Letter 2022: The man who labors at unnecessary expense to secure a favor works in vain when the same result would have come...

From: Ennodius, deacon in Pavia To: Faustus Date: ~511 AD Context: A reflection on the futility of excessive effort in securing favors that would come naturally through simple goodness. To Faustus, from Ennodius. The man who labors at unnecessary expense to secure a favor works in vain when the same result would have come through simple goodness. Effort wasted on what was already assured is effort misdirected. I say this not to lecture but to reassure: what you have given me required no elaborate machinery. Your natural generosity was more than enough. Farewell.

XXII. FAVSTO ENNODIVS. Superuacuis ad beneficia laborat inpendiis qui solem certat facibus adiuuare. gratiae plenitudo abiectione non indiget, nec ulla requirit conmendationis augmenta quem ad amicitiarum cumulum merita pertulerunt. inlustrem et patricium uirum Albinum parentem uestrum stili mei cura prosequitur, cui per paginam non inpendo necessaria sed uotiua, et quamuis utilitati eius nihil adiciam, amorem tamen mereor, quod praedicti iussa conpleui. uenerabili ergo domino obsequium salutationis inpertiens precor, ut circa diligentiam suam praedictus uir magnificus recipiat quod mihi, dum uos colit, exhibuit. noni enim cito amplissimum uirum ad cordis uestri esse penetralia. perducendum, quem innocens propositum suis erit apud uos dotibus adiuturum.