Letter 1066: I know you value people for their character, not their rank.
I know you value people for their character, not their rank. My friend Romanus still serves in the imperial administration as an officer of the sacred treasury, but his qualities of integrity would suit any level of public honor. His official standing is shared with many; his moral standing, with very few.
I mention this so that you'll judge him by the quality of his life, not by his grade of service. Test him in the most demanding situations, test him in serious matters and in lighter ones: you'll find his loyalty discreet, his conscience open, his judgment independent, and his modesty generous.
I want this to happen for two reasons: so that my recommendation proves credible, and so that you gain a friend of refined integrity.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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Abraham is the father of faith, and his story is our story.