Psellos' confidence in his writing skills was now based on the fact that they had managed to conquer Ioannes kaisar

Summary:
Psellos asked why Ioannes kaisar deprived his own to help him. Psellos knew he was wise, because he had entrapped Ioannes, and this explained his new assurance, though he remained conscious of inferiority. The owl was ugly depite the eagle's approval, and bees made honey from thyme as well as roses. Ioannes (eagle and bee) might admire, but Psellos (owl and thyme) was inferior. Ioannes should avoid tonsure, which Psellos had tried in his youth. In another letter Psellos prided himself on the fact that Ioannes collected his work in volumes and praised him like some expert in the hippodrome crowd rousing narcissistic feelings in a charioteer who had no theoretical grasp of driving skills. Ioannes was thanked for cheese and butter, and told to expect a visit. In another he said that he once feared to show his poor letters, but since Ioannes kaisar liked them, he started strutting like a peacock, continually displaying them, ignoring Solomon's advice. He tried to vary his writing to keep Ioannes' interest, like a kithara-player changing keys, or a bride changing clothes and makeup. His work had many outfits and jewels. In a fourth letter he claimed that Ioannes who praised him was greater than many past rulers, while Psellos his philosopher was inferior to philosophers of the past. Yet ancient rulers came to despise their philosophers, but Ioannes will continue to esteem Psellos for his fine encomia 
Dates:
1063 (Uncertain) 
Ioannes Doukas, kaisar (Ioannes 62)
  • He deprived his own to help Michael 61, who knew he was wise, because he had entrapped Ioannes, and this explained his new assurance, but he remained conscious of inferiority, explaining it for him in animal terms; he should avoid tonsure (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 4.1-41
  • He collected Michael 61’s work in volumes, praising him like an expert in the crowd rousing narcissistic feelings in a charioteer who had no theoretical grasp of driving skills; he was thanked for cheese and butter, and told to expect a visit (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 5.1-43
  • He praised Michael 61, and was greater than many past rulers, while Michael 61 his philosopher was inferior; yet ancient rulers came to despise their philosophers, but Ioannes will continue to esteem Psellos for his fine encomia (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 231, 276.1-278.17
  • His praise of Michael 61’s work made the latter strut like a peacock, and vary his writing to keep Ioannes’ interest, like a kithara-player changing key, or a bride changing clothes and makeup: his work had many outfits and jewels (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 7.1-45
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • He asked why Ioannes 62 deprived his own to help him; Psellos knew he was wise, because he had entrapped Ioannes, and this explained his new assurance, but he remained conscious of inferiority (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 4.1-14
  • The owl was ugly depite the eagle’s approval, and bees made honey from thyme as well as roses; Ioannes 62 (eagle and bee) might admire, but Psellos (owl and thyme) was inferior; Ioannes should avoid tonsure, which Psellos had tried in his youth (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 4.15-41
  • He wrote to Ioannes 62 with the assurance of having entrapped him, yet still conscious of inferiority Psellos Letters (Gautier) 4.1-41
  • Praised by Ioannes 62, he felt like any artist assured of a reception; he thought all love of art was a step towards philosophy, as the soul’s feeling for beauty must be mediated through the body (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 231, 276.1-277.22
  • Ioannes 62 was greater than many past rulers, while Michael 61 his philosopher was inferior, yet ancient rulers came to despise their philosophers, but Ioannes will continue to esteem Psellos for his fine encomia (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 231, 277.23-278.17
  • He wrote to Ioannes 62, secure in the knowledge that he was admired by him Psellos Letters (K - D) 231, 276.1-278.17
  • He felt stupid when studying wise books but wise when reading encomia from Ioannes 62, who collected his work in volumes; as monkeys thought their babies beautiful, Psellos’ new pride in his work derived from Ioannes’ praise (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 5.1-14
  • He was like a charioteer with no theoretical grasp of his skill, while Ioannes 62 was the expert who made him a Narcissus; he thanked him for cheese and butter, and would visit the palace next Thursday, only (as usual now) to see Ioannes (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 5.14-43
  • He once feared to show his poor letters, but since Ioannes 62 liked them, he strutted like a peacock, continually displaying them, ignoring Solomon’s advice (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 7.1-16
  • Like a kithara-player changing keys, would send happy and sad letters with great versatility; brides may vary their appearance by changing clothes and makeup; Psellos’ works too had many outfits and jewels to keep Ioannes’ interest (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 7.16-45
  • He wrote to Ioannes 62, explaining how much of his new pride in his work was due to him Psellos Letters (Gautier) 5.1-43
  • He wrote to Ioannes 62, admitting he strutted like a peacock as the result of Ioannes' praise Psellos Letters (Gautier) 7.1-45