Letter 5024: Since I know you are a man of merciful disposition, I have undertaken the task of requesting a pardon on behalf of a...
Since I know you are a man of merciful disposition, I have undertaken the task of requesting a pardon on behalf of a friend. Nor are we so far from the right path that I would ever suspect you of being moved to anger without cause. The distinguished Epictetus, in the manner of lawyers, may have spoken more boldly than was prudent. But boldness in advocacy, while sometimes annoying, is not the same as malice.
I ask that you receive his apology graciously and restore him to your good opinion. A quick pardon will reflect more credit on your character than a prolonged resentment. Farewell.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
Cnm sciam, te animo esse placabili, recepi pro amico operam Yeniae postnlaiidae ;
neque enim sic a recto devii sumns, nt te nmqnam moveri temere snspicemnr. v. c. Epi-
5 ctetns cansidicornm more prolapsns, dnm vnlt inpensins placere snscepto, sanctnm Sabi-
nnm probatnm bonis omnibns incanto sermone perstrinxit. ea res omninm vestmm,
qnibns ille cnrae est, animos creditnr asperasse, nec inmerito. qnerella rectoris etiam
praetorianas acuit potestates. qnid mnlta? Epictetns togae forensis honore privatns
est plnrimis praeferendus, quj firmo patrocinio protegnntnr. nnnc illa clientinm turba 2
10 unius fortnito insnltat errori; qnod ne din maneat, tna praestabit humanitas. satis
datnm est correctioni, nnnc ingeninm tnnm respice. illnd causa mernerit, hoc tribne
lenitati. scio inlnstrem virum praefectnm praetorio his qnoqne litteris tuis prompte
esse cessnmm. erit tibi Epictetus v. c. etiam emendationis snae debitor, qnem panlo
inconsnltum fecerat impnnitas magna peccantinm.
15 xxxxn (xxxx).
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