Letter 3041: The strength of my health is beginning to rally — it is only fair that a steady stream of letters should now be...

The vigor of my health has begun to rise again: it is right that constancy in writing to you should now be required of me. Let only my confidence in being well remain, which for the most part the harshness of winter disturbs. For the rationale of recovery is exceedingly tender and feeble, and before the physicians' hands my health awaits the help of a more clement heaven. Do not think that I have ascribed the art of healing to the long duration of the illness. For I wish that we may break the memory of these evils by the charm of a jest. But now something must also be said about Repentinus, that excellent young man, whose constant attendance I have missed; which, as I judge, his modesty denied me, though the assurance taken from you ought to have furnished it. There will nevertheless be a better opportunity, by which he may understand that he ought not to have abandoned the man whom, by your frequent testimony concerning himself, he had known to have trusted him. [...]