Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) E / L XI
τῷ Ψελλῷ (full details here) (Michael 61)
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Narrative (1045) Before 1025He was born third child after two girls, to the great joy of his parents and the whole family; female gossip said he would never cry, nor suckle from any breast but his mother's Psellos Mother 11 He was lulled to sleep by Theodote 2101 with biblical stories with a strong moral line, not mythological or fairy tales, or a nurse's entertainment; she often showed affection when she thought him asleep, so that he felt loved, not spoilt Psellos Mother 17-18 He was born near the monastery of ta Narsou and brought up there γεγέννημαι γὰρ περὶ αὐτὴν καὶ ἀνατέθραμμαι ἐν αὐτῇ Psellos Letters (Sathas) 135.378-379 1030 Certainty: 1 Michael Psellos (aged 12) was helped by his mother's questions & company when he studied late Certainty: 1 1032 Certainty: 1 Michael Psellos got to know Ioannes Mauropous & both his uncles Certainty: 1 1034 Certainty: 3 Romanos III buried in the Peribleptos Certainty: 3 Certainty: 2 Ioannes (orphanotrophos) took control of finance, giving out money & favours Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Death of Michael Psellos' elder sister sent their mother into a convent Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Michael Psellos (aged 16) came home just as his sister was buried Certainty: 1 1035 Certainty: 1 Michael Psellos made his first visit to Philadelphia, on the direct route through to Mesopotamia Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 First real encounters of Michael Psellos, Ioannes Xiphilinos & Ioannes Mauropous Certainty: 1 1036 Certainty: 1 Exchange of letters between Ioannes Mauropous as teacher & Michael Psellos as pupil Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to his fellow-student Georgios, about the return of a writing-tablet & Georgios' new epistolary style Certainty: 1 1037 Certainty: 1 Michael (V) denied full status as kaisar Certainty: 1 Certainty: 0 Psellos addressed different messages to different groups of his students Certainty: 0 1038 Certainty: 0 Death of Psellos' father; Psellos' mother censured his grief, & was herself rebuked for excessive asceticism Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos seriously ill: he wrote to Esaias asking him to take over Theophanes' disobedient son as a pupil Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos seriously ill: he wrote three letters to Ioannes Mauropous, complaining he had only visited him once, briefly Certainty: 0 1039 Certainty: 1 Michael Psellos served at different times as krites of Thrakesion, of Boukellarion & of Anatolikon Certainty: 1 1040 Certainty: 2 Failed plot of Ioannes Makrembolites & Michael Keroularios against Michael IV Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Alousianos, provoked by injustice, fled & reached Deljan in Bulgaria Certainty: 2 Certainty: 0 Michael Psellos suggested a system of post-horses to the krites who shared the adminstration of his theme Certainty: 0 Certainty: 1 Beginning of the careers of Konstantinos Leichoudes & Leon Paraspondylos Certainty: 1 1041 Certainty: 2 Michael returned unharmed to Constantinople, celebrating triumph over the blinded Deljan Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote about grim work & self-defeating jealousies among the asekretis Certainty: 1 1042 Certainty: 2 Plotting between Michael V, Ioannes the orphanotrophos & Konstantinos the nobelissimos Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 Michael V banished Zoe to Prinkipo Certainty: 3 Certainty: 3 The rioting involved all sections of the population, most conspicuously the women Certainty: 3 Certainty: 3 Psellos as an eyewitness, riding through the city Certainty: 3 Certainty: 3 Michael Psellos visited Michael V at Stoudios church Certainty: 3 Certainty: 3 Michael V & his uncle Konstantinos were both dragged from the Stoudios church & blinded Certainty: 3 Certainty: 2 Psellos, Xiphilinos & Leichoudes began Konstantinos IX's government of the talented Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Death of Psellos' mother Theodote, recognised as a holy woman, mother of another holy woman Certainty: 1 1043 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote Orationes panegyricae 2 for Konstantinos IX, with summary of recent history Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos took over a house vacated by Konstantinos (X): beginning of their friendship Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Reluctant entry of Ioannes Mauropous to court of Konstantinos IX Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 Rus' naval attack on Constantinople: battle of Pharos Certainty: 3 Certainty: 2 Konstantinos IX persuaded Zoe to let Skleraina move into palace Certainty: 2 1044 Certainty: 1 Konstantinos & Nikephoros, nephews of Keroularios, sent to Psellos for simple education Certainty: 1 Certainty: 0 Michael Psellos dreamed of his mother, who introduced him to St Basileios Certainty: 0 Certainty: 1 Michael Psellos' daughter Styliane gratified her parents as a baby Certainty: 1 Certainty: 0 Zoe's superstitions & perfume-making increase Certainty: 0 1045 Certainty: 0 Michael Psellos recommended some friends of his father to a krites Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos may have witten three letters to Michael patrikios on a commentary on Hermogenes & a visit fom a great man Certainty: 0 1046 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote in the persona of Konstantinos IX welcoming a new convert & claiming a part in his baptism Certainty: 1 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to Xiphilinos, praising his disdain for the trivial, but demanding a letter Certainty: 0 1047 Certainty: 2 Ioannes Xiphilinos & Psellos polarised intellectual life in the city, & ancient chairs were revived Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Michael Psellos appointed proedros of the philosophers by Konstantinos IX Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Ophrydas launched an attack on Ioannes Xiphilinos as nomophylax; Xiphilinos took it to heart Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Siege of Constantinople by Leon Tornikios, who won several skirmishes Certainty: 2 Certainty: 0 Keroularios sent Psellos an edible snake (?), tasty enough to seduce Adam & Eve Keroularios sent Psellos an edible snake (?), and received in return praise in terms of the Song of Songs for a gift tasty enough to seduce Adam and Eve. While Keroularios wondered if other exotic foods were as good, Psellos for the moment just enjoyed the snake Certainty: 0 Pellos wrote to Keroularios on behalf of the maïstor of the school of ta Diakonisses, asking for help to escape poverty Certainty: 0 1048 Certainty: 1 Psellos, Mavropous & Xiphilinos agreed that if one was forced into a monastery, the rest would follow Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos sent Keroularios four letters thanking him for a fish he had sent him, & describing the meal Certainty: 1 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked the krites of Boukellarion to examine decisions of previous kritai (one of them himself) Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The maïstor of the school of Chalkoprateia refused money from Psellos deriving from an invitation to the imperial table Certainty: 0 Certainty: 1 Visit of Nikolaos of Horaia Pege to his kinsman Konstantinos IX Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos' daughter Styliane (aged 6) was learning to read, & asking her teachers about the bible Certainty: 1 Certainty: 0 Psellos heard two readings, much preferring the first; he wrote an encomium of the reader Certainty: 0 1049 Certainty: 1 Ioannes Mauropous was removed from Constantinople by appointment as metropolitan of Euchaita Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos & his old friend Niketas found themselves teaching at the same school (Hagios Petros) Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Konstantinos IX insisted on sleeping without guards, despite Psellos' warnings Certainty: 1 1050 Certainty: 2 Konstantinos IX was deeply moved by Zoe's death Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Konstantinos IX dismissed Konstantinos Leichoudes in favour of Ioannes logothetes Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Pardon (by Konstantinos IX) of a man caught stealing military funds Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Plot against Konstantinos IX of anonymous low-born ex-barbarian Certainty: 1 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked Romanos, once a fellow-student, for schedographia exercises, as two of his pupils had finished all his own Certainty: 0 1051 Certainty: 1 Styliane, Psellos' beautiful daughter, first lost her complexion & then slowly died, to her parents' great distress Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Suggestive links between Romanos Boilas & Konstantinos IX's Alan mistress Certainty: 1 1052 Certainty: 1 Psellos told Aristenos his son spent too long at the spoonfeeders, afraid of his demanding teaching Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 His pupil Kyritzes said that in criticising Psellos he roused a wasp; Psellos waspishly denied this Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Death of Ioannes Mauropous' brother; Psellos wrote a letter of consolation Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to console his old friend, Leon Paraspondylos, who had recently lost power & wealth Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos, at times of crisis, liked to visit beautiful memorials, like the Mangana wih the tomb of Zoe Certainty: 1 1053 Certainty: 2 Engagement of Michael Psellos' adopted daughter (c. 9 years old) to Elpidios Kenchres (c. 18) Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Elpidios Kenchres became protospatharios & was appointed to various offices Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Michael Psellos congratulated Michael Keroularios for showing a more human side Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Ioannes Xiphilinos became a monk, reminding Psellos that he had promised to follow him Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote three letters to Zomas, krites of Opsikion, to organise & improve his monasteries in the theme Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Michael Psellos by chrysobull received rights at Madytos Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to Georgios the aktouarios about improving his unproductive monasteries Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to Ioannes Mauropous on behalf of an old man, & mocked Ioannes for wanting to return to the capital Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos claimed to a suppliant that he had worked hard to support him with Konstantinos IX Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to a monk on Mt Olympos whose character attracted him to retreat there Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to Ioannes Xiphilinos, promising to use no excuses to avoid following him to Olympos Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to Ioannes Mauropous that Konstantinos IX would recall him - subject to a favourable interview Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Contact between Psellos & Keroularios via the latter's nephew Konstantinos did not make up for denial of direct access Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to Leon Paraspondylos accepting that he was a great ascetic & deciding it was time to help him Certainty: 1 Certainty: 0 Leon ho ton Patron, the epi ton deeseon, refused to correspond with Psellos Certainty: 0 Certainty: 1 Konstantinos IX's over-humble letters to the Fatimid ruler were spiced up by Michael Psellos Certainty: 1 1054 Certainty: 2 Persecution of Michael Psellos by representatives of the church Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Correspondence between Michael Psellos & others over his proposed tonsure Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Esaïas left the capital, but was given protection (to Psellos' joy) by Konstantinos Leichoudes Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Elpidios Kenchres was promoted patrikios at the request of Psellos, his potential father-in-law Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 At the time of Psellos' trial, Leon Paraspondylos' friendship was a rare consolation for him Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos' sickness (partly feigned) which he used to support demands for tonsure Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Two letters of Konstantinos IX to Psellos, one advising against tonsure, the other praising him for carrying it through Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Konstantinos IX's exploits in palace & garden construction Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Tonsure of Michael Psellos Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos' return to court after tonsure, & its uncomfortable results Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos left Constantinople for Mt Olympos Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Psellos' Oratoria Minora 8: when resigning as protasekretis: after philosophising as a politician, he needed time for thought Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to Zomas, krites of Opsikion, suggesting how to achieve retirement & tonsure Certainty: 1 1055 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote an encomium some time after the death of Nikolaos, founder of the monastery of Horaia Pege Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos became the confidant of Theodora - as far as the envy of others would permit Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos returned from Olympos & decided to break the engagement of his adopted daughter Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos & Anastasios Lizix sought an interview with Leon Paraspondylos to solve their problems Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to Keroularios, complaining of a lack of consistency in the patriarch's dealing with him Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 A monk from St Saba in a poem suggested that Psellos had failed to stay a year on Olympos because of lack of females Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos gave Leon Paraspondylos inordinate praise, but received a trivial job-offer in return Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to Ioannes, notarios of the dromos, praising the Atticism of a work on the Trinity sent to him on Olympos Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote letters of support for three persons to Zomas, krites of Opsikion Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, about alleged injustice to a kinsman Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos had been lucky enough to meet the famous Romanos, metropolitan of Kyzikos Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos said he needed to see again an archmandrite whom he had met on Olympos Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos complained in two letters to Psephas that his only job offer was a place in the school (?) of papa-Sabinos Certainty: 1 1056 Certainty: 2 Dispute between Theodora & Michael Keroularios over female rule of Empire Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos consoled the founders of Nea Mone for their loss (of the monastery?) Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 Case of Psellos' adopted daughter, decided (in one detail) against him: report lodged Certainty: 3 Certainty: 2 Severe illness of Theodora; choice by courtiers of Michael (VI) Bringas (stratiotikos) as successor Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Ioannes Xiphilinos charged Psellos with following Plato more than Christ, receiving a long & fierce reply Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos advised a newly-chosen kathegoumenos on Olympos how to carry out his duties Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos congratulated Romanos Skleros on the birth of a new grandson Certainty: 1 1057 Certainty: 3 Michael VI refused to grant dignities to eastern generals, who turned against him Certainty: 3 Certainty: 2 Michael VI took advice on the rebellion, especially from Michael Psellos Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos with 2 colleagues sent as ambassadors to Isaakios Komnenos at Nikomedia Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Michael VI's envoys splendidly received Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 On the embassy, Psellos' speech persuaded Isaakios (I) to accept rank of kaisar Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Secret response of Isaakios (I) to the ambassadors of Michael VI Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 The first embassy of Psellos & his colleagues, they say, was ignored Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Outcome of embassy to Isaakios (I) reported to Michael VI; reply to secret response Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Second embassy to Isaakios (I) came close to agreement on settlement Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Katakalon Kekaumenos convinced many rebels of dangers of settlement, & (secretly) the imperial ambassadors Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Ambassadors assured Isaakios (I) he was popular in Constantinople, which would revolt at his approach Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Second embassy to Isaakios Komnenos interrupted by news of revolt in Constantinople Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 Isaakios Komnenos entered city in triumph; he was crowned & proclaimed emperor by patriarch Certainty: 3 Certainty: 2 Isaakios I successfully freed the city of soldiers, encouraging them to return when needed Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Appointment of Psellos as proedros caused some controversy Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote about the basilikos of Madytos, to avoid trouble from a local tourmarches Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Comparison, Keroularios v. Psellos: unchanging aristocrat vs. mutable pedant Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Defence of Psellos against those who resented his promotion to hypertimos Certainty: 1 1058 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to the empress Aikaterine that he could not bear Constantinople without her & Isaakios I Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos was seriously ill, interrupting his visits to the emperor & the business he was doing for suppliants Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to Isaakios I, then to Theodoros Dokeianos, his nephew, asking if the first letter had been well received Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 Sudden arrest & banishment of patriarch Michael Keroularios by Isaakios I Komnenos Certainty: 3 Certainty: 2 Psellos was so flattered to receive a reply from Isaakios I that he promised to deposit the letter in his tomb Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Konstantinos Leichoudes was the only approach to Isaakios I: Psellos wrote to him for the krites of Charsianon & a poor suppliant Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Discussion between Psellos & Romanos, metropolitan of Kyzikos, about the value of monasteries by the charistike system Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 A senior monk from Olympos sent fruit & a monastic representative to Psellos, & was heartily thanked Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Chasanes, krites of Macedonia, sent gold for the taxes of his theme, & Psellos replied with golden letters Certainty: 1 1059 Certainty: 2 Appointment of Konstantinos Leichoudes as patriarch Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Leichoudes fell seriously ill as soon as he became patriarch - a worrying sign of possible divine disfavour Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Monk from St Saba (Jerusalem) satirised Psellos (& others): Psellos replied with Oratoria Minora 21 Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Two of Isaakios I's nephews were praised as mighty bulwarks of his power Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to Isaakios I as he set out against the Pechenegs, warning him of Selte Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 The metropolitan of Amaseia was asked to watch over Psellos' son-in-law (?), the young krites of Armeniakon Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos asked the metropolitan of Neokaisareia & Ioannes Mavropous at Euchaita to help his son-in-law Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to Isaakios I as he left against the Pechenegs: a conventional plea to stay Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote two (ill-informed) letters to imperial notarioi accompanying Isaakios I on his Danube expedition Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote two eulogies of Isaakios I during the Pecheneg campaign, one on earlier events, the other badly informed Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Leichoudes sent Psellos a fish, which the latter hoped meant that the friend who had rejected him was reconciled Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 The father-in-law of Theodoros Dokeianos died near the end of Isaakios I's Danube expedition (at Lobitzos?) Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Ioannes Doukas was doux of Antioch - a city which Psellos envied, as he did not write Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Isaakios Komnenos fell seriously ill after lightning strike while hunting Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Isaakios Komnenos after hesitations appointed Konstantinos (X) Doukas as successor Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Members of family of Isaakios I enthusiastically accepted his choice of Konstantinos X as successor Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 Abdication of Isaakios Komnenos Certainty: 3 Certainty: 2 Isaakios I, feeling better after abdication, went in imperial vessel to Stoudios, & was tonsured Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 Beginning of rule of Konstantinos X Certainty: 3 Certainty: 1 Niketas, maïstor of the school of Hagios Petros, left to pursue preferment in the church, going to Troy, his uncle's see Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 A letter from Ioannes Doukas (the future kaisar) from Edessa was very supportive of his brother Konstantinos (X) Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Konstantinos X issued an ordinance at Antioch to get information from Ioannes Doukas; Ioannes thought him hostile Certainty: 1 1060 Certainty: 2 Ioannes Doukas thought his brother, Konstantinos (X), was hostile to him: Psellos disagreed Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Eirene the kaisarissa became a paragon of womanly virtue in the palace Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Katakalon Kekaumenos as a monk was told to deal with the emperor himself over non-payment of his salary Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Katakalon Kekaumenos was told that his man worked hard on emperor, patriarch & Psellos before admitting defeat Certainty: 1 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked the megas oikonomos for a few bushels of grain for a poor nun Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 By rejecting claims on a monastery, the krites of Aegean Sea would gain credit for Psellos with its owner Certainty: 0 Certainty: 1 Psellos told Chasanes, krites of Macedonia, that his notarios Michael's wife was very ill; he needed brief home leave Certainty: 1 Certainty: 0 Psellos told the metropolitan of Ephesos to write to him in his simple style, naming a letter-carrier Certainty: 0 Certainty: 1 Xeros, krites or praitor of Thrakesion, was asked not to demand too much from Psellos or from his own notarios Certainty: 1 Certainty: 0 A woman with a rural problem was sent to explain it to a krites, Psellos' friend, as she would do so better than Psellos Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A woman built a convent, vowing poverty, not starvation; Psellos sought to unblock a fund set up to provide food Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites to help a relative gain glory & money - especially money, as he had a family to support Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A notarios had three patrons: Dalassene the magistrissa, his thematic krites, & Psellos; he ought to prosper Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to a magistros & krites, a relative, whose wife might have died but for Psellos Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a friendly krites to help a woman in trials over her estates, because she was both noble & Psellos' relation Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos recommended to the epi ton oikeiakon a woman who was plaintiff in a trial over one nomisma, which she should win Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites of Katotika to help a metropolitan of Larissa recover his see, & to return money as suggested by the krites' wife Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites (?) of Macedonia to help a woman recover more of her husband's estate there than she had in Lykandos Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 In the struggle between bishops of Alia & villagers of Lysokraneia (?), the krites must insist that imperial decisions be respected Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked the krites of Kibyrraioton to help with property in Rhodes left under Psellos' protection by Theodoros Alopos Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 When a son was absent when his father died, neighbours seized their land; Psellos asked a krites to do nothing till the son returned Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wanted more letters from a correspondent, & thanked him for bronze vessels Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos recommended the bearers of the letter to the krites, as they would need careful & impartial justice Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos & a learned man planned correspondence, though they could meet; Psellos feared his friend's new wealth would bring other interests Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The epi ton deeseon, satirised in an encomium, resented the mockery but ignored the praise; Psellos recommended more balance Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A correspondent sent Psellos a philosophical treatise; he was delighted, & offered him lessons in rhetoric as well as philosophy Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A protegé of Psellos needed help (details unclear); he wrote to a krites, certain that he would provide it Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites to avenge the bishop of Noumerika over some attendants (?), completing Psellos' work when dismissed by the emperor (?) Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos recommended a man from Nicaea to a krites with a chronic illness briefly, as the recipient was ill Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A correspondent of Psellos was accused of sophistic methods expressing friendly feelings which were untrue Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos recommended an Athenian to a krites (of Katotika?), a good action for a classicist Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos thanked a krites for helping a tax-collector of his theme, & asked him to do the same again for the same man Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos praised a correspondent's simple style; if he wrote (not too often) he would try to help with the emperor Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The monk Pherebios wanted to emulate Psellos; Psellos explained why he would fail Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The epi ton oikeiakon was asked to write & to encourage his men to write; this would be no burden to so generous a man Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The charistikarios of Artigenes monastery was very old & should be dead, so that Psellos could take over the monastery Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos sent two men to the krites of Peloponnesos & Hellas, recommending that a third be sent home Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A very old man was extremely insistent to be put in touch with Ioannes Mauropous; Psellos complied Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The krites of Anatolikon should help the bishop of Sozopolis, as were both keen friends of Psellos Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, should help Psellos' relative, rather than just enjoying Psellos' reminders Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Synetos, metropolitan of Basilaion, pleaded poverty to Psellos while sending him partridges, making him curious over the see Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos had not told the krites of Macedonia how to behave to the bishop of Panion; how had the bishop fared? Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos sent the krites of Optimaton a man who needed help, & Basileios Melissenos, suffering a disastrous tax-audit Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to the krites of Optimaton about an adminstrative change (?), which might be bad for a small theme Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos had only heard a little of the exploits of the logothetes of the dromos, & would like to hear more by correspondence Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to a man of God, disturbing his contemplation; he would not write again, as it was enough to be in his thoughts Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The archbishop (?) should, like Christ, not despise the world or Psellos, but pass on to him some of his spiritual wealth Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos was working to bring an exile home, & prospects improved, as some time had passed & the emperor needed good men Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites for many favours; most suppliants, like the current one, only needed his naturally sympathetic ear Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos, operating by favours as a "ruler of rulers", asked a krites of Aegean Sea to aid a man supported by many other friends Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos' suppliant was lame, like him; it would not be easy to help by approaching the emperor Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The suffering of a magistros had made an impact on the emperor; Psellos advised it was best to stop the pressure Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos still hoped for the recall of the vestes, pleading also with him for a notarios who visited the capital to see a dying mother Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 An ex-vestes had given up wealth to enter a poor monastery; Psellos pleaded for the return of its confiscated estates Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a vestarches to govern an inexperienced dioiketes like a chariot-horse, offering just enough rein Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos sent formal consolation to Ioannes (?) Bourtzes on the death of his brother, hoping for a reward for the letter-carrier Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos recommended a relation to a friend as an eloquent man who would repay help with effusive thanks Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to a krites promoted protonotarios of the dromos, claiming to have given him much help against enemies Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos replied to a learned correspondent, greatly praising his letters & asking him to write whenever there were carriers Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to a metropolitan of Patrai, asking him to grant the wish of the nicest man in the capital Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites to investigate an elderly monk who claimed (unconvincingly) to have been deceived in his monastery Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to begin a correspondence he had long desired with a krites of Charsianon; but there had been no carriers Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to a metropolitan, in whose city an exile had settled, asking him to help the man despite his immaturity Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos, a krites & a notarios were involved in activities to help all of them; Psellos wrote to the krites to maximise benefits Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites to deal with Euthymios, a suppliant who was eating him out of house & home Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos said a krites had not helped over taxes in Macedonia; he should do so & work in his own theme, for changes were imminent Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to a krites to help a man recommended by a confidant of the emperor; the krites could do two favours at once Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites to help a landowner who could barely survive & wanted him to stop paroikoi being driven from their lands Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos knew a metropolitan but not a suppliant visiting him; the former, being good, would improve the latter, good or bad Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos hoped his relation would continue to collaborate with the krites of Katotika - who must send the statues Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos gave a notarios a letter suggesting leniency to the krites who would have to judge him Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos recommended Prokopios to the krites of Katotika as a good man from his theme & a friend of Psellos - three good claims Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The metropolitan of Madytos should continue to support the basilikos of Madytos - a major reason why Psellos kept the position Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The krites of Macedonia was asked to help the protos of Mt Ganos & his monks in all ways Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked the krites of Cappadocia to aid Cappadocian monks who were mutual friends - many reasons to help Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Ioannes Mauropous complained that Psellos' letters to him lacked respect: Psellos disagreed Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A friend of Psellos (a teacher?) received two rambling philosophical letters, both mentioning teaching methods Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A krites, in a letter of thanks for enthusiasm over Psellos' epistles, was told not to compromise with the people of Rodinos Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos warned a krites he would ask a number of favours for a poor relative who had just visited the capital Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites to help a poor suppliant, though he had nothing specific in mind at the time Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A monk wrote of a brother's death, asking about a task entrusted to Psellos; Psellos had passed it on, but it was too hard to complete Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites to help a paternal friend of his, so that he might just survive on his last estate Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A poor man's progress via favours might stop as life became volatile; Psellos asked a krites for one more favour to secure the future Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Asked who was so bad as to be below censure, Psellos named the metropolitan of Tarsos Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos told the krites of Macedonia to do his job & forget gossip, from which, as Psellos' friend, he was immune Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites for a favour with some reserve, because he did not want to impose on a relative Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos advised a krites to restrict hospitality for a man who told tall stories about his hosts & journeys Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos befriended a man, discovered his quality, & recommended him to a krites; the latter should check Psellos' judgement by doing the same Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos education shared with a krites, & the dangers he faced with the local population; he asked him to aid Stylianos Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos invited a monk for a meal & a bath, to make up for a previous invitation he had to cancel Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos told Katakalon Kekaumenos as a monk that the metropolitan of Koloneia needed his support Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A grammatikos said he had made no money fom his theme, but his krites Pothos claimed he had: a dilemma for Psellos Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos & Pothos' uncle orchestrated a good reception in the palace for a letter from Pothos, who would benefit Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Pothos was told by the emperor to measure land in dispute between Drimys & some villagers: Psellos turned this into philosophy Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Two letters praising a successful doux of Antioch Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A krites was told that not everyone from his theme was bad; a bishop, seen in Psellos' words, was admirable Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos told a metropolitan he had not yet finished his business, wishing that his power to help was as great as his will Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos told a krites that a poor man's one estate was besieged by villagers; if breaking the law, they must be punished Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A krites of Optimaton was told of a victim of inter-village squabbling, & asked to investigate Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos criticised a krites of Katotika as too defensive: he should both make money & maintain his good name Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A krites was unhappy over promotion & dismissal; Psellos tried to cheer him, praising his notarios Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A krites was asked to help a man in whose case his opponents had changed a verdict; the emperor wanted a review Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Pellos recommended a Peloponnesian to the krites Maleses, who was to help him in lawsuits, tax assessment & a dinner invitation Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The monks of the Theotokos were wrong to attack the krites rather than their accusers, for he had alienated no monastery property Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Maleses proud at receiving requests from Psellos, should allow an unfortunate soldier to go on campaign Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A protokentarchos bought his office long ago at a high price; a krites should ensure he did not lose money Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The owner of the Melias monastery wanted to pay tax in the capital; Psellos told him to sign an assurance for his krites Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites to let the metropolitan of Amorion pay monoprosopon in the capital, at no cost to the exchequer Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked the krites of Boukellarion for further help over tax for a rich & just friend Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A landowner asked the krites by imperial command to map boundaries of his land; Psellos told him to warn off a potential thief Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos laboured for the recall of an exile: the emperor was well-disposed, but waiting for the right time Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos, a krites & his notarios should help a suppliant, since all were already linked in the network of Psellos' friendship Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos was given a poor monastery, & asked the local krites if its problems were soluble; if yes, he would try Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos recommended two men: a relative, whom he told to work hard, & a subordinate with potential Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A krites complained of Psellos' favours to an unlucky man; but the man gained little, & the krites lost nothing Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The people of Atzikome would be Psellos' villagers, if he lobbied their krites for them; they did not know the praitor Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos recommended a krites of the hippodrome to the krites of Opsikion Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The patriarch opposed the plan of the metropolitan of Nikomedia for Hagia Sophia, & arranged for him to come & explain it Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The mulberry trees of a poor friend were stolen by a neighbour; he petitioned the emperor & Psellos, who both asked the krites to help Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The krites of Opsikion was warned of lost letters, & reminded of the tax-exempt status of Megala Kellia Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote twice to a krites recommending a notarios, then thanking him for his help Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to a hegoumenos about two monks he had excluded, recommending they be reinstated Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to Pentaktenos, confident his relations with emperor & patriarch would improve, & praising him for entering a monastery Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A man from Nicaea was sent to ask the krites of Opsikion, to stop his men harassing him for taxes for a small estate Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to a krites about a man slandered to the emperor, asking him to ignore lies & investigate impartially Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to a krites about a dependent of his, a soldier forced to settle as a farmer; he asked him to help the man Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote bluntly to a krites who no longer enjoyed philosophy, to help a man from Nicaea recover debts Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos' protegé was well treated by the kourator of Cyprus; but why did latter stay in Cyprus, with hot weather & low profits? Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites who had been a pupil to care for his teacher's estates, & write better letters Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos recommended the unknown Leon Melandros to the megas oikonomos: if he was not good, his correspondent would make him so Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to the megas oikonomos that a secretary needed a tax exemption for the title of kouboukleisios suggested to him Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos apparently confessed to the metropolitan of Nikomedia that he stole icons from churches & had a collection Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Requests to the krites of Thrakesion to be just & fair to those seeking positions Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A man from Dyrrachion was regularly helped over tax by the local doux, regarding the doux & Psellos as co-saviours Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A man taking Psellos' letter to the krites of his theme was too poor to help over tax, but needed work as a grammatikos Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos' relative was in danger from slanderous kouratores, & he wrote twice asking a krites to help Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The emperor wanted justice from a krites for Psellos' protegé, who should realise that his judge was his patron's friend Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 This notarios had many virtues; if a krites had a similar reference, it was right; if not, he should substitute Psellos' letter Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos, writing to a krites of Katotika, asked for honour for the letter-carrier, in a good tradition Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos sent a runaway notarios to a krites, but without brazen references; it was enough to be sent by Psellos Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The letter Psellos sent was redundant, the favour was agreed: but the notarios needed something to carry Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos missed a krites, Psellos' relative worked for him & liked him, but made no money; could this not be changed? Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos & the emperor both wrote to a krites for a suppliant; Psellos delayed so as not to annoy the krites or compete with the emperor Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites for an effortless favour, supporting a poor man in his theme unlikely ever to need legal help Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos' friend was unjustly treated, the krites in the case was just, & also a friend; do it! Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 An ex-slave was sent by a will to a monastery: the hegoumenos sealed a document in support, but then refused entry Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos recommended a kinsman, as a good not just a relation to a krites, another good man, who might think him a relation Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to a krites to mobilise the dimension of friendship to support his protegé's case; he wrote again with thanks Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos told a man who reminded him of a promise that he would have addressed the emperor unprompted Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A protegé of Psellos & relatives were badly injured with stab-wounds & loss of property; the local krites must investigate Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A notarios wrote to Psellos of the kindness of a krites; let his thanks increase the kindness, as he was new to the work Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A krites should welcome a neighbour & protegé of Psellos as a real friend & help him complete his duties before leaving the capital Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A man asked Psellos to write to a krites, & Psellos did, both sure the krites would grant the request, in the interest of all Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos thanked a krites over favours for his relatives, though excuses were available; he wanted to reciprocate Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A friend of Psellos met a disaster, allowing a krites to satisfy at one blow the needs of friendship & win salvation Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos recommended a musician, a practical music-maker rather than a theorist; the krites should also treat him as a good man Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A krites responded to recommendations: any sign of concern by Psellos was enough to see a man well treated Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A letter-carrier would be a test for Psellos: if a krites treated him well, he was a friend; if not, he was not Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A protegé of Psellos (friend of the krites) was also from the krites' theme: so he had two claims Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A krites asked Psellos why a bedhead is higher than the foot; his answer began with philosophy but ended with comfort Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to a younger man as a spiritual son, praising his achievements in an opaque way Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos compared a man to an ill-behaved Arabian dog, attacking sheep, not wolves, poisonous & to be suppressed Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A man awoke Psellos as he slept under the influence of mandragora, & put him under a lotus-like spell; effective Sirens were needed (?) Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos gave a student (?) a lesson on the physics of shooting stars Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A friend of Psellos had kindled intellectual fire in Psellos, now quenched; he wanted it to blaze again Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked for the quick renewal of a convent's sigillion; one Eve had beaten Adam, but he faced a whole convent Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 He explained (to a student?) why we feel cold in draughts Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 He called an ex-student "son", despite his promotion; both should write to have Nikolaos reinstated in the Hodegon monastery Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A hegoumenos excluded Kallinikos from his chosen monastery; Psellos tried a third time to get him a hearing Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos offered a man a choice of cheese or letter; the letter discussed cheese from various viewpoints, then gave the cheese as well Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos praised a spiritual son in an ideal encomium for re-establishing Byzantine defences Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos warned a friend that refusal of friendship from one so close could embitter him: but friendly gestures would be very welcome Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 In a flowery address (to Ioannes Mauropous?), provision was made for the letter-carrier, if he needed it (& he would) Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to Pothos, asking him to give his friend & neighbour (the letter-carrier) a fair hearing Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Ioannes Mauropous bought a monastery for a relation; Ioannes via Psellos told the responsible krites that it had grown since purchase Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos' correspondent met his problems with learning & versatility, yet made others compete, not sympathise with him Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos told a krites of his reactions to a decree (which the krites had prepared?) Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A metropolitan wrote to Psellos as Psellos wrote to him, prey calling the hunter, beginning friendship & correspondence Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to his spiritual father, asking why another of his spiritual sons refused Psellos' requests Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A krites, Psellos' closest friend, should help Moses, Psellos' acquaintance in his theme, & watch over his monastery Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos gave a metropolitan authority over one of his students; having refused it, he should not blame Psellos for the results Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A krites was cited in a text (a letter?) written to hide its subject; allusions include Bulgarians, Scythians & orphans Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos said that a bishop was pleasant & adaptable, sollemn or humorous as needed, suitable for any task a krites set Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Sagmatas hunted while Psellos wrote, yet each was attracted by the other; perhaps game could be exchanged for letters? Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A violent neighbour attacked an estate, killing an elderly manager; Psellos demanded justice from the local krites Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 For no reason, one man stopped another rebuilding a ruin; Psellos asked the krites to intervene, though the offender was poor Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked a krites to act to stop a friend suffering losses because others did not pay their taxes; he needed help Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Help for Thrakesios of Thrakesion from two brothers who became kritai of the theme Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The first favour Psellos asked for a man from a krites had (he said) saved him; a second was now needed to complete salvation Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos twice asked for a krites to disregard minor irregularities by a tax official, whose income could not satisfy demands made on him Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A krites had given major relief to a tax official who was Psellos' relative; gratitude could lead to more help & a virtuous circle Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos praised a krites to the emperor, who reacted positively & would promote him, probably to a medium theme Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A poor man's few possessions had been attacked; Pothos his krites should offer gifts & rebates, in pennies, not pounds Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A friend of Psellos was unjustly accused before a krites; Psellos wrote to seek a fair trial & a safety-net in case of loss Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 A metropolitan refused to continue close friendship & correspondence with Psellos, who regretted this & proposed remedies Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos' only news from a krites came via a grateful kinsman working in his theme, offering chances for co-operation Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos sent a metropolitan a white, talkative skaros to begin a correspondence, symbol of a friendship which would grow Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Dalassenos sent a short letter with many cheeses; he should write in simple soldier's language, & often, unless he wrote more Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The nephew of Ioannes Xiphilinos was Psellos' pupil & colleague, intelligent & consistent like Ioannes, not a cone but a cylinder (?) Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The father of a pupil sent hourly advice on teaching, some of which he took; the boy would succeed mainly by his own efforts, not Psellos' Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Symeon Kenchres wrote that he had entered a monastery; Psellos wondered if he had been too hasty Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The famous metropolitan of Thessalonike was less consistent since becoming a bishop Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Negotiations on the leasing of a problematic estate to a monastery Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 An exchange of gifts between Psellos & a monastery where he had lived Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos (with words) & a krites (with actions) were old collaborators, planning the revival of a dying monastery [lacuna] Psellos' ideas changed normally, but the krites' views were immovable. Collaboration since their youth involved more words from Psellos and more actions from the krites, filling the cup of friendship. Psellos asked for what he wanted, but the krites gave more, not censuring meanness but offending by generosity. When and whom could Psellos ask about the dying monastery? If the krites knew the facts he should reveal them and revive it Certainty: 0 Praise from Ioannes Mauropous enthused Psellos & a notarios Ioannes had helped Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos told Michael, krites of Kibyrraioton, of a possible posting in the capital, discussing his notarios Ioannes & a mule Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Konstantinos Hierax was congratulated by Psellos for noble endurance of exile, which Psellos hoped would soon end Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Konstantinos Xiphilinos asked Psellos for a simple summary of the Aristotelian Organon; he was told that this was impossible Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Nikephoros, nephew of Keroularios, complained that a text of Psellos was difficult; he replied that even Plato could be hard Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Pothos was told of Psellos' new venture as a charistikarios & given the horse Psellos owed in tax Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos was to begin correspondence as a junior partner with a metropolitan representing virtue & the power of God's church [lacunose] Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos was unsure of his friend's attitude to his letters, especially the last ... Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote three letters to a spiritual father, maybe from the monastery of Petra (?) Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos sent Nikephoros, nephew of Keroularios, a doctor who damaged patients (men, animals & trees) & was only good at violence Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Basileios krites (?) of Cappadocia was told not to worry about Cappadocian rebels or malicious gossip, but to give Psellos reason to praise him Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos claimed Basileios despaired too soon over his theme of Armeniakon: he should look at cities as well as mountain villages Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos wrote to Elias with a gift of wild pears & salted birds, telling him to think of the thought behind the gifts Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos (who helped Epiphanios Philaretos before), advised him, as a novice at court, to stand consistently like a rock against the ocean Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Ioannes Xiphilinos sent Pellos only a drop from Horaia Pege; the plain & simple were virtues, but not the very brief Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Ioannes the kaisar asked Psellos medical & theological questions, & how to defend his crops from caterpillars Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Ioannes Mauropous became active in Euchaita, but also was the subject of complaints from there to the emperor Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Dialogues on philosophy & friendship at a distance between Psellos & Ioannes Mauropous often took themselves very seriously Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Psellos asked the metropolitan of Corinth to help Chrysobalantites the tax-collector in sea-travel Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 The krites of Aegean Sea was asked to help Psellos & the kathegoumenos of ta Narsou by promoting the monastery's ship Certainty: 0 Certainty: 0 Pothos was asked to resolve a dispute between two villages, & do all he could to prevent a recurrence Certainty: 0 1061 Certainty: 2 Konstantinos X lamented the lot of exiles he had himself condemned Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Trial of Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, for a capital offence Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Application made (ironically?) to Konstantinos X to transfer Psellos' property of Medikion to Anastasios Lizix Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 A gift of food on a festival from Psellos to Ioannes the kaisar might be given to his children to play with Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 The basilikos of Madytos was still in difficulties, despite support from the krites of Macedonia; he might need more in the future Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos had the military levy cancelled for a monastery he owned; Pothos, as krites, was to assure the hegoumenos of his support Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 The name Kakoprates was accurate over fortune but not character; Pothos was asked to help him - & received advice about his job Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Was Pothos wronging the Theotokos' Acheiropoietos; if so, he should read its chrysobulls & hear its owner, Psellos himself Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Michael (VII) & his brother Andronikos were sent to Psellos for education Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Pothos was told that villagers were diverting water from the mills of the Acheiropoietos to their own; he should restore it Certainty: 1 1062 Certainty: 1 Monks of Mt Ganos asked Psellos to take over their monasteries Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 The metropolitan of Madytos must visit Konstantinos X or send holy Madytos oil; he persuaded Psellos to favour his basilikos Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Anastasios Lizix was welcomed kindly by Dalassenos, who should send reports to the emperor if positive, but not if negative Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 When Psellos tried to help a krites, he made progress at first in persuading Konstantinos X; but now slander had stopped him Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos informed Ioannes the kaisar over a robbery which cost him 300 nomismata saved for buying an estate Certainty: 1 1063 Certainty: 2 Psellos reported to Konstantinos X that Konstantinos Leichoudes was dying; he disbelieved at first, then visited him just before death Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 Death of Konstantinos Leichoudes caused an outpouring of grief throughout the capital; then an interregnum Certainty: 3 Certainty: 1 Death of Anastasios Lizix in Athens: monodies & other mourning reactions Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos sent festal gifts to the families of Konstantinos X, Ioannes kaisar & the patriarch; letters often explore symbolism Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Ioannes the kaisar gave Psellos a horse, & made a speech in full armour for a brave crane he killed while hunting Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 The bishop of Parnassos was praised to Ioannes the kaisar as simple & grateful; he sent Psellos produce in return for letters & help Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos recommended to Ioannes the kaisar the victim of a disaster which left his family starving; why should he not be a krites? Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos had tried in every way to have Kalokyros recalled from exile: signs were now favourable for a speedy solution Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos told a kourator of Cyprus that Konstantinos X knew he had made peace after troubles & governed well - good for his career Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos sent a hegoumenos to a krites, to protect the monastery's estates & win credit with its martyrs (& Psellos) Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos asked Nikolaos Skleros for help over the Acheirpoietos for the Theotokos (not just Psellos), & Medikion Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Euphemia was barely alive as Psellos wrote to Ioannes kaisar on truffles; she revived a little at Ioannes' gift Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos' confidence in his writing skills was now based on the fact that they had managed to conquer Ioannes kaisar Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos replied to an (unspecified) request from Ioannes kaisar by saying that he felt too old Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Ioannes the kaisar with the kaisarissa conspired to entrap Psellos with foods he liked & other gifts Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos now had only occasional visits from Ioannes kaisar: he kept a picture in his heart, but needed letters Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote a bold encomium to Konstantinos X, praising practical wisdom & humility, sailing on the Euphrates & Danube Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos complained that Nikolaos Skleros twice rejected Psellos' good candidate as notarios: maybe the end of their friendship? Certainty: 1 1064 Certainty: 2 Psellos asked the krites of Aegean Sea to aid metropolitan Romanos of Kyzikos a year after the earthquake of 1063 Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Xiphilinos spoke for the weak, disputing with magistrates & Konstantinos X himself, rising & berating him Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Psellos told Ioannes kaisar to return from his estates to the capital, where facilities for his children were better Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos after long efforts to persuade Konstantinos X, arranged the retirement of Nikolaos Skleros Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos' adopted daughter Euphemia gave birth: Psellos told kaisar Ioannes, & wrote of his infant grandson Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Konstantinos X questioned Psellos' loyalty, & Ioannes kaisar tested him with dispiriting questions Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos still felt affinity with Ioannes kaisar, but they rarely spoke, leaving him starved of good company Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Konstantinos X's attitude to Psellos had changed, making his reception at court unpredictable Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Tragic death-scene of Eirene the kaisarissa involved her whole family & Psellos Certainty: 1 1065 Certainty: 2 Konstantinos X marched out to Choirobakchoi with absurdly small army Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Psellos received the first beautiful letters of Aimilianos, patriarch of Antioch Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos would later remember the nursery routine of Euphemia's family Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos would be dead without Ioannes kaisar, yet friendship had become hostility & he wondered if they would speak again Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos corresponded with Sergios, krites of Thrakesion, over poisonous snakes & the monk Elias Certainty: 1 1066 Certainty: 1 Aimilianos, patriarch of Antioch, praised Psellos' letter, apart from its excessive praise; Psellos denied it was excessive Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 The krites of Katotika was making no money & wanted a transfer; Psellos warned that the east was unsafe, & some bread was better than none Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos sent Iasites a discussion of the rational & irrational, why only the horse among animals is alogon Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos told Aristenos in exile that lack of access to the emperor made it hard to help him Certainty: 1 1067 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote three letters to Aristenos, with thanks, comparison of two grammatikoi & advice on rhetoric Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Eudokia took power into her own hands while training Michael (VII) for rule Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos suggested to Iasites that they should both profit from their links to Eudokia Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Empress Eudokia became worried that her sons would lose power without a strong emperor Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Needs of empire or oaths sworn to Konstantinos X? Xiphilinos wondered whether to let Eudokia remarry Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 Eudokia & Psellos told Michael VII of her impending marriage to Romanos (IV) Certainty: 3 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to Nikephoros, nephew of Keroularios, who inspired him by writing one line & expecting a whole letter in reply Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos recommended Elias Krystalas to Ioannes kaisar Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos recommended Elias Krystalas to Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos recommended Elias Krystalas to a krites of Katotika Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos recommended Elias Krystalas to the krites of Boukellarion Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos told the krites of Opsikion about Elias Krystalas Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos recommended Elias Krystalas to the krites of Thrakesion Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos recommended Elias Krystalas to the doux (?) of Antioch Certainty: 1 1068 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote Oratio Panegyrica 12 for Eudokia, on her recent choice of Romanos IV Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos recommended Elias Krystalas to Nikephoritzes Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos asked Nikephoritzes to see if Besaine was a rich see, as its bishop was likely to be taxed as a rich man Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 Campaign already begun by Romanos IV Diogenes against Turks Certainty: 3 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to five friends in central Anatolia to reconcile the bishop of Gordiason with the bishop of Matiane Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 Psellos wrote to Eustratios Choirosphaktes, with congratulations on Romanos IV's victory Certainty: 3 Certainty: 2 Psellos, in the lifeless world of his books, badly missed a friend who was on campaign with the emperor Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to Basileios the epi tou kanikleiou, speculating why he had not written Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote again to Choirosphaktes, wondering whether the army was going to India Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to Romanos IV, in despair at his long absence, listing all of his virtues of which he felt deprived Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Romanos' army returned after a pointless campaign: warfare for warfare's sake Certainty: 2 1069 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to Romanos IV, seeking favour & right to compose encomia Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 After making yearly distributions, Romanos IV left Constantinople on new campaign against Turks Certainty: 3 Certainty: 2 Psellos, after strong pressure (he claimed) from Romanos IV, joined his 1069 expedition Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote from Caesarea to 3 friends who continued with Romanos: he could not keep up Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, mentioning ambush & Larissa-Melitene journey Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 (?) Psellos passed through Philadelphia in returning to the capital, reporting events to the krites of Thrakesion Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to Romanos about his return to Constantinople & publicity given to his victory over the ambush Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Eudokia authorised money for Psellos, but he misinterpreted her wishes; she abused him, provoking a passionate reply Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to Nikephoros (only), nephew of Keroularios, on ustable fortune, adding theatrical stories for discussion at dinner Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to kaisar Ioannes, encouraging him to hope for the favour of Eudokia & even Romanos IV Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Romanos IV began to despise Eudokia, her sons & kaisar Ioannes Doukas Certainty: 2 1070 Certainty: 2 Romanos IV decided to spend 1070 in Constantinople, sending Manuel Komnenos to fight in Anatolia Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos, wanting contact with Ioannes kaisar, perversely wrote to him to ignore books & hunt everything, including Psellos himself Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote two virtuoso letters to Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, lamenting declining powers, with mixed scientific infomation Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Romanos started negotiations to marry his infant son to one of Robert Guiscard's daughters Certainty: 1 1071 Certainty: 2 Psellos implies that though Romanos knew nothing of sultan's presence, he (Psellos) did know Certainty: 2 Certainty: 3 Tricked by sultan, with divided forces, dangerously exposed, Romanos was defeated & captured Certainty: 3 Certainty: 3 Coup against Romanos by kaisar Ioannes in favour of Eudokia Makrembolitissa & Michael VII Certainty: 3 Certainty: 3 Michael VII proclaimed sole emperor by palace guard; Eudokia evicted Certainty: 3 Certainty: 2 Eudokia made a nun & exiled by Michael VII with her other children to her convent of Piperoudion Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos congratulated Andronikos Doukas on his victory, though Romanos IV was still free, & prepared a poem for his triumph Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos playfully wrote of Christ's disciples among Scythian nomads; Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, misunderstood Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 (?) Psellos wrote to Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, that he was involved in tactics & siege engines (at Chliat?) Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote a much-delayed monody on Michael Radenos Certainty: 1 1072 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to the blinded Romanos IV, offering consolation of divine inner light Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Michael VII wrote to Robert Guiscard, proposing to marry his brother Konstantios to a daughter of Guiscard Certainty: 2 1073 Certainty: 1 Psellos gave one classical & one magical interpretation of a carved stone he was asked to examine for Michael VII Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote (or adapted) for Michael VII verse introductions to seven subjects Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos took up the case of the monk Nikolaos, exiled from Antioch by the patriarch Aimilianos Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 The patriarch Aimilianos had cowed the monks of the Thaumatourgos monastery; Psellos would help monks visiting the capital Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 An Antiochene whom Amilianos & Psellos had helped, once told Psellos about Antioch; now he only had Aimilianos stories Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos had worked hard with the emperors on behalf of Aimilianos of Antioch, & urged him to write Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos tried to maintain correspondence with Aimilainos of Antioch, glad of news from anywhere, as Aimilainos rarely wrote Certainty: 1 1074 Certainty: 2 Second marriage of Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios: Psellos was not shocked by the ceremony Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Birth of Konstantinos, son of Michael VII & Maria of Alania Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Death of a kouropalates who linked Psellos to his son-in-law's family; negotiations to replace him Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 A case of forgery in the signature of a report on the bishop of Korone Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Psellos dedicated his De omnifari doctrina to Michael VII, warning him not all the sources were Christian Certainty: 1 1075 Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote to Konstantinos, Keroularios' nephew, to congratulate him on the birth of a son Certainty: 2 Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote Oratio Panegyrica 13 for Michael VII: Psellos' expulsion from court was rescinded Certainty: 1 Certainty: 1 Michael VII's relationship to his brothers, & to Psellos Certainty: 1 1078 Certainty: 2 Psellos forgave the envy of Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, whom he had now overtaken in dignity Certainty: 2 Certainty: 2 Psellos compared the family of Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios with his own state, consoled only by Eudokia Certainty: 2 Unassigned Activities Authorship (896) (Romanos 4 's relationship with him) is incidental to his account τοῦτο μὲν πάρεργον κείσθω τοῦ λόγου. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 11. 6-7 (He did not want) to entrust to the people's ears a distorted narrative, nor make a source of defamation a theme that he had had for praise, nor whet against Konstantinos 9 the tongue that Michael 61 had refined through his encouragement ... ὃν ὑπόθεσιν εἰς λόγους ἔσχηκα κρείττονας, τοῦτον εἰς χείρονας κτήσασθαι ἀφορμήν, καὶ ἣν ἐκάθηρα γλῶτταν ἀφ᾿ ὧν ἐκεῖνός με πρὸς τοῦτο παρώρμησε, ταύτην ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ θήξασθαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 23.12-16 (Heard from Anonymus 7002 ) that Romanos 4 knew how passionate ... Zoe 1 was and to prevent her being shared among many, did not resent her relationship with one man (Michael 4 ); while pretending not to see he satisfied her passion ᾔδει δὲ μάλα ἐρῶσαν ..., καί, ἵνα μὴ πρὸς πολλοὺς διαχέοιτο, οὐ μάλα τὴν πρὸς ἕνα τῆς γυναικὸς ἐδυσχέραινεν ὁμιλίαν, ἀλλὰ σχηματιζόμενος παρορᾶν ἀπεπλήρου τὸ πάθος τῇ βασιλίδι. Psellos: Chronographia III 23.8-11 (His retirement) was prompted by an innate desire deep in his soul from earliest youth and by the sudden change in affairs: for he was afraid when he saw Konstantinos 9 's fickleness, harrying one person after another like a soldier in war καὶ ἔμφυτός τις ἔρως ἐκ πρώτης ἡλικίας τῇ ἐμῇ ψυχῇ ἐντακεὶς καὶ ἡ ἀθρόα τῶν γινομένων μεταβολή· ἔδεισα γοῦν τὸ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς εὐμετάβολον ὁρῶν, ὥσπερ ἐν πολέμῳ ἄλλον ἐπ᾿ ἄλλῳ ἀγόμενον καὶ φερόμενον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 191.6-10 (In an encomium) he would have contributed many fine words to the feast of honour, for which Konstantinos 9 gave abundant material, since the encomiast passes over any bad points in his honorand and weaves his praise from what is good πολλῶν γὰρ ἂν εὐπόρησα καὶ καλῶν λόγων εἰς εὐφημίας ἔρανον, ... · ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἐγκωμιάζων, ὅσα πρόσεστι φαῦλα τῷ ἐκωμιαζομένῳ παραιτούμενος, ἐκ τῶν σπουδαιοτέρων ἐκείνῳ πλέκει τὸν ἔπαινον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 161.4-8 (In condemning her lack of taste) he makes an exception of Zoe 1 's reverence for God; he cannot blame her for excess in this; this virtue in her was unsurpassed ... he has praised her appropriately for this earlier in his account ὑπεξῃρήσθω δὲ ταύτης τὸ περὶ τὸ θεῖον σέβας, οὐδὲ γὰρ ἔχω ἐνταῦθα τὸ πλέον ἐπαιτᾶσθαι, ἀνυπέρβλητον δὲ αὐτῇ τὸ ἀγαθὸν τοῦτο ἐτύγχανεν ὄν, ... ἄνωθί που τοῦ λόγου τῆς προσηκούσης ἔτυχεν εὐφημίας. Psellos: Chronographia VI 157.8-13 (In redesigning the Mangana) an exact circle was inscribed using the third church as a centre, with greater art in his opinion ... No one could criticise the size of the project, so outstanding was its beauty κύκλος ἀκριβὴς ὡς περὶ κέντρον τὸν τρίτον νεὼν τεχνικώτερον, ἵν᾿ οὕτως εἴποιμι, κατεγέγραπτο ... οὗ δὴ εἴ τις τὸ μέγεθος ἐπιμέμψασθαι βούλοιτο, εὐθὺς ἀνείργεται τῷ κάλλει καταλαμπόμενος. Psellos: Chronographia VI 186.6-9, 21-2 1043 summary: he congratulated Konstantinos 9 for his dramatic victory over Georgios 62 , which did not seem to occur by human agency, but as a sign of divine favour; he finally asked Konstantinos to pay him and make him his court rhetor συγγραφεὺς πρόκριτος. Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 775-835 Michael 4 during his reign did and planned very many things and did not meet with failure in many; in examining and judging side by side his successes and failures, he finds more successes than failures πλεῖστα μὲν ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας καὶ πράξας καὶ βουλευσάμενος, οὐ πλειόνων δὲ διαμαρτίαν ἐσχηκώς· ἃ δὴ καὶ αὐτὸς ἀντεξετάζων καὶ παράλληλα κρίνων, πλείω τὰ κατωρθωμένα τῶν διημαρτημένων εὑρίσκω. Psellos: Chronographia IV 54.12-16 Michael 5 wished someone small or no one at all to share in his power: Michael 61 thinks he was envious even of higher nature κοινωνεῖν δὲ αὐτῷ τοῦ κράτους μικρὸν μὲν ἢ μηδένα τῶν ἁπάντων ἐβούλετο, ὃ δ’ οἶμαι καὶ κρείττονι φύσει βασκαίνων ἦν. Psellos: Chronographia V 9.19-21 Zoe 1 's largesse was pillaged or seized; all this and the excessive elevation (of individuals) began the decline of affairs to the opposite extreme and humiliation; but this was for prophets and the opinions of the more intelligent ἦν δ᾿ ἄρα τὸ ξύμπαν καὶ ὁ ἐς τὸ ἄγαν μετεωρισμὸς ἀρχὴ τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων ἐς τὸ ἀντίθετον καταγωγῆς τε καὶ ταπεινώσεως· ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν οἷον ἐν μαντείαις καὶ τῶν συνετωτέρων ταῖς ὑπολήψεσι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 7.9-13 Konstantinos 9 had another good quality, one which he did not normally praise, but which Konstantinos 9 held in particular esteem; anyone who wishes may judge: Konstantinos 9 was utterly without precaution for himself τῷ δέ τι καὶ ἄλλο προσῆν ἀγαθόν, ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐκ ἐν ἅπασιν ἐπαινούμενον, ἐκείνῳ δὲ διαφερόντως τιμώμενον, διαιτήσοι δὲ ὁ βουλόμενος· ἀφυλάκτως ἑαυτοῦ παντάπασιν εἶχε. Psellos: Chronographia VI 132.1-4 Konstantinos 9 's refusal to use guards was certainly the beginning of very many ills; he will describe one or two and let readers guess the others; he will begin with a digression, criticising the admission of former slaves to high office ἀμέλει καὶ πλείστων τοῦτο κακῶν ἐγεγόνει ἀρχή, ὧν ἓν ἢ δύο θέμενος, ἐντεῦθεν καὶ περὶ τῶν ἄλλων εἰκάζειν τοῖς ἀναγινώσκουσι δίδωμι· ἐρῶ δὲ βραχύ τι τῆς ὑποθέσεως παρεκβατικώτερον, .... Psellos: Chronographia VI 134.1-17 Konstantinos 9 removed Konstantinos 13 from office, but God placed him in a better party and made him celebrant and initiate of His own Holy Wisdom, as Michael 61 's account will tell more fully further on ... ὅπερ προϊὼν ὁ λόγος ἐρεῖ ἐντελέστερον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 181.6-9 Konstantinos 9 's dismissal of Konstantinos 13 etc. are ambivalent, depending on individual viewpoint; but in other actions that he proposes to tell, Konstantinos 9 was not at all moderate, but vigorous, intense and sharp ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἀμφίλογα τῷ αὐτοκράτορι ... καὶ ὅσα περ ἄλλα ἐρεῖν προῄρημαι, οὐδέν τι μέτριον τῶν πάντων ἐποίει, ἀλλὰ πᾶσιν οἷς ἐβεβούλητο τόνους ἐδίδου καὶ ἀκμὰς καὶ ὀξύτητας. Psellos: Chronographia VI 182.1-5 Konstantinos 9 did not begin the project (of the Mangana) from the best motive, but he need say nothing of that ἤρξατο μὲν οὖν αὐτῷ ἡ ὑπόθεσις οὐκ ἀπὸ κρείττονος ἀφορμῆς, περὶ ἧς οὐδὲν δέομαι λέγειν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 185.5-6 Isaakios 1 's action was worthy of an emperor's thinking, but he does not commend at all the attempt to accomplish everything at once; he will describe what Isaakios 1 did καὶ τοῦτο μὲν ἄξιον βασιλείου φρονήματος, τὸ δ᾿ ἀθρόως πάντα συνελεῖν ἐπικεχειρηκέναι, οὐ πάνυ τι ἐν ταῖς ἐπαινουμέναις τίθεμαι πράξεσιν. Psellos: Chronographia VII 59.29-32 Michael 7 refused to exile Eudokia 1 , as he knows and would guarantee to all with God as his witness τοῦ μὲν βασιλέως καὶ παιδός, ὅπερ αὐτὸς οἶδα καὶ τοὺς πολλοὺς βεβαιώσαιμι ὑπὸ Θεῷ μάρτυρι, ἀπαρνουμένου τὴν τῆς μητρὸς ἐκδημίαν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 30.8-10 Ioannes 62 is the sharpest intellect he has seen or heard of ὁξύτατος γὰρ τὴν σύνεσιν ὢν συμπάντων ὧν ἐγὼ καὶ ἤσθῃμαι καὶ τεθέαμαι. Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 16.5-6 Anonymus 168 claimed that only those of a certain age should rise to the top in a profession like law (thus excluding the young Ioannes 18 ); Psellos made a long list of ancient intellectuals and writers who disproved this rule Psellos Against Ophrydas 255 Theodote 2101 affected him even after her death, as her wish for his tonsure pushed him towards that life; but before that he had to fulfil a wide-ranging project of ancient learning, theoretical and practical, which he listed in detail μέχρι δὲ τοῦ τρίβωνος ἡ φιλοσοφία. Psellos Mother 52-60 Michael 61 wrote to Anonymus 2176 seeking aid for Anonymus 2177 Τῷ κριτῇ τῶν ᾿Ανατολικῶν. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 41.273-275 Anonymus 2485 approached Anonymus 2484 via Psellos for an effortless favour Psellos Letters (K - D) 162, 189.21-190.8 Anonymus 2495 sent a reminder of his promises, and he planned action Psellos Letters (K - D) 168, 193.1-7 A conventional and impersonal demand that the recipient write to the writer (a standard letter without a recipient?) Psellos Letters (K - D) 19, 25.1-26 A letter (?) citing Anonymus 2552 , but written to hide its subject Psellos Letters (K - D) 240, 290.5-291.6 A long catalogue of clichés which is not easy to follow, ending with a request for a copy of Plutarch and the possibility of a visit (a standard letter without a recipient?) Psellos Letters (K - D) 17, 20.20-22.19 A naive and repetitious version of the story of the Spinx at Thebes, with euhemerising tendencies; is it for young pupils, or maybe written by one? (a standard letter without a recipient?) Psellos Letters (K - D) 18, 22.20-24.27 After a silence, he wrote to Ioannes 18 about following him to Olympos Psellos Letters (K - D) 191, 215.5-218.30 After carefully weighing the evidence, he would accuse Michael 11 of impiety (heresy), rebellion, murder, sacrilege and also indifference, not mixing up details of these charges but dealing separately with each in turn ἀσεβείας, τυραννίδος, φόνου, ἱεροσυλίας, πρὸς δὲ καὶ ἀδιαφορίας. Psellos Kategoria 51-72 After curtailing his account of Konstantinos 10 as far as is reasonable and giving the narrative its usual scale, he will then speak more exacty about his family, his house, his character, likes and dislikes both before and after his rule συντεμὼν τὸν λόγον ὅσα εἰκὸς καὶ τὸ σύνηθες τῇ συγγραφῇ μέτρον ἀποδιδούς, ἀκριβέστερον ὕστερον ἐρῶ καὶ ἑρμηνεύσω ὁποῖον μὲν αὐτῷ τὸ γένος, ὁποῖον δὲ τοῦ οἴκου τὸ σχῆμα, οἷον δὲ καὶ τὸ ἧθος, .... Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 1.1-6 After giving an account of Zoe 1 and ending it with her death, he will again deal with another subject; he does not know well what Zoe 1 was like in her youth, except from hearsay, and he has entrusted this to writing earlier on ... καὶ τῷ ἐκείνης θανάτῳ τοῦτον συμπερατώσας, αὖθις ἑτέρας ἕξομαι ὑποθέσεως. Ἐκείνη γὰρ ὅπως εἶχεν ἐφ᾿ ἥβης οὔπω σαφῶς οἶδα, εἰ μὴ ὅσον ἀκοῇ μεμαθηκώς, ἄνω που τοῦ λόγου ταύτην ἐπίστευσα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 156.3-7 After sketching Konstantinos 10 he will write a fuller account, as he promised to do for this amazing and remarkable emperor οὕτω μὲν οὖν προσκιάσας αὐτόν, αὐτίκα πλατύτερον γράψω καὶ διαρθρώσομαι, ὥσπερ δὴ ἐπηγγειλάμην ποιῆσαι τῷ θαυμασίῳ τούτῳ καὶ ὑπερφυεῖ αὐτοκράτορι. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 5.1-3 After the death of Anonymus 2502 he asked Anonymus 2503 to aid Anonyma 2143 Psellos Letters (K - D) 172, 195.13-196.5 After the interruption to the preface of his account, he returns again to the narrative of events proper ἐπεὶ δέ μοι ἡ προθεωρία τῆς ἀφηγήσεως ἐπιτέτμηται, ἐπ’ αὐτὴν εἶμι πάλιν τὴν τῶν γεγονότων διήγησιν. Psellos: Chronographia V 10.1-2 After waiting to see if his intervenion was needed, he wrote a speech in favour of the nomophylax Ioannes 18 and against the jurist Ophrydas (Anonymus 2110 ), beginning with problems of defending a great man against a nonentity ῾Υπὲρ τοῦ νομοφύλακος κατὰ τοῦ ᾿Οφρυδᾶ. Psellos Against Ophrydas 1-505 All emperors should be prevented from the folly of not accepting advice and lack of reflection, but self-love and the common flattery that they are equal to all things leads them astray; they suspect a man who speaks frankly for the good ἔδει ... τὸ ἀσύμβουλόν τε καὶ ἀπερίσκεπτον, πάντων ἀπελαθῆναι τῶν βασιλέων, ἀλλὰ τὸ φίλαυτον, καὶ τὸ ἐνίους τῶν αὐτοκρατόρων παρὰ τῶν τυχόντων θωπεύεσθαι ὡς πᾶσιν ἀρκοῦντος πράγμασι δελεάζει . Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 18.3-10 All this preliminary narrative enables his account to proceed with artistry, by going back to the beginning, establishing preliminaries and concluding in an orderly way διὰ ταῦτά μοι τὰ πολλὰ ἐκεῖνα προείρηται, ἵνα μοι προχωροίη κατὰ τέχνην ὁ λόγος εἰς ἀρχήν τε ἀναβαίνοντι καὶ προκαθιστῶντι καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς συμπεραίνοντι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 46.15-18 Alternatively by hunting down the truth by every means, he thought he would become a cause of mockery to those who find fault and considered not a lover of history but a lover of abuse ἢ τὸ ἀληθὲς ἐκ παντὸς τρόπου θηρώμενος ἀφορμὴ σκώμματος τοῖς φιλαιτίοις γενήσεσθαι, καὶ οὐ φιλίστωρ, ἀλλὰ φιλολοίδορος νομισθήσεσθαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 22.17-20 An account like his passes over a good many of the stranger events which bring shame upon the author and tedium to the readers ἡ δὲ τοιαύτη διήγησις οὐκ ὀλίγα τῶν ἀτοπωτέρων παρεσιώπησεν, ὁπόσα αἰσχύνην τε τῷ γράφοντι φέρει καὶ ὄχλον τοῖς ἐντυγχάνουσιν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 150.11-13 Another encomium is set in a large theatre, with competitors to left and right seeking to compete with the deeds of Konstantinos 9 ; its first subject is the spread of imperial power, especially in Muslim areas, symbolised by the elephant ῞Ετερος λόγος πρὸς τὸν αὐτὸν βασιλέα ... ἐν τηλικούτῳ θεάτρῳ. Psellos Orationes panegyricae IV, 1-169 As Georgios 62 was wounded in the side it was alleged that it the wound was from a lance, but the one who inflicted the wound is unknown to the time that his history was written ὁ δὲ τρώσας ἀφανὴς τέως ἐστὶν ἄχρι τῆσδε τῆς συγγραφῆς. Psellos: Chronographia VI 85.14-16 As an eyewitness of the transfer of rule in 1057 who had an opportunity to think over the events, he came to the conclusion that the actions of Michael 11 were masterful Psellos Keroularios 365-366 As for Konstantinos 62 's appearance and the character expressed, in so far as the innate soul appears from these, he does not know of such earthly beauty τὸ εἶδος καὶ τὸ ἐμφαινόμενον ἦθος, ὡς οἶόν τε καὶ ἀπὸ τούτων ἐμφαίνειν τὴν ἐγκαθημένην ψυχήν, οὔπω γὰρ οἶδα τοιοῦτον κάλλος ἐπίγειον. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 12.5-8 As he has given an adequate acount of Konstantinos 10 's deeds he will talk about some of the things he said in his reign ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀρκούντως αὐτῷ περὶ ὧν ἔπραξε τὸν λόγον ἐποιησάμεθα, φέρε δὴ εἴπωμεν καὶ εἴ τι ἐπὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς παρεφθέγξατο. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 29.1-3 As he has said many times, if Isaakios 1 had chosen the right time for action and proceeded gradually he would have changed the disordered world to order ὅ γοῦν πολλάκις εἰρήκειν, εἰ ταῖς πράξεσιν ὁ βασιλεὺς οὗτος καιροὺς ἀφωρίζετο, ... εἰς τάξιν τε ἂν ἐκ τῆς ἀταξίας μετήγαγεν καὶ κόσμον ὡς ἀληθῶς τοῖς πράγμασιν εἰσεποίησεν. Psellos: Chronographia VII 62.1-9 As he is not writing an encomiumn but a true history (he will say that) Konstantinos 10 sometimes went wrong in relying only on his own counsel in what he did ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκώμιον τὰ γραφόμενα, ἀλλ’ ἀληθὴς ἱστορία, ἑαυτῷ μόνῳ σύμβουλῳ περὶ τὰ πρακτέα χρώμενος, ἔστιν οὗ καὶ ἡμάρτανε τοῦ ἀκριβεστέρου σκοποῦ. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 17.2-4 As he sets out to write about Michael 7 , or rather to outline as far as his summary account allows, he begs his audience not to consider that he exaggerates Michael's character and actions; in fact he greatly understates them ῾Ιστορεῖν ... ἢ μᾶλλον σκιαγραφεῖν ὅσον ἐπὶ τοῦ λόγου ἐπιτομῇ, τοῦτο πρῶτον τὸν ἀκροατὴν παραιτοῦμαι μὴ κρείττονος τοὺς λόγους ἡγήσασθαι τῶν ἠθῶν ἐκείνου καὶ πράξεεων, ἀλλ’ ὑστεροῦντας παρὰ πολύ. Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 1.1-5 As he will conceal none of Konstantinos 9 's nobler deeds but bring them into the open, so too if Konstantinos has said anything in a different disposition, this he will also make clear in his account ὥσπερ γὰρ οὐδέν σοι τῶν κρειττόνων συνεπικρύψομαι, ἀλλ᾿ εἰς τοὐφανὲς ἄξω, οὕτως εἴ τί σοι μὴ ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς εἴρηται ἕξεως καὶ τοῦτο δὴ τῷ λόγῳ δῆλον ποιήσομαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 28.7-10 As it has been his habit in writing to omit many things in the middle of the subject he will again return to Konstantinos 9 ὥσπερ δέ που ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ γραφῇ εἴωθα πολλὰ τῶν ἐν μέσῳ τῆς ὑποθέσεως τῆσδε παραλελοιπὼς αὖθις εἰς ἐκεῖνον ἄνειμι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 156.1-3 As it would take much time and many words to detail (the events of Konstantinos 9 's reign) in order from beginning to end - armies, camps, skirmishes, battles and everything else that precise historians tell - he will defer this for now τὰ μὲν οὖν ἐφεξῆς πάντα διεξιέναι, ἑκαστόν τι ἐξακριβοῦσθαι , ... καὶ τἄλλα ὁπόσα εἴθισται λέγειν τοῖς ἀκριβέσι τῶν συγγραφέων, ὡς μακροῦ καιροῦ καὶ λόγου δεόμενα εἰς τὸ παρὸν ἀναβάλλομαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 73.1-6 At the beginning of his monody, he pictured the whole of nature severely disturbed by the death of Maria 64 , by the loss of her beauty and charm Psellos Poema 17.1-60 At the end of his speech for the prosecution (which could be lengthened), he asked the synod if Michael 11 should continue as patriarch: if yes, they (not Isaakios 1 ) would bear responsibility; if no, they should vote for deposition Psellos Kategoria 2785-2845 At this point he wishes to introduce himelf into the history and share in the virtues of Konstantinos 10 ἀλλ’ ἐνταῦθα τοῦ λόγου γενόμενος συνεισενεγκεῖν καὶ ἐμαυτὸν τῷ συγγράμματι βούλομαι καὶ τῶν ἐκείνου παραπολαῦσαι καλῶν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 7.1-3 At this point in his account he would like to explain the causes of the Rus' naval expedition against Konstantinos 9 who had committed no hostility against them ἐνταῦθα δὲ καὶ τοῦ λόγου γενόμενος, βούλομαι τὰς αἰτίας ἐρεῖν ἀφ᾿ ὧν ἐκεῖνοι μηδὲν ἐναντιωθέντι τῷ αὐτοκράτορι τὴν ἐπιθαλάττιον ξυγκίνησιν καὶ στρατοπεδίαν πεποίηνται. Psellos: Chronographia VI 90.6-9 Bids his account characterise Konstantinos 8 , not adding anything to his nature nor mitigating ὁ δὲ λόγος χαρακτηριζέτω τὸν αὐτοκράτορα, μηδέν τι τοῦ πεφυκότος ἢ προστιθεὶς ἢ καθυφείς. Psellos: Chronographia II 6.1-2 But by the rules of strategy as commander-in-chief he should have stood at a distance giving the necessary commands, while he foolishly ran into danger: this would give cause for much abuse; but he is among those who praise, not the critics ...δέον κατὰ τὴν στρατηγικὴν ἀκριβείαν πόρρω ἵστασθαι, πρωτοστράτηγον τυγχάνοντα ..., ὁ δὲ ἀλογίστως παρεκινδύνευε, πολλὰ ἂν ἐς αὐτὸν ἀποσκώψειεν· ἐγὼ δὲ μετὰ τῶν ἐπαινούντων, ἀλλ’ οὐ τῶν αἰτιωμένων εἰμί. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 21.5-10 Comparing Konstantinos 9 with great past leaders, he knows that Konstantinos 9 is inferior in bravery, but greater in the other virtues by the extent to which he ceded to them in that virtue ἔγωγ᾿ οὖν πρὸς ἐκείνους συγκρίνων τουτονὶ τὸν μέγιστον αὐτοκράτορα, ἐλάττονα μὲν πρὸς ἀνδρίαν οἶδα, μείζονα δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοις καλοῖς ἢ ὅσῳ τοῦ λοιποῦ μέρους τῶν καλλιστείων ἐκείνοις παρακεχώρηκεν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 164.1-4 Composed a lamentation for the collapse of (the dome of) Hagia Sophia Εἰς τὴν τῆς Ἁγίας Σοφίας σύμπτωσιν. Psellos Oratoria minora 131-134 Composed a speech about enkomia in response to a question from the vestarches Pothos 102 Πρὸς αὐτὸν (Πόθον τὸν βεστάρχην) ἐρωτήσαντα ποῖος ἐγκωμίων κρείττων. Psellos Oratoria minora 57-58 Composed a speech about his pupils (Anonymi 148 ) chastising them for their laziness Ἐμβραδυνάντων τῶν μαθητῶν τῇ τῆς σχολῆς ξυνελεύσει. Psellos Oratoria minora 79-82 Composed a speech about his pupils (Anonymi 149 ) who gave up on studying (?) Πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς ἀπολειφθέντας τῆς ἑρμηνείας τοῦ Περὶ ἑρμηνείας. Psellos Oratoria minora 82-84 Composed a speech about his pupils (Anonymi 150 ) who neglected their studies Ὀνειδίζει τοὺς μαθητὰς ἀμελοῦντας. Psellos Oratoria minora 84-87 Composed a speech about his secretary (Anonymus 449 ) Πρὸς τὸν οἰκεῖον γραμματικόν. Psellos Oratoria minora 62-65 Composed a speech about his students (Anonymi 147 ) who failed to attend classes because of the rainy weather Ὅταν ἔβρεξε καὶ οὐκ ἀνῆλθον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν σχολήν. Psellos Oratoria minora 76-78 Composed a speech about his useless priest (Anonymus 442 ) Πρὸς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ παπᾶν. Psellos Oratoria minora 59-62 Composed a speech about the envy and rivalries among the asekretis Psellos Oratoria minora 47-48 Composed a speech about the office of asekretis Psellos Oratoria minora 44-46 Composed a speech addressed to a dishonest and boastful tavern-keeper (Anonymus 440 ) who spent his time idly philosophising Πρός τινα κάπηλον μεγάλαυχον καὶ φιλοσοφοῦντα διάκενα. Psellos Oratoria minora 48-51 Composed a speech addressed to a dishonest tavern-keeper (Anonymus 441 ) who became a nomikos Εἴς τινα κάπηλον γενόμενον νομικόν. Psellos Oratoria minora 52-57 Composed a speech addressed to his infant grandchild (Anonymus 436 ) Εἰς τὸν αὐτοῦ ἔκγονον ἔτι νήπιον ὄντα. Psellos Oratoria minora 152-155 Composed a speech addressed to the emperor Doukas (Michael 7 ?) about a relief sculpture (?) depicting Odysseus and Kirke (Ulysses and Circe) Πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα τὸν Δούκαν. Psellos Oratoria minora 126-127 Composed a speech addressed to the nephews of the patriarch Michael 11 (Nikephoros 111 and Konstantinos 120 ) Περὶ φιλίας πρὸς τοὺς ἀνεψιοὺς τοῦ πατριάρχου Μιχαήλ. Psellos Oratoria minora 117-126 Composed a speech against those who criticized him Πρὸς τὸν λοίδορον ῥίψαντα χάρτην. Psellos Oratoria minora 21-29 Composed a speech against those who maligned him Πρὸς τοὺς βασκαίνοντας αὐτῷ. Psellos Oratoria minora 40-43 Composed a speech against those who maligned him for receiving the dignity of hypertimos Πρὸς τοὺς βασκήναντας αὐτῷ τῆς τοῦ ὑπερτίμου τιμῆς. Psellos Oratoria minora 37-40 Composed a speech for Ioannes 66 (Italos) Εἰς τὸν Λογγίβαρδον Ἰωάννην καταναγκάζοντα αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ ἑρμηνεῦσαι τάχιον τὰ μαθήματα. Psellos Oratoria minora 65-69 Composed a speech for his pupil Sergios 105 who had never been bitten by a flea Πρὸς τὸν μαθητὴν αὐτοῦ Σέργιον εἰπόντα μήποτε δηχθῆναι ὑπὸ ψύλλης. Psellos Oratoria minora 94-97 Composed a speech for his students of philosophy and rhetoric Psellos Oratoria minora 88-93 Composed a speech for the emperor (Romanos 4 ) Diogenes Σελέντιον ὡς ἀπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ Διογένους. Psellos Oratoria minora 4-6 Composed a speech for the emperor Michael 7 Doukas, a traditional praise of fasting explicitly from a very young man to an older audience, hence probably from his first year of rule Σελέντιον δημηγορηθὲν παρὰ βασιλέως κῦρ Μιχαὴλ τοῦ Δούκα. Psellos Oratoria minora 7-10 Composed a speech for the emperor Konstantinos 10 Doukas Ἐπαναγνωστικὸν ὡς ἀπὸ τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος τοῦ Δούκα κῦρ Κωνσταντίνου. Psellos Oratoria minora 16-18 Composed a speech for the empress Theodora 1 Σελέντιον ἐκφωνηθὲν ἐπὶ τῶν ἡμερῶν τῆς βασιλίσσης κυρᾶς Θεοδώρας. Psellos Oratoria minora 1-4 Composed a speech for two of his students (Anonymi 146 ) Εἰς δύο τινὰς τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ λογογραφήσαντας πρὸς ἀλλήλους. Psellos Oratoria minora 73-76 Composed a speech in praise of bugs Ἐγκώμιον εἰς τοὺς κόρεις. Psellos Oratoria minora 107-110 Composed a speech in praise of lice Ἐγκώμιον εἰς τὴν φθεῖρα. Psellos Oratoria minora 102-106 Composed a speech in praise of the flea Ἐγκώμιον εἰς τὴν ψύλλαν. Psellos Oratoria minora 98-101 Composed a speech in praise of wine Ἐγκώμιον εἰς τὸν οἶνον. Psellos Oratoria minora 111-116 Composed a speech, called selentios (silentium), for an emperor (Konstantinos 9 ? Konstantinos 10 ?) Λόγος τοῦ ὑπερτίμου ὃς ἐπικέκληται σελέντιος. Psellos Oratoria minora 10-16 Composed an apology in defence of his resignation from the office of protasekretis Ὅτε παρῃτήσατο τὴν τοῦ πρωτοασηκρῆτις ἀξίαν. Psellos Oratoria minora 29-37 Composed an apology in defence of philosophers Πρὸς τοὺς οἰόμενους τὸν φιλόσοφον ἐρᾶν τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων ἀντιλήψεως, ἅμα δὲ καὶ διὰ τοῦτο βασκαίνοντας αὐτῷ. Psellos Oratoria minora 19-21 Composed an ekphrasis of a stone sculpture of a sleeping Eros Ἔκφρασις εἰς Ἔρωτα ἐγγεγλυμμένον λίθῳ. Psellos Oratoria minora 129-131 Composed an ekphrasis of an image (relief sculpture?) depicting Kirke and Odysseus (Circe and Ulysses) Ἔκφρασις ἢ ἀλληγορία. Psellos Oratoria minora 128-129 Composed an enkomion for the monk Ioannes 270 Kroustoulas Ἐγκώμιον εἰς τὸν μοναχὸν Ἰωάννην τὸν Κρουστουλᾶν ἀναγνόντα ἐν τῇ Ἁγίᾳ Σορῷ. Psellos Oratoria minora 138-151 Composed an enkomion of (Ioannes 66 ) Italos Ἔπαινος τοῦ Ἰταλοῦ. Psellos Oratoria minora 69-72 Composed four short speeches praising Mount Olympus (in Bithynia), particularly its natural beauty Τὰ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον. Psellos Oratoria minora 134-137 Consolation for Anonymus 2223 on the death of Anonymus 2224 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 105.347-350 Declines to debate the question whether Michael 4 and Zoe 1 drugged Romanos 3 , but (does enter the debate) that they were the cause of his death καὶ οὐ περὶ τούτου νῦν διαμφισβητοῦμαι, ἀλλ’ ὅτι ἡ τοῦ θανεῖν αἰτία ἐκεῖνοι γεγόνασιν. