Letter 4033: ---

Ennodius to Senarius. If love yielded to modesty, if the impatience of affection were held in check by the law of reticence, I would refrain from the duties of the page and, as an imitator, take up your manner of silence, being no improvident judge in inferring those considerations by which any return is withheld from you, namely that abstinence from letters is loved no more, nor more readily counseled, than by keeping silent, and that men of the courtly profession proclaim, during the holidays of the tongue, what they reject. But your greatness is not so squared off by the workman's lines that, covered by any veil whatsoever, it could escape the eyes of one who loves, since the mind of a friend looks upon the inner chambers without the obstacle of garments. Let no one suppose that, among those dear to us, an urbanity refined in the furnaces of the court conceals the inner depths of a hidden design. But I believe that you would set against my complaints that excuse-fitting category proper to your order: that the duties of the idle are not rightly demanded of the busy, and that those attached to the service of the prince can scarcely descend to these offices. I have indeed often heard such things, but I confess I have not accepted them, because necessities frequently surpass desires, and without interruption fear yields to affection; the will is at fault, which is defended by a contrived excuse. Behold, my lord, how greatly I grieve, since I have joined it to the office of greeting, commending on both sides the bearer of these letters, in keeping with his good faith and nobility, so that by the kindness of your eminence the insolence of his enemies, crushed and overthrown by their own devices, may lie subdued. Farewell.

XXXIII. ENNODIVS SENARIO. Si amor pudori adquiesceret, si caritatis inpatientia uerecundiae lege teneretur, a paginalibus officiis temperarem et silentii formam uestri imitator adsumerem, non inprouidus aestimator coniciens illa, quibus remuneratio a uobis subtrahitur, non amari nec suaderi facilius tabellarum abstinentiam quam tacendo, uiros comitatensis exercitii per linguae ferias clamare quid respuant. sed non ita est magnitudo 2 muniis Pb, munue BLT1V, moneribus T* ab] a Pb 3 confi**|tetur (te eras.) L negligentiam BT 4 est T s. I . 5 occiosi T 7 gratia B, anime T 9 affaerit LPTVb dampnatis T, damnates B 11 utrorumquę B 13 recipi B 14 podore B1 geminati T* 15 querqns B 16 memore. Ll m eras. et re in rS corr. m. ant . multiplicet] finit add. B XXXIII. 19 pudore fbrt . inpacientia B 90 tenetor L 21 silentii in silentium carr. T m. 2 formam Bb, om. LPTV imitatur B impronide Pb 22 aestimatar B subtrahetur B 24 uiro comittat enais Bb tua lineis quadrata fabrilibus, ut quolibet tecta uelamine amantis oculos possit effugere, quia sine obstaculo uestium penetralia respicit mens amici. nemo aestimet quod latentis interna consilii apud caros aulicis excocta fornacibus celet urbanitas. sed credo, querelis meis illud ordinis uestri aptum excusationibus genus opponas: non recte ab occupatis otiosorum munia postulari, uix ad haec officia posse descendere obsequiis principalibus adhaerentes. audiui quidem saepe talia, sed confiteor non recepi, quia frequenter necessitates desideria transcendunt et sine intermissione timor cedit affectui uoluntas in culpa est, quae concinnata excusatione defenditur. ecce, mi domine, quam magna doleam, cum officio salutationis adserui, perlatorem utrimque earum pro fide sua et nobilitate commendans, ut beneficio culminis uestri inimicorum eius insolentia technis suis oppressa subiaceat. uale.