πολλὰ πολλῶν ἔχοντα.