Quintus Aurelius Symmachus→Unknown|c. 399 AD|symmachus
Looking after a friend's requests is the duty of a good man — especially when justice supports the petition. Let me briefly explain what I'm driving at.
I hold the distinguished Sabinianus in the highest regard. I cannot allow him to have the burden of guardianship [tutela — legal guardianship of minors] forced on him by his brother's children. He's exempt on two grounds: his advanced age and the number of his own children. These facts are documented in the public records, yet the aggressive petition persists undeterred.
Now that fortune has placed the resolution of this matter in your hands, I ask you to use your authority on his behalf. He deserves your favor — whether for my sake, or for the glory of upholding the law's own protections. Farewell.
10 Amicorum orata curare bonae frugis officium est, praecipue si non refragetur aequi-
tas postulatis. quorsum spectet hoc anteloquium breyiter explicabo. Sabinianum cla-
rissimum yirum ita magnifacio, ut quos maxime colo. buic per inpressionem nequa-
quam patior a fratris sui liberis tutelae mnnus inponi. duobus enim privilegiis amolitur
iniuriam, maturitate aevi et numero filiorum. ea res publicis designata monumentis
15 necdum a proposita obstinatione deducit pervicacem petitionem. nunc quia secundante
fortnna in te huius negotii spes recumbit, quaeso, ut ei virtute, qua celsus es, factum
velis, cui vel in meam gratiam praestandus est favor vel ad tuam gloriam iuris prae^
rogativa servanda est. vale.
LXXVm (LXXn) a. 376?
◆
Looking after a friend's requests is the duty of a good man — especially when justice supports the petition. Let me briefly explain what I'm driving at.
I hold the distinguished Sabinianus in the highest regard. I cannot allow him to have the burden of guardianship [tutela — legal guardianship of minors] forced on him by his brother's children. He's exempt on two grounds: his advanced age and the number of his own children. These facts are documented in the public records, yet the aggressive petition persists undeterred.
Now that fortune has placed the resolution of this matter in your hands, I ask you to use your authority on his behalf. He deserves your favor — whether for my sake, or for the glory of upholding the law's own protections. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.