Symmachus (Pope) → Symmachus
Tradução moderna em inglês
Ennodius to the most holy Pope Symmachus.
I write to recall to your memory certain of my connections, and to commend to your paternal care a young man of distinguished family who is coming to Rome and who will present himself to you.
His family connections are of the kind that you will recognize immediately — he is connected to the household of Parthenius, a man of notable rank, through his mother's line. I mention this not because I believe connections matter more than character, but because it gives you a point of reference in a city where you see many people and cannot be expected to remember every name.
What I can tell you of the young man himself: he is serious, more serious than most of his age and class, and he has genuine questions about the faith that he has not found satisfying answers to in his family's circle. He is not looking for patronage; he is looking for conversation.
I ask only that you receive him with the generosity that marks all your dealings with the young men who seek you out.
Your son in Christ, Ennodius
Texto latino / grego
Ennodii ad Symmachuin papam. Fitios Laurentii viri sublimis papae commendai. ^ Ennodius Symmacho papae. Quamvis sublimi viro Laurentio ^) assistat pro pignorum commen- datione probitas sua, et patris prudentia causas sobolis exsequatur, attamen sollicitudine genitali ad ampliora proce^it, et vix credit pro filiis sufficere quod meretur. Adjutricem in adstipulatione ger- minis paginam quaerit, et trepidante diligentia patrum ardorem nititur cum universitate partiri Cogitate, si viro optimo negari efiectus potuit et pia et justa poscenti. Tribuat Divinitas effectom precibus ejus, et hunc beatitudinis vestrae nominatis conciliare digne- tur afifectmn, ut erigat parvulos implorata coronae vestrae miseratio: quatenus anxii circa ipsos genitoris vota superentur. Domine mi, spero, ut promissa dudimi benignitas in ea parte testimonium ferat, si comprehensis superius gcminatam impendi gratiam, qui per me precatur, intelligat. ') Do eodem hujus viri negotio Ennodius agere videtur epist. rV, 11. EPI8T0LAE 20 — 23. 733