On the Ceremonies of the Byzantine Court

and eastern regions, it shines brighter than almost all others situated throughout the northern territories. Now, since this is the case, foreigners as well as citizens enjoy the freest access to its treasures. Nevertheless, your own people actively excavate what the fortune and wisdom of their ancestors brought into the libraries, and they bring them forth to public light and utility. Hence, O. D. Bloch has earned himself outstanding praise in Germany and among all fair and expert judges of good learning everywhere. By publishing the books of Herodian and Galen, he is counted among those who, having brought the books of the ancients back to life through the unique good fortune of our century, have become common benefactors of philologists. He is no less distinguished for the sharpness of his intellect and the excellence of his learning while correcting the corrupted readings of a unique codex. Therefore, as soon as I had undertaken the thought of publishing the Reiskian works, I approached him through correspondence. I did so all the more because, due to my absence of so many years, I was little aware of the changes that had occurred in the meantime, and I had somehow persuaded myself that the most distinguished man had been assigned to the Royal Library. He responded kindly and