Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido

They say that Socrates, whenever his plans were thwarted or his intentions went awry, considered whatever happened to be for the best. Confident in his own merit, he assumed that what chance delivered was better than what his mind had desired. I follow the wise man's example and put a good interpretation on the fact that the number of Saxons has been reduced by death to fall within the total decreed for the people's entertainment, so that nothing extra would be added to our games. For how could private guards have prevented the impious hands of a desperate people, when the first day of the gladiatorial show saw twenty-nine Saxons strangle themselves without a noose?

I therefore waste no time mourning a troupe worse than Spartacus, and I would gladly, if it were easily done, exchange this gift from the emperor for a supply of Libyan wild beasts. Our friends, to whom the selection and purchase of bears has long been entrusted, must have reached you by now, judging by the time. But if the greed of the relay station supervisors is delaying them, it will be your kindness to resolve whatever obstacles hold them back.