Hactenus ille, parcius fortasse quam decuit optimum principem, sed non parcius quam optimum patrem, qui adoptaturus hoc quoque parentis indulgentissimi fecit, quod delibasse quaedam seu potius demonstrasse contentus, largam ac prope intactam bene faciendi materiam filio reservavit.
That was as far as he went; a perfect ruler might possibly have been more generous, but not a perfect father; for it was his intention to adopt you, and he gave indication of his parental indulgence by doing no more than touch on or outline what was needed while leaving to his son free and ample opportunity for doing good.
final_alignments\Pliny_Younger_Panegyricus.json