Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido
Tradução moderna em inglês
Gelasius, whom I wish well, has taken on the management of an imperial household — a post that brought him some distinction, though he possesses greater honor in his character. He practiced medicine among the foremost of our generation, and that's what opened his path to advancement. The great men of the court, whose health he had attended, became his witnesses rather than his patrons.
God forbid you should ever need his medical skill — but the other fine qualities of this most upright man can speak for him on their own. So take Gelasius into your affection: he has long pleased me, and I guarantee he'll please you. Farewell.
Texto latino / grego
Gelasius, cui factum volo, imperialis domus curam recepit, quod negotium ei ali- qnid adtulit dignitatis, etsi plus habet honoris in moribus. medicinam cum primis nostrae aetatis exercuit. inde est illi via facta meritomm. nam summates aulae, qui- bns iuvanda salnte profuerat, testes potius habuit quam patronos. absit, ut tibi usus i& veniat artis eius, cum cetera honestamenta sanctissimi viri possint pro illo ferre suf- fragium. ergo ama Gelasium mihi iam dudum placitum, tibi me spondente placitu- mm. vale. LXVn (LXI) antea. 381.