Letter 3011: Though my longing to see you has been attended by such ill fortune that you are still denied to my sight, you are...

To Simplicius. Though my longing to see you has been attended by such ill fortune that you are still denied to my sight, you are not, best of men, someone whose high merits can remain hidden from us. For all our leading citizens — the most distinguished men of the region — celebrate you with unanimous praise as a father of the highest and most exacting standards. This judgment is confirmed by the son-in-law you chose and the daughter you raised: a match in which your competing virtues have produced the happiest of controversies, leaving it unclear whether your judgment in choosing or your skill in educating has been the more remarkable. But on this score, both venerable parents, take comfort: the very reason you surpass all others is that your children have surpassed you. So forgive this first letter — whose failure to arrive earlier was laziness, though I am afraid that sending it now may be talkativeness. My letter will certainly be free from the taint of loquacity if you absolve the boldness of the present page with the example of a reply. Farewell.

EPISTULA XI Sidonius Simplicio suo salutem. 1. Etsi desiderium nostrum sinisteritas tanta comitatur, ut etiam nunc nostris invidearis obtutibus, non idcirco is es, virorum optime, de cuius nos moribus lateant celsa memoratu. ita cuncti nostrates idemque summates viri optimarum te exactissimarumque partium praestantissimum patremfamilias consono praeconio prosequuntur. 2. astipulatur huic de te sententiae bonorum vel sic electus gener vel educta sic filia; in quorum copula tam felicem tibi controversiam vota pepererunt, ut ambigas utrum iudicio an institutione superaveris. sed tamen hinc vel maxume, parentes ambo venerabiles, este securi: idcirco ceteros vincitis, quod vos filii transierunt. igitur dona venia litteras primas, quas ut necdum mittere desidia fuerat, ita vereor ne sit misisse garrulitas. carebit sane nostrum naevo loquacitatis officium, si exemplo recursantis alloquii impudentiam paginae praesentis absolveris. vale.