Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido

You wrote that you'd taken a purgative to clear your bowels, hoping it would bring down the inflammation in your eyes along with the rest of the toxins. I need to know: did the treatment work? Or did it turn out you also needed bloodletting to relieve the veins?

My affection demands equal frankness from you about my daughter's health, so that once I hear good news, I can set down the sharp edge of my worry. I'm distressed about other things too -- the turmoil in the city, mainly driven by the demand for household slaves to be conscripted for military service. We're fighting back with repeated petitions, buying time through appeals. The shameful bidding has already reached five pounds of silver per head, and I'm afraid that fleeing one burden will strip us of both.

The prefect was judged too sluggish in handling the affair and has been replaced by Lampadius, whose character people trust to accomplish the impossible. But right now, please ease my greater anxiety -- the one that concerns you. I'm still in torment, kept waiting by the servant I sent to you days ago for this very news, who still hasn't come back.