Letter 6038: **From:** Ennodius, bishop of Pavia

Ennodius to Firmina. Whenever a longed-for thing happens suddenly, it draws its value from the very brevity of the time. For so that the spirit of a heavenly favor may grow, it makes what it grants come quickly, lest the long waiting of those who hope diminish the mercy of the giver. For who, when he suddenly receives the object of his desire, would not more eagerly revere what he has obtained? Thus, thirsting for them, I received the letter of your greatness at the time of my departure. I was grieved, I confess, and I was sorely tormented, as long as there existed no one to carry the tokens of my dutiful regard, and as I was about to set out without learning the good news of your well-being. Behold, a kindly favor has granted both: at one and the same time I have received the longed-for tidings which I report back, and I make known that I, returned from the Cottian Alps, am about to take up my journey toward Ravenna. Pray that the gift of heavenly blessing may pour patience into me, tossed about by the various hardships of my labors. But as for me, since the splendor of your eminence urges me to the keeping of its grace, I more readily believe that the courses of rivers can be called back in contrary directions, and that the fish, leaving the nourishment of the streams, can seek the empty air, than that any wrongdoings could make me forgetful of such great kindnesses. For the rest, farewell, my lady, and supplicate unceasingly to our Redeemer on behalf of the person you have taken into your care.

XXXVIII. ENNODIVS FIRMINAE. Quotiens uotiua res repente contigerit, pretium de ipsa temporis breuitate sortitur. caelestis enim ut crescat beneficii genius, subitum facit esse quod tribuit, ne deuenustet sperantum prolixitas misericordiam largitoris. quis enim affectum desiderii repente suscipiens non auidius impetrata ueneretur P sic litteras magnitudinis uestrae sitiens tempore profectionis accepi. dolebam fateor et uehementer angebar, dum nec obsequiorum meorum perlator existeret nec sospitatis uestrae digressurus bona cognoscerem. ecce utrumque frons bona concessit : accepi pariter indicia optata quae refero et uno eodemque tempore regressum me de Alpibus Cottiis et Rauennate significo iter adrepturum. orate ut uariis laborum iactato incommodis patientiam supernae benedictionis munus infundat. me autem quod ad custodiam gratiae culminis uestri splendor hortatur, facilius credo cursus fluminum in diuersa reuocari et relictis fluentorum alimoniis aether uacuum pisces expetere, quam tantorum me inmemorem delicta restituant. quod superest, ualete, mi domina, et redemptori nostro pro persona suscepti incessabiliter supplicate. 22 cf. Verg. Ecl. I. 59 1 appelleo B fereas B fouente Bb 4 quatinuB LTV XXXVIII. 7 ferminae L, flrmine T 8 contigeret B 9 benificii B 10 genias (i m ras.) jB, genus b sperantam (a uidetur eorr.) B, eperantium LT 11 prolexitaa B largitoree B 14 angibar B nec B s. I . 15 Bospitatis B 16 uterque T\' fora T* 17 accipi B 18 cotiia T, coctiis L, gotthiis b 19 adrepturam B* iactatos Bb incommodns Bl, omlcommodis T 22 oursum B (m. rec. s. l.) b 28 expetire B 24 imemorem L dilecta B b quod L s. I . m. ant .