Letter 4011: The man who reveals a friendly conscience through clear proofs takes away the need for idle speculation.

Ennodius to Luminosus. The man who lays open a friendly conscience with plain proofs takes away leisure from those to whom he has shown the dignity of gratitude. For scarcely are the lips of one who has been accustomed to be heard at rest, since it is a great loss to one's sense of shame to hold back the benefit of words, so that, while we spare the tongue, the brow, prodigal of honesty, suffers. You have made me talkative, you who have been accustomed to admit my entreaties. But lest I speak in circles about what must be granted and put off by the length of a letter what must be obtained, I return to the matter. The exalted gentleman Laurentius asserts that the revenues owed to him, which the Roman Church promised when an agreement was made together with its author, are being denied by my lord the pope under I know not what objection. In this affair he implores, through me, the favor of your defense, so that you may be seen to render with diligence the thing which you owe by the laws, and that what equity does not permit to be denied may grow in affection. Grant this matter in accordance with my desires, so that as much advantage as accrues to the aforesaid man, so much of a gift may I confess to have received. Bidding you health, therefore, I hope that, in the duties of correspondence, neither may sincere love receive a furlough nor may eloquence, celebrated by the testimony of the whole world, fall silent.

XI. ENNODIVS LVMINOSO. Qui amicam conscientiam manifestis pandit indiciis, tollit otium quibus gratiae praestiterit dignitatem. uix enim feriata sunt ora eius qui consueuit audiri, quia magnum dispendium pudoris est uerborum retinere beneficium, ut dum linguae parcimus honestatis prodiga frons laboret. uos me garrulum fecistis, qui preces meas consuestis admittere. sed ne praestanda circumloquar et epistulae prolixitate inpetranda suspendam, ad rem redeo. sublimis uir Laurentius reditus sibi debitos, quos ecclesia Romana facta cum auctore eius est pactione pollicita, a domno papa asserit sub nescio qua oppositione denegari. in quo negotio fauorem per me uestrae defensionis inplorat, ut rem, quam debetis legibus, uideamini exhibere diligentiae et illud crescat affectui quod denegari non licet aequitati. uos hanc rem iuxta desideria mea tribuite, ut quantum nominato uiro commoditatis accesserit tantum me muneris accepisse confitear. salutem ergo dicens spero, ut circa munia litterarum nec sincerus amor uacationem accipiat nec facundia totius orbis celebrata testimonio conticescat. 1 per] pro L amore Lx conditione BLTV 2 dne do\'mine L 3 saggerendo B 4 effectil B saplicem F, gupplicere TI 5 praecator L accessi] finit add. B XI. 9 prestiterit B , uix] uox L 10 st B, eint Sirm . eius qui BPb, qui eius LTVj eius fort. expungendum, cf. Wiener Studien II p. 241 audiri (diri in ras.) B 11 benificium B 12 prodigia L ! 13 consuistis B, consueuiBtis Pb prestsnda B 14 et in mg . add. B 15 reditos B, redditus T 19 legitibuB B diligende T 20 de negari B 21 iusta Tl 22 adcesserit B accipisse B 23 munia (ia in ras.) L 24 sincer B 25 orbis B celebratja B a in mg. add . conticiscat B