Letter 6010: After this greeting, I turn to a matter that demands your attention.

I hear that we have been summoned to attend the consular ceremony [the inauguration of the consul]. My own intention is to rest and remain at home, after last year's exertion; but consider yourself, more deeply and wisely weigh, what course you should set. I presume, moreover, that those who are said to have been invited were called forth by the authority of that most exalted man, and that your own concord has been deliberately joined with theirs, so that you may hasten out, under cover of the consular duty, to render thanks. It is to be feared, however, that if you think you ought to excuse yourself, you may seem offended at the obtaining of the recent rescript; and perhaps, so far as it is permitted to hope about uncertain things, that error of yours will be set right, once you have happily presented yourself. I have not learned that the Spaniard has been invited. Consider therefore the outcome of either course. I will report again, if anything of new information comes to light upon this matter. Farewell.

Rogatos esse nos audio ad ofGcium consulare. mihi quiescere et domi manere sententia est.post anni superioris laborem; ipse quid statuas, altius cogita et sapien- ter expende. praesumo autero eos, qui dicuntur acciti, auctoritate praecelsi viri ede- cumatos esse et his unanimitatem tuam-consulto esse sociatam, ut ad agendas gratias 30 sub occasione officii consularis excurras. verendum autem est, ne si excusandum pu- taveris, proximi rescripti impetratione videaris offensus; et fortasse, quantum de in- certis sperare fas est, error iste, cum feliciter adfueris, corrigetur. Hispanum roga- tum esse non conperi. considera igitur eventum partis utriusque. ego denuo nuntiabo, si quid super hoc novae cognitionis accesserit. vale. 1 nam e meis V 3x fonete VM 5 om, VM 6 hostiensis PM 7 meo (m in ras,) P 9 in] Af, om, VP maltnm Vlm. 10 UcUri V ///gore P siluit (ni in ra»,) P nnntiis P, nnnciis V in- cedlt P 1 m, V, insedit M 11 igitur] ergo V 12 ut] ad V 1 m. uale om. V, sequitur in V VII, 34 y in M VII, 35 ; rcliquac huiua libri epiitulae in utroque eodice daiderantur Ofn. P 1 m, 29 Boeiato P 1 m, 20* 156 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE XI.