Letter 5006: This is a lengthy letter whose text is substantially corrupted by OCR artifacts and interwoven critical apparatus.

How I fear that I may be thought to be coaxing your ears with flatteries! This consulship of yours is such that it seems to have doubled my own. Now the sum of my prayer has advanced to this point, that you may long enjoy its title and may match by length of life the delay of your reward. For it is indeed fitting that a late discharge be compensated by prolonged joy. [critical apparatus, illegible/garbled: "tuae soBpitatis mibi F 1 3 effectos P 1 m, tamen PV 23 tuentiam P, tuentiam V" ...] [Letter XI, A.D. 398. To Theodorus.] I was wondering that your arrival was late, but when the cause of the delay was disclosed and letters sent in advance promised that you would be present shortly, my anxiety was turned into joy. Therefore, secure in your lodging, hasten on, and, refreshed for a little while at Rome by an interval of rest, take up the most auspicious fasces. Our diligence on your behalf will provide whatever an equipped consular requires. [Letter XII, A.D. 396? To Theodorus.] In vain did I hope for consolation from travelling, since the mournful appearance of every place affords no respite to a grieving mind. Or was anyone ever born of so hard a disposition that he can take part, untouched by grief, amid the cares of many? But if you grant that this is true, believe that I too, among the anxious, have in a certain way lost the very practice of gladness. It remains that your letters work a cure for me, which I receive so gladly that no constancy seems likely to satisfy me. I, for my part, in proportion to the openings that chance shall offer, will give you an example of frequent service. For then you will prove that your letters are welcome to me, when you shall have received mine. [Letter XIII. To Theodorus.] For a long while now you write nothing. It would be fair that retaliation in kind be repaid for this fault; but I judge that the things you grieve over are not to be imitated, and I persuade my mind that other causes rather have intervened to delay your service than an idle will. Although I fear that this very kindness may weigh against your conduct. For I who make satisfaction to you on your behalf show that I have deserved no such thing. Write therefore now more often and more copiously, before, with the aforesaid aid of the gods, we set sail for Lucania—for what does it profit to linger in the nearest regions, when no letters are delivered from you?—and distance may honorably be able to excuse your silence. [Letter XIIII. To Theodorus.] The general refuge has been taken away from you: for you cannot bring in that customary and most common kind of defense, that you are still waiting for my letters, so that you may be released by a sort of religious obligation. For a long while now my pen makes the augury for you; and I do not deny that the turn has been repaid to it, [critical apparatus / page heading, partly garbled: "128 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE" ...] but you ought to have rivaled our zeal afterward even with a voluntary service. Or do you wait for me to chastise you with that reproach: "You know not how to act rightly unless compelled by an evil"? I leave aside more, and for the future I pledge your diligence to myself; which, since religious scruple held it of little account, our admonition at least shall restore. [Letter XV, A.D. 390. To Theodorus.] Lately, having returned to Rome, I fell away from my habit of writing not so much from idleness as from occupation, and therefore I ask that you take in good part this excusing of my past silence, and that you rejoice with me, because by the sacred and divine judgment of our lord Theodosius I have merited the consulship. Its manifold preparation requires your industry. But again it occurs to my prayer and to my desires, lest the time of your office be cut short. Wherefore I leave it to your own decision, that, if you desire to be present at the votive duty of our house, you may be released from the labor of your administration. [Letter XVI (XV). To Theodorus.] For the holy Lampadius, your brother, I believed that the practice of advocacy would be profitable both to his hope of advancement and to a good way of conduct. Whence it came about that, after my lord and brother the prefect had first been consulted, he was sent to the forensic camp, especially at that time when he could be trained with your help. Wherefore receive your kinsman, to be instructed in good precepts by your brotherly devotion. [To Magnillus. Letter XVII (XVI).] It is fitting that the message by which a return is announced be brief. For what would you entrust to a page, when all the things that are wont to