Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido
Tradução moderna em inglês
Since the gods have given you the power to be useful to my friends, I'm confident that Romanus — an excellent man with whom I've had a long-standing friendship — will find in your protection a ready source of hope. He's supported by two recommendations, and you value both: the weight of my testimony and the strength of his own conscience.
I tell you in all seriousness: he deserves your regard. And to put it briefly, his friendship will never be a burden to you. I've observed in him a calm temperament and a careful devotion to duty; no one treats his friends with greater loyalty. If you trust me at all, please believe this. If you're uncertain, I encourage you to put him to the test. Farewell.
Texto latino / grego
Qaando eam dii potestatem dedenmt, ut amicis ac necessariis meis neai esse pos- sis, confido Romano optimo viro, qnocum mihi iam dia familiaritas est, in tuo prae- sidio paratam bonae spei copiam. daabas enim commendationibas, qnaram tibi antiqaa cara est, adiavatar, mei testimonii praerogativa et sni meriti conscientia. nam se- dalo aadeo iadicare, dignam esse, qnem pensi habeas, et ne longam loqaar, caias to amicitia non graveris. spectata mihi est in eo qaies animi officii diligentia; nemo in amicos fide atitar promptiore. haec ita esse, si qaid mihi tribais, velim credas, si ^aeret animas, hortor examines. vale. LXXnn (LXVm) ante a. 381.