Brothers of Symmachus & Quintus Aurelius Symmachus

Take this opening salvo of fatherly words with good cheer, and be generous in returning the favor going forward.

The moment a familiar opportunity to write presented itself, I didn't hesitate to put my longing for you on paper.

I'm sending you a second letter so that my steady stream of words can be a comfort to us both.

The consular magnificence did full justice to the circus games.

I expect another letter of mine will reach you first, since the carriers of this one are following a slow pack-mule...

Our trip abroad has been extended by a few extra days, since the rains have postponed the games.

I trust that a steady flow of letters from me is enough to comfort your heart.

I'm delighted that your letters sparkle with sharp observations and clever turns of phrase.

Our friend Annius was passing through so quickly that all I could manage was a bare word of greeting.

My spirits lift every time a letter from you arrives.

The news of your illness alarmed me terribly, even though the same letter reassured me that your health had been...

Conflicting rumors slowed my journey.

Since no official courier was available, I entrusted this letter to a private traveler.

You've redeemed two offenses against friendship in a single letter, with wit as your payment: you'd been away too...

Country leisure is certainly a pleasure, but I put your company first.

You tempt me with talk of the Campanian coast, but here at our Praenestine estate [near modern Palestrina, in the...

The most august senate has appointed my lord and son Attalus as envoy to our lords and emperors, chosen from among...

Don't judge my care for you by the length of this letter.

You'll never lead me, by your silence, to follow your example.

...your delight prompted a letter written in high spirits.

This letter survives only in fragmentary form, with the manuscript text too damaged to reconstruct reliably.

Our son Symmachus, having completed his games as a candidate for office, presents to you the customary quaestorian...