Letter 1046: You've made up for your long silence with a double delivery.

You have made up for your long silence by writing twice over. For you furnished me with two letters at once, so as to fulfill my longing with a more generous service. From this I have perceived that up to now it was not the will but the letter-carrier that you lacked. For it could not have happened otherwise that you should have cheated me so long of the honor of your conversation. [Editorial note: this letter was not written to Ausonius, inasmuch as he never governed a province.] Deservedly does my regard for you grow day by day, and my affection increases with a just accumulation. For we see it so arranged by experience that a friendship well bestowed advances daily as it is put to the test. But on that point we must refrain from words; for it is not fitting that I should say these things, which I prefer that you should feel. I have indeed learned from your letter how earnestly you seek release from your public office, and I confess that I am amazed that you have so great a distaste for that administration, to which a desirable reward answers from the love of all. Or is there anything more tenacious than the glory which has added praise [...] of your will; and yet care will not be lacking [to ensure] that you, however, may console the [hardship] of your sojourn abroad with a just love of the province. Farewell. [Letter] 43 (37), years 370-379.

Conpensasti longum silentium gemina scriptione. pariter enim mihi binas litteras praebuisti, ut desiderium meum ofGcio largiore conpleres. ex quo adverti, non volun- ^^ tatem tibi hactenus sed baiulum defuisse. neque enim aliter potuisset accidere, nt uel om. F 5 otut] Mereer, ut VMDP^II) 7 oentora sint VM qoantom per] (II), post VM 8 reparam V 27 om. VM haee epUUda non ad Au9onium seripta est, utpoU qui numquam provmeiam rexerit 28 qood pensasti (P^) 22 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE VMTI me tam diu sermonis tui honore fraudares. merito apud nos in dies singulos tui eultus augescit et iusto eumulo erescit adfeetio. namque ita usu conparatum videmus, ut amicitia bene locata experinndo cottidie provehatur. sed de ista parte verbis 2 supersedendum est; neque enim me oportet haec dicere, quae te malo sentire. con- peri sane ex litteris tnis, quanto opere publici muneris absolutionem requiras , et stu- 5 pere me fateor, tantum tibi administrationis eius esse fastidium, cui fructus optabilis ex omnium amore respondet. an est aliquid tenacins gloria, quae laudem adiecit voluntatis et tamen cura non deerit, ut patiaris tu tamen peregrina- tionis solare iusto amore provinciae. vale. XXXXm (XXXVII) a. 370—379. 10