Letter 9024: All would be well with my spirit if you would at least condescend to write.

24. Ennodius to Avienus. It was well with my spirit, if only a frequent opportunity for writing were furnished through letter-carriers, since to remedy our longing our forebears' foresight devised the gift of letters, in which, by an address shaped to stand in for one's presence, it soothes those who burn with desire: and although by these very remedies the mind of the absent grows sick, and by the medicine our anxious care is doubled, nevertheless those things ought not to be abandoned which alone remain to us. Therefore, since the child Valentinus was making for Rome, I snatched, as far as I could in my haste, from among the things that needed to be said, briefly indicating that the health of my body had been disturbed. Yet it is enough, if I recover at the report of your prosperity, while my soul is made cheerful. My lord, the dues of greeting having been discharged, as your reverence requires, I ask that you now relieve me, by the published proclamation of your epistolary discourse, with news of the fulfillment of my wishes and of your wellbeing.

XXIIII. ENNODIVS AVIENO. Bene erat animo meo, si uel ad scriptionem frequens portitorum suggereretur occasio, quia in remedio desiderii senior prouidentia munus litterarum comparauit, m quo ad uicem praesentiae formato aestuantibus blanditur alloquio: et licet de ipsis remediis mens aegrescat absentium et de medicina sollicitudinis cura geminetur, attamen non sunt deserenda quae sola sunt. ergo infante Valentino Romam petente, quantum sub celeritate potui, de his quae erant loquenda subripui, breuiter significans ualitudinem corporis mei fuisse turbatam. satis est tamen, si nuntio prosperitatis uestrae, dum fit hilaris anima, conualescam. domine mi, salutationis muniis, sicut reuerentia uestra postulat, exsolutis rogo, ut iam me de uotorum effectu et de bonis uestris epistularis subleuetis promulgatione conloquii 8 uiuo] nostro fort . illw B 4 circulos B, curricnlos LP TVb 5 wntiget B lisertate gustate B\' 7 indigna B, genam L 8 possidentibus scripsi, possidensi dentibus B, possidens nidentibus LPTVb 10 exhibuistis B 11 ezspecto LV XXIIII. 14 uel/// T 18 aegriscat B 19 germinetnr L, geminentur Sirm. adtamen B 28 n ̃ tio L fii B . hilaree B 24 animQ L1 conualiscam B m T, mihi BLV