Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido
Tradução moderna em inglês
Old custom dictates that the person leaving home should send the first letter. But it seemed too long to wait for yours -- and I don't fault you for the delay -- so I've broken with tradition and written first. It's your turn now to gladly repay what you should have started, and to put pen to paper with news of your health.
We're at Arabiana [a family estate], waiting for my dear daughter's arrival. I'm trusting that the approaching holiday season will bring you as well, our family's pride, without delay. Farewell.
Texto latino / grego
Prisca observantia hunc scribendi ordinem fecit, ut domo profecti officium litte- is rarii muneris auspicentur. sed longum visum est opperiri unanimitatis tuae litteras, quarum non arguimus tarditatem, atque ideo mutato usu in hoc munus erupimus. superest, ut libens rependas, quae inchoare debueras, et provocatus exerceas sa- nitatis tuae indicem stilum. ipsi in Arabiana domnae filiae .meae expectamus ad- ventum; licet te etiam, decus nostrum, dierum sollemnium ratio confestim spondeat 20 adfuturum. vale. LXI (LXII) a. 398.