Letter 1064: Take heart — be patient with the duty that's been imposed on you.

Let your mind be even-tempered and patient in bearing the office that has been imposed upon you. It often happens by experience that tested virtue is renewed for further labors. What of you? Do you suppose Atilius [Atilius Regulus, the consul summoned from his plow] acted gladly when he exchanged the plow for the rods of office, and, a rustic magistrate, halted his panting oxen in the midst of the work of sowing? Whoever is of good grain [whoever is of worthy stuff] is claimed for the public benefit. [...] Meanwhile turn over the thoughts of your happy leisure: "How well I was raising my country houses to new heights! Where now is that estate of ours, fruitful in autumn of every abundance, or that one sunny in winter, or that which in spring is first to strip the roses from the soil, or that which under the summer sun grows cool with its grove and its spring?" But why have I strayed from my purpose? While I apply a remedy to your complaints, I have of my own accord suggested things to be longed for. Be, as you are, enduring of all cares, and render the service you owe to the emperors, who have taken account of your merit rather than of your inclination.

Sit tibi animns aeqnus et patiens mnneris imperati. saepe usn venit, nt in secnndos labores virtus probata reparetur. quid tn? libenter Atilio factnm pntas, qnod fascibus aratra mntayit et in medio sementis opere anhelos boves statnit rusticus magi- 30 Btratns? qnisqne bonae frngis est, in publicnm commodnm vindicatnr. pone illas in- 8u$e, om. PVM 6 amititia V 10 explio ad agoriu ptextatu inoipit ad probum P, on^. VMF 12 om, VMF 13 breuis PV lectiones V 15 epistolae F striDgor F 16 atque om. M, ideo om, V antiquior miM F loquendi c<^ia. si uidebimur habundi iudicemur seduli F noiuptas PV 26 om. VM 29 mutabit PV mutauit? at in medio — magiatratua. qniaque 8u$e an- helaa VM 2& SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE PVM terim cogitationes felicis otii tui: ^quam bene nrbana opera novis fastigiis excitabaml nbi ager noster vel ille autnmno omnis copiae ferax vel ille hieme apricus, aut qui vere anni primus rosas humo exuit, aut qui sub aestivo sole de nemore et fonte fri- gescit?' sed quid a proposito excidi? dum medicinam facio querellis tuis, ultro desi-' deranda suggessi. esto, ut es, curarum omnium tolerans, et debitam operaip solve & principibus, qui rationem magis meriti tui quam voluntatis habuerunt. LVnn (Lni) a. 368—383.