Letter 1006: It's no use accusing me of silence — I've been scrupulous about keeping up my correspondence, and there's hardly...

It is for nothing that we are charged with silence, we for whom there is the greatest scrupulousness in carrying out our duty, so that there has scarcely been any halting-place, amid so many of them, at which we have taken a holiday from this obligation. And indeed it gladdens the heart, this dutiful exaction of conversation; for sweet is the complaint that is born of fondness. Only do you take care to recognize that this prodding is religious rather than just. Meanwhile you have kept silent about your withdrawal to Praeneste, of which rumor gave me notice. How I should wish to steal unforeseen upon your pleasures! Although the charms of Campania shine resplendent, it would nonetheless be more convenient for me to spend my time with you and to temper the summer's blaze by the breezes of that region. But our household estate, inclined to decline, must be looked after by us on every side, not so that the sum of profits may grow rich, but so that the hope of the land may be propped up by voluntary expenditures. For this practice has come down to our own age: that the countryside, which used to feed us, is now itself fed. But these matters I let pass, lest a greeting turned into a complaint should diminish the pleasure of the duty. Give your attention to your health and to more frequent conversation, which, when we ask for them, we earnestly promise in return. Farewell.

25 Nequiquam tacitumitatis incessimur, quibus summa cautio est officii persequendi, fere ut nulla statio fuerit tot locoram. in qua huius muneris ferias egerimus. et sane iuvat animum pia sermonis exactio. dulcis est enim querella, quae nascitur ex in- dulgentia. vos modo facite noveritis, hanc stimulationem religiosam magis esse quam iustam. interea loci de Praenestina secessione siluisti, cuius fama mihi fecit indicium. 30 quam vellem deliciis vestris inprovisus obrepere ! licet Campaniae amoena praeniteant, mihi tamen esset adcommodatius agitare vobiscum et spiraculis regionis illius aestivam flagrantiam temperare. sed res familiaris inclinata a nobis usque quaque visenda est, 2 non ut quaestuum summa ditescat, sed ut spes agri voluntariis dispendiis fulciatur. cessit T* 3 deo uolente] V, dum uolente P, aeribe diiB uolentibus 4 redditnros V fors fuat] V0, fmar F affatim V 7 Symmachns patri om, VM 8 uaronis V 9 ebdomadon VM 10 oasta /^, fort. decies tamen castigata sunt, ef. Hor. A. P. 294 praesectum decles non castigauit ad unguem tomo] ScioppiuSy ef. Hor. A. P. 441 y turno 0, a turao /*, a saturno VM 11 pytagoran V 12 aeternftate V 22 commodabo] Af, accommodabo V luretus magis esse religiosam F 29 secessione] sede F mihi fama V 31 religionis V 32 inclinat ea nobis F 6 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE VMF namqae hic nsus in nostram venit aetatem , ut rus , quod solebat alere , nunc alatur. verum haec missa facio, ne salutatio in querellam versa minuat officii voluptatem. date operam valetudini et adloquio crebriori, quae cum petimus^ sedulo pollicemur. vale. VI (UI) ante a. 376.