Letter 2011: What am I to do when you write things that demand a reply, and yet your own foresight has already anticipated...

Ennodius to Faustus. What am I to do, when you write that what you send must be answered, and when, by the gift of foreknowledge granted to you with heaven obliging on behalf of the good, you report whatever a breast not your own could have searched out? Let it be clear that it is beyond a man so to fill the persons of two men; but let these things be referred to Him who bestowed them. I, however, did not promise to send back the oration through which the ancient Tullius [Cicero] is to be thrust into the shadows, since I had returned the gathering [the quaternion, a booklet of folded sheets] I had received with a swiftness greater than my talent could afford, while, being a servant of good faith, I disregarded the things that could have pertained to my advancement. Nothing of that venerable composition remained with me, except what, as I reckon, to the profit of a good opinion, my thieving memory had stealthily withdrawn from the one demanding it back. I do not wish to say what sort of thing it was that I unwillingly restored, nor what sort of thing it was that I loved, lest you believe plainly that you foretold things that may be alleged without loss to yourself. Yet for my cares, on this side of my serene light, the compassion of my lord Avienus, though only beginning yet already proven, comes to my aid: a certain little leaf, which could remain with the man himself, has thrust upon me the purple [ostrum, the crimson dye of nobility] of nobility. This I have had thus far; from it I have both spoken and grown wise. But after I was bidden to lose even the benefits belonging to others, I shall dispatch it, with the bearer following after it, not understanding that goodwill to be reckoned against me for my sins, so that, being well credulous, I should not refuse to grant what might fortify the talents of outsiders, knowing that I mingle with caution a purpose which assails men. I speak the truth, with Him as witness to whom all things are known: that those compositions of yours, celebrated by the mouth of the world, are not by me given to anyone, nor do torments compel me to give them, which I believe comes to pass through my own ignorance. My lord, offering the greeting of my reverence to you, I bear witness that neither does negligence assail my judgment nor flattery my affection.

XI. ENNODIVS FAVSTO. Quid faciam, quando rescribenda uos scribitis et pro bono praescientiae caelo uobis obsequente concessae quicquid alienum pectus potuit inuestigare narratis ? liqueto supra hominem esse duorum sic implere personas, sed ad illum referantur ista, qui praestitit. ego tamen remittere me orationem, per quam in umbram antiquus Tullius trudetur, non promisi, quippe qui acceptum quaternionem sub maiori quam ingenio meo commodabat celeritate reddideram, dum fidei seruiens quae ad profectum poterant pertinere contempsi. nihil apud me de ueneranda tunc dictione remanserat, nisi quod ad fructum, quantum aestimo, bonae opinionis reposcenti memoria furante subduxeram. nolo dicere, quale fuerit quod inuitus restitui, quale etiam quod amaui, ne manifesto credatis uos alleganda sine sui dispendio praedixisse. curis meis tamen super hac parte serenae lucis meae domni Auieni miseratio licet incipientis tamen iam probata succurrit: quandam scedulam, quae 2 canna Pb, canos BLV 3 lacrjmoso Pb, lacrimo BL V addixi fort. 9 terrqua L subtraat B XI. 12 qA rescribenda T in ras . 13 quidquid B 14 liqueto LPV, liquido B, liquet hoc (hoc in ras. m. 3) T, liquet b, liquet 6 Sirm . 16 praestetit B 17 antiquis B1 21 remanserat (s eorr.) L quod B, om. LPTVb 82 resposcenti B 24 amaui | aui ne (Ai in mg . postea add.) B; amoui fort . 25 haDe L 26 domni B, domini LPTVb 27 succurra ̍ t V scedolam B ipsi remanere potuit, ostrum mihi nobilitatis ingessit: hanc hactenus habui, inde sum et locutus et sapui. sed postquam et aliena beneficia iussus sum perdere, perlatore eam sequente destinabo, non eam in me pro peccatis meis intellegens beniuolentiam, ut quod externorum muniret ingenia bene credulus non negarem, sciens me hominibus quod inpugnat propositum cautione miscere. uerum dico illo teste, cui nota sunt omnia, a me illas mundi ore celebratas dictiones uestras, quod credo inscitia mea fieri, cuiquam dari nec tormenta conpellunt. domine mi, salutationem reuerentiae uestrae exhibens contestor, quia neque neglegentia iudicium meum neque adulatio inpugnat affectum.