Letter 2002: Let antiquity, so lavish with praise, fall silent — the age that honored Apelles, Zeuxis, and their like with...

Let antiquity, so lavish of praise, hold its tongue—antiquity that honored Apelles and Zeuxis [renowned Greek painters], or men like them, with the distinction of whole volumes, just as each succeeding age brought them forth. As for me, in proclaiming the merits of Lucillus my speech is more sparing, but my confidence is greater. For what good is it to indulge in words, when the matter itself may be put to the test? Let the judgment of this, then, rest with you, who have always been a discerning observer of the liberal arts; I, for my part, vouch for Lucillus's pure modesty and integrity. Does he seem to you worthy to be esteemed by you—a man whose seriousness of character relies on me as its surety, while his skill and learning have no fear of you yourself as judge? Farewell.

Taceat prodiga laudis vetustas, quae Apellem et Zeuojn vel ^orum similes, ut quemque aetas tulit, voluminum honore dignata est. mihi erga Lucilli praedicationem 1 gratisBiini VF taae V 3 contumeliam] LeeUus^ contumeUae PVF 5 om, VM 6 posae aliqaid amicitiis aestimor luretus; fort, posse me aUquid de uestiis amicitils aestimant 7 clarissimo tuo uiro (uiro tuo 2 m.) tnam V 9 fhistrato V n om, VF 13 desideriig P 16 XIII. q anf symmachi. nc. lib. i. expHc. incipit eiusdem lib ii. ad flaniannm P, om. VF 18 om. VF 19 est iUe F 25 om. VM 26 appeUem Af, appellent Vy appellant P et zenxin uel honim similesj Cuiaehu, et geus in beUornm simUeB PVIDP)^ et id g^nns inbellorum silens M 27 qnem V dignatnm V ergo lucilli P LIBER I. U. 43 sermo parcior, fides maior est. quid enim iuvat indulgere verbis, cum rem liceat PVM experiri? sit igitnr de hoc tna existimatio, qui bonarum artium spectator semper fuisti; ego Lucillum modestiae merae atqne honestatis adstipulor. videtnme tibi dignns esse, quem diligas, cnins gravitas sponsore me nititur, ars et eruditio te ipsnm iudicem non 5 veretur? vale. III ante a. 395.