Letter 2049: On the third day before the Nones of October [October 5], I replied to your letter at first light.

On the third day before the Nones of October [October 5], at first light, I replied to your letter, which, owing to the interval of the journey by which we are now detained, you ought to have received before midday. But, as the writings delivered to me toward evening revealed, the slowness of the letter-carrier held up my own service and your concern. Yet I cannot be angry at this delay; for you would have lacked occasion to repeat your message, had you read our reply in good time. That reply, as I am confident, has already been handed over, unless perhaps once again some one of the wealthy townsmen, a waylayer of the roads, has stolen our writings. May the gods punish such men through their own minds! Now let us return to your inquiries. The phlegm which had besieged the chest of our little one and was stirring up a troublesome cough has been thinned out in great part; and so the passages of his throat, now free, give off no more of that wheezing sound. May the kindness of god be willing to set the advance of his health upon a firm footing. As we have caught our breath from the fear of present things, so by our prayer we fortify the things to come.