Libanius, Sixteen Letters to Julian the Apostate (1784)

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Libanius, Sixteen letters lette rs to Julian the Apostate (1784) pp.303-332.

Letter 33 Letter 224 Letter 372 Letter 525 Letter 586 Letter 591 Letter 602 Letter 670 Letter 712 Letter 622 Letter 1035 Letter 1125 Letter 1392 Letter 1490 (3 of book 2) 2) (14 of book 2) 2)

XVI Letters of Libanius to Julian [Translated by John Duncombe, M.A.] 1784.

1. Letter 33 (358 AD)

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May the present health and strength that you say you possess possess be your constant portion! For your grief grief may God supply supply a remedy! Or rather your grief requires in in part only the assistance of God, for some part 2

of it you you yourself yourself can alleviate. You are able, if you please, to re-build the city ; but for your your concern on account of the t he dead, may Heaven afford you consolation! Nicomedia, Nicomedia, ruined as she is, I deem most most happy. Her safety indeed would have been bee n most most desirable; but even thus she is honoured by your tears. 3

Nor are these inferior to the lamentat ions which the Muses are said to have uttered utte red for Achilles Achilles , or to the drops of blood which which Jupiter, in honour of his dearest deare st son, poured down at the approaching a pproaching death of

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Sarpedon.

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That she she therefore, who was lately a city, city, may may again again be a city, will be your your concern.

Elphidius , always a man of distinguished distinguished probity, has now made wonderful wonderf ul improvements. Thus it it is not only true, as Sophocles says, that "Wise kings are form'd by converse with the wise,"

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but the wisdom of a king improves improves also his friends in virtue. virtue. So serviceable have you been to Elphidius, making him not only only richer but bet ter. Though Though younger than he, you have been be en his instructor in these laudable pursuits, in equity, in an eager desire t o assist his friends, to treat trea t courageousl coura geously y those whom he knows not, and by so treating them, always to retain their friendship. friendship. For all who have approached and conversed with him have first admired and then instantly loved him, him, or rather have ha ve discovered your ideas in all that you have e ntrusted to him. I often discourse with him, him, and all our discourses discourses turn on you, on the understanding that that you possess, and the important affairs in which which you are engaged. The manner in in which you will complete them, t hem, and how you will will ward some impending dangers, we have sagely sa gely discusse discussed. d. I seemed, as it were, conversing with with yourself. With particular pleasure I received rece ived the intelligence intelligence of your 7

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having defeated defeat ed the barbarians , and that you had related your victories in a commentary commentary , thus acting at once as an orator orat or and a general. Achilles Achilles required a Homer, and Alexander many such, such, but your trophies, your own voice, which which has erecte e rected d them, will will transmit to posterity. Thus you surpass the sophists sophists by proposing to them not only actions for them to celebrate but t he orations, which you you have composed on your actions, act ions, for their emulation. 9

To these your trophies I wish wish you to add that of restoring Pompeianus Pompeianus to his rights; rights; and think not this an unworthy contention. For this is the man whom formerly in Bithynia, Bithynia, when he was ambassador from hence, you saw with pleasure, and on being informed of what he had been de frauded gave him hopes of recovering his property. Of this promise, promise, O prince

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, I entreat entrea t you to be mindful. mindful.

Nearly 2000 of his letters exist. exist. In his life, he he says, his letters were were innum innumerable. erable. 1

This letter is one of the three first published by Fabricius with a Latin translation in his Bibliotheca Graeca, vol. 7, p. 397. In the the edition of Wolfius Wolfius it is the 33rd. 2

Nicomedia the capital of Bithynia which, which, from the beauty of its situatio s ituation, n, the the magnificence magnificence of its buildings, buildings, its grandeur grandeur and and its riches, had been looked on as the fifth fifth city in the the work, was was destroyed by an earthquake earthquake Aug. 24, 358, followed followed by a fire which which lasted five days. A monody, monody, by Libani Libanius, us, I have inserted in vol. 2. Julian was then only Caesar but he visited visite d the city; and gave orders for re-building it on his way from Constantinople to Antioch, May 15, 362, after his accession to the empire. Another earthquake, earthquake, which was also felt at Constantinople Co nstantinople and Nice, swallowed swallowed up the remains of Nicomedia on January 1, 363. 3

Homer, Odyssey 24.60

4

Iliad 16.459. 16.459.

