Libanius → Spectatus

Σπεκτάτῳ. (359/360) Ἔγκλημα λύεσθαί φησιν ὁ Θουκυδίδης ὑπὸ χάριτος, ὅταν ὃν ἠδίκησέ τις, τούτῳ τι ποιήσῃ κατὰ γνώμην ὕστερον. σὺ δ’ ἡμῶν τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἀμνημονῶν ἠδίκεις, ἔπειτα κακῷ τὸ κακὸν ἰώμενος ἐπὶ βλάβῃ κατασκευάζων ὁδόν τινα βαρά- θρου χαλεπωτέραν ἐμοί. τούτων δὴ τῶν ἐγκλημάτων ἐν χερσὶν ὄντων καὶ τὸ πραττόμενον ὀνομάζοντος ἔχθραν ἐμοῦ προσῆλθεν ἡ χάρις παύουσα μὲν τὰς αἰτίας, πείθουσα δὲ ἐγκωμιάζειν. καί σοι σπένδομαι καί φημί σε μὴ μόνον εἰδέναι γελᾶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ σπουδῆς τι συνεισφέρειν τοῖς φίλοις. βού- λει μαθεῖν ὅ τι εὖ πεπόνθαμεν; τετίμηται Πρισκιανὸς τιμῇ τῇ προσηκούσῃ. καὶ καλὸν ᾖσε τὸ προοίμιον Φλωρέντιος κα- λῶν ἀντὶ τῶν δοῦναι δυναμένων τοὺς εἰπεῖν δυναμένους. ὥσπερ γὰρ τοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν ὅπλων σεμνύνει τὰ τρόπαια, οὕτω τὸν ἐν ᾧπερ οὗτος ἑστηκότα τὸ πρὸς δύναμιν ἄγειν τοὺς εὖ τῷ δύνασθαι χρησομένους. Πρισκιανὸς δὲ ἐφ’ ὅτιπερ ἂν προ- βῇ, τῷ παραδόντι τὰς ἀφορμὰς τὸν ἀμείνω λόγον οἴσει· παν- ταχοῦ γὰρ χρήσεται τῷ φρονεῖν. τούτῳ μὲν οὖν εἴσεται χάριν ἐκεῖνος, ὅταν ἀνήρ, ἐφ’ ᾧπερ ἂν ταχθῇ, φαίνηται, νῦν δὲ ἐκείνῳ τε καὶ σοὶ χάριν ἴσμεν ἡ πόλις. οὐ γὰρ ἄδηλον ὡς ὁ Θησεὺς ἐφῆπται τοῦ ἄθλου. ἀλλ’ ὅπως τῷ διὰ τὴν κλῆσιν ἐπαίνῳ παράσχητε προστεθῆναι τὸ ἔργον ἐφ’ ὅπερ κέκληται.

To Spectatus. (359/360) Thucydides says that a grievance is dissolved by a favor, whenever someone who has wronged another afterward does something to please him. But you first wronged us through forgetfulness, and then, curing one evil with another, you contrived for my harm a road more treacherous than a pit. While these complaints were still in hand and I was calling what you had done enmity, along came the favor — putting an end to the charges and persuading me to praise you instead. And so I make my peace with you and declare that you know not only how to laugh but also how to contribute something of real substance to your friends. Do you want to know what kindness we have received? Priscianus has been honored with the distinction he deserved. And Florentius struck a fine opening note by summoning not those who have the power to give, but those who have the power to speak. For just as trophies bring glory to the man of arms, so too the man who stands where Florentius stands is glorified by advancing to positions of power those who will use that power well. And Priscianus, whatever office he undertakes, will bring credit to the one who gave him his start — for in all things he will act with good judgment. For this, Priscianus himself will be grateful to Florentius when, in whatever post he is assigned, his worth shines through. But for now, our city gives thanks to both Florentius and to you. For it is no secret that our Theseus has taken up the contest. Only see to it that you let the deed for which he has been summoned be added to the praise he has already won by the summons itself.