Letter 3029: Whenever the sluggishness of the senses threatens to overwhelm me, the urgency of friendship pulls me back.

As often as words serve the pledges of the senses, as in a kind of mirror so does speech in letters paint for itself the likeness of a friend, with whom it converses by living exchange and rejoices in a sweet image that obliges desires. No affluence of the mouth expresses the conception of a bonded heart, and although words are easier than benefits and nothing exists that cannot grow by ambition of speech, I in unfolding my diligence toward you call to witness a barren poverty of expression. Yet I charge your unanimity with taciturnity, because though gifted with a double writing you have thought nothing of a reciprocal reply. Behold, again I send pages, knowing how to give what I expect. Be well, my lord, and address the one who loves you with the brilliance by which you are famous; cherish him with the integrity in which you excel.

XXVIIII. ENNODIVS EVGENETI. Quotiens sensuum pignoribus uerba famulantur, quasi ia quodam speculo ita in paginis sermo sibi amicam pingit effigiem, cum qua uiua uice conloquitur et dulci simulacro desideriis obsequente gratulatur. nulla quidem conceptum foederati pectoris eloquitur oris affluentia, et cum sint faciliora uerba beneficiis nec existat quod crescere nequeat ambitione dicendi, ego in, explicanda circa uos diligentia arentem testor infantiam. unanimitatem tamen uestram taciturnitatis incersso, quod gemina nt 1 reuelatio B (eorr. m . 1) quidquam BL 2 prouiutiarum LV 4 mutatione B1, 7 coreperis B, coriperse 7 9 afluentis B nale restat T \' 10 tuse om. LPTVb animaeque Bb, animique LTV (t post corn P 11, sed quod PT2b, sed quid BLT1V 12 maior est L 14 concreditur b et Sirm. XXVIDI. 16 euaeniti B 17 sens∗um L uerba (u partm in ras.) B 18 quadam B effigiam T1 19 uice] uoce PTb 20federatiB 22 ambitione B23 inexemplica,da :4in- 20 federati B 22 ambitione B 23 inexemplicanda B infanciam unianimitatam Q 24 uram in ure T corr. m. 2, tuam b . incessu B scriptione donatus nihil de uicaria relatione cogitasti. ecce iterum paginas mitto sciens tribuere quod expecto. uale, mi domine, et amantem tui adloquere nitore quo clarus es, foue integritate qua praeuales.