The Letters of Cassiodorus Part 20

It appears from this letter that Neotherius has been not merely a spendthrift, but has been actuated by motives of pa.s.sionate hatred to his younger brother[221]. The King enlarges on his obligation to protect the weak, and orders the officer to see that justice is done according to the representations of Venantius, unless the other side have any counter plea to allege, in which case 'ad nostrum venire deproperet comitatum.'

[Footnote 221: 'Neotherium fratrem suum, affectum germanitatis oblitum, _bona parvuli hostili furore lacera.s.se_.']

9. KING THEODORIC TO EUSTORGIUS, BISHOP OF MILAN.

[Sidenote: Offences charged against Ecclesiastics.]

'You will be glad to hear that we are satisfied that the Bishop of Augusta [Turin or Aosta] has been falsely accused of betrayal of his country. He is therefore to be restored to his previous rank. His accusers, as they are themselves of the clerical order, are not punished by us, but sent to your Holiness to be dealt with according to the ecclesiastical tradition.'

[The reflections in this letter about the impropriety of believing readily accusations against a Bishop[222], and the course adopted of handing over the clerical false accusers to be dealt with by their Bishop, have an obvious bearing on the great Hildebrandic controversy. But as Dahn ('Konige der Germanen' iii. 191) points out, there is no abandonment by the King of the ultimate right to punish an ecclesiastic.]

[Footnote 222: 'Nihil enim in tali honore temeraria cogitatione praesumendum est, ubi si proposito creditur, etiam tacitus ab excessibus excusatur. Manifesta proinde crimina in talibus vix capiunt fidem. Quidquid autem ex invidia dicitur, veritas non putatur.']

10. KING THEODORIC TO BOETIUS[223], VIR ILl.u.s.tRIS AND PATRICIAN.

[Footnote 223: If the MSS. are correctly represented in the printed editions, the name of the author of the Consolation of Philosophy was spelt Boetius in the Variae. There can be little doubt however that Boethius is the more correct form, and this is the form given us in the Anecdoton Holderi.]

[Sidenote: Frauds of the moneyers.]

The Horse and Foot Guards[224] seem to have complained that after their severe labours they were not paid in solidi of full weight by the 'Arcarius Praefectorum.'

[Footnote 224: Why are these called 'Domestici patres equitum et peditum?']

Ca.s.siodorus gives--

(1) Some sublime reflections in the true Ca.s.siodorian vein on the nature of Arithmetic, by which earth and the heavens are ruled.

(2) Some excellent practical remarks on the wickedness of clipping and depreciating the currency.

The most interesting but most puzzling sentence in this letter is that in which he says that 'the ancients wished that the _solidus_ should consist of 6,000 _denarii_, in order that the golden coin like a golden sun might represent the 6,000 years which are the appointed age of the world.' But how can we reconcile this with any known solidus or any known denarius? The solidus of Constantine (72 to the lb.) was worth about twelve s.h.i.+llings. The reduced denarius of Diocletian was probably worth one penny. At the very lowest (and most improbable) computation it was worth at least a farthing, and even thus one would only get 576 to a solidus. The earlier denarius, worth about eightpence, clearly will not do; and the matter is made more difficult by the fact that Ca.s.siodorus is talking about the ancients (veteres), whereas the solidus was a comparatively modern coin. It seems that either Ca.s.siodorus has some entirely wrong information as to the early currency of Rome, or else that we have not yet got the clue to his meaning.

This pa.s.sage is quoted by Finlay ('Greece under the Romans,' p. 536, ed. 1857), but the difficulty is not removed by his remarks.

11. KING THEODORIC TO SERVATUS, DUKE OF THE RAETIAS.

[Sidenote: Violence of the Breones.]

'It is your duty to repress all violence and injustice in the Provinces over which you preside. Maniarius complains that his slaves (mancipia) have been without any cause taken away from him by the _Breones_ [a Raetian tribe dwelling near the pa.s.s of the Brenner], who are continuing in peace the habits and maxims of war.

