Letter 5005: I would happily draw out the occasion that has earned me such frequent letters from you — if doing so did not burden...

Ennodius to Avitus. I would happily draw out the occasion that has earned me such frequent letters from you — if doing so did not burden you. For whenever you send me pages full of business, you are really doing a service to affection itself. But among the wise, a short letter from a perceptive friend counts for more than a long one from a dull one. I keep my reply brief, then, not from lack of feeling but from respect for your time. Know that every letter you send is received with the warmth it deserves. Farewell.

V. ENNODIVS AVITO. Vellem produci causam, si propositum non grauarem, per quam frequentia amantis scripta promerui. dum enim £ 1 homines BV1 bi insatialem L bi s. I. m. ant . 2 mihi B LV 3 foederis] finit add. B IIII. 5 helisee T 7 uiuet B 8 se∗∗questratione L (st eras.) 9 cathena T 10 dampna LV, dapna T 11 p ̃ sente T 12 prosapie TV 14 domina BPb cinegia T 15 iuseionem T cupiam B • 16 dedisset optata LPTVb ∗∗salutationis B 18 preetatur B 20 homi B 21 assit T 22 ∗∗cude (m eras.) L formatus] flnit add. B negotiosas paginas destinatis, ministerium praebetis affectui. sed apud prudentes et animorum conscios sufficiunt parca conloquia. urbanus in promissionibus esse non sapio nec eis, quibus animam debeo, fucata fronte blandiri. uos tantum coeptis insistite et mandatis caelestibus obsequentes malum hominem, quem dicitis, a desideriis deducatis. me conuenit plus rebus ostendere quam sermone polliceri, quia quod tribuo hoc mihi restitui incunctanter expecto. domine mi, salutationem plenissimam dicens rogo, ut domnae Heliseae communi matri pro me gratias agas, quae dignata est litteris suis uincula proximitatis ostendere