Letter 6002: The greatest joy of all is a letter-carrier who turns up at just the right moment — one who, as a servant of...

Ennodius to Faustus. The greatest of joys is the timely arrival of a letter-bearer, who, as a servant of diligence, through his own necessities renders compliance to the desires of others. This man indeed honesty commends, and a modesty foreign to the office of a merchant ingratiates him. There is joined to this the fact that knowledge of your eminence has lent credence to his probity; for, with him himself making the journey, I have been satisfied by the fruits of your venerable writing. I therefore repay the deposit, bound by the law of duty, and the man whom I received in Liguria, to the measure of my modest powers, I transmit to your most effective patronage, with this letter accompanying him. As for what remains, we offer to your reverence whatever devotion our humility possesses, beseeching that I may now deserve your letters, if only for the assiduity of my own.

II. ENNODIVS FAVSTO. Summa gaudiorum est opportunitas perlatoris, qui minister diligentiae per necessitates suas desideriis obsequiam praestat alienis. hunc quidem honestas commendat et peregrinus ab officio mercatoris pudor insinuat. iungitur quod notitia culminis uestri ad fidem probitatis accessit. nam scriptionis uenerandae frugibus ipso commeante satiatus sum. refundo ergo depositum officii lege constrictus et quem in Liguria positum pro uirium mediocritate suscepi ad potissima patrocinia tabella prosequente trasmitto. quod superest, reuerentiae uestrae quicquid habet humilitas deuotionis offerimus, supplicans, ut litteras uestras uel pro mearum adsiduitate iam merear.