Letter 4020: Resume the path of our long-neglected custom — I lead the way, being the first to break our shared offense of silence.

Retrace the path of the custom hitherto neglected, with me as the patron of our friendly exchange of services, since I was the first to break our common offense. Nor do I ask for letters in proportion to your number, although the affection of each one of you individually ought to owe me this return. It is a matter of great indulgence that you should repay, by reciprocal recompense, the interest which I alone render to you.

Relegite viam dissimulati tiactenus moris me officiorum familiarium praesule, qui prior rupi commune delictum. nec pro numero vestro epistulas peto, quamvis hanc vicissitudinem mihi singulorum amor debeat. magnae indulgentiae res est, ut fenus, quod vobis solus exhibeo, altema remuneratione solvatis. enim Vy quod humns M 5 inpatientiae] 8uae, patientiae PVM 7 nomis^ma P, nummisma Jf, Dorma PP 8 potui( P anueiecundia P 9 amore P2 m. noscit V ignoacere] MerctTy agnoacere P 2 m, VAf, ag//8cere P 1 m, et] PjT, om. VM ut sum placido in meos animo] SeioffphUy ut 8ub pladto in meos animo jT, tum (tunc M) sub placito in meos animos PVM 10 celeritate V 11. 12 explic ad florentinum. yi. inc iu oommune fHtrib; mineruio protadio et florent P, explidt ad florentinum: incipit in commune fratribus mineruio protadio et florentino (F), om. VF 14 et uestra in raa, P 15 hoc] enim V 16 mei om, VF temporiB (po in ra$,) P uestrarum F fatigatione V 18 nemesi ipaa ad P, themesii pia kd F patremque] lureUUy fratremque PV, fra- trumque F 21 duorum] PFF, tuorum V0 25 om, VF 29 solus om, F 1 1 8 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE