Letter 9034: Where are those who say that prosperity makes men forget their friends?

Ennodius to Avienus. Where are those who say that, between people separated by their dwelling-places, devotion does not endure, and that the warmth of affection grows lukewarm with the division of lands, and that minds cannot range farther than the eyes? Behold, the fullness of my love seethes up under the violence of our being parted, and the remedy of conversation, the more languid for it, is not held within the seat of the body. Yet I bless God, who has regarded our prayers concerning you, who has bestowed upon you a wife not only noble, but, as far as report announces, holy in her character. Worshippers of Christ deserve that all perfect things be heaped upon them: to them alone, in the joining together, is the brilliance of wealth, of minds, and of blood not denied. By my hope I anticipated that such a man could be made as I hear has now come to you. It passes my reckoning what I should feel about the advancement of that man, who, I hear, has made his beginning from the best of men. My lord, imparting the grace of my greeting, I hope that you will deign without delay to fulfill the petition of the holy bishop, your father, and to grant to that man of his fleet the spirit of the favor concerning which I am untroubled.

XXXIIII. ENNODIVS AVIENO. Vbi sunt qui dicunt inter habitatione discretos diligentiam non durare et affectionis calorem terrarum diuisione tepescere nec longius procedere mentes posse quam oculos? ecce amoris mei plenitudo uiolentia sequestrationis exaestuat et conloquii medicina languidior corporis sedibus non tenetur. deum tamen, qui circa uos respexit uota nostra, benedico, qui uos non solum nobili, sed, quantum fama nuntiat, sancta moribus uxore 1 deceas B iteneris B 2 qs add. T m. 8 in mg . 6 prerogatiua B 9 palacii B, palatn L1 10 cupitas B 11 diligentiam B 12 sed] et B 13 benigne 2x 14 de his] domia B 15 depreoor B a. I . 16 sublicatio B 17 fornicationis B uxorio fort . 18 excussari B\' manifestites B XXXIIIIS2 habitationi (ni ex ne corr . uid.) V 18 tepisoere B 24 procidere B 28 mobili L donauit. cultores Christi perfecta omnia premerentur: ipsis solis in coniunctione opum mentium et sanguinis claritas non negatur. spe praecipiebam, quod possit talis effici, qualem ad te audio iam uenisse. transit aestimationem meam quid de eius hominis profectu sentiam, quem audio ab optimis inchoasse. domine mi, gratiam salutationis inpertiens spero, ut petitionem sancti episcopi patris uestri dignemini incunctanter efficere et homini ipsius classici illum, de quo securus sum, gratiae animum condonare.