Letter 5011: I was glad to learn from your letter that everything is going well for you and that your public responsibilities are...

[End of preceding letter:] To anticipate the proper turn for writing was a duty of mine. You have the glory of an office hastily performed, while I for my part confess my slowness. And [...] I could have alleged something in excuse for my delays: a very great part of the journey still lay before me; but I preferred to set your mind at ease about the discharge of my task. Yet there is no cause for blushing when one is forestalled by a dutiful zeal. Love me, then, who yield to you of my own accord, one for whom this very plainness ought to win frequent letters from you; and if I do not match these in equal number, again my own confession will earn you the reward. [Letter XXVIII (XXVII).] To Magnillus. A friend of mine returning to the Bruttii I judged should be escorted with a letter, so that I might both discharge to you the duty of a greeting and offer to him something by way of a recommendation. I beg you, therefore, that a return be made to my letters in turn, and that a full defense be afforded to him. [Letter XXX (XXVIII).] To Magnillus. You departed from the city only very recently, but I, as though I were already assailed by a longing for you grown inveterate, have seized upon the duty and office of writing, neither waiting for the proper turn nor observing the custom which is wont to serve friends as a law, namely that those settled abroad should send letters before they receive any. And every true affection is impatient even of a just and lawful slowness. I have therefore broken with custom out of a greater scruple than if I had wished to keep it. And if this matter is welcome to you, both pay me the interest of conversation and smile kindly upon the bearer of such a letter; to whom, just as I myself could furnish nothing more than a letter, so you will be able to bestow nothing more than your favor. [Editorial apparatus: line 2 "effectu" in manuscripts P and F; line 5 omitted in manuscripts V and M; line 7 "a te" omitted in V; "consUiare" (for "conciliare") in V; at the beginning, in a new hand, the following was thus written: "Here begins Hazo"; line 30 "nihil magis potui" in P, second hand.] [Running head: page 132, SYMMACHUS, LETTERS.] [Letter XXXI (XXVIIII). — heading only; no text present.]

Antecapere scribendi ordinem mei muneris fuit. habes festinati officii gloriam, cum ego fatear tarditatem. et ceiiie potui allegare aliquid in excusationem morarum: supererat mihi plurimum viae; malui te de laboris nostri absolutione facere securum. sed pio studio praeveniri nullus est rubor. ama igitur sponte cedentem, cui haec ipsa 15 simplicitas conciliare debet frequentes litteras tuas; quas si non aequavero pari nu- mero, rursus tibi praemium confessio mea faciet. xxviin (xxvn). AD MAGNILLVM. PVF Amicum meum ad Brittios revertentem litteris credidi prosequendum , ut et tibi 2u salutationis munus exolverem et illi commendationis aliquid exhiberem. quaeso igitur te, ut et meis litteris vicissitudo reddatur et illi defensio plena proveniat. XXX (xxvni). AD MAGNILLVM. Proxime quidem urbe digressus es, sed ego quasi iam inveterato tut desiderio 25 convenirer, offieium scribendi et munus arripui nec expectato ordine nec more ser- vato , qui solet amicis esse pro lege , ut peregre locati tribuant prius scripta quam Bumant. et est vera jidfectio omnis inpatiens etiam iustae ac legitimae tarditatis. rupi igitur consuetudinem religione maiore, quam si cam servare voluissem. quae res si tibi grata est, et mihi fenus solve conloquii et perlatori talium litterarum benignus 30 adride. cui ut ipse nihil potui praestare quam litteras , ita tu nihil poteris plus tri- buere quam favorem. 2 effectu PF 5 om, VM 7 a te owi. V consUiare V lam in 0 nova manu sic seriptum erat: Hic incipit Hazo 30 nihU magis potui P 2 m. 17* 132 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE XXXI (xxvim) .