Letter 3031: Although the quality of letters cannot always match the quality of the affection behind them, the attempt is never...

Ennodius to Avienus. Although the character of letters is fashioned to suit men's talents, and often serves ceremonial convention, while sometimes it bears witness to the tokens of affection-letters which on occasion sincerity dictates, but for the most part a composition resembling a cosmetic veneer, which, having counterfeited candor by the elegance of diligence under which it is concealed, betrays itself when, stripped of its fabricated coverings, it is laid open within its disguise-I, nevertheless, hold that in written pages there is a mirror of the conscience, through which absence scarcely ventures to discern friendship: yet it is plain what in those pages is artless, and what the artful speech conveys. The mind, the interpreter of dictation, cuts through the clouds of eloquence: with its own sickles, once the pathway of words is unbarred, it swiftly arrives at understanding. Therefore I take great delight in these services, by which sincerity is opened up and no secure occasion for deceiving inserts itself. Yet I rejoice that there fall to me either occasions for writing or bearers to carry the letters, so that by this frequency I may satisfy my wish and burden your sense of shame, unless what has been received from you is repaid. Farewell, my lord, and, with affection commanding, yield to my opinion. Farewell.

XXXI. ENNODIVS AVIENO. Quamuis epistularum qualitas pro ingeniis conponatur et saepe sollemnitati militet, nonnumquam affectionis testetur indicia, quas aliquando dictat sinceritas, plerumque fuci similis concinnatio, quae candorem imaginata diligentiae urbanitate qua tegitur innotescit, dum fabricatis nudata tegminibus intra uelamen aperitur: ego tamen in paginis speculum puto esse conscientiae, per quas amicitiam discernere absentia uix praesumit: clarum est tamen, quid in illis simplex, quid artifex 1 nil T 3 nitorem Pb 4 pieuales B XXX. 7 iniocunda BPTb 8 scribis.. L 10 putas scripsi, putans BLTTVb ullum] nullum Pb sed in mg . al. illud Pm. 2 11 amori b d Sinn. nulle B domM B, domine LPTVb 12 quidquid B 18 ignotus] immotQB T 14 eontemptus T 15 uale] ulae L a 8 . 1. m. 2 XXXI. 20 sepe B soHempnitati LPV 23 fabricatas B 25 amiticiam T taii] iudex fort . \' preaumet B sermo deferat. scindit nubes eloquii mens dictationis interpres : cito ad intellectum peruenit falcibus suis uerborum calle reserato. ergo his ualde delector officiis, quibus panditur sinceritas nec occasio se interserit secura fallendi. gaudeo tamen mihi uel causas scribendi uel perlatores accidere, ut sub hac frequentia meo uoto satisfaciam et pudorem uestrum onerem, nisi a uobis suscepta redduntur. salue, mi domine, et in sententiam meam affectu imperante concede. uale.