Letter 9003: It would be like helping the sun with torches or enriching the sea with a tiny drop of water -- that is how...

Ennodius to Meribaudus. It would be like helping the sun with torches or enriching the sea with a tiny drop of water -- that is how superfluous is the effort of the man who recommends what would please on its own merits. But it would be foolish to waste an opportunity for kindness when a strong man seeks help. A generous man grows richer beyond his wealth if he values the aid a poor man offers. A gift becomes royal when the one who receives it lends it its outstanding value. The lord Faustinus, more anxious about his son's advancement than even a father's concern demands, believed that our Ambrosius could be fortified before you by this recommendation. He supposed that the young man's blood, his wisdom, and his wealth lay hidden within the narrow confines of Liguria [northern Italy], and that a nobleman's celebrated skill was being hemmed in by obstacles. He thought that his family's distinction could burst forth into the light of Rome only with another's support. Far be it from my principles to refuse a testimonial that benefits the one who gives it more than the one who receives it -- for the man who vouches for good people is himself approved. See what confidence Faustinus has in you, to whom he has entrusted the most precious product of a noble land. Let him not think that there is a better family to be found among us. It is enough for those who desire honors to surpass many, provided they are compared with the best. The young man's honorable birth is evident from his well-known family reputation. May divine providence grant that through you his promising beginnings, well placed here, may be strengthened. Receive, then, the honor of my greeting, and respond to my petition with the fatherly care that antiquity called the duty of teachers.

III. MERIBAVDO ENNODIVS. Quasi solem facibus adiuuet et mare exiguo humore locupletet, ita superfluis laborat inpendiis qui per se placitura commendat. sed stultum est perire occasionem beneficii, quando auxilium fortis inplorat: opum largus supra copias ditatus est, si credit subsidium quod pauper obtulerit: regale munus fit, cui insigne pretium praestat accipiens. domnus Faustinus de prolis suae profectu supra quam poscit paterna cura sollicitus, Ambrosium nostrum hac apud uos credidit prosecutione conmuniri, aestimans quod sanguis eius, quod prudentia, quod census intra Liguriae angusta delitesceret et artis fama nobilis artaretur obstaculis: alieno praesidio claritatem suam in Romanam lucem puta erumpere. facessat ab studiis meis negare testimonium quod plus opitulatur auctori: qui enim bonos adserit adprobatur. uidete quae de uobis fiducia sit, cui quicquid praecipuum habet nobilis terra commisit. nolo putet apud nos quod hac sit familia potius inueniri.. sufficit honorum cupidis sic plures uincere, ut potissimis conparentur. honestatem iuuenis uulgatus natalium pudor ostendit: faciat diuinitatis dispensatio, ut per uos principia eius hic bene locata solidentur. ergo honorem salutationis accipite et petitioni meae paterna, sicut praeceptores uocauit antiquitas, pietate respondete. 24 cf. Opusc. VI. 1 solatio BTV, salutatio L 2 disponetur B III. 4 merisbaudo L õ adiubet B 1. ita] locupletati|tas B 8 largua BT (UB T in ras.), largas PLVb cupias B 10 praecium B 13 census eius V 14 delitiscejret BLTV et B, et quod LPTVb artis] estis B, eius b 16 ab] a T 17 bonus B 18 quidquid B 19 quod Bb, quo LPTV ac B 20 post potius ras. 12—14 litt. L sufflcet B 21 conparental] cSpatarentur L uulgatur B 23 locata] lota T 24 praeceptoris B 25 respondite B