Letter 7070: I've grown more confident in my affection for Athanasius, a man of fine qualities, now that I've learned your...

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.

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.