5

A philosopher philosopher to whom whom Julian addressed his 57th letter. Libanius also wrote several letters lett ers to him and mentions him in several others.

6

I have been unable to locate these words in Sophocles. WOLFIUS.

7

Probably his victories over o ver the Salian Franks Franks and Chamarians. Chamarians. See Julian's Letter to the Athenians. Athenians.

8

Now lost.

9

He had been prefect prefect of Bithynia. Libanius praises prais es him in many many other letters, letters , and some are addressed to him.

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only Caesar, as appears from some some passages above, both Ὁ Βασιλευ. Although Julian was only Fabricius and Wolfius have translated this imperator . But Βασιλευς was often applied to the Caesars.

2. Letter 224 (AD 362)

Are you then forgetful of us? us? But Phoenicia does not suffer us to be forgetful of you, as she celebrates 1

your reign reign in immortal hymns. From your Asia Asia also flows the fame of your actions, increasing our expectations. expecta tions. For nothing nothing that we have hea rd, great great as a s all these actions act ions are, is so great great as to exceed exc eed the 2

hopes that we have formed. We, on account acc ount of our relation to the Ionians Ionians , rejoice, trusting trusting that you will will proceed in the right road and that your authority both over them and us will will be more firmly firmly established. But this must be left to the providence of God. Andragathius, Andragathius, in requesting requesting to be the bearer bea rer of this, has rather conferred c onferred than asked a favour of me. For he will not be more gratified by the pleasure of seeing you than I am by thus being enabled to address you. This youth will will have these three recommendations to you; an energy of speech, which he has displayed displayed before the prefects; prefe cts; a courtesy of behaviour, beha viour, which which endears endear s him to all with whom he converses; and such an intimacy with me as, in that respect, to exceed all the friends that I have had since my childhood. 1

Julian was then in Ionia, in the province of Asia.

2 The scholiast says, "The Ionians near Smyrna formerly sent a colony to Antioch, and therefore he styles them relations."

3. Letter 372 (AD 358)

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You have gained a double victory , one by your arms, arms, the other by your your eloquence. One trophy is is erected to you by the barbarians, and the other by me your friend; a trophy this most pleasing even to a 3

conqueror. For all all parents wish wish to be be excelled by their children , and you, you, who by me me have been 4

instructed in writing, writing, have in that excelled exc elled your your instructor. instructor. But now for the brevity of my lette letterr , I, the orator, must account to you, the general, or rather to one no less consummate in the art of oratory than in 5

that of war. After the emperor had given given you a share in the government, government, I thought thought myself myself bound to lay some restraint on my freedom and not to indulg indulgee it, as I had been acc ustomed, to a man so exalted. For knowing, knowing, as we do, in our declamatory skirmishes, skirmishes, how to address Pericles, Pe ricles, Cimon and Miltiades, it would have been shameful in real life life to neglect those laws. And as you yourself yourself say, that the letters let ters of generals, on account of their avocations, should be short, this induced me to contract my letters, aware that he whose business prevents him from writing long long letters must be much interrupte d by one who sends him long letters. But now, as you order me to be diffuse, diffuse, I will obey. And first first I congr c ongratulate atulate you that with arms in your hands you have not suspended your application to oratory, but wage war as if war were your only study and attend to books as if you were a stranger to 6

arms. And next, that he who has given given you you a share share in the empire has had no cause to repent of his his having given given it, but considering him as your cousin and colleag c olleague ue and lord and master, in all your actions ac tions you promote his glory glory and exclaim to your falli fa lling ng enemies, "what would be your fate, fate , if the emperor e mperor were present?" All this I applaud, and also your your not having changed your manners with with your dress, nor lost, lost, by gaining gaining power, the remembrance re membrance of your friends. Many blessing attend atte nd you for showing showing that when I celebrated celebrate d your talents I was not a liar, or rathe r for having shown shown that I was a liar in promising promising nothing equal to what you have performed! This is all your own, and copied from from no model. model. For though though some, together with the empire, have a ssumed the love of money, contracting desires to which before they were strangers, and others have given more indulgence indulgence to t o their former inclinations, you alone, when raised t o