be committed to writing ought rather to be reserved for conversations? This is the substance of the present letter, which—if the gods favor my prayer—we shall soon follow. [note: Terence, Adelphi 69. critical apparatus garbled: "currit voto... promitto V" ...] [Letter XVIII (XVII). To Magnillus.] You advise that I return, lest a violent incursion disturb the right of our estate. But I think that your care promotes no less than my presence. I conjecture that this alarm is exaggerated by you out of scruple, while you are eager to draw me to Rome. I, however, desire to be absent somewhat longer not only from love of leisure, but because whatever is attempted with the possessor removed and unconsulted will be vain. And the plan for conducting the matter your deliberation, and that of others who hold us dear, will discover. Let no one begrudge my repose; nay, it must be drawn out longer, since the care of good friends performs our part. [Letter XVIIII (XVIII). To Magnillus.] I always place you in the foremost rank of my affections. With reason, uncertain in mind, I await news of your well-being; and if your conversation shall furnish it to me, eagerness will spur on our return. [Letter XX (XVIIII), A.D. 393. To Magnillus.] We long above all for your arrival; you console our desires with friendly gifts. I am indeed greatly delighted by what you have offered, but by this very service the losses of your absence are felt more grievously; for we would take fuller supports and adornments from a friend who was present. But now, amid the votive affairs of my candidate and the quaestorian preparations, I complain that we are cheated of the partnership of your counsels. And yet, though placed not far off, you do not omit the duties to be performed: for both the silk-bordered garments, which my men were retaining after payment of the price, and the rest of the equipment of the gift-offerings, your prompting compelled. I pray therefore for you a ready favor of the gods and a happy return, and at the same time I beg that, if chance shall grant the opportunity, you make haste to be present at our function. Its pleasure will be increased in great part, if you, longed for, arrive as a partaker of our joy. [Letter XXI (XX), A.D. 392–393. To Magnillus.] The holy Aurelius could have explained, even without our letter, if you should inquire anything about me; but because a greeting is wearisome which is delivered by a bare message, I have joined writings to the commission. So then I bid you hail, and at the same time I entreat that, in accordance with the memorandum in which I have written out summarily the things to be prepared for the gift, [critical apparatus / page heading garbled: "130 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE" ...] you both exhibit to me, your sound judicial standing preserved, the care of a devoted brother, as you are wont, and direct our men to furnish the just expenditure for procuring certain things which the production requires. [Letter XXII (XXI), A.D. 392–393.]

Quam timeo, ne aures tuas existimer lactare blanditiis! consulatus hic tuus talis est, ut meum geminasse videatur. nunc voti mei summa eo processit, ut titulo eius longum fruaris et aeques vitae diutumitate moram praemii tui. dignum quippe est conpensari prolixo gaudio seram solutionem. 30 tuae soBpitatis mibi F 1 3 effectos P 1 m, tamen PV 23 tuentiam P, tuentiam V XI a. 398. AD THEODORVM. PVM Adventum tunm serum esse mirabar, sed ubi eausa patefaeta est tarditatis et te brevi adfore seripta praennntia spopondemnt, in gaudium cura conversa est. ergo b hospitii securus adpropera, et aliquamdiu Romae intervallo quietis refotus auspicatis- simos adtoUe fasces. npstra erga te diligentia, quidquid instructus consularis flagitat, providebit. XII a. 396? AD THEODORVM. 10 Frustra speravi de peregrinatione solacium, cum omnium loeomm maesta fades nulias aegro animo praestet indntias. an quisquam tam duro ingenio natus est, ut multomm curis doloris vacuus intersit? quod si vemm esse concedis, me etiam crede inter anxios usum ipsum quodammodo amisisse laetitiae. restat, ut tuae litterae medi- cinam mihi faciant, quas ita libenter accipio, ut nulla mihi adsiduitas satisfactura 15 videatur. ego pro eventn occasionum, quas fors optulerit, exemplum tibi dabo fre- quentis officii. tunc enim probabis, gratas esse mihi litteras tuas, cum meas sumpseris. xni. AD THEODORVM. PVF lampridem nihil scribis. aequum esset huic culpae talionem reponi ; sed ego arbi- 20 tror imitanda non esse, quae doleas, et animo persuadeo, alias potius intervenisse causas of&cii differendi quam residem voluntatem. quamquam vereor, tie factum tuum haec ipsa gravet humanitas. nam qui mihi pro te satisfacio, ostendo, nihil me tale meru- isse. scribe ergo iam