Letter 79

It's human nature that people who stammer end up talking more — they keep going out of embarrassment at their own stumbling. That's my situation: I have an overwhelming urge to write, even when I've run out of things to say. Two messengers were leaving at the same time, and I didn't think it would be proper to waste a double opportunity on a single letter. Whether this makes me a chatterbox or simply dutiful — that's for you to judge. Farewell.

Natura renim est, nt qui balbutinnt, plns loquantur ; adfectant enim copiam pudore defectns. hoc exemplum me expetit, cui magna est scribendi inpatientia, cum desit & oratio. duobus enim pariter commeantibus non putavi officio convenire, ut unis litte- ris gemina expenderetur occasio. erit super hoc iudicatio tua, garrulusne iustius dicar an sedulus. vale. LXXVn (LXXI) a. 376—380.