Letter 7001: Take this opening salvo of fatherly words with good cheer, and be generous in returning the favor going forward.
Take this opening salvo of fatherly words with good cheer, and be generous in returning the favor going forward. At the same time, accept news that matches your hopes: your praetorship [a prestigious magistracy] is being carried over to the coming year -- and with the gods' blessing, I too will be there to see it.
So rejoice in this welcome development, and take the postponement as a sign of longer life and longer honor -- for what is deferred only grows. Don't doubt that Fortune has looked out for both of us: your magistracy will benefit from your father's presence, and I'll enjoy the pleasure of watching your festival in person. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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