Book VII, Letter 28 = no. 361 in the edition of Vogel
Ennodius to the Presbyter Adeodatus
The occasion which prompts me to write to you is in accordance with my wishes. Because this conversation as a substitute of the presence is soothing, and the sending of a letter gives me promise of receiving one. The most perfect men consider themselves to be diminished in all their virtue if they are bested in manifesting affection, and they consider it dishonourable to ignore examples [of affection shown to them]. The holy men lived in such a communion that because of the watchfulness of the close person the earthly distance could not harm them. It will be the same with us, my lord, if you embrace both my desire and my manner. In the first place then I greet you and ask you to remember me, so that what I have lost through negligence may be bestowed on me by the divine grace thanks to your help.
I tell you – I do not lie! –, that on the third night after my departure my lady Cynegia appeared to me in an unpleasant dream at the break of dawn and reproached me for making a haste journey and for that reason not honouring her tomb with verse. I did not welcome it as an image of prophetical truth, nor did I work hard in order to satisfy nocturnal illusions. But because one is easily persuaded by the beloved, she did not have to urge me much to obtain a due work. I have shown due respect to the lady. Those verses which I have sent to you, I adjure you on the day of judgement, make them inscribed as soon as possible on the tomb near the feet. You will find me, your son, grateful to you because I want the merits [of Cynegia] to be celebrated by the mouths of many but exactly in the form you find here.
Give my greetings to my Lady Stephania and Lady Sabiana, and also to Lady Fadilla. If they write, I will reply very soon.
Please tell the Pope to send his decision in my case through the deacon Dioscorus.
I have written what I could, pressed by the courier who is in haste. Give my greetings to my lord and brother Hormisdas and tell him to send me the key.
(trans. M. Szada)