Letter 6056: Please welcome Maximus -- an old friend but a brand-new courier [agens in rebus, an imperial messenger], a man going...
Please welcome Maximus -- an old friend but a brand-new courier [agens in rebus, an imperial messenger], a man going gray while still serving among the new recruits. He can fill you in on everything you need to know, which saves me from a long letter -- except, of course, for my usual request that you come visit, which I never tire of making.
Honestly, if my longing for you would allow it, I should stop asking by now -- failed petitions start to look shameless. But my love for you practically recommends impudence to a man who keeps getting turned down. I'm starting to worry, though, that you only promised to come back so you could stop me from coming to you.
I wish you good health. Please send word of how you are when the boy returns. My own health is free of active pain at the moment but still lacks real strength -- especially now that the Senate's latest financial contribution has added to my worries. But I've said too much; I regret burdening your peace of mind even with this.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
Maximum veterem amicum sed novum agentem in rebus accipite inter tirones
cum canitie militantem. ab hoc percontanda discetis, atque ideo mihi fugienda est lo
prolixae epistulae //eratio absque adventus vestri petitione, quam frequenter exambio,
et si desiderium vestri sineret, iam silere deberem, quia verecundiam creant ineffica-
citer postulata. sed amor in vos meus prope inpudentiam suadet frequenter elusis.
vereor autem, ne ideo vestrum reditum promiseritis , ut nostrum ad vos prohiberetis
excursum. 15
Lim (LV) hieme 397/8.
SYMMAOHVS NICOMACfflS FILHS.
Salutem vobis precamur, cuius indicium puero revertente optamus accipere. mea
valetudo caret interim doloribus sed indiget firmitate maxime accedentibus curis, quas
proxime facta a senatu auxit oblatio. ire longius piget, cum haec quoque securis ab 20
animo ingessissepaeniteat.
LV (LVI) a. 398 ?
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