Letter 2046: Those who obtain their wishes by the gods' kindness feel that honoring the source of their blessings in person is a...

Those who obtain their wishes by the favor of God consider it a kind of thanksgiving to revere in person the givers of good things themselves; just as now my brother Paeonius, pledged by the generous gift of your recommendation, has hastened to approach the author of his advancement in rank. I would commend to you an excellent citizen, if you could think little of one whom you have already raised to a higher station. We must therefore dispense with those words which are wont to support men setting out on their way; for it is no vain hope that the deserts of one present will carry greater weight with you, once you have regarded with favor one who was absent. Farewell.

Qui deum beneficio potiuntur optatis, venerari ipsos coram datores bonorum gra- tiae instar existimant; ut nunc frater meus Paeonius vadatus opimo testimonii tui 30 munere adire properavit parti honoris auctorem. commendarem tibi optimum civem, 1 custodia F 2 accidit PF 3 beneflcientiam TF iteratio in ras. P 10 nouam] Lypsius, bonam PF^DP) beniuolentiam PF 15 Texii] Sciopphu, redM PiPfp) 17 placitoft amorej Srioppius^ placitus amore 0, plaritnra more P 24 ac negotium Leetiu$ 29 qui deumj quid cum / benefltio P 1 m. [ si posBes parvi facere, qnem dadum altius protulisti. Bupersedendum est igitur tis P yerbis. quae suffragari proficiscentibus solent; neque enim vana spes est, validiora fore apud te merita praesentis, cum absentem fayore respexeris. vale. XXXXVI a. 393.