Letter 3017: Now that your merits have received the dignity they deserve, I write to add my voice to the chorus of congratulations.

Ennodius to Bishop Stephanus. After dignity was restored to your merits and the honor which your life demands was conferred upon you, I have received nothing in writing from your blessedness, on account of my sins. This forgetfulness which is maintained toward me is foreign to the purpose and to the character you keep toward suppliants. Let not your pontifical authority charge my boldness with rashness: it is scarcely the case that diligence should consider what right it may have; one whom the command of charity goads never takes his own measure. There is the added fact that I was unable to lend ready hands to the bearer of this present letter, except in this way: that, by the dutiful service of my speech, I might bring to the knowledge of your eminence [literally, your crown] Benenatus, a well-born man who is seeking out Gaul on certain matters of business. Commending him with all humility, I ask that through him I may be granted the relief of words to take the place [of your presence]. Lord, discharging the service of greeting with all devotion, I hope above all that the serenity of your prayers may not omit to make mention of me as well, since you supplicate the Godhead without interruption, [from] my person.

XVII. STEPHANO EPISCOPO ENNODIVS. Postquam meritis uestris dignitas restituta est et honor quem exigit uita conlatus, nulla beatitudinis uestrae pro peccatis meis scripta suscepi. aliena est a proposito uel a moribus uestris circa supplices quae in me seruatur obliuio. temeritatem meam pontificalis non accuset auctoritas: uix est ut diligentia quid iuris possit habere respiciat: numquam se metitur quem stimulat caritatis imperium. additur quod perlatori XVL 3 quae B rl releua L 4 torquitur B silentia silentia B 5 neque] mea Sirm . 6 sed] si T 9 in radice quadam T 10 prospititint V scripta nos propt (tra—hominem 8 . 1. add. corr.) B bene natum TV 11 commendo BT 13 accelera renelare (reuelare in ras. m. 2) T, acceierare LV, adcelerare B, attolle Sirm. 14 sermonibus quatinns T ift ras . m. 2 quatinus LTV benefltio V, befieSo L XYIL 17 Ennodius Stepbsno episcopo Sirm. stefano BL 18 dignitas] uestra add. Sirm. 19 exegit B 21 snpHces B temeritatem V te postea add. m. 1 22 accuBat B 24 addetur B praesentium obuias manus adhibere non potui, nisi ut Benenatum hominem Gallias pro certis negotiis expetentem ad coronae uestrae notitiam mei perducerem sermonis officio, quem tota humilitate commendans rogo, ut per eum uicariis releuari procurer alloquiis. domine, salutationis seruitutem tota deuotione persoluens spero principe loco, ut precum uestrarum serenitas meae quoque mentionem non omittat facere, cum diuinitati subplicat sine intermissione, personae.