LETTER XC. 

S. Ambrose dwells on the mutual love of himself and Antonius.

AMBROSE TO ANTONIUS.

1. You never are silent in regard of me, nor ought I ever to complain of being neglected by your silence, knowing that I am not absent from your thoughts. For since you bestow that which is the most precious, how can you withhold that which many others receive, not so much from any habitual affection as from an interchange of civility.

2. And even from my own feelings I can judge in turn of yours, and these lead me to believe that I am never absent from you, nor you from me, so closely are our souls united. Nor do I feel as if we ever required each others' letters, for I daily converse with you as if present in body, turning towards you my eyes, my affections, and all my regards.

3. In such things as these I delight to cope with you; for, to speak openly with one who is inseparable from my heart, your letters make me ashamed. I beg therefore that you will cease to be always returning me thanks, for my services to you have their highest reward, if I may believe I have not been wanting in my duty towards you.

Farewell; love me, for I also love you.

EPISTOLA XC.

ANTONII  amorem in se, suumque vicissim in illum commemorat. 

AMBROSIUS ANTONIO.

1. Numquam es tacitus mihi, nec umquam tuo  1285A me transmissum silentio querar, qui sciam quod tuo non desim pectori. Nam cum id pendas, quod pluris est; qui potes etiam id negare, quod saepe etiam in multos defluit, non tam amoris usu, quam officii vicissitudine?

2. Ego vero etiam ex meo animo tuam vicem aestimo, ut numquam me tibi, et te mihi absentem putem; quoniam semper animis adhaeremus: numquam tuas litteras mihi deesse opiner, aut meas tibi; cum te quotidie coram alloquar, in te oculos, studia, atque omnia officia mea dirigam.

3. His tecum delectat congredi; nam litterae tuae, ut aperte cum individuo pectoris mei loquar, verecundari me faciunt. Unde peto ut supersedeas gratiarum relatu; mihi enim mei in vos officii summa  1286A merces est, si me debito erga vos muneri non defuisse arbitrarer. Vale, et nos dilige, quia ego quoque te diligo.