Letter 3053: I could have borne your silence patiently, knowing your habits, had not the fear of illness made me anxious.

I could bear your silence patiently, mindful of your habit, were it not that a report of the illness from which you suffer had lately struck me. I fear, therefore, that an interruption of your conversation more anxious than customary may hinder its service; and so I ask that you deign to release the cares I have taken up out of brotherly love, whether by letters or by messages. For although I am eager for your correspondence, I nonetheless reckon it among my secondary consolations, provided that my mind, anxious on your behalf, may be raised up, if not yet by letters, at least by tidings. [Letter LVII, before the year 394. To Ricomer.] Of my own accord I charge myself with the fault of silence, whenever any intervals of days delay the discharge of my duty. For no excuse avails me, since you frequently interweave much of our friendship even amid public business. But the same I, who shun the sin of sloth, likewise cease to be long-winded in writing. For although I know that your mind is by no means subject to weariness, I observe nonetheless that, given the condition of your affairs, a limit must be set upon words: because, as length is welcome to one who longs for it, so brevity cannot be displeasing to one who is busy. [Letter LVIII, the year 382. To Ricomer.] I love and admire your virtues; but it happens that I even envy you a friend. For some while you alone are enjoying my dear Flavianus. Receive more plainly what I mean to say: to you migrated whatever was best at Rome. And to you indeed your fellowship will give mutual joy: but what consolation will there be for me? whom both he has forsaken, and you will less miss, because one will suffice you in place of both. [Letter LVIIII, the year 385.]

Possem silentinm tuum ferre patienter morem tuum cogitans, nisi me aegritndinis, qua laboras, dudum nuntius perculisset. metuo igitur, ne soUicita magis quam con- sueta cessatio sermonis tui munus impediat, atque ideo qnaeso, ut curas meas fratemo amore susceptas scriptis aut mandatis digneris absolvere. nam cum sim cnpidus lit- terarum , in secundis tamen pono solaciis , nt animus meus pro te anxius , si nondum 20 epistulis, saltem nnntiis erigatur. LVn ante a. 394. AD RICOMEREM. Vltro in me arguo culpam silentii, si qnando usum officii mei qnaelibet dieram intervalla remorantur. nulla enim purgatio subpetit io, cum mnltum famiUaritatis 25 publico actui frcquenter interseras. sed idem, qui peccatum vito desidiae, aeque in scri- bendo longns esse desino. nam licet sciam, animum tuum nequaquam obnoxium esse fastidio, adverto tamen pro condicione curamm tuarum ponendum verbis modum : quia ut desidenti prolixitas grata est, ita displicere non poterit brevitas occupato. LVm a. 382. 30 AD RICOMEREM. Amo et snspicio virtutes tnas; sed accidit, quod tibi etiam amicns invideam. Flaviano meo aliquamdiu solus frueris. accipe planius, quid velim dicere: ad te quid F^m,y quid P 1 m. 12 curae WingendofT^ tu ciiltum et q. 8. 28 aduero P 1 m. conditione P 1 m. 29 desidenti] ego^ desideranti PP liomae optimum fuit. accipe planius, quid uelim dicere: Flauiano meo aliquamdiu solus fruerls LIBEB III. 89 migravit, quidquid Romae optimum fuit. et vobis quidem societas vestra dabit mn- PF tuum gaudium: mihi quid Bolacii erit? quem et ille deseruit, et tu minus desiderabis, quia nnus tibi pro utroque sufGciet. LVmi a. 385.