Letter 7063: Mutual affection makes it natural for me to delegate tasks that serve my interests.

Our mutual affection makes it so that I delegate to you, out of my own habit of relying on you, matters to be handled. Since, therefore, the praetorian games of my son are imminent [the public spectacle owed by his praetorship], which that most distinguished man, the count [comes], most exalted in every kind of virtue, has deigned to assist with grants of post-warrants [evectiones], speed must be applied to the purchase of horses from Spain. Therefore I ask you that no delay hold back my household servants sent to the Spains, whom I wish to be aided by your letters, so that your good services, impressed upon the minds of the Spaniards, may be a support to them. [Editorial apparatus follows in the source, not part of the letter: marginal note read "let them prevail"; manuscript variants for "we however," "of our," "of faith," "we shall repay"/"repend..."/"repay," "let them give satisfaction"; note that section 6 is omitted in manuscripts VMF ("likewise it was issued with the following letter, which pertains to Petronius; this one therefore pertains to Patruinus"); further variant readings and partly illegible fragments concerning "...functions...," "...more fully...," "...you may deem worthy...," "...crossing to the Spains...," "...praetorian function...," and "right up to the end"; "to Spain," "let it be commanded," variants for "purchase"/"conveyance," the phrasing preferred "the sublime and most excellent man, the count," "may he accompany," "most faithful," "you would not object"/"you would deem worthy"; a note that section 19 is omitted in VM ("since his good services, to the one to whom the letter is written, are recalled concerning the province of Spain, it is to be ascribed to Petronius, who had been vicar of the Spains"); further variants for "then," "of virtues," "most exalted"/"sublime," "sent"/"men," "to their minds."] CVII. To Patruinus. I have known the moderation of Julianus, an agent in the imperial service [agens in rebus]; I approve his birth; I grieve at his fortune; for he has long and grievously been worn down by fatal misfortunes. But I believe that all things will return into favor with him, if he is cherished by your patronage and kindness. I shall say no more, since it is familiar to your distinguished character to relieve those in need of aid, and since the very nature of your mind agrees with this petition of mine. CVIII. (in the years 398-402) To Patruinus. After the agreement of the parties, after the bond of the compact, and after the records of the settlements were produced in court, my son Caecilianus is once again dragged into the uncertainties of litigation. The nature of the case is known to you; with good reason I forbear to set down in writing what you have ascertained. This much only do I wish obtained from your holy spirit: that, with the same strength by which you settled the first struggles on his behalf, you may remedy the repeated injury, since the broken concord ought the more sharply to rouse your sense of justice against the breach of faith in the compact. CVIIII. (in the years 398-402) To Patruinus. Manifest is the wickedness of those who bring back into dispute matters concluded by compacts, and who, through impatience of peace, exchange the end of a quarrel for a second lawsuit. Weigh therefore the grief of my son Caecilianus, for whom the concord purchased at the cost of his patrimony could not procure repose. For he is dragged back into long-drawn-out trials, from which he will easily be extricated if you lend your support. For in you and your brother is the harbor of all whom chance afflicts. I ought not to be lavish in my entreaty, since the nature of the case and your justice draw forth more favor on your part than my intervention does. CX. (in the year 401) To Patruinus.

Amor mutuus facit, ut tibi ex usn meo agenda delegem. cum igitur filii mei 20 praetoria instet editio, quam vir inlustris comes omni virtutum genere sublimissimus evectionibus iuvare dignatus est, coemptioni equorum ex Hispania celeritas admovenda est. quare quaeso te, ut familiares meos ad Hispanias missos nulla tarditas demore- tur, quos iuvari tuis litteris volo, ut illis merita tua Hispanorum mentibus inpressa suffragio sint. 2& margine additum erat uincant P 2 m. nos tamen] nostrum V 2 fldei V rependemus] (77), repend//// P, rependere Vj repende M 3 satisfaciant V 6 om, VMF; simul eum tpistula aequenti emissa, quae ad Petronium periinet; haee ergo ad Pairuinum I d. m. om. F gratus P 1 m, V inde a mediooritas rum superaunt in P nisi haee : 8 . . . bus 9 . . . functionis ba . . . pud eum plenius ex 10 . . . q. digneris — in rg . . . ad bispanias transitus im II . . . dpetit — praetoriae fun . . . letusque usijue ad finem 9 eum om. V 10 miiis V bi- spaniam F imperetur V 11 //rulium P 12 oontio V^ coemptio M deduotio] de//ico P be /oc P praetulerim: subUmem et praeceUentissimum uirnm comitem 13 pcellenti8//nu P ora// P prosequatur (quatur {n rcu. ) M 17 fldelissimi F non graueris] digneris F 19 om. VM; eum merita eius^ ad quem epistula aeripta e$t, de provineiia Hiapania eommemorentur , Pe- troniOy qui vicaritu Hiapaniarum fuerat^ adaeribenda eat 20 tum VM 21 praetoriana V uir- tuttum V sublimissimis P 1 m. V, subUmis Af 23 missos] uiros V 24 mentibus eorr, ex tibl P Im. cvn. AD PATRVINVM. PVMF laliani agentis in rebns modestiam novi, natales probo, doleo fortunam ; fatalibus enim malis diu et graviter exhaustus est. sed credo cum eo omnia in gratiam esse 5 reditura , si tuo patrocinio et humanitate foveatur. plura non dicam , cum praeclaris moribus tuis familiare sit opis indigos sublevare et huic petitioni meae etiam tuae mentis natura consentiat. CVm a. 398—402. AD PATRVINVM. PVM 10 .Post consensum partium, post vinculum pactionis allegataque in iudicio monu- menta placitomm filius meus Caecilianus denuo ad incerta litis adtrahitur. nota est tibi qualitas causae; merito omitto conperta stilo exequi. hoc tantum de sancto animo tuo inpetratum volo, ut /isdem viribus, quibus pro eo luctamina prima sedasti, repe- titae medearis iniuriae, quia iustitiam tuam debet acrius incitare adversum fidem pla- \h citi rupta concordia. CVim a. 398—402. AD PATRVINVM. PVMF Aperta est inprobitas eorum, qui reducunt in quaestionem pactionibus terminata et per inpatientiam quietis finem iurgii secunda lite commutant. aestima igitur filii 20 mei Caeciliani dolorem, cui otium conciliare non potuit damnis patrimonii empta con- cordia. nam reducitur in longinqua iudicia^ quibus facile, si suffragium tuleris, eruetur. est enim in te atque fratre portus omnium, quos fortuita sollicitant. pro- lixus in petendo esse non debeo, cum causae qualitas et tua iustitia plus de te fa- voris quam meus interventus eliciat. 26 CX a. 401. AD PATRVINVM. PVM