1You love Egnatius Marcellinus and often commend him to me as well; 1you will love and commend him more, if you learn of a recent deed of his. 2When he had gone out to his province as quaestor, and had lost the clerk allotted to him before the salary was legally due, he understood and decided that what he had received to pay the clerk ought not to remain with him. 3So on his return he consulted Caesar, and then, at Caesar's prompting, the senate, as to what it wished to be done with the salary. 3A small question, but still a question. 3The clerk's heirs claimed it for themselves, the prefects of the treasury for the people.
4The case was argued; 4the heirs' advocate spoke, then the people's, both very ably. 4Caecilius Strabo proposed that it should be paid into the treasury, Baebius Macer that it should be given to the heirs: Strabo prevailed. 5Do you praise Marcellinus, as I did at once. 5For although it is more than enough for him to have been approved by both the emperor and the senate, he will still rejoice in your testimony. 6For all who are led by glory and fame are wonderfully delighted by approval and praise, even when it comes from lesser men. 6But Marcellinus respects you so much that he gives the greatest weight to your judgement.
7Add to this that, if he learns that his deed has made its way all the way to where you are, he cannot help rejoicing in the range, the course and the travels of his praise. 7For somehow or other men are even more pleased by glory that is wide than by glory that is great. 7Farewell.