Letter 3004: What a sweet thing the business of your letters is -- they bring me a spiritual gift!

Ennodius to Abbot Stephanus. How sweet a business is that of your letter, which has presented me with a spiritual gift! How welcome is the necessity of those who bear it, who, in their zeal for their own remedy, heal the longings of others! I confess that, were it not repugnant to my purpose, I would conceive wishes almost hostile, tending to disturb the security of certain persons. Behold, adverse things furnish what favorable ones do not bestow. Whence, in tranquil circumstances, should I, a sinner, receive the letters of holy men, which the luster of my own merits never demanded? Behold how great a support they have brought me, who confess that they have obtained it from you. I judge that divine providence bestows these things. I now believe that I have laid down much of the burden of my evil manner of life. He who deserves the discourse of holy men is next to innocence. Therefore, while unclean worldly license possessed me, I never deserved the missives of so great a man; afterward too, over long intervals, I never received goods of this kind. Great God, what dignity you bestow on those who serve you, that those upon whom you have begun to look you also render acceptable to your friends! Truly I have always looked up to you with singular reverence, always submitted my neck, laden with sins, to your venerable character. Behold, now I am addressed almost as an equal. The subjection I have long maintained has raised me up; cherish me therefore with your prayers, for you show by your pages that no frail patronage is offered by you. For these men too have been received, who have conferred upon me the goods in which I exult. I return to the matter. That ruined cleric was afraid to plead his case before the bishop, after he saw that those whom you had assigned to my service were defended by me. I suggest, if you so order, that one of these same men travel to Ravenna with your letters of recommendation to your son the lord Faustus, lest, to their prejudice, a venal sentence be pronounced by the judges who abound at Milan.

IIII. ENNODIVS ABBATI STEPHANO. Litterarum uestrarum quam dulce negotium est, quod mihi spiritale munus exhibuit! quam uotiua perlatorum necessitas, quae remedii sui studio desideriis medetur alienis! confiteor, nisi repugnaret proposito, inimica pene ad turbandam aliquorum securitatem uota conciperem. ecce praestant aduersa quod secunda non tribuunt. sanctorum litteras tranquillis rebus unde peccator acciperem, quas numquam meritorum meorum nitor exegit? ecce quantum mihi contulerunt suffragium qui a uobis obtinuisse se confitentur. diuinam aestimo prouidentiam ista tribuere. multum iam credo quod de malae conuersationis fasce deposui. proximus est innocentiae qui sanctorum meretur alloquia. quare dum me saecularis licentia inmunda possedit, numquam tanti uiri apices merui, post etiam per longa interualla numquam huiusmodi bona suscepi. deus magne, quam dignitatem seruientibus tibi tribuis, ut quos respicere coeperis etiam amicis tuis reddas acceptos! uere semper uos singulari cultura suspexi, semper uenerandis moribus 3 precator (ca in ras.) V fabore B IIII. 5 ennodius—l. 16 prozimus est bis exh. B, priore apographo expuncto folii 55r quod relicum erat et totum folium 55 uacuum ennodius om. T stefano BIV 7 manos B (apogr. 1 et 2) exibnit B (apogr. 1) L* 8 studio] stimulo B (apogr. 2) desiderio T* 9 penae B (apogr. 1 et 2) alicorum B (apogr. 1) 10 conceperem B (apogr. 1), conceperim B (apogr. 2) s qua ecce T s qua exp . preetant B (apogr. 1. et 2) 11 tribuunt (u eras.) L 12 peccatorum T\' acceperem B (apogr. 1), acceperim B (apogr. 2) quam L 13 contolerunt B (apogr. 1) quia T in ras. m. 2 16 ista] illa Sirm . male B (apogr. t et 2) LTV 17 colloquia Sirm . secularis B 19 per] qui L suscipi B 20 seruientibua] credentibus T 21 ceperu BL TV acceptus B granata peccatis colla submisi. ecce iam quasi aequalis appellor. erexit me diu custodita subiectio, foue ergo me orationibus tuis: ostendis enim paginis fragile a uobis non exhiberi patrocinium. nam et isti suscepti sunt, qui mihi bona, de quibus gestio, contulerunt. ad rem redeo. perditus ille clericus expauit causam dicere apud episcopum, postquam defendi a me uidit eos, quibus meum deputastis obsequium. suggero, si iubetis, ut unus de ipsis Rauennam ambulet cum uestris ad filium uestrum domnum Faustum commendaticiis, ne in praeiudicio ipsorum uenalis iudicum, qui Mediolani exuberant, sententia depromatur.