Letter 6042: My first concern is always to ask how your health stands.
My first concern is always to ask how your health stands. Everything else comes second -- though you did recently raise some questions that deserve answers.
The city is rattled by grave omens, and I'll skip the minor ones. The most alarming was this: on the anniversary of Rome's founding, the replacement consul was thrown from his chariot by his own runaway horses -- the very team that was pulling the triumphal car. So there he was, draped in his embroidered toga and full consular regalia, hauled off with a broken leg. The whole episode upset me, so I'll keep it brief.
As for you, my pride and joy: your reputation grows stronger by the day, both at home and abroad. I can vouch for what's happening here; as for opinions elsewhere, Caecilianus brought me a full account, though listing his reports one by one would be tedious -- they all add up to glory for you. Please give my greetings to my dear daughter and the sweetest grandchildren. She had asked me, very properly, to remind her about the ceremonial garments being woven for the games. She'll find the details in the attached note about what still needs to be prepared to supplement the praetorian gifts.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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