Letter 7028: My wishes have been fulfilled through your efforts, and I write to acknowledge both the result and the agent.

Ennodius to Adeodatus the presbyter. The occasion that has presented itself as the agent of this writing complies with my wish. For conversation both flatters me as a substitute for your presence and promises itself, on account of the publication of these pages, what it actually furnishes; because, just as men of the highest correctness reckon it a disparagement of their own virtues that others should have stood forth as forerunners in the testimony of diligence, so they judge it a disgrace to neglect such examples. This fellowship lived among holy men, so that, through the foresight of an intimate person, no earthly separation might do harm. It is fitting, my lord, that you should follow both my wish and its pattern. Therefore, greeting you in the first place, I beg that you be mindful of me, and that what is withdrawn from me through my own negligence may be conferred upon me by your support of divine grace. I declare, then, without lying, that on the third night after my departure my holy lady Cynegia, unwelcome to me [because she came in reproach], appeared to me at the very break of light, and that I was much blamed by her concerning the haste of my journey: she complained, not with any softness of words, why even her tomb had not been honored with any verses. This indeed I did not receive after the likeness of prophetic truth, nor did I, by chance, by the sweat of my labor make sacrifice to nocturnal illusions. But because lovers are easily persuaded, the thing she was urging did not have to labor to exact a debt that was owed. The reverence due to my lady is preserved. By the day of judgment I conjure you to have the verses which I have sent inscribed at once on the wall above, at the feet [of the tomb]. Know that this will also be pleasing to your son: for he wishes her merits to be celebrated by the mouths of many, but in the manner in which you find them here. Greet on my behalf my lady Stephania and my lady Sabiana, and also my lady Fadilla. If they have been inscribed, write back at once. Deign to tell the lord pope to arrange something concerning my case through the holy deacon Dioscorus. I have written as much as I could in the haste of the courier. Greet warmly on my behalf the lord and brother Hormisdas, and tell him to send that key.

XXVIII. ENNODIVS ADEODATO PRESBVTERO. Voto meo obsequitur quae ministra ad uos scriptionis existit occasio. nam et praesentiae uice blanditur adloquium et 1 homine Bb; em. Schottus et Sirm . uoces B 7 primeiuus B imbuerint B (m. rec.) b., inbuerent B 10 uioessitudinem B\' 12 equue B (a. I, m. ree.) b, equo B XXVII. 16 fareiri B\' ut uidetur 19 nulli/ll B 20 ceaoerbata Bb 22 disciscere B colet emendatus Bb; em. Sirm. XXVIII. 29 alloquium B\'b . VL 13 promittit sibi de paginarum promulgatione quod exhibet, quia emendatissimi homines sicut derogari uirtutibus suis aestimant, aliquos in diligentiae testimonio praeuios extitisse, ita igno- miniam reputant exempla neglegere. uixit inter sanctos uiros ista communio, ut per intimi hominis prouidentiam nil noceret terrena sequestratio. par est, domine, ut et uotum meam sequaris et formam. ergo salutans principe loco, ut mei memor sis, deprecor, ut quod mihi per neglegentiam meam subtrahitur diuinae gratiae per uos suffragio conferatur. indico ergo non mentiens, nocte tertia a profectione mea ingratam mihi sanctam dominam meam Cynegiam apparuisse in ipso lucis exordio et multum ab ea me de itineris properatione culpatum: non sub uerborum lenitate conquesta est, quare etiam nullis uersibus sepulcrum eius esset honoratum. haec quidem ego non ad imaginem propheticae ueritatis accepi, nec nocturnis forte inlusionibus operis mei sudore litaui. sed quia facile suadetur amantibus, debitum opus non laborauit exigere quae monebat. salua est dominae reuerentia. uersus quos direxi per diem iudicii te coniuro ut in pariete supra ad pedes scribi mox facias. gratum noueris et filio tuo futurum: uult enim merita illius multorum ore celebrari, sed in eo modo quo illos hic inuenis. domnam meam Stephaniam et domnam Sabianam, sed et domnam Fadillam pro me saluta. si scripti fuerint, mox rescribe. domno papae dignare dicere, ut aliquid per sanctum diaconum Dioscorum de mea causa ordinet. quantum in festinatione ueredarii potui, scripsi. domnum et fratrem Hormisdam satis pro me saluta, cui dicite ut clauem illam mittat. 1 exhibet em . Sirm., exibit Bb 3 praeuius B 4 necglegere Bxb 6 eequares B 8 meam om. Sima . 11 scanctam B, om. Sirm . cynigiam Bb 12 iteneris B 14 sepulchrum B b non s. n. laenitate consequestam (om. est) B, exp. B m. rec., om. b; conquesta est emendaui 15 propheticae (ph m ras.) B adcepi B 16 littaui B 17 quae scripsi, qui b, quim B 18 domine Bb 20 unIt (pr. u in ras.) B 21 inuenit b 22 dominam ter Bb 23 salnta B 8. 1 . 24 domino b, dom.no B sanctum diaconum Dioscorum scripsi, Bdiacidi hoscoram (idiacidi patdo minoribus Utteris ab ant. corr. add. in spatio uacuo) B, Secnndiaci Hoscorum b, sanctum Dioscorum Sirm. 26 dom*num (i eras.) B hormisdam (s postea add.) B 27 salutate ex salute B m. rec. ? clauem /// B