and what one might hesitate A to apply toward his education. For most people look to the means of becoming wealthy—as they propose in their speech—not so that they might become masters of better things, but so that they might indulge in vain pursuits; yet he used the resources that came from external fortune for philosophy. But he was not like that; indeed, it is far from it! Rather, without changing his attire, without lowering his standard of magnificence, without disgracing his lineage with such innovations, and without fabricating or refashioning political causes, or acting as a sophist in any other way, he utilized the distinction derived from his birth—a most sufficient material for doing good—and immediately took the virtue acquired from his studies as the starting point for his magnificence and brilliance. For having become beloved by the emperors, he was entrusted with the most precious matters of all: he stood near the tribunal because of his wisdom, and he received the administration of the commonwealth because of the aptitude of his nature and his diligence in affairs. And first of all, he stood in charge of the more mystical matters of the actions, and he attended those who deliberated, being a participant in the secret counsels. B And when trustworthiness of character in these things proclaimed him, he gathered to himself both the inner sanctum and the worldly cares, so that he had become both an announcer to the ruler of external matters, and a messenger of the affairs of the ruler to those outside. And he was, as it were, the precise bond of the administration. For while one part of the solar disk is elsewhere and another part is toward us, he was entirely with the emperor and in the affairs themselves. For as the discourse indicated earlier, he had a versatile mind that accommodated itself to all things, so that he would first take counsel and carry out what had been deliberated, in order to drive the Barbarians far from the Roman lands, and to overcome others, either by forces or by arts, and to bring peoples under his own power; and he was able to stand favorably toward the times and the affairs by changing when it was necessary, by innovating when it was expedient, and by keeping the same form when that seemed good. C And on top of these things, the man was not devoid of graces, but his tongue and his mind were prepared for every pursuit with charming playfulness. Being magnificent in his clothing and appearance as well as in his stride, he adapted his manner to what was apparent, being graceful and easily approachable, and drawing everyone to himself with a smile. He was also unsparing with his hand, for two things extended it: wealth and his own will. And it lay open before him, and he drew from it, just as one who wishes draws abundantly from a river. So these things stood thus for this great man.