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the throne, have shared your fortune among your friends, giving iving one one a house, another slaves, land to this, money to that, and, when a subject, subject, were more wealthy than now when when you are prince. Nor do you exclude me from the number of your friends, though I am not one of those who have shared your favours. For I can assign a reason of my alone having received nothing. nothing. As you would would have cities abound with every thing that can ca n promote their happiness, you deem nothing more essential to this than orat ory, knowing knowing that if that were extinct ext inct we should resemble the barbarians. Apprehending therefore there fore that if I abounded with riches I should neglect my art, you thought it right right for me to t o remain poor, that I might might not be tempted to desert deser t my station: such, such, at least, is my solution. solution. Not that you have said, "Amphiaraus "Amphiaraus and 8

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Capaneus are something something ; but this man has neither name nor place ." But your not having having given given me me anything is owing owing to your regard for the public. Therefore though we are indigent indigent of money, we abound with words. words. This is your concern; may we not disgrace disgrace the t he part that tha t is allotted allotted to t o us, nor you your your illustrious rank! 1

The Barroci manuscript adds to the name Ιουλιανος the epithet Καισαρος ("Caesar") but the Medicean B. Κάλαραλω ("execrable"). WOLFIUS . 2

In his 394th letter, Libanius writes "The excellent Anatolius has gained two victories over us".

3

Sophists Sophists would style their students their 'sons'. See Eunapius Eunapius on Julian.

4

Julian liked long letters, as appears from his second to Prohaeresius.

5

The gloomy and suspicious Constantius II, who had put to death all his other male relations but now needed a figurehead Caesar in Gaul.

6

Constantius.

7

Libanius in his Life writes that "Libanius loved [Julian] himself, but others loved his riches."

8

A proverb. Amphiarus and and Capaneus were two two of the the seven chiefs chiefs against Thebes. Capaneus Capa neus is applied elsewhere in antiquity as a symbol of friendship, because Capaneus, amid great wealth, living with frugality and economy, was most attentive to his friends.

9

This oracle of Apollo to the inhabitants inhabitants of Aegina is quoted by the the scholiast on Theocritus. They had asked the oracle who was the bravest of the Greeks, after gaining a naval victory, to which they got a depreciating answer concluding as above.

4. Letter 525

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I sent you a short oration on an important important subject. You can add to its length length by supplying supplying what is essential to that purpose. If you give give that, you will will show show that you think think that I have a talent ta lent for encomiums. encomiums. If you do not give it, I shall be induced to entertain entert ain some other suspicions. 1

To what what oration is referred is not not known. known.

5. Letter 586 1

Unless you were well apprised apprised how long long ago ago my friendship with the excellent Macedonius was contract ed, and for what re asons it has been since improved, of these I would first apprise you; but knowing knowing as you do its foundation, you will not wonder that I, who would decline no danger for my friends, should devote devote to his service this letter. He has indeed prevailed with with me to ask a favour fa vour of you, not not that you grant favours easily or grant all that are asked; a sked; but such suc h as are just and right you willing willingly ly confer.

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And in in truth whoever does not oblig obligee his friends in in matters thus irreproacha irreproachable ble blames blames the daughter of Jove for retaining the graces in her vestibule. But that you favour those who ask nothing unreasonable is evident to all. Now observe observe whether my request is such as can be censured. Macedonius married married a wife who had a son by a former former husband. That son is is now dead. I wish therefore 3

that the mother , in in preference to the grandfather grandfather,, may may succeed to his estate, estate , if a regard to honour can induce the grandfather to wave his right right and to prefer praise to a compliance compliance with the law. Be it therefore your endeavour to convince him him that it is more creditable for him to decline than to take the effects. ef fects. You will will be doubly persuasive as, besides the powers of oratory, you possess supreme dominion. dominion. And I hear that this old man man is vain of a good good reputation and had rather acc umulate umulate fame than tha n wealth. Delay not, therefore, therefore , to send for and confer with with him, him, and thus perform an action more humane than any law. law. Nor think that we will will admit, as an excuse, e xcuse, your alleg a lleging ing that the discussion of such matters matte rs does not belong to you, or, by way of subterfuge, that you are unable una ble to persuade him. To be the instrument of conferring wealth on the mother and fame on her father fathe r will do you no dishonou dishonour. r. Every word from you makes a strong impression impression on the hearers. he arers. 1

The son of Pelagius Pelagius of Cyrus, Cyrus , a city in Syria, Syria, an orator and and a philosopher. Libanius Libanius prais es him several times in other letters, and addresses three to him, one of which is a congratulation on his marriage. 2

Δικε, i.e. justice.

