Quintus Aurelius Symmachus → destinatário desconhecido
Tradução moderna em inglês
The memory of the former consul Petronius, whose home was in Ariminum [Rimini], requires me to defend his orphaned children. Their house has been designated for military billeting, and unless public authority intervenes, it will suffer total destruction.
If my intercession means anything, please send stern letters to the magistrates and council of Ariminum, ordering the soldiers removed and the old security of these little orphans' home restored. Those abandoned by their parents are supposed to be under the courts' protection. Farewell.
Texto latino / grego
videatur. exigit igitur a me memoria Petronii ex consularibus, cui lar apud Ariminum fuit, ut eius filios hereditario amore defendam. horum militaribus habi- tanda decemitur, et ni publica succurrat auctoritas, extremum patietur excidium. si 15 quid igitur interventui meo tribues, datis ad Ariminensium magistratus atque ordines minacibus litteris arceri ab ea hospites iubeatis et restituere penatibus parvulorum priscam securitatem. in iudicis enim iubentur esse tutela, qui a parentibus dese- runtur. vale. xxxxvnn (xxxxvi). 20