Letter 1018: How well it is that what you modestly decline, you happily emulate; and while you complain that your Greatness is...

Ennodius to Avienus. How well, in that you modestly decline, do you fittingly imitate, and while you complain that your greatness is spurred on by difficult examples, you have displayed the pomp of narration which, as a competent advocate, you shun! I embrace the lovable plea of your timidity, which the vein of your rich talent commends in you. I do not wish that you should dread the father, to be honored by good men, set forth in the examples of your exhortation: from him come those very things that you speak. I know what land brings forth nobler gold, in whose bosoms the metals nourished by its soil gleam more red: often, as I searched, effective labor has shown me the nurturing reaches of the tawny element. I know what shells enclose proud gems at great price, whence comes the stone that will confer genius upon empires. Do not ascribe to inexperience what I have done, nor to error. The offspring of a brave man recognizes the face of arms amid his father's embraces, and while he obeys nature, he learns to love terror. Maro, the root of the learned, the shaper of your eloquence, recounts the son so animated by his father's words that he says: "Learn, boy, virtue from me," and elsewhere: "and father Aeneas." Surely that one did not yet rise up to the contests with strong arms, or was thought destined to wage the looming wars by his manly strength? But virtue, animated by recent examples, awaited progress better than the bodily growth promised by counsels. They say that eagles, knowing their affairs, set their chicks at the very threshold of life, when they are stripped from the membranes of the egg, before the rays of the sun, and recognize the light of their own offspring by the obstruction of immense splendor. Surely there is no impiety in that strict trial, since the judgment's verdict is right in its choosing? They do not wish any of their brood to perish, yet they do not acknowledge as their own those that have given way. For rightly is that loftiness among birds reckoned the mother of victors. Now therefore you, my sweet one, pursue what you have well begun, and, with God favoring, as you render your grandfather by your name, so render your father by your learning. Do not think it grievous, what I urge. And since I judge you by your stock, do not you dread the beginnings. He too whom men fear once had his beginning, and as often as the channel of water, led by a finger scratching the earth, is drawn through the dust, everything that is at its first stage flows turbid. For the rest, farewell, my lord, and cultivate one who loves you with frequent services of letters, and concerning these pursuits, if you are mindful of me, it is not fitting that you be sluggish.

XVIII. AVIEMO ENNODIVS. Quam bene quod uerecunde renuis feliciter imitaris et dum difficilibus magnitudinem tuam exemplis quereris incitari, narrandi pompam quam adsertor idoneus refugis ostendisti! amplector amabilem allegationem formidinis, quam in te ingenii diuitis uena commendat. nolo colendum bonis patrem in adhortationis tuae positum pauescas exemplis: ab ipso ueniunt ista quae loqueris. scio quae aurum pariat terra nobilius, cuius soli nutrita sinibus metalla plus rutilent: saepe mihi labor efficax inquirenti altricia terga fului ostendit elementi: scio quae conchae superbas pretio gemmas includant, unde ueniat lapis imperiis genium conlaturus. non inperitiae quod feci adplices, non errori. uiri fortis progenies armorum faciem inter patris agnoscit amplexus et dum naturae obsequitur, discit amare terrorem. doctorum radix Maro, uestri formator eloquii, sic animatum uerbis patris filium memorat, ut dicat: disce, puer, uirtutem ex me, et alibi: et pater Aeneas. numquid ille iam fortibus ad certamina brachiis adsurgebat 24 Verg. Aen. X 435.440. 1 scribta B 4 quod BLPTVb; ut quid vel praestitit et fort. reoipiat T a in raa. 5 nicessitudine B XVIII. 9 reDuis L n s. I. m. 2, rennnes B 10 qaaereris B, quaeris LPTVb 12 adlegationem T 14 paniicas B 15 loquęris L nobilibus B\' 16 signibus P, ignibus b 17 efficaz T x in roe . falni] flunios Pb elimenti BLV 18 concae BLV precio LPTV 19 imperitiae TV, imperlcię L 20 applices LPTV 23 fl∗∗lium V de eros., fldelium L di*cat T 24 pater B s. l. corr . 25 iam BLV, tam PTb braciis B aut uirili ualitudine inminentia putabatur bella gesturus? sed melius uirtus recentibus exemplis animata quam monitis profectum corporis expectabat. scientes rerum aquilas ferunt pullos suos in ipso uitae limine, quo ouorum tunicis exuuntur, ad solis parare radios et lucem seminis sui inmensi splendoris obiectione cognoscere. numquid est in districta probatione inpietas, cum recta sit iudicii in electione sententia? nolunt quemquam perire de fetibus, sed suos esse qui cesserint non agnoscunt. recte enim illa inter aues sublimitas genetrix putatur esse uictorum. nunc ergo tu, dulce meum, bene coepta persequere et fauente deo, ut auum nomine, ita patrem redde doctrina. non aestimes graue esse quod moneo. et quia ego te de germine censeo, tu de primordiis non pauescas. fuit et ille incipiens qui timetur, et quotiens scalpente terram digito ductus aquae per puluerem trahitur, turbidum fluit omne quod primum est. de reliquo uale, mi domine, et amantem tui frequentibus cole muniis litterarum, circa quae studia, si mei memor es, pigrum te esse non conuenit.