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

I take great pleasure whenever I receive one of your letters. They bring proof both of your good health and of your affection. I am especially glad that you promise to visit soon. To encourage you to hurry, I announce that my son, if divine favor smiles on us, will assume the praetorian fasces [take up the office of praetor, with its obligation to sponsor public games] in the coming year. I have written to you about this matter more fully through my household agents, whom I have charged with purchasing horses from Spain. But since the opportunity presents itself, I press my request again: if winter storms should happen to delay the horses' return, please order them to be stabled on your estates for a few months and sent on to us when spring begins. Meanwhile, do not worry about your people here -- both my personal presence and my protection in the courts are defending them. I have warned the man bringing suit that the case concerns me directly, and that my legal support will not fail them. I have no doubt your people have already told you as much. 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.