Letter 7005: Although the king's business rightly claims the first loyalty of a man like you, my lord — and although the...

Ennodius to Senarius. Although the king's own concern binds you, my lord, to himself through the proofs of your untarnished loyalty, and your distinction of character so mingles you in public affairs that, being beloved by him, it shuts out from you any taste of repose, nevertheless I do not believe that the obligation of friendship is so set aside that, while satisfying God who aids the commands of the reigning prince, you fail to repay to affection what is its due. You know what the court demands, what favor demands, and at one and the same moment you are wanting neither to your lord in matters of business nor to love, since the integrity of a Christian mind, though divided among these parts, is made whole. By these pursuits, therefore, in which the venerable custom is preserved, I believe my anxiety is relieved. It only remains that your greatness, aided by the comforts of our God, should rejoice. My lord, presenting the dutiful services of my greeting, I hope that it may fall to me to be made glad concerning the state of yourself, or of your friend the lord Faustus, by the longed-for tidings of a letter.

V. ENNODIVS SENARIO Quamuis te dominum meum per intemeratae documenta fidei principalis sibi cura coniungat et morum claritudo ita publicis rebus misceat, ut amabilis a te saporem quietis excludat, non credo tamen ita religionem amicitiae posthaberi, ut non satisfaciens deo adiuuante regnantis imperiis debita sua refundas affectui. nostis quid poscat aula, quid gratia et uno eodemque tempore nec rerum deestis domino nec amori, quando Christianae mentis integritas per has partes diuisa solidatur. his ergo sollicitudinem meam credo releuari, quibus uenerabilis consuetudo seruatur studiis. tantum est, ut dei nostri solaciis magnitudo uestra adiuta gratuletur. domine mi, salutationis obsequia praesentans spero, ut de uestro uel amici uestri domni Fausti statu hilarem me fieri uotiuo litterarum contingat indicio. 2 cl∗usis (a eras.) L negligentiam BT 4 obstineam B1 intelliguntur BTV accessisse] aoridisse Sirm . 5 animum meum scripsi, animo meo BLTVb 6 euadit B innooentiae coni. Schottus propolitum] pocitum B b 7 ad om. Sirm. quia BLVb, qua T et Sirm . 8 incitate L V. 11 intimeratae B 12 claritudo (r in ras.) B 13 micescat L 14 postaueri B 16 noetes B et om. Sirm. 20 seruatur—magnitudo om. B add. a. I . carr. 21 Bolatiis LTV m T, mibi BLVb 22 praestans LV1 epero T 8 . I. m. 3, sperans L2V, sperant L\' 23 domini Tb