Letter 17: The generosity that distinguishes your pontificate has been felt throughout the church, and I want to acknowledge it...

Ennodius to Pope Symmachus. 13. Rendering the service of his obedience, he indicates by letters concerning a certain legation that the bishop himself is reporting on it. Ennodius to the lord pope. The ever-watchful care of Your Beatitude attends to those who obey you as though they stood before you, in whatever place they may be, and without any holidays, while it grants the favor of its grace to those who have experienced it, it invites strangers as well. For indeed many fruits are reaped from witnessing another's labor: because he learns to apply his effort diligently, in whose sight the rewards of sweat and fidelity are paid out. And would that the outcome were equal to my prayers, and that what I have learned on behalf of religion, as I desire, might be granted me to fulfill! My lord, displaying the humility of my service, content with a sparing utterance in matters of the greatest moment, I leave it to be disclosed by the letters of the aforementioned bishop what the lord bishop your brother has judged concerning the legation that was dispatched.

Ennodii ad Symmachum papam. 13. famulatus sui ohsequium exhibens de quadam legatione litteras ipsas episcopi referentis indicat. Ennodius domno papae. Pervigil beatitudinis vestrae cura quasi coram positos, in quo- cunque loci sint, obsequentes attendit, et sine uUis feriis dum gratiae suflragium praestat expertis, invitat extraneos. Etenim plu- res de spectaculo fructus capiuntur laboris alieni: quia discit ope- ram navare, in cujus oculis redduntur praemia sudoris et fidei. Atque utinam par votis esset effiectus, et quod didici pro religione, cuperem, daretur implere! Domine mi, famuUitus mei humilitatem exhibens, parca in maximis elocutione contentus, quid domnus epi- scopus frater vester supei directa legatione^) senserit, patefacien- dum praefati litteris derelinquo.