Letter 3023: Among friends who both love and hold the power to act, a good word carries its greatest weight.

Ennodius to Marcellianus. Among those who love and who are mighty in honor, the disposition to do kindnesses is ready at hand, nor does any slowness cheapen the entreaties of one whose habit it is to grant them. Virgilius, an exalted man, outstanding as much in blood as in uprightness, laments greatly that the necessity of running off to [...] has been imposed upon him by the illustrious man, count of the sacred largesses [comes sacrarum largitionum, the official in charge of imperial finances]; and if his own desires held to this, his prime of life would supply ready hands for it. He employs me as his advocate before us, that a burden of this kind may be made foreign to him, because by frequent reports he furnishes the aforesaid authority, kept well informed of whatever he has done. My lord, rendering the honor due to one who has been greeted, I pray that, out of regard for me, in testimony of your diligence, effect be granted to what is requested.

XXIII. ENNODIVS MARCELLIANO. Apud amantes et honore pollentes beneficiorum affectus in promptu est nec ulla preces cui praestandi mos est tarditate depretiat. Virgilius sublimis uir, tam sangoine quam honeetate pracipuus; inponi sibi ab inlustri uiro sacrarum \'comite Banennam ezcnrrendi neoessitatem plurimum deflet, cnins si hoc haberent desideria, obuias manus aetas adferret. qui apud nos me precatore utitur, ut ab eo huiusmodi saroina fiat aliena, quia relationibus frequenter quid egerit instructam praedicti suggerit potestatem. domini, honorem salutati ezhibens precor, ut consideratione mei in testimonium diligentiae postulatis detur effectus.