Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido
Tradução moderna em inglês
We ought to help our friends when they ask for what's just — especially our friend Alexander, whom we approve in judgment and embrace in affection. Though you know he's not the kind of man moved by desire for honors, our shared sense of propriety won't let his military service go unrecognized.
The emperor Valentinian had already granted him the rank of tribune and notary [a prestigious title] before the usurper's invasion. I ask, therefore, that with your support he may secure the official recognition of this imperial appointment. Under so pious a ruler of the republic, it should be easy for the humanity of the age to overcome an individual's misfortunes.
Texto latino / grego
Amicis nostris iusta cupientibus usui esse debemus, praecipue fratri nostro Alexan- dro, quem iudicio probamus et amore conplectimur. hunc licet noveris honorum de- t.^ siderio non moveri, communis tamen verecundia non sinit testimonio carere militiae, cum illi tribuni ac notarii dignitatem d. n. Valentinianus Augustus ante inruptionem tyrannicam sponte detulerit. quaeso igitur, ut praerogativam sacri testimonii te adni- tente mereatur. facile est enim, ut sub tam pio gubematore rei p. infortunia homi- num saeculi vincat humanitas. 20 XXXX (XXX VIU).