Letter 2006: It is a famous proverb that delay often turns out for the better — as we have just now proved by experience.

Sidonius to his friend Pegasius. It is a famous proverb that delay often turns out for the better — as we have just now proved by experience. Your friend Menstruanus, having been observed here over a long period, has earned a place among the persons dear and close to us as well. He is obliging, refined, modest, sober, frugal, and devout — endowed with such qualities of character that whenever he is admitted into the friendship of any good person, he confers no less of a benefit than he receives. I write this not to inform you of what you already know, but to satisfy my own desire to express my judgment. For which reason there is a triple cause for rejoicing: first for you, to whom it falls to either form or choose such friends; second for the people of Clermont, for whom I confirm that his qualities have pleased — qualities I have no doubt you yourself have already approved; and third for the man himself, about whom all good people have rendered all good verdicts. Farewell.

EPISTULA VI Sidonius Pegasio suo salutem. 1. Proverbialiter celebre est saepe moram esse meliorem, sicuti et nunc experti sumus. Menstruanus amicus tuus longo istic tempore inspectus meruit inter personas nobis quoque caras devinctasque censeri, opportunus elegans, verecundus sobrius, parcus religiosus et his morum dotibus praeditus, ut, quotiens in boni cuiusque adscitur amicitias, non amplius consequatur beneficii ipse quam tribuat. 2. haec tibi non ut ignoranti, sed ut iudicio meo satisfacerem, scripsi. quam ob rem triplex causa laetandi, tibi prima, cui amicos sic aut instituere aut eligere contingit; Arvernis secunda, quibus hoc in eo placuisse confirmo, quod te probasse non ambigo; illi tertia, de quo boni quique bona quaeque iudicaverunt. vale.