Letter 4014: Things that are often given with modest means gain a value beyond their cost whenever they flow from a generous heart.

ENNODIUS TO FAUSTUS. Those things which have often been bestowed without great cost, whenever words are tendered to friends, let whatever has complied with favor be made over to a serene affection. He does not falsely feign love by painted addresses who entrusts to a carrier writings dear to be rendered to their masters. With lips at leisure my mind dictates a letter in commendation of the exalted and magnificent man, my Pamfronius. For I do not know to what summit I may exalt the merits, in my eyes, of the man whom I have named above, in which matter the leanness of my tongue cannot express what my heart owes. But the allurement of eloquence would have to be renounced by me, even if it were available, since poor speech more rightly confesses an abundant diligence; and if we elevate through lavish pages those whom secrets do not know, the little tablet that is rightly to be granted to those who love is confined within a narrow compass. Having therefore set forth the reason for my modest speech, I bring my allied brother to your notice in but few words, yet with many marks of deference, so that, aided by your greatness, in his own affair he may at length seem to have overcome the contrivances of those who clamor about him. As for what remains, presenting a servile salutation, I signify that I am well, if only the supernal dispensation grant me, by certain tokens, that your affairs are prosperous.

XIIII. ENNODIVS FAVSTO. Quae saepe mediocriter gratis inpensa sunt quotiens exhibentur uerba coniunctis, quicquid fauori obsecutum est sereno mancipetur affectui. non depictis amorem mentitur alloquiis qui perlatori caro reddenda dominis scripta conmittit. in sublimis et magnifici uiri Panfroni mei conmendatione ore feriato mens dictat epistolam. nescio enim in quale culmen merita apud me uiri, quem sum praefatus, extollam, in quo linguae macies debitum pectoris nequit exprimere. sed abdicandum esset mihi, etiam si subpeteret, facundiae lenocinium, quia pauper sermo uberem diligentiam rectius confitetur et si eleuamus per effusas paginas illos, quos arcana nesciunt, iure tribuenda amantibus in artum tabella concluditur. causam ergo modici sermonis elocutus foederatum fratrem quam quam paucis uerbis insinuo, tamen multis obsequiis, ut iutus magnitudine uestra, in negotio suo circumstrepentium aliquando uideatur superasse conmenta. quod restat, famulantem salutationem exhibens me ualere significo, si tamen prospera uestra certis indiciis mihi dispensatio superna concedat.