Letter 3043: It is the mark of your character to give commands that are both pious and just.

It is characteristic of your disposition to command what is dutiful and just. I say this by way of preface so that you may know that I have both carried out and approved what you had ordered on behalf of the son of Baebianus, a most distinguished man. The request made in your letter was therefore superfluous; for in this matter I ought to have been reminded, not asked. What of the fact that I too enjoyed the closest intimacy with him? From this it came about that the favor of friendship was joined to the fairness of the petition. Why say more? The records of our senate, drawn up concerning his acquittal, will come into your hands, and these will make plain to you that the speed in granting what was desired was rendered both to your wish and out of respect for Baebianus. Enough of this business! I ask for more frequent letters, the bestowing of which will be easy for you, given the resources of your eloquence, while the receiving of them will be precious to me as a token of our mutual regard. Farewell.

Mentis tuae est pia et iusta mandare. quod ideo praeloquor, ut et implesse me noveris, quae pro filio ^ae&iani viri clarissimi iusseras, et probassc. supervacua igitur fuit postulatio litterarum tuarum; moneri enim me de hoc oportuit non rogari. quid quod etiam mihi cum illo summa familiaritas fuit? unde factum est, ut aequttati 25 petitionis favor amicitiae iungeretur. quid multa? venient in manus tuas commentana cnriae nostrae super eius absolutione confecta, quae indicent tuae voluntati et Baebiani reverentiae delatam cupitorum celeritatem. fad huius opere peto litteras crebriores, quarum tibi pro facundiae tuae opibus facilis liberalitas erit, mihi pro cultu mutuo pretiosa perceptio. tem dedfsse. uolo enim et q. «. Mommaen, ne tibi uideor medendi artem morbi diuturnitate declinaasel in- rideas simpllcitatem meam. uolo enim et q. 8. ego 9 uerecundiam P 1 m. V fldicia V ex te Bumpta] exterum ita P(/V) 11 quem] fldem F, fldem quam M frequentif P quae P2m. V, lectiriae quae P 1 m. 16 mei] me P / m. 18 prouocemus V uale add. VF uquitur in V II, 51 uiani P, habemani V, auiani M 24 aequiUti] M, aequaliUti PV 25 iungeretur ut quid P commentaria] ego, commento PVM 26 bebianl PV, auiani M 27 ad hoius opere] PV, ad haeo opera Jtf, aerihe: sat huius operae! peto et q, $. 28 liberalitatjs P, liberatis V 11* 84 SYMMACHI EPI8TVLAE XXXXII.