Letter 2077: Your love for Domitius is well known and firmly established, which spares me the labor of commending him.

From: Quintus Aurelius Symmachus To: [Unnamed correspondent] Date: ~398 AD Context: A letter of recommendation for Domitius, whose close relationship with the recipient makes formal recommendation almost redundant. Your love for Domitius is well known and firmly established, which spares me the labor of commending him. And yet, even where affection already exists, a friend's written word adds something. Consider this letter not as an introduction -- you hardly need one -- but as a reminder that Domitius continues to deserve every kindness you have shown him, and that your generosity toward him brings me joy. He carries with him some particular business that I ask you to support with your usual diligence.

Amor tuus in Domitium notus et validus ademit mihi commendandi eius laborem, pro quo hoc tantum dixisse suffecerit, mihi quoque eundem prisca familiaritate con- iungi. qnae res illi incrementum patrocinii tui, ut spero, praestabit. probabiliorem 15 quippe eum tibi faciet conmiunis similitudo iudicii. interea nos ursis saepe promissis 2 et diu speratis sub ipso articulo muneris indigemus. vix enim paucos catulos mace- ratos inedia et labore snscepimus. et de leonibus fama conticuit, quorum adventus posset efficere, ut ursorum defectum congressio Libyca repensaret. nnciam panis ma- 3 litiose et temere restitutam spontanea voluntas populi redegit in copiam conditomm. 20 tuta igitur omnia atque secura sunt, quae animum tuum iure mordebant. atque uti- nam soIIicitudinQS quaestorias par successuum felicitas mitigasset! vale.^ LXXVn (LXXVI) a. 393.