Letter 6001: If I did not love you to distraction, and if the solidity of my pious affection did not rest on an unshakeable...

Ennodius to Partenius [Parthenius]. If I did not love you passionately, and if the solidity of dutiful affection did not stand fast on an unchangeable root, I could be provoked by resentment at the injuries done me, and be moved to reproach you, whether when you grow angry like a child or when you make supplications arrogantly; for I find nothing that is prouder than a manufactured humility. I prefer insults from an open brow to the deferences of a painted one: a feigned sweetness surpasses bitterness. There is no need of entreaties, if you understand what chain binds you. Let those beg pardon for their transgressions who are free not to obey. The brightness of the heavenly judgment has assigned servants to us in such a way that, in whatever direction the mind has turned aside, their compulsion is bent along with it. He waits mercifully who, if he wished, could refuse the strict command. The power granted to me by God will scarcely suffer me to wander far from this order. It is fitting for you to wish that the consideration of your own deserts, though just, may not disfigure the mildness which you proclaim in me, and that the multitude of your faults may not cheapen the path of devotion. Although, if I am not mistaken, retribution accompanies the one who errs mercifully, and there is no patience more excellent than the one that does not leave open an entrance to vices, nevertheless let our indignation depart from you, because for what you have done wrong it will not be a confined grief and a kindness preserved by deception, but blows, that will chastise you. Now in one way only will you avail to draw your wounds into a scar by intemperate speech once it has been piled on, if learning shows you to be a freeborn man through the heights of liberal study. You will not exact pardon unless skill votes in your favor: with the law of sparing changed, by which I am known, I shall keep up severity against your sloth in perpetuity. For what remains, I pray to God that you may be well, and that, accompanied by heavenly favor, you may increase through your verses the hope which you have given.

I. ENNODIVS PARTENIO. Nisi te efflictim diligerem et pii amoris soliditas indemutabili radice constaret, possem iuiuriarum dolore prouocatus, uel cum pueriliter irasceris uel cum adroganter supplicas, con- a moneri : nihil enim inuenio, quod sit fabricata humilitate superbius. praefero contumelias fucatae frontis obsequiis: transit amaritudinem dulcedo simulata. non opus est deprecationibus, si quae te catena nectat intellegis. poscant pro excessibus ueniam quibus est liberum non parere. ita famulos nobis iudicii cae lestis claritudo deputauit, ut in quacumque mens parte deflexerit illorum necessitas inclinetur. ille expectat clemens, qui destrictum, si uelit, refutare possit imperium. haud procul ab hoc ordine euagari potestas mihi a deo adtributa patietur. optare te conuenit, ne mansuetudinem, quam in me praedicas, is meritorum tuorum consideratio iusta deuenustet et pietatis tramitem culparum multitudo depretiet. licet, ni fallor, misericorditer uindicta comitatur errantem nec ulla est potior patientia nisi quae uitiis aditum non recludit, a te tamen facessat indignatio nostra, quia quod deliqueris non inclusus dolor et gratia fallente seruatus sed uerbera castigabunt. nunc uno modo in cicatricem cogere uulnera intemperatis sermonibus I. 2 paternio L 8 efflictem BLTV, efflicte P, afflicte b amorie] cordis Sirm . 4 possim B 6 hnmilitate - fnoatae om. B1 add . in mg. corr. 7 perfero T 8 depraecationibus B 9 pro uncinauit Schottus 10 pro quibus Pb caelestis iudicii Sirm. 12 ezpectatat B, exspectat Lx 18 uellit BL haut TL, haut B . 17 depretietur L\' ut uidetur 18 uendicta B\' 19 non r.] intercludit T et ita mg. P tamen] non T 90 uestra T 21 Mente L ingesta praeualebis, si te per culmina liberalis studii ingenuum doctrina monstrauerit. ueniam nisi peritia suffragante non exiges: mutata qua notus sam lege parcendi circa desidem saeuitiam sub perennitate seruabo. quod restat, deum precor, ut ualeas et de uersibus tuis caelesti fauore comitatus spem angeas, quam dedisti.