Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido
Tradução moderna em inglês
The palatine officials [imperial court staff] accused of wrongdoing, whom Your Excellency ordered brought from Bruttium [southern Italy], were produced by the soldier dispatched from the praetorium. But since the same case falls under the sacred court's jurisdiction, my lord and father the urban prefect [Symmachus's father was urban prefect of Rome] has claimed the defendants for his own hearing, by authority of law and with confidence in your approval.
I mention this so you'll know that the officer had good reason for yielding — he deferred to both your father and the law.
Texto latino / grego
Palatinos iniuriae reos, quos de Brittiis celsitudo tua praecepit exciri, miles de praetorio missus exhibuit. sed cum sacro auditorio eadem causa conpeteret, dominus meus parens noster praefectus urbi auctoritate iuris et fiducia tui personas sibi ad negotium vindicavit. quod eo scribo, ut noveris apparatori iustam subesse rationem, 25 qui et parenti tuo cessit et legibus. 7 XXXXV a. 382—394.