Letter 4021: Your subdeacon Vigilius has proven through experience the qualities that earned him your appointment.

Ennodius to Bishop Constantius. Your subdeacon Vigilius wished to test how much affection is repaid to me by you, and, having set out to use the occasion of his own advancement to draw our bond closer, he wishes to measure the standing of the friendship between us by the degree to which it is increased through his honors, so that the fruit which we have stored up from the harvest of our diligence may return to him. If I deserve it, bring this man forward to the sacraments of the diaconate, so that the dignity of the aforesaid may avail me toward the hope of asking for greater things. But lest the granted outcome frustrate my petition by being denied, grant it thus. May you, by your merits, hold your place through long intervals of time.

XXI. CONSTANTIO EPISCOPO ENNODIVS. Vigilius subdiaconus uester experiri uoluit quanta mihi a uobis caritas redderetur et ad occasionem profectus sui coniunctionem nostram conatus adducere, statum inter nos amicitiae, dum augetur honoribus, uult metiri, quatenus ad ipsum fructus redeat, quem ex diligentiae messe condidimus. hunc, si mereor, ad diaconii sacramenta perducite, ut dignitas praefati ad spem mihi proficiat maiora poscendi. sed ne petitionem 2 subleuate] finit add. B XX. 6 exercitnr B diligentiae bonum Pb 8 alloquiiB LTV, eloqtnis Pb 9 que B 10 culmine B accipisset B 11 debitae] neetrae Sirm. teetarentur B caritatis eese LPT Vb negliens B 19 labore (e in ras.) B 18 foederia B a*d (b erae.) L 14 saluti B 16 gratuleris] flnit add. B XXI. 19 anbdiaconfa B i T 20 coclsionem L1 • ****profectoB L 22 quatinuB T 24 diaeoni Lb perducitis P1, perdnoatifl b VI. 8 meam negatus frustretur effectus, sic concessum. meritis uestris locum per longa temporum interualla teneatis.