Synesius, Letter 049

Letter 49, written in 407, is directed to Theotimus, an otherwise unknown poet living in Constantinople. From Synesius' letters, we learn that he was a friend of Anthemius,^note[One of the most powerful men in the eastern Empire: consul in 405 (with Stilicho), praetorian prefect, friend of John Chrysostom, prefect of Constantinople during the reign of Theodosius II] Olympius,^note[A wealthy Christian from Syria and a close friend of Synesius, who dedicated letters 98, 99, 97, 133, 148, 149, 96, and 45 to him] and Synesius. Theotimus is also the recipient of Letter 47.

This piece of flattery in the translation by A. Fitzgerald.

Letter 49: A Congratulation

[1] To Theotimus

[The tyrant of Syracuse] Hiero enjoyed greater good from his intercouse with [the poet] Simonides than did Simonides from his with Hiero,^note[Simonides composed poems for Hiero, who became famous from these compositions; however, Simonides suffered from life at court, as he became greedy.] but - by the divinity who presides over our friendship - I do not congratulate you on your intimacy with the great Anthemius more than I congratulate the great Anthemius himself on his friendship with you. Even for a man who has power, what possession is fairer than a friend who brings him the gift of a sincere character? Such a man I know Theotimus to be, a most amiable man and most beloved of God.

[2] However, here is a point in which you are superior to Simonides: Simonides admitted that he gave his discourses for money. But you resemble him in this, that it was Simonides who handed down the fame of Hiero to all posterity, and that, through the poems of Theotimus, Anthemius will be famous in letters as long as Greeks shall exist.

[3] May the prosperity of the Romans ever increase, thanks to him; and thanks to you, the renown of Anthemius, for God has granted to the art of poetry to be a dispenser of renown, and the honor of this has come round to you.