3

Under Roman law mothers had no legal right to any of their childrens' possessions.

6. Letter 591

The laws and myself myself will take care that that t hat most abandoned se servant rvant shall be punished for what he has said and done. But you, together with the empire, show that you possess also such benevolence as the excellent Priscian Priscian 3

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displayed displayed to Seleucus . Acting thus, you will will induce the preceptors of of Arrhabius -- I

mean Calliopus Calliopus -- and his father to treat him with more indulg indulgence. ence. For Seleucus married the daughter of one, and the sister of the other. othe r. Him therefore, theref ore, whom in in your letters you so highl highly y honour as to style him your your son, assist, I entreat e ntreat you, in his literary literary improvements. 1

Priscian was an excellent orator, and on that account was invited by Julian to Constantinople. Libanius wrote several letters to him.

2

Selecus is mentioned as a friend of Libanius in many of his letters, and many are addressed to him.

3

Calliopus, from some of the letters to him, seems to have been an orator.

7. Letter 602 1

Would you have me believe that you do not not take the lea st concern in the affairs of Ulpian Ulpian and Palladius , that you neither regard them as friends nor esteem them as orators nor recollect that they may assist you with their friendly friendly offices? Such reports, which it does not become me to repeat, ar e circulated by many. On the contrary, I contend that none of them, as far as you are concerned, are true. Write, therefore, theref ore, and confute them. You will will thus confer a favour fa vour on yourself yourself as well as on me. me. 1

Two orators frequently mentioned by Libanius.

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8. Letter 670 (A.D.362) 1

I have discharged my oblig obligations ations to Aristophanes , but you, in in return, have given me such such splendid tokens of a vehement affection a ffection as are conspicuous c onspicuous both both to gods and men. men. So that now I seem almost to soar into the sky, elevated elevat ed by your letter, lette r, which has inspired inspired me with such hopes and has so decorated decora ted my 2

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oration that all things things else -- the wealth of of Midas, the beauty of Nireus , the swiftness swiftness of Crison , the 5

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strength of Polydamas Polydamas , the sword of Peleus -- seem seem little little in my sight. sight. Even the nectar of the gods, gods, were I allowed to enjoy it, could not give me greater delight than I now fe el, when my prince, such a one as Plato formerly sought sought and could c ould scarcely find, has comm c ommended ended my sentiments, admired my oration, and has not only promised that he will will give give something but, which is much much greater honour, that he will will consult 7

with me what what to give. give. They who who observe observe the rising of the celestial goat do not not always obtain their wishes, but I, though I have not attended attende d to this, have been most successful. And if I want want any other favour, the emperor, imitating imitating the deity, is ever gracious. Your letter therefore ther efore shall be prefixed to my oration to inform all the Greeks Gree ks that my dart has not been launched launc hed in vain, for by what I have written writte n Aristophanes will will be honoured, as I am by what you have returned; ret urned; or rather ra ther both of us shall glory glory in what has been written and will will be given given by you, for eac h of us is honoured honoured by each ea ch of these. these . But now it it may amuse amuse you to hear how Aristophanes Aristophanes has been terrified. One of your usual attendants attendant s informed informed us that on coming to your door he was refused refuse d admittance because, bec ause, he was t old, you were busy in composing composing an oration. orat ion. This This immediately immediately occasioned occa sioned an apprehension that you had det ermined to controvert my oration oration

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and confute your preceptor prece ptor and would would thus overwhelm Aristophanes like like the Nile. Nile.

