Letter 8029: Your error does not bring me joy — but neither does it shake my affection.

Your error did not deceive me, nor did reversed affection beguile me: you maintained the order of your age, nature, and purpose; I was the one who erred, judging you otherwise than truth demanded. To this end come those whom insipid diligence captivates. Henceforth I must speak without circumlocution. To what forgetfulness of yourself did insane presumption drive you, that you said to the holy presbyter that in those verses — composed though they were in a moment of time — some thought the affection of conjugal grace was not expressed? Did I wish to defame what I had written? Or did the epitaph demand this, or reason? What ignorant person, what man empty of sanity along with you said that the poem which Lord Faustus received with the highest favor should be damaged by your gnawing and that of your associates? Perhaps they had something to say about the third Phalaecian, those who do not know Terentianus, seeking an occasion to speak about a single syllable. Truly I deserved what I have suffered, because it is also written that pearls should not be cast before unclean animals. Although I am well aware of my compositions and my lack of skill, I had already learned before that you neither know anything nor ever will. Be well, and turn yourself to others about whom you ought to speak.

XXVIIII. ENNODIVS BEATO. Non mihi tuus error inlusit nec retrouersa decepit adfectio: tu aetatis naturae propositi ordinem custodisti: ego deliqui aliter de te quam poscebat ueritas iudicando. ad hoc redeunt quos diligentia insulsa captiuat. proinde iam sine circuitione loquendum est. quo te inmemorem tui duxit insana praesumptio, ut sancto presbytero diceres in uersibus illis quamuis in temporis momento conpositis aliquibus uideri affectum coniugalis gratiae non expressum? aut ego diffamareuolui quod scripseram ? aut epitaphia hoc poscebant aut ratio? quis hoc inperitus, 22 cf. Terentii Andr. ns. 202 3 origenis B anteferani T - add. m. 2 ut uidetur 4 in in & corr. T m. 2 7 honore om. B adcepto B notteris (e in ras.) B 8 ammonitionis T suffestinatione B 9 symmacum iccirco T 10 diregoJ B Pcuraui L, prorogaui B 13 manifestis B, manifestas L1 conpraehenso B 14 emmenentissimo B 15 eorum perferre LPTVb XXVIIII. 20 ego] ergo B diliqui BL 22 infusa Pb 23 praesumtio B 24 presbitero diceris B 25 mumento B 27 epjtafio B quis tecum sanitate uacuus dixit, ut carmen, quod in summam gratiam domnus Faustus excepit, te et participibus tuis rodentibus laederetur? forte de tertio Phaleucio qui Terentianum nesciunt habuerint, quod de una syllaba quaerentes occasionem loquerentur. uere dignus fui ista quae pertuli, quia et scriptum est margaritas ante inmunda animalia non esse mittendas. quamuis dictionum et inperitiae meae bene sim conscius, te tamen nec scire aliquid nec sciturum ante didiceram. uale et ad alios te, de quibus debeas loqui, conuerte.