Letter 1

Ennodius to Johannes. While you seek the open sea with words arranged in calm harbor, and describe the uncertainties of the liquid element in tranquil speech; while you steer the vessel of your discourse like a careful pilot through the rocks of language and weigh with a craftsman's balance the course you have fashioned — you have displayed to my eyes a sea of eloquence where you pretended only waters. Good God, to how many uses does a rich tongue scatter itself! When it chooses, it rages like a beast, runs like a river, surges like the deep; and whatever likeness it paints with the colored images of words, it represents with the very stamp of truth. You suggest that you fear writing, as though you were a tender novice, while the very declaration that shrinks from the pomp of declamation demands praise, and becomes greedy for glory while pretending to spare its modesty — feigning a stranger's timidity. I give and return thanks that you have consecrated the noble first-fruits of your eloquence in the praises — as you reckon them — of a friend. And though I do not recognize as my own what you describe, I embrace the devotion of the narrator, and I praise the affection of your heart, which you have dedicated with the light of grace shining through clear skies. The torch you hold forth is one that you, a charming speaker, kindle from your estimation of me; I, for my part, though I do not flee the night of my own conscience, know how to weigh it all the same. The credulity that entrusts itself to another's favor opens itself to perilous gulfs — though all blame passes from one who seeks to deceive a willing believer. Yet you have filled my joys through the gifts of your epistolary address, as you display the freshness of your thoughts in the serenity of your speech, and surpass the beauties of your ancient lineage with the brilliance of your new conversation. It would have been enough for your parents' expectations that you should rival the older ornaments of your family; that you could surpass them, as no one believed, so no one dared hope. You see how much a polished life, refined to the fingertip, adds to the value of noble birth? What the splendor of blood provided, the discipline of training has surpassed. I believed the summit of my hopes had been reached if you matched your birth — not reckoning what your companion might instill in your distinction. Perhaps my judgment has been cheated of its knowledge. I believed no one could reach the level of Olybrius; I thought his eloquence was unique to his nature. But now, since the richness of your speech proves otherwise, I confess my error gladly. Farewell.

I. ENNODIVS IOHANNI. Dum salum quaeris uerbis in statione conpositis et incerta liquentis elementi placida oratione describis, dum sermonum cymbam inter loquelae scopulos rector diligens frenas et cursum artificem fabricatus trutinator expendis: pelagus oculis meis quod aquarum simulabas eloquii demonstrasti. deus bone, in quantos se usus diues lingua dispergit! cum uoluerit, saeuit ut bestia, currit ut fluuius, fluctuat ut profundum, et quamcumque fucatis uerborum imaginibus pingit speciem ueri adstipulatione repraesentat. timere te scriptionem quasi fronte tener insinuas, dum declamationum pompam refuga laudis deposcit assertio et fit auara gloriae, dum pudori parcere se I. 2 iohanni B LV, ioanni Tb; inscriptiones partim om. partim manu altera eaque recentissima additas exh. P, quare eas neglexi " 3 salum (u ex e corr.) B II uerbis B s. J." in om. b \' conpositis B ut solet, compOsitis LPTYb incerta] maestia Pb 4 tliscribis LV, discribsi B, descripsti coni. Schottus 5 cimbam PT loquellae B, loquele. L (s eras. uidetur), loquele T; ubi L et T uel alteruter sobte e prd ae exhflbet quod fit saepissime locis paucis exceptis nil notaui firenas] fredSs B s. I . 6 erpendes B, ostendis Pb aquarum] frenas add. B 7 demonstrati T bene B \' 8 quantus B 1 se usus] sensus b, se uisus coni. \'Barthius Aduers. p. 945 diuis \'B 11 astipulatione T, adatipulati- onem B timeretur scribtionem B 12 declamstionem B 13 poscet B pudori BPb, pudore LTV VI. 1 ostendit, peregrinam mentita formidinem. ago atque habeo gratias, quod nobilia rudimenta facundiae tuae in amici, quantum aestimas, praeconiis consecrasti. et licet non agnoscam mea esse quae loqueris, religionem tamen narrantis amplector, diligentiam pectoris laudo, quam gratiae per sudum rutilantis luce dedicasti. tibi fax ista praetenditur, quam in opinione mea blandus elocutor accendis: ego noctem conscientiae meae, etsi non fugio, noui tamen aestimare. graues hiatus patitur alienae gratiae commissa credulitas, quamquam omne crimen transeat qui uult decipere confidentem. gaudia tamen de te mea epistularis alloquii dotibus adimplesti, dum nouitatem sensuum monstras serenitate sermonum et ueteris decora prosapiae nouelli uincis nitore conloquii. sat fuerat parentum tuorum desideriis seniora te familiae ornamenta aemulari: uincere posse, sicut nemo credidit, ita nullus optauit. uides quantum ad unguem polita conuersatio pretiis bene nascentis adiungat? quod iubar sanguinis praestitit superauit industria castigantis. credidi uotorum summam fatigari, si te natalibus reddideris tuis, illud non expendens, quid claritati tuae cohabitator infunderet. sit forte in aestimatione arbitrii mei defrudata cognitio. neminem credidi ad Olybrium peruenire, 1 fortitudinem b abeo B 2 amicis T 3 quantom] quem tuum coni Barthim extimas P b; ita ext- pro aestimare aestimator P fere ubique ut alii saec. XV. codices Ennodiani saepissime, quod Basileensis editor nonnuUis demwn foliis impressis obseruasse uidetw 7 oppinione L locutor Pb 8 -timare L, estimare PT, extimare b idque defendit Barthius cum idem atque \'a nimiis pracconiis seiungere\' ualere opinetur grauis BL 9 partitur Lt quiquam B, quanquam LTV 11 mea de te Pb 1 epiBtularifl B, epistolaris LPTV aloqui L, aloquii P 13 conloquii B et sic plerumque, colloquii LPTV 14 te om. P 15 emolari B 16 uidis B 18 fatigari fatigaris T, fastigari fort . 19 reddideris tuis scripsi, reddidisulis B, reddidistis LP, credidistis V, reddidisti Tb, reddidiBses Sirm . claritatis T 20 stimatione B, extimatione Pb; sit, fero, in extimatione (i. e. sequestra- tione) Barthius arbitrii mei V i mei in ras. m. 1 21 defrudata a V, defrutata B, defraudata LPTb olibrium BLPTV quem uicinis calcibus pernix insecutor . adiunges, beatum facturus nempe, si uiceris. deum precor, ut adolescentia in te, quae perfectionem primordiis monstrant, bonae frugis germina conualescant. domi habes unde exhortationis meae uiuasumas exempla. te pater morum tranquillitate, socer eloquentia similem producat. si me uoti reum facere caelestia regna dignantur, unum precor, ut mei meminisse digneris, ne illius, cuius perfectionem inter dicendi simulacra meditaris, obliuionis quoque par esse contendas. sed ad epistulae morem reuertar, quam affectio tua in longum produxit. salue, mi domine, et amantem tui frequentibus cole muniis litterarum, ne amoris contestatio sola, sicut in quibusdam esse solet, praeuii in te putetur extitisse sermonis.