Letter 82: It seems you fill the senate [of Constantinople] with new members not only through your own efforts but even in your...

It seems you fill the senate [of Constantinople] with new members not only through your own efforts but even in your sleep -- like a fisherman's net that works on its own. Celsus, the best man among us here and worthy of second place only to you there, has of his own accord joined that fine assembly. We did everything we could to keep him involved in affairs here. But he kept saying he was pursuing a city that Themistius had praised. I see through his ruse. While other men rush to the Bosporus because they long for its fish, Celsus doesn't care about any governorship -- he simply believes that if he becomes your fellow citizen, he'll get to live alongside you. And that means living in philosophy, which he tasted in good measure at Sicyon [where Themistius apparently once taught] and now expects to taste even more at your side. For my part, things will go worse for me without the ally who used to rush to my defense. The man to whom I could unburden my troubles and feel lighter -- I'll grieve at not having him near. But let something good come to Celsus, and let my affairs go however they will. His success will be consolation enough for my losses. For now, his mother and I and many others are holding him back, since it's still possible to give us the gift of his company before winter.

**To Themistius** (359) So it seems you fill the senate with senators not only through your own exertions, but even while you sleep the net fills itself. For Celsus, the finest man among us here and deserving to be called second only to you among those there, comes of his own accord—a good man to a good council. Every effort has been made on our part to have the man take charge of affairs here. But he kept saying he was pursuing a post that Themistius had praised. And I am not unaware of the real motive. For while others rush to Constantinople out of longing for the "fishy Bosporus," he cares nothing for the office itself—he simply believes that if he becomes a citizen of your city, he will live in your company. And that means living in wisdom, of which he had no small share at Sicyon and now expects to enjoy still more at your side. For my part, then, my situation will be the worse for the absence of the man who came to my aid, and I shall grieve at not having near me the one to whom I used to pour out my troubles and so find relief. But let something good come to Celsus, and let my own affairs go however they will. After all, from his good fortune there will be some consolation for my sorrows. For now, his mother and I and many others are keeping him here, since it is possible for him to do us this kindness before winter and still come to you in time. But this letter about him has gone ahead of him, and upon receiving it you will do what you customarily do—seeing to it that the expense is kept reasonable. For it seemed to us more graceful for him to arrive as one who has already been enrolled as a citizen rather than as one who is yet to become one.

Θεμιστίῳ. (359) Οὐκ ἄρα διὰ σπουδῆς μόνον πληροῖς τὸ βουλευτήριον βουλευτῶν, ἀλλ’ ἤδη καὶ εὕδοντι κύρτος. Κέλσος γὰρ ὁ τῶν μὲν παρ’ ἡμῖν ἄριστος, τῶν δὲ ἐκεῖ μετὰ σὲ τοῦτο ἀκοῦσαι πρέπων, αὐτόματος ἐπ’ ἀγαθῶν συνέδριον ἀγαθός. Μοι πάντα ἡμῖν κεκίνηται τοῦ τὸν ἄνδρα τῶν παρ’ ἡμῖν προστῆ- ναι πραγμάτων. ὁ δὲ ἔφασκε χώραν διώκειν ἣν ἐπῄνεσε Θε- μίστιος. καὶ τὸ σόφισμα οὐκ ἀγνοῶ. οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἄλλοι Βόσπορον ἰχθυόεντα ποθοῦντες ἐκεῖσε τρέχουσι, τῷ δὲ τῆς μὲν ἀρχῆς οὐ μέλει, νομίζει δέ, εἰ πολίτης ὑμέτερος νοιτο, μετὰ σοῦ βιώσεσθαι. τοῦτο δέ ἐστιν ἐν βιῶναι, ἧς οὐκ ὀλίγον ἐν Σικυωνίᾳ μετασχὼν μάλιστα προσ- δοκᾷ μετασχήσειν παρὰ σοί ἐμοὶ μὲν οὖν ἕξει τοὐμὸν ἐπι- χεῖρον χεῖρον τοῦ παραβοηθοῦντος ἀπόντος, καὶ πρὸς ὃν ἐκφέρων τὰ λυποῦντα ῥᾴων ἐγιγνόμην, τοῦτον ἐγγὺς οὐκ ἔχων ἀνιάσομαι, γιγνέσθω δὲ ἀγαθόν τι Κέλσῳ καὶ τἀμὰ ὅπῃ βούλεται χωρείτω. πάντως ἐκ τῶν τοῦδε παραμυθία τοῖς ἐμοῖς νῦν μὲν οὖν αὐτὸν ἥ τε μήτηρ καὶ ἐγὼ καὶ πολλοὶ κατέχομεν ὡς ἐνὸν πρὸ τοῦ χειμῶνος ἡμῖν τε χαρίσασθαι καὶ παρ’ ὑμᾶς ἐλθεῖν, ἔφθη δὲ αὐτὸν ἡ περὶ αὐτοῦ δέλτος, ἐφ’ ᾗ τὰ εἰωθότα πράξεις παρατηρῶν, ὅπως μέτριον ἔσται τὸ ἀνάλωμα. ἐδόκει γὰρ ἡμῖν εἶναι χαριέστερον ἤδη πολίτην αὐ- τὸν γεγενημένον ἢ γενησόμενον ἰέναι.