Letter 8010: May the supreme Judge order your prayers favorably.

To Maximus, vir spectabilis, from Ennodius. May the supreme Judge order your prayers favorably. May He Himself attend the nuptials with His blessing, so that the union begun under heaven's auspices may flourish under heaven's protection. A marriage that has the prayers of good men behind it has already received the best dowry the world can offer. I add my own to the others, humbly but sincerely. May the couple prosper, and may you — who arranged this happiness — share in its fruits. My warmest congratulations. Farewell.

X. MAXIMO V. S. ENNODIVS. Bene disponantur superno uota uestra iudicio: ipse ad nuptias tuas ueniat qui primo parenti, dum adhuc natiua inmortalitate gauderet, benedictionis munus indulsit. faciat tibi Christus noster nec custoditae integritatis fructum perire nec munera nuptiarum. sic uirginitas prosit ad subolem, ut castitati tuae fecunditas nil decerpat et miro dispensationis arcano nec saeculo, dum pater es, pereas nec dei gratiae, dum pudicus. ueniat super te quod Isaac iuniori filio pie inductus optauit. illis domum socrus auspiciis uxor introeat, quibus Tobiae penetralia nurus accessit. sit tibi perfectae causa dilectionis in coniuge, in te uirginitas custodita. solam illam tibi deputatam noueris, cui te, quasi non esses ex Mundi faece, seruasti. ecce quia uenire non potui, oratione non desum. domine mi, spero, ut honore salutationis accepto quae a me directa sunt dignanter accipias.