Letter 2009: As a certain towering authority on eloquence has observed, the true art of letter-writing lies in a studied...

Ennodius to Olybrius. Scarcely ever have the things long desired by me turned out according to my wish, so that the wave of your rich eloquence might satisfy the thirst which I had conceived from the burning ardor of your letters, and so that the streams smiling upon my lips might quench the heat that long expectation had doubled. But why should I claim that I have been brought to the summit of my prayers, when from the obtaining of them a greater longing is born in me, while my breast burns with the river of your discourses? It is shown to me plainly how ignorant of things the human mind is, which, while it grasps the value of its own striving, grows accustomed to love more that which it reaches slowly; and while it abounds in the present with that in which it might rejoice, there remains all the more what it seeks. Now, I confess, in your letters I, your appraiser, took fright at an excessive caution toward me, where, while the sails of your speech were being borne into the deep upon favorable issues, and whatever breathes was serving in obedience, you say that the oarage is wanting to your conversations. There is no permitted devotion to truth set apart from that which dread paints in words. There is need of oars whenever the vessels are aided by no impulse of the winds; but he has no need of these for whom the devoted conspiracy of the winds has granted a favorable voyage. The sun is not aided by torches, nor have the companies of the lesser stars ever lit up the brightness of the lunar globe. My lord, presenting my greetings as above your honor, I pray that before your greatness I may not lack the fruit of my studies, since I have not concealed from you what I might desire, so that you may weigh the labor of writing which you have hitherto put forth by the frequency or richness of your pen.

VIIII. ENNODIVS OLVBRIO. Vix aliquando mihi ea quae diu cupita sunt ex sententia successerunt, ut sitim, quam ex litterarum uestrarum ardore conceperam, eloquentiae diuitis unda satiaret et aestus, quos expectatio longa geminauerat, adridentia labiis fluenta restinguerent. sed cur me ad uotorum adseram summam fuisse perductum, cui maius nascitur de inpetratione desiderium, dum de sermonum uestrorum flumine pectus ardescit? ostenditur mihi liquido quam sit rerum nescia mens humana, quae dum pretium propriae ambitionis intellegit, adsuescit plus amare ad quod tarde peruenit, et dum abundat in praesentia quo laetetur, magis superest quod requirat. nunc, confiteor, in litteris uestris superforaneam cautionem mei aestimator expaui, ubi dum secundis in altum loquelae uestrae portarentur uela h h 1 pertraunt B 2 similia (ia in ras.) T 3 Bubtraunt B beoificii B 4 diligetis Bx 5 offerenda LTV adj et T 6 comercio T perdncant T mihi BLV 7 ualetudine (ne ex nie corr. m. 1) V, constitutis ualitudine B 8 porregantur B VIIII. 11 olibrio T 12 copita B 18 Bitem B qui B s. I . 14 diutis L 15 expectio B1 restingerent T 16 perducta ̃ Lx 17 cui] an Pb maius (m in ras.) V 18 peccatus T1 ardiscit B 20 praetium B, pcium L VT nist I. quod T m. 1 pe pcium exh . 21 quo laetetur coni. SchaUus, quod letetur T, quod laedetnr (ledetur L) BLY, quo delectetur Pb 23 super foramet Ll estimator LTV 24 loquillae B prouentibus et in obsequio militaret quicquid spirat, remigium uestris dicitis deesse conloquiis. non est licita ueri diligentia sequestrata quam pingunt uerba formido. remis opus est, quotiens nullo flaminum puppes iuuantur inpulsu: his non eget cui secundam nauigationem fecit conspiratio deuota uentorum sol facibus non iuuatur nec lunaris globi claritudinem minorum siderum aliquando inlustrauere collegia. domine, ut supra honorem salutati exhibens precor, ut apud magnitudinem uestram studiorum meorum fructu non caream, postquam uobis quid cuperem non celaui, ut scriptionis operam quam hactenus protulistis stili frequentia uel ubertate pensetis.