Letter 7021: ---

Ennodius to Maximus. Where is the loyalty of that brilliant conscience, tested and proven, which a venerable reverence did not abandon even in boyish years, which an observance of integrity beyond the judgment of an old man illuminates, which, ripening in the deeds of youth's season, glides forward upon entering past its infancy? Was it fair that the commands entrusted only to a loving man's pages should be paid back, or is the loyalty of a free piece of writing equal to that of a servant's? Did you judge it worthy of approved character not to follow up one who summons you to dutiful religious offices, or did you think it sacrilege to return letters which it happened that we did not receive amid your departures? Is this, then, your discipline? Integrity, made manifest long ago, does not spread word of you as such a man. I, however, strive with that hardened loquacity for which I am known to alter your silences. Is your tongue unequal to your birth? Or do you not proclaim the testimony of your lineage by the flower of your speech? Does the fruitful composition of your breast desert the purple of eloquence? He reveals nothing but malice who, though he could grant words to one who desires them, does not bestow them. Behold, amid the belchings owed to Lyaeus [Bacchus], I, like a second Silenus, put together such words as these. Know that your name must be written upon the purple of my genius and inserted into my own little books, so that, even if you grant nothing by way of reply, I may nevertheless hold the citadel, because I direct to learned men, without any trembling, something to be read. My lord, receive the homage of our greeting, repaying the debts of correspondence. So may your virginity stand firm for you in an age that endures, And may nothing perish of what the blessed life has given. [...] So may no darkening maidens stain your limbs, Nor may you lie low on account of a Tartarean face: That you may relieve me in my longing through your writings with holy converse, And from your springs may a stream flow to your brother.

XXI. MAXIMO ENNODIVS, Vbi est fides splendentis periclitata conscientiae, quam et in annis puerilibus cana reuerentia non relinquit, quam per seni praeiudicium obseruantia honestatis inradiat, quae in tempore iuuentutis actibus maturescens infantiam ingressa praelabitur? numquid aequum fuit amantis paginis tantum mandata restitui, aut par fides est liberae scriptioni et famuli? numquid dignum probatis moribus censuistis prouocantem ad officia religiosa non subsequi, uel nefas putastis epistolas reddere, quas uobis inter excessus contigit non cepisse? haec igitur est tua disciplina? non talem te probitas olim manifestata disseminat. ego tamen loquacitate qua notus sum indurata nitor mutare silentia. numquid tibi inpar est lingua natalibus ? aut non testimonium generis adnuntias flore sermonis? . numquid ostrum loquendi deserit pectoris fecunda dictatio? nihil nisi malitiam resignat qui cum possit desideranti uerba non tribuit. ecce inter ructationes Lyaeo debitas qualia Silenus alter uerba conpono. scribendum sciatis nomen uestrum ad genii mei purpuram et libellis propriis inserendum, ut, etiamsi nihil tribues de responso, ego tamen arcem teneam, quod ad doctos uiros dirigo sine trepidatione aliqua quod legatur. domine mi, accipe nostrae salutationis obsequia reddens debita litterarum. Sic tibi uirginitas mansuro constet in aeuo, Nec pereat quicquid uita beata dedit, XXI. 3 est om. b et om. Sirm . 4 pauperlibus L . reliquid T 5 periudicium L 6 maturisceus L 7 paginas V1 mandat b ; 8 libera Bb scriptioui scripsi, scriptionis BLTVb famulae fort . 10 nefos L1 11 in nobis LVl excunus fort . contiget B coepine B 12 te olim (olim te T) probitae LTV 13 dissuniuat B 16 ostium b deseret LTV feconda Tl 17 maliciam B resiguat] designat B (me rec. 9) b 18 selenus B : 22 poet aliqua 8-9 litt. eras. B 28 michi T, mihi BLVb accipite Bl 24 litterarum] finit add. B exp . m. rec . 25 sic—p. 190, 4 float om. T Sic tua non maculent nigrantes membra puellae, Nec iaceas propter Tartaream faciem: Vt cupidum sanctis releues per scripta loquelis, Deque tuis fratri fontibus unda fluat.