Letter 9009: You have taken up our counsel — though I am not entirely sure which particular advice you followed.

Ennodius to Camilla. You have forestalled me, following I know not what plan of ours. For your little boy, whom the care of liberal studies ought to have taken up, you have marked with the emblems of religion before the time of a fitting decision. The form of ecclesiastical service is indeed worthy of reverence, but it is one that does not relax the mind toward two directions: the road by which one goes to Christ is single and difficult, nor does the narrow way ever admit those who are occupied in manifold ways. The author of salvation does not turn away those hastening to him from secular disciplines, but he does not allow anyone to go from his own splendor to those disciplines. Now if you had already withdrawn him from the world, do not look in him for the world's figures: I blush to refine with secular ornaments one who professes ecclesiastical things. I had assented to what, through Patricius the deacon, as he himself asserted, you requested: why was it necessary that he be sent to me otherwise than he was found on those very days? If you consult my judgment, I prefer that those belonging to me be holy more by merit than by title. Truly you have driven my mind out of its station of repose into a sea of cares. Nevertheless, with God as my patron, I have taken up the little homeborn one of my own blood. Now it remains that the favor of heaven smile upon my efforts and set in order the negligences of men by the abundance of pious moderation. Lady, as above, paying you the salutation that is owed, I pray that you now take up a twofold solicitude on behalf of both, and that you not omit to commend us to God with constant prayers.

VIIII. CAMILLAE ENNODIVS. Intercepisti nostrum nescio quem secuta consilium. nam paruulum tuum, quem studiorum liberalium debuit cura suscepisse, ante iudicii conuenientis tempora religionis titulis insignisti. ueneranda quidem ecclesiastici forma seruitii, sed quae ad duas partes animum non relaxet: unum et difficile iter est quo itur ad Christum nec occupatos multipliciter aliquando uia arta suscepit. properantes ad se de disciplinis saecularibus salutis opifex non refutat, sed ire ad illas quemquam de suo nitore non patitur. iam si eum mundo subtraxeras, mundi in eo schemata non requiras: erubesco ecclesiastica profitentem ornamentis saecularibus expolire. adnueram quod per Patricium diaconum, quantum ipse asseruit, postulasti: quid oportuit eum aliter ad me, quam diebus ipsis inuentus est, destinari? si iudicium meum consulis, uolo ad me pertinentes magis merito sanctos esse quam titulo. uere animum meum de quietis statione ad cogitationum pelagus expulisti. suscepi tamen deo auspice sanguinis mei uernulam. nunc restat, ut conatibus meis fauor caelestis adrideat et neglegentias hominum piae moderationis ubertate conponat. domina, ut supra, salutem debitam dicens precor, ut nunc geminam sollicitudinem pro utrisque suscipias et deo nos commendare adsiduis precibus non omittas.