Letter 2057: In the most important matters, I have frequently noticed how much effort and love you devote to me.

In matters of the greatest importance I have often noticed how much zeal and affection you expend upon me; but I embrace these dutiful attentions of frequent conversation as well, drawn as they are from your inmost heart; their constancy repays the regard I have toward you in equal measure, while their pleasantness is so great that I confess I am incited by your address to longing rather than satisfied by it. For such is the reckoning and nature of all things, that everything which flatters the human senses cannot bring on weariness. Therefore, since I cannot be equal to discharging and rendering my thanks, I do what dishonest debtors are wont to do, who, while still weighed down by another man's money, desire to be bound by a second contract of interest. Wherefore, although your letters are numerous, I demand more frequent ones, not as one ungrateful but as one greedy for your gift. And it can easily be inferred how generous a return of conversation I myself, being at leisure, promise, when I impatiently demand a service of this kind from you, who are busy. [Written shortly before the year 383.]

In maximis quidem rebus, quid mihi studii atque amoris inpendas, frequenter ad- verti; sed haec quoque crebri sermonis officia utpote ex intimo adfectu deprompta conplector; quorum adsiduitas cultum circa te meum pari lance conpensat, iucunditas vero tanta est, ut fatear me adloquio tuo potius incitari ad desiderium quam repleri. ea quippe rerum omnium ratio atque natura est, ut cuncta, quae bumanis sensibus lo 2 blandiuntur, nequeant adferre fastidium. itaque cum solvendis atque agendis gratiis par esse non possim, facio, quod solent inprobi debitores, qui adhuc alieno aere de- pressi cupiunt secundo nexu fenoris obligari. quare etsi numerosae sunt litterae tuae, non ut ingratus sed ut muneris tui cupidus postulo crebriores. facile autem conici potest; quam vicem conloquii otiosus ipse pollicear, cum ab occnpato huiusmodi ofS- i5 cium inpatienter expoiScam. LVH ante a. 383.