Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido
Tradução moderna em inglês
When you vouch for a good man, you recommend your own judgment as much as you help his cause. So in writing on behalf of my friend Maximus, I serve my own reputation no less than his interests.
He's a man of outstanding character and learning in the liberal arts, second to none among the distinguished philosophers, and therefore perfectly worthy of your friendship. When he has completed the business for which he was sent your way, I ask that you receive his just petitions and support them with the full weight of your well-known humanity.
Texto latino / grego
Pro optimis viris quisquis intervenit, non magis illomm videtur iuvare commodum quam suum commendare iudicium. quare in eo, quod fratris mei Maximi desideria 20 litteris prosequor , non tam illi usui sum , quam mihi laudi est. est enim vita atque eruditione liberalium disciplinamm pariter insignis neque ulli praestantium philoso- phorum secundus ac propterea tua familiaritate dignissimns. cuius tibi negotia cum in rem missus absolverit, quaeso, nt humanitate, qna clams es, iustas petitiones in- gravato auxilio prosequaris. 25 XXX a. 389.