Letter 9030: At the point of death, she begged me — both in person and by letter, with the most urgent prayers — to obtain a...
At the point of death, she begged me — both in person and by letter, with the most urgent prayers — to obtain a sacred rescript [an imperial decree] permitting her daughter to be married to her brother's son. This has been granted to many people, as is well known, and the circumstances here make the case all the more compelling.
The family's modest means make this union the most practical arrangement for both parties, and the dying woman's wish carries a moral weight that no bureaucratic objection should overrule. I ask you to support this petition with whatever influence you can bring to bear. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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