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.8-9 Declines to praise or blame Michael 4 's changed attitude to Zoe 1 : his hatred for his benefactress and unfeeling behaviour is not good, but his fear that she might engulf him too in similar evils (to Romanos 3 ) is to be praised ... τὸ μὲν γὰρ μισεῖν τὴν εὐεργέτιδα καὶ ἀγνωμόνως πρὸς ταύτην φέρεσθαι οὐκ ἐν καλοῖς τίθεμαι, τὸ δὲ δεδίεναι περὶ ταύτῃ μὴ τοῖς ἴσοις καὶ τοῦτον περιβαλεῖ κακοῖς οὐκ ἔχω μὴ ἐπαινεῖν. Psellos: Chronographia IV 6.5-8 Describes the narrative (of 3.17) as the prologue to his account (of Romanos 3 's death), while the main events came about as follows οὗτος μὲν οὖν ὁ τοῦ λόγου πρόλογος, ἡ δὲ ὑπόθεσις τοιαύτη τις ἐπισυμβεβήκει. Psellos: Chronographia III 18.3-4 During an absence from the city (1069?) he wrote to Nikephoros 111 a letter of his own (not under Konstantinos 120 's address), wondering about his situation and sending some lively material for discussion at the dinner-table Τῷ δρουγγαρίῳ καὶ αὐτεδέλφῳ αὐτοῦ. Psellos Letters (Maltese) 17.1-52 Either by omitting, for reasons which he will tell, what was done by some people or by making other changes, he thought that he would be convicted of not making a history but of fabricating events as if for the stage ἢ γὰρ ὑπερβὰς δι᾿ ἃς αἰτίας ἐρῶ τὰ πεπραγμένα τισίν, ἢ μεταβάλλων ἑτέρως, οὐχ ἱστορίαν ποιῶν, ἀλλὰ πλάττων ὥσπερ ἐπὶ σκηνῆς πράγματα ᾤμην ἁλώσεσθαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 22.15-17 Enough about himself since he did not wish to put himself in the history, but his digressions led him to this perforce ἀλλὰ τῶν περὶ ἐμὲ λόγων ἅλις, οὐ γὰρ ἐμαυτὸν ἐβουλόμην ἐγκαταστῆσαι τῇ ἱστορίᾳ, ἀλλ᾿ αἱ τῶν λόγων ὑπεκδρομαὶ πρὸς τοῦτό με παρήνεγκαν βίας. Psellos: Chronographia VI 200.1-3 Even as he wrote his history he was overwehlmingly amazed at Konstantinos 9 's strength in enduring the extreme pains which afflicted him then ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ ξυγγράφων τοῦτον ἔτι τὸν ἄνδρα ὑπερεκπέπληγμαι, ὅπως τηνικαῦτα ἐξήρκει τοσαύταις περιωδυνίαις βαλλόμενος. Psellos: Chronographia VI 130.1-3 Everything came to absolutely nothing: Konstantinos 9 died (as his account will later tell), while Anonyma 210 was again considered a hostage and Romanos 62 's fire kindled only phantoms ἀτελέστατα ἐγεγόνει πάντα· ὅ τε γὰρ αὐτοκράτωρ ἐτεθνήκει, ὡς ὕστερον ὁ λόγος ἐρεῖ, ἐκείνων δὲ ἡ μὲν σεβαστὴ εἰς ὁμηρείας αὖθις μερίδα λελόγισται, τὸν δὲ μέχρι φαντασμάτων ὁ τοῦ ἔρωτος ἀνάπτει πυρσός. Psellos: Chronographia VI 155.20-4 Expresses admiration for Konstantinos 8 who voluntarily ceded to Basileios 2 most of his share in the empire, even though he was young, when lust for power is especially kindled, ...; so Konstantinos 8 deserves encomium in the proem θαυμάσειεν ἄν τις ἐνταῦθα τὸν Κωνσταντῖνον ... τοιούτων μὲν οὖν ἐγκωμίων ἐκ προοιμίων ἀξιούσθω ὁ Κωνσταντῖνος. Psellos: Chronographia I 2.11-19 Feels no amazement that Zoe 1 should adorn Michael 4 like a statue and cover him in gold, making him dazzle with rings and gold-woven robes: for what would an empress in love not bestow on her beloved? τὸ μὲν οὖν περικαλλύνειν τοῦτον ὥσπερ ἄγαλμα καὶ καταχρυσοῦν, δακτυλίοις τε περιαστράπτειν καὶ χρυσοϋφέσιν ἐσθήμασιν οὐκ ἐν θαυμασίοις ἄγω· βασιλὶς γὰρ ἐρῶσα τί οὐκ ἂν τῷ ἐρωμένῳ πορίσαιτο;. Psellos: Chronographia III 20.1-4 First of all, he particularly admired Michael 4 because, although he chanced on this great prosperity from a humble fortune, his thinking was not confounded, he was not found unequal to power, yet altered nothing of what was established καὶ τοῦτο πρῶτον θαυμάζειν ἔχω τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος, ὅτι ἐξ ἐλάττονος τύχης τῆς μεγίστης ταύτης εὐδαιμονίας τυχών, οὔτ’ ἐξεπλάγη τὸ φρόνημα, οὔτε ἥττων εὑρέθη τοῦ κράτους, ἀλλ’ οὔ τι τῶν καθεστώτων ἠλλοίωσε. Psellos: Chronographia IV 10.1-4 From the accession of Romanos 3 the writing of his history will be more accurate than the preceding part, since the emperor Basileios 2 died when he was still an infant, and Konstantinos 8 when he had completed his first lessons ἡ δὲ ἐντεῦθεν τῆς ἱστορίας γραφὴ ἀκριβεστέρα τῆς προλαβούσης γενήσεται· ὁ μὲν γὰρ βασιλεὺς Βασίλειος ἐπὶ νηπίῳ μοι τετελεύτηκεν, ὁ δέ γε Κωνστατνῖνος ἄρτι τὰ πρῶτα τελουμένῳ μαθήματα. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.10-13 Had he been writing an encomium rather than a comprehensive history, (the flight of the Uzes) would have provided more than enough material for praise; but as it is he will turn the impetus of his account to other matters εἰ μὲν οὖν ἐγκωμιάζειν προειλόμην, ἀλλὰ μὴ συνοπτικὴν ἱστορίαν ποιεῖν, ἀπέχρησεν ἄν μοι τοῦτο τὸ διήγημα εἰς πᾶσαν εὐφημίας ὑπερβολήν· νῦν δὲ ἐφ’ ἕτερα τὴν τοῦ λόγου ὁρμὴν μετενέγκοιμι. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 23.14-17 Had he not promised an account of serious matters but of trivia and frivolities, he would have assembled many tales in his acount; but he will let this one tale (of Romanos 62 and the horse) stand for many, and narrate events in sequence εἴ γε μὴ σπουδαίων ἐπηγγειλάμην ἀναγραφήν, ἀλλὰ φλυάρων καὶ ἀσπουδάστων, πολλὰ ἂν τῷ λόγῳ συνηγήοχα διηγήματα· ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν ὡς ἐκ πολλῶν ἓν έκκείσθω, ὁ δέ γε λόγος τὰ ἑξῆς διηγήσεται. Psellos: Chronographia VI 143.14-17 Had he seen that other emperors had done everything with the finest disposition and found favour in all things whereas Konstantinos 9 's reign alone had the opposite character, he would have omitted his account of him ... ὅτι τῶν ἄλλων αὐτοκρατόρων ἀπὸ τῆς κρατίστης ἕξεως πάντα διαπεπραχότων καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν εὐδοκιμηκότων, τούτῳ μόνῳ ἡ βασιλεία ἀπὸ τῶν ἐναντίων κεχαρακτήρισται, ὑπερέβην ἄν τὸν ὑπὲρ ἐκείνου λόγον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 26.7-11 Has heard another version (of Zoe 1 's affair with Michael 4 ), that Romanos 4 was tolerant of it, but his sister Pulcheria and her confidants were enraged; however, her early death terminated hostilities ὃ τοίνυν ἄλλως μοι εἴρητο· ὁ μὲν βασιλεὺς εὔκολος πρὸς τὴν ἐρωτικὴν ὑπόληψιν ἢ κατάληψιν ἦν, ἐμεμήνει δὲ ἥ τε ἀδελφὴ Πουλχερία .... Psellos: Chronographia III 23.11-20 Having come to this point in his account he would like to say this about Eudokia 1 , that he does not know if any other woman was such an example of wisdom as she was in her way of life up to this time ἐνταῦθα δὲ τοῦ λόγου γενόμενος, τοσοῦτον ἂν περὶ τῆς βασιλίδος Εὐδοκίας εἴποιμι, ὅτι οὐκ οἶδα εἴ τις ἄλλη γυναικῶν σωφροσύνης ἐγεγόνει παράδειγμα, ὡς ἐκείνη τὸν μέχρι τούτου τῆς ζωῆς βίον ἐβίωσε. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 4.1-4 Having completed his account of Zoe 1 he returns again to Konstantinos 9 , adding that he had not wished to write a history and be called a lover of truth for it, but to compose an encomium for Konstantinos 9 ἐγὼ δὲ τὸν περὶ τῆς βασιλίδος συντελέσας λόγον, ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα αὖθις ἐπάνειμι, τοσοῦτον ἐπειπών· ἐβουλόμην μὴ ἱστορεῖν, μηδὲ φιλαλήθης ἐνταῦθα κατονομάζεσθαι, ἀλλ᾿ ἐγκώμια τῷ αὐτοκράτορι τούτῳ ποιεῖν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 161.1-4 Having reached this point in his account of Zoe 1 , Michael 61 wil return again to Maria 64 and Konstantinos, arousing and separating them, if it seems good, and while saving him up for later, complete now the life of Maria ἐπανακαλέσωμεν αὖθις εἰς τὴν σεβαστὴν καὶ τὸν αὐτοκράτρορα, καί, εἰ δοκεῖ, διεγείρωμέν τε καὶ διέλωμεν, καὶ τὸν μὲν ἐς τὸν μέλλοντα λόγον ταμιευσώμεθα, τῇ δὲ διὰ τοῦ παρόντος συνέλωμεν τὴν ζωήν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 68.1-5 Having written a rather critical letter to Anonymus 2145 he now thanked him for a treatise Psellos Letters (Sathas) 16.255-256 He (probably) wrote an epitaph for Isaakios 1 , in which reference is made to a friend of the deceased, who may be Konstantinos 13 Τοῦ Ψελλοῦ εἰς τὸν τάφον τοῦ Κομνηνοῦ τοῦ βασιλέως. Psellos Poema 20.1-12 He accused Anonymus 2331 of sophistry Psellos Letters (Spadaro) 166-167 [Sathas 203] He added conventional consolation - death as the common lot of all - introducing a vision of Maria 64 herself, asking for imperial benefactions to wipe away her sins; he finally recommended Zoe 1 and Theodora 1 as dynastic consolation Psellos Poema 17.326-448 He admires the strict standard of a mind (like Leon 62 's), but considers it suited to to eternities not (earthly) times, to the future life, not the present one ἔγωγ᾿ οὖν τὴν στάθμην τῆς τοιαύτης γνώμης θαυμάζω μέν, αἰῶσι μὲν ἀλλ᾿ οὐ χρόνοις πρόσφορον ἥγημαι, καὶ βίῳ τῷ μέλλοντι ἀλλ᾿ οὐ τῷ ἐφεστηκότι. Psellos: Chronographia VIa 7.9-12 He agreed to a request from Leon 62 to write an encomium for St Gregorios Thaumatourgos, after an elaborate double humility topos: he expressed great inferiority both to the saint and to Leon Πρὸς τὸν πρωτοσύγκελλον ἀξιώσαντα ἱστορεῖσθαι τὰ θαύματα τοῦ θαυματουργοῦ Γρηγορίου. Psellos Orationes panegyricae XVI, 1-62 He and Anonymus 2548 did not agree, and he wrote to Anonymus 2547 asking why Psellos Letters (K - D) 226, 269.24-270.12 He announced to Konstantinos 120 and Ioannes 62 the arrival of Elias 2101 Psellos Letters (K - D) 212, 249.17-252.2 He apologised for introducing himself into the narrative of the end of the reign of Michael 6 and the transfer of rule to Isaakios 1 , sharing the glory with Konstantinos 13 εἰ δὲ κἀγὼ πάρεργον τοῦ λόγου γενήσομαι καὶ τρόπον τινὰ συναπολαύσω τῶν ἐκείνου καλῶν, φθονείτω μηδείς. Psellos Leichoudes 406-407 He applied to Anonymus 2531 for renewal of the sigillion of the convent of Sakelline Psellos Letters (K - D) 201, 229.14-230.19 He asked Anonymus 2245 for help over Euthymios 2101 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 128.375 He asked Anonymus 2253 for a kind hearing and maybe aid for Anonymus 2255 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 133.377-378 He asked Anonymus 2315 to help Anonymus 2316 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 193.488 He asked Anonymus 2330 for another favour for Anonymus 2329 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 201.494-495 He asked Romanos 4 to accept him as his his panegyrist Psellos Letters (K - D) 5, 5.22-7.16 He asked Anonymus 2375 to be second charioteer driving Anonymus 2173 Psellos Letters (K - D) 57, 89.25-91.6 He asked Anonymus 2389 for help for Anonymus 2390 Psellos Letters (K - D) 69, 103.1-12 He asked Anonymus 2396 for aid to Anonymus 2397 Psellos Letters (K - D) 78, 109.4-18 He asked Anonymus 2401 to assist Anonymus 2400 and his monastery Melias Psellos Letters (K - D) 81, 111.7-22 He asked Anonymus 2404 on behalf of Gregorios 2101 to map the borders of his lands Psellos Letters (K - D) 84, 113.1-29 He asked Anonymus 2421 to welcome Anonymus 2422 Psellos Letters (K - D) 100, 128.8-129.2 He asked Anonymus 2433 to help Anonymus 2435 Psellos Letters (K - D) 118, 144.23-145.9 He asked Anonymus 2194 to allow Anonymus 2448 to go off on campaign Psellos Letters (K - D) 132, 154.19-155.17 He asked Anonymus 2164 for more aid for Medikion, especially in connection with Anonymus 2460 Psellos Letters (K - D) 140, 167.9-168.12 He asked Anonymus 2164 for a sympathetic hearing for Anonymus 2462 Psellos Letters (K - D) 143, 170.1-14 He asked Anonymus 2302 for aid for Anonymus 2252 Psellos Letters (K - D) 149, 174.15-29 He asked Anonymus 2465 to save Anonymus 2466 Psellos Letters (K - D) 150, 175.1-15 He asked Anonymus 2465 again to help Anonymus 2466 Psellos Letters (K - D) 151, 175.16-25 He asked Anonymus 2492 to take care of Anonymus 2491 Psellos Letters (K - D) 165, 191.3-16 He asked Anonymus 2527 to put him under another spell Psellos Letters (K - D) 196, 222.14-22 He asked Konstantinos 10 to transfer Medikion to Anastasios 2101 Psellos Letters (K - D) 202, 230.20-231.6 He asked Anonymus 2560 to be impartial over those who were mistreating Anonymi 2118 Psellos Letters (K - D) 244, 294.19-295.2 He asked Anonymus 2565 to help Anonymus 2564 to seek to recover losses Psellos Letters (K - D) 247, 297.7-19 He asked Pothos 102 , if he was guilty of violence against the Theotokos, to stop it Psellos Letters (K - D) 250, 299.1-17 He asked Anonymus 2582 why he only heard news of him from Anonymus 2583 Psellos Letters (K - D) 262, 307.22-308.23 He asked Anonymus 2237 to investigate the claims of Anonymus 2236 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 119.367-368 He asked for pity from Ioannes 289 for Anonymus 2175 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 40.273 He asked how Anonymus 2581 lived without him Psellos Letters (K - D) 261, 307.7-21 He asked why Basileios 2103 did not write, for all his promises Τῷ βεστάρχῃ καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ κανικλείου. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 88.331-332 He attacked the letter of Anonymus 2348 , claiming to be giving a model reply Τοῦ Ψελλοῦ ἀντίγραμμα πρὸς αὐτόν. Psellos Letters (K - D) 210, 245.1-247.8 He began the chrysobull with a statement of the importance of such documents, especially when sent to men of high calibre and strengthened by the most terrible oaths, as the most irrevocable statement of imperial intentions Psellos Robert 4-25 He began the encomium with praise for writing about those you know best for an audience which also knows them, rather than writing of those long dead Psellos Mother 3-4 He began, at last, a correspondence with Anonymus 2239 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 121.370 He begs that Konstantinos 9 , divine soul, be gracious to him, and even if he speaks immoderately of his times, yet without concealment and truthfully, Konstantinos 9 pardon him this too διὰ ταῦτα ἵλεά μοι τὰ παρὰ σοῦ εἴη, θειοτάτη ψυχή· κἂν μὴ μετρίως περὶ τῶν χρόνων εἴποιμι, ἀλλ᾿ ἀνεπικαλύπτως καὶ ἀληθῶς, σύγγνωθί μοι καὶ τοῦτο. Psellos: Chronographia VI 28.4-6 He brought Konstantinos 10 bread, wine and fruit Psellos Letters (Sathas) 52.283 He brought Konstantinos 10 the best of this earth: fruit, wine and bread Psellos Letters (Sathas) 137.380 He cannot but admire Michael 7 's greatest strength ... Michael 7 's refusal to despair and resolve in the international crisis that he inherited; this prevented the state from foundering, even if it has not yet come to a secure harbour τὸ δὲ μέγιστον καὶ ὅ μηδὲ θαυμάζειν δεδύνημαι ... ἀλλ’ ἡ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῷ στάσις καὶ τὸ τῆς γνώμης ἀκλόνητον ἔστησε τὴν τῶν πραγμάτων φοράν, καὶ εἰ μὴ τοῖς λιμέσι προσωκείλαμεν τέως, ἀλλ’ .... Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 7.7-18 He cannot write history like panegyric, as he cannot distort history, where truth is crucial, for fear of popular criticism, lest some slandering tongue blame him for condemning where he should praise: this is no lawsuit, but true history ... οὐ γὰρ ἂν ψευσαίμην τὴν ἱστορίαν, ἧς τὸ κράτιστον ἡ ἀλήθεια, ..., εὐλαβούμενος μή με λοίδορος γλῶσσα αἰτιάσαιτο, ὅτι εὐφημεῖν δέον κατηγορῶ· οὐ κατηγορία τοῦτο, οὐδὲ γραφή, ἀλλ᾿ ἀληθῶς ἱστορία. Psellos: Chronographia VI 26.1-7 He claimed that references by the founders of Nea Mone to the pain of childbirth convict them of Nestorianism, in refusing to accept that the birth of Christ was without pain, again tainting Michael 11 Psellos Kategoria 367-417 He claimed the speech showed no personal bias against the patriarch, but derived from personal observation that he had been straying from orthodoxy; he would ask the synod too to use personal observations in reaching judgement Psellos Kategoria 5-51 He clings to historical truth and considers Konstantinos 9 's landscape activities far from the range of his good qualities, as was his puerile behaviour towards a certain lad (Ioannes 115 ) ἔχομαι γοῦν τῆς ἀληθοῦς ἱστορίας, καὶ πόρρω τοῦ κύκλου τῶν ἐκείνων ταῦτα ποιοῦμαι καλῶν, ὤσπερ δὴ καὶ ἅπερ ἐπεπράχει μειρακιωδῶς περί τι μειράκιον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 177.1-4 He closed his monody on the death of Eirene 20117 with a long recapitulation of her virtues and a formal passage of consolation for her husband Ioannes 62 Psellos Eirene 181-189 He combined high encomium of Leon 62 with firm criticism Psellos Letters (K - D) 185, 203.17-204.30 He compared Konstantinos 120 's painted image with the reality and with a word-picture Psellos Letters (K - D) 211, 247.9-249.16 He complained that Anonymus 2182 expected all his letters to be perfect Τῳ πραίτωρι Θρᾳκησίων τῷ Ξηρῷ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 51.282-283 He complained that Leon 2104 refused to respond to his letters Psellos Letters (Sathas) 89.333-334 He complained that Michael 11 had failed to stop a year of persecution of him by clerics under patriarchal influence, yet also saw the patriarch now as a prime source of his salvation Τῷ πατριάρχῃ λειτουργήσαντι ἐν τῇ Χαλκῇ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 139.381-382 He complained to Anonymus 2326 of the trivial office he was offered τῷ δὲ τοῦ παπᾶ Σαβίνου τριμήνῳ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 198.490-491 He complained to Ioannes 289 about his philosophical rigidity Psellos Letters (K - D) 190, 212.20-215.4 He confessed to Anonymus 2443 , admitting sacrilege, the theft of icons and perjury Psellos Letters (K - D) 129, 152.19-28 He congratulated Michael 11 on his higher human feeling and told of a visit from Anonymus 2392 Psellos Letters (K - D) 71, 104.8-12 He congratulated Katakalon 101 for losing to the emperor of this world money to be repaid in the next Psellos Letters (K - D) 141, 168.13-169.12 He congratulated Ioannes 62 on his letters, and asked for help with Konstantinos 10 Psellos Letters (Gautier) 2.1-22 He considers it the product of a greater providence and management, that the succession did not fall to any other member of Michael 5 's family, but on Michael 5 , through whom the divinity knew how to obliterate the whole family κρείττονος ... ἡγοῦμαι προνοίας ..., τὸ μὴ εἰς ἄλλον τινὰ τῶν τοῦ γένους τὴν τῆς βασιλείας διαδοχὴν πεσεῖν, ἀλλ’ εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν καίσαρα δι’ οὗ ᾔδει τὸ θεῖον τὸ ξύμπαν αὐτοῖς γένος ἀφανισθήσεσθαι. Psellos: Chronographia IV 30.4-8 He consoled Leon 62 in a letter over a recent dramatic loss of power and wealth Τῷ αὐτῷ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 8.234-238 He consoled Niketas 166 and Ioannes 438 for their loss Psellos Letters (K - D) 36, 58.16-60.15 He consoled Nikolaos 2104 by telling him of Konstantinos 10 's reaction to his letter Psellos Letters (K - D) 56, 88.7-89.22 He could not have talked about (his interview with Konstantinos 9 ) without first explaining the cause, and since he wished to explain the cause, he needed to mention some personal details τοῦτο δὲ οὐκ ἦν ἄλλως ἐδείξασθαι μὴ τὴν αιτίαν προειρηκότι, ταύτην δὲ βουλόμενος προειπεῖν, ἀναγκαῖον καὶ τῶν κατ᾿ ἐμὲ μνημονεῦσαί τινα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 46.13-15 He damanded a reply from Anonymus 2534 over the exclusion of Kallinikos 2101 from his monastery Psellos Letters (K - D) 205, 33.12-235.24 He defended himself against the charge of Ioannes 18 that he followed Plato more than Christ Psellos Letters (Sathas) 175.444-451 He delivered an oration as Romanos 4 was leaving the city, on a second eastern campaign; he wishes for success in biblical terms, that Romanos will soon return after defeating the new Amalek or Pharaoh [Alp Arslan ?] Συντακτήριος (καὶ ἐξιτήριος) λόγος πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα. Psellos Orationes panegyricae XXI, 1-33 He demands that the mouths of wicked men be barred and Michael 4 be freed from slanders. But he has said these things by way of digression ἐμπεφράχθω γοῦν τοῖς παμπονήροις τὰ στόματα καὶ ἐξῃρήσθω τῶν διαβολῶν ἐκεῖνος ὁ αὐτοκράτωρ. καὶ ταῦτα μὲν παρεκβατικώτερον εἴρηται. Psellos: Chronographia IV 35.6-9 He described to Michael 11 his delight on eating the potamios hys after a diet of vegetables Psellos Letters (Sathas) 58.290 He describes the extent of the learning of Ioannes 18 by juxtaposing positive and negative judgements; the encomium breaks off at the end, though it had promised to speak of his death Psellos Xiphilinos 421 He did not know if any other family was loved by God as much as that of Zoe 1 and Theodora 1 , and he was amazed on reflecting that their roots were fixed and planted not lawfully, but by slaughters and bloodshed οὐ γὰρ οἶδα εἴ τι ἕτερον γένος ὡς τὸ περὶ ἐκείνας ἠγάπηται τῷ Θεῷ καὶ θαυμάζω κατανοῶν ὅτι μὴ ἐννόμως αὐταῖς τῆς ῥίζης παγείσης καὶ φυτευθείσης, ἀλλὰ φόνοις καὶ αἵμασιν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 1.6-9 He did not know whether to rejoice or weep when writing of the last earthly moments of Michael 11 , as the boat put in at the city near which the trial was to take place Psellos Keroularios 377 He did not know which to be more amazed at, (Romanos 62 ) transformed at Konstantinos 9 's will and choice, or Konstantinos, who had set his heart in harmony with Romanos ἐγὼ γοῦν οὐκ εἶχον τίνα θαυμάσαιμι πρότερον, τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον μεταποιηθέντα πρὸς τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως γνώμην τε καὶ προαίρεσιν, ἢ τὸν αὐτοκράτορα πρὸς τοῦτον μεθαροσάμενον τὴν ψυχήν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 141.1-4 He discussed his plans as a charistikarios with Romanos 108 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 178.456-457 He dismissed criticisms made of Anonymus 2396 by monks Psellos Letters (K - D) 77, 108.18-109.3 He does not criticise Isaakios 1 for his attempt (to restore the state), but he does blame him for the timing of his intervention; the third stage can wait: he will dwell further on the second τῆς μὲν οὖν ἐγχειρήσεως οὐ διαβάλλω τὸν ἄνδρα, ἐπεγκαλῶ δὲ τούτῳ τὸν καιρὸν τῆς διαμαρτίας· ἀλλ᾿ ὁ μὲν τρίτος ἡμᾶς ἀναμεινάτω καιρός, τῷ δὲ δευτέρῳ πλατύτερον ἐμφιλοχωρήσωμεν. Psellos: Chronographia VII 58.17-21 He does not know how both to preserve historical truth and to apportion appropriate homage to Konstantinos 9 ; but his excessive precision in historical truth does in fact conserve a part of Konstantinos 9 's high reputation ἀλλ᾿ οὐκ οἶδ᾿ ὅπως καὶ τὴν τῆς ἱστορίας διαφυλάξω ἀληθείαν, κἀκείνῳ τὸ εἰκὸς σέβας ἀπομερίσομαι· ἡ δέ γε τῆς ἐμῆς ἀκριβείας περὶ τὴν ἀληθῆ ἱστορίαν ὑπερβολή ... . Psellos: Chronographia VI 162.1-5 He does not know whether Zoe 1 scorned royal ornaments in her prime, but in old age she abandoned any will to please κατωλιγώρει δὲ καὶ βασιλείων καλλωπισμῶν, εἰ μὲν καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ τῆς ἀκμῆς οὐκ οἶδα, παρηκμακυῖα δ᾿ οὖν τὸ φιλότιμον ἅπαν κατέλυσεν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 64.3-6 He does not know whether Theodora 1 was returning to her innate character, so show that her past life was a sham, or whether she cultivated (lack of sympathy) so as not to be victim to the masses nor let anyone sway her with tears οὐκ οἶδα εἴτε πρὸς τὴν ἔμφυτον ἕξιν ἐπανελθοῦσα, ἵνα τὸ φθάσαν τοῦ βίου δείξῃ σκηνήν, εἴτ᾿ ἐπιτηδεύουσα τοῦτο, ἵνα μὴ ἁλωτὸς τοῖς πολλοῖς εἴη, μηδέ τις αὐτὴν κετενέγκοι δακρύων εὐθύς. Psellos: Chronographia VIa 16.9-12 He does not know whether to praise but cannot blame for what happened next (at Mantzikert): Romanos 4 was himself the recipient of the all the danger; his view is a mean in the controversy τὸ δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐπαινεῖν μὲν οὐχ ἔχω, ψέγειν δὲ οὐ δύναμαι, αὐτὸς τὸν ὅλον κίνδυνον δέχεται· τοῦτο δὲ μέσον ἐστὶν ἀντιρρήσεως. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 21.1-2 He does not now wish to describe whom Anonymi 7011 preferred above the rest, but he will say that they did not completely miss their target, except that he (Michael 6 ) was not the kind of man to rule but rather one to be ruled and led ὃν μὲν οὖν τῶν ἄλλων προκεκρίκασιν οὐ νῦν χαρακτηρίζειν βεβούλημαι, οὐ πάντη δὲ τούτους ἀποφανοῦμαι διημαρτηκέναι τοῦ ἀρίστου σκοποῦ, .... Psellos: Chronographia VIa 20.7-11 He does not say that later Eudokia 1 's wisdom changed, but she relaxed her precision and did not keep to the end the same way of thinking; in her defence, even if she changed she did not succumb to pleasures and carnal desires λέγω δὲ οὐχ ὅτι ... τὴν σωφροσύνην ἠλλάξατο, ἀλλ’ ὅτι τῆς ἀκριβείας ὑφῆκε ...· ἀπολογισαίμην δ’ ἂν ... ὡς οὐδὲ εἴ τι παρηλλοίωτο, ἡδονῶν ἥττηται καὶ σαρκὸς ἐπιθυμίας ἠλάττωται. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 4.4-9 He does not speak from a wish to praise (Michael 4 ) but to narrate what was done λέγω δὲ οὐκ ἐγκωμιάσαι βουλόμενος, ἀλλ’ ἱστορῆσαι τὰ περπραγμένα. Psellos: Chronographia IV 34.19-20 He does not talk (of events at Theodora 1 's death) from hearsay, but was himself present when the decisions and plans were made, seeing with his eyes and hearing with his ears how Anonymi 7011 tossed imperial affairs as in a game of dice λέγω δὲ ταῦτα οὐ παρά του ἀκηκοώς, ἀλλ᾿ αὐτὸς τοῖς γνωσθεῖσι καὶ βουλευθεῖσι παραγενόμενος, ὀφθαλμοῖς τε ὁρῶν καὶ ὠσὶν ἀκούων, ὅπως αὐτοῖς ὥσπερ ἐν κύβων παιδιαῖς τὰ τῆς βασιλείας ἐστρέφετο πράγματα. Psellos: Chronographia VIa 19.12-16 He does not write of Konstantinos 62 's words or deeds as the boy has not yet done or uttered anything γράφω δὲ αὐτῷ οὔτε λόγους τινάς, οὔτε πράξεις, οὔτε γὰρ ἔπραξέ τι οὔτε οὔπω ἐφθέγξατο. Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 12.4-5 He doubts whether any emperor had profounder wisdom (than Michael 7 ) or was quicker at hitting the mark on any question; it is agreed that certain deeds and words befit an emperor, others a philosopher and so on, but he encompassed all οὐ γὰρ οἶδα εἴ τις βαθυγνωμονέστερος ἐγεγόνει τῶν βασιλέων, ἢ πρὸς ἕκαστον τῶν ζητουμένων εὐθυβολώτερος ... τὰ μὲν βασιλέως ἔργα καὶ λόγοι, τὰ δὲ φιλοσόφῳ προσήκοντα, ... τῷ δὲ συνείλεκται ἅπαντα. Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 4.8-17 He ended the encomium for the death of Styliane 2101 with a complaint of the dreadful finality of the death of one's child and then called on her to come in dreams to console her grieving parents Psellos Styliane 85-87 He ended the Hypomnenma by addressing the defeated claimant Ioannes 2106 , who challenged Basileios 2101 to swear an oath while refusing to swear himself; he proclaimed that this would prevent Ioannes from ever reopening the case ὁ ἐπαγαγὼν ὅρκον καὶ μὴ ὀμνὺς τὸν τῆς συκοφαντίας, ἔοικε τῷ παραχωροῦντι τὸν ὅρκον, καὶ ἐκπίπτει τῆς ἀγωγῆς. Psellos Hypomnema 206-218 He expected to hear something too intimate and too grand (from Michael 7 ), but Michael so abased himself, ranked himself so humbly, so denounced his soul as to move even an adamantine nature to admire his deep humility κἀγὼ μὲν εἴκαζον ... ἀκροάσασθαι, ἀπορρητότερα εἶναι καὶ κρείττονα· ὁ δέ γε ἐν τούτοις τοσοῦτον κατήνεγκεν ἑαυτὸν καὶ οὕτως παρὰ φαῦλον ἔθετο, καὶ τοσαῦτα κατεῖπε τῆς ψυχῆς, ... . Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 11.5-10 He explained shooting stars to Anonymus 2528 Psellos Letters (K - D) 197, 222.24-223.18 He explained to Anonymus 2532 why we feel cold in a draught Psellos Letters (K - D) 203, 231.7-232.4 He expressed affection for Anonymus 2227 and recommended Anonymus 2226 to him Psellos Letters (Sathas) 106.350 He expressed to Isaakios 1 extreme thanks for a reply to his letters Psellos Letters (K - D) 215, 257.1-258.20 He gave an address to Romanos 4 at a banquet on behalf of the people of the capital, picturing him as a warrior (probably over the campaign of 1068), thanking him for his efforts and wishing him success in the battles of 1069 Προσφώνησις πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα κῦρ ῾Ρωμανὸν τὸν Διογένην παρὰ τῶν πολιτῶν ἐν κλητορίῳ. Psellos Orationes panegyricae XX, 1-49 He graciously accepted the apology of Konstantinos 120 for reacting jealously to his promotion Εἰς τὸν πρωτοπρόεδρον καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν κρίσεων φίλτατον μὲν αὐτῷ τυγχάνοντα, βρραχὺ δέ τι παραβασκήναντα. Psellos Letters (Gautier) 21.1-71 He had prepared a volume containing many delightful things about Romanos 4 βιβλίον ἐξενεγκὼν ἐπὶ σοί, οἷόν τινα λειμῶνα γέμον ἀνθέων καὶ χάριτος. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 2.226 He had written many praises of Konstantinos 9 before this work and the public admired the extravagance of the panegyrics; he was not lying in this praise, but others mistook what he was doing ἐπεὶ ... πρὸ τῆσδε τῆς πραγματείας πολλοὺς ἐκείνῳ καὶ καλοὺς λόγους πεποίημαι, καὶ τάς γε ὑπερβολὰς τῶν ἐγκωμίων ἐθαύμασαν οἱ πολλοὶ, καὶ οὐκ ἐψευσάμην τὸν ἔπαινον, ἀλλὰ τοὺς ἄλλους ἔλαθον οὕτω ποιῶν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 25.6-10 He hailed Anonymus 2399 , whom he had often praised to Konstantinos 10 Psellos Letters (K - D) 80, 110.17-111.6 He hailed the powerful, newly-crowned Romanos 4 as the saviour of Byzantium against barbarians, congratulating Eudokia 1 on her excellent choice Εἰς τὸν βασιλέα τὸν Διογένην ὅτε ἐβασίλευσεν. Psellos Orationes panegyricae XVIII, 1-75 He has described Michael 7 's behaviour to all, but Michael 7 's attitude towards him can sustain neither rivalry nor comparison with others ταῦτα μὲν οὖν κοινὰ τούτῳ πρὸς ἅπαντας, τὰ δὲ πρὸς τὸν συγγραφέα οὐκ ἔχει πρὸς τοὺς ἄλλους ἅμιλλαν, οὐδὲ σύγκρισιν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 8.1-3 He has given sufficient encomium of Isaakios 1 ; if one thinks there is also a lesson for the future, this is a task pleasing to the historian ταῦτα δὲ αὔταρκες μὲν ἐκείνῳ ἐγκώμιον· εἰ δέ τις ἡγοῖτο καὶ πρὸς τὸ μέλλον διασκαλία, ἀρέσκοι ἂν ὁ πόνος τῷ ξυγγραφεῖ. Psellos: Chronographia VII 51.1-3 He has mentioned earlier in his account (that Konstantinos 9 fell in love with Anonyma 210 ) ὥς μοι καὶ ἄνω που τοῦ λόγου λέλεκται. Psellos: Chronographia VI 151.8-9 He has neither vied with the diffuse accounts of antiquarian historians nor imitated the conciseness of chronicles, so that his composition may neither be burdensome nor omit crucial points; enough of this now οὔτε τὸ περιρρέον ἐκείνων ἐν τοῖς λόγοις ζηλώσας οὔτε τὸ συντετμημένον τῶν λοιπῶν μιμησάμενος, ἵνα μήτε κόρον ἔχει τὸ σύγγραμμα μήτε παραλίποι τὰ καίρια. Καὶ τοῦτο μὲν ἐς τοσοῦτον εἰρήσθω. Psellos: Chronographia VI 73.18-74.1 He has never seen a soul more sympathetic than that of Konstantinos 9 , either in the past or in anyone today, nor a soul more generous and more becoming to an emperor συμπαθεστέραν γοῦν ἔγωγε ψυχὴν οὔτε πρὶν ἑωράκειν, οὔτε νῦν ἐν οὐδενὶ τῶν πάντων κατανοῶ, ἀλλ᾿ οὐδὲ φιλοτιμοτέραν ἢ βασιλεῖ πρέπουσαν μᾶλλον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 169.1-3 He has not measured out his history by Olympiads, nor divided it by seasons, like Thucydides, but simply described what was most important and what he had gathered in his memory when writing μήτε πρὸς ὀλυμπιάδα ἐτῶν ταύτην ἀναμετρήσας, μήθ᾿ ὡς ὁ συγγραφεὺς πεποίηκεν εἰς τὰς τοῦ ἔτους ὥρας αὐτὴν διελόμενος. ἀλλ᾿ ἁπλῶς οὑτωσὶ τὰ ἐπικαιρότατα ταύτης ὑπαγορεύσας .... Psellos: Chronographia VI 73.9-13 He has often seen what kind of men the Nazarenes were and passed judegment on them ὁποίους ἐγὼ πολλάκις ἑωράκειν καὶ κατεγνώκειν. Psellos: Chronographia VIa 18.20-1 He has previously mentioned that Anonymus 2127 was of obscure birth ἀνὴρ καὶ τὸ γένος, ὥς μοι δεδήλωται, ἄσημος. Psellos: Chronographia VI 136.5 He has seen envy touch even emperors: the diadem and purple do not satisfy them, but unless they are wiser than the wise, cleverer than the sharp and in short the absolute summit of all the virtues, they are take it ill οὐ γὰρ ἀρκεῖ τούτοις ἡ ταινία καὶ ἁλουργίς, ἀλλ᾿ ἢν μὴ τῶν σοφῶν σοφώτεροι εἶεν καὶ τῶν ἀκριβούντων δεινότεροι, καὶ ἁπλῶς εἰπεῖν ὑπερτελεῖς κορυφαὶ τῶν ἁπασῶν ἀρετῶν, ἐν δεινῷ ποιοῦνται τὸ πρᾶγμα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 74.15-20 He has written a long preface thinking of one who flourished in his day (Georgios 62 ), showed the skills of generalship, and no less by military daring and experience checked barbarian attacks, wooing for the Romans freedom without danger πεπροοιμίασται δέ μοι ταυτὶ τὰ πολλὰ ἀφορῶντι πρὸς τὸν ἐν τοῖς καθ᾿ ἡμᾶς χρόνοις ἀνθήσαντα καὶ δείξαντα ὁπόσα μὲν ἡ στρατηγία δεδύνηται, ... τοῖς δέ γε Ῥωμαίοις ἐλευθερίαν ἀκίνδυνον μνηστευσάμενον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 75.1-6 He heard of the death of Anonymus 2322 from Anonymus 2323 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 196.489-490 He himself saw (the return of Ioannes 68 to the palace), and after receiving with his own eyes the truth of what happened, commits it to writing unchanged ταῦτα δὲ αὐτὸς ἑωράκειν, καὶ τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς τὴν ἀλήθειαν εἰληφὼς τῶν πραγμάτων ἀμεταποιήτως τῇ γραφῇ δίδωμι. Psellos: Chronographia V 3.1-3 He hints that behind the elderly nonentity Ophrydas there may lurk a man of greater education and knowledge of the law [Eustratios Romaios? - but he is unlikely to have lived so long] ἄλλον δέ τινα καὶ λόγου μετέχοντα καὶ τῶν πολιτικῶν ἀντεχόμενον καὶ τὸν προστησόμενον ἱκανῶς εἰδότα τῶν νόμων. Psellos Against Ophrydas 35-42 He included in his encomium of Ioannes 289 a long comparison between Ioannes and St Paul, then revealed his secret plans to leave Euchaita for a monastery, questioning his motives and speaking against them Psellos Orationes panegyricae XVII, 620-850 He is aware that to some later historians Konstantinos 9 's indiscriminate bestowal of honours will be a source of panegyric καὶ οὐκ ἀγνοῶ, ὅτι τισὶν ὕστερον συγγραφεῦσιν ἀφορμὴ τοῦτο ἐγκωμίου γενήσεται τῷ ἀνδρί. Psellos: Chronographia VI 30.5-6 He is not able to assert whether she surrendered herself to Romanos 62 , but nevertheless she seemed to love him in return εἰ μὲν οὖν κἀκείνη ἑαυτὴν ἀπεδεδώκει τῷ ἐραστῇ οὐκ ἔχω διϊσχυρίσασθαι, ἀλλ᾿ ὅμως ἐῴκει ἀντερασθῆναι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 145.10-12 He is not surprised that Konstantios 61 respected Eudokia 1 as Konstantinos 61 was a child and not yet able to understand affairs: he will not bring himself to praise this respect τὸ μὲν οὖν Κωνσταντῖνον αἰδεῖσθαι ταύτην, παῖδά τε ὄντα καὶ οὔπω τῶν πραγμάτων ξυνιέναι δυνάμενον, οὔτε θαυμάσομαι, οὔτε ἐπαινέσαι τοῦτον τῆς αἰδοῦς προαχθήσομαι. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 2.1-4 He is not writing a flattering narrative (of Michael 7 ), but a completely true account, let God be witness οὐ θωπευτικὴν ποιοῦμαι τὴν ἱστορίαν, ἴστω Θεός, ἀλλ’ ἀληθεστάτην. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 43.1-3 He is not yet free in this matter, although for him there is no ground for ill will against Romanos 4 nor did everything fail for Romanos 4 οὔπω δὲ ταύτην διαπέφευγα, ὡς μήτ’ ἐμοὶ λαβὴν κακονοίας πρὸς ἐκεῖνον γενέσθαι, μητ’ αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα διαπεσεῖν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 15.9-11 He is particularly well qualified to talk about Konstantinos 10 , whom he praised as an ordinary citizen and admired when he became emperor περὶ τίνος γὰρ ἄλλου τῶν βασιλέων μακρότερον διηγήσωμαι, ὅν και ἰδιώτην ὄντα ἐπῃνεσα, καὶ βασιλέα γεγονότα ἐθαύμασα. