Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → your Excellency our son Ruffinus, Provost of Cirta
Tradução moderna em inglês
I don't mind writing to Your Excellency often, even though I've received nothing in return. I answer for you myself: amid the cares of military life, there's no room for leisurely correspondence. I just hope my steady stream of greetings doesn't start to feel like an intrusion.
I'd almost consider it a favor returned if I simply knew that what I write doesn't bore you.
Texto latino / grego
LXX ante a. 399. Saepe adloqui praestantiam tuam non piget, quamvis nihil invicem sermonis ac- cepi. ipse enira mihi pro te sponte respondeo, quod inter castrenses curas locum ofGcia otiosa non habeant. atque utinam tibi adsiduitas adfatuum meorum non videa- & tur obstrepere! prope est, ut referri mihi litterarum gratiam putem, si sciam, quae scribo, non adferre fastidium. LXXI ante a. 399. AD TIMASIVM.