Letter 7008: I trust that a steady flow of letters from me is enough to comfort your heart.

I trust that for consoling your spirit the steady stream of my conversation can suffice; for to my recent writings I add this discourse, the reading of which will promise you the hope of my return, if presumed chance should confirm it. Moreover, the reasoning behind this expectation is plain, since after the magnificent performance of the consular games only the exhibition of the arena now remains. Let your spirit therefore be changed into joy, and believe that you have already obtained what a feasible conjecture promises. Farewell.

Confido solando animo tuo sermonis mei adsiduitatem posse sufficere ; nam re- 25 centibus scriptis hunc addo semonem, cuius tibi lectio spem reditus mei pollicebitur, si fors praesumpta confirmet. ratio autem huius aestimationis in aperto est, quia post magnificam ludorum consularium functionem sola adhuc arenae restat editio. mutetur igitur animus in gaudium, et adeptum esse te crede, quod possibilis coniectura pro- mittit. vale. 30 5 offlcium 8ero pernectnm] (/7), peritt in P sum tuae amabUiUtls] (77), /////////////abilitatis P iierls] (77)/; /////Is P iiietiri] (//), ///iri P 13 quod eo in ras. P 19 accessu P 1 m. 20 reUrdant (r) 2$ metetur P l m G desideraretur] lurelus^ desideretur P ullara epistolam (77), x^xAJIiliJJlllj P omis- 7 mn- LIBER VH. 1 79 VIIII a. 399—402.