Letter 6011: After our common lord departed from the city of Milan, my sole consolation has been the hope that letters might do...

Ennodius to Avienus. After our common lord departed from the city of Milan, my sole consolation has been the hope that letters might do what physical presence can no longer accomplish. Absence is hard enough without adding silence to it. I miss the conversations we had when distance was not an obstacle. The city feels emptier now, and the business that fills my days cannot replace what friendship provided. But letters, at least, cross the miles that we cannot — and I cling to them as a drowning man clings to whatever floats. Write to me. Let the page carry what the road cannot. Farewell.

XI. ENNODIVS AVIENO. Digresso. de Mediolanensi urbe communi domino sola in consolatione remanserunt solacia litterarum, quia dum sermo ad uos dirigitur, aliqua praesentiae uestrae desideriis meis imago blanditur. quod et a uobis domnis meis, ut crebro faciatis, exposco, cogitantes absentiam uestram hac sola posse adsiduitate sustineri. habeant felicissimi uotiuam praesentiam, mihi delieta mea cogitanti epistularis cura sufficiet. domine mi, salutem uberrimam dicens precor, ut et per sanctos dei pro me preces fundere minime desistatis, et domino gratias referre, cuius circa me beneficia etiam insperata tribuuntur. 2 beniflciis B ,3 deo V s. I . 4 ex*orruit L 5 tribuaere L 7 suggere L 8 tabulari BLTVb comensis] commissis b et s. I. m. rec. B 9 modicia B Vb (et sic Corp. inscr. lat. V nr . 5742), moditia LT 10 obpraemit B, oprimit T iubeatis T et fort. V* 13 contempnit LTV \' XI. 19 domnis B, dominis LTVb 20 hac Bb, hoc LTY 21 adsiduetate B eustinere - V1 habent B 22 -dilecta B b 23 mihi BL V praecor B et om . b 24 dei] domini b pręces B domino b 25 referte Sirm . inspirata B