Salve, Caesar!

I send you greetings from the rolling deck of the Tethys. Yes, I am once again at sea and searching for pirates. They are an elusive breed and difficult to catch. While I don't think there is an organized group, there are too many of them not to have some place as a base. I hope to find that base this season. Now that I have a sizable fleet, I will be able to provide a decent escort for the merchants and still look for the buggers.

What I say next may come as a surprise to you. I am not very good at this sort of thing, so I'll not beat around the bush and just come right out with it. I would like to marry your niece Valeria Marina. I do not ask her hand out of friendship or to advance my own station. Nor would an alliance of our two families be of that great a benefit to you. No, I am asking for her in marriage because I am in love with the lady.

Are you surprised to hear this? Trust me, my friend, you are no more surprised than I. I met her while visiting with your man Agrippa on some senate business this past winter. While I may not come from patrician stock, I do bring an honorable name to the table. I ask that you consider my proposal seriously and with kindness.

Your friend, Ursus Longinus