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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18590-8.txt b/18590-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e3ba0a --- /dev/null +++ b/18590-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,25927 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Letters of Cassiodorus, by +Cassiodorus (AKA Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator) + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Letters of Cassiodorus + Being A Condensed Translation Of The Variae Epistolae Of + Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator + +Author: Cassiodorus (AKA Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator) + +Translator: Thomas Hodgkin + +Release Date: June 15, 2006 [EBook #18590] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Connal, Linda Cantoni, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at +http://gallica.bnf.fr) + + + + + + + + + +THE LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS + +_HODGKIN_ + +Oxford + +PRINTED BY HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY + + + + +THE + +LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS + +BEING + +A CONDENSED TRANSLATION OF THE VARIAE EPISTOLAE +OF MAGNUS AURELIUS CASSIODORUS SENATOR + +With an Introduction + +BY + +THOMAS HODGKIN + +FELLOW OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON; HON. D.C.L. OF DURHAM UNIVERSITY +AUTHOR OF 'ITALY AND HER INVADERS' + +LONDON: HENRY FROWDE +AMEN CORNER, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. + +1886. + +[_All rights reserved_] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The abstract of the 'Variae' of Cassiodorus which I now offer to the +notice of historical students, belongs to that class of work which +Professor Max Müller happily characterised when he entitled two of his +volumes 'Chips from a German Workshop.' In the course of my +preparatory reading, before beginning the composition of the third and +fourth volumes of my book on 'Italy and Her Invaders,' I found it +necessary to study very attentively the 'Various Letters' of +Cassiodorus, our best and often our only source of information, for +the character and the policy of the great Theodoric. The notes which +in this process were accumulated upon my hands might, I hoped, be +woven into one long chapter on the Ostrogothic government of Italy. +When the materials were collected, however, they were so manifold, so +perplexing, so full of curious and unexpected detail, that I quite +despaired of ever succeeding in the attempt to group them into one +harmonious and artistic picture. Frankly, therefore, renouncing a task +which is beyond my powers, I offer my notes for the perusal of the few +readers who may care to study the mutual reactions of the Roman and +the Teutonic mind upon one another in the Sixth Century, and I ask +these to accept the artist's assurance, 'The curtain is the picture.' + +It will be seen that I only profess to give an abstract, not a full +translation of the letters. There is so much repetition and such a +lavish expenditure of words in the writings of Cassiodorus, that they +lend themselves very readily to the work of the abbreviator. Of course +the longer letters generally admit of greater relative reduction in +quantity than the shorter ones, but I think it may be said that on an +average the letters have lost at least half their bulk in my hands. On +any important point the real student will of course refuse to accept +my condensed rendering, and will go straight to the fountain-head. I +hope, however, that even students may occasionally derive the same +kind of assistance from my labours which an astronomer derives from +the humble instrument called the 'finder' in a great observatory. + +A few important letters have been translated, to the best of my +ability, verbatim. In the not infrequent instances where I have been +unable to extract any intelligible meaning, on grammatical principles, +from the words of my author, I have put in the text the nearest +approximation that I could discover to his meaning, and placed the +unintelligible words in a note, hoping that my readers may be more +fortunate in their interpretation than I have been. + +With the usual ill-fortune of authors, just as my last sheet was +passing through the press I received from Italy a number of the 'Atti +e Memorie della R. Deputazione di Storia Patria per le Provincie di +Romagna' (to which I am a subscriber), containing an elaborate and +scholarlike article by S. Augusto Gaudenzi, entitled 'L'Opera di +Cassiodorio a Ravenna.' It is a satisfaction to me to see that in +several instances S. Gaudenzi and I have reached practically the same +conclusions; but I cannot but regret that his paper reached me too +late to prevent my benefiting from it more fully. A few of the more +important points in which I think S. Gaudenzi throws useful light on +our common subject are noticed in the 'Additions and Corrections,' to +which I beg to draw my readers' attention. + +I may perhaps be allowed to add that the Index, the preparation of +which has cost me no small amount of labour, ought (if I have not +altogether failed in my endeavour) to be of considerable assistance to +the historical enquirer. For instance, if he will refer to the heading +_Sajo_, and consult the passages there referred to, he will find, I +believe, all that Cassiodorus has to tell us concerning these +interesting personages, the Sajones, who were almost the only +representatives of the intrusive Gothic element in the fabric of Roman +administration. + +From textual criticism and the discussion of the authority of +different MSS. I have felt myself entirely relieved by the +announcement of the forthcoming critical edition of the 'Variae,' +under the superintendence of Professor Meyer. The task to which an +eminent German scholar has devoted the labour of several years, it +would be quite useless for me, without appliances and without special +training, to approach as an amateur; and I therefore simply help +myself to the best reading that I can get from the printed texts, +leaving to Professor Meyer to say which reading possesses the highest +diplomatic authority. Simply as a a matter of curiosity I have spent +some days in examining the MSS. of Cassiodorus in the British Museum. +If they are at all fair representatives (which probably they are not) +of the MSS. which Professor Meyer has consulted, I should say that +though the titles of the letters have often got into great confusion +through careless and unintelligent copying, the main text is not +likely to show any very important variations from the editions of +Nivellius and Garet. + +I now commend this volume with all its imperfections to the indulgent +criticism of the small class of historical students who alone will +care to peruse it. The man of affairs and the practical politician +will of course not condescend to turn over its pages; yet the anxious +and for a time successful efforts of Theodoric and his Minister to +preserve to Italy the blessings of _Civilitas_ might perhaps teach +useful lessons even to a modern statesman. + +THOS. HODGKIN. + + + + +NOTE. + + +The following Note as to the MSS. at the British Museum may save a +future enquirer a little trouble. + +(1) 10 B. XV. is a MS. about 11 inches by 8, written in a fine bold +hand, and fills 157 folios, of which 134 belong to the 'Variae' and 23 +to the 'Institutiones Divinarum Litterarum.' There are also two folios +at the end which I have not deciphered. The MS. is assigned to the +Thirteenth Century. The title of the First Book is interesting, +because it contains the description of Cassiodorus' official rank, 'Ex +Magistri Officii,' which Mommsen seems to have looked for in the MSS. +in vain. The MS. contains the first Three Books complete, but only 39 +letters of the Fourth. Letters 40-51 of the Fourth Book, and the whole +of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Books, are missing. It then goes on +to the Eighth Book (which it calls the Fifth), but omits the first +five letters. The remaining 28 appear to be copied satisfactorily. The +Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Books, which the transcriber calls +the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth, seem to be on the whole +correctly copied. + +There seems to be a certain degree of correspondence between the +readings of this MS. and those of the Leyden MS. of the Twelfth +Century (formerly at Fulda) which are described by Ludwig Tross in his +'Symbolae Criticae' (Hammone, 1853). + +(2) 8 B. XIX. is a MS. also of the Thirteenth Century, in a smaller +hand than the foregoing. The margins are very large, but the Codex +measures only 6-3/4 inches by 4-1/4. The rubricated titles are of +somewhat later date than the body of the text. The initial letters are +elaborately illuminated. This MS. contains, in a mutilated state and +in a peculiar order, the books from the Eighth to the Twelfth. The +following is the order in which the books are placed: + + IX. 8-25, folios 1-14. + X. " 14-33. + XI. " 33-63. + XII. " 63-83. + VIII. " 83-126. + IX. 1-7, " 126-134. + +The amanuensis, who has evidently been a thoroughly dishonest worker, +constantly omits whole letters, from which however he sometimes +extracts a sentence or two, which he tacks on to the end of some +preceding letter without regard to the sense. This process makes it +exceedingly difficult to collate the MS. with the printed text. Owing +to the Eighth Book being inserted after the Twelfth, it is erroneously +labelled on the back, 'Cassiodori Senatoris Epistolae, Lib. X-XIII.' + +(3) 10 B. IV. (also of the Thirteenth Century, and measuring 11 inches +by 8) contains, in a tolerably complete state, the first Three Books +of the 'Variae,' Book IV. 5-39, Book VIII. 1-12, and Books X-XII. The +order, however, is transposed, Books IV. and VIII. coming after Book +XII. These excerpts from Cassiodorus, which occupy folios 66 to 134 of +the MS., are preceded by some collections relative to the Civil and +Canon Law. The letters which are copied seem to be carefully and +conscientiously done. + +These three MSS. are all in the King's Library. + +Besides these MSS. I have also glanced at No. 1,919 in the Bodleian +Library at Oxford. Like those previously described it is, I believe, +of the Thirteenth Century, and professes to contain the whole of the +'Variae;' but the letters are in an exceedingly mutilated form. On an +average it seems to me that not more than one-third of each letter is +copied. In this manner the 'Variae' are compressed into the otherwise +impossible number of 33 folios (149-182). + +All these MSS., even the best of them, give me the impression of being +copied by very unintelligent scribes, who had but little idea of the +meaning of the words which they were transcribing. In all, the +superscription V.S. is expanded (wrongly, as I believe) into 'Viro +Senatori;' for 'Praefecto Praetorio' we have the meaningless +'Praeposito;' and the Agapitus who is addressed in the 6th, 32nd, and +33rd letters of the First Book is turned, in defiance of chronology, +into a Pope. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +INTRODUCTION. + +CHAPTER I. + +LIFE OF CASSIODORUS. + + PAGE +Historical position of Cassiodorus 1 +His ancestry 3-4 +His name 5-6 +His birthplace 6-9 +Date of his birth 9-12 +His education 12 +Consiliarius to his father 12 +Quaestor 14-16 +Composition of the 'Variae' 16 +Their style 17-19 +Policy of Theodoric 20 +Date of composition of the 'Variae' 23 +Consulship 25 +Patriciate 27 +Composition of the 'Chronicon' 27 + " " Gothic History 29-35 +Relation of the work of Jordanes to this History 34 +Master of the Offices 36 +Praetorian Praefect 39 +Sketch of history during his Praefecture 42-50 +End of official career 50 +Edits the 'Variae' 51 +His treatise 'De Animâ' 53 +He retires to the cloister 54 +His theological works 60-63 +His literary works 64-66 +His death 67 +NOTE ON THE TOPOGRAPHY OF SQUILLACE 68-72 + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE 'ANECDOTON HOLDERI.' + +Content of the MS. 74-75 +To whom addressed 76 +Information as to life of Symmachus 77 + " " " Boethius 79 +Religious position of Boethius 81 +Information as to life of Cassiodorus 84 + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE GRADATIONS OF OFFICIAL RANK IN THE LOWER EMPIRE. + +Nobilissimi 85 +Illustres 86-90 +Spectabiles 90-91 +Clarissimi 91 +Perfectissimi 92 +Egregii 92 + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ON THE OFFICIUM OF THE PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO. + +Military character of the Roman Civil Service 93 +Sources of information 95 +Princeps 96 +Cornicularius 97-102 +Adjutor 103 +Commentariensis 104 +Ab Actis 106 +Numerarii 108 +Inferior Officers 109-114 + + +CHAPTER V. + +BIBLIOGRAPHY. + +Editions of the 'Variae' 115-118 +Literature concerning the 'Variae' 118-121 + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CHRONOLOGY. + +Consular Fasti 122 +Indictions 123 +Chronological Tables 126-130 + + +ABSTRACT OF THE 'VARIAE.' + +PREFACE 133-140 + + +BOOK I. + +CONTAINING FORTY-SIX LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + 1. TO EMPEROR ANASTASIUS. Persuasives to peace 141 + 2. " THEON. Manufacture of purple dye 143 + 3. " CASSIODORUS, father of the author. His praises 144 + 4. " SENATE. Great deeds of ancestors of Cassiodorus 145 + 5. " FLORIANUS. End of litigation 147 + 6. " AGAPITUS. Mosaics for Ravenna 147 + 7. " FELIX. Inheritance of Plutianus 148 + 8. " AMABILIS. Prodigality of Neotherius 149 + 9. " BISHOP EUSTORGIUS. Offences of Ecclesiastics 149 +10. " BOETIUS. Frauds of moneyers 150 +11. " SERVATUS. Violence of Breones 151 +12. " EUGENIUS. Appointment as Magister Officium 151 +13. " SENATE. On the same 152 +14. " FAUSTUS. Collection of 'Tertiae' 152 +15. " FESTUS. Interests of the absent 153 +16. " JULIANUS. Remission of taxes 153 +17. " GOTHIC AND ROMAN INHABITANTS OF DERTONA. Fortification + of Camp 153 +18. " DOMITIANUS AND WILIAS. Statute of Limitations, &c. 154 +19. " SATURNINUS AND VERBUSIUS. Rights of the Fiscus 155 +20. " ALBINUS AND ALBIENUS. Circus quarrels 155 +21. " MAXIMIAN AND ANDREAS. Embellishment of Rome 156 +22. " MARCELLUS. His promotion to rank of Advocatus Fisci 156 +23. " COELIANUS AND AGAPITUS. Litigation between Senators 157 +24. " ALL THE GOTHS. Call to arms 157 +25. " SABINIANUS. Repair of the walls of Rome 158 +26. " FAUSTUS. Immunity of certain Church property 159 +27. " SPECIOSUS. Circus quarrels 159 +28. " GOTHS AND ROMANS. Building of walls of Rome 160 +29. " THE LUCRISTANI ON RIVER SONTIUS. Postal Service 160 +30. " SENATE. Injury to public peace from Circus rivalries 161 +31. " THE ROMAN PEOPLE. Same subject 161 +32. " AGAPITUS. Same subject 162 +33. " " Arrangements for Pantomime 162 +34. " FAUSTUS. Exportation of corn 163 +35. " " Unreasonable delays in transmission of corn 163 +36. " THERIOLUS. Guardianship of sons of Benedictus 164 +37. " CRISPIANUS. Justifiable homicide 164 +38. " BAION. Hilarius to have possession of his property 165 +39. " FESTUS. Nephews of Filagrius to be detained in Rome 165 +40. " ASSUIN (or ASSIUS). Inhabitants of Salona to be drilled 166 +41. " AGAPITUS. Enquiries into character of younger Faustus 166 +42. " ARTEMIDORUS. Appointment as Praefect of the City 167 +43. " SENATE. Promotion of Artemidorus 167 +44. " THE PEOPLE OF ROME. Same subject 168 +45. " BOETIUS. Water-clock and sundial for Burgundian King 168 +46. " GUNDIBAD. Same subject 170 + + +BOOK II. + +CONTAINING FORTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + 1. TO EMPEROR ANASTASIUS. Consulship of Felix 171 + 2. " FELIX. Same subject 172 + 3. " SENATE. Same subject 173 + 4. " ECDICIUS (or BENEDICTUS). Collection of _Siliquaticum_ 173 + 5. " FAUSTUS. Soldiers' arrears 173 + 6. " AGAPITUS. Embassy to Constantinople 174 + 7. " SURA (or SUNA). Embellishment of City 174 + 8. " BISHOP SEVERUS. Compensation for damage by troops 175 + 9. " FAUSTUS. Allowance to retired charioteer 175 +10. " SPECIOSUS. Abduction of Agapita 175 +11. " PROVINUS (PROBINUS?). Gift unduly obtained from Agapita 176 +12. " THE COUNT OF THE SILIQUATARII, AND THE HARBOUR MASTER + (OF PORTUS?). Prohibition of export of lard 177 +13. " FRUINARITH. Dishonest conduct of Venantius 177 +14. " SYMMACHUS. Romulus the parricide 178 +15. " VENANTIUS. Appointment as Comes Domesticorum 178 +16. " SENATE. Same subject. Panegyric on Liberius, father of + Venantius 179 +17. " POSSESSORS, DEFENSORS, AND CURIALS OF TRIDENTUM (TRIENT). + Immunity from Tertiae enjoyed by lands granted by the King 180 +18. " BISHOP GUDILA. Ecclesiastics as Curiales 181 +19. " GOTHS AND ROMANS, AND KEEPERS OF HARBOURS AND MOUNTAIN + FORTRESSES. Domestic treachery and murder 181 +20. " UNILIGIS (or WILIGIS). Order for provision ships 182 +21. " JOANNES. Drainage-concession too timidly acted upon 182 +22. " FESTUS. Ecdicius to be buried by his sons 183 +23. " AMPELIUS, DESPOTIUS, AND THEODULUS. Protection for owners + of potteries 183 +24. " SENATE. Arrears of taxation due from Senators 183 +25. " SENATE. AN EDICT. Evasion of taxes by the rich 184 +26. " FAUSTUS. Regulations for corn-traffic 185 +27. " JEWS LIVING IN GENOA. Rebuilding of Synagogue 185 +28. " STEPHANUS. Honours bestowed on retirement 186 +29. " ADILA. Protection to dependents of the Church 186 +30. " FAUSTUS. Privileges granted to Church of Milan 187 +31. " THE DROMONARII [ROWERS IN EXPRESS-BOATS]. State Galleys + on the Po 187 +32. " SENATE. Drainage of marshes of Decennonium 188 +33. " DECIUS. Same subject 189 +34. " ARTEMIDORUS. Embezzlement of City building funds 189 +35. " TANCILA. Theft of statue at Como 190 +36. EDICT. Same subject 190 +37. TO FAUSTUS. Largesse to citizens of Spoleto 190 +38. " " Immunity from taxation 191 +39. " ALOISIUS. Hot springs of Aponum 191 +40. " BOETIUS. Harper for King of the Franks 193 +41. " LUDUIN [CLOVIS]. Victories over the Alamanni 194 + + +BOOK III. + +CONTAINING FIFTY-THREE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + 1. TO ALARIC. Dissuades from war with the Franks 196 + 2. " GUNDIBAD. Dissuades from war 197 + 3. " THE KINGS OF THE HERULI, WARNI (GUARNI), AND THURINGIANS. + Attempt to form a Teutonic coalition 198 + 4. " LUDUIN (LUDWIG, or CLOVIS). To desist from war on Alaric. 198 + 5. " IMPORTUNUS. Promotion to the Patriciate 199 + 6. " SENATE. Same subject 200 + 7. " JANUARIUS. Reproof for alleged extortion 201 + 8. " VENANTIUS. Remissness in collection of public revenue 201 + 9. " POSSESSORES, DEFENSORES, AND CURIALES OF AESTUNAE. + Marbles for Ravenna 202 +10. " FESTUS. Same subject 202 +11. " ARGOLICUS. Appointment to Praefecture of the City 203 +12. " SENATE. Same subject 203 +13. " SUNHIVAD. Appointment as Governor of Samnium 204 +14. " BISHOP AURIGENES. Accusations against servants of a Bishop 204 +15. " THEODAHAD. Disposal of contumacious person 205 +16. " GEMELLUS. Appointment as Governor of Gaulish Provinces 205 +17. " GAULISH PROVINCIALS. Proclamation 206 +18. " GEMELLUS. Re-patriation of Magnus 206 +19. " DANIEL. Supply of marble sarcophagi 207 +20. " GRIMODA AND FERROCINCTUS. Oppression of Castorius by + Faustus 207 +21. " FAUSTUS. Disgrace and temporary exile 208 +22. " ARTEMIDORUS. Invitation to King's presence 209 +23. " COLOSSAEUS. Appointment as Governor of Pannonia 209 +24. " BARBARIANS AND ROMANS SETTLED IN PANNONIA. Same subject 210 +25. " SIMEON. Tax-collecting and iron-mining in Dalmatia 210 +26. " OSUN. Simeon's journey to Dalmatia 211 +27. " JOANNES. Protection against Praetorian Praefect 211 +28. " CASSIODORUS (SENIOR). Invitation to Court 211 +29. " ARGOLICUS. Repair of granaries in Rome 212 +30. " " Repair of Cloacae " " 212 +31. " SENATE. Conservation of aqueducts and temples in Rome 213 +32. " GEMELLUS. Remission of taxes to citizens of Arles 214 +33. " ARGOLICUS. Promotion of Armentarius and Superbus 214 +34. " INHABITANTS OF MASSILIA. Appointment of Governor 215 +35. " ROMULUS. Gifts not to be revoked 215 +36. " ARIGERN. Complaints against Venantius 216 +37. " BISHOP PETER. Alleged injustice 216 +38. " WANDIL [VUANDIL]. Gothic troops not to molest citizens 217 +39. " FELIX. Largesse to charioteers of Milan 217 +40. " PROVINCIALS SETTLED IN GAUL. Exemption from taxation 218 +41. " GEMELLUS. Corn for garrisons on the Durance 218 +42. " PROVINCIALS IN GAUL. Exemption from military contributions 219 +43. " UNIGIS. Fugitive slaves to be restored to owners 219 +44. " LANDOWNERS (POSSESSORES) OF ARLES. Repair of walls, &c. 220 +45. " ARIGERN. Dispute between Roman Church and Samaritans 220 +46. " ADEODATUS. Further charges against Venantius 220 +47. " FAUSTUS. Banishment of Jovinus to Vulcanian Islands 222 +48. " GOTHS AND ROMANS LIVING NEAR FORT VERRUCA. Fortification 222 +49. " POSSESSORES, DEFENSORES, AND CURIALES OF CATANA. Repair + of walls 224 +50. " PROVINCIALS OF NORICUM. Alamanni and Noricans to exchange + cattle 225 +51. " FAUSTUS. Stipend of charioteer. Description of Circus 226 +52. " CONSULARIS. Roman land surveying 231 +53. " APRONIANUS. Water-finders 233 + + +BOOK IV. + +CONTAINING FIFTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + 1. TO KING OF THE THURINGIANS. Marriage with Theodoric's niece 235 + 2. " KING OF THE HERULI. Adoption as son 236 + 3. " SENARIUS. Appointment as Comes Patrimonii 237 + 4. " SENATE. Same subject 237 + 5. " AMABILIS. Supply of provisions to Gaulish Provinces 238 + 6. " SYMMACHUS. Sons of Valerian to be detained in Rome 238 + 7. " SENARIUS. Losses by shipwreck to be refunded 239 + 8. " POSSESSORES AND CURIALES OF FORUM LIVII (FORLI). Transport + of timber to Alsuanum 240 + 9. " OSUIN. '_Tuitio regii nominis_' 240 +10. " JOANNES. Repression of lawless custom of Pignoratio 240 +11. " SENARIUS. Dispute between Possessores and Curiales 241 +12. " MARABAD AND GEMELLUS. Complaint of Archotamia 241 +13. " SENARIUS. Supplies for Colossaeus and suite 242 +14. " GESILA. Evasion of land-tax by Goths 242 +15. " BENENATUS. New rowers, and their qualifications 243 +16. " SENATE. Arigern entrusted with charge of City of Rome 243 +17. " IDA. Church possessions to be restored 244 +18. " ANNAS. Enquiry concerning a priestly Ghoul 244 +19. " GEMELLUS. Corn, wine, and oil to be exempt from the + Siliquaticum 245 +20. " GEBERICH. Church land to be restored 245 +21. " GEMELLUS. Promptness and integrity required 245 +22. " ARGOLICUS. } +23. " ARIGERN. } Accusation of magic against Roman Senators 246 +24. " ELPIDIUS. Architectural restoration at Spoleto 247 +25. " ARGOLICUS. Petrus to become Senator 247 +26. " CITIZENS OF MARSEILLES. Remission of taxes 248 +27. " TEZUTZAT. } +28. " DUDA. } Petrus assaulted by his Defensor 248 +29. " ARGOLICUS. Official tardiness rebuked 249 +30. " ALBINUS. Erection of workshops near Roman Forum 249 +31. " AEMILIANUS. Aqueduct to be promptly finished 250 +32. " DUDA. Crown rights to be asserted with moderation 250 +33. " JEWS OF GENOA. Their privileges confirmed 251 +34. " DUDA. Reclamation of buried treasure 252 +35. " REPRESENTATIVES (ACTORES) OF ALBINUS. Extravagant minor 252 +36. " FAUSTUS. Remission of taxes for Provincials 253 +37. " THEODAGUNDA. To do justice to Renatus 253 +38. " FAUSTUS. Taxes to be reduced 254 +39. " THEODAHAD. His encroachments 254 +40. " REPRESENTATIVES (ACTORES) OF PROBINUS. The affair of + Agapita 255 +41. " JOANNES. Unjust judgment reversed 255 +42. " ARGOLICUS. Property to be restored to sons of Volusian 256 +43. " SENATE. Punishment of incendiaries of Jewish Synagogue 256 +44. " ANTONIUS. To do justice to Stephanus 257 +45. " COMITES, DEFENSORES, AND CURIALES OF TICINUM (PAVIA). + Heruli to be forwarded on their way to Ravenna 258 +46. " MARABAD. Case of Liberius' wife to be reheard 258 +47. " GUDISAL. Abuses of the Cursus Publicus 259 +48. " EUSEBIUS. His honourable retirement 260 +49. " PROVINCIALS AND THE LONG-HAIRED MEN, THE DEFENSORES AND + CURIALES RESIDING IN SUAVIA. Appointment of Governor, &c. 260 +50. " FAUSTUS. Campanian taxes remitted. Eruption of Vesuvius 261 +51. " SYMMACHUS. Restoration of Theatre of Pompey 263 + + +BOOK V. + +CONTAINING FORTY-FOUR LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + 1. TO KING OF THE VANDALS. Thanking for presents 264 + 2. " THE HAESTI. Their present of amber 265 + 3. " HONORATUS. } + 4. " SENATE. } Promotion to Quaestorship, &c. 266 + 5. " MANNILA. Abuses of the Cursus Publicus 268 + 6. " STABULARIUS. } + 7. " JOANNES. } Default in payments to Treasury 269 + 8. " ANASTASIUS. Transport of marbles to Ravenna 270 + 9. " POSSESSORES OF FELTRIA. New city to be built 270 +10. " VERANUS. } +11. " THE GEPIDAE. } Payment on march to Gaul 271 +12. " THEODAHAD. His avarice and injustice 272 +13. " EUTROPIUS AND ACRETIUS. Commissariat 272 +14. " SEVERI(A)NUS. Financial abuses in Suavia 273 +15. " POSSESSORES IN SUAVIA. Same subject 274 +16. " ABUNDANTIUS. Formation of navy 274 +17. " " Same subject 275 +18. " UVILIAS [WILLIAS?]. } +19. " GUDINAND. } Same subject 276 +20. " AVILF. } +21. " CAPUANUS. } +22. " SENATE. } Appointment as Rector Decuriarum 277 +23. " ABUNDANTIUS. Archery drill 279 +24. " EPIPHANIUS. Property of intestate claimed for the State 279 +25. " BACAUDA. Appointment as Tribunus Voluptatum 280 +26. " GOTHS SETTLED IN PICENUM AND SAMNIUM. Summons to the + royal presence 280 +27. " GUDUIM. The same 280 +28. " CARINUS. Invitation to Court 281 +29. " NEUDES. Blind Gothic warrior enslaved 281 +30. " GUDUI[M]. Servile tasks imposed on free Goths 281 +31. " DECORATUS. Arrears of Siliquaticum to be enforced 282 +32. " BRANDILA. Assault of his wife on Regina 282 +33. " WILITANCH. Adulterous connection between Brandila and + Regina 283 +34. " ABUNDANTIUS. Frontosus compared to chameleon 284 +35. " LUVIRIT AND AMPELIUS. Punishment of fraudulent shipowners 285 +36. " STARCEDIUS. Honourable discharge 285 +37. " JEWS OF MILAN. Rights of Synagogue not to be invaded 286 +38. " ALL CULTIVATORS. Shrubs obstructing aqueduct of Ravenna 286 +39. " AMPELIUS AND LIVERIA. Abuses in administration of Spanish + government 287 +40. " CYPRIAN. } +41. " SENATE. } Promotion to the Comitiva Sacrarum Largitionum 289 +42. " MAXIMUS. Rewards to performers in Amphitheatre 291 +43. " TRANSMUND [THRASAMUND]. Complains of protection given to + Gesalic 292 +44. " TRANSMUND [THRASAMUND]. Reconciliation 293 + + +BOOK VI. + +CONTAINING TWENTY-FIVE FORMULAE. + + 1. OF THE CONSULSHIP 294 + 2. " " PATRICIATE 296 + 3. " " PRAETORIAN PRAEFECTURE 296 + 4. " " PRAEFECTURE OF THE CITY 299 + 5. " " QUAESTORSHIP 300 + 6. " " MAGISTERIAL DIGNITY, AND ITS EXCELLENCY (MAGISTRATUS + OFFICIORUM) 302 + 7. " " OFFICE OF COMES SACRARUM LARGITIONUM. 303 + 8. " " " " " PRIVATARUM, AND ITS EXCELLENCY 304 + 9. " " " " COUNT OF THE PATRIMONY, AND ITS EXCELLENCY 305 +10. FOR PROMOTION AS PROCERES PER CODICILLOS VACANTES 306 +11. CONFERRING THE RANK OF AN ILLUSTRIS AND TITLE OF COMES + DOMESTICORUM, WITHOUT OFFICE 307 +12. BESTOWAL OF COUNTSHIP OF FIRST ORDER, WITHOUT OFFICE 307 +13. BESTOWING THE HONORARY RANK OF MASTER OF THE BUREAU AND + COUNT OF THE FIRST ORDER ON AN OFFICER OF THE COURTS IN + ACTIVE SERVICE 308 +14. BESTOWING RANK AS A SENATOR 309 +15. OF THE VICARIUS OF THE CITY OF ROME 310 +16. " " NOTARIES 311 +17. " " REFERENDARII 311 +18. " " PRAEFECTUS ANNONAE, AND HIS EXCELLENCY 312 +19. " " COUNT OF THE CHIEF PHYSICIANS 313 +20. " " OFFICE OF A CONSULAR, AND ITS EXCELLENCY 314 +21. " " GOVERNOR (RECTOR) OF A PROVINCE 315 +22. " " COUNT OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE 316 +23. " " COUNT OF NAPLES 316 +24. TO THE GENTLEMEN-FARMERS AND COMMON COUNCILMEN OF THE + CITY OF NAPLES 317 +25. 'DE COMITIVA PRINCIPIS MILITUM'(?) 317 + + +BOOK VII. + +CONTAINING FORTY-SEVEN FORMULAE. + + 1. OF THE COUNT OF A PROVINCE 319 + 2. OF A PRAESES 319 + 3. OF COUNT OF THE GOTHS IN THE SEVERAL PROVINCES 320 + 4. OF THE DUKE OF RAETIA 322 + 5. " " PALACE ARCHITECT 323 + 6. " " COUNT OF THE AQUEDUCTS 324 + 7. " " PRAEFECT OF THE WATCH OF CITY OF ROME 326 + 8. " " " " " " RAVENNA 327 + 9. " " COUNT OF PORTUS 327 +10. " " TRIBUNUS VOLUPTATUM 327 +11. " " DEFENSOR OF ANY CITY 328 +12. " " CURATOR OF A CITY 329 +13. " " COUNT OF ROME 329 +14. " " " RAVENNA 330 +15. ADDRESSED TO THE PRAEFECT OF THE CITY ON APPOINTMENT OF + AN ARCHITECT 331 +16. OF THE COUNT OF THE ISLANDS OF CURRITANA AND CELSINA 331 +17. CONCERNING THE PRESIDENT OF THE LIME-KILNS 332 +18. CONCERNING ARMOURERS 332 +19. TO THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT CONCERNING ARMOURERS 333 +20. } +21. } RELATING TO COLLECTION OF BINA AND TERNA 333 +22. EXHORTATION ADDRESSED TO TWO SCRINIARII 333 +23. OF THE VICARIUS OF PORTUS 334 +24. " " PRINCEPS OF DALMATIA 334 +25. RECOMMENDING THE PRINCIPES TO THE COMES 335 +26. OF THE COUNTSHIP OF SECOND RANK IN DIVERS CITIES 336 +27. ADDRESSED TO THE DIGNIFIED CULTIVATORS AND CURIALES 336 +28. ANNOUNCING APPOINTMENT OF A COMES TO THE CHIEF OF HIS + STAFF 336 +29. CONCERNING THE GUARD AT THE GATES OF A CITY 337 +30. OF THE TRIBUNATE IN THE PROVINCES 337 +31. " " PRINCEPS OF THE CITY OF ROME 338 +32. " " MASTER OF THE MINT 338 +33. RESPECTING THE AMBASSADORS OF VARIOUS NATIONS 339 +34. OF SUMMONS TO THE KING'S COURT (UNSOLICITED) 339 +35. OF SUMMONS TO THE COURT (SOLICITED) 339 +36. GRANTING TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE 339 +37. CONFERRING THE RANK OF A SPECTABILIS 340 +38. " " CLARISSIMUS 340 +39. BESTOWING 'POLICE PROTECTION' 340 +40. FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF MARRIAGE AND THE LEGITIMATION OF + OFFSPRING 341 +41. CONFERRING THE RIGHTS OF FULL AGE 342 +42. EDICT TO QUAESTOR, ORDERING PERSON WHO ASKS FOR PROTECTION + OF SAJO TO GIVE BAIL 342 +43. APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF A CLERK IN RECORD-OFFICE 343 +44. GRANT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY ON CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENT 343 +45. REMISSION OF TAXES WHERE TAXPAYER HAS ONLY ONE HOUSE, TOO + HEAVILY ASSESSED 344 +46. LEGITIMATING MARRIAGE WITH A FIRST COUSIN 345 +47. TO PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, DIRECTING SALE OF THE PROPERTY OF + A CURIALIS 345 + + +BOOK VIII. + +CONTAINING THIRTY-THREE LETTERS, ALL WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF ATHALARIC +THE KING, EXCEPT THE ELEVENTH, WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF TULUM. + + 1. TO THE EMPEROR JUSTIN. Announcement of Athalaric's accession 347 + 2. " " SENATE. Same subject 348 + 3. " " ROMAN PEOPLE. Same subject 349 + 4. " " ROMANS SETTLED IN ITALY AND THE DALMATIAS. Same + subject 350 + 5. " " GOTHS SETTLED IN ITALY. Same subject 350 + 6. " LIBERIUS, GOVERNOR OF GAUL. " " 351 + 7. " THE PROVINCIALS SETTLED IN GAUL. Same subject 351 + 8. " BISHOP VICTORINUS. Same subject 352 + 9. " TULUM. Raised to the Patriciate. His praises 352 +10. " SENATE. Same subject 354 +11. TULUM'S ADDRESS TO SENATE. Elevation to the Patriciate 356 +12. TO ARATOR. Promotion to Count of the Domestics 357 +13. " AMBROSIUS. Appointment to Quaestorship 358 +14. " SENATE. Same subject 359 +15. " " Election of Pope Felix III (or IV) 360 +16. " OPILIO. Appointment as Count of the Sacred Largesses 361 +17. " SENATE. Same subject 363 +18. " FELIX. Promotion to Quaestorship 365 +19. " SENATE. Same subject 366 +20. " ALBIENUS. Appointment as Praetorian Praefect 367 +21. " CYPRIAN. } +22. " SENATE. } Elevation to the Patriciate 368 +23. " BERGANTINUS. Gifts to Theodahad 370 +24. " CLERGY OF THE ROMAN CHURCH. Ecclesiastical immunities 371 +25. " JOANNES. Confirmation of Tulum's gift of property 373 +26. " INHABITANTS OF REATE AND NURSIA. To obey their Prior 374 +27. " DUMERIT AND FLORENTINUS. To suppress robbery at Faventia 375 +28. " CUNIGAST. Enforced slavery of Possessores (or Coloni?) 376 +29. " THE DIGNIFIED CULTIVATORS AND CURIALS OF PARMA. Necessity + for sanitary measures 377 +30. " GENESIUS. Same subject 377 +31. " SEVERUS. Dissuasions from a country life, and praises of Bruttii 378 +32. " " Fountain of Arethusa 380 +33. " " Feast of St. Cyprian 381 + + +BOOK IX. + +CONTAINING TWENTY-FIVE LETTERS, WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF ATHALARIC THE +KING. + + 1. TO HILDERIC. Murder of Amalafrida 384 + 2. EDICT. Oppression of the Curiales 385 + 3. TO BERGANTINUS. Gold-mining in Italy 387 + 4. " ABUNDANTIUS. Curiales to become Possessores 388 + 5. " CERTAIN BISHOPS AND FUNCTIONARIES. Forestalling and regrating + prohibited 389 + 6. " A CERTAIN PRIMISCRINIUS. Leave to visit Baiae 389 + 7. " REPARATUS. Appointment to Praefecture of City 390 + 8. " OSUIN (or OSUM). Promotion to Governorship of Dalmatia + and Savia 391 + 9. " GOTHS AND ROMANS IN DALMATIA AND SAVIA. Same subject 392 +10. " PROVINCIALS OF SYRACUSE. Remission of Augmentum 393 +11. " GILDIAS. {Oppression by King's} +12. " VICTOR AND WITIGISCLUS (or WIGISICLA). { officers rebuked } 394 +13. " WILLIAS. Increase of emoluments of Domestici 394 +14. " GILDIAS. Charge of oppression 395 +15. " POPE JOHN II. Against Simony at Papal elections 398 +16. " SALVANTIUS. Same subject 400 +17. " " Release of two Roman citizens 400 +18. EDICT. Offences against Civilitas 401 +19. TO SENATE. Promulgation of Edict 405 +20. " JUDGES OF PROVINCES. Same subject 405 +21. " SENATE. Increase of Grammarians' salaries 406 +22. " PAULINUS. Appointment as Consul 407 +23. " SENATE. Same subject 408 +24. " SENATOR [CASSIODORUS HIMSELF]. Appointment as Praetorian + Praefect, &c. 408 +25. " SENATE. Eulogy of Cassiodorus on his appointment. His + Gothic History. His official career. His military services. + His religious character 412-413 + + +BOOK X. + +CONTAINING THIRTY-FIVE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS: + +FOUR IN THE NAME OF QUEEN AMALASUENTHA; +TWENTY-TWO IN THAT OF KING THEODAHAD; +FOUR IN THAT OF HIS WIFE GUDELINA; +FIVE IN THAT OF KING WITIGIS. + + 1. QUEEN AMALASUENTHA TO EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. Association of + Theodahad in the Sovereignty 415 + 2. KING THEODAHAD TO EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. Same subject 416 + 3. AMALASUENTHA TO SENATE. Same. Praises of Theodahad 416 + 4. THEODAHAD TO SENATE. Same. Praises of Amalasuentha 418 + 5. " " HIS MAN THEODOSIUS. Followers of new King to + live justly 421 + 6. " " PATRICIUS. Appointment to Quaestorship 422 + 7. " " SENATE. Same subject 422 + 8. AMALASUENTHA TO JUSTINIAN. Acknowledging present of marbles 423 + 9. THEODAHAD TO JUSTINIAN. Same subject 423 +10. AMALASUENTHA TO THEODORA. Salutation 424 +11. THEODAHAD TO MAXIMUS. Appointment to office of Primicerius 424 +12. " " SENATE. Same subject 425 +13. " " " Summons to Ravenna. Suspicions of + Senators 426 +14. " " THE ROMAN PEOPLE. Dissensions between citizens + of Rome and Gothic troops 427 +15. " " EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. Letter of introduction for + Ecclesiastic 428 +16. " " SENATE. Assurances of good-will 428 +17. " " THE ROMAN PEOPLE. Same subject 429 +18. " " SENATE. Gothic garrison for Rome 430 +19. " " JUSTINIAN. Embassy of Peter 431 +20. QUEEN GUDELINA TO THEODORA, AUGUSTA. Embassy of Rusticus 432 +21. " " " " " Soliciting friendship 433 +22. THEODAHAD TO JUSTINIAN. Entreaties for peace 434 +23. GUDELINA TO THEODORA. Same subject 435 +24. " " JUSTINIAN. Same subject 436 +25. THEODAHAD TO JUSTINIAN. Same subject 436 +26. " " " Monastery too heavily taxed 437 +27. " " SENATOR. Corn distributions in Liguria and Venetia 438 +28. " " " Grant of monopolies 438 +29. " " WINUSIAD. Old soldier gets leave to visit baths + of Bormio 440 +30. " " HONORIUS. Brazen elephants in the Via Sacra. + Natural history of elephant 442 +31. KING WITIGIS TO ALL THE GOTHS. On his elevation 444 +32. " " " JUSTINIAN. Overtures for peace 445 +33. " " " THE MASTER OF THE OFFICES (at Constantinople). + Sending of embassy 447 +34. " " " HIS BISHOPS. Same subject 448 +35. " " " THE PRAEFECT OF THESSALONICA. Same subject 448 + + +BOOK XI. + +CONTAINING THIRTY-NINE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME +AS PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO, AND ONE ON BEHALF OF THE ROMAN SENATE. + +PREFACE 449 + + 1. TO SENATE. On his promotion to the Praefecture. Praises of + Amalasuentha. Comparison to Placidia. Relations with + the East. Expedition against Franks. League with + Burgundians. Virtues of Amal Kings 452-457 + 2. " POPE JOHN. Salutations 458 + 3. " DIVERS BISHOPS. The same 459 + 4. " AMBROSIUS (HIS DEPUTY). Functions of Praefect's Deputy 460 + 5. " THE SAME. Grain distributions for Rome 461 + 6. " JOANNES. Functions of the Cancellarius 462 + 7. " JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES. Duties of tax-collectors 464 + 8. EDICT PUBLISHED THROUGH THE PROVINCES. Announcement of + Cassiodorus' principles of administration 465 + 9. TO JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES. Exhortation to govern in conformity + with Edict 467 +10. " BEATUS. Davus invalided to Mons Lactarius. The milk-cure + for consumption 468-469 +11. EDICT. Concerning prices to be maintained at Ravenna 469 +12. " Concerning prices along the Flaminian Way 470 +13. THE SENATE TO EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. Supplications of the + Senate 471 +14. TO GAUDIOSUS. Praises of Como. Relief of its inhabitants 474 +15. " THE LIGURIANS. Relief of their necessities 475 +16. " THE SAME. Oppressions practised on them to be remedied 476 +17. " THE PRINCEPS(?). Promotions in Official Staff of Praetorian + Praefect 477 +18-35. VARIOUSLY ADDRESSED. [Documents, for the most part very + short ones, relating to these promotions.] 477-480 +36. TO ANAT(H)OLIUS. Retirement of a Cornicularius on superannuation + allowance justified on astronomical grounds 480 +37. " LUCINUS. Payment of retiring Primiscrinius 482 +38. " JOANNES. Praises of paper 483 +39. " VITALIAN. Payment of commuted cattle-tax 484 +40. INDULGENCE [TO PRISONERS ON SOME GREAT FESTIVAL OF THE + CHURCH, PROBABLY EASTER]. General Amnesty 485 + + +BOOK XII. + +CONTAINING TWENTY-EIGHT LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME +AS PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + + 1. TO THE VARIOUS CANCELLARII OF THE PROVINCES. General + instructions 487 + 2. " ALL JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES. General instructions to + Provincial Governors 488 + 3. " SAJONES ASSIGNED TO THE CANCELLARII. General instructions 489 + 4. " THE CANONICARIUS OF THE VENETIAE. Praise of _Acinaticium_ 490 + 5. " VALERIAN. Measures for relief of Lucania and Bruttii 492 + 6. " ALL SUBORDINATE GOVERNORS OF THE PRAEFECTURE. General + instructions 494 + 7. " THE TAX-COLLECTOR OF THE VENETIAN PROVINCE. Remission + of taxes on account of invasion by Suevi 495 + 8. " THE CONSULARIS OF THE PROVINCE OF LIGURIA. Permission + to pay taxes direct to Royal Treasury 495 + 9. " PASCHASIUS. Claim of an African to succeed to estate of + intestate countryman 496 +10. " DIVERS CANCELLARII. Taxes to be punctually enforced 497 +11. " PETER, DISTRIBUTOR OF RELISHES. Their due distribution 498 +12. " ANASTASIUS. Praise of the cheese and wine of Bruttii 499 +13. EDICT. Frauds committed by revenue-officers on Churches 500 +14. TO ANASTASIUS. Plea for gentle treatment of citizens of + Rhegium 501 +15. " MAXIMUS. Praises of author's birthplace, Scyllacium 503 +16. " A REVENUE OFFICER. Payment of Trina Illatio 506 +17. " JOHN, SILIQUATARIUS OF RAVENNA. Defence of city 507 +18. " CONSTANTIAN. Repair of Flaminian Way 507 +19. " MAXIMUS. Bridge of boats across the Tiber 509 +20. " THOMAS AND PETER. Sacred vessels mortgaged by Pope + Agapetus to be restored to Papal See 510 +21. " DEUSDEDIT. Duties of a Scribe 511 +22. " PROVINCIALS OF ISTRIA. Requisition from Province of Istria 513 +23. " LAURENTIUS. Same subject 515 +24. " TRIBUNES OF THE MARITIME POPULATION. First historical + notice of Venice 515 +25. " AMBROSIUS, HIS DEPUTY. Famine in Italy 518 +26. " PAULUS. Remission of taxes in consequence of famine 520 +27. " DATIUS. Relief of famine-stricken citizens of Ticinum, &c. 521 +28. EDICT [ADDRESSED TO LIGURIANS]. Relief of inhabitants 523 + + + + +ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. + + +P. 6, l. 30, for 'Scylletium' read 'Scylletion.' + +P. 24, _n._ 1, for 'Uterwerfung' read 'Unterwerfung.' + +In the 'Note on the Topography of Squillace' (pp. 68-72), and the map +illustrating it, for 'Scylacium' read 'Scyllacium.' (The line of +Virgil, however, quoted on p. 6, shows that the name was sometimes +spelt with only one 'l.') + +Pp. 94 and 96, head line, dele 'the.' + +P. 128 (Chronological Table, under heading 'Popes') for 'John III.' +read 'John II.' + +P. 146 (last line of text). S. Gaudenzi remarks that the addresses of +the laws in the Code of Justinian forbid us to suppose that Heliodorus +was Praetorian Praefect for eighteen years. He thinks that most likely +the meaning of the words 'in illa republica nobis videntibus +praefecturam bis novenis annis gessit eximie' is that twice in the +space of nine years Heliodorus filled the office of Praefect. + +P. 159, Letter 27 of Book I. The date of this letter is probably 509, +as Importunus, who is therein mentioned as Consul, was Consul in that +year. + +P. 160, Letter 29 of Book I. S. Gaudenzi points out that a letter has +probably dropped out here, as the title does not fit the contents of +the letter, which seems to have been addressed to a Sajo. + +In the titles of I. 14, 26, 34, 35, and II. 5 and 9, for 'Praepositus' +read 'Praetorian Praefect.' The contraction used by the early +amanuenses for Praefecto Praetorio has been misunderstood by their +successors, and consequently many MSS. read 'Praeposito,' and this +reading has been followed by Nivellius. There can be no doubt, +however, that Garet is right in restoring 'Praefecto Praetorio.' + +On the other hand, I have been misled by Garet's edition into quoting +the following letters as addressed _Viro Senatori_; I. 38; II. 23, 28, +29, 35; III. 8, 13, 15, 16, 27, 32, 41; IV. 10, 12, 15, 18, 19, 20, +21, 28; V. 21, 24. Here, too, the only MSS. that I have examined read +'Viro Senatori;' but Nivellius preserves what is no doubt the earlier +reading, 'V.S.,' which assuredly stands for 'Viro Spectabili.' +Practically there is no great difference between the two readings, and +the remarks made by me on II. 29, 35, &c., as to Senators with Gothic +names may still stand; for as every Senator was (at least) a +Clarissimus, it is not likely that any person who reached the higher +dignity of a Spectabilis was not also a Senator. (See pp. 90 and 91.) + +P. 181, Letter 19 of Book II. Here again, on account of the want of +correspondence between the title and contents of the letter, S. +Gaudenzi suggests that a letter has dropped out. + +P. 182, title of Letter 20, for 'Unigilis' read 'Uniligis.' + +P. 205, l. 6 from bottom, for 'Praefectum' read 'Praefectorum.' + +P. 206, l. 1, for 'Provinces' read 'Provincials.' + +P. 224 (marginal note), for 'amphitheatre' read 'walls.' Last line +(text), for 'its' read 'their.' + +P. 244, title of Letter 17, for 'Idae' some MSS. read 'Ibbae,' which +is probably the right reading, Ibbas having commanded the Ostrogothic +army in Gaul in 510. + +P. 247, dele the last two lines. (The Peter who was Consul in 516 was +an official of the Eastern Empire, the same who came on an embassy to +Theodahad in 535.) + +P. 253. l. 9, for '408' read '508.' + +P. 255, ll. 9, 14, and in margin, for 'Agapeta' read 'Agapita.' + +P. 256, ll. 16, 26, and in margin, for 'Velusian' read 'Volusian.' + +P. 256, title of Letter 43. S. Gaudenzi thinks this letter was really +addressed to Argolicus, Praefectus Urbis. + +P. 269, l. 20, dele 'possibly Stabularius.' + +P. 282, Letter 31 of Book V. (to Decoratus). As Decoratus is described +in V. 3 and 4 as already dead, it is clear that the letters are not +arranged in chronological order. + +P. 282, l. 27, for 'upon' read 'before.' + +P. 288, l. 25, for 'extortions' read 'extra horses.' + +P. 291, l. 6, for 'Anomymus' read 'Anonymus.' + +P. 308, l. 7. This is an important passage, as illustrating the nature +of the office which Cassiodorus held as Consiliarius to his father. + +P. 333, second marginal note, for 'aguntur' read 'agantur' (twice). + +P. 398, title of Letter 15, for '532' read '533-535.' + +P. 400, title of Letter 17, for 'between 532 and 534' read 'between +533 and 535.' + +P. 450, l. 8. Probably, as suggested by S. Gaudenzi, Felix was +Consiliarius to Cassiodorus. