Letter 7057: Both my devotion to you and my duty to the distinguished Eusebius -- a man who has earned the respect of the best...

Both the reasoning of my settled purpose toward you demanded that I write, and my endorsement ought not to have been lacking to that most distinguished and most accomplished gentleman, Eusebius; and so I ask that your kindness reward him, a man who has rightly deserved well of the best men. For every praiseworthy person longs for this one reward of his modesty and honorable conduct: that he may, by an untainted recommendation, attain to the inmost intimacy of good men and of men like yourself. [The following block in the source is the editor's apparatus of manuscript variant readings (keyed to the manuscripts P, V, M, and F), not part of the letter text, and is therefore omitted: notes such as "5 crebra] VM ... P," "6 esse] est V," "7 huius V," "10 imperant M, impetrant PV," "11 humilitas VM," "21 officiis] VMF ... P, cura] VMF ... P," "22 eius] enim V," "23 commendandis P," and the variant readings recorded for line 26 ("scriberem et to the most distinguished gentleman and ..." in F, "scriberem et q c atque" in P, "scribere non metuam atque" in V, "scriberem to a man nevertheless" in M) and line 27 ("quem" in VM, "et meritum" in P) and line 28 ("your kindness" with the word order varying across P, V, and M).] LETTER 87 (85, 86) To Messala. Every recommendation bears witness on behalf of friends and lends its support to those who are unknown. Therefore Processus, that most accomplished gentleman, my son, is not to be reckoned in that category for whom written commendations are furnished as a favor, but rather in that one for whom a return is rendered out of affection. I think it is already clear to you what form of judgment ought to be maintained by you toward him in a friendly spirit, whom I recommend without partiality. It is fitting, therefore, that, as much credit as he has deposited with me, so much kindness he may find with you. LETTER 88 (87) [the year 399–400?]

Et mei circa te propositi ratio poposcit , ut scriberem , et v. c. atque omatissimo Eusebio adstipulatio mea deesse non debuit; quem probe de optimis viris meritum, quaeso tua benignitas muneretur. nam laudabilis quisque hanc solam merce- dem pudoris atque honestatis exoptat, ut ad intimam familiaritatem bonorum tuique similium pura conciliatione perveniat. 30 innnnm, P quia] quod VM 5 crebra] VM, «««««««•«««««»« P 6 esse] est V 7 huins V 10 inperant Af, impetrant PV 11 humilitas VM «««3K»««*«»*« P 21 offlciis] VMFy «♦«««««« P cura] VMF^ «««««««««« P 22 eius] enim V totum P 23 commendandis P 25 om. VM 26 Bcriberem et uiro olarissimo atque Fy scriberem et q c atque P, scribere non me- tuam atque V, scriberem uiro tamen M 27 quem] VM, «««««««« P et meritum P 28 tua «« benignitas P, tna benignitas V, b^nignitas tua M LXXXVn (LXXXV. LXXXVI) . AD MESSALAM. P^M Omnis commendatio amicis testimonium tribait, suffragium praestat incognitis. Processus igitur vir omatissimus filius meus non est in ea parte numerandus, cui ex 5 beneficio scripta praestantur, sed potius in ea, cui vicissitudo ex amore persolvitnr. puto iam liquere tibi, quae circa illum familiariter tenenda sit a te forma iudicii^ quem sine favore commendo. dignum est igitur, ut quantum apud me meriti con- locavit, tantum apud te benignitatis inveniat. LXXXVm (LXXXVU) a. 399—400?