Letter 9016: I should have replied to your letter long ago, and the delay weighs on me.

From: Ennodius, deacon in Pavia To: Adeodatus Date: ~505 AD Context: A belated reply to a letter from Adeodatus — Ennodius blames the delay on circumstances rather than neglect. Ennodius to Adeodatus. I should have replied to your letter long ago, and the delay weighs on me. But the press of affairs — you know the kind — has kept my pen idle when my heart was anything but. I write now to make amends. Accept this letter as proof that your words were received, valued, and remembered. A reply delayed is not a reply denied. Farewell.

XVI. ENNODIVS ADEODATO. Olim ad beatitudinis tuae scripta responderam, si facile fuisset Romam pergentium itinera deprehendi. ecclesiastica humilitas a mundi potentibus quasi res peregrina transitur. ut primum tamen domnus Dioscorus Romam perfunctus pii laboris remeauit officio, ad restitutionem debiti reuerentiam uestram suspiciens adspiraui. uos filios uestros, domnum Faustum uel sanctam progeniem ipsius redire Romam cupitis, nos manere: dispar sententia ad unum affectionis callem sine errore reuertitur. deus tamen optimus dispensator quod felicitati eius scit conuenire disponat. mihi domni Fausti suorumque prosperitas praesentiae uice blanditur. domine mi, salutationis cultum pleno amore dissoluens codicem quem dedistis filio uestro domno praefecto remeante transmitto: uos meum aut illum quem promisistis, si placuerit, destinate, illud tamen specialiter conferentes, ut orationum uestrarum numquam me propugnatione nudetis, quia nullus mihi murus potior esse aduersus peccati arietem poterit, quam si illarum me tutela defenderit.