Letter 58

I'm no less pleased that you liked my speech than that the Senate — the better part of humanity — heard it with favorable judgment. You even swore an oath to back up your praise, knowing that the verdicts of close friends often fall under suspicion of partiality. Where friendship is certain, the credibility of praise becomes uncertain. So, reassured by your assessment, I'm content to ignore everyone else's opinion. What if you'd been there to hear it in person, as a sympathetic listener? I'd have touched the very vault of heaven, as the saying goes. Perhaps one day I'll have the better fortune of your physical presence. For now I enjoy the testimony of your letter; then I'll make use of your active support. Farewell.

Orationem meam tibi esse conplacitam nihilo setius gandeo, qnam qaod eam secanda existimatione pars melior bumani generis senatns aadivit. adiecisti sacramenti pondns et in bona verba iurasti, at qui scires in suspicionem gratiae venire amantium 6 iudicata. nam ubi certa est amicitia, ibi fides laudis incertior. ergo secums examinis PVM tui nihil moror sententias ceterorum. quid si adfuisses | tam bonae voluntatis auditor? ne ego digito, ut aiunt, supera conyexa tetigissem. erit alias fortasse nobis optatior praesentiae tuae copia. nunc testimonio epistulae tuae fruimur, tunc adiumento fayoris utemur. vale. lo LHI (XXXXVH) ante a. 385.