Letter 24

From: Ennodius, deacon in Pavia To: Asturius Date: ~513 AD Context: An exasperated letter to Asturius, complaining about his stinginess with correspondence — the opening exclamation 'Quae malum ratio est' ('What the devil is the reason') reveals Ennodius's genuine frustration. Ennodius to Asturius. What on earth is the reason for your being so miserly with your letters? The excuse of business no longer holds — you have had time enough for everyone else. I am left to conclude that the problem is not your schedule but your priorities. I deserve better, and you know it. Write to me before I lose my patience entirely — which, as you know, is not an unlimited resource. Farewell.

XXIIII. ENNODIVS ASTVRIO. Quae, malum, ratio est, ut ita sis parcus in gratia, prodigus in querela et exigas frequentiam litterarum quam ipse non tribuis, uiperinis oculis illud quod alter delinquit inspiciens, tuas culpas nulla falce resecando? anni plures sunt, ex quo Alpibus uicinam habitationem delegisti, senator et doctus, ubi tibi, dum pruinosa respicis iuga, adparuit inauspicata nix capitis, ubi etiam glande te uesci scriptione signasti. cuius rei fidem litterarum tuarum decora fecerunt, cum cibi huius significantia in ructu turgidi pectoris et Alpini sermonis adparuit. miror tamen, quod inter loci illius frenata glacie flumina et sine successione frigus iecoris tui flamma plus aestuat nec aliquam sortitur pectus de mansione temperiem. aetas 1 spacia LT 3 epistolas LTV 5 scribta B tranamiase L1 88 in tt eorr. m. rec . 6 mi] mihi BL V praecor BV 7 statu Pb, statum BLTV repererit T, repperit B 8 uiucula T a. I. m. 2 XXIIIL 12 mali B ea L t 8. I. m . 2 13 querella B et om. B frequentia B 14 tribues B uiperinis] qui p imis T illut B delinquit - l . 18 capitis T in ras. m. 2 delinquid BLP, deliquit b insipiens T 16 uicMtam B deligivta B, elegisti T et doctus] edoctus T 17 proinosa respices B apparuit LTV inauspicat* B 18 inter capitis et ubi litterae tor edoct\' eras. in T 20 apparuit LTV 22 iaecoris tui B, tui iecoris Pb plust Tx 23 aestas L deferuiscit B 3* deferuescit in senium: est domus quae lymphas in metalla conuertat et contra naturam gurgitibus sua lege dominetur: tu tamen inter ista sic uiuere diceris, quasi ignis tuus algoris pabulis inritetur. ego te ore parentis stimulo, quia tibi et proposito meo uocem debeo castigantis. uestrum est post haec, si eligitis litteras meas frequenter accipere, de admonitione gratulari. ego autem praeter ista cum honore salutati quae scribere possim in illa carnis quam tu diligis eluuie uiuentibus non inueni.