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

The artisans sent by the holy bishop need no accompaniment of recommendation. For a thing that will please more by its own genius refuses the affront of praise from a devotee. They are a household which, when you see them, you cannot doubt was sent from the church and proceeded from its treasuries and bosom under this arrangement: that, treated generously, they may produce for you a reward in that exchange of a better age. Among these servants, according to the announcement of the most blessed martyr Laurentius, who would deny that the greatest riches reside? For they are women who, although they have lost the eyes of the outer person, will shine with the splendor of their minds: for whatever is taken from bodies in the way of prosperity grows to the profit of souls. Do not take it ill that they will be able neither to see nor to be seen — a beauty far from your maturity that lures by its comeliness. He who has arranged his life as you have on this path of innocence, if he feeds such people, is in heaven. Believe me, although the abundance of tears poured out to God brings you joy, you will be content to possess in continuous succession those who weep. Among these good things which I have described, although they have cost you great labor and expense, I add what follows. One among them is both freeborn and without children, and I think — a thing close to holy desires — she will not have any... For in Christian people there is a fruitful sterility, and the greatest consolation is not to have the aids of this world. But lest perhaps your mind should feel disgust at the prolixity of an anagnostic reading amid your public occupations — though the good things placed at the beginning should encourage you and some sweetness placed at the start according to oratorical discipline should wipe away any resentment — nevertheless, lest I suspend your desires by feigned dissimulation: I have obtained no documents for them, because it seemed harsh to the bishop for me to make mention of the mules. And although the efficiency of your brother and servant Gaianus had insisted, and his importunity had pressed upon us beyond measure, we accomplished nothing by our joint effort. They only wish to have it entered that your holy father, invited by your many benefits and grace, has looked to reward you in return — and if this sort of document pleases you, write back without delay, or indicate what its form should be. Now I, that man of tested usefulness and one already proved over many years in your service — how much I have accomplished, which another would scarcely have narrated through infinite damage to paper, I have expressed with nimble leaps of words.

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.