Letter 3018: To what a height your friendship has raised me!

To what a height the gift of your spiritual conversation has raised me, the narrowness [of my powers] would bear witness, if it could be encompassed in speech. For setting this forth, the thinness of my mind is not equal to the task, nor does the poverty of my mouth suffice. For that you have proved mindful of me - what else shall I reckon this to be than that my sins are overcome? The remembrance of you has now driven off everything that the foulness of my deeds was able to supply, and has granted me to look upon the heavenly gift through a clear sky. My lord, rendering fittingly the dutiful offices of greeting, I ask God that, with regard to my smallness, that soul of yours - in which everything that God commands overflows - may take care, without any diminishment, to preserve the favor it has promised. Declare to me by the frequent testimony of your letters that this thing has befallen me by your own choice.

XVIII. EPISCOPO EVLALIO ENNODIVS. Ad quantum me fastigium perduxerit donum spiritalis alloquii, angustia testaretur, si sermone ualeret ambiri. ad quod enarrandum idonea non est mentis exilitas nec sufficit oris egestas. uos enim mei memores extitisse quid aliud computabo quam peccata superari? memoria uestri omne quod actuum obscenitas potuit ministrare iam depulit et per sudum respicere supernum munus indulsit. domine mi, salutationis obsequia decenter inpertiens deum rogo; ut cirea paruitatem meam illa anima., ia. qua omne quod deus mandat exuberat, dignationem pollicitam sine aliqua procuret inminutione seruare. quam rem ex arbitrio mihi contingere frequentium declarate testimonio litterarum. 1 presentium B adibere L post ras bene natum L TV 3 offitio V 5 releuari (u eras.) L procurer B in Mg . add. mi BT, mihi LV seruitatem (u poet t yn ras.) 11 7 omittis T1... XVIII. 1Q Ennodius Eulalio episcopo Sirm . 12 angustiam B 14 extetisse B, ex|extitisse L 16 act*um L 17 mi T, mihi BL V salutationes L1T1T 19 meam. B 8. t 30 pollicitam s. a. proeuret T in ras. m. 2. immutatione V (uta m inu corr. m. 1), imitatione B\' 21 mihi T in ras. tn . 2