Letter 2005: Between friends, silence is never a good punishment for an offense.

Ennodius to Laconius. Between friends, silence is never a good punishment for an offense. The novelty of the revenge wounds the avenger more than the offender. It is wrong to cure faults with faults, when the physician grows sick from the very treatment he prescribes. I wanted to imitate the silence you have kept toward me — all this time, as though you had forgotten I existed. But I am a mild man, and I could not match the contempt of harder souls. I was beaten by my own nature. Affection conquered where stubbornness might have held the line. So here I am, writing first, because I lack the strength to hold a grudge. You owe me at least a reply. Do not make me regret that my heart is softer than yours. Farewell.

V. ENNODIVS LACONIO. Numquam inter amantes silentio bene multatur offensa: grauius inuentorem percutit uindictae nouitas quam errantem: nefas est pro emendatione culparum culpas adhiberi, dum studio curationis qui medetur aegrescit. uolui taciturnitatem quam circa me hactenus mei inmemores seruastis imitari, sed homo lenis animorum fortium non potui aequare contemptum. uictus 1 obligata B, oblegatam LTV tanquam T 3 quod fieri noluit V in ras. m. 1 7 cepta PT, concepta L aduliscentibus B 8 comercium PT, commertium V 10 dispendiam B 11 affectum LT, effectam V corr. m. 1 12 oportunissimum BLPTYb 13 boneraui Tl 15 effusissime L corde fort . 17 cupiosus B nescit B uerborum] sermonum Pb 18 diludere B V. 20 lacon.io L 21 amanHtes L te fort. eras . 28 *mendatione B ad.iberi L h eras . 24 midetur V1 egriscit B noluit T 25 actenus B 26 lenes B, lenia b et Sinn . equare B sum naturae fragilitate, confiteor, et quod uos credo conputare inter uitia plus amando stili abstinentiam effusa loquacitate pensaui et longi dolorem silentii sermonis ubertate conposui. expectans quidem a uobis praeuium munus in litteris, sed nolui mihi ipse, dum diu taceo, negare responsum, aestimans, quod loquendi formam dare nisi loquendo non possem. proinde, domine mi, salutationis debendae obsequium soluens perlatorem praesentium ad uos specialiter destinatum solita dignatione suscipite et sublatum de consuetudine scribendi usum reparate, ne in damnum gratiae parcitas contingat ista uerborum.