Letter 7013: If it were permitted to defer what has been commanded, I would have been granted a delay by the very man who gave...
Ennodius of Pavia→Boethius|c. 503 AD|Ennodius of Pavia
friendship
From: Ennodius, deacon and literary figure in Pavia
To: Boethius [the philosopher]
Date: ~503 AD
Context: A letter to Boethius, suggesting that an instruction or commission from Boethius has been received — the tone implies that Ennodius is doing a favor or fulfilling a request for the great philosopher.
Ennodius to Boethius.
If it were permitted to defer what has been commanded, I would have been granted a delay by the very man who gave the order. But you have not given me that luxury. What you have asked must be done, and I bend to the task with the obedience that your friendship — and your intellect — command.
I will not pretend the assignment is easy. Coming from you, nothing ever is. But the difficulty is part of the compliment: you would not have asked if you did not think me capable. I accept the challenge and will report the result.
In the meantime, know that I serve you willingly, as always. Farewell.
XIII. ENNODIVS BOETIO.
Si liberum esset imperata differri, concederetur mihi adhuc
ornamenta silentii non perire: nam taciturnitatis munus est
quod non inhumanum loqui me posse credidistis. uidete quantum
linguae genium uox pressa contulerit. sed res est uacui pectoris
periclitata remedia non tenere. agit sermonis cura, ne promulgantis
celetur inscitia, quando otii labor gloriam intercipit.
ecce ego ille ante probationem laudatus subdor examini et
ferias meas, ne uidear praedicatione dignus, inrumpo. nam
dum humilitas reddit obsequium, impetrata per silentium non
habemus. tu in me, emendatissime hominum, dignaris praedicare
uirtutes, quem in annis puerilibus sine aetatis praeiudicio
industria fecit antiquum, qui per diligentiam imples omne
quod cogitur, cui inter uitae exordia ludus est lectionis assiduitas
et deliciae sudor alienus, in cuius manibus duplicato
igne rutilat qua ueteres face fulserunt. nam quod uix maioribus
circa extremitatem uitae contigit, hoc tibi abundat in limine.
uere dedisti pretium loquacitati meae, dum desiderantem conloquia
primus aggrederis. contigit noua res garrulo, ut usque
adeo produceretur, donee exigerent scripta responsum. deo gratias,
qui occultis itineribus de propinqui uos necessaria affectione
commonuit. ecce geminae causas iniuriae iam tenetis: nam
postquam agrestis innotui, praesumo dicere me parentem. domine
mi, salutis officium dicens spero, ut circa litterarum
1 mi T, mihi LV dicens om. L christi] dei Sirm .
2 ut crebro LV
XllI. 6 librum L conderetur L . adhuc mihi Sirm.
11 insitia T 18 cogi**tur (ten eras.) L 19 dupplicato T
20 fasce V, faece LT 21 habundat T lumine T 26 commouit
Sirm . 27 innotuit T me dicere LTV 28 mihi Bb
salutatis Bb, salutati fort .
munia frequentiam commodetis, in quo opere adsiduitatem et
amans exhibet et facundus.
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From:Ennodius, deacon and literary figure in Pavia
To:Boethius [the philosopher]
Date:~503 AD
Context:A letter to Boethius, suggesting that an instruction or commission from Boethius has been received — the tone implies that Ennodius is doing a favor or fulfilling a request for the great philosopher.
Ennodius to Boethius.
If it were permitted to defer what has been commanded, I would have been granted a delay by the very man who gave the order. But you have not given me that luxury. What you have asked must be done, and I bend to the task with the obedience that your friendship — and your intellect — command.
I will not pretend the assignment is easy. Coming from you, nothing ever is. But the difficulty is part of the compliment: you would not have asked if you did not think me capable. I accept the challenge and will report the result.
In the meantime, know that I serve you willingly, as always. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.