Panegyric orations

 To run against you from an opposing lot, he endured but the pentathlon was accomplished for you and the pancratium was completed with no one having c

 The votes, i imagine the divine judgment and i refer to the incorruptible tribunal. when i test you in elections, i admire your intelligence and your

 From afar it shines on those landing and extends a hand to those from the sea, escorting them to rome most painlessly. what in addition to these does

 Using it and bending and curving it towards the drooping jaw, i remember the indian's eyebrow at this, how he held it more than a cubit above his head

 And to a rival. let others, then, measure you against and compare you with whomever they wish, but i, though i seem to make a strange and dissimilar c

 In prose, not in meters and poems or perhaps many are present, but they have no account of the matter, as if it were of no account to them. and time

 The hegemony of his father, with kingdoms overthrown and not a few changes having occurred in both, those who, having exchanged their fortune for the

 He took counsel of opposing nations, but by making everything purchasable with gold and royal splendors, from this he gained the goodwill of all, and

 Opened, and flung wide the very gates of the soul, and associated with wicked and corrupt lives. for he did not at once know the whole line of the fam

 To work deeds of injustice for he was angry with those who did wrong and would punish them. but when he began to be sick and his body was wasting awa

 Not a magnificent spirit, not a musical and graceful speech, nothing else of the sort that knows how to beautify the soul and the nature of the body.

 Drives a sphere, and the other the superterrestrial one, so that the one might wind its own zone in a single cycle, and the other in twelve cycles, an

 Defining the virtues by its power, and practicing the higher geometry. for this, as proclus also says, has occupied the middle ground between the indi

 The power of the kingdom came to him, besides these the life of david among the flocks, the pursuit, those many dangers into which he fell but was not

 He locks up the monarchy into a tyranny, having exchanged one evil for another. justice is not quiet, it kindles the coals, it sends the arrow, the wi

 I call it his girdle-and he draws away no small cavalry and infantry force from old rome, he adds to these also the best army of the east, and no smal

 An angel wrought a more manifest victory. i have something more to say than those wonders there the cross was in types and images, a bronze serpent s

 You, o king the more abundantly you pour out benefits upon us, the more you increase by being filled. from this, no one has been left out of such wea

 With the eyes, then poured out and dissolved, but better and higher than all that is visible. but, o emperor—for i repeat the title to you and call it

 You fill the western beacon, neither grudging us your rays nor altering the color of your disk, but the more time increases the distances, the more be

 The rising of the sun, the land upon which it immediately rises, so that, if any of our people wished, having gone there he could, not with geometrica

 I am an unskillful chronicler of your deeds and erring in my timing, and i do not have a nature that strikes out in both directions at once. for you a

 To wish. for you both comprehend the present and conjecture the future and discover the unseen, discerning character from eyebrows and eyelids, so tha

 To speak? -unseemly even in his appearance, made of tin or dipped in bile and altogether counterfeit gold, but since he was in the midst of dangers, t

 With stones lying along each side, so that the conjoined may seem continuous and the well-fitted of one nature. behold for me the heights and beauties

 But here is a distinct hand divided into five rosy branches. but this is a most unerring testimony of that godlike soul. but do you wish to see some t

 Transcending substance and holding the principles of the forms folded together and least of all divided from the one. and you, being such, do you not

 The fountains of good deeds flowed, as if from a sheer rock, having received the impetus for their flowing these proclaimed you by reputation even be

 A guide, so also there an arbiter of the administrations, that i may suit you for both, both speaking your deeds and doing the words of your administr

 P]ortions are deprived of praise, but no one of all men has been suited to all words of praise. but to you so much is granted [against] all in all thi

 To bring to the highest point of keenness, or your soul which was not [shattered by] trials, but also most nobly endured through the magnitude of the

 And they were torn away, and their manner altered their nature [....], and they have remained, and after the separation, being both nourished and fatt

 But the love of art and the care concerning the divine sanctuaries, what demostheneses or the best of the writers could describe and praise? how beau

 Having surpassed in his heroic deeds him and the kings up to you, but in his plans he is recorded as being less than his accomplishments, winning in [

 Less, you have given the first place to reason over passion, and you have established the one like some foundation upon the acropolis, but the other y

 Having considered what is seen, but when i also behold the tomb of the queen, and i behold it often whenever i wish to console some hardship of fortun

 To comprehend in a speech. for to whom could the unattainable be attainable, even if he were rich in the homeric power for speeches, or the herodotan

 Admiring and in return is eager to make an image and someone already having constructed a stele for you inscribed the gentle one. therefore solomon

 Much praise and measured against all of time. how then could i summarize the whole in a few words? i will speak, therefore, a little of your virtues,

 Everyone rejoices and exults with the one who has taken up your encomiums and because i did not weave the words of praise sooner, he is rather vexed

