Sidonius greets his dear Maurusius

• 1. I hear that the vintage responds to your diligence and our wishes with greater abundance than this dry year threatened. Therefore, I also suspect that you will stay for a longer time in the district of Vialoscensis which was named ‘Martial’ in recent times because of the winter-quarters of the Julian legions; you own there a fertile vineyard and also an estate, not inferior to its important master, which holds you and your family back with its manifold endowment of crops and dwellings.

• 2. And if you spontaneously decide, when granaries and wine cellars and the larder are filled, to stay there till the swallows and storks come back to spend the snowy months of Ianus and Numa in a smoky calm and in tunic-clad ease, then my few and unprofitable reasons for staying in town will immediately be cut off, in order that, while you of course enjoy living in the countryside, I can enjoy you. For me, as you know, an estate with big revenues is not closer to my heart and does not bring more pleasure than a neighbour of the same age with a good character. Goodbye.