Faustus, from Ennodius.
If the mind of one who loves restrains itself from the habit of courtesies, it reckons that very cessation an ill omen. For a man is the cause of his own grief who does not always believe that what he loves dwells nearby. Would anyone judge that a man has departed to distant places when he touches him with his mind? For if the spirit is a thing of divinity in a person, it cannot feel the losses of vast distances.
I have stated the reason that moves me to send a letter. I pay the courtesies of salutation — the purpose for which letters are dispatched — praying to God that by the dispensation of heavenly favor, these words may be delivered to your Greatness while you enjoy good health. As for what the bearer may receive, who has provided the occasion for this conversation — he is commended by me in return.
XVII. PAVSTO ENNODIVS.
Si a consuetudine officiorum temperet mens amantis, ipsam
cessationem sinistrum esse putat auspicium. maeroris enim
ipse sibi causa est qui non semper in uicinis aestimat habitare
quod diligit. quisquamne digressum ad longinqua censeat quem
mente contingit? nam si spiritus res est diuinitatis in homine,
prolixarum sentire non potest damna terrarum. dixi causam,
1 adcedit B rethoricam BLPT 2 scema B 4 gemtos
B praecea B 5 ergo] uero T malesnda V eorr . m. 1
compeace LTV colloquii LPTV, conloquia B scribes B
m
6 penicolo Bt penicolo V corr. m. 1 meadatii B (tii in rcu.)
LPV uel potius (peste. P) mentem quum uideB Pb 7 uidia
B mentem uncinauit Sirm., cf. Wiener Studien II p. 241
quae] qua B, qua ea fort . 8 dUcandunt B peccatoris B1
10 ezibeaa B immutabile LTV colloquiis LTV 13 actorem
T 14 deuendam B 16 saltim B inpendimur BT
XVII. 19 conauitudine B 20 potat B meroris BLPTV
22 quos Pb longinqua T qua ex eorr., longincam P\', longinquom b
quae me faciat scripta porrigere. reddo salutationis obsequia,
propter quae promulgantur epistulae, deo supplicans ut caelestis
dispensatione beneficii in bona ualitudine degenti praesentia
magnitudini uestrae uerba reddantur. quod recipiat tamen portitor
qui alloquii occasionem praestitit, a me pro uicissitudine
commendatur.
◆
Faustus, from Ennodius.
If the mind of one who loves restrains itself from the habit of courtesies, it reckons that very cessation an ill omen. For a man is the cause of his own grief who does not always believe that what he loves dwells nearby. Would anyone judge that a man has departed to distant places when he touches him with his mind? For if the spirit is a thing of divinity in a person, it cannot feel the losses of vast distances.
I have stated the reason that moves me to send a letter. I pay the courtesies of salutation — the purpose for which letters are dispatched — praying to God that by the dispensation of heavenly favor, these words may be delivered to your Greatness while you enjoy good health. As for what the bearer may receive, who has provided the occasion for this conversation — he is commended by me in return.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.