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +CHAPTER I. + +LIFE OF CASSIODORUS. + + +The interest of the life of Cassiodorus is derived from his position +rather than from his character. He was a statesman of considerable +sagacity and of unblemished honour, a well-read scholar, and a devout +Christian; but he was apt to crouch before the possessors of power +however unworthy, and in the whole of his long and eventful life we +never find him playing a part which can be called heroic. + +[Sidenote: Position of Cassiodorus on the confines of the Ancient and +the Modern.] + +His position, however, which was in more senses than one that of a +borderer between two worlds, gives to the study of his writings an +exceptional value. Born a few years after the overthrow of the Western +Empire, a Roman noble by his ancestry, a rhetorician-philosopher by +his training, he became what we should call the Prime Minister of the +Ostrogothic King Theodoric; he toiled with his master at the +construction of the new state, which was to unite the vigour of +Germany and the culture of Rome; for a generation he saw this edifice +stand, and when it fell beneath the blows of Belisarius he retired, +perhaps well-nigh broken-hearted, from the political arena. The +writings of such a man could hardly fail, at any rate they do not +fail, to give us many interesting glimpses into the political life +both of the Romans and the Barbarians. It is true that they throw more +light backwards than forwards, that they teach us far more about the +constitution of the Roman Empire than they do about the Teutonic +customs from whence in due time Feudalism was to be born. Still, they +do often illustrate these Teutonic usages; and when we remember that +the writer to whom after Tacitus we are most deeply indebted for our +knowledge of Teutonic antiquity, Jordanes, professedly compiled his +ill-written pamphlet from the Twelve Books of the Gothic History of +Cassiodorus, we see that indirectly his contribution to the history of +the German factor in European civilisation is a most important one. + +Thus then, as has been already said, Cassiodorus stood on the confines +of two worlds, the Ancient and the Modern; indeed it is a noteworthy +fact that the very word _modernus_ occurs for the first time with any +frequency in his writings. Or, if the ever-shifting boundary between +Ancient and Modern be drawn elsewhere than in the fifth and sixth +centuries, at any rate it is safe to say, that he stood on the +boundary of two worlds, the Roman and the Teutonic. + +[Sidenote: Also on the confines of Politics and Religion.] + +But the statesman who, after spending thirty years at the Court of +Theodoric and his daughter, spent thirty-three years more in the +monastery which he had himself erected at Squillace, was a borderer in +another sense than that already mentioned--a borderer between the two +worlds of Politics and Religion; and in this capacity also, as the +contemporary, perhaps the friend, certainly the imitator, of St. +Benedict, and in some respects the improver upon his method, +Cassiodorus largely helped to mould the destinies of mediaeval and +therefore of modern Europe. + +I shall now proceed to indicate the chief points in the life and +career of Cassiodorus. Where, as is generally the case, our +information comes from his own correspondence, I shall, to avoid +repetition, not do much more than refer the reader to the passage in +the following collection, where he will find the information given as +nearly as may be in the words of the great Minister himself. + +[Sidenote: His ancestors.] + +The ancestors of Cassiodorus for three generations, and their public +employments, are enumerated for us in the letters (Var. i. 3-4) which +in the name of Theodoric he wrote on his father's elevation to the +Patriciate. From these letters we learn that-- + +[Sidenote: Great grandfather.] + +(1) Cassiodorus, the writer's great grandfather, who held the rank of +an Illustris, defended the shores of Sicily and Bruttii from the +incursions of the Vandals. This was probably between 430 and 440, and, +as we may suppose, towards the end of the life of this statesman, to +whom we may conjecturally assign a date from 390 to 460. + +[Sidenote: Grandfather.] + +(2) His son and namesake, the grandfather of our Cassiodorus, was a +Tribune (a military rank nearly corresponding to our 'Colonel') and +Notarius under Valentinian III. He enjoyed the friendship of the great +Aetius, and was sent with Carpilio the son of that statesman on an +embassy to Attila, probably between the years 440 and 450. In this +embassy, according to his grandson, he exerted an extraordinary +influence over the mind of the Hunnish King. Soon after this he +retired to his native Province of Bruttii, where he passed the +remainder of his days. We may probably fix the limits of his life from +about 420 to 490. + +[Sidenote: Father.] + +(3) His son, the third Cassiodorus, our author's father, served under +Odovacar (therefore between 476 and 492), as Comes Privatarum Rerum +and Comes Sacrarum Largitionum. These two offices, one of which +nominally involved the care of the domains of the Sovereign and the +other the regulation of his private charities, were in fact the two +great financial offices of the Empire and of the barbarian royalties +which modelled their system upon it. Upon the fall of the throne of +Odovacar, Cassiodorus transferred his services to Theodoric, at the +beginning of whose reign he acted as Governor (Consularis[1]) of +Sicily. In this capacity he showed much tact and skill, and thereby +succeeded in reconciling the somewhat suspicious and intractable +Sicilians to the rule of their Ostrogothic master. He next +administered (as Corrector[2]) his own native Province of 'Bruttii et +Lucania[3].' Either in the year 500 or soon after, he received from +Theodoric the highest mark of his confidence that the Sovereign could +bestow, being raised to the great place of Praetorian Praefect, which +still conferred a semi-regal splendour upon its holder, and which +possibly under a Barbarian King may have involved yet more +participation in the actual work of reigning than it had done under a +Roman Emperor. + +[Footnote 1: We get these titles from the Notitia Occidentis I.] + +[Footnote 2: [See previous footnote.]] + +[Footnote 3: On the authority of a letter of Pope Gelasius, 'Philippo +et Cassiodoro,' Usener fixes this governorship of Bruttii between the +years 493 and 496 (p. 76).] + +The Praefecture of this Cassiodorus probably lasted three or four +years, and at its close he received the high honour of the Patriciate. +We are not able to name the exact date of his retirement from office; +but the important point for us is, that while he still held this +splendid position his son was first introduced to public life. To that +son's history we may now proceed, for we have no further information +of importance as to the father's old age or death beyond the +intimation (contained in Var. iii. 28) that Theodoric invited him, +apparently in vain, to leave his beloved Bruttii and return to the +Court of Ravenna. + +MAGNUS AURELIUS CASSIODORUS SENATOR was born at Scyllacium +(_Squillace_) about the year 480. His name, his birthplace, and his +year of birth will each require a short notice. + +[Sidenote: Name.] + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus, or Cassiodorius.] + +(1) _Name._ Magnus (not Marcus, as it has been sometimes incorrectly +printed) is the author's praenomen. Aurelius, the gentile name, +connects him with a large gens, of which Q. Aurelius Memmius Symmachus +was one of the most distinguished ornaments. As to the form of the +cognomen there is a good deal of diversity of opinion, the majority of +German scholars preferring Cassiodor_i_us to Cassiodorus. The argument +in favour of the former spelling is derived from the fact that some of +the MSS. of his works (not apparently the majority) write the name +with the termination _rius_, and that while it is easy to understand +how from the genitive form _ri_ a nominative _rus_ might be wrongly +inferred instead of the real nominative _rius_, it is not easy to see +why the opposite mistake should be made, and _rius_ substituted for +the genuine _rus_. + +The question will probably be decided one way or the other by the +critical edition of the 'Variae' which is to be published among the +'Monumenta Germaniae Historica;' but in the meantime it may be +remarked that the correct Greek form of the name as shown by +inscriptions appears to be Cassiodo_rus_, and that in a poem of +Alcuin's[4] occurs the line + + 'Cassiodorus item Chrysostomus atque Johannes,' + +showing that the termination _rus_ was generally accepted as early as +the eighth century. It is therefore to be hoped that this is the form +which may finally prevail. + +[Footnote 4: De Pontificibus et Sanctis Ecclesiae Eboracensis, p. 843 +of Migne's Second Volume of Alcuin's Works. I owe this quotation to +Adolph Franz.] + +[Sidenote: Senator.] + +Senator, it is clear, was part of the original name of Cassiodorus, +and not a title acquired by sitting in the Roman Senate. It seems a +curious custom to give a title of this kind to an infant as part of +his name, but the well-known instance of Patricius (St. Patrick) shows +that this was sometimes done, and there are other instances +(collected by Thorbecke, p. 34) of this very title Senator being used +as a proper name. + +It is clear from Jordanes (who calls the Gothic History of Cassiodorus +'duodecem Senatoris volumina de origine actibusque Getarum[5]'), from +Pope Vigilius (who speaks of 'religiosum virum filium nostrum +Senatorem[6]'), from the titles of the letters written by +Cassiodorus[7], and from his punning allusions to his own name and the +love to the Senate which it had prophetically expressed, that Senator +was a real name and not a title of honour. + +[Footnote 5: Preface to Getica (Mommsen's Edition, p. 53).] + +[Footnote 6: Epist. XIV. ad Rusticum et Sebastianum (Migne, p. 49).] + +[Footnote 7: Nearly all the letters in the XIth and XIIth Books of the +Variae are headed 'Senator Praefectus Praetorio.'] + +[Sidenote: Birthplace, Scyllacium.] + +(2) Scyllacium, the modern Squillace, was, according to Cassiodorus, +the first, either in age or in importance, of the cities of Bruttii, a +Province which corresponds pretty closely with the modern Calabria. It +is situated at the head of the gulf to which it gives its name, on the +eastern side of Italy, and at the point where the peninsula is pinched +in by the Tyrrhene and Ionian Seas to a width of only fifteen miles, +the narrowest dimensions to which it is anywhere reduced. The Apennine +chain comes here within a distance of about five miles of the sea, and +upon one of its lower dependencies Scyllacium was placed. The slight +promontory in front of the town earned for it from the author of the +Aeneid the ominous name of 'Navifragum Scylaceum[8].' In the +description which Cassiodorus himself gives of his birthplace (Var. +xii. 15) we hear nothing of the danger to mariners which had attracted +the attention of Virgil, possibly a somewhat timid sailor. The name, +however, given to the place by the Greek colonists who founded it, +_Scylletium_, is thought by some to contain an allusion to dangers of +the coast similar to those which were typified by the barking dogs of +the not far distant Scylla. + +[Footnote 8: + + 'Adtollit se diva Lacinia contra, + Caulonisque arces, et navifragum Scylaceum.' + + (iii. 552-3.)] + +[Sidenote: The Greek city.] + +According to Cassiodorus, this Greek city was founded by Ulysses after +the destruction of Troy. Strabo[9] attributes the foundation of it to +the almost equally widespread energy of Menestheus. The form of the +name makes it probable that the colonists were in any case of Ionian +descent; but in historic times we find Scylletion subject to the +domineering Achaian city of Crotona, from whose grasp it was wrested +(B.C. 389) by the elder Dionysius. It no doubt shared in the general +decay of the towns of this part of Magna Graecia consequent on the +wars of Dionysius and Agathocles, and may very probably, like Crotona, +have been taken and laid waste by the Bruttian banditti in the Second +Punic War. During the latter part of this war Hannibal seems to have +occupied a position near to, but not in, the already ruined city, and +its port was known long after as Castra Hannibalis[10]. + +[Footnote 9: p. 375: ed. Oxon. 1807.] + +[Footnote 10: Pliny (Hist. Nat. iii. 10) says: 'Dein sinus Scylacius +et Scyllacium, Scylletium Atheniensibus, cum conderent, dictum: quem +locum occurrens Terinaeus sinus peninsulam efficit: et in eâ portus +qui vocatur Castra Annibalis, nusquam angustiore Italia XX millia +passuum latitudo est.'] + +[Sidenote: The Roman colony.] + +[11]'A century before the end of the Republic, a city much more +considerable than that which had existed in the past was again +established near the point where the Greek Scylletion had existed. +Among the colonies of Roman citizens founded B.C. 123 on the rogation +of Caius Gracchus, was one sent to this part of Bruttii, under the +name of Colonia Minervia Scolacium, a name parallel to those of +Colonia Neptunia Tarentum and Colonia Junonia Karthago, decided on at +the same time. _Scolacium_ is the form that we meet with in Velleius +Paterculus, and that is found in an extant Latin inscription of the +time of Antoninus Pius. This is the old Latin form of the name of the +town. _Scylacium_, which first appears as used by the writers of the +first century of our era, is a purely literary form springing from the +desire to get nearer to the Greek type _Scylletion_. + +[Footnote 11: I take the two following paragraphs from Lenormant's La +Grande Grèce, pp. 342-3.] + +'Scolacium, or Scylacium, a town purely Roman by reason of the origin +of its first colonists, was from its earliest days an important city, +and remained such till the end of the Empire. Pomponius Mela, Strabo, +Pliny, and Ptolemy speak of it as one of the principal cities of +Bruttii. It had for its port Castra Hannibalis. Under Nero its +population was strengthened by a new settlement of veterans as +colonists. The city then took the names of Colonia Minervia Nervia +Augusta Scolacium. We read these names in an inscription discovered in +1762 at 1,800 metres from the modern Squillace, between that city and +the sea--an inscription which mentions the construction of an aqueduct +bringing water to Scolacium, executed 143 A.D. at the cost of the +Emperor Antoninus.' + +[Sidenote: Appearance of the city at the time of Cassiodorus.] + +For the appearance of this Roman colony in the seventh century of its +existence the reader is referred to the letter of Cassiodorus before +quoted (Var. xii. 15). The picture of the city, 'hanging like a +cluster of grapes upon the hills, basking in the brightness of the sun +all day long, yet cooled by the breezes from the sea, and looking at +her leisure on the labours of the husbandman in the corn-fields, the +vineyards, and the olive-groves around her,' is an attractive one, and +shows that kind of appreciation of the gentler beauties of Nature +which befits a countryman of Virgil. + +This picture, however, is not distinctive enough to enable us from it +alone to fix the exact site of the Roman city. Lenormant (pp. +360-370), while carefully distinguishing between the sites of the +Greek Scylletion and the Latin Scolacium, and assigning the former +with much apparent probability to the neighbourhood of the promontory +and the Grotte di Stalletti, has been probably too hasty in his +assertion that the modern city of Squillace incontestably covers the +ground of the Latin Scolacium. Mr. Arthur J. Evans, after making a +much more careful survey of the place and its neighbourhood than the +French archaeologist had leisure for, has come to the conclusion that +in this identification M. Lenormant is entirely wrong, and that the +Roman city was not at Squillace, where there are no remains of earlier +than mediaeval times, but at Roccella del Vescovo, five or six miles +from Squillace in a north-easterly direction, where there are such +remains as can only have belonged to a Roman provincial city of the +first rank. For a further discussion of the question the reader is +referred to the Note (and accompanying Map) at the end of this +chapter. + +We pass on from considering the place of Cassiodorus' birth to +investigate the date of that event. + +[Sidenote: Date of birth.] + +(3) The only positive statement that we possess as to the birth-year +of Cassiodorus comes from a very late and somewhat unsatisfactory +source. John Trittheim (or Trithemius), Abbot of the Benedictine +Monastery of Spanheim, who died in 1516, was one of the ecclesiastical +scholars of the Renaissance period, and composed, besides a multitude +of other books, a treatise 'De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis,' in which +is found this notice of Cassiodorus[12]:-- + +'Claruit temporibus Justini senioris usque ad imperii Justini junioris +paene finem, annos habens aetatis plus quam 95, Anno Domini 575.' + +[Footnote 12: The reference is given by Köpke (Die Anfänge des +Königthums, p. 88) as 'De scr. ecc. 212 Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica, ed. +Fabricius, p. 58;' by Thorbecke (p. 8) as 'Catalogus seu liber +scriptorum ecclesiasticorum, Coloniae 1546, p. 94.' Franz (p. 4) +quotes from the same edition as Köpke, 'De script. eccl. c. 212 in +Fabricii biblioth. eccl., Hamburgi 1728, iii. p. 58.'] + +This notice is certainly not one to which we should attach much +importance if it contradicted earlier and trustworthy authorities, or +if there were any internal evidence against it. But if this cannot be +asserted, it is not desirable entirely to discard the assertion of a +scholar who, in the age of the Renaissance and before the havoc +wrought among the monasteries of Germany by the Thirty Years' War, may +easily have had access to some sources which are now no longer +available. + +When we examine the information which is thus given us, we find it +certainly somewhat vague. 'Cassiodorus was illustrious' (no doubt as a +writer, since it is 'ecclesiastici scriptores' of whom Trittheim is +speaking) 'in the time of Justin the Elder [518-527] down nearly to +the end of the reign of Justin the Younger [565-578], attaining to +more than 95 years of age in the year of our Lord 575.' But on +reflection we see that the meaning must be that Cassiodorus died in +575 (which agrees well with the words 'paene finem imperii Justini +junioris'), and that when he died he was some way on in his 96th year, +or as we say colloquially 'ninety-five off.' The marvel of his +attaining such an age is no doubt the reason for inserting the 'plus +quam,' to show that he did not die immediately after his 95th +birthday. If this notice be trustworthy, therefore, we may place the +birth of Cassiodorus in 479 or 480. + +Now upon examining all the facts in our possession as to his career as +a statesman and an author, and especially our latest acquired +information[13], we find that they do in a remarkable manner agree +with Trittheim's date, while we have no positive statement by any +author early or late which really conflicts with it. + +[Footnote 13: The Anecdoton Holderi.] + +The only shadow of an argument that has been advanced for a different +and earlier date is so thin that it is difficult to state without +confuting it. In some editions of the works of Cassiodorus there +appears a very short anonymous tract on the method of determining +Easter, called 'Computus Paschalis,' and composed in 562. In the +'Orthographia,' which was undoubtedly written by Cassiodorus at the +age of 93, and which contains a list of his previously published +works, no mention is made of this 'Computus.' It must therefore, say +the supporters of the theory, have been written after he was 93. He +must have been at least 94 in 562, and the year of his birth must be +put back at least to 468. In this argument there are two absolutely +worthless links. There is no evidence to show that the 'Computus +Paschalis' came from the pen of Cassiodorus at all, but much reason to +think that Pithoeus, the editor who first published it under his name, +was mistaken in doing so. And if it were his, a little memorandum like +this--only two pages long, and with no literary pretension +whatever--we may almost say with certainty would _not_ be included by +the veteran author in the enumeration of his theological works +prefixed to his 'Orthographia.' + +The reason why a theory founded on such an absurdly weak basis has +held its ground at all, has probably been that it buttressed up +another obvious fallacy. A whole school of biographers of Cassiodorus +and commentators on his works has persisted, in spite of the plainest +evidence of his letters, in identifying him with his father, who bore +office under Odovacar (476-493). To do this it was necessary to get +rid of the date 480 for the birth of Cassiodorus Senator, and to throw +back that event as far as possible. And yet, not even by pushing it +back to 468, do they make it reasonably probable that a person, who +was only a child of eight years old at Odovacar's accession, could in +the course of his short reign (the last four years of which were +filled by his struggle with Theodoric) have held the various high +offices which were really held during that reign by the father of +Senator. + +We assume therefore with some confidence the year 480 as the +approximate date of the birth of our author; and while we observe that +this date fits well with those which the course of history induces us +to assign to his ancestors in the three preceding generations[14], we +also note with interest that it was, as nearly as we can ascertain, +the year of the birth of two of the most distinguished contemporaries +of Cassiodorus--Boethius and Benedict. + +[Footnote 14: Cassiodorus the First, born about 390; the Second, about +420; the Third, about 450.] + +[Sidenote: Education of Cassiodorus.] + +Of the training and education of the young Senator we can only speak +from their evident results as displayed in the 'Variae,' to which the +reader is accordingly referred. It may be remarked, however, that +though he evidently received the usual instruction in philosophy and +rhetoric which was given to a young Roman noble aspiring to employment +in the Civil Service, there are some indications that the bent of his +own genius was towards Natural History, strange and often laughable as +are the facts or fictions which this taste of his has caused him to +accumulate. + +[Sidenote: Consiliarius to his father.] + +In the year 500[15], when Senator had just attained the age of twenty, +his father, as we have already seen, received from Theodoric the high +office of Praetorian Praefect. As a General might make an +_Aide-de-camp_ of his son, so the Praefect conferred upon the young +Senator the post of _Consiliarius_, or Assessor in his Court[16]. The +Consiliarius[17] had been in the time of the Republic an experienced +jurist who sat beside the Praetor or the Consul (who might be a man +quite unversed in the law) and advised him as to his judgments. From +the time of Severus onwards he became a paid functionary of the Court, +receiving a salary which varied from 12 to 72 solidi (£7 to £43). At +the time which we are now describing it was customary for the Judge to +choose his Consiliarius from among the ranks of young jurists who had +just completed their studies. The great legal school of Berytus +especially furnished a large number of Consiliarii to the Roman +Governors. In order to prevent an officer in this position from +obtaining an undue influence over the mind of his principal, the +latter was forbidden by law to keep a Consiliarius, who was a native +of the Province in which he was administering justice, more than four +months in his employ[18]. This provision, of course, would not apply +when the young Assessor, as in the case of Cassiodorus, came with his +father from a distant Province: and in such a case, if the Magistrate +died during his year of office, by a special enactment the +fairly-earned pay of the Assessor was protected from unjust demands on +the part of the Exchequer[19]. The functions thus exercised by Senator +in his father's court at Rome, and the title which he bore, were +somewhat similar to those which Procopius held in the camp of +Belisarius, but doubtless required a more thorough legal training. In +our own system, if we could imagine the Judge's Marshal invested with +the responsibilities of a Registrar of the Court, we should perhaps +get a pretty fair idea of the position and duties of a Roman +Consiliarius[20]. + +[Footnote 15: Or possibly 501.] + +[Footnote 16: This fact, and also the cause of Senator's promotion to +the Quaestorship, we learn from the Anecdoton Holderi described in a +following chapter.] + +[Footnote 17: The terms Adsessor, Consiliarius, [Greek: Paredros], +[Greek: Symboulos], seem all to indicate the same office.] + +[Footnote 18: Cod. Theod. i. 12. 1.] + +[Footnote 19: This seems to be the meaning of Cod. Theod. i. 12. 2. +The gains of the 'filii familias Assessores' were to be protected as +if they were 'castrense peculium.'] + +[Footnote 20: Some points in this description are taken from Bethmann +Hollweg, Gerichtsverfassung der sinkenden Römischen Reichs, pp. +153-158.] + +[Sidenote: Panegyric on Theodoric.] + +[Sidenote: Appointed Quaestor.] + +It was while Cassiodorus was holding this agreeable but not important +position, that the opportunity came to him, by his dexterous use of +which he sprang at one bound into the foremost ranks of the official +hierarchy. On some public occasion it fell to his lot to deliver an +oration in praise of Theodoric[21], and he did this with such +admirable eloquence--admirable according to the depraved taste of the +time--that Theodoric at once bestowed upon the orator, still in the +first dawn of manhood[22], the 'Illustrious' office of Quaestor, +giving him thereby what we should call Cabinet-rank, and placing him +among the ten or eleven ministers of the highest class[23], by whom, +under the King, the fortunes of the Gothic-Roman State were absolutely +controlled. + +[Footnote 21: 'Cassiodorus Senator ... juvenis adeo, dum patris +Cassiodori patricii et praefecti praetorii consiliarius fieret et +laudes Theodorichi regis Gothorum facundissime recitasset, ab eo +quaestor est factus' (Anecdoton Holderi, ap. Usener, p. 4).] + +[Footnote 22: He himself says, or rather makes Theodoric's grandson +say to him, 'Quem _primaevum_ recipiens ad quaestoris officium, mox +reperit [Theodoricus] conscientiâ praeditum, et legum eruditione +maturum' (Var. ix. 24).] + +[Footnote 23: At this time the Illustres actually in office would +probably be the Praefectus Praetorio Italiae (Cassiodorus the father), +the Praefectus Urbis Romae, the two Magistri Militum in Praesenti, the +Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi, the Magister Officiorum, the Quaestor, the +Comes Sacrarum Largitionum, the Comes Rerum Privatarum, and the two +Comites Domesticorum Equitum et Peditum.] + +[Sidenote: Nature of the Quaestor's office.] + +The Quaestor's duty required him to be beyond all other Ministers the +mouthpiece of the Sovereign. In the 'Notitia[24]' the matters under +his control are concisely stated to be 'Laws which are to be dictated, +and Petitions.' + +[Footnote 24: 'Sub dispositione viri illustris Quaestoris + + Leges dictandae + Preces. + +Officium non habet sed adjutores de scriniis quos voluerit.'] + +To him therefore was assigned the duty (which the British Parliament +in its folly assigns to no one) of giving a final revision to the laws +which received the Sovereign's signature, and seeing that they were +consistent with one another and with previous enactments, and were +clothed in fitting language. He replied in the Sovereign's name to the +petitions which were presented to him. He also, as we learn from +Cassiodorus, had audience with the ambassadors of foreign powers, to +whom he addressed suitable and stately harangues, or through whom he +forwarded written replies to the letters which they had brought, but +always of course speaking or writing in the name of his master. In the +performance of these duties he had chiefly to rely on his own +intellectual resources as a trained jurist and rhetorician. The large +official staff which waited upon the nod of the other great Ministers +of State was absent from his apartments[25]; but for the mere manual +work of copying, filing correspondence, and the like, he could summon +the needful number of clerks from the four great bureaux (scrinia) +which were under the control of the Master of the Offices. + +[Footnote 25: Officium non habet.] + +We have an interesting summary of the Quaestor's duties and privileges +from the pen of Cassiodorus himself in the 'Variae' (vi. 5), under the +title 'Formula Quaesturae,' and to this document I refer the reader +who wishes to complete the picture of the occupations in which the +busiest years of the life of Cassiodorus were passed. + +[Sidenote: Special utility of a Quaestor to Theodoric.] + +To a ruler in Theodoric's position the acquisition of such a Quaestor +as Cassiodorus was a most fortunate event. He himself was doubtless +unable to speak or to write Latin with fluency. According to the +common story, which passes current on the authority of the 'Anonymus +Valesii,' he never could learn to write, and had to 'stencil' his +signature. I look upon this story with some suspicion, especially +because it is also told of his contemporary, the Emperor Justin; but I +have no doubt that such literary education as Theodoric ever received +was Greek rather than Latin, being imparted during the ten years of +his residence as a hostage at Constantinople. Years of marches and +countermarches, of battle and foray, at the head of his Ostrogothic +warriors, may well have effaced much of the knowledge thus acquired. +At any rate, when he descended the Julian Alps, close upon forty years +of age, and appeared for the first time in Italy to commence his long +and terrible duel with Odovacar, it was too late to learn the language +of her sons in such fashion that the first sentence spoken by him in +the Hall of Audience should not betray him to his new subjects as an +alien and a barbarian. + +Yet Theodoric was by no means indifferent to the power of well-spoken +words, by no means unconcerned as to the opinion which his +Latin-speaking subjects held concerning him. He was no Cambyses or +Timour, ruling by the sword alone. His proud title was 'Gothorum +Romanorumque Rex,' and the ideal of his hopes, successfully realised +during the greater part of his long and tranquil reign, was to be +equally the King of either people. He had been fortunate thus far in +his Praetorian Praefects. Liberius, a man of whom history knows too +little, had amid general applause steered the vessel of the State for +the first seven years of the new reign. The elder Cassiodorus, who had +succeeded him, seemed likely to follow the same course. But possibly +Theodoric had begun to feel the necessity laid upon all rulers of men, +not only to be, but also to seem, anxious for the welfare of their +subjects. Possibly some dull, unsympathetic Quaestor had failed to +present the generous thoughts of the King in a sufficiently attractive +shape to the minds of the people. This much at all events we know, +that when the young Consiliarius, high-born, fluent, and learned, +poured forth his stream of panegyric on 'Our Lord Theodoric'--a +panegyric which, to an extent unusual with these orations, reflected +the real feelings of the speaker, and all the finest passages of which +were the genuine outcome of his own enthusiasm--the great Ostrogoth +recognised at once the man whom he was in want of to be the exponent +of his thoughts to the people, and by one stroke of wise audacity +turned the boyish and comparatively obscure Assessor into the +Illustrious Quaestor, one of the great personages of his realm. + +[Sidenote: Composition of the VARIAE.] + +[Sidenote: Their style.] + +The monument of the official life of Cassiodorus is the correspondence +styled the 'Variae,' of which an abstract is now submitted to the +reader. There is no need to say much here, either as to the style or +the thoughts of these letters; a perusal of a few pages of the +abstract will give a better idea of both than an elaborate +description. The style is undoubtedly a bad one, whether it be +compared with the great works of Greek and Latin literature or with +our own estimate of excellence in speech. Scarcely ever do we find a +thought clothed in clear, precise, closely-fitting words, or a +metaphor which really corresponds to the abstract idea that is +represented by it. We take up sentence after sentence of verbose and +flaccid Latin, analyse them with difficulty, and when at last we come +to the central thought enshrouded in them, we too often find that it +is the merest and most obvious commonplace, a piece of tinsel wrapped +in endless folds of tissue paper. Perhaps from one point of view the +study of the style of Cassiodorus might prove useful to a writer of +English, as indicating the faults which he has in this age most +carefully to avoid. Over and over again, when reading newspaper +articles full of pompous words borrowed from Latin through French, +when wearied with 'velleities' and 'solidarities' and 'altruisms' and +'homologators,' or when vainly endeavouring to discover the real +meaning which lies hidden in a jungle of Parliamentary verbiage, I +have said to myself, remembering my similar labour upon the 'Variae,' +'How like this is to Cassiodorus.' + +[Sidenote: Lack of humour.] + +[Sidenote: The letter about the sucking-fish.] + +Intellectually one of the chief deficiencies of our author--a +deficiency in which perhaps his age and nation participated--was a +lack of humour. It is difficult to think that anyone who possessed a +keen sense of humour could have written letters so drolly unsuited to +the character of Theodoric, their supposed author, as are some which +we find in the 'Variae.' For instance, the King had reason to complain +that Faustus, the Praetorian Praefect, was dawdling over the execution +of an order which he had received for the shipment of corn from the +regions of Calabria and Apulia to Rome. We find the literary Quaestor +putting such words as these into the mouth of Theodoric, when +reprimanding the lazy official[26]: 'Why is there such great delay in +sending your swift ships to traverse the tranquil seas? Though the +south wind blows and the rowers are bending to their oars, has the +sucking-fish[27] fixed its teeth into the hulls through the liquid +waves; or have the shells of the Indian Sea, whose quiet touch is said +to hold so firmly that the angry billows cannot loosen it, with like +power fixed their lips into your keels? Idle stands the bark though +winged by swelling sails; the wind favours her but she makes no way; +she is fixed without an anchor, she is bound without a cable; and +these tiny animals hinder more than all such prospering circumstances +can help. Thus, though the loyal wave may be hastening its course, we +are informed that the ship stands fixed on the surface of the sea, and +by a strange paradox the swimmer [the ship] is made to remain +immovable while the wave is hurried along by movements numberless. Or, +to describe the nature of another kind of fish, perchance the sailors +in the aforesaid ships have grown dull and torpid by the touch of the +torpedo, by which such a deadly chill is struck into the right hand of +him who attacks it, that even through the spear by which it is itself +wounded, it gives a shock which causes the hand of the striker to +remain, though still a living substance, senseless and immovable. I +think some such misfortunes as these must have happened to men who are +unable to move their own bodies. But I know that in their case the +echeneis is corruption trading on delays; the bite of the Indian +shell-fish is insatiable cupidity; the torpedo is fraudulent pretence. +With perverted ingenuity they manufacture delays that they may seem to +have met with a run of ill-luck. Wherefore let your Greatness, whom it +specially concerns to look after such men as these, by a speedy rebuke +bring them to a better mind. Else the famine which we fear, will be +imputed not to the barrenness of the times but to official +negligence, whose true child it will manifestly appear.' + +[Footnote 26: Var. i. 35.] + +[Footnote 27: Echeneis.] + +It is not likely that Theodoric ever read a letter like this before +affixing to it his (perhaps stencilled) signature. If he did, he must +surely have smiled to see his few angry Teutonic words transmuted into +this wonderful rhapsody about sucking-fishes and torpedoes and +shell-fish in the Indian Sea. + +[Sidenote: Character of Cassiodorus.] + +The French proverb 'Le style c'est l'homme,' is not altogether true as +to the character of Cassiodorus. From his inflated and tawdry style we +might have expected to find him an untrustworthy friend and an +inefficient administrator. This, however, was not the case. As was +before said, his character was not heroic; he was, perhaps, inclined +to humble himself unduly before mere power and rank, and he had the +fault, common to most rhetoricians, of over-estimating the power of +words and thinking that a few fluent platitudes would heal inveterate +discords and hide disastrous blunders. But when we have said this we +have said the worst. He was, as far as we have any means of judging, a +loyal subject, a faithful friend, a strenuous and successful +administrator, and an exceptionally far-sighted statesman. His right +to this last designation rests upon the part which he bore in the +establishment of the Italian Kingdom 'of the Goths and Romans,' +founded by the great Theodoric. + +[Sidenote: His work in seconding the policy of Theodoric.] + +Theodoric, it must always be remembered, had entered Italy not +ostensibly as an invader but as a deliverer. He came in pursuance of a +compact with the legitimate Emperor of the New Rome, to deliver the +Elder Rome and the land of Italy from the dominion of 'the upstart +King of Rugians and Turcilingians[28],' Odovacar. The compact, it is +true, was loose and indefinite, and contained within itself the germs +of that misunderstanding which, forty-seven years later, was developed +into a terrible war. Still, for the present, Theodoric, King of the +Ostrogoths, was also in some undefined way legitimate representative +of the Old Roman Empire within the borders of Italy. This double +aspect of his rule was illustrated by that which (rather than the +doubtful Rex Italiae) seems to have been his favourite title, +'Gothorum Romanorumque Rex.' + +[Footnote 28: Jordanes, De Rebus Geticis, lvii.] + +[Sidenote: Theodoric's love of _Civilitas_.] + +The great need of Italy was peace. After a century of wars and rumours +of wars; after Alaric, Attila, and Gaiseric had wasted her fields or +sacked her capital; after she had been exhausting her strength in +hopeless efforts to preserve the dominion of Gaul, Spain, and Africa; +after she had groaned under the exactions of the insolent _foederati_, +Roman soldiers only in name, who followed the standards of Ricimer or +Odovacar, she needed peace and to be governed with a strong hand, in +order to recover some small part of her old material prosperity. These +two blessings, peace and a strong government, Theodoric's rule ensured +to her. The theory of his government was this, that the two nations +should dwell side by side, not fused into one, not subject either to +the other, but the Romans labouring at the arts of peace, the Goths +wielding for their defence the sword of war. Over all was to be the +strong hand of the King of Goths and Romans, repressing the violence +of the one nation, correcting the chicanery of the other, and from one +and all exacting the strict observance of that which was the object of +his daily and nightly cares, CIVILITAS. Of this civilitas--which we +may sometimes translate 'good order,' sometimes 'civilisation,' +sometimes 'the character of a law-abiding citizen,' but which no +English word or phrase fully expresses--the reader of the following +letters will hear, even to weariness. But though we may be tired of +the phrase, we ought none the less to remember that the thing was that +which Italy stood most in need of, that it was secured for her during +forty years by the labours of Theodoric and Cassiodorus, and that +happiness, such as she knew not again for many centuries, was the +result. + +[Sidenote: Foresight of Cassiodorus in aiding this policy.] + +But the theory of a warrior caste of Goths and a trading and labouring +caste of Romans was not flattering to the national vanity of a people +who, though they had lost all relish for fighting, could not forget +the great deeds of their forefathers. This was no doubt the weak point +of the new State-system, though one cannot say that it is a weakness +which need have been fatal if time enough had been given for the +working out of the great experiment, and for Roman and Goth to become +in Italy, as they did become in Spain, one people. The grounds upon +which the praise of far-seeing statesmanship may be claimed for +Cassiodorus are, that notwithstanding the bitter taste which it must +have had in his mouth, as in the mouth of every educated Roman, he +perceived that here was the best medicine for the ills of Italy. All +attempts to conjure with the great name of the Roman Empire could only +end in subjection to the really alien rule of Byzantium. All attempts +to rouse the religious passions of the Catholic against the heretical +intruders were likely to benefit the Catholic but savage Frank. The +cruel sufferings of the Italians at the hands of the Heruli of +Belisarius and from the ravages of the Alamannic Brethren are +sufficient justification of the soundness of Cassiodorus' view that +Theodoric's State-system was the one point of hope for Italy. + +[Sidenote: His religious tolerance.] + +Allusion has been made in the last paragraph to the religious +differences which divided the Goths from the Italians. It is well +known that Theodoric was an Arian, but an Arian of the most tolerant +type, quite unlike the bitter persecutors who reigned at Toulouse and +at Carthage. During the last few years of his reign, indeed, when his +mind was perhaps in some degree failing, he was tempted by the +persecuting policy of the Emperor Justin into retaliatory measures of +persecution towards his Catholic subjects, but as a rule his policy +was eminently fair and even-handed towards the professors of the two +hostile creeds, and even towards the generally proscribed nation of +the Jews. So conspicuous to all the world was his desire to hold the +balance perfectly even between the two communions, that it was said of +him that he beheaded an orthodox deacon who was singularly dear to +him, because he had professed the Arian faith in order to win his +favour. But this story, though told by a nearly contemporary +writer[29], is, it may be hoped, mere Saga. + +[Footnote 29: Theodorus Lector (circa 550), Eccl. Hist. ii. 18. Both +he and some later writers who borrow from him call the King [Greek: +Theoderichos ho Aphros]; why, it is impossible to say.] + +[Sidenote: This did not proceed from indifference.] + +The point which we may note is, that this policy of toleration or +rather of absolute fairness between warring creeds, though not +initiated by Cassiodorus, seems to have thoroughly commended itself to +his reason and conscience. It is from his pen that we get those golden +words which may well atone for many platitudes and some ill-judged +display of learning: _Religionem imperare non possumus, quia nemo +cogitur ut credat invitus_[30]. And this tolerant temper of mind is +the more to be commended, because it did not proceed from any +indifference on his part to the subjects of religious controversy. +Cassiodorus was evidently a devout and loyal Catholic. Much the larger +part of his writings is of a theological character, and the +thirty-five years of his life which he passed in a monastery were +evidently + + 'Bound each to each in natural piety' + +with the earlier years passed at Court and in the Council-chamber. + +[Footnote 30: Var. ii. 27.] + +[Sidenote: Date of the commencement of the Variae.] + +We cannot trace as we should like to do the precise limits of time by +which the official career of Cassiodorus was bounded. The 'Various +Letters' are evidently not arranged in strict chronological order, and +to but few of them is it possible to affix an exact date. There are +two or three, however, which require especial notice, because some +authors have assigned them to a date previous to that at which, as I +believe, the author entered the service of the Emperor. + +[Sidenote: Letter to Anastasius.] + +The first letter of the whole series is addressed to the Emperor +Anastasius. It has been sometimes connected with the embassy of +Faustus in 493, or with that of Festus in 497, to the Court of +Constantinople, the latter of which embassies resulted in the +transmission to Theodoric of 'the ornaments of the palace' (that is +probably the regal insignia) which Odovacar had surrendered to Zeno. +But the language of the letter in question, which speaks of 'causas +iracundiae,' does not harmonise well with either of these dates, since +there was then, as far as we know, no quarrel between Ravenna and +Constantinople. On the other hand, it would fit perfectly with the +state of feeling between the two Courts in 505, after Sabinian the +general of Anastasius had been defeated by the troops of Theodoric +under Pitzias at the battle of Horrea Margi; or in 508, when the +Byzantine ships had made a raid on Apulia and plundered Tarentum. To +one of these dates it should probably be referred, its place at the +beginning of the collection being due to the exalted rank of the +receiver of the letter, not to considerations of chronology. + +[Sidenote: Letters to Clovis.] + +The fortieth and forty-first letters of the Second Book relate to the +sending of a harper to Clovis, or, as Cassiodorus calls him, Luduin, +King of the Franks. In the earlier letter Boethius is directed to +procure such a harper (citharoedus), and to see that he is a +first-rate performer. In the later, Theodoric congratulates his royal +brother-in-law on his victory over the Alamanni, adjures him not to +pursue the panic-stricken fugitives who have taken refuge within the +Ostrogothic territory, and sends ambassadors to introduce the harper +whom Boethius has provided. It used to be thought that these letters +must be referred to 496, the year of the celebrated victory of Clovis +over the Alamanni, commonly, but incorrectly, called the battle of +Tulbiacum. But this was a most improbable theory, for it was difficult +to understand how a boy of sixteen (and that was the age of Boethius +in 496) should have attained such eminence as a musical connoisseur as +to be entrusted with the task of selecting the citharoedus. And in a +very recent monograph[31] Herr von Schubert has shown, I think +convincingly, that the last victory of Clovis over the Alamanni, and +their migration to Raetia within the borders of Theodoric's territory, +occurred not in 496 but a few years later, probably about 503 or 504. +It is true that Gregory of Tours (to whom the earlier battle is +all-important, as being the event which brought about the conversion +of Clovis) says nothing about this later campaign; but to those who +know the fragmentary and incomplete character of this part of his +history, such an omission will not appear an important argument. + +[Footnote 31: Die Uterwerfung der Alamannen: Strassburg, 1884.] + +[Sidenote: Letters to Gaulish princes.] + +The letters written in Theodoric's name to Clovis, to Alaric II, to +Gundobad of Burgundy, and to other princes, in order to prevent the +outbreak of a war between the Visigoths and the Franks, have been by +some authors[32] assigned to a date some years before the war actually +broke out; but though this cannot, perhaps, be disproved, it seems to +me much more probable that they were written in the early part of 507 +on the eve of the war between Clovis and Alaric, which they were +powerless to avert. + +[Footnote 32: Especially Binding, Geschichte des +Burgundisch-Romanischen Königreichs, p. 181.] + +[Sidenote: Duration of Cassiodorus' office.] + +More difficult than the question of the beginning of the Quaestorship +of Cassiodorus is that of its duration and its close. It was an office +which was in its nature an annual one. At the commencement of each +fresh year 'of the Indiction,' that is on the first of September of +the calendar year, a Quaestor was appointed; but there does not seem +to have been anything to prevent the previous holder of the office +from being re-appointed. In the case of Cassiodorus, the Quaestor +after Theodoric's own heart, his intimate friend and counsellor, this +may have been done for several years running, or he may have +apparently retired from office for a year and then resumed it. It is +clear, that whether in or out of office he had always, as the King's +friend, a large share in the direction of State affairs. He himself +says, in a letter supposed to be addressed to himself after the death +of Theodoric[33]: 'Non enim proprios fines sub te _ulla dignitas_ +custodivit;' and that this was the fact we cannot doubt. Whatever his +nominal dignity might be, or if for the moment he possessed no +ostensible office at all, he was still virtually what we should call +the Prime Minister of the Ostrogothic King[34]. + +[Footnote 33: ix. 24.] + +[Footnote 34: Thorbecke has pointed out (pp. 40-41) that we possess +letters written by Cassiodorus to four Quaestors before the year 510, +and that therefore the fact of others holding the nominal office of +Quaestor did not circumscribe his activity as Secretary to Theodoric.] + +[Sidenote: Consulship of Cassiodorus, 514.] + +In the year 514 he received an honour which, notwithstanding that it +was utterly divorced from all real authority, was still one of the +highest objects of the ambition of every Roman noble: he was hailed as +Consul Ordinarius, and gave his name to the year. For some reason +which is not stated, possibly because the City of Constantinople was +in that year menaced by the insurrection of Vitalian, no colleague in +the East was nominated to share his dignity; and the entry in the +Consular Calendars is therefore 'Senatore solo Consule.' + +In his own Chronicle, Cassiodorus adds the words,'Me etiam Consule in +vestrorum laude temporum, adunato clero vel [= et] populo, Romanae +Ecclesiae rediit optata concordia.' This sentence no doubt relates to +the dissensions which had agitated the Roman Church ever since the +contested Papal election of Symmachus and Laurentius in the year 498. +Victory had been assured to Symmachus by the Synod of 501, but +evidently the feelings of hatred then aroused had still smouldered on, +especially perhaps among the Senators and high nobles of Rome, who had +for the most part adopted the candidature of Laurentius. Now, on the +death of Symmachus (July 18, 514) the last embers of the controversy +were extinguished, and the genial influence of Cassiodorus, Senator by +name and Consul by office, was successfully exerted to induce nobles, +clergy, and people to unite in electing a new Pope. After eight days +Hormisdas the Campanian sat in the Chair of St. Peter, an undoubted +Pontiff. + +[Sidenote: Deference to the Roman Senate.] + +Not only in maintaining the dignity of the Consulship, but also in +treating the Roman Senate with every outward show of deference and +respect, did the Ostrogothic King follow and even improve upon the +example of the Roman Emperors. The student of the following letters +will observe the tone of deep respect which is almost always adopted +towards the Senate; how every nomination of importance to an official +post is communicated to them, almost as if their suffrages were +solicited for the new candidate; what a show is made of consulting +them in reference to peace and war; and what a reality there seems to +be in the appeals made to their loyalty to the new King after the +death of Theodoric. In all this, as in the whole relation of the +Empire to the Senate during the five centuries of their joint +existence, it is difficult to say where well-acted courtesy ended, and +where the desire to secure such legal power as yet remained to a +venerable assembly began. Perhaps when we remember that for many +glorious centuries the Senate had been the real ruler of the Roman +State, we may assert that the attitude and the language of the +successors of Augustus towards the Conscript Fathers were similar to +those used by a modern House of Commons towards the Crown, only that +in the one case the individual supplanted the assembly, in the other +the assembly supplanted the individual. But whatever the exact +relations between King and Senate may have been, and though +occasionally the former found it necessary to rebuke the latter pretty +sharply for conduct unbecoming their high position, there can be no +doubt that the general intention of Theodoric was to soothe the +wounded pride and flatter the vanity of the Roman Senators by every +means in his power: and for this purpose no one could be so well +fitted as Cassiodorus, Senator by name and by office, descendant of +many generations of Roman nobles, and master of such exuberant +rhetoric that it was difficult then, as it is often impossible now, to +extract any definite meaning from his sonorous periods. + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus Patrician.] + +It was possibly upon his laying down the Consulship, that Cassiodorus +received the dignity of Patrician--a dignity only, for in itself it +seems to have conferred neither wealth nor power. Yet a title which +had been borne by Ricimer, Odovacar, and Theodoric himself might well +excite the ambition of Theodoric's subject. If our conjecture be +correct that it was conferred upon Cassiodorus in the year 515, he +received it at an earlier age than his father, to whom only about ten +or eleven years before he had written the letter announcing his +elevation to this high dignity. + +[Sidenote: The Chronicon.] + +Five years after his Consulate, Cassiodorus undertook a little piece +of literary labour which he does not appear to have held in high +account himself (since he does not include it in the list of his +works), and which has certainly added but little to his fame. This was +his 'Chronicon,' containing an abstract of the history of the world +from the deluge down to A.D. 519, the year of the Consulship of the +Emperor Justin, and of Theodoric's son-in-law Eutharic. This +Chronicle is for the most part founded upon, or rather copied from, +the well-known works of Eusebius and Prosper, the copying being +unfortunately not correctly done. More than this, Cassiodorus has +attempted with little judgment to combine the mode of reckoning by +Consular years and by years of Emperors. As he is generally two or +three years out in his reckoning of the former, this proceeding has +the curious result of persistently throwing some Consulships of the +reigning Emperor into the reign of his predecessor.