Letter 4004: Here at last — fulfilling my promise and your expectation — comes Faustinus: a nobleman of his household, to be...

Sidonius to his sons Simplicius and Apollinaris. Here at last — fulfilling my promise and your expectation — comes Faustinus: a nobleman of his household, to be counted among the greatest ornaments of a homeland now shared between him and me. He is my brother in the equality of our birth, my friend in the kinship of our spirits. I have shared with him many a serious matter and many a joke. In the days when we were both young, we competed in ball games, at dice, in jumping, running, hunting, and swimming — the rivalry between us always wholesome, because it was sustained by affection. He is older than I, but only by enough that it was not so much a duty to defer to him as a pleasure to imitate him. And he, for his part, was all the more devoted because he understood that he was loved rather than merely honored. But with the advance of age and his entry into the clerical profession, he who was lovable before has now become venerable. Through him I send my greetings, hoping — under Christ's protection — to see you both as soon as possible, if public affairs allow. Therefore, unless my longing seems burdensome, I beg that upon our friend's return I may be informed about conditions in your area at this time. I am resolved to fight through whatever private difficulties stand in my way and to devote however long it takes to the joy of embracing you — provided that no greater force, which I still dread, throws my plans into confusion. It would not be beneath you to deliberate on these matters with our brother Faustinus, as the times require, sharing your counsel. I sent him because I love him, trusting that he is a man who loves me in return. If his character matches my judgment, I give thanks. But even though the world calls him a good man, he is not a good man if he is not the best. Farewell.

EPISTULA IV Sidonius Simplicio et Apollinari suis salutem. 1. Eccum vel tandem adest promissio mea, expectatio vestra, Faustinus, pater familias domi nobilis et inter maxima patriae iam mihi sibique communis ornamenta numerandus. hic meus frater natalium parilitate, amicus animorum similitudine; saepe cum hoc seria, saepe etiam ioca miscui; cumque abhinc retro iuvenes eramus, in pila in tesseris, saltibus cursu, venatu natatu sancta semper ambobus, quia manente caritate, contentio. mihi quidem maior hic natu, tantum tamen, ut eum non tam honorari necesse esset quam delectaret imitari; simul et ipse hinc amplius capiebatur, quod se diligi magis quam quasi coli intellegebat. sed provectu aetatis et militia clericali, cum esset amabilis prius, coepit modo esse venerabilis. 2. per hunc salutem dico, videre vos sub ope Christi quam maturissime, si per statum publicum liceat, cupiens. quocirca, nisi desiderium meum videtur onerosum, remeante praefato fiam locorum vestrorum et temporum gnarus. stat sententia eluctari oppositas privatarum occupationum difficultates et complectendis pectoribus vestris quamlibet longum officium deputare, si tamen, quod etiam nunc veremur, non vis maior disposita confundat. 3. quae vos quoque non perindignum est cum fratre Faustino, prout tempora monent, tractatu communicato deliberare. quem ego quia diligo, tamquam qui me diligat misi: si respondet iudicio meo, gratias ago; porro autem cum vir bonus ab omnibus censeatur, non est homo peior, si non est optimus. valete.