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

Ennodius to Faustus. Whoever strives to assist the sun with torches labors with superfluous expenditure upon benefits. The fullness of grace has no need of self-abasement, nor does the man whom his merits have carried to the summit of friendships require any increase of recommendation. The care of my pen attends the illustrious and patrician gentleman Albinus, your kinsman, to whom through this page I render not what is necessary but what is freely offered; and although I add nothing to his advantage, I nevertheless earn his affection, in that I have fulfilled the said man's bidding. Therefore, rendering the homage of a greeting to my venerable lord, I pray that, with respect to his own diligence, the said magnificent gentleman may receive what he displayed to me while he honors you. For I do not [doubt] that so eminent a man is quickly to be brought into the inmost chambers of your heart, since his blameless purpose will assist him with you by his own endowments.

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.