Letter 4020: The virtue of diligence is exercised and strengthened through the regular discipline of correspondence.

20. Ennodius to Julianus, a man worthy of praise. The good practice of diligence is exercised by manifold writing: for through the testimony of the tongue the secrets of the mind are laid open. He who exchanges leisure for love expends care upon constant conversations. These are the duties by which silent affection makes itself known. Unless our familiar bearer had received pages to be delivered to your eminence, he would bear witness that I had forgotten the reverence that is owed. For I do not know how to be negligent of charity, nor how, serving my own repose, to drive away a goodwill that has been won by labor. I owe many words to our compact, but the letter compels me to brevity. Farewell, my lord, receiving the honor of one who salutes you, and preserve toward me the regard that has come to maturity. Thus, having been called into the public arena for the good of the commonwealth, may you give thanks for the long continuance of your felicity.

XX. ENNODIVS IVLIANO V. L Exercetur bonum diligentiae scriptione multiplici: linguae enim indicio animorum secreta panduntur. adsiduis curam inpendit adloquiis qui otium amore commutat. haec sunt officia, per quae tacitus innotescit affectus. familiaris perlator, nisi reddendas culmini uestro paginas accepisset, me oblitum reuerentiae debitae testaretur. nescio enim esse caritatis neglegens nec partam labore gratiam quieti seruiens effugare. multa debeo uerba foederi, sed ad breuitatem cogit epistola. uale, mi domine, honorem salutati accipiens et circa me adultam serua dignationem. sic bono in medium adscitus reipublicae de felicitatis tuae diuturnitate gratuleris.