12 surviving letters between Lucius Papirius Paetus and Marcus Tullius Cicero, spanning 45 BC.
“I shall reply to two of your letters: one, which I had received four days earlier from Zethus, and the other, which the courier Phileros had brought.”
“Your letter delighted me.”
“You are a funny fellow, asking me what I think will happen to those municipalities and estates when our friend Balbus ha…”
“While I was at leisure at my Tusculan estate, because I had sent my pupils ahead to meet me, so that they might reconcil…”
“Still, you have not abandoned your malice: you hint that Balbus was content with a rather modest spread.”
“Your letter gave me double pleasure: I laughed myself, and I understood that you are now able to laugh.”
“Really?”
“I love your modesty -- or rather, your freedom of speech.”
“Yesterday I came to Cumae; tomorrow I shall come to you, perhaps, but when I know for certain, I shall give you a little advance notice.”
“Your friend Rufus, about whom you have now written to me twice, would have had all the help I could give even if he had …”
“Your letter has made me a supreme commander.”
“I had reclined at the ninth hour when I scrawled this copy on my tablets for you.”