Letter 6033: I know that the weight of your shared responsibilities leaves little room for the claims of private friendship.

33. ENNODIUS TO HORMISDAS AND DIOSCORUS. I know that a devout conscience reckons it a great gain if an occasion for rendering service arises, and most of all toward those whom it remembers to have shown themselves devoted. Therefore, although the first reason for sending these writings is reverence for you, and the matter of advantage ought to be subordinated to diligence, nevertheless an anxious mind often sets necessities before affection. Your fraternity holds my lord the pope bound concerning the expense which my bishop had incurred at Ravenna on his behalf, with me standing surety, that the repayment had been promised. But it came about that he scarcely granted any delay for directing you here, and he protests that satisfaction must be made to him out of my own substance. Now, since the sum being demanded back is not large, and since it is the highest of benefits to withdraw me from his ingratitude—which appears to be justified—arrange that the recompense from on high may make good to you what you do. My lords, returning most abundant greeting, I beseech God, who may inspire into your minds whatever can relieve me. As for myself, I have been present to my own part, who, with a protestation of grief through the pages here set forth, have dispatched a most faithful bearer, who may take up for us the things to be conveyed without diminution.

XXXIII. ENNODIVS HORMISDAE ET DIOSCORO. Scio conscientiam religiosam grande aestimare compendium, si praestandi nascatur occasio, his maxime quos deuotos extitisse meminerunt. ergo quamuis prima reuerentiae uestrae causa sit scripta mittendi et utilitatis adlegatio sit subicienda diligentiae, attamen anxius animus saepe necessaria praeponit affectui. retinet fraternitas uestra domnum papam de expensa, quam episcopus meus apud Rauennam pro eius utilitate me spondente fecerat, restitutionem fuisse pollicitum. sed actum est, ut uix ad uos dirigendi praestaret indutias, et de mea sibi satisfaciendum esse substantia protestatur. nunc quia grandis summa non est quae reposcitur et summum est beneficium me ab ingratitudine eius, quae uidetur iusta, subtrahere, ordinate quod uobis retributio superna compenset. domini mi, salutem abundantissimam reddens deum quaeso, qui animis uestris quod me subleuare possit inspiret. ego autem adfui partibus meis, qui cum contestatione maeroris per paginas indicati direxi fidelissimum perlatorem, qui nobis perferenda sine inminutione suscipiat.