Letter 7026: You have carried out my wishes beyond what I dared to request, and I write to thank you.

26. Ennodius to Agnellus. In accordance with my wish you have produced a letter, since you clear away with no cloud the matters that had been darkened. By the most fortunate lot of a defense we stand by innocence, and with an always favorable omen we expend the use of our voice upon things that shine of themselves. Easily do you affirm the light of him who gleams, nor is there lacking speech that may be lent to the acquitted. Thus from the promised horse you proceeded with your words, as if there had ever been in you the foul inclination to lie. Truly, by my soul, I would more easily believe that holy bishops could slip into this pit. The mature do not know vices, except those whom they have steeped in early youth: in men, denial is no new growth: whatever is in our character both follows and went before. Therefore farewell, you purple of Latin eloquence, and by loving restore to me a return in kind, providing this: that, as compensation for the delay, a horse worthy of your gift may come to my aid.

XXVI. ENNODIVS AGNELLO. Pro uoto meo produxistis epistolam, dum res nulla fuscatas nube purgatis. felicissima defensionis sorte adsumus innocentiae 1 colloquiia b et B carr . 2 exemplum B s.l . 4 quod Bb 6 ac B 8 adoliscente (0 ex u m. 1) B incoatio B 10 oportonitate Bl 11 faciatis fort . nisi reetius filius suppletur XXV. 13 EnnodiuB symmacho missa per ipsum ursum B b 15 repraehenaioue B 16 effrinationem B 18 a] ac B praephatione B 20 caelaitudinia B eligitis malim . XXVI. 28 faelicissima (jpr. a in ras.) B et dextro semper omine per se splendentibus usuram uocis inpendimus. facile eius lucem qui nitet adfirmas, nec deest sermo qui commodetur absolutis. sic de caballo promisso processistis adfatibus, quasi uobis aliquando obscena mentiendi fuisset adfectio. uere per animam meam facilius sacros crederem labi in hanc foueam posse pontifices. uitia maturos nesciunt, nisi quos primaeuos inbuerint: infitiatio in hominibus noua non germinat: quicquid in moribus nostris est, et sequitur et praecessit. proinde ualete, ostrum Latiaris eloquii, et mihi uicissitudinem amando restituite, illud prouidentes, ut pro conpensatione tarditatis dignus mihi munere uestro equus succurrat.