Letter 7058: The friendships of parents are rightly passed down to their children, so that affection once formed may benefit the...

Quintus Aurelius SymmachusUnknown|c. 392 AD|Quintus Aurelius Symmachus
friendship

The friendships of parents are rightly passed down to their children, so that affection once formed may benefit the next generation as a kind of inheritance. That's why I've taken the son of the late Gregory under my wing -- his father and I shared a deep bond of trust.

But I want to share this inherited duty with you. Whatever his needs require, please act on my behalf. Among his other ambitions, the young man's chief desire -- a sign of his generous spirit -- is to train at your bar. I can think of no better compliment to your reputation. Farewell.

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.

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