Letter 7060: You've always stood out for the brilliance of your life and learning, but now the congratulations of all good men...

You have indeed always gone before others in the splendor of your life and of your learning, but now it is the rejoicing of all good men that a public distinction too has been conferred upon you. I pray therefore that you may enjoy to your heart's content the insignia of your office, and that, advanced to the summit of glory, you may match the greatness of the imperial judgment. [Letter 91 (91). Pyrrhus(?) to Messala.] It is the duty of my office to report that I am well; it is my wish that I may learn you are in good health. I have for my part, as a loving man, fulfilled my role by giving notice of my own good fortune; you still owe me the joys of your good health. That these may come to my knowledge with the customary faithfulness, both the favor of the gods and your own letters will ensure. [In manuscript P only these words of this letter survive: "... that I am well ... may learn ... I for my part have ... of my own a loving man's role ... you still owe me of your health ... that these with the customary faithfulness may come into my no... and the favor of the gods and ... your letters will ensure."] [To Longinianus. Letter 92 (92), year 399.] With a friendly heart you share in our joys, and you accompany with the congratulation of your pen the renewed honor of my son Flavianus. You are worthy that happy things should always befall you. This kindness of your esteem I know comes from the example of that man who bestowed it. Laudably therefore do you follow the schooling of the noblest goodwill. Keep, I beg, as you do, your steadfastness in good things; imitate that man, and love us. [Letter 93 (93), years 398-399. To Longinianus.] The honor of your military service shines forth in the granting of benefits. Since therefore the reckoning of your merits sets you next to the highest men, by your kindness gain for yourself the distinction of fame and favor. Nor is he far off, from whom you may gather a profit of this kind. For my letters bring before you that my son Desiderius is to be aided, a man, apart from fortune, adorned in all those things which the care of men can provide for him. But even that fortune will return into his good graces along with him, if you show favor. It remains only that you should will what, in proportion to the powers of your station and merit, you are able to do: easily, by dispelling the lawsuit, you will set right the inclined business of our friend. [To Longinianus. Letter 95 (94), year 398.] You have earlier deemed it worthy to embrace the friendships of my lord and son Flavianus, but now a time is given for you to show him proofs of true intimacy. For, summoned by the most sacred letters of our lord Honorius, the most august prince, to the office of the magnificent consul, he will give an occasion by which both his own merit may lie open to your judgment and your affection toward him may become clear. Meanwhile my intervention performs a father's part, and it comes into no doubt how much weight the commendation of pledges of affection carries with one who loves his own. But this is the sum of my desire: that it may find in your heart a love like my own. [Letter 96 (95), years 399-400. To Longinianus.] You exhort me to favor toward Dynamius, in love of whom I would not yield to you. For he is a man cultivated with the adornment of the good arts. Willingly therefore I come over to your opinion, and I declare him worthy to be joined to our order; but there must be added to him the prerogative of military service, so that he may enjoy the benefit of co-optation. For the imperial enactments willed that these immunities be relaxed only for those whom an honor of the camp illuminates. If therefore you shall confer this distinction also, which the addition of provisions and posting-rights crowns, he will be enrolled among the consulars on a downhill course. Wherefore it lies in your hand to assist both his merit and my zeal with such supplements. Meanwhile I greatly wonder that in the case of the illustrious Flavianus, my lord and son, you considered neither rank of honor nor right of friendship. For although your eminent authority demanded the dues of the wine-title, it went so far as to the fine of office through contempt. Bear it patiently that I say neither the prefecture nor a man most devoted to you ought to have been touched by such an affront. I beg therefore that hereafter you deign to show him as much as it befits to be shown to you in return. I at any rate, the father of you both, suffer no grating to arise from you; nay rather I desire that the causes of mutual love between you grow through dutiful observances. [Letter 97 (96), year 399. To Longinianus.] I took joy from your letter after you informed me that my household members, traveling to Spain, had been helped by your letter of commendation. Wherefore the kindness I received I both hold in my mind and attest with my mouth. Your modesty, however, makes me speak of this more sparingly; for it is affection, not words, that you desire. [Letter 98 (97), before year 399. To Longinianus.] For a long time I was longing for your letter: now I have received it with immoderate rejoicing of heart. Responding therefore with the reverence and love that are due, I add a request: that for the future you may deign to make frequent the welcome service which you have granted of your own accord. But there is no need to dwell upon this request. For my petition ought not to draw out what your kindness promises. [Letter 99 (98). To Longinianus.] Gladly do I practice the cultivation of friendship. For I see that an equal return of care is not denied me by you; and your love is a great spur to my diligence. Wherefore I cannot reproach as a favor what I render from a due obligation. For you yourself are the author of my services, which you call forth by your assiduity in writing. [Letter 100 (99), years 399-400.]

