Letter 8030: Bitter illness has laid me low, and from this bed I write to you with what strength remains.

Ennodius to Adeodatus the presbyter. Worn down by a bitter onset of sickness and by a violent excess of fevers, at the very time when our Christ was showing in me, to confirm the trustworthiness of the old testimony, what he had done in Lazarus, and was declaring the faith of the Gospel by present examples, I received your letter. He who had the power so ordained it, that on the very days on which he had restored life, he should also strengthen and prop up that life with the conversations of friends as well. As for the verses, on account of which he called that thing a monstrosity to you, foolish judgments have made me laugh. Know that those verses are held in the highest esteem by our lord, even though they were composed in a moment of pressing haste and amid the hurried passage of the courier. But if you did not write them, then do not do so. It is enough for me that, since I have done it, I have fulfilled my vows. Now I turn myself to that part which must be asked especially of the saints: that on behalf of one who is sick and loving you may pray more attentively, and, if I deserve it, may grant me frequent conversations of both instruction and consolation.

XXX. ENNODIVS ADEODATO PRESBVTERO. Acerbo aegritudinis inpetu et ualida febrium nimietate contritus, cum ut fidem ueteris testimonii Christus noster in me quod in Lazaro fecerat ostendisset et euangelii fidem praesentibus declararet exemplis, litteras uestras accepi. ordinauit ille qui potuit, ut diebus quibus uitam restituerat amicorum quoque suorum eam et confirmaret et fulciret alloquiis. de uersibus, unde tibi portentum illud dixit, risum mihi stulta iudicia fecerunt. scias illos in summo pretio apud domnum habitos, quamuis in temporis angustia et ueredarii transcursione conscriptos. sed si eos non scripsisti, nec facias. mihi sufficit, dum feci, uota conplesse. nunc ad eam partem me confero, quae specialiter a sanctis poscenda est, ut pro aegro et amante 6 Matth. 7; 6 1 dUit-l. 9 conuerte om. T 2 domnus] dom B particibus Ll 3 lederetur B, laederentur LP1 V faleucio LV, falicio B 4 siUaba B, sylla LV occasionem L1 5 et B, om. LPVb 8 aliquid] se B, rem fort . 9 de om. b et Birm . XXX. Incipit extrema pars epistolarum ennodii inscr. T(recetm6 wr. 469) 11 ennodins om. T presbitero B 12 nimitate X* 13 ut m ad corr. T m . 2 (aine causa, nam at fidem pro ut fides esset duxisse uidetur) 17 eam] amet B confinnaueret B et om. B aloquiis B 19 praecio B habitus B 20 neredarii scripsi (cf. p. 194,25), uiridarii BLPТ2Vb, uiridiarii T1 conscribtus B 21 non s.] conscribsisti B sufficet B 23 a Bb, om. LPTV amantem B adtentius ores et, si mereor, crebra mihi et instructionis et consolationis praestes alloquia.