Letter 4014: My friend Gaudentius has taken refuge in your protection -- a man who deserves to be loved in every respect.

Gaudentius, my friend, has taken refuge in the bosom of your patronage, a man worthy to be loved in every respect. His family is senatorial; his mind and his modesty are nobler than his lineage and his stock. If you do not suppose my testimony to be tinged with the dye of favoritism, take him up as one to be cherished. A long observation of his services will make you judge that I have said too little. [Letter 39, c. AD 398. To Minervius.] Love Flavianus, my lord and my son, as much as you interpret me to wish, and, if it can be done, enter into a contest with me over love of him. I shall rejoice if you win. But this will then be proven to me, when he too has begun to esteem you beyond the measure of my own diligence. For if friendship consists of mutual offices, it will be easy for me to measure your heart from his. [Letter 40, c. AD 398-399. To Minervius.] If you consider how rare innocent men are, you will love Desiderius, my son, who is to be numbered among that select few. You will determine that my judgment is not mistaken about him, when he comes under your examination. Meanwhile I ask that the sanctuary of your friendship be opened to him through me, and that you lend a kindly ear to him as he relates the just merits of his cases. If you take any good counsel on his behalf, my pledge will be discharged, which on his behalf has taken upon itself the hope of your beneficence. [Letter 41. To Minervius.] In securing the acquittal of our Rusticus, I offered you my wish; my son Caecilianus provided the help. It is therefore not in keeping with my modesty to seize the credit for another's labor. Let us both reckon as received that which your care directed to be done, and which my own ill health was not able to carry out. [Letter 42, c. AD 397-402.]

Gaudentius amicus meus in gremium patrocinii tui confugit, vir omnibus rebus amari dignus. genus ei senatorium est, mens et modestia origine sua ac stirpe nobi- lior. si fuco gratiae infectum testimonium meum non putas, suscipe diligendum. longa 5 obsequiorum eius faciet inspectio, ut me iudices minora dixisse. XXXVmi a. 398. AD MINERVIVM. Ama Flavianum dominum et filium meum , quantum me velle interpretaris , et si fieri potest, certamen mecum de amore eius ingredere. gaudebo, si viceris. sed hoc 10 mihi tunc ,proba&/tur, cum et ipse te colere supra mensuram diligentiae meae coeperit. nam si amicitia de mutuis constat officiis, fadle erit, ut ex illius animo tuum metiar. XXXX a. 398—399. AD MINERVIVM. Si consideres, quanta sit innocentium raritas, amabis Desiderium filium meum in i& paucorum electione numerandum. de quo non falli iudicium meum statues, cnm in examen tuum venerit. interim quaeso, ut illi per me amicitiae tuae sacrarium reclu- datur, et praestes aurem benignam causarum suarum iusta narranti. si qnid in eum bene consulueris, absolvetur fides mea, quae apud illum spem beneficientiae tuae in se recepit. 2« XXXXI. AD MINERVIVM. In absolvendo Rustico nostro yotum tibi detnli, opem filius meus Caecilianus ex- bibuit. non est igitur verecundiae meae rapere gratiam laboris alieni. ambo ipsi acceptum feramus, quod agi tua cura praecepit, exequi mea yaletudo non potuit. 25 XXXXn a. 397—402.