Letter 2008: Your first letter reached me — so short, so hurried, it seemed to be imitating your journey.

Your first letter was delivered to me, so brief, so hurried, that it seemed to imitate your own journey. But, if you believe me, no greater length was wished for in it. For you embraced in a compact recital everything that I was eager to learn about the prosperous affairs of Your Eminence: with what vigor of health you flourish, with what speed you were conveyed, what serenity you found in the eternal emperor. I would venture to say that the page of that letter of yours was richer in deeds than in words; for there were many things over which I ought to rejoice, although they were few that I read. You, however, after this, remember to water even your private papers with the resources of your eloquence. For it does not exhaust you that you discharge the prayers of those who approach you with tireless address, that you give voice to the mind of the venerable emperor with oracular pronouncements. Let those duties be your first, but not yet your only ones. For I allow only so much to be expended by you upon the public service as detracts nothing from my own consolations.

Redditae sunt mihi primae litterae tuae tam breves, tam festinatae, ut iter tunm 30 viderentur imitari. sed si mihi credis, non est in illis desiderata prolixitas. omnia enim, quae de amplitudinis tuae prosperis nosse cupiebam, succincta enumeratione conplexus es: quanta valetudine vigeas, qua celeritate pervectus sis, quid in aetemo principe serenitatis inveneris. ausim dicere, uberiorem rebus quam verbis fuisse illius naues F 4 remiger V morantur F Bediis P repperiat P 1 m, V, inueniat F 6 ad famem procliuus Oruter praeferas PVM iuuares om. P 1 m. ouram V 20 perBonam P 1 m, V 25 famam V reuocet urbs] VM^ reuocetur P 27 uale add. VM epistulae paginam; tBxa multa erant, quae gaudere deberem, cum essent pauca, quae PVF legerem. tu tamen post haec memento, etiam familiares chartas rigare facundiae 2 tuae copiis. neque enim te exhaurit, quod adeuntium preces indefesso absolvis adfatu, quod venerandi principis mentem loqueris oraculis. sint ista prima nec 5 tamen sola. tantum namque publico usui a te patior inpendi , ut nihil solaciis meis detrahat. VIIII ante a. 395.