Letter 9026: I know you well enough to trust that your devotion will only grow with time.

26. Ennodius to Messala. I know indeed that you have been withdrawn from me, contrary to my longing; but I had anticipated something other from your concern, in hope. For both how the lord, by God's favor, bade farewell, and what the order of our journey was, I had learned, had you been mindful of me. But what am I doing, who do not overcome your negligence even by suggesting to you the pattern of affection? Therefore, if, with Christ our God granting it, the hope of marriage breathes upon you, you will not put the memory of Ennodius to flight, since no greater attentiveness has ever yielded thus, nor has pious love been shut out from your breast just so far as I shall be removed from your eyes. Be in good health, with the life of your father and your brother kept safe: may God do you good: may they acknowledge that which feeds the hearing: show toward me whatever disposition you wish. One thing I ask of you, once the honor of a greeting has been rendered, that before our lords the apostles you would deign to offer prayers on my behalf, that they themselves may medicinally heal my miseries and not suffer me to wish anything that is not fitting: let them chastise the presumptions of mind and of body. And if you do this, I believe that, on account of your innocence and purity, you will be better heard on my behalf than if I were placed before them in person.

XXVI. ENNODIVS MESSALAE. Scio equidem uos pro desiderio meo fuisse subtractos: sed aliud spe de sollicitudine uestra praeceperam. nam et qualiter domnus deo praestante ualedixerit et qui nobis itineris ordo fuerit, si mei memor esses, agnoueram. sed quid facio, qui neglegentiam uestram nec suggerendo formam affectionis expugno? ergo si te Christo deo nostro tribuente spes nuptialis XXV. 2 agnelle BT 4 uestrae om. B 6 ingeniis (iis ex uus corr. m. 2) T 8 fructoe B 12 auere fort . solam I BV1 18 proximior Sirm. 14 inlecibrae B 15 m T, mihi BLV hororificentiamquae B 16 apostormn B XXVI. 20 messale LT 21 aequidem B 22 spe scripsi, Bpei libri sollicitudinem B* praeciperam BLY, perceperam Pb 24 essis B fatio B 25 negligentiam BT 26 nuptialis PТ2b, nuptiales BLT1V afflauerit, Ennodi memoriam non fugabis, quando nulla sic cessit maior diligentia et pius amor exclusus est tantum a pectore tuo, quantum ab oculis submouebor. sanus esto salua uita patris et fratris tui: deus uobis benefaciat: agnoscant quod pascat auditum: quale uultis circa me exhibete propositum unum te rogo honore salutationis exhibito, ut apud domnos apostolos pro me digneris preces offerre, ut ipsi miserias meae medicinaliter curent nec patiantur me quicquam uelle quod non decet: castigent praesumptiones mentis et corporis. quod si facias, credo pro innocentia et puritate tua te melius pro me, quam si essem coram positus, audiendum.