Letter 8017: If you know my heart at all, you can't doubt that poor health was the only thing keeping me from writing.

If you know my heart well as regards yourself, you cannot doubt that the poor health of my body has, up to now, stood in the way of my sending letters. Cleared of this hindrance, I render to you this greeting-page, which will bear witness that I am safe and sound, now that my recovered health has removed the excuse of silence. [...] I had learned, from my son's assurance, that you were going to come to Campania. From this it came about that I refrained from writing letters. But while either the cares of the city or its pleasures detain you, our expectation has very nearly incurred the fault of silence. I discharge my duty toward you, then, by bidding you good health, and I leave it to you to choose whether you prefer to grant me your arrival or to pay back a reply. TO ROMANUS. I keep the observance which ancient custom established, that those who have set out from home should begin with letters as a good omen, and I send word that I am well. It follows by obligation that you should pay back friendly replies to the gift sent by me. TO VALERIUS. I summon my son Romulus, you hold him back; I claim for myself toward him the role of a parent, you exercise the right of a kinsman; by his voluntary pledge he owes me his presence, by you he is detained in the hope of joining the journey together. But since your arrival too is promised to me, the reckoning of the delay is profitable, for it promises me both of you in place of one. I yield, therefore, to your wish, and I do not refuse the patience of a few days. To your brother Romulus also I offer my heartiest congratulations, both of whom we claim as our consolation by a dutiful and friendly contest. Farewell.

Si bene in te animum meum nosti, dubitare non potes, adversam valetudinem corporis mei missitandis hucusque litteris obstitisse. hac parte purgatus salutatricem is tibi paginam reddo, quae testabitur, esse me sospitem, postquam sanitas silentii ex- cusationem removit. lva (Lmi). Venturum te ad Campaniam filii mei adsertione cognoveram. hinc factum est, ut scribendis litteris abstinerem. sed dum te aut curae urbanae aut voluptates mo- 20 rantur, paene culpam silentii expectatio nostra contraxit. fungor igitur erga te sa- lute dicenda et tibi eligendum relinquo, utrum mihi adventum praestare malis an responsum persolvere. LVI (LV). AD ROMANVM. 25 Servo observantiam , quam mos priscus instituit, ut domo profecti litteras auspi- centur, et salvere me nuntio. ex debito venit, ul misso a me muneri solvas amica responsa. ' deluit F*, diluit F2.3 ex humore solito post corporis colhc. F2, fort. dolor corporis ex humore, solitus offlciorum familiarium sequestrator familiarium] (/7)F3, om. Fi*2 \q D),nc quia] namque F^ ualitudine F» 11 respondi F^ 1 m., respondondi F^ 2 m. uale om» F^ 15 missitandis] (r), scriptiUndis (77) 19 hane epistulam cum praccedenti coniur^git {IT)y post 16 esse me sospitem novam incipere, suspieatus est luretus, post 17 remouit divisi ego 22 an] F^ aut (i7) 27 ut emissoj luretus, ut te emisso (/7), ut tu emisso (r) ex corUeetura Lectii? LVU (LVI) . AD VALERIVM. F Filiam meum Romulum ego accerso, tu retines; ego in eum mihi personam pa- rentis adrogo, tu ius adfinis exerceB; mihi ex voluntaria sponsione praesentiam suam 5 debet, a Yobis spe sociandi itineris retentatur. sed cum mihi etiam /uus promittatur adventus, quaestuosa taxatio est morae, quae mihi pro uno utrumque promittit. cedo igitur voluntati tuae et paucorum dierum patientiam non nego. fratri quoque tuo Ko- mulo nimis gratulor, cuius nobis ambo solacium pio et amico certamine vindicamus. vale. LVIII (LVH).