Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido
Tradução moderna em inglês
I've grown more confident in my affection for Athanasius, a man of fine qualities, now that I've learned your opinion of him. Approval from a wise man is a powerful recommendation. So I'll skip the formal endorsement -- I couldn't add to what you already feel.
This much I will say: nurture the hope you've given him and bring the favor you've begun to its completion. If some setback disappoints his expectations, I beg you -- make up for it with greater generosity, so that the loss of his earlier wish may actually work to his advantage. Farewell.
Texto latino / grego
Athanasium bonis artibus clarum securius amare coepi, postquam de eo iudicium VF tuum I conperi. magna enim praerogativa est , placuisse sapienti. quare commenda- tione eius abstineo, ne minora adferam, quam tibi credo sentirt. illa pars mihi pro- nior dictu est, ut ames in eo spem, quam dedisti, addasque inchoato beneficio per- 15 fectionem. quam si aliquis eventus eluserit, effice, oro te, maiora praestando, ut illi prioris voti prosit amissio. CXXVI a. 4U1— 402.