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 1.6-8 He is refraining at present from detailing every act, but has chosen a middle path between the antiquarians of the reigns and deeds of old Rome and those in our time whose habit is to compose chronicles ... λεπτολογεῖν ἀφίημι νῦν, μέσην δὲ ὁδὸν βαδίζειν προῄρημαι τῶν τε ἀρχαιολογησάντων τὰς τῆς πρεσβυτέρας ῾Ρώμης ἡγεμονίας τε καὶ πράξεις καὶ τῶν εἰωθότων ἐν τοῖς καθ᾿ ἡμᾶς χρόνοις χρονογραφίας συντίθεσθαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 73.13-18 He is writing (about Robert 101 ) on the very day that Robert died γράφω δὲ ταῦτα καθ’ ἣν ἐκεῖνος ἐτεθνήκει ἡμέραν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 39.4 He knew of no power of divination in Konstantinos 9 and attributed (his optimism) to an easy-going and carefree spirit ἐγὼ δὲ οὐδεμίαν μαντείας ἀφορμὴν παρὰ τῷ ἀνδρὶ ἐπιστάμενος, ψυχῆς τοῦτο ῥᾳθύμου καὶ ἀφρόντιδος τίθεμαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 97.1-3 He knows that Michael 4 manifested total piety as emperor, not only devoting himself to divine churches, but also giving himself up to and doing the utmost service to monks οἶδα δὲ καὶ τὸν ἄνδρα εὐσέβειαν πᾶσαν μετὰ τὴν βασιλείαν ἐπιδειξάμενον, καὶ οὐ θείοις ναοῖς μόνον προσκείμενον, ἀλλὰ καὶ φιλοσόφοις ἀνδράσι προσανακείμενον καὶ ὑπερφυῶς θεραπεύοντα. Psellos: Chronographia IV 34.1-4 He knows the qualities in Ioannes 68 which are to be praised and those which are not altogether excellent τὰ μὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐπαινουμένων ἐπίσταμαι, τὰ δὲ οὐ πάνυ οἶδα σπουδαῖα. Psellos: Chronographia IV 12.5-6 He listed the many documents produced in connection with Vivarion, in one case seeking to demonstrate identity of author by analysis of handwriting and orthography, in another case rebutting criticism based on comparison of dates Psellos Hypomnema 47-120 He maintains, with God as his witness, that although Konstantinos 9 was afflicted and overwhelmed by such great ills and so absolutely wretched he never uttered a word of blasphemy against God λέγω δὲ ἐν τούτοις διατεινόμενος καὶ Θεὸν τοῦ λόγου ποιούμενος μάρτυρα, ὅτι τοσούτοις κακοῖς διαντλούμενός τε καὶ κυμαινόμενος καὶ οὕτως ἀθλίως ἔχων παντάπασιν, οὐδέποτε βλάσφημον πρὸς Θεον ἀφῆκε φωνὴν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 131.1-4 He may have written to Michael 2107 about a commentary on Hermogenes' Staseis by Anonymus 2341 , the expert Anonymus 2342 , and the great man Anonymus 2343 (with his relation Anonymus 2344 ); or this letter may belong to somebody else Psellos Letters (K - D) 20, 26.1-27.18 He may have written to Michael 2107 , still asking of Anonymus 2344 Psellos Letters (K - D) 22, 28.25-30.3 He may have written to Michael 2107 , asking of Anonymus 2344 Psellos Letters (K - D) 21, 27.19-28.24 He must return to the original order and treatment of his account ἐπανιτέον αὖθις ἐπὶ τὴν πρώτην τοῦ λόγου τάξιν καὶ μεταχείρισιν. Psellos: Chronographia VIa 13.1-2 He need not mention the name of the leader of the forces (Theodoros 105 ) who was ambivalent or, in his opinion, one-sided (i.e. supporing Isaakios 1 ) ὅ τε τῶν δυνάμεων προηγούμενος, τοὔνομα δὲ οὐδὲν δέομαι λέγειν, ἀμφιρρεπὴς ἦν, ὡς δ᾿ ἐγῷμαι μονομερής. Psellos: Chronographia VII 11.18-19 He offered Anonymus 2535 a choice of cheese or letter, wrote the letter and then he gave the cheese Psellos Letters (K - D) 206, 235.24-238.15 He often asked favours from Anonymus 2456 for people like Anonymus 2455 Psellos Letters (K - D) 137, 163.13-164.13 He omitted above all else to mention Konstantinos 9 's physical condition when first he became emperor, from what prime and vigorous strength he was transformed to the opposite state ...; he will insert this here, beginning from his prime ὁ δέ με πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων διέλαθεν, ὅπως ἐκεῖνος ἔσχεν εὐθὺς βασιλεύσας τοῦ σώματος, ἐξ οἵας τε ἀκμῆς καὶ εὐτονωτάτης ἰσχύος εἰς ἐναντίαν ἕξιν μετήμειπτο, ... ἐνταυθοῖ θήσω ἀπὸ τῶν ἐναντίων ἀρξάμενος. Psellos: Chronographia VI 124.1-7 He praised Ioannes 18 for becoming a legal expert so early in life, while Anonymus 168 had assumed that precocious knowledge of the law was against nature and therefore somehow bad; he pointed out the absurdity of this view Psellos Against Ophrydas 374-488 He praised Michael 7 , who had restored him to his position at court after a period of exclusion, the result of a false accusation; his encomium includes military as well as personal characteristics Λόγος προσφωνηματικὸς πρὸς τὸν κῦρ Μιχαὴλ τὸν Δούκαν. Psellos Orationes panegyricae XIII, 1-67 He praised Konstantinos 10 for his spectacular victory over the Uzes, which he compared favourably to those of Moses and Alexander; he called on Konstantinos' children not to be discouraged by his example, but to emulate him Δημηγορία εἰς τὸν βασιλέα τὸν Δούκαν. Psellos Orationes panegyricae XIV, 1-89 He praised Konstantinos 2103 for his letters and hoped his exile would end Κωνσταντίνῳ τῷ ῾Ιεράκι ἐν ἐξορίᾳ ὄντι. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 123.370-372 He praised Anonymus 2463 to Anonymus 2164 orally in the capital and by letter Psellos Letters (K - D) 144, 170.15-171.13 He praised Anonymus 2589 and longed to join him Psellos Letters (K - D) 267, 311.18-313.8 He praised the Atticism of Ioannes 2110 , and the text on the Trinity he sent Psellos Letters (Sathas) 125.373 He praised the recently installed Michael 7 as a young, accessible and cultivated ruler following bad times Psellos Orationes panegyricae VIII, 1-123 He praised the sweet letter of Leon 62 , but asked for more Psellos Letters (K - D) 87, 115.25-116.18 He presented the De omnifari doctrina to Michael 7 ᾿Αποκρίσεις συνοπτικαὶ καὶ ἐξηγήσεις πρὸς ἐρωτήσεις διαφόρους καὶ ἀπορίας γραφεῖσαι πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα κυρὸν Μιχαὴλ τὸν Δούκαν. Psellos De omnifari doctrina t. He pretends to be nervous in speaking of the reforms of Konstantinos 9 , because he will have to speak of himself as high in the meritocracy Psellos Xiphilinos 421 He realised that Konstantinos 9 controlled his anger like a charioteer restraining a spirited horse: the blood rushed to his face, his body, suddenly stirred in anger, recovered itself yet more quickly and he immediately turned to reason ἐμὲ γοῦν οὐκ ἐλάνθανεν ὥσπερ τις ἡνίοχος τὸν θυμικὸν ἵππον ἀνακρουόμενος· ἐξανθῆσαν αὐτῷ τὸ αἶμα ἐπὶ τῆς ὄψεως, τό τε σῶμα ἀθρόως αὐτῷ κινηθὲν καθίστατο ἀθροώτερον καὶ τῷ λογισμῷ εὐθὺς μετεβάλλετο. Psellos: Chronographia VI 164.7-11 He received a fish from Konstantinos 13 , which he hoped was a symbol of reconciliation Psellos Letters (K - D) 245, 295.3-296.19 He received a letter from Symeon 2102 , showing he was alive and had entered a monastery Τῷ μοναχῷ Συμεὼν τῷ Κεγχρῇ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 54.284-287 He received a letter from Katakalon 101 and told him to approach Konstantinos 10 over non-payment of his salary Psellos Letters (K - D) 59, 91.20-92.24 He received a letter from Anonymus 2477 about Anonymus 2478 , and replied Psellos Letters (K - D) 159, 185.5-187.5 He received an attractive letter from Anonymus 2230 , and asked him to write more Psellos Letters (Sathas) 109.353 He recommended Anonymus 2171 to Anonymus 2168 ἑλέσθαι ὃ βούλεται τῶν θεματικῶν πρωτονωταράτων. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 34.268-269 He recommended Anonymus 2334 to Anonymus 2297 Psellos Letters (K - D) 6, 7.17-8.21 He recommended Anonymus 2339 to Anonymus 2338 Psellos Letters (K - D) 10, 12.1-11 He recommended Anonymus 2415 to Anonymus 2413 Psellos Letters (K - D) 91, 119.13-120.7 He recommended Anonymus 2538 to Ioannes 289 (?) Psellos Letters (K - D) 217, 260.1-13 He recommended Anonymus 2553 to Anonymus 2554 Psellos Letters (K - D) 241, 291.7-18 He recommended that Nikolaos 2104 devote himself to the Theotokos and the Acheiropoietos monastery Psellos Letters (K - D) 124, 148.6-149.6 He recommended the unknown Leon 2105 to Anonymus 2438 Psellos Letters (K - D) 122, 146.16-147.8 He reluctantly wrote to Konstantinos 13 over Anonymus 2163 Τῷ πρωτοβεστιαρίῳ τῷ Λειχούδῃ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 28.262-263 He repeated an invitation to Anonymus 2345 Psellos Letters (K - D) 23, 30.4-21 He repeatedly rejected history-writing because of Konstantinos 9 , not in the least wishing to attribute blame to him and reveal in his account any actions not to his credit which it is right should pass unnoticed διὰ τοῦτον γοῦν ἐγὼ τὸν ἄνδρα τὴν ἱστορίαν ἀπεπεμπόμην ἀεὶ, ἥκιστα βουλόμενος προστρίψασθαί τινα μῶμον αὐτῷ, καί τινα τῶν οὐ καλῶς αὐτῷ πεπραγμένων καὶ ἅ λανθάνειν καλὸν ἀνακαλύψαι τῷ λόγῳ. Psellos: Chronographia VI 23.8-11 He replied to Konstantinos 120 , who had invited him to his wedding Psellos Letters (Sathas) 83.318-321 He replied to Pothos 102 by describing Anonymus 433 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 204.497-499 He replied to Konstantinos 2104 that it was impossible to make a simple summary of the Aristotelian Organon Psellos Letters (Sathas) 205.499-502 He replied to Basileios 2104 's despair over his theme Psellos Letters (K - D) 96, 124.3-125.9 He replied to Anonymus 2614 about the onomastic relationships of the two Basileioi and the two Gregorioi Psellos Philosophica minora I, 17-22 He replied to a request from Ioannes 62 that he felt too old Psellos Letters (K - D) 213, 252.3-253.26 He replied to complaints by Ioannes 289 that his letters lacked respect Psellos Letters (Sathas) 183.467 He replied with additions to a letter of Anonymus 2432 on the workings of providence Psellos Letters (K - D) 115, 142.11-143.9 He reported to Anonymus 2398 about attempts to rescue him from his problems Psellos Letters (K - D) 79, 109.19-110.16 He responded to Anonymus 2550 's letter about Anonymus 2551 Psellos Letters (K - D) 230, 274.10-275.29 He responded to the brief libel of Anonymus 2133 (and other lost writings) with 321 lines, full of aggressive vocatives Psellos Poema 21.1-321 He said Anonymus 2526 was an Arabian dog of poor character Psellos Letters (K - D) 195, 221.19-222.13 He said he envied Anonymus 2232 , who had been visited by Anonymus 2233 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 111.356 He said that Anonymus 2304 had no excuse for not writing Psellos Letters (Sathas) 179.458-459 He saw Konstantinos 9 's well-formed fingers deny their proper shape, bent about into hollows and projections and quite incapable of grasping anything εἶδον ἐγὼ τοὺς εὐφυεῖς ἐκείνῳ δακτύλους ἀπαρνησαμένους μὲν τὸ οἰκεῖον σχῆμα, ἀντικαμφθέντας δὲ εἰς εἰσοχάς τε καὶ ἐξοχάς, ὡς μηδὲ τοῦ τυχόντος περιδράττεσθαι δύνασθαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 128.15-18 He saw practically none of the emperors of his day - and there were many in his lifetime since the majority were only year-long - who conducted their reign liberally through to the end ὥσπερ οὐδένα τῶν ἐπ’ ἐμοῦ βεβασιλευκότων ἐθεασάμην (λέγω δὲ πολλοὺς ἐπιμετρῶν τῷ ἐμῷ βίῳ, ὅτι περ οἱ πλείους αὐτῶν ἐνιαύσιοι), ὥσπερ οὖν οὐδεὶς τούτων ἐλευθέρως τὴν βασιλείαν διήνεγκεν. Psellos: Chronographia IV 11.1-4 He sent Konstantinos 10 three leukoskaroi (fish) Psellos Letters (Sathas) 48.280 He sent Konstantinos 120 another virtuoso letter Psellos Letters (Sathas) 86.326-330 He sent Anonymus 2300 two grammatikoi, Anonymus 2429 and Anonymus 2430 , describing their differences Psellos Letters (K - D) 111, 139.11-140.30 He sent Ioannes 62 a kind of hazel-nut, smaller than usual Psellos Letters (K - D) 235, 285.18-286.14 He sent Ioannes 62 first-fruits of common foods - bread, wine and fruit Psellos Letters (K - D) 260, 306.17-307.6 He sent Anonymus 2584 a skaros to begin a friendship Psellos Letters (K - D) 263, 308.24-309.12 He sent a letter thanking Anonymus 2427 for helping Anonymus 2428 Psellos Letters (K - D) 110, 138.18-139.10 He sent a letter to (Ioannes 62 ) with a gift of walnuts Psellos Letters (Gautier) 26.1-18 He sent a letter to Anonymus 2161 thanking him for fruit and Anonymus 2162 Μοναχῷ ᾿Ολυμπίτῃ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 27.262 He sent a long letter and eulogy to Isaakios 1 on campaign Τῷ βασιλεῖ τῷ Κομνηνῷ ἐν ταξειδίῳ ὄντι. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 69.300-304 He sent a redundant reminder to Anonymus 2473 about Anonymus 2474 Psellos Letters (K - D) 157, 183.5-16 He sent an encomium to Eudokia 1 with a gift of bread, wine and fruit Psellos Letters (K - D) 271, 316.1-18 He sent another encomium to Eudokia 1 with a gift of bread, wine and fruit Psellos Letters (K - D) 272, 316.19-317.6 He sent another note on behalf of Anonymus 2494 thanking Anonymus 2493 Psellos Letters (K - D) 167, 192.18-27 He sent four fish to Konstantinos 10 with symbolic meanings Psellos Letters (Sathas) 104.346-347 He speaks of Konstantinos 10 on the basis of his own perceptions and opinions, not from hearsay; others may boast of Konstantinos 10 's many great successes, but for him one thing balances all this ... αὐτὸς περὶ πάντων αἰσθήσεσιν αὐταῖς καὶ γνώμαις ἀκριβωσάμενος· ὁ μὲν γὰρ σεμνυνέσθω πολλοῖς καὶ καλοῖς κατορθώμασι, ἐμοὶ δὲ ἓν τοῦτο ἀντὶ πάντων ἀρκεῖ. Psellos: Chronographia VII 86.1-4 He speaks the truth in saying that it was not scientific reason that turned him from secular studies to Christian faith, but a divine power possessed him; may Mary and Christ be merciful if his deeds did not always match his word ἐμοὶ δέ, ἵνα τἀληθὲς εἴποιμι, οὐδ᾿ ὁ ἐπιστημονικὸς λόγος τὴν ἀποστροφὴν τούτων δεδώρηται, ἀλλὰ μέ τις θειοτέρα κατέσχηκε δύναμις ... εἰ καὶ παρήλλαξα ταῖς πράξεσι τὸ πρὸς τὸν λόγον ἀνάλογον. Psellos: Chronographia VIa 12.1-16 He stopped talking about Romanos 62 a while ago ὁ ὑποκριτὴς ἐκεῖνος ἀνήρ, περὶ οὗ δὴ λέγων βραχύ τι ἐπεπαύμην. Psellos: Chronographia VI 155.1-2 He suffers the same emotions in writing about Michael 7 as he often did in looking at and admiring him: he cannot stop admiring him; no one should be disbelieving or suspicious because he writes during Michael 7 's lifetime ... οὐ γὰρ ἔχω ὅπως θαύματος ἐπέκεινα τὸν ἄνδρα ποιήσομαι, καὶ μή τις διαπιστοίη τῷ λόγῳ ἢ ἐς ὑποψίαν φέροι τὰ γραφησόμενα, ὅτι ἐπὶ ζῶντι τῷ βασιλεῖ ταῦτα γεγράφαται. Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 1.5-10 He talked subsequently with some of those who had led Zoe 1 away (and they descibed to him her reactions) ὡς δ’ ἐγώ τισιν ὕστερον τῶν ἀπαγαγόντων αὐτὴν συνωμίλησα, φασίν, .... Psellos: Chronographia V 22.1-2 He talks of the astrologers as he himself knows about their science, having long studied it and been of profit to many of them in their understanding of planetary aspects; but he does not believe that our affairs are directed by astral movements ... τὴν μὲν ἐπιστήμην καὶ αὐτὸς εἰδώς, ἐκ πολλοῦ μελετήσας καὶ πολλοῖς ἐκείνων λυσιτελήσας εἰς τὰς τῶν σχημάτων κατανοήσεις, οὐ μέντοιγε πειθόμενος ὡς ἄγοιτο ταῖς τῶν ἄστρων κινήσεσι τὰ ἡμέτερα. Psellos: Chronographia V 19.12-15 He thanked Michael 11 for a potamios hys, the best of fishes Psellos Letters (Sathas) 56.287-289 He thanked Michael 11 for cheese, but the fish had been incomparably better Psellos Letters (Sathas) 59.290-291 He thanked Anonymus 2219 for his letter, but would still go to Olympos Psellos Letters (Sathas) 101.343-344 He thanked Anonymus 2244 for the favour done to Ioannes 2111 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 127.374-375 He thanked Michael 11 for an edible snake (?) tasty enough to seduce Adam and Eve τῷ πατριάρχῃ κῦρ Μιχαήλ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 164.422 He thanked Anonymus 2274 for his support of Anonymus 2275 Psellos Letters (K - D) 1, 1.1-19 He thanked Anonymus 2191 for friendship and gifts Psellos Letters (K - D) 75, 107.5-22 He thanked Anonymus 2300 for generosity to Anonymus 2418 Psellos Letters (K - D) 94, 122.1-21 He thanked Anonymus 2573 for fulfilling his request for Anonymus 2572 more completely than expected Psellos Letters (K - D) 253, 301.6-20 He thinks that Ioannes 68 wished to transfer control of affairs to Konstantinos 9101 , not himself attacking the emperor (Michael 5 ), but giving Konstantinos the opportunity for plotting ὡς γὰρ οἶμαι, βουλόμενος πρὸς ἕνα τῶν ἐκείνου ἀνεψιαδῶν, ..., τὴν τῶν πραγμάτων μεταθήσειν ἀρχήν, οὑχ ὡς αὐτὸς τῷ βασιλεῖ ἐπιθησόμενος ἀλλ’ ὡς ἐκείνῳ δώσων τὰς τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς ἀφορμάς. Psellos: Chronographia V 10.15-19 He threatened Anonymus 2537 that friendship might turn to enmity Psellos Letters (K - D) 216, 258.21-259.24 He told Ioannes 62 of the birth of his grandson Psellos Letters (Sathas) 72.307-308 He told Anonymus 2205 not to reject his poor letters, but to give rich replies Psellos Letters (Sathas) 92.336-337 He told Anonymus 2209 that he got things done as ruler of rulers, e.g. for Anonymus 2210 ἄρχων ἀρχόντων εἰμί. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 95.338-339 He told Anonymus 2246 to help collect taxes in Macedonia Psellos Letters (Sathas) 129.375-376 He told Anonymus 2272 of the problems of Anonyma 2131 , and gave advice on the job of krites Psellos Letters (Sathas) 146.394-395 He told Anonymus 2335 to get on with business and ignore gossip Psellos Letters (K - D) 7, 8.22-9.7 He told Ioannes 289 that one brief visit was not enough, and he needed more Psellos Letters (K - D) 15, 18.18-19.19 He told Pothos 102 that he no longer had to demand a military levy Psellos Letters (K - D) 53, 84.8-85.17 He told Ioannes 289 to welcome Anonymus 2173 to Euchaïta Psellos Letters (K - D) 54, 85.18-87.13 He told Anonymus 2362 he was frantic for news of his success Psellos Letters (K - D) 62, 94.18-95.29 He told Anonymus 2381 about Anonymus 2382 , who complained of inconsistent verdicts on his case Psellos Letters (K - D) 65, 99.3-24 He told Anonymus 2385 to re-examine the case of Anonymus 2384 Psellos Letters (K - D) 66, 99.25-100.15 He told Anonymus 2389 to return the cash to Anonymus 2391 so as to have the peasant houses rebuilt Psellos Letters (K - D) 70, 103.13-104.2 He told Anonymus 2394 that Anonymus 2395 needed a tax assessment and a dinner invitation Psellos Letters (K - D) 76, 107.23-108.17 He told Anonymus 2402 of the proposals of Anonymus 2403 over monoprosopon tax payments Psellos Letters (K - D) 82, 111.23-112.17 He told Anonymus 2416 (?) about Elias 2101 Psellos Letters (K - D) 93, 121.1-25 He told Ioannes 62 how to protect his crops from caterpillars Psellos Letters (K - D) 102, 130.8-131.11 He told Ioannes 62 to hunt with various animals against all kinds of prey Psellos Letters (K - D) 186, 205.1-206.9 He told Ioannes 62 that it was pointless sending a letter with a melon Psellos Letters (K - D) 237, 287.11-288.11 He told the monks of Mt Ganos that they had too high an opinion of his influence Psellos Letters (Sathas) 150.398-399 He took the letters of Anonymus 2213 to the emperor, who would probably soon relent Psellos Letters (Sathas) 97.341 He tried to reconcile Katakalon 101 with Anonymus 2349 Psellos Letters (K - D) 30. 43.15-46.12 He tried to return to court after tonsure, asking Anonymus 2234 about his likely reception Psellos Letters (Sathas) 114.358-359 He used extensive passages from Plato's Phaedrus to convict the founders of Nea Mone of using Hellenic madness, thus tainting Michael 11 with heresy Psellos Kategoria 224-280 He used extensive passages from Proklos to convict the founders of Nea Mone of using Chaldaian concepts, again tainting Michael 11 with heresy Psellos Kategoria 281-366 He used the vocabulary of the hippodrome asking Anonymus 2217 to govern Anonymus 2218 as a charioteer drives a horse Psellos Letters (Sathas) 100.343 He uses patristic misogyny against Dosithea 2101 , mentioning cross-dressing, irrationality and shameless movements, including Michael 11 in the condemnation several times Psellos Kategoria 1030-1245 He usually attributes to divine providence the management of great affairs, or rather attaches to her everything which occurs, if our natural condition is not corrupted ἐγὼ δὲ εἰωθὼς εἰς τὴν τοῦ θείου πρόνοιαν τὰς περὶ τῶν μειζόνων διοικήσεις ἀναγαγεῖν, ἢ μᾶλλον καὶ τἄλλα ἐκείνης ἐξαρτῶν ὁπόσα, μὴ παρατραπείσης ἡμῖν τῆς κατὰ φύσιν ἕξεως, γίνεται. Psellos: Chronographia IV 30.1-4 He was amazed at the scene (of Michael 5 and Konstantinos 64 at the altar) and awestruck at the chorus of ills; but it was in fact a brief prelude to worse tragedies: these he will tell in turn τήν γε σκηνὴν ἀπεθαύμαζον, καὶ τὴν τῶν παθημάτων χορείαν ἐξεπληττόμην· τὸ δὲ ἦν ἄρα βραχύ τι προοίμιον χειρόνων τραγῳδιῶν· εἰρήσεται δὲ κατὰ μέρος ταῦτα. Psellos: Chronographia V 43.11-14 He was asked by Anonymus 2509 to write to Anonymus 2508 Psellos Letters (K - D) 176, 198.8-21 He was forced to justify to Anonymus 2229 his promotion as proedros Psellos Letters (Sathas) 108.352-353 He was grieved at the time to see everything going up in flames (squandered on Anonyma 210 ) and no less pained now - he if anyone is a lover of the Romans and of his country - he blushes for his master and emperor (Konstantinos 9 ) ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ τότε μὲν ἐθρήνουν ὁρῶν τὰ πάντα οὕτω διστυφόμενα, καὶ νῦν οὐδὲν ἔλαττον ἀλγυνόμενος (εἰμὶ γὰρ εἴπερ τις ἄλλος φιλορώμαιος καὶ φιλόπατρις), ἔτι τῷ ἐμῷ δεσπότῃ καὶ βασιλεῖ ἐπαισχύνομαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 154.1-4 He was not very enthusiastic (to write) about contemporary topics, especially because he knew that in many matters he would clash with Konstantinos 9 and he would be ashamed if he did not offer complete eulogy to him ... οὐ πάνυ τι περὶ τὰς καθ᾿ ἡμᾶς ὑποθέσεις ἐσπούδασα, καὶ μάλισθ᾿ ὅτι περ ἐν πολλοῖς τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος Κωνσταντίνου καθάψεσθαι ᾔδειν, ὑπὲρ οὗ αἰσχυνοίμην ἄν, εἰ μὴ πᾶσαν εὐφημίαν τούτῳ συνεισενέγκαιμι. Psellos: Chronographia VII 23.1-5 He was present at the events themselves (of Michael 4 's reign) and learned of others which were more secret from those who were close to the emperor; he is a fair judge, unless one criticises his account of what he has seen and heard ἐγὼ ἐν αὐτοῖς παρεντυχὼν τοῖς πράγμασι, τὰ δὲ καὶ παρὰ τῶν πεπλησιακότων ἐκείνῳ μεμαθηκὼς ..., δίκαιός εἰμι δικαστής, εἰ μή μοί τις τῶν λόγων μέμφοιτο ὧν τε τεθέαμαι καὶ ὧν ἠκηκόειν. Psellos: Chronographia IV 38.5-9 He was requested to assist the substance of history (?) and prevent the past before his time from being thought worthy of record by posterity, but events in his own day being obscured in the depths of forgetfulness διά ταῦτά με βοηθῆσαι ἠξίουν τῇ φύσει τοῦ πράγματος, καὶ μὴ τὰ μὲν ἄνω που πρὸ ἡμῶν ἀναγραφῆς παρὰ τὼν μεταγενεστέρων ἠξιῶσθαι, τὰ δὲ ἐφ᾿ ἡμῶν πεπραγμένα λήθης καλυφθῆναι βυθοῖς. Psellos: Chronographia VI 22.8-11 He was responsible for much of Byzantine theological education at the time, and produced scores of small works for his students, some inspired by their questions and those of others, on the Bible and other theological issues Psellos Theologica I, passim He was the instigator of the plan to send missives deposing Romanos 4 , as he himself says in his historical account of this τούτου δὲ τοῦ βουλεύματος εἰσηγήτης ὁ Ψελλὸς γέγονεν, ὡς καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν τῇ περὶ τούτου φησὶ συγγραφῇ. Zonaras 18.15.6 He was urged to the task (of writing history) by the arguments mentioned (above), but did not greatly welcome the enterprise, not relinquishing the undertaking through laziness but fearing one of two dangers οἱ μὲν οὖν οὕτως καὶ μετὰ τοιούτων λογισμῶν πρὸς τὸ πρᾶγμα ὑπῆγον, ἐγὼ δὲ οὐ πάνυ τι τὴν τοιαύτην πραγματείαν ὑπεδεχόμην, οὐ καθυφεὶς τὴν ὑπόθεσιν ῥαθυμίᾳ, ἀλλὰ δυοῖν θατέρῳ δεδιὼς διακινδυνεῦσαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 22.11-15 He well knows that many will probably narrate the life of Michael 4 in chronicles with some differences from his report, since notions contrary to the truth prevailed in Michael 4 's own times πολλοὶ μὲν οὖν εὖ οἶδ’ ὅτι τὸν ἐκείνου βίον εἰς χρονικὰς ἱστορίας ἀνενεγκόντες ἄλλο τι παρὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν ἴσως γραφὴν ἀφηγήσονται· ἡ γὰρ τοῦ ἐναντίου ὑπόνοια τῆς ἀληθείας μᾶλλον ἐν τοῖς κατ’ ἐκεῖνον χρόνοις ἐκράτει. Psellos: Chronographia IV 38.1-5 He will add that Michael 7 knew he was about to write about him, and ordered him not to write until the emperor himself had set out the main points of his character; then Anonymus 7044 read to him what Michael 7 had written καὶ τοῦτο δὲ προσθήσω τοῖς εἰρημένοις· διεγνώκει με οὗτος ὁ βασιλεὺς μέλλοντα τοῦτον ἐξιστορεῖν, καὶ ἐπιτάξας μὴ γράφειν μέχρις ἂν αὐτὸς ἐκδοίη τῶν ἑαυτοῦ τρόπων κεφάλαια, .... Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 11.1-5 He will complete the rest of the account (of Konstantinos 10 's accession) ἵνα γὰρ προβιβάσω τῷ λόγῳ τὸ λεῖπον. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 11.1 He will describe Konstantinos 10 's reign, the nature of his acts, his policies, his initial position and the ends he reached, his objectives, his successes, innovations, his admirable acts and those not so, his civil and military policies ὁποῖον δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ τὸ κράτος καὶ ὁ τῶν πράξεων χαρακτήρ, τίνας τε γνώμας συνεισηνέγκατο τῇ ἀρχῇ, καὶ οἵας ἀρχὰς τεθεικὼς ἐφ’ οἷα τέλη διέδραμεν, οἷός τε αὐτῷ ὁ σκοπὸς τῆς ἡγεμονίας, .... Psellos: Chronographia VII 92.1-8 He will describe a short case of Konstantinos 9 's generosity for those who love to listen ἀμέλει καὶ βραχεῖαν τῆς τοιαύτης αὐτῷ ἀρετῆς τοῖς φιληκόοις ὑπόθεσιν διηγήσομαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 170.1-2 He will describe another more terrible uprising against Konstantinos 9 , its origins and causes from the outset, the nature and source of the preceding rebellion, who dared undertake both and by whom he was encouraged to devise usurpation ... ὁπόθεν τε γέγονε προλαμβάνων καὶ τίνας ἀρχὰς ἔσχηκε, καὶ ἡ ἀποστασία τίς προὔλαβε καὶ ἥτις αὕτη καὶ ὅθεν, τίς τε ὁ τολμήσας ἀμφότερα καὶ τίσι τεθαρρηκὼς τὴν τυραννίδα διαμεμελέτηκε. Psellos: Chronographia VI 98.6-12 He will describe something which is very good proof (that Eudokia 1 did not enjoy being empress) ἐρῶ δέ τι τούτου σύμβολον μέγιστον. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 4.12-13 He will first run back a little before this (the first war against Konstantinos 9 ), providing a head, as it were, for his creation; The proverbs say "Fine things are burdensome": as a result envy creeps down even on the few μικρὸν δὲ καὶ τούτου ἄνωθεν ἀναδραμοῦμαι, κεφαλὴν ὥσπερ τῷ ὑφαινομένῳ παρεχόμενος σώματι. Χαλεπὰ τὰ καλὰ, φασὶν οἱ παροιμιαζόμενοι, ἀλλὰ καὶ οὕτως ἐχόντων ἕρπει καὶ κατὰ τῶν ὀλίγων ὁ φθόνος. Psellos: Chronographia VI 74.4-7 He will instruct those who do not know as to the characters of Zoe 1 and Theodora 1 ἵνα δέ τι καὶ περὶ τῶν ἠθῶν ταῖν βασιλίδαιν ἀναδιδάξω τοὺς οὐκ εἰδότας. Psellos: Chronographia VI 4.1-2 He will leave (Konstantinos 10 's wilfulness) here and investigate the record of his humanity and wisdom, as he has spoken about Konstantinos' justice; but he now recalls and will recount something that escaped him earlier τοῦτο μὲν ἐνταυθοῖ κείσθω, ὁ δὲ τῆς φιλανθρωπίας λόγος ἐξεταζέσθω αὐτῷ, ὡς δὲ καὶ ὁ τῆς φρονήσεως, τὸν γὰρ τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἀποδεδώκαμεν· ὃ δέ με ἄνω διέλαθεν, τοῦτο νῦν ἀναμνησθεὶς διηγήσομαι. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 18.14-18 He will leave Konstantinos 9 's public acts for the many who wish to record them, but disclose a part of his private acts that are a topic of talk and ambivalent between praise and blame: he elevates those that gave him his high reputation ... τῶν δ᾿ ἀπορρήτων βραχύ τι μέρος ποιήσομαι ἐκφανές, ὅπερ ἐν μέσῳ τοῖς λόγοις κείμενον καὶ ἀμφίβολον ὂν τοῖς τε ἐπαινοῦσι καὶ ψέγουσιν, ἐγὼ τῶν ἄλλων ἐξαίρω ὁπόσα αὐτῷ τὴν κρείττονα ὑπόληψιν ἔσχηκε. Psellos: Chronographia VI 167.1-6 He will leave aside for the moment Romanos 4 's period in captivity and the decisions made about him by Alp Arslan 51 ὁ μὲν οὖν ἐν τῇ αἰχμαλωσίᾳ τοῦ βασιλέως χρόνος ἀναμείνατω καὶ ὅ τι τῷ κρατήσαντι περὶ τούτου συνδέδοκται. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 23.1-3 He will leave aside the many intervening events (before the decree relegating Eudokia 1 ) ἵνα τὰ ἐν μέσῳ πολλὰ ὄντα ἐάσω. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 30.4-5 He will let flow a long account of Konstantinos 9 when he launches himself onto the sea of Konstantinos 9 's leadership περὶ οὗ δὴ πολὺς ἡμῶν ἐπιρρεύσει λόγος, ἐπειδὰν εἰς τὸ τῆς ἡγεμονίας ἐκείνου πέλαγος ἀφῶμεν αὑτούς. Psellos: Chronographia VI 14.4-5 He will linger for a little in his account on how and for what reason (Isaakios 1 chose as successor Konstantinos 10 ) οἷον δὲ τοῦτο τὸ μέρος καὶ ὅθεν, βραχύ τι προσδιατρίψω τῷ διηγήματι. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 9.1-2 He will not explain here how it happened that Michael 11 was expelled from Constantinople, as it would be a long story; anyone wishing to arbitrate (on his quarrel with Isaakios 1 ) would blame one for the start and the other for the end ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν ὅπως ἐπέπρακτο μακροῦ λόγου δεόμενον ἀναβάλλομαι νῦν· εἰ γάρ τις βούλοιτο ἀμφοῖν διαιτᾶν, τὸν μὲν τῆς ἀρχῆς καταιτιάσαιτο, τὸν δὲ τῆς τελευτῆς ἐπιμέμψαιτο .... Psellos: Chronographia VII 65.7-11 He will not falsify his opinion (on allocation of power after Mantzikert) οὐ γὰρ διαψεύσομαί γε τὴν ἐμὴν δόξαν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 24.4 He will not go through all the details of Michael 7 's financial expertise ἵνα μὴ καθ’ ἕκαστον λέγω. Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 2.22 He will not now give the reason why Romanos 4 insisted that he join the campaign, since he is abbreviating many things in his history, but he will tell when he writes about these things λέγειν μὲν οὖν τὴν αἰτίαν, δι’ ἥν με ἑαυτοῦ παντάπασιν ἐποιήσατο, νῦν μὲν οὐκ ἂν εἴποιμι, τῆς ἱστορίας τὰ πολλὰ συντέμνων, ἐρῶ δὲ ὁπότε περὶ τούτων ξυγγράφοιμι. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 15.6-9 He will not yet describe Michael 4 's talent for argument, but will return to the beginning again and show how Michael immediately took thought for the careful management of affairs ἀλλ’ οὔπω περὶ τούτων. ὁ δὲ λόγος εἰς ἀρχὴν αὖθις ἀποκαθιστάσθω καὶ δεικνύτω ὠς ὁ βασιλεὺς εὐθὺς τῆς ἀκριβοῦς τῶν πραγμάτων ἐφρόντισε διοκήσεως. Psellos: Chronographia IV 8.6-9 He will not yet speak of Konstantinos 9 , but set out some brief points for the attentive ear ὁ δέ γε Κωνσταντῖνος, ἀλλὰ μήπω περὶ αὐτοῦ, βραχέα δέ τινα καθίσταμαι πρὸς τὴν φιλήκοον ἀκοήν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 21.5-7 He will not yet talk about this (his own service to Konstantinos 9 ), but will tell how and for what reasons and by what fortunes Konstantinos 9 came to the imperial rule ἀλλ᾿ οὔπω μὲν περὶ τούτων· εἰρήσθω δὲ ὅπως κἀκ τίνων αἰτιῶν, τίσι τε χρησάμενος τύχαις ἐπὶ τὸ βασιλεύειν ἐλήλυθεν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 15.4-6 He will omit Michael 5 , who reigned wretchedly and relinquished the power more wretchedly ἵνα δὴ τὸν ἀνεψιὸν παραλίπω, ὡς ἀθλίως μὲν βεβασιλευκότα, ἀθλιώτερον δὲ τοῦ κράτους ἀποβεβηκότα. Psellos: Chronographia VII 55.2-4 He will omit other things and as for the main element of the grief of Konstantinos 9 , the work which he did on the tomb of Maria 64 , he will defer that and put it in its proper place, narrating first what preceded this subject ... τὸ δέ γε κεφάλαιον τῶν ἐκείνου παθῶν, ἣν δὴ πραγματείαν ἐπὶ τῷ ἐκείνης τάφῳ πεποίηται, νῦν μὲν ἀναβάλλομαι, ποιήσομαι δὲ ἐν καιρῷ, προϊστορήσας ὁπόσα τῆς ὑποθέσεως ταύτης προγέγονεν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 71.1-5 He will put it more clearly and return to his earlier metaphor (by describing the state as a monstrous animal under Konstantinos 9 ) ἵνα δὴ ἐναργέστερον εἴπω ὁμοῦ δὲ καὶ πρὸς τὴν προτέραν ἐπανέλθω τροπήν. Psellos: Chronographia VII 55.10-11 He will recall the main points of his speech (to Isaakios 1 ) as far as he can remember ἐπιμνησθήσομαι γοῦν τῶν κεφαλαίων τοῦ διαλόγου ὁπόσον μὴ ἐπιλέλησμαι. Psellos: Chronographia VII 26.17-18 He will speak at some length about Zoe 1 , while Konstantinos 9 is sleeping with Maria 64 λεγέσθω γάρ τι πλέον περὶ αὐτῆς, ἕως ἂν τῇ σεβαστῇ αὐτοκράτωρ συναναπαύηται. Psellos: Chronographia VI 65.1-3 He will tell a part (of Romanos 62 's crimes), anticipating a subject which his subsequent account will touch on ἐρῶ δὲ μέρος τι προαφαρπάσας ἧς ὁ μετὰ ταῦτα λόγος ἅψεται ὑποθέσεως. Psellos: Chronographia VI 145.4-5 He will tell in advance the whole tale concerning Maria 64 : to those who saw and heard it the business seemed incredible ἵνα δὴ πάντα τὸν περὶ ταύτης προλάβω λόγον, τῶν ἀπίστων ἐδόκει τὸ πρᾶγμα ὁρώμενόν τε καὶ ἀκουόμενον·. Psellos: Chronographia VI 56.6-7 He wishes in his account to give more detail about Ioannes 68 : nothing vain nor false will be said, since when just getting a beard he saw and heard Ioannes 68 , witnessed his actions and characterised him precisely περὶ δὲ τούτου καὶ πλέον τι ὁ λόγος διελθεῖν βούλεται, ἐρεῖ δὲ οὔτε τι κενόν, οὔτε διεψευσμένον· . Psellos: Chronographia IV 12.1-5 He wishes to give a prior narrative, so that his account might advance methodically; he must recall previous events and link them into his account βραχὺ δὲ τούτου προαφηγήσασθαι βούλομαι, ἵνα καθ’ ὁδὸν ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος προΐοι· καί μοι τῶν προτέρων ἀναμνηστέον καὶ συναπτέον ἐκείνοις τὸν λόγον. Psellos: Chronographia V 34.1-3 He wishes to interrupt his account briefly and tell what this term 'mutilated' means τοῦτο δὲ τί ποτέ ἐστι, βραχὺ διακόψας τὸν λόγον ἐρεῖν βούλομαι. Psellos: Chronographia V 42.1-2 He wondered when he would see Eustratios 101 again: would the army stop before India? Psellos Letters (Sathas) 124.372 He would be ungrateful and entirely unreasonable if he did not repay in very small part, by showing gratitude through his writings, the things he had received (from Konstantinos 9 ), some in actual deeds, others as a means to improvement ἀγνώμων γὰρ ἂν εἴην καὶ πάντη ἀλόγιστος, εἰ μὴ ὧν ἐκεῖθεν τὰ μὲν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἔργοις, τὰ δὲ εἰς ἀφορμὴν κρειττόνων ἔσχηκα, πολλοστὸν ἀντιδοίην μέρος, τὴν διὰ τῶν λόγων εὐγνωμοσύνην. Psellos: Chronographia VI 23.5-8 He would call Konstantinos 9 's first act one of youthful folly, but his second he knows that he praised at the time and now no less he counts as noble, that is Konstantinos 9 's lack of pomposity and malice τοῦτο μὲν οὖν πρῶτον ἐκείνου, ἵν᾿ οὕτως εἴποιμι νεανίευμα, δεύτερον δὲ ὃ καὶ αὐτὸς καὶ τότε ἐπαινῶν οἶδα καὶ νῦν δὲ οὐδὲν ἧττον ἐν καλοῖς τίθεμαι, οὔτε ἀλάζων ὤφθη τισίν, ... οὐδὲ μνησικαήσας .... Psellos: Chronographia VI 31.1-7 He would have kept quiet about that great movement and upheaval if he had not known that he would have been silent about the most crucial event of his Chronography ὅθεν κἂν ἀπεσιώπησα τὴν μεγάλην ἐκείνην φορὰν καὶ συγκίνησιν, εἰ μή γε ᾔδειν τὸ καιριώτατον τῆς χρονογραφίας κατασιγάσας. Psellos: Chronographia V 24.16-19 He would have wished that Konstantinos 9 , if none of the other emperors, had had the lot (of being blameless), but events do not proceed according to our desires ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ἐβουλόμην, εἰ καὶ μηδέ τῳ τῶν πάντων, ἀλλὰ τῷ γε ἐμῷ αὐτοκράτορι τοῦτο προσεῖναι τὸ μέρος, ἀλλ᾿ οὐχὶ κατὰ τὰς ἡμεδαπὰς αἱρέσεις αἱ τῶν πραγμάτων ἀκολουθίαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 28.1-4 He wrote (or rewrote) simple introductions in verse for Michael 7 on the inscriptions of the psalms, the Song of Songs, the Christian faith, the councils, the nomocanon, grammar, a summary of the laws and 3 riddles Psellos Poema 1-6, 8, 35-37 (tit.) He wrote a 4-line epigram in praise of Leon 62 Τοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν πρωτοσύγκελλον. Psellos Poema 28.1-4 He wrote a chrysobull granting to Epiphanios 2101 and his heirs permanent title to the estates of Phlorion and Galataria; the end of the document repeats several times that none of the others involved could possibly have a claim on them Psellos Epiphanios 1-149 He wrote a chrysobull offering alliance to Robert 61 , with marriage between their children, titles of honour and wealth for Robertos and his men in return for military aid; it was signed by all the emperors and the patriarch Χρυσόβουλλον ... σταλὲν πρὸς τὸν ῾Ρόμπερτον παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως κυροῦ Μιχαὴλ τοῦ Δούκα. Psellos Robert 1-154 He wrote a contemptuous reply to a letter from Pherebios 2101 τῷ μοναχῷ Φερεβίῳ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 167.424-428 He wrote a funeral encomium for his own daughter, Styliane 2101 , for whom he had high hopes, but who died of disease [smallpox ?] while she was still young εἰς τὴν θυγατέρα Στυλιανὴν, πρὸ ὥρας γάμου τελευτήσασαν. Psellos Styliane 62-87 He wrote a funeral encomium of Nikolaos, founder and later kathegoumenos of the monastery of Horaia Pege on Mt Olympos, with several indications of performance before the monks in the church of the monastery ᾿Εγκώμιον εἴς τινα Νικολάον καθηγούμενον τῆς ἐν τῷ ᾿Ολύμπῳ μονῆς τῆς ὡραίας Πηγῆς. Psellos Nikolaos of Horaia Pege 1-1016 He wrote a hypomnema on the case between Ioannes 2106 and Basileios 2101 over possession of an estate called Vivarion Τοῦ αὐτοῦ ὑπόμνημα ἕτερον. Psellos Hypomnema 1-220 He wrote a job-application to Leon 62 Psellos Letters (K - D) 72, 104.18-105.8 He wrote a letter as from Konstantinos 9 to Anonymus 2281 , rejoicing at his conversion Psellos Letters (Sathas) 155.405-406 He wrote a letter to Anonymus 2143 discussing the niceties of starting a correspondence Psellos Letters (Sathas) 11.241-245 He wrote a letter to Anonymus 2603 which begins obscurely and collapses into lacunas Psellos Letters (Gautier) 37.1-45 He wrote a letter to accompany a gift of flowers to Eudokia 1 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 132.377 He wrote a long and opaque letter to Anonymus 2525 Psellos Letters (K - D) 189, 209.25-212.19 He wrote a long encomium of his dead mother, stressing her uncompromising religious faith and the ways in which she prepared him for educational and literary success ᾿Εγκώμιον εἰς τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ. Psellos Mother 3-61 He wrote a long letter complaining that Anonymus 2348 called him a wasp Psellos Letters (K - D) 28, 35.24-41.23 He wrote a long letter of encomium to Isaakios 101 after he set out against the Pechenegs, with three special points Τῷ Κομνηνῷ στρατεύσαντι κατὰ τῶν Πατζινάκων. Psellos Letters (K - D) 156, 178.18-183.4 He wrote a long letter to Michael 11 , stressing that he had always supported him but complaining explicitly of the patriarch's total lack of consistency in responding to him Τῷ Μιχαὴλ Κηρουλαρίῳ. Psellos Letters (Maltese) 16.1-104 He wrote a monody for Anastasios 2101 , speaking of losing him twice, first at his paralysis and then at his death; his sympathy for a student with whom he shared many interests caused a deep sense of loss and profound grief ᾿Επιτάφιος εἰς τὸν ᾿Αναστάσιον. Psellos Monodies (Gautier) 107-112 He wrote a monody for the death of Ioannes 272 , metropolitan of Melitene, largely a genre exercise showing little knowledge of the deceased Εἰς τὸν σοφώτατον μητροπολίτην Μελιτηνῆς. Psellos Monodies (Gautier) 98-104 He wrote a monody on Eirene 20117 , wife of Ioannes 62 kaisar, a family he knew well; he had postponed the writing to avoid exaggeration due to raw emotion Psellos Eirene 155-189 He wrote a monody on an anonymus patrikios, who had once been a fellow-student and had now become a close friend; he had died suddenly at a tragically early age Psellos Monodies (Gautier) 135-143 He wrote a monody on his old student Romanos the repherendarios Μονῳδία ἐπὶ ῾Ρωμανῷ ῥαιφερενδαρίῳ. Psellos Monodies (Gautier) 128-132 He wrote a monody on the death of Michael 2109 , long after the sad event, because he had been waiting for his grief to die down Μονῳδία εἰς τὸν πρόεδρον κῦρ Μιχαὴλ τὸν ῾Ραδηνόν. Psellos Monodies (Gautier) 115-126 He wrote a monody on the terrible earthquake of 23 September 1063, with a little description of the terror caused, and far more discussion of the reasons: divine anger at human sin Εἰς τὸν σεισμὸν τὸν γενόμενον τῇ εἰκοστῇ τρίτῃ τοῦ σεπτεμβρίου μηνὸς τοῦ Προδρόμου. Psellos Monodies (Gautier) 145-151 He wrote a panegyric for Konstantinos 9 [surely one of his first imperial commissions], which contained a fairly detailed summary of recent history (1043 summary) ἀλλὰ νῦν τῆς ἱστορίας ἀπάρχεται ... Λόγος εἰς τὸν βασιλέα τὸν Μονομάχον. Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 1-834 He wrote a panegyric to Konstantinos 9 stressing philosophy and education, which was apparently delivered before his pupils, whom he recommended to the emperor at the end Εἰς τὸν αὐτὸν βασιλέα. Psellos Orationes panegyricae VI, 1-345 He wrote a panegyric to Konstantinos 9 , stressing his justice and mercy, his widening of Byzantine boundaries and his construction of beautiful buildings, like the Mangana complex and the tomb of Zoe Εἰς τὸν βασιλέα τὸν Μονομάχον. Psellos Orationes panegyricae VII, 1-117 He wrote a parody of a canon satirising the monk Iakobos of the monastery of Synkellos for his consumption of wine [in one ms. it is connected to the 4-line version of the Anonymus 2133 Sabbaities poem, which seems irrelevant] ἡ ἀκροστιχὶς ῾Μέθυσον ᾿Ιάκωβον εὐρύθμως ᾄδω, Κώνστας᾿. Psellos Poema 22.1-231 He wrote a poem for the coronation of Isaakios 1 , which took place on the kalends of September, giving information on the kalends, nones and ides Πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα τὸν Κομνηνὸν τὸν ᾿Ισαάκιον περὶ καλανδῶν νόννων καὶ εἰδῶν. Psellos Poema 18.1-58 He wrote a report for Michael 7 (or Konstantinos 10 ) on a carved stone Psellos Letters (K - D) 188, 207.23-209.24 He wrote a request in iambics to Michael 4 , asking for a position among the imperial notarioi; he speaks of the clearing of a great and dangerous cloud which had threatened to quench Michael's light (the Bulgarian revolt?) Psellos Poema 16.1-17 He wrote a short encomium devoted explicitly more to the eastern rather than the western successes of Konstantinos 10 , but with a possible reference to the invasion of the Uzes (ll. 22-24) Τῷ αὐτῷ. Psellos Orationes panegyricae IX, 1-56 He wrote a speech for the second trial of Lazaros 2101 , trying to persuade the Synod to return to the views they expressed at the first, to accept the annulment of Lazaros' deposition and banishment and to reinstate him ᾿Απολογητικὸς ὑπὲρ τοῦ Φιλιππουπόλεως Λαζάρου καθαιρεθέντος. Psellos Apologetikos 1-2 (tit.) He wrote a speech of general praise for Konstantinos 9 's all-round qualities; at the climax (ll. 79-80), he praises him for aqueduct construction in terms reminiscent of Orationes panegyricae I, ll. 238-244 - hence the suggested date Τῷ αὐτῷ βασιλεῖ. Psellos Orationes panegyricae III, 1-84 He wrote a treatise based on texts referring to the Incarnation, directed from Michael 7 to the sultan Malik-Shah 51 ; the latter, according to the text, had shown interest in Christian doctrine Τοῦ ὑπερτίμου καὶ ὑπάτου τῶν φιλοσόφων κυροῦ Μιχαὴλ τοῦ Ψελλοῦ ἀπόδειξις ἀπὸ διαφόρων λόγων τῆς τοῦ κυρίου ἐνσωματώσεως· ἐστάλη πρὸς τὸν σουλτάνον ἀπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως. Psellos Malik-shah 1-605 He wrote about Anonymus 2188 to Anonymus 2187 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 55.287 He wrote again to Konstantinos 120 about his wedding Τοῦ Ψελλοῦ ἐπιστολὴ πρώτη πρὸς τὸν πρωτοπρόεδρον κῦρ Κωνσταντῖνον τὸν δρουγγάριον. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 1.219-222 He wrote again to Michael 2105 about Ioannes 2108 and the mule Psellos Letters (Sathas) 67.299 He wrote an elaborate eulogy of Ioannes 289 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 182.462-465 He wrote an elaborate speech for delivery to the patriarchal synod, seeking the condemnation of the patriarch Michael 11 ; because of the latter's death, it was never delivered Πρὸς τὴν σύνοδον κατηγορία τοῦ ἀρχιερέα. Psellos Kategoria tit., 1-5 He wrote an encomium for Konstantinos 9 with conventional praise shading into clear and brief allusions to specific events, leaving a more complete treatment to others; he includes reference to Konstantinos' generosity to himself Λόγος πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα κῦριν Κωνσταντῖνον Μονομάχον. Psellos Orationes panegyricae V, 1-159 He wrote an encomium for Eudokia 1 as patroness, praising her physical and moral attributes, especially her political wisdom in choosing Romanos 4 as emperor; he finally emphasised his own poverty, which threatened to silence him Τῇ αὐτῇ ἐγκώμιον. Psellos Orationes panegyricae XII, 1-61 He wrote an encomium for Anonymus 2536 , who had re-established defences for the Roman world Psellos Letters (K - D) 207, 238.16-241.2 He wrote an encomium of Konstantinos 9 , with a list of the latter's achievements and virtues Λόγος εἰς τὸν βασιλέα κῦρ Κωνσταντῖνον τὸν Μονομάχον. Psellos Orationes panegyricae I, 1-385 He wrote an encomium of Theodora 1 , speaking of an unspecified great evil from which the capital had been spared (the plague ?), Theodora's personal virtues and the promotion of an unnamed legal expert Psellos Orationes panegyricae XI, 1-132 He wrote an encomium of Ioannes 289 for delivery in his presence, returning eloquent praise to his teacher of eloquence while still alive; he spoke of his education, his government carreer, his appointment to Euchaïta and retirement plans ᾿Εγκώμιον εἰς ᾿Ιωάννην τὸν θεοσεβέστατον μητροπολίτην Εὐχαϊτῶν καὶ πρωτοσύγκελλον. Psellos Orationes panegyricae XVII, 1-869 He wrote an encomium of the patriarch Konstantinos 13 shortly after his death, stressing his virtues and the depth and especially the breadth of his learning: the readers would bear witness to this ᾿Εγκώμιον εἰς τὸν ὁσιώτατον κῦρ Κωνστντῖνον πατριάρχην τὸν Λειχούδην. Psellos Leichoudes 388-419 He wrote an encomium of the patriarch Ioannes 18 shortly after his death, because it is important that extraordinary ability and virtue should be remembered ᾿Επιτάφιος εἰς τὸν μακαριώτατον πατριάρχην κῦρ ᾿ιωάννην τὸν Ξιφιλῖνον. Psellos Xiphilinos 421 He wrote an encomium of the patriarch Michael 11 to be presented at his tomb before Konstantinos 10 and Eudokia 1 , probably on the anniversary of his death ᾿Εγκωμιαστικὸς εἰς τὸν μακαριώτατον πατριάρχην κῦρ Μιχαὴλ τὸν Κηρουλάριον. Psellos Keroularios 303 (tit.) He wrote an encomium to Konstantinos 10 stressing combined success in East and West Psellos Letters (K - D) 29, 41.24-43.14 He wrote an iambic poem of celebration for Isaakios 1 at the end of his first year of reign; a false prophecy had predicted that he would die in August, and now September had begun Αὔγουστος ὢν Αὔγουστον ἀσπάζου πλέον. Psellos Poema 19.1-108 He wrote an iambic poem on the death of Maria 64 , including anguish over the event, then the laments of Maria's mother (Helena 101 ), brother (Romanos 104 ) and of Konstantinos 9 , ending with his own consolation for the bereaved Τοῦ ὑπερτίμου Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Ψελλοῦ στίχοι ἰαμβικοὶ εἰς τὴν τελευτὴν τῆς Σκληραίνης. Psellos Poema 17.1-448 He wrote an improvised encomium on Romanos 4 , who was setting out against the Turks in mid-winter, spurning his new wife and the delights of his new imperial position; he wished him every success in battle Τῷ αὐτῷ ὡς ἐν ἐγκωμίου πρσχήματι. Psellos Orationes panegyricae XIX, 1-46 He wrote asking Anonymus 2156 to write to him Τῷ ἐπὶ τῶν οἰκειακῶν. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 23.259-260 He wrote complaining that Anonymus 2172 had not reported on Anonymus 2173 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 35.269-270 He wrote criticising Anonymus 2348 's antilogia Psellos Letters (K - D) 27, 34.19-35.23 He wrote from central Asia Minor to Konstantinos 120 , about the campaign of Romanos 4 Psellos Letters (Snipes) 1.1-38 He wrote of the icon of the Theotokos in the monastery of Kathara (not a letter) Psellos Letters (K - D) 194, 220.19-221.18 He wrote once to Anonymus 2204 , afraid he was disturbing him Psellos Letters (Sathas) 91.335-336 He wrote part of a chysobull on transactions between Michael 7 and Konstantinos 120 , nephew of Keroularios, protoproedros and droungarios of the vigla Τοῦ αὐτοῦ ὡς ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ βασιλέως. Psellos Actum 2 1 (tit.) He wrote simple introductions in verse for Konstantinos 9 on the inscriptions of the psalms, the Song of Songs, the Christian faith, the councils and grammar Psellos Poema 1-4, 6 (tit.) He wrote telling Anonymus 2471 that he had sent him Anonymus 2472 Psellos Letters (K - D) 155, 177.18-178.17 He wrote thanking Anonymus 2568 for saving Anonymus 2569 (according to the latter) Psellos Letters (K - D) 249, 298.12-26 He wrote that Christ gave Eudokia 1 an apple, wine and bread Psellos Letters (Sathas) 53.284 He wrote the hypomnema of the trial between himself and Elpidios 2101 over the annulment of the engagement between Elpidios and Psellos' own adopted daughter Euphemia 103 ; though he lost the verdict, he gained what he wanted Τὸ ἴσον τοῦ γεγονότος ὑπομνήματος παρὰ τοῦ αὐτοῦ μοναχοῦ Μιχαὴλ τοῦ Ψελλοῦ ... ἐπὶ τῇ δίκῃ αὐτοῦ .... Psellos Hypomnema 2-4 He wrote three short letters to a spiritual father Anonymus 2615 Εἴς τινα πατέρα πνευματικόν. Psellos Letters (Maltese) 13-15 He wrote to Ioannes 62 about truffles and the life-threatening illness of Euphemia 103 Psellos Letters (K - D) 233, 281.9-284.5 He wrote to Romanos 4 congratulating him on a victory Πρὸς τὸν αὐτὸν βασιλέα ἐν ἐκστρατεία διάγοντα. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 3.224-227 He wrote to Romanos 4 in despair at the emperor's long absence Τῷ αὐτῷ ἐν ταξειδίῳ ὄντι. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 6.230-232 He wrote to Leon 62 that he was now satisfied of his great asceticism Τῷ πρωτοσυγκέλλῳ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 7.232-234 He wrote to Leon 62 complaining that communication was now impossible τὴν ἀσώματον οἶδας διάλεκτον. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 9.238-240 He wrote to Leontios 2101 that he had sent a letter to Leon 62 , using a middle style Psellos Letters (Sathas) 10.240-241 He wrote to Anonymus 2144 , who had been the butt of humour in an encomium Τῷ ἐπὶ τῶν δεήσεων. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 12.245-248 He wrote to Anonymus 2146 dividing philosophy into the abstract and the practical Psellos Letters (Sathas) 17.256-257 He wrote to Anonymus 2148 about Anonymus 2149 βουλόμενον οὖν με εἰς ἐκδίκησιν διαναστῆναι τοῦ πράγματος, ὁ βασιλεὺς διεδέξατο. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 18.257 He wrote to Anonymus 2150 recommending Anonymi 2108 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 19.257-258 He wrote to Anonymus 2151 , recommending the Athenian Anonymus 2152 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 20.258 He wrote to Anonymus 2153 about the problems of Anonymus 2154 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 21.258-259 He wrote to Anonymus 2155 , promising help Psellos Letters (Sathas) 22.259 He wrote to Anonymus 2164 about Anonymus 2158 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 24.260; (K - D) 142, 169.13-26 He wrote to Nikolaos 2102 while mourning Anastasios 2101 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 25.260-261 He wrote to Anonymus 2160 , advising against a transfer to another theme Psellos Letters (Sathas) 26.261-262 He wrote to Anonymus 2164 about his monastery of Medikion Τῷ κριτῇ τοῦ ᾿Οψικίου τῷ Ζωμᾷ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 29.263-265, 77.311 He wrote to Romanos 108 about the Artigenes monastery Τῷ Κυζίκου. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 30.265-266 He wrote to Anonymus 2168 to recommend Anonymus 2169 Psellos Letters (K - D) 74, 106.11-107.4 (Sathas 32.267-268) He wrote to Anonymus 2168 about Anonymus 2170 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 33.268 He wrote to Ioannes 18 about following him to Olympos Psellos Letters (K - D) 273, 317.7-318.3 (Sathas 36.270) He wrote to Ioannes 18 , unhappy in the palace (as a monk) Psellos Letters (Sathas) 37.270-271 He wrote to Anonymus 2174 about Michael 2104 and his sick wife Τῷ βεστάρχῃ καὶ κριτῇ Μακεδονίας τῷ Χασάνῃ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 39.272 He wrote to Aimilianos 61 that he was always thinking of him Psellos Letters (Sathas) 42.275 He wrote to Anonymus 2179 about Anonymus 2178 διὰ τὴν συγγένειαν. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 43.276 He wrote to Ioannes 18 asking him for a letter Τῷ μαΐστορι τῷ Ξιφιλίνῳ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 44.276-277 He wrote to Konstantinos 120 against Symeon 2101 Τῷ μαγίστρῳ Κωνσταντίνῳ καὶ σακελλαρίῳ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 45.277-278 He wrote to Konstantinos 120 about Anonymus 2181 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 46.278-279 He wrote to Anonymus 2182 about his notarios Anonymus 2183 Τῷ κριτῇ τῶν Θρᾳκησίων τῷ Ξηρῷ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 47.279 He wrote to Anonymus 2184 assuring him of his intervention for him with the emperor Τῷ κριτῇ Παφλαγονίας. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 49.280-281 He wrote to Anonymus 2185 about Anonymus 2186 Τῷ κριτῇ Μακεδόνων. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 50.281-282 He wrote to Anonymus 2187 discussing administrative arrangements in Optimaton καθίσματος [...] ταξεώτῃ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 60.291-292, (K - D) 106, 136.1-14 He wrote to Aimilianos 61 in favour of Nikolaos 2103 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 61.292-294 He wrote to Anonymus 2191 , a good friend who wrote only rarely Psellos Letters (Sathas) 62.294-295 He wrote to Ioannes 62 about Anonymus 2191 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 63.295-296 He wrote to Anonymus 2192 about Anonymus 2193 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 64.296 He wrote to Anonymus 2194 introducing Anonymus 2195 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 65.297 He wrote to Michael 2105 about Ioannes 2108 and a mule Psellos Letters (Sathas) 66.297-298 He wrote to Anonymus 2196 and Anonymi 2109 on campaign with Isaakios 1 Τοῖς ἐν τῷ ταξειδίῳ νοταρίοις τοῦ αὐτοῦ βασιλέως. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 70.305-306 He wrote to Ioannes 62 , hunting on his estates at Choirobakchoi, wanting contact Psellos Letters (Sathas) 71.306-307 He wrote to Michael 11 that the magic fish still dominated his thoughts Psellos Letters (Sathas) 57.289 He wrote to Anonymus 2198 , telling him to write humbly to Konstantinos 13 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 73.308-309 He wrote to Michael 7 with a gift of two bunches of grapes Psellos Letters (Sathas) 74.309 He wrote to Anonymus 2187 about Basileios 2102 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 75.309-310 He wrote to Anonymus 2200 about a dispute between Anonymi 2110 and the people of Lysokraneia (?) Λυσοκρανίτας. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 76.310 He wrote to Anonymus 2164 about his three monasteries in Opsikion, Kathara, Medikion and the new Mergala Kellia Psellos Letters (Sathas) 77.311 He wrote to Anonymus 2201 about Anastasios 2101 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 78.311-312 He wrote to Anonymus 2194 , recommending aid for Kyzikos and Romanos 104 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 79.312-313 He wrote to Ioannes 289 about opponents from Euchaita and Anonymus 2173 Τῷ Εὐχαΐτων. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 80.313-314 He wrote to Isaakios 1 with a eulogy as he was setting out to fight the barbarians Τῷ βασιλεῖ τῷ Κομνηνῷ ὅτε κατὰ τῶν βαρβάρων ἐξῆλθε. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 81.315-316 He wrote to Konstantinos 120 , after attending his philosophical wedding Psellos Letters (Sathas) 84.321-324 He wrote to Konstantinos 120 , regretting his loss of creativity Psellos Letters (Sathas) 85.324-326 He wrote to Anonymus 2203 , asking to receive letters from him Psellos Letters (Sathas) 87.330-331 He wrote to Anonymus 2206 with hopeful news about a return from exile Psellos Letters (Sathas) 93.337-338 He wrote to Anonymus 2207 recommending Anonymus 2208 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 94.338 He wrote to Anonymus 2211 exploring their common lameness (physical and/or metaphorical?) Psellos Letters (Sathas) 96.340-341 He wrote to Anonymus 2214 about his imperial business and about Anonymus 215 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 98.341-342 He wrote to Anonymus 2216 about the rich Michael 2106 who entered the poor Morocharzanes monastery Psellos Letters (Sathas) 99.342-343 He wrote to Nikephoros 63 about Anonymus 2222 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 103.344-346 He wrote to Anonymus 2228 about the poor state of their relationship Psellos Letters (Sathas) 107.351 He wrote to Basileios 2104 , complaining of excessive praise in Basileios' letter and offering advice Psellos Letters (Sathas) 110.354-356 He wrote to Aikaterine 101 about his devotion to Isaakios 1 and her Psellos Letters (Sathas) 112.356-358 He wrote to Theodoros 101 about a letter he had sent to Isaakios 1 τῷ ἀνεψιῷ τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ Κομνηνοῦ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 113.358 He wrote to Konstantinos 9 after tonsure, eager to see him again immediately Psellos Letters (Sathas) 115.359-362 He wrote to Anonymus 2235 about Anonyma 2124 , who delivered the letter Psellos Letters (Sathas) 116.362-363 He wrote to Nikephoros 111 , welcoming demands made on him for letters τῷ γενικῷ, τῷ ἀνεψιῷ τοῦ πατριάρχου. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 117.363-364 He wrote to Leon 62 with many desperate images of death Psellos Letters (Sathas) 118.365-367 He wrote to Anonymus 2240 suggesting a system of post-horses κόντουρα. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 122.370 He wrote to Anonymus 2243 , urging continued support for Anonymus 2242 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 126.373-374 He wrote to Anonymus 2251 , seeking to mediate his dispute with Anonymus 2252 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 131.376-377 He wrote to Anonymus 2257 , asking for help for Anonymus 2256 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 134.378 He wrote to Anonymus 2260 about Anonymus 2261 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 136.379-380 He wrote to Anonymus 2262 about Anonymus 2263 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 138.381 He wrote to Anonymus 2267 about a visit from Anonymus 2268 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 140.383 He wrote to Anonymus 2269 about Christophoros 2101 , and the statues Psellos Letters (Sathas) 141.383-384 He wrote to Anonymus 2270 over Anonymus 2271 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 142.384-385 He wrote to Anonymus 2273 introducing Prokopios 2101 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 147.395-396 He wrote to Anonymus 2274 about his petition, with a note on Anonymus 2275 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 148.396-397 He wrote to Ioannes 61 , asking for imperial favour for Anonymus 2278 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 151.399-400 He wrote to Ioannes 62 , playing hard to get over attempts to win him back Psellos Letters (Sathas) 152.400-402 He wrote to Anonymus 2279 about Elias 2101 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 153.402-403 He wrote to Anonymus 2280 about Elias 2101 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 154.403-404 He wrote to Ioannes 62 asking for contact Psellos Letters (Sathas) 156.406-409 He wrote to Anonymus 2285 about Cappadocian monks Psellos Letters (Sathas) 158.412 He wrote to Michael 11 demanding renewal of his friendship Psellos Letters (Sathas) 159.412-414 He wrote to Michael 11 , saying that access to him had only slightly increased Psellos Letters (Sathas) 160.414-416 He wrote to Isaakios 1 with a eulogy based on few facts, including praise of Isaakios' family Psellos Letters (Sathas) 161.416-419 He wrote to Anonymus 2287 over one nomisma for Anonyma 2137 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 163.421-422 He wrote to Anonymus 2289 , asking for protection for Anonymus 2275 τῷ μαγίστρῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ ᾿Αβύδου. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 165.423-424 He wrote to Anonymus 2292 recently installed as kathegoumenos on Olympos Psellos Letters (Sathas) 166.424 He wrote to Anonymus 2293 who refused money sent him by Psellos τῷ μαΐστωρι τῶν Χαλκοπρατίων, ὅταν ἀπεστάλησαν αὐτῷ τὰ ἀργυρᾶ τοῦ κλητωρίου καὶ οὐ παρέλαβεν αὐτά, διὰ τὸ ζητεῖν πλείονα. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 168.429-430 He wrote to Epiphanios 2101 with advice about the court Psellos Letters (Sathas) 169.430-431 He wrote to Anonymus 2294 , praising Isaakios 101 and his two nephews, the recipient and Theodoros 101 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 170.432-434 He wrote to Anonymus 2297 a long discussion of the rational and the irrational Psellos Letters (Sathas) 171.434-438 He wrote to Anonymus 2174 , recommending Anonymus 2298 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 172.439-440 He wrote to Ioannes 289 about Anonymus 2299 τῷ μητροπολίτῃ Εὐχαΐτων. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 173.440-441 He wrote to Nikephoros 111 , defending difficulty in philosophical texts Psellos Letters (Sathas) 174.441-443 He wrote to Konstantinos 13 about his desperate state on Olympos Psellos Letters (Sathas) 177.455-456 He wrote to Anonymus 2306 describing a visit to Philadelpheia Psellos Letters (Sathas) 180.459-461 He wrote to Aimilianos 61 about Anonymus 2307 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 181.461-462 He wrote to Konstantinos 120 that he had missed the playfulness of his letter Psellos Letters (Sathas) 184.469 He wrote to Anonymus 2310 listing the criticisms the latter had made Psellos Letters (Sathas) 185.469-470 He wrote to Konstantinos 120 that he was in a military phase Psellos Letters (Sathas) 186.470-473 He wrote to Anonymus 2164 about the latter's plans for tonsure Psellos Letters (Sathas) 190.483-485 He wrote to Anonymus 2196 and Anonymi 2109 , with no idea where they were Psellos Letters (Sathas) 191.485-486 He wrote to Anonymus 2313 about Anonymus 2275 Psellos Letters (K - D) 64, 97.21-99.2 (Sathas 192.487-488) He wrote to Anonymus 2319 about Anonymus 2317 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 194.488-489 He wrote to Anonymus 2325 about a serious illness Psellos Letters (Sathas) 197.490 He wrote to Anonymus 2326 stressing his uniqueness and asking why he could not find employment τὸ τοῦ Σαβίνου [...] τρίμηνον. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 199.493 He wrote to Anonymus 2327 in favour of Anonymus 2328 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 200.494 He wrote to Ioannes 289 about their developing dialogue Psellos Letters (Sathas) 202.495-496 He wrote to Michael 11 listing differences existing between the two of them Psellos Letters (Sathas) 207.505-513 He wrote to Anonymus 2337 about Anonymus 2336 Psellos Letters (K - D) 9, 10.1-11.28 He wrote to Anonymus 2340 , thinking of dangers from the local population Psellos Letters (K - D) 11, 12.12-13.23 He wrote to Romanos 108 relating how the two had met Psellos Letters (K - D) 12, 13.24-14.23 He wrote to Ioannes 289 demanding a visit Psellos Letters (K - D) 14, 17.7-18.17 He wrote to Romanos 2103 asking for exercises in schedographia Psellos Letters (K - D) 16, 19.20-20.19 He wrote to Esaias 2102 , handing over a reluctant student, Anonymus 2346 Psellos Letters (K - D) 24, 31.13-23 He wrote to Georgios 2101 to arrange an exchange of tablets Psellos Letters (K - D) 25, 31.24-33.6 He wrote to Georgios 2101 , praising his new boldness in epistolary combat Psellos Letters (K - D) 26, 33.7-34.18 He wrote to Konstantinos 120 during his trial Psellos Letters (K - D) 31, 46.13-49.23 He wrote to Synetos 2101 about Basilaion Psellos Letters (K - D) 32, 49.24-50.23 He wrote to Ioannes 289 about waning creativity and the death of Anonymus 2355 Psellos Letters (K - D) 33, 50.24-53.11 He wrote to Ioannes 289 , mocking his wish to return to the capital Psellos Letters (K - D) 53.12-56.18 He wrote to Pothos 102 about making money and Anonymus 2357 Psellos Letters (K - D) 35, 56.19-58.15 He wrote to Nikolaos 2104 , discussing tactics for persuading Konstantinos 10 Psellos Letters (K - D) 37, 60.16-62.21 He wrote to Pothos 102 about a charistikion for the monastery of Trapeza Psellos Letters (K - D) 38, 62.22-63.25 He wrote to Pothos 102 about a dispute in Opsikion between Atzikome and Thyrides Psellos Letters (K - D) 39, 63.26-65.22 He wrote to Ioannes 62 , complaining that he rarely visited him Psellos Letters (K - D) 40, 65.23-66.30 He wrote to Pothos 102 on the reception of his letter Psellos Letters (K - D) 41, 67.1-69.2 He wrote to Pothos 102 about an imperial commission to measure disputed land Psellos Letters (K - D) 42, 69.3-70.25 He wrote to Anonymus 2362 about Anonymus 2363 's reception Psellos Letters (K - D) 43, 70.26-73.7 He wrote to Nikolaos 2104 confessing failure to move Konstantinos 10 Psellos Letters (K - D) 44, 73.8-75.12 He wrote to Ioannes 289 on linguistic problems of distant friendship Psellos Letters (K - D) 45, 75.13-77.18 He wrote to Ioannes 289 of his limited ability to help his friends Psellos Letters (K - D) 46, 77.19-78.22 He wrote to Anonymus 2364 about Anonymus 2365 Psellos Letters (K - D) 47, 78.23-80.4 He wrote to Anonymus 2367 that he had so far failed to achieve what he wanted Psellos Letters (K - D) 49, 81.9-82.5 He wrote to Anonymus 2368 about the deceased Theodoros 106 Psellos Letters (K - D) 50, 82.6-83.5 He wrote to Anonymus 2370 , seeking help for Anonymus 2369 Psellos Letters (K - D) 51, 83.6-20 He wrote to Anonymus 2370 seeking help for Anonymus 2372 , of whom he was told by Anonymus 2371 Psellos Letters (K - D) 52, 83.21-84.7 He wrote to Anonymus 2172 to welcome Anonymus 2173 , who was Psellos himself Psellos Letters (K - D) 58, 91.7-19 He wrote to Anonymus 2377 about Anna 2101 and the Pronoia monastery Psellos Letters (K - D) 60, 92.25-93.25 He wrote to Anonymus 2380 about Moschos 2101 Psellos Letters (K - D) 61, 93.26-94.17 He wrote to Nikolaos 2104 , announcing preliminary success in persuading Konstantinos 10 Psellos Letters (K - D) 63, 96.1-97.20 He wrote to Anonymus 2393 asking for aid for Anonymus 2275 Psellos Letters (K - D) 73, 105.9-106.10 He wrote to Anonymus 2404 seeking a favour for Anonymus 2405 Psellos Letters (K - D) 83, 112.18-28 He wrote to Anonymus 2407 over prospects for his return from exile Psellos Letters (K - D) 85, 114.1-23 He wrote to Anonymus 2410 about Anonymus 2409 's quick visit to the capital Psellos Letters (K - D) 86, 114.24-115.24 He wrote to Aimilianos 61 , complaining that his letters had stopped Psellos Letters (K - D) 88, 116.19-117.28 He wrote to Anonymus 2412 about the monastery of Dobrosontos Psellos Letters (K - D) 89, 118.1-23 He wrote to Anonymus 2413 about Anonymus 2414 Psellos Letters (K - D) 90, 118.24-119.12 He wrote to Anonymus 2416 about Anonymus 2417 Psellos Letters (K - D) 92, 120.8-29 He wrote to Georgios 2102 about improving his estates Psellos Letters (K - D) 95, 122.22-124.2 He wrote to Anonymus 2419 , describing a boat journey entertained by Elias 2101 Psellos Letters (K - D) 97, 125.10-126.16 He wrote to Anonymus 2419 about Elias 2101 , that he had invented a third term between God and Mammon Psellos Letters (K - D) 98, 126.17-127.16 He wrote to Basileios 180 about a plan affecting Anonymus 2423 and the Great Church Psellos Letters (K - D) 104, 132.12-133.9 He wrote to Ioannes 289 in reply to his Ep. 1 Psellos Letters (K - D) 105, 133.10-135.31 He wrote to Anonymus 2424 to stop Anonymus 2426 offending against Anonymus 2425 Psellos Letters (K - D) 107, 136.15-137.7 He wrote to Anonymus 2424 about Megala Kellia Psellos Letters (K - D) 108, 137.8-21 He wrote to Anonymus 2427 about Anonymus 2428 , travelling to Paphlagonia in winter Psellos Letters (K - D) 109, 137.22-138.17 He wrote to Anonymus 2310 about a need to visit him Psellos Letters (K - D) 112, 141.1-24 He wrote to Anonymus 2431 about two errant monks Psellos Letters (K - D) 113, 141.25-142.5 He wrote to Anonymus 2432 about his retreat to a monastery Psellos Letters (K - D) 114, 142.6-10 He wrote to Anonymus 2433 , about a letter he received and the care of his estates Psellos Letters (K - D) 116, 143.10-144.2 He wrote to Anonymus 2433 asking him to spare Anonymus 2434 Psellos Letters (K - D) 117, 144.3-22 He wrote to Anonymus 2433 , asking for help for Anonymus 2436 Psellos Letters (K - D) 119, 145.10-21 He wrote to Anonymus 2433 , asking him to make Anonymus 2437 's creditors pay their bills Psellos Letters (K - D) 120, 145.22-146.5 He wrote to Anonymus 2438 , seeeking tax-exemption for Anonymus 2439 Psellos Letters (K - D) 121, 146.6-15 He wrote to Nikolaos 2104 about Medikion monastery Psellos Letters (K - D) 125, 149.7-27 He wrote to Nikolaos 2104 about help for Anonymus 2440 and his monastery Psellos Letters (K - D) 126, 150.1-19 He wrote to Nikolaos 2104 via Anonymus 2440 , asking him to help the monks and estates of Ta Narsou Psellos Letters (K - D) 127, 150.20-151.12 He wrote to Nikolaos 2104 , asking why he had rejected Anonymus 2441 as notarios Psellos Letters (K - D) 128, 151.14-152.18 He wrote to Anonymus 2445 about Anonymus 2444 ?s candidature to become bishop of Paionia Psellos Letters (K - D) 130, 153.1-15 He wrote to Anonymus 2445 that he should raise