Letter 453: I recently heard someone say that Eusebius was fortunate because he was close to the emperor.

To Alkimos. (355/56) I have already heard someone saying that Eusebius is fortunate, being indeed an intimate of the emperor. I, for my part, do not consider even this a trivial thing; yet it is on account of the virtue with which he lives that I call the man fortunate. For how is it not virtue, when one has the power to become bad, to wish to be good? What sort of Hellespont he found and what sort he made it, you used to hear; but your own affairs someone else will soon sing. As for me, having honored me in all things, he has adorned me with this greatest honor, granting me to write to my acquaintances through him. So when you receive this letter, love the man as you do me, and admire him as you would no other.

Ἀλκίμῳ. (355/56) Ἤδη τινὸς ἤκουσα λέγοντος ὡς εὐδαίμων Εὐσέβιος βα- σιλεῖ γε ὢν οἰκεῖος. ἐγὼ δὲ φαῦλον μὲν οὐδὲ τοῦτο ἡγοῦμαι, διὰ δὲ τὴν ἀρετὴν ᾗ συζῇ τὸν ἄνδρα εὐδαίμονα καλῶ. πῶς γὰρ οὐκ ἀρετὴ τὸ ἐν ἐξουσίᾳ τοῦ γενέσθαι κακὸν ἀγαθὸν ἐθέ- λειν εἶναι; τὸν μὲν οὖν Ἑλλήσποντον οἷον εὑρὼν οἶον ἔδειξεν, ἠκούετε τὰ δ’ ὑμέτερα ταχέως τις ἄλλος ᾄσεται. ἐμὲ· δὲ διὰ πάντων τετιμηκὼς μεγίστῳ τούτῳ κεκόσμηκε δοὺς ἐπι- στεῖλαι δι’ αὐτοῦ τοῖς γνωρίμοις. λαβὼν δὲ τὴν ἐπιστολὴν φίλει μὲν ὥσπερ ἐμὲ τὸν ἄνδρα, θαύμαζε δὲ ὡς οὐκ ἄλλον.