Letter 949: Praise for Celsinus and congratulations to Julianus.

The noble Celsinus, having made our city more beautiful when he arrived, made it worse again by departing so quickly. He used to make it more beautiful with the speeches he gave to those who visited him, speaking of justice—as is natural for Celsinus to speak of justice—and praising moderation and rebuking the cowardly for their lack of manliness. Furthermore, he encouraged us toward wisdom by his own example, applying his voice and eyes to my writings and going through as many as possible in a few days with a 'flight' of reading; thus he would return one manuscript and take another, over and over again. Perhaps this labor was not over some grand matter, yet it moved the youth to see him toil over such things, even after his high office, his official sashes and heralds, and his care for so many nations. By rousing private citizens to virtue and going through everything that officials ought to hear, he acted while knowing he might not do much good, yet believing it was fitting for him to speak nonetheless. As for the honor with which he has been distinguished by our city—if I were to remain silent, I would be failing her. All those who possess this city among the gods cried out that they had not brought Celsinus here to us with an official command, nor granted the means by which we might have been truly happy. It is high time for you to boast, having snatched such a son-in-law.