Letter 8011: This letter contains multiple sections interspersed with critical apparatus.

Your withdrawal I approved of, even while saying nothing. For since, with discord intervening, you could not be present at the last rites of a kinsman, you appeared by your mournful departure to have done justice to family duty. As for myself, I fulfilled what was owed by a leading citizen to a fellow citizen, having lingered three days at home, not chasing after reputation, but pondering the turns of human fortune. For what is so reasonable as to render to a colleague that which you would wish, at some time or other, to show to good men? [Letter] XXXXI. TO ANTIOCHUS. Now that you have only just crossed the threshold of office, you long all too prematurely for the arrival of your successor. I recognize an impatience suited to Greek delights, which I would wish you to conceal for the whole circuit of the year, and to remember that you have moved into the tribes of Romulus. For what indignity have you endured that is worth complaining of? Not yet have military insults struck you down, not yet have you fled throngs of women with their garments torn, not yet, as a caller at the doors of eminent powers, have you experienced the wakeful night, and already, with a fastidious daintiness, do you refuse the magistracy? Change your mind, if you are able, and harden yourself for a year or even two. XXXXII (XXXXI). For who, making for Sicily by a direct route, can render an account of my conversation to one stationed in distant [...] studies? But hold this as settled: my care concerning you ought not to be reckoned by the number of letters. For my diligence toward my friends abides continually, but it is the rarity of opportunities that marks off what is written. But on these matters I think enough has been said: now I must extol the elegance of your talent and the subtlety of your inventions. For you have discovered a new kind of mosaic, untried by earlier men, which even our own rustic skill will attempt to fix to the adorning of vaulted ceilings, if we take from you an example of the work conceived beforehand, whether on panels or on tiles. Farewell. XXXXIII (XXXXII).

Secessionem tuam etiam tacitus adprobavi. nam cum interveniente discordia su- 20 premis congeneri interesse non posse^, maesta profectione visus e^ satisfecisse pietati. ipse quantum civi optimati fuerat deferendum , triduo domi commoratus implevi , non famam captans, sed humanae fortunae vices cogitans. quid enim tam rationabile est quam tribuere coUegae, quod tibi quandoque bonos cupias exhibere? XXXXI. 25 AD ANTIOCHVM. Nunc primnm honoris limen ingressus, nimis inmature adventum successoris ex- optas. agnosco inpatientiam Graecis deliciis congruentem, quam velim toto anni orbe dissimules ac te migrasse in tribus Romuleas recorderis. quid enim dignum conque- 2 Crisocome (JT) 4 omnem] amni F capiebam uoluptate (i7), capiebam ooiaptatem Fy suppU: stili vel simUe quid 5 cum tantam] LectiuSy tum tanta r(IT) 6 tuae post amfcitiae inser, F tribaat] T, tribuet (77) 8 huiw epistulae non supersunt in P nisi haec: 10 . . . le . . . liam fort. timide aut sollemne relligioni (77) natis fecisse P LIBER Vni. 227 stione perpessus es? nondnm te militares contumeliae perculerunt, nondum catervas P mulierum scissa veste fugisti, | nondum ante ianuas eminentium potestatum vigilem TT noctem ^alutator expertus es et iam delicato fastidio renuis magistratum? commuta, si vales, animum teque in annum vel biennium obdura. 5 xxxxn (xxxxi). Probabilem causam quis enim Siciliam recto itinere petens ser- monem meum potest reddere in longinquis f studiis constituto? sed definitMm tene, curam circa te meam de numero epistularum non debere perpendi. diligentia enim mea erga amicos iugiter manet, occasionum vero raritas scripta distinguit. sed de 2 10 his satis dictum puto: nunc elegantia mihi ingenii tui et inventionum subtilitas prae- c//canda est. novum quippe musivi genus et intemptatum superioribus repperisti, quod etiam nostra rusticitas omandis cameris temptabit adfigere, si vel in tabulis vel in tegulis exemplum de te praemeditati operis sumpserimus. vale. xxxxm (xxxxii).