Letter 4028: I had long been waiting for your letters, uncertain in my mind about what so prolonged a silence might mean.

I had long been waiting for your letters, uncertain in my mind about what so prolonged a silence might mean. But once you restored to me the gift I had longed for, my worry turned to joy. And truly it is in our nature that the complaint about a long-delayed courtesy fades away the moment we obtain what we wished for. So I am deeply grateful that the pledge of our friendship has been restored to me. You will prove my trust was not misplaced by maintaining your attentiveness with constant affection. --- To Eusignius (~before 388 AD): I shall see what the justice of the times, the merits of our cause, and your own efforts -- if indeed I am dear to you -- can accomplish. In the person of my brother Eusebius, a most distinguished man, I embrace the fulfillment of the moderation he has shown toward us. I honor his integrity in my thoughts and commend it in my words. Even though he does not seek a reward for his good intentions, I nonetheless wish to repay him through your friendship. You will do something as welcome to my wishes as it is consistent with your own character, if this most prudent man may recognize that whatever you grant me, he acquires for himself.

lamdudum in expeetatione eram litterarum tuarum ineertus animi, quid sibi vellet tam longa cessatio, sed ubi compotem desiderati nie muneris reddidisti, cura vertit in gaudium. et revera ita natura partum est, ut expetiti diu ofGcii querella decedat, si potiamur optato. ergo magno inpensu gratulor, integratum mihi esse pignus-religio- 10 nis. praestabis, ne huius opinionis frustra sim, cum diligentiam mei continuo amore servaveris. AD EVSIGNIVM. PVF LXVI (LXVII) ante a. 388. Videro, quid iustitia temporum, quid causae nostrae bonitas, quid cura tua, si 15 tamen tibi cordi sum, possit efficere. ego in fratre meo Eusebio c. v. votum servatae circa nos moderationis amplector eiusque probitatem mente colo, sermone commendo. et licet ille boni propositi praemium non requirat^ nos tamen ei honestam vicem de tua amicitia optamus exsolvere. feceris rem tam meae voluntati acceptam quam tuis moribus consentaneam , si advertat vir prudentissimus , quidquid mihi tribuit , id se 20 omnium bonorum gratiae detulisse. LXVn (LXVni) a. 384—387. AD EVSIGNIVM. Et temporum clementiae congruit et sancto ingenio tuo familiare est opis indigos sublevare. hinc mihi fiducia oborta est pro fratre nostro Stemmatio supplicandi, cui 25 dudum cuncta dempsit invidia fortunae praeter amorem bonorum. neque enim potest ambigi, quid de optimo quoque mereatur, qui nuper a principibus invictis, ne per in- dulgentiam liberaretur, accitus est magisque honore quam venia fatum triste mutavit nec tam ereptus est quam desideratus. unde spes certa est, etiam principem nostrum 2 ienitate venerabilem iusti parentis et pii fratris exemplo supplementa meliora fortunae 30 eius daturum , si modo vestra insinuatio iuvet exhausti senatoris oratum. duo enim factu facilia sed ad gloriam praestantis magna deposcit, reddi curiae testimonio sacro et recuperatione modici argenti ab inopia vindicari. haec ut favor tuus aliorum- que optimatium te hortante promoveat, interest boni saeculi, cui laudem perennem pia facta conciliant. cui] LecthUy tui PVF 34 concilient F Q. ATaitUTS Stmiiacbts. |Q 122 SYMMACHl EPISTVLAE LXVra (LXVnn) a. 386—387.