Letter 5070: We cannot bear the stubbornness of our people, who have not paid their outstanding obligations from previous years.

[from the close of the preceding letter] We cannot bear the hardheartedness of our people, who, since they have not paid off the other earlier arrears, even refuse to bear the payment due for this past year. For that reason I ask that you deign to share the care of this matter with my man, whom we have sent to collect from our people. May you gladly take up this devout task! For it is a grievous thing that we, on behalf of our own estates, should be generous in meeting the public obligations, while the agents of those properties are unwilling even to pay back that which they know must be discharged year by year. [Letter 88, to Helpidius] I allow no occasion to take a holiday from my duty. To the courier, who was hastening, I therefore entrusted in passing the words I owe you, by which I ask that you take up the care of repaying the exchange in kind, although I would now rather rejoice in your return than in the honor of your writings. [Letter 89, to Helpidius] The devotion and care of friends is not to be weighed by the infrequency of dutiful correspondence. For very often the opportunity fails those who are eager to write, and yet the memory of friendship does not grow old amid a silence imposed by circumstance. And so the fact that up to now I have kept silent ought not to be charged to my own wish. For many chance hindrances have reined in my zeal. But as soon as I found a timely opportunity, I gathered into this letter a token of my purpose and love toward you, intending to make good, by frequency of letters, the silence I have kept thus far, if you will quicken me with some incentive of mutual conversation. Farewell. [Letter 90, to Helpidius] The concern of my people has reported to me that your health has once again been assailed. Wherefore, made anxious, I did not put off sending my writings to you amid these uncertainties; and that they may bring back glad tidings about you, the divine mercy will grant. It will therefore be a part of your kindness that you add to my repose the assurance of your good health. Farewell. [Letter 91, to Helpidius] You fulfill the offices of devotion both in deeds and in letters. For you both lavish supports of your favor upon my people, and you make me a partaker in the honor of your discourse. I therefore give and hold thanks, and I will take care that the return on our part may never be judged unequal to your good offices. Farewell. [Letter 92 — heading only; no text]

25 Nostrorum duritiam ferre non possumus, qni cum reliqua superiora non exsol- verint, etiam pensionem proximi anni ferre detrectant. idcirco quaeso, nt cum homine meo, quem ad exactionem nostrorum misimus, curam communicare digneris. religiosam operam libenter adripias! grave est enim nos quidem pro agris nostris functionibus pnblicis esse munificos, actores autem locorum ne id quidem velle redhibere, quod 30 sciunt per annos singulos esse solvendum. pareor V^ paginis P 20 in auream V^, in aarea V^ 21 mouerit (m in ras.) P scri- benda V^ neglegentia — describendo om. V» describenda V^ detracta// P 1 m. 27 fort, ad exactionem nominam 29 antores F autem] enim V^ qaidem nellet exhibere Ki, qnem aellent exhibere V^ 30 scinnt pannoA V^ 150 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE LXXXVm (LXXXVI). PV^-^M SYMMACHVS HELPIDIO. Nalluin tempus esse patior a meo offieio feriatum. merito properanti tabellario eursim debita verba commisi^ quibus quaeso, ut referendae vieissitudinis curam capessas, licet malim iam reditu tuo quam scriptorum honore laetari. 5 LXXXVira (LXXXVII) . Pr«.2ir SYMMACHVS HELPIDIO. Non ex officii raritate amicorum religio et cura pendenda est. plerumque enim scribendi cupidis defit occasio, nec taraen amicitiae memoria temporali silentio con- senescit. itaque quod hucusque conticui, voluntati meae non debet adscribi. multa 10 enim studium nostrum fortuita impedimenta frenarunt. sed ubi terapestivam conperi facultatem, contuli in has litteras mei circa te propositi atque amoris indicium, con- pensaturus, quod hactenus silui, frequentia litterarum, si me incentivo quodam mutui sermonis animaveris. vale. LXXXX (LXXXVIII). 15 PV^m SYMMACHVR HELPIDIO. Adtemptatam denuo valetudinem tuam meorum cura suggessit. quare sollicitatns incertis emittere ad te scripta non distuli, quibus ut de te laeta respondeant, praesta- bit divina miseratio. erit igitur muneris tui, ut otio meo securitatem tuae sanitatis adicias. vale. 20 LXXXXI (LXXXVHH). PV^'^F SYMMACHVS HELPIDIO. Et rebus et litteris partes religionis exequeris. nam et hominibns meis admini- cula favoris inpendis, et me sermonis tui honore participas. ago igitur atque habeo gratias, daturus operam, ne ofliciis nostris vicissitudo umquam dissimilis iudicetur. vale. 25 LXXXXII (LXXXX) .