Letter 6014: I know that my silences cry out to you as loudly as any letter, and that nothing happens between us that goes unnoticed.

From: Ennodius, deacon and literary figure in Pavia To: Avitus Date: ~503 AD Context: A letter arguing that Ennodius's own silence speaks louder than words — and that Avitus should be attentive to what goes unsaid between friends. To Avitus, from Ennodius. I know that my silences cry out to you as loudly as any letter, and that nothing happens between us that goes unnoticed. The bond we share does not require constant speech to prove its existence — it speaks through the very gaps that other friendships would leave empty. Still, I write, because even the man who communicates through silence owes his friend the courtesy of an occasional page. Consider this that courtesy, and reply when you can. Farewell.

XIIII. AVITO ENNODIVS. Scio mea apud uos clamare silentia nec quicquam fieri quod non secreta interpretatione teneatur, ego tamen ab scriptione non destiti nec sublimis memoriae uiri Sabini- filium fabricato ingenio a iudicatione subtraxi, qui uiolentias in agello suo perpessus hactenus operam. dicitur nauasse. cum barbaris. credite mihi, aderit securus examini et disceptationem uestram sine aliqua formidine ueniet ingressurus. domine mi salutati reuerentiam dicens precor, ut personam meam tanti habeatis insitae dudum affectionis recordatione fulcire.