To Modestus. (358/359)
I delight in this kind of slander. And if, after receiving still more letters, you again claim to have received none, I will delight in it even more. For your dishonesty is the dishonesty of a lover who denies having received what he has, out of sheer desire to receive more.
Just as, if you had received a single letter and then praised the abundance of my correspondence, you would have made it obvious that you had no need of letters at all -- so now, having received many and protesting that nothing has arrived, you reveal that no quantity could quench this thirst. I can prove that my swallows [letters] outnumber yours, unless you mean to argue that a man who sends three while conducting great affairs has beaten the five sent by someone whose only occupation is writing.
I have always hated the Persian [Shapur II, who was threatening the eastern frontier], since he tries to cause harm and then, when he suffers for it, only craves more trouble. But now I hate him even more, since he surrounds you with toil and robs me of the most delightful company I could have.
Still, even in your absence, the hopes you give us bring cheer, as you frighten the enemy with your preparations alone. I will see you eventually -- later than I wish, perhaps, but in greater glory for all this campaigning.
**To Modestus** (358/359)
I delight in this kind of slander, and if you say once again that you have received nothing despite holding still more letters in your hands, I shall delight all the more. For the lie is that of a man in love, who denies having received what he has received out of sheer desire to receive more.
Just as, then, if you had received a single letter and praised the abundance of my correspondence, you would have made it plain that you had no need of letters at all — so now, when many have arrived and you cry out as though none had come, you reveal that no quantity could ever quench this thirst of yours. For I can indeed say that my swallows outnumber yours — unless you mean to argue that a man who has sent three letters while conducting affairs of state has bested the five of one whose life consists of nothing but writing.
As for me, I hated the Persian even before — because he sets out to do harm and then, suffering harm himself, still craves more of it. But now I hate him all the more, considering him my enemy: he heaps labors upon you and robs us of the sweetest companionship over so long a time.
Yet even in your absence, you gladden us with the hopes you give, terrifying the enemy with your preparations alone. And I shall see you — later than I would wish, perhaps, but all the more gloriously — reaping a harvest of praise as the reward for all these many campaigns. Then, yes then, you will remember the present troubles with pleasure.
I delight in this kind of slander. And if, after receiving still more letters, you again claim to have received none, I will delight in it even more. For your dishonesty is the dishonesty of a lover who denies having received what he has, out of sheer desire to receive more.
Just as, if you had received a single letter and then praised the abundance of my correspondence, you would have made it obvious that you had no need of letters at all -- so now, having received many and protesting that nothing has arrived, you reveal that no quantity could quench this thirst. I can prove that my swallows [letters] outnumber yours, unless you mean to argue that a man who sends three while conducting great affairs has beaten the five sent by someone whose only occupation is writing.
I have always hated the Persian [Shapur II, who was threatening the eastern frontier], since he tries to cause harm and then, when he suffers for it, only craves more trouble. But now I hate him even more, since he surrounds you with toil and robs me of the most delightful company I could have.
Still, even in your absence, the hopes you give us bring cheer, as you frighten the enemy with your preparations alone. I will see you eventually -- later than I wish, perhaps, but in greater glory for all this campaigning.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.