Personal letter written by Augustus to his beloved nephew Gaius.
The ninth day before the Kalends of October [23 September]. Greetings, my dear Galus, my dearest little donkey, whom, so help me! I constantly miss whenever you are away from me. But especially on such days as today my eyes are eager for my Gaius, and wherever you have been today, I hope you have celebrated my sixty-fourth birthday in health and happiness. For, as you see, I have passed the climacteric common to all old men, the sixty-third year. And I pray the gods that whatever time is left to me I may pass with you safe and well, with our country in a flourishing condition, while you are playing the man and preparing to succeed to my position.
-Aulus Gellius Attic Nights XV.7
