Letter 7025: I debated for some time whether to honor you with a letter while properly waiting for your return.
Longa me deliberatio habuit, an tibi honorem facere sub iusta reditus vestri ex-
pectatione deberem. verebar enim, ne festinatio tna solaciis obviis frangeretur. sed
hoc ambiguum solvit ratio contraria, quae spem dedit, has litteras revertenti stimulo-
15 rum non frenorum instar futuras. ^ed consulto adfecto brevitatem solam tibi deferens
dictionem salutis, ut verborum meorum haustns exiguus efScacior sit ad sollicitandam
sitim quam ad explendam. vale.
xxm.
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I repay everyone who gives me an occasion to write with the currency of a recommendation.
They say snails, when they're thirsty and no dew falls from the sky, survive on their own moisture.
I am really ashamed of sending you the Cappadocians one by one. I should prefer to induce all our youths to devote themselves to letters and learning, and to avail themselves of your instruction in their training. But it is impracticable to get hold of them all at once, while they choose what suits themselves.