Letter 8012: Among the good things parents leave behind, friendship too deserves to be inherited -- and perhaps one should pursue...

Among the other goods of parents who pass away, the succession to their friendships too ought to be sought, and perhaps the inheritance of intimacy ought to be grasped with stronger zeal, since fortune supplies the resources, but affection is bound together by judgment. I wish, therefore, that the connection of your family, handed down to us, may more readily grow strong between us. For it is indeed in accordance with nature that the services begun by you and approved by me should grow together. Therefore, for the rest, be generous with your conversation; my care will not be lacking, which will requite you with an exchange of the pen. Farewell. [Letter] To Pastinatus. We have rightly compared your letter to the fruits of the fields; for as their yield does not fail the debt owed to its own season, so the yearly discourse of your esteem does not deceive the trust of our expectation. Now the delivery of this letter by our men has satisfied me. Having therefore read the pages, I rejoice that you are well, and I am delighted by the honor of your address. Nor do I think myself judged unequal in replying. The divine favor will grant that a long span of years may multiply these exchanges of services between us. Farewell.

Inter cetera parentum decedentium bona amicitiae quoque adfectanda successio est et fortasse studio validiore captanda familiaritatis bereditas, quia facultates for- tuna praestat, caritas iudicio foederatur. volo igitur, ut inter nos promptius convalescat familiae tuae propagata coniunctio. consentaneum quippe naturae est, ut officia a te 20 inchoata , a me probata coalescant. ergo in reliquum sermonis esto munificus ; mea cura non deerit, quae te stili vicissitudine muneret. vale. XXXXUII (XXXXIII) . AD PASTINATVM. n Litteras tuas agrorum fructibus iure contulimus; nam ut illorum proventus non 25 fallit temporis sui debitum, ita fidem nostrae expectationis annuus dignationis tuae sermo non decipit. huius nunc mihi per homines nostros adportatio satisfecit. lectis igitur paginis valere te gaudeo, et adloquie tui honore delector. nec me arbitror in respondendo inparem iudicari. praestabit divinus favor, ut has inter nos officiorum vices aetas prolixa multiplicet. vale. ennius magis eratum F 6 hane epistukmi cum praeeedenti eoniungit (/7), diviait epittulaa (/*) ex coniectwa Leetii? proba- bilem cansam ****] (/*), om, (H) 7 stndiis] 77, latet nomen oppidi^ quod in Jtalia meridionali iitum erat $ed non in itinere, quo Roma SieUiam petentet ire solebant; fort. Rudiis definitum] 5tf«€, deflnit /*, desinit (77) 9 raritas] Juretus^ cliaritas 77 10 bis] hoc {F) praedicanda] luretus, preo^anda 77, precanda F \h om, F 16 dona F^ amicorum F^ 17 non est ante studio infer, F^ cap- Undae Fi.2 haec editas F^ 18 indicio F^ 1 m, foederatur] F(/^, foederat /7 ut om, (77) promptis F^ 1 m, 20 calescant F2, conualeacant F3 isto F^ / m., isU F2 2 m. 21 qui F» muneret] i7F2, muneretur F'«3 uale om, F^ 24 contulerim luretua 27 aUoquiis (77) 29* 228 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE XXXXV (XXXXIIU).