[35] Thus Probus is +Consul for two years under Aurelian, and for one year under Tacitus; +both the two Consulships of Carus and the first of Diocletian are +under Probus, while Diocletian's second Consulship is under Carinus +and Numerianus; and so forth. It is wonderful that so intelligent a +person as Cassiodorus did not see that combinations of this kind were +false upon the face of them. + +[Footnote 35: It need hardly be explained that, as a matter of +compliment to the reigning Emperor, the first Consulship that fell +vacant after his accession to the throne was (I believe invariably) +filled by him, and that though he might sometimes have held the office +of Consul before his assumption of the diadem, this was not often the +case. Certainly, in the instances given above, Probus, Carus, and +Diocletian held no Consulships till after they had been saluted as +Emperors.] + +When the Chronicle gets nearer to the compiler's own times it becomes +slightly more interesting, but also slightly less fair. Throughout the +fourth century a few little remarks are interspersed in the dry list +of names and dates, the general tendency of which is to praise up the +Gothic nation or to extenuate their faults and reverses. The battle of +Pollentia (402[36]) is unhesitatingly claimed as a Gothic victory; the +clemency of Alaric at the capture of Rome (410) is magnified; the +valour of the Goths is made the cause of the defeat of Attila in the +Catalaunian plains (451); the name of Gothic Eutharic is put before +that of Byzantine Justin in the consular list; and so forth. Upon the +whole, as has been already said, the work cannot be considered as +adding to the reputation of its author; nor can it be defended from +the terrible attack which has been made upon it by that scholar of our +own day whose opinion upon such a subject stands the highest, Theodor +Mommsen[37]. Only, when he makes this unfortunate Chronicle reflect +suspicion on the other works of Cassiodorus, and especially on the +Gothic History[38], the German scholar seems to me to chastise the +busy Minister more harshly than he deserves. + +[Footnote 36: Clinton's date for this battle, 403, differs from that +assigned by Cassiodorus, and is, in my judgment, erroneous.] + +[Footnote 37: Abhandlungen der philologisch-historischen Klasse der +Königlich Sächsischen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften, iii. 547-696.] + +[Footnote 38: 'Dass die ganze Procedur von der übelsten Art ist und +den viel gefeierten gothischen Historiker in jeder weise +compromittirt, bedarf keiner Ausaneindersetzung' (l.c. 564).] + +[Sidenote: The Gothic History.] + +I have just alluded to the Gothic History of Cassiodorus. It was +apparently shortly after the composition of his Chronicle[39] that +this, in some respects his most important work, was compiled and +arranged according to his accustomed habit in twelve books. His own +estimate--and it is not a low one--of the value of this performance is +expressed in a letter which he makes his young Sovereign Athalaric +address to the Senate on his promotion to the Praefecture[40]: 'He +extended his labours even to our remote ancestry, learning by his +reading that which scarcely the hoar memories of our forefathers +retained. He drew forth from their hiding-place the Kings of the +Goths, hidden by long forgetfulness. He restored the Amals to their +proper place with the lustre of his own[41] lineage (?), evidently +proving that up to the seventeenth generation we have had kings for +our ancestors. He made the origin of the Goths a part of Roman +history, collecting as it were into one wreath all the flowery growth +which had before been scattered through the plains of many books. +Consider therefore what love he showed to you [the Senate] in praising +us, he who showed that the nation of your Sovereign had been from +antiquity a marvellous people; so that ye, who from the days of your +forefathers have ever been deemed noble, are yet ruled over by the +ancient progeny of Kings[42].' + +[Footnote 39: It could not have been written, at any rate in its +present shape, before 516, because Athalaric's birth is mentioned in +it. I prefer Jordanes' date for this event, 516 or 517, to that given +by Procopius, 518. On the other hand, Usener proves (p. 74), from the +reference to it in the Anecdoton Holderi, that it could not have been +written after 521.] + +[Footnote 40: Var. ix. 25.] + +[Footnote 41: 'Iste Amalos cum generis _sui_ claritate restituit.' +Perhaps it is better to take 'sui' as equivalent to 'illorum,' and +translate 'their lineage.'] + +[Footnote 42: 'Ut sicut fuistis a majoribus vestris semper nobiles +aestimati, ita vobis rerum antiqua progenies imperaret.' For 'rerum' +we must surely read 'regum.'] + +[Sidenote: Its purpose.] + +In reading this estimate by Cassiodorus of his own performance, we can +see at once that it lacked that first of all conditions precedent for +the attainment of absolute historic truth, complete impartiality[43]. +Like Hume and like Macaulay Cassiodorus wrote his history with a +purpose. We may describe that purpose as two-fold: + +[Footnote 43: My meaning would be better expressed by the useful +German word 'voraussetzungslosigkeit,' freedom from a foregone +conclusion.] + +(1) To vindicate the claim of the Goths to rank among the historic +nations of antiquity by bringing them into some sort of connection +with Greece and Rome ('Originem Gothicam historiam fecit esse +Romanam'); and (2) among the Goths, to exalt as highly as possible the +family of the Amals, that family from which Theodoric had sprung, and +to string as many regal names as possible upon the Amal chain +('Evidenter ostendens in decimam septimam progeniem stirpem nos habere +regalem'). + +I have said that the possession of a purpose like this is unfavourable +to the attainment of absolute historic truth; but the aim which +Cassiodorus proposed to himself was a lofty one, being in fact the +reconciliation of the past and the future of the world by showing to +the outworn Latin race that the new blood which was being poured into +it by the northern nations came, like its own, from a noble ancestry: +and, for us, the labour to which it stimulated him has been full of +profit, since to it we owe something like one half of our knowledge of +the Teutonic ancestors of Modern Europe. + +[Sidenote: Confusion between Goths and Getae.] + +The much-desired object of 'making the origin of Gothic history Roman' +was effected chiefly by attributing to the Goths all that Cassiodorus +found written in classic authors concerning the Getae or the +Scythians. The confusion between Goths and Getae, though modern +ethnologists are nearly unanimous in pronouncing it to be a confusion +between two utterly different nations, is not one for which +Cassiodorus is responsible, since it had been made at least a hundred +years before his time. When the Emperor Claudius II won his great +victories over the Goths in the middle of the Third Century, he was +hailed rightly enough by the surname of _Gothicus_; but when at the +beginning of the Fifth Century the feeble Emperors Arcadius and +Honorius wished to celebrate a victory which, as they vainly hoped, +had effectually broken the power of the Goths, the words which they +inscribed upon the Arch of Triumph were 'Quod _Getarum_ nationem in +omne aevum docuere extingui.' In the poems of Claudian, and generally +in all the contemporary literature of the time, the regular word for +the countrymen of Alaric is Getae. + +[Sidenote: The term Scythian.] + +The Greek historians, on the other hand, freely applied the general +term Scythian--as they had done at any time since the Scythian +campaign of Darius Hystaspis--to any barbarian nation living beyond +the Danube and the Cimmerian Bosporus. With these two clues, or +imaginary clues, in his hand, Cassiodorus could traverse a +considerable part of the border-land of classical antiquity. The +battles between the Scythians and the Egyptians, the story of the +Amazons, Telephus son of Hercules and nephew of Priam, the defeat of +Cyrus by Tomyris, and the unsuccessful expedition of Darius--all were +connected with Gothic history by means of that easily stretched word, +Scythia. Then comes Sitalces, King of Thrace, who makes war on +Perdiccas of Macedon; and then, 'in the time of Sylla,' a certain wise +philosopher-king of Dacia, Diceneus by name, in whose character and +history Cassiodorus perhaps outlined his own ideal of wisdom swaying +brute force. With these and similar stories culled from classical +authors Cassiodorus appears to have filled up the interval--which was +to him of absolutely uncertain duration--between the Gothic migration +from the Baltic to the Euxine and their appearance as conquerors and +ravagers in the eastern half of the Roman Empire in the middle of the +third century of the Christian era. Now, soothing as it may have been +to the pride of a Roman subject of Theodoric to be informed that his +master's ancestors had fought at the war of Troy and humbled the pride +of Perdiccas, to a scientific historian these Scytho-Getic histories +culled from Herodotus and Trogus are of little or no value, and his +first step in the process of enquiry is to eliminate them from +'Gothica historia,' thus making it, as far as he can, _not_ 'Romana.' +The question then arises whether there was another truly Gothic +element in the history of Cassiodorus, and if so, what value can be +attached to it. Thus enquiring we soon find, both before and after +this intrusive Scytho-Getic element, matter of quite a different kind, +which has often much of the ring of the true Teutonic _Saga_. It is +reasonable to believe that here Cassiodorus, whose mission it was to +reconcile Roman and Goth, and who could not have achieved this end by +altering the history of the less civilised people out of all +possibility of recognition by its own chieftains and warriors, has +really interwoven in his work some part of the songs and Sagas which +were still current among the older men who had shared the wanderings +of Theodoric. This legendary portion, which Cassiodorus himself +perhaps half despised, as being gathered not from books but from the +lips of rude minstrels, is in fact the only part of his work which has +any scientific value. + +[Sidenote: The Amal pedigree.] + +In his glorification of the Amal line, Cassiodorus follows more +closely these genuine national traditions than in his history of the +Gothic people. References to Herodotus and Trogus would have been here +obviously out of place, and he accordingly puts before us a pedigree +fashioned on the same model as those which we find in the Saxon +Chronicle, and therefore probably genuine. By genuine of course is +meant a pedigree which was really current and accepted among the +people over whom Theodoric ruled. How many of the links which form it +represent real historical personages is a matter about which we may +almost be said neither to know nor care. We see that it begins in the +approved fashion with 'Non puri homines sed semidei id est Anses[44],' +and that the first of these half-divine ancestors is named _Gaut_, +evidently the eponymous hero of the Gothic people. Some of the later +links--Amal, Ostrogotha, Athal--have the same appearance of names +coined to embody facts of the national consciousness. At the end of +the genealogy appear the undoubtedly historical names of the immediate +ancestors of Theodoric. It is noteworthy that several, in fact the +majority of the names of Kings who figure in early Gothic history, are +not included in this genealogy. While this fact permits us to doubt +whether Cassiodorus has not exaggerated the pre-eminence of the Amal +race in early days, it must be admitted to be also an evidence of the +good faith with which he preserved the national tradition on these +points. Had he been merely inventing, it would have been easy to +include every name of a distinguished Gothic King among the +progenitors of his Sovereign. + +[Footnote 44: Jordanes, De Reb. Get. xiii.] + +[Sidenote: Abstract by Jordanes.] + +Such then was the general purpose of the Gothic History of +Cassiodorus. The book itself has perished--a tantalising loss when we +consider how many treatises from the same pen have been preserved to +us which we could well have spared. But we can speak, as will be seen +from the preceding remarks, with considerable confidence as to its +plan and purpose, because we possess in the well-known treatise of +Jordanes 'On the Origin of the Goths[45]' an abbreviated copy, +executed it is true by a very inferior hand, but still manifestly +preserving some of the features of the original. It will not be +necessary here to go into the difficult question as to the personality +of this writer, which has been debated at considerable length and with +much ingenuity by several German authors[46]. It is enough to say that +Jordanes, who was, according to his own statement, 'agrammatus,' a man +of Gothic descent, a notary, and then a monk[47], on the alleged +request of his friend Castalius, 'compressed the twelve books of +Senator, _de origine actibusque Getarum_, bringing down the history +from olden times to our own days by kings and generations, into one +little pamphlet.' Still, according to his statement, which there can +be little doubt is here thoroughly false, he had the loan of the +Gothic History for only three days from the steward of Cassiodorus, +and wrote chiefly or entirely from his recollection of this hasty +perusal[48]. He says that he added some suitable passages from the +Greek and Latin historians, but his own range of historical reading +was evidently so narrow that we may fairly suspect these additions to +have been of the slenderest possible dimensions. Upon the whole, there +can be little doubt that it is a safe rule to attribute everything +that is good or passable in this little treatise to Cassiodorus, and +everything that is very bad, childish, and absurd in it to Jordanes. + +[Footnote 45: 'De Rebus Geticis,' or 'De Gothorum Origine,' is the +name by which this little treatise is usually known. It seems to be +doubtful, however, what title, if any, Jordanes himself prefixed to +it. Mommsen calls it simply 'Getica.'] + +[Footnote 46: Especially Schirren, 'De Ratione quae inter Jordanem et +Cassiodorum intercedat' (Dorpat, 1858); Sybel, 'De Fontibus Libri +Jordanis' (Berlin, 1838); and Köpke, 'Die Anfänge des Königthums bei +den Gothen' (Berlin, 1859).] + +[Footnote 47: _Possibly_ in the end Bishop of Crotona, or a Defensor +of the Roman Church, since we find a Jordanes in each of these +positions; but this is mere guesswork, and to me neither theory seems +probable.] + +[Footnote 48: 'Sed ut non mentiar, ad triduanam lectionem +dispensatoris ejus beneficio libros ipsos antehac relegi.' +Notwithstanding the 'ut non mentiar,' most of those who have enquired +into the subject have come to the opinion which is bluntly expressed +by Usener (p. 73), 'Die dreitägige Frist die Jordanes zur Benutzung +der 12 Bücher gehabt haben will, _ist natürlich Schwindel_.' Even by +an expert précis-writer a loan of three months would be much more +probably needed for the purpose indicated by Jordanes than one of +three days.] + +[Sidenote: Temporary retirement from official life (?).] + +The literary labours of Cassiodorus, of which the Gothic History was +one of the fruits, were probably continued for two or three years +after its completion[49]. At least there is reason to believe that he +was not actively engaged in the service of the State during those +terrible years (524 and 525) in which the failing intellect of +Theodoric, goaded almost to madness by Justin's persecution of his +Arian co-religionists, condescended to ignoble measures of +retaliation, which brought him into collision with Senate and Pope, +and in the end tarnished his fame by the judicial murder of Boethius +and Symmachus. It was fortunate indeed for Cassiodorus if he was +during this time, perhaps because of his unwillingness to help the +King to his own hurt, enjoying an interval of literary retirement at +Squillace. His honour must have suffered if he had abetted the +intolerant policy of Theodoric; his life might have been forfeit if he +had openly opposed it. + +[Footnote 49: This was probably 521 at latest.] + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus as Master of the Offices, 526.] + +Whatever may have been the cause of the temporary obscuration of +Cassiodorus, he was soon again shining in all the splendour of +official dignity; for when Theodoric died, his old and trusted +minister was holding--probably not for the first time in his official +career[50]--the great place of Master of the Offices. + +[Footnote 50: The language of Cassiodorus in Var. ix. 24 implies that +he had held this office for a considerable time before the death of +Theodoric. Usener thinks that he was made Magister Officiorum for the +first time about the year 518.] + +The _Magister Officiorum_, whose relation to the other members of the +Cabinet of the Sovereign was somewhat indefinite, and who was in fact +constantly trying to enlarge the circle of his authority at their +expense, was at the head of the Civil Service of the Roman Empire, and +afterwards occupied a similar position in the Ostrogothic State. It +was said of him by the Byzantine orator Priscus (himself a man who had +been engaged in important embassies), 'Of all the counsels of the +Emperor the Magister is a partaker, inasmuch as the messengers and +interpreters and the soldiers employed on guard at the palace are +ranged under him.' Quite in harmony with this general statement are +the more precise indications of the 'Notitia.' There, 'under the +disposition of the illustrious Magister Officiorum,' we find five +_Scholae_, which seem to have been composed of household troops[51]. +Then comes the great Schola of the _Agentes in rebus_ and their +deputies--a mighty army of 'king's messengers,' who swarmed through +all the Provinces of the Empire, executing the orders of the +Sovereign, and earning gold and hatred from the helpless Provincials +among whom their errands lay. In addition to these the four great +stationary bureaux--the Scrinium Memoriae, Scrinium Dispositionum, +Scrinium Epistolarum, and Scrinium Libellorum--the offices whose duty +it was to conduct the correspondence of the Sovereign with foreign +powers, and to answer the petitions of his own subjects, all owned the +Master of the Offices as their head. Moreover, the great arsenals (of +which there were six in Italy at Concordia, Verona, Mantua, Cremona, +Ticinum, and Lucca) received their orders from the same official. An +anomalous and too widely dispersed range of functions this seems +according to our ideas, including something of the Secretaryship for +Foreign Affairs, something of the Home Secretaryship, and something of +the War Office and the Horse Guards. Yet, as if this were not enough, +there was also transferred to him from the office of the Praetorian +Praefect the superintendence of the Cursus Publicus, that excellent +institution by which facilities for intercourse were provided between +the capital and the most distant Provinces, relays of post-horses +being kept at every town, available for use by those who bore properly +signed 'letters of evection.' Thus to the multifarious duties of the +Master of the Offices was added in effect the duty of +Postmaster-General. It was found however in practice to be an +inconvenient arrangement for the Master of the Offices to have the +control of the services of the 'public horses,' while the Praetorian +Praefect remained responsible for the supply of their food; and the +charge of the _Cursus Publicus_ was accordingly retransferred--at any +rate in the Eastern Empire--to the office of the Praefect, though the +letters of evection still required the counter-signature of the +Master[52]. + +[Footnote 51: They are 'Scutariorum prima, secunda et tertia, +armaturarum seniorum et gentilium seniorum' (Notitia Occidentis, cap. +ix.).] + +[Footnote 52: This is the account of the matter given by Lydus (De +Magistratibus ii. 10); but as the Notitia (Or. xi.) puts the 'Curiosus +Cursus Publici Praesentalis' under the disposition of the Magister +Officiorum, the retransfer had probably not then taken place. It would +seem also from the Formula of Cassiodorus (Var. vi. 6) that in his +time the Magister Officiorum still had the charge of the Cursus +Publicus.] + +[Sidenote: Death of Theodoric, Aug. 30, 526.] + +Such was the position of Cassiodorus when, on the 30th of August, 526, +by the death of Theodoric, he lost the master whom he had served so +long and so faithfully. The difficulties which beset the new reign are +pretty clearly indicated in the letters which Cassiodorus published in +the name of the young King Athalaric, Theodoric's grandson, and which +are to be found in the Eighth Book of the 'Variae.' Athalaric himself +being only a boy of eight or ten years of age, supreme power was +vested in his mother Amalasuentha, with what title we are unable to +say, but apparently not with that of Queen. This Princess, a woman of +great and varied accomplishments, perhaps once a pupil, certainly a +friend, of Cassiodorus, ruled entirely in accordance with the maxims +of his statesmanship, and endeavoured with female impulsiveness to +carry into effect his darling scheme of Romanising the Goths. During +the whole of her regency we may doubtless consider Cassiodorus as +virtually her Prime Minister, and the eight years which it occupied +were without doubt that portion of his life in which he exercised the +most direct and unquestioned influence on State affairs. + +[Sidenote: Services of Cassiodorus to the Regent Amalasuentha.] + +His services at the commencement of the new reign will be best +described in his own words: 'Nostris quoque principiis[53]' (the +letter is written in Athalaric's name) 'quanto se labore concessit, +cum novitas regni multa posceret ordinari? Erat solus ad universa +sufficiens. Ipsum dictatio publica, ipsum consilia nostra poscebant; +et labore ejus actum est ne laboraret imperium. _Reperimus eum quidem +Magistrum sed implevit nobis Quaestoris officium_: et mercedes +justissima devotione persolvens, cautelam, quam ab auctore nostro +didicerat, libenter haeredis utilitatibus exhibebat[54].' + +[Footnote 53: Variarum ix. 25.] + +[Footnote 54: The meaning apparently is: 'The experience which he had +gained in Theodoric's service was employed for the advantage of his +grandson.'] + +[Sidenote: Fears of invasion.] + +Cassiodorus then goes on to describe how he laboured for his young +Sovereign with the sword as well as with the pen. Some hostile +invasion was dreaded, perhaps from the Franks, or, more probably, from +the Vandals, whose relations with the Ostrogoths at that time were +strained, owing to the murder of Theodoric's sister Amalafrida by +Hilderic the Vandal King. Cassiodorus provided ships and equipped +soldiers at his own expense, probably for the defence of his beloved +Province of Bruttii. The alarm of war passed away, but difficulties +appear to have arisen owing to the sudden cancellation of the +contracts which had been entered into when hostilities seemed +imminent; and to these difficulties Cassiodorus tells us that he +brought his trained experience as an administrator and a judge, +resolving them so as to give satisfaction to all who were concerned. + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect, 533.] + +Seven years of Amalasuentha's regency thus passed, and now at length, +at fifty-three years of age, Cassiodorus was promoted (Sept. 1, 533) +to the most distinguished place which a subject could occupy. He +received from Amalasuentha the office of Praetorian Praefect. As +thirty-three years had elapsed since his father was invested with the +same dignity, we may fairly conjecture that father and son both +climbed this eminence at the same period of their lives; yet, +considering the extraordinary credit which the younger Cassiodorus +enjoyed at Court, we might have expected that he would have been +clothed with the Praefecture before he attained the fifty-third year +of his age. And, in fact, he hints in the letter composed by him, in +which he informs himself of his own elevation[55], that that elevation +had been somewhat too long delayed, though the reason which he alleges +for the delay (namely, that the people might greet the new Praefect +the more heartily[56]) is upon the face of it not the true cause. + +[Footnote 55: Var. ix. 24.] + +[Footnote 56: 'Diutius quidem differendo pro te cunctorum vota +lassavimus, ut benevolentiam in te probaremus generalitatis, et +cunctis desiderabilior advenires.'] + +[Sidenote: Office of the Praetorian Praefect.] + +The majesty of the Praetorian Praefect's office is fully dwelt upon +and its functions described in a letter in the following +collection[57], to which the reader is referred. Originally only the +chief officer of those Praetorian troops in Rome by whom the Emperor +was guarded, until, as was so often the case, he was in some fit of +petulance by the same pampered sentinels dethroned, the Praefectus +Praetorio had gradually become more and more of a judge, less and less +of a soldier. In the great changes wrought by Constantine the +Praetorian guards disappeared--somewhat in the same fashion after +which the Janissaries were removed by Sultan Mahmoud. The Praetorian +Praefect's dignity, however, survived, and though he lost every shred +of military command he became or continued to be the first civil +servant of the Empire. Cassiodorus is fond of comparing him to Joseph +at the Court of Pharaoh, nor is the comparison an inapt one. In the +Constantinople of our own day the Grand Vizier holds a position not +altogether unlike that which the Praefect held in the Court of +Arcadius and Theodosius. 'The office of this Praefect,' said one who +had spent his life as one of his subordinates[58],' is like the Ocean, +encircling all other offices and ministering to all their needs. The +Consulate is indeed higher in rank than the Praefecture, but less in +power. The Praefect wears a _mandye_, or woollen cloak, dyed with the +purple of Cos, and differing from the Emperor's only in the fact that +it reaches not to the feet but to the knees. Girt with his sword he +takes his seat as President of the Senate. When that body has +assembled, the chiefs of the army fall prostrate before the Praefect, +who raises them and kisses each in turn, in order to express his +desire to be on good terms with the military power. Nay, even the +Emperor himself walks (or till lately used to walk) on foot from his +palace to meet the Praefect as he moves slowly towards him at the head +of the Senate. The insignia of the Praefect's office are his lofty +chariot, his golden reed-case [pen-holder], weighing one hundred +pounds, his massive silver inkstand, and silver bowl on a tripod of +the same metal to receive the petitions of suitors. Three official +yachts wait upon his orders, and convey him from the capital to the +neighbouring Provinces.' + +[Footnote 57: Var. vi. 3.] + +[Footnote 58: Joannes Lydus, De Dignitatibus ii. 7, 8, 9, 13, 14.] + +[Sidenote: The Praetorian Praefect as Judge of Appeal.] + +The personage thus highly placed had a share in the government of the +State, a share which the Master of the Offices was for ever trying to +diminish, but which, in the hands of one who like Cassiodorus was +_persona grata_ at the Court, might be made not only important but +predominant[59]. The chief employment, however, of the ordinary +Praefectus Praetorio consisted in hearing appeals from the Governors +of the Provinces. When the magical words 'Provoco ad Caesarem' had +been uttered, it was in most cases before the Praetorian Praefect that +the appeal was practically heard; and when the Praetorian Praefect had +pronounced his decision, no appeal from that was permitted, even to +the Emperor himself[60]. + +[Footnote 59: Bethmann Hollweg (pp. 75, 76) enumerates the functions +of the Praetorian Praefect thus: '(1) _Legislative._ He promulgated +the Imperial laws, and issued edicts which had almost the force of +laws. (2) _Financial._ The general tax (indictio, delegatio) ordered +by the Emperor for the year, was proclaimed by each Praefect for his +own Praefecture. Through his officials he took part in the levy of the +tax, and had a special State-chest (arca praetoria) for the proceeds. +(3) _Administrative._ The Praefect proposed the names of provincial +governors, handed to them their salaries, had a general oversight of +them, issued rescripts on the information furnished by them, and could +as their ordinary Judge inflict punishments upon them, even depose +them from their offices, and temporarily nominate substitutes to act +in their places. (4) _Judicial_, as the highest Judge of Appeal.'] + +[Footnote 60: See authorities quoted by Bethmann Hollweg, pp. 79, 80.] + +[Sidenote: Letters written during the Praefecture of Cassiodorus.] + +Cassiodorus held the post of Praetorian Praefect, amid various changes +in the fortunes of the State, from 533 to 538, or perhaps a year or +two longer. Of his activity in the domain of internal administration, +the Eleventh and Twelfth Books of the 'Variae' give a vivid and +interesting picture. Unfortunately, neither those books nor the Tenth +Book of the same collection, which contains the letters written by him +during the same time in the names of the successive Gothic Sovereigns, +give any sufficient information as to the real course of public +events. Great misfortunes, great crimes, and the movements of great +armies are covered over in these documents by a veil of unmeaning +platitudes and hypocritical compliments. In order to enable the +student to 'read between the lines,' and to pierce through the +verbiage of these letters to the facts which they were meant to hint +at or to conceal, it will be necessary briefly to describe the +political history of the period as we learn it from the narratives of +Procopius and Jordanes--narratives which may be inaccurate in a few +minor details but are doubtless correct in their main outlines. + +[Sidenote: Opposition to Romanising policy of Amalasuentha.] + +The Romanising policy of the cultivated but somewhat self-willed +Princess Amalasuentha met with considerable opposition on the part of +her Gothic subjects. Above all, they objected to the bookish education +which she was giving to her son, the young King. They declared that it +was entirely contrary to the maxims of Theodoric that a young Goth +should be trembling before the strap of a pedagogue when he ought to +be learning to look unfalteringly on spear and sword. These +representations were so vigorously made, and by speakers of such high +rank in the State, that Amalasuentha was compelled to listen to them, +to remove her son from the society of his teachers, and to allow him +to associate with companions of his own age, who, not being wisely +chosen, soon initiated him in every kind of vice and dissipation. + +[Sidenote: Amalasuentha puts three Gothic nobles to death.] + +The Princess, who had not forgiven the leaders of the Gothic party for +their presumptuously offered counsels, singled out three of the most +powerful nobles who were at the head of that party and sent them into +honourable banishment at the opposite ends of Italy. Finding, however, +that they were still holding communication with one another, she sent +to the Emperor Justinian to ask if he would give her an asylum in his +dominions if she required it, and then gave orders for the secret +assassination of the three noblemen. The _coup d'état_ succeeded: she +had no need to flee the country; and the ship bearing the royal +treasure, which amounted to 40,000 pounds weight of gold, which she +had sent to Dyrrhachium to await her possible flight, was ordered to +return home. + +[Sidenote: Embassies between Ravenna and Constantinople.] + +Athalaric's health was now rapidly failing, owing to his licentious +excesses, and Amalasuentha, fearing that after his death her own life +might be in danger, began again secretly to negotiate with Justinian +for the entire surrender of the kingdom of Italy into his hands, on +receiving an assurance of shelter and maintenance at the Court of +Byzantium. These negotiations were masked by others of a more public +kind, in which Justinian claimed the Sicilian fortress of Lilybaeum, +which had once belonged to the Vandals; insisted on the surrender of +some Huns, deserters from the army of Africa; and demanded redress for +the sack by the Goths of the Moesian city of Gratiana. These claims +Amalasuentha met publicly with a reply as brave and uncompromising as +her most patriotic subjects could desire, but in private, as has been +already said, she was prepared, for an adequate assurance of personal +safety, to barter away all the rights and liberties of her Italian +subjects, Roman as well as Gothic, and to allow her father's +hard-earned kingdom to sink into a mere dependency of Constantinople. + +[Sidenote: Death of Athalaric, Oct. 2, 534.] + +Such was the position of affairs when on the 2nd October 534, little +more than a year after Cassiodorus had donned the purple of the +Praefect, Athalaric died, and by his death the whole attitude of the +parties to the negotiations was changed. The power to rule, and with +it the very power to make terms of any kind with the Emperor, was in +danger of slipping from the hands of Amalasuentha. The principle of +female sovereignty was barely accepted by any Teutonic tribe. +Evidently the Ostrogoths had not accepted it, or Amalasuentha would +have ruled as Queen in her own right instead of as Regent for her son. +In order to strengthen her position, and ensure her acceptance as +Sovereign by the Gothic warriors, she decided to associate with +herself, not in matrimony, for he was already married, but in regal +partnership, her cousin Theodahad, the nearest male heir of Theodoric, +and to mount the throne together with him. Previously, however, to +announcing this scheme in public, she sent for Theodahad and exacted +from him 'tremendous oaths[61]' that if he were chosen King he would +be satisfied with the mere name of royalty, leaving her as much of the +actual substance of power as she possessed at that moment. + +[Footnote 61: [Greek: horkois deinotatois].] + +[Sidenote: Amalasuentha associates Theodahad in the Sovereignty.] + +The partnership-royalty and the oath of self-abnegation were the +desperate expedients of a woman who knew herself to have mighty +enemies among her subjects, and who felt power slipping from her +grasp. With one side of her character her new partner could +sympathise; for Theodahad, though sprung from the loins of Gothic +warriors, was a man of some literary culture, who preferred poring +over the 'Republic' of Plato to heading a charge of the Gothic +cavalry. But his acquaintance with Latin and Greek literature had done +nothing to ennoble his temper or expand his heart. A cold, hard, +avaricious soul, he had been entirely bent on adding field to field +and removing his neighbour's landmark, until the vast possessions +which he had received from the generosity of Theodoric should embrace +the whole of the great Tuscan plain. It will be seen by referring to +two letters in the following collection[62] that Theodoric himself had +twice employed the pen of Cassiodorus to rebuke the rapacity of his +nephew; and at a more recent date, since the beginning of Athalaric's +illness, Amalasuentha had been compelled by the complaints of her +Tuscan subjects to issue a commission of enquiry, which had found +Theodahad guilty of the various acts of land-robbery which had been +charged against him, and had compelled him to make restitution. + +[Footnote 62: Variarum iv. 39 and v. 12.] + +[Sidenote: Amalasuentha is deposed and imprisoned by Theodahad, April +30, 535.] + +The new Queen persuaded herself, and tried to persuade her cousin, +that this ignominious sentence had in some way put the subject of it +straight with the world, and had smoothed his pathway to the throne. +She trusted to his gratitude and his tremendous oaths for her own +undisturbed position at the helm of the State, but she found before +many months of the joint reign had passed that the reed upon which she +was leaning was about to pierce her hand. Only four letters, it will +be seen, of the following collection were written by order of +Amalasuentha after the commencement of the joint reign. Soon Theodahad +felt himself strong enough to hurl from the throne the woman who had +dared to compel him to draw back the boundary of his Tuscan +_latifundium._ The relations of the three noblemen whom Amalasuentha +had put to death gathered gladly round him, eager to work out the +blood-feud; and by their help he slew many of the strongest supporters +of the Queen, and shut her up in prison in a little lonely island upon +the lake of Vulsinii. This event took place on the 30th of April, 535, +not quite seven months after the death of Athalaric[63]. + +[Footnote 63: The dates of the death of Athalaric and deposition of +Amalasuentha are given by Agnellus in his Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae +Ravennatis, p. 322 (in the edition comprised in the Monumenta +Germaniae Historica).] + +[Sidenote: Embassy of Peter.] + +[Sidenote: Death of Amalasuentha.] + +During all these later months there had been a perpetual flux and +reflux of diplomatic communications between Ravenna and +Constantinople. The different stages of the negotiations are marked, +apparently with clearness, by Procopius; but it is not always easy to +harmonise them with the letters published by Cassiodorus, who either +did not write, or shrank from republishing, some of the most important +letters to the Emperor. This remark applies to the missive which was +probably taken by the Senators Liberius and Opilio, who were now sent +by Theodahad to Justinian to apologise for the imprisonment of +Amalasuentha, and to promise that she should receive no injury. +Meanwhile Peter, a rhetorician and an ex-Consul, was travelling from +Constantinople with a commission the character of which was being +constantly changed by the rapid current of events. He started with +instructions to complete the transaction with Amalasuentha as to the +surrender of Italy, and to buy from Theodahad, who was still a private +individual, his possessions in Tuscany. Soon after his departure he +met the ambassadors, who told him of the death of Athalaric and the +accession of Theodahad. On the shores of the Hadriatic he heard of +Amalasuentha's captivity. He waited for further instructions from his +master, and on his arrival at Ravenna he found that all was over. The +letter which he was to have handed to the deposed Queen, assuring her +of Justinian's protection, was already obsolete. The kinsmen of the +three nobles had been permitted or encouraged by Theodahad to end the +blood-feud bloodily. They had repaired to the Lake of Vulsinii and +murdered Amalasuentha in her bath[64]. The Byzantine ambassador sought +the presence of the King, boldly denounced his wicked deed, and +declared on the part of his master a war which would be waged without +truce or treaty till Amalasuentha was avenged. Thus began the eighteen +years' war between Justinian and the Ostrogoths. + +[Footnote 64: We do not seem to have the precise date of the death of +Amalasuentha, but apparently it happened about the month of May, 535.] + +[Sidenote: Why did Cassiodorus continue in the service of Theodahad?] + +It might certainly have been expected that a statesman who had been +honoured with the intimate friendship of Theodoric and his daughter, +even if unable to avenge her death, would have refused to serve in the +Cabinet of her murderer. It is accordingly with a feeling of painful +surprise that we find Cassiodorus still holding the Secretary's pen, +and writing letter after letter (they form the majority of the +documents in the Tenth Book of the 'Variae') in the name of Theodahad +and his wife Gudelina. Dangers no doubt were thickening round his +beloved Italy. He may have thought that whoever wore the Gothic crown, +Duty forbade him to quit the Secretum at Ravenna just when war with +the Empire was becoming every day more imminent. On the other hand, +the Praetorian Praefecture, the object of a life's ambition, was now +his, but had been his only for two years. It was hard to lay aside the +purple _mandye_ while the first gloss was yet upon it; hard to have to +fall back into the ranks of the ordinary senators, and no longer to +receive the reverent salutations of the chiefs of the army when he +entered the hall of meeting. Whether the public good or the private +advantage swayed him most who shall say? There are times when +patriotism calls for the costliest sacrifice which a statesman can +make--the sacrifice, apparently, of his own honour. The man who has +made such a sacrifice must be content to be misjudged by his +fellow-men. Certainly, to us the one stain upon an otherwise pure +reputation seems to be found in the service, the apparently willing +service, which in the Tenth Book of his letters Cassiodorus renders to +Theodahad. + +[Sidenote: Vacillation of Theodahad.] + +Throughout the latter half of 535, Belisarius in Sicily and Mundus in +Dalmatia were warring for Justinian against Theodahad. The rhetorician +Peter, who had boldly rebuked the Gothic King for the murder of his +benefactress, and had on his master's behalf denounced a truceless war +against him, still lingered at his Court. Theodahad, who during part +of the summer and autumn of 535 seems to have been at Rome, not at +Ravenna, was more than half inclined to resume his old negotiations +with the Emperor, and either to purchase peace by sinking into the +condition of a tributary, or to sell his kingdom outright for a +revenue of £48,000 a year and a high place among the nobles of the +Empire. Procopius[65] gives us a vivid and detailed narrative of the +manner in which these negotiations were conducted by Theodahad, who +was perpetually wavering between arrogance and timidity; trembling at +the successes of Belisarius, elated by any victory which his generals +might win in Dalmatia; and who at length, upon receiving the tidings +of the defeat and death of Mundus, broke off the negotiations +altogether, and shut up Peter and his colleague Athanasius in prison. + +[Footnote 65: De Bello Gotthico, i. 6.] + +[Sidenote: Silence of the 'Variae' as to many of the negotiations +between Theodahad and Justinian.] + +Here again, while not doubting the truth of the narrative of +Procopius, I do not find it possible exactly to fit in the letters +written by Cassiodorus for Theodahad with the various stages of the +negotiation as described by him. Especially the striking letter of the +King to the Emperor--striking by reason of its very abjectness--which +is quoted by Procopius in the sixth chapter of his First Book, appears +to be entirely unrepresented in the collection of Cassiodorus. +Evidently all this part of the 'Variae' has been severely edited by +its author, who has expunged all that seemed to reflect too great +discredit on the Sovereign whom he had once served, and has preserved +only some letters written to Justinian and Theodora by Theodahad and +his wife, vaguely praising peace, and beseeching the Imperial pair to +restore it to Italy; letters which, as it seems to me, may be applied +with about equal fitness to any movement of the busy shuttle of +diplomacy backwards and forwards between Ravenna and Constantinople. + +[Sidenote: Theodahad deposed, Witigis elected, Aug. 536.] + +The onward march of Belisarius trampled all the combinations of +diplomatists into the dust. In the early part of July, 536, he had +succeeded in capturing the important city of Neapolis, and had begun +to threaten Rome. The Gothic warriors, disgusted at the incapacity of +their King, and probably suspecting his disloyalty to the nation, met +(August, 536) under arms upon the plain of Regeta[66], deposed +Theodahad, and elected a veteran named Witigis as his successor. +Witigis at once ordered Theodahad to be put to death, and being +himself of somewhat obscure lineage, endeavoured to strengthen his +title to the crown by marrying Matasuentha, the sister of Athalaric +and the only surviving descendant of Theodoric. + +[Footnote 66: The situation of this plain is unknown.] + +[Sidenote: Letter on the elevation of Witigis.] + +Whether Cassiodorus had any hand in this revolution--which was +pre-eminently a Gothic movement--we cannot tell; but certainly one of +the best specimens of his letters is that written in the name of the +new King[67], in which he makes Witigis thus speak, 'Universis +Gothis'--not as Theodoric had so often spoken, 'Universis Gothis et +Romanis:' + +[Footnote 67: Var. x. 31.] + +'Unde Auctori nostro Christo gratias humillimâ satisfactione +referentes, indicamus parentes nostros Gothos inter procinctuales +gladios, more majorum, scuto supposito, regalem nobis contulisse, +praestante