Letter 20: A young man of good birth and genuine promise is going to Rome to study, and I cannot let him go without a letter to...

Ennodius to Pope Symmachus. [The heading notes that, recalling the memory of his own kin, he commends to the pontiff Parthenius, his sister's son, who is seeking Rome for the sake of the study of letters.] Ennodius to Pope Symmachus. While the care of your crown governs the apostolic see and you rule the summit of [...] sway, it is a comfort to the advancement of our forebears, and what was promised is held secure by my services. He obtains a steadfast hope without toil who has faithfully followed an unwavering man; great is the display set forth whenever what a lowly person has merited is repaid to many: so do they pursue the things of their superiors, through whom each generation receives what the [individual] person achieves. Thus the offenses of the people of Israel were not touched by punishment on account of David; and the integrity of a predecessor came to the aid of his whole nation, and the faith of one man either snatched the people from error or aided them in grace. Parthenius, therefore, the bearer of the present letter, my sister's son, has been sent with this confidence emboldening him toward your crown, whom concern for [his studies] has compelled to seek out Rome. Holy are the studies of letters, in which, before the increments of skill, the vices are unlearned. By this journey grey-haired counsels are wont to come to boyish years, while what age shrinks from, [training] is wont to supply. Cherish him, then; you have learned the reasons for his coming, the kinship having been disclosed. You have a hostage [pledge] in whom may be clearly made known to you the quality of my people in your eyes. My lord, as above, restoring the reverence due to [...] by the devotion of my services, I pray that the bearer of the present letter, your servant, may by a happy lot receive [...] a stranger's [welcome] among you: because whatever shall be granted to my prayers will adorn your office with its own gifts.

Ennodii ad Symmachum papam. dorum suorum memoriam revocans, Parlhenium germanae filium studiontm litterarum causa Romam petentem pontifici commendat, Symmacho papae Ennodius. . Dum sedem apostolicam coronae vestrae cura moderatur et tis imperii apicem regitis, blanditur profectibus parentum, meis promissum tenetur officiis^). Spem sine labore obtinet constantem yirum fideliter obsecutus; grandis est pompa prae- 8, quotiens quod imus meruit, pluribus repensatur: superiorum ita sectantur, per quos generatio recipit, quod persona con- t.. Sic Israelitici delicta populi propter David poena non teti- Jes. lum genti opitulata est praecessoris integritas , et fides hominis * ' ripuit de errore populum aut juvit in gratia. '. Parthenius igitur praesentium portitor, germanae filius, hac ronam vestram fiducia animante directus est, quem sollicitudo Hs Romam coegit expetere. Sancta sunt studia litterai*um, in 3 ante incrementa peritiae vitia dediscuntur. Hoc itinere cana nos pueriles solent venire consilia, dum quod aetas refugit, t instituta praestare. Fovete ergo; veniendi^) causas patefacta nguinitate didicistis. Hdbetis obsidem, in quo dilucide meri- i apud vos meorum qualitas innotescat. Domine, ut supra, tionis reverentiam obsequiorum devotione restituens precor, ut »r praesentium famulus vester felici sorte peregrini apud vos a excipiat: quia quod attributum fuerit precibus meis, vestrum dotes suas omat officium.