Letter 4015: The road to a favorable hearing is easier when the petition comes from a source that the powerful already trust.

Ennodius to Faustus. The road to a favorable hearing is easier when the petition comes from a source that the powerful already trust. I write to you because you are that source, and the matter I bring deserves the advantage your name provides. I will not rehearse the details here — the bearer knows them, and you know me well enough to trust that I would not trouble you with a cause I did not believe in. Lend your support, and let the outcome speak for itself. Your servant in Christ, as always. Farewell.

XV. ENNODIVS FAVSTO. Procliuior ad inpetrandum uia est, quotiens a religioso aliquid exigit abiectio deprecantis: coactus enim praestat affectum qui miseriis supplicis inuitatur: non potest adferre obuias manus cui imperat propositum adflictos audire. perlator praesentium XIIII. 8 quotiens quotiens B 4 quodquid Bl fauore b 5 affectu Pb est T s. I. alloquis B 8 necio B, nescia T1 5 affectu Pb est T s. l .alloquis m 10 nequid B esset mihi] esse uidetur Pb 11 subpeterit locinium B pauper ex semper T m. 2 12 uberam L 13 archana LPTV 14 arcum Tl 15 foederatam Bl ut uid . quanquS L 17 circumstripentium B 20 concedat) finit add. B XV. 23 relegioso B 24 preetat B 25 meeeriie Bl suppliciis T 26 inperat B auito se cespite deflet abiectum, qui spei suae residuum in uestro ponit examine, ne aduersarii eius potentia de lucro et securitate gratuletur. uos legum sacramenta, uos defensio respicit submissorum: ego partes meas conmendatione muniui. uenerabile ergo nomen augete beneficiis, quia dum iusta tribuitis, nec illa quae ad misericordiam pertinent posthabetis. domine mi, reuerentiam salutati accipiens, ita precibus meis effectum tribue, ut proprium desiderium, dum honestas adseritur, possit impleri.