Letter 4008: A certain sense of propriety held me back from writing first.

A certain scruple has until now held me back from being the first to send a letter. For an ancient custom established this practice: that the greeting of those whom a long sojourn abroad separates from their own hearth should arrive first. I therefore offer and render abundant thanks, both because I have learned that you, your weakness now shaken off, are recovering more fully, and because I understand that a kind of door has been unbarred for me, so to speak, to write. For this reason I wish you better advancements. For although in keeping with your character and your birth you have attained the summit of honors, fortune has nevertheless not yet restored to you the full reward and the recompense that is owed; and though she has bestowed great things upon you, she will never equal your merit. Now I return to the customary words by which, paying you the duty of greeting in the usual manner, I demand a mutual gift in return. For you understand that the spirits of those who write are spurred on by reciprocity. [Letter XXVI, before the year 395. To Protadius.] There survive among the Sallustian records the letters of Africanus, which Jugurtha, after the destruction of Numantia, carried to Micipsa as witnesses of his own distinction. These I think should at present be set down word for word in the pages, in the name of our brother Florentinus, because, just as both shone with equal glory in their affairs, so the same honor of testimony befits the excellence of each. And Scipio indeed gave that man back willingly to the king of the Numidians; we yield to you against our will so great an ornament. For it must be admitted that it was done as a favor to you, that we suffered this man to depart. As for myself, if for friendship's sake you ask to be informed of anything, the investigators who were the arbiter of my affairs will be the witness of what was sought. Only believe this much of my letter: that I am well and that I cultivate care for you, which an emulous loyalty toward you promises me in turn on your behalf. [Letter XXV. Pomerius (?) to Protadius.] I longed for your letters as many people were arriving, whom I had presumed would deliver your conversation to me. But when that hope cheated my expectation, I of my own accord set myself to address you, so that by the example of this courtesy I might rouse you to like attentiveness. I ask you, therefore, not to let the obligations of friendship grow cold, which I impatiently require, although I know that your attentiveness toward me, even when you abstain from writing, is held fast by a faithful heart. [Editorial apparatus: marginal source citation "Sallust, Jugurtha 9"; textual variant notes "num V 8 ac] et VM adeptus V 9 tibi] Af, tua PV 10 sollemnia (nia <n erased, 2nd hand) P" - not part of the letter text.]

Observatio quaedam me hacasque cohibebat, ne litteras primus emitterem. hunc enim morem quaedam institutio vetusta constituit, ut eorum ante recurrat adfatus, quos a proprio lare peregrinatio longa disterminat. ago igitur atque habeo uberes gratias, quod et te languore discusso rectius valere cognovi, et mihi ad scribendum 2 tanuam quodammodo intellego esse reseratam. pro qua re meliores tibi opto processus. nam etsi secundum mores ac natales tuos honorum culmen indeptus es, necdum tamen perfectum praemium debitamque mercedem tibi fortuna restituit, quae etsi in te magna contulerit, numquam tamen aequabit meritum tuum. nunc redeo ad verba sollemnia, quibus tibi salutationis officium de more persolvens mutnum munus exposco. intelle- gis enim vicissitudine scribentium animos incitari. 5 XXUn ante a. 395. AD PROTADIVM. Extant in monumentis Sallustianis Africani litterae, quas Ingurtha post excidium Numantinum testes ad Micipsam decoris sui pertulit. has ego in praesentia fratris nostri Florentini nomine ad verbum mandandas paginis puto, quia ut ambo in negotiis 2 suis pari gloria splenduerunt, ita utriusque virtuti idem testimonii honor congruit. et illum quidem Scipio regi Numidae volens reddidit: nos inviti tanto omamento tibi cedimus. fatendum quippe est, in gratiam tuam factum, ut hunc abire pateremur. de me, si quid pro amicitia postnlas edoceri, erit quaesitorum index, qui rerum mearum arbiter fuit. tantum epistnlae meae crede, quod valeam tuique diligentiam colam, quam mihi de te invicem fides aemula pollicetur. 10 15 20 XXV. PVMF AD PROTADIVM. 25 Desideravi litteras tuas adventantibus multis, quos mihi sermonem tuum prae- sumpseram tradituros. sed ubi expectationem meam spes ista frustrata est, ultro te adloqui studui, ut te exemplo officii ad curam similem provocarem. quaeso igitur, ne amicitiae munia frigere patiaris, quae inpatienter requiro, iicet noverim diligentiam circa me tuam, etiam cum scripti abstinens sis, fido animo contineri. so 15 SaU. lug. 9. num V 8 ac] et VM adeptus V 9 tibi] Af, tua PV 10 soUemnia (nia <n raa, 2 m.) P