Letter 35: You do well to write to me now, and if you had written earlier, you would have done well then too.

To Urbanus. (358/59) In writing now you do well, and if you had written earlier, then too you would have done well. For if I have long loved you, and you were not unaware of this, what reason was there to hesitate when you were about to do a favor for a friend? But if there is no pardon for you when you keep silent, then surely there is every necessity for you to speak. Write, therefore, with confidence, and share the labors with the excellent Modestus in the fellowship of sweat, considering the fellowship of the praises that will follow.

**To Urbanus** (358/59) You do well to write to me now, and had you written sooner, you would have done well then too. For if I have long held you in friendship, and you were not unaware of this, what reason was there to hesitate when you were sure to gratify a friend? And if there is no pardon for your silence, then surely there is every necessity for your words. Write, then, with confidence, and share the labors with the excellent Modestus, keeping in mind that a partnership in toils means a partnership in praise.

οὐρβανῷ. (358/59) Νῦν τε ἐπιστέλλων καλῶς ποιεῖς καὶ εἰ πρότερον ἐπἐ- στελλες, καὶ τότε ἂν καλῶς ἐποίεις. εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ μέν σε πάλαι φιλῶ, σὺ δὲ τοῦτο οὐκ ἠγνόεις, τίνα εἶχε λόγον ὀκνεῖν μἐλ- λοντά γε χαριεῖσθαι φίλῳ; σοὶ δ’ εἰ σιγῶντι μηδεμία συγγνώ μη, πάντως δήπου πᾶσα ἀνάγκη λόγου. θαρρῶν τε οὖν γράφε καὶ συνδιάφερε τῷ καλῷ Μοδέστῳ τοὺς πόνους ἐν τῇ τῶν ἱδρώτων κοινωνίᾳ τὴν τῶν ἐπαίνων ἐννοῶν κοινωνίαν.