Letter 2016: It would have been proper for the distinguished Panfronius to carry his own introduction — a man of his stature...

ENNODIUS TO FAUSTUS. It would indeed have been fitting, since the eminent man Pamfronius is traveling to you, that the service of the page be transferred to the duties of living speech, and that he not be burdened with the load of a letter, he who happened to know not so much my words as my zeal for him. But in these offices his hands are submitted to your command. The searcher of hidden minds demands a page to assist him, and therefore, lest anything of our deference should chance to be lacking before him, I have granted writing, even though it is unnecessary for a recommendation but suited to his instructions. For with what words is he to be escorted, to whom it is permitted to hope for the whole of your greatness out of your favor? Thus it will come about that the words of the petitioner are narrower than the merits of the bearer. For what aid could you furnish to him, on whose behalf, however much you ask, he deserves more? Therefore these things are joined for the exercise of the pen, not for the benefit of the traveler. It pleases the mind to remember you under any occasion whatever, although I assign nothing to the man already named by my writing. Yet behold, since I have been so ordered, I append those words of introduction which are bestowed upon strangers. Aid one who seeks you in a special way, strengthening his confidence by your esteem: may he find whatever he anticipates by his hope, so that, if he is a too-narrow appraiser of his own merits, he may report back to me whatever he shall have obtained. Rendering the duty of greeting, I implore you to consider that I am to be relieved by frequent communications, I for whom, amid the burdens of grief, there can be no support except the consolations of your speech.

XVI. ENNODIVS FAVSTO. Par quidem fuerat sublimi uiro Pamfronio commeante ministerium paginae ad uiui sermonis officia transferri nec illum epistulari fasce onerari, quem non tam uerba mea contigit nosse quam studia. sed eius in his officiis manus dantur imperio. postulat adiutricem paginam latentium scrutator animorum, et ideo, ne quid apud eum nostri deesse contingat obsequii, scripta concessi, etsi commendationi non necessaria, 1 mutatio adceesit B, a ̉ ccescit mntatio LV cum mutatione (cum in rae. m. 2) T, commutatione b 2 innecesso B 3 effensa T IU sti inlesa BV dedi P, dedisti b 4 innocentem innocentem B 5 ezprobatio T1V respicitur Sirm . 6 inquiritur Sirm., inspi- ciatur Pb omni] dl T ducidinie B 7 negligentiam BT 9 presentas L 11 consideranti T\' 12 uellis BV 13 praecum B adsiduetate B XVI. 18 panfronio T comeante T 19 pagine T 8. I. m. 2 20 bonerari L2T V, honorari BLl contegit B 21 studea L\' 22 postolat B 23 ideo L quit T\' contigat B 24 obsequii. T praeceptis eius adcommoda. quibus enim sermonibus prosequendus est cui totum magnitudinis uestrae licet sperare de gratia ? ita eueniet, ut angustiora sint supplicantis uerba quam merita perlatoris. quid enim praestes iuuaminis illi, pro quo quantumuis poposceris, plus meretur ? ergo ad stili exercitium iunguntur haec, non ad beneficium conmeantis. iuuat animum sub quauis occasione uestri meminisse, licet nominato scriptione nil tribuam. ecce tamen quia ita iussus sum, illa quae praestantur extraneis insinuationis dicta subiungo. iuuate uos peculiariter expetentem, fiduciam eius dignatione roborantes: quicquid spe praecipit inueniat, ut si meritorum suorum angustus aestimator est, ad me referat quicquid fuerit consecutus. obsequium salutationis inpendens supplico, ut crebris me releuandum ducatis adfatibus, cui inter maeroris sarcinas nullum praeter oris uestri solacia potest esse subsidium.