Letter 3008: If giving offense results in a doubling of your letters, how I wish the calm tranquility of your serene heart could...

VIII. Ennodius to Avienus. If giving offense brings it about that letters from a man of your greatness are doubled, how often would I wish that the calm of your serene heart were disturbed? And were it not contrary to my purpose, I would heap up reasons for your indignation, since I have obtained through faults what love does not deserve. Yet I declare that I am free of error in this matter, in which, while you accuse me of negligence, you have conferred a reward. Being upset, I dispatched a boy, through whom I showed nothing other than what was necessary. With an unburdened heart the tongue is free for its duties; a confused mind forswears the courtesy of a greeting. Behold, thanks be to God on both counts, since I am not guilty and yet you believed me to be guilty. Your agitation conferred on me a benefit that affection would scarcely have given. I cannot set forth what I owe you: poor is the love in whose recounting speech does not fail. My lord, while offering the salutation that is owed, I beseech God that whatever you have borne in your mind you may always write.

VIII. ENNODIVS AVIENO. Si offensa praestat, ut magnitudinis tuae scripta geminentur, quam uellem saepe illa sereni pectoris tui tranquilla turbari? et nisi aduersaretur proposito, causas indignationis ingererem, quando quod amor non meretur per culpas optinui. ego tamen errore uacare me nuntio in ea causa, in qua dum accusatis neglegentiam, praemium contulistis. puerum turbatus direxi, VI. 5 taceret Tl 6 ad (d 8. I.) Y transmitterem (tt ex s ? corr.) L 7 reueletis L VII. 13 exsistat V nollet B 15 gratiam uram (urim in mg. add.) B 16 uenerantur Tl 17 quaeJ quem B 19 mereres B VIII. 23 sepe B 25 obtinui per culpas b 27 praemium V a exp. m. 1 per quem nihil aliud quam quod opus esset ostendi. libero pectore lingua uacat officiis: mens confusa gratiam salutationis abiurat. ecce deo in utroque gratias, quia nec ego reus sum et uos me reum esse credidistis. beneficium mihi commotio uestra contulit, quod nix dedisset affectio. ego quid tibi debeam explicare non possum: pauper est caritas, in cuius narratione sermo non deficit. domine mi, salutem debitam dicens deum rogo, ut quodlibet animo gesseris semper scribas.