Letter 9002: [To a friend] Since your intervention can and should serve in place of my personal presence, I'm puzzled that...

Since your intervention both can and ought to fill the place of my own presence, I am surprised that our affairs are frequently burdened with petitions from Amazonius. Carry out, therefore, I beg you, the duties befitting our friendship, so that the property, protected by your assistance, may both be vindicated from annoyances and afford us some measure of advantage. Among the other matters, moreover, which the same Amazonius reported, he earnestly entreated that you exempt Ursus, whom he says has long been bound in service to our household together with his family, from every public obligation, so that more easily [...]. But greater help will come to him from your favor, my judge, since justice too is not lacking to his case. For having been circumvented, as the matter has shown, by an improvident pledge, he ought not to incur the penalty of a rustic's simplicity. Farewell. TO PERPETUUS. The votive duty of my household demands your support; for shortly, if the favor of the deity assists our wishes, my son will perform the giving of the praetorship, for which a distinguished supply of chariot horses must be procured. If, therefore, care for absent friends has any weight with you, I ask you to select diligently from all the herds in which Spain abounds those most choice in breeding and outstanding in speed, which my friends, sent for the purpose, may purchase at a fair determination of price. The gratitude for your kindness will remain with me continually, if you devote to this business the zeal which our mutual devotion promises. Farewell.

Cum vicem praesentiae meae et possit et debeat tuus interventus inplere, miror suggestionibus Amazonii occupationes nostras frequenter onerari. exequere igitur, oro is te, partes amicitiae congruentes, ut auxilio tuo tutata possessio et ipsa a molestiis 2 vindicetur et nobis aliquid commoditatis exhibeat. inter reliqua aut6m, quae idem Amazonius intimavit, magnopere deprecatus est, ut Vrsum, quem dudum domui no- strae cum familia sua dicit obnoxium, ab omni publica conventione secemas, quo facilius delata munivit. sed maior ei opitulatio ex tuo, arbitri, favore 2u proveniet, cum causae eius etiam iustitia non desit. circumscriptus enim, quantum res docuit, inprovida cautione, non debet noxam rusticae /ocilitatis incidere. vale. XII a. 399. AD PERPETVVM. Votiva domus meae functio tua adiumenta deposcit; proxime enim, si optata no- 25 stra favor divinitatis adiuverit, filius meus praeturae editione fungetur, cui equorum curulium paranda nobilitas est. si quid igitur apud te valet amicorum absentium cura, quaeso te, ut ex omnibus gregibus, quibus pollet Hispania, lectissimos genere et velocitate praestantes diligenter edecumes, quos amici mei in rem ndssi iusta pretii definitione mercentur. stabit apud me iugiter beneficii tui gratia, si huic negotio stu- 30 dium, quod religio mutua promittit, inpenderis. vale. dignius F cuiusque sufiftagii ullis Ff ouiusque sufftagium uUis (iUis F^ 1 m., cum 2 m.) F, cuius nsus ulUs /7, lacunam indicavit 8cioppiu$ 4 alio F^ 5 uindicate F^ ut] et F^ 6 lau- dis] Lypaius, salutis F postulent F^ 1 m. capitulani] IirF^, capitulam F^ 7 snper hoc] superest F^ 1 m,^ superest cuius F^ 2 m. ualiditatis] egOj utilitatis F, auctoritatis luretu» 8 pro- mentes] Lyp$iu$f promittis F^F^ 1 m., promittentes F^ 2 m. ininsta] LypaiuSj iusta F 9 no- stros] nos F^ subdetur F^ est om. F2 10 scriptione F» pandatur] Z7F«, pendatur F» 19 quo faoilius **** delaU mnniuit] (F), om. {II) 20 arbitri] ego, arbitrii {H) 22 facUi- Utis] luretus, foelicitatis II LfflEB Vmr. 239 Xm a. 401.