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. While you were directing your words on behalf of the religious conviction of a venerable conscience in the matter of the election of the bishop of Aquileia, and your tongue, schooled in divine worship, was contending to consecrate, the diligence of your discourse held us bound in regard to a man unknown to us, since nothing surpasses sound judgments whenever an approved man has advanced something. For what does he leave to the opinion of those who follow him, when he submits himself to a justice whose determination is not summoned to examination? By the goodness of your conscience you accomplish what could scarcely be denied to your authority. The greatest of men, more lofty through humility, presented among the arbiters a colleague of the venerable Marcellinus, and lest favor should be ascribed to power through biased interpreters, what he plucked from his own native talent he joined to the value of the man praised. You acted as a man of middling rank, lest the proclamation of one so eminent should be suspect. So that the testimonies of the most distinguished men may receive force, the heights are chastened. Happy the priesthood for which a mind full of light has borne the torch before it. Blessed the manner of life which was for this reason brought into dispute, that, with so great a man giving his assent, [...] it might prevail, the life which would not have learned the savor of victory had it not lain subject to uncertainties. Adverse things have always begotten glory for the innocent; a middling assault provides the strongest defenders. But why have I prolonged the bounds of a letter by loquacity, transgressing in human ornamentation the pages constrained by rule? I too join my assent, most ample one, to your party, according to the measure of my own smallness, while heaven shows itself compliant to you; and, what is held to be marvelous among men, by my regard for you I am drawn to love. The affection inspired in me through another pleases me, while charity, with the person traveling abroad, remains implanted in my deepest inward parts. Yet may heavenly grace join itself as a companion to your desires, and, while what is wished for is granted as an accomplished thing, may it either find the good of the pontificate or make it. Farewell, my lords, and relieve one who loves you with frequent conversations, so that, if regular contact does not demand busy pages, they may at least be furnished 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.