 Gracefulness, the maturity of your thought, the symmetry of your greatness, the quick-wittedness, the stability of your mind, the unmarried life, the

 At once for us the lord and most skilled in command and pleasing to all, o most excellent foresight, o wise consideration, o most noble counsel, o div

 Of virtues? you, beyond any kings who ever were, honored justice and preferred philanthropy, and having attained the height of prudence, you appeared

 Accomplishments? o the arrows from heaven against the barbarians, o the unseen bowshots, o the angelic powers in the air, o the divine armies against

 The greatest part of character. for as many as have become of a civic disposition, if they have descended to this willingly, they seemed both prudent

 Of civil administration and of divine hearing. if therefore, being engaged in one, he also holds to the other, let this for now be a secret to many. b

 Of wise men going to ammon's shrine or being within the delphic tripod suddenly transferred their apparent wisdom to the more divine and greater, how

 We have taken starting points, and yet more absurd, if we render praises to the good and noble men who have died, for what they have said concerning w

 And not many months after the sowing, but immediately reaping the harvest and so that i might say what is from the gospel, the two were running toget

 If we should set about to build him up, this marvelous man, both in nature and in diligence, has received much contribution toward his eloquence from

 For having embraced one of these, they might neglect the rest, or putting ears before mind, they have an unintelligible tongue, or having drawn up spr

 Pleases the petty and the overly artful. therefore, of these enumerated wise men, the one now honored in this discourse wishes to imitate gregory, and

 I knew not only what the greeks knew, nor what the chaldeans or egyptians knew, but i had also condemned them, though not all of them, nor has my refu

 With magnanimity, he who was both namesake and like-minded with the great constantine, and who alone nobly contended against all, and taking his name-

 Regulates the state of the church, no less than moses who constructed the tabernacle below according to the pattern shown to him for whether melodies

 Concerning which things, before his high-priesthood, at a time when he did not even have many resources of money, he constructed brilliantly and accom

 And to impart to others. and perhaps he did not endure the waves of the sea, but in his toils on land he might in some way be compared to paul. and co

 One of two things happening, either god descending into the mind, or the mind ascending to god. but what is the place of god's rest, or by which of al

 Of a voice, nor were you instructed by any of the higher powers, to lay aside the symbols of the priesthood, and to transfer yourself to another life,

 Nothing unpleasant would happen to those handling these things but for you, who happen to be a philosopher, what harm will come from these affairs? j

 Of words but you, o king, will both speak publicly among the armies and bring an impulse with your speech and will rouse them together for the deed.

 May you be crowned on the head with glorious trophies. may you be adorned with deeds of valor against the barbarians, and be escorted by many victorie

 May you rend the sea and stop the river and vanquish amalek. may a cloud, giving shade over your head, take away your burning heat, and a pillar of li

of wise men going to Ammon's shrine or being within the Delphic tripod suddenly transferred their apparent wisdom to the more divine and greater, how shall I not rather, as if possessed by your mystical spirit, sound something more than my usual weak voice? For I am in no way inferior so as to impart to you of the better judgment and divine inspiration. For I know indeed that I am running a very great risk, the small one being measured against the great one and the one who does not even know the reasons of things apparent weaving praise for the mystic of things intelligible. But since your divinity has now moved me to this speech, I have become as if inspired by the spirit and having received a fresher life at hand, I prophesy, so to speak, how much magniloquence my breast will give forth. Now the north wind moves and stirs the sea, and it becomes wavy and is aroused; but if the wind suddenly fails, it grows calm; for those things aroused by something need continuous motion. For this reason, do not, after once imparting to me of your spirit, hold back the influx, but impart it more continuously, and urge and encourage me, so that the tone of my soul may become more vigorous for the contest. For a contest for me and a great stadium has been opened, and you sit as president, an artful judge and examiner of my words, and if God is willing, also the bestower of the crown. And I am running a double race, on the one hand running with the great one, and on the other making the race under you as spectator. And I know that, having become part of the more divine wisdom, you disdain this lower and humble one, and you consider praises burdensome, when it is possible to be filled with the praise from above. But what are we to do, cast down somewhere below your incomparable majesty? For whatever we might say, will appear lesser. And we are so far from flattering, that in a certain way we seem to dishonor what is yours; for that which we do not reach, we insult. But shall we be silent? And how shall we show our gratitude? You see how both to be silent and to speak become accusations against us. I am not a god, and for this reason a god; for this also represents deification; for the standard of humility is a most accurate image of deification. But how is he not a god who is adorned with divine advantages? But restrain your displeasure for a short time and give me your hearing, sparing your tongue; for if you speak, you will overwhelm me. And I am timid anyway. How then not, a god being formed with those colors with which the divine man has been formed, and then also being turned toward the things here like some intellectual power and caring for the things in creation? For your soul has been led up to God and has been deified; but a certain small power flows to us from you and that which flows on is an abyss of wisdom and stewardship. Again you will accuse me of flattery, and for this reason I shudder and am afraid of a more complete encomium for you. Do you know then for what reason I have done this. Those who climb up on high places first demonstrate their skill on the lesser and lower things. And if then they come close to the matter, they dare the greater thing, but if not, they keep quiet. See then for me the introduction of the speech and the image of the truth. If it is not sufficient, we will be silent; but if it outlines a more perfect skill and power, we will set our hand to what has been commanded. 17 Encomium to John the most God-revering metropolitan of Euchaita and protosynkellos. The speech indeed is perhaps less than the subject, but the desire is manifestly greater than the undertaking, on account of which I have made the encomium to the wise John, the one presiding over the glorious metropolis of Euchaita, and no less I will say its founder, to my, I say, both friend and teacher—for I am not ashamed to say this, but rather am proud of it—; for it is absurd, if having received from him the power of speech, we will then not dedicate back to him something of what has been received, nor will we pay fitting honors, from whom the ability to honor with speech the

