Letter 2056: In hopes of good health, we have chosen a place near the sea, but the winds are still fighting against us and we...

In hopes of good health, we have chosen a place near the sea, but the winds are still fighting against us and we have not yet felt the healthy breezes. This is why my wife's recovery is slower. If a better day brings some improvement, I will not delay in sending you the welcome report. As for news from the city, I would rather you hear it from the talk of travelers than from me, since things still hang in the balance and I do not want to say anything that daily events might contradict. But because you wish to know, I will say that nothing terrible is happening, only that many things are uncertain and fear still outweighs hope. One thing I can report confidently: our friends are well.

Spe bonae valetudinis mari vicina delegimus, sed necdum auras salubres ventis 30 obluctantibus experimur. hincpigrior est matronae ad sanitatem recursus; cui si quid refectionis dies melior adiecerit, optatiim de ea indicium non morabor. urbanis ne- gotiis, ut insinuare dignatus es, inquies monitor securus inludit. alieno enim periculo 2 in efiicax et copiae nocitura tempfatur, ut cum vilitatis metus in angustias coegerit civitatem, tunc opum validis quaestum augeat avara venditio. hoscinc homines arbitreris, deliberatione non 0 cessat ergo patrom deliberatio, uum uocemur Afommien, cessante ergo patruni deli- beratione uacamus Suse IS curauimus P 1 m., curat umus (IV>) 19 luxoriae P 1 m, 21 symmacus P 24 quia Suse, tabeliari uitio Mommsen 8» 60 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE P qu]* plus amicis consilio nocent, quam inimicis odio obesse potuissent? sed nos publico dudum opere perfuncti, aliena sileamus. dii meliora procurent! neque enim gaudere dignum est^ si qua mihi laus ex alterius errore proveniat. vale. LVI ante a. 395.