Letter 5041: I was unable to attend the Senate on the day when the son of Thalassius was released from the obligations of our...

From: Quintus Aurelius Symmachus, Roman Senator To: A friend (name lost) Date: ~385 AD Context: Symmachus reports on a Senate hearing that exempted a friend's son from certain civic obligations, while noting his own illness prevented him from attending. I was unable to attend the Senate on the day when the son of Thalassius was released from the obligations of our rank, but I had already secured the hope of future action on his behalf through considerable personal recommendations among our friends. I do not claim credit for the success of the petition, however: the justice of the request and the force of your own intervention carried it through. My health, long tossed about, has at last settled into calm waters -- and I write this so that, cheered by the news of my recovery, you may return me an equal measure of joy from your own good fortune.

Ego quidem senatui interesse non potui, quo die Thalassi filius dignitatis nostrae 20 muneribus exemptus est, sed spem futurae pro eo actionis non levi apud amicos com- mendatione solidaveram. nec tamen impetrationis gratiam mihi vindico: iustitia po- stulati et interventus tui desiderata promot;it. mea valetudo diu iactata tandem se in tranquillum recepit; qnod eo scribo, ut auctus laetitia salutis meae parem volup- tatem mihi de prosperis tuis referas. 25 LVim (LVII) a. 393.