Letter 4013: Ennodius to Constantius, the Illustrious.

Ennodius to Constantius, a most distinguished man. Your greatness preserves toward your friends and your own admirers that very thing which binds glory to you. For while you deem us worthy of remembrance, you give proof of yourselves. For receiving for a long time things written for consolation, I sigh over the losses of your absence. O craftsman's skill, schooled in heavenly goods! Lest it be permitted to pluck anything of affection from a prolonged separation, by presenting your sacred likeness you publish a letter. God, the examiner of minds, knows that I am worn away by the recollection of your eminence and find no relief from the wandering abroad of that excellent man. Yet I render the homage of a greeting through epistolary care, and while returning thanks to your dignity I also confess that my brother John has been restored to me through you. His silence, which until now lay in forgetfulness of me, did not keep secret what it was doing; he, now reshaped for me by your affection, returns to the abjured care of the pen. Yet I ask you to hasten your return, or, if a happy delay detains you, to make your love manifest by your address.

XIII. ENNODIVS CONSTANTIO V. I. Seruat magnitudo tua circa amicos et cultores proprios illud quod sibi iungit ad gloriam. dum enim memoria dignos ducitis, uos probatis. nam diu in consolationem scripta suscipiens, absentiae uestrae damna suspiro. o artificem scientiam bonis caelestibus institutam! ne liceat aliquid prolixae sequestrationi de affectu decerpere, praesentantes sacram imaginem litteras promulgatis. nouit deus discussor sensuum me culminis uestri recordatione macerari et nullum inuenire de optimi uiri peregrinatione subsidium. reddo tamen epistolari cura salutationis obsequium, et dignationi uestrae gratias referens fratrem quoque meum Iohannem per uos mihi restitutum esse confiteor. cuius hactenus in obliuione mei silentium quid gereret non tacebat, is nunc uestro mihi reformatus affectu ad abiuratam stili curam reuertit. rogo tamen uos ut maturetis reditum aut si felix mora detinet, dilectionem manifestetis adloquio. 1 et tndusi rumpit L mihi BL Y 2 posthanc T adeo add. in mg. T m. 2 qaae] q; L habere B didicisti L di s. I. m. cmt . 8 contemtor B, contempto T1 oredo T1 4 sacramenta seruat T 5 concordiae] finit add. B XIII. 7 V. I. om. T 8 tua tua B cultores Bb, saeculares LPTV et Sirm . 9 enim B, enim nos LPTVb 10 ducetia LPTlVb, docetis B probates B1 consulationem B 11 ∗∗abstinentiae (Ii? eras.) B supiro V in ras. m. 1 12 prolize LT 13 presentantes B 14 prouulgatis B senseum B, 1. sens∗um L cuminis L 15 uestri — I. 18 ioannem alia man. exarauit in T 16 epistolare B salutationis T s. L m. 2 17 uestrae gratiam LPYb, nostre gloriam T 18 quoque om. T ioannem q per T 19 cui|ius L obliuione scripsi, obliuionem BLPTVb 21 maturites B 22 decinet B manifes∗∗tetis L adloquio] finit add. B