Letter 2017: No one should condemn competence simply because it arrives without ornamental packaging.

Ennodius to Constantius. No one condemns skill by means of a pompous manner of speech, nor does anyone reckon with any sense of shame that what he himself pursues deserves contempt: he is his own assailant, whoever proclaims in carefully labored discourses that the cultivation of language ought to be renounced. I, however, in the letters of your greatness have always weighed the care, not the words, nor have I judged that an eloquence which is the handmaid of malice holds a greater value than that simplicity which, with an unpainted countenance, declares the secret of the mind. This in holy men I have both always loved and cherished. Now I give thanks, and I am grateful, because [...] you visit my smallness with the address of literary discourse, and amid the occupations and watches by which Ravenna distracts everyone, care for me is not set aside. I therefore render the duties of a most lavish greeting, hoping that you will make my presence desirable in the sight of my lords who love you, in accordance with that esteem by which you cherish me as one who trusts in you.

XVII. ENNODIVS CONSTANTIO. Nemo peritiam pomposa elocutione condemnat nec spernendum cum pudore ducit esse quod sequitur: sui inpugnator est quisquis elucubratis sermonibus linguae cultum praedicat abiurari. ego tamen in epistulis magnitudinis uestrae diligentiam semper, non uerba pensaui nec adiutricem malitiae facundiam maius pretium habere censui quam simplicitatem, quae infucata fronte secretum mentis enuntiat. hoc in sanctis hominibus et amaui semper et colui. ago nunc atque habeo gratias, quod 1 eius T 8. I. m. 2 2 licit Bl 4 prolatoris B\' praestis B iouamenis B 5 merewtar (re? eras.) L 6 benificium B iouat B 7 occSsione L\' ut uidetur miminisse L\' 8 nihil Sirm . ita om. Sirm . 9 uos om. T 10 pe- culiriter L\' expectentem B eius///// (eius ? eras.) L 11 quidquid B precipit T sed s. I. m. 2 t presnmit 19 leuandum B 14 meroris BLTV XVII. 19 dicit Pb 20 quisque Pb elocubratia B, elucabrantis L 23 magis T cens.ui (i eras.) L 24 odiibus T 25 adque B paruitatem meam litterarii sermonis uisitatis affatu et inter occupationes et excubias, quibus uniuersos Rauenna distringit, mei cura non ponitur. reddo ergo effusissimae salutationis officia sperans, ut praesentiam meam apud domnos meos amantes uestri pro dignatione, qua credentem fouetis, faciatis optabilem.