Letter 349: Tuscianus and I enjoyed each other's company — I by listening to him, he by hearing me speak.

To Aristaenetus. We enjoyed each other's company, both I and Tuscianus, I listening to him, and he listening to me as I spoke; or rather, I had the better of it, since I was granted the hearing of finer speeches than those I myself displayed. But as for what he did here when I was comparing Strategius with those holding the same office—what, then, did he do? He turned pale and was choking, and was like a man being struck and wounded, taking it hard that anyone should seem to have defeated his own darlings, namely Thalassius and Leontius and this present fellow here, who speaks great words no more than he accomplishes great deeds. The result was that it even seemed to some, who did not understand the matter, that he was finding fault with our side, whereas the man who was most annoyed was the one who most admired it. For if he had not seen our side to be strong, he would even have laughed; but as it was, this man's distress bore witness to the force of the speech. If, then, with you too he should undergo something of this sort at the recollection of the speech, do not fail to notice that he is voting this man the victor, the very man by whom he says he is displeased.

Ἀρισταινέτῳ. (358) Ἀπηλαύσαμεν ἀλλήλων ἐγώ τε καὶ Τουσκιανός, ἐγὼ μὲν ἀκροώμενος τούτου, λέγοντος δὲ ἐκεῖνος ἐμοῦ, μᾶλλον δέ, ἐπλεονέκτουν ἐγὼ καλλίονος ὧν ἐδείκνυον λόγων ἀκοῆς εἰλημ- μένος. ἃ δὲ ἐποίησεν ἐνθάδε παραβάλλοντος ἐμοῦ τὸν Στρατήγιον τοῖς ἐπὶ τῆς ἴσης ἀρχῆς—τί οὖν ἐποίησεν; ὠχρία τε καὶ ἀπεπνίγετο καὶ ὅμοιος ἦν βαλλομένῳ καἰ τιτρωσκομένῳ δεινὸν ποιούμενος, εἴ τις δόξει νενικηκέναι τὰ αὑτοῦ παιδικά, τὸν Θαλάσσιον καὶ Λεόντιον καὶ τὸν νῦν τουτονὶ τὸν οὐ μᾶλλον μέγα φθεγγόμενον ἡ μεγάλα ἐργαζόμενον. ὥστε καὶ ἔδοξεν ἐνίοις μέμφεσθαι τὸ μέρος ἀγνοοῦσιν, ὡς ὁ μάλιστα χαλεπαίνων οὗτος ἦν ὁ μάλιστα θαυμάζων. εἰ μὲν γὰρ οὐχ ἐώρα τὸ μέρος ἰσχυρόν, κἂν ἐγέλα· νῦν δὲ ἡ τοῦδε λύπη ρώ- μην ἐμαρτύρει τῷ λόγῳ. ἂν οὖν καἰ παρὰ σοὶ πάσχῃ τι τοιοῦτον ἐν μνήμῃ τοῦ λόγου, μή σε λανθανέτω τοῦτον νικᾶν ψηφιζόμενος ᾧ φησιν οὐχ ἡδέως ἔχειν.