Letter 20

Faustus, from Ennodius. True thanks to the Trinity whom we worship and adore, our God, who under the distinction of persons and in wonderful equality has bidden us devoutly to perceive and adore one substance; who has turned our lamentation into joy; who has transformed the tears that accompanied our sorrows into the service of gladness — so that I may truly say with the prophet: "Who will give water to my head, and a fountain of tears to my eyes?" That I may respond with this devotion to the greatness of heavenly blessings — I who was granted to receive God's gifts before I could ask for them, and to read of good tidings before I could feel what evil my sins threatened. It is your doing, almighty Dispenser, that concerning the blessed children and the inheritance of their future innocence I did not fear during the anxiety that preceded this moment — I who received the news of their restored health almost in a stupor, placed as I was in a state resembling confusion, and could scarcely believe that the blessings bestowed beyond my merit had truly come to pass. Truly, the human mind cannot fathom the riches of heavenly recompense. So are frail spirits tempered, that they see the safe harbor before they detect the uncertainties of peril. Good God, on what a precipice we hung at the moment when heavenly power — so that the testimony of the little ones' restored health might be complete — was our merit further shaken! I speak honestly, and I veil the voice I owe to my purpose with no cloud of falsehood — I confuse my words with sobs, and under solid congratulation my eyes overflow more abundantly into tears — I often look back at what I have escaped. Where in the world were we? From what ruin has heavenly mercy restored us to human life? Let us therefore render to the bestower of this blessing, in urgent words and prolonged sighs, what we owe; let us invite to the custody of his gifts the one whom we have proved to bear aid in times of uncertainty. Let us beseech him who surely knows how to preserve what he has bestowed and to extend the living testimonies of his power into the future. Such are the prayers of the venerable company throughout all of Liguria on your behalf; the holy household of servants and friends of God rests upon such support. Prayers for the blessed children are poured forth without ceasing. That I speak the truth is witnessed by the Divinity, who, being itself the truth, loves truth: the bitterness of your sorrow has been exceedingly bitter to all who can trust in the innocence and integrity of their lives. But now I return to the customary use of a letter. Farewell, my lord, and receive the bearer of this letter, Bassus, vir clarissimus, with that esteem with which you are accustomed to welcome those dear to me — since among all who are resolved to maintain my friendship for your sake, the aforesaid man has ascended a certain summit of integrity. Support his petitions, therefore, so that reaping the fruit of his efforts he may be prepared for greater things.

XX. FAVSTO ENNODIVS. Vere gratias trinitati, quam ueneramur et colimus, deo nostro, quae sub personarum distinctione et aequalitate mirabili unam nos pie iussit sentire et adorare substantiam, quae planctum nostrum uertit in gaudium, quae dolorum comites ad obsequium laetitiae lacrimas conmutauit, ut uere cum propheta dicam: quis dabit capiti meo aquam et oculis meis fontem fletuum? ut beneficiorum caelestium magnitudini sub hac deuotione respondeam, cui contigit ante accipere 23 Hierem. 9, 1 2 digna digna B 3 optaui T aui in ras. 6 non] nam Pb prospero B me ̃ brorum B, menbrorum P 7 queso B, aupra quaeso scr. qua P m. 8 8 hebitanttur B loqueres B 9 uitBione T 10 asoribitur T 11 mentum L 12 triboee B animo T o ita ras . 13 superflua B, superfluas LPTVb el sollitudine B conceptus B dabet B\' 14 adceesit B inconmodi V XX. 17 enodius T 19 qui T 20 quae ex quam B corr . 23 profeta B 24 flet*tl L u ercu., fluctuum Pb caelestia dona quam poscere et prius quid boni euenisset legere quam quid mali minarentur peccata sentire. tuum est, dispensator omnipotens, quod de serenis pignoribus et futurae innocentiae hereditate in illa, quae praecessit anxietate, non timui, qui reductae etiam statum ualitudinis quasi stupefactus accepi et in confusionis similitudine conlocatus, quae supra meritum meum conlata sunt prospera euenisse uix credidi. uere supernae remunerationis diuitias humana mens nescit expendere. sic animo fragiles temperantur, ut prius stationem uideant quam periculorum incerta deprehendant. deus bone, in quo abrupto pependimus tunc , cum potentia caelestis, ut plenum esset paruulorum in reducta salute testimonium, plus est nostrum labefactata per meritum? dico integre et uocem quam proposito debeo nulla mendacii nube concludo (confundo uerba singultibus et sub solida gratulatione uberioribus in fletum oculis) saepe me respicere quod euasi. ubinam gentium fuimus? de qua nos ad humanam conuersationem ruina clementia superna restituit? referamus ergo strictioribus uerbis huius boni largitori prolixis gemitibus quod debemus, inuitemus ad custodiam munerum suorum quem in dubiis tulisse probamus auxilium. rogemus eum, qui scit nempe seruare quod praestitit et uirtutum suarum uiua testimonia in longum producere. talia sunt mecum circa uos uenerandi uota collegii per totam Liguriam consistentium seruorum et amicorum dei tali nititur domus sancta suffragio. preces pro serenis pignoribus sine cessatione funduntur. uerum me dicere testis est diuinitas, quae quod ipsa est ueritatem diligit, omnibus, qui de uitae possunt innocentia et integritate confidere, uestram nimis amaram esse 1 quid T id dprr. 4 preeeasit B 7 conlata B, coll/w/ta T oc eras., conlocata LV, collocata Pb 10 peric.lorum L u eras. 11 poteatiae B 14 confandi B 15 et] ut b et Sinn. sub V a . 1. m. 1 16 aepe B 17 hnmanam] htla T a dQ; * corr . clementia T cl m ras. 19 prolexis B\' 21 seruire V i in a mutauit m. 1 correctione antea facta erasa prestitit B 22 langain V corr. m. 1 23 colligii B 24 nitetur B, nitititur L - s 25 serenis V corr . m. 1, sereni∗∗∗∗ L 28 amarum L 1 maestitiam. sed nunc ad epistulae usum reuertor. salue, mi domine, et gerulum praesentium Bassum V. C. illa qua caros meos soletis dignatione suscipite, quia inter omnes, quibus affectus est meam propter uos amicitiam custodire, quandam praedictus arcem puritatis ascendit. iuuate ergo petitiones eius, ut fructum de inpensis capiens ad potiora praeparetur.