Letter 61: I feel a mixture of joy and its opposite.

To Olympius. (359/360) A certain mixture of pleasure and its opposite holds me; for the fact that fortune is granting advancement to Priscianus, this is a festival for us, but that I am separated from the man who imitates my own uncle in his conduct toward me, this at any rate is no light thing for us. But indeed it was necessary that not only the foremost of physicians but also the foremost of orators should be at the emperor's side. And for this reason, long ago Olympius was near him, and now the orator has arrived. You will make the foreign land no worse for him than his own home, by establishing your own friends as friends shared with him. For you did not gain your strength without toil, whereas he, within your power, will swiftly grow strong. For no one prepared such a harbor for you in advance, but he, out of your labors, will be crowned without effort.

**To Olympius** (359/360) A certain mixture of pleasure and its opposite possesses me. That Priscianus's fortunes are advancing — this is a festival for me. But that I am separated from the man who imitates my uncle in his devotion to my interests — this is no light thing for me. Yet it was necessary that not only the foremost of physicians but also the foremost of rhetoricians should attend the emperor. And for this reason Olympius has long been close to him, and now the rhetorician has arrived. You will make his new home no worse than his own by making your friends his friends in common. For you did not win your influence without effort, but he, through your power, will win his quickly. No one prepared such a harbor for you in advance — but he, from the fruits of your labors, will be crowned without raising a hand.

Ὀλυμπίῳ. (359/360) Κρᾶσις ἔχει μέ τις ἡδονῆς καὶ τοὐναντίου τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἐπίδοσιν λαμβάνειν Πρισκιανῷ τὴν τύχην τοῦθ’ ἡμῖν ἑορτή, τὸ δὲ διεστάναι με τοῦ τὸν ἐμὸν θεῖον εἰς τἀμὰ μιμουμένου τοῦτό γε ἡμῖν οὐ κοῦφον. ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἔδει μὴ μόνον <τῶν> ἰατρῶ ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶι ῥητόρων τὸν ἄκρον συνεῖναι τῷ βασι- λεῖ. καὶ διὰ τοῦτο πάλαι μὶν Ὀλύμπιος ἐγγὺς ἐκείνῳ, νῦν δὲ ὁ ῥήτωρ ἀφῖκται. ποιήσεις δὲ αὐτῷ τὴν ἤν οὐ χείρω τῆς οἰκείας κοινοὺς αὐτῷ φίλους τοὺς σαυτοῦ καθιστάς. σὺ μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ἀπόνως ἴσχυσας, ὁ δὲ ἐν τῇ σῇ δυνάμει ταχέως ἰσχύ- σει. σοὶ μὲν γὰρ οὐδεὶς τοιοῦτον προητοίμασεν ὅρμον ὁ δὲ ἐκ τῶν σῶν ἄθλων ἀκονιτὶ στεφανώσεται.