Letter 9008: The strength of a friendship is proved not by grand gestures but by steady correspondence.

To Victor, from Ennodius. The strength of a friendship is proved not by grand gestures but by steady correspondence. I write to you in that spirit — not because I have great news to deliver, but because the habit of writing to a friend is itself a form of faithfulness. I trust you are well. The times test all of us, but the man who keeps his commitments — to God, to his friends, to the truth — has nothing to fear from the world's turbulence. Send me word of yourself when you can. I remain your devoted friend and brother in Christ. Farewell.

VIII. VICTORI ENNODIVS. Dum inscitiam sublimitas tua praeloquitur, eruditionis secreta patefecit: inpugnas perfectione quod adseris. nam dum te saluo pudore inlitteratum esse confirmas, quid naturae uigor, quid studiorum lima contulerit, declarasti. credat mihi subli* mitas tua, inbuendum liberalibus disciplinis iam suis bonis ditauit. si talis lingua prosequitur fratris Pauli filium, facunda adstipulatio et commendat et edocet. nihil longe degentibus magistris opus est, quando digna laude loquitur qui dirigit ad docentem. erubesco insinuatum minus inuenisse quam detulit, deum rogans, ut quod de me per adfectionem praesumitis ingenii ualeam uirtute conplere. uos tamen honore salutationis accepto quibus libet officium sermonis inpendite, dummodo sollicitudini meae de prosperitate uestra multiplex scriptionis cura respondeat. VIL 3 nnetatem V1 7 m T, mihi BLV 9 cum] c5 L adtinente B 10 quatinus LTV 11 nutimus B VIII. 16 insciam B, iniitiam Tl 17 perfectione ̀ L 19 studiorum (i in ras.) B 20 bonas L 21 tales B 22 prius et om. B 23 diriget B 24 erobisco B munus Lb, manui B 28 uestra om. Sirm .