Letter 1057: We'd planned to linger in the countryside a while longer, but news of the homeland's troubles changed our plans.

We'd planned to linger in the countryside a while longer, but news of the homeland's troubles changed our plans. In a time of shared crisis, my own comfortable detachment would have looked dishonorable. Besides, my duties as pontiff demand that I be present for the observances of the appointed month. I can't in good conscience leave my fellow priests short-handed when so many of them are neglecting their obligations. Once upon a time, administering the sacred rites was a simple delegation. Now, to be absent from the altars in Rome is practically a form of political campaigning [i.e., avoiding responsibility]. How long will Etruria keep you? We're starting to resent whatever it is that you prefer to your fellow citizens for so long. However pleasant the countryside may be, a man can't truly enjoy his leisure when he's worried about his absent friends. Farewell.

Statueramus in extemis adhnc morari ; sed labantis patriae nnntius destinata mnta- vit, cnm mihi in commnnibns malis decolor videretur securitas mea. ad hoc sacri 30 pontificalis administratio curam de me et officinm stati mensis exigit. neque enim fert animns in tanta sacerdotnm neglegentia sufficere collegam. fuerit haec olim sim- plex divinae rei delegatio : nunc aris deesse Romanos genus est ambiendi. vos Etrnria qnousque retinebit? iam qnerimnr esse aliqnid, qnod tamdiu civibus praeferatnr. sit Ucet mris statns mitior, non potest bene defmi otio, qni snis absentibns timet. vale. est Af 8 octaoam aetatio V 11 nale om. V boni (77) 15 tois V 17 prae ut] T0, pre id M, precor qoid 7^77) 18 brebis F, probas Af angostiam (77) mensis] VMPP, mentis 77 32 delatio 7\2> fort. Romanis 33 qoerimos V Q. Atbslits Stmmaohvs. 4 26 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE m (XXXXVI) a. 376?