Letter 2004: No one among the wise doubts that a sacred promise must be kept, and that a friendship wedded to fertile kindling...

Ennodius to Olybrius. No one among the wise doubts that a sacred promise must be kept, and that a friendship wedded to fertile kindling should rejoice in the nobility of its fruits. I appeal to your conscience, already bound by faithful pledges. Like a capable owner gathering fruit from a good tree, I pluck the harvest of our mutual affection. Let neither party deny that what was agreed upon has been fulfilled in their eager exchange. Before God, our vows earn either punishment or reward. I believe that, by the purity of my purpose and the nobility of yours, the harmony we began has reached its intended effect. I could not refuse the commerce of words to a friendship that is growing and bursting forth into new light -- since a man who stands nearby and refuses to take the first step deserves blame. In this matter, then, wishing to avoid the loss of modesty, I accept the reputation of being rash, so long as I can show that I have reached the goal of a perfected bond. I have burdened a most suitable letter-carrier with the load of my unskilled words -- sinning through affection, yet through a sin that earns both forgiveness and gratitude. I therefore send the most heartfelt greeting owed to you and ask that, if you hold me in your heart, you demonstrate it by sending me a generous reply -- for just as you are an eloquent and copious champion of love, so you are incapable of deceiving anyone with a flattering pretense of words.

IIII. ENNODIVS OLVBRIO. Nulli dubium est inter prudentes sacrae fidem promissionis inpleri et amicitiam, quae fertilibus est maritata fomitibus, fructuum nobilitate gaudere. ego conscientiam uestram appello e 1 contigi B 2 ticinensS T nensS in ras. m. 2 urbe T in mg. add. m. 2 susciperam B 3 uniuersi LPV\'b aestimane Sirm . & circa] contra b 7 traquidiam B, tragoeidam L uenerande B 10 erdui BLPTV, ergo b: em . Sirm. me tu] metua B sed a corr. uidetur 11 comitis mei B 12 mei om. B 13 persone B 15 consciam T in ras. m. 2 merentem BPTV prolezioris B 16 conpedia B 19 afflictionis L mi ex m T corr., mihi BLVb, michi P 20 presentium B IIII. 23 olibrio T 26 formitilibus B 26 fruct∗u ̃ L u eras . nobilitare T iam statutis fidelibus obligatam: ego tamquam de bonae arboris reditu, ita de caritate mutua idoneus carpo poma possessor: nulla partium in aucupio discessionis quod fieri uoluit neget inpletum. apud deum uotis aut supplicium debetur aut praemium. ego in me religiosi, in uobis nobilissimi consideratione propositi ad effectum inter nos concordiae aestimo peruenisse quae coepta sunt, nec adulescentibus gratiae et in nouam lucem erumpentibus frugibus uerborum potui negare commercium, cum culpa dignus sit qui in uicinitate positus noluit primus incipere. in hac ergo parte pudoris uolens uitare dispendium nolo euadere opinionem temerarii, dummodo ad effectum me ostendam peruenisse perfecti. opportunissimum portitorem sarcina inperiti sermonis oneraui affectu delinquens, per quem qui peccauerit et ueniam meretur et gratiam. rogo ergo salutationis effusissimae debitum soluens, ut, si me cordi habetis, de uberrimi ostendatis directione conloquii, quia sicut amoris elocutor et copiosus adsertor es, ita nescis alicui blanda uerborum fucatione deludere.