Ennodius of Pavia → Adeodatus
Tradução moderna em inglês
I had long since responded to the writings of your blessedness, had it been easy to intercept the routes of those traveling to Rome. Ecclesiastical humility is passed by as though a foreign thing by the powerful of this world. Yet as soon as Lord Dioscorus returned to Rome, having discharged the office of his pious labor, I aspired, looking up to your reverence, to the restitution of my debt. You desire your sons, Lord Faustus and his holy offspring, to return to Rome; we desire them to remain: an opposing judgment returns without error to a single path of affection. Yet may God, the best administrator, arrange what he knows is fitting for his felicity. The prosperity of Lord Faustus and his family flatters me in place of their presence. My lord, paying the worship of greeting with full love, I send back the book you gave by the return of your son the lord prefect: send me yours or the one you promised, if it pleases you — granting this especially: that you never strip me of the defense of your prayers, because no wall against the battering ram of sin can be stronger for me than if the protection of those same prayers defends me.
Texto latino / grego
XVI. ENNODIVS ADEODATO. Olim ad beatitudinis tuae scripta responderam, si facile fuisset Romam pergentium itinera deprehendi. ecclesiastica humilitas a mundi potentibus quasi res peregrina transitur. ut primum tamen domnus Dioscorus Romam perfunctus pii laboris remeauit officio, ad restitutionem debiti reuerentiam uestram suspiciens adspiraui. uos filios uestros, domnum Faustum uel sanctam progeniem ipsius redire Romam cupitis, nos manere: dispar sententia ad unum affectionis callem sine errore reuertitur. deus tamen optimus dispensator quod felicitati eius scit conuenire disponat. mihi domni Fausti suorumque prosperitas praesentiae uice blanditur. domine mi, salutationis cultum pleno amore dissoluens codicem quem dedistis filio uestro domno praefecto remeante transmitto: uos meum aut illum quem promisistis, si placuerit, destinate, illud tamen specialiter conferentes, ut orationum uestrarum numquam me propugnatione nudetis, quia nullus mihi murus potior esse aduersus peccati arietem poterit, quam si illarum me tutela defenderit.