The Letters of Cassiodorus Part 37

BOOK IV.

CONTAINING FIFTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY Ca.s.sIODORUS IN THE NAME OF THEODORIC.

1. KING THEODORIC TO HERMINAFRID, KING OF THE THURINGIANS.

[Sidenote: Marriage of Theodoric's niece to the King of the Thuringians.]

'Desiring to unite you to ourselves by the bonds of kindred, we bestow upon you our niece [Amalabirga, daughter of Theodoric's sister; see 'Anon. Valesii' -- 70], so that you, who descend from a Royal stock, may now far more conspicuously s.h.i.+ne by the splendour of Imperial blood[324]'. [A remarkable pa.s.sage, as showing that Theodoric did in a sense consider himself to be filling the place of the Emperors of the West.]

[Footnote 324: 'Nunc etiam longius claritate Imperialis sanguinis fulgeatis.']

The virtues and intellectual accomplishments of the new Queen of the Thuringians are described.

'We gladly acknowledge the price of a favour, in itself beyond price, which, according to the custom of the nations, we have received from your amba.s.sadors: namely, a team of horses, silvery in colour, as wedding-horses should be. Their chests and thighs are suitably adorned with round surfaces of flesh. Their ribs are expanded to a certain width. They are short in the belly. Their heads have a certain resemblance to the stag, the swiftness of which animal they imitate.

These horses are gentle from their extreme plumpness; very swift notwithstanding their great bulk; pleasant to look at, still better to use. For they have gentle paces, not fatiguing their riders by insane curvetings. To ride them is repose rather than toil; and being broken-in to a delightful and steady pace, they can keep up their speed, over long distances.

'We too are sending you some presents, but our niece is the fairest present of all. May G.o.d bless you with children, so that our lines may be allied in future.'

2. KING THEODORIC TO THE KING OF THE HERULI. [Adopting him as his son by right of arms.]

[Sidenote: Herminafrid adopted as 'filius per arma' by Theodoric.]

'It has been always held amongst the nations a great honour to be adopted as "filius per arma." Our children by nature often disappoint our expectations, but to say that we esteem a man _worthy to be our son_ is indeed praise. As such, after the manner of the nations and in manly fas.h.i.+on, do we now beget you[325].

[Footnote 325: Notice the strong expression, 'Et ideo more gentium et conditione virili filium te praesenti munere _procreamus_.']

'We send you horses, spears, and s.h.i.+elds, and the rest of the trappings of the warrior; but above all we send you our judgment that you are worthy to be our son[326]. Highest among the nations will you be considered who are thus approved by the mind of Theodoric.

[Footnote 326: 'Damus quidem tibi equos, enses clypeos, et reliqua instrumenta bellorum, sed quae sunt omnimodis fortiora, largimur tibi nostra judicia.']

'And though the son should die rather than see his father suffer aught of harm, we in adopting you are also throwing round you the s.h.i.+eld of our protection. The Heruli have known the value of Gothic help in old times, and that help will now be yours. A and B, the bearers of these letters, will explain to you in Gothic (patrio sermone) the rest of our message to you[327].

[Footnote 327: In 512, says Marcellinus Comes, 'Gens Erulorum in terras atque civitates Romanorum jussu Anastasii Caesaris introducta.'

But what relation that entry of the Heruli into Roman territory may bear to this letter is a very difficult question. See Dahn, Konige der Germanen ii. 8, _n._ 2.]

3. KING THEODORIC TO SENARIUS, VIR ILl.u.s.tRIS, COMES.

[Conferring upon him the dignity of 'Comitiva Patrimonii.']

[Sidenote: Senarius made Comes Patrimonii.]

'The master's fame is enhanced by choosing the right persons for his servants. The Sovereign ought to promote such persons that whenever he condescends to behold them he may feel that his _judicia_[328] have been justified. We therefore hereby bestow upon you, for the fourth Indiction [Sept. 1, 510], the Ill.u.s.trious dignity of Comes of our Patrimony.'

