coming will pacify him.

Julian.
Ah, here I have it——
[With annoyance.
What does that man want?
Oribases.
Sire, this is——
Julian.
No matter, no matter! Now you shall hear whether I know you or not.
There are among the wretched Galileans a number of madmen who call
themselves penitents. These renounce all earthly possessions, and yet
demand great gifts of the fools who treat them as holy men and almost as
objects of worship. Behold, you are like
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these penitents, except that I shall give you nothing. For I am not so
foolish as those others. Yes, yes, were I not firm on that point, you would
soon overrun the whole court with your shamelessness. Nay, do you not
already do so? Are there not many among you who would come again,
even if I drove them away? Oh my dear friends, what can this lead to? Are
you lovers of wisdom? Are you followers of Diogenes, whose garb and
habits you ape? In truth, you do not haunt the schools nearly so much as
you besiege my treasurer. What a pitiful and despicable thing has not
wisdom become because of you! Oh, hypocrites and babblers without
understanding! Oh you—— But what is yonder fat man seeking?
Oribases.
Sire, it is the chief magistrate of the city——
Julian.
The chief magistrate must wait. The matters we have in hand must take
precedence of all meaner affairs. How now? Why this air of impatience? Is
your business so weighty——
Libanius.
By no means, sire; I can come another day.
[He is going.
Oribases.
Sire, do you not recognise this distinguished man? This is the rhetorician
Libanius.
Julian.
What? Libanius? Impossible. Libanius here—the incomparable Libanius! I
cannot believe it.
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Libanius.
I thought the Emperor knew that the citizens of Antioch had chosen me as
their chief magistrate.
Julian.
Assuredly I knew it. But when I made my entrance into the city, and the
magistrates came forth to greet me with an oration, I looked in vain for
Libanius. Libanius was not among them.
Libanius.
The Emperor had uttered no wish to hear Libanius speak on that occasion.
Julian.
The orator Libanius ought to have known what were the Emperor’s wishes
in that respect.
Libanius.
Libanius knew not what changes time and absence might have wrought.
Libanius therefore judged it more becoming to take his place among the
multitude. He chose, indeed, a sufficiently conspicuous position; but the
Emperor deigned not to let his eyes fall on him.
Julian.
I thought you received my letter the day after——
Libanius.
Your new friend Priscus brought it to me.
Julian.
And none the less—perhaps all the m