We hastened therefore ther efore to the excellent e xcellent Elphidius Elphidius who, on hearing the cause of our alarm, burst into loud loud laughter. laughter. Thus we recovered our spirits and soon soon after I received rece ived your elegant elegant letter. 1

This oration for Aristophanes, a Corinthian, the son of Menander, who had been severely fined by the prefect of Egypt on account of his consulting astrologers, is preserved in the works of Libanius, vol. 2, p. 210 ff. WOLFIUS. It is said in this oration that he had been fined, flogged and imprisoned. 2

Julian's letter, to which this is a reply, is the 68th.

3

See Iliad ii. ii. 671.

4

Crison was a native of Himera who gained three victories in the Olympic games.

5

A famous Thessalian wrestler who strangled a lion on Mt. Olympus, tamed a wild bull, and stopped a chariot drawn by the the strongest horses. He was was crushed crus hed to death by a rock under which which he took shelter from a storm, after flattering himself that he could hold up the rock, which was starting to fall, when when his companions companions fled. MORERI. Libanius mentions him also in his 16th declamation. 6

Peleus received a sword from Vulcan with which he could defend himself against all attacks, as we learn from the scholiast on the 4th Nemean of Pindar, verse 88. WOLFIUS .

7

A proverbial expression for those who got everything they wanted, based on the fable that those who saw that goat, who was the nurse of Jupiter and then was made a constellation, obtained whatever they desired. ERASMUS. 8

The one on Aristophanes' behalf.

9

I.e. in floods of eloquence.

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9. Letter 712 (A.D. 361) 1

However much much I condemned that journey, fatiguing fatiguing as it was , I no less, less, or rather more, condemned myself for returning so soon soon instead of going going to the place appointed and there the re indulging indulging my my eyes the t he next morning morning at sun-rising, sun-rising, with the sight of his divine divine visage. And so unfortunate is the city that she could not afford me the least consolation. I style her unfortunate not on account of the dear th of provisions provisions but 2

because she has bee n and is adjudged adjudged wicked, wicked, invidious invidious and ungratef ungrateful ul by him whose prudence 3

surpasses his his dominions, dominions, extensive as they are. While Alcim Alcimus us was with with me, I had one who would hear with indulg indulgence ence my self-reproaches self-reproache s and my boasts of the distinction shown shown me by you. But after afte r his departure, departure , considering the ceiling c eiling as my only friend, I lookup up to it as I lay in my bed and said, "Now the emperor sent for me; now I entered and sat down (for that he allowed me); now I pleaded for the city, as I was permitted to intercede with him for those who had had offended him. But he prevailed, so just just was his charge and so powerful his his elocution. And though though I opposed him, I was was neither disliked disliked nor ejected." ejected. " With this banquet I regale myself, and I entreat entre at the t he gods, first first that they will give give you the superiority over your enemies, and secondly that they will render you as propitious to us as you were formerly. I have also a third petition which which they have heard but I will not here mention. I ought ought not, however, even to have said that I will not mention mention it. For you are ingenious ingenious enough to conjecture this third article from my wishing wishing to conceal what I wish. And, indeed, indeed, I apprehend tha t the contrary cont rary will be your choice.

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Now then pass the rivers; rush on the archers more impetuously impetuously than a torrent; torrent ; and afterwards afte rwards think on what you said you would would think. But fail not to solace solace me in your your absence as much as you can. I for my part will send letters to extort e xtort your answers from the midst midst of the battle, batt le, as I am convinced that you have a genius that can ca n at once comm c ommand and an army, fight fight an enemy, and correspond corre spond with with a friend. I am so inform inform 6

that I am oblig obliged ed to hear what I ought ought to see. Happy is is Seleucus Seleucus in this this glorious glorious sight, sight, and in in preferring the honour of serving such such a prince to that which he derives de rives from a good good wife and a most beloved daughter! 1

The journey is unknown. unknown. Perhaps it was to Mount Cassius (cf. the Misopogon, p. 282) where where Jupiter had a temple, 15 miles (a day's journey) from Antioch, which, however, Julian performed several severa l times during his residence in the the city. For "from thence" says Ammianus Ammianus (22.14) "at the t he second cock-crowing, is first seen the rising of the sun." 2

Meaning Antioch, then afflicted with famine and exposed to the resentment of the emperor for disregarding his edict lowering the price of provisions and not abstaining from sarcasms on himself. This appears from the embassy that our author sent to Julian for the Antiochians, which is in the second volume of his works, p. 151, and also from his oration to the Antiochians de Imperatoris ira which, before unpublished, our learned Fabricius has inserted in his Bibliotheca Bibliotheca Graeca, vol. 7, p 207. WOLFIUS. 3

A native of Nicomedia and a man of learning, as appears from several letters addressed to him by Libanius. 4

I should understand this of marriage, marriage, to which which Julian was averse. WOLFIUS .

