Letter 3036: It is common practice for those who need help to turn to proven supporters.

It comes about by custom that those in need of help take refuge in tried and approved patronage. There is a certain man, Eusebius, who, marked by the error of a youth that has slipped into fault and condemned by a judgment, implores the most assured remedy of imperial pardon. But so that the outcome he hopes for may smile upon him swiftly, he has chosen to entrust the hope of his petition to your care; the sum of which is this: that by the remission of the sentence passed against him he may shut out the wound to his good name. [...]

25 Ex usu venit, nt opem desiderantes ad snffragia probata confugiant. homm nnus Ensebins est, qui adulescentiae prolapsns errore notatnsqne iudicio exploratissimum remedinm veniae imperialis implorat. sed nt ei celeriter adrideat effectus optati, de- ferri in cnram tuam spem petitionis optavit ; cnius haec summa est, ut iudicati remis- sione famae suae vulnns exclndat. 1 indicU PV 3 aale add, VM moninm P 1 m, V in eam prouinciam PVM, fort. intra eam prouinciam 18 mataritatem P bonas artet V 19 ligoriam V redundantes P 2 m. V 20 baiolo PV mores V, et mores M 21 interuentium P, intnitum VM 22 uale add. VM tonit om. F 29 uale add. VF Q. Atbslivs STMMAonva. ]] 82 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE XXXVI ante a. 398.