1You are surprised that my freedman Hermes, without waiting for the auction, knocked down to Corellia for seven hundred thousand sesterces my five-twelfths share of the inherited lands which I had ordered to be advertised. 1You add that they could fetch nine hundred thousand, and so all the more you ask whether I am ratifying what he has done. 2Indeed I am: hear for what reasons. 2For I want both to have your approval and to be excused by my co-heirs for separating myself from them at the bidding of a greater duty. 3I love Corellia with the deepest respect, first as the sister of Corellius Rufus, whose memory is sacred to me, and then as a very close friend of my mother.
4I also have long-standing ties with her husband Minicius Justus, an excellent man; 4and there were very strong ones with her son too, so much so that he presided over my games when I was praetor. 5When I was there lately, she told me that she wished to own something near our Lake Larius. 5I offered her whatever she wished of my estates, at whatever price she wished, except those that came from my mother and father; 5for these I cannot give up even to Corellia. 6So when an inheritance came to me which included those estates, I wrote to her that they would be for sale. 6Hermes carried this letter, and when she demanded that he knock down my share to her at once, he obeyed.
6You see how bound I am to ratify what my freedman has done in keeping with my own character. 7It remains for my co-heirs to bear it calmly that I have sold separately what I was free not to sell at all. 8Nor indeed are they compelled to imitate my example: for they do not have the same ties with Corellia. 8They may, therefore, look to their own advantage, in place of which I had friendship. 8Farewell.