Letter 1047: It's an old saying that talent is nourished by honor.

It's an old saying that talent is nourished by honor. Our own era has proved it true. No one distinguished in war or prominent at home has found his effort unrewarded. And so, when the deserving receive their due, hope is kindled in those who follow the same path. I'm therefore delighted — on many people's behalf, since honest effort is winning them Fortune's favor — but most of all for my friend Julianus, whom I'd like you to love as much as I'm confident you can esteem him. You know how rare it is, in the dust of the courtroom, to find eloquence paired with integrity. Either modesty holds back a fine mind, or success makes a fluent speaker arrogant. In my friend, these qualities coexist in such balance that his decency never silenced him and his fluency never cost him his dignity. He never sold his tongue's ornaments for a fee; despite his modest means, he traded wealth for loyalty, profit for a good name. I'm happy to entrust him to your hands — or rather, your heart — since my deepest concern is that good people should benefit from your friendship. And I know you feel the same: nature delights in equals, and we are drawn to what resembles us. But lest a lengthy testimonial arouse suspicion that I'm simply playing advocate, I ask you to judge him for yourself with careful scrutiny. Once you've tested his principles, you'll have tested my judgment too. Farewell.

Vetus sententia est, artes honore nutriri. eam nostrae aetatis confirmavit usus. nemo enim belli notus aut domi clarus exortem praemii sensit industriam. ita cum dignis fructus tribuitur, eandem viam capessentibus spes paratur. glisco igitur gaudio cum propter alios, quibus fortunam sollers vita conciliat, tum maxime luliani fratris i& mei gratia, quem sic a te diligi volo, ut probari posse confido. scis nempe, in illo forensi pulvere quam rara cognatio sit facundi oris et boni pectoris, dum aut mode- 2 stum ingenium verecundia contrahit aut successu eloquens insolescit. haec in meo familiari ac necessario ea societate viguerunt, ut neque obiectu pudoris areret nec cum detrimento frontis adflueret. numquam in mercedem linguae omamenta cormpit 20 ac fortunis tenuis opulentiam fide, quaestum laude mutavit. merito hunc tibi in manum vel magis in animum libens trado. nam mihi summa curatio est, ut amicitiam tuam boni uberent. te quoque idem velle, habeo conpertum. semper enim natura aequali- bus gaudet, et familiare sibi est omne, quod simile est. sed ne prolixo testimonio suspicionem laudatoris incurram . quaeso ipse de eo iudices examine pensiore. ita 25 cnm illius institutum probaveris, periculum iudicii mei feceris. vale.