Deo, dignitatem, ut honorem arma darent, cujus opinionem +bella pepererant. Non enim in cubilis angustis, sed in campis latè +patentibus electum me esse noveritis: nec inter blandientium delicata +colloquia, sed tubis concrepantibus sum quaesitus, ut tali fremitu +concitatus desiderio virtutis ingenitae regem sibi Martium Geticus +populus inveniret.' + +[Sidenote: Letters written in name of Witigis.] + +We have only five letters written by Cassiodorus for Witigis (who +reigned from August, 536, to May[68], 540). One has been already +described. All the other four are concerned with negotiations for +peace with Justinian, and may probably be referred to the early part +of the new reign. + +[Footnote 68: We get this date only from Agnellus (loc. cit. p. 522).] + +[Sidenote: Share of Cassiodorus in the administration during the war.] + +It will be seen that the letters written by Cassiodorus for the +Sovereign during the five years following the death of Athalaric are +few and somewhat unsatisfactory. But, on the other hand, it was just +during these years that he wrote in his own name as Praetorian +Praefect the letters which are comprised in the Eleventh and Twelfth +Books of his collection, and which are in some respects the most +interesting of the whole series. There is a strong probability that he +was not present at the long siege of Rome (March, 537, to March, 538), +nor is it likely that he, an elderly civilian, would take much part in +any of the warlike operations that followed. Upon the whole, it seems +probable that during the greater part of this time Cassiodorus was, to +the best of his power, keeping the civil administration together by +virtue of his own authority as Praetorian Praefect, without that +constant reference to the wishes of the Sovereign which would have +been necessary under Theodoric and his daughter. Perhaps, in the +transitional state of things which then prevailed in Italy, with the +power of the Gothic sceptre broken but the sway of the Roman Caesar +not yet firmly established in its stead, men of all parties and both +nationalities were willing that as much as possible of the routine of +government should be carried on by a statesman who was Roman by birth +and culture, but who had been the trusted counsellor of Gothic Kings. + +[Sidenote: Dates of later letters.] + +I have endeavoured as far as possible to fix the dates of these later +letters. It will be seen that we have one[69] probably belonging to +the year 536, five[70] to 537, and one[71] (possibly) to 538. These +later letters refer chiefly to the terrible famine which followed in +the train of the war, and of which Cassiodorus strenuously laboured to +mitigate the severity. + +[Footnote 69: Var. xii. 20.] + +[Footnote 70: Var. xii. 22, 23, 24, 27, 28.] + +[Footnote 71: Var. xii. 25.] + +[Sidenote: End of Cassiodorus' official career.] + +It is possible that the Praefect may have continued to hold office +down to the capture of Ravenna in May, 540, which made Witigis a +prisoner, and seemed to bring the Ostrogothic monarchy to an end. Upon +the whole, however, it is rather more probable that in the year 538 +or 539 he finally retired from public life. The dates of his letters +will show that there is nothing in them which forbids us to accept +this conclusion; and the fact, if it be a fact, that in 540, when +Belisarius, with his Secretary Procopius in his train, made his +triumphal entry into Ravenna, the late Praefect was no longer there, +but in his native Province of Bruttii, a little lessens the difficulty +of that which still remains most difficult of comprehension, the +entire omission from Procopius' History of the Gothic War of all +mention of the name of Cassiodorus. + +[Sidenote: The Variae edited.] + +The closing years of the veteran statesman's tenure of office were +years of some literary activity. It was in them that he was +collecting, and to some extent probably revising, the letters which +appear in the following collection. His motives for publishing this +monument of his official life are sufficiently set forth in the two +prefaces, one prefixed to the First Book and the other to the +Eleventh. Much emphasis is laid on the entreaties of his friends, the +regular excuse, in the sixth century as in the nineteenth, for an +author or a politician doing the very thing which most pleases his own +vanity. A worthier reason probably existed in the author's natural +desire to vindicate his own consistency, by showing that the influence +which for more than thirty years he had wielded in the councils of the +Gothic Sovereigns had been uniformly exerted on the side of law and +order and just government, directed equally to the repression of +Teutonic barbarism and the punishment of Roman venality. + +[Sidenote: What alterations were made in the letters.] + +The question how far the letters which now appear in the 'Variae' +really reproduce the actual documents originally issued by Cassiodorus +is one which has been a good deal discussed by scholars, but with no +very definite result. It is, after all, a matter of conjecture; and +every student who peruses the following letters is entitled to form +his own conjecture--especially as to those marvellous digressions on +matters of Natural History, Moral Philosophy, and the like--whether +they were veritably included in the original letters that issued from +the Royal Secretum, and were carried over Italy by the Cursus +Publicus. My own conjecture is, that though they may have been a +little amplified and elaborated, substantially they were to be found +in those original documents. The age was pedantic and half-educated, +and had lost both its poetic inspiration and its faculty of humour; +and I fear that these marvellous letters were read by the officials to +whom they were addressed with a kind of stolid admiration, provoking +neither the smile of amusement nor the shrug of impatience which are +their rightful meed. + +[Sidenote: 'Illum atque Illum.'] + +The reader will observe that in many, in fact most of the letters, +which were meant to serve as credentials to ambassadors or commissions +to civil servants, no names are inserted, but we have instead only the +tantalising formula, 'Illum atque Illum,' which I have generally +translated, 'A and B.' This circumstance has also been much commented +upon, but without our arriving at any very definite result. All that +can be said is, that Cassiodorus must have formed his collection of +State-papers either from rough drafts in his own possession, or from +copies preserved in the public archives, and that, from whichsoever +source he drew, the names in that source had not been preserved: a +striking comment on the rhetorical unbusinesslike character of the +Royal and Imperial Chanceries of that day, in which words were deemed +of more importance than things, and the flowers of speech which were +showered upon the performer of some piece of public business were +preserved, while the name of the performer was forgotten. + +[Sidenote: Treatise 'De Animâ.'] + +As soon as he had finished the collection of the 'Variae,' the +Praefect--again in obedience to the entreaties of his +friends--composed a short philosophic treatise on the Nature of the +Soul ('De Animâ'). As he said, it seems an absurd thing to treat as a +stranger and an unknown quantity the very centre of our being; to seek +to understand the height of the air, the extent of the earth, the +causes of storms and earthquakes, and the nature of the wandering +winds, and yet to leave the faculty, by which we grasp all this +knowledge, itself uncomprehended[72]. He therefore sets himself to +enquire, in twelve chapters: + +[Footnote 72: 'Cum jam suscepti operis optato fine gauderem, meque +duodecim voluminibus jactatum quietis portus exciperet, ubi etsi non +laudatus, certe liberatus adveneram, amicorum me suave collegium in +salum rursus cogitationis expressit, postulans ut aliqua quae tam in +libris sacris, quam in saecularibus abstrusa compereram de animae +substantiâ, vel de ejus virtutibus aperirem, cui datum est tam +ingentium rerum secreta reserare: addens nimis ineptum esse si eam per +quam plura cognoscimus, quasi a nobis alienam ignorare patiamur, dum +ad anima sit utile nosse qua sapimus' (De Animâ, Praefatio).] + +1. Why the Soul is called Anima? + +2. What is the definition of the Soul? + +3. What is its substantial quality? + +4. If it is to be believed to have any shape? + +5. What moral virtues it has which contribute to its glory and its +adornment? + +6. What are its natural virtues [or powers], given to enable it to +hold together the framework of the body? + +7. Concerning the origin of the Soul. + +8. What is its especial seat, since it appears to be in a certain +sense diffused over the whole body? + +9. Concerning the form and composition of the body itself. + +10. Sufficient signs by which we may discern what properties the souls +of sinners possess. + +11. Similar signs by which we may distinguish the souls of righteous +men, since we cannot see them with our bodily eyes. + +12. Concerning the Soul's state after death, and how it will be +affected by the general resurrection. + +The treatise ends with a prayer to Christ to preserve the body in good +health, that it may be in tune with the harmony of the soul; to give +reason the ascendancy over the flesh; and to keep the mind in happy +equipoise, neither so strong as to be puffed up with pride, nor so +languid as to fail of its proper powers. + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus retires to the cloister.] + +The line of thought indicated by the 'De Animâ' led, in such a country +as Italy, at such a time as the Gothic War, to one inevitable end--the +cloister. It can have surprised none of the friends of Cassiodorus +when the veteran statesman announced his intention of spending the +remainder of his days in monastic retirement. He was now sixty years +of age[73]; his wife, if he had ever married, was probably by this +time dead; and we hear nothing of any children for whose sake he need +have remained longer in the world. The Emperor would probably have +received him gladly into his service, but Cassiodorus had now done +with politics. The dream of his life had been to build up an +independent Italian State, strong with the strength of the Goths, and +wise with the wisdom of the Romans. That dream was now scattered to +the winds. Providence had made it plain that not by this bridge was +civilisation to pass over from the Old World to the New. Cassiodorus +accepted the decision, and consecrated his old age to religious +meditation and to a work even more important than any of his political +labours (though one which must be lightly touched on here), the +preservation by the pens of monastic copyists of the Christian +Scriptures, and of the great works of classical antiquity. + +[Footnote 73: Fifty-eight, if the retirement was in 538.] + +[Sidenote: He founds two monasteries at Scyllacium.] + +It was to his ancestral Scyllacium that Cassiodorus retired; and here, +between the mountains of Aspromonte and the sea, he founded his +monastery, or, more accurately, his two monasteries, one for the +austere hermit, and the other for the less aspiring coenobite. The +former was situated among the 'sweet recesses of Mons Castellius[74],' +the latter among the well-watered gardens which took their name from +the Vivaria (fish-ponds) that Cassiodorus had constructed among them +in connection with the river Pellena[75]. Baths, too, especially +intended for the use of the sick, had been prepared on the banks of +the stream[76]. Here in monastic simplicity, but not without comfort, +Cassiodorus ordained that his monks should dwell. The Rule of the +order--in so far as it had a written Rule--was drawn from the writings +of Cassian, the great founder of Western Monachism, who had died about +a century before the Vivarian monastery was founded. In commending the +writings of Cassian to the study of his monks, Cassiodorus warns them +against the bias shown in them towards the Semi-Pelagian heresy, and +desires them to choose the good in those treatises and to refuse the +evil. Whatever the reason may have been, it seems clear that +Cassiodorus did not make the Rule of Benedict the law of his new +monastery; and indeed, strange as the omission may appear, there is, I +believe, no allusion to that great contemporary Saint, the 'Father of +Monks,' in the whole of his writings. + +[Footnote 74: 'Nam si vos in monasterio Vivariensi divinâ gratia +suffragante coenobiorum consuetudo competenter erudiat, et aliquid +sublimius defaecatis animis optare contingat, habetis mentis Castelli +secreta suavia, ubi velut anachoritae (praestante Domino) feliciter +esse possitis' (De Inst. Div. Litt. xxix.).] + +[Footnote 75: 'Invitat vos locus Vivariensis monasterii ... quando +habetis hortos irriguos, et piscosi amnis Pellenae fluenta vicina, qui +nec magnitudine undarum suspectus habetur, nec exiguitate temnibilis. +Influit vobis arte moderatus, ubicunque necessarius judicatur et +hortis vestris sufficiens et molendinis.... Maria quoque vobis ita +subjacent, ut piscationibus variis pateant; et captus piscis, cum +libuerit, vivariis possit includi. Fecimus enim illic (juvante Deo) +grata receptacula ubi sub claustro fideli vagetur piscium multitudo; +ita consentanea montium speluncis, ut nullatenus se sentiat captum, +cui libertas eat escas sumere, et per solitas se cavernas +abscondere.'] + +[Footnote 76: 'Balnea quoque congruenter aegris praeparata corporibus +jussimus aedificari, ubi fontium perspicuitas decenter illabitur, quae +et potui gratissima cognoscitur et lavacris.'] + +[Sidenote: Probably never Abbot.] + +Though the founder and patron of these two monasteries, it seems +probable that Cassiodorus never formally assumed the office of Abbot +in either of them[77]. He had probably still some duties to perform as +a large landholder in Bruttii; but besides these he had also work to +do for 'his monks' (as he affectionately called them)--work of a +literary and educational kind--which perhaps made it undesirable that +he should be burdened with the petty daily routine of an Abbot's +duties. Some years before, he had endeavoured to induce Pope +Agapetus[78] to found a School of Theology and Christian Literature at +Rome, in imitation of the schools of Alexandria and Nisibis[79]. The +clash of arms consequent on the invasion of Italy by Belisarius had +prevented the fulfilment of this scheme; but the aged statesman now +determined to devote the remainder of his days to the accomplishment +of the same purpose in connection with the Vivarian convent. + +[Footnote 77: But the words of Trithemius (quoted by Migne, Patrologia +lxix. 498), 'Hic post aliquot conversionis suae annos abbas electus +est, et monasterio multo tempore utiliter praefuit,' _may_ preserve a +genuine and accurate tradition. Cassiodorus' mention of the two +Abbots, Chalcedonius and Geruntius (De Inst. Div. Litt. cap. xxxii.) +shows that at any rate in the infancy of his monasteries he was not +Abbot of either of them.] + +[Footnote 78: Agapetus was Pope in 535 and 536.] + +[Footnote 79: 'Nisus sum ergo cum beatissimo Agapeto papa urbis Romae, +ut sicut apud Alexandriam multo tempore fuisse traditur institutum, +nunc etiam in Nisibi civitate Syrorum ab Hebraeis sedulo fertur +exponi, collatis expensis in urbe Romana professos doctores scholae +potius acciperent Christianae, unde et anima susciperet aeternam +salutem, et casto atque purissimo eloquio fidelium lingua comeretur' +(De Inst. Praefatio).] + +In the earliest days of Monasticism men like the hermits of the +Thebaid had thought of little else but mortifying the flesh by vigils +and fastings, and withdrawing from all human voices to enjoy an +ecstatic communion with their Maker. The life in common of monks like +those of Nitria and Lerinum had chastened some of the extravagances of +these lonely enthusiasts while still keeping their main ends in view. +St. Jerome, in his cell at Bethlehem, had shown what great results +might be obtained for the Church of all ages from the patient literary +toil of one religious recluse. And finally St. Benedict, in that Rule +of his which was to be the code of monastic Christendom for centuries, +had sanctified Work as one of the most effectual preservatives of the +bodily and spiritual health of the ascetic, bringing together +_Laborare_ and _Orare_ in friendly union, and proclaiming anew for the +monk as for the untonsured citizen the primal ordinance, 'In the sweat +of thy brow thou shalt eat bread.' + +[Sidenote: The father of literary Monasticism.] + +The great merit of Cassiodorus, that which shows his deep insight into +the needs of his age and entitles him to the eternal gratitude of +Europe, was his determination to utilise the vast leisure of the +convent for the preservation of Divine and human learning and for its +transmission to after ages. In the miserable circumstances of the +times Theology was in danger of becoming brutified and ignorant; the +great treasures of Pagan literature were no longer being perpetuated +by the slaves who had once acted as _librarii_ to the Greek or Roman +noble; and with every movement of the Ostrogothic armies, or of the +yet more savage hordes who served under the Imperial standard, with +every sacked city and with every ravaged villa, some Codex, it may be +such as we should now deem priceless and irreplaceable, was perishing. +This being the state of Italy, Cassiodorus resolved to make of his +monastery not merely a place for pious meditation, but a theological +school and a manufactory for the multiplication of copies, not only of +the Scriptures, not only of the Fathers and the commentators on +Scripture, but also of the great writers of pagan antiquity. In the +chapter[80] which he devotes to the description of the _scriptorium_ +of his monastery he describes, with an enthusiasm which must have been +contagious, the noble work done there by the _antiquarius_: 'He may +fill his mind with the Scriptures while copying the sayings of the +Lord. With his fingers he gives life to men and arms them against the +wiles of the devil. So many wounds does Satan receive as the +_antiquarius_ copies words of Christ. What he writes in his cell will +be scattered far and wide over distant Provinces. Man multiplies the +heavenly words, and by a striking figure--if I may dare so to +speak--the three fingers of his hand express the utterances of the +Holy Trinity. The fast-travelling reed writes down the holy words, and +thus avenges the malice of the Wicked One, who caused a reed to be +used to smite the head of the Saviour.' + +[Footnote 80: The 30th of the De Institutione Div. Litt.] + +It is true that the passage here quoted refers only to the work of the +copyist of the Christian Scriptures, but it could easily be shown from +other passages[81] that the literary activity of the monastery was not +confined to these, but was also employed on secular literature. + +[Footnote 81: For instance, in cap. xv., after cautioning his copyists +against rash corrections of apparent faults in the sacred MSS., he +says: 'Ubicunque paragrammata in disertis hominibus [i.e. in classical +authors] reperta fuerint, intrepidus vitiosa recorrigat.' And the +greater part of cap. xxviii. is an argument against 'respuere +saecularium litterarum studia.'] + +[Sidenote: Bookbinding.] + +[Sidenote: Mechanical appliances for the convent.] + +Cassiodorus then goes on to describe the care which he has taken for +the binding of the sacred Codices in covers worthy of the beauty of +their contents, following the example of the householder in the +parable, who provided wedding garments for all who came to the supper +of his son. One pattern volume had been prepared, containing samples +of various sorts of binding, that the amanuensis might choose that +which pleased him best. He had moreover provided, to help the nightly +toil of the _scriptorium_, mechanical lamps of some wonderful +construction, which appears to have made them self-trimming, and to +have ensured their having always a sufficient supply of oil[82]. +Sun-dials also for bright days, and water-clocks for cloudy days and +the night-season, regulated their labour, and admonished them when it +was time to unclose the three fingers, to lay down the reed, and to +assemble with their brethren in the chapel of the convent for psalmody +and prayer. + +[Footnote 82: Paravimus etiam nocturnis vigiliis mechanicas lucernas, +conservatrices illuminantium flammarum, ipsas sibi nutrientes +incendium, quae humano ministerio cessante, prolixe custodiant +uberrimi luminis abundantissimam claritatem; ubi olei pinguedo non +deficit, quamvis flammis ardentibus jugitor torreatur.] + +[Sidenote: Relation to the Benedictine Rule.] + +Upon the whole, though the idea of using the convent as a place of +literary toil and theological training was not absolutely new, +Cassiodorus seems certainly entitled to the praise of having first +realised it systematically and on an extensive scale. It was entirely +in harmony with the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict, if it was not +formally ordained in that document. At a very early date in the +history of their order, the Benedictines, influenced probably by the +example of the monastery of Vivaria, commenced that long series of +services to the cause of literature which they have never wholly +intermitted. Thus, instead of accepting the obsolete formula for which +some scholars in the last age contended, 'Cassiodorus was a +Benedictine,' we should perhaps be rather justified in maintaining +that Benedict, or at least his immediate followers, were +Cassiodorians. + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus as a transcriber of the Scriptures.] + +In order to set an example of literary diligence to his monks, and to +be able to sympathise with the difficulties of an amanuensis, +Cassiodorus himself transcribed the Psalter, the Prophets, and the +Epistles[83], no doubt from the translation of Jerome. This is not the +place for enlarging on the merits of Cassiodorus as a custodian and +transmitter of the sacred text. They were no doubt considerable; and +the rules which he gives to his monks, to guide them in the work of +transcription, show that he belonged to the Conservative school of +critics, and was anxious to guard against hasty emendations of the +text, however plausible. Practically, however, his MSS. of the Latin +Scriptures, showing the Itala and the Vulgate in parallel columns, +seem to have been answerable for some of that confusion between the +two versions which to some extent spoiled the text of Jerome, without +preserving to us in its purity the interesting translation of the +earlier Church. + +[Footnote 83: 'In Psalterio et Prophetis et Epistolis apostolorum +studium maximum laboris impendi.... Quos ego cunctos novem codices +auctoritatis divinae (ut senex potui) sub collatione priscorum codicum +amicis ante me legentibus, sedula lectione transivi' (De Inst. +Praefatio). We should have expected 'tres' rather than 'novem,' as the +Psalter, the Prophets, and the Epistles each formed one codex.] + +Besides his labours as a transcriber, Cassiodorus, both as an original +author and a compiler, used his pen for the instruction of his +fellow-inmates at Vivarium. + +[Sidenote: Commentary on the Psalms.] + +(1) He began and slowly completed a Commentary on the Psalms. This +very diffuse performance (which occupies more than five hundred +closely printed pages in Migne's edition) displays, in the opinion of +those who have carefully studied it[84], a large amount of +acquaintance with the writings of the Fathers, and was probably looked +upon as a marvel of the human intellect by the Vivarian monks, for +whose benefit it was composed, and to whom it revealed, in the Psalms +which they were daily and nightly intoning, refutations of all the +heresies that had ever racked the Church, and the rudiments of all the +sciences that flourished in the world. It is impossible now for this +or any future age to do aught but lament over so much wasted +ingenuity, when we find the author maintaining that the whole of the +one hundred and fifty Psalms were written by King David, and that +Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun have only a mystical meaning; that the +first seventy represent the Old Testament, and the last eighty the +New, because we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on the eighth +day of the week, and so forth. A closer study of the book might +perhaps discover in it some genuine additions to the sum of human +knowledge; but it is difficult to repress a murmur at the misdirected +industry which has preserved to us the whole of this ponderous +futility, while it has allowed the History of the Goths to perish. + +[Footnote 84: I take my account of this treatise chiefly from Franz +(pp. 93-100).] + +[Sidenote: Commentary on the Epistles.] + +(2) The 'Complexiones in Epistolas Apostolorum' (first published by +Maffei in 1721, from a MS. discovered by him at Verona) have at least +the merit of being far shorter than the Commentary on the Psalms. +Perhaps the only points of interest in them, even for theological +scholars, are that Cassiodorus evidently attributes the Epistle to the +Hebrews without hesitation to the Apostle Paul, and that he notices +the celebrated passage concerning the Three Heavenly Witnesses (1 John +v. 7) in a way which seems to imply that he found that passage in the +text of the Vulgate, though on examination his language is seen to be +consistent with the theory that these words are a gloss added by the +commentator himself. + +[Sidenote: Historia Tripartita.] + +(3) In order to supply the want of any full Church History in the +Latin tongue, a want which was probably felt not only by his own monks +but throughout the Churches of the West, Cassiodorus induced his +friend Epiphanius to translate from the Greek the ecclesiastical +histories of Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret, and then himself fused +these three narratives into one, the well-known 'Historia Tripartita,' +which contains the story of the Church's fortunes from the accession +of Constantine to the thirty-second year of the reign of Theodosius II +(306-439). The fact that the numerous mistranslations of Epiphanius +have passed uncorrected, probably indicates that Cassiodorus' own +knowledge of Greek was but slight, and that he depended on his +coadjutor entirely for this part of the work. The 'Historia +Tripartita' has probably had a larger circulation than any other of +its author's works; but Cassiodorus himself thought so little of his +share in it, that he does not include it in the list of his writings +prefixed to the treatise 'De Orthographiâ.' And, in fact, the +inartistic way in which the three narratives are soldered together, +rather than recast into one symmetrical and harmonious whole, obliges +us to admit that Cassiodorus' work at this book was little more than +mechanical, and entitles him to scarcely any other praise than that of +industry. + +[Sidenote: Institutiones Divinarum et Humanarum Lectionum.] + +(4) Of a different quality, though still partaking somewhat of the +nature of a compilation, was his chief educational treatise, the +'Institutiones Divinarum et Humanarum Lectionum[85].' About the year +543, some three or four years after his retirement from public life, +while he was slowly ploughing his way through the Commentary on the +Psalms, twenty of which he had already interpreted, he seems to have +laid it aside for a time in order to devote himself to this work, +which aimed more at instruction than at religious edification. In the +outset of this book he describes that unsuccessful attempt of his, to +which allusion has already been made, for the establishment of a +theological school in Rome, and continues that, 'as the rage of war +and the turbulence of strife in the Italian realm[86] had prevented +the fulfilment of this desire, he felt himself constrained by Divine +charity to write for his monks' behoof these _libri introductorii_, in +which, after the manner of a teacher, he would open to them the +series of the books of Holy Scripture, and would give them a +compendious acquaintance with secular literature.' As the book is not +written for the learned, he undertakes to abstain from 'affectata +eloquentia,' and he does in the main keep his promise. The simple, +straightforward style of the book, which occasionally rises into real +and 'unaffected eloquence' where the subject inspires him to make an +appeal to the hearts of his readers, presents a striking and +favourable contrast to the obscure and turgid phraseology in which the +perverted taste of the times caused him generally to shroud his +meaning[87]. + +[Footnote 85: Printed hitherto as two works, De Institutione Divinarum +Litterarum, and De Artibus ac Disciplinis Liberalium Litterarum. But, +as Ebert has shown (i. 477), the Preface to the Orthographia makes it +probable that these two really formed one book, with a title like that +given above.] + +[Footnote 86: 'In Italico regno.' These words seem to favour the +conjecture that Theodoric may have called himself King of Italy.] + +[Footnote 87: As a specimen of this better style of Cassiodorus, I may +refer to his praises of the life of the literary monk, and his +exhortation to him who is of duller brain to practise gardening: +'Quapropter toto nisu, toto labore, totis desideriis exquiramus ut ad +tale tantumque munus, Domino largiente, pervenire mereamur. Hoc enim +nobis est salutare, proficuum, gloriosum, perpetuum, quod nulla mors, +nulla mobilitas, nulla possit separare oblivio; sed in illa suavitate +patriae, cum Domino faciet aeterna exsultatione gaudere. Quod si +alicui fratrum, ut meminit Virgilius, + + "Frigidus obstiterit circum praecordia sanguis," + +ut nec humanis nec divinis litteris perfecte possit erudiri, aliqua +tamen scientiae mediocritate suffultus, eligat certe quod sequitur, + + "Rura mihi et rigui placeant in vallibus amnes." + +Quia nec ipsum est a monachis alienum hortos colere, agros exercere, +et pomorum fecunditate gratulari; legitur enim in Psalmo centesimo +vigesimo septimo, "Labores manuum tuarum manducabis; beatus es et bene +tibi erit."'] + +In the first part of this treatise (commonly called the 'De +Institutione Divinarum Litterarum') Cassiodorus briefly describes the +contents of the nine Codices[88] which made up the Scripture of the +Old and New Testaments, and mentions the names of the chief +commentators upon each. After some important cautions as to the +preservation of the purity of the sacred text and abstinence from +plausible emendations, the author proceeds to enumerate the Christian +historians--Eusebius, Orosius, Marcellinus, Prosper, and others[89]; +and he then slightly sketches the characters of some of the principal +Fathers--Hilary, Cyprian, Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine. This part of +the work contains an interesting allusion to 'Dionysius Monachus, +Scytha natione, sed moribus omnino Romanus,' of whom Cassiodorus +speaks as a colleague in his literary enterprises. This is the +so-called Dionysius Exiguus, who fixed (erroneously, as it now +appears) the era of the birth of Christ, and whose system of +chronology founded on this event has been accepted by all the nations +of Christendom. At the conclusion of this the first part of the +treatise we find some general remarks on the nature of the monastic +life, and some pictures of Vivarium and its neighbourhood, to which we +are indebted for some of the information contained in the preceding +pages. The book ends with a prayer, and contains thirty-three +chapters, the same number, remarks Cassiodorus (who is addicted to +this kind of moralising on numbers) that was reached by the years of +the life of Christ on earth. + +[Footnote 88: 1. Octateuchus (Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, Ruth). + +2. Kings (Samuel and Kings, Chronicles). + +3. Prophets (Four Major, including Daniel, and Twelve Minor). + +4. Psalms. + +5. Solomon (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles, Wisdom, +Ecclesiasticus). + +6. Hagiographa (Tobias, Esther, Judith, Maccabees, Esdras). + +7. Gospels. + +8. Epistles of the Apostles (including that to the Hebrews). + +9. Acts of the Apostles and Apocalypse.] + +[Footnote 89: The remarks on Marcellinus Comes and Prosper are worth +transcribing: 'Hunc [Eusebium] subsecutus est suprascriptus +Marcellinus Illyricianus, qui adhuc patricii Justiniani fertur egisse +cancellos; sed meliore conditione devotus, a tempore Theodosii +principis usque ad finem imperii triumphalis Augusti Justiniani opus +suum, Domino juvante, perduxit; ut qui ante fuit in obsequio suscepto +gratus, postea ipsius imperio copiose amantissimus appareret.' [The +allusion to 'finem imperii Justiniani' was probably added in a later +revision of the Institutiones.] 'Sanctus quoque Prosper Chronica ab +Adam ad Genserici tempora et urbis Romae depraedationem usque +perduxit.'] + +The second part of the treatise, commonly called 'De Artibus ac +Disciplinis Liberalium Litterarum,' contains so much as the author +thought that every monk should be acquainted with concerning the four +liberal arts--Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Mathematics--the last of +which is divided into the four 'disciplines' of Arithmetic, Geometry, +Music, and Astronomy. As illustrating the relative importance of these +sciences (as we call them) as apprehended by Cassiodorus, it is +curious to observe that while Geometry and Astronomy occupy only about +one page, and Arithmetic and Music two pages each, Logic takes up +eighteen pages, Grammar two, and Rhetoric six. + +[Sidenote: De Orthographiâ.] + +(5) Some other works, chiefly of a grammatical kind[90], which have +now perished, together with the exegetical treatises already named, +occupied the leisure hours of the old age of Cassiodorus. At length, +in the ninety-third year of his age, the veteran statesman, nobleman, +and judge crowned his life of useful service by writing for his +beloved monks his still extant treatise 'De Orthographia[91].' He +tells us that the monks suddenly exclaimed, 'What doth it profit us to +study either those works which the ancients have composed or those +which your Wisdom has caused to be added to the list, if we are +altogether ignorant how we ought to write these things, and on the +other hand cannot understand and accurately represent in speech the +words which we find written?' In other words, 'Give us a treatise on +spelling.' The venerable teacher gladly complied with the request, and +compiled from twelve grammarians[92] various rules, the observance of +which would prevent the student from committing the usual faults in +spelling. It is no doubt true[93] that this work is a mere collection +of excerpts from other authors, not arranged on any systematic +principle. Still, even as such a collection, it does great credit to +the industry of a nonagenarian; and it seems to me that there is much +in it which a person who was studying the transition of Latin into the +Lingua Volgare might peruse with profit. To an epigraphist especially +it must be interesting to see what were the mistakes which an +imperfectly educated Italian in that age was most likely to commit. +The confusion between _b_ and _v_ was evidently a great source of +error, and their nice discrimination, to which Cassiodorus devotes +four chapters, a very _crux_ of accurate scholarship. We see also from +a passage in the 'De Institutione Divinarum Litterarum[94]' that the +practice of assimilating the last letter of the prefix in compound +words, like i_l_luminatio, i_r_risio, i_m_probus, though it had been +introduced, was as yet hardly universal; and similarly that the monks +required to be instructed to write qui_c_quam for euphony, instead of +qui_d_quam. + +[Footnote 90: They were a compilation from the 'Artes' of Donatus, +from a book on Etymologies (perhaps also by Donatus), and from a +treatise by Sacerdos on Schemata; and a short Table of Contents of the +Books of Scripture, prepared in such a form as to be easily committed +to memory.] + +[Footnote 91: Ad amantissimos orthographos discutiendos anno aetatis +meae nonagesimo tertio (Domino adjuvante) perveni.] + +[Footnote 92: They were Donatus, Cn. Cornutus, Velius Longus, Curtius +Valerianus, Papirianus, Adamantius Martyrius, Eutiches, Caesellius, +Lucius Caecilius, and 'Priscianus grammaticus, qui nostro tempore +Constantinopoli doctor fuit.' Two names seem to be omitted by +Cassiodorus.] + +[Footnote 93: As stated by Ebert (p. 481).] + +[Footnote 94: Cap. xv.] + +[Sidenote: Death of Cassiodorus, 575 (?).] + +The treatise 'De Orthographiâ' was the last product, as far as we +know, of the industrious brain of Cassiodorus. Two years after its +composition the aged statesman and scholar, in the ninety-sixth year +of his age, entered into his well-earned rest[95]. The death of +Cassiodorus occurred (as I believe) in the year 575, three years +before the death of the Emperor Justin II, nephew and successor of +Justinian. The period covered by his life had been one of vast +changes. Born when the Kingdom of Odovacar was only four years old, +he had as a young man seen that Kingdom overthrown by the arms of +Theodoric; he had sat by the cradle of the Ostrogothic monarchy, and +mourned over its grave; had seen the eunuch Narses supreme vicegerent +of the Emperor; had heard the avalanche of the Lombard invasion +thunder over Italy, and had outlived even the Lombard invader Alboin. +Pope Leo, the tamer of Attila and the hero of Chalcedon, had not been +dead twenty years when Cassiodorus was born. Pope Gregory the Great, +the converter of England, was within fifteen years of his accession to +the Pontificate when Cassiodorus died. The first great schism between +the Eastern and Western Churches was begun in his boyhood and ended +before he had reached old age. He saw the irretrievable ruin of Rome, +such as Augustus and Trajan had known her; the extinction of the Roman +Senate; the practical abolition of the Consulate; the close of the +schools of philosophy at Athens. + +[Footnote 95: In assigning the death of Cassiodorus to the +ninety-sixth year of his age I rest upon the authority of Trittheim +(as quoted in the earlier part of this chapter), who appears to me to +have preserved the chronology which was generally accepted, before the +question became entangled by the confusion between Cassiodorus and his +father.] + +Reverting to the line of thought with which this chapter opened, if +one were asked to specify any single life which more than another was +in contact both with the Ancient World and the Modern, none could be +more suitably named than the life of Cassiodorus. + + +NOTE ON THE TOPOGRAPHY OF SQUILLACE. + +The chief conclusions which Mr. Evans came to after his two days' +study of the country about Squillace are these:-- + +[Sidenote: Position of Scylacium.] + +I. The Scylacium or Scolacium of Roman times, the city of Cassiodorus, +is not to be looked for at the modern Squillace, but at the place +called Roccella in the Italian military map, which Lenormant and Evans +know as _La Roccelletta del Vescovo di Squillace_. + +[Illustration: [map] _Oxford University Press_] + +This place, which is about ten kilometres north-east of modern +Squillace, is on a little hill immediately overhanging the sea, while +Squillace is on a spur of the Apennines three or four miles distant +from the sea. Mr. Evans' chief reasons for identifying Roccella with +Scylacium are (1) its position, 'hanging like a cluster of grapes on +hills not so high as to make the ascent of them a weariness, but high +enough to command a delightful prospect over land and sea.' This +description by Cassiodorus exactly suits Roccella, but does not suit +Squillace, which is at the top of a conical hill, and is reached only +by a very toilsome ascent. 'With its gradual southern and eastern +slope and its freedom from overlooking heights (different in this +respect from Squillace),' says Mr. Evans, 'Roccella was emphatically, +as Cassiodorus describes it, "a city of the sun."' + +(2) Its ruins. While no remains of a pre-mediaeval time have been +discovered at Squillace, there is still standing at Roccella the shell +of a splendid basilica, of which Mr. Evans has taken some plans and +sketches, but which seems to have strangely escaped the notice of most +preceding travellers. The total length of this building is 94 paces, +the width of the nave 30, the extreme width of the transept 54. It has +three fine apses at the eastern end, and is built in the form of a +Latin cross. On either side of the nave was an exterior arcade, which +apparently consisted originally of eleven window arches, six of them +not being for the transmission of light. 'Altogether,' says Mr. Evans, +'this church, even in its dilapidated state, is one of the finest +monuments of the kind anywhere existing. We should have to go to +Rome, to Ravenna, or to Thessalonica, to find its parallel; but I +doubt whether, even at any of those places, there is to be seen a +basilica with such fine exterior arcading. It is a great tribute to +the strength of the original fabric that so much should have survived +the repeated shocks of earthquake that have desolated Calabria, and +scarcely left one stone upon another of her ancient cities.' + +After a careful examination of the architectural peculiarities of this +basilica, Mr. Evans is disposed to fix its erection somewhere about +the time of the Emperor Justinian. + +In addition to this fine building there are at Roccella the ruins of +two smaller late Roman churches, mausolea, and endless foundations of +buildings which must have formed very extensive suburbs. + +More important than all, the massive walls of a considerable city can +still be traced for nearly a mile in two parallel lines, with the +transverse wall which unites them. Certainly all these indications +seem to point to the existence at this spot of a great provincial city +of the Empire, and to make Mr. Evans' conjecture more probable than +that of M. Lenormant, who identified the ruins at Roccella with those +of Castra Hannibalis, the seaport of Scylacium. It would seem +probable, if Mr. Evans' theory be correct, that the city may have been +removed to its present site in the early middle ages, in order to +guard it against the incursions of the Saracens. + +[Sidenote: The Vivarian Monastery.] + +II. As to the situation of the _Vivarian Monastery_ Mr. Evans comes to +nearly the same conclusion as M. Lenormant. Both place it on the +promontory of Squillace (eastward of Staletti), and, as Mr. Evans +observes, 'only such a position can be reconciled, on the one hand, +with the presence of an abundant stream and rich Campagna, on the +other with the neighbourhood of caves and grottoes on the sea-shore.' +But while M. Lenormant places it at a place called Coscia, almost +immediately to the north of and under Staletti, Mr. Evans pleads for +the site now occupied by the Church of S. Maria del Mare, on the cliff +top, very near the sea, and about three kilometres south of Staletti. +This church is itself of later date than Cassiodorus, and probably +formed part of the work of restoration undertaken by Nicephorus Phocas +in the Tenth Century; but there are signs of its having formerly +joined on to a monastery, and some of the work about it looks as if +materials taken from the Cassiodorian edifice had been used in the +work of reconstruction. + +[Sidenote: The Fons Arethusae.] + +III. The _Fountain of Arethusa_ may possibly, according to Mr. Evans, +be identified with the Fontana della Panaghia, a small fountain by the +sea-shore at the south end of a little bay under the promontory of S. +Gregorio. The so-called Fontana di Cassiodoro, near Coscia, has +received its name and its present appearance in modern times, and is +much too far from the sea to be the Fountain of Arethusa. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE ANECDOTON HOLDERI. + + +A few pages must be devoted to the MS. bearing the somewhat uncouth +title of 'Anecdoton Holderi,' because it is the most recently opened +source of information as to the life and works of Cassiodorus, and one +which, if genuine, settles some questions which have been long and +vigorously debated among scholars. + +My information on the subject is derived from a pamphlet of 79 pages +by Hermann Usener, printed at Bonn in 1877, and bearing the title +'Anecdoton Holderi: Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte Roms in Ostgothischer +Zeit.' I am indebted to Mr. Bywater, of Exeter College, Oxford, for my +introduction to this pamphlet, which, while strikingly confirming some +conclusions which I had come to from my own independent study of the +'Variae,' has been of the greatest possible service to me in studying +the lives of Cassiodorus and Boethius. + +[Sidenote: Description of the MS.] + +The 'Anecdoton' (which loses its right to that name by Usener's +publication of it) was discovered by Alfred Holder in a MS. known as +Codex Augiensis, No. CVL, which came from the Monastery of Reichenau +and is now in the Grand-Ducal Library at Carlsruhe. The monks of the +fertile island of Reichenau (Augia Dives), in the Lake of Constance, +were celebrated in the ninth and tenth centuries for their zeal in the +collection and transcription of manuscripts. The well-known Codex +Augiensis (an uncial MS. of the Greek text of the New Testament, with +the Vulgate version in parallel columns) is referred by +palaeographers to the ninth century[96]. The Codex Augiensis with +which we are now concerned, and which is a copy of the 'Institutiones +Humanarum Rerum' of Cassiodorus, is believed to have been written in +the next succeeding century. On the last page of this MS. Holder +discovered the fragment--not properly belonging to the +'Institutiones'--to which he has given his name, and which is as +follows[97]:-- + +[Footnote 96: See Scrivener, Plain Introduction to the Criticism of +the New Testament, pp. 133-4.] + +[Footnote 97: I have adopted the emendations--most of them the +corrections of obvious mistakes--which are suggested by Usener.] + +[Sidenote: Contents of the Anecdoton Holderi.] + + 'Excerpta ex libello Cassiodori Senatoris monachi servi Dei, + ex-Patricio, ex-Consule Ordinario Quaestore et Magistro + Officiorum, quem scripsit ad Rufum Petronium Nicomachum + ex-Consule Ordinario Patricium et Magistrum Officiorum. Ordo + generis Cassiodororum[98]: qui scriptores exstiterint ex + eorum progenie vel ex civibus[99] eruditis. + +[Footnote 98: In the original, 'Casiodoru.'] + +[Footnote 99: In the original, 'ex quibus.'] + + 'Symmachus Patricius et Consul Ordinarius, vir philosophus, + qui antiqui Catonis fuit novellus imitator, sed virtutes + veterum sanctissima religione transcendit. Dixit sententiam + pro allecticiis in Senatu, parentesque suos imitatus + historiam quoque Romanam septem libris edidit. + + 'Boethius dignitatibus summis excelluit. Utraque lingua + peritissimus orator fuit. Qui regem Theodorichum in Senatu + pro Consulatu filiorum luculenta oratione laudavit. Scripsit + librum de Sancta Trinitate et capita quaedam dogmatica et + librum contra Nestorium. Condidit et carmen bucolicum. Sed + in opere artis logicae, id est dialecticae, transferendo ac + mathematicis disciplinis talis fuit ut antiquos auctores aut + aequiperaret aut vinceret. + + 'Cassiodorus Senator, vir eruditissimus et multis + dignitatibus pollens. Juvenis adeo, dum patris Cassiodori + Patricii et Praefecti Praetorii Consiliarius fieret et + laudes Theodorichi regis Gothorum facundissime recitasset, + ab eo Quaestor est factus. Patricius et Consul Ordinarius, + postmodum dehinc Magister Officiorum [et praefuisset + formulas dictionum, quas in duodecim libris ordinavit et + Variarum titulum superposuit] scripsit praecipiente + Theodoricho rege historiam Gothicam, originem eorum et loca + moresque XII libris annuntians.' + +This memorandum, for it is hardly more, is a vestige, and the only +vestige now remaining, of a short tract by Cassiodorus on the literary +history of his family and kinsmen. The 'Excerpta' have been made by +some later hand--perhaps that of a monk in the Vivarian convent. To +him undoubtedly we owe the words 'monachi servi Dei' as a description +of Cassiodorus; probably also the 'ex-Patricio,' which is perhaps an +incorrect designation. 