Letter 6007: It has been a long time now that I, suspended by genuine longing, have been nourished only by the service of letters.

Ennodius to Avienus. It has long been the case that, held in suspense by true longings, I am fed by the service of letters alone: for while I address your greatness, I reckon that I am not absent from the sight I have prayed for. But the spirit of an afflicted man grows sick from its own remedies, and the very nourishment that is found for diligence chafes me the more, since I am starved of the fruit of love. Truly, my lord, so may God keep you safe and unharmed, you who are the light of my eyes, that if either the strength of my body had allowed it or the haste of our lord [had permitted], I would have sought out Ravenna with all the powers of my purpose. But if God shall will it, with the life of my lord your father and of my lady your mother preserved, I shall come after Easter with help from above, so that, having seen you, I may grow strong again unto the hope of life. My lord, while offering you the most abundant greeting, I beg that you take the utmost care to have all the saints pray for me most urgently.

VII. ENNODIVS AVIENO. Diu est quod desideriis ueracibus suspensus solo litterarum pascor officio: dum enim magnitudinem uestram alloquor, uotiuo me aestimo non deesse conspectui. sed remediis suis animus aegrescit adflicti, et quod diligentiae pabulum inuenitur, hoc magis macerat de amoris fruge ieiunum. uere, domne, sic uos, lumina mea, deus seruet incolumes, quia si aut uires corporis mei siuissent aut festinatio domni, Rauennam totis intentionis meae uiribus expetissem. sed si deus uoluerit, salua uita domni mei patris uestri et domnae matris post pascha cum adiutorio superno ueniam, ut uobis uisis ad spem uitae reualescam. domine mi, salutationem uberrimam dicens precor, ut omnes sanctos orare pro me instantissime procuretis. 1 secundis LV, secundis T 8 impradentiae b et m. rec. B 4 uirtutum L eaeler B 5 postbac b, potesUac B, posthaec LV, posthec T 7 commedetis L mi Tb, mihi BLV 9 resignent Bb, signent LTY et Strm . prouulgata (aAt . u in ras.) B VH. 13 ueracibus suis L 14 dum (d corr.) B 15 mea Bb eatimo B (e in ę corr. m. rec. ?) 16 egrescit LTV diligente Tl 17 ierunum BVb, ieiunium LT et Sirm . domiae Tb 18 si* B incolumis B aut T s. I . m. 2 19 sinissent T, soiuis- sent b donxini Tb 20 sed om. T 21 domini Tb dominae Bb, dne T ■ 22 spem Bb, opem LTV et SirrA . 23 xecalescam V, recalescam T, reualaeeci (ua et ae in ras. m. ant.) L mihi BLV praecor B