Letter 3017: Now that your merits have received the dignity they deserve, I write to add my voice to the chorus of congratulations.

After your merits were restored their dignity and the honor which your life demands was conferred, I have received no letter from your blessedness — for my sins. The forgetfulness that is maintained toward me is foreign to your calling and your character. Let not pontifical authority accuse my temerity: it is scarcely possible that diligence should consider what rights it may have; he whom the command of love goads never measures himself. In addition, I could not extend opposing hands to the bearer of this letter, except to bring Benenatus, a man heading to Gaul on certain business, to the notice of your crown by the service of my word. Commending him with all humility, I ask that through him I may be relieved by reciprocal addresses. My lord, paying the servitude of greeting with all devotion, I hope above all that the serenity of your prayers will not fail to make mention of me also when your person supplicates the divinity without intermission.

XVII. STEPHANO EPISCOPO ENNODIVS. Postquam meritis uestris dignitas restituta est et honor quem exigit uita conlatus, nulla beatitudinis uestrae pro peccatis meis scripta suscepi. aliena est a proposito uel a moribus uestris circa supplices quae in me seruatur obliuio. temeritatem meam pontificalis non accuset auctoritas: uix est ut diligentia quid iuris possit habere respiciat: numquam se metitur quem stimulat caritatis imperium. additur quod perlatori XVL 3 quae B rl releua L 4 torquitur B silentia silentia B 5 neque] mea Sirm . 6 sed] si T 9 in radice quadam T 10 prospititint V scripta nos propt (tra—hominem 8 . 1. add. corr.) B bene natum TV 11 commendo BT 13 accelera renelare (reuelare in ras. m. 2) T, acceierare LV, adcelerare B, attolle Sirm. 14 sermonibus quatinns T ift ras . m. 2 quatinus LTV benefltio V, befieSo L XYIL 17 Ennodius Stepbsno episcopo Sirm. stefano BL 18 dignitas] uestra add. Sirm. 19 exegit B 21 snpHces B temeritatem V te postea add. m. 1 22 accuBat B 24 addetur B praesentium obuias manus adhibere non potui, nisi ut Benenatum hominem Gallias pro certis negotiis expetentem ad coronae uestrae notitiam mei perducerem sermonis officio, quem tota humilitate commendans rogo, ut per eum uicariis releuari procurer alloquiis. domine, salutationis seruitutem tota deuotione persoluens spero principe loco, ut precum uestrarum serenitas meae quoque mentionem non omittat facere, cum diuinitati subplicat sine intermissione, personae.