Letter 7026: You have carried out my wishes beyond what I dared to request, and I write to thank you.
You have extended your letter in accordance with my desire, since you cleanse a matter clouded by no stain. With the most fortunate lot of defense we stand by innocence, and under an ever favorable omen we lend the use of our voice to things that shine by their own light. You easily affirm the light of one who is bright, nor does speech fail to be lent to those who are acquitted. Thus you proceeded in your remarks about the horse that was promised, as though you had ever had some base inclination to lie. Truly, by my soul, I would more easily believe that holy bishops could fall into this pit. Vices do not know the mature, except those whom they have steeped from earliest youth: denial does not sprout anew in men; whatever is in our character both follows and preceded. Therefore be well, O the purple of Latian eloquence, and restore to me reciprocity by loving, making sure that as compensation for your tardiness a horse worthy of your gift comes to my aid.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
XXVI. ENNODIVS AGNELLO.
Pro uoto meo produxistis epistolam, dum res nulla fuscatas
nube purgatis. felicissima defensionis sorte adsumus innocentiae
1 colloquiia b et B carr . 2 exemplum B s.l . 4 quod Bb
6 ac B 8 adoliscente (0 ex u m. 1) B incoatio B 10 oportonitate
Bl 11 faciatis fort . nisi reetius filius suppletur
XXV. 13 EnnodiuB symmacho missa per ipsum ursum B b
15 repraehenaioue B 16 effrinationem B 18 a] ac B praephatione
B 20 caelaitudinia B eligitis malim .
XXVI. 28 faelicissima (jpr. a in ras.) B
et dextro semper omine per se splendentibus usuram uocis inpendimus.
facile eius lucem qui nitet adfirmas, nec deest
sermo qui commodetur absolutis. sic de caballo promisso processistis
adfatibus, quasi uobis aliquando obscena mentiendi
fuisset adfectio. uere per animam meam facilius sacros crederem
labi in hanc foueam posse pontifices. uitia maturos
nesciunt, nisi quos primaeuos inbuerint: infitiatio in hominibus
noua non germinat: quicquid in moribus nostris est, et sequitur
et praecessit. proinde ualete, ostrum Latiaris eloquii,
et mihi uicissitudinem amando restituite, illud prouidentes,
ut pro conpensatione tarditatis dignus mihi munere uestro
equus succurrat.
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