'If this proves to be a true complaint, see that justice is done, and speedily.'

12. KING THEODORIC TO EUGENIUS (OR EUGENITES)[225], VIR ILl.u.s.tRIS, MAGISTER OFFICIORUM.

[Footnote 225: Perhaps the name really was Eugenes, -etis. See Var.

viii. 19, and Ennodii, Epist. iv. 26.]

[Sidenote: Bestowal of dignity of Magister Officiorum.]

'It is the glory of our reign to confer office on those who deserve it.

'You are a learned man, and arrived long ago at the dignity of the Quaestors.h.i.+p as a reward for your creditable exertions as an Advocate.

'One office leads to another: the tree of the fasces puts forth fresh fasces; and we therefore have great pleasure in calling you now to the dignity of Magister, bestowing upon you all the privileges which have belonged to your predecessors in that office. Justify our choice by your actions. You know, as one of our counsellors, what our standard of righteousness is. A sort of religious holiness is required from those who hold office under a righteous king[226].'

[Footnote 226: 'Pio principi sub quodam sacerdotio serviatur.' Cf.

Claudian, 'Nunquam libertas gratior exstat quam _sub rege pio_.']

13. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME.

[Sidenote: On the same subject.]

Announces the elevation of Eugenius (or Eugenites) to the post of Master of the Offices, and recapitulates his past services and character in nearly the same terms as the preceding letter. He is to go from one office to another, 'even as the sun having shone one day, rises in order to s.h.i.+ne again on another. Even horses are stimulated to greater speed by the shouts of men. But man is an animal peculiarly fond of approbation. Do you therefore stimulate the new Master to all n.o.ble deeds.'

[Notice this sentence about the Senate: 'Whatever is the flower of the human race, the Senate ought to possess it: and as the citadel is the crown of the city, so should your order be the ornament of all other ranks.']

14. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS.

[Sidenote: Collection of 'Tertiae.']

'We have no objection to grant the pet.i.tion of the inhabitants of Cathalia (?), that their "Tertiae" shall be collected at the same time as the ordinary tribute. What does it matter under what name the "possessor" pays his contribution, so long as he pays it without deduction? Thus they will get rid of the suspected name of "Tertiae,"

and our mildness will not be worried by their importunity.'

[See Dahn ('Konige der Germanen' iii. 143), who decides that the 'Tertiae' was the pecuniary equivalent paid by the Roman possessor for that portion of the _Sors Barbarica_ (the Gothic third of the lands of Italy) which, for convenience sake, was left in the actual occupation of Romans.]

15. KING THEODORIC TO FESTUS, VIR ILl.u.s.tRIS AND PATRICIAN.

[Sidenote: Looking after the interests of the absent.]

'We are glad to see that our good opinion of you is shared by your neighbours, and that the Patrician Agnellus, going to Africa on our business, has chosen you to defend his interests in his absence. No one can give a higher proof of confidence than this. Look well after the trust committed to you. There seems to be a peculiar temptation to neglect the interests of the absent.'

16. KING THEODORIC TO JULIa.n.u.s, COMES PATRIMONII [probably 508].

[Sidenote: Remission of taxes. Hostile incursions.]

'It is an excellent investment to do a generous thing to our subjects.

The Apulian "Conductores" [farmers of the Royal domain] have represented to us with tears that their crops have been burned by hostile invaders [Byzantines?]. We therefore authorise you to deduct at the next Indiction what shall seem the right proportion for these losses from the amount due to us[227]. See, however, that our revenue sustains no unnecessary loss. We are touched by the losses of the suppliants, but we ought on the other hand to share their profits.'

[Footnote 227: 'Ut quantum eos minus vendidisse const.i.terit, de reliquis primae indictionis habita moderatione detrahatis.']

17. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHIC AND ROMAN INHABITANTS OF DERTONA (TORTONA).