Letter 9026: The question is now in your hands: whether I should continue to maintain my regular habit of writing to you, or...

[...] whether hereafter I ought to keep to my custom in writing, or to consult our modesty by continued silence from now on. LXII (LVIIII). TO ROMULUS. You indeed, with a father's affection, commend a pledge that is common to us both; but a praiseworthy life wins him the zeal and love of good men more effectively. You have a young man in whose worth you ought to rejoice, although I know that fathers are grasping in their wishes and think no goods of their sons complete, since their longing and desire is ever for more. Perhaps you indicate that your spirit is gladdened by a report that is sweet rather than reliable; but when divine favor has granted you his return, you will discover the truth of my testimony in his merits. LXIII. Long-standing custom has introduced this observance, that those who have set out from home should furnish the first token of a mutual correspondence; but I, impatient of long waiting, could not keep to that order. I therefore offer you first the honor of my pen; then I append a request, whose form is this: that you assist with your support Laurentius, a member of my household, in a matter that the interest of my house requires, in a manner not unworthy of you. LXIV (LX). TO PACATUS. You ought to have spurred me on; but I do not shrink from being lengthy in this complaint. And so I turn my discourse to a recommendation of the most devoted Olympius, my very dear friend, and I earnestly ask you to admit him, sure of my testimony, into the inner chambers of your friendship. You will find in him good qualities of character, such as the circumspection of your judgment is wont to choose. LXV (LXI). TO ALEVIUS. What the measurements of the carriage wheels ought to be, the line I have sent will attest. It remains that the whole vehicle be fashioned skillfully and made up with firm joints. If part of the price is needed for this work, which you shall have written must be paid, I will order it counted out. The generosity of your gifts ought to be more moderate; for piety is reckoned by men's spirits rather than by presents. LXVI. TO SAECULARIS. The prices of deserters are demanded in confused error. For neither will you establish [...] judgments certain of the labor to come. For the most eminent prefecture holds it fixed and settled that there is no one of such merit as ought to be substituted for your sublimity. LXVII (LXII). I am delighted both by the quiet of the province and by the praise of your vigor, and I claim nothing for it from my own guidance, since everything that pertains to glory is rather ascribed to your own native character. Be blessed, therefore, in the auspices of your first office, and toward both honor and glory direct your fortunate endeavors, so that you too [...]

peUt F3 noster interuentus F^ 30 elusus] F3, elusum F^-^ lides querelae istius F2*3 254 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE F mann tna , utrnm posthac tenere in scribendo morem meum debeam , an verecnndiae nostrae continua lam tacitnmitate consnlere. LXII (LVIIII). n ROMVLO. Tu quidem patema adfectione pignns commune commendas, sed illi efficacins & studia et amorem bonorum probabilis vita conciliat. habes iuvenem, cuins debeas fruge gaudere, etsi scio, patres avaros esse voti nec uUa iiliornm bona putare esse perfecta desiderio et cupiditate potiore. forte lactari animum tuum indicas dulci po- tius nuntio quam fideli confore, cum tibi eius reditum favor divinus ad- nuerit, ut in illius meritis deprehendas mei testimonii veritatem. lo Lxm. r Observantiam vetus usus induxit, ut domo profecti praestent auspicinm mntnae scriptionis, sed ego longae expectationis inpatiens ordinem servare non potni. prior igitur tibi honorificentiam stili defero; dehinc subicio postulatum, cnius haec forma est, ut Laurentium domesticum meum, quod domus meae poscit utilitas, snfifragio tuo is non dissimtiles adiuvare. LXim (LX). n PACATO. Incitare debueras; sed prolixus in hac conqnestione esse non fpigeo. itaque ad comraendationem^^ri devotissimi Olympii amicissimi mei flecto sermonem teque se- 20 dnlo rogo, ut eum secums testimonii in penetralia familiaritatis admittas. reperies in eo momm bona, qualia iudicii tui eircumspectio consnevit eligere. LXV (LXI). ALEVIO. Vehiculi rotae cuius debeant esse mensurae, linea missa testabitnr. superest , ut 25 omne carpentnm adfabre et firmis conpaginibns explicetnr. si parte pretii ad hoc opus est, quod dandum scripseris, iubebo numerari. humanitas xeniorum tnorum de- bet esse moderatior; religio enim animis potius quam muneribus aestimatur. 2 noBtrae om, F3 continua iaro taciturnitate] tgo^ continua etiam taciturnitate F^, ti idem correxU (/f) ex continua tacituruitate , quod in ediUone Lypsii invenerat, ita ut saltem vox etiam in JI fuisae videa- tur, etiam taciturnitate F2 2 m., et tocitumitate F^ / m., taciturniUte (r)F« uale add. F».2 suf^ie: Bed scio vei simite quid 10 illius] T, illis (7/) 11 epistulam om. (71), primus edidit Scioppiua in Verisbn, l. JIII 17 14 postulat. r 16 dia- simUeB F 19 non debeo Kiestling^ non pergo LatinHu 22 circumspectio] lureiua^ circuDspectionis II eligere] (r), elicere {II) niorum] F, semorum (77) LIBEB Vnn. 255 LXVI. AD SAECVLAREM. iT^ Pretia desertorum confuso errore poscuntur. nam neque iudicia certuB faturi laboris ingtitues. iixum enim ac definitum tenet amplissima praefectura, 5 nullum eius esse meriti, ut sublimitati tuae debeat subrogari. LXVII (LXII) . Et quiete provinciae et vigoris tui delector laude, nec quidquam magisterio meo F vindico. cum omne, quod spectat ad gloriam, tuae potius indoli dejig^tur. macte igi- tur primi honoris auspiciis et ad honorem et gloriam felices tende conatus, ut et tibi