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. With what prayers I implored your Greatness as you were departing I would deservedly rehearse again, were it not that I avoid inflicting insults upon your memory. For he who, regarding things that have recently been done, importunately sets before one who loves him an oblivion that good men ought to flee, when this is the peculiar mark of those joined together: that under a certain foreknowledge things mutually desired suffice to each, and toward the substance of charity, by an effective dispensation, they bring to pass through a prior accomplishment what ought to be sought by prayers. The heavenly dispensation suggests what must be done, if you inquire into anything love desires. To these things is joined the fact that, to a soul aflame, while you were setting out upon your journey, you came generously to my aid with your promises, saying that I, who would be deprived of the presence of my own light, must be sustained by your pages. Behold, both the promise limps in its faithfulness, and, provoked by hope, I burn. The confidence arising from the anticipation of a remedy brought it about, as you came, that harsh things are endured with greater difficulty. But now, my lord, receiving the honor of my greeting, after I have declared to you what is amiss in my mind, let a hastened cure come to my aid, so that the state of your well-being, or of the chief favor, may be unlocked to me by the conversations I await.

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.