Letter 7075: ...your delight prompted a letter written in high spirits.

[...] they furnished. From this it came about that you sent off your letter rejoicing. For an exultant spirit glories, and cannot refrain from displaying itself. Therefore, for so great a love toward us, may the kindness of the gods reward you. And indeed, since I judge that I myself am not capable of repaying [the debt], in exchange for my gratitude I wish for you the favor of heavenly protection. VI. TO SEVERUS. Your letters are indeed always welcome; but now they have stung the spirit of one reading them, since they revealed that you are being worn down by the long duration of an illness. I beg the guardians of good men that they lay healing hands upon your health, lest the long affliction of so excellent a senator give rise to the belief that the heavenly powers care for nothing. From which opinion I dissent, and I presume that you will straightway be restored to sound health by the aid of the saving powers, if only you yourself, full of hope, struggle out from adversity by joyful thoughts. VII. TO CAPREOLUS. As Euscius approached, I hoped for a letter from you, but chance disappointed my confidence; I, however, could not be an imitator of your silence. Therefore I discharge addresses that are not owed, so that you, who ought to have been the foremost in this duty, may be roused to diligence by the compulsion of my example. VIII. TO EUSEBIUS. It may have been due to your modesty that thus far you have offered us no address. Now take up the confidence which we press upon you as an invitation to friendship, and testify by the constancy of your conversation that my letters have been welcome to you. VIIII.

itidem om. F me parem F^ 21 uale add. FPi.2 216 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE PV dium praestiterunt. hine factum est, ut epistulam laetus emitteres. exultans quippe animus gloriatur et ostentatione sui non potest abstinere. pro tanto igitur in nos amore deorum te benignitas muneretur. etenim eum ipse me non esse solvendo [dignum] arbitrer, ad vicem meae gratiae favorem tibi praesidii eaelestis exopto. VI. . 5 AD SEVERVM. Gratae sunt quidem semper ' litterae tuae ; nunc auteni legentis animum momor- derunt, cum te indicarent morbi diutumitate macerari. quaeso custodes bonorum, P valetudini tuae medicas applicent manus, ne optimi senatoris longa vexatio | fidem faciat, nihil curare caelestes. a qua ego opinione dissentio, teque protinus ope salu- lo tarium potestatam solidae sanitati praesumo reddendam , si modo ipse plenus spei ladis cogitationibus elucteris adversa. VII. AD CAPREOLVM. PV Adventante Euscio speravi | litteras tuas, sed fiduciam casus fefellit; ego tamen is silentii tui imitator esse non potui. quare^ indebitis fungor alloquiis, ut qui praesul huius officii esse debueras, exempli necessitate ad diligentiam provoceris. VIII. AD EVSEBIVM. Fuerit verecundiae tuae, quod nihil hactenus nobis adloquii detulisti. nunc sume 20 fiduciam, quam tibi ad invitamentum familiaritatis ingerimus, et gratas tibi fuisse litteras meas sermonis adsiduitate testare. VIIII.