'Vir eruditissimus,' in the last paragraph, is +probably due to the same hand, as, with all his willingness to do +justice to his own good qualities, Cassiodorus would hardly have +spoken thus of himself in a work avowedly proceeding from his own pen. +The clause which is placed in brackets [et ... superposuit] is +probably also due to the copyist, anxious to supply what he deemed the +imperfections of his memorandum. In short, it must be admitted that +the fragment cannot consist of the very words of Cassiodorus in +however abbreviated a form. Still it contains so much that is +valuable, and that could hardly have been invented by any writer of a +post-Cassiodorian age, that it is well worthy of the careful and, so +to speak, microscopical examination to which it has been subjected by +Usener. + +[Sidenote: Date of the fragment.] + +[Sidenote: Persons to whom addressed.] + +The work from which these 'Excerpta' are taken was composed, according +to Usener, in the year 522. This is proved by the facts that the +receiver of the letter is spoken of as Magister Officiorum, a post +which he apparently held from Sept. 1, 521, to Sept. 1, 522; and that +the Consulship of the two sons of Boethius, which began on Jan. 1, +522, is also referred to. The name of the person to whom the letter is +addressed is given as Rufius Petronius Nicomachus. Usener, however, +shows good reason for thinking that his final name, the name by which +he was known in the consular lists, is omitted, and that his full +designation was Rufius Petronius Nicomachus Cethegus, Consul in 504, +Magister Officiorum (as above stated) in 521-522, and Patrician. He +was probably the same Cethegus whom Procopius mentions[100] as +Princeps Senatus, and as withdrawing from Rome to Centumcellae in the +year 545 because he was accused of treachery to the Imperial +cause[101]. + +[Footnote 100: De Bello Gotthico iii. 13 (p. 328, ed. Bonn).] + +[Footnote 101: If Usener be right (and he has worked up this point +with great care), we can trace the following links in the pedigree of +Cethegus (see pp. 6 and 11): + + Rufius Petronius _Placidus_, Consul 481. + | + Rufius Petronius Anicius _Probinus_, Consul 489. + | +Rufius Petronius Nicomachus _Cethegus_, Consul 504, correspondent of + Cassiodorus. + +Probinus and Cethegus are referred to by Ennodius in his letter to +Ambrosius and Beatus, otherwise called his Paraenesis (p. 409, ed. +Hartel).] + +[Sidenote: Its object.] + +The object of the little treatise referred to evidently was to give an +account of those members of the family to which Cassiodorus belonged +who had distinguished themselves in literature. The words 'Ex genere +Cassiodororum' are perhaps a gloss of the transcribers. At least it +does not appear that they would correctly describe the descent of +Symmachus and Boethius, though they were relations of Cassiodorus, +being descended from or allied to the great house of the Aurelii from +which he also sprang. Probably several other names may have been +noticed in the original treatise, but the only three as to which the +'Anecdoton' informs us are the three as to whom information is most +acceptable--Symmachus, Boethius, and Cassiodorus himself. + +[Sidenote: Information as to life of Symmachus.] + +I. The name of Q. Aurelius Memmius _Symmachus_ was already known to us +as that of the friend, guardian, and father-in-law of Boethius, and +his fellow-sufferer from the outburst of suspicious rage which +disgraced the last years of Theodoric. That he was Consul in 485 +(under the dominion of Odovacar), and that he had at the time of his +fall attained the honoured position of Father of the Senate[102], we +also know from the 'Consular Fasti' and the 'Anonymus Valesii.' This +extract tells us that he had attained the rank of Patricius, which may +perhaps have been bestowed upon him when he laid down the Consulship. +He was 'a philosopher, and a modern imitator of the ancient Cato; but +surpassed the virtues of the men of old by [his devotion to] our most +holy religion.' This sentence quite accords with all that we hear of +the character of Symmachus from our other authorities--the 'Anonymus +Valesii,' Procopius, and Boethius. The blending of old Roman gravity +and Christian piety in such a man's disposition is happily indicated +in the words before us. It would be an interesting commentary upon +them if we were to contrast the career of the Christian Symmachus, who +suffered in some sense as a martyr for the Nicene Creed under +Theodoric, with that of his ancestor the Pagan Symmachus, who, 143 +years before, incurred the anger of Gratian by his protests against +the removal of the Altar of Victory from the Senate House, and the +curtailment of the grant to the Vestal Virgins. + +[Footnote 102: Caput Senati. This, not Caput Senatus, is the form +which we find in Anon. Valesii. Usener suggests (p. 32) that Symmachus +probably became Caput Senati on the death of Festus, who had held that +position from 501 to 506.] + +The Symmachus with whom we are now concerned was also an orator; and +we learn from this extract that he delivered a speech, evidently of +some importance, in the Senate, 'pro allecticiis.' There seems much +probability in Usener's contention that these 'allecticii' were men +who had been 'allecti,' or admitted by co-optation into the Senate +during the reign of Odovacar, and whom, on the downfall of that ruler, +it had been proposed to strip of their recently acquired dignity--a +proposal which seems to have been successfully resisted by Symmachus +and his friends. + +Lastly, we learn that Symmachus, 'in imitation of his ancestors,' put +forth a Roman History in seven books. The expression for ancestors +(parentes) here used is thought by Usener to refer chiefly to Virius +Nicomachus Flavianus (Consul in 394[103]), whose granddaughter married +Q. Fabius Memmius Symmachus, and was the grandmother of our Symmachus. +This Flavianus, who was in his time one of the chief leaders of the +heathen party in the Senate, is spoken of in one inscription as +'historicus disertissimus;' and in another, mention is made of the +fact that he dedicated his annals to Theodosius. + +[Footnote 103: See Usener, p. 29. The Consules Ordinarii for that year +were Arcadius and Honorius.] + +Whether the elder Symmachus, the Pagan champion, was a historian as +well as an orator is a matter about which there is a good deal of +doubt. Jordanes twice quotes 'The History of Symmachus,' once as to +the elevation of the Emperor Maximin, and once as to his death[104]. +Usener thinks that the 'Anecdoton Holderi' authorises us henceforward +to assign these quotations without doubt to the younger, Christian +Symmachus, not to his Pagan ancestor. To me the allusion to +_parentes_ (in the plural), whose industry as historians the Symmachus +there spoken of imitated, seems to make it at least as probable that +the earlier, not the later member of the family composed the history +which is here quoted by Jordanes. + +[Footnote 104: Jordanes, Getica xv.: 'Nam, ut dicit Symmachus in +quinto suae historiae libro, Maximinus ... ab exercitus effectus est +imperator.' 'Occisus Aquileia a Puppione regnum reliquit Philippo; +quod nos huic nostro opusculo de Symmachi hystoria [sic] mutuavimus.'] + +[Sidenote: Information as to life of Boethius.] + +II. We now pass on to consider the information furnished by this +fragment as to the illustrious son-in-law of Symmachus, Anicius +Manlius Severinus _Boethius_. Of the facts of his life we had already +pretty full information, from the autobiographical sections of the +'Consolation of Philosophy' and other sources. He does not indeed +mention the exact year of his birth, but the allusion to 'untimely +gray hairs' which he makes in that work, written in 523 or 524, +together with other indications[105] as to his age, entitle us to fix +it at about 480, certainly not earlier than that year. The death of +his father (who was Consul in 487) occurred while he was still a +child. Symmachus, as has been already said, was the guardian of his +youth and the friend of his manhood, and gave him his daughter +Rusticiana to wife. That he received the honour of the Consulship in +510 we know from the 'Fasti Consulares;' but it is perplexing to find +him even before that year spoken of[106] as Patricius, since this +honour was generally bestowed only on those who had already sat in the +curule chair of the Consul[107]. The high consideration in which he +was held at the Court of Theodoric, and the value placed upon his +scientific attainments, are sufficiently proved by the letters in the +following collection, especially by those in which he is consulted +about the frauds committed by the officers of the Mint, about the +water-clock which is to be sent to Gundobad King of the Burgundians, +and the harper who is to be provided for the King of the Franks[108]. +In the year 522 his two sons, Symmachus and Boethius, though they had +but just attained to man's estate, received the honour of the +Consulship, upon which occasion the proud and happy father pronounced +a panegyric upon Theodoric before the assembled Senate. Some of these +facts in the life of Boethius are referred to in the extract before +us, which, as was before said, appears to be taken from a treatise +composed in this same year 522, the year of the Consulship of the +young Boethii. Of their father's investiture with the office of +_Magister Officiorum_ on September 1, 522, of his sudden fall from the +royal favour, of the charge of treason which was preferred against him +before the end of that year, of his imprisonment during 523 and +execution (probably in the early part of 524), we have of course no +trace in this extract; and the fact that we have none is a strong +argument for the genuineness and contemporary character of the +treatise from which it is taken. + +[Footnote 105: Chiefly derived from the Paraenesis of Ennodius (Opusc. +vi.).] + +[Footnote 106: In the Paraenesis.] + +[Footnote 107: Usener's suggestion (pp. 38, 39) that he obtained this +honour in consequence of having filled the place of _Comes Sacrarum +Largitionum_ seems to me only to land us in the further difficulty +caused by the entire omission of all allusion to this fact both in the +Paraenesis and in the Anecdoton Holderi.] + +[Footnote 108: See Var. i. 10 and 45; ii. 40.] + +[Sidenote: His theological treatises.] + +So far, then, we have in the 'Anecdoton Holderi' only a somewhat +meagre reiteration of facts already known to us. But when we come to +the statement of the literary labours of Boethius the case is entirely +altered. It is well known that in the Middle Ages certain treatises on +disputed points of Christian theology were attributed to him as their +author. They are:-- + +1. A treatise 'De Sancta Trinitate.' + +2. 'Ad Johannem Diaconum: Utrum Pater et Filius et Spiritus Sanctus de +Divinitate substantialiter praedicentur.' + +3. 'Ad eundem: Quomodo substantiae in eo quod sint bonae sint cum non +sint substantialia bona.' + +4. 'De Fide Catholica.' + +5. 'Contra Eutychen et Nestorium.' + +It may be said at once that in the earlier MSS. the fourth treatise is +not attributed to Boethius. It seems to have been included with the +others by some mistake, and I shall therefore in the following remarks +assume that it is not his, and shall confine my attention to the first +three and the fifth. + +[Sidenote: Difficulty as to religious position of Boethius.] + +Even as to these, notwithstanding the nearly unanimous voice of the +early Middle Ages (as represented by MSS. of the Ninth, Tenth, and +Eleventh Centuries) assigning them to Boethius as their author, +scholars, especially recent scholars, have felt the gravest possible +doubts of their being really his, doubts which have of late ripened +into an almost complete certainty that he was not their author. The +difficulty does not arise from anything in the diction or in the +theology which points to a later age as the time of their composition, +but from the startling contrast which they present to the religious +atmosphere of the 'Consolation of Philosophy.' Here, in these +theological treatises, we have the author entering cheerfully into the +most abstruse points of the controversy concerning the Nature of +Christ, without apparently one wavering thought as to the Deity of the +Son of Mary. There, in the 'Consolation,' a book written in prison and +in disgrace, with death at the executioner's hands impending over +him--a book in which above all others we should have expected a man +possessing the Christian faith to dwell upon the promises of +Christianity--the name of Christ is never once mentioned, the tone, +though religious and reverential, is that of a Theist only; and from +beginning to end, except one or two sentences in which an obscure +allusion may possibly be detected to the Christian revelation, there +is nothing which might not have been written by a Greek philosopher +ignorant of the very name of Christianity. Of the various attempts +which have been made to solve this riddle perhaps the most ingenious +is that of M. Charles Jourdain, who, in a monograph devoted to the +subject[109], seeks to prove that the author of the theological +treatises referred to was a certain Boethus, an African Bishop of the +Byzacene Province, who was banished to Sardinia about the year 504 by +the Vandal King Thrasamond. + +[Footnote 109: De l'Origine des Traditions sur le Christianisme de +Boèce (Paris, 1861.)] + +Not thus, however, as it now appears, is the knot to be cut. And after +all, M. Jourdain, in arguing, as he seems disposed to argue, against +any external profession of Christianity on the part of Boethius, +introduces contradictions greater than any that his theory would +remove. To any person acquainted with the thoughts and words of the +little coterie of Roman nobles to which Boethius belonged, it will +seem absolutely impossible that the son-in-law of Symmachus, the +receiver of the praises of Ennodius and Cassiodorus, should have been +a professed votary of the old Paganism. It is not the theological +treatises coming from a man in his position which are hard to account +for; it is the apparently non-Christian tone of the 'Consolation.' + +The fragment now before us shows that the old-fashioned belief in +Boethius as a theologian was well founded. 'He wrote a book concerning +the Holy Trinity, and certain dogmatic chapters, and a book against +Nestorius.' That is a sufficiently accurate _resumé_ of the four +theological treatises enumerated above. Here Usener also observes--and +I am inclined to agree with him--that there is a certain resemblance +between the style of thought of these treatises and that of the +'Consolation' itself. They are, after all, philosophical rather than +religious; one of the earliest samples of that kind of logical +discussion of theological dogmas which the Schoolmen of the Middle +Ages so delighted to indulge in. The young philosopher, hearing at his +father-in-law's table the discussions between Chalcedonian and +Monophysite with which all Rome resounded, on account of the prolonged +strife with the Church of Constantinople, set himself down to discuss +the same topics which they were wrangling over by the light--to him so +clear and precious--of the Greek philosophy. There was perhaps in this +employment neither reverence nor irreverence. He had not St. +Augustine's intense and almost passionate conviction of the truth of +Christianity; but he was quite willing to accept it and to discourse +upon it, as he discoursed on Arithmetic, Music, and Geometry. + +But when premature old age, solitude, and the loss of liberty befell +him, it was not to the highly elaborated Christian theology of the +Sixth Century that he turned for support and consolation. Probably +enough the very fact that he knew some of the pitfalls in the way +deterred him from that dangerous journey, where the slightest +deviation on either side landed him in some detested heresy, the +heresy of Nestorius or of Eutyches. 'On revient toujours à ses +premiers amours;' and even so Boethius, though undoubtedly professing +himself a Christian, and about to die in full communion with the +Catholic Church, turned for comfort in his dungeon to the +philosophical studies of his youth, especially to the ethical writings +of Plato and Aristotle. + +After all, the title of the treatise is '_Philosophiae_ Consolatio;' +and however vigorous a literature of philosophy may in the course of +centuries have grown up in the Christian domain, in the sixth century +the remembrance of the old opposition between Christianity and +Philosophy was perhaps still too strong for a writer to do anything +more than stand neutral as to the distinctive claims of Christianity, +when he had for the time donned the cloak of the philosopher. + +[Sidenote: The Bucolic Poem of Boethius.] + +We learn from the fragment before us that Boethius also wrote a +'Bucolic Poem.' This is an interesting fact, and helps to explain the +facility with which he breaks into song in the midst of the +'Consolation.' It may have been to this effort of the imagination that +he alluded when he said at the beginning of that work-- + + 'Carmina qui quondam studio florente peregi + Flebilis, heu, moestos cogor inire modos.' + +We would gladly know something more of this 'Bucolic Poem' indited by +the universal genius, Boethius. + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus.] + +III. As for _Cassiodorus_ himself, the additional information +furnished by this fragment has been already discussed in the foregoing +chapter. That he was _Consilarius_ to his father during his +Praefecture, and that in that capacity he recited an eloquent +panegyric on Theodoric, which was rewarded by his promotion to the +high office of the Quaestorship, are facts which we learn from this +fragment only; and they are of high importance, not only for the life +of Cassiodorus but for the history of Europe at the beginning of the +Sixth Century, because they make it impossible to assign to any letter +in the 'Variae' an earlier date than 500. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE GRADATIONS OF OFFICIAL RANK IN THE LATER EMPIRE. + + +[Sidenote: Official Hierarchy introduced by Diocletian.] + +It is well known that Diocletian introduced and Constantine perfected +an elaborate system of administration under which the titles, +functions, order of precedence, and number of attendants of the +various officers of the Civil Service as well as of the Imperial army +were minutely and punctiliously regulated. This system, which, as +forming the pattern upon which the nobility of mediaeval Europe was to +a great extent modelled, perhaps deserves even more careful study than +it has yet received, is admirably illustrated by the letters of +Cassiodorus. The _Notitia Utriusque Imperii_, our copies of which must +have been compiled in the early years of the Fifth Century, furnishes +us with a picture of official life which, after we have made allowance +for the fact that the Empire of the West has shrunk into the +Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy (with the addition of Dalmatia and some +other portions of Illyricum), is almost precisely reproduced in the +pages of the 'Various Letters.' In order that the student may +understand the full significance of many passages in those letters, +and especially of the superscriptions by which each letter is +prefaced, it will be well to give a brief outline of the system which +existed alike under Theodosius and Theodoric. + +[Sidenote: Nobilissimi.] + +In the first place, then, we come to what is rather a family than a +class, the persons bearing the title _Nobilissimus_[110]. These were +the nearest relatives of the reigning Emperor; his brothers, sisters, +sons, and daughters. The title therefore is not unlike that of Royal +or Imperial Highness in modern monarchies. I am not sure whether any +trace can be found of the survival of this title in the Ostrogothic +Court. Theodahad, nephew of Theodoric, is addressed simply as 'Vir +Senator[111],' and he is spoken of as 'praecelsus et amplissimus +vir[112].' It is not so, however, in respect of the three great +official classes which follow--the Illustres, Spectabiles, and +Clarissimi--whose titles were rendered as punctiliously in the Italy +of Theodoric as ever they were in the Italy of Diocletian and +Constantine. + +[Footnote 110: The existence of this title is proved not only by the +language of Arcadius in the Theodosian Code x. 25. 1, concerning +'Nobilissimae puellae, filiae meae,' but also by Zosimus (ii. 39), who +says that Constantine bestowed the dignity of Nobilissimus on his +brother Constantius and his nephew Hannibalianus ([Greek: tês tou +legomenou nôbelissimou par' autou Kônstantinou tuchontes axias aidoi +tês syngeneias]); and by Marcellinus Comes, s. a. 527, who says: +'Justinus Imperator Justinianum ex sorore suâ nepotem, jamdudum a se +Nobilissimum designatum, participem quoque regni ani, successoremque +creavit.' It is evident that the title did not come by right of birth, +but that some sort of declaration of it was necessary.] + +[Footnote 111: Var. iii. 15.] + +[Footnote 112: Var. viii. 23.] + +[Sidenote: Illustres.] + +I. The _Illustres_ were a small and select circle of men, the chief +depositaries of power after the Sovereign, and they may with some +truth be compared to the Cabinet Ministers of our own political +system. The 'Notitia' mentions thirteen of them as bearing rule in the +Western Empire. They are: + +1. The Praetorian Praefect of Italy. + +2. The Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls. + +3. The Praefect of the City of Rome. + +4. The Master of the Foot Guards (Magister Peditum in Praesenti). + +5. The Master of the Horse Guards (Magister Equitum in Praesenti). + +6. The Master of the Horse for the Gauls (per Gallias). + +7. The Grand Chamberlain (Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi). + +8. The Master of the Offices. + +9. The Quaestor. + +10. The Count of Sacred Largesses. + +11. The Count of the Private Domains (Comes Rerum Privatarum). + +12. The Count of the Household Cavalry (Comes Domesticorum Equitum). + +13. The Count of the Household Infantry (Comes Domesticorum Peditum). + +Substantially these same titles were borne by the Illustres to whom +Cassiodorus (himself one of them) addressed his 'Various Letters.' The +second and the sixth (the Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls, and the +Master of the Horse for the Gauls) may possibly have disappeared; and +yet, in view of the fact that Theodoric was during the greater part of +his reign ruler of a portion of Gaul, it is not necessary to assume +even this change. Into the question of the military officers I will +not enter, as I confess that I do not understand the relations +(whether co-ordinate or subordinated one to another) of the two pairs +of officers, Nos. 4 and 5 and Nos. 12 and 13. + +The rank and duties of the Praetorian Praefect of Italy, the Master of +the Offices, and the Quaestor have already been described in the first +chapter. It will be well to say a few words as to the four remaining +civil dignitaries, the Praefect of the City, the Grand Chamberlain, +the Count of Sacred Largesses, and the Count of the Private Domains. + +[Sidenote: Praefect of the City.] + +(_a_) The _Praefectus Urbis Romae_ was by virtue of his office head of +the Senate. He had the care of the Annona or corn-largesses to the +people, the command of the City-watch, and the duty of keeping the +aqueducts in proper repair. The shores and channel of the Tiber, the +vast _cloacae_ which carried off the refuse of the City, the quays and +warehouses of Portus at the river's mouth were also under his +authority. The officer who was charged with taking the census, the +officers charged with levying the duties on wine, the masters of the +markets, the superintendents of the granaries, the curators of the +statues, baths, theatres, and the other public buildings with which +the City was adorned, all owned the supreme control of the Urban +Praefect. At the beginning of the Fifth Century the _Vicarius Urbis_ +(whom it is difficult not to think of as in some sort subject to the +_Praefectus Urbis_), had jurisdiction over all central and southern +Italy and Sicily. But if this was the arrangement then, it must have +been altered before the time of Cassiodorus, who certainly appears as +Praetorian Praefect to have wielded authority over the greater part of +Italy. He states, however[113], that the Urban Praefect had, by an +ancient law, jurisdiction, not only over Rome itself, but over all the +district within 100 miles of the capital. + +[Footnote 113: Var. vi. 4.] + +[Sidenote: Grand Chamberlain.] + +(_b_) The _Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi_ had under his orders the large +staff of Grooms of the Bedchamber, at whose head stood the +_Primicerius Cubiculariorum_, an officer of 'respectable' rank. The +_Castrensis_, Butler or Seneschal, with his army of lacqueys and pages +who attended to the spreading and serving of the royal table; the +_Comes Sacrae Vestis_, who with similar assistance took charge of the +royal wardrobe; the _Comes Domorum_, who perhaps superintended the +needful repairs of the royal palace, all took their orders in the last +resort from the Grand Chamberlain. So, too, did the three Decurions, +officers with a splendid career of advancement before them, who +marshalled the thirty brilliantly armed Silentiarii, that paced +backwards and forwards before the purple veil guarding the slumbers of +the Sovereign. + +[Sidenote: Count of Sacred Largesses.] + +(_c_) The _Comes Sacrarum Largitionum_, theoretically only the Grand +Almoner of the Sovereign, discharged in practice many of the duties of +Chancellor of the Exchequer. The mines, the mint, the Imperial linen +factories, the receipt of the tribute of the Provinces, and many other +departments of the public revenue were originally under the care of +this functionary, whose office however, as we are expressly told by +Cassiodorus, had lost part of its lustre, probably by a transfer of +some of these duties to the Count of the Private Domains. + +[Sidenote: Count of Private Domains.] + +(_d_) This Minister, the _Comes Rerum Privatarum_, had the +superintendence of the Imperial estates in Italy and the Provinces. +Confiscations and the absorption by the State of the properties of +defaulting tax-payers were probably always tending to increase the +extent of these estates, and to make the office of Count of the Domain +more important. The collection of the land-tax, far the most important +item of the Imperial revenue, was also made subject to his authority. +Finally, in order, as Cassiodorus quaintly observes[114], that his +jurisdiction should not be exercised only over slaves (the cultivators +of the State domains), some authority was given to him within the +City, and by a curious division of labour all charges of incestuous +crime, or of the spoliation of graves, were brought before the +tribunal of the Comes Privatarum. + +[Footnote 114: Var. vi. 8.] + +Besides the thirteen persons who, as acting Ministers of the highest +class, were entitled to the designation of Illustris, there were also +those whom we may call honorary members of the class: the persons who +had received the dignity of the Patriciate--a dignity which was +frequently bestowed on those who had filled the office of Consul, and +which, unlike the others of which we have been speaking, was held for +life. + +It is a question on which I think we need further information, whether +a person who had once filled an Illustrious office lost the right to +be so addressed on vacating it. I am not sure that we have any clear +case in the following collection of an ex-official holding this +courtesy-rank; but it seems probable that such would be the case. + +Considering also the great show of honour with which the Consulate, +though now destitute of all real power, was still greeted, it seems +probable that the Consuls for the year would rank as Illustres; but +here, too, we seem to require fuller details. + +[Sidenote: Spectabiles.] + +II. We now come to the Second Class, the _Spectabiles_, which consists +chiefly of the lieutenants and deputies of the Illustres. + +For instance, every Praetorian Praefect had immediately under him a +certain number of _Vicarii_, each of whom was a Spectabilis. The +Praefecture included an extent of territory equivalent to two or three +countries of Modern Europe (for instance, the Praefecture of the Gauls +embraced Britain, Gaul, a considerable slice of Germany, Spain, and +Morocco). This was divided into Dioceses (in the instance above +referred to Britain formed one Diocese, Gaul another, and Spain with +its attendant portion of Africa a third), and the Diocese was again +divided into Provinces. The title of the ruler of the Diocese, who in +his restricted but still ample domain wielded a similar authority to +that of the Illustrious Praefect, was _Spectabilis Vicarius_. + +But the Praefect and the Vicar controlled only the civil government of +the territories over which they respectively bore sway. The military +command of the Diocese was vested in a _Spectabilis Comes_, who was +under the orders of the Illustrious Magister Militum. Subordinate in +some way to the Comes was the _Dux_, who was also a Spectabilis, but +whose precise relation to his superior the Comes is, to me at least, +not yet clear[115]. + +[Footnote 115: I think the usual account of the matter is that which I +have given elsewhere (Italy and her Invaders, i. 227), that the Comes +had military command in the Diocese and the Dux in the Province. But +on closer examination I cannot find that the Notitia altogether bears +out this view. It gives us for the Western Empire eight Comites and +twelve Duces. The former pretty nearly correspond to the Dioceses, but +the latter are far too few for the Provinces, which number forty-two, +excluding all the Provinces of Italy. Besides, in some cases the +jurisdiction appears to be the same. Thus we have both a Dux and a +Comes Britanniarum, and the Dux Mauritaniae Caesariensis must, one +would think, have held command in a region as large or larger than the +Comes Tingitaniae. Again, we have a Comes Argentoratensis and a Dux +Moguntiacensis, two officers whose power, one would think, was pretty +nearly equal. The same may perhaps be said of the Comes Litoris +Saxonici in Britain and the Dux Tractus Armoricani et Nervicani in +Gaul. While recognising a _general_ inferiority of the Dux to the +Comes, I do not think we can, with the Notitia before us, assert that +the Provincial Duces were regularly subordinated to the Diocesan +Comes, as the Provincial Consulares were to the Diocesan Vicarius. And +the fact that both Comes and Dux were addressed as Spectabilis rather +confirms this view.] + +Besides these three classes of dignitaries, the _Castrensis_, who was +a kind of head steward in the Imperial household, and most of the +Heads of Departments in the great administrative offices, such as the +_Primicerius Notariorum_ and the _Magistri Scriniorum_[116], bore the +title of Spectabilis. We have perhaps hardly sufficient data for an +exact calculation, but I conjecture that there would be as many as +fifty or sixty Spectabiles in the Kingdom of Theodoric. + +[Footnote 116: Probably, from the order in which they are mentioned by +the Notitia.] + +It appears to me that the epithet _Sublimis_ (which is almost unknown +to the Theodosian Code), when it occurs in the 'Variae' is used as +synonymous with Spectabilis[117]. + +[Footnote 117: Sublimis occurs in the superscription of the following +letters: i. 2; iv. 17; v. 25, 30, and 36; ix. 11 and 14; xii. 5.] + +[Sidenote: Clarissimi.] + +III. The _Clarissimi_ were the third rank in the official hierarchy. +To our minds it may appear strange that the 'most renowned' should +come below 'the respectable,' but such was the Imperial pleasure. The +title 'Clarissimus' had moreover its own value, for from the time of +Constantine onwards it was conferred on all the members of the Senate, +and was in fact identical with Senator[118]; and this was doubtless, +as Usener points out[119], the reason why the letters Cl. were still +appended to a Roman nobleman's name after he had risen higher in the +official scale and was entitled to be called Spectabilis or +Illustris. The _Consulares_ or _Correctores_, who administered the +Provinces under the Vicarii, were called Clarissimi; and we shall +observe in the collection before us many other cases in which the +title is given to men in high, but not the highest, positions in the +Civil Service of the State. + +[Footnote 118: See Emil Kühn's Verfassung des Römischen Reichs i. 182, +and the passages quoted there.] + +[Footnote 119: p. 31.] + +Besides the three classes above enumerated there were also:-- + +[Sidenote: Perfectissimi.] + +IV. The _Perfectissimi_, to which some of the smaller provincial +governors belonged, as well as some of the clerks in the Revenue +Offices (Numerarii) who had seen long service, and even some veteran +Decurions. + +Below these again were:-- + +[Sidenote: Egregii.] + +V. The _Egregii_, who were also Decurions who had earned a right to +promotion, or even what we should call veteran non-commissioned +officers in the army (Primipilares). + +But of these two classes slight mention is made in the Theodosian +Code, and none at all (I believe) in the 'Notitia' or the 'Letters of +Cassiodorus.' + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ON THE OFFICIUM OF THE PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO[120]. + +[Footnote 120: To illustrate the Eleventh Book of the Variae, Letters +18 to 35.] + + +[Sidenote: Military character of the Roman Civil Service.] + +The official staff that served under the Roman governors of high rank +was an elaborately organised body, with a carefully arranged system of +promotion, and liberal superannuation allowances for those of its +members who had attained a certain position in the office. + +Although, in consequence of the changes introduced by Diocletian and +Constantine, the civil and military functions had been for the most +part divided from one another, and it was now unusual to see the same +magistrate riding at the head of armies and hearing causes in the +Praetorium, in theory the officers of the Courts of Justice were still +military officers. Their service was spoken of as a _militia_; the +type of their office was the _cingulum_, or military belt; and one of +the leading officers of the court, as we shall see, was styled +_Cornicularius_, or trumpeter. + +The Praetorian Praefect, whose office had been at first a purely +military one, had now for centuries been chiefly concerned in civil +administration, and as Judge over the highest court of appeal in the +Empire. His _Officium_ (or staff of subordinates) was, at any rate in +the Fifth Century, still the most complete and highly developed that +served under any great functionary; and probably the career which it +offered to its members was more brilliant than any that they could +look for elsewhere. Accordingly, in studying the composition of this +body we shall familiarise ourselves with the type to which all the +other _officia_ throughout the Empire more or less closely +approximated. + +NOTITIA. CASSIODORUS LYDUS + (xi.). (iii. 3 and ii. 18.). + +Princeps. +Cornicularius. Cornicularius. Cornicularius. +Adjutor. Primiscrinius. II Primiscrinii. +Commentariensis. Scriniarius Actorum. +Ab Actis. Cura Epistolarum. +IV Numerarii. Scriniarius Curae Militaris. +Subadjuva. Primicerius Exceptorum. +Cura Epistolarum. Sextus Scholarius. +Regerendarius. Praerogativarius. +Exceptores. Commentariensis. II Commentarisii. +Adjutores. Regendarius. II Regendarii. +Singularii. Primicerius Deputatorum. II Curae Epistolarum Ponticae. + Primicerius Augustalium. + Primicerius Singulariorum. Singularii. + +Lydus calls all the officers down to the Curae Ep. Ponticae [Greek: +Hai Logikai Leitourgiai] (Officium Litteratum). + +[Sidenote: Sources of information as to the Officium.] + +Our chief information as to this elaborate official hierarchy is +derived from three sources[121]:-- + +[Footnote 121: See Table, p. 94.] + +(1) The _Notitia Dignitatum_, the great Official Gazetteer of the +Empire[122], which in its existing shape appears to date from the +reign of Arcadius and Honorius, early in the Fifth Century. + +[Footnote 122: To use a modern illustration, we might perhaps say that +the Notitia Dignitatum = Whitaker's Almanac + the Army List.] + +(2) The _De Magistratibus_ of Joannes Lydus, composed by a civil +servant of the Eastern Empire in the middle of the Sixth Century. + +(3) The _Variae Epistolae_ of Cassiodorus, the composition of which +ranges from about 504 to 540. + +The first of these authorities relates to the Eastern and Western +Empires, the second to the Eastern alone, the third to the Western +Empire as represented by the Ostrogothic Kingdom founded by Theodoric. + +Much light is also thrown on the subject by the Codes of Theodosius +and Justinian. + +Godefroy's Commentary on the Theodosian Code, and Bethmann Hollweg's +'Gerichtsverfassung des sinkenden Römischen Reichs,' are the chief +modern works which have treated of the subject. + +[Sidenote: The Officium as described in the Notitia.] + +We will follow the order in which the various offices are arranged by +the 'Notitia,' which is most likely to correspond with that of +official precedence. + +In the second chapter of the 'Notitia Orientis,' after an enumeration +of the five Dioceses and forty-six Provinces which are 'sub +dispositione viri illustris Praefecti Praetorio per Orientem,' we have +this list, 'Officium viri illustris Praefecti Praetorio Orientis:' + + Princeps. + Cornicularius. + Adjutor. + Commentariensis. + Ab actis. + Numerarii. + Subadjuvae. + Cura Epistolarum. + Regerendarius. + Exceptores. + Adjutores. + Singularii. + +The lists of the officia of all the other Praetorian Praefects in the +'Notitia' are exactly the same as this, except that under the head +'Praefectus Praetorio per Illyricum' we have, instead of the simple +entry 'Numerarii,' + + 'Numerarii quatuor: in his auri unus, operum alter;' + +and the 'Praefectus Urbis Romae' had under his Numerarii, a + + 'Primiscrinius,' + +and between the 'Adjutores' and 'Singularii,' + + Censuales and + Nomenculatores. + +We will go through the offices enumerated above in order: + +[Sidenote: Princeps.] + +(1) The PRINCEPS was the head of the whole official staff. In the case +of the officium of the Praetorian Praefect, however, this officer +seems, after the compilation of the 'Notitia,' to have disappeared, +and his rights and privileges became vested in the Cornicularius. It +will be observed that in the letters of Cassiodorus to the members of +his staff there is none addressed to the Princeps; and similarly there +is no mention of a Princeps as serving under the Praetorian Praefect +in the treatise of Lydus. This elimination of the Princeps, however, +was not universally applicable to all the officia. Cassiodorus (xi. +35) mentions a _Princeps Augustorum_, who was, perhaps, Princeps of +the _Agentes in Rebus_; and Lydus more distinctly ('De Mag.' iii. 24) +speaks of a bargain made between the Cornicularius of the Praetorian +Praefect and the [Greek: Prinkips tôn magistrianôn], who must be +supposed to be Princeps in the officium of the _Magister Officiorum_, +though no such officer appears in the 'Notitia[123].' + +[Footnote 123: See also Var. vii. 24 and 28.] + +Speaking generally, however, we may perhaps say that the greater part +of what we are about to hear concerning the rights and endowments of +the Cornicularius in the Praefect's office might be truly asserted of +the Princeps at the time when the 'Notitia' was compiled, before the +two offices had been amalgamated. + +[Sidenote: Cornicularius.] + +(2) The _Cornicularius_. As to this officer we have a good many +details in the pages of Joannes Lydus. The antiquarian and +etymological part of his information must generally be received with +caution; but as to the actual privileges of the office in the days of +Justinian we may very safely speak after him, since it was an office +which he himself held, and whose curtailed gains and privileges caused +him bitter disappointment. + +'The foremost in rank,' says he[124], 'of the Emperor's assistants +(Adjutores) is even to this day called _Cornicularius_, that is to say +_horned_ ([Greek: keraïtês]), or _fighting in the front rank_. For the +place of the monarch or the Caesar was in the middle of the army, +where he alone might direct the stress of battle. This being the +Emperor's place, according to Frontinus, on the left wing was posted +the Praefect or Master of the Horse, and on the right the Praetors or +Legati, the latter being the officers left in charge of the army when +their year of office was drawing to a close, to hold the command till +the new Consul should come out to take it from them. + +[Footnote 124: De Mag. iii. 3, 4.] + +'Of the whole Legion then, amounting to 6,000 men, exclusive of +cavalry and auxiliaries, as I before said, the _Cornicularius_ took +the foremost place; and for that reason he still presides over the +whole [civil] service, now that the Praefect, for reasons before +stated, no longer goes forth to battle. + +'Since, then, all the rest of the staff are called assistants +(_Adjutores_), the Praefect gives an intimation under his own hand to +him who is entering the service in what department ([Greek: +katalogos]) he is ordered to take up his station[125]. And the +following are the names of all the departments of the service. First +the _Cornicularius_, resplendent in all the dignity of a so-called +Count ([Greek: komês]; comes; companion), but having not yet laid +aside his belt of office, nor received the honour of admission to the +palace, or what they call brevet-rank (_codicilli vacantes_), which +honour at the end of his term of service is given to him, and to none +of the other chiefs of departments[126]. + +[Footnote 125: Lydus here gives the Formula for the admission of +assistants, 'et colloca eum in legione primâ adjutrice nostrâ,' which +he proceeds to translate into Greek for the benefit of his readers +([Greek: kai taxeias auton en tô prôtô tagmati tô boêthounti hêmin]).] + +[Footnote 126: I have slightly expanded a sentence here, but this is +evidently the author's meaning.] + +'And after the Cornicularius follow:-- + + '2 Primiscrinii, + '2 Commentarisii, + '2 Regendarii, + '2 Curae Epistolarum, + '15 Scholae of Exceptores, + +and then the "unlearned service" of the Singularii[127].' + +[Footnote 127: Condensed from Lydus, De Mag. iii. 4-7.] + +Again, further on[128], Lydus, who delights to 'magnify his office,' +gives us this further information as to the rank and functions of the +Cornicularius: + +[Footnote 128: Ib. iii. 22-24.] + +'Now that, if I am not mistaken, we have described all the various +official grades, it is meet to set forth the history of the +Cornicularius, the venerable head of the Civil Service, the man who, +as beginning and ending, sums up in himself the complete history of +the whole official order. The mere antiquity of his office is +sufficient to establish his credit, seeing that he was the leader of +his troop for 1,300 years, and made his appearance in the world at the +same time with the sacred City of Rome itself: for the Cornicularius +was, from the first, attendant on the Master of the Horse, and the +Master of the Horse on the King, and thus the Cornicularius, if he +retained nothing of his office but the name, would still be connected +with the very beginnings of the Roman State. + +'But from the time when Domitian appointed Fuscus to the office of +Praefect of the Praetorians (an office which had been instituted by +Augustus), and abolished the rank of Master of the Horse, taking upon +himself the command of the army[129], everything was changed. +Henceforward, therefore, all affairs that were transacted in the +office of the Praefect were arranged by the Cornicularius alone, and +he received the revenues arising from them for his own refreshment. +This usage, which prevailed from the days of Domitian to our own +Theodosius, was then changed, on account of the usurpation of Rufinus. +For the Emperor Arcadius, fearing the overgrown power of the +Praefectoral office, passed a law that the Princeps of the Magister +[Officiorum]'s staff[130] ... should appear in the highest courts, and +should busy himself with part of the Praefect's duties, and especially +should enquire into the principle upon which orders for the Imperial +post-horses ([Greek: synthêmata]; _evectiones_) were granted[131].... +This order of Arcadius was inscribed in the earlier editions of the +Theodosian Code, but has been omitted in the later as superfluous. + +[Footnote 129: This seems to be the meaning of Lydus, but it is not +clearly expressed.] + +[Footnote 130: There is something wanting in the text here.] + +[Footnote 131: See Cod. Theod. vi. 29. 