Letter 8

Ennodius to Firminus. The exchanges of letters are delightful when conceived by a learned author — those in which the splendor of polished speech gleams to the fingertip, where a rich oration is held in check by the reins of skill. When a laborious investigator has brought into the light the abundant vein of language, then the courtesies proceed, sure to satisfy the desires of the recipient. But where rough speech betrays the narrowness of a poor talent, and in arranging its conception fails to insert the discipline of eloquence into order, and through the ambiguity of a cloudy narrative produces a kind of confusion from the very act of explanation — what person of standing in the stronghold of eloquence would spurn such affection? The love of an unlearned man burdens the conscience of the accomplished. But the force of charity, aided by the bonds of intimate connection, cannot be restrained: the man whom charity goads with its spurs does not pause to test what he can do. Yet the accomplished are accustomed to judge worthy of pardon those whose steps have faltered along the paths of letter-writing. You are accustomed to attend to what we wished to say, whenever our words fail to express our desires. Nevertheless, I have overburdened the provisions of a most worthy bearer, and she who could have presented me in living speech, I have instead accompanied with a letter — confident that less danger attaches to me for having erred in the presence of a good intercessor. Farewell then, my lord, and cherish one who loves you with your special kindnesses: so may the divine favor raise your eminence — if there is still room for it to grow.

VIII. FIRMINO ENNODIVS. Iucunda sunt commercia litterarum, docto auctore concepta illa, in quibus ad unguem politi sermonis splendor effulgorat, ubi oratio diues frenis peritiae continetur. quando abundantem loquelae uenam laboriosus in lucem scrutator adduxerit, tunc procedunt officia suscipientis desideriis paritura. at ubi scaber sermo angustiam pauperis signat ingenii nec conceptum suum in ordinem digerendo noctem studio elocutionis interserit et nebulosae narrationis ambiguo quandam generat de ipsa explanatione constitutus: quia non personae talis in eloquentiae care constitutus spernat affectum? grauat conscientiam perfectorum amor indocti. sed uis caritatis internae necessitudinis uinculis adiuta non fertur: nescit experiri quid possit quem caritas stimulis suis exagitat. solent tamen dignos uenia iudicare perfecti quos inter epistulares uias nutantia deseruere uestigia. soletis quid dicere uoluimus adtendere, quotiens non elocuntur uota sermones. idoneae tamen perlatricis uiaticum praegrauaui et, quae me praesentare uiuis potuisset adfatibus, 3 perte L respidat B 4 kodiendientiae V 5 eompnli LTV domine mi P (i in ras.) b 6 negeiee B 7 com- ponare LTV VIII. 11 commertia L, commentia T 12 effulgorat B 13 diiuB B habttndantem PT 14 loquellae B 15 ad B 18 nebolosae V 19 ceoitatem B in] eine Pb 20 arte Pb, arehe B 22 quem] qaae B 28 exagitant LVl 24 epistn- laris B, epistulares V1 u in o corr. m. 1 25 soletes B nehiisiimns B attendere LPTV 26 idonea etjamen L VI. 2 eam epistula comitante perduxi, minus nobis periculi esse confidens, sub intercessoris boni me praesentia deliquisse. uale ergo, mi domine, et amantem uestri peculiaribus fouete beneficiis: sic apicem uestrum, si est quo crescat adhuc, diuinus fauor adtollat.