To Crescens.
It must seem a great wonder to you that Letoius carries letters from me to everyone else but not to you alone. The fault lies with my slave, not with me.
I had prepared a letter to you along with the others. On my way to see Letoius, I ordered the servant to bring the letters. But in the rush of business at the moment of departure, my boy handed them to Letoius's man -- and I assumed everything had been included. Then I saw your letter lying there. I shouted and punished the servant.
Fortune immediately consoled me by providing a second envoy -- just as good as the first, and a friend to us both. I could barely say everything there was to say, but you will be able to brief others on his behalf yourself, so there is no need for me to go on at length.
It must seem a great wonder to you that Letoius carries letters from me to everyone else but not to you alone. The fault lies with my slave, not with me.
I had prepared a letter to you along with the others. On my way to see Letoius, I ordered the servant to bring the letters. But in the rush of business at the moment of departure, my boy handed them to Letoius's man -- and I assumed everything had been included. Then I saw your letter lying there. I shouted and punished the servant.
Fortune immediately consoled me by providing a second envoy -- just as good as the first, and a friend to us both. I could barely say everything there was to say, but you will be able to brief others on his behalf yourself, so there is no need for me to go on at length.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.