Letter 4018: In championing causes that deserve their day in court, a man does not deny his own services to the truth.
Ennodius of Pavia→Faustus|c. 507 AD|Ennodius of Pavia
friendship
From: Ennodius, deacon in Pavia
To: Faustus [Faustus Niger]
Date: ~507 AD
Context: A letter on the duty of championing causes that deserve defense — Ennodius positions himself as an advocate who cannot deny his services.
Ennodius to Faustus.
In championing causes that deserve their day in court, a man does not deny his own services to the truth. I bring before you a matter that speaks to your sense of justice, and I trust the merit of the case will do what my words alone cannot.
The bearer carries the details; I carry the recommendation. Between the two, the case should reach you complete. Farewell.
XVIII. ENNODIVS FAVSTO.
In adserendis quibus suum non denegat honestas plena
suffragium multiplicibus non utor adloquiis, ne prolixus sermo
tamquam a negaturo uideatur inpetrasse beneficium: soletis enim
quae poscenda sunt precibus anteferre. ad sublimem et magnificum
uirum Opilionem parentes eius in Africa consistentes
direxerunt certam diligentia inspirante personam, qua ad patrium
solum remeante hoc mihi muneris praefatus iniunxit, ut ad
magnificum uirum Agnellum pro commendatione suorum a uobis
XVII. 3 lingua esse Pb 5 peccorum Tl indicaiet∗∗ L
9 promisit P*; promisit. Et fort . consetudiai B 10 quod Pb
11 inoleum T1 12 diuinctionem BLPV conuenitis scripsi,
conuenientes BLPTVb si] se T* int∗erpres (a fort. eras.) L
14 imptiens V, impartiens b 15 occului] finit add. B j
. i
XVIII. 18 asseruendis T 20 uidetur B eolites B
i .
21 sablimen T\' 22 eus L, om. T affrica T 23 dirizerant
B 24 remeante (mea corr.) L prefatis L iniunczit
B
scripta mereatur. quam rem, emendatissimi hominum, non
negabitis, non contenti benignitatem uestram solos in Italia
positos agnouisse. nunc obsequia mea litteris reddens causam
scriptionis uerborum conpendiis indicaui. uos dicenti pauca
praestate praecipua.
◆
From:Ennodius, deacon in Pavia
To:Faustus [Faustus Niger]
Date:~507 AD
Context:A letter on the duty of championing causes that deserve defense — Ennodius positions himself as an advocate who cannot deny his services.
Ennodius to Faustus.
In championing causes that deserve their day in court, a man does not deny his own services to the truth. I bring before you a matter that speaks to your sense of justice, and I trust the merit of the case will do what my words alone cannot.
The bearer carries the details; I carry the recommendation. Between the two, the case should reach you complete. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.