Letter 2018: I have good reasons for what I write, and I trust you will find them compelling.
Ennodius of Pavia→John|c. 507 AD|Ennodius of Pavia
friendship
From: Ennodius, deacon in Pavia
To: John [Iohannes]
Date: ~507 AD
Context: A letter explaining that Ennodius has good reasons for his communication — possibly accompanying a formal request or commendation.
Ennodius to John.
I have good reasons for what I write, and I trust you will find them compelling. The matter I bring to your attention deserves consideration not because I ask it, but because justice requires it.
The bearer can explain the details. What I provide is the introduction; the case will speak for itself. Farewell.
XVIII. ENNODIVS IOHANNI.
Probabiles causas habeo, quibus unanimitatem uestram stili
mei morsu quamuis rubigine sordentis incessam, quas, cum sis
abundans naturae bonis et ingenii facultatibus locuples, purgare
non possis. ego umquam credidi ad alium reditus uestri
citius indicia posse perferri? ego curam mei inter quasuis
occupationes illud amicis censui consecratum pectus excedere ?
ecce ante oculos meos redduntur aliis paginae et amica expectatio
sub omni credulitatis meae despectione frustratur. nolo
litteras maiori obiurgationis felle conplere: sufficit tristibus
stricta narratio. in eo adhuc animus meus quo magnitudinem
tuam discedentem monuit persistit statu: uestrum est, si temporum
mala contemnitis, promissam seruare concordiam. salue,
mi domine, et amantem tui releua communione sermonis, ut
scribendo deleas dolorem, quem uides amico per scriptionis
abstinentiam contigisse.
1 uisitatis (ti ex sti? corr.) L 2 uniuereus LV1 3 ponetur
B effuBissimae b, effasissime BLPTV 4 dominos V\'b
5 amantes BT7, amantis LPTlVb 6 obtabilem T
XVIII. 8 ioanni LT 9 unianimitatem BLl 10 rubiginae
B 11 habundans PT et om. LP locupee L
12 unquam T, nunquam b redditus L 18 proferri Ll
14 illut B amiciciia (ciciis in ras . m. 2) T censni con T
in ras. m. 2 16 crudelita,tis T1V1, credelitatia LV2 dispectione
B 17 obiurgationis maioris litteras T 18 magnitudinis
T\' 19 mouit V 20 contemnetis B, contempnitia
PL 22 uidis B
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From:Ennodius, deacon in Pavia
To:John [Iohannes]
Date:~507 AD
Context:A letter explaining that Ennodius has good reasons for his communication — possibly accompanying a formal request or commendation.
Ennodius to John.
I have good reasons for what I write, and I trust you will find them compelling. The matter I bring to your attention deserves consideration not because I ask it, but because justice requires it.
The bearer can explain the details. What I provide is the introduction; the case will speak for itself. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.