[Footnote 328: Same expression as in preceding letter.]

Services of Senarius as a diplomatist, in standing up against Barbarian Kings and subduing their intellects to the moderate counsels of Theodoric[329].

[Footnote 329: 'Subiisti saepe arduae legationis officium. Rest.i.tisti regibus non impar a.s.sertor, coactus just.i.tiam nostram et illis ostendere, qui rationem vix poterant cruda obstinatione sentire. Non te terruit contentionibus inflammata regalis auctoritas,' etc.]

His success as an advocate[330]. The charm of his p.r.o.nunciation. His purity of morals; his popularity with high and low. He is exhorted still to cultivate these dispositions, and to win favour for his office by his affable demeanour.

[Footnote 330: 'Usus es sub exceptionis officio eloquentis ingenio.'

'Exceptio' is a law term, the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's bill; but is it so used here?]

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

[Announcing the promotion of Senarius, conferred in the preceding letter.]

[Sidenote: On the same subject.]

Describes the merits of the new Comes, who when young in years but mature in merit had entered the service of the Palace; his diplomatic career[331] and his moderation and reserve in the midst of success, although naturally 'joy is a garrulous thing,' and it is difficult for men who are carrying all before them to restrain the expression of their exaltation.

[Footnote 331: Again we have 'exceptiones' mentioned (see preceding letter). 'Nunc ad colloquia dignus, _nunc ad exceptiones aptissimus_, frequenter etiam in legationis honorem electus.']

Compliments to the Senate, who are invited to give a hearty welcome to the new comer.

5. KING THEODORIC TO AMABILIS, VIR DEVOTUS[332] AND COMES.

[Footnote 332: Probably this epithet means that Amabilis was a Sajo.]

[Sidenote: Supply of provisions to famine-stricken Provinces of Gaul.]

'Having heard that there is dearth in our Gaulish Provinces we direct your Devotion to take bonds from the s.h.i.+pmasters along the whole western coast of Italy (Lucania, Campania, and Thuscia) that they will go with supplies of food only to the Gauls, having liberty to dispose of their cargoes as may be agreed between buyer and seller. They will find their own profit in this, for there is no better customer for a corn-merchant than a hungry man. He looks on all his other possessions as dross if he can only supply the cravings of necessity. He who is willing to sell to a man in this condition almost seems to be _giving_ him what he needs, and can very nearly ask his own price.'

[It will be seen that in this letter there is no attempt to fix a maximum price, only to prescribe the kind of cargo, 'victuales species,' which is to be carried to Gaul.]

6. KING THEODORIC TO SYMMACHUS, VIR ILl.u.s.tRIS, PATRICIAN.

[Sidenote: The sons of Valerian to be detained in Rome.]

'The Spectabilis Valerian, who lives at Syracuse, wishes to return thither himself, but that his sons, whom he has brought to Rome for their education, may be detained in that City.

'Let your Magnificence therefore not allow them to leave the aforesaid City till an order has been obtained from us to that effect. Thus will their progress in their studies be a.s.sured, and proper reverence be paid to our command. And let none of them think this a burden, which should have been an object of desire[333]. To no one should Rome be disagreeable, for she is the common country of all, the fruitful mother of eloquence, the broad temple of the virtues: it is a striking mark of our favour to a.s.sign such a City as a residence to any of our subjects[334].'

[Footnote 333: 'Non ergo sibi putet impositum quod debuit esse votivum. Nulli sit ingrata Roma, quae dici non potest aliena. Illa eloquentiae foecunda mater, illa virtutum omnium latissimum templum.']

[Footnote 334: Cf. the very similar letter, i. 39.]

7. KING THEODORIC TO SENARIUS, VIR ILl.u.s.tRIS, COMES PRIVATARUM.

[Sidenote: Losses by s.h.i.+pwreck to be refunded to those who were sending provisions to Gaul.]