Letter 9029: ...it is up to you whether to call those you say were lost in a storm shipwrecks or mere setbacks.

[Letter 117, conclusion] ...to appear. It is therefore your choice to reckon as shipwrecks those whom you say were lost in a storm. You have it in your power to judge how highly you ought to value the kindness of an ineffectual wish on my part; only let our friendship endure, and let fortune have no power over it. Set down the whole sum as loss: I will not withdraw my money on account of the mishaps to your ship. Letter 118 (108). The most august Senate has received your guest Faustinus into its fellowship. So great among us was the standing of your testimony that to defer what you wish would be tantamount to an injury. Let him therefore credit to you the zeal of the whole order; for as he owes the obtaining of his rank to a sacred favor, so he owes the speed of our decree to you. Letter 119 (108b), in the year 394. Most of us believed that you were coming to Milan at the consul's summons; some asserted that you had settled down in Gaul. Amid these varied opinions I was in doubt to what place the quaestorian gifts should be sent. After the arrival of your people gave me the opportunity to discharge my duty, I entrusted to Clarentius, whose proven good faith I had come to know, the customary presents to be delivered. You will not, as I judge, scorn the offering of a diptych and of the small gifts of largesse [apophoreta]. For it is no burden to your modesty to accept what is ceremonial and votive. Since these things are offered to friendship, it concerns the profession of affection that the mind of the one receiving them should persuade itself that they are owed to him. Letter 120 (110). Often passing by Ariminum, I learned from your instruction to honor friends with little gifts. And so, schooled by your example, I repay things needful for use rather than confer gifts. And unless you accept these with ready graciousness, you will appear to be censuring my readiness on account of the gifts you have so often received. Letter 121 (111). You believed the business you laid on me to be ready and easy, in which I sell you no exertion of my effort. For as soon as your letter and my conversation reached the eminent man Faustus, asking that he summon to examination the slave from Epirus about whom you are in dispute, he in no way opposed your request. I hope therefore that, at his summons, the man will shortly be at hand whom a friendly arbitration may adjudge to one or the other of you. But of this enough words have been said. I wish to ask you to enrich us from time to time with the honor of your writings, and that what you have now done because the matter compelled it, you may not abandon when friendship urges it. Letter 122 (112), in the years 392-393. I was indeed presuming that your justice would assist the upright conduct of my brother Magnillus; but when I heard of the good faith of your inquiry, which the talk of all good men coming this way made known, I rejoiced greatly that fortune granted him a fair judge. I therefore give thanks for the security of your friend, whose most innocent life you have approved by the testimony of your verdict, and I hope that through your regard the remaining traces of his misfortune will shortly be removed. And so, that you may more readily take up the part of the equity inborn in you, I come as a suppliant, ever mindful in the future of your kindness, if at last full security looks again upon the man whom you have steadfastly seen fit to clear. Letter 123 (113). Formerly I used to take the greatest pleasure from your letters; now you darken the reader's mind with a tearful complaint. Where is that prudence which fortified you, both by the goodness of your nature and by the reading of the ancients, against all the weapons of fortune? Assume a patience worthy of a man, and as for the things that cannot be changed, cease to mourn. After so wicked a son-in-law, all else ought to seem lighter to you. But why do you give yourself over to sloth and idleness, and, neglecting your patrimony, feed an unoccupied grief? Let the remnants of your affairs be your care, which the criminal invader left drained and torn, lest in these necessities of the commonwealth you be unable to sustain what you have recovered, things which earlier, once lost, you had despised. Letter 124 (114). Though you confess yourself constrained to write, I nevertheless count it no less acceptable that you have deemed me worthy of the honor of your pen than if you had done this of your own accord. But see for yourself who was the author of so great a gift; to me from that letter came not only honor but the fruit of joy. For I learned that with the supply of grain the security of the City is recovering, and at the same time that troubled affairs are returning to calm. These good things, though the obligation of your office links them together, nonetheless gladdened my mind as if they had been doubled. But, fearing what may come later, this report does not yet satisfy, so long as the reckoning of the stores extends only to the next harvest. See to it, therefore, that I may know what each single day brings into the granaries, so that the pleasure of my leisure may grow together with the resources of my homeland. Letter 125 (3). On the sixth day before the Kalends of November you bid me be present at the opening of the quaestorian games. I received the letter of this summons in the neighborhood of Naples two days before the appointed time. There excuses my absence, as you see, the length of the long journey and the proximity of a public duty; but, with the gods helping, I will compensate the debt of my service by attending your many spectacles. Now I ask that you show yourself ready to grant pardon: for it is not right that, to so great a loss of mine, blame too should be joined. Letter 126 (4). It is of my disposition and character to take care for the reputation of those whom I love; and toward you our connection by marriage urges me to expend yet more favor. For this reason I bear with impatience that it is reported to the Senate by the official notices of the attendants that you allow a magistrate of the Roman people to be absent, and that it is turned to your disrepute that the public duties of the homeland are deserted by those liable to them. Even though I presume this has been falsely carried to the public ears, I nonetheless perform the office of a parent in admonishing, and I entreat that to the other praises of your administration you add this title also, about which we are troubled. For it is a grave thing that, while a man of noble family presides over the highest tribunals throughout Africa, some of his colleagues should refuse the Roman duties, and that a year almost empty of games should breed ill-will against the proconsular dignity. Let those at least who desert the duties hear with how moderate an expense the praetor Aedesius produced the urban games of the previous year, and let them gather from that example what honor and relief is granted to the present magistrates. Letter 127 (5). My mind strives to take part in your celebrations, but the state of my body refuses a long excursion. For, as leisure is fruitful of illnesses, the pain of the feet has bound me again, while I indulge in the quiet of the countryside. Grant therefore, I beg you, a fair remission to my duty, and meanwhile allow me to be absent a little while from the nuptial pledges of your house, so that, healed, I may join in the alliance. Letter 128 (6). Pardon is not usually anxiously sought from friends; therefore I compress my words into a few. As I was [...] on my estate, the customary ailment of one foot crept upon me. And so, [unequal] to performing my duties, I ask exemption from the obligation desired. The gods who preside over auspices will grant the means, so that, having recovered my health, I may take part in the nuptial vows of your family. Letter 129 (7). My brother Rabilianus, distinguished in birth and rank, lamented to me in private complaint the bitterness of the wrong done him. For he asserts that his agent was seized without naming [...], and that, when he ought to have obtained redress from you, which he had requested while you were residing at Rome, he found the wrong to his house increased. I judge that this happened through forgetfulness; for when did you order what, when present in person, you disapproved? Therefore, as a parent, I advise that you not think it a mark of conscientiousness to increase what has caused him pain. Certainly, if there is equity in the judgments, render an account to me in a friendly way [...], so that you may know that a manager, on behalf of absent masters, ought to undertake the parts of defense. Letter 130 (8). The receiving of your writings was pleasant to me; for friendship rejoices in mutual services. But would that the diligence of my people had fulfilled the trust of your promise! For although you wrote that they had set out to pay the rent, they brought back only a small part of the revenues, nor was it any shame to them to accumulate a heap of debts under so great a fertility of the year. Deign therefore to take up the care of our interest and to compel the debtors to payment. For what good is it that they are aided by your zeal and benefactions, when our advantage does not feel it? Farewell. Letter 131 (9). With the greeting set first, which it is customary to put before a letter, so that good wishes may go ahead of the sequence of friendly writings, I cannot keep silent with you that the trial-works of the Caietan structure are cooling, and unless your presence applies a spur to the undertakings, I fear that the summer's opportunity may be withdrawn from the work to be carried out. What therefore ought to be done about this, I leave to your discretion; for me it is enough, in those matters which pertain to your praise, to have fulfilled the part of a friendly adviser. Farewell. Letter 132 (10), in the years 399-400? I rejoice most abundantly that it is your care that my son's exhibition be furnished with several bears, and I would have sent the money to be paid out at once, had not the harshness of winter hindered the transport. But a little later, when the opportunity of spring softens the difficulty of the roads, the purchase of the beasts will be seen to, for which you have pledged a fair fixing of price. Meanwhile I give and hold thanks to you, and I declare that I have been challenged toward the increase of friendship, although of your own accord you may deign to notice that honorable benefits do not perish among those who remember. Farewell. Letter 133 (11), after the year 384. Through our common friend Gaudentius I have sent the little requests of my kinsman Valentinus, indeed [...]

videri. est igitur optio tua quos tempestate dicis amissos, naufragia taxare. habes in manu, quanto aestimare mihi debeas inefficacis voti benignitatem ; tantum maneat amicitia nostra nihilque fortunae in eam liceat. summam pone dispendio, non subducam pecuniam meam navis tuae casibus. 25 CXVin (CVIII). Hospitem tuum Faustinum senatus amplissimus in societatem recepit. tanta apud nos testimonii tui antiquitas fuit, ut differri, quae velis, instar iniuriae sit. tibi igitur acceptum ferat studium totius ordinis; nam ut beneficio sacro debet digni- tatis impetrationem, ita tuo decreti nostri celeritatem. 4 Valer. Max. III 7 ext. 2. 5 Heracl. frg. 113 Bywater. qui amU fucum imer, F faclant] effOj faciunt FF qui] (U^rF^, quae Fi«2 3 occiderunt] Fi.3, acciderunt F^, excidemnt /*, om. (77) ullus honor] /7F3, honor ullus F^, ullus fauor F* 4 fldi- cinis] si demis F^ indignatns] ingratus F^ 5 fort. confldentius aut non audientium tur- bam] 77, cimbam T, turbe et F\ turbae F».3 tantum F2 i m. sclebat F2 eraclitum Fi», eraditum F2 6 arbitratur F3 nni si] Mercer, uni is 77, unid T, uni FI.2, om. F3 si es- set — probaret om. F esset optimus] 77, esse optimnm T^ quare] 77, pro qna re F 7 patien- tlae] patrie F3 ego] (77)F3, om. F».2 torquet F3 niuentium F2 8 alii quibus] (77), aliquibus F quoque modo tributa F2 sunt] F, sint (77) quae nichil F3 uale add. F».2 12 buleforus (77) 13 doloris] luretus, dolorem (77) 18 debuisses] (T^, debui (77), debnisti Qrutet 19 expostulas] ego^ epistola (77), postulas (7*) lacunam punetia indicant (777*), supple: \uu%i vel aimile quid 20 translata] ego, etiam lata (IT), lata (F) 21 laeunam indieant (TTr) 22 mihi] (F), om. (77) sit (77), tieribe: instar ininriae uisum sit vel simile quid 268 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE CXVIIII (CVIin) a. 394. n Plerique te accitu consulis Mediolanmm venire credidimus, pars in Gallia rese- disse iactabant. inter haec opinionum varia, quonam mittenda essent quaestoria dona, dubitavi. postquam mihi solvendi officii occasionem tribuit adventus tuorum, Clarentio, cuius spectatam iidem noveram, consueta munerum deferenda commisi. 5 non aspemabere, ut aestimo, diptychi et apophoretici oblationem. neque enim grave est verecundiae tuae sollemnia et votiva suscipere. quae cum amicitiae deferantur, pertinet ad caritatis confessionem, ut deberi sibi haec animus sumenti pet*suadeat. CXX (CX). Ariminum saepe praeteriens magisterio tuo didici amicos honorare munusculis. .10 quare tuo institutus exemplo necessaria usui magis rependo quam defero. quae nisi prompta dignatione susceperis, videbere meam facilitatera de acceptis totiens notare muneribus. CXXI (CXI). Promptum mihi atque declive negotium credidisti, in quo nullum nisum tibi ope- 15 rae meae vendito. quippe ubi primum spectabilem virum Faustum tua epistula, mens sermo convenit, ut Epiro mancipium, de quo ambig/tts, in examen accersat, nequa- quam adversatus est postulatis. spero igitur, accitn eius brevi adfore hominem, quem vestrum alteri disceptatio familiaris adiudicet. sed de hoc satis verborum est. te oratum volo, ut nos subinde scriptorum honore locupletes, et quod nunc causa co- 20 gente fecisti, id amicitia hortante non deseras. CXXII (CXII) a. 392—393. Praesumebam quidem iustitiam tuam fratris mei Magnilli sinceris actibus ad- futuram, sed fide cognitionis audita, quam bonis omnibus adventantium sermo pate- fecit , admodum gratulatus suro , quod illi aequum iudicem fortuna praestitit. ago 25 igitur gratias pro amici |tui securitate, cuius innocentissimam vitam sententiae testi- monio conprobasti, et spero contemplatione tua brevi ceteras infortunii eius reliquias submovendas. itaque ut promptius partes ingenitae tibi aequitatis adripias, precator accedo, memor semper futurus beneficii tui, si eum, quem constanter purgare dignatus es, tandem securitas plena respexerit. 30 CXXm (CXIII). ' Plurimum voluptatis ex litteris tuis ante capiebam ; nunc lacrimabili conque.vrione mentem legentis infuscas. ubi illa prudentia, quae te et naturae bono et veterum 2 mediolanum (/7) 5 Ciarentioj (/*), olarentio {17) 8 snmenti persuadeat] epo, sumentls snadeat (77), snmentiB agnoscat {F) 17 de quo ambigitls in] Merctr^ de ambiget sin (77) 24 nobis omnibus Scioppiu»^ prMiulerhn : pronis anribns 25 praestiterit {F) 26 tui] (/7), delft Modius^ nostri Kiessling 27 contemplatione tni Scioppim, rommendatione tua ego 28 prorop- tius] (F), promptus (77) 32 coiiquestione] luretu», ronquisitione 77 33 et] luretus^ om. (77) LIBER VIIII (X). 269 lectione contra omnia fortnnae tela firmavit? dignam viro adsume patientiam, et quae TI mutari nequeunt; desiste lugere. leviora tibi cuncta post inprobum generum debent videri. cur autem torpori atque otio vaces et patrimonii neglegens feriatum pascas dolorem? curae sint tibi reliquiae rerum tuarum^ quas facinorosus invasor exhaustas 5 et laceras reliquit, ne in his reipublicae necessitatibus recuperata sustentare non pos- sis, quae prius amissa contempseras. cxxnii (cxmi). Coactum te licet fatearis, ut scriberes, ego tamen non minus acceptum tibi re- fero, quod me stili honore dignatus es, quam si hoc sponte fecisses. sed videris, 10 qui fuerit auctor muneris tanti; mihi ex illis litteris non honos tantum, sed gaudii fructus evenit. didici enim commeatu annonario convalescere urbis securitatem simul- que res turftidas in tranquillum redire. quae bona, etsi honoris tui necessitas con- iungit, meum tamen animum tamquam duplicata iuverunt. sed ?dt^riora metuentes nondum explet hic nuntius, quamdiu in alteram messem procedat ratio conditorum. 15 facito igitur sciam, quid invehant horreis dies singuli, ut voluptas otii mci cum pa- triae copiis augeatur. CXXV (III). A. d. sextum kal. Novembr. quaestoriae editionis exordiis interesse me praecipis. huius evocationis litteras ante biduum temporis praestituti circa Neapolim sumpsi. 20 purgat, ut vides, absentiam meam longi^s itineris tractus et functionis dies proximus: sed diis iuvantibus /ultis spectaculis vestris conpensabo obsequii mei debitum. nunc veniae dandae facilem quaeso te praebeas: neque enim fas est, ut tanto dispendio meo etiam culpa iungatur. CXXVI (IIII). 25 Propositi atque ingenii mei est eorum famam curare, quos diligo; tibi autem plus me favoris inpendere hortatur adfinitas. quocirca inpatienter fero, apparitorum notoriis senatut nuntiari, quod Romani populi magistratus abesse patiaris, et in tuam referri invidiam, quod patriae functiones ab obnoxiis deseruntur. id e/si falso in aures publicas praesumo perlatum, fungor tamen in admonendo parentis officio et 30 deprecor, ut ceteris administrationis tuae laudibus hunc quoque titulum, de quo labo- ramus, adicias. grave quippe est, ut generosae familiae viro summis per Africam 2 tribunalibus praeside coWegamm nonnulli munia Romana detrectent et annus paene editionibus vacuus proconsulari fastif/io gignat inVidiam. andiant certe, qui deserunt 3 ferlatiim] (r), ferUtus (77) 10 honos] Lectiu», onas (Z7) sed gandii] egOy gandii aed (77) II securitatem ««««««* ro-> dicem oonstitisse (77), Bequitur p. 273, 26; fini» episUdae inde a simnlqiie epistulae 2 libri X inseritu erat {v. p. 277, 28) timulque omniaj quae Mquuntur u$que ad p. 273, 24, in librum X tranflaia. parte» huius epistulae eoniunxit 8u$e, reliqua huie tibro reddidi ego 12 res torbidasj ego, restitnas (77) con- inngit] ego, contigit (77), inngit T 13 nlteriora] ego, altlora (TT) ]4 quamdin] T, quae (77) 20 longus] (r), longius 77 21 fultis] egOy multis (IT) 27 noUriis senatn (77) 28 id etsi] luretus, idem si 77 32 collegarum] Jurttus, colllgflr 77 33 etUtoriboR {P) fastigio] luretw, fastidio 77 270 