Letter 4003: Thanks be to God, the Holy Trinity — who sustains, through the vigor of a strong man at his side, the weight of sins...

III. Ennodius to Bishop Eulalius. Thanks be to the Trinity, our God, who in the eagerness of a man strong before Him sustains the burden of sinners by which I am weighed down, who plants the memory of me in that temple of your holy heart in which Christ, the subtle craftsman, rejoices, so that what I have darkened with the cloud of my own way of life He may wipe clean by the bright serenity of your conscience. Now I know that the laments of sinners are not poured out without effect. This, in the first place, my prayer has gained for me, this my tears have gained: that you should rise up as a sturdy intercessor on my behalf, that you should set beneath my failing shoulders a right hand fortified by heavenly aid. It is true that, with God, despair alone destroys the one who errs. Behold, already our tares promise barley, and the thorns and thistles promise wheat and vineyards. Come, chosen one of God, on behalf of lowly me, carry through what you have begun and stand by what is yours, while by the constancy of your prayers you wash away in me what I have heaped up by an abundance of faults. Feed too with frequent conversations the one you have taken up, so that you may strengthen with the salt of admonition a heart that is insipid and propped up by no stability of virtues. I return to the duties of greeting; and, having overstepped the bounds of a letter, I add one thing more, like a chatterer, yet pressing on account of my needs: that you may help me without ceasing by your prayers as much as you strengthen me by your conversations. Farewell.

III. EVLALIO EPISCOPO ENNODIVS. Trinitati gratias deo nostro, qui fascem quo deprimor pecca. torum fortis apud se uiri alacritate sustentat, qui memoriam mei in illo sancti pectoris tui templo quo gaudet Christus subtilis fabricator interserit, ut quod propriae conuersationis nube fuscaui splendida conscientiae uestrae serenitate detergeat. iam noui quia non inefficaciter funduntur lamenta peccantium. hoc mihi principe loco oratio mea, hoc lacrimae contulerunt, ut robustus pro me precator exsurgeres, ut labantibus umeris caelesti munitam auxilio dexteram subrogares. uerum est quia sola apud deum desperatio perdit errantem. ecce iam lolium nostrum spinae uel tribuli hordea triticum uineas pollicentur. age, electe dei, pro me humili quod coepisti et partibus tuis adesto, dum precum in me adsiduitate diluis quod ego collegi ubertate culparum. frequentibus etiam susceptum pasce conloquiis, ut insulsum pectus nec ulla uirtutum stabilitate subnixum admonitionis sale confortes. ad obsequia salutationis reuertor et epistularem transgressus terminum unum uelut garrulus sed pro necessitatibus inportunus adiungo, ut me sine cessatione tantum iuues precibus, quantum confirmas alloquiis. uale.