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. As though one were to aid the sun with torches, or enrich the sea with a scant trickle of water, so does he labor with superfluous expenditures who commends what will please by its own merits. But it is foolish to let slip the occasion for a kindness, when a strong man begs for aid: a man lavish with riches is enriched beyond his own resources, if he trusts in the help that a poor man has offered; a kingly gift it becomes, on which the one receiving it confers a distinguished price. The lord Faustinus, in his fatherly care anxious for the advancement of his offspring beyond what that advancement requires, has believed that our Ambrosius would be strengthened in your presence by this letter of recommendation, judging that his blood, his prudence, his fortune lay hidden within the narrow confines of Liguria, and that the noble repute of his talent was hemmed in by obstacles: suppose that by another's protection his renown bursts forth into the light of Rome. Far be it from my pursuits to deny a testimony that aids its author all the more: for he who vouches for good men is himself approved. See what confidence is placed in you, to whom a noble land has entrusted whatever is most excellent of what it has. I would not have him think that here, among us, this household is rather to be found. It is enough for those who covet honors so to surpass the many, that they be compared with the foremost. The widely known modesty of his birth displays the young man's worth: may the dispensation of the Godhead bring it about that through you his beginnings, here well established, may be made firm. Therefore receive the honor of my greeting, and respond to my petition with fatherly devotion, as antiquity called teachers [by that name].

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