saepius et copiosius, priusqnam praefata ope deomm in Luca- nos vela faciamus — quid enim iuvat proximis regionibns inmorari, cum a te nullae 2b litt^rae deferantur? — et silentium tuum honeste possit excusare longinquitas. Xffll. AD THEODORVM. PVM Ademptum generale tibi perfugium: neque enim potes sollemne illud et pervul- gatum genns defensionis inducere, meas te adhuc littems opperiri, ut quadam religione 30 solvaris. iamdudum tibi stilus meus facit auspicium; cui non abnuo redditam vicem, 9 om, VM hanc epMulam coniungit rum pmeeedenii V 10 locorum om. 0 15 pro euenta] LectiWj preuentu PVM dabo om. V 16 gratias P litteras om. V 128 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE PVM sed aemulari stndiuin nostrum etiam yoluntario postea of&cio debuisti. an expectas, ut te illa expostulatione perstringam : tu nisi malo coactus recte facere nescis? omitto plura et in reliquum mihi diligentiam tnam spondeo; quam quia religio parvi habnit, saltem admonitio nostra reparavmt. XV a. 390. 5 AD THEODORVM. f Proxime Romam regressus a scribendi consuetudine non tam desidia quam occu- patione descivi, atque ideo peto, in bonam partem purgationem praeteritae tacitumi- tatis accipias mecumque laeteris, quod d. n. Theodosii sacro divinoque iudicio merui consulatum. cuius multiplex apparatus tuam requirit industriam. sed rursus occurrit lo voto et studiis meis, ne honoris tui tempora contrahantur. quapropter tuae permitto sententiae, ut si votiyo officio domus nostrae interesse desideras, administrationis la- bore solvaris. XVI (XV). AD THEOnORVM. \% Sancto Lampadio germano tuo et ad spem processus et ad bonam viam morum causidicinam credidi profuturam. unde factum est, ut domino et fratre meo praefecto ante consnlto ad castra forensia mitteretur eo praesertim tempore, quo tuo adminiculo possit institui. quapropter pignus tuum suscipe informandum bonis fratema religione praeceptis. 20 AD MAGNILLVM. XVn (XVI). Brevem decet esse sermonem, qno reditns indicatur. quid enim mandes paginae, cnm omnia, quae scripto committi solent, fabnlis potius debeant reservari? hoc est argumentum praesentium litterarum, qua^, si dii votum iuverint, mox sequemnr. 2s 2 Terent. Adelphi 69. cnrrit voto, ne stndio mei honores tni tempore contrahantur promitto V 15 om. PVM epiiiulam BequenUm rum praeeedenti conhmgurU PV, dividit epigtulas M 17 cansa dici nam P 1 m. 19 posset VM deuB M iuuerit Af, praesentium litteramm iunerit V seqnetur PF, ipge s^cuturus sum Af uale add. VM xvm (xvn), AD MAGNILLVM. PVM SuadeS; ut redeam. ne ius praedii nostri violenta perturbet inruptio. at ego puto, non minus tuam curam quam meam praesentiam promovere. conicio exaggerari a te 5 religiose istam trepidationem , dum me Romam studes trabere. ego autem non modo amore otii abesse plusculum cupio, sed quia inane erit, quidquid remoto atque incon- sulto possessore temptatur. consilium autem rei agendae tuus et aliorum, quibus cordi sumus, tractatus inveniet. meae quieti nullus invideat; quin longius produeenda est; cum vicem nostram bonorum amicorum cura fungatur. 10 xvnn (XVIII). AD MAGNILLVM. PVF Semper te in priore adfectionum mearum fronte constituo. merito incertus animi cognitionem tuae salutis expecto ; quam si mihi tuus sermo praestiterit, reditum nostrum alacritas incitabit. 15 XX (xvnn) a. 393. AD MAGNILLVM. PVM Nos tuum praeoptamus adventum; tu amicis muneribus desideria nostra solaris. admodum quidem delector oblatis, sed hoc ipso officio damna absentiae tuae gravius sentiuntur; pleniora enim praesidia atque omamenta de amico praesente caperemus. 20 at nunc inter votiva candidati mei negotia et quaestorios apparatus fraudari nos con- queror societate consiliorum tuorum. et tamen obeunda nec procul locatus omittis: 2 nam et vestes subsericas, quas homines mei post inlationem pretii retentabant, et in- structum reliquum muneralium praemiorum tuus coegit instinctus. opto igitur tibi promptum deorum favorem reditumque felicem simulque oro, si fors dederit faculta- 25 tem , functioni nostrae interesse deproperes. cuius voluptas magna parte cumulabitur, si laetitiae nostrae particeps desideratus accesseris. XXI (XX) a. 392—393. AD MA6NILLVM. PFF Potuit sine litteris nostris sanctus Aurelius, si quid de me quaereres, explicare; 30 sed quia fastidiosa salutatio est, quae Audo sermone defertur, iunxi scripta mandatis. have igitur dico tibi simulque deprecor, ut secundum commonitorium , quo summatim 11 om, VF Q. Aykrlivs Stmmachvs. |7 130 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE PVF rauneri praeparanda joerscripsi , et ipse salva indiciaria existimatione curam mihi reli- giosi, ut soles, fratris exhibeas, et homines nostros conparandis quibusdam, quae poscit editio, iustum inpendium ministrare praecipias. . XXn (XXI) a. 392—393.