Sidonius greets his dear Sagittarius

• 1. The vir clarissimus Proiectus, a noble in his locality, his father and a paternal uncle being bestowed with the title spectabilis, and also notable because of his grandfather, a famous priest, is eager to enter the embrace of your friendship, if you are not averse. And though his family's splendour, the probity of his character, the amplitude of his inheritance, and the alacrity of his youth agree in like manner to perfect glory, he will see himself as having finally be raised to the pinnacles of loftiest fortune, if he should obtain your companionable favour.

• 2. Even though he asked for, and received, permission to marry the daughter of the recently deceased vir clarissimus Optantius from her mother as guardian – which I hope will turn out well with the help of God – he is nevertheless of the opinion that the fulfilment of his wishes is not promoted enough if he does not obtain your consent for this whole matter, either through his own assiduity or through the medium of my pleas. For it is you, as far as the girl's upbringing is concerned, who takes the place of her deceased father and shares his concern for her, offering the young woman the love of a parent, the authority of a patron and the sense of duty of a guardian.

• 3. So, because you deserve the solicitude even of people from far away who seek out the well-known order of your house – this befits men who belong to the side of the good – please present the modest and suppliant suitor with a kind answer. If you had been requested you would have needed to ask the girl, yet to be promised, on his behalf; as it is you can without concern hand over the girl already promised. This is because the extent of your merits puts you in such a key position in the matter of this marriage, that not even Optantius, if he were still alive, could have a better right to decide about his children. Goodbye.