Letter 1008: The exchanges of letters are delightful when conceived by a learned author — those in which the splendor of polished...

VIII. ENNODIUS TO FIRMINUS. The exchanges of letters are delightful when they are composed by a learned author, those in which the splendor of polished speech shines out to perfection, where a discourse rich in eloquence is held in check by the reins of skill. When the painstaking searcher has brought into the light the abundant vein of his speech, then come forth the services that will give birth to the desires of him who undertakes them. But where rough speech marks the narrowness of a poor talent, and a man, by failing to set his conception in order, weaves the night [of obscurity] into his pains of expression and, placed amid the uncertainty of a cloudy narrative, brings forth a certain darkness out of the very explanation: who, set as a person of such standing, would in his concern for eloquence scorn affection? The love of an unlearned man burdens the conscience of the accomplished. But the force of inner charity, aided by the bonds of close attachment, is not to be borne away: he whom charity drives on with its goads does not know how to test what he can do. Yet the accomplished are accustomed to judge worthy of pardon those whose faltering footsteps have abandoned them upon the epistolary roads. You are accustomed to attend to what we meant to say, whenever our words do not express our wishes. I have, however, weighed down the provision of a suitable letter-bearer and, since she who could have presented me to you by living words [...], I have brought her through with a letter accompanying her, trusting that there is less danger for us, that I have committed my offense under the presence of a good intercessor. Farewell, then, my lord, and cherish one who loves you with your special favors: so may divine favor exalt your eminence, if there is anything by which it may still 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.