1Your favour, best of emperors, which I experience in the fullest measure, encourages me to dare to put myself under obligation to you on behalf of my friends as well; 1among them Voconius Romanus claims for himself even the foremost place, my fellow-pupil and close companion from early youth. 2For these reasons I had also asked your deified father to promote him to the most distinguished order. 2But this wish of mine has been kept for your goodness, because Romanus' mother had not yet completed in proper legal form the gift of four million sesterces which she had declared, in a letter written to your father, that she was making over to her son; 2this she afterwards did, on our prompting.
3For she has conveyed the estates, and has completed everything else that is usually required to accomplish such a conveyance. 4Since, therefore, what held back our hopes has been settled, it is with great confidence that I pledge my word to you for the character of my Romanus, which is adorned both by liberal studies and by exceptional devotion to his family, a devotion that earned him this very generosity from his mother, his father's inheritance straight away, and adoption by his stepfather. 5These qualities are enhanced by the distinction of his birth and of his father's wealth; 5and I trust that my prayers too will add much recommendation to each of these in the eyes of your indulgence.
6I ask, therefore, my lord, that you grant me the congratulation I so greatly desire, and gratify my affections, honourable as I hope they are, so that I may take pride in your judgement not only for myself but also for my friend.