Resultados25 letters/passages
libanius · c. 381 · score 0.02
… the defendant look the prosecutor in the eye. Before, the sheer grandeur of the imperial office made me hesitate to write. Now the beauty of the emperor's own letters doubles my fear. For even if everything else is on our side, we lack the light that blazes in his writing. More than anyone I know, the man has blended p …
libanius · c. 366 · score 0.02
"What great thing?" I asked. Strategius then said: "When he was about to take leave of the emperor, after many fine exchanges, he added: 'Your Majesty, no one's rank will shield them from punishment for wrongdoing. Whether it is a judge or a military commander who breaks the law, I will not tolerate neglect.'" He said …
libanius · c. 361 · score 0.02
However much I condemned that journey, fatiguing as it was , I no less, or rather more, condemned myself for returning so soon instead of going to the place appointed and there indulging my eyes the next morning at sun-rising, with the sight of his divine visage. And so unfortunate is the city that she could not afford …
libanius · c. 378 · score 0.02
To Bassianus. (~361 AD) You did well to quench a great deal of nonsense with a few words—of which I was already laughing before your letter arrived, and once it came, everyone joined me. I am glad that you clearly take pleasure in being ruled by a ruler who knows how to rule. For in saying the scepter was given to him …
libanius · c. 385 · score 0.02
To the Emperor Julian. (362 AD) I paid my tribute to Aristophanes, and you have repaid me for my devotion to you — a devotion that is brilliant, passionate, and hidden from neither gods nor men. For now I very nearly take flight, lifted up by your letter, which brought me both hopes and praise for my work. Everything s …
libanius · c. 318 · score 0.02
To Florentius. (358/359) Many good things to you for your eagerness on my behalf -- but you seem to have quite forgotten about my body in making such demands. I am the man for whom even a walk to the marketplace involves real effort. What other men find refreshing -- well, for me my comfortable couch is sweeter, on acc …
libanius · c. 392 · score 0.01
I knew both things well: that you would remember our shared request, and that you would set to work — being noble yourself, from noble stock, and mindful of where you come from. You have added honor to honor: to the deeds accomplished there on our behalf, you have now added a letter to us. I predict you will do many su …
libanius · c. 362 · score 0.01
To the same. (~362) I thought that your office and the press of business would make you no longer as good a letter-writer. But it turns out you manage both — you preserved that gift as well. You have even beaten me, who do nothing but write, in sheer volume. As for quality, it is equal. All grain and gold seem small to …
libanius · c. 383 · score 0.01
No sooner had the emperor released you than he encountered me. He nearly passed by in silence, since my face had been changed by both time and illness. But when my uncle -- who shares my name -- told him who I was, he was suddenly moved with a wonderful stirring upon his horse. He seized my right hand and would not let …
libanius · c. 323 · score 0.01
I'm calling you to do what you do best: defend those who've been wronged. This Zenobius served Elusa [a city in the Negev region] faithfully as guardian of the peace, but was driven off his land by a man who knows how to buy such things. Don't stand by while he's cheated or while I'm made a laughingstock -- since I'm k …
libanius · c. 348 · score 0.01
To Spectatus. (~358 AD) This letter should have been praise for what you have done for Honoratus, but instead it arrives still carrying a request. That much is tolerable — but I fear the next letter after this one will imitate it. And yet, why have you not done what you promised? Is it because lying is admirable? Surel …
libanius · c. 346 · score 0.01
And I proved it by argument. In the middle of winter a letter arrived bringing him greater provision — or, if you prefer, greater rank — good things, but still less than your power and my desire could wish. For to Tuscianus nothing of this is not great, but precisely because of this the man should advance to something …
libanius · c. 334 · score 0.01
To Modestus. (358/59) Rhetors seek goodwill from judges -- not only those who have condemned themselves as having nothing strong to say, but also those who have confidence in the justice of their case. For even a strong case wants a willing ear, and a willing ear comes from goodwill.
libanius · c. 361 · score 0.01
To Andronicus. You need a plan to deal with the scheming of your uncle -- let him keep the title "uncle" in my letters too, so everyone can see what sort of man does what sort of deeds. You have every reason to fear how he uses his power, because he does not use it justly. But the choice is yours, and mine, to leave. I …
libanius · c. 347 · score 0.01
To Spectatus. (358/59) Why should I not tell you the things with which I delight myself? I delight myself by imagining I see your affairs and exclaiming at each one: "Now our Spectatus is not far from the emperor! Now he is very close! Now he is at the emperor's side, narrating his journey to Persia — the rivers he cro …
libanius · c. 360 · score 0.01
To Julian. (356 AD) I was glad to see Ablabius for many reasons, not least because he brought me a letter from you. We will sooner hate ourselves than find any fault with you — so thoroughly have you made it your practice to advance our interests. You are already fighting a regular war, and a long one, out of your refu …
libanius · c. 361 · score 0.01
Now then pass the rivers; rush on the archers more impetuously than a torrent; and afterwards think on what you said you would think. But fail not to solace me in your absence as much as you can. I for my part will send letters to extort your answers from the midst of the battle, as I am convinced that you have a geniu …
libanius · c. 322 · score 0.01
I won't put up with the self-portrait you've drawn -- it doesn't resemble the real you at all. You're imitating those people who own very little and scheme to give less in order to get more from the rich. But your flow of letters is no smaller than mine -- and you say mine is greater! So don't list yourself among the p …
libanius · c. 374 · score 0.01
To Anatolius. (361 AD) What outrages have been committed — not on the Danube near the Scythians, nor at the ends of Libya, but in Phoenicia, the most civilized region of all, where laws exist, governors are in charge, and an emperor lives under arms to keep all violence at bay. A certain Lucianus, a man holding some mi …
libanius · c. 351 · score 0.01
To Anatolius. (355) I want my friends, whatever they say, to be seen as speaking the truth. And since I count you among the first of my friends, I work to keep you far from falsehood. It was out of concern for this, my good man, that I kept silent all this time. For if I had written immediately, you would have been a l …
libanius · c. 375 · score 0.01
… s, who has been struck so many blows by fortune, now hangs in suspense over the imperial couriers. You would see the same man now laughing, now weeping, his mood shifting with each new report that arrives. One remedy alone is stronger than these troubles: if you would appear and offer your usual philosophical counsel. …
libanius · c. 349 · score 0.01
The child born is one of our chorus, another Heracles, an admirer of Titianus. He rightly went there to share in the celebration, and would rightly come here to take up what he began before. For if he has grown great in a short time, he will appear greater given more. Do not be surprised if I do something unusual in se …
libanius · c. 349 · score 0.01
To Thalassios. (~358 AD) I have no complaint against your household — quite the contrary, I am deeply grateful. For not only do we receive what we request, but if we pause in giving instructions, they say they are being wronged because they have nothing to do for us. You, however — both your family and I myself reproac …
libanius · c. 347 · score 0.01
To Clematius. (358 AD) Was anyone ever so pleased digging the earth for one purpose only to stumble upon gold, as Jovinus was at seeing you as governor, and you at receiving him? I call your part good fortune, and his virtue — for he ran such a long road to see a friend, while such a prize came to you sitting still. Or …
libanius · c. 347 · score 0.01
To Aristainetos. (358 AD) Tuscianus and I enjoyed each other's company — I by listening to him, he by hearing me speak. Or rather, I had the advantage, since the speeches I heard were finer than those I delivered. When I was comparing Strategios with his predecessors in the same office — what did Tuscianus do? He went …