Letter 5067: The senatorial obligations are drawing our attention to pressing concerns.

[The opening lines belong to the close of the preceding letter:] Senatorial duties press our concern toward the things we have vowed. For if good fortune should favor the word, next year awaits my son's praetorship, and for the sake of furnishing it we have given our friends the task of selecting from Spain horses of the choicest breeding. Let them therefore put your support to the test, should they ask for any help and favor. For it befits you, out of our mutual affection, to share with me in the matters to be seen to. LXXXIIII (LXXXII). Symmachus to Helpidius. I would myself reproach even my own silence, if I had at any time received a letter from you. And so you cannot find fault in another with what you remember to have been committed by yourself. I, however, was the first to burst forth into these courtesies, both that I might urge you on to the pursuit of writing and that I might attend my friend with the support of my testimony. For he is of such diligence and uprightness that he rightly deserves your favor. On his behalf I come forward as petitioner, presuming that our letter will profit greatly with your disposition. LXXXV (LXXXIII). [Editorial apparatus: line 14 "Hispania" — reading of manuscript V (corrected); "instruendi" in manuscripts P, V, M; line 20 "edocumento" — V (corrected, by a second hand), "ut decument" in V (first hand), "ut provideant" in M; line 21 "opus" in P (first hand), V; "favorem" in V (corrected).]

Curam nostram senatoriae functiones ad votiva sollicitant. praeturam quippe filii mei, si fors dictum iuvet, proximus annus expectat, cuius instruenda^ causa amicis nostris negotium dedimns, ut equos ex Hispania lectissiraae nobilitatis edecument. ex- 20 periantur igitur suffraginm tuum, siquid opis et favoris oraverint. decet enim te pro amore mutuo mecum curanda partiri. LXXXIIII (LXXXH) . pri.2F SYMMACHVS HELPIDIO. Silentium meum etiam ipse reprehenderem, si tuas litteras aliquando sumpsissem. 25 itaque arguere in altero non potes, quod a te admissum esse meministi. ego tamen in haec officia primus erupi, ut et te ad scribendi studiura cohortarer et amicum meum testimonii adstipulatione prosequerer. est enim eius industriae atque probitatis, ut favorem tuum iure mereatur. pro quo ego petitor accedo, praesumens apud animum tuum nostras litteras plurimum profnturas. 30 14 hiBpannls V^ instniendi PVM 20 edocumento V^ 2m., ut decument V\ ut prouideant M 21 opus P 1 m. V fauorem V^ LXXXV (LXXXni) .