Letter 9024: All would be well with my spirit if you would at least condescend to write.

It was well with my soul, if only a frequent occasion of bearers were furnished for writing, because as a remedy for desire ancient providence devised the gift of letters, in which, with a fashioned address in place of presence, it soothes those who burn: and although the mind of the absent sickens from these very remedies and care is doubled from the medicine of solicitude, nevertheless what alone remains must not be abandoned. Therefore, with the young man Valentinus heading for Rome, I snatched what I could in haste from the things that needed to be said, briefly signifying that the health of my body had been disturbed. It is enough, however, if by the report of your prosperity, as my soul becomes joyful, I may recover. My lord, paying the duties of greeting as your reverence requires, I ask that you now relieve me with a letter about the fulfillment of our hopes and your good fortunes.

XXIIII. ENNODIVS AVIENO. Bene erat animo meo, si uel ad scriptionem frequens portitorum suggereretur occasio, quia in remedio desiderii senior prouidentia munus litterarum comparauit, m quo ad uicem praesentiae formato aestuantibus blanditur alloquio: et licet de ipsis remediis mens aegrescat absentium et de medicina sollicitudinis cura geminetur, attamen non sunt deserenda quae sola sunt. ergo infante Valentino Romam petente, quantum sub celeritate potui, de his quae erant loquenda subripui, breuiter significans ualitudinem corporis mei fuisse turbatam. satis est tamen, si nuntio prosperitatis uestrae, dum fit hilaris anima, conualescam. domine mi, salutationis muniis, sicut reuerentia uestra postulat, exsolutis rogo, ut iam me de uotorum effectu et de bonis uestris epistularis subleuetis promulgatione conloquii 8 uiuo] nostro fort . illw B 4 circulos B, curricnlos LP TVb 5 wntiget B lisertate gustate B\' 7 indigna B, genam L 8 possidentibus scripsi, possidensi dentibus B, possidens nidentibus LPTVb 10 exhibuistis B 11 ezspecto LV XXIIII. 14 uel/// T 18 aegriscat B 19 germinetnr L, geminentur Sirm. adtamen B 28 n ̃ tio L fii B . hilaree B 24 animQ L1 conualiscam B m T, mihi BLV