Letter 4009: The polished art of letter-writing, when it is carried away by enthusiasm, tends to lose its judgment.

From: Ennodius, deacon and literary figure in Pavia To: Faustus [Faustus Niger, Roman senator and patron] Date: ~500 AD Context: One of many letters to Faustus, Ennodius's most important patron — here reflecting on the art of letter-writing and the danger that flattery poses to honest judgment. Ennodius to Faustus. The polished art of letter-writing, when it is carried away by enthusiasm, tends to lose its judgment. Praise that flows too freely becomes indistinguishable from flattery, and flattery is the enemy of truth. I do not say this to accuse you — far from it. Your letters are always welcome, and your good opinion of me, however undeserved, is a gift I treasure. But I must be honest: I am not the man your generosity has painted me. The portrait is better than the subject. Still, between friends, even exaggeration has its uses. It tells us what we ought to be, even if it overstates what we are. I accept your praise as an aspiration and promise to do my best to deserve it. Farewell.

VIIII. ENNODIVS FAVSTO. Solet epistolaris concinnatio, quando fauore rapitur, iudicia non amare et copiosius facere beneficium, dum attollit inmeritos. ille enim debet amplius adserenti, qui quod moribus non exigit gratia scriptoris suffragante consequitur, quia nullis adiutus conscientiae dotibus iure ad allegantem reportat, si quid adipiscitur. aliud est in eo, qui conmendatur, tamquam nobile germen ita peregrinantia bona uerbis inserere, aliud innata uulgare, quemadmodum si rusticum pecus Tyria confirmes purpura sponte uestiri et uirus generosum, quod uellus aeno 1 consciis Y adcedo B 2 dispicet B largitor L 3 propria T, pripium B qui deo BPT2b, quid eo (i 8. I. m. 2 et eo in Faa.) L, qui ideo V, qui io Tl 4 in commodis Pb t, 5 benificium B quae B 8. 1 . 6 noscuntur B dioias B tribuistia Ll accipistis B, accepistis L 7 scanctorum B 8 que B 10 laboris om. T 11 meam om. T dispoaitione benigna T, b. dispensatione B 12 effecta me] effectum B reue. late T1 conloquio] finit adG. B VIIII. 15 epistolares B rapantor Lx 16 oupiosius B cum T 17 quod ex dem T corr . 18 suffragantem L 19 siquis B 21 germin Bl 22 confirmis B 23 uellos om. in ras. 6-7 lilt. T inebriante non sorbuit, dicas rura diffundere. tingunt alii linguae murice quae nullus ad regalem usum fucus exhibuit, et discreti maris ignota cocleis lana solam lucem bibit eloquii: redditur dignum principalibus indumentis quicquid in uili munere relatorum uerba colorauerint. sed ab huiusmodi urbanitate uires me pariter et uota subducunt. nulla clarioris suci stamina per me splendore rutilabunt: nemo dictum de aliquo inueniet quod in eius actibus non agnoscat. hinc pudori meo uel proposito manum porrigo, quod illi praeuium inpendo oris officium, qui ad notitiam uestram rebus bene gestis occurrit. Venantium Y. C. loquor idcirco a me paginale inpetrasse obsequium, ut in se oculos uestrae magnitudinis inuitaret, ne eum inter curarum moles contingeret ignorari. sunt illi suffragia sua, per quae inter susceptos uestros mereatur adscribi. exhibuit uobis modestiam religionem innocentiam, quibus penetralia. serenae mentis comitibus introiret. exuberant, mihi credite, apud eum insignia quae fouetis: non laudatorem me continuo in eo probabitis fuisse sed testem. uos, mi domine, perlatori dignationem principe loco tribuite, ne uir bonus nouitate turbetur: liquido aderit partibus suis et uitae opibus pensabit damna uerborum.