Letter 9013: I take great pleasure whenever I receive one of your letters.

I take great pleasure of mind whenever I receive the gift of your conversation. For in those letters there is a token both of your good health and of your affection. Besides, it is a joy to me that you promise to be present shortly. But so that you may hasten the more to come, I announce that my son, if divine favor smiles upon him, will take up the praetorian fasces [the insignia of the praetorship] in the coming year. About this matter I have written to you more fully through my household servants, to whom we have entrusted the purchase of horses from Spain. But since the occasion urges it, now too I renew my request and ask you that, if perchance the wintry rough weather should delay the return of the horses, you order our horses to be stabled on your estates for a few months and then to set out to us from there at the beginning of the spring season. Meanwhile, the care of your men has been relieved, men whom both my presence and my judicial protection defend. For I have given notice to the one bringing the suit that the case concerns me, and that the aid of my advocacy will not be wanting to them. This, I do not doubt, the men of your excellency have reported to you. Farewell.

Multam capio animi voluptatem, quotiens sermonis tui munus accipio. est enim in illis litteris et sanitatis tuae et amoris indicium. praeterea laetitiae mihi est, quod brevi te adfore polliceris. quo magis autem venire deproperes, nuntio filinm meum, si favor divinus adriserit, praetorios fasces anno veniente sumpturum. de qua re ad te per familiares meos plenius scripsi, quibus equorum de Hispania mandavimus emp- 20 2 tionem. sed quia suadet occasio, nunc quoque reposco postulatum et quaeso te, ut si forte equorum reditum mtemperies hibema retardaverit, stabulari in agris tuis equos nostros paucis mensibus iubeas atque ad nos inde vemo tempore incipiente proficisci. interea hominum tuomm cura submota est, quos et praesentia mea et iudiciaria tuitio ' defendit. denuntiavi enim litem moventi, quod ad me causa pertineat, nec defutumm 25 eis meae actionis auxilium. quod non dubito extmetSLti& tuae homines indicasse. vale. XXV (XXni) a. 399.