Letter 3022: You possess such an abundance of eloquence that you earn pardon for your previous silence through the excellence of...

So abundant is the richness of eloquence at your command that you earn pardon for your earlier silence together with praise for your present fluency. For what part of your letter is wanting either in the shrewdness of its invention, or in the novelty of its sentiments, or in the antiquity of its diction? Since, then, so ample a store does not fail you, strive, I beg you [that you may be held no less approved for your piety than for your oratory], so that, just as you are admirable in oratory, you may likewise be praised for your piety. The frequency of your letters will accomplish this, which will not only win favor for you, but will also make me more ready to reply.

^* Tantum tibi suppetit uber eloquii, ut prioris silentii veniam cum praesentis fa- onndiae laude merearis. quae enim pars litterarum tuarum vel inventionum prudentia c^ruit vel novitate sensuum vel antiquitate verborum? cum igitur tibi supellex larga non desit, innitere, quaeso te [ut non minus religione quam oratione probatus ha- l^earis], ut sicuti oratione mirabilis es, ita religione lauderis. faciet hoc crebritas epi- ^^ Btularum tuarum, quae non solum tibi parabit gratiam, verum etiam me faciet promp- tiorem. 'nem omiait 7 quae cauM PV^ quod M ne nt me quem V, ne me quem F 18 enim om. F 19 siquidem quod semper F 20 ut om. F liaMtu P 1 m. {DP), habiU V 21 uerum P 1 m. 22 uale add, VF tia P 1 m. 27 antlquitote (antiqui in raa.) P supplex P 1 m, 28 initere P J m., nitere F, annitere F ut — 29 habearis dtl. Juretus 29 laudaris P J m. faciet et P i m. V 78 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE