Letter 1038: I'm doing exhausting work: I keep writing to someone who keeps not answering.

I'm doing exhausting work: I keep writing to someone who keeps not answering. But if I don't keep prodding and prying some scrap of a letter out of you, the silence will calcify into habit. Whether you consider this persistence of mine devoted or annoying, my mind is made up: I intend to keep our friendship alive through conversation. My old love for you hasn't faded one bit. And rightly so — I've never invested my friendship better. That's why I complain about your silence. A more tender affection makes for readier complaints. The heart that loves deeply is sensitive [Text breaks off in source.]

Plenmn laboris negotium gero, qui conpellare totiens tacitam persevero. contra nisi instigare pergo atqne excalpere a te aliquid litteramm, gliscet oblivio. sive igitur » hoc ofGcium meum sedulnm iudices seu molestum, stat sententia honorem tuum cele- brem praestare colloqniis ; adeo mihi veteris in te amoris nulla discessio est. et merito, nam amicitiae operam nusquam locavi aeque bene. propterea silentium tuum conque- ror. &cit enim tenerior adfectio, nt sit querella proclivior. moUis est animus diligentis 2