Letter 1026: ---

Ennodius to Faustus. This page satisfies your prayers and desires, for in one who loves you it offers its service to the needs of others. How I could wish, if my resolve did not forbid it, to set tottering the calm of many men so often, so that, while I lend a voice to doubtful matters, I might pay the debt of steadfast affection! I am devoting the office of the present writing to the commands of my lord, your father, whose mind, while it provides for the security of all, despises its own repose under this intent; for, since he has not yet seen the evils of the Ligurians die away after the death of Mauricellus, he is troubled. For our province labors under recurring snares, as though the grave did not hold the man we have mentioned. While certain men strive, through wicked persons, to obtain the advocacy of the treasury, they show, even before they have obtained the fullness of their wishes, what they are plotting within it. For my part, I have not concealed the deliberation of your greatness concerning the public good, declaring that you, with God lending his aid, would entrust the aforesaid office to no one alongside yourself. But the anxiety of the provincials believes that all it fears can come to pass. I have undertaken this charge of pleading from my lord the bishop, that I might appeal to your conscience by the homage of this page, lest anyone's underhanded approach be brought to the accomplishment of this affair. Do you, in your solicitude, guard your most faithful promise with the integrity of your purpose. As for me, rendering the offices of greeting, I have testified to what I had taken up to be pleaded. I hope, nonetheless, that I may be informed by the service of a letter as to what has been decided concerning that matter.

XXVI. ENNODIVS FAVSTO. Votis et desideriis satisfacit pagina, quae apud amantem uestri necessitatibus alienis praestat obsequium. quam uellem, 1 in Test T in ras . lymfas BPV, limfas L, limphas T conuertit Sinn . 2 dominatur Sirm . 3 tuos B 4 irritetur LV, nutriretur T oro b et Sirm . 5 debeo uocem Sirm . 6 elegitis B litteras T s in ras . frequenter om. Pb ammonitione T, monitione Pb 8 diliges B eluuie em. Schot., ellubiae LV, ellubie BPTb XXV. 12 prodigia L 13 tabula Sirm . 14 uerecundii V fl in ras . penitrale B 16 colloquia LTV 18 sollicite B pericula Pb 19 uale T, ualete ergo B mei b domine P TVI (e in i corr. V m. 1) scribtionis B 20 nec T 21 quid B, quia T forsitam B \' XXVI. 24 satisfaciat LxPTVlb . si propositum non uetaret, multorum saepe quieta titubare, ut dum dubiis uocem tribuo, debitum obnixae caritatis exsoluam! domini mei, patris uestri iussionibus inpendo praesentis scriptionis officium, cuius animus dum omnium securitati prouidet, suam quietem sub hac intentione contemnit, qui dum mala Ligurum post Mauricelli obitum nondum uidit occidisse, confunditur. recidiuis enim prouincia nostra, quasi praefatum sepulcra non teneant, laborat insidiis. aduocationem fisci dum aliqui per iniquos homines nituntur obtinere, ante uotorum copiam quid in ea meditentur ostendunt. ego quidem deliberationem magnitudinis uestrae de bono publico non celaui, adserens uos praefatam dignitatem nulli uobiscum deo adnitente conmittere. sed anxietas prouincialium totum credit posse euenire quod metuit. hanc a domno meo episcopo allegationis suscepi prouinciam, ut conscientiam uestram obsequio paginae conuenirem, ne cuius subreptio ad huius rei perducatur effectum. uos fidissimam pollicitationem solliciti custodite integritate propositi. ego salutationis officia dependens quae susceperam alleganda testatus sum. spero tamen ut quid de ea parte deliberatum sit instruar officio litterarum. 1 pposito V corr. m. 1 turbare Pb 2 obnixe LT, obnoiae B, obnoiiae fort . 3 impendo LTV; uariantes id genus ex his codicibus posthac nisi ubi causa aderat, iam no-n notaui in rebus orthographicia B solum in uniuersum secutus . 4 Bcribtionis B pronidit B 5 quietem BPb, quietam TV, quiet∗u ̃ L i eras . contempnit BLV 7 quasi] quia uas T 8 sepulchra BL V fisci ex feci L m. 2 12 nos Pb nobiscum Pb 13 posse ex poslst T 14 euenire posse Pb 15 obsequio uestram T 16 nec T 18 susciperam BV 19 spcro-litterarum om. b