Letter 1029: A father's praise of his children is usually honest, and yet somehow it loses force — people suspect it's motivated...

Although among parents the praise of their children is generally truthful, nonetheless it somehow suffers a loss of credit, since it is held that the favor shown looks to the persons concerned. I ask therefore, uncertain in my mind, what words I ought now above all to take up concerning the honorable Thalassius, your son-in-law. If I touch upon the excellence of his character sparingly, I shall be reckoned like one who is envious; if I pursue it justly, I shall be very close to one who flatters. I shall therefore imitate the restraint of Sallust's testimony: you have a man worthy of you, and through you of a family of consular rank, whom [...] fortune found greater in honor obtained than in his own benefactions; the correction of his character and his holiness have already prepared him for honors. Farewell.

Etsi plemmqne vera est apnt parentes praedicatio filiomm, nescio quo tamen pacto detrimentum meriti sni patiatur, dum personamm spectare gratiam indicatur. 25 qnaero igitur incertus animi, quae mihi nnnc potissimnm super viro honorabili Thalassio genero tuo verba sumenda sint. si parce decorem momm eins adtingam, liventi simi- lis existimabor, si iuste perseqnar, ero proximus blandienti. imitabor igitur Sallnstiani testimonii castigationem : habes virnm dignnm te et per te familia consnlari, quem 5 DemoBth. Olynth. III 39. 12 Terent. adelph. 532. 29 Sall. lug. 9. conditor eorr, in condictor V 1 m. miUe remm iUe II miUe iUe remm enentus nunqnam F, alia miUe; aenim namqnam 8ute '9 si] sed U 10 samno V 12 mos sit H 13 recens ne forte in plaribas occapatas recases F 15 est otiam (Z7) 17 Symmachas Aasonio om. VM, ad eandem (Z7) 18 elaboraait] (/*), laboraait VM{II) 19 mihi pott copia eoUoe, [11) arbitror] VFM, opinor U opnlentae] Seioppiut^ opulontiae UrVM eraditioni] ZTT, eniditionis VM 20 Ubrarii U 23 A s= eontentut codieum AiAtonianofum ; A^ wm Vottianut 111 taee, VIIII ; A^ ■■ Patit, 8600 taee, XIIII Symmachas Aasonio] (Z7), aasonius. axio simacus: ausonio A^, responsio ausonii ad symmachum. symmachus ausonio A^, om. VM ^ 25 patiatur] VMFA^, patitur A^ 26 mlci A^ talassio AS thalasio VFA^ persequar] VFA^, prosequar A^M priximus A^ salustiani VMFA^, saUustani A^ 1 m, 29 te- stimoni A^ / m. abes A^ et per te om, A^ fortana honoris parti maiorem beneficiis suis repperit, emendatio animi et sanctitas VMFA /H)ttoribus iam paravit. vale. XXVI (XX) a. 378—379.