Letter 4033: I was wondering what could possibly explain the fact that a man so devoted to the courtesies of friendship had...

I was wondering what could possibly explain the fact that a man so devoted to the courtesies of friendship had abstained so long from writing. But the contents of your letter revealed the truth: you were avoiding being the bearer of sad news, which you tried to conceal beneath a longer silence. I understand and forgive you — but know that I would rather share in your sorrows promptly than learn of them belatedly. Between true friends, bad news should travel as quickly as good. Your grief is my grief, and I would have it no other way. Farewell.

Mirabar, qaid esset rei, quod amicitiae observantissimas diu seribendis litteris abstinebas; sed epistulae tuae series indicavit, quod tristium rernm index esse vita- veris, quas longiore silentio contineri nec religio familiaris nec communis causa per- 5 misit. nam plerumque utile est in publicam proferre notitiam, quod velis esse cor- rectum, ut denuntiatione futuri periculi ad consulendum cunctorum cura moveatur. 2 magna igitur necessitate futuri anni inopiam protestatus es. quid enim spei reliquum est, cum provinciis Africanis nec ad victum tenuem frugum tritura responderit et ad- portata ex aliis terris semina vicinus annus expectet? iure igitur ad aetembrum prin- 10 cipum providentiam provincialium sollicitudo confugit. interea dum maior ab illis sa- lubritas petitur, humanitas tua foveat exhaustos et tamquam particeps doloris alieni persuadeat laborantibus , sibi accidisse, quidquid provinciae pertulerunt. ego valeo, quamvis animus aeger bonum sanitatis ignoret, sed ut aliquid solaminis capiat, oro indulgentius scribas et me ad respondendum exemplo tuae adsiduitatis invites. 15