Letter 9035: Good fortune that arrives without warning is the best kind, because it carries no burden of anticipation.

Ennodius to Messala. It is usual for the necks of proud minds to grow soft under an ill-omened good fortune, and for the haughty brows of a sterner resolve to be tempered by some new joy. For whatever yields to one's wishes sows kindliness, and nothing humbles the most powerful more than the eminence they had longed for. To have arrived at the summit is a token of fellowship and of compliance. You, now that you have been advanced to the things you craved, look down on me with a swelling pride hitherto unknown in you; and, forgetting what you might find to regard within your own honey, on the strength of your future wife's wealth alone you despise your old friends, not knowing that a burden is coming from the very quarter whence you reckon the prize of reward to be making its way. First, because it does not befit a man to be fickle who does not cast a shadow over the rays of his own origin; and next, because from the very source by which I am despised I shall be vindicated. Therefore graciously return to the use of your promise, that I may not seem to have suspected things plain to see. As for me, since up to now you [plural] have held back from the duty of writing, I have burst out into these words: it becomes you [plural], by the nobility of your speech, either to wash away the deed or to affirm your innocence. My lord, discharging the offices of fullest greeting, I hope that you, who have neglected one who loves you, may at least deem worthy of your conversation one who reproaches you.

XXXV. ENNODIVS MESSALAE. Solent inauspicata felicitate superbarum mentium colla mollescere et rigidioris propositi nouo gaudio supercilia temperari. nam benignitatem seminat quicquid uotis obsequitur nec plus aliquid humiliat potissimos quam optata sublimitas. indicium communionis et obsequii est ad apicem peruenisse. tu postquam ad cupita prouectus es, ignorato hactenus tumore me despicis: et quid in melle tuo respicias oblitus, de sola amicos ueteres futurae uxoris opulentia contemnis, nesciens sarcinam uenire unde aestimas commeare rem praemii, primum quod mobilem esse non decet qui originis suae radios non obumbrat, deinde, quia unde despicior uindicabor. ergo ad usum promissionis benigne reuertere, ne uidear manifesta suspicatus. ego, quia hactenus ab scriptionis munere temperastis, in haec 3 spe scripsi, ipse libri precipiebam B tales B aeffici B ad] a T 4 quid — optimis T in ras. m. 2 5 incoasse B 6 mi P, mihi BLV, michi T gratias L inperciens B 7 dignimini B 9 grate LTV donare T XXXV. 11 messale B\'LT 13 molliscere B, ///mollescere T 15 po∗∗∗∗tissimos L obtata B, oblata fort . 16 indicium Sirm., iudicium Pb, indicti LTV d fort. B, nam uerba inde a l.14 nam—l.19 amicoB m B uix legi possunt 17 concapita T tumere V 19 amicos b, amica LPTV, quid B exhibeat non liquet, fort . amicus contempnis LTV 20 nenirae B 23 promisionis B 17* uerba prorupi: uos aut factum diluere aut adfirmare innocentiam conuenit nobilitate sermonis. domine mi, salutationis plenissimae officia persoluens spero, ut qui diligentem neglexisti saltem colloquiis dignum facias arguentem. I 2 m T, mihi SLV 3 ne..glexisti L 4 saltim B coloquiis B, alloquiis Sirm. facias dignum Sirm.; dignum om. b.