Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido
Tradução moderna em inglês
My brother Entrechius, a man of distinction, sent his children away -- driven by a father's impatient love, with the city's shortages adding urgency to their departure. They set out without waiting for the proper season. Since sea travel is impossible right now, they'll stay briefly on the Campanian coast. But please see to it that they don't suffer the hardships of being away from home -- take my place, so that these young people, torn from us by necessity, may find in you the comfort of a parent. Farewell.
Texto latino / grego
Fratris mei Entrechii spectabilis viri liberos inpatientia patemi amoris acciyerat, qnibus properandi cansas inopia nrbis adiecit; atqne ideo recnrsnm sine insti tem- 5 poris expectatione moliti sunt. qnapropter dnm navigatio intractabilis est, in oris Campaniae panlisper haerebunt; sed ne peregrinationis amara snstineant, humanitas vestra praestabit. qnare vicem meam snscipe, nt qni nnnc a nobis necessitate divnlsi snnt, animnm se menm in te repperisse laetentur. XXn (XXIII) a. 395.