Letter 8004: You left for distant parts and forgot all about friendship.

Ennodius to Arator. Departing for distant parts, you proved forgetful of our affection. It was not permitted that a loyal attentiveness should leave the walls together with you. While you are a dweller in the city, you guard your fabricated flatteries with no little cunning artifice; but once you have decided that the countryside must be sought, you abandon the memory of your friends as if it were a heavy burden. You sought out the delights of the country villa, and we, here with you, remained amid the evils of the city walls. That affection had no root which you have severed as though it were the torments of cares. You may ask, whence comes so swift a reproach? Nor is it fair that the executioner be made ready before the offenses. You promised without hesitation that you would write as soon as you had been conveyed to your wishes; but as much as your father, ever the proclaimer of your faults, has set forth, already boys have come and gone to you with pages empty of writing. I fear that this taciturnity of yours may grow strong through long duration, and that a base neglect may swell into a habit of silence. My lord, I therefore greet you, and I urge that you ought to be mindful of your promise, so that you may be borne abroad crowned with ivy amid the hoary groves.

IIII. ENNODIVS ARATORI. Ad longinqua digrediens caritatis inmemor extitisti. non licuit tecum piam diligentiam muros exire. dum urbis habitator es, fabricatas blanditias non sine daedala arte custodis: at ubi rus petendum esse decreueris, quasi graues sarcinas amicorum memoriam derelinquis. tu uillares delicias expetisti, et nos apud te inter moenium mala remansimus. non habuit radicem affectio, quam uelut curarum tormenta separasti. dicas, unde tam uelox exprobratio? nec aequum esse parari ante 1 filoBophiam B nihil] fi T 2 ueteris B locatus Lb 3 silentii L\' curam om. T 4 immuta T 9 in quo] iniquo L constrigebaris L eximeras B promissi B 10 successu L 11 incoationem B dirigetis B 12 iunxistes B1 domine LTYb messale Bl 15 adcepto B correctum LTV sucgestionibus B resigna muniis frequentibus T IIll. 19 exstitisti V 20 licuet B 21 es om. Pb, et B dedala BLTY ad BL 22 rus om. T 23 uilasres T dilicias B 24 babuet B 25 pasti B 26 tam B s. L delicta tortorem. scripturum te, mox fuisses ad optata peruectus, sine cunctatione promisisti: quantum pater tuus semper culparum tuarum uulgator exposuit, iam a te pueri paginis uacui commearunt. timeo, ne ista taciturnitas diuturnitate conualescat et in usum silentii turpis crescat incuria. domine mi, saluto ergo et promissi te memorem debere esse conuenio, quatenus inter cana nemora redimitus hederis efferaris.