Letter 4024: A sick spirit endures silence no more than a sick body endures stillness.

Ennodius to Faustus. A grieving mind, just as it cannot endure silence, so too it forswears the unfolding of a narrative: neither taciturnity nor lengthy conversations suit the testimony of sorrow; the page is constrained to which, amid groans, words are scarcely granted. But why do I claim a holiday for my tongue by speaking more, and, while my letter is compelled within its necessary limits, promise loquacity? I beseech God that He may relieve my anxiety by a plain token of your prosperity. May He admit my tears, He to whom closed lips speak, He for whom a shower of the eyes streaming down from compunction suffices for a full embassy. As for me, I recognize that not only my own repose has been shaken, but also my safety, by the good health of my enemies and by the storms of rumors. The divinity is able to remove the uncertainties of an immense tempest by the good of fair weather. As for you, if I have any merit before God, fare well, and have regard for one who loves and is conscious of you, against the watches of Ravenna, by the dispatching of letters.

XXIIII. ENNODIVS FAVSTO. Aeger animus sicut silentia non patitur, ita processum narrationis abiurat: contestationi maeroris nec taciturnitas nec conloquia prolixa conueniunt: artatur pagina cui uix inter gemitus uerba tribuuntur. sed quid adsero linguae ferias plus loquendo et coactam necessariis epistulam terminis garrulitate polliceor? deum quaeso, ut anxietati meae de manifesto pro- speritatis uestrae succurrat indicio. ille admittat lacrimas meas, cui clausa ora fabulantur, cui ad plenam legationem sufficit a conpunctione defluens imber oculorum. ego labefactatam non 2 dampnum LV 4 suadet] suae et B memoriae B 5 adcessit B inperaiti B 7 ingeniis (iia in ras.) T 8 qm poasitamieusT9iudicantiumb11aom.Bm poasit amicas T 9 iudicantium b 11 a om. B tribiali B 12 obseqtL B feri B 15 to Y 16 inuitare] finit ndd. B XXIIII. 19 eger B 20 meroris LTV 21 arctatur TV 22 tribnntnr L 24 pollioeor] prolixo fort.; sed ef. Epist. VII12 queeo TV allegationem fort . 27 inber B labefactam T1 8* solum quietem meam sed et salutem inimicorum ualitudine et rumorum procellis agnosco. potens est diuinitas inmensae tempestatis incerta bono serenitatis amouere. uos, si de deo mereor, saluete et amanti in uobis conscientiam con Rauennates excubias tabellarum promulgatione consulite.