Letter 7018: Ad Flavum

To Flavus My letter goes so often to dear Flavus: so the diligent care of obligation urges me to speak. Now again in prose, now sending verses, love pays what it owes with warm words. Indeed, every traveler who wants to pass on his way — I let no one go by me in silence; I send at least a few words, lest the friend who is sought often by the page think himself forgotten. If no man is free, a breeze serves well as bearer. My mind hangs suspended through wandering clouds — anxious, uncertain of your news. Where are you? What are you doing? Who has seen you lately? I interrogate every passing face from your direction. Write to me, Flavus. The silence is too long. A letter costs little; the silence costs me much.

XVIII Ad Flavum Ad carum totiens mea pergit epistula Flavum: sic monet officii sedula cura loqui. nunc quoque prosaico, modo mittens carmina versu blandior affatu debita solvit amor. quin tibi pauca ferat, qui vult iter ire viator nemo mihi tacite praetereundus abit, fotus amicitiae te ut pagina saepe requirat; et si vir desit, portitor aura placet. attonitis animis ego per vaga nubila pendo nullaque suscipio signa relata manu, an tibi Charta parum peregrina merce rotatur? non amor extorquet quod neque tempus habet, scribere quo possis, discingat fascia fagum : cortice dicta legi fit mihi dulce tui. an tua Romuleum fastidit lingua susurrum? quaeso vel Hebraicis reddito verba notis. doctus Achaemeniis quae vis perscribito signis , aut magis Argolico pange canora sopho. barbara fraxineis pingatur rhuna tabellis, . quodque papyrus agit virgula plana valet. pagina vel redeat perscripta dolatile Charta: quod relegi potent, fructus amantis erit.