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE n functiones, quanta inpendii mediocritate anni superioris praetor Aedesins urbanos fe- cerit ludos, et de exemplo colligant, quid praesentibus magistratibns honoris et leva- minis deferatur. CXXVII (V). Interesse votis tuis animus adfectat, sed valetudo corporis longum recusat ex- 5 cursum. nam ut est morborum ferax otium , denuo me pedum vinxit dolor, dum quieti ruris indulgeo. da igitur, quaeso te, officio meo iustam remissionem, et interim sine nuptialibus me domus vestrae pauUsper abesse pignoribus, ut foederibus sanatus admiscear. CXXVIII (VI). 10 Non solet ab amicis anxie venia postulari; quapropter m pauca cogo sermonewi. ^tianti mibi in agro solitus unius pedis morbus o&repsit. itaque obeundis officiis . . . vacationem desiderati muneris peto. dabunt dii auspices facultatem , ut nup- libus familiae vestrae votis conpos sanitatis intersim. cxxvmi (VII). . 16 Frater meus Rabilianus genere et honore conspicuus iniuriae suae acerbitatem prBata apud me conquestione deflevit. adserit enim procuratorem sunm sine cuius- r qn4n denominatione correptum, et cum vindictam de te impetrare debuerit, | quam cum' Romae degeres , postulavit , auctam domus suae cognovit iniuriam. id ego ob- livione arbitror accidisse; quando enim praecipere^, quod incoram positus inprobasti? 20 quare ut parens moneo, ne augere, quae doluit, genus putes esse conseientiae. certe si adest aequitas iudicatis, familiariter mihi ede rationem fita ut noveris, pro ab- sentibus dominis rectorem suscipere debere partes defensionis. CXXX (VIII). JT^ lucunda mihi fuit perceptio scriptorum tuorum ; amicitia enim mutnis gaudet 25 officiis. sed utinam hominum meorum diligentia fidem tuae pollicitationis inplesset! nam cum scripseris, eos ad solvendam pensionem profectos, exiguam partem redituum pertulerunt, nec illis pudori fuit cumulum debitomm sub tanta anni fecunditate con- trahere. \dignare igitur curam nostrae utilitatis adripere et ad solutionem cogere de- bitores. quid enim iuvat, quod studio tuo et beneficiis adiuvantnr, cum hoc commo- 30 ditas nostra non sentiat? vale. 8 panlisper post pignoribus ut coUoc. [TT)^ transposui; eodem loeo panlo post in»et. [F) ex conieettmi, ut videtur 11 In panca cogo sermonem] luretus, pauca cogo sermone (/7)/' 12 obrepsit] Lee(t'fM, oppressit (TTj offlciis uacationem (/7), $upple: inpar vel simile quid 16 honore] Scioppius^ amore (77) 18 in voce debuerit desinit 11; quae «efmmttir, prinwi» edidit Leetiu» a. 1601 ex F 20 praecipercs] Rittetshusius^ praecipere {F) 21 fort. constantiae 25 epistuUis 130 — 133 primius edidit luretus in editione Symnuwhi secunda p, 303 j inter ep. 129 et 134 coUoc. Scioppiu» 27 soluendaro] {F)^ solnendnm (/7j2 LIBER Vmi (X). 271 CXXXI (VUII). Salute praefata, qaam litteris anteferre sollemne est, ut seriem familiarium scrip- il^ torum Yota praeveniant, siiere apnd te nequeo, Caietanae formae temptamenta fri- gere, et nisi praesentia tua coeptis calcar admoverit, vereor, ne operi moliendo 5 aestiva oportunitas subtrahatur. quid igitur super hoc agendum sit, in tuo iure con- stituo; mihi satis est in tis, quae ad laudem tuam peiiinent, partes amici monitoris inplesse. vale. CXXXn (X) a. 399—400? Abundantissime gaudeo, tibi esse curae, ut filii mei editio ursis pluribus in- 10 struatur, statimque pretia adnumeranda misissem, nisi hiemalis asperitas inpediret invectionem. sed paulo post, ubi oportunitas veris moUiverit itinerum difficultatem, curabitur ferarum emptio, cui definitionis iustitiam spopondisti. interea tibi ago at- que habeo gratias et provocatum me ad amicitiae incrementa protestor, licet sponte digneris advertere, honesta beneficia apud memores non perire. vale. 15 CXXXin (XI) post a. 384. Per amicum communem Gaudentium propinqui mei Valentini preciculas misi sane