Letter 8035: The unloveliness of the situation speaks for itself, and I will not make it worse by dwelling on details that only...

Ennodius to Aurelianus the presbyter. An unwelcome occasion has indeed served my desires, and a necessity scarcely to be borne has opened an avenue to my wishes: having embraced the page that flattered me with its preface, I was thrown into confusion by what it went on to say. For the sweet beginning and the honey of serene converse the disaster you reported overshadows, as it were, with the garment of night. Since you speak truly, what I was reading was pressed upon my eyes. For while the page of a wise man cut short the happiness of your absence, I was forced to behold that Aetheria as all too earthly, and cast down from the loftiness of her name into hell with fault for her guide. I say nothing of what she owed her parents, what she owed to modesty, from what house the unhappy woman went forth to her crime, namely the union she pursued in the manner of a brothel, having abandoned the worshippers of God. Believe me: she carried out the punishment of her crime in the very act of committing the crime, and, plunged into a shameful cohabitation, she found both the disgrace and the penalty of the disgrace in her husband. The woman bore within herself the part both of the accused and of the judge, when she chose an unworthy man. I would set down her letters, did I not wish the memory of the ill-fated woman to be buried in oblivion. You choose that they should be relieved by the expulsion of those people from Gaul: we desire that Italy be not defiled. Let them rather make for the Libyan Syrtes and be separated from the fellowship of mankind: for if from there they have fled lord Aurelianus, and from here Ennodius, to what places will they turn aside? What things the lord prefect ordered I have made known more pointedly, who at once carried out the royal commands, through which we believe that good men and friends have found an occasion for granting favor; and do you nevertheless remove your mind from anxiety, since the heavenly vigor of judgment will suffice for the punishment of the wicked. My lords, presenting the homage of my greeting, I pray that you relieve me often with your discourse concerning your prosperity, since the opportunity of those traveling presents itself.

XXXV. ENNODIVS AVRELIANO PRESBVTERO. Inamabilis quidem desideriis meis militauit occasio et uotis aditum necessitas uix ferenda patefecit: amplexus paginam praefatione blandientem sequenti eius elocutione confusus sum. nam dulce principium et sereni mella conloquii relata calamitas quasi ueste noctis obnubit. uere loquentibus uobis ingesta sunt oculis quae legebam. nam dum absentiae felicitatem pagina sapientis intercepit, coactus sum illam Aetheriam nimis uidisse terrenam et a sublimitate uocabuli in tartarum duce culpa depositam. taceo quid debuerit parentibus, quid pudori, ex qua domo infelix processit ad scelus, quod secuta est relictis dei cultoribus lupanaris uice coniugium. credite mihi: ultionem criminis, dum admittit crimen, exsecuta est, et turpi mersa contubernio et flagitium et poenam flagitii repperit in marito. secum rei personam portauit et iudicis mulier, dum elegit indignum. producerem litteras, nisi memoriam infaustae feminae desiderarem obliuione sepeliri. uos, ut Galliae expulsione illorum subleuentur, eligitis: nos, ne Italia coinquinetur optamus. expetant potius Libycas Syrtes et ab humanitatis consortio diuidantur: quia si inde domnum Aurelianum fugerint, hinc Ennodium, ad quae loca declinabunt? domno praefecto quae 1 sequestratio L 2 adceptis Bb, om. LTV aduliscet B XXXV. 5 presbitero B, om. T 6 desiderii B ocasio B 7 additum B inplexus B 9 relata relatamitas B 10 obnubet B 11 infelicitatem fort., felicitate B 12 intercipit fort . 13 a om. T, as B 17 admittet B, admitit 1x 19 eliget B, eligit fort . 20 nisi om. B, uncinauit Schottue infauete B 21 sepiliri B 22 eligitis T1, eligetis LTlVb, religetis B quoinquinetur B, coinquinentur LTV optamus om. Sirm . 23 lybicas BLV, libicas PT sirtes T 24 diuidant Bb fugerent B 25 innodium Bl ad quae] atque B iussistis pressius intimaui, qui praecepta regia mox exegit, per quae credimus uiros bonos et amicos occasionem inuenisse praestandi et uos tamen animum ab anxietate remouete, quia caelestis sufficiet ad ultionem malorum uigor examinis. domini mi, salutationis obsequia praesentans precor, ut crebro me prosperitatis uestrae, quia commeantium opportunitas ingeritur, releuetis alloquiis.