Sidonius greets his dear Pegasius

• 1. It is a famous saying that good things take time; this is what I too experienced recently. Your friend Menstruanus, whom I have watched here for a long time, has proved worthy to be counted among the persons who are dear to us and completely devoted. He is helpful and elegant, modest and sober, frugal and pious and endowed with such gifts of character that, if he obtains the friendship of some excellent man, he does not acquire more benefit than he can himself offer.

• 2. I did not write you this because you do not know it, but to justify my opinion. That is why there are three reasons to be happy: first for you, because you manage to either train up or choose good friends in this way; secondly for the Arvernians, whom I can confirm were pleased by this quality of his, which I am not unaware that you approved of; and thirdly for him: all good men think only good things of him. Goodbye.