5

The Persians.

6

Mentioned above above..

10. Letter 622 (A.D. 363) 1

That Alexander Alexander was appointed appointed to the government government at first, I confess, gave gave me some some concern, as the principal persons among us were dissatisfied. dissatisfied. I thought it it dishonourable, injuriou injurious, s, and unbecoming unbecoming a

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prince; and that repeat r epeated ed fines would rather weaken wea ken than improve the city. But now the good effects effec ts of 2

this severity are so manifest that I recant. reca nt. For they who who formerly bathed and slept at noon now, imitat imitating ing the manners of the Laceda L acedaemonians, emonians, labour indefat indefatig igably ably not only in the day-time day-t ime but no small part of the night, nailed, as it it were, to the gate of Alexander. And when he clamours from from within, within, everything is is instantly in motion. motion. Thus the sword will will never never be wanted since his threats threat s alone are sufficient to render the t he impudent modest and the slothful industrious. industrious. Calliope Calliope is also honoured, agreeable to your wishes, not only by horse-rac horse-races es but theat rical exhibitions; exhibitions; and sacrifices ar e offered to t o the gods in the theatre thea tre without our making the least alteration. a lteration. Loud applause is given given and amidst amidst this applause the gods are invoked. With this applause the governor governor seems do delighted delighted that he urges urges many more to add to 3

it. Of such importance, importance, O prince, to mankind is divination divination as it teaches teac hes everyone the best manner of of governing governing a family, a city, a nation na tion and a kingdom. kingdom. 1

This is the Alexander of whom Ammianus says (23.2), "When Julian was going to leave Antioch, he made one Alexander of Heliopolis, governor of Syria, a turbulent and severe man, saying that 'undeserving as he he was, such a ruler suited the avaricious and contumellious Antiochians'." As the letter makes clear, Julian handed the city over to be looted by a man he himself regarded as unworthy, and the Christian inhabitants, who had dared to oppose his attempt to restore paganism, to be forced to attend and applaud pagan ceremonies at sword-point; and be 'urged' to cheer more loudly. 2

The proverb is taken from a transaction of Stesichorus, the lyric poet, mentioned by Plato in his Phaedrus. 3

Libanius here flatters Julian, as if he had learned by divination that Alexander was such a one as ought to govern Syria Syria and the Antiochenes. Antiochenes. WOLFIUS .

11. Letter 1035 1

On all all accounts I was was pleased to see Ablavius Ablavius but principally principally because he brought brought me a lette letterr from you. For sooner than blame you I should detest myself; such has been your at tention to the promotion promotion of my interest, amidst this tedious war, which you could could not have been be en if anyone had spoken to t o my disadvantage. In seeming to laugh, laugh, and pardoning pardoning those those who, in order to flatter one, calumn ca lumniate iate another, you acted like yourself. Flattery is their trade and as necessary nec essary to their livelihood livelihood as rowing rowing is is to that of sailors. That sage, with whose morals Ablavius Ablavius acquainted me, though he would not disclose his name, gave me no concern concer n on any account, ac count, this only excepted, exce pted, that tha t in mentioning me he was guilty of a 2

solecism; solecism; and I, though though guilty guilty of no offence, was sent by him him among among the barbarians . Inform him him of this and caution caut ion him him to avoid such mistakes mistakes for the future; future ; he may then, if he pleases, speak evil of me, for 3

then at least least he will will not speak speak ill. ill. But this man is unalterable. If however however by his calumnies he should should still offend you and you wish to punish him, you easily may by confining him to his house for an afternoon and obliging him to sup at home; and when he again grows insolent, through repletion, and drinks your 4

own wine wine against against you , you need only repeat the t he punishment; punishment; you cannot inflict inflict a greate greater. r. This will effect ually curb his licentious licentious tongue; but whatever be his name, let me know it so that when I write his elogium, it may not be anonymous. 1

Libanius has two letters to Ablavius.

