1Suetonius Tranquillus, a most upright, honourable and learned man, whose character and studies I have long followed, sir, I took into my household, and I have begun to love him all the more, the more closely I have now come to know him. 2Two reasons make the right of three children necessary for him; 2for he both deserves the good opinion of his friends and has had an unhappy experience of marriage, and he must obtain from your kindness, through me, what the spitefulness of fortune has denied him. 3I know, sir, how great a favour I am asking, but I am asking it of you, whose indulgence I experience in all my requests.
3For you can gather how greatly I desire it from the fact that I would not ask while absent if I desired it only moderately.