Letter 7049: I can tell that the devoted attention I pay your household is well known to you -- that's why you share good news...

[...the beginning of this letter is lost...] the care which I render to your holy house is, I think, only too well known to you. This is why you share your good news with me and indicate by your pen that the health of my lady and my daughter has returned to a better prospect. I therefore give abundant thanks, and I pray the gods that your favorable circumstances may go forward. As for us, the rather slow arrival of the African grain ships, and the barrenness of the storehouses, has stirred up our cares. For this reason, summoned to a contribution, we have promised the customary remedies for our homeland. But there is need of our prayers, that prompt payment may answer to the voluntary pledge. [Letter] 69. To Alypius. Those who have recounted the deeds of old have handed down to memory that a certain man was summoned to judgment for theft, because, having borrowed from a friend, on loan and as far as Aricia, a gelding, he had gone beyond it over the steep slopes of the further hill. Let this have been the thriftiness and scrupulousness of a poorer age, that, by being carried past the appointed limit, he was said to have committed an offense against friendship; but I, for my part, having kept too long the pack-animals which you had given, do not fear that, amid such great abundance of your fortune and such goodwill of your spirit, I should be called to account for misappropriation. I have therefore taken what your affection pressed upon me, and I am so far from any fear of your displeasure that I hope of my own accord for your kind approval of my confidence. For you must needs approve what you would yourself have done. But why do I bring these things forward as though they needed clearing? From Formiae I write to you in sound health, from which place I have sent back the team of your horses more exercised than wearied. The mules I shall keep a little while; for you had given me this choice. And if I had refused it, I should seem to take more pleasure in following my own inclination in the things I appropriate than in yielding to yours in the things permitted me. [Letter] 70. To Alypius. When I review the annoyances of the city, it is a delight to be away; when I contemplate you in my thoughts, my absence wearies me. The relief, therefore, is midway, in letters, which I have sent to you for this reason: that you, at once both satisfying friendship and following my example, may furnish me your own letters, in which you see there is more comfort. [Letter] 71. [A.D. 397?] To Alypius. Your letter imparts to me very much of your help and aid toward the strengthening of my health: first, because they bear witness that you are mindful of me; next, because they bring tokens of your prosperity. I confess, then, that my still feeble health is revived by the constancy of your writings, and from this I understand what advantage I shall have from your presence, since I receive so much restorative benefit from your letters. Farewell. To my brothers. [Letter] 72. Having arrived at Mediolanum [Milan], I write this, and from here I render to you the honor of the greeting that is owed. It is fair that my anxiety on your behalf should be soothed by an account of your dutiful response in turn. [Letter] 73. [A.D. 397?] [The text breaks off here; what follows in the source is the editor's critical apparatus (manuscript variant readings and a reference to Valerius Maximus VIII.2.4), not part of the letters.]

lutellego diligentiam , qaam sanctae domui tuae defero, nimium tibi esse eom- pertam. hinc est, quod mecum laeta communicas et dominae ac filiae meae valetn- dinem stilo indicas in spem redisse meliorem. ago igitur uberes gratias et deos pre- 5 cor, ut tua secunda proficiant. nobis tardior Africanarum navium commeatus incntit curas et sterilitas conditorum. quapropter ad conlationem yocati remedia patriae usi- tata promisimus. sed votis opus est, ut voluntariae sponsiont solutio prompta re- spondeat. LXVim. 10 AD ALYPIVM. Tradiderunt memoriae, qui res priscas locuti sunt, in iudicium quendam yocsUum furti^ quod Aricia tenus precarium de amico cantherium mutuatus ulterioris clivi ar- dua praeterisset. fuerit haec parsimonia et diligentia pauperis saeculi, ut praeter- vectus decretum locum commisisse in amicitiam diceretur; at ego non vereor iu- is menta, quae dederas, demoratus, ne in tantis fortunae tuae copiis et animi bene- 2 volentia usurpationis arcessar. adsumpsi igitur, quod amor tuus ingerebat, tantumque absum a metu suscensionis tuae, ut sperem de te ultro bonam fiduciae meae gratiam. necesse est enim probes, quod ipse fecisses. sed quid haec tamquam purganda pro- duco? de Formiano ad te scribo integer valetudinis, unde equorum vestrorum copu- 20 lam magis e^ercitam quam fatigatam remisi. mulos paulisper tenebo; hanc enim de- deras optionem. quam si repudiassem, viderer libentius in usurpandis uti animo meo quam in permissis tuo cedere. LXX. AD ALYPIVM. 2s Cum molestias urbanas retracto, abesse delectat; cum vos cogitatione contemplor, taedet absentiae meae. medium est igitur levamen in litteris, quas ideo ad te dedi, ut simul et amicitiae satisfaciens et secutus exemplum tuas mihi epistulas praestes, in quibus vides plus esse solacii. 12 Val. Max. Vm 2, 4. promisistts M sponsionis PV 9 uale add. VM uocatum M 15 commisipjse P diceret VM 17 arcersar V, accersiar M 18 absumam et UBUS censionis VF, assumam M 19 improbes F quid] quod V purganda] C F. W. MueUer^ purgata PVM 20 capulam V 21 exerceri tamquam V remisi mulus P i m,j remi simu- lus Vj om. M 22 optione V 23 permissis] (/"), promissis PVM 29 uale ad4, VM LXXI a. 397? AD ALYPIVM. PVMF Plurimam mihi opis atqae adinmenti tuae litterae ad couiirmationem sanitatis inpertiunt; primo quod te memorem nostri esse testantur, dehinc quod indicia tuae 5 prosperitatis adportant. fateor igitur adhuc infirmam valetudinem meam scriptorum tuorum adsiduitate refoveri, atque ex hoc intellego, quid ex praesentia tua commodi- tatis habiturus sim, cum tantum ex litteris salubritatis accipiam. vale. AD FRATRES. LXXn. 10 Mediolanium pervectus haec scribo et hinc honorificentiam vobis debitae saluta- tionis exhibeo. aequum est, ut mea cura de vobis relatu piae vicissitudinis mitigetur. LXXm a. 397?