8, which looks rather like the +law alluded to by Lydus, notwithstanding his remark about its +omission.] + +'Thus, then, the Princeps of the Magistriani, being introduced into +the highest courts, but possessing nothing there beyond his mere empty +dignity, made a bargain with the Cornicularius of the day, the object +of which was to open up to him some portion of the business; and, +having come to terms, the Princeps agreed to hand over to the +Cornicularius one pound's weight of gold [£40] monthly, and to give +instant gratuities to all his subordinates according to their rank in +the service. In consequence of this compact the Cornicularius then in +office, after receiving his 12 lbs. weight of gold without any +abatement, with every show of honour conceded to his superior[132] (?) +the preferential right of introducing "one-membered" cases ([Greek: +tên tôn monomerôn entuchiôn eisagôgên]), having reserved to himself, +beside the fees paid for promotion in the office[133], and other +sources of gain, especially the sole right of subscribing the _Acta_ +of the court, and thus provided for himself a yearly revenue of not +less than 1,000 aurei [£600].' + +[Footnote 132: [Greek: tô kreittoni].] + +[Footnote 133: [Greek: ek tou bathmou].] + +I have endeavoured to translate as clearly as possible the obscure +words of Lydus as to this bargain between the two court-officers. The +complaint of Lydus appears to be that the Cornicularius of the day, by +taking the money of the Princeps Magistrianorum, and conceding to him +in return the preferential claim to manage 'one-membered' cases (or +unopposed business), made a purse for himself, but prepared the way +for the ruin of his successors. The monthly payment was, I think, to +be made for twelve months only, and thus the whole amount which the +Cornicularius received from this source was only £480, but from other +sources--chiefly the sums paid for promotion by the subordinate +members of the _officium_, and the fees charged by him for affixing +his subscription to the _acta_ of the court--he still remained in +receipt of a yearly revenue of £600. + +[Sidenote: Jealousy between the Officia of the Praefect and the +Magister.] + +The jealousy between the Officia of the Praetorian Praefect and the +Magister Officiorum was intense. Almost every line in the treatise of +Lydus testifies to it, and shows that the former office, in which he +had the misfortune to serve, was being roughly shouldered out of the +way by its younger and more unscrupulous competitor. + +Lydus continues[134]: 'Now, what followed, like the Peleus of +Euripides, I can never describe without tears. For on account of all +these sources of revenue having been dried up, I myself have had to +bear my part in the general misery of our time, since, though I have +reached the highest grade of promotion in the service, I have derived +nothing from it but the bare name. I do not blush to call Justice +herself as a witness to the truth of what I say, when I affirm that I +am not conscious of having received one obol from the Princeps, nor +from the Letters Patent for promotions in the office[135]. For indeed +whence should I have derived it, since it was the ancient custom that +those who in any way appeared in the highest courts should pay to the +_officium_ seven and thirty _aurei_ [£22] for a "one-membered" suit; +but ever after this bargain was made there has been given only a very +moderate sum of copper--not gold--in a beggarly way, as if one were +buying a flask of oil, and that not regularly? Or how compel the +Princeps to pay the ancient covenanted sum to the Cornicularius of the +day, when he now scarcely remembered the bare name of that officer, as +he never condescended to be present in the court when promotions were +made from a lower grade to a higher? Bitterly do I regret that I was +so late in coming to perceive for what a paltry price I was rendering +my long services as assistant in the courts, receiving in fact nothing +therefrom as my own _solatium_. It serves me right, however, for +having chosen that line of employment, as I will explain, if the +reader will allow me to recount to him my career from its commencement +to the present time.' + +[Footnote 134: De Mag. iii. 25.] + +[Footnote 135: [Greek: apo tôn legomenôn kompleusimôn], apparently the +same source of revenue as the promotion-money ([Greek: tên ek tou +bathmou pronomian]).] + +Lydus then goes on to describe his arrival at Constantinople (A.D. +511), his intention to enter the _Scrinium Memoriae_ (in which he +would have served under the Magister Officiorum), and his abandonment +of this intention upon the pressing entreaties of his countryman +Zoticus, who was at the time Praefectus Praetorio. This step Lydus +looks upon as the fatal mistake of his life, though the consequences +of it to him were in some degree mitigated by the marriage which +Zoticus enabled him to make with a lady possessed of a fortune of 100 +pounds' weight of gold (£4,000). Her property, her virtues (for 'she +was superior to all women who have ever been admired for their moral +excellence'), and the consolations of Philosophy and Literature, did +much to soothe the disappointment of Lydus, who nevertheless felt, +when he retired to his books after forty years of service, in which he +had reached the unrewarded post of Cornicularius, that his official +life had been a failure. + +It has seemed worth while to give this sketch of the actual career of +a Byzantine official, as it may illustrate in some points the lives of +the functionaries to whom so many of the letters of Cassiodorus are +addressed; though I know not whether we have any indications of such a +rivalry at Ravenna as that which prevailed at Constantinople between +the _officium_ of the Praefect and that of the Magister. We now pass +on to + +[Sidenote: Adjutor.] + +[Sidenote: Primiscrinius.] + +(3) The _Adjutor_. Some of the uses of this term are very perplexing. +It seems clear (from Lydus, 'De Mag.' iii. 3) that all the members of +the officium were known by the generic name _Adjutores_. Here however +we may perhaps safely assume that Adjutor means simply an assistant to +the officer next above him, as we find, lower down in the list of the +'Notitia,' the Exceptores followed by their Adjutores. We may find a +parallel to Adjutor in the word Lieutenant, which, for the same reason +is applied to officers of such different rank as the Lord Lieutenant +of Ireland, a Lieutenant-General, a Lieutenant-Colonel, and a simple +Lieutenant in the Army or Navy. In the lists of Cassiodorus and Lydus +we find no mention of an officer bearing the special name of Adjutor, +but we meet instead with a _Primiscrinius_, of whom, according to +Lydus, there were two. He says[136], 'After the Cornicularius are two +Primiscrinii, whom the Greeks call first of the service[137].' And +later on[138], when he is describing the course of business in the +_secretum_ of the Praefect, as it used to be in the good old days, he +informs us that after judgment had been given, and the Secretarii had +read to the litigant the decree prepared by the Assessors and +carefully copied by one of the Cancellarii, and after an accurate +digest of the case had been prepared in the Latin language by a +Secretarius, in order to guard against future error or +misrepresentation, the successful litigant passed on with the decree +in his hand _to the Primiscrinii, who appointed an officer to execute +the judgment of the Court_[139]. These men then put the decree into +its final shape by means of the persons appointed to assist them[140] +(men who could puzzle even the professors themselves in logical +discussions), and endorsed it on the litigant's petition in characters +which at once struck awe into the reader, and which seemed actually +swollen with official importance[141]. The name and titles of the +'completing' officer were then subscribed. + +[Footnote 136: De Mag. iii. 4.] + +[Footnote 137: [Greek: meta de ton kornikoularion primiskrinioi duo, +ous Hellênes prôtous tês taxeôs kalousi].] + +[Footnote 138: De Mag. iii. 11.] + +[Footnote 139: [Greek: parêei pros tous primiskrinious taxantas +ekbibastên tois apopephasmenois]. Probably we should read [Greek: +taxontas] for [Greek: taxantas].] + +[Footnote 140: [Greek: eplêroun dia tôn boêthein autois tetagmenôn] (? +Adjutores).] + +[Footnote 141: [Greek: epi tou nôtou tês entuchias grammasin aidous +autothen apasês kai exousias onkô sesobêmenois].] + +If the suggestion that the Primiscrinii were considered as in some +sense substitutes (Adjutores) for the Cornicularius be correct, we may +perhaps account for there being two of them in the days of Lydus by +the disappearance of the Princeps. The office of Cornicularius had +swallowed up that of Princeps, and accordingly the single Adjutor, who +was sufficient at the compilation of the 'Notitia,' had to be +multiplied by two. + +[Sidenote: Commentariensis, or Commentarisius.] + +(4) The _Commentariensis_. Here we come again to an officer who is +mentioned by all our three authorities, though in Cassiodorus he seems +to be degraded some steps below his proper rank (but this may only be +from an accidental transposition of the order of the letters), and +though Lydus again gives us two of the name instead of one. The +last-named authority inserts next after the Primiscrinii 'two +Commentarisii--so the law calls those who are appointed to attend to +the drawing up of indictments[142].' + +[Footnote 142: [Greek: kommentarisioi duo (houtô de tous epi tôn +hypomnêmatôn graphê tattomenous ho nomos kalei)] (iii. 4). I accept +the necessary emendation of the text proposed in the Bonn edition.] + +The Commentariensis (or Commentarisius, as Lydus calls him[143]) was +evidently the chief assistant of the Judge in all matters of criminal +jurisdiction[144]. We have a remarkably full, and in the main clear +account of his functions in the pages of Lydus (iii. 16-18), from +which it appears that he was promoted from the ranks of the +_Exceptores_ (shorthand writers), and had six of his former colleagues +serving under him as Adjutores[145]. Great was the power, and high the +position in the Civil Service, of the Commentariensis. The whole tribe +of process-servers, gaolers, lictors[146]--all that we now understand +by the police force--waited subserviently on his nod. It rested with +him, says Lydus, to establish the authority of the Court of Justice +by means of the wholesome fear inspired by iron chains and scourges +and the whole apparatus of torture[147]. Nay, not only did the +subordinate magistrates execute their sentences by his agency, he had +even the honour of being chosen by the Emperor himself to be the +minister of vengeance against the persons who had incurred his anger +or his suspicion. 'I myself remember,' says Lydus, 'when I was serving +as Chartularius in the office of the Commentariensis, under the +praefecture of Leontius (a man of the highest legal eminence), and +when the wrath of Anastasius was kindled against Apion, a person of +the most exalted rank, and one who had assisted in his elevation to +the throne[148], at the same time when Kobad, King of Persia, blazed +out into fury[149], that then all the confiscations and banishments +which were ordered by the enraged Emperor were entrusted to no one +else but to the Commentarienses serving under the Praefect. In this +service they acquitted themselves so well, with such vigour, such +harmonious energy, such entire clean-handedness and absence of all +dishonest gain, as to move the admiration of the Emperor, who made use +of them on all similar occasions that presented themselves in the +remainder of his reign. They had even the honour of being employed +against Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, when that prelate had +provoked the Emperor by suspending all intercourse with him as a +heretic; and that, although Celer, one of the most intimate friends of +Anastasius, was at that very time holding the rank of Magister +Officiorum.' + +[Footnote 143: To avoid confusion I will use the term +'Commentariensis' throughout.] + +[Footnote 144: So Bethmann Hollweg (p. 179), 'Diess ist der Gehülfe +des Magistrats bei Verwaltung der Criminaljustiz.' I compare him in +the following translation of Cassiodorus to a 'magistrate's clerk.'] + +[Footnote 145: See iii. 9 (p. 203, ed. Bonn), and combine with iii. +16. The _Augustales_ referred to in the latter passage were a higher +class of Exceptores.] + +[Footnote 146: Applicitarii, Clavicularii, Lictores.] + +[Footnote 147: [Greek: sidêreois desmois kai poinaiôn organôn kai +plêktrôn poikilia saleuontôn tô phobô to dikastêrion] (iii. 16).] + +[Footnote 148: [Greek: kai koinônêsantos autô tês basileias].] + +[Footnote 149: [Greek: hote Kôadês ho Persês ephlegmaine]. The whole +passage is mysterious, but we seem to have here an allusion to the +outbreak of the Persian War (A.D. 502).] + +An officer who was thus privileged to lay hands on Patriarch and +Patrician in the name of Augustus was looked up to with awful +reverence by all the lower members of the official hierarchy; and +Lydus, with one graphic touch, brings before us the glow of gratified +self-love with which, when he was a subordinate _Scriniarius_, he +found himself honoured by the familiar conversation of so great a +person as the Commentariensis[150]: 'I too am struck with somewhat of +my old awe, recurring in memory to those who were then holders of the +office. I remember what fear of the Commentarisii fell upon all who at +all took the lead in the _Officium_, but especially on the Scriniarii; +and how greatly he who was favoured with a chat with a Commentarisius +passing by valued himself on the honour.' Lydus also describes to us +how the Commentariensis, instructed by the Praefect, or perhaps even +by the Emperor himself, would take with him one of his faithful +servants, the Chartularii, would visit the abode of the suspected +person (who might, as we have seen, be one of the very highest +officers of the State), and would then in his presence dictate in +solemn Latin words the indictment which was to be laid against him, +the mere hearing of which sometimes brought the criminal to confess +his guilt and throw himself on the mercy of the Emperor. + +[Footnote 150: iii. 17 (p. 210).] + +It was from this _commentum_, the equivalent of a French _acte +d'accusation_, that the Commentariensis derived his title. + +[Sidenote: Ab Actis (Scriniarius Actorum?).] + +(5) The _Ab Actis_. The officer who bore this title (which is perhaps +the same as the Scriniarius Actorum of Cassiodorus[151]) seems to have +been exclusively concerned with civil cases, and perhaps held the same +place in reference to them that the Commentarienses held in criminal +matters[152]. Practically, his office appears to have been very much +what we understand by that of _Chief Registrar_ of the Court. He (or +they, for in Lydus' time there were two _Ab Actis_ as well as two +Commentarienses[153]) was chosen from the select body of shorthand +writers who were known as Augustales, and was assisted by six men of +the same class, 'men of high character and intelligence and still in +the vigour of their years[154].' His chief business--and in this he +was served by the _Nomenclatores_, who shouted out in a loud voice the +names of the litigants--was to introduce the plaintiff and defendant +into the Court, or to make a brief statement of the nature of the case +to the presiding magistrate. He then had to watch the course of the +pleadings and listen to the Judge's decision, so as to be able to +prepare a full statement of the case for the Registers or +Journals[155] of the Court. These Registers--at least in the +flourishing days of Roman jurisprudence--were most fully and +accurately kept. Even the _Dies Nefasti_ were marked upon them, and +the reason for their being observed as legal holidays duly noted. +Elaborate indices, prepared by the Chartularii, made search an easy +matter to those who wished to ascertain what was the decision of the +law upon every point; and the marginal notes, or _personalia_, +prepared in Latin[156] by the Ab Actis or his assistants, were so +excellent and so full that sometimes when the original entry in the +Registers had been lost the whole case could be sufficiently +reconstructed from them alone. + +[Footnote 151: Var. xi. 22.] + +[Footnote 152: This seems to be Bethmann Hollweg's view (p. 181).] + +[Footnote 153: This we learn from iii. 20. They are not mentioned in +iii. 4, where we should have expected to find them.] + +[Footnote 154: [Greek: hex andres erastoi kai nounechestatoi kai +sphrigôntes eti] (Lydus iii. 20).] + +[Footnote 155: [Greek: rhegestôn ê kottidianôn (anti tou ephêmerôn)].] + +[Footnote 156: [Greek: Italisti]. Of course the emphasis laid on this +point proceeds from the Greek nationality of our present authority.] + +The question was already mooted at Constantinople in the sixth century +whence the Ab Actis derived his somewhat elliptical name; and our +archaeology-loving scribe was able to inform his readers that as the +officer of the household who was called _A Pigmentis_ had the care of +the aromatic ointments of the Court; as the _A Sabanis_[157] had +charge of the bathing towels of the baths; as the _A Secretis_ (who +was called Ad Secretis by vulgar Byzantines, ignorant of the niceties +of Latin grammar) was concerned in keeping the secret counsels of his +Sovereign: so the _Ab Actis_ derived his title from the Acts of the +Court which it was his duty to keep duly posted up and properly +indexed. + +[Footnote 157: [Greek: sabanon] = a towel.] + +[Sidenote: Numerarii.] + +(6) The _Numerarii_ (whose exact number is not stated in the +'Notitia'[158]) were the cashiers of the Praefect's office. Though +frequently mentioned in the Theodosian Code, and though persons +exercising this function must always have existed in a great Court of +Justice like the Praefect's, we hear but little of them from +Cassiodorus[159]; and Lydus' notices of the [Greek: diapsêphistai], +who seem to correspond to the Numerarii[160], are scanty and +imperfect. Our German commentator has collected the passages of the +Theodosian Code which relate to this class of officers, and has shown +that on account of their rapacity and extortion their office was +subjected to a continual process of degradation. All the Numerarii, +except those of the two highest classes of judges[161], were degraded +into _Tabularii_, a name which had previously indicated the cashiers +of a municipality as distinguished from those in the Imperial service; +and the Numerarii, even of the Praetorian Praefect himself, were made +subject to examination by torture. This was not only to be dreaded on +account of the bodily suffering which it inflicted, but was also a +mark of the humble condition of those to whom it was applied. + +[Footnote 158: Except, as before stated, those in the office of the +Praetorian Praefect for Illyricum. These were four in number, and one +of them had charge of 'gold,' another of '[public] works.' Further +information is requisite to enable us to explain these entries.] + +[Footnote 159: They are alluded to in Var. xii. 13. The Canonicarii +(Tax-collectors) had plundered the Churches of Bruttii and Lucania in +the name of 'sedis nostrae Numerarii;' but the Numerarii with holy +horror declared that they had received no part of the spoils.] + +[Footnote 160: See Bethmann Hollweg, 184.] + +[Footnote 161: Illustres and Spectabiles.] + +[Sidenote: Scriniarius Curae Militaris.] + +We may perhaps see in the _Scriniarius Curae Militaris_ of +Cassiodorus[162] one of these Numerarii detailed for service as +paymaster to the soldiers who waited upon the orders of the Praefect. + +[Footnote 162: xi. 24.] + +[Sidenote: Subadjuvae.] + +(7) The _Subadjuvae_. This is probably a somewhat vague term, like +Adjutores, and indicates a second and lower class of cashiers who +acted as deputies for the regular Numerarii. + +[Sidenote: Cura Epistolarum.] + +(8) _Cura Epistolarum._ The officer who bore this title appears to +have had the duty of copying out all letters relating to fiscal +matters[163]. This theory as to his office is confirmed by the words +of Cassiodorus (Var. xi. 23): 'Let Constantinian on his promotion +receive the care of the letters relating to the land-tax' (Hic itaque +epistolarum _canonicarum_ curam provectus accipiat). + +[Footnote 163: This is Bethmann Hollweg's interpretation of the words +of Lydus, [Greek: hoi tas men epi tois dêmosiois phoitôsas psêphous +graphousi monon, to loipon kataphronoumenoi] (iii. 21). In another +passage (iii. 4, 5) Lydus appears to assign a reason for the fact that +the Praefectus Urbis Constantinopolitanae, the Magister Militum, and +the Magister Officiorum had no _Cura Epistolarum_ on their staff; but +the paragraph is to me hopelessly obscure. Curiously enough, too, +while he avers that every department of the State (perhaps every +diocese) had, as a rule, its own Curae Epistolarum, he limits the two +in the Praetorian Praefect's office to the diocese of Pontica ([Greek: +koura epistolaroum Pontikês duo]).] + +[Sidenote: Regerendarius, or Regendarius.] + +(9) _Regerendarius_, or _Regendarius_[164]. This officer had the +charge of all contracts relating to the very important department of +the _Cursus Publicus_, or Imperial Mail Service. At the time of the +compilation of the 'Notitia' only one person appears to have acted in +this capacity under each Praefect. When Lydus wrote, there were two +Regendarii in each Praefecture, but, owing to the increasing influence +of the Magister Officiorum over the Cursus Publicus[165], their office +had become apparently little more than an ill-paid sinecure. As we +hear nothing of similar changes in the West, the Cursus Publicus was +probably a part of the public service which was directly under the +control of Cassiodorus when Praetorian Praefect, and was administered +at his bidding by one or more Regendarii. + +[Footnote 164: The first form of the name is found in the Notitia, the +second in Lydus and Cassiodorus.] + +[Footnote 165: It is not easy to make out exactly what Lydus wishes us +to understand about the Cursus Publicus; but I think his statements +amount to this, that it was taken by Arcadius from the Praetorian +Praefect and given to the Magister Officiorum, was afterwards restored +to the Praefect, and finally was in effect destroyed by the corrupt +administration of John of Cappadocia. (See ii. 10; iii. 21, 61.)] + +[Sidenote: Exceptores.] + +(10) We now come to the _Exceptores_, or shorthand writers[166], a +large and fluctuating body who stood on the lowest step of the +official ladder[167] and formed the raw material out of which all its +higher functionaries were fashioned in the regular order of promotion. + +[Footnote 166: The [Greek: tachygraphoi] of Lydus.] + +[Footnote 167: In making this statement I consider the Adjutores to be +virtually another class of Exceptores, and I purposely omit the +Singularii as not belonging to the _Militia Litterata_, which alone I +am now considering.] + +[Sidenote: Augustales.] + +[Sidenote: Deputati.] + +We are informed by Lydus[168], that in his time the Exceptores in the +Eastern Empire were divided into two corps, the higher one called +_Augustales_, who were limited in number to thirty, and the lower, of +indefinite number and composing the rank and file of the profession. +The Augustales only could aspire to the rank of Cornicularius; but in +order that some prizes might still be left of possible attainment by +the larger class, the rank of Primiscrinius was tenable by those who +remained 'on the rolls of the Exceptores.' The reason for this change +was that the unchecked application of the principle of seniority to so +large a body of public servants was throwing all the more important +offices in the Courts of Justice into the hands of old men. The +principle of 'seniority tempered by selection' was therefore +introduced, and the ablest and most learned members of the class of +Exceptores were drafted off into this favoured section of Augustales, +fifteen of the most experienced of whom were appropriated to the +special service of the Emperor, while the other fifteen filled the +higher offices (with the exception of the Primiscriniate) in the +Praefectoral Courts[169]. The first fifteen were called +_Deputati_[170], the others were apparently known simply as +Augustales. + +[Footnote 168: iii. 6, 9.] + +[Footnote 169: I think this is a fair summary of Lydus iii. 9 and 10, +but these paragraphs are very difficult and obscure.] + +[Footnote 170: We should certainly have expected that the Augustales +would be those writers who were specially appropriated to the +Emperor's service, but the other conclusion necessarily follows from +the language of Lydus (iii. 10): [Greek: hôste kai pentekaideka ex +autôn tôn pepanôterôn peira te kai tô chronô kreittonôn pros +hypographên tois basileusin aphoristhênai, ous eti kai nun dêpoutatous +kalousin, hoi tou tagmatos tôn Augoustaliôn prôteuousin].] + +The change thus described by Lydus appears to have been made in the +West as well as in the East, since we hear in the 'Variae' of +Cassiodorus (xi. 30) of the appointment of a certain Ursus to be +Primicerius of the Deputati, and of Beatus to take the same place +among the Augustales[171]. + +[Footnote 171: The form of the word must I think prevent us from +applying the Princeps _Augustorum_ of xi. 35 to the same class of +officers.] + +[Sidenote: Adjutores.] + +(11) The _Adjutores_ of the 'Notitia' were probably a lower class of +Exceptores, who may very likely have disappeared when the Augustales +were formed out of them by the process of differentiation which has +been described above. + +We have now gone through the whole of what was termed the 'Learned +Service[172]' mentioned in the 'Notitia,' with one exception--the +title of an officer, in himself humble and obscure, who has given his +name to the highest functionaries of mediaeval and modern Europe. + +[Footnote 172: [Greek: tous epi tais logikais tetagmenous +leitourgiais] (Lydus iii. 7). [Greek: Peras men hode tôn logikôn tês +taxeôs systêmatôn] (iii. 21). The 'Learned Service' may be taken as +corresponding to 'a post fit for a gentleman,' in modern phraseology. +In our present Official Directories the members of the [Greek: logikê +taxis] appear to be all dignified with the title 'Esq.;' the others +have only 'Mr.'] + +[Sidenote: Cancellarius.] + +(12) The _Cancellarius_ appears in the 'Notitia' only once[173], and +then in connection not with the Praetorian Praefect, but with the +Master of the Offices. At the very end of the Officium of this +dignitary, after the six _Scholae_ and four _Scrinia_ of his +subordinates, and after the _Admissionales_, whom we must look upon as +the Ushers of the Court, comes the entry, + + Cancellarii: + +their very number not stated, the office being too obscure to make a +few less or more a matter of importance. + +[Footnote 173: Occidentis ix. 15.] + +After the compilation of the 'Notitia' the office of Cancellarius +apparently rose somewhat in importance, and was introduced into other +departments besides that of the Master of the Offices. + +One Cancellarius appears attached to the Court of Cassiodorus as +Praetorian Praefect, and from the admonitions addressed to him by his +master[174], we see that he had it in his power considerably to aid +the administration of justice by his integrity, or to hinder it by +showing himself accessible to bribes. + +[Footnote 174: In Var. xi. 6, which see.] + +In describing the Cancellarius, as in almost every other part of his +treatise, Lydus has to tell a dismal story of ruin and decay[175]: + +[Footnote 175: iii. 36, 37.] + +'Now the Scriniarii [subordinates of the Magister Officiorum] are made +Cancellarii and Logothetes and purveyors of the Imperial table, +whereas in old time the Cancellarius was chosen only from the ranks of +Augustales and Exceptores who had served with credit. In those days +the Judgment Hall [of the Praefect] recognised only two Cancellarii, +who received an _aureus_ apiece[176] per day from the Treasury. There +was aforetime in the Court of Justice a fence separating the +Magistrate from his subordinates, and this fence, being made of long +splinters of wood placed diagonally, was called _cancellus_, from its +likeness to network, the regular Latin word for a net being casses, +and the diminutive cancellus[177]. At this latticed barrier then stood +two _Cancellarii_, by whom, since no one was allowed to approach the +judgment-seat, paper was brought to the members of the staff and +needful messages were delivered. But now that the office owing to the +number of its holders[178] has fallen into disrepute, and that the +Treasury no longer makes a special provision for their maintenance, +almost all the hangers-on of the Courts of Law call themselves +Cancellarii; and, not only in the capital but in the Provinces, they +give themselves this title in order that they may be able more +effectually to plunder the wealthy.' + +[Footnote 176: About twelve shillings.] + +[Footnote 177: This derivation from casses is, of course, absurd.] + +[Footnote 178: Can this be the meaning of [Greek: eis plêthos]?] + +This description by Lydus, while it aptly illustrates Cassiodorus' +exhortations to his Cancellarii to keep their hands clean from bribes, +shows how lowly their office was still considered; and indeed, but for +his statement that it used to be filled by veteran Augustales, we +might almost have doubted whether it is rightly classed among the +'Learned Services' at all. + +[Sidenote: End of the Militia Literata.] + +Now at any rate we leave the ranks of the gentlemen of the Civil +Service behind us, and come to the 'Militia Illiterata,' of whom the +'Notitia' enumerates only + +[Sidenote: Militia Illiterata: Singularii.] + +(13) The _Singularii_, a class of men of whose useful services Lydus +speaks in terms of high praise, contrasting their modest efficiency +with the pompous verbosity[179] of the Magistriani (servants of the +Master of the Offices) by whom they were being generally superseded in +his day. They travelled through the Provinces, carrying the Praefect's +orders, and riding in a post-chaise drawn by a single horse (veredus), +from which circumstance, according to Lydus, they derived their name +Singularii[180]. + +[Footnote 179: [Greek: Kompophakellorrêmosynê] = +Pomp-bundle-wordiness, an Aristophanic word.] + +[Footnote 180: De Dignitatibus iii. 7.] + +We observe that the letter of Cassiodorus[181] addressed to the +retiring chief (Primicerius) of the Singularii informs him that he is +promoted to a place among the King's Body-guard (Domestici et +Protectores), a suitable reward for one who had not been a member of +the 'Learned Services.' + +[Footnote 181: Var. xi. 31.] + +After the Singularii Lydus mentions the _Mancipes_, the men who were +either actually slaves or were at any rate engaged in servile +occupations; as, for instance, the bakers at the public bakeries, the +_Rationalii_, who distributed the rations to the receivers of the +annona[182], the _Applicitarii_ (officers of arrest), and +_Clavicularii_ (gaolers), who, as we before heard, obeyed the mandate +of the Commentariensis. The Lictors, I think, are not mentioned by +him. A corresponding class of men would probably be the _Apparitores_, +who in the 'Notitia' appear almost exclusively attached to the service +of the great Ministers of War[183]. + +[Footnote 182: This seems a probable explanation of a rather obscure +passage.] + +[Footnote 183: See the following sections of the Notitia: Magister +Militum Praesentatis (Oriens v. 74, vi. 77; Occidens v. 281, vi. 93); +M.M. per Orientem (Or. vii. 67); M.M. per Thracias (Or. viii. 61); +M.M. per Illyricum (Or. ix. 56); Magister Equitum per Gallias (Occ. +vii. 117). The only civil officer who has Apparitores is the Proconsul +Achaiae (Oriens xxi. 14).] + +Thus, it will be seen, from the well-paid and often highly-connected +Princeps, who, no doubt, discussed the business of the court with the +Praetorian Praefect on terms of friendly though respectful +familiarity, down to the gaoler and the lictor and the lowest of the +half-servile _mancipes_, there was a regular gradation of rank, which +still preserved, in the staff of the highest court of justice in the +land, all the traditions of subordination and discipline which had +once characterised the military organisation out of which it +originally sprang. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +BIBLIOGRAPHY. + + +[Sidenote: Editiones Principes.] + +The Ecclesiastical History ('Historia Tripartita') seems to have been +the first of the works of Cassiodorus to attract the notice of +printers at the revival of learning. The Editio Princeps of this book +(folio) was printed by Johann Schuszler, at Augsburg, in 1472[184]. + +[Footnote 184: This edition is described by Dibdin (Bibliotheca +Spenceriana iii. 244-5).] + +The Editio Princeps of the 'Chronicon' is contained in a collection of +Chronicles published at Basel in 1529 by Joannes Sichardus (printer, +Henricus Petrus). The contribution of Cassiodorus is prefaced by an +appropriate Epistle Dedicatory to Sir Thos. More, in which a parallel +is suggested between the lives of these two literary statesmen. + +Next followed the Editio Princeps of the 'Variae,' published at +Augsburg in 1533, by Mariangelus Accurtius. + +In 1553, Joannes Cuspinianus, a counsellor of the Emperor Maximilian, +published at Basel a series of Chronicles with which he interwove the +Chronicle of Cassiodorus, and to which he prefixed a short life of our +author. + +[Sidenote: Edition of Nivellius.] + +The Editio Princeps of the collected works of Cassiodorus was +published at Paris in 1579 by Sebastianus Nivellius; and other +editions by the same publisher followed in 1584 and 1589. This edition +does not contain the Tripartite History, the Exposition of the +Psalter, or the 'Complexiones' on the Epistles. Some notes, not +without merit, are added, which were compiled in 1578 by 'Gulielmus +Fornerius, Parisiensis, Regius apud Aurelianenses Consiliarius et +Antecessor.' The annotator says[185] that these notes had gradually +accumulated on the margin of his copy of Cassiodorus, an author who +had been a favourite of his from youth, and whom he had often quoted +in his forensic speeches. + +[Footnote 185: p. 492.] + +The edition of Nivellius, which is evidently prepared with a view to +aid the historical rather than the theological study of the writings +of Cassiodorus, contains also the Gothic history of Jordanus (sic), +the 'Edictum Theoderici,' the letter of Sidonius describing the Court +of Theodoric II _the Visigoth_ (453-466), and the Panegyric of +Ennodius on Theodoric the Great. The letter of Sidonius is evidently +inserted owing to a confusion between the two Theodorics; and this +error has led many later commentators astray. But the reprint of the +'Edictum Theoderici' is of great interest and value, because the MS. +from which it was taken has since disappeared, and none other is known +to be in existence. A letter is prefixed to the 'Edictum,' written by +Pierre Pithou to Edouard Molé, Dec. 31, 1578, and describing his +reasons for sending this document to the publisher who was printing +the works of Cassiodorus. At the same time, 'that the West might not +have cause to envy the East,' he sent a MS. of the 'Leges +Wisigothorum,' with illustrative extracts from Isidore and Procopius, +which is printed at the end of Nivellius' edition. + +I express no opinion about the text of this edition; but it possesses +the advantage of an Index to the 'Variae' only, which will be found at +the end of the Panegyric of Ennodius. Garet's Index, which is in +itself not so full, has the additional disadvantage of being muddled +up with the utterly alien matter of the Tripartite History. + +In 1588 appeared an edition in 4to. of the works of Cassiodorus (still +excluding the Tripartite History and the Biblical Commentaries), +published at Paris by Marc Orry. This was republished in 1600 in two +volumes 12mo. + +The 'Variae' and 'Chronicon' only, in 12mo. were published at Lyons by +Jacques Chouet in 1595, and again by Pierre and Jacques Chouet at +Geneva in 1609, and by their successors in 1650. These editions +contain the notes of Pierre Brosse, Jurisconsult, as well as those of +Fornerius. + +[Sidenote: Edition of Garet.] + +In 1679 appeared, in two volumes folio, the great Rouen edition by +François Jean Garet (of the Congregation of S. Maur), which has ever +since been the standard edition of the works of Cassiodorus. Garet +speaks of collating several MSS. of various ages for the text of this +edition, especially mentioning 'Codex S. Audoeni' (deficient for Books +5, 6, and 7 of the 'Variae'), 'et antiquissimae membranae S. Remigii +Remensis' (containing only the first four books of the same +collection). A codex which once belonged to the jurist Cujacius, and +which had been collated with Accurtius' text in 1575 by a certain +Claude Grulart, seems to have given Garet some valuable readings by +means of Grulart's notes, though the codex itself had disappeared. +Garet's edition was re-issued at Venice in 1729, and more recently in +Migne's 'Patrologia' (Paris, 1865), of which it forms vols. 69 and 70. + +[Sidenote: Forthcoming Edition by Meyer.] + +There can be little doubt, however, that all these editions will be +rendered obsolete by the new edition which is expected to appear as a +volume of the 'Auctores Antiquissimi' in the _Monumenta Germaniae +Historica_. The editor is Professor Wilhelm Meyer, of Munich. The work +has been for some years announced as near completion, but I have not +been able to ascertain how soon it may be expected to appear. + +[Sidenote: Supposed fragment of orations.] + +Finally, I must not omit to notice the fragments of an oration +published by Baudi de Vesme in the Transactions of the Royal Academy +of Sciences at Turin (1846). Those fragments, which were found in a +palimpsest MS. of the Acts of the Council of Chalcedon, were first +published in 1822 by Angelo Mai, who was then disposed to attribute +them to Symmachus (the elder), and to assign them to the early part of +the fifth century. On reflection, however, he came to the conclusion +that they were probably the work of Cassiodorus, and formed part of a +panegyric addressed to Theodoric. This theory appears now to meet with +general approval. The style is certainly very similar to that of +Cassiodorus; but, as will be inferred from the doubt as to their +origin, there is little or nothing in these scanty fragments which +adds anything to our knowledge of the history of Theodoric. + +[Sidenote: Life by Garet.] + +To the literature relating to Cassiodorus the most important +contribution till recent times was the life by Garet prefixed to his +edition of 1679. I cannot speak of this from a very minute +investigation, but it seems to be a creditable performance, the work +of one who had carefully studied the 'Variae,' but unfortunately quite +misleading as to the whole framework of the life of Cassiodorus, from +the confusion which it makes between him and his father, an error +which Garet has probably done more than any other author to +perpetuate. + +[Sidenote: Life by St. Marthe.] + +The life by Garet was paraphrased in French by Denys de _Ste. Marthe_ +('Vie de Cassiodore,' Paris, 1695), whose work has enjoyed a +reputation to which it was not entitled on the ground either of +originality or accuracy, but which was probably due to the fact that +the handy octavo volume written in French was accessible to a wider +circle of readers than Garet's unwieldy folio in Latin. A more +original performance was that of _Count Buat_ (in the 'Abhandlungen +der Kurfürstlichen Bairischen Akademie der Wissenschaften,' Munich, +1763); but this author, though he pointed out the cardinal error of +Garet, his confusion between Senator and his father, introduced some +further gratuitous entanglements of his own into the family history of +the Cassiodori. + +[Sidenote: Modern monographs.] + +All these works, however, are rendered entirely obsolete by three +excellent monographs which have recently been published in Germany on +the life and writings of Cassiodorus. These are-- + +[Sidenote: Thorbecke.] + +August _Thorbecke's_ 'Cassiodorus Senator' (Heidelberg, 1867); + +[Sidenote: Franz.] + +Adolph _Franz's_ 'M. Aurelius Cassiodorius Senator' (Breslau, 1872); +and + +[Sidenote: Usener.] + +Hermann _Usener's_ 'Anecdoton Holderi' (Bonn, 1877), described in the +second chapter of this introduction. + +Thorbecke discusses the political, and Franz the religious and +literary aspects of the life of their common hero, and between them +they leave no point of importance in obscurity. Usener, as we have +already seen, brings an important contribution to our knowledge of the +subject in presenting us with Holder's fragment; and his Commentary +(of eighty pages) on this fragment is a model of patient and +exhaustive research. It seems probable that these three authors have +really said pretty nearly the last word about the life and writings of +Cassiodorus. In addition to these authors many writers of historical +works in Germany have of late years incidentally contributed to a more +accurate understanding of the life and times of Cassiodorus. + +_Dahn_, in the third section of his 'Könige der Germanen' (Würzburg, +1866), has written a treatise on the political system of the +Ostrogoths which is almost a continuous commentary on the 'Variae,' +and from which I have derived the greatest possible assistance. + +_Köpke_, in his 'Anfänge des Königthums bei den Gothen' (Berlin, +1859), has condensed into a small compass a large amount of useful +disquisition on Cassiodorus and his copyist Jordanes. The relation +between these two writers was also elaborately discussed by _von +Sybel_ in his thesis 'De Fontibus Libri Jordanis' (Berlin, 1838), and +by _Schirren_, in his monograph 'De Ratione quae inter Jordanem et +Cassiodorum intercedat' (Dorpat, 1885). The latter, though upon the +whole a creditable performance, is disfigured by one or two strange +blunders, and not improved by some displays of irrelevant learning. + +_Von Schubert_, in his 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen unter die Franken' +(Strassburg, 1884), throws some useful light on the question of the +date of the early letters in the 'Variae;' and _Binding_, in his +'Geschichte des Burgundisch-Romanischen Königreichs' (Leipzig, 1868), +discusses the relations between Theodoric and the Sovereigns of Gaul, +as disclosed by the same collection of letters, in a manner which I +must admit to be forcible, though I do not accept all his conclusions. + +_Mommsen_, in his paper 'Die Chronik des Cassiodorus Senator' (Vol. +viii. of the 'Abhandlungen der Königlich Sächsischen Gesellschaft der +Wissenschaften;' Leipzig, 1861), has said all that is to be said +concerning the unfortunate 'Chronicon' of Cassiodorus, which he +handles with merciless severity. + +To say that _Ebert_, in his 'Allgemeine Geschichte der Litteratur des +Mittelalters im Abendlande' (Leipzig, 1874), and _Wattenbach_, in his +'Deutschlands Geschichtsquellen im Mittelalter,' tell us with fullness +and accuracy just what the student ought to wish to know concerning +Cassiodorus as an author, is only to say that they are Ebert and +Wattenbach. Every one who has had occasion to refer to these two books +knows their merits. + +Passing from German literature, I regret that I am prevented by +ignorance of the Dutch language from forming an opinion as to the work +of _Thijm_ ('Iets over M.A. Cassiodorus en zijne eeuw;' Amsterdam, +1857), which is frequently quoted by my German authorities. + +_Gibbon_ of course quotes from the 'Variae,' and though he did not +know them intimately, he has with his usual sagacity apprehended the +true character of the book and of its author. But the best account of +the 'Various Letters' in English, as far as I know, is unfortunately +entombed in the pages of a periodical, being an article by Dean +_Church_, contributed in July, 1880, to the 'Church Quarterly Review.' +There is also a very good though necessarily brief notice of +Cassiodorus in _Ugo Balzani's_ little volume on the 'Early Chroniclers +of Italy,' published by the Christian Knowledge Society in 1883. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CHRONOLOGY. + + +In the following chronological table of the life of Cassiodorus I +have, for convenience sake, assumed 480 as the year of his birth, and +575 as that of his death. It is now, I think, sufficiently proved that +if these dates are not absolutely correct, they cannot be more than a +year or two wrong in one direction or the other. + +[Sidenote: Consular Fasti.] + +As dates were still reckoned by Consulships, at any rate through the +greater part of the life of Cassiodorus, I have inserted the Consular +Fasti for the period in question. It will be seen that several names +of correspondents of Cassiodorus figure in this list. As a general +though not universal practice, one of the two Consuls at this time was +chosen from out of the Senate of Rome and the other from that of +Constantinople. We can almost always tell whether a chronicler belongs +to the Eastern or Western Empire by observing whether he puts the +Eastern or Western Consul first. Thus, for A.D. 501, Marcellinus +Comes, who was an official of the Eastern Empire, gives us 'Pompeius +et Avienus, Coss.;' while Cassiodorus, in his 'Chronicon,' assigns the +year to 'Avienus et Pompeius.' Pompeius was a nobleman of +Constantinople, nephew of the Emperor Anastasius; while Avienus was a +Roman Senator[186]. Again, in A.D. 490, Marcellinus gives the names of +Longinus and Faustus, which Cassiodorus quotes as Faustus and +Longinus. Longinus was a brother of the Emperor Zeno, and Faustus was +for many years Praetorian Praefect under Theodoric, and was the +receiver of many letters in the following collection. + +[Footnote 186: See Usener, p. 32.] + +I have endeavoured to give the priority always to the _Western_ Consul +in the list before us, except in those cases where an Emperor (who was +of course an Eastern) condescended to assume the Consular _trabea_. + +[Sidenote: Indictions.] + +Another mode of reckoning the dates which the reader will continually +meet with in the following pages is by _Indictions_. The Indiction, as +is well known, was a cycle of fifteen years, during which, as we have +reason to believe, the assessment for the taxes remained undisturbed, +a fresh valuation being made all round when the cycle was ended. +Traces of this quindecennial period may be found in the third century, +but the formal adoption of the Indiction is generally assigned to the +Emperor Constantine, and to the year 312[187]. The Indiction itself, +and every one of the years composing it, began on the 1st of September +of the calendar year. The reason for this period being chosen probably +was that the harvests of the year being then gathered in, the +collection of the tithes of the produce, which formed an important +part of the Imperial revenue, could be at once proceeded with. What +gives an especial importance to this method of dating by Indictions, +for the reader of the following letters is, that most of the great +offices of State changed hands at the beginning of the year of the +Indiction (Sept. 1), not at the beginning of the Calendar year. + +[Footnote 187: Compare Marquardt (Römische Staatsverwaltung ii. 237). +He remarks that the Indiction seems to have been first adopted in +Egypt, and did not come into universal use all over the Empire till +the end of the Fourth Century.] + +To make such a mode of dating the year at all satisfactory, it would +seem to us necessary that the number of the cycle itself, as well as +of the year in the cycle, should be given; for instance, that A.D. 313 +should be called the first year of the first Indiction, and A.D. 351 +the ninth year of the third Indiction. This practice, however, was not +adopted till far on into the Middle Ages[188]. At the time we are +speaking of, the word Indiction seems generally to have been given +not to the cycle itself, but to the year in the cycle. Thus, 313 was +the first Indiction, 314 the second Indiction, 315 the third +Indiction, and so on. And thus we find a year, which from other +sources we know to be 313, called the first Indiction, 351 the ninth +Indiction, 537 the fifteenth Indiction, without any clue being given +to guide us to the important point in what cycles these years held +respectively the first, the ninth, and the fifteenth places. + +[Footnote 188: The Twelfth Century, according to Marquardt.] + +As the Indiction began on the 1st of September a question arises +whether the calendar year is to be named after the number of the +Indiction which belongs to its beginning or its end; whether, to go +back to the beginning, A.D. 312 or A.D. 313 is to be accounted the +first Indiction. The practice of the chroniclers and of most writers +on chronology appears to be in favour of the latter method, which is +natural, inasmuch as nine months of the Indiction belong to the later +date and only three to the earlier. Thus, for instance, Marcellinus +Comes calls the year of the Consulship of Belisarius, which was +undoubtedly 535, 'Indictio XIII:' the thirteenth Indiction of that +cycle having begun Sept. 1, 534, and ended August 31, 535. But it is +well that the student should be warned that our greatest English +authority, Mr. Fynes Clinton, adopts the other method. In the very +useful table of comparative chronology which he gives in his Fasti +Romani[189] he assigns the Indiction to that year of the Christian era +in which it had its beginning, and accordingly 534, not 535, is +identified with the thirteenth Indiction. + +[Footnote 189: Vol. ii. pp. 214-216. See his remarks, p. 210: 'The +Indictions in Marcellinus and in the Tables of Du Fresnoy are compared +with the Consulship and the Julian year in which they end. In the +following Table they are compared with the year in which they begin, +because the years of the Christian era are here made the measure of +the rest, and contain the beginnings of all the other epochs.'] + +In order to translate years of Indiction into years of the Christian +era it is necessary first to add some multiple of 15 (_what_ multiple +our knowledge of history must inform us) to 312. On the 1st of +September of the year so obtained the Indiction cycle began; and for +any other year of the same cycle we must of course add its own number +minus one. Thus, when we find Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect +writing a letter[190] informing Joannes of his appointment to the +office of Cancellarius 'for the _twelfth_ Indiction,' as we know +within a little what date is wanted, we first of all add 14 x 15 (= +210) to 312, and so obtain 522. The first Indiction in that cycle ran +from September 1, 522, to August 31, 523. The twelfth Indiction was +therefore from September 1, 533, to August 31, 534, and that is the +date we require. + +[Footnote 190: Var. xi. 6.] + +On the other hand, when we find a letter written by Cassiodorus as +Praetorian Praefect to the Provincials of Istria[191] as to the +payment of tribute for the _first_ Indiction, we know that we must now +have entered upon a new cycle. We therefore add 15 x 15 (= 225) to +312, and get 537. As it happens to be the _first_ Indiction that we +require, our calculation ends here: September 1, 537, to August 31, +538, is the answer required. + +[Footnote 191: Var. xii. 22.] + +If anyone objects that such a system of chronology is cumbrous, +uncertain, and utterly unscientific, I can only say that I entirely +agree with him, and that the system is worthy of the perverted +ingenuity which produced the Nones and Ides of the Roman Calendar. + +In the following tables I have not attempted to mark the years of the +Indiction, on account of the confusion caused by the fact that two +calendar years require the same number. But I have denoted by the +abbreviation 'Ind.' the years in which each cycle of the Indictions +_began_. These years are 492, 507, 522, 537, 552, and 567. + + +_Chronological Tables._ + + Private Public Rulers of +A.D. Consuls. Events. Events. Italy. Popes. Emperors. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 480 Basilius Magnus Assassination ODOVACAR SIMPLICIUS ZENO + Junior. Aurelius of Nepos, (from 476). (from 468). (from 474). + Cassiodorus formerly + Senator, Emperor of + born at the West. + Scyllacium + (?). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 481 Placidus. Odovacar + avenges the + murder of + Nepos. Death + of + Theodoricus + Triarii. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 482 Trocondus Accession of + and Clovis. + Severinus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 483 Faustus. Zeno issues FELIX II + the Henoticon. (or III). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 484 Theodoricus Illus revolts + and against Zeno. + Venantius. Schism between + Eastern and + Western + Churches. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 485 Q. Aurelius + Memmius + Symmachus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 486 Decius and + Longinus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 487 Boethius War between + (_Father of Odovacar and + the great the Rugians. + Boethius_). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 488 Dyanamius Theodoric + and starts for + Sifidius. Italy. Death + of Illus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 489 Anicius Theodoric + Probinus descends into + and Italy. Battles + Eusebius. of the Isonzo + and Verona. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 490 Flavius Battle of the + Faustus Adda. + Junior and + Longinus (II). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 491 Olybrius Battle of ANASTASIUS. + Junior. Ravenna. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 492 Flavius GELASIUS. +(Ind.) ANASTASIUS + Augustus and + Rufus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 493 Eusebius Surrender of THEODORIC. + (II) and Ravenna. + Albinus. Death of + Odovacar. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 494 Turcius + Rufus + Apronianus + Asterius and + Praesidius. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 495 Flavius + Viator. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 496 Paulus. Clovis ANASTASIUS. + defeats the + Alamanni. His + conversion. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 497 Flavius SYMMACHUS + ANASTASIUS (Antipope + Aug. (II). Laurentius). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 498 Paulinus + and Joannes + Scytha. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 499 Joannes + Gibbus. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 500 Patricius Cassiodorus War between + and Senior, Gundobad and + Hypatius. Patrician, Clovis. + Praefect. Theodoric's + His son visit to + becomes his Rome. + _Consili- Conspiracy of + arius_. Odoin. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 501 Rufius About this Synodus + Magnus time Palmaris at + Faustus Cassiodorus Rome. + Avienus pronounces Symmachus + and his confirmed in + Flavius panegyric the + Pompeius. on Pontificate. + Theodoric, + and is + rewarded by + being + appointed + Quaestor. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 502 Flavius + Avienus + Junior and + Probus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 503 Dexicrates + and + Volusianus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 504 Cethegus. War of Sirmium. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 505 Theodorus War between + and Theodoric and + Sabinianus. Anastasius + (affair of + Mundo). + Battle of + Horrea Margi. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 506 Messala and + Areobinda. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 507 Flavius Clovis +(Ind.) ANASTASIUS defeats + Aug. (III) Alaric II at + and Campus + Venantius. Vogladensis. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 508 Venantius Tulum + and Celer. endeavours to + raise siege + of Arles. + Byzantine + raid on + Apulia. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 509 Importunus. Mammo invades + Burgundy. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 510 Anicius Ibbus defeats + Manlius Franks and + Severinus Burgundians. + Boethius + (_Author + of the + 'Consolation'_). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 511 Felix and Death of + Secundinus. Clovis. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 512 Paulus and + Muschianus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 513 Probus and + Clementinus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 514 Senator, Cassiodorus HORMISDAS. + _solus as Consul + Consul_ restores + (Cassio- harmony + dorus). between + clergy and + people of + Rome. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 515 Florentius Cassiodorus Marriage of + and receives Eutharic and + Anthemius. the Amalasuentha. + Patriciate + (?). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 516 Petrus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 517 Agapitus + and Flavius + Anastasius + (_nephew + of the + Emperor_). + +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 518 Magnus. JUSTIN I. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 519 JUSTINUS Composition End of schism + Augustus of the between + and 'Chroni- Eastern and + Eutharicus con,' Western + Cillica. dedicated Churches. + to + Eutharic. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 520 Rusticus Composition + and of the + Vitalianus. Gothic + History + (?). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 521 Valerius + and Flavius + Justinianus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 522 Symmachus +(Ind.) and Boethius + (_sons of + the great + Boethius_). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 523 Flavius Franks invade JOHN I. + Anicius Burgundy. + Maximus. Imprisonment + of Boethius. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 524 Flavius Death of + JUSTINUS Boethius. + Aug. (II) + and Opilio. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 525 Anicius Death of + Probus Symmachus. + Junior and Pope John's + Flavius Mission to + Theodorus Constantinople. + Philoxenus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 526 Olybrius. Cassiodorus Pope John ATHALARIC. FELIX III + Master of dies in (or IV). + the prison (May + Offices. 25). Death of + Theodoric + (Aug. 30). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 527 Vettius Death of JUSTINIAN. + Agorius Amalafrida, + Basilius Queen-dowager + Mavortius. of the Vandals. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 528 Flavius + JUSTINIANUS + Aug. (II). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 529 Decius BONIFACE II. + Junior. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 530 Flavius + Lampadius + and + Orestes. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 531 _Post + Consulatum + Lampadii et + Orestis._ +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 532 _Post Final invasion + Consulatum of Burgundy by + Lampadii et the Franks. + Orestis. + Anno II._ +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 533 Flavius Cassiodorus The Vandal War JOHN III. + JUSTINIANUS Praetorian of Justinian + Aug. (III). Praefect (June, 533- + (Sept. 1), March, 534). + which + office he + holds till + he retires + from public + life. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 534 Flavius Death of AMALASUENTHA. + JUSTINIANUS Athalaric THEODAHAD. + Aug. (IV) (Oct. 2). + and Flavius Association of + Theodorus Theodahad with + Paulinus Amalasuentha. + Junior. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 535 Flavius Death of AGAPETUS. + Belisarius. Amalasuentha. + The Gothic War + begins. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 536 _Post Belisarius WITIGIS. SILVERIUS. + Consulatum takes Naples + Fl. and enters + Belisarii._ Rome. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 537 _Post Siege of Rome VIGILIUS. +(Ind.) Consulatum by Witigis. + Fl. + Belisarii + Anno II._ +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 538 Flavius Collection Siege of Rome + Johannes of the raised. + (John of 'Variae.' + Cappa- Composition + docia). of the 'De + Animâ.' +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 539 Flavius Cassiodorus Mediolanum + Appion. about this taken by the + time lays Goths. + down his Belisarius + office and takes + retires to Auximum. + his + birthplace + (Scyllacium), + where he + founds the + Monastery + of + Vivaria. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 540 Flavius Ravenna ILDIBAD. + Justinus surrendered + Junior. to + Belisarius. + Captivity of + Witigis. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 541 Flavius He writes ERARIC. + Basilius Commentary BADUILA + Junior. on the (TOTILA). + Psalms as + far as + Psalm 20. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 542 Years " Totila twice + reckoned defeats the + Post Imperial + Consulatum generals, and + Basilii. retrieves the + fortune of the + Ostrogoths. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 543 " Composition + of the + 'Institutiones + Divinarum et + Humanarum + Litterarum.' +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 544 " Belisarius + returns to + Italy. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 545 " Rome taken by + Totila. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 546 " Continues + and + completes + his + Commentary + on the + Psalms. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 547 " " Rome + re-occupied by + Belisarius. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 548 " " Death of + Empress + Theodora. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 549 " " Rome again + taken by + Totila. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 550 " " Death of + Germanus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 551 " Narses + Commander of + Italian + Expedition. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 552 " Writes the Narses TEIAS. +(Ind.) 'Complexi- defeats + ones in Totila + Epistolas near + Apostolo- Tadinum. + rum,' and + compiles + the + 'Historia + Tripartita' + (the + precise + date of + these + works + unknown). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 553 " " Teias NARSES, + defeated and Governor of + slain near Italy under + Mons the Emperor. + Lactarius. + The Ostrogoths + leave Italy. + Invasion of + the Alamannic + brethren. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 554 " " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 555 " " PELAGIUS. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 556 " " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 557 " " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 558 " " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 559 " " Belisarius + defeats the + Huns under + Zabergan. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 560 " " JOHN III. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 561 " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 562 " Disgrace of + Belisarius. + Belisarius + restored to + favour. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 563 " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 564 " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 565 Post JUSTIN II. + Consulatum + Basilii + XXIV. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 566 Flavius Death of + JUSTINUS Belisarius + Augustus. and of + Justinian. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 567 Years Narses LONGINUS, +(Ind.) reckoned recalled by Exarch. + Post Justin. + Consulatum Alleged + Justini. invitation to + the Lombards. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 568 " The Lombards ALBOIN, + under Alboin King of the + enter Italy. Lombards. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 569 " Milan taken + by the + Lombards. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 570 " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 571 " Ticinum + taken + by the + Lombards. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 572 " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 573 " Composition Assassination CLEPH, Death of + of treatise of Alboin. King of the John III. + 'De Lombards. + Orthographia' + in 93rd + year of + Cassiodorus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 574 " Death of BENEDICT I. + Cleph. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 575 " Cassiodorus + dies in + his 95th + year (?). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +THE + +LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS. + + + + +PREFACE[192]. + +[Footnote 192: Translated in full.] + + +[Sidenote: Reason for publication: entreaties of friends.] + +Learned men, who had become my friends through conversations which we +had had together, or benefits which I had bestowed upon them, sought +to persuade me to draw together into one work the various utterances +which it had been my duty to make, during my tenure of office, for the +explanation of different affairs. They desired me to do this, in order +that future generations might recognise the painful labours which I +had undergone for the public good, and the workings of my own unbribed +conscience. I then replied that their very kindness for me might turn +out to my disadvantage, since the letters which their good-will found +acceptable might to future readers seem insipid. I reminded them also +of the words of Horace, warning us of the dangers of hasty +publication. + +[Sidenote: Difficulty of writing.] + +'You see,' said I, 'that all require from me a speedy reply to their +petitions; and do you think that I couch those replies in words which +leave me nothing to regret hereafter? Our diction must be somewhat +rude when there is no sufficient delay to enable the speaker to choose +words which shall rightly express the precise shade of his meaning. +Speech is the common gift of all mankind: it is embellishment +(ornatus) alone which distinguishes between the learned and unlearned. +The author is told to keep his writings by him for nine years for +reflection; but I have not as many hours, hardly as many moments. As +soon as I begin the petitioner worries me with his clamours, and +hurries me too much to prevent my finishing cautiously, even if I have +so begun my task. One vexes me past endurance by his interruptions and +innuendoes; another torments me with the doleful tale of his miseries; +others surround me with the mad shouts of their seditious +contentions[193]. In such circumstances how can you expect elegance of +language, when we have scarcely opportunity to put words together in +any fashion? Even at night indescribable cares are flitting round our +couch[194], while we are harassed with fear lest the cities should +lack their supplies of food--food which the common people insist upon +more than anything else, caring more for their bellies than for the +gratification of their ears by eloquence. This thought obliges us to +wander in imagination through all the Provinces, and ever to enquire +after the execution of our orders, since it is not enough to tell our +staff what has to be done, but the diligent administrator must see +that it is done[195]. Therefore, I pray you, spare us your harmful +love. I must decline this persuasion of yours, which will bring me +more of danger than of glory.' + +[Footnote 193: 'Alii furiosa contentionum seditione circumdant.' This +is probably meant to describe turbulent Goths.] + +[Footnote 194: [Greek: ou chrê pannuchion eudein boulêphoron andra] +(Il. ii. 24).] + +[Footnote 195: Quia non sufficit agenda militibus imperare, nisi haec +Judicis assiduitas videatur exigere.] + +So I pleaded; but they plied me all the more with such arguments as +these: + +[Sidenote: The Praefecture.] + +'All men have known you as Praefect of the Praetorian throne, a +dignity which all other public employments wait upon like lacqueys. +For from this high office, ways and means for the army are demanded; +from this, without any regard for the difficulty of the times, the +food of the people is required; on this, a weight of judicial +responsibility is thrown, which would be by itself a heavy burden. Now +the law, which has thrown this immense load on the Praefect's office, +has, on the other hand, honoured him by putting almost all things +under his control. In truth, what interval of leisure could you snatch +from your public labours, when into your single breast flowed every +claim which could be made on behalf of the common good of all? + +[Sidenote: The Quaestorship.] + +'We must add, moreover, that when you were on frequent occasions +charged with the office of the Quaestorship, the leisure which you +might have enjoyed was taken from you by your own constant +thoughtfulness for the public good; and when you were thus bearing the +weight of an honour which was not the highest, your Sovereigns used to +lay upon you those duties, properly belonging to other offices, which +their own holders were unable to discharge[196]. All these duties you +discharged with absolute freedom from corruption, following your +father's example in receiving, from those who hoped for your favour, +nothing but the obligation to serve them, and bestowing on petitioners +all that they had a right to ask for without traffic or reward. + +[Footnote 196: 'Addimus etiam quod frequenter Quaesturae vicibus +ingravato otii tempus adimit crebra cogitatio, et velut mediocribus +fascibus insudanti, illa tibi de aliis honoribus principes videntur +imponere, quae proprii Judices nequeunt explicare.' This is probably +the clearest account that is anywhere given of the peculiar and +somewhat undefined position held by Cassiodorus during the greater +part of the reign of Theodoric.] + +[Sidenote: Intimacy with Theodoric.] + +'Moreover, men know that the conversations which you were honoured by +holding with the King occupied a large portion of your days, greatly +to the public welfare[197], so that men of leisure have no right to +expect that their requirements shall be met by you, whose day was thus +occupied with continuous toil[198]. But in truth this will redound yet +more to your glory, if amid so many and such severe labours you +succeed in writing that which is worthy to be read. Besides, your work +can without wounding their self-love instruct unlettered persons who +are not prepared by any consciousness of eloquence for the service of +the Republic[199]; and the experience which you have gained by being +tossed to and fro on the waves of stormy altercation, they in their +more tranquil lot may more fortunately make their own. Again (and here +we make an appeal which your loyalty cannot resist), if you allow +posterity to be ignorant of the numerous benefits conferred by your +King, it is in vain that with benevolent eagerness he so often granted +your requests. Do not, we pray, draw back once more into silence and +obscurity those who, while you were sounding their eulogies, seemed +worthy to receive illustrious dignities. For you then professed to +describe them with true praises, and to paint their characters with +the colours of history[200]. Now if you leave it to posterity to write +the panegyric on these men, you take away as it were from those who +die an honourable death the funeral oration to which, by the customs +of our ancestors, they are entitled. Besides, in these letters you +correct immorality with a ruler's authority; you break the insolence +of the transgressor; you restore to the laws their reverence. Do you +still hesitate about publishing that which, as you know, satisfies so +many needs? Will you conceal, if we may say so, the mirror of your own +mind, in which all ages to come may behold your likeness? Often does +it happen that a man begets a son unlike himself, but his writings are +hardly ever found unequal to his character[201]. The progeny of his +own will is his truest child; what is born in the secret recesses of +his own heart is that by which posterity will know him best. + +[Footnote 197: 'Regum quinetiam gloriosa colloquia pro magnâ diei +parte in bonum publicum te occupare noverunt.' It is difficult to +translate the expressive term, 'gloriosa colloquia.'] + +[Footnote 198: 'Ut fastidium sit otiosis exspectare quae tu continuo +labore cognosceris sustinere.' I cannot translate this literally.] + +[Footnote 199: 'Rudes viros et ad Rempublicam consciâ facundiâ +praeparatos.' Surely some negative has dropped out of the latter +clause.] + +[Footnote 200: 'Tu enim illos assumpsisti verâ laude describere, et +quodammodo historico colore depingere.'] + +[Footnote 201: 'Contingit enim dissimilem filium plerumque generari, +oratio dispar moribus vix potest inveniri.'] + +[Sidenote: Gothic History.] + +'You have often, amid universal acclamation, pronounced the praises of +kings and queens. In twelve books you have compiled the History of the +Goths, culling the story of their triumphs[202]. Since these works +have had such favourable fortunes, and since you have thus served your +first campaign in literature, why hesitate to give these productions +of yours also to the public?' + +[Footnote 202: 'Duodecim libris Gothorum historiam _defloratis +prosperitatibus_ condidisti.' By an extraordinary error this sentence +has been interpreted to mean that Cassiodorus wrote his history of the +Goths after their prosperity had faded; and some writers have +accordingly laboured, quite hopelessly, to bring down the composition +of the Gothic History to a late period in the reign of Athalaric. It +is perfectly clear from many passages that Cassiodorus uses +'deflorare' in the sense of 'picking flowers,' 'culling a nosegay.' +See Historia Tripartita, Preface (twice); De Instit. Divin. +Litterarum, cap. xxx; and De Orthographiâ, cap. ii (title). I doubt +not that careful search would discover many more instances. It is only +strange to me that Cassiodorus should, by the words 'defloratis +_prosperitatibus_,' so naïvely confess the one-sided character of his +history.] + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus consents to publish.] + +So pleaded my friends, and to my shame I must own that I was +conquered, and could no longer resist so many prayers; especially when +I saw myself accused of want of affection. I have now only to crave my +readers' pardon; and if they find rashness and presumption in my +attempt, to blame my advisers rather than me, since my own judgment +agrees with that of my severest critic. + +All the letters, therefore, which I have been able to find in various +public archives that had been dictated by me as Quaestor, as Magister +[Officiorum], or as Praefect, are here collected and arranged in +twelve books. By the variety of subjects touched upon, the attention +of the reader will be aroused, and it will be maintained by the +feeling that he is rapidly approaching the conclusion of the letter. + +I have also wished to preserve others from those unpolished and hasty +forms of speech into which I am conscious that I have often fallen in +announcing the bestowal of dignities, a kind of document which is +often asked for in such haste that there seems scarce time for the +mere manual labour of writing it. I have therefore included in my +Sixth and Seventh Books _Formulae_ for the granting of all the +dignities of the State, hoping thus to be of some service to myself, +though at a late period of my career, and to help my successors who +may be hard pressed for time. What I have thus written concerning the +past will serve equally well for the future, since I have said nothing +about the qualities of the individual office-holder, but have made +such explanations as seemed suitable concerning the office. + +[Sidenote: Reason of the title Variarum.] + +As for the title of all twelve books, the index of the work, the +herald of its meaning, the expression in briefest compass of the whole +performance, I have for this chosen the name VARIAE. And this, because +it was necessary for me not always to use the same style, since I had +undertaken to address various kinds of persons. One must speak in one +way to men jaded with much reading; in another to those who skim +lightly over the surface, tasting here and there; in another (if one +would persuade them), to persons who are devoid of a taste for +letters, since it is sometimes a proof of skill to avoid the very +things which please the learned. In short, the definition given by our +ancestors is a good one: 'To speak fitly is to persuade the hearers to +accept your wishes for their own.' Nor was it at random that the +prudence of Antiquity thus defined the three modes of speaking:-- + +[Sidenote: The three styles of composition.] + +(1) The _humble_ style, which seems to creep along the ground in the +very expression of its thought. + +(2) The _middle_ style, which is neither swollen with self-importance +nor shrunk into littleness; but being placed between the two, and +enriched by a peculiar elegance, is contained within its own true +boundaries. + +(3) The _supreme_ style, which by exquisite phraseology is raised to +the very highest pitch of oratory. + +The object of this distinction is that the various sorts and +conditions of men may each receive their appropriate address, and that +the thoughts which proceed from the same breast may nevertheless flow +in divers channels. No man is entitled to the name of eloquent who is +not prepared to do his duty manfully with the triple strength of these +three styles, as one cause after another may arise. It must be added +hereto that we have sometimes to speak to Kings, sometimes to the +Officers of the Court, sometimes to the very humblest of the people. +To the last we may allowably pour out our words with some degree of +haste, but the other addresses should be deeply pondered before they +are delivered. Deservedly therefore is a work entitled VARIAE, which +is subject to so much diversity in its composition. + +Would that, as we have received these maxims from those who have gone +before us, so our own compositions could claim the praise of having +reduced them into practice. In sooth we do with shamefacedness +promise that the Humble style shall be found in us; we think we may +without dishonesty covenant for the Middle style; but the Supreme +style, which on account of its nobility is the fitting language of a +royal Edict[203], we cannot hope that we have attained unto. + +[Footnote 203: The editors waver between 'quod est in edicto' and +'quod est in edito (constitutum).'] + +But since we are to be read, let us abstain from further unlawful +canvassing for the votes of our readers. It is an incongruous thing +for us to be thus piling up our own discourses about ourselves: we +ought rather to wait for your judgment on our work. + + + + +BOOK I. + +CONTAINING FORTY-SIX LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + +1. KING THEODORIC TO EMPEROR ANASTASIUS. + +[Sidenote: Persuasives to peace between Italy and Constantinople.] + +'It behoves us, most clement Emperor, to seek for peace, since there +are no causes for anger between us. + +'Peace by which the nations profit; Peace the fair mother of all +liberal arts, the softener of manners, the replenisher of the +generations of mankind. Peace ought certainly to be an object of +desire to every kingdom. + +'Therefore, most pious of princes, it accords with your power and your +glory that we who have already profited by your affection [personally] +should seek concord with your Empire. You are the fairest ornament of +all realms; you are the healthful defence of the whole world, to which +all other rulers rightfully look up with reverence[204], because they +know that there is in you something which is unlike all others[205]: +we above all, who by Divine help learned in your Republic the art of +governing Romans with equity. Our royalty is an imitation of yours, +modelled on your good purpose, a copy of the only Empire; and in so +far as we follow you do we excel all other nations. + +[Footnote 204: 'Vos totius orbis salutare praesidium, quod caeteri +dominantes jure suspiciunt quia in vobis singulare aliquid inesse +cognoscunt.' 'Suspiciunt' seems to give a better sense than the other +reading, 'suscipiunt.'] + +[Footnote 205: 'Quia in vobis singulare aliquid inesse cognoscunt.'] + +'Often have you exhorted me to love the Senate, to accept cordially +the laws of past Emperors, to join together in one all the members of +Italy. How can you separate from your august alliance one whose +character you thus try to make conformable to your own? There is +moreover that noble sentiment, love for the City of Rome, from which +two princes, both of whom govern in her name, should never be +disjoined. + +'We have thought fit therefore to send A and B[206] as ambassadors to +your most serene Piety, that Peace, which has been broken, through a +variety of causes, may, by the removal of all matters of dispute, be +firmly restored between us. For we think you will not suffer that any +discord should remain between two Republics, which are declared to +have ever formed one body under their ancient princes[207], and which +ought not to be joined by a mere sentiment of love, but actively to +aid one another with all their powers. Let there be always one will, +one purpose in the Roman Kingdom. Therefore, while greeting you with +our respectful salutations, we humbly beg that you will not remove +from us the high honour of your Mildness's affection[208], which we +have a right to hope for if it were never granted to any others. + +[Footnote 206: 'Illum atque illum.' I shall always render this phrase +(which shows that Cassiodorus had not preserved the names of the +ambassadors) as above.] + +[Footnote 207: 'Quia pati vos non credimus, inter utrasque +Respublicas, quarum semper unum corpus sub antiquis principibus fuisse +declaratur, aliquid discordiae permanere.'] + +[Footnote 208: 'Pomâ meute deposcimus ne suspendatis a nobis +mansuetudinis vestrae gloriosissimam caritatem.'] + +'The rest of their commission will be verbally conveyed to your Piety +by the bearers of these letters[209].' + +[Footnote 209: For some remarks on the date of this letter, see +Introduction, p. 23. The mention of interrupted peace, which evidently +requires not mere estrangement but an actual state of war, points to +the year 505, when Sabinian, the general of Anastasius, was defeated +by the Ostrogoths and their allies at Horrea Margi; or to 508, when +the Imperial fleet made a raid on the coast of Apulia, as probable +dates for the composition of the letter. Its place at the beginning of +the Variae does not at all imply priority in date to the letters which +follow it. It was evidently Cassiodorus' method to put in the +forefront of every book in his collection a letter to an Emperor or +King, or other great personage. + +As for the tone of the letter, and the exact character of the relation +between the Courts of Ravenna and Constantinople which is indicated by +it, there is room for a wide divergence of opinion. To me it does not +seem to bear out Justinian's contention (recorded by Procopius, De +Bello Gotthico ii. 6) that Theodoric ruled Italy as the Emperor's +lieutenant. Under all the apparent deference and affectation of +humility the language seems to me to be substantially that of one +equal addressing another, older and with a somewhat more assured +position, but still an equal.] + + +2. KING THEODORIC TO THEON, VIR SUBLIMIS. + +[Sidenote: Manufacture of purple dye.] + +'We are informed by Count Stephen that the work of preparing the +purple for the sacred (_i.e._ royal) robes, which was put under your +charge, has been interrupted through reprehensible negligence on your +part. There must be neglect somewhere, or else the wool with its +milk-white hairs would long before now have imbibed the precious +quality of the adorable _murex_. If the diver in the waters of +Hydruntum[210] had sought for these murex-shells at the proper season, +that Neptunian harvest, mixed with an abundant supply of water, would +already have generated the flame-bright liquid which dyes the robes +that adorn the throne. The colour of that dye is gay[211] with too +great beauty; 'tis a blushing obscurity, an ensanguined blackness, +which distinguishes the wearer from all others, and makes it +impossible for the human race not to know who is the king. It is +marvellous that that substance after death should for so long a time +exude an amount of gore which one would hardly find flowing from the +wounds of a living creature. For even six months after they have been +separated from the delights of the sea, these shell-fish are not +offensive to the keenest nostrils, as if on purpose that that noble +blood might inspire no disgust. Once this dye is imparted to the +cloth, it remains there for ever; the tissue may be destroyed sooner +than part with it. If the murex has not changed its quality, if the +press (torcular) is still there to receive its one vintage, it must be +the fault of the labourers that the dye is not forthcoming. What are +they doing, all those crowds of sailors, those families of rustics? +And you who bear the name of Count, and were exalted high over your +fellow-citizens on purpose that you might attend to this very thing, +what sacrilegious negligence is this which you are manifesting in +reference to the sacred vesture? If you have any care for your own +safety come at once with the purple[212], which you have hitherto been +accustomed to render up every year. If not, if you think to mock us by +delay, we shall send you not a constrainer but an avenger. + +[Footnote 210: Otranto.] + +[Footnote 211: Vernans.] + +[Footnote 212: Blatta.] + +'How easy was the discovery of this great branch of manufacture! A +dog, keen with hunger, bounding along the Tyrian shore, crunched the +shells which were cast up there. The purple gore dyed his jaws with a +marvellous colour; and the men who saw it, after the sudden fashion of +inventors, conceived the idea of making therewith a noble adornment +for their kings. What Tyre is for the East, Hydron[213] is for +Italy--the great cloth-factory of Courts, not keeping its old art +(merely), but ever transmitting new improvements.' + +[Footnote 213: I presume the same as Hydruntum (Otranto).] + + +3. KING THEODORIC TO CASSIODORUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN[214]. + +[Footnote 214: Father of the Author.] + +[Sidenote: Praises of the father of Cassiodorus.] + +Extols in high-flown language the merits of the minister who in the +early and troublous days of Theodoric's reign conciliated the wavering +affections of the suspicious Sicilians[215], governed them so justly +that not even they (addicted as they are, according to Cicero, to +grumbling) could complain; then displayed equal rectitude in the +government of his own native Province of Bruttii and Lucania (hard as +it is to be perfectly just in the government of one's own native +place); then administered the Praefecture in such a way as to earn the +thanks of all Italy, even the taxes not being felt to be burdensome +under his rule, because so justly levied; and now, finally, as a +reward for all these services, is raised to the distinguished honour +of the Patriciate. + +[Footnote 215: 'In ipso quippe imperii nostri devotus exordio, cum +adhuc fluctuantibus rebus provinciarum corda vagarentur, et negligi +rudem dominum novitas ipsa pateretur.'] + + +4. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Introducing Cassiodorus (Senior) on his accession to the honours of +the Patriciate.] + +[Sidenote: Great deeds of the ancestors of Cassiodorus for three +generations.] + +Compliments to the Senate, of which Theodoric wishes to increase the +dignity by bestowing honours on its most eminent members. + +Recital of the services and good qualities of Cassiodorus[216]: + +[Footnote 216: Father of Cassiodorus Senator.] + +(_a_) as 'Comes Privatarum;' + +(_b_) as 'Comes Sacrarum Largitionum;' + +(_c_) as Governor of Provinces. + +(General reflections on the importance of a governor being himself a +virtuous man). + +'Having been trained thus to official life under the preceding King +[Odovacar] he came with well-earned praises to our palace.' + +(_d_) His eminent career as Praetorian Praefect and modest demeanour +therein. + +Services of previous members of his family. Fame seems to be always at +home among the Cassiodori. They are of noble birth, equally celebrated +among orators and warriors, healthy of body, and very tall. + +His father, _Cassiodorus_[217], was 'Tribunus et Notarius' under +Valentinian III. This last was a great honour, for only men of +spotless life were associated with the Imperial 'Secretum.' A +friendship, founded on likeness, drew him to the side of Aetius, whose +labours for the State he shared. + +[Footnote 217: Grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator.] + +_Embassy to Attila._ 'With the son of this Aetius, named Carpilio, he +was sent on no vain embassy to Attila, the mighty in arms. He looked +undaunted on the man before whom the Empire quailed. Calm in conscious +strength, he despised all those terrible wrathful faces that scowled +around him. He did not hesitate to meet the full force of the +invectives of the madman who fancied himself about to grasp the Empire +of the world. He found the King insolent; he left him pacified; and so +ably did he argue down all his slanderous pretexts for dispute that +though the Hun's interest was to quarrel with the richest Empire in +the world, he nevertheless condescended to seek its favour. The +firmness of the orator roused the fainting courage of his countrymen, +and men felt that Rome could not be pronounced defenceless while she +was armed with such ambassadors. Thus did he bring back the peace +which men had despaired of; and as earnestly as they had prayed for +his success, so thankfully did they welcome his return.' + +He was offered honours and revenues, but preferred to seek the +pleasant retirement of Bruttii in the land which his exertions had +freed from the terror of the stranger. + +His father, Cassiodorus[218], an 'Illustris,' defended the coasts of +Sicily and Bruttii from the Vandals, thus averting from those regions +the ruin which afterwards fell upon Rome from the same quarter. + +[Footnote 218: Great-grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator.] + +In the East, Heliodorus, a cousin of the Cassiodori, has brilliantly +discharged the office of Praefect for eighteen years, as Theodoric +himself can testify. Thus the family, conspicuous both in the Eastern +and Western World, has two eyes with which it shines with equal +brilliancy in each Senate. + +Cassiodorus is so wealthy that his herds of horses surpass those of +the King, to whom he makes presents of some of them in order to avoid +envy. 'Hence it arises that our present candidate [for patrician +honours] mounts the armies of the Goths; and having even improved upon +his education, generously administers the wealth which he received +from his parents. + +'Now, Conscript Fathers, welcome and honour the new Patrician, who is +so well worthy of a high place among you.' + + +5. KING THEODORIC TO FLORIANUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium.] + +'Lawsuits must not be dragged on for ever. There must be some +possibility of reaching a quiet haven. Wherefore, if the petitioners +have rightly informed us that the controversy as to the farm at +Mazenes has been decided in due course of law by Count Annas, and +there is no reasonable ground for appeal[219], let that sentence be +held final and irreversible. We must sometimes save a litigious man +from himself, as a good doctor will not allow a patient to take that +which is injurious to him.' + +[Footnote 219: 'Nec aliqua probatur appellatione suspensa.'] + + +6. KING THEODORIC TO AGAPITUS, PRAEFECTUS URBIS. + +[One of the MSS. reads _Pontifici_, but this is clearly wrong. The +language is not at all suitable to be addressed to a Pope, and there +was no Pope Agapetus till 535, nine years after the death of +Theodoric.] + +[Sidenote: Mosaics ordered for Ravenna.] + +'I am going to build a great Basilica of Hercules at Ravenna, for I +wish my age to match preceding ones in the beauty of its buildings, +as it does in the happiness of the lives of my subjects. + +'Send me therefore skilful workers in Mosaic' [of which kind of work +we have a very good description as follows]. + +_(Cassiodorus on Mosaic)._ + +'Send us from your city some of your most skilful marble-workers, who +may join together those pieces which have been exquisitely divided, +and, connecting together their different veins of colour, may +admirably represent the natural appearance[220]. From Art proceeds +this gift, which conquers Nature. And thus the discoloured surface of +the marble is woven into the loveliest variety of pictures; the value +of the work, now as always, being increased by the minute labour which +has to be expended on the production of the Beautiful.' + +[Footnote 220: 'Et venis colludentibus illigata naturalem faciem +laudabiliter mentiantur.'] + + +7. KING THEODORIC TO FELIX, VIR CLARISSIMUS. + +This letter will be best understood by a reference to the following +pedigree: + + N. + | + __________________________________________ + | | | +FELIX = A daughter. NEOTHERIUS PLUTIANUS + [a spendthrift]. [a minor, whose + guardian is + Venantius]. + +[Sidenote: The inheritance of Plutianus.] + +Apparently Felix is accused by Venantius, the guardian of his young +brother-in-law Plutianus, of having, on behalf of his wife, made an +unfair division of the family property (which had been originally +given to the father of these lads by Theodoric, as a reward for his +services). In doing this he has availed himself of the spendthrift +character of Neotherius, the elder brother, who was probably already +of age. + +Felix is severely blamed, and ordered to hand over what he has +fraudulently appropriated to the official, who is charged with the +execution of this mandate. + +Both are summoned to the 'Comitatus' of the King, that a fair division +may there be made between them. + + +8. KING THEODORIC TO AMABILIS, THE COLLECTOR (EXSECUTOR). + +[Sidenote: The prodigality of Neotherius.] + +In reference to this same matter of the wasted property of Plutianus. +It appears from this letter that Neotherius has been not merely a +spendthrift, but has been actuated by motives of passionate 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 lacerasse_.'] + + +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 ('Könige 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 ILLUSTRIS 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?'] + +Cassiodorus gives-- + +(1) Some sublime reflections in the true Cassiodorian 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 shillings. 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 Cassiodorus is talking about the ancients (veteres), +whereas the solidus was a comparatively modern coin. It seems that +either Cassiodorus 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 passage 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 pass 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 ILLUSTRIS, +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 +Quaestorship 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 shine 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 +noble 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 petition 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 ('Könige 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 ILLUSTRIS 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 JULIANUS, 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 constiterit, de +reliquis primae indictionis habita moderatione detrahatis.'] + + +17. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHIC AND ROMAN INHABITANTS OF DERTONA +(TORTONA). + +[Sidenote: Fortification of camp near Dertona.] + +'We have decided that the camp near you shall at once be fortified. It +is expedient to execute works of this kind in peace rather than in +war. + +'The true meaning of _expeditio_ shows that the leader of a military +expedition should have an unencumbered mind. + +'Do you therefore second our efforts by building good private houses, +in which you will be sheltered, while the enemy (whenever he comes) +will be in the worst possible quarters[228], and exposed to all the +severity of the weather.' + +[Footnote 228: 'Durissimae mansiones.'] + + +18. KING THEODORIC TO DOMITIANUS AND WILIAS. + +[Sidenote: Statute of Limitations.] + +'It is right that you, who are administering justice to the nations, +should learn and practise it yourselves. We therefore hasten to reply +to the question which you have asked [concerning the length of time +that is required to bestow a title by prescription]. If any Barbarian +usurper have taken possession of a Roman farm since the time when we, +through God's grace, crossed the streams of the Isonzo, when first the +Empire of Italy received us[229], and if he have no documents of title +[sine delegatoris cujusquam pyctacio] to show that he is the rightful +holder, then let him without delay restore the property to its former +owner. But if he shall be found to have entered upon the property +before the aforesaid time, since the principle of the thirty years' +prescription comes in, we order that the petition of the plaintiff +shall be dropped. + +[Footnote 229: 'Ex quo, Deo propitio, Sonti fluenta transmisimus ubi +primum Italiae nos suscepit imperium.'] + +[Sidenote: Crimes of violence.] + +'The assailant, as well as the murderer, of his brother, is to be +driven forth from the kingdom, that the serenity of our Commonwealth +may not be troubled with any such dark spots.' + +[Theodoric crossed the Isonzo, August, 489, and as I understand this +letter, it was written somewhere about 518, and he therefore lays down +a convenient practical rule: 'No dispossession which occurred before +I crossed the Isonzo shall be enquired into; any which have happened +since, may.' But the letter is a very difficult one, and I am bound to +say that Dahn's interpretation ('Könige der Germanen' iii. 11, 12) +does not agree with mine.] + + +19. KING THEODORIC TO SATURNINUS AND VERBUSIUS, VIRI SUBLIMES. + +[Sidenote: The rights of the Fiscus.] + +'The _Fiscus_ is to have its rights, but we do not wish to oppress our +people. Let moderation be observed in all things. + +'When you receive the petition of the Curiales of Adriana, if anyone +who is able to pay, stubbornly and impudently refuses to contribute to +the _Fiscus Gothorum_, you are to compel him to do so. But let off the +really poor man who is unable to contribute.' + + +20. KING THEODORIC TO ALBINUS AND ALBIENUS, VIRI ILLUSTRES AND +PATRICIANS. + +[Sidenote: Circus quarrels. Patronage of the Greens. Rivalry between +Helladius and Theodorus.] + +'Notwithstanding our greater cares for the Republic, we are willing to +provide also for the amusement of our subjects. For it is the +strongest possible proof of the success of our labours that the +multitude knows itself to be again at leisure[230]. + +[Footnote 230: 'Illud enim, propitiante Deo, labores nostros asserit +quod se _otiosam_ generalitas esse cognoscit.'] + +'The petition of the Green party in the circus informs us that they +are oppressed, and that the factions of the circus are fatal to public +tranquillity. We therefore order you to assume the patronage of the +Green party, which our father of glorious memory paid for[231]. So +let the spectators be assembled, and let them choose between Helladius +and Theodorus which is fittest to be Pantomimist of the Greens, whose +salary we will pay.' + +[Footnote 231: 'Quapropter illustris magnitudo vestra praesenti +jussione commonita, patrocinium partis Prasini, quod gloriosae +recordationis pater noster impendit, dignanter assumat.' This passage +probably alludes to Theodoric's adoption by Zeno. But one reading is +'pater _vester_.'] + +Then follows a digression on pantomimes. + + +21. KING THEODORIC TO MAXIMIAN, VIR ILLUSTRIS; AND ANDREAS, VIR +SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: Embellishment of Rome.] + +'If the people of Rome will beautify their City we will help them. + +'Institute a strict audit (of which no one need be ashamed) of the +money given by us to the different workmen for the beautification of +the City. See that we are receiving money's worth for the money spent. +If there is embezzlement anywhere, cause the funds so embezzled to be +disgorged. We expect the Romans to help from their own resources in +this patriotic work, and certainly not to intercept our contributions +for the purpose. + +'The wandering birds love their own nests; the beasts haste to their +own lodgings in the brake; the voluptuous fish, roaming the fields of +ocean, returns to its own well-known cavern. How much more should Rome +be loved by her children!' + + +22. KING THEODORIC TO MARCELLUS, VIR SPECTABILIS, ADVOCATUS FISCI. + +[Sidenote: Promotion of Marcellus.] + +After some rather vapid praise of the eloquence and good qualities of +Marcellus, Theodoric promotes him from the rank of a Private Advocate +to that of an _Advocatus Fisci_, and gives him some excellent counsels +about not pressing the claims of the Crown too far. 