his help for Anonymus 2447 to match the thanks given by him Psellos Letters (K - D) 131, 153.16-154.18 He wrote to Anonymus 2450 about help for Anonymus 2451 Psellos Letters (K - D) 133, 155.18-156.18 He wrote to Aimilianos 61 about his situation in Antioch, of which he knew very little Psellos Letters (K - D) 134, 156.19-158.4 He wrote to Aimilianos 61 , claiming to have lobbied well on his behalf Psellos Letters (K - D) 135, 158.5-161.13 He wrote to Basileios 2103 , away near Romanos 4 , asking help for Anonymus 2252 Psellos Letters (K - D) 146, 171.19-173.8 He wrote to Eustratios 101 seeking help for Anonymus 2252 Psellos Letters (K - D) 147, 173.9-22 He wrote to Anonymus 2465 asking him to treat Anonymus 2467 well Psellos Letters (K - D) 152, 176.1-11 He wrote to Anonymus 2465 , approving (or substituting) a positive recommendation for Anonymus 2468 Psellos Letters (K - D) 153, 176.12-26 He wrote to Anonymus 2469 who had forgotten their friendship, and recommended Anonymus 2470 Psellos Letters (K - D) 154, 177.1-17 He wrote to Anonymus 2475 detailing successes in his campaign on his behalf Psellos Letters (K - D) 158, 183.17-185.4 He wrote to Anonymus 2481 , wanting him back and asking that Anonymus 2480 make more money Psellos Letters (K - D) 160, 187.6-188.28 He wrote to Anonymus 2482 explaining why he eventually wrote to recommend Anonymus 2483 Psellos Letters (K - D) 161, 189.1-20 He wrote to Anonymus 2486 asking for justice for Anonymus 2487 Psellos Letters (K - D) 163, 190.9-12 He wrote to Anonymus 2488 asking him to accept the ex-slave Anonymus 2489 into his monastery Psellos Letters (K - D) 164, 190.13-191.2 He wrote to Anonymus 2493 preparing him for the arrival of Anonymus 2494 Psellos Letters (K - D) 166, 191.17-192.17 He wrote to Anonymus 2501 about an attack on Anonymus 2499 by Anonymus 2500 Psellos Letters (K - D) 171, 194.22-195.12 He wrote to Anonymus 2504 asking him to redouble his efforts for the grateful Anonymus 2505 Psellos Letters (K - D) 173, 196.6-22 He wrote to Anonymus 2504 that he match Anonymus 2505 's hearty thanks by giving more help Psellos Letters (K - D) 174, 196.23-197.19 He wrote to Anonymus 2507 about Anonymus 2506 Psellos Letters (K - D) 175, 197.20-198.7 He wrote to Anonymus 2510 with news that he had nearly recovered from a serious illness Psellos Letters (K - D) 177, 198.22-199.22 He wrote to Anonymus 2512 offering him the chance of helping Anonymus 2513 Psellos Letters (K - D) 179, 200.6-18 He wrote to Anonymus 2514 to support Anonymus 2515 Psellos Letters (K - D) 180, 200.19-201.5 He wrote to Anonymus 2516 about making recommendations between good friends Psellos Letters (K - D) 181, 201.6-14 He wrote to Anonymus 2517 under pressure from relations of the deceased Anonymus 2518 Psellos Letters (K - D) 182, 201.15-202.23 He wrote to Anonymus 2523 , asking for help for Anonymus 2522 Psellos Letters (K - D) 184, 203.5-16 He wrote to Anonymus 2524 about beds Psellos Letters (K - D) 187, 206.10-207.22 He wrote to Anonymus 2529 about his fear of his persecutors Psellos Letters (K - D) 198, 223.19-226.29 He wrote to Anonymus 2424 asking for care for his monasteries Psellos Letters (K - D) 200, 227.16-229.13 He wrote to Anonymus 2533 , seeking to have Nikolaos 2105 reinstated in his monastery Psellos Letters (K - D) 204, 232.5-233.11 He wrote to Pothos 102 (?), recommending Anonymus 2439 Psellos Letters (K - D) 218, 260.14-22 He wrote to Pothos 102 asking for help for Anonymus 2540 Psellos Letters (K - D) 220, 261.8-262.19 He wrote to Anonymus 2541 to ask help for Ioannes 289 over assessment of the Python monastery Psellos Letters (K - D) 221, 262.20-263.23 He wrote to Anonymus 2544 about a recent decree Psellos Letters (K - D) 222, 263.24-264.15 He wrote to Anonymus 2543 , who showed many good traits yet made others compete with him Psellos Letters (K - D) 223, 264.16-266.26 He wrote to Anonymus 2545 about the educational problems of Anonymus 2300 Psellos Letters (K - D) 224, 266.27-267.28 He wrote to Anonymus 2546 about his letter, which arrived just as Psellos wanted to contact him Psellos Letters (K - D) 225, 268.1-269.23 He wrote to Anonymus 2549 , asking for help for the monastery of Moses 2101 Psellos Letters (K - D) 227, 270.13-271.3 He wrote to Ioannes 289 (?) about a serious illness from which he was recovering Psellos Letters (K - D) 228, 271.4-272.8 He wrote to Ioannes 289 , asking why he was unhappy when about to be recalled by Konstantinos 9 Psellos Letters (K - D) 229, 272.9-274.9 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 wrote to Ioannes 62 thanking him for the gift of a horse Psellos Letters (K - D) 232, 278.18-281.8 He wrote to Ioannes 62 about chestnuts Psellos Letters (K - D) 236, 286.15-287.10 He wrote to Ioannes 62 , saying that letters were like grapes Psellos Letters (K - D) 238, 288.12-289.7 He wrote to Ioannes 62 on nature's alternatives of shells and stones Psellos Letters (K - D) 239, 289.8-240.4 He wrote to Anonymus 2555 against hunting Psellos Letters (K - D) 242, 291.19-293.22 He wrote to Anonymus 2556 about an attack made on the estate of Anonymus 2557 Psellos Letters (K - D) 243, 293.23-294.18 He wrote to Anonymus 2561 that Anonymus 2562 was being stopped from rebuilding his ruined house Psellos Letters (K - D) 246, 296.20-297.6 He wrote to Anonymus 2566 about help for Anonymus 2567 Psellos Letters (K - D) 248, 297.20-298.11 He wrote to Pothos 102 about water diverted from watermills Psellos Letters (K - D) 251, 299.18-300.15 He wrote to Anonymus 2570 , trying to ease the way for Anonymus 2571 Psellos Letters (K - D) 252, 300.16-301.5 He wrote to Anonymus 2574 that he should should follow Anonymus 2566 in helping Anonymus 2567 Psellos Letters (K - D) 254, 301.21-302.17 He wrote to Anonymus 2575 about his prospects for promotion Psellos Letters (K - D) 255, 302.18-303.15 He wrote to Ioannes 62 an obituary on their friendship Psellos Letters (K - D) 256, 303.16-304.16 He wrote to Pothos 102 (?) about Anonymus 2576 Psellos Letters (K - D) 257, 304.16-25 He wrote to Anonymus 2578 to support Anonymus 2579 before his court Psellos Letters (K - D) 258, 305.1-23 He wrote to Anonymus 2580 about his refusal to maintain friendship by writing Psellos Letters (K - D) 259, 305.24-306.16 He wrote to Anonymus 2585 , complaining that his letter was short Psellos Letters (K - D) 264, 309.13-310.6 He wrote to Ioannes 18 about his pupil Anonymus 2586 Psellos Letters (K - D) 265, 310.7-19 He wrote to Anonymus 2588 about the frequent instructions he received about Anonymus 2587 Psellos Letters (K - D) 266, 310-20-311.17 He wrote to Anonymus 2591 over the death of Anonymus 2590 and the care of Anonymi 2112 Psellos Letters (K - D) 268, 313.9-314.23 He wrote to Anonymus 2592 , saying his letters were too rare for friendship Psellos Letters (K - D) 269, 314.24-315.12 He wrote to Anonymus 2593 about Elias 2101 's visit to Thrakesion Psellos Letters (K - D) 270, 315.13-27 He wrote to Anonymus 2555 as to a provocative lover Psellos Letters (K - D) 274, 318.14-319.15 He wrote to Ioannes 62 stating that nobody had paid him money Psellos Letters (Gautier) 1.1-13 He wrote to Ioannes 62 in deep depression: only Ioannes' interest kept him alive Psellos Letters (Gautier) 3.1-20 He wrote to Ioannes 62 with the assurance of having entrapped him, yet still conscious of inferiority Psellos Letters (Gautier) 4.1-41 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 , encouraged by his approval but encircled by his gifts Psellos Letters (Gautier) 6.1-21 He wrote to Ioannes 62 , admitting he strutted like a peacock as the result of Ioannes' praise Psellos Letters (Gautier) 7.1-45 He wrote to Ioannes 62 that Konstantinos 10 still favoured him Psellos Letters (Gautier) 8.1-81 He wrote to Ioannes 62 , asking him and Eirene 20117 to stop conspiring to entrap him Psellos Letters (Gautier) 9.1-45 He wrote to Ioannes 62 from a sense of competition with him over music Psellos Letters (Gautier) 10.1-46 He wrote to Ioannes 62 , one of the few men able to use Greek properly in a city as Greekless as Britain Psellos Letters (Gautier) 11.1-21 He wrote to Ioannes 62 in Antioch, praising his superior philosophy but complaining he did not write Psellos Letters (Gautier) 12.1-56 He wrote to Ioannes 62 about a robbery in which he lost 300 nomismata saved to buy an estate Psellos Letters (Gautier) 13.1-61 He wrote to Ioannes 18 , welcoming his letter and hoping to follow him to the monastery Psellos Letters (Gautier) 17.1-70 He wrote to Anonymus 2594 , congratulating him and the Thessalians on the survival of eloquence in Hellas τῷ μητροπολίτῃ Θεσσαλονίκης, τῷ γεγονότι μαΐστορι τῶν ῥητόρων. Psellos Letters (Gautier) 18.1-68 He wrote to Anonymus 2594 about help for Anonymus 2595 Psellos Letters (Gautier) 19.1-21 He wrote to Anonymus 2594 , complaining that his sweet letter had no meaning Psellos Letters (Gautier) 20.1-63 He wrote to Anonymus 2300 , comparing the letters they wrote and offering him a crown Psellos Letters (Gautier) 24.1-46 He wrote to Eustratios 101 , missing him and his friends and Romanos 4 , wondering why they did not return after so many achievements Psellos Letters (Gautier) 25.1-65 He wrote to Sergios 105 , advertising a visit he would receive from Elias 2101 Psellos Letters (Gautier) 27.1-51 He wrote to Anonymus 2597 over arrangements for a problematic estate Psellos Letters (Gautier) 28.1-34 He wrote to Anonymus 2598 discussing food, and sent a substantial gift Psellos Letters (Gautier) 29.1-19 He wrote to Ioannes 18 complaining of a very short letter Psellos Letters (Gautier) 30.1-14 He wrote to Anonymus 2599 about their collaboration and saving a dying monastery Psellos Letters (Gautier) 31.1-29 He wrote to Leon 62 , promising that it was now time to help him Psellos Letters (Gautier) 32.1-62 He wrote to Ioannes 289 , saying his letter made him feel almost immortal Psellos Letters (Gautier) 33.1-51 He wrote to Anonymus 2601 , beginning their correspondence as far the junior partner Psellos Letters (Gautier) 34.1-33 He wrote to Eudokia 1 , passionately rebutting a charge of ingratitude Psellos Letters (Gautier) 35.1-87 He wrote to Leon 62 , flattering him and requesting a personal interview for himself and Anastasios 2101 Πρὸς τὸν πρωτοσύγκελλον, φιλοσοφικώτερον. Psellos Letters (Papaioannou) 110.1-21 He wrote to Sergios 105 about surviving poisonous snake-bites Psellos Letters (Karpozilos) 2.1-88 He wrote to Nikephoros 111 , describing Anonymus 2616 he had sent him, expert with men, animals and trees; he told Nikephoros never to be treated by him, since he damaged his patients (of all sorts) and was only good for violent actions φλεβοτομεῖν δυνάμενον οὐκ ἀνθρώπους μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ κτήνη καὶ ξύλα. Psellos Letters (Maltese) 18.1-12 He wrote to Anonymus 2249 about Anonyma 2128 Psellos He wrote to Anonymus 2496 , persuading him to help Anonyma 2142 Psellos Letters (K - D) 169, 193.8-20 He wrote to Anonymus 2277 asking him to honour Anonymus 2276 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 149.397-398 He wrote to Aimilianos 61 , thanking him for his impressive first letter Psellos Letters (Gautier) 14.1-73 He wrote to Aimilianos 61 with further praise for his first letter Psellos Letters (Gautier) 15.1-63 He wrote to Aimilianos 61 repeating his request for him to reinstate Nikolaos 2103 Psellos Letters (Gautier) 23.1-55 He wrote to Aimilianos 61 , saying that Anonymus 2457 had brought him news Psellos Letters (K - D) 139, 166.10-167.8 He wrote to Aimilianos 61 , wondering how to reply to his letter Psellos Letters (Gautier) 16.1-69 He wrote to Aimilianos 61 a letter largely of clichés, apparently elicited by letter-carriers Psellos Letters (Gautier) 22.1-24 He wrote to Konstantinos 120 , comparing the latter's house-full of family with his own isolation Psellos Letters (K - D) 214, 254.1-256.27 He wrote to Anonymus 2220 about Anonymus 2221 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 102.344 He wrote to admonish Anonymus 2374 Psellos Letters (K - D) 55, 87.14-88.6 He wrote to ask Anonymus 2167 for some bushels of grain Τῷ μεγάλῳ οἰκονόμῳ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 31.266-267 He wrote to congratulate Andronikos 61 on his victory Psellos Letters (Sathas) 145.392-394 He wrote to console Romanos 4 on his blinding Πρὸς τὸν Διογένην ὅτε ἐτυφλώθη. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 82.316-318 He wrote to console Theodoros 101 on the death of Anonymus 2238 τῷ ἀνεψιῷ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπὶ τῇ τελευτῇ τοῦ πενθεροῦ αὐτοῦ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 120.368-370 He wrote to lobby Anonymus 2420 for the people of Atzikome Psellos Letters (K - D) 99, 127.17-128.7 He wrote to summon Ioannes 289 to his sickbed (or deathbed) Psellos Letters (K - D) 13, 14.24-17.6 He wrote to test Anonymus 2520 by his treatment of Anonymus 2521 Psellos Letters (K - D) 183, 202.24-203.4 He wrote to the exile Anonymus 2366 , explaining how he had supported him Psellos Letters (K - D) 48, 80.5-81.8 He wrote to three persons, Anonymus 2300 , Anonymus 2301 , and Anonymus 2302 , admitting (from Caesarea) he had left the expedition Psellos Letters (Sathas) 176.454-455 He wrote two (alternative?) letters for Michael 7 , proposing a marriage alliance with Robert 61 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 143-144.385-392 He wrote two letters to Anonymus 2311 about paradoxical events, relationships and causation Psellos Letters (Sathas) 187-188.473-480 He wrote two monodies on two of his students, but the end of the first and the beginning of the second are lost; the first (A) is for the emperor Andronikos 62 , brother of Michael 7 , the second (B) for an anonymus ex-student, not Andronikos Psellos A-B, 165-169 Heard from Anonymus 7002 , who supplied him with materials for his history, that Romanos 4 wished to be persuaded that Zoe 1 was not erotically attached to Michael 4 ὡς δὲ ἐγώ τινος ἤκουσα ... ὑπόθεσιν κἀμοὶ τὰς ἀφορμὰς τῆς ἱστορίας διδόντος, ὡς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐβούλετο μὲν ὡσανεὶ πεπεῖσθαι μὴ ἔχειν τὴν βασιλίδα ἐρωτικῶς πρὸς τὸν Μιχαήλ. Psellos: Chronographia III 23.3-7 His account (of Romanos 62 ) is not finished, but to complete it he must interweave another, inserting another topic necessary to his narrative; then he will go back and add what was omitted from the preceding ... δεῖται δὲ πλείονος ἐπιπλοκῆς πρὸς ἀπαρτισμὸν, ἑτέραν παρενείρας ὑπόθεσιν, ἧς ὁ λόγος δεῖται τοῦ διηγήματος, οὕτω δὴ αὖθις ἐπαναστρέψας τοῖς ὑφηγησομένοις τὸ λειπόμενον ἀποδώσω. Psellos: Chronographia VI 150.13-16 His account as it advances will describe the provision made by Konstantinos 8 for Zoe 1 at the end of his life .. περὶ οὗ προιὼν ὁ λόγος ἐρεῖ. Psellos: Chronographia II 5.15-17 His account as it advances will reveal more clearly how Konstantinos 8 was destined not only to terminate the power with himself, but also after living only a short time and in bad health, to break off life suddenly ὁ δὲ ἔμελλεν ἄρα οὐ μόνον ἑαυτῷ περιγράψειν τὸ κράτος, ἀλλὰ καὶ βραχύν τινα ἐπιβιώσας χρόνον, καὶ τοῦτο νοσερόν, ἀθρόον τὴν ψυχὴν ἀπορρήξασθαι, περὶ οὗ δὴ προιὼν ὁ λόγος δηλώσει σαφέστερον. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.6-10 HIs account has dealt previously with Michael 4 , to whom Zoe 1 devoted every care so as to to hand over the leadership ὅπως ἂν παραδῷ τὴν προστασίαν τῷ Μιχαὴλ, περὶ οὗ φθάσας ὁ λόγος διείληφε, δια πάσης φροντίδος γίνεται. Psellos: Chronographia IV 1.6-9 His account has not yet come to this (how Basileios 2 's wealth was wasted by Maria 64 , Zoe 1 and Theodora 1 ) and he will complete the subject in hand ἀλλ᾿ οὔπω νῦν ὁ λόγος εἰς τοῦτο κατέληξε, συμπληρούτω δὲ τὴν ὑπόθεσιν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 63.5-7 His account has told in detail the entire story of the army's revolt in Constantinople and their exodus in the sections about Isaakios 1 συνθέμενοι ἀλλήλοις ἐντὸς τοῦ ἄστεος ἀποστασίαν, αὐτίκα δὴ ἐξεληλύθεσαν, ὡς ὁ λόγος τὸ ξύμπαν ἐν τοῖς κατὰ τὸν Κομνηνὸν λόγοις ἠκρίβωσε. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 7.31-4 His account introduced Chatatourios 61 earlier ὃν φθάσας ὁ λόγος ἐγνώρισε. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 38.4 His account of Maria 64 terminated at the moment of her death; he will return again to Konstantinos 9 , whom he will make the subject of the present part of the history ὁ μὲν οὖν περὶ ἐκείνης λόγος εἰς αὐτὸ δὴ τὸ μέρος τῆς ἐκείνης κατέληξε λήξεως· ἐπανιῶμεν οὖν αὖθις ἐπὶ τὸν αὐτοκράτορα, ὃν δὴ καὶ ὑπόθεσιν τοῦ παρόντος μέρους τῆς ἱστορίας ποιούμεθα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 71.10-13 His account of the character of Isaakios 1 must wait for a while ὁ μὲν χαρακτὴρ ἐκείνου μικρόν τι τὸν λόγον ἀναμεινάτω. Psellos: Chronographia VII 5.6-7 His account presented much information about Michael 5 before he became emperor περὶ οὗ πλεῖστα ὁ λόγος φθάσας ἐδήλωσε. Psellos: Chronographia V 1.1-2 His account will describe Michael 7 immediately after the narrative of Konstantinos 10 ὃν ὁ λόγος αὐτίκα δὴ μετὰ τὴν τοῦ πατρὸς ἰστορήσει γραφήν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 6.28-9 His account will detail in turn the sequel to Michael 4 's epileptic attacks in the proper places; he will portray the emperor in health, just as he has in sickness τὰ μὲν οὖν τούτοις ἑπόμενα ὁ λόγος αὖθις εἰς τοὺς οἰκείους τόπους καταριθμήσει· ἴδωμεν δὲ ὥσπερ νοσοῦντα τὸν βασιλέα, οὕτω δὴ καὶ ὑγιῶς ἔχοντα. Psellos: Chronographia IV 19.1-3 His account will keep to the sequence of events and make the first war organised against Konstantinos 9 first in his history before the others ὁ δὲ λόγος τῆς ἀκολουθίας τῶν πεπραγμένων ἐχόμενος τὸν πρώτως συστάντα τῷ αὐτοκράτορι πόλεμον πρῶτον τῆς ἱστορίας τῶν ἄλλων ποιήσεται. Psellos: Chronographia VI 74.1-4 His account will now turn to the reign of Konstantinos 10 ; but the account of his reign must wait ὃν ἤδη πρὸς τὴν βασίλειον ἀρχὴν προβιβάζειν ὁ λόγος βούλεται. ἀλλ’ ὁ μὲν περὶ τῆς βασιλείας λόγος ἀναμεινάτω. Psellos: Chronographia VII 84.11-85.2 His account will show later how Ioannes 68 , by deferring the moment for changing and deposing Michael 5 , paid off the sum of his family's misfortunes himself τὸν γὰρ καιρὸν ὑπερτιθέμενος τῆς περὶ τὸν καίσαρα μεταβολῆς τε καὶ μεταθέσεως, εἰς αὐτὸν δὴ τὸ κεφάλαιον τῶν οἰκείων ἀπέτισε συμφορῶν, ὡς ὕστερον ὁ λόγος δηλώσει. Psellos: Chronographia IV 29.12-14 His account will show more clearly how it was that the palace enjoyed nothing from Romanos 3 's harsh exactions, but the rivers of money were diverted elsewhere οὐδέν τι τῆς ἐντεῦθεν συνεκφορᾶς ἀπήλαυε τὰ βασίλεια, ἀλλ’ ἐφ’ ἕτερα οἱ τῶν χρημάτων μετωχετεύοντο ποταμοί. ῞Οτι δὲ τοῦτό ἐστιν ὁ λόγος δηλώσει σαφέστερον. Psellos: Chronographia III 12.16-21 His account will tell more of Ioannes 68 in the appropriate places of the present record περὶ οὗ ἐν τοῖς καθήκουσι τόποις τῆς παρούσης ἀναγραφῆς ὁ λόγος ἐρεῖ. Psellos: Chronographia IV 3.17-18 His case against Michael 11 is partly based on the assumption of the heretical status of Niketas 166 , Ioannes 438 and Dosithea 2101 (for suspect female and mystic elements) Οὐχ ἅπαντες ὑμεῖς σύνιστε .... Psellos Kategoria 106-130 His Chronographia narrates the deeds of the emperors Basileios 2 and Konstantinos 8 , Romanos 3 , Michael 4 , Michael 5 , Zoe 1 and Theodora 1 , Konstantinos 9 , Theodora 1 , Isaakios 1 , to the proclamation of Konstantinos 10 Χρονογραφία πονηθεῖσα ... ἱστοροῦσα τὰς πράξεις τῶν βασιλέων, ... καὶ ἕως τῆς ἀναρρήσεως Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Δούκα. Psellos: Chronographia Introduction 1-13 His comment (on Leon 62 ) will once more lead to a digression in the history on himself ὁ δὲ λόγος οὗτος αὖθις ἐμὲ παρεισκυκλήσει τῇ ἱστορίᾳ. Psellos: Chronographia VIa 9.13-14 His dear friend (?Konstantinos 13 ) did not ask him for an ambitious work but a summary one: so for him he has omitted from his history many things worth telling οὐ γάρ με τὴν συγγραφήν, φίλτατε πάντων ἀνδρῶν, φιλοτιμοτέραν, ἀλλὰ κεφαλαιωδεστέραν ἀπῄτησας· διὰ τοῦτό σοι κἀγὼ πολλὰ τῶν ἀξίων εἰρῆσθαι παρῆκα τῇ ἱστορίᾳ. Psellos: Chronographia VI 73.6-8 His devotion to classical learning was still dominant, supported by the interests of Konstantinos 9 and the distinctions received from him; life as a monk was in store for the future ἐμοὶ δέ, ὦ μῆτερ, ἀφωσίωται οὗτος ὁ βίος, ὁ δ᾿ ἕτερος τεθησαύρισται. Psellos Mother 61 His inserted a long prologue so that when he says that Konstantinos 9 predicted or rejected something, people might not think Konstantinos 9 had prophetic powers but see his words as typical of his character: God's will decides events τοσοῦτον δὲ προανεβαλλόμην τῶν διηγησέων, ἵν᾿, ..., μὴ μαντικὸν τὸν ἄνδρα ἡγήσωνται οἱ πολλοί, ἀλλὰ τοῦς μὲν λόγους συμφώνους τῷ ἐκείνου ἤθει νομίσωσι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 98.1-6 His narrative condemning Konstantinos 9 's excesses now reaches the chief one, the church that he founded for the martyr George ὁ δέ γε λόγος τὰς ὑπερβολὰς ἐκείνου καταιτιώμενος ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸ δὴ χωρεῖ τὸ κεφάλαιον, φημὶ δὴ ὃν ἐκεῖνος ναὸν τῷ μάρτυρι Γεωργίῳ καθίδρευσεν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 185.1-3 His narrative has already shown how Isaakios 1 died a miserable death (at the Stoudion monastery) ὁ μὲν οὖν ἐκεῖσε δυσθανατῶν ἦν, ὡς ὁ λόγος φθάσας ἐδήλωσεν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 14.1-2 His narrative has previously mentioned Konstantinos 9 's exile ὑπερορίῳ γὰρ γεγονότι τῷδε τῷ βασιλεῖ, ὡς ὁ λόγος φθάσας ἱστόρησε. Psellos: Chronographia VI 51.3-4 His orderly narrative of all things will show that Ioannes 68 's document (granting immunity to his family) was in fact the beginning of his pains τόδε ῆν ἄρα ὠδίνων ἀρχή, δηλώσει δὲ καθεξῆς περὶ πάντων ὁ λόγος. Psellos: Chronographia V 11.7-8 His plan for the text sent to Malik-Shah 51 contained two parts: Old Testament prophecies of the Incarnation and pagan prefigurings of Christ; only aa part of the first section has survived, through damage to the ms in which it has survived Psellos Malik-shah 142-175 His previous narrative has demonstrated that Michael 4 was elevated to the imperial rule from an ugly beginning φαίνεται μὲν ἐξ οὐ καλῆς ὑποθέσεως ὡς ὁ λόγος φθάσας ἐγνώρισεν, εἰς τὴν βασίλειον ἀρχὴν ἀναχθείς. Psellos: Chronographia IV 9.1-2 His wish was either to mention Konstantinos 9 in words of praise or to be silent about deeds of his which were not motivated by a praiseworthy intention τὸ μὲν οὖν βουλόμενόν μοι ἢ ἐν τοῖς κρείττοσι λόγοις ἐκείνου μεμνῆσθαι, ἢ σεσιγῆσθαι τὰ ἐκείνου εἰ μὴ ἀπὸ τῆς κρείττονος ὥρμηνται ὑποθέσεως. Psellos: Chronographia VI 24.6-8 How could he in brief words describe the great marvel (of Isaakios 1 's adventus)? He has taken part in many imperial processions and been present at religious ceremonies, but never seen such brilliance ἀλλὰ πῶς ἂν ὑμῖν ἐν βραχεῖ τὸ πολὺ διηγησαίμην τοῦ θαύματος. ἐγωγ᾿ οὖν καὶ βασιλείοις πομπαῖς πολλαῖς ἐντετυχηκὼς, καὶ πανηγύρεσι θειοτέραις παραγενόμενος, οὔπω τοιαύτην ἐθεασάμην λαμπρότητα. Psellos: Chronographia VII 40.7-10 If he himself has sometimes used the things he is advising against, it is no cause for surprise: for historical narrative is not so clearly defined as to be absolutely polished - there are places where excursus and digression are allowed ..., θαυμάζειν οὐ χρή· ὁ γὰρ τῆς ἰστορίας λόγος οὐχ οὕτως ὥρισται, ὡς ἀπεξέσθαι πέριξ παντάπασιν, ἀλλ᾿ ὅπη παρείκοι καὶ διεκδρομάς τινας ἔχειν καὶ παρεκβάσεις. Psellos: Chronographia VI 70.9-13 If he is not considered tedious, but allowed to continue, he will add some personal details: these alone will stir serious men to praise καὶ εἰ μή μέ τις φορτικὸν νομίζοι, ἀλλὰ συγχωρεῖ δὴ τῷ λόγῳ., καὶ τοῦτο δὴ τῶν ἐμῶν προσθήσω, ὅ δὴ καὶ μόνον μάλιστα εἰς εὐφημίαν τοὺς σπουδαιοτέρους κινήσει. Psellos: Chronographia VI 37.1-4 If he lives beyond his span, he will write another history for Konstantinos 62 , when he has provided material for writing; if not, this record will satisfy Konstantinos and provide a starting-point for other historians εἰ μὲν οὖν περαιτέρω τῆς καθεστώσης ἡλικίας προβήσομαι, ἕτερον σοι λόγον συγγράψομαι, ὁπήνικα καὶ αὐτὸς ἀφοφμὰς τοῦ γράφειν παράσχοις ἐμοί· εἰ δ’ οὖν ἀποχρῶν σοι τοῦτο τὸ γράμμα, .... Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 13.13-17 If he set out to praise the life of Konstantinos 9 , but then rejected the causes of praise and was clearly seen to have assembled topics for blame, he would be most malicious, like Herodotos, whose History tells the Greeks' worst deeds εἰ μὲν προθέμενος τὸν ἐκείνου βίον ἐγκωμιάζειν, εἶτα τὰς τῶν κρειττόνων ἀφεὶς ἀφορμάς, τὰς τῶν χειρόνων ὑποθέσεις ἐφαινόμην συνειλοχώς, κακοηθέστατος ἂν εἴην, ὥσπερ δὴ ὁ τοῦ Λύξου .... Psellos: Chronographia VI 24.8-13 If of those involved in the account, a virtuous man has maligned him or a vicious one conferred favours, (the historian) will consider in his history none of the things done to himself but place each in his account with his proper conduct κἂν τῶν ὑποβεβλημένων τῷ λόγῳ προσώπων, ὁ μέν τις αὐτὸν σπουδαῖος ὢν διεφαύλισεν, ... οὐδέτερον τῶν εἰς αὐτὸν πεπραγμένων ... λογίσεται, ἀλλ᾿ ἕκαστον ἀναθήσει τῷ λόγῳ μετὰ τῆς οἰκείας πράξεως. Psellos: Chronographia VI 161.17-22 If one set aside all else and contemplated only (his attitude to his ill-health), one would truly call Konstantinos 9 a godly man εἴ τις ἐκεῖνον τῶν ἄλλων ἀφεὶς ἐπὶ τούτου καταθεωρήσει τοῦ μέρους, θεῖον ὡς ἀληθῶς ἄνδρα κατονομάσειε. Psellos: Chronographia VI 131.13-15 If one were to think of Romanos 4 as a courageous and a most enthusiastic combatant, one would have reason for encomium εἰ μὲν γὰρ ὡς φιλοκίνδυνον λογίσαιτο τις τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ ἀγωνιστὴν προθυμότατον, ἔχοι ἂν ἀφορμὰς πρὸς ἐγκώμιον. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 21.3-5 If the historian were permitted to return a favour from goodwill or generosity of soul to one who had been kind to him and for this reason to distort his account, who would have glorified Konstantinos 9 with words of praise before him? εἴ γε δι᾿ εὔνοιαν ἢ ψυχῆς εὐγενείαν δοθείη τῷ ἱστοροῦντι τῷ εὐνοϊκῶς πρὸς αὐτὸν σχόντι ἀντιχαρίζεσθαι ..., τίς ἄν πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἕτερος ταῖς ἐκ τῶν λόγων εὐφημίαις τουτονὶ τὸν αὐτοκράτορα κατέκοσμησεν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 161.22-6 If the stories that Michael 4 used secret rites and denied God in order to achieve power is false, his view should prevail again εἰ δὲ ψευδής, ὁ ἐμὸς αὖθις νικῴη σκοπός. Psellos: Chronographia IV 33.1-11 If when he examines openly even seemingly bad deeds, the shining virtue of Konstantinos 9 's good deeds is preserved and the good outweighs the bad, then he will excel all emperors whose panegyrics are suspect, more plausible than true εἰ γὰρ ἀπερικακλύπτως ἐμοῦ καὶ τὰ δοκοῦντα φαῦλα ἐκείνου διακριβοῦντος, σῴζεται ἐκ τῆς ἑτέρας μερίδος ἡ ἀρετὴ διαλάμπουσα .... Psellos: Chronographia VI 162.5-11 In a small skiff he has ventured to cross a great sea; he will tell, as best he can, what great innovations divine justice brought to this critical time and to affairs of state after the exile of the empress (Zoe 1 ) ὅθεν ἐπὶ μικρᾶς σχεδίας μέγα περαιώσασθαι τετόλμηκα πέλαγος. Λέξω γοῦν, ὡς ἂν οἷός τε ὧ, ὁπόσα μετὰ τὴν τῆς βασιλίδος ὑπερορίαν ἡ θεία δίκη τῷ τε καιρῷ καὶ τοῖς πράγμασιν ἐκαινοτόμησεν. Psellos: Chronographia V 24.19-22 In abridging his account he has passed over many things, such as Michael 7 's love for Maria 61 ... and for Andronikos 62 and Konstantios 61 ἀλλ᾿ ἐπιτέμνοντα τὸν λόγον πολλά με διέλαθε, τὸ περὶ τὴν γυναῖκα φίλτρον, ..., τὸ περὶ τοῖν ἀδελφοῖν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 9.1-3 In another short encomium for Konstantinos 10 , he referred to succeses in the east and over the Uzes in the west, to a new openness in government, and to Konstantinos' splendid wife and children Τῷ αὐτῷ. Psellos Orationes panegyricae X, 1-53 In checking the report (that Konstantinos 9 was protected from all disaster by favourable fortune) he found no knowledge or foundation for the prophecy ὧν ἐγὼ τοὺς λόγους διακριβούμενος οὐδεμίαν ἐπιστήμην ἢ ἀρχὴν εὕρισκον τῆς προρρήσεως. Psellos: Chronographia VI 96.3-5 In composing panegyric he does not collect everything indiscriminately, but putting aside the worse and selecting the better, he fits them together in proper order, binds them and weaves praise of a single excellent quality ..., ἀλλ᾿ ἀφεὶς μὲν τὰ χείρονα, ἀφαιρούμενος δὲ τὰ κρείττονα, ξυναρμόζω ταῦτα κατὰ τὴν οἰκείαν τάξιν καὶ ξυγκολλῶ καὶ διὰ μιᾶς τῆς ἀρίστης ποιότητος ἐξυφαίνω τὴν εὐφημίαν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 25.15-19 In congratulating Konstantinos 120 on the birth of a son, he remembered life with his own adoptive family Psellos Letters (Sathas) 157.409-412 In defending the shortcomings of Konstantinos 9 , he asks if any man, particularly any emperor, was seen with his head crowned with the diadem of encomium for all of his deeds τίς δὲ τῶν πάντων ἀνθρώπων, ἵν᾿ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐκείνου ἐλαττωμάτων ἀπολογίσωμαι, ὤφθη τῶν πράξεων ἀναδεδεμένος τὴν κεφαλὴν ἐγκωμιαστικῷ διαδήματι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 162.11-15 In explaining the reason for Konstantinos 9 's sudden affection for Ioannes 115 and his elevation, he will go back a little in his account to the time before Ioannes' regime ἡ δὲ πρόφασις τῆς ἀθρόας πρὸς ἐκεῖνο ἀγαπήσεώς τε καὶ μεταθέσεως τοιαύτη τις ἐγεγόνει, ἀναβήσομαι δὲ βραχύ τι τῷ λόγῳ ἐπὶ τὰ πρότερον τῆς ἐκείνου ἀρχῆς. Psellos: Chronographia VI 177.12-14 In fact he has written his history for this reason, so that it may be known that there is a human character (Michael 7 's) comparable with the divine and far surpassing natures he has known τούτου γὰρ ἕνεκα καὶ τὴν ἱστορίαν πεποίημαι, ἵν’ ἔχοι τις ειδέναι ὅτι ἔστι τοι ἦθος ἀνθρώπου θείας ἄντικρυς μοίρας καὶ περαιτέρω τῆς ἐγνωσμένης φύσεως. Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 1.10-13 In his enthusiasm his account outlined the end before setting in place the opening to Romanos 3 's reign; so he will now return to the birth of Romanos' power ἀλλ’ ὁ λόγος, πρὶν ἢ τὰ περὶ ἐκεῖνον στῆσαι προπύλαια, τὸ τοῦ παντὸς τέλος ὑπὸ προθυμίας ἀπεσχεδίασεν· ἐπαναγέσθω οὖν ἐπὶ ταύτην ἤδη τοῦ περὶ ἐκεῖνον κράτους τὴν γένεσιν. Psellos: Chronographia III 4.10-13 In his view it was by divine intervention that Konstantinos 10 did not gain power then (when Isaakios 1 did) but later, so that he was raised to the summit of imperial power not by usurpation but by legitimate means ἐγὼ δὲ τοῦτο τοῖς γενομένοις προστίθημι, ὅτι θεῖον ἄρα ἦν καὶ τὸ μὴ τότε γενόμενον καὶ τὸ νῦν γεγονός, ἵνα μὴ ἐκ τυραννικῶν προθύρων, ἀλλ’ ἐκ ἐννόμων ἀδύτων εἰς τὴν τῆς βασιλείας ἀναχθείη περιωπήν. Psellos: Chronographia VII 88.20-4 In his view, had not evil fate grafted onto Michael 4 his brothers (Anonymi 6008 ), so that he could not eliminate his family nor turn them to benefit because of their devious character, none of the famous emperors would have matched him καὶ ἀποπεφάνθω μοι περὶ τοῦδε τοῦ ἀνδρός, ..., οὐκ ἄν τις ἐκείνῳ τῶν περιωνύμων βασιλέων ἀντήρισεν. Psellos: Chronographia IV 10. 17-21 In one ms., it seems that he prepared his simple introduction in verse on the Song of Songs for dedication to Nikephoros 3 Psellos Poema 2 (tit.) In order to trace the entire topic concerning himself he will give an account from the beginning of the story ἵνα δὲ τὴν περὶ ἐμὲ ξύμπασαν ὑμῖν ἐξιχνιάσω ὑπόθεσιν ἐκ κεφαλῆς τοῦ λόγου ποιήσομαι τὴν διήγησιν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 191.10-12 In speaking [of Konstantinos 9 ] he keeps rhetoric and persuasion within strict bounds; one applying fuller workmanship would draw every ear and heart to his will; but he does not praise such works and hates artful words that hide truth ἄκροις ὡσανεὶ καταχρώμενος ὅροις τῆς ῥητορικῆς τέχνης τε καὶ πειθοῦς, ... ἀλλ᾿ ἐμοὶ οὔτε τὰ τοιαῦτα τῶν ἔργων ἐν ἐπαίνοις τίθεται, μεμίσηνται δὲ καὶ αἱ περὶ τοὺς λόγους τέχναι, κλέπτουσαι τὴν ἀλήθειαν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 176.1-6 In touching on Maria 64 and wanting to reveal her story in its entirety, his account has omitted many noteworthy things which preceded, so as not to have to mention matters relating to her one by one and break the continuity of the subject ... φιλοτιμηθεὶς δι᾿ ὅλου τὴν περὶ ταύτης ἱστορίαν ἐμφανθῆναι, πολλὰ ... παρῆκεν, ἵνα μὴ καθ᾿ ἕκαστον τῶν πεπραγμένων μνημονεύειν ἐκείνης ἐπανακάζωμαι καὶ τὸ συνεχὲς διακόπτειν τῶν ὑποθέσεων. Psellos: Chronographia VI 71.5-10 Interrupting his narrative for a little he will first describe the mind and soul of the emperor (Michael 5 ), so that readers will not be amazed when he speaks about how Michael improvised his actions with no fixed starting-point μικρὸν δὲ ἐντεῦθεν τὴν τοῦ λόγου ἐκκόψας διήγησιν περὶ τῆς τοῦ βασιλεύσαντος γνώμης τε καὶ ψυχῆς πρότερον ἀφηγήσομαι, ὅπως ᾶν μὴ θαυμάζητε, ὁπηνίκα τι περὶ τῶν ἐκείνου πράξεων λέγοιμι,.... Psellos: Chronographia V 9.1-5 Interrupting the course of the narrative for a little Michael 61 will first describe his mind and soul, so that readers will not be amazed when the text speaks about how he improvised his actions with no fixed starting-point ... περὶ τῆς τοῦ βασιλεύσαντος γνώμης τε καὶ ψυχῆς πρότερον ἀφηγήσομαι, ὅπως ἂν μὴ θαυμάζητε, ὁπηνίκα τι περὶ τῶν ἐκείνου πράξεων λέγοιμι, ὅπως αὐτὰς ἐξ οὐδεμιᾶς ἀρχῆς ἐσχεδίαζεν ὡρισμένης. Psellos: Chronographia V 9.1-5 Is in doubt how he should describe the response of the women [to Zoe 1 's exile] to those who do not know them τὸ δὲ θῆλυ γένος, ἀλλὰ πῶς ἂν τοῦτο τοῖς οὐκ εἰδόσιν ἀφηγησαίμην;. Psellos: Chronographia V 26.2-4 Is unable to say accurately whether the attendants who went into the bath with Romanos 3 committed some crime against him (though the others who have written on this say that they did) εἴ τι μὲν εἰσελθόντες περὶ τὸν αὐτοκράτορα παρηνόμησαν, οὐκ ἔχω εἰπεῖν ἀκριβῶς. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.23-5 Is unable to say whether the loving couple (Zoe 1 and Michael 4 ) and their accomplices in the affair did something most untoward to Romanos 3 , since he is reluctant to make a charge in matters where he has no certainty ... ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἂν εἴποιμι· οὐ γὰρ ῥᾳδίως οἶδα καταγινώσκειν ὧν οὔπω κατάληψιν εἴληφα. