Letter 5005: I would happily draw out the occasion that has earned me such frequent letters from you — if doing so did not burden...

Ennodius to Avitus. I could wish the matter to be drawn out, if I were not burdening my purpose, through which I have earned the frequent writings of one who loves me. For while you dispatch business-laden pages, you render a service to affection. But among the prudent and those privy to our minds, sparing exchanges suffice. I do not know how to be elaborate in making promises, nor to flatter with a painted face those to whom I owe my soul. Do you only press on with what you have begun, and, obedient to the commands of heaven, lead away from his desires the evil man of whom you speak. It befits me to show more by deeds than to promise by speech, since I await without hesitation that what I bestow be restored to me in this very thing. My lord, sending you a most full greeting, I ask that you give thanks on my behalf to the lady Helisea, our common mother, who deigned by her letter to show the bonds of our nearness of kin.

V. ENNODIVS AVITO. Vellem produci causam, si propositum non grauarem, per quam frequentia amantis scripta promerui. dum enim £ 1 homines BV1 bi insatialem L bi s. I. m. ant . 2 mihi B LV 3 foederis] finit add. B IIII. 5 helisee T 7 uiuet B 8 se∗∗questratione L (st eras.) 9 cathena T 10 dampna LV, dapna T 11 p ̃ sente T 12 prosapie TV 14 domina BPb cinegia T 15 iuseionem T cupiam B • 16 dedisset optata LPTVb ∗∗salutationis B 18 preetatur B 20 homi B 21 assit T 22 ∗∗cude (m eras.) L formatus] flnit add. B negotiosas paginas destinatis, ministerium praebetis affectui. sed apud prudentes et animorum conscios sufficiunt parca conloquia. urbanus in promissionibus esse non sapio nec eis, quibus animam debeo, fucata fronte blandiri. uos tantum coeptis insistite et mandatis caelestibus obsequentes malum hominem, quem dicitis, a desideriis deducatis. me conuenit plus rebus ostendere quam sermone polliceri, quia quod tribuo hoc mihi restitui incunctanter expecto. domine mi, salutationem plenissimam dicens rogo, ut domnae Heliseae communi matri pro me gratias agas, quae dignata est litteris suis uincula proximitatis ostendere