Letter 6017: Friendship is measured by hearts, not by years.

Friendship is measured by hearts, not by years; therefore let the sight of those whose devotion toward you is of long standing not seem unfamiliar to you. This is to the point that you may know that Auxentius and Marianus, my most modest sons, most upright young men, are reckoned in the foremost rank among your admirers, and accordingly are not to be made acquaintances by a fresh introduction, but to be cherished anew through the bond and the sacred obligation of affection. Now a course of treatment, prescribed under the physicians' compulsion, has provided them with a reason for setting out. For they desire to go to Stabiae, in order to drive off the remnants of a long illness with the milk of the herd; but they judge that there is a greater medicine in meeting with you. To you, therefore, their recovery of health will be ascribed, if to the remedies of wholesome herbs you add the soothing applications of your kindness. Farewell. XVIII (XVIII), winter 395/6.

Amicitia animis non annis aestimatur; rudis igitnr tibi eorum non videatur aspec- tus, quorum in te cultus annosus est. hoc eo spectat, ut noveris Auxentium et Ma- rianum filios meos pudentissimos iuyenes inter laudatores tuos loco priore censeri, at- 5 que ideo non cognoscendos novo aditu, sed amoris foedere et religione recolendos. nunc illis proficiscendi adtulit causam medicorum coactu imperata curatio. nam Sta- bias ire desiderant, ut reliquias longae aegritudinis armentali lacte depellant: sed maiorem iudicant in tuo congressu esse medicinam. tibi igitur adsignabitur eorum sanitas, si remediis herbarum salubrium fomenta benignitatis adieceris. vale. 10 XVIII (XVffll) hieme 395/6.