Ennodius of Pavia → Faustus of Riez
Tradução moderna em inglês
Ennodius to his lord Faustus.
When the opportunity to write is both personal and friendly, why should I hold back from the page as though I lacked a carrier — especially since the regularity of my letters has often earned me replies? To this purpose, the request of the honorable man, your admirer brother Constantius, has lent itself as a companion. He wishes to bring his own industry — by which he has made himself known at your lordship's court, as an effective man should — under the patronage of my good word. For a man transfers the credit for his own labors to another's account when he wants what he deserves to be owed to letters of recommendation.
Still, I have yielded to his entreaties, and on the occasion of paying you my humble respects, I have extended this letter on his behalf, praying God that with all speed he may lift me with news of your health and prosperity. I ask that Your Greatness, for my sake, accompany the man I have named with a double favor — since I, an unworthy petitioner, am not asking too much.
Texto latino / grego
III. DOMNO SVO FAVSTO ENNODIVS. Cum scribendi occasio et domestica et amica subpeditet, quare a paginis temperem tamquam indigus perlatoris, maxime cum sedulitas litterarum responsa mihi soleat saepe praestare? huic se studio comitem dedit honorabilis uiri ueneratoris uestri fratris Constanti postulatio, qui industriam suam, qua apud uos domnos, ut efficacem decet, innotuit, meis desiderat beneficiis subiugare. transcribit enim ad aliena iura sudorem suum qui debere uult commendaticiis quod meretur. dedi tamen manus precibus et pro eius desiderio sub occasione exhibendae humilitatis scripta prorogaui deum rogans, ut sub omni 1 ta lamentioni B, lamentationis L 3 quid om. B senseri- O mna L mns ex a ? corr. m. 2 feriat B, a feriato TV 4 plantibus T\' mandantur T 5 nunquam B 6 neteriscere B, neterascere T1 7 consolatnr B 10 occiaum L\' ut uidetur i III. 13 d6o B 14 subpedetet B 15 a B in mg. add . temperiem T indigus Bb, indiias V, indictus LP, indiciis T maxima S B 16 sepae B 17 neneratores B, uenatoris LPb 18 fratres B constantii T 19 apnt B domd nos scripsi, domnus BLPTVb 19 decit B\' 21 commendatiis T, cdmentatiis L 22 exhibende B 28 humilitatis (il ita ras.) B deum] deifi T caeleritate B celeritate nuntios me uestrae ualitudinis et prosperitatis adtollat nominatum tamen pro mei consideratione magnitudo uestra gemino, m indignus precator non- sum, fauore comitetur.