Letter 929: Libanius uses Procopius' praise of him as grounds to ask for Thalassius' enrollment in the council.

A man who gave a speech among you, and was thought to have spoken extremely well, is one of my acquaintances. He reported to me that you too had delivered a long praise of me. I was immediately delighted by what I heard, and I am still delighted to have such a man praising me: a man who has had emperors as his own admirers, both those who ruled before the one who punished the Persians and those who ruled after him. So now I may ask a favor, and the praises give me hope that I will obtain it. Here is the favor: enroll for me in the great council a man who is not large, handsome, and swift, but self-controlled, just, useful to his friends, and capable of respect. Thalassius has these qualities, and still more good ones besides. Because of him I have been able to give myself wholly to rhetoric, since Thalassius has taken my other concerns upon himself.