Letter 1001: While you seek the open sea with words arranged in calm harbor, and describe the uncertainties of the liquid element...

Ennodius to Johannes. While you seek the open sea with words arranged in harbor and describe the uncertainties of the liquid element in tranquil speech — while you, a diligent helmsman, rein in the bark of your discourse among the rocks of language, and as a skilled weigher expend the course you have fashioned — you have revealed to my eyes a sea that, though it simulated waters, proved to be one of eloquence. Good God, into how many uses does a rich tongue pour itself! When it wills, it rages like a beast, rushes like a river, surges like the deep, and whatever form it paints with the counterfeit images of words, it presents with the attestation of truth. You insinuate that you fear writing as though you were a tender novice, while the assertion that shuns praise demands the pomp of declamation and becomes greedy for glory while pretending to spare modesty. I give and render thanks that you have consecrated the noble beginnings of your eloquence in the praises of a friend — as you reckon it. And though I do not recognize as mine the things you say, I embrace the devotion of one who speaks, and I praise the diligence of a heart that you have dedicated with the light of grace shining through clear skies. It is for you that this torch is held up, which you, a charming speaker, kindle in my reputation; I, though I do not flee the night of my own conscience, have learned to judge it. Great are the chasms that a trust committed to another's favor suffers, though all crime passes over the man who wishes to deceive one who has confidence. Nevertheless, you have filled my joys with the gifts of epistolary address, showing the novelty of your thoughts through the serenity of your speech and surpassing the splendor of your ancient lineage by the luster of your fresh conversation. It would have been enough for your parents' wishes that you should rival the elder ornaments of your family; that you could surpass them, as no one believed, so no one hoped. You see how much a manner of life polished to the fingernail adds to the worth of one nobly born? What the radiance of blood bestowed, the industry of training has surpassed. I believed that the sum of my prayers would be exhausted if you returned to your birth — not weighing what a companion in your household might pour into your renown. Let my judgment perhaps be cheated of its knowledge. I believed no one could reach Olybrius, whom a swift pursuer follows at close heels. You will add to his blessedness, assuredly, if you surpass him. I pray to God that the qualities of your youth, which display perfection in their beginnings, may grow strong as the seeds of a good harvest. At home you have from which to draw living examples for my exhortation. Let your father bring you forth as his likeness in tranquility of character, your father-in-law in eloquence. If the heavenly kingdom deigns to make me a debtor of my vow, I ask one thing: that you deign to remember me, lest you strive to equal in forgetfulness the one whose perfection you practice amid the imitations of speech. But let me return to the manner of a letter, which your affection has drawn out at length. Farewell, my lord, and honor one who loves you with frequent gifts of letters, lest the attestation of your love be thought — as in certain people — to have existed only in the first overture of conversation.

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.