To Priscianus. (359/60)
When I first heard that you had gone to the very Danube, where the emperor, by displaying his arms, laid low the spirit of the Scythians, I did not write, for there was no one who would carry the letter to that place.
Then it was announced to us that you had returned together to the Great City [Constantinople] and held the office that is no longer a small one, since indeed you hold it. For perhaps the full suit of armor adorns Achilles and stands in need of the craft of Hephaestus; yet know well that even if the son of Thetis had put on the more ordinary gear, he himself would not have seemed the worse for it, while he would have made that gear appear the more beautiful.
Having learned, then, to what position you have come, we consider that you are always advancing, and that you fall but little short of the spectacle, and that letters ought not to be lacking; and since you are about to come, you lead us once more to writing.
So either show yourself to us, by Zeus, or, if you remain, make known that you are passing your time among better things; and cherish Polianus, both for the sake of the other things and for the sake of his letter.
**To Priscian** (359/60)
At first, when I heard you had gone all the way to the Danube itself — where the emperor, by displaying his arms, crushed the pride of the Scythians — I did not write, for there was no one to carry a letter there.
Then word reached me simultaneously that you had returned to the Great City and that you held an office no longer insignificant, since it is you who hold it. For perhaps Achilles is adorned by his full armor, and the craft of Hephaestus is needed — but know well that even if the son of Thetis had put on inferior gear, he himself would have seemed no lesser, while that gear he would have made appear finer.
So when we learned of the post you had assumed, we kept expecting you to arrive at any moment, that you were only a short way from our sight, and that a letter was unnecessary. But since you delay, you drive me back to writing once more.
So, by Zeus, either appear before us in person, or if you remain where you are, let us know that you are occupied with better things — and cherish Polianus both for his other qualities and for the sake of this letter.
When I first heard that you had gone to the very Danube, where the emperor, by displaying his arms, laid low the spirit of the Scythians, I did not write, for there was no one who would carry the letter to that place.
Then it was announced to us that you had returned together to the Great City [Constantinople] and held the office that is no longer a small one, since indeed you hold it. For perhaps the full suit of armor adorns Achilles and stands in need of the craft of Hephaestus; yet know well that even if the son of Thetis had put on the more ordinary gear, he himself would not have seemed the worse for it, while he would have made that gear appear the more beautiful.
Having learned, then, to what position you have come, we consider that you are always advancing, and that you fall but little short of the spectacle, and that letters ought not to be lacking; and since you are about to come, you lead us once more to writing.
So either show yourself to us, by Zeus, or, if you remain, make known that you are passing your time among better things; and cherish Polianus, both for the sake of the other things and for the sake of his letter.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.