Letter 5012: First, thanks be to God, who has wiped away the clouds from my eyes that an indescribable pain had produced —...

ENNODIUS TO FAUSTUS THE YOUNGER. Having first given thanks to God, who has wiped away the clouds from my eyes which an inexpressible pain had brought forth, I rightly refer his benefits back to him, who both gave the light and gave it back. For scarcely now, after countless days, do I breathe again with the confidence of health quickening me. And this bears upon the rather prolonged absence of Your Eminence, so that he whom his own guardian spirit deserted from nearby could see nothing: but he is mighty, the one who took away the mists of my body, to change my sadness into the serenity of things. After this utterance of necessity I return to the business which, being constrained, obtained this address. You will love, as I hope, the bearer, whom the cause of his coming commends. Partenius, the son of my sister, a man of free birth, wishes to appear as such through the disciplines of liberal study: he desires, unless I am mistaken, to have the testimony of your regard. Therefore let Your Greatness [...], tenacious of things past, mindful of things present, prudent for the future, receive the bearer on my recommendation, and may he who will be the more fortunate for being seen by you, with you writing, not suffer to feel the adversities of travel. My lord, rendering the service I owe, I pray that, even by this occasion, by which Partenius will be able from there to send the pages he has received, the manner of the longed-for conversation may be multiplied.

XII. ENNODIVS FAVSTO IVNIORI. Deo gratias praefatus, qui oculorum meorum quas inexplicabilis dolor pepererat nubes abstersit, iure ad ipsum beneficia sua referens, qui lumen dedit et reddidit. uix enim post innumeros dies sanitatis fiducia animante respiro. et hoc ad absentiam culminis uestri prolixiorem respicit, ut quem genius suus de uicinitate deseruit nil uideret: sed potens est ille, qui corporis tulit nebulas, rerum serenitate mutare tristitiam. post elocutionem necessitatis ad negotium redeo, quod coactum inpetrauit adloquium. amabitis, ut spero, baiulum, quem adserit causa ueniendi. Partenius sororis meae filius per liberalis studii disciplinas ingenuus uult uideri: optat, ni fallor, peculii uestri habere testimonium. magnitudo igitur uestra 1 feratis T\' calcarebua JB1 2 ∗∗sublimitatem L 5 retineas B s. I . 6 cordis B 9 esse Lx XIL 16 iuni B, iunior L, om. T 17 quas (a m rtU.) T 18 pepereat L abstersit///iure (iti in ras.) V 22 uicinitates LVl 24 quoactum B 25 adloquium B amauetis B baiolum B 26 et postea parthenius Tb liberaris L, liberali B 27 nisi B 28 nostri Pb, ueri fort . haberetis B praeteritorum tenax, memor praesentium, prudens futuri, perlatorem pro mea commendatione suscipiat, et qui erit per uisionem uestram scribente felicior peregrinationis non patiatur aduersa sentire. domine mi, debitum seruitium reddens precor, ut uel per hanc occasionem, qua illinc Partenius susceptas poterit paginas destinare, desiderati multiplicetur forma conloquii.