Letter 2089: I take delight both in the honor with which you have now been elevated and in your continuing affection for me.

I take delight both in your office, with which you have now been honored, and in your unbroken affection for me. I wish, therefore, that you not doubt that our shared pledges [our children] are a care to me, pledges which your merits commend even more than your writings do. It remained for me to demand the constant service of your pen; but it is the part of superfluous effort to ask for benefits freely given, lest my pen seem to extort by force what the kindness of your spirit already promises.

Et honoris tni, quo nunc auctus es, et continuo in me amore delector. volo igitnr, nt communia pignora curae mihi esse non dubites, qnae magis merita tua quam scripta commendant. snpererat, ut adsidnnm stili tui mnnns exposcerem; sed rednndantis est operae bona spontanea postnlare, ne meus stilus extorquere vi- deatur, quod tui animi spondet humanitas. 30 3 aduentium P 1 m. virgtUa supra a 2 m. 11 quia P 2 m. 29 sedred undantes P 1 m. LIBEB n. 69 LXXXVim (LXXXVm) ante a. 395.