Ep. CLIV.

To me you are Prefect even after the expiry of your term of office—for I judge things differently from the run of men—because you embrace in yourself every prefectoral virtue.  For many of those who sit on lofty thrones are to me base, all those whose hand makes them base and slaves of their subjects.80    I.e. who are accessible to bribery.  But many are high and lofty though they stand low, whom virtue places on high and makes worthy of greater government.  But what have I to do with this?  No longer is the great Olympius with us, nor does he bear our rudder-lines.  We are undone, we are betrayed, we have become again the Second Cappadocia, after having been made the First by you.  Of other men’s matters why should I speak? but who will cherish the old age of your Gregory, and administer to his weakness the enchantment of honours, and make him more honourable because he obtains kindness for many from you?  Now then depart on your journey with escort and greater pomp, leaving behind for us many tears, and carrying with you much wealth, and that of a kind which few Prefects do, good fame, and the being inscribed on all hearts, pillars not easily moved.  If you preside over us again with greater and more illustrious rule, (this is what our longing augurs), we shall offer to God more perfect thanks.

[154] ΟΛΥΜΠΙΩΙ

Ἡμῖν ἄρχων σὺ καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἀρχὴν (κρίνομεν γὰρ ἑτέρως ἢ ὡς οἱ πολλοὶ τὰ πράγματα), ὅτι πᾶσαν ἀρχικὴν ἀρετὴν ἐν σεαυτῷ συλλαβὼν ἔχεις. Πολλοὶ μὲν γὰρ τῶν ὑψιθρόνων ἐμοὶ κάτω, ὅσους ἡ χεὶρ ποιεῖ ταπεινοὺς καὶ δούλους τῶν ἀρχομένων: πολλοὶ δὲ ὑψηλοὶ καὶ μετέωροι, κἂν ἑστήκασι κάτω, ὅσους ἄνω τίθησιν ἀρετὴ καὶ ποιεῖ μειζόνων ἀρχῶν ἀξίους. Ἀλλὰ τί τούτων ἐμοί; Οὐκέτι μεθ' ἡμῶν ὁ μέγας Ὀλύμπιος οὐδὲ φέρει τοὺς ἡμετέρους οἴακας: οἰχόμεθα, προδεδόμεθα, γεγόναμεν αὖθις δευτέρα Καππαδοκία, πρώτη παρὰ σοῦ γεγονότες. Καὶ τὰ μὲν τῶν ἄλλων τί χρὴ λέγειν; Ἀλλὰ τίς γηροκομήσει τὸν σὸν Γρηγόριον καὶ φαρμακεύσει τὴν ἀσθένειαν ταῖς τιμαῖς καὶ θήσει τιμιώτερον τὸν παρὰ σοῦ πολλοῖς προξενοῦντα φιλάνθρωπον; Νῦν μὲν οὖν ἀπίοιτε τὴν ὑμετέραν ὁδὸν σὺν ὁδηγίᾳ καὶ πομπῇ κρείττονι, πολλὰ μὲν δάκρυα καταλιπόντες ἡμῖν, πολὺν δὲ πλοῦτον ἐπικομιζόμενοι παρ' ὑμῶν καὶ οἷον οὐ πολλοὶ τῶν ἀρχόντων, τὴν εὐδοξίαν καὶ τὸ ἀνάγραπτοι τυγχάνειν ἐν ταῖς ἁπάντων ψυχαῖς, στήλαις οὐκ ἐυκινήτοις. Εἰ δὲ πάλιν ἡμῖν ἐπισταίητε μετὰ μείζονος καὶ λαμπροτέρας τῆς ἀρχῆς (τοῦτο γὰρ ὁ πόθος ἡμῖν μαντεύεται), τελεώτερα τῷ Θεῷ τὰ χαριστήρια πάντως ἀνοίσομεν.