2

Libanius ridicules the man who made himself a barbarian by speaking barbarously of Libanius.

3

The translator has tried to retain Libanius' pun between speaking evil and speaking badly.

4

Drinking a toast against the one whose money paid for the wine.

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12. Letter 1125 (A.D. 358)

Alas! alas! how insatiable insatiable is your desire desire of further at tainments! You possess the palm of eloquence, snatched from others, at once "A matchless prince and a most potent sage"

1

Other princes have acted acte d and we applauded, applauded, but you excell in in both those capacities. For how can we 2

speak so high highly ly in in commendation commendation of your your actions as you you do of that short lett letter? er? Hence I conjecture what 3

you will will do, when you have subdued Phoenicia , as already you administer administer justice to your subjects, wage war with the barbarians, and in the composition composition of orations far exceed the comm c ommon on rank. Though Though I am not solicitous solicitous as to the future, fut ure, I shall be be as much pleased with this slaughter slaughter as with a victory. For when the vanquished and the victor are friends, f riends, the vanquished has a share in the triumph; as friends, it is said, said, have all things in common. 1

4

An allusion to Iliad III.178.

2

As his letters witness, Julian also commended highly other orations of Libanius.

3

I would understand this of the orators of Phoenicia.

4

The proverb is quoted by Euripides Euripide s in his his Orestes, Oreste s, in the the same words. words. See Gregory Nazianzen, Nazianzen, Letter 64.

L etterr 1392 13. Lette

1

2

Gemellus Gemellus is my my relation and my friend and by his manners manners is no disgrace disgrace to his family. family. If he had been possessed of money money and a large estate, estate , he would long long ago have been employed on some some public public function. But as his fortune is small he he has, by my advice, take n a method which may exempt him from tears tea rs and chains, the usual attendants att endants of those whom public employments employments have reduced reduce d to poverty. Happy he is in discharging discharging this office under your inspection; as you never fail fa il to reprobate injustice injustice and a nd to honour what is just and equitable. Many there are who look look upon justice justice and equity as meanness and accordingly accordingly despise them. But far different is your conduct; for you were well born, and well well instructe instructed, d, and therefore theref ore glory more more in being virtuous virtuous than in the numerous nations which you govern. govern. Of this Gemellus Gemellus has proofs; and, that tha t he may have more, let him be obliged obliged for those to you, but for these to me. For if he should receive any greater favours f avours in consequence of my letter, lette r, he will certainly certa inly be indebted for them to my advice. 1

In the edition of Wolfius this is the 1392th.

2

To this Gemellus Libanius has several letters.

L etterr 1490 14. Lette

1

We have made a mutual agreement, that I should write write to you on behalf of my friends, and that if their 2

requests are reasonable you will will assist them. Of your assistance let this Hyperechius first reap the advantage. He has long long been harassed and oppressed oppressed by those whose chief chief study is unjust gain. gain. He was 3

one of my scholars in in my former former prosperity. Such I deem the time of of my residence residence at a t Nicomedia Nicomedia ; not on account of the wealth but of the excellent exce llent friends that it procured me, many of whom are no more. This This

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man, whose whose hopes now rest on you, then came from Ancyra . In eloquence eloquence none excelled exce lled him; in manners none none equalled him. him. I love him therefore theref ore with a parental affect ion. I cannot see him injured injured without assisting assist ing him myself and urging others other s to assist him also. And if in this you think that I ac t no bad part, show by your deeds deeds that you approve my conduct. 1

In the edition of Wolfius this is the 1490th.

2

An orator, orator, the son of Maximus, Maximus, a native native of Galatia. Galatia . Libanius Libanius has addressed address ed several severa l letters to him.

3

Our author affirms in his Life, p. 21, that he spent five years with pleasure at Nicomedia and calls that time "the spring of his life". WOLFIUS.

4

The same city which Libanius, in his 26th oration, p. 599, styles "the principal and largest city in Galatia."

15. Letter 3 of book 2 (A.D.363)

1

2

The oration , which which contains some account of your glorious glorious actions, you honour not not only with with praise but admiration. And as you are ranked among the learned, you maintain, maintain, I am told, told, that Demosthenes could not have written more forcibly, Socrate Socratess more agreeably or Plato more copiously copiously on the occasion. You affirm also that greater great er glory will will redound to you from my writings writings than from the fortunate fort unate event of your actions. My opinion opinion is is far different. For though, though, with with my most most studious and elaborate endea vours, I strove to exalt exa lt your name, yet as my strength strength was unequal to such a weight, weight, what I performed pe rformed I performed with great great pleasure. But so brilliant brilliant are your praises that the rudest genius genius may seem sufficiently sufficiently decorated decorat ed by the dignity dignity of the subject subject.. Your actions therefore were the noblest ornaments of my oration. And though though I attempted at tempted to illustrate those a ctions which in their own nature were wer e most splendid, splendid, I rather rat her illustrate illustrated d myself. myself. So that you have no cause to return return me thanks, or to think that they are due to me. me. But that I may acquire such a splendour by recording your exploits, exploits, whatever success suc cess may attend atte nd you in future do not fail to communicat communicatee to me by a letter. let ter. 1

This is the 3rd of the 2nd book of the letters of Libanius, collected in Greek by Francisco Zambicari of Bologna Bologna and published in his Latin Latin translation only by John Somerfeld Somerfeld at Cracow, Crac ow, 1504. It is also inserted by Fabricius in his Bibliotheca Graeca, vol. 7, p.390. 2

His panegyrical address to Julian, when he was at Antioch, just before he set out on his Persian expedition. It is the 5th in the the 2nd volume of the the works works of this sophist, published by Morell. How agreeable it was to the emperor Libanius mentioned in a letter to Celsus [the 648th] as well as in the above. FABRICIUS .

16. Letter 14 of book 2

1

I can scarce believe be lieve that, than which nothing nothing can be more certa in. Departing from you, you, in obedience obedience to your order, and on an urgent occa sion, I am both willing willingly ly and unwilling unwillingly ly absent from you. For I think that I could c ould be sooner sooner negligent negligent of my life life than of your commands. Any labours, however however great, seem trifles; however small, when desired to undertake them for you, I have been accustomed to think them sweeter than ambrosia. To this it is is owing that, were you to command me, I would would depart not only from you but from myself. myself. But as I consider you as my deity, without you nothing seems pleasing. pleasing. You constantly occur to my mind: whatever I hear repeats the voice of Julian; whatever I see reflects the image image of my venerable deity. And when a sweet slumber refreshes my languid languid limbs, limbs, you seem so present to me that t hat by the t he kindness of the immortal immortal gods, separated separate d and loosed from my body, my mind mind seems to fly to you, to embrace, a ddress, in short short to worship you; so that if I were wer e to be deprived of life I would wish that to be my last day. Farther, that I may no longer longer be thus tormented, I entreat entrea t you to give give me your

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permission permission to return to you, and in your presence to adore your deity, which absent I at once a dmire dmire and venerate. venerat e. If not, as by your your indulgence indulgence it may may be effected, effect ed, I could easily easily be content to be banished not only from the city I so much love but also from the world. 1

This also is publis p ublished hed only in Latin by Zambicari. Zambicari. It is the the 14th of his his 2nd book.

This text was transcribed by Roger Pearse, Ipswich, UK, 2007. All material on this page is in the public domain - copy freely. The text text comes comes from "Select works wor ks of Julian", vol. 1. This is available avail able for download at Google Books, Books, so I have not felt it necessary necessar y to to reproduce repro duce page num numbers etc. The letter numbering numbering is from Wolfius Wolfius except where specified. spec ified. Commen Comments ts have been abbreviated abbre viated or rephrased. rephras ed. Comm Commas have been omitted where unnecessar unnecessary. y. A few words have been modifie modified d where confusion confusion would have been involved involved to a modern reader -- e.g. accosted becomes addressed, etc. The last two letters are forgeries by Zambica Zambicari, ri, I understand. understand. Greek text is rendered using unicode unicode..

Early Church Fathers - Additional Texts

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Libanius, Sixteen Letters to Julian the Apostate (1784)

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