Letter 5001: When you directed your words in support of the sacred demands of conscience during the election of the Bishop of...

Ennodius to the Patrician Liberius. When you directed your words in support of the sacred demands of conscience during the election of the Bishop of Aquileia — and your tongue, consecrated to divine worship, served the cause — the eloquent care of your speech bound even a stranger like myself. For nothing surpasses in authority the judgments of a proven man. What room for disagreement can remain when the person who acts in the service of justice is one whose very verdict is never called into question? You do by the goodness of your conscience what could scarcely be refused to your power. Among the arbiters, the venerable Marcellinus presented his colleague — a man made greatest of all by his humility. And lest favoritism be ascribed to power through biased interpreters, the qualities that the praised man drew from his own character were added to his worth. You acted with moderation, so that the commendation of one so eminent would not be suspect. For the testimonials of the most distinguished to gain strength, high rank must exercise restraint. Happy the priesthood to which a mind full of light has carried the torch! Blessed the way of life that was submitted to examination precisely so that, with so great a man's endorsement, it might prevail — a life that would not have learned the taste of victory had it not first endured uncertainty. Adversity has always produced glory for the innocent; moderate opposition provides the strongest defenders. But why have I stretched the bounds of a letter with my chatter, exceeding the constraints that custom imposes on human composition? I too, most eminent lords, add my own consent to your cause, according to the small measure of my insignificance — with heaven seconding your efforts. And what is remarkable among men: I am drawn to love you simply by contemplating you. An affection inspired in me by another pleases me, while a love planted in the depths of my being endures even when the person is far away. May heavenly grace, however, join itself as a companion to your desires, and as what you hope for is granted, may it either find the episcopate good or make it so. Farewell, my lords, and comfort one who loves you with frequent conversation — so that even if circumstances do not demand pages filled with business, something at least may be offered to affection.

I. ENNODIVS LIBERIO PATRICIO. Dum pro uenerandae religione conscientiae uerba dirigitis in Aquileiensis electione pontificis et diuinis initiata cultibus lingua militat consecrando, in ignoti nos diligentia sermonum uincla tenuerunt, quia nihil superat iudiciis, quotiens aliquid probatus extulerit. quid enim sententiae sequacium derelinquat, quando iustitiae obsequitur cuius in examen definitio non uocatur? agitis bono conscientiae quod uestro uix negaretur imperio. exhibuit inter arbitros Marcellini uenerabilis collegam maximus hominum humilitate sublimior, et ne potestati fauor per obliquos adscriberetur interpretes, quod de proprio decerpsit genio laudati iunxit ad pretium. egistis mediocrem, ne praecelsi esset suspecta praedicatio. clarissimorum testimonia ut uires accipiant, culmina castigantur. felix sacerdotium, cui facem praetulit plena mens luminis. beata conuersatio, quae • idcirco in discussionem deducta est, ut tanto uiro adstipulante I. Item epistola symmachi (Bimmacbi A) pap liberio patricio directa. Symmachos eps ecclesiae catholicae urbis romae liberio patricio salutem A (= cod. Paris. nr. 9629 saec. X) et B (= cod. Vatic. nr. 630 saec . X) 3 cum T aeneranda AB relegione B 4 aquiliensis BT, aquilegiensia Pb 5 lingua cultibus LBTV semonum B 6 uincula Sirm . quia] quam L diuitiis B quoties B, quod aeienjB A 7 sequatium B dareliquat B 8 iuBticiae B deffinitio T, diffinitio P 9 agitis (is corr.) Y uix om. A negetur B 10 maroelli B eolligam B 11 maximos L 18 genio BTb, ingenio ALPB V (sed in exp. Y m. 1) iuncxit u BP mediocremine B 15 fex B 16 faciem B conuersio T 17 icirco T adstipulante] adfabulante A, affabulante B superaret, quae non didicisset saporem uict-oriae, nisi subiacuisset incertis. semper innocentibus gloriam aduersa pepererunt: prouidet defensores fortissimos mediocris inpugnatio. sed quid epistulae terminos loquacitate produxi, coactas lege paginas in humana concinnatione transgressus ? iungo et ego, amplissimi, partibus uestris pro modulo exiguitatis propriae caelo uobis obsequente consensum et, quod mirabile inter homines habetur, consideratione uestri adtrahor ad amorem. inspirata mihi per alterum placet affectio, dum manet caritas imis inserta uisceribus peregrinante persona. comitem se tamen caelestis gratia desideriis iungat et dum cupitis datur effectus, aut inueniat bonum pontificatus aut faciat. ualete, mi domini, et amantem uestri crebris releuate conloquiis, ut si non exigat negotiosas frequentia paginas, praestentur affectui.