Codex Nicholsonianus

Frankness is not a quality one naturally associates with Themistius, that most sinuous of the fourth century's official spokesmen, but opening his first speech (‘On Love Mankind’) disarmingly frank. Invited to address Constantius II at Ancyra in spring 342, young orator had an unusually difficult brief: violent riots Constantinople recently seen Hermogenes (a senior general) killed by mob, relations Constans (emperor west) were tense and war Persia was rumbling away on eastern frontier. The situation surely called for cliché — familiar refuge panegyrist tight spot Themistius responded rather daring candour. Not him some faltering introduction various themes set out rhetorical handbooks. Instead, he opened offering listeners expert's guide tropes conventional panegyric: those descriptions magnificent armies, glittering imperial adornment emperor's physical vigour ( Or . 1.2a–b) which courtly audience must have been almost numb. With these curtly dismissed as so much hackwork, delivered boldly original oration: philosophical treatment inner virtue. It quite performance. One can see why many such different emperors found themselves need Themistius’ eloquence.