Letter 9014: May God commend your holiness to His own mercy and loving care.

14. Ennodius to Helpidius the deacon. May God attend your holiness with the marks of His mercy and grace, you who, making a friend's concern out of my lowliness, deign to be solicitous, and promise to cherish me and mine with a particular affection. I know that God, propitious to you, has so conferred upon you the favor of the unconquered prince [the king] that the lowly state of the Church should not perish. Truly, lord Helpidius, if the pious king deigns to be solicitous about his servant, it is you who have brought it about, and no friend will be able to repay the exchange owed to your spirit. Yet know that I am daily afflicted by various kinds of illnesses, so that I despair of life. I ask, nevertheless, now that the honor of your greeting has been received, that, mindful of your own soul, you sincerely love lord Faustus and his sons, and that you not cease to pray for my soul as much as you are able, since there has not remained in the light anything for which I might hope. I ask also that you deign to address me with frequent letters, and that, if our lord [the king] is to come to Liguria, you take care to inform me of it.

XIIII. HELPIDIO DIACONO ENNODIVS. Deus sanctitatem tuam misericordiae suae et gratiae prosequatur insignibus, qui de humilitate mea rem amici faciens dignaris esse sollicitus et me meosque promittis peculiari affectione te colere. scio, quia deus propitius tibi sic gratiam inuicti principis contulit, ut humilitas ecclesiastica non periret. uere, domne Helpidi, si dignatur pius rex de seruo suo esse sollicitus, tu fecisti, cuius animo nullus amicorum uicem poterit repensare. scias me tamen cotidie diuersa adfligi qualitate morborum, ita ut de uita desperem. rogo tamen honore salutationis accepto, ut domnum Faustum et filios ipsius memor animae tuae sinceriter diligas et pro mea anima, quantum praeuales, orare non cesses, quia non remansit in luce quod sperem. rogo etiam, ut me frequenti digneris alloquio et si domnus noster ad Liguriam uenturus est intimare procures.