Letter 4004: Copy of a letter which he himself dictated.

From: A sister (identity uncertain; letter dictated by Ennodius) To: Her brother Date: ~495 AD Context: A model letter dictated by Ennodius on behalf of a woman writing to her brother, blending familial affection with spiritual exhortation — a window into how Ennodius crafted epistolary voices for others. Copy of a letter which he himself dictated. A sister to her brother. Although some people owe a certain gratitude even to unworthy family members simply out of natural affection, and although what we give to the next generation is never truly lost, I am weighed down by such a burden of sorrows that I can scarcely find room to breathe, let alone write. Still, brother, I must speak. I beg you by the holy bonds between us: rise up from where you have fallen. If you would only lift yourself on willing shoulders, you could carry what now seems unbearable. Despair is the only real defeat. Begin — that is all I ask. You have already started down the path our parents set for us. Dissolve the chains of your troubles with prayer. Feed on the hope that sustains all of us who believe. I am not cutting you off from my affection — far from it. I bind you to me as tightly as necessity allows. But I must be honest: I need you to act. Farewell.

IIII. EXEMPLAR EPISTVLAE QVAM IPSE DICTAVIT. FRATRI SOROR. Quamuis summatim gratiam aliqui debeant etiam malis in affectione pignoribus nec illud quod posteritati tribuitur IIII. 3 quo. (d eraa.) L depremor B 5 sancto b et Sirm . quo. (d eras.) L 6 proprae Bl 7 fuscati T1 detergat PTb 10 peccator T1 exsurgeris B, exurgeres T libantibuB B humeris P1 11 subrogares T, subrogaris BL PV 12 disperatio BLV 14 age] perge fort . cepisti BT patribua T (in mg . partibus) 15 precum om. B di∗luis B 16 pascere T t19 unum ex uft T m. 2) ▓ uelud BPTa 20 necessitatabus LI abiungo L 21 aale om. BT; in T subscriptio Zegitur: Erplif I. para epforum ennodij. IIII. 24 Boror om. b 25 quamuis] cf. Wiener Studien II p. 247 aliquid B etiamj et P. 7 * beneficium putetur esse sed debitum, cum malignus interpres iudicium cordis naturae subdit imperiis et tollens saporem diligentiae sola iubendum putet obiectione pariendi, quando plus creditur fili uocabulum ualere quam obsequium et non quaeritur quid in amoris lance promoueas, sed quale ad praeiudicium aestimanti nomen opponas, cum apud prudentes frustra subolem dicimus, nisi exhibet quod uocatur: nam qui m prole censuram neglegit, conceptum - magis designat sibi placere quam meritum. facessat in posteris hoc solum nos cogitare quod libuit. etenim fructus uteri, nisi honestate respondeat, plus in testimonio lasciuiae uidetur euenisse quam gratiae. fas enim est germanitatis semper fidele consortium etiam partubus anteferri: datur participem originis sic haberi, ut nec consortium sanguinis neglegatur et descendens a merito laudetur examen. et ideo ne sinuosis in longum procedant uerba praeloquiis et quod re angustum est crescat affatu, dono, in fraternitatem tuam confero et iuri tuo perpetua libertate transfundo mancipium iuris mei illud et cetera. uale.