Honores quidem semper vitae ac litterarum splendore praecessisti , sed bonorum nunc omnium gratulatio est, etiam publicum tibi decus esse delatum. opto igitur ex sententia partis fruaris insignibus et provectus in cumulum gloriae magnitndinem iudicii imperialis aequiperes. LXXXXn (LXXXXI). 10 PVMF AD MESSALAM. Officii mei est nuntiare, quod valeam, voti, ut te salvere cognoscam. ego in- dicio prosperorum meorum pai*tes amantis inplevi, tu mihi adhuc debes sanitatis tuae gaudia. quae ut solita fide in notitiam meam veniant et deorum favor et tua scripta praestabunt. 1 & AD LONGINIANVM. LXXXXm (LXXXXII) a. 399. Amico animo gaudia nostra participas et integratum Flaviani filii mei honorem stili gratulatione prosequeris. dignus es, cui laeta semper eveniant. hanc autem dignationis tuae benignitatem scio ex illius instituto venire, qui praestitit. lauda- 20 biliter igitur magisterium sequeris optimae voluntatis. tene quaeso, ut facis, con- stantiam rerum bonarum; illum imitare, nos dilige. Lxxxxnn (Lxxxxnij a. 398—399. AD LONGINLANVM. VMF Honor militiae vestrae dandis beneficiis | enitescit. cum igitur te meritorum ratio 25 summis proximum faciat, famae et gratiae decus benignitate conquire. nec procul PFJfF abest, de quo huiusmodi fructum capessas. iuvan|dum enim tibi filium meum Desi- derium litterae meae ingernnt, virum praeter fortunam cunctis rebus oraatum, quas sibi potest hominum cura praestare. sed illa quoque cum eo in gratiam, si faveris, revertetur. restat , ut velis , quod pro loci ac meriti tui viribus potes : facile inclinar- 30 tum amici nostri negotium depulsa lite sanabis. 11 in P huius epistulae non supcrsunt nisi haee: 12 . . . qd aaleam . . . cognoscam ego indi 13 . . . meorum partes amantis ... 1 adliuc debes sanitatis 14 . . . ia quae ut Bolita flde in no . . . eam ueniant et deorum faaor et . . . scripta praestabunt 11 ad eundem F, om, VM lieto 26 ergo poit famae inaer, (/*) 29 cura hominnm V sed] et F 36 restet (r) niribus tui meriti F Inclinatam F 31 negotium] Pfr*}, negnm F, statum Af, felicitatem F LXXXXV (LXXXXim) a. 398. AD LONGDrtANVM. PVM Amplecti amicitias domini et filii mei Flaviani ante dignatuB es, sed nunc tem- pus datur^ ut illi documenta verae familiaritatis exhibeas. sacris enim d. n. Honori 5 augustissimi principis litteris ad officium magnifici consulis evocatus occasionem dabit^ qua et ipsius meritum iudicio tuo pateat et tua in eum clarescat adfectio. interea partes parentis meus interventus exequitur, nec in dubium venit, quid habeat ponderis pignorum commendatio apud eum , qui suos diligit. haec autem summa est desiderii mei, ut in animo tuo reperiat amorem meo similem. 10 LXXXXVI (LXXXXV) a. 399—400. AD LONGINIANVM. In favorem me Dynami cohortaris, cuius tibi amore non cesserim. est enim vir artium bonarum cultus omatu. libens itaque in tuam concedo sententiam dignumque esse praedico, qui nostro ordini copuletur; sed adicienda est ei praerogativa militiae, 15 ut beneficio allectionis utatur. his quippe tantum munia relaxari divalia statuta vo- 2 luerunt, quos honor castrensis inluminat. si igitur et hoc insigne detuleris, quod annonarum et evectionum cumulet adiectio, prono cursu in consulares legetur. quare in tua manu est et illius meritum et meum studium supplementis talibus adiuvare. interea nimis miror, quod in viro inlustri Flaviano domino et filio meo nec gradum 3 20 honoris nec ius amicitiae cogitasti. nam cum praestans auctoritas tua vinarii tituli debita flagitaret, | usque ad officii multam con/emptione progressa est. patienter VMIl admitte, neque praefecturam neque amantissimum tui virum tali contumelia debuisse perstringi. quaeso igitur, ut tantum ei posthac deferre digneris, quantum tibi in- vicem convenit exhiberi. ego certe amborum parens nihil a te patior stridoris emer- 25 gere, quin immo officiis religiosis crescere inter vos causas mutui amoris exopto. LXXXXVII (LXXXXVI) a. 399. AD LONGINIANVM. PVM Cepi ex litteris tuis gaudium, postquam familiares meos ad Hispaniam com- meantes adiutos epistulari commendatione docuisti. quare acceptam gratiam et mente 30 contineo et ore contestor. facit autem verecundia tua, ut de hoc parcius loquar; ad- fectum enim non verba desideras. 15 Cod. Theod. VI 35, 7. 2 om. VM 8 eam quis uos V bortariB M 14 nostrae P l m, 16 quo V detnderis V, detur M 19 meo et fllio V 21 indt a voet flagitaret maior conUxtus par$ ptriit in P; suptrsunt hatc: pr/g ... 22 neq. pf . . . uirum tall contume . . . 23 gi quaeso igitur ut tan . . . deferre digneris qoanti ... 24 conuenit — certe . . . pa- rens — patior strid ... 25 gere quin — religio . . . cere — amorl . . . opto 21 multam contemp- tione] tgOy multa condempnatione VF, multam deprauationem Af, condemnationem mnlta {U) 22 prae- fectura V 25 religiosis] (/7), religionis VM 26* 204 SYMMACHl EPISTVLAE LXXXXVIII (LXXXXVU) ante a. 399. PVMF AD LONGINIANVM. lamdudum desiderabam litteras tuas: nunc inmodica animi gratulatione suscepi. VMF debita igitur reverentia et amore respondens adicio postulatum , | ut in reliquum fre- quentare digneris munus optabile, quod sponte tribuisti. sed in hac postulatione non s opus est conmorari. neque enim petitio mea debet elicere, quod tua promittit humanitas. LXXXXVIIU (LXXXXVIU). PVMF AD LONGINIANVM. Cultum amicitiae libenter exerceo. video enim mihi a te talionem curae parilis non negari; magnus autem diiigentiae incentor est amor tuus. quare beneficii loco lo exprobrare non possum, quod ex debito officio defero. ipse enim tibi auctor es offi- ciorum meomm, quae scribendi adsiduitate sollicitas. C (LXXXXVUII) a. 399—400.