Ioannes the kaisar with the kaisarissa conspired to entrap Psellos with foods he liked & other gifts

Summary:
Ioannes the kaisar dug two channels to empty his springs (they flowed even faster), and wanted his prize pearl for his diadem (it was beyond theft); Ioannes the sun must stop his moon Eirene from hunting him with cheese and butter as bait, like a fish or bird. The capture would be delightful, food for Psellos and only words for them. In another letter Psellos was encouraged to write by Ioannes' approval of his works, but left encircled by gifts: butter showed Ioannes' allies on land, fish those at sea; Psellos must take to the air by the end of Lent, for till then he was safe from gifts of birds 
Dates:
1063 (Uncertain) 
Eirene Pegonitissa, wife of Ioannes the kaisar (Eirene 20117)
  • She conspired with Ioannes 62 to entrap Michael 61, using butter and cheese, foods he liked, as bait (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 9.15-38
Ioannes Doukas, kaisar (Ioannes 62)
  • He dug channels to empty Michael 61's springs, wanted his prize pearl for his diadem, and did not stop his moon Eirene 20117 from hunting him, all to no avail; the capture would be delightful, food for Psellos and only words for them (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 9.1-45
  • He encouraged Michael 61 to write by approving of his works, but left him encircled by gifts: butter showed his allies on land, fish those at sea; Psellos must take to the air by the end of Lent, for till then he was safe from gifts of birds (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 6.1-21
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • Ioannes 62 dug two channels to empty his springs (they flowed even faster), and wanted his prize pearl for his diadem (it was beyond theft); Ioannes the sun must stop his moon Eirene 20117 from hunting him with cheese and butter, like a fish or bird (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 9.1-23
  • He wrote to Ioannes 62, asking him and Eirene 20117 to stop conspiring to entrap him Psellos Letters (Gautier) 9.1-45
  • Ioannes 62 had him surrounded: on land, his butter warned of the animals that would stop him, and the latest gift of fish showed his allies in the water; Psellos must take to the air by the end of Lent, as till then he was safe from gifts of birds (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 6.12-21
  • He wrote to Ioannes 62, encouraged by his approval but encircled by his gifts Psellos Letters (Gautier) 6.1-21
  • Ioannes 62 told him he enjoyed his works, so he would write more, as water flowed into rivers and the sea without filling them; yet while the Athenians fled from Darius to their ships, where could Psellos go, surrounded by traps? (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 6.1-12
  • Ioannes 62 should hunt wild animals, not him - unless he was already totally captured; he must avoid gluttony, for Eirene had tried him with foods he liked; the capture would be ideal, food for him and only words for them (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 9.23-45