Letter 2042: I am getting ahead of your voluntary generosity with a formal request, so that what you would freely give may appear...

I am getting ahead of your voluntary generosity with a formal request, so that what you would freely give may appear to have been won by my petition -- and the goodness of your nature may be credited to my account. The distinguished Nicagoras [Text breaks off in source.]

Voluntaria beneficia tua petitione praevenio, ut quae tu sponte tribuis, ego videar impetrare et bonum naturae tuae in gratiam meam transeat. Nicagoran clarissimum 1 fort. adfolserit 2 oale add. VF quitur epist. K, 78 y magnae et insperatae poasnnt occultaii. uale M, sequitur epist. V, 81 9 insolentis P mae P l m. famulos toos praecipuus atque honorabilis F 20 haec epiatula in VF po$t ///, 4^ Ugitur inBeriptionem om. VF 21 Ignacio P, In ocio K, Egtiatio Mommsen in eum] meum V, in eo F 22 fort. nam parcior de illo testimonii cautione pro- miseram praemiseram F 23 coepisti F expliravit P 1 m. V 24 posset V 25 uale add. VF sequitur in V 1111, 21 56 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE PF virum Siciliae fascibus functum sub custodiam adesse iussisti. hunc tibi et suae vitae integritas et merita fraterna commendant. accedit illi ad praerogativam precatio mea; qui etsi spero, probitati eius responsuram beneficentiam tuam, sedulo tamen postulo, ut sanctissimo iuveni in bonum vertat exhibitionis occasio. vale. XXXXn a. 383—394. 5