ABSTRACT
It is well known that friendship is an important topic in Theodore Laskaris’ writings. Interestingly, in his writings both aspects of friendship, the utilitarian and the emotional, are strongly present. It is the modest aim of this chapter to shed some light on a rather mysterious text by Theodore Laskaris under the title ‘To a secretive person deceiving him (that is, the author)’, in which friendship plays a prominent role and is discussed in an extravagant manner typical of Theodore’s literary taste. The rose of friendship grows its petals and opens them occasionally, collecting friendly thoughts. On another occasion, it makes its treasures available and produces words of friendship for the company of those who possess them in the equilibrium of friendship, and she (the rose of friendship) is eternally doing this. But the beetle of ‘envy’ stealthily lurks near her and constantly pollutes her roots, heaping on her the dung of deceit.
