Letter 7001: Take this opening salvo of fatherly words with good cheer, and be generous in returning the favor going forward.

Quintus Aurelius SymmachusUnknown|c. 365 AD|Quintus Aurelius Symmachus|AI-assisted
barbarian invasionillnesstravel mobility

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.

AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed.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

5 Snme alacer patemi sermonis auspicium et deinceps officii parilis in nos esto
munificus. simnl accipe, qnod voto tuo congmit, fasces praeturae tuae in eum an-
num feliciter proferendos, cui advocata numinum voluntate ego quoque laetus intersim.
optato igitnr laetare processu et propagatos tibi annos yitae atque honoris interpretare
[longiora enim finnt, quae differuntur], nec dubites utrique nostrum prospexisse fortn-

10 nam, ut et tuus magistratus iuvetur praesentia patris et ego festorum tuorum coram
defi*uar voluptate. vale.

n a. 402.

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