Letter 9024: I readily recommend my friend Eusebius — not as someone new or unknown, but as a man already proven by his loyalty...

I readily recommend my friend Eusebius — not as someone new or unknown, but as a man already proven by his loyalty and his long military service. No fault of conduct has tarnished his record to this day; only absence, which harms many honest men, has kept him from the recognition he deserves. I ask that you take his case under your protection and ensure that a man whose service record is beyond reproach is not disadvantaged merely because he has been away. The faithful deserve to be remembered, especially when they cannot be present to speak for themselves. Farewell.

Non novum vel incognitum sed conpertum iam fide et antiquitate militiae Euse- bium amicum meum promptus commendator insinuo; quem ad hoc aevi nulla actuum culpa foedavit, sed absentia, quae plerisque occulit merita, si testimonio praesentium deseratur, locum eius dicitur in ancipitem statum deduxisse fortunae. singularis tamen 15 animi tui aequitas non patietur, ut spero. adversum stipendiorum praerogativam ca- sum valere. et mea igitur hortatio et ipsius fiducia iudicium tuum respicit. quaeso, ut causa cognita veterum eius stipendiorum iusta confirmes, praestaturus et nobis amici securitatem et honestum collegis eius de optimi viri retentione consortium. vale. LX (LVII).