Quintus Aurelius Symmachus→Unknown|c. 398 AD|symmachus
My friends Magnus and Magnillus have a petition I've agreed to support. They're deeply concerned that the servants of the distinguished lady Eutychia receive proper legal protection. You'll understand these are people who deserve this favor more on their own merits than on the strength of my letter.
Don't be surprised that they chose not to write about this themselves — their respect for me led them to rely on my endorsement instead. Farewell.
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TO CELSINUS TITIANUS:
My duty requires me to recommend and support Caecilianus, an honorable man and defender of the community of Laurentum-Lavinium. Even if his other qualities did nothing to earn your regard, my intervention alone ought to secure your goodwill. So take this man into your affection — he pleases me and he serves the interests of a venerable city.
Fratmm nostromm Magni atqne Magnilli petitio est, qnam proseqnendam recepi,
qnibns inpendio cnrae est, nt homines Entychiae clarissimae feminae iudiciornm prae-
N sidio fulciantnr. intellegis eas esse personas, qnibns haec gratia magis ex sno me-
\2o rito qnam ex meis litteris debeatnr. nec mireris, ipsos snper ea re scribere noluisse,
cnm reverentia mei fecerit, ut nostro suffragio potins nterentnr. vale.
LXXI (LXV) antea. 381.
f" SYMMACHVS CELSINO TITIANO FRATRI.
■ Caedliannm vimm honestum Lanrentnm Lavinatinm defensorem snsceptnm com-
25 mendat ofGcium. cni si nihil conoiliationis cetera vitae honestamenta praestarent, inter-
ventns mens gratiam tnam deberet adqnirere. ama ergo hominem placitnm mihi et
/ i^eligiosae civitatis commodis obseqnentem. amoris antem tni snmemus indicinm, si
eos, qnibns negotinm familiare mandavit, adinveris.
LXXn (LXVI) ante a. 381.
^^ SYMMACHVS CELSINO TITIANO FRATRI.
Amicoram desideriis operam non negamns, dnm iusta credimns, qnae petnntnr;
xA nnnc mihi nsn venit, qni Bassnm optimis viris placitnm non pntavi snffragio de-
it
I
»
lestia Leethu
agens P 1 m, (/\2>) 20 ea re scribere] VAf, ea restitoere P 21 reuerentiam eis V, renerentia eis M
23 om, VM 24 cecUianom VM
I
32 SYMMACm EPISTVLAE
PF3f sereDdam. salva igitur mea existimatioiie , qai bonis credidi, meritum tibi hominis
dies loDgior indicabit. mihi satis est, si illi primas aditus spem tai dederit plenio-
rem. vale.
LXXm (LXVn) ante a. 381.
◆
My friends Magnus and Magnillus have a petition I've agreed to support. They're deeply concerned that the servants of the distinguished lady Eutychia receive proper legal protection. You'll understand these are people who deserve this favor more on their own merits than on the strength of my letter.
Don't be surprised that they chose not to write about this themselves — their respect for me led them to rely on my endorsement instead. Farewell.
---
TO CELSINUS TITIANUS:
My duty requires me to recommend and support Caecilianus, an honorable man and defender of the community of Laurentum-Lavinium. Even if his other qualities did nothing to earn your regard, my intervention alone ought to secure your goodwill. So take this man into your affection — he pleases me and he serves the interests of a venerable city.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.