Letter 3054: Someone might think it is merely a formality that the consul of the previous year still owes these obligations.

From: Quintus Aurelius Symmachus To: [Unnamed correspondent] Date: ~390 AD Context: Symmachus discusses the obligations of a consul from the previous year who must still fulfill certain ceremonial duties, reflecting on the financial burden of public games. Someone might think it is merely a formality that the consul of the previous year still owes these obligations. But the cost of public games falls heavily on private purses, and the consul's duty to entertain the people does not end when his year of office does. The spectacles must be worthy of Rome, and Rome's expectations are never modest. I have been arranging the procurement of animals, the hiring of performers, and the thousand other details that go into a proper celebration. It is exhausting work, but the reputation of the family is at stake -- and that is a currency that cannot be debased.

Alius fortassis existimet semm esse munus, qnod anni superioris consul exoluat: ego sentio me atque alios, qui procul degimus, amicitiae fiducia ad hoc locorum esse dilatos, illis vero continuo satisfactum, quorum tamdiu memor esse non posses. nam qui statim munificus est, ipsis quodammodo magistratus sui fascibus admonetur; qui 10 ex intervallo reddit officia, testatur eos se maluisse differre, quorum oblivionem dies longior non posset obducere. fvideo igitur, an se quispiam credat ordine aliis aut 2 honore postpositum: ego me intellego pura adfectione praelatum. neque enim satis amicus est, cui soUemne aliquid statim redditur; honestior est illa securitas, quae putat sibi deforme non esse, si quid diu familiaribus debeatur. quare velim credas, 15 moram quoque ipsam mihi iucundam fuisse. sic iudico, sic interpretor, quae dudum aliis ex more delata snnt. nobis amore servata. LX ante a. 394. AD RICOMEREM. Optatus adventas fidissimam mihi optulit facultatem officii deferendi. nam dominus 20 et frater mens Eugenius, cnm mihi sni copiam praestitisset, snmendae epistulae bene- ficium rogatus adiecit ; qua tibi honorificentiam salutationis exhibeo et obnixe deprecor, ne me diutius silentio tuo suspensum esse patiaris. LXI a. 385. AD RICOMEREM. PF 25 Dndum responsa tradideram, quae testarentnr, grata mihi fuisse amplissimi con- sulatus tui munera. sed denuo nanctus Eugenii v. c. fratris mei copiam scripta dupli- cavi haud veritus, ne fastidium tuum crearet sermo geminatus. ex meo quippe animo metior, amicitiam non posse sentire officiomm satietatem. sint quamvis illa crebra et continnis similia, semper tamen ut rara et diu desiderata sumuntur. fauic opinioni 30 meae fidem faciet adsiduitas epistulamm tuamm. insitum quippe est bonis mentibus, nt qnae copiosa ex aliis optamus adipisd, ea ipsi largiter deferamus. 9 mnniflcatas f^ 11 nide AfommMfi, nldero igitnr, an se qnispiam credat, nt ordine aliis, ita et ho- nore postposltum ego 15 incandam] Leetiut^ innandam P bI cni dico P noxae P l m, slnt qnam P, quamuis sint F 31 copiose P ^ m. ab aliis F Q. Atbslits Stmmachts. ]2 90 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE LXII ante a. 394.