Letter 6024: Although the rights of affection that blood kinship confers might seem to make a letter unnecessary, I write anyway...

From: Ennodius, deacon in Pavia To: Archotamia Date: ~513 AD Context: A letter to the noblewoman Archotamia, invoking the rights of blood kinship as a claim on her attention. Ennodius to Archotamia. Although the rights of affection that blood kinship confers might seem to make a letter unnecessary, I write anyway — because even obligations that need no reminder benefit from expression. I think of you with the warmth that family demands and friendship confirms. Write to me, and let us not allow the ties of blood to go untended. Farewell.

XXIIII. ENNODIVS ARCHOTAMIAE. Quamuis ius affectionis consanguinitatis lege constrictum regionum prolixitate non pereat nec catena generis, quae animas nectit, terrarum separatione diuidatur, attamen pabulum caritatis est aut uidere aut officio sermonis appellare quem diligas: nescirentur secreta mentium nisi proditione linguarum. haec in usu uocauit antiquitas, ut illa, quae pectoribus clausa sunt, non laterent. ego Gallias, quae totum me propter uos sibi uindicant, si oculis non inspicio, affectione non desero. gratias tamen praesentium perlatori, qui necessitatis suae occasione desideriis meis praestitit, ut inter aestus animorum, quibus baiulus deerat, optatum praeberet officium. salutans ergo seruitio debito precor, ut portitor beneficii sui uicem recipiat et qui in gaudio meo opitulatus est suis uotis restitutum per me credat effectum.