Letter 2011: If the distances between us were shorter and our regions closer together, I would not allow the infrequency of our...

To Rusticus. If the distances between us were shorter and our regions closer together, I would not allow the infrequency of our letters to encroach upon the duties of our established friendship. I would build ceaselessly upon the foundation of our competing affection with every kind of honorable service. But our homes are separated by vast stretches of territory — a fact that, I grant, would do little harm to hearts already bound together. Still, from this very separation of our respective cities comes the result that, close friends though we are, we try to blame each other for the infrequency of our conversation — attributing to mutual negligence what is really the difficulty of distance, a difficulty that deserves neither blame nor pardon. My distinguished friend, I have received the bearers of your letter — men shaped by the training of your household and bearing the mark of their master's good manners. I received them promptly, heard them patiently, and dispatched their business appropriately. Farewell.

EPISTULA XI Sidonius Rustico suo salutem. 1. Si nobis pro situ spatiisque regionum vicinaremur nec a se praesentia mutua vasti itineris longinquitate discriminaretur, nihil apicum raritati licere in coeptae familiaritatis officia permitterem neque iam semel missa fundamenta certantis amicitiae diversis honorum generibus extruere cessarem. sed animorum coniunctioni separata utrimque porrectioribus terminis obsistit habitatio, equidem semel devinctis parum nocitura pectoribus. 2. sed tamen ex ipsa communium municipiorum discretione procedit, quod, cum amicissimi simus, raritatem colloquii de prolixa terrarum interiectione venientem in reatum volumus transferre communem, cum de naturalium rerum difficultate nec culpa nos debeat manere nec venia. domine inlustris, gerulos litterarum de disciplinae tuae institutione formatos et morum erilium verecundiam praeferentes opportune admisi, patienter audivi, competenter explicui. vale.