σοφῶν ἐς Ἄμμωνος φοιτῶντες ἢ ἐντὸς τοῦ ∆ελφικοῦ γινόμενοι τρίποδος ἀθρόον τὴν φαινομένην σοφίαν ἐπὶ τὴν θειοτέραν καὶ κρείττονα μετετίθεσαν, πῶς οὐχὶ μᾶλλον αὐτὸς κάτοχος οἷον ὑπὸ τοῦ σοῦ μυστικοῦ γενόμενος πνεύματος ἠχήσω τι πλέον τῆς συνήθους μικροφωνίας; οὐδὲν γὰρ ἐλαττοῦμαι ἢ ὥστε μεταδιδόναι ὑμῖν γνώμης καὶ θεοφορίας τῆς κρείττονος. οἶδα μὲν γὰρ ἀναρρίπτων κίνδυνον ὅ τι μέγαν, ὁ βραχὺς τῷ μεγάλῳ παραμετρούμενος καὶ ὁ μηδὲ τοὺς τῶν φαινομένων λόγους εἰδὼς τῷ μύστῃ τῶν νοητῶν ὑφαίνων τὴν εὐφημίαν. ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ ἡ σή με θειότης νῦν ἐπὶ τὸν λόγον ἐκίνησεν, ἔνθους ὥσπερ τῷ πνεύματι γέγονα καὶ νεαρωτέραν ἐξ ἑτοίμου ζωὴν εἰληφὼς μαντεύομαι, ἵν' οὕτως εἴπω, ὅσην μοι τὸ στῆθος ἀναδώσει μεγαληγορίαν. κινεῖ μὲν οὖν ὁ βορρᾶς καὶ ταράττει τὴν θάλατταν, ἡ δὲ κυμαίνεται καὶ διεγείρεται· ἀλλ' ἂν ἀνθρόον ἐπιλίπῃ τὸ πνεῦμα, καθίσταται· δεῖ γὰρ τοῖς ὑπό τινος διεγειρομένοις συνεχοῦς τῆς κινήσεως. διὰ ταῦτα μὴ ἅπαξ μοι αὐτὸς τοῦ σοῦ πνεύματος μεταδοὺς ἐπίσχῃς τὴν ἐπιρροήν, ἀλλὰ συνεχέστερον μεταδίδου, ἐγκέλευέ τε καὶ παραθάρρυνε, ἵνα μοι ὁ τόνος τῆς ψυχῆς εὐτονώτερος πρὸς τὴν ἅμιλλαν γένηται. ἅμιλλα γάρ μοι καὶ μέγα ἀνέῳκται στάδιον, καὶ σὺ προκάθῃ βραβευτὴς ἔντεχνος καὶ τῶν ἐμῶν λόγων ἐξεταστής, ἢν δὲ καὶ θεὸς ἐθέλῃ, καὶ στεφανίτης. ἐγὼ δὲ τρέχω δρόμον διπλοῦν, τὸ μὲν τῷ μεγάλῳ συνθέων, τὸ δὲ ὑπό σοι θεατῇ τὸν δρόμον ποιούμενος. καὶ οἶδ' ὅτι τῆς θειοτέρας σοφίας γενόμενος ἀτιμάζεις ταύτην τὴν κάτω καὶ ταπεινήν, καὶ φορτικοὺς ἡγῇ τοὺς ἐπαίνους, ἐξὸν ἐμφορεῖσθαι τῆς ἄνω εὐφημίας. Ἀλλ' ἡμεῖς τί καὶ δράσωμεν, κάτω που ἀπερριμμένοι τῆς σῆς ἀσυγκρίτου μεγαλειότητος; ὅ τι γὰρ ἂν εἴποιμεν, ἔλαττον φανήσεται. καὶ τοσοῦτον τοῦ κολακεύειν ἀπέχομεν, ὥστε καὶ τρόπον τινὰ ἀτιμάζειν δοκοῦμεν τὰ σά· οἷς γὰρ οὐκ ἀφικνούμεθα, καθυβρίζομεν. ἀλλὰ σιωπήσομεν; καὶ πῶς τὴν εὐγνωμοσύνην ἐπιδειξόμεθα; ὁρᾷς ὅπως καὶ τὸ σιωπᾶν καὶ τὸ λέγειν ἐγκλήματα ἡμῖν καθίστανται. οὔ τοι ἐγὼ θεός εἰμι καὶ διὰ τοῦτο θεός· εἰκονίζει γὰρ καὶ τοῦτο τὴν θέωσιν· ὁ γὰρ τῆς μετριοφροσύνης ὅρος ἀκριβεστάτη εἰκὼν τῆς θεώσεως. ἀλλὰ πῶς οὐ θεὸς ὁ τοῖς θείοις πλεονεκτήμασι κοσμούμενος; ἀλλ' ἔπεχέ μοι βραχεῖ χρόνῳ τὴν δυσχέρειαν καὶ δίδου τὴν ἀκοήν, τῆς γλώττης φειδόμενος· εἰ γὰρ ἐρεῖς, κατακλύσεις. ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ ἄλλως δειλός. πῶς οὖν οὐ, θεὸς μορφούμενος ἐκείνοις τοῖς χρώμασιν, οἷς ὁ θεῖος μεμόρφωται ἄνθρωπος, εἶτα καὶ πρὸς τὰ τῇδε ἐπεστραμμένος ὥσπερ τις νοερὰ δύναμις καὶ τῶν ἐν γενέσει ἐπιμελόμενος; ἀνῆκται μὲν γάρ σοι πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἡ ψυχὴ καὶ τεθέωται· βραχεῖα δέ τις ἡμῖν δύναμις ἐπιρρεῖ παρά σοι καὶ τὸ ἐπιρρέον σοφίας καὶ οἰκονομίας ἄβυσσος. πάλιν με κολακείας γράψῃ, καὶ διὰ ταῦτα πέφρικα καὶ φοβοῦμαι τὸ τελεώτερόν σοι ἐγκώμιον. οἶσθ' οὖν ὅτου χάριν τοῦτο πεποίηκα. οἱ ἐν μετεώροις ἀναρριχώμενοι ἐν τοῖς ἐλάττοσι καὶ χθαμαλωτέροις τὴν τέχνην πρῶτον ἐπιδεικνύουσι. κἂν μὲν οὖν ἐγγὺς τοῦ πράγματος ἔλθωσι, κατατολμῶσι τοῦ μείζονος, εἰ δὲ μή, ἡσυχάζουσιν. ὅρα γοῦν μοι τοῦ λόγου τὸ προεισόδιον καὶ τὴν εἰκόνα τῆς ἀληθείας. ἂν μὲν οὐκ αὔταρκες, σιωπήσομεν· εἰ δ' ὑπογράφει τελεωτέραν τέχνην καὶ δύναμιν, τῷ ἐπιταττομένῳ προσεγχειρήσομεν. 17 Ἐγκώμιον εἰς Ἰωάννην τὸν θεοσεβέστατον μητροπολίτην Εὐχαΐτων καὶ πρωτοσύγκελλον. Ὁ μὲν λόγος ἐλάττων ἴσως τῆς ὑποθέσεως, ὁ δὲ πόθος προδήλως μείζων τοῦ ἐγχειρήματος, δι' ὃν ἐγὼ τῷ σοφῷ Ἰωάννῃ τῷ τῆς Εὐχαΐτων προκαθημένῳ λαμπρᾶς μητροπόλεως, οὐδὲν δὲ ἧττον καὶ οἰκιστῇ ταύτης ἐρεῖν, τῷ ἐμῷ φημὶ καὶ φίλῳ καὶ διδασκάλῳ-οὐ δὲ γὰρ αἰσχύνομαι τοῦτο εἰπεῖν ὅτι μὴ καὶ μᾶλλον ἐντεῦθεν σεμνύνομαι-πεποίημαι τὸ ἐγκώμιον· ἄτοπον γάρ, εἰ παρ' ἐκείνου λαβόντες τοῦ λόγου τὴν δύναμιν, ἔπειτα μή τι τοῦ προσειλημμένου ἐκείνῳ ἐπαναθήσομεν, μηδὲ τιμήσομεν τὰ εἰκότα, παρ' οὗ τοῦ λόγῳ τιμᾷν δύνασθαι τὰς