Letter 6028: Those whom fortune favors often attract the attention of those who seek to share in their success.

From: Ennodius, deacon in Pavia To: Gudilevus [a Gothic name — possibly an Ostrogothic official] Date: ~516 AD Context: A letter to someone with a Germanic name — one of the rare instances where Ennodius's correspondence crosses the Roman-Gothic cultural divide. Ennodius to Gudilevus. Those whom fortune favors often attract the attention of those who seek to share in their success. I write to you not from self-interest but from genuine regard — a distinction I trust you can appreciate. The bond between us may be newer than some, but its foundations are sound. May it grow. Farewell.

XXVIII. ENNODIVS GVDILEVO. Solent quibus felicitas et potentia deo ordinante conceditur humiles consolari officio litterarum et prospera sua paginarum promulgatione partiri. ego multo tempore ut his subleuarer muniis expectaui, sed cessantibus uobis necessarium credidi non tacere, ut quod amor non exigit iuxta euangelicam lectionem mereatur inportunitas. domine mi, salutationem plenissimam dicens quaeso, ut me antiquum cultorem uestrum illo foueatis quo olim promisistis affectu et prospera uestra paginarum me faciatis directione cognoscere. XXVII. 3 xiram (u ex n corr.) L 4 pranitate B1 altissimis Tl 5 fideles 6, fidelie BLTV extitistis (stis in ras.) L H 7 praecandam B (diti-nincatis om. B add. corr. in mg.) 8 consolatione T 11 m T, mihi BLVb praesentans Bb, praestans LTV 13 quatinus T XXVIII. 17 hnmilis B 18 Bubleuaretnr T\' 19 exspectaui LV 20 Iaectionem L1 21 merai pportunitas T1 m T, mihi BLVb 22 anticom B 23 affectoi L 21 dilectioae T1