1You are my fellow townsman, my schoolfellow and my companion from early youth; your father was a close friend of my mother and my uncle, and of me too, as far as the difference in age allowed: these are great and serious reasons why I ought to take up and increase your standing. 2That you have a property qualification of a hundred thousand sesterces is shown well enough by the fact that you are a town councillor among us. 2So, in order that we may enjoy you not only as a councillor but also as a Roman knight, I offer you three hundred thousand sesterces to make up the equestrian qualification.
3The length of our friendship guarantees that you will be mindful of this gift: I do not even give you the advice I ought to give, if I did not know you would act so of your own accord, that you should use the rank given you by me as modestly as befits one given by me. 4For an honour must be guarded with more care when in it a friend's kindness too must be protected. 4Farewell.