Letter 2038: I cannot decide what form of reply best suits the occasion.

From: Quintus Aurelius Symmachus, Roman Senator To: A friend (name lost) Date: ~384 AD Context: A letter written during a period of political turmoil, in which Symmachus alludes to dangerous rumors without specifying them, choosing hope over alarm. I cannot decide what form of reply best suits the occasion. I have been afflicted for so long by an excess of rumors that I ought neither to deceive those who love me with false ones nor alarm them with true ones. Yet hope -- which always provides patience in adversity [Text breaks off in source.]

Neqneo definire, qnae potissimum mihi rescribendi forma conveniat. ea qnippe iamdiu intempcrantia vexor rnmornm, nt de his neque decipere falsis neqne sollicitare veris amantissimos mei debeam. spes tamen, qnae remm semper adversarum patien- ss mus V adolim P 7 amisimus 8u8e 8 fastigium P 7 m. VF iuit igitur tie V 9 de- lui P inusitate P uale add. VF l\ om. VM 12 rogo ergo V, rogo M 14 aocusatioDe VM nihil] mihi (r) 15 age- ris P 1 m. V, egeris M 16 mitteacerent P 17 causunum P 1 m. coniectis . V pre- Uxato M 19 prius quod V sublimi V 21 effigiem] ego, offlcium PVPPj om. M 23 maxi- minum quem V silui ne in ra$. P 24 crearent] luretWy crearem PK, crearot M 2S quoque] quippe V 29 reddet P2m., sed de V 30 solatia P 1 m. uale add. VM dehinc Oruter 35 spesque tamen rerum V tiam soadet, in tuto est, et si aliquid commoditatis adtulerit, nequaqaam morabor PVF index esse meliorum. XXXVin a. 375?