Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido
Tradução moderna em inglês
One ought readily to support those who desire honorable things, so that praiseworthy intentions may be aided by the effort of others as well. Therefore I do not allow Felix, a most upright young man striving for higher things, to be without help. When he recoiled from the contentions of the urban forum, as one mild by nature, he aspired to enroll in a more moderate branch of advocacy — and my encouragement too has spurred him on. For I pledged to his good character and refined morals that the aid of your judgment would by no means be lacking. Therefore, I ask you to embrace him graciously and willingly — not as a deserter from another jurisdiction, but as one drawn to a quieter forum. He will owe to you and your kindnesses whatever good fortune or advantage comes to him through his profession.
Texto latino / grego
Prompte favendum est honesta cupientibus, ut probabiles voluntates alieno etiam iuventur adnisu. quapropter opis indigum esse non patior Felicem sanctissimum in- venem ad electiora tendentem. qui ubi fori urbani dissensiones utpote ingenio mitis lo exhorruit, modestiori causidicinae dare nomen adfectat; quem meus quoque hortatus animavit. spopondi enim bonae indoli et moribus defaecatis nequaquam defore tuae mentis auxilium. ergo exoratus ac facilis non ut transfugam sedis alterius. sed ut adfectatorem fori quietioris amplectere; qui tibi f beneficiisque debebit, quidquid ei ex officio bonae fortunae aut commoditatis accesserit. 15 LXXVI (LXXnil) a. 387.