Letter 5021: I'm overjoyed that an old debt has been paid to your merits at last.

I rejoice beyond measure that an old debt has been repaid to your merits. For long ago you bound the commonwealth to yourself by your virtues, and the commonwealth, having obtained a leader of divine loyalty, has in some way secured for itself the consulship which it might pay over to you. To the celebration of this honor I would have hastened with eager prayer, had not the slow delivery of the sacred dispatch shortened the interval of the days. There was added too the consideration of winter, which by its great cold and by the brief hours of daylight delays excursions. My heart, however, my joy, is with you. I alone must grieve, because chance has begrudged me so great a good; but for you both the number of those present will give satisfaction, and the homage of those absent. Letter 39 (37), in the year 389.

Supra modum gaudeo redditum esse meritis tuis vetu^ debitum. iamdudum enim rem publieam virtutibus obligasti, quae nancta divinae fidei prineipem sibi quodam- 5 modo consulatum, quem tibi solveret, impetravit. ad huius celebritatem voto alacri cucurrissem, nisi diplomatis sacri tarda perlatio artasset intervallum diemm. accessit hiemis contemplatio~quae magno frigore et brevibus lucis horis moratur excursus. meus tamen animus, meum gaudium tecum est. ego solus dolere debeo, quod mihi tantum bonum casus inviderit; tibi et praesentium satisfaciet numerus et cnltus ab- 10 sentium. XXXVim (XXXVII) a. 389.