Letter 658: I hear that you uphold the laws in your courts, show gentleness toward the decent and severity toward those who...

To Themistius. (361 AD) I hear that you uphold the laws in your courts, show gentleness toward the decent and severity toward those who deserve justice, and delight the populace through entertainments in the theaters. What is by nature so difficult — governing well — comes easily to you. Know that preserving the household of the worthy Severus brings you no less distinction than anything I have listed. For cities are made illustrious not only by the wealthy but also by those who have endured toil for the sake of learning — and Severus, whom you are helping, is one of these. I would say that men of culture contribute even more to a city's reputation than men of wealth. So let the citizens not think Severus useless, or worth less than the ability to perform public liturgies. And when they bark at him and you restrain them, let them not count as a loss the gain that honors both your judgment and their common good.

Θεμιστίῳ. (361) Ἀκούων σε τούς τε νόμους ἐν ταῖς δίκαις βεβαιοῦν καὶ πρᾳότητι μὲν πρὸς τοὺς ἐπιεικεῖς, θυμῷ δὲ χρῆσθαι πρὸς τοὺς δεομένους δίκης, τοὺς δὲ δήμους ἡδίους ποιεῖν διὰ τῶν ἐν τοῖς θεάτροις χαρίτων ὅτι τὸ τῇ φύσει χαλεπὸν ῥᾷστόν ἐστί σοι, τὸ ἄρχειν καλῶς. νόμιζε δὲ τὸ τῷ χρηστῷ Σευήρῳ σεσωκέναι τὸν οἶκον μηδὲν ἥττω σοι κόσμον ὧν κατέ- λεξα τούτων ἴχειν. τὰς γὰρ πόλεις οὐχ οἱ πλουτοῦντες μόνοι ποιοῦσι λαμπράς, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅσοι πόνους ὑπὲρ παιδείας ὑπή- νεγκαν, ὧν εἷς οὗτος ὃν εὖ ποιεῖς. φαίην δ’ ἂν ὅτι καὶ μεῖζον πόλεσιν εἰς δόξαν οἱ τοῦτο ἔχοντες τῶν ἐκεῖνα κεκτημένων, μὴ οὖν ἄχρηστον οἰέσθων οἱ πολῖται Σευήρου Σευῆρον καὶ ἦττον ἢ τὸ δύνασθαι λειτουργεῖν μηδ’ ὅταν ὑλακτοῦντες ὑπὸ σοῦ κωλύωνται, ζημίαν τὸ κέρδος ἡγείσθων ὃ τήν τε σὴν σεμνύνει γνώμην καὶ τὸ κοινὸν ἐκείνοις.