Tzetzes expelled Konstantinos Kotertzes from his lessons, to his father's dismay

Summary:
Among Tzetzes' pupils, Konstantinos Kotertzes was the laziest, making almost no progress in comparison with the others, despite being given a second chance. Tzetzes had warned Konstantinos' father Theodoretos of this fact, and now repeated it in writing, returning his fee and expelling him from the classes. Theodoretos was devastated, and replied in terms which reminded Tzetzes of high tragedy. He read the letter to his pupils, who were all very affected - even Konstantinos, who at last showed promising signs 
Dates:
1140 
Ioannes Tzetzes, man of letters (Ioannes 459)
  • He wrote to Theodoretos 104, as he had said face to face, that Konstantinos 276 was far behind his schoolfellows (whatever lies he told his father); he returned the payment, as he was unteachable, and asked that he be sent to another school (:) Tzetzes, Letters 39.1-40.8
  • He wrote again in reply to the grief-stricken letter received from Theodoretos 104, which reminded him of high tragedy; he read it to his pupils, who were all very affected - even Konstantinos 276, who at last showed promising signs (:) Tzetzes, Letters 40.9-41.22
Konstantinos Kotertzes, pupil of Tzetzes (Konstantinos 276)
  • While other students interpreted several books, even after a second chance he did nothing, proving unteachable; Ioannes 459 expelled him, returning payment to Theodoretos 104, whose anguish caused the first promising signs in his son (:) Tzetzes, Letters 39.1-41.22
Theodoretos Kotertzes, father of Tzetzes' pupil Konstantinos (Theodoretos 104)
  • He had been warned before, but now was told by Ioannes 459 in writing that his son was far behind his classmates and must be expelled, with payment returned; he replied with a grief-stricken letter in a vein of high tragedy (:) Tzetzes, Letters 39.1-41.22