Minucius Felix — Octavius 2

II. For he had hurried to Rome for business and to see me, having left home, wife, and children, and—what is more lovable in children—still in innocent years and still attempting half-formed words, speech sweeter by the very stumble of the offending tongue. At his arrival I cannot express in words with how great and how impatient joy I exulted, since the unexpected presence of a most dear friend especially increased my happiness.

Therefore after one and another day, when already frequent use of companionship had filled the avidity of longing and by alternate report we had learned what through mutual absence we did not know about ourselves, it pleased us to seek Ostia, a most pleasant city, because for my body a gentle and suitable treatment for drying fluids from marine baths was available; and indeed also the vintage holidays had relaxed judicial care. For at that time after the summer day autumn was directing itself into mildness.

And so when at dawn we were proceeding to the sea by walking along the shore, so that both a breeze gently blowing might refresh the limbs and the sand yielding with soft tread might sink with exceptional pleasure, Caecilius, having noted an image of Serapis, as the crowd is accustomed to be superstitious, bringing his hand to his mouth pressed a kiss with his lips.