Letter 4025: If the old bond of affection that came down from our parents still holds any force, then our friendship is not...

From: Ennodius, deacon in Pavia To: Bassus Date: ~514 AD Context: A letter invoking old family ties as the foundation for a new friendship. Ennodius to Bassus. If the old bond of affection that came down from our parents still holds any force, then our friendship is not something we need to build from scratch — it was inherited. I write to claim what is rightfully mine and to offer you the same. Let us honor what our families began. Farewell.

XXV. ENNODIVS BASSO. Si uetus diligentia, quae a parentibus meis erga amplitudinem tuam fructus uberes de gratiae messe condebat, circa personam meam pro fidei memoria seruaretur, monstraret frequentia litterarum et insepuitam caritatem testis pectoris sermo recluderet. at nunc oblitum mei te sentio nec aliquam melioris saeculi retinere concordiam, quando nulla quae sollicitudinem tuam resignent scripta diriguntur. sed ego desiderii inpatientiam ad uerba conuerti, qui scio tunc nouellam amicitiam habere dulcitudinem, si annosa seruetur, et illud esse in affectione purius, quod nostri examinauere maiores, sciens quia si Camillum mente retines, Ennodium non omittes. qua de re salutationis munera epistolari cura persoluens precor, ut baiulum praesentium clericum meum, quem ad Gallias et suae utilitatis et meae iussionis causa perduxit, susceptum habere digneris. quo remeante prospera uestra scriptione signate, ut si quid in amore damni fecit obliuio, epistolaris sollicitudo restituat.