Gregory to Aristobulus, former prefect and antigrapher. To fulfil my affection, I confess, the tongue does not suffice; but whatever I feel concerning you, your own affection tells you better. But I have heard that you labour under certain adversities. Yet I am not greatly saddened concerning this matter, because very often a ship which could have reached the deep of the sea through prosperity, is at the very beginning of its voyage driven back by an adverse wind, but, driven back, is recalled to the port. Moreover, if perchance it should happen that you receive my lengthy letter for interpreting, I beg, translate not word for word, but sense for sense, because very often, while the propriety of words is attended to, the force of the meanings is lost.