To Meterius. (355/56)
I think you have some anger toward your son. But if you are upset because you have not seen him for a long time, that gives us joy — for if this were not painful to you, it would be painful to us that you found it trivial. In your anger over his absence you show the father, and that gladdens us; but if you fault something else, you are mistaken.
Let this letter serve as proof of his good conduct. I could neither neglect your son nor, in paying attention, fail to learn the truth — and to praise one I did not find worthy would not be like me.
So if a man who has won the most distinguished friends among us owes his father a penalty, then let Meterius pay it — for he has won them. But if you yourself would pray that every city treat him no worse than his homeland, turn your complaints into congratulations.
I think you have some anger toward your son. But if you are upset because you have not seen him for a long time, that gives us joy — for if this were not painful to you, it would be painful to us that you found it trivial. In your anger over his absence you show the father, and that gladdens us; but if you fault something else, you are mistaken.
Let this letter serve as proof of his good conduct. I could neither neglect your son nor, in paying attention, fail to learn the truth — and to praise one I did not find worthy would not be like me.
So if a man who has won the most distinguished friends among us owes his father a penalty, then let Meterius pay it — for he has won them. But if you yourself would pray that every city treat him no worse than his homeland, turn your complaints into congratulations.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.