Letter 6035: Amid the cares and difficulties that press upon us all, the consolation of correspondence is one of the few...

Ennodius to Domnina. Amid the cares and troubles to which I am subjected on account of the burden of my sins, I have chosen a singular remedy: to send a letter to you, my ladies, by whose prayers all things might turn out favorably for me, and that, the clouds of my distress laid aside, I might be restored to the serene brightness of joy. For the first cause of my grief is this, that, while you dwell in a far-off place, your prosperity can scarcely be learned of, and from this arises every adversity surrounding my person. Be present, therefore, as a suppliant by your prayers, so that through the intercessions of God's holy ones healing may be granted to my ailing spirit. My lady, offering the service of my greeting, I beseech you, and by God whom you worship I implore you, that with unceasing entreaties and tears, by which the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, you commend me to the Lord, since I reckon this a special gift and set it before all advantages.

XXXV. ENNODIVS DOMNINAE. Inter curas et molestias, quibus pro peccatorum fasce subicior, elegi singulare subsidium, ut ad uos domnas meas litteras destinarem, quarum precibus omnia mihi secunda contingerent et ad serena laetitiae depositis angustiarum nubibus reformarer. prima enim maeroris causa est, quod prospera uestra, dum in longinquo degitis, uix datur agnosci, ex qua nascitur circa personam meam omnis aduersitas. adeste ergo supplici precibus uestris, ut per sanctorum dei suffragia aegro animo medela tribuatur. domina mi, seruitium salutationis inpendens deprecor et per deum uos, quem colitis, obtestor, ut continuis me postulationibus et lacrimis, quibus regnum caeleste uim patitur, domino commendetis, quia hoc munus speciale conputo et omnibus commodis antepono. 28 cf. Matth. 11, 12 4 perductua L b 5 partus L 6 domine b 8 plenam b 10 domini fort . mi Schottus et Sirm., mihi BLVb, michi T XXXV. 15 dominicae b, domniane T 17 dnaa T 18 distinarem B 19 dopositia L a 20 meroris BLTV 21 degetis B asnosci B 22 omnes B adest Bb, adesto T 24 medella Bl, medeli L mihi BLVb seruitionum B, Berortia b 2b coletis B optestor B 26 postolationibus B caelestem B1 27 munos Bl