Letter 18: There are several young men from good families who are currently in Rome pursuing the studies that the city still...

Ennodius to Pope Symmachus. By your apostolic favor you have advanced me even to the point of rashness: the confidence granted to me has become the mother of audacity. But he who judged me ignorant of humility will find me obedient, if he considers what was commanded. It is presumption, if servants do not follow the kindnesses of their masters; I think the compliance must be valued which I expend in order to obey. Behold, I declare the reason for my writing, because I was afraid that, after the attention to the pen had been imposed upon me, by keeping silent I might reject what had been enjoined. To this was added that, in the case of Marius of venerable memory, while I was at the City [Rome], you gave hope to my entreaties. His business was settled with your holy church by a lawful agreement; but his heirs lament that for very many years the proceeds owed to them have been withheld. On their behalf I come as an intercessor, aware of your disposition; for he whose custom it is to do pious deeds continually will not despise just ones, and he who bestows what is his own will not take away what belongs to another. He errs who believes that a conscience closest to God is enticed by advantages: it is a loss to a holy will not to bestow a kindness. You consider those alone to be gains which arise for you from your liberality; you who, while you grant riches, receive them. The stewardship of the saints is greedy, which, by reserving nothing, brings all that is its own back to merit. There is nothing more excellent than the profits that accrue to you from generosity. Therefore, secure in what I have set forth above, I have promised the heirs, out of regard for you, restitution of their toil: do you complete my promise by a kindly arrangement, and relieve them by the result, and me by your reply.

Ennodii ad Symmachum papam. 2. Pontificis liberalitatem viuUum laudans^ haeredes Marii cujnsdam defuncti commendat. Ennodius Symmacho papae. Usque ad temeritatem nie apostoliea dignatione promovistis: 18 *) Nescio, an eadera Laurentii Mediolanensis legatio hic notetiir, quae in Symmaclii epist. 7 et 19 meraoratnr. 19 1) Sane eadem est legatio, quae supra epist. 7 notata. X flducia concessa exstitit mater audaciae. Sed qui me hnmilitatis putiit iguarum, obedieutem probabit, si jussa consideret. Praesum- ptio est; si domiuorum beneficia famuli non sequautur: obsequium aostiniaudum puto, quod pariturus impendo. Ecce causam scriptionis assenii, quia veritus sum, ne post imperatam styli curam tacens praecepta respuerem: Huc accessit, quod in causa venerabilis me- nioriae Marii, dum apud Urbem essem, spem meis precibus vos de- distis. Cujus negotium cum sancta ecclesia vestra legitima pactione decisum est; aed haeredes ejus per annos plurimos debito^ sibi fru- ctus deflent fuisse subtractos. Pro quibus vestri conscius precator accedo; quia cui mos est pia jugiter facere, justa non despiciet, et qui largitur proprium, aliena non subtrahet. Errat, qui Deo proxi- mam conscientiam credit coimnodis invitari: detrimentum est sanctae voluntati, non exhibere beneficiimi. Sola putatis lucra, quae Yobis de liberalitate nascuntur; qui divitias dum tribuitis, accipiiis. Avara est dispensatio sanctorum, quae nil reservando, universa proprima reducit ad meritum. NuUa simt potiora, quam quae vobis evenimit de largitate compendia. Ergo securus comprehensi superius, haere- dibus laboris promisi vestra contemplatione jacturam: vos poQici- tationem meam benigna dispositione complete, et illos effecta, me relevate coUoquio.