Letter 3020: You've chosen the easier topic.

You've chosen the easier topic. Complaint comes more naturally to human speech than gratitude. That's why, I think, you've scolded me for silence, even though I've been steadily keeping up my duty of greeting and reply. Not that I mind — in fact, I welcome it. A man who accuses another of neglecting his correspondence is really promising to do better himself. Your reproach amounts to a pledge. I won't compose clever phrases or hunt for witty sentences. If you sin by going silent, your own letters will be your accuser. Farewell.

Elegisti materiam proniorem. adcommodatior est enim querellae oratio humana quam gratiae. qua causa factum puto, ut me taciturnitatis incesjseris, cum perpetem curam dandae et reddendae salutis adnitar. quod quidem me libente fecisti. nam qui alteri culpae ducit officii neglegentiam, pollicetur de se operam promptiorem. ex- to postulatio igitur tua instar est sponsionis. non meditabor nova verba, non excogitabo sententias: si peccatum silendo contraxeris, tuis tantum litteris argueris. vale. XXI a. 380.