Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido
Tradução moderna em inglês
I count it a personal credit that you've announced your long-desired return. But I'm seriously worried that a shortage of housing might delay you — and I ask you to take what I'm about to say in good faith.
I swear by the gods: the houses you asked about, one of which you requested, were already promised to guests some time ago. So please take my word for it — you should have trusted my intentions alone — and hurry back to your own home. The house that satisfied you when you were younger and ambitious, living there with your children, ought not to offend a man of mature moderation now that the children have moved to homes of their own. Farewell.
Texto latino / grego
In meo aere duco, qnod te adornare optatum reditum nuntiasti. scd male metuo, ne boe stndium tni negatio habitationis impediat; quam peto, ut in bouam partem voti o erga te mei eertus accipias. deos enim facio testes, has domus, quamm alteram po- stulasti, iamdudum a me hospitibns esse decretas. quaeso igitur, nt sacramento com- modes fidem, qni vel animo tantum meo credere debuisses, et in aedes tnas festinns recnrras. siqnidem domns, quae tibi prins ambitioso per aetatem inventae et habi- tanti cum liberis satisfecit, senilem moderationem distribntis in alias domns filiis non 10 debet offendere. vale. * XV.