Letter 8043: Has there ever been a time when you were free from the obligation of my letters?

Ennodius to Messala. Has anyone who has entreated God with confidence ever failed of his result? If the mind does not waver in faith, our prayers and the fulfillment of our prayers are joined together. Behold, my silence has accomplished with you what loquacity over so long a time could not obtain. As far as I see, nothing but silence earns your letters: you address those whom you suppose to be mute; from those who are believed to possess a tongue, you hold back. Yet you have done what befitted a lord and, as you yourselves say, a kinsman, in that you should judge me, weighed down by grave illness, worthy of your address. I ask that you do this without interruption. My lord, paying the reverence of a return greeting, I beg that you not cease to supplicate on my behalf through all the saints of God, so that, restored to life, I may rejoice together over the sight of you.

XXXXIII. ENNODIVS MESSALAE. Numquid aliquando ab effectu destitit qui deo cum fiducia subplicauit ? si animus in fide non claudicet, uota et uotorum copia coniunguntur. ecce egit apud uos silentium meum, quod tanti temporis non ualuit obtinere loquacitas. quantum uideo, scripta uestra nisi taciturnitas non meretur: quos mutos putatis alloquimini: . ab his, quibus lingua. esse creditur, abstinetis. fecisti tamen quod decuit domnum et, ut ipsi dicitis, parentem, ut me graui aegritudine depressum dignum putetis alloquio. rogo, ut hoc sub continuatione faciatis. domine mi, resalutationis reuerentiam soluens posco, ut pro me per omnes dei sanctos supplicare non desinas, quatenus uitae redditus de uisione uestra congaudeam. 2 celesti B praeteritam B occultis b et Sirm . 3 IUspiret B domine PTb aiuiene T 4 tantum] tamen Pb timorem] amorem Pb 5 tales B disperatione B 6 demissistes B praecibus B 8 caeler B 9 m T, mihi BL V hamilitate B 10 nestra P et SWm . nuntietnr Sirm. agnoacam] finit add. B XXXXm. 12 meesale LBT 13 destitet B 14 non V 8.I . nota] et nota b 15 cupia B 16 optinere B 17 potates B 19 dontl B, dominum b dicetia B, dictis L et parentem BLPlTV 20 egritudine B depraessum B potatis B 21 faciates B m T, mihi BL V salntationis Pb 23 quatinus LTV de uiaione] diuisione Bb 24 congaadiam. L, gaudeam b 15*