Letter 2004: No one among the wise doubts that a sacred promise must be kept, and that a friendship wedded to fertile kindling...

Ennodius to Olybrius. None among the prudent doubts that the pledge of a sacred promise is fulfilled, and that friendship, which is wedded to fertile kindling, rejoices in the nobility of its fruits. I appeal to your conscience, bound now by the obligations already pledged: I, like a possessor competent to gather the apples from a good tree's yield, so do I gather them from our mutual affection. Let neither of the parties deny that what it wished to be done in the snaring of a parting has been accomplished. Before God either punishment or reward is owed to our prayers. I, in consideration of what is religious in myself and what is most noble in you, judge that the things which were begun have come to their effect, namely the concord between us; nor could I deny to the young graces, and to fruits bursting forth into a new light, the commerce of words, since he is deserving of blame who, set in the neighborhood, has refused to be the first to begin. In this matter, therefore, wishing to avoid the loss of my modesty, I do not wish to escape the reputation of a rash man, provided only that I show myself to have arrived at the effect of something accomplished. I have burdened a most opportune carrier with the freight of unskilled speech, offending through affection, and through him one who has erred deserves both pardon and grace. I ask, therefore, paying the debt of a most lavish greeting, that, if you hold me in your heart, you show it by directing toward me a most abundant conversation; for just as you are an eloquent speaker and a copious affirmer of love, so you do not know how to deceive anyone with the painted coloring of words.

IIII. ENNODIVS OLVBRIO. Nulli dubium est inter prudentes sacrae fidem promissionis inpleri et amicitiam, quae fertilibus est maritata fomitibus, fructuum nobilitate gaudere. ego conscientiam uestram appello e 1 contigi B 2 ticinensS T nensS in ras. m. 2 urbe T in mg. add. m. 2 susciperam B 3 uniuersi LPV\'b aestimane Sirm . & circa] contra b 7 traquidiam B, tragoeidam L uenerande B 10 erdui BLPTV, ergo b: em . Sirm. me tu] metua B sed a corr. uidetur 11 comitis mei B 12 mei om. B 13 persone B 15 consciam T in ras. m. 2 merentem BPTV prolezioris B 16 conpedia B 19 afflictionis L mi ex m T corr., mihi BLVb, michi P 20 presentium B IIII. 23 olibrio T 26 formitilibus B 26 fruct∗u ̃ L u eras . nobilitare T iam statutis fidelibus obligatam: ego tamquam de bonae arboris reditu, ita de caritate mutua idoneus carpo poma possessor: nulla partium in aucupio discessionis quod fieri uoluit neget inpletum. apud deum uotis aut supplicium debetur aut praemium. ego in me religiosi, in uobis nobilissimi consideratione propositi ad effectum inter nos concordiae aestimo peruenisse quae coepta sunt, nec adulescentibus gratiae et in nouam lucem erumpentibus frugibus uerborum potui negare commercium, cum culpa dignus sit qui in uicinitate positus noluit primus incipere. in hac ergo parte pudoris uolens uitare dispendium nolo euadere opinionem temerarii, dummodo ad effectum me ostendam peruenisse perfecti. opportunissimum portitorem sarcina inperiti sermonis oneraui affectu delinquens, per quem qui peccauerit et ueniam meretur et gratiam. rogo ergo salutationis effusissimae debitum soluens, ut, si me cordi habetis, de uberrimi ostendatis directione conloquii, quia sicut amoris elocutor et copiosus adsertor es, ita nescis alicui blanda uerborum fucatione deludere.