Letter 5076: The circumstances of our time test every friendship, and those that survive the test emerge stronger.

The circumstances of our time test every friendship, and those that survive the test emerge stronger. I have observed with admiration your steadfastness through recent difficulties, and I want you to know that it has not gone unnoticed. In better days, such constancy might be taken for granted; in times like these, it is a rare and precious thing. I attach my thoughts on the particular matters you raised, and I trust my judgment will prove as useful as your patience deserves.

« Romam redisse me nuntio. atque utinam sanitatis qnoque meae index esse potuis- sem, quam labefactavit peregrinationis iniuria et hiemalis asperitas. sed otio redditus 30 spero meliora. ipse ut valeas, divina praestabunt. nam ut homines meos solito favore tuearis, postulare non debeo, cum incitamentum spontanea officia non requirant. I reddito V^ mihi lex V^, ex V^ fratrem V^ aliquid anit asperiUtis inur. V^ 2 quoque] qq V^ misi Vt II sym help V^, om, V^M 14 ///ria P exultoque ad V2 8//dium P 15 ex- ortatione P l m, 16 lectionem V\ lectioni (F) 17 enim om, V^ silere (F) propo- sitio V» uore sollto V* 152 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE LXXXXVII (LXXXXV). PV^m SYMMACHVS HELPIDIO. Maiaerim quidem taum solamen adipisci, ned quia litteris secundus ad gratiam locus est, desiderio tui scriptorum conpensatio satisfecit maximeque iuvit animnm, quod tecum bonam valetudinem redisse in gratiam nuntiasti. ipse Formiis adhuc residere s PV lconstitui, ut mitigatis autumni aestibus ad suburbana concedam. neque enim temporis mei ratio patitur, nt communem patriam maestus ingrediar. vale. LXXXXVin (LXXXXVI) .