Letter 4013: Ennodius to Constantius, the Illustrious.

Ennodius to Constantius, the Illustrious. Your Greatness preserves toward friends and dependents the faithfulness that is the mark of a truly noble character. The loyalty you show to those who serve you is not mere habit — it is a principle, and one that distinguishes you from lesser men in positions of similar power. I write to acknowledge this and to place myself among those who benefit from it. Whatever occasion arises in which my voice might serve your purposes, command it freely. The service of a friend, even a modest one, is not without value when it is offered with a whole heart. I remain at your disposal and in your debt. Farewell.

XIII. ENNODIVS CONSTANTIO V. I. Seruat magnitudo tua circa amicos et cultores proprios illud quod sibi iungit ad gloriam. dum enim memoria dignos ducitis, uos probatis. nam diu in consolationem scripta suscipiens, absentiae uestrae damna suspiro. o artificem scientiam bonis caelestibus institutam! ne liceat aliquid prolixae sequestrationi de affectu decerpere, praesentantes sacram imaginem litteras promulgatis. nouit deus discussor sensuum me culminis uestri recordatione macerari et nullum inuenire de optimi uiri peregrinatione subsidium. reddo tamen epistolari cura salutationis obsequium, et dignationi uestrae gratias referens fratrem quoque meum Iohannem per uos mihi restitutum esse confiteor. cuius hactenus in obliuione mei silentium quid gereret non tacebat, is nunc uestro mihi reformatus affectu ad abiuratam stili curam reuertit. rogo tamen uos ut maturetis reditum aut si felix mora detinet, dilectionem manifestetis adloquio. 1 et tndusi rumpit L mihi BL Y 2 posthanc T adeo add. in mg. T m. 2 qaae] q; L habere B didicisti L di s. I. m. cmt . 8 contemtor B, contempto T1 oredo T1 4 sacramenta seruat T 5 concordiae] finit add. B XIII. 7 V. I. om. T 8 tua tua B cultores Bb, saeculares LPTV et Sirm . 9 enim B, enim nos LPTVb 10 ducetia LPTlVb, docetis B probates B1 consulationem B 11 ∗∗abstinentiae (Ii? eras.) B supiro V in ras. m. 1 12 prolize LT 13 presentantes B 14 prouulgatis B senseum B, 1. sens∗um L cuminis L 15 uestri — I. 18 ioannem alia man. exarauit in T 16 epistolare B salutationis T s. L m. 2 17 uestrae gratiam LPYb, nostre gloriam T 18 quoque om. T ioannem q per T 19 cui|ius L obliuione scripsi, obliuionem BLPTVb 21 maturites B 22 decinet B manifes∗∗tetis L adloquio] finit add. B