Letter 1023: Affection loses its vigor when debilitated by silence.

Affection loses its strength, debilitated by the torpor of silence, nor does the course of diligence overflow to its proper use if it is stripped of the communion of conversation. Mute love almost presents the appearance of one who does not love, and it is a simulacrum of hatred not to reveal by the attestation of speech what you cherish. These things I communicated in person to your sublimity, when you were promising letters as a solace for my absence. But now what forgetfulness of me has invaded your soul, that through so great stretches of time I have received no letters signifying your good health — am I not to seek from the testimony of love those letters which are the indices of souls? Therefore turn your irreligious disposition toward one who loves you in a better direction, and send writings in memory of the faith you promised. My lord, paying the debts of greeting, I pray that if a page sent to you finds you in the state of your ancient condescension toward me, it may deserve a reply, because I think the twin bonds between us — of love and of blood — cannot be broken.

XXIII. ENNODIVS SENARIO. Perdit affectio ualitudinem silentii debilitata torpore nec ad usum suum diligentiae cursus exuberat, si nudetur communione conloquii. muta caritas pene repraesentat speciem non amantis, et odiorum simulacrum est non aperire quod diligas contestatione sermonis. ista sublimitati tuae coram positus intimaui, cum ad solacium absentiae meae litteras promittebas. at nunc quae animum uestrum mei inuasit obliuio, ut nullas 3 esse] eBt L 4 exhibitur B 6 quidquid B 8 solatio LT solet] debet Sirm . 9 querellaram B 11 occupationem B\' 12 significet B replicabo V bo in ras. m. 1 14 amorem T1 Bcribtionis B epistulariae V\' (u in 0 corr. m. 1) 15 ingesto T* 16 mihi BL V 17 oblegatus B 18 iuditio PT XXIII. 21 ualitudine L ut uidetur silenti* L i eras . 23 pene om. T speciem T in ras. m. 2 24 simolacrum B 26 solatium BT 27 ad B per tanta temporum spatia, quae bonam ualitudinem uestram significarent, litteras suscepissem, ne de amoris credo testimonio animorum indices epistulas conuenirem? inreligiosum ergo circa amantem tui in meliorem partem uerte propositum et ad memoriam promissae fidei scripta transmitte. domine mi, salutationis debita soluens precor, ut si uos in antiquae circa me dignationis statu pagina directa reppererit, responsa mereatur, quia. puto inter nos gemina uincula disrumpi non posse caritatis et sanguinis.