Letter 2013: **From:** Ennodius, deacon of Milan

Ennodius to Olybrius. As a certain lofty figure of eloquence teaches, carelessness is the rule in letters, and artful unconcern presents itself as the patron of genius. In such a work, that which the sweat of toil — witness to its struggles — has produced is subtracted from grace. A product fired in the smith's furnace does not seek a herald for its own well-being while inquiring after another's. It is better if in these exchanges we meet with a pure face of expression: the simple refinement of conversation forswears diadems; epistolary fellowship, if ever it shuns affected ornament, has prevailed. But the riches of your greatness and your laboriously wrought narrative refuse to be confined within beggarly boundaries, nor can they cramp the treasury of your mouth within any limits: like great rivers, they scorn the bridle of their banks. For while your opulent tongue transgresses the contrived veil of preoccupation, it shows that it serves only those pursuits to which it has been led even by occasion. And unless we perceived by the testimony of our own repose that the helm of the commonwealth has been entrusted to you, and had learned that the entire care of Italy had entered one breast, we would almost believe you were wasted away solely by the care and assiduity of the written page. These gifts are owed to God, who both bestowed upon you a mind that loves knowledge and did not deny the file of study for the forging of speech. Not so swiftly does a swift arrow, shot from the bow-string, cleave the air, as your speech describes the discoveries of your genius. It falters at no obstacle, is delayed by no hindrance; whatever difficulty presents itself becomes passable, and — marvelous to say — through the skill of the advocate the very nature of cases is transformed. You make the affair appear to have earned the outcome you desire: whatever you narrate as truth is truth. Hence careful judges are not permitted to resist. The most meticulous examiners consider it a profit of reputation if they follow where your imperious speech drags its captives. To this tongue, these resources, I confess I owe a singular reverence — to which I was the first to run. And I wish there were many tasks entrusted to me to serve as a clasp of affection. But as to what you enjoined regarding the religious women Speciosa and her sisters, it grieves my heart that I could not fulfill it. For nothing now remains to me of familiarity or bond with them, especially since they dwell in separate cities. I have, however, forwarded to them the letters sent to me, which postponed their answer until such time as they should see fit. I have sent this letter, so as not to keep your greatness in suspense: whatever they shall have directed will reach you at once, if there is anything they wish to report. Now, extending the honor of greeting, I ask that your highness rather entrust to me, together with my church, whatever business there may be — for I believe I have not concealed from you the diligence of my heart in the matter of your kinswomen and the lady your friend.

XIII. ENNODIVS OLVBRIO. Vt tradit quaedam eloquentiae persona. sublimis, lex est in epistulis neglegentia et auctorem genii artifex se praebet incuria. 1 forsita V te om. B orbanitate B 2 actorem T, auctores Plb repetun L 4 distinantis B, deatinatis L adfligit∗∗ B 5 hoc B 8. 1 . 6 nuaqaam (s in ras.) T, nflquam LP, nunquam b 7 participes (parti in ras.) V 8 discripsi BL quam LV1 9 den.. (e uel i eras.) V meus tx metis V m. 1 confidentem T 10 reum ex retim V m. 1, reu B manifestat ira T imiurius B 11 steli Bl sententiam LlVl 12 noatro Sirm., neatro BLPTVb 13 nomen enotata B 14 reserua∗∗ (nt cras.) L 15 clamdeetinae T 16 act∗u ̃ L 19 ledat B 20 commntationem P1T1 1 XIII. 28 olibrio T 25 negligentia BT praebit B \' in quo opere illud subducitur gratiae, quod cruciatuum testis sudor inuenerit. caminis excocta fabrilibus non flagitat salutis suae nuntius et quaesitor alienae. melius [si] in his commerciis pura elocutionum fronte congredimur: diademata simplex conloquii cultus abiurat: epistularis communio si quando affectatum decorem fugit, obtinuit. sed magnitudinis uestrae dines et elucubrata narratio mendicis limitibus nescit includi nec oris thesaurum quibuscumque artare confiniis: magnorum more fluminum riparum frena contemnit. nam dum conpositum uelamen occupationis locuples lingua transgreditur, his tantum se studiis militare significat, ad quae uel occasione perducta est. et nisi uobis quietis nostrae testimonio reipublicae gubernacula sentiremus fuisse conmissa et rem laboris uestri esse quicquid ubique disponitur uel Italiae curam didicissemus unum pectus ingressam, paene uos sola putaremus paginalis stili cura et adsiduitate macerari. deo debentur haec munera, qui et amatorem scientiae sensum contulit et limam studiorum ad oris fabricam non negauit. non sic pernix aether acta neruis arundo proscindit, quemadmodum inuenta ingenii uestri sermo describit. nulla languescit obice, nullis tardatur obstaculis, fit peruia quaecumque se illi difficultas obtulerit et mirum in modum per allegantis peritiam mutatur natura causarum: hoc facis in merito negotium habuisse quod cupias: ueritas est quodcumque pro ueritate narratis. hinc cautis iudicibus non licet repugnare. minutissimi discussores opinionis lucrum 1 subducit b cruciatum LIPVI, cruciatuam t. sudor T in ras . m. 2 3 si uncinaui 4 commertiis L V 5 simplix J9 7 DOstre T diuis B elugubrata T 8 thensaurum B 9 con- I tempnit LPTV 10 locupes L, locnpleba B 13 gubernacala//// (2 uel S litt. ercu.) Y laboria (is ex em corr.) V ueetri (i in ras.) T 14 esse mn. T quidquid B dedioessemus B, didicease- IDQS LV 15 ingressum LV1 poene B, poenae V, poenę L 16 adfiiduitatem L 18 fabrioatam L aethar L, ether JB 19 proscendit B, proacindit L * add. m. rec . admodum T in rag. m. 2 20 diecribit BL languiscet B 28 immerito T 24 narrasti fort . aestimant, si sequantur quo pertrahit oratio inperiosa captiuos. huic ego linguae, his opibus reuerentiam, fateor, . ad quam primus cucurri, debeo singularem. et opto esse plurima quae mihi ad caritatis fibulam agenda mandentur. sed quae iniunxistis de religiosis feminis Speciosa et germanis eius, male est animo quod inplere non potui. nihil enim nunc mihi cum illis residuum est familiaritatis ant pignoris, maxime quia in disiunctis ciuitatibus degunt. ad quas tamen missas ad me litteras mox direxi, quae responsum usque ad illa quibus se uiderent tempora protulerunt. ego ne magnitudinem uestram suspensam tenerem, scripta prorogaui: mox ad uos perueniet, si quid mandauerint, quod libeat indicari. nunc honorificentiam salutationis inpertiens rogo, ut mihi magis cum ecclesia sublimitas uestra si qua sunt agenda, conmittat, quia puto me in adfinium uestrarum causa uel matronae amici circa uos diligentiam pectoris non celasse.