Letter 2018: I have good reasons for what I write, and I trust you will find them compelling.

Probable reasons I have by which to assail your unanimity with the bite of my pen — though it be foul with rust — reasons which, though you abound in the gifts of nature and are rich in the resources of talent, you cannot purge. Did I ever believe that the tidings of your return could be brought more quickly to another? Did I ever judge that amid whatever occupations, care for me could leave that breast consecrated to friends? Behold, pages are delivered to others before my eyes and my affectionate expectation is frustrated with utter contempt for my trust. I do not wish to fill my letter with greater bile of reproach: a compressed narrative suffices for sorrows. My soul still persists in the state in which it admonished Your Greatness upon your departure: it is for you, if you despise the evils of the times, to keep the concord you promised. Be well, my lord, and relieve one who loves you with a sharing of discourse, so that by writing you may erase the grief which you see has befallen your friend through the abstinence of correspondence.

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