Letter 7003: I would retrace the prayers with which I pleaded with Your Magnitude on your departure, except that I wish to avoid...

Ennodius to Avienus. I would retrace the prayers with which I pleaded with Your Magnitude on your departure, except that I wish to avoid insulting your memory. For the man who reminds a friend of things recently done is rudely throwing up the specter of forgetfulness against good people -- when it is the special mark of close friends that, by a kind of foreknowledge, they supply each other's wishes and, for the substance of their affection, bring about through effective action what should otherwise be sought through prayers. Heaven's providence suggests what must be done -- if only you would inquire what love desires. To this I add that, as I was burning with longing while you were setting out on your journey, you came to my aid with many promises, saying that I should be sustained by letters -- I who was being deprived of the light of your presence. But your promise limps in its faithfulness, and I burn all the more, inflamed by empty hope. The expectation of relief, which came from your assurances, has made the hardship harder to bear -- difficulties are endured with more difficulty when hope has been raised first. But now, my lord, receive the courtesy of my greeting. Having made clear to you the sickness of my soul, let a swift cure come to the rescue. Let the news of your health -- or of the royal favor you await -- be revealed through your reply.

III. ENNODIVS AVIENO. Quibus magnitudinem tuam discedentem precibus inploraui, merito retexerem, nisi memoriae uestrae inrogare contumelias euitarem. nam qui amantem de his, quae recens sunt acta, 1 epifanius B 2 decissionem T nostram uestra fort . 3 fulcite T\' n. 6 meroris LTV, memoris Bb 8 nunquam T hoous BLV, bonus T, hooos b 9 me om. T 11 dedicerant B\' 13 rescendit B\'L aocotior T inploraberam B 14 a—perdebam om. B add. corr. in mg. inf . negligens BT 17 scripta Bb, om. LTV 18 indicandns T1 in | illustris B uiris L domini B (A rec.) Tb panfronii T m. 24 descendentem B praecibus B 26 deuitarem LTV quae] qui L conuenerit, fugiendam bonis obliuionem inportunus opponit, cum hoc sit peculiare coniunctis, ut sub quadam praescientia mutuo sibi cupita sufficiant et ad substantiam caritatis efficaci dispensatione quod uotis poscendum est effectu seniore concilient. caelestis dispensatio facienda suggerit, si quid amor optat inquiras. his iungitur quod aestuanti animae, dum iter adriperes, multus in promissionibus subuenisti dicendo sustentandum me esse paginis, qui propriae lucis priuarer absentia. ecce et pollicitatio fide claudicat et spe inritatus ardesco. egit ueniens de remedii praesumptione fiducia, ut difficilius dura tolerentur. sed nunc, mi domine, honorem salutationis accipiens, postquam apud uos quod male est animo declaraui, curatio properata subcurrat, ut qui salutis uestrae status est uel gratiae principalis expectatis reseretur alloquiis.