Letter 8031: The high regard in which I hold Your Greatness has demanded this exchange of letters, but the haste of the carrier...
Ennodius to Boethius.
The high regard in which I hold Your Greatness has demanded this exchange of letters, but the haste of the carrier has confined the letter to brevity. I could not delay a man in a hurry — but neither could I send him away empty-handed, given the pressing business at hand. I have sent repeated letters about the house I requested. If it is possible for my wish to be granted, give me your answer now, since all buildings grow old under neglect. My lord, paying the tribute of my greeting, I ask that you help a petitioner at no cost to yourself.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
XXXI. ENNODIVS BOETIO.
Consideratio magnitudinis uestrae exegit epistolare commercium,
sed festinatio portitoris epistolam breuitate conclusit.
non potui morari properantem, sed nec his uacuum muniis
propter res necessarias emisi. crebras super domo, quam
poposci, litteras destinaui. si possibile est cupita tribui, iam
referte, quia omnia aedificia sub neglegentia consenescunt.
domine mi, salutationis obsequia dependens rogo, ut iuuetis
sine uestro dispendio supplicantem.
Related Letters
Full of the best hopes for you, and wishing you every good fortune, I reach for the pen of letter-writing.
KING THEODERIC TO BOETHIUS, A MAN OF ILLUSTRIOUS RANK AND A PATRICIAN.
If it were permitted to defer what has been commanded, I would have been granted a delay by the very man who gave...
Philosophy has nothing to teach a man who has already surpassed his teachers.
Although my poor efforts cannot adequately praise your accomplishments, the attempt itself is a duty I owe to...