Letter 3010: Our young men add greatly to their credit when, faced with uncertain legal questions, they turn to the counsel of...

Sidonius to his friend Tetradius. Our young men add greatly to their credit when, faced with uncertain legal questions, they turn to the counsel of experts. Such is the case with the distinguished Theodorus — noble in his own household, but even nobler for his reputation of the most modest conduct — who travels by way of my letter to yours, that is, to the purest fountain of legal knowledge. His thirst for learning is admirable: he will not only find there what he may learn but perhaps bring back something he can teach. Against powerful and factious opponents, even if your expertise were not abundantly available to help him, his own good judgment would suffice. I beg you — unless our joint entreaties are considered a burden or an annoyance — to answer his case according to his judgment and my testimony, and to shore up the wavering substance and cause of this petitioner with the healing remedy of your expert opinion. Farewell.

EPISTULA X Sidonius Tetradio suo salutem. 1. Plurimum laudis iuvenes nostri moribus suis applicant, quotiens de negotiorum meritis ambigentes ad peritorum consilia decurrunt, sicuti nunc vir clarissimus Theodorus, domi quidem nobilis, sed modestissimae conversationis opinione generosior, qui per litteras meas ad tuas litteras id est ad meracissimum scientiae fontem laudabili aviditate proficiscitur, non modo reperturus illic ipse quod discat sed et forsitan relaturus inde quod doceat. 2. cui contra potentes factiososque, si vestra peritia non abundanter opitularetur, prudentia consulta sufficeret. respondete, obsecramus, nisi vobis tamen utriusque nostrum sociae preces oneri fastidiove reputabuntur, iudicio suo, testimonio meo et substantiam causamque supplicis fluctuantem medicabilis responsi salubritate fulcite. vale.