Letter 8005: There is no need to commend with elaborate words the artisans sent by the holy bishop.

Ennodius to Faustus. There is no need to accompany with a recommendation the craftsmen sent by the holy bishop. For a matter that will please by its own merit forswears any injury, on the strength of the praiser's devotion. It is a household of slaves which, when you have seen it, you cannot doubt was dispatched by the Church and came forth from its treasures and its bosom with this purpose: that, handled generously, it may earn for you a reward in that exchange for a better age. Who will deny that, according to the proclamation of the most blessed martyr Lawrence, the greatest riches lie in these slaves? For there are women among them who, although they have lost the eyes of the outer man, will shine with the splendor of their minds; for whatever is withdrawn from the body by way of well-being grows toward the harvest of souls. Do not take it amiss that a beauty alluring by its charm will neither be able to see nor be seen, far removed from your maturity. He who has ordered his life, as you have, along this path of innocence, if he feeds such people, is in heaven: believe me, although that abundance of tears poured out to God brings you joys, you will be content to possess them as they go on weeping. Among these good things which I have mentioned, even though they may have cost you great labor and price, I add what follows. One among them is both freeborn and without children, and I think—what comes close to holy desires—she will not have [children]; for among Christian men a barren sterility is fruitful, and it is the greatest comfort of the age to have no dependents. But lest perhaps your mind, amid public occupations, should incur weariness at the prolixity of the lector—although goods placed at the outset rouse you, and a sweetness placed in the opening wipes away any rancor, according to the rhetorical discipline—nevertheless, that I may not keep your desires in suspense by a feigned dissimulation: I earned no proof from them that I should make mention of the she-mules [i.e., a gift of mules]. It seems hard to the bishop, and although the diligence of your servant, brother Gaianus, had pressed on, and the importunity had weighed upon us beyond measure, we accomplished nothing by joint action. They wish only this to be inserted: that your holy father, invited by your many kindnesses and your favor, has looked after you by a return of a gift. If this kind of document pleases you, write back without delay, or make known what its form ought to be. Now I, that man of imperiled usefulness, already proved over many years in your service, how much I have done—which scarcely another could have related through endless waste of paper—I have set forth in swift leaps of words.

V. FAVSTO ENNODIVS. Directos a sancto episcopo artifices prosequi commendatione non opus est. res enim plus suo placitura genio de deuotione laudatoris abiurat iniuriam. familia est, quam cum uideritis, non possitis ambigere ab ecclesia destinatam et de eius thesauris et gremio sub hoc studio processisse, ut tractata liberaliter pariat uobis in illa melioris saeculi commutatione mercedem. in quibus mancipiis iuxta adnuntiationem beatissimi Laurenti martyris opes esse maximas quis negabit ? sunt enim feminae, quae quamuis exterioris hominis lumina perdidissent, mentium splendore radiabunt: quicquid enim corporibus de prosperitate subducitur, ad frugem crescit animarum. nolite male accipere, quod nec uidere poterunt nec uideri procul a maturitate uestra inliciens decore formositas. qui uitam suam sicut uos in hoc innocentiae calle disposuit, si tales pascat, in caelis est: crede . mihi, quamuis uobis gaudia pariat fusa ad deum ubertas illa lacrimarum, contenti eritis possidere sub continuatione plangentes. inter ista bona, quae praefatus sum, licet magno uobis 1 scriptu? T, scripturarum L 2 promissisti B tuus pater T 3 expoaui B iam] etiam B 5 conualiscat B usfl (~ deleuit m. 2) T 6 m T, mihi BL V ego Sirm . promisi Tl 7 quatinua LTV nemoria L V. 11 suo BT*, sua LPT\'Vb 13 non] ifi L aecclesia V tensauris B 15 seculi B 16 in quibus V in ras . adnuntiatione B tione in ras. esse uid . laurentii LTV 17 negauit Bb, negabat P 18 lumina (a in ras.) B pevdedissent B 19 quidquid L\'TV 22 hac LTl V 24 pariat (at in ras.) B fusa. om. B 25 contempti T plangentes (entes in ras.) B labore et pretio constitissent, adicio quae secuntur. una inter ipsas et ingenua et sine filiis est et puto, quod fit sanctis uicinum desideriis, nec habebit... enim in christia?is hominibus fecunda sterilitas et maximum solacium saeouli adiutoria non habere. sed ne forte animus uester in occupationes publicas debeat de anagnostici prolixitate fastidium, quamuis bona in principiis locate uos animent et quemlibet rancorem detergeat in exordio iuxta oratoriam disciplinam locata dulcedo, tamen ne desideria uestra fabricata dissimulatione suspendam, nulla et. illis documenta promerui quia commemorationem mularum facerem, episcopo durum uidetur et quamuis famuli uestri fratris Gaiani institisset efficacia et supra modum nos pressisset inportunitas, nihil communi actione profecimus. hoc tantum uolunt inseri, multis sanctum patrem uestrum beneficiis uestris et gratia inuitatum muneris uobis uicissitudine prospexisse: quod genus documenti si placet, sine cunctatione rescribite aut quae eius forma esse debeat intimate. nunc ego ille periclitatae utilitatis et in obsequiis uestris annis pluribus iam probatus, quantum egerim, quod uix alter per infinita cartae damna narrasset, pernicibus sum. uerborum saltibuselocutus.