Letter 7021: ---
XXI. MAXIMO ENNODIVS,
Vbi est fides splendentis periclitata conscientiae, quam et
in annis puerilibus cana reuerentia non relinquit, quam per
seni praeiudicium obseruantia honestatis inradiat, quae in tempore
iuuentutis actibus maturescens infantiam ingressa praelabitur?
numquid aequum fuit amantis paginis tantum mandata
restitui, aut par fides est liberae scriptioni et famuli?
numquid dignum probatis moribus censuistis prouocantem ad
officia religiosa non subsequi, uel nefas putastis epistolas reddere,
quas uobis inter excessus contigit non cepisse? haec
igitur est tua disciplina? non talem te probitas olim manifestata
disseminat. ego tamen loquacitate qua notus sum indurata
nitor mutare silentia. numquid tibi inpar est lingua natalibus
? aut non testimonium generis adnuntias flore sermonis?
. numquid ostrum loquendi deserit pectoris fecunda dictatio?
nihil nisi malitiam resignat qui cum possit desideranti uerba
non tribuit. ecce inter ructationes Lyaeo debitas qualia Silenus
alter uerba conpono. scribendum sciatis nomen uestrum ad
genii mei purpuram et libellis propriis inserendum, ut, etiamsi
nihil tribues de responso, ego tamen arcem teneam, quod
ad doctos uiros dirigo sine trepidatione aliqua quod legatur.
domine mi, accipe nostrae salutationis obsequia reddens debita
litterarum.
Sic tibi uirginitas mansuro constet in aeuo,
Nec pereat quicquid uita beata dedit,
XXI. 3 est om. b et om. Sirm . 4 pauperlibus L . reliquid
T 5 periudicium L 6 maturisceus L 7 paginas
V1 mandat b ; 8 libera Bb scriptioui scripsi, scriptionis
BLTVb famulae fort . 10 nefos L1 11 in nobis LVl
excunus fort . contiget B coepine B 12 te olim (olim te
T) probitae LTV 13 dissuniuat B 16 ostium b deseret
LTV feconda Tl 17 maliciam B resiguat] designat B (me
rec. 9) b 18 selenus B : 22 poet aliqua 8-9 litt. eras. B
28 michi T, mihi BLVb accipite Bl 24 litterarum] finit add.
B exp . m. rec . 25 sic—p. 190, 4 float om. T
Sic tua non maculent nigrantes membra puellae,
Nec iaceas propter Tartaream faciem:
Vt cupidum sanctis releues per scripta loquelis,
Deque tuis fratri fontibus unda fluat.
Related Letters
1. Are we engaged in serious debate with each other, or is it your desire that we merely amuse ourselves? For, from the language of your letter, I am at a loss to know whether it is due to the weakness of your cause, or through the courteousness of your manners, that you have preferred to show yourself more witty than weighty in argument.
I would be swollen with pride at the flattery of your letters if I were not kept in check by my own awareness of my...
Gregory to Maximus, pretender to the Church of Salona. As often as anything is said to have been done contrary to ecclesiastical discipline, we dare not leave it unexamined, lest we should be guilty before God for connivance. Now it has come to our ears that you were ordained by means of simoniacal heresy.
I think I am justified in asking you to grant to one of my friends a favour which I should certainly have offered to...
I have just been reminded by the illness of a friend of mine that we mortals are most virtuous when we are in bad...