Letter 8021: I'd owe you rich thanks for greeting me so promptly after my departure, if the hope of a greater favor didn't claim...

I would offer you abundant thanks, since you anticipated me with words of greeting although I had set out from you not long ago, were it not that the hope of the author of the favor claims this expression of my gratitude for itself. For you yourself are said to be going to be present, and on this account I confess that I am bound to you for an even greater measure of gratitude. I should wish, however, that credit be lent by your writings to the good I have hoped for, so that I, who am delighted by such an expectation, may rejoice much more fully in the security of its confirmation. 67 (66). TO DYNAMIUS. You desire my letters out of affection, but our common son makes me appear remiss, since he does not bring back the replies. Let it suffice, however, to have said this briefly, lest our excuse be a burden to his modesty. Now I pay you the honor of a salutation, and I do not demand what you will do of your own accord, that you address us in turn, since both the scrupulousness of your spirit and your habit promise me this return. Farewell. 68 (67). TO TITIANUS. I gladly received your letters, which I had indeed longed for, but the knowledge of your doings, of which Euscius was both witness and reporter, brought me a more abundant pleasure. And so I exhort and admonish you not to abandon what you have begun well and to pursue the reward of praise by honorable conduct. I would add a charge concerning my own people, if I had anyone else to address; but since you do of your own accord what my words could ask for, I leave aside the role of recommendation, because whatever is taken in advance from confidence in friendship has more grace if it is rendered spontaneously. Farewell. [Critical apparatus: line 5 "now" (nunc)] Iuretus, "nor" (nec) (in manuscript family 11). 6 perhaps "to snatch beforehand" (praeripere); "your" (tuo) omitted in F. 7 "before" (prae)] Modius, omitted (in 11). 12 "of the author" (auctoris) (in 11). 15 "to the expectation" (opinioni) (in 11). line: "now" (nunc)] Iuretus; "nor" (nec) F; "I demand back" (reposco) in F by the first hand, "I demand of you" (te posco) in F by the second hand. 21 "that you address us in turn" (mutuis alloquaris) in F second and third hands; "that you address more gently" (mitius alloquaris) in F (first hand); supply: "with letters" or some such thing. 22 "promises" (promittat)] F second hand; "promises" (promittit) in F first through third hands; "farewell" (vale) omitted in F first and third hands. "nobler" (nobiliorem) in F third hand. 27 "of praise" (laudis) omitted in F third hand; "to add" (subiungere) in F first hand. 29 "because, because" (quia quia) in F second hand. 30 "of friendship" (amicitiae)] in 17; omitted in F; "farewell" (vale) omitted in F third hand. Q. Aurelius Symmachus. 30 234 LETTERS OF SYMMACHUS 68 (68).

Agerem tibi largiter gratias, quoniam me haud dudum a vobis profectum dicenda salute praeveneris, nisi hanc sibi gratulationem meam spes auct/oris beneficii vindi- caret. ipse enim diceris adfuturus, cuius rei nomine vadari me tibi in maioris gra- tiae modum feteor. velim tamen scriptis tuis sperato bono adstrui fidem, ut qui tali 15 opinione delector, multo amplius gaudeam confirmationis securitate. LXVn (LXVI). DYNAjnO. F Litteras meas amore desideras, sed infrequentem me videri communis filius facit, qui rescripta non repetit. hoc tamen strictim dixisse sufficiat, ne illius verecundiae ?o oneri sit nostra purgatio. nunc tibi honorem salutationis inpendo nec exposco, quod sponte facturus es, ut nos mutuis adloquaris, cum mihi hanc vicem et reli- gio animi tui et consuetudo promittat. vale. LXVUI (LXVn). AD TITIANVM. 25 Desideratas quidem litteras tuas libens sumpsi, sed cognitio actuum tuorum, quorum testis atque narrator Euscius fuit, uberiorem mihi adtulit voluptatem. itaque* hortor ac moneo, ut bene coepta non deseras et praemium laudis honestate secteris. sub- iungerem curam meorum, si mihi esset alius adloquendus, sed cum facias ultro, quae meus sermo posset expetere, partes commendationis omitto; quia quidquid ex fiducia 30 amicitiae praesumitur, plus habet gratiae, si sponte praestetur. vale. 5 nunc] luretus, nec (/7) 6 fort. praeripere tuo om, F 7 prae] Modius, om. (11) 12 auctoris (Z7) 15 opinioni [11] nunc] lurttusj nec F reposco F^ 1 m., te posco F^ 2 m. 21 mutuis alloquaris F*.3^ mitius allo- quaris F^, fupple : epistulis vet $imile quid 22 promitfat] F'^, promittit Fi-3 uala om. Fi.3 nobiliorem F3 27 laudis om. F3 subiungere Fi 29 quia quia F^ 30 amicitiae] i7, om. F uale om. F3 Q. AvBBLivs Stmmaohvs. 30 234 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE LXVim (LXVUI).