Letter 4032: ---

Ennodius to Eugenetes. I do not think that a thing can grow stale through the frequency of dutiful attention, nor that the cultivation of diligence should be ascribed to the vice of garrulity. Perhaps those who are occupied with the duties of public service have an excuse for abstaining from correspondence; but the man who is at leisure earns no pardon if he refrains from the assiduity of writing. He plainly confesses a neglect of love who, when he is able, does not supply letters — in which is the food of affection: it is the error of an idle man if a well-informed mind wastes away through holidays of the tongue, unfed with the conversations it desires. But just as it is fitting for us, who owe nothing to worldly cares, to foster the devotion of friendship, so also, unless your greatness plays its part by sending a reply, you condemn by silence what has been rightly done — for if rewards are taken from virtues, who would not be ashamed to have labored? There — in a brief speech, as I reckon — I confess that the purpose of each of us sits ill with my mind: that when Montanarius returned, though I had given him pages, I received none in return. What is owed, I demand to be restored by right and doubled by honor. Now farewell, my lord, and as I seek news of your well-being while reporting my own, I pray to God that, if He is mindful of me, He may multiply your good fortunes.

XXXII. ENNODIVS EVGENETI. Non aestimo rem obsequii frequentia posse rancescere nec culturam diligentiae uitio garrulitatis adscribi. suppetat forte 1 ai om. Sirm . depellet B 2 ita \' B letioia nos T 5 daebende L, debende in debite corr. T m. U 6 a] ad L 1 XXXI. 10 occa ̃ sionem Ll ut saepius 11 gaudia B pepererint P indiz B1 12 p non B p B iocanditas B\' 13 meroris BLTV colloquii Sirm. 15 ob] ab SWm. cf. Epist. II 20 16 letitia V 17 clandiBtina B 19 promito T 20 eti B exp. eorr . 21 pudeant L 28 diducere LV oale om. TV XXXII. 25 engeniti B 26 ranciscere B de abstinentia tabellarum excusatio illis, qui publicae utilitatis muniis occupantur: ueniam non meretur, si ab scriptionis adsiduitate temperet absolutus. liquido confitetur amoris neglegentiam qui cum possit epistulas, in quibus est affectionis pabulum, non ministrat: error otiosi est, si bene conperta mens per linguae ferias desideratis adtenuetur inpasta conloquiis. sed sicut nos religionem gratiae fouere conuenit curis saecularibus nil debentes, ita, nisi magnitudo uestra partibus suis adfuerit promulgatione responsi, damnatis probe facta reticendo, quia si tollantur uirtutibus praemia, quem laborasse non pudeat ? ecce, quantum aestimo, breui elocutus utrorumque propositum animo meo male esse confiteor, quod remeante Montanario, cum dedissem paginas, non recepi, quod debitum posco lege restitui, pudore geminari. nunc uale, mi domine, et uestram quaerens, propriam nuntians sospitatem deum precor, ut si mei memor est, prospera uestra multiplicet.