Letter 7061: I feel the affection you think it right to return, but I'm deeply surprised that you suspect my son Flavianus -- who...

I perceive how much affection you deign to bestow upon me in return, but I am greatly astonished that you should suspect my lord and son Flavianus, who embraces you with an equal love, of being unequal to your friendship. If, therefore, you think there is any weight in my assertion, I beg you to lay aside a persuasion of this kind on my warranty, and, the whispers of certain persons being shut out, to preserve a constancy befitting your holy character and our friendship. Certainly, if any rival talk has reached your notice, share it with me, I beg, so that the bitterness which has been conceived from the false accusation of others may be washed away by trustworthy clearings. To Longinianus. For holy Eusebius I think it suffices, as the highest commendation, that I declare him approved by me, and therefore I ought not to labor with many words to win for him your goodwill. For indeed I hold it presumed that, to those who have shown me faithful services, your favor will by no means be wanting. We are well according to our wish, and shall gladly be so, if you yourself do not deny us letters of your good health. To Petronius and Patruinus. For men known and proven, few things need be said; for they bear testimony of my office, not of their own merit. Wherefore I ought not to labor to commend to your excellency the merits of my lord and son Flavianus, since the old friendship between you will return [...]

Sentio, quid mihi adfectionis invicem deferre digneris, sed vehementer admiror, i& quod dominum et filium meum Flavianum, qui te parili amore conplectitur, erga ami- citiam tuam esse inparem suspiceris. si igitur aliquid in adsertione mea putas esse gravitatis, guaeso /e, ut huiusmodi persuasionem me adsertore deponas et exclusis aliquo- rum susurris constantiam serves sanctis moribus tuis et amicitiae congruentem. certe si quid in notitiam tuam aemulus sermo pervexit, mecum quaeso participes, ut ama- 20 ritudo, quae ex aliorum msimulatione concepta est, fidis purgationibus diluatur. CI (C). AD LONGINIANVM. Sancto Eusebio arbitror pro summa commendatione sufKcere, quod eum mihi pro- fiteor adprobatum , et ideo verbis pluribus elaborare non debeo , ut ei tuam conciliem 25 4 inde a voce postulatum in P non superaunt nisi haec: 5 . . . bnisti sed 6 . . . opus est conmo . . . peti- tio — elieere . . . ttit humanitas 5 opus non est F, non est opus M 6 tua om. (H) deforo V 14 om. VM 16 et] ego, om. PVM parl VM amicitias tuas VM{r) 17 susceperls V, sustines M 18 quaeso te] ego, uestrae V, uolo M^ oro (i^), «**«««4(««« P me] ne P de- ponas] VMy «««««««»«««« P 19 constat P amicitia Pl m., amicitias P 2 m, con- gruentem] VAf, ««««««»««««««« P 20 ^mulus P2m. in spatio vaeuo, e multis V, ex multis M sermo] VAf, ««««»«*««««« P ut amaritudo] FVM^ *»«««»«««« P 21 quae &l P ^2 m. in $pat, vae. insimulatione] Lectiwty simulatione PVM contempta V eet fldis P 2 m, in spat. vae. purga- toribus P Yolantatem. praesumptam quippe teneo, as, qui mihi fida obsequia detulerunt, favo- PVM rem tnum minime defuturum. nos ex sententia valemus libenter habituri, si ipse sospitatis tuae litteras non negaris. AD PETRONIVM ET PATRVINVM. 5 CU (CI) a. 398. PVMF Pro eognitis et probatis pauea dicenda sunt; mei enim officii non sui meriti testimonium ferunt. quapropter laborare non debeo, ut praestantiae vestrae domini et filii mei Flaviani merita commendem. siquidem vetus inter ros amicitia revertetur