Letter 2010: If the heavenly ruler had looked at my merit, I would have received scant blessings — or none at all.

Ennodius to Faustus. If the heavenly Ruler were to regard my deserts, I would either obtain scanty goods or great punishments; and as a fitting appraiser of myself, I would not strive by vow toward that to which I could not attain by my merits. But thanks be to Him who so prunes back our offenses, lest we be exalted, that He may extend our hope to wider things. These prefatory remarks are owed by me to the pronouncements of the lord Avienus, who, not yet restored to good health, had loosened the chain of anxiety from my mind, while as yet our prayers hung in suspense, anxious between hope and fear. Looking to his nature, he showed with what eloquence he would thunder. By my own judgment indeed I had anticipated these things, and I recognized in the treasures he had brought forth the vein that nurtures the noble metal. But even in this, a sinner, I scarcely believed it would come about that I should obtain what I did not deserve to attain. I speak the truth, with the divine clemency as witness: if there are any in Liguria who can judge concerning the genius and splendor of letters, [...] they believed that you had labored over that composition which a hoary intelligence, anticipating his age, cultivated while still in the boy. But these things I have said rather to those, with tearful joy, whom either shed blood has inscribed upon the white roll of the heavenly court, or whom a clear confession has so inscribed, that they may confirm our beginnings with favorable successes. Saluting you with the humility and obedience of a servant, I wish, among whatever else, while you relax your mind amid these things, to rejoice at the misfortunes of our adversaries. For there is nothing in which we can feel the losses of our enemies. This God has bestowed upon us, that earthly envy cannot take it away.

X. ENNODIVS FAVSTO. Meritum meum regnator caelestis si adtenderet, aut exigua bona adipiscerer aut magna supplicia et mei idoneus aestimator, quo meritis peruenire non poteram, uoto non tenderem. sed gratias illi, qui delicta nostra sic ne extollamur resecat, ut spem ad latiora perducat. domni Auieni dictionibus a me debentur ista praeloquia., qui necdum ad bonam ualitudinem reductus animum meum sollicitudinis catena laxauerat, dum adhuc inter spem et metum anxii uota penderent. naturam respiciens indicauit quo tonaret eloquio. iudicio quidem ista praeceperam et altricem nobilis metalli uenam in thesauris quos pepererat agnoscebam. sed etiam in hoc peccator euenire uix credidi quod adsequi non merebar. uerum dico teste diuina clementia, si sunt aliqui in Liguria, qui de litterarum possint 2 licit aneri B\' 3 depingunt B renis L 4 puppia B, pupee T iobantnr B 6 iobatur B 7 colligia B 8 salutationis T apnt B 10 ut] et uel uel fort actinns B 11 protnlestiB Bl L hanc epist. om. T, add. in mg. man. rec. hie deã cpim 14 si meritum B caelestisi V si om. B 15 adepiscezer B 17 ne] non L 18 domini b aneni V, auini L 22 indeeaait V1, indeeasuet B, indioauit Pb 98 praeeiperam B, perceperam Pb thensanria B 24 peperat B 26 glvria L . possint LPV, poesent B, possnnt b VL 4 genio et splendore iudicare, uos crediderunt in illa dictione laborasse, quam aetati praeiudicans canus iam in puero sensus excoluit. sed ista magis illis cum lacrimoso gaudio dixi, quos aut effusus sanguis albo curiae caelestis adscripsit aut clara confessio, qui secundis confirment primordia nostra successibus. uos famuli humilitate et obsequio salutans opto inter quaeuis, dum istis animum relaxatis, aduersariorum mala gaudere. nihil est enim, in quo inimicorum possimus damna sentire. hoc nobis deus contulit, quod inuidia terrena non subtrahat.