Letter 3052: The obligations of friendship are not burdens but privileges.

[before 394.] It is our habit always to address Your Excellency. What is yours? To abstain from letters. We do what we are accustomed to do: I write, you keep silent. But I know that in loving friends there is in your virtues a greater constancy than there is in neglecting letters a deliberate intent, and therefore, secure in your goodwill, I do not abandon the regard owed to you in thought and in speech, by no means demanding that an exchange of writings answer me back, since it is repaid in affection. [Symmachus, Letters] [LV. A.D. 382-391. Symmachus to Ricomer.] While cherishing my leisure on a suburban estate, I took up your letter. For why should I have remained at Rome when you were departing? But the field that holds me for the time being looks out upon our Tiber, where its waters join, from the flank. From here I gladly watch what produce is daily added to the eternal city, what supply from Macedonia is added to the Roman granaries. For, as you recall, with Africa failing, famine was almost on the threshold-which the most merciful emperor, born for the public welfare, forestalled with supplies owed from foreign soil. Already a fleet salutes our harbor-I learned it first!-already we are filled with security; already we say that whatever is produced anywhere for our good prince is ours. I write this so that you may both announce to the lord of the world the accomplishment of his benefaction, and yourself enjoy a share in the common joy. A little later I am preparing to go further off, yet I shall not abstain from sending letters to you. It will be the care of those of our household remaining in the city both to send my message to you through suitable men, and to present to me with equal fidelity whatever you shall have written. [LVI. before 394.]

Lim ante a. 394. Mens mos est semper adloqni praestantiam tuam. qni tnns? litteris abstinere. facimns, qnod solemns: ego scribo, tn retices. sed scio in amandis amicis maiorem virtntibns tnis inesse constantiam quam in neglegendis epistnlis voluntatem, atqne ideo 30 animi tni secnms cultum tibi debitum mente et sermone non desero, neqnaqnam re- poscens, nt scriptomm mihi vicissitndo respondeat, cum in amore reddatur. §8 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE LV a. 382—391. P - SYMMACHVS RICOMERI. In subnrbano praedio fovens otinm snmpsi litteras tnas. cnr enim Romae te dfs- cedente remanerem? ager autem^ qui me interim tenet, Tiberim nostmm inncto aquis latere prospectat. hinc libens video, quid aetemae urbi indies fmgis accedat, quid s Romanis horreis Macedonicus adiciat commeatus. nam paene, nt recordaris, cessante Africa fames in limine erat, quam clementissimus et ad salutem publicam genitus im- 2 perator praevenit indebitis alieni soli copiis. iam portum nostrum — conperi primusl — classis salutat; iam securitate saturamur; iam dicimus nostmm esse, quidquid nbique bono principi nascitur. haec eo scribo, ut et domino orbis effectum beneficii sni nun- to ties et ipse fructum gaudii communis nsnrpes. ego panlo post abire longius paro, ncc tamen dandis ad te litteris abstinebo. erit cura nostris in urbe remanentibns et menm sermonem tibi per idoneos mittere, et mihi pari fide, qnae scripseris, exhibere. LVI ante a. 394.