Letter 6030: The magnitude of my grief cannot be contained in a letter.

Ennodius of PaviaFaustus Junior|c. 517 AD|Ennodius of Pavia
grief death
From: Ennodius, deacon in Pavia
To: Faustus
Date: ~518 AD
Context: A letter written in grief — the magnitude of sorrow prevents full expression.

Ennodius to Faustus.

The magnitude of my grief cannot be contained in a letter. What words could measure what the heart cannot hold? I write not to explain but to reach across the distance between us, because even in sorrow the presence of a friend — however mediated — brings some measure of comfort.

Pray for me. The need is real. Farewell.

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.

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