To Apollonius, on Knowing the Author of His Gifts

Themistocles the son of Neocles, the far-famed and admirable general, is described by the historian who admired him as gifted with natural virtue alone. Of Pericles the son of Xanthippus, however, it is said that he also gained from his education the power to charm his hearers by persuasive speech, and that he was gifted alike with knowing what measures should be taken and with enforcing them by word of mouth. In writing about him there is nothing improper in my using his own words. These things describe your magnificence. For God our Creator has given you natural ability, and your education makes its brilliance all the more striking. So nothing is lacking to the full measure of your high qualities except the knowledge of their Author. Let only this be added, and the count of virtues we shall have will be complete. So I write to you on hearing the news of your arrival, and I beg the Giver of every good thing to grant a beam of light to the eye of your soul, to show you the greatness of his gift, to kindle your love for that possession, and to grant the longed-for favor to the one who longs for it. [a]