Letter 3033: My pages serve their purpose — they carry to you the devotion that prompts them.

From: Ennodius, bishop of Pavia To: Faustus Date: ~520 AD Context: A letter showing Ennodius in pastoral mode, with writing that serves his chosen purpose. Ennodius to Faustus. My pages serve their purpose — they carry to you the devotion that prompts them. I do not write to impress but to connect, and in that limited ambition I trust I have succeeded. May the connection between us endure as long as the faith that sustains it. Farewell.

XXXIII. ENNODIVS FAVSTO. Proposito obsecuntur paginae, quibus commendatio praestatur afflictis. in his enim clara est religionis integritas, quae nullo potentioribus fuco blanditae adserunt lacrimas submissorum. sed hinc alias. cum perlatorem uideritis, uotum dictantis agnoscetis. utinam illo apud magnitudinem uestram supplicationis euentu alleganda conciliet, quo a me litteras impetrauit. mulierem religiosam pauperem de bono negotio praesumentem sermo praefatus insinuat aestimate si fragilitati, si iustitiae oportuit uerba subduci, si conuenit me uel officio deesse uel moribus. ecce ego reuerentiam salutationis inpendens quid partibus meis deberem contestatus sum: uobis quid remansit adtendite, quia sicut personam meam pro supra dictae uoluntate petitio, ita uestram effectus aspiciet. uale.