Letter 7010: Having performed the duty of a persistent creditor, I now call in the debt of a promise.

Ennodius to Florus and Decoratus. Having performed the office of a persistent creditor, I barely forced the advocate to repay his promise — so that he might discharge what he owed to those he advocated for. A harsh kind of profession, to anticipate what I would say: I, a cleric, have bent an advocate to shame. Consider what sort of power it takes to soften the most obstinate, and what it means when one who despoils plunderers sets about his work. I have entrusted to brother Gaianus, for delivery to you, the pound of silver which brother Epiphanius gave, though the terms of what I received still stand with me. It remains for you to designate whether I should hand over the rest. My lords, offering fullest greeting, I ask that first you deign to pray for me through the saints, and then that you convey my respects to your lord friends with that humility which you know I desire.

X. ENNODIVS FLORO ET DECORATO. Conpulsoris functus officio ad redhibitionem promissionis suae uix aduocatum coegi, ut quod aduocatis debebat exsolueret. genus durae professionis, ut a nobis dicenda praeueniam: ad uerecundiam clericus inclinaui. quale sit quo molliuntur obstinatissimi et quid sibi uelit qui raptores spoliat aestimate. argenti libram, quam frater Epiphanius dedit, fratri Gaiano ad uos perferendam tradidi, pactis tamen adhuc apud me quae suscepi constitutis. restat ut, si tradere debeam, designetis. domini mi, salutationem plenissimam dicens rogo, ut primum per sanctos pro me orare dignemini, deinde domnis amatoribus uestris obsequia mea sub illa qua me cupere scitis humilitate reddatis.