Letter 8005: There is no need to commend with elaborate words the artisans sent by the holy bishop.

From: Ennodius, deacon and literary figure in Pavia To: Faustus [likely Faustus Niger, Roman senator] Date: ~497 AD Context: A letter commending church servants — including blind women — sent by Bishop Laurentius, blending practical business with a theological meditation on inner sight and spiritual treasure. To Faustus, from Ennodius. There is no need to commend with elaborate words the artisans sent by the holy bishop. A thing that will please by its own merit refuses the injury of a praiser's embellishment. These are members of the church's household, and when you see them, you will have no doubt they come from its treasury and its heart — sent under this arrangement: that if they are treated generously, they will earn you a reward in that better age to come. Among these servants, who would deny — following the announcement of the most blessed martyr Laurentius — that the greatest riches are to be found? For there are women among them who, though they lost the sight of their outward eyes, shine with the splendor of their inner vision. They see more clearly than we do, because what they see is not of this world. Treat them well. The return on your generosity will be paid in a currency that does not depreciate. Farewell.

V. FAVSTO ENNODIVS. Directos a sancto episcopo artifices prosequi commendatione non opus est. res enim plus suo placitura genio de deuotione laudatoris abiurat iniuriam. familia est, quam cum uideritis, non possitis ambigere ab ecclesia destinatam et de eius thesauris et gremio sub hoc studio processisse, ut tractata liberaliter pariat uobis in illa melioris saeculi commutatione mercedem. in quibus mancipiis iuxta adnuntiationem beatissimi Laurenti martyris opes esse maximas quis negabit ? sunt enim feminae, quae quamuis exterioris hominis lumina perdidissent, mentium splendore radiabunt: quicquid enim corporibus de prosperitate subducitur, ad frugem crescit animarum. nolite male accipere, quod nec uidere poterunt nec uideri procul a maturitate uestra inliciens decore formositas. qui uitam suam sicut uos in hoc innocentiae calle disposuit, si tales pascat, in caelis est: crede . mihi, quamuis uobis gaudia pariat fusa ad deum ubertas illa lacrimarum, contenti eritis possidere sub continuatione plangentes. inter ista bona, quae praefatus sum, licet magno uobis 1 scriptu? T, scripturarum L 2 promissisti B tuus pater T 3 expoaui B iam] etiam B 5 conualiscat B usfl (~ deleuit m. 2) T 6 m T, mihi BL V ego Sirm . promisi Tl 7 quatinua LTV nemoria L V. 11 suo BT*, sua LPT\'Vb 13 non] ifi L aecclesia V tensauris B 15 seculi B 16 in quibus V in ras . adnuntiatione B tione in ras. esse uid . laurentii LTV 17 negauit Bb, negabat P 18 lumina (a in ras.) B pevdedissent B 19 quidquid L\'TV 22 hac LTl V 24 pariat (at in ras.) B fusa. om. B 25 contempti T plangentes (entes in ras.) B labore et pretio constitissent, adicio quae secuntur. una inter ipsas et ingenua et sine filiis est et puto, quod fit sanctis uicinum desideriis, nec habebit... enim in christia?is hominibus fecunda sterilitas et maximum solacium saeouli adiutoria non habere. sed ne forte animus uester in occupationes publicas debeat de anagnostici prolixitate fastidium, quamuis bona in principiis locate uos animent et quemlibet rancorem detergeat in exordio iuxta oratoriam disciplinam locata dulcedo, tamen ne desideria uestra fabricata dissimulatione suspendam, nulla et. illis documenta promerui quia commemorationem mularum facerem, episcopo durum uidetur et quamuis famuli uestri fratris Gaiani institisset efficacia et supra modum nos pressisset inportunitas, nihil communi actione profecimus. hoc tantum uolunt inseri, multis sanctum patrem uestrum beneficiis uestris et gratia inuitatum muneris uobis uicissitudine prospexisse: quod genus documenti si placet, sine cunctatione rescribite aut quae eius forma esse debeat intimate. nunc ego ille periclitatae utilitatis et in obsequiis uestris annis pluribus iam probatus, quantum egerim, quod uix alter per infinita cartae damna narrasset, pernicibus sum. uerborum saltibuselocutus.