Letter 9030: At the point of death, she begged me — both in person and by letter, with the most urgent prayers — to obtain a...

Quintus Aurelius SymmachusUnknown|c. 381 AD|Quintus Aurelius Symmachus|AI-assisted
imperial politicswomen

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.

AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.

Latin / Greek Original

retur extremis et praesentem me et per epistulam summis precibus obsecravit, ut im-
petrata sacri auctoritate rescripti filia eius fratris sui filio copuletur; quod multis

20 esse concessum manifesta testantur exempla. quare piae supplicationi adiumentum 2
meum negare non possum, quoniam fidem meam super his nuptiis voluntas propinqui
morientis adstrinxit, ut epistula precibus conexa declarat. dignare igitur iuvare
effectum pii desiderii eatenus, ut si quis conturbare temptaverit mandatum patemum,
comminatione infamiae terreatur. rescripti autem beneficium cum fnerit impetratum,

25 spectatae fidei perlator adportet. vale.

cxxxmi (xn. viu) .

Meretur auxilium tuum causa communis; nam quidquid ad senatorias pertinet n
fnnctiones, participata ope et coniuncta animositate peragendum est. iuva igitur
auctoritate, qua dignnm est, partes atque rationes ad amplissimam curiam pertinentes,
ao multum ex hoc negotio laudis habiturus , si munia ordinis nostri , quae iamdudum
fluctuare manifestum est, solntio ab obnoxiis efflagitata reparaverit.

CXXXV (Xm. VUU) a. 399—400.

Editioni nostrae fortuna consuluit, quae te regendae Apuliae voluit admovere. F
utere igitur occasione praestandi et ad praeturam domus nostrae, ad quam feliciter

6 his (i7)«

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