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.2-5 It is his custom always not to consider individually either things which appear good or those thought to have been done ill, but to seek the causes and result of each, especially if the one providing the subject accepts such reasoning (?) ... εἴθισται οὔτε ... ἕκαστον ἐφ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ μόνον σκοπεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς αἰτίας ζητεῖν καὶ πρός ὅ τι τὸ γινόμενον ἀποτελευτήσοι, καὶ μάλιστα εἰ καὶ ὁ τὰς ὑποθέσεις χορηγῶν ἐπὶ τοιούτων λογισμῶν ἵσταται. Psellos: Chronographia VI 30.7-11 It was the character of Michael 4 in particular which made him ambivalent in judgement ποιεῖ δέ μοι μάλιστα τὴν ἀμφιβολίαν τῶν λογισμῶν ὁ τοῦ Μιχαὴλ τρόπος. Psellos: Chronographia IV 7.1-2 It would be superfluous to describe in the fabric of his history Konstantinos 9 's laments at the death of Maria 64 , his acts and how he howled aloud like a child, overcome by suffering ... τούς τε θρήνους οὓς ἀπωδύρατο καὶ τὰς πράξεις ἃς κατεπράξατο, ὅσα τε τῷ πάθει νικώμενος μειρακιωδῶς ἀνωλοφύρατο, παρέλκον ἂν εἴη εἰς τὴν τῆς ἱστορίας καταλέγειν ὑφήν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 70.1-5 It would take a long time to catalogue all Michael 4 's management and regulation in civil disturbances and foreign wars, but selecting one from all, that is the contest against the barbarians, he will run through it in summary ὅσα μὲν ἐκεῖνος ... ᾠκονόμησε καὶ διῄτησε μακρὸν ἂν εἴη καταλέγειν, ἓν δὲ τῶν πάντων ἐκλεξάμενος, φημὶ δὴ τὸν κατὰ τῶν βαρβάρων ἀγῶνα, κεφαλαιώδει τοῦτο ἐπιδραμοῦμαι ἐπιτομῇ. Psellos: Chronographia IV 38.11-15 Knowing that it is habitual for men to invent stories, he is not quickly carried away by popular slanders, but submits what is said to tests and thereby verifies the deeds for himself ἐγὼ γὰρ εἰδὼς ὅτι τὸ λογοποιεῖν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις σύνηθες, οὐ ταχὺ ταῖς διαβολαὶς συμφέρομαι τῶν πολλῶν, ἀλλὰ βασάνοις διδοὺς τὰ λεγόμενα, ἐκεῖθεν ἐμαυτῷ πιστοῦμαι τὰ πράγματα. Psellos: Chronographia IV 33.11-14 Many men frequently put pressure on him to write his history - not only secular officials and leading senators, but also others initiated in the mysteries of the Word and those of great sanctity and spiritual excellence ... με πολλάκις πρὸς τήνδε τὴν ξυγγραφὴν κατηνάγκασαν, οὐ τῶν ἐν τέλει μόνον καὶ τῶν πρώτων τῆς γερουσίας, ... τῶν ἄλλων εἰς τὰ τοῦ Λόγου τελούντων μυστήρια, καὶ τῶν ὅσοι θειότεροι καὶ ὑπερτελεῖς τὴν ψυχήν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 22.1-4 Many people were amazed that he suddenly relinguished the splendour he had slowly accumulated at a time when he had overcome many people's envy and transferred to the life of God ἐθαύμασαν γοῦν οἱ πολλοὶ, ὅπως ποτὲ τὴν κατὰ βραχύ μοι συναυξηθεῖσαν λαμπρότητα, ὁπότε δὴ καὶ τὰς τῶν πολλῶν ὑπερβέβηκα βασκανίας, ἀθρόον ἀφείς, ἐπὶ τὸν θειότερον μετελήλυθα βίον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 191.3-6 Mentions what follows by way of prologue to the story that the life of Romanos 3 was cut short by a particular cause ὃ δὴ καὶ λόγος ἐστὶν ὑποτμηθῆναι αὐτῷ ἐξ αἰτίας τινός, ἣν ἐρεῖν βουλόμενος τοσοῦτον προλέγω. Psellos: Chronographia III 17.1-2 Most historians of emperors are amazed that none has a completely good reputation - some are better in youth, some in age, some chose pleasure, others philosophy but then failed in it - but he would be surprised rather at the contrary ... θαυμάζουσιν ὅτι μηδεὶς αὐτῶν διὰ τέλους εὐδόκιμος, ἀλλὰ τῷ μὲν οἱ ἄνω χρόνοι καλλίους, τῷ δὲ ἡ πρὸς τῷ τέλει βελτίων ζωή· ... ἐγὼ δὲ τοῦτο μὲν οὐκ ἂν ἀγασθείην, τὸ δ᾿ ἐνάντιον εἴ τῳ συμβέβηκεν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 27.1-8 Most men think that the nations around ran riot over the Roman boundaries suddenly and unexpectedly now for the first time, but he believes that the house was destroyed when the bonds binding it together came lose ... δοκεῖ νῦν πρῶτον τὰ πέριξ ἡμῶν ἔθνη ἐπὶ τὰ ῾Ρωμαίων κεχύσθαι ὅρια ἀθρόον καὶ παρ᾿ ἐλπίδα ἐπεισκωμάσαντα, ἐμοὶ δὲ τότε τὸ δωμάτιον καταλέλυται, ὁπηνίκα καὶ οἱ περισφίγγοντες τοῦτο δεσμοὶ διαλύονται. Psellos: Chronographia VI 9.1-5 Most of what he has said will perhaps open a door for the malicious to gossip, but as to what he is about to tell, he doubts if anyone would dispute its truth τὰ μὲν πλείω ὧν εἰρήκειν θύραν ἴσως ἀνοίξει γλωσσαλγίας τοῖς κακοήθεσι, περὶ δὲ ὧν μέλλω ἐρεῖν οὐκ οἶδα εἴ τις τῆς ἀληθείας ἀμφισβητήσειεν. Psellos: Chronographia IV 38.9-11 Most people did not see the beginning of trouble, but it was planted and took shape from this first cause, and the gathering of the clouds then prepared for the present great rain: but he will not yet speak of this εἰ δὲ οἱ πολλοὶ μὴ ᾐσθάνοντο τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῦ κακοῦ, ἀλλ᾿ ἐκεῖνό γε ἐκ τῆς πρώτης ἐκείνης ὑποθέσεως ἐπεφύετο καὶ συνίστατο, καὶ ἡ τηνικαῦτα τῶν νεφῶν συνδρομὴ τὸν μέγαν νῦν προκατεσκεύακεν ὑετόν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 9. 5-9 Most terrible was it that all knew about the hypocrisy (of Romanos 62 ), but were quite unable to denounce it: all were victims of Konstantinos 9 's folly and Romanos 62 's public hypocrisy and forced to laugh when we should have wept τὸ δέ γε δεινότερον, ὅτι πάντες μὲν ᾔδειμεν τὴν ὑπόκρισιν, ἐλέγχειν δὲ τὴν ὑπόκρισιν, πολλοῦ γε καὶ δεῖ, ..., καὶ γελᾶν ἠναγκάσμεθα ἐφ᾿ οἷς ὁ καιρὸς ἐδίδου θρηνεῖν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 143.9-14 Much of his Against Ophrydas compared the achievements of Ioannes 18 with those of Anonymus 168 Ophrydas, including his illiterate libel; Ophrydas could not even understand the terms in which praise of Ioannes 18 must be couched Psellos Against Ophrydas 80-198 Neither a poet of divinely inspired soul and tongue, nor an orator who had attained the utmost spiritual excellence and fluency ..., nor a philosopher who understood Providence ... would be able to tell with due measure what happened then οὔτε γὰρ ἂν ποιητὴς θεόπνουν τὴν ψυχὴν ἔχων ..., οὔτε τις ῥήτωρ ἄκραν εὐτυχήσας ψυχῆς τε εὐφυΐαν ... οὔτε μὴν φιλόσοφος Προνοίας καὶ λόγους ἠκριβωκὼς ... εἰπεῖν τι μετρίως τῶν τηνικαῦτα πραχθέντων ἰσχύσειαν. Psellos: Chronographia V 24.4-10 No one should blame him for digressing a little from the objective of his account, nor think the digression boastfulness; whatever he has said contributes towards the thread of his account καὶ μή μέ τις αἰτιάσαιτο, εἴ τι βραχὺ τὸν τοῦ λόγου σκοπὸν παρεκβέβηκα, μηδὲ περιαυτολογίαν οἰηθείη τὴν παρέκβασιν· εἰ γάρ τι καὶ τοιοῦτον εἴρηται, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸν εἱρμὸν τοῦ λόγου πάντα ξυμβέβληται. Psellos: Chronographia VI 46.9-13 Of all the women whom he had seen Euprepeia 61 was the most steadfast and hard to influence: Konstantinos 9 was cautious of her, as he has said; Konstantinos 9 did not love her as counsellor (?), but feared rather than cultivated her γυναικῶν ἁπασῶν ὧν ἐγὼ τεθέαμαι σταθηροτάτην τε οὖσαν καὶ δυσπαράγωγον, ταύτην τοιγαροῦν εὐλαβεῖτο μὲν ὁ ἀδελφός, ὥς μοι εἴρηται, οὐκ ἔστεργε δὲ παραγωγόν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐδεδίει μᾶλλον ἢ περιεῖπεν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 100.6-9 One could tell more such things of Konstantinos 9 if one wished; if he chose to praise him, the persuasive orator would use things that a historical account would probably reject as appropriate praise: he will mention some examples
ταῦτα μὲν καὶ τοιαῦτα ἐρεῖ ..., εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐγκωμιάζειν αἱροῖτο τὸν ἄνδρα, οὐδ᾿ ἅπερ ὁ τῆς ἱσοτρίας λόγος ἴσως διβαλεῖ ἔξω τῆς προσηκούσης εὐφημίας, ὅ γε πιθανώτατος τῶν ῥητόρων ποιήσαιτο. Psellos: Chronographia VI 173.1-6 One of the wise men known to him said that Romanos 3 , while ignorant of earthly philosophy, examined deeper matters which could be apprehended by Mind alone περὶ τῶν βαθυτέρων καὶ νῷ μόνῳ ληπτῶν, ὥς τις τῶν καθ’ ἡμᾶς εἶπε σοφῶν, διεσκέπτετο. Psellos: Chronographia III 13.9-13 Other writers, failing to recognise that imperial actions combine good and bad, neither blame unreservedly nor praise sincerely, deceived by the proximity of opposites; but he recognises blame, except in fabrications ... ἀναμὶξ ἐχόντων τῶν πραγμάτων τοῖς βασιλεῦσι ..., οὔτε ψέγειν καθαρῶς ..., οὔτε εἰλικρινῶς ἐπαινεῖν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐξαπατᾷ ... ἡ τῶν ἐναντίων γειτνίασις· ἐγὼ δὲ ψέγειν μὲν ἀφωσιωσάμην, εἰ μὴ ὅσον ἐν πλάσμασιν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 25.10-15 People deal with misfortunes according to temperament: some are pessimists, others pleasure-lovers who shrug them off and a third group face trouble with resilience: but he has not yet met with the last type in his own generation ... τρίτη μερὶς ψυχῆς βελτίονος, ..., πρὸς τὰ δεινὰ ἕστηκεν ἐκείνη ἀκλόνητος οὐ φυσικοῖς ἐστηριγμένη τοῖς ἕρμασιν, ἀλλὰ στερρότητι λογισμοῦ καὶ κρίσει βελτίονι ... οὔπω δὴ ἐν τῇ κατ᾿ ἐμὲ κατανενόηκα γενεᾷ. Psellos: Chronographia VI 97.3-22 Promises to write more precisely about Zoe 1 in the appropriate place, whereas now he is running through his account of the daughters of Konstantinos 8 περὶ ἧς ἐν τοῖς ἰδίοις λόγοις ἐρῶ ἀκριβέστερον, νῦν γὰρ ἐπιτρέχω τὸν περὶ αὐτῶν λόγον. Psellos: Chronographia II 5.8-9 Proposes to delay discussion of Michael 4 's ailment until the account of his reign τοῦτο μὲν εἰς τὸν περὶ αὐτοῦ λόγον ἀναβεβλήσθω. Psellos: Chronographia III 22.15-16 Psellos answered three questions from Ioannes 62 Psellos Letters (K - D) 101, 129.3-130.7 Psellos asked Anonymus 2320 for assistance to Anonymus 2321 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 195.489 Psellos asked for another blaze of intellectual excitement from Anonymus 2530 Psellos Letters (K - D) 199, 1-15 Psellos sent Konstantinos 13 bread, wine and fruit Τῷ πατριάχρχῃ τῷ Λειχούδῃ. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 68.299-300 Psellos sent Ioannes 62 the first picking of fruit Psellos Letters (K - D) 234, 284.6-285.17 Psellos wrote to Anonymus 2312 , accepting praise for for his letters Psellos Letters (Sathas) 189.480-483 Psellos wrote to Anonymus 2300 that his recall was being impeded by lack of access to the emperor Psellos Letters (K - D) #No Reference# Psellos wrote to Anonymus 2511 about perfection in kinship and friendship Psellos Letters (K - D) 178, 199.23-200.5 Says that Isaakios 1 , being devoted to hunting and often brandishing his spear-bearing right arm against bears and boars, was struck in the side by a cold draught ὁ μὲν γὰρ πολὺς τὴν γλῶτταν Ψελλὸς ἐν θήραις ἐκεῖνον λέγει τὸν βασιλέα σχολάζοντα .... Zonaras 18.7.2 Since he has not undertaken to write an encomium but to compose an accurate history, he will speak without hiding anything: neither Zoe 1 nor Theodora 1 had a mind suited for rule καὶ ἵνα γε μηδὲν περικαλυψάμενος εἴπω, οὐ γὰρ ἐγκωμιάζειν νῦν ἐπιβέβλημαι, ἀλλ’ ἱστορίαν ἀκριβῆ ξυντιθέναι, οὐδεμιᾷ τὸ φρόνημα πρὸς ἀρχὴν αὔταρκες. Psellos: Chronographia VI 5.1-5 Since in this part of the history he has presented himself scrupulously, he will tell nothing false; if anything is not said it will lie hidden, but of what is said, nothing will be in any doubt as regards truth ... ἐμαυτὸν τούτῳ δὴ τῷ μέρει τῆς ἱστορίας ἀκριβῶς ἀνεβίβασα, ἐρῶ οὐδέν τι διαψευδόμενος· ἀλλ᾿ εἴ τι μὲν οὐ λεχθήσεται, ἀποκέκρυπται, τῶν δὲ ῥηθησομένων οὐδέν τι εἴη ἀμφισβητήσιμον πρὸς ἀλήθειαν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 46.18-22 Since no one is unassailable and each is characterised by what is dominant, why should he be ashamed to declare anything that Konstantinos 9 too had not done justly and fittingly? ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐδείς ἐστι τῶν πάντων ἀνάλωτος, ἀλλ᾿ ὁ χαρακτὴρ ἑκάστῳ ἀπὸ τοῦ πλείονος, πῶς ἂν ἐξειπεῖν αἰσχυνθείην εἴ τι μὴ καὶ τούτῳ δικαίως καὶ προσηκόντως εἴργασται;. Psellos: Chronographia VI 26.11-14 So as to examine Leon 62 in all aspects (he notes that) he was quite different in private life, lavish and magnificent, his mind liberal, inaccessible to gifts; he was good company and accommodating to guests ἵνα δὲ ἐν πᾶσι μέρεσιν τοῦτον παραθεωρήσωμεν, ἀλλοιότερος πως ἐν τοῖς καθ᾿ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόκει πράγμασι· .... Psellos: Chronographia VIa 9.3-11 So far his account has run smoothly on a smooth and 'royal' road, as the theologians say; but it hesitates to go on and describe the deed which should not have happened, but to say almost the same thing, absolutely had to happen ... μέχρι τοῦδε εὔδρομος ..., καὶ διὰ λείας φέρων καὶ βασιλικῆς τῆς ὁδοῦ, ταῦτα δὴ τὰ θεολογικὰ ῥήματα· ... πρᾶξιν ἣν οὐκ ἔδει μὲν γενέσθαι, ἵνα δὴ παρὰ βραχὺ τἀυτολογήσας ἐρῶ, ἔδει δὴ γενέσθαι παντάπασιν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 42.1-6 So that we can consider Isaakios 1 too in the light of allegory, he will make him sometimes a charioteer, sometimes reckon him among doctors ἵνα δὴ καὶ τοῦτον τῇ διὰ τῶν ἀλληγοριῶν ἐναργείᾳ κατανοήσωμεν, νῦν μὲν εἰς ἡνίοχον θείημεν, νῦν δὲ τοῖς ἀσκληπιάδαις καταριθμήσωμεν. Psellos: Chronographia VII 57.7-9 That Michael 7 should submit to Eudokia 1 and desist from government, although he was grown up and intelligent and had tested his intelligence in many things, this is not easy to find comparison for or to praise adequately τὸ δὲ τὸν Μιχαὴλ ὑπείκειν αὐτῇ καὶ τῶν ὅλων πραγμάτων παραχωρεῖν, ... τοῦτο οὔτε συγκρίνεσθαι πρὸς ἕτερον τοιοῦτον ῥᾴδιον, οὔτε ἀρκούντῶς τινὰ τῶν πάντων δυνατὸν εὐφημεῖν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 2.4-10 The account of Konstantinos 9 seems in some ways contradictory, changing and turning about as Konstantinos did; but he has compiled it truthfully, not rhetorically, making it like Konstantinos and sympathetic to him as emperor ὁ περὶ αὐτὸν λόγος δοκεῖ πως ἑαυτῷ ἐναντιοῦσθαι, μεταβαλλόμενος ἐκείνῳ καὶ συμπεριτρεπόμενος, σύγκειται δὲ ἀληθῶς, οὐ ῥητορικῶς, πρὸς ἐκεῖνον ἀφομοιούμενος καὶ συμπαθαινόμενος οἷον τῷ βασιλεῖ. Psellos: Chronographia VI 203.7-11 The appointment of Michael 5 was the beginning of great future ills and this apparent foundation became the overturning of the whole family, as the account will later show ἦν δὲ ἄρα τὸ γεγονὸς ἀρχὴ μεγάλων ἐσομένων κακῶν, καὶ ὁ δόξας θεμέλιος περιτροπὴ ξύμπαντος αὐτοῖς ἐγεγόνει τοῦ γένους, δηλώσει δὲ ὁ λόγος μετὰ ταῦτα. Psellos: Chronographia IV 24.1-3 The encomium concludes with bafflement and defeat, with reference to the critics mentioned at the beginning, who indicate that he has failed badly in his struggle to encompass the achievements of Konstantinos 9 Psellos Orationes panegyricae IV, 496-577 The encomium passes on to imperial philanthropy, on the borders (the Pechenegs), in generosity towards plotters (anonymus ex-Scythian, Boilas), in aqueducts and hospitals, and in remembrance of Zoe 1 and respect for Theodora 1 Psellos Orationes panegyricae IV, 170-495 The historian must quickly call back the errant part (digression); while using the other things in a secondary way he should concentrate everything on the subject δεῖ δὲ τὸν ἱστοροῦντα ταχὺ αὖθις ἐπανακαλεῖν τὸ διαδραμὸν μέρος, καὶ τοῖς μὲν ἄλλοις ἐν παρέργοις χρᾶσθαι, πάντα δὲ πρὸς τὴν ὑπόθεσιν συμπεραίνειν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 70.13-16 The many who were with him and Romanos 4 on campaign know that he does not exaggerate in this description (of Romanos 4 's envy of his strategic knowledge) εἰδόσι δὲ λέγω πολλοῖς τοῖς τότε ἡμῖν συστρατεύουσιν, ὡς μὴ τῆς διαθέσεως ταύτης εἶναι ὑπερβολήν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 16.8-9 The orator needs only one good theme for praise and by clever handling can constrain even bad deeds into a source of praise; the historian, like a strictly impartial judge, does not incline to either side ... but simply tells what happened ἀρκεῖ τῷ ῥήτορι καὶ μία ὑπόθεσις σπουδαίαν τὴν πρᾶξιν ἔχουσα ... ὁ δέ γε συντιθεὶς ἱστορίας, ὥσπερ ἀπροσωπόληπτος καὶ ἀδέκαστος δικαστὴς οὐχ ἐτεροκλινής ... ἁπλῶς τε καὶ καθαρῶς τὰ πεπραγμένα διέξεισι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 161.8-16 The plant (of Zoe 1 's and Theodora 1 's family) blossomed and put out so many shoots, each with royal fruit, that it was not possible to compare others with it either in beauty or grandeur: but this is a digression in his narrative οὕτω τὸ φυτευθὲν ἐξηνθήκει καὶ τοσαύταις προὐβάλλετο βλάστας, καὶ ἑκάστην μετὰ τοῦ βασιλείου καρποῦ, ὡς μὴ ἔχειν ἑτέρας ἀντισυγκρῖναι ταύταις, οὔτε πρὸς κάλλος οὔτε πρὸς μέγεθος· ἀλλὰ ... περεμβέβληται . Psellos: Chronographia VI 1.10-13 The question (of astral influence on human affairs) must be opened up in another enquiry, since it has many points of contention on either side ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν ὡς πλείους τὰς ἀντιρρήσεις ἔχον ἐξ ἑκατέρου, ἀνακινείσθω εἰς ἕτερον ἔλεγχον. Psellos: Chronographia V 19.15-17 The return of Romanos 4 became the beginning of trouble and cause of many disasters ὅπερ δὴ ἀρχέκακον ἐγεγόνει καὶ πολλῶν συμφορῶν αἰτιώτατον. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 26.13-14 There is no need to mention the name (of Anonymus 7033 ) οὐδὲν δὲ δεῖ λέγειν τοὔνομα. Psellos: Chronographia VII 77.12 There were distinguished astrologers at this time, who he associated with; they occupied themselves little with movements about the sphere, but with astrological centres and related matters; they made predictions when called upon, some of them accurate ὑπῆρχε δὲ τηνικαῦτα μοῖρα οὐκ ἀγενὴς τῆς περὶ ταῦτα μαθήσεως, ἄνδρες οἷς κἀγὼ συνωμίλησα, ... προὔλεγόν τι τοῖς πυθομένοις περὶ ὧν ἐπηρωτήκεσαν· καί γε τινες αὐτῶν κατευστόχουν τῶν ἀποκρίσεων. Psellos: Chronographia V 19.1-12 This proposition (about Konstantinos 9 's fickle treatment of his friends) will be a beginning and occasion for (an account of) his own transferral to the better life (of a monk) τοῦτο δὲ τοῦ λόγου τὸ πρόβλημα ἀρχή τις γενήσεται καὶ ὑπόθεσις τῆς ἐμῆς ἐπὶ τὸν κρείττονα βίον μεταποιήσεως. Psellos: Chronographia VI 191.1-3 Though philosophers scorn everything excessive here and aim to understand what is necessary to nature as all else belongs outside life, he cannot be ungrateful to one who honoured him extremely (Konstantinos 9 ) and raised him above others εἰ γὰρ τῷ φιλοσόφῳ ἀνδρὶ καταπεφρόνηται πᾶν τὸ ἐνταῦθα περιττὸν καὶ περίεργον ..., ἐμοὶ οὐ διὰ ταῦτα ἀγνωμονητέον τῷ ὑπερβαλλόντως τετιμηκότι καὶ ὑπὲρ τοὺς ἄλλους ὑψώσαντι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 24.1-6 Through time the collection of historical material is already deficient for an account, so that there is a risk that events will be obscured by long time and in this respect the past would have no foundation τῷ χρόνῳ ἤδη τὸν λόγον ἡ τῆς ἱστορίας συναγωγὴ ἐπιλέλοιπεν, ὡς κινδυνεύειν τε μακρῷ τῷ χρόνῳ καλυφθῆναι τὰ πράγματα, καὶ ὅσον ἐπὶ τούτῳ τῷ μέρει τοὺς ἄνω χρόνους μὴ ἐσχηκέναι ὑπόστασιν . Psellos: Chronographia VI 22.5-8 To avoid being accused of departing from the truth: Ioannes 18 and Ioannes 289 were devotees of philosophy, while he was occupied with the highest philosophy καί, εἰ μή μέ τις αἰτιώσαιτο μηδὲν τῆς ἀληθείας ἐφιέμενον, ἐκείνω μὲν ἐραστὰ τῆς φιλοσοφίας ἐτύγχανον ὄντε, ἐγὼ δὲ ἐφιλοσόφουν τὰ τελεώτερα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 192.6-9 To boast a little about his own natural adaptability, he was all things to Konstantinos 9 , living as a philosopher as far as possible, but accommodating himself skilfully to Konstantinos καὶ εἰ δεῖ τι μικρὸν τῇ τῆς φύσεως ἐπιτηδειότητι ἐγκαυχήσασθαι, παντοδαπὸς ἐγεγόνειν ἐκείνῳ. φιλοσόφως μὲν ὡς οἷόν τε βιούς, τεχνικῶς δὲ πρὸς ἐκεῖνον μεθαρμοζόμενος. Psellos: Chronographia VI 197(2).1-4 To describe in detail every deed or word and, as it were, to deal in trivia is not the role of the historian, but of the critic if the details are small or of the eulogist if they provide grounds for praise τὸ γὰρ ἐφ᾿ ἑκάστῳ τῶν πραττομένων ἢ λεγομένων σμικρολογεῖσθαι καὶ οἷον λεπτολογεῖν, οὐχ ἱστορούντων ἐστὶν ἀλλ᾿ ἢ καταιτιωμένων εἰ φαῦλα τὰ σμικρολογούμενα εἴη, ἢ ἐγωμιαζόντων εἰ τόπους ἐγκωμίων ἐπέχοιεν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 70.5-9 To prevent his account seeming confused, he will first tell how the state got out of hand, then how Isaakios 1 tried to prune it but, third, did not always succeed; then he will tell how Isaakios 1 demitted rule and end his history ἵνα δὲ μὴ συγκεχυμένος ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος φανείη, ἐρῶμεν πρότερον ὅπως ἡμῖν τὸ τῆς πολιτείας ἐπερίττευσε σῶμα, ... ἐφ᾿ οἷς ἐπενεγκὼν ὅπως ἀποβεβήκει τῆς βασιλείας ὅρον τῇ ξυγγραφῇ θήσομαι. Psellos: Chronographia VII 51.22-7 Took his material from others in speaking about Basileios 2 and Konstantinos 8 , but sketched Romanos 3 himself, not through having learned from another περὶ ἐκείνων μὲν ἐξ ἑτέρων τὰς ἀφορμὰς εἰληφὼς εἴρηκα, τοῦτον δὲ αὐτὸς ὑπογράφω, οὐ παρ’ ἑτέρῳ μεμαθηκώς. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.17-19 Unless they stand over us like gods, (some emperors) would be unwilling to rule; he himself has seen some who would gladly die rather than have certain people as allies or hold power because of them εἰ μὴ ὡς θεοὶ ἡμῖν έφεστήκοιεν, οὐκ ἂν ἄλλως ἄρχειν ἐθέλωσιν· ἐνίους δὲ αὐτὸς καθεώρακα ὡς ἐθέλουσιν ἥδιστ᾿ ἂν ἀποθανεῖν, μὴ συμμαχούντων ἐνίων αὐτοῖς, ἢ δι᾿ ἐκείνους κρατύνεσθαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 74.20-3 Using a characterisation rather than an encomium, he pictured Leon 62 as a heroic and inflexible ideal Λόγος χαρακτηρίζων τὴν τοῦ πρωτοσυγκέλλου ἀρετήν. Psellos Orationes panegyricae XV, 1-141 Were he to write history instead of panegyric, how would he omit historical points but treat the panegyrical, as if forgetting his brief, discarding his art, not distinguishing subjects, but uniting to one end things with different aims? ... πῶς ἃ τῶν ἱστοριῶν ἐστιν ὑπερβαίνων, ἃ τῶν ἐγκωμίων ἐστὶν ἐργάσωμαι, ὥσπερ ἐπιλαθόμενος τῆς ἐπιχειρήσεως, ἢ διαγράφων τὴν τέχνην, ..., ἀλλ᾿ εἰς ταὐτὸ τέλος συνελαύνων, ὧν διάφοροι οἱ σκοποί. Psellos: Chronographia VI 25.1-6 What follows will be told with more truth and greater understanding εἰρήσεται δὲ ἐν τοῖς ἐξῆς ἀληθέστερόν τε καὶ συνετώτερον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 10.1-2 When Romanos 3 was dead and Michael 4 held the sceptre, after waiting a short time Michael grew forgetful of her, as his account made clear τῆς τε βασιλίδος, ὡς ὁ λόγος ἐγνώρισε, βραχύν τινα χρόνον ἀναμείνας ἐπιλέληστο. Psellos: Chronographia V 35.5-8 When power inclined towards Zoe 1 , first of all (as he has already said) she took precautions in the pressing circumstances by courting strength for herself not from afar but close at hand ... πρῶτα μὲν ἥδ᾿ ὥς μοι προείρηται, τὴν τοῦ καιροῦ εὐλαβουμένη ὀξύτητα οὐ πόρρωθεν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐγγύθεν τὴν ἰσχὺν ἑαυτῇ ἐμνηστεύετο. Psellos: Chronographia VI 18.1-4 While not finding much else to praise in Zoe 1 , ... he continued to admire one thing, that in her love of God she surpassed all women and all males ... οὐ λίαν ἐπαινεῖν ἔχων, ἕν τοῦτο θαυμάζων διατελῶ, ὅτι δὴ φιλοθεΐᾳ πάσας μὲν γυναῖκας, πᾶσαν δὲ φύσιν ὑπερεβάλλετο ἄρρενα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 65.1-5 While wishing to speak about Michael 6 , he will give a short preliminary account περὶ οὗ ἐρεῖν βουλόμενος, βραχύ τι προσκαταστήσω τὸν λόγον. Psellos: Chronographia VIa 21.5-7 Why not tell the truth (that he himself served under Konstantinos 9 )? ... Naturally he will overstep the limit of his narrative for the other emperors τί γὰρ δεῖ μὴ τἀληθῆ λέγειν ... τὸ μέτρον εἰκότως τῶν εἰς τοὺς ἄλλους βασιλέας λόγων ὑπερβήσομαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 14.8, 12-13 Why should he not speak the truth (about his conversations with Konstantinos 9 )? τί γὰρ δεῖ μὴ τἀληθὲς λέγειν;. Psellos: Chronographia VI 197.15 Words are inadequate to describe the events that followed and the mind does not take in the measure of Providence: he speaks judging others' views by his own τὰ δὲ ἐντεῦθεν καὶ ὁ λόγος ἐλάττων πρὸς τὴν τῶν πεπραγμένων διήγησιν, ὅ τε νοῦς οὐ χωρεῖ τῆς Προνοίας τὸ μέτρον· λέγω δὲ τοῖς ἐμοῖς καὶ τὰ τῶν ἄλλων κρίνων. Psellos: Chronographia V 24.1-4 Wrote a work in which he boasts of his role in the renunciation by the court of the emperor (Romanos 4 , after his capture at Mantzikert) καθὼς καὶ αὐτὸς ἔν τινι τῶν ἰδίων συγγραμμάτων μεγαλαυχεῖ. Skylitzes Continuatus 152.23-24 Death (1) Description (44) Even before the fruit was ripe the flower prophesied the future for him ἐμοὶ δὲ καὶ πρὸ τοῦ τελείου καρποῦ ἡ ἄνθη τὸ μέλλον προεμαντεύετο. Psellos: Chronographia VI 44.1-2 He knew that Ioannes 63 had a very fine character ὁ δὲ κάλλιστος ὢν τὸ ἦθος ὧν ἐγὼ οἶδα. Psellos: Chronographia VII 71.7-8 Konstantinos 10 was so attached to him and loved him so much more than others, that he hung upon his tongue and soul and entrusted to him his most precious possessions οὕτω προσέκειτο καὶ οὕτω διαφερόντως τῶν ἄλλων ὑπερηγάπα, ὡς ἐξηρτῆσθαί μου καὶ τῆς γλώττης καὶ τῆς ψυχῆς, καὶ αὐτῷ δή μοι πιστεύειν τὰ τιμιώτατα. Psellos: Chronographia VII 86.8-11 None of the emperors in his lifetime praised and admired him more than Isaakios 1 οὐδεὶς γάρ με τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς ἐμῆς ἡλικίας αὐτοκρατόρων πλέον ἐκείνου ἐπῄνεσεν ἢ ἐθαύμασε. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 8.13-15 An advisor to Romanos 4 τοῖς τε συμβούλοις. Skylitzes Continuatus 141.14 Although he had not seen him before coming to power, when he had once seen him Konstantinos 9 was so captivated by his eloquence that he seemed to hang by the ears from his tongue ὅς γε οὔπω με πρὸ τοῦ κράτους ἑωρακὼς, ἐπειδὴ ἅπαξ εἶδεν, οὕτω μου ἑαλώκει τῶν λόγων ὡς δοκεῖν ἐκ τῶν ὤτων τῆς ἐμῆς γλώττης ἐκκρέμασθαι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 161.26-8 He was told that even in simple utterances his tongue was adorned with flowers and without his making an effort natural sweetness dripped from it; he would not know it had not many told him in conversation and listened rapt to his words ἐπιμαρτύρεται γοῦν ἐμοὶ ὅτι μοι ἡ γλῶττα κἀν ταῖς ἁπλαῖς διήνθισται προφοραῖς, καὶ οὐδὲν ἐπιτηδευομένῳ φυσικαί τινες ἐκεῖθεν ἡδύτητες ἀποστάζουσιν· ... δικέχυντο εἴ τινες τῶν ἐμῶν λόγων ἀκούσειαν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 45.1-3 Was under-secretary to Michael 5 ὑπογραμματεύων τῷ βασιλεῖ. Psellos: Chronographia V 27.7 Eudokia 1 reverenced him above all others and treated him like a god καί με ὑπὲρ πάντας ἐθείαζέ τε καὶ ἐξεθείαζεν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 4.14-15 A man of unrivaled eloquence (he was already dead when Theophylaktos 105 wrote about his grandson Anonymus 234 ) τῷ τρισμακαρίτῃ ὑπερτίμῳ τῷ Ψελλῷ καὶ ἀπαραμίλλῳ τὴν γλῶτταν. Theophylaktos of Ohrid, Letters 219.4-5 Of mighty tongue ὁ μὲν γὰρ πολὺς τὴν γλῶτταν Ψελλός. Zonaras 18.7.2 Long since under-secretary to the emperor (Michael 5 ) and recently initiated into the service of introductions πόρρωθεν ὑπογραμματεύων τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ ἄρτι μεμυημένος τὰ προεισόδια. Psellos: Chronographia V 27.7-8 Friend of Anonymus 7009 and his associate in the planning and execution of the decisions φίλος τε ὢν ἐκείνῳ, καὶ εἰς βουλὴν ἅμα καὶ πρᾶξιν τῶν ἐγνωσμένων παραληφθείς. Psellos: Chronographia V 39.3-5 Lover of his city and of the Romans (in the opinion of Konstantinos 9 ) ἐπεὶ με ᾔδει φιλόπολιν τε ὄντα καὶ φιλορώμαιον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 190.6-7 Ioannes 18 and Ioannes 289 were older, and he much younger than they ἐκείνω μὲν ἤστην πρεσβυτέρω, ἐγὼ δὲ παρὰ πολὺ ἐκείνων νεώτερος. Psellos: Chronographia VI 192.5-6 Just as he was senior in learning, so too his spiritual progress was comparably advanced and he was senior to Ioannes 18 and Ioannes 104 in the palace ἐμοὶ δὲ ἄρα ὥσπερ ὁ λόγος ἐγεγόνει πρεσβύτερος, καὶ τὰ τῆς ψυχῆς, ἵν᾿ οὕτως εἴποιμι, κατὰ τὸ ὅμοιον προὔλαβε, καὶ πρώτως ἐκείνων ἐφεστήκειν τοῖς ἀνακτόροις. Psellos: Chronographia VI 192.12-15 It was in his character not to be a coward once engaged in a contest ὁποῖος τὸ ἦθος μὴ ἀποδειλιῶν ἅπαξ τοῖς ἀγῶσιν ἐγκαταστὰς. Psellos: Chronographia VII 28.2-3 Konstantinos 10 thought less of others than of him, perhaps because Konstantinos 10 thought his opinions more intelligent than the rest or found his character pleasing τῶν μὲν ἄλλων ἦττον ἐφρόντιζεν, ἐμοὶ δὲ, εἴτε τι καθεωρακὼς ἐν ταῖς γνώμαις τῶν γε λοιπῶν πλέον, εἰς σύνεσιν, εἴτε τῷ ἤθει μου ἀρεσκόμενος. Psellos: Chronographia VII 86.5-8 He was a prominent orator, renowned for his eloquence rather than his family; Konstantinos 10 also loved rhetoric passionately and this was the starting-point of their friendship and intimacy ἤνθουν μὲν τηνικαῦτα ἐπὶ τοὺς λόγους ἐγώ, καί με ἡ γλῶττα μᾶλλον ἢ τὸ γένος ἐκήρυττε, λόγων δὲ ἐραστὴς ἐκεῖνος ..., τοῦτο οὖν μοι πρῶτον ἀφορμὴ φιλίας πρὸς ἐκεῖνον ἐγεγόνει καὶ οἰκειότητος. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 7.3-7 He found his father Anonymus 2134 a good companion and useful role-model, while he was always too far behind his mother Theodote 2101 in goodness to think of imitating her; his father's relation to his mother seemed similar Psellos Mother 19-20 A man distinguished for his knowledge ἄνδρα τῶν καθ᾿ ἡμᾶς διαφέροντα γνώσει. Attaleiates: History 21.20 / 17.21-22 With his reputation for philosophy (justified or not), he had to be careful of gossip about his actions καί με ἀξιοῦσιν οἱ πλείους μηδὲ τῆς γῆς ἅπτεσθαι τοῖν ποδοῖν. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 1.219 In the palace, though honoured, he felt like a plain stone among gems and a very black element among the very white (surely he was already a monk?) Psellos Letters (Sathas) 37.270-271 He was rather masculine in his studies but feminine and emotional over things like childbirth - though he kissed his grandson while still bloody like a warrior Psellos Letters (Sathas) 72.307-308 Born near the monastery of ta Narsou and brought up there, he tried to repay his debt; the monks were wrong to call him its founder, but he did support them in a significant way (as charistikarios?) γεγέννημαι γὰρ περὶ αὐτὴν καὶ ἀνατέθραμμαι ἐν αὐτῇ [...] οἰκήτορα [...] κτήτορα [...] κοσμήτορα. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 135.378-379 He was susceptible to natural events like childbirth, though being tough, "Scythian", in the rest of his life ... he was not a single, monotonous note, but could play a variety of different tunes θάτερον δὲ μέρος Σκυθικόν ... παντοδαπὸν ἔχω τὸ μέλος. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 157.409, 411 On his first visits to Philadelpheia (in the decade of the 1030s) his hair had been blondish, but by 1069 (?) on his third visit, it was silverish: yet the inhabitants recognised him ὑποξάνθου ... ὑπαργυρίζουσα. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 180.459-460 He claimed to have a high reputation everywhere and students from all over the world Κελτοὺς ... ῎Αραβας ... Νεῖλος ... Περσῶν ... Αἰθιόπων ... Βαβυλῶνος. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 207.508 He was a good judge of faces, able to spot worthless men pretending to be virtuous ἔστι γάρ μοι τέχνη περὶ τοὺς χαρακτῆρας τοῦ σώματος. Psellos Letters (K - D) 10, 12.4-5 He was naturally disposed towards charity for the unfortunate πρὸς ἔλεον τῶν δυστυχούντων. Psellos Letters (K - D) 70, 103.19-21 Konstantinos 8 died when he had completed his first lessons ... τετελεύτηκεν, ὁ δέ γε Κωνστατνῖνος ἄρτι τὰ πρῶτα τελουμένῳ μαθήματα. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.12-13 He was a contemporary of Anonymus 2127 γέγονέ τις ἐν τῇ κατ᾿ ἐμὲ ἡλικία. Psellos: Chronographia VI 135.1 (After defeating the Pechenegs) something was added to Isaakios 1 's natural character and he became more haughty and scornful of everyone; he knew Isaakios well and was aware of this ἐντεῦθεν, ὁπόσα ἐγὼ οἶδα ἀκριβέστερον τὴν ἐκείνου καταμανθάνων ψυχήν, προσέθετο τῷ ἐμφύτῳ ἤθει, καὶ σοβαρώτερος ἐγεγόνει, καταπεφρονήκει γοῦν ἁπάντων. Psellos: Chronographia VII 71.1-3 An envoy of the emperor (Michael 6 ) to Komnenos (Isaakios 1 ), he was considered to be the most distinguished man of his time in wisdom and eloquence πρεσβευταὶ βασιλέως...ἐπὶ σοφίᾳ καὶ λόγου δυνάμει τῶν κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην ἀνθρώπων διαφέρειν δοκοῦντες, καὶ ἀσυγκρίτως ὁ Ψελλός. Skylitzes 496.81-86 "Philosopher" (so addressed by Isaakios 1 ) ὦ φιλόσοφε. Psellos: Chronographia VII 41.5 Michael 7 's mental disposition, innate spirit, radiance on seeing him, ..., his elevation (of him) not only over wise men he had seen, but also over those he had heard of, in all this Michael 7 could not be compared with another τὸ δὲ ἐνδιάθετον τῆς γνώμης, τὸ δὲ ἔμφυτον τῆς ψυχῆς, τὸ δὲ διαχεῖσθαί μοι εὐθὺς θεασάμενον ..., και τὸ ὑπεραίρειν οὐχ ὅσων ὁρῷη σοφῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅσων ἀκούοι, ταῦτα οὐκ ἄν τις παραμετρεῖν ... δύναιτο. Psellos: Chronographia VIIc 8.9-14 He had gone with Anonymus 7009 after Michael 5 with feelings by no means moderate, since he was was not without pain concerning Zoe 1 and no small anger against Michael 5 stirred even him τέως δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς οὐ πάνυ τι συνεληλύθειν ἐπιεικῶς, οὐ γὰρ ἦν ἐπὶ τῇ βασιλίδι ἀνάλγητος, ἀλλὰ κἀμὲ βραχύς τις ἐπ’ ἐκεῖνον ὑπεκίνει θυμός. Psellos: Chronographia V 40.1-3 He was in the habit of advising emperors on the most suitable action ὅπερ δὴ ποιεῖν εἴωθα τὰ συνοίσοντα τοῖς βασιλεύουσι παραινεῖν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 12.1-2 Hypertimos, he was leader of the senators who shared the views of Ioannes 62 and Anonymi 6049 , being himself also unfavourably disposed to (Romanos 4 ) Diogenes ὧν ἐξῆρχεν ὁ ὑπέρτιμος Ψελλός, δύσνους καὶ αὐτὸς τῷ Διογενει τυγχάνων. Zonaras 18.15.3 Ambassador οἱ πρεσβευταί. Zonaras 18.3.15 Romanos 4 agreed that he was inferior in all respects to Michael 61 in words, that is in those that concerned the sciences, but Romanos wished to be superior in the understanding of strategy Λόγων μὲν οὖν ἡττᾶσθαι τῶν ἐμῶν ἐπὶ πᾶσι διωμολόγει, λέγω δὲ τῶν περὶ τὰς ἐπιστήμας, ἐβούλετο δέ μου τὸ πλέον ἔχειν τῆς στραηγικῆς συνέσεως. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 16.1-3 As if hit by a whirlwind he stood dumb and open-mouthed, transformed by the strangeness of the thing (on seeing Michael 5 at the altar) ὥσπερ δὲ τυφῶνι βληθεὶς αὖος εἱστηκειν καὶ ἀχανής, πρὸς τὴν καινοτομίαν μεταβεβλημένος τοῦ πράγματος. Psellos: Chronographia V 40.9-11 All-wise πανσόφῳ. Psellos: Chronographia Introduction The emperor Basileios 2 died when he was still an infant ὁ μὲν γὰρ βασιλεὺς Βασίλειος ἐπὶ νηπίῳ μοι τετελεύτηκεν. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.11-12 Dignity/Office (36) Education (37) Second Name (7) Kinship (33) Location (50) Occupation/Vocation (3) Possession (9) Alternative Name (4) Uncertain Ident (1)