Letter 4028: If things had gone as I wished, this letter would carry a different message.

If my days flowed according to my desire, I would devote my efforts to dutiful pages rather than to business ones, nor would I divert the service of love to foreign offices. But compelled by circumstances, I have exchanged a matter of diligence for necessities. For a distinguished and magnificent man labors under the deceitful plots of his enemies, who through me implores the patronage of your equity, lest a wicked contrivance be permitted to assail his reputation and he bear the fruit of a fabricated rumor. My lord, offering a most generous greeting, I beg that the vigor which is known to reside in you may arise and that what is sought by your party through the service of my words may be brought to a fitting fulfillment.

XXVIII. ENNODIVS AGAPITO. Si mihi ex sententia dies fluerent, non negotiosis operam paginis potius quam obsequentibus exhiberem nec munus .ł\' 1 fauor] amor T liberatis B ut Bb,-et LPTV 3 ae- thereaa Pb, aeternus Sirm . 5 dispendio non dabltum nichi frangatur T (corr m. 2) 6 animam T* 7 persona fort.; post personis uulgo interpungitur, cf. Wiener Studien II p. 231 \' 10 usus L S. t m . ant. cupias B 11 antecellant] finit add. B i XXVII. 14 et om. Sirm. 15 magnam L ***ista L . 16 sens*um L 17 domini B 19 disperationem JS 90 cegnoseere T 21 conloquia] finit add. B . caritatis ad officia peregrina transducerem. sed coactus rem diligentiae necessariis commutaui. sublimis enim et magnificus uir pro dolosis inimicorum laborat insidiis, qui per me aequitatis uestrae inplorat patrocinium, ne praua concinnatio opinionem eius permittatur incessere et fabricati rumoris ferat forte conpendium. domine mi, salutationem largissimam dicens deprecor, ut ille qui in uobis notus est uigor adsurgat et quod a partibus uestris poscitur mei sermonis obsequio ad inpetrationem congruam perducatur.