'We shall not +enquire how many causes you have gained, but how you have gained them. +Let there sometimes be a bad cause for the Fiscus, that the Sovereign +may be seen to be good.' + + +23. KING THEODORIC TO COELIANUS AND AGAPITUS, VIRI ILLUSTRES AND +PATRICIANS. + +[Sidenote: Litigation between Senators.] + +'The concord and harmony of subjects redound to the praise of their +prince. + +'We desire that Festus and Symmachus (Patricians and Magnifici) should +prosecute the causes for action which they say they have against +Paulinus (Illustris and Patrician) in your Court. Let Paulinus bring +before you any counter-claim which he may assert himself to possess. +Let justice be rendered speedily. Show yourselves worthy of this high +trust. It is a matter of great moment to end lawsuits between men of +such eminence in the State as these.' + + +24. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHS. + +[Sidenote: A call to arms for the invasion of Gaul.] + +'To the Goths a hint of war rather than persuasion to the strife is +needed, since a warlike race such as ours delights to prove its +courage. In truth, he shuns no labour who hungers for the renown of +valour. Therefore with the help of God, whose blessing alone brings +prosperity, we design to send our army to the Gauls for the common +benefit of all, that you may have an opportunity of promotion, and we +the power of testing your merits; for in time of peace the courage +which we admire lies hidden, and when men have no chance of showing +what is in them, their relative merits are concealed. We have +therefore given our Sajo[232], Nandius, instructions to warn you that, +on the eighth day before the kalends of next July, you move forward to +the campaign in the name of God, sufficiently equipped, according to +your old custom, with horses, arms, and every requisite for war. Thus +will ye at the same time show that the old valour of your sires yet +dwells in your hearts, and also successfully perform your King's +command. Bring forth your young men for the discipline of Mars. Let +them see you do deeds which they may love to tell of to their +children. For an art not learned in youth is an art missing in our +riper years. The very hawk, whose food is plunder, thrusts her still +weak and tender young ones out of the nest, that they may not become +accustomed to soft repose. She strikes the lingerers with her wings; +she forces her callow young to fly, that they may prove to be such in +the future as her maternal fondness can be proud of. Do you therefore, +lofty by nature, and stimulated yet more by the love of fame, study to +leave such sons behind you as your fathers have left in leaving you.' + +[Footnote 232: See for the office of the Sajo, note on ii. 13.] + +[We can hardly be wrong in referring this stirring proclamation to the +year 508, when Theodoric sent troops into Gaul to save the remnants of +the Visigothic Monarchy from the grasp of Clovis. The first sentence +recalls the expression 'certaminis gaudia,' which Jordanes no doubt +borrowed from Cassiodorus. For the simile at the end of the letter, +cf. Deuteronomy xxxii. 11, 'As an eagle stirreth up her nest'.] + + +25. KING THEODORIC TO SABINIANUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: Repair of the walls of Rome.] + +'It is important to preserve as well as to create. We are earnestly +anxious to keep the walls of Rome in good repair, and have therefore +ordered the Lucrine port[233] to furnish 25,000 tiles annually for +this purpose. See that this is done, that the cavities which have been +formed by the fall of stones may be roofed over with tiles, and so +preserved, and that thus we may deserve the thanks of ancient kings, +to whose works we have given immortal youth.' + +[Footnote 233: I presume that 'portum Lucini' is an error for the +Lucrine harbour; but there is an allusion which I do not understand in +the following passage: 'Simul etiam portubus junctis, qui ad illa loca +antiquitus pertinebant, et nunc diversorum usurpatione suggeruntur +invasi?'] + + +26. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS. + +[Sidenote: Immunity of Church property from taxation.] + +In the time of Cassiodorus the Patrician (a man of tried integrity and +pure fidelity[234]), a grant of freedom from taxation[235] was made to +the Church of Vercelli. Since that time other property has been +conveyed to the same Church, apparently by a soldier. An attempt is +made to represent this after-acquired property as also tax-free. 'No,' +says the King. 'It would be very wrong in us to recall our gift; but +it is equally wrong in you to try to stretch it to something which it +never included. Private persons must not make grants to the injury of +our treasury. Tribute belongs to the purple, not to the military +cloak[236]. Your newly acquired possessions must pay taxes along with +those of other owners.' + +[Footnote 234: This is evidently the writer's father.] + +[Footnote 235: 'Onera indictorum titulorum.'] + +[Footnote 236: 'Tributa sunt purpurae, non lacernae.'] + + +27. KING THEODORIC TO SPECIOSUS. + +[Sidenote: Circus quarrels.] + +'If we are moderating under our laws the character of foreign nations, +if the Roman law is supreme over all that is in alliance with Italy, +how much more doth it become the Senate of the seat of civilisation +itself to have a surpassing reverence for law, that by the example of +their moderation the beauty of their dignities may shine forth more +eminently. For where shall we look for moderation, if violence stains +Patricians? The Green party complain that they have been truculently +assaulted by the Patrician Theodoric and the "Illustris and Consul +Importunus," and that one life has been lost in the fray. We wish the +matter to be at once brought before the Illustres Coelianus and +Agapitus and examined into by them[237]. + +[Footnote 237: See i. 23, from which it appears that these two men had +special jurisdiction in cases affecting Patricians.] + +'As to their counter-complaints of rudeness against the mob, you must +distinguish between deliberate insolence and the licence of the +theatre. Who expects seriousness of character at the spectacles? It is +not exactly a congregation of Catos that comes together at the circus. +The place excuses some excesses. And besides, it is the _beaten_ party +which vents its rage in insulting cries. Do not let the Patricians +complain of clamour that is really the result of a victory for their +own side, which they greatly desired.' + +[The mention of 'the Patrician Theodoric' is a difficulty, as we know +of no namesake of the King among the Roman nobility. Perhaps we ought +to read (with the Remensian MS.) 'Theodoro,' as we know from 'Anon. +Valesii' 68 that there was a Theodorus, son of Basilius, who perhaps +succeeded Liberius, Praef. Praetorio.] + + +28. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHS AND ROMANS. + +[Sidenote: The walls of Rome.] + +'Most worthy of Royal attention is the rebuilding of ancient cities, +an adornment in time of peace, a precaution for time of war. + +'Therefore, if anyone have in his fields stones suitable for the +building of the walls, let him cheerfully and promptly produce them. +Even though he should be paid at a low rate, he will have his reward +as a member of the community, which will benefit thereby.' + + +29. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE LUCRISTANI (LUSTRIANI?) ON THE RIVER +SONTIUS (ISONZO). + +[Sidenote: The Postal Service.] + +'The post (_Cursus Publicus_) is evidently an institution of great +public utility, tending to the rapid promulgation of our decrees. + +'Care must therefore be taken that the horses are not allowed to get +out of condition, lest they break down under their work, and lest the +journey, which should be rapid, become tediously slow. + +'Also any lands formerly appropriated to the _mutationes_ [places for +changing horses] which have fallen into private hands must be +reclaimed for the public service, the owners being sufficiently +indemnified for their loss.' + + +30. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: On the injury to public peace arising from the Circus +rivalries.] + +The Senators are exhorted not to allow their menials to embroil +themselves with the populace, and thus bring their good name into +disgrace. Any slave accused of the murder of a free-born citizen is to +be at once given up, under penalty of a fine of 10 lbs. of gold +(£400), and the King's severe displeasure for the master who disobeys +this command. + +'And do not you, oh Senators, be too severe in marking every idle word +which the mob may utter amidst the general rejoicing. If there is any +insult which requires notice, bring it before the "Praefectus +Urbis"--a far better and safer course than taking the law into your +own hands.' + +[This letter, a very interesting and sensible one, is somewhat spoilt +by a characteristic Cassiodorian sentence at the end:-- + +'Men in old time used always to fight with their fists, whence the +word _pugna_, "a pugnis." Afterwards iron was introduced by King +Belus, and hence came _bellum_, "a Belo."'] + + +31. KING THEODORIC TO THE ROMAN PEOPLE. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +Gives similar good advice to that contained in the previous letter to +the Senate. + +'The Circus, in which the King spends so much money, is meant to be +for public delight, not for stirring up wrath. Instead of uttering +howls and insults like other nations [the populace of Byzantium?], +whom they have despised for doing so, let them tune their voices, so +that their applause shall sound like the notes of some vast organ, +and even the brute creation delight to hear it. + +'Anyone uttering outrageous reproaches against any Senator will be +dealt with by the Praefectus Urbis.' + + +32. KING THEODORIC TO AGAPITUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECTUS URBIS. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +'The ruler of the city ought to keep the peace, and justify my choice +of him. Your highest praise is a quiet people. + +'We have issued our "oracles" to the "amplissimus ordo" (Senate) and +to the people, that the custom of insulting persons in the Circus is +to be put under some restraint; on the other hand, any Senator who +shall be provoked to kill a free-born person shall pay a fine. The +games are meant to make people happy, not to stir them up to deadly +rage. Helladius[238] is to come forth into the midst and afford the +people pleasure [as a pantomimist], and he is to receive his monthly +allowance (menstruum) with the other actors of the Green Faction. His +partisans are to be allowed to sit where they please.' + +[Footnote 238: See Letter i. 20.] + +[Was there not some division in the Green Faction itself concerning +the merits of Helladius and his rival Theodorus?] + + +33. KING THEODORIC TO AGAPITUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECTUS URBIS. + +[Sidenote: Arrangements for the Pantomime.] + +'Our Serenity is not going to change the arrangements which we have +once made for the public good. We told Albinus and Albienus[239] to +choose the most fitting person they could find as Pantomimist of the +Greens. They have done so [choosing probably Helladius]. He shall have +his monthly allowance, and let there be peace.' + +[Footnote 239: Ibid.] + + +34. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS. + +[Sidenote: Only the surplus of corn to be exported.] + +'It should be only the surplus of the crops of any Province, beyond +what is needed for the supply of its own wants, that should be +exported. Station persons in the harbours to see that foreign ships do +not take away produce to foreign shores until the Public +Providers[240] have got all that they require.' + +[Footnote 240: 'Expensae publicae' perhaps = curatores annonae.] + + +35. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS. + +[Sidenote: Unreasonable delays. The sucking-fish and torpedo.] + +'This extraordinarily dry season having ruined the hopes of our +harvest, it is more than ever necessary that the produce should be +brought forward promptly. We are therefore exceedingly annoyed at +finding that the crops which are generally sent forward by your +Chancellor from the coasts of Calabria and Apulia in summer have not +yet arrived, though it is near autumn and the time is at hand when the +sun, entering the southern signs (which are all named from showers), +will send us storm and tempest. + +'What are you waiting for? Why are your ships not spreading their +sails to the breeze? With a favourable wind and with bending oarsmen, +are you perhaps delayed by the _echeneis_ (Remora, or sucking-fish)? +or by the shell-fish of the Indian Ocean? or by the torpedo, whose +touch paralyses the hand? No; the echeneis in this case is entangling +venality; the bites of the shell-fish, insatiable avarice; the +torpedo, fraudulent pretence. + +'The merchants are making delays in order that they may seem to have +fallen on adverse weather. + +'Let your Magnitude put all this to rights promptly, otherwise our +famine will be imputed, not to bad seasons, but to negligence[241].' + +[Footnote 241: For a fuller translation of this marvellous letter, see +Introd. p. 18.] + + +36. KING THEODORIC TO THERIOLUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: Guardianship of children of Benedictus.] + +'We wish you to take the place of the late Benedictus in the city of +Pedon. + +'As we never forget the services of the dead, we wish you to undertake +officially the guardianship of the sons of the said Benedictus. + +'We always pay back to our faithful servants more than we have +received from them, and thus we do not go on the principle "equality +is equity," because we think it just to make them _more_ than an equal +recompence.' + + +37. KING THEODORIC TO CRISPIANUS. + +[Sidenote: Justifiable homicide.] + +'Murder is abominable, but it is right to take into account the +circumstances which may have provoked to homicide. If the slain man +was trying to violate the rights of wedlock, his blood be on his own +head. For even brute beasts vindicate their conjugal rights by force: +how much more man, who is so deeply dishonoured by the adulterer! + +'Therefore, if it be true that the man whom you slew had wronged you +as a husband, we do not agree to the punishment of exile which has +been inflicted upon you. Nor will we uphold the action of the +_Vicarius_ or of his _Officium_, who, as you say, have impounded the +money paid by your _fidei-jussor_ (guarantor) Agnellus. Also, we will +protect you against the hostile assaults of Candax [next of kin to the +murdered man?] in future. But your allegation as to the provocation +must be fully established by legal process.' + +[It may be remarked that Candac, King of the Alani in Moesia, is +mentioned in the pedigree of Jordanes ('Getica,' cap. 4).] + + +38. KING THEODORIC TO BAION, A SENATOR[242]. + +[Footnote 242: See remarks on this letter in Dahn, Könige der Germanen +iv. 147-8. Some MSS. read Coion or Goinon, as the name of the Senator +to whom it is addressed.] + +[Sidenote: The young Hilarius to be allowed to enter on possession of +his property.] + +'We are told that you are keeping in your own hands the administration +of the property of your young nephew [or grandson] Hilarius against +his will, and not for his good, but yours. Restore it at once. Let him +dispose of it as he likes. He seems to be quite able to enter upon the +lordship of his own. The eagle feeds her callow young with food which +she has procured for them, till their wings grow. Then, when their +flight is strong and their nails sharp, she trains them to strike +their own prey. So with our young Goths: when they are fit for +soldiership we cannot bear that they should be deemed incapable of +managing their own concerns. "To the Goths valour makes full age. And +he who is strong enough to stab his enemy to the heart should be +allowed to vindicate himself from every accusation of incapacity."' + +[Notwithstanding his Roman name, Hilarius is evidently a Goth.] + + +39. KING THEODORIC TO FESTUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: The nephews of Filagrius to be detained in Rome.] + +'We are always delighted to grant just requests. + +'Filagrius (Vir Spectabilis), who has been long absent from his home +on our business, seeks to return to Syracuse, but at the same time +asks that his brother's sons may be kept for their education's sake at +Rome. Do you attend to this petition, and do not let the lads go till +we send you a second order to that effect. No one ought to murmur at +being detained in Rome, which is everyone's country, the fruitful +mother of eloquence, the wide temple of all virtues. Ulysses would +very likely never have become famous if he had lingered on at home; +but Homer's noble poem most chiefly proclaims his wisdom in this fact, +that he roamed among many cities and nations.' + + +40. KING THEODORIC TO ASSUIN (OR ASSIUS), VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: The inhabitants of Salona to be drilled.] + +'War needs rehearsal and preparation. Therefore let your Illustrious +Sublimity provide the inhabitants of Salona with arms, and let them +practise themselves in the use of them; for the surest safeguard of +the Republic is an armed defender.' + +The necessity of drill and practice is shown by the early combats of +bullocks, the play-huntings of puppies, the necessity of first +kindling a fire with very little sticks, and so forth. + + +41. KING THEODORIC TO AGAPITUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECTUS URBIS. + +[Sidenote: Enquiries into character of the younger Faustus.] + +'The dignity of the Senate makes it necessary to be unusually careful +who is admitted into that body. Let other orders receive middling men: +the Senate must receive none but those who are of proved excellence. + +'Therefore let your Illustrious Magnificence cause those enquiries to +be made concerning Faustus, the grown-up son of the Illustrious +Faustus, which the Senate hath ordered to be made concerning all +persons who are to be enrolled in its council[243]. In thus confirming +and ratifying the proceedings of the Senate we are in no degree +trenching on the accustomed authority of that sacred order.' + +[Footnote 243: 'Quae circa referendos curiae priscus ordo +designavit.'] + + +42. KING THEODORIC TO ARTEMIDORUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN [509 OR +524]. + +[Sidenote: Artemidorus to be Praefect of the City.] + +'We are especially bound to reward merit. Everyone who does us a +service makes a very good investment. You have long had what was +formerly considered more precious than great dignity--near access to +our person. Much as we loved you, we somewhat retarded your advance in +order that you might be the more richly adorned with all virtues when +you came to honour. Your birthplace, your lineage, your merit, all +declare you worthy of the promotion which we now bestow upon you, +declaring you for this third Indiction[244] _Praefectus Urbis_. You +will thus have the function of presiding over the Senate, a far higher +office than that of ruling the Palace or arranging private houses. The +value of the object committed to a person's care increases the dignity +of the post. It is much more honourable to be caretaker of a diadem +than of a wine-cellar. Judge of our esteem for you by the preciousness +of the body over which we are thus calling you to preside.' + +[Footnote 244: Either 509-510 or 524-525; more probably the former.] + + +43. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Promotion of Artemidorus.] + +[Announcing the elevation of Artemidorus to the post of Praefectus +Urbis.] + +'Artemidorus, though entitled from his relationship to the Emperor +Zeno to expect great promotion at the Court of Constantinople, has +preferred to share the fortunes and attach himself to the person of +Theodoric, who has often been refreshed after the cares of State by an +hour of his charming converse. Though he might have aspired to the +highest dignities of the Court, he has hitherto been satisfied with +the comparatively humble post of Superintendent of the Public +Spectacles [as Tribunus Voluptatum?]. Now, as Praefectus Urbis, he is +to preside over and become a member of your body. Welcome him.' + + +44. KING THEODORIC TO THE PEOPLE OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +[On the same subject as 42 and 43, the elevation of Artemidorus to the +Urban Praefecture.] + +Rebukes the commonalty sharply for their recent disturbances, which +defile with illicit seditions the blessings of peace, earned under +God's blessing by their Prince. The newly-appointed Praefectus +Urbanus, Artemidorus, long devoted to the service of Theodoric, will +attest the innocence of the good, and sharply punish the errors of the +bad, both by his own inherent prerogative and by a special commission +entrusted to him for that purpose by the King. + + +45. KING THEODORIC TO BOETIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: The water-clock and sundial destined for the Burgundian +King.] + +'It is important to oblige our royal neighbours even in trifles, for +none can tell what great matters may be aided thereby. Often what arms +cannot obtain the offices of kindness bring to pass. Thus let even our +unbending be for the benefit of the Republic. For our object in +seeking pleasure is that we may thereby discharge the serious duties +of life. + +'The Lord of the Burgundians has earnestly requested that we would +send him a clock which is regulated by water flowing under a modulus, +and one which is marked by embracing the illumination of the immense +sun[245].' + +[Footnote 245: An unintelligible translation doubtless, but is the +original clearer? 'Burgundionum dominus a nobis magnopere postulavit +ut horologium quod aquis sub modulo fluentibus temperatur et quod +solis immensi comprehensa illuminatione distinguitur ... ei +transmittere deberemus.' It is pretty clear that the first request of +the Burgundian King was for a clepsydra of some kind. The second must +be for some kind of sundial, but the description is very obscure.] + +[I transcribe, and do not attempt to translate, the further +description of the two machines, the order of which is now changed.] + +'_Primum_ sit, ubi stylus diei index, per umbram exiguam horas +consuevit ostendere. Radius itaque immobilis, et parvus, peragens quod +tam miranda magnitudo solis discurrit, et fugam solis aequiparat quod +modum semper ignorat. [This must be the sundial.] Inviderent talibus, +si astra sentirent: et meatum suum fortasse deflecterent, ne tali +ludibrio subjacerent. Ubi est illud horarum de lumine venientium +singulare miraculum, si has et umbra demonstrat? Ubi praedicabilis +indefecta roratio, si hoc et metalla peragunt, quae situ perpetuo +continentur? O artis inaestimabilis virtus quae dum se dicit ludere, +naturae praevalet secreta vulgare. + +'_Secundum_ sit [the clepsydra] ubi praeter solis radios hora +dignoscitur, noctes in partes dividens: quod ut nihil deberet astris, +rationem coeli ad aquarum potius fluenta convertit, quorum motibus +ostendit, quod coelum volvitur; et audaci praesumptione concepta, ars +elementis confert quod originis conditio denegavit.' + +'It will be a great gain to us that the Burgundians should daily look +upon something sent by us which will appear to them little short of +miraculous. Exert yourself therefore, oh Boetius, to get this thing +put in hand. You have thoroughly imbued yourself with Greek +philosophy[246]. You have translated Pythagoras the musician, Ptolemy +the astronomer, Nicomachus the arithmetician, Euclid the geometer, +Plato the theologian, Aristotle the logician, and have given back the +mechanician Archimedes to his own Sicilian countrymen (who now speak +Latin). You know the whole science of Mathematics, and the marvels +wrought thereby. A machine [perhaps something like a modern orrery] +has been made to exhibit the courses of the planets and the causes of +eclipses. What a wonderful art is Mechanics! The mechanician, if we +may say so, is almost Nature's comrade, opening her secrets, changing +her manifestations, sporting with miracles, feigning so beautifully, +that what we know to be an illusion is accepted by us as truth.' + +[Footnote 246: Evidently 'sic enim Atheniensium scholas longe positus +introisti' does not mean that Boethius actually visited Athens, but +that he became thoroughly at home in the works of Athenian +philosophers.] + + +46. KING THEODORIC TO GUNDIBAD [SIC], KING OF THE BURGUNDIANS. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +Sends the two clocks, or rather perhaps the celestial globe and the +water-clock. + +'Have therefore in your country what you have often seen in Rome. It +is right that we should send you presents, because you are connected +with us by affinity. It is said that under you "Burgundia" looks into +the most subtle things, and praises the discoveries of the ancients. +Through you she lays aside her "Gentile" (barbarous) nature, and +imitating the prudence of her King, rightly desires to possess the +inventions of sages. Let her arrange her daily actions by the +movements of God's great lights; let her nicely adjust the moments of +each hour. In mere confusion passes the order of life when this +accurate division of time is unknown. Men are like the beasts, if they +only know the passage of the hours by the pangs of hunger, and have no +greater certainty as to the flight of time than such as is afforded +them by their bellies. For certainty is undoubtedly meant to be +entwined in human actions.' + + + + +BOOK II. + +CONTAINING FORTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + +I. KING THEODORIC TO ANASTASIUS, MOST PIOUS EMPEROR. A.D. 511. + +[Sidenote: Consulship of Felix.] + +'By excellent ordinance of the ancients the year is named from the +Consul. Let the happy year take its title from our new Consul, _Felix_ +[Consul with Secundinus, A.D. 511[247]]. + +[Footnote 247: 'Portamque dierum tali nomine dicatus annus, tempos +introeat.' The figure here used seems borrowed from Claudian, In +Primum Cons. Stilichonis ii. 425-476.] + +'It is most suitable that Rome should gather back her children to her +bosom, and in her venerable Senate should enrol a son of Gaul. + +'Felix showed his excellent disposition first in this, that while +still a young man he hastened to "the native land of all the virtues" +[Rome]. Success followed his choice; we promoted him as he deserved. +While still a young man, deprived of his father's care, he showed the +rare gift of continence; he subdued avarice, the enemy of wisdom; he +despised the blandishments of vice; he trampled under foot the +vanities of pride. + +'We have now determined to reward him with the Consulship. Do you who +can with indiscriminate pleasure rejoice in both the blessings of the +Republic [in the Consuls of the East and West] join your favouring +vote. He who is worthy of so high an office as the Consulship may +well be chosen by the judgment of both' [Emperor and King]. + +[An important letter, as showing the extent to which concurrent choice +of Consuls was vested in Rome, or rather Ravenna, and Constantinople.] + + +2. KING THEODORIC TO FELIX, VIR ILLUSTRIS, CONSUL ORDINARIUS, A.D. 511 +(4TH OF THE INDICTION). + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +An address on his elevation to the Consulship, touching on nearly the +same topics as the preceding. + +Theodoric delights in bestowing larger favours on those whom he has +once honoured [a favourite topic with Cassiodorus]. + +Felix has come back from Gaul to the old fatherland[248]. Thus the +Consulship has returned to a Transalpine family, and green laurels are +seen on a brown stock. + +[Footnote 248: 'Cum soli genitalis fortunâ relictâ, velut quodam +postliminio in antiquam patriam commeasses.'] + +Felix has shown an early maturity of character. He has made a wise use +of his father's wealth. The honour which other men often acquire by +prodigality he has acquired by saving. Cassiodorus evidently has a +little fear that the new Consul may carry his parsimony too far, and +tells him that this office of the Consulship is one in which +liberality, almost extravagance, earns praise[249]; in which it is a +kind of virtue not to love one's own possessions; and in which one +gains in good opinion all that one loses in wealth. + +[Footnote 249: 'Ubi praeconium meretur effusio.'] + +'See the sacred City all white with your _vota_ (?). See yourself +borne upon the shoulders of all, and your name flitting through their +mouths, and manifest yourself such that you may be deemed worthy of +your race, worthy of the City, worthy of our choice, worthy of the +Consular _trabea_.' + +[The letter makes one suspect a certain narrowness and coldness of +heart in the subject of its praise.] + + +3. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE. A.D. 511. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +Recommends Felix for the Consulship, going over again the topics +mentioned in the two last letters. It appears that it was the father +of Felix who emerged, after a temporary eclipse of the family +fortunes, and then showed himself 'the Cato of our times, abstaining +from vice himself, and forming the characters of others; imbued also +with all Greek philosophy, he glutted himself with the honey of the +Cecropian doctrine.' + +Mention is made of the Consulship of an earlier Felix, A.D. 428, the +happy renown of which still lingered in the memories of men. + +The young Felix is praised for the qualities described in the two +previous letters, and also for his power of conciliating the +friendship of older men, especially the excellent Patrician Paulinus. + + +4. KING THEODORIC TO ECDICIUS (OR BENEDICTUS), VIR HONESTUS. + +[Sidenote: Collection of Siliquaticum.] + +'We wish always to observe long-established rules in fiscal matters, +the best guarantee against extortion. Therefore, whatever dues in the +way of _Siliquaticum_ appertained to Antiochus are now transferred to +you by the present authority, and the Sajo is charged to support your +claims herein; only the contention must not be mixed up with any +private matters of your own.' + +[The _Siliquaticum_ was a tax of one twenty-fourth--the _siliqua_ +being the twenty-fourth of a _solidus_--payable on all sales in market +overt by buyer and seller together.] + + +5. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS. + +[Sidenote: Soldiers' arrears.] + +'We are always generous, and sometimes out of clemency we bestow our +gifts on persons who have no claim upon us. How much more fitting is +it then that the servants of the State should receive our gifts +promptly! Wherefore, pray let your Magnificence see to it that the +sixty soldiers who are keeping guard in the fastnesses of Aosta +receive their _annonae_ without delay. Think what a life of hardship +the soldier leads in those frontier forts for the general peace, thus, +as at the gate of the Province, shutting out the entry of the +barbarous nations. He must be ever on the alert who seeks to keep out +the Barbarians. For fear alone checks these men, whom honour will not +keep back.' + +[A singular letter to write in the name of one who was himself a +Barbarian invader.] + + +6. KING THEODORIC TO AGAPITUS, ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Embassy to Constantinople.] + +'We have decided to send you on an embassy to the East +(Constantinople). Every embassy requires a prudent man, but here there +is need of especial prudence, because you will have to dispute against +the most subtle persons--artificers of words, who think they can +foresee every possible answer to their arguments. Do your best +therefore to justify the opinion which I formed of you before full +trial of your powers.' + + +7. KING THEODORIC TO SURA (OR SUNA), ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Embellishment of the City.] + +'Let nothing lie useless which may redound to the beauty of the City. +Let your Illustrious Magnificence therefore cause the blocks of marble +which are everywhere lying about in ruins to be wrought up into the +walls by the hands of the workmen whom I send herewith. Only take care +to use only those stones which have really fallen from public +buildings, as we do not wish to appropriate private property, even for +the glorification of the City.' + + +8. KING THEODORIC TO BISHOP SEVERUS, VIR VENERABILIS. + +[Sidenote: Compensation for damage done by troops on march.] + +'None is more suitable than a member of the Priesthood to perform acts +of justice towards his flock. + +'We therefore send your Holiness, by Montanarius, 1,500 solidi (£900), +for distribution among the Provincials, according to the amount of +damage which each one has sustained this year by the passage of our +army. See that the distribution is made systematically--not at +random--so that it may reach the right persons.' + + +9. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS. + +[Sidenote: Allowance to a retired charioteer.] + +'We always enjoy being generous. Compassion is the one virtue to which +all other virtues may honourably give way. Long ago we made the +charioteer Sabinus a monthly allowance of a solidus [twelve +shillings]. Now, as we learn from Histrius [or Historius] that this +former servant of the public pleasures is afflicted with the most +melancholy poverty, we have pleasure in adding _another_ solidus to +his monthly allowance. We are never so well pleased as when the +accounts of our expenditure show these items of charitable +disbursement.' + + +10. KING THEODORIC TO SPECIOSUS, VIR DEVOTUS, COMITIACUS [OFFICER OF +THE COURT]. + +[Sidenote: The abduction of Agapita.] + +'The laws guarding the sanctity of the marriage bed[250] must be +carefully upheld. + +[Footnote 250: 'Illud Humani generis procreabile Sacramentum.'] + +'Agapita[251] has explained to us that she was tempted away from her +husband by seducers, who promised to procure his death. From the time +of her leaving his company let all revenues which came to her under +the marriage contract (invalidated by her unfaithfulness) be given up +by her wrongful detainers[252] without any delay. It is too absurd +that men who ought to be severely punished for their wrong-doing +should even seek to make a profit out of it.' + +[Footnote 251: 'Foemina spectabilis.'] + +[Footnote 252: 'Retentatores.' So the Gepid Prince is called the +Retentator of Sirmium (Ennodius, Panegyric. Theod. 178. Ed. Migne).] + + +11. KING THEODORIC TO PROVINUS (PROBINUS?), ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Gift obtained from Agapita under undue influence.] + +[Refers to the same business of Agapita, who seems to have been a +woman of feeble intellect as well as an unfaithful wife.] The petition +of her husband Basilius (vir Spectabilis) sets forth that, influenced +by seducers, and from the levity so natural to woman, she for no good +reason quitted her own home. Her own petition confirms this; and she +states that, while taking refuge within the precincts of the Church, +she by deed of gift bestowed on Provinus the 'Casa Areciretina,' a +most preposterous gift from a poor woman to a rich man; from one whose +reputation was gone to a chaste man; from a half-crazy creature to one +who knew fully what he was about. This gift Agapita [and Basilius] now +seek to annul. Provinus is exhorted at once to throw up a possession +which cannot possibly bring him any credit, and the loss of which has +brought the poor woman to destitution. Alienation of property should +be the act of a person having 'solidum judicium,' which this poor +creature evidently had not, or she would not have left her husband +causelessly. + +'This is the second time of writing. Let there be no further delay in +complying.' + +[Probably, therefore, Probinus really is one of the 'Retentatores' +referred to in Letter 10, though this letter does not distinctly +identify him with them.] + + +12. KING THEODORIC TO THE COUNT OF THE SILIQUATARII (CUSTOMS +OFFICERS), AND TO HIM WHO HAS THE CARE OF THE HARBOUR (OF PORTUS?). + +[Sidenote: Prohibition of export of lard.] + +'Italy ought to enjoy her own products, and it is monstrous that +anything which she produces should be wanting to her own children. + +'Therefore let no lard be exported to foreign parts, but let it by +God's grace be all kept for consumption at home. + +'Now take care not to incur the slightest blame in this matter. It is +a very serious fault even in trifles to disobey orders. Sin consists +in quality, not in quantity; and injustice cannot be measured. A +command, if it be despised in one part, is violated in the whole.' + + +13. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO[253] FRUINARITH. + +[Footnote 253: The Sajo was an officer, not of very high rank, +apparently always of Gothic nationality, who was charged with +executing the King's mandates. Perhaps our word 'henchman' would be +the best translation of his title. His conventional attribute was +'devotio.' See Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 181-186, and my 'Italy +and her Invaders' iii. 282-284.] + +[Sidenote: Dishonest conduct of Venantius.] + +'We are always especially touched by the prayers of petitioners who +complain that they are forced to pay unjustly. Ulpianus in his +lamentable petition informs us that on the request of Venantius he +bound himself as a guarantor (fidei jussionis vinculo) to pay over to +the public Treasury at the time of his administration 400 solidi +(£240). With the presumption of a truculent rustic Venantius despised +his own promise, and Ulpianus has therefore been burdened with payment +of the money. We therefore order that Venantius, who has been accused +of many other crimes besides this, shall be summoned before you, and +if found to be legally liable, shall be at once, and sharply, +compelled to fulfil his promise.' + + +14. KING THEODORIC TO SYMMACHUS, PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Romulus the parricide.] + +'Parricide is the most terrible and unnatural of crimes. Even the cubs +of wild beasts follow their sires; the offshoot of the vine serves the +parent stem: shall man war against him who gave him being? It is for +our little ones that we lay up wealth. Shall we not earn the love of +those for whom we would willingly incur death itself? The young stork, +that harbinger of spring, gives a signal example of filial piety, +warming and feeding its aged parents in the moulting season till they +have recovered their strength, and thus repaying the good offices +received in its earlier years. So too, when the partridge, which is +wont to hatch the young of other birds, takes her adopted brood forth +into the fields, if these hear the cry of their genuine mother they +run to her, leaving the partridge forsaken. + +'Wherefore, if Romulus[254] have fouled the Roman name by laying +violent hands on his father Martinus, we look to your justice (we +chose you because we knew you would not spare the cruel) to inflict on +him legitimate revenge.' + +[Footnote 254: Quaere if named from the last Emperor.] + + +15. KING THEODORIC TO VENANTIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: Promotion of Venantius to Comitiva Domesticorum Vacans.] + +'We always like to promote to office the sons of distinguished +fathers. We therefore bestow on you the honour of Comes Domesticorum +(Comitiva Vacans), in memory of your glorious father. He held at the +same time the Praefecture [of Italy] and the command of the army, so +that neither the Provinces lacked his ordering, nor did his wise care +for the army fail. All was mastered by his skilled and indefatigable +prudence; he inclined the manners of the Barbarians to peace, and +governed so that all were satisfied with our rule. + +'You are a zealous student of literature, illustrious by birth and +eloquent by education. Go on as you have begun, and show yourself +worthy of our choice.' + + +16. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +This letter adds a little to the information contained in the +preceding one, as to the career of Liberius, father of Venantius. + +[Sidenote: Praises of Liberius.] + +Liberius was a faithful servant of Odovacar, who adhered to his master +to the last. 'He awaited incorruptly the Divine judgments, nor did he +allow himself to seek a new King till he had first lost his old one. +On the overthrow of his lord he was bowed by no terror; he bore +unmoved the ruin of his Prince; nor did the revolution, at which even +the proud hearts of the Barbarians trembled[255], avail to move him +from his calm. + +[Footnote 255: 'Quam etiam ferocitas gentilis expavit.'] + +'Prudently did he follow the common fortunes, in order that while +fixedly bearing the Divine judgments he might with the more +approbation find the Divine favour. We approved the faith of the man; +he came over in sadness to our allegiance as one who being overcome +changes his mind, not like one who has contrived [treacherously] that +he should be conquered. We made him Praefectus Praetorio. He +administered the finances admirably. By his economical management we +felt the increased returns, while you knew nothing of added tributes. + +[Sidenote: Apportionment of Tertiae.] + +'We especially like to remember how in the assignment of the [Gothic] +Thirds (in Tertiarum deputatione) he joined both the possessions and +the hearts of Goths and Romans alike. For whereas men are wont to come +into collision on account of their being neighbours, with these men +the common holding of their farms proved in practice a reason for +concord. Thus it has happened that while the two nations have been +living in common they have concurred in the same desires. Lo! a new +fact, and one wholly laudable. The friendship of the lords has been +joined with the division of the soil; amity has grown out of the loss +of the Provincials, and by the land a defender has been gained whose +occupation of part guarantees the quiet enjoyment of the whole. One +law includes them: one equal administration rules them: for it is +necessary that sweet affection should grow between those who always +keep the boundaries which have been allotted them. + +'All this the Roman Republic owes to Liberius, who to two such +illustrious nations has imparted sentiments of mutual affection. See +to it, Conscript Fathers, that his offspring does not go unrewarded.' + + +17. TO THE POSSESSORS, DEFENSORS, AND CURIALS[256] OF THE CITY OF +TRIDENTUM (TRIENT). + +[Footnote 256: Cf. iii. 9 for a similar heading.] + +[Sidenote: Immunity from Tertiae enjoyed by lands granted by the +King.] + +'We do not wish to be generous at the expense of others, and we +therefore declare that the _Sors_ which in our generosity we have +bestowed on Butilianus the Presbyter, is not to be reckoned in to the +tax calculations; but as many solidi as are comprehended in that gift, +so many are you to be relieved from, in the contribution of +"Tertiae."' + +[That is to say, the land given by the Gothic King to Butilian was to +be itself, as a matter of course, free from Tertiae; but, in order +that this might not throw a heavier burden on the other owners in the +district, they were to be allowed to deduct the solidi of that portion +from the gross amount payable by them on behalf of the whole district. +Butilian's own immunity from Tertiae seems to be taken for granted as +a result of the King's gift to him. (See Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' +iii. 145.)] + + +18. KING THEODORIC TO BISHOP GUDILA. + +[Sidenote: Ecclesiastics as Curiales.] + +An interesting but rather obscure letter on the condition of +_Curiales_. + +Apparently some ecclesiastics were claiming as slaves some men whom +the Curia of Sarsena (?) asserted to be fellow-curials of their own, +whom they therefore wanted to assist them in performing curial +obligations. + +Cassiodorus argues that as the 'Sors nascendi' prevented the Curialis +from rising to the higher honours of the State, it certainly ought +also to prevent him from sinking into slavery[257]. 'Therefore we +advise you to look well to your facts, and see whether these men are +not justly claimed as Curials, in which case the Church should give +them up before the matter comes to trial. It does not look well for +the Bishop, who should be known as a lover of justice, to be publicly +vanquished in a suit of this kind.' + +[Footnote 257: 'Quod si eos vel ad honores transire jura vetuerunt, +quam videtur esse contrarium, Curialem Reipublicae, amissâ turpiter +libertate, servire? et usque ad conditionem pervenisse postremam quem +vocavit antiquitas _Minorem Senatum_.'] + +[Did the alleged Curials, in such a case, wish to have their curiality +or their quasi-ecclesiastical character established? Who can say?] + + +19. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHS AND ROMANS, AND THOSE WHO KEEP THE +HARBOURS AND MOUNTAIN-FORTRESSES (CLUSURAS). + +[Sidenote: Domestic treachery and murder.] + +'We hate all crime, but domestic bloodshed and treachery most of all. +Therefore we command you to act with the utmost severity of the law +against the servants of Stephanus, who have killed their master and +left him unburied. They might have learned pity even from birds. Even +the vulture, who lives on the corpses of other creatures, protects +little birds from the attacks of the hawk. Yet men are found cruel +enough to slay him who has fed them. To the gallows with them! Let +_him_ become the food of the pious vulture, who has cruelly contrived +the death of his provider. That is the fitting sepulchre for the man +who has left his lord unburied.' + + +20. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO UNIGILIS (OR WILIGIS). + +[Sidenote: Provision-ships to follow movements of Theodoric's Court.] + +'Let any provision-ships [_sulcatoriĉ?_] which may be now lying at +Ravenna be ordered round to Liguria (which in ordinary times supplies +the needs of Ravenna herself). + +'Our presence and that of our Court (Comitatus) attracts many +spectators and petitioners to those parts, for whose maintenance an +extra effort must be made.' [See Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. +282.] + + +21. KING THEODORIC TO JOANNES THE APPARITOR. + +[Sidenote: A concession too timidly acted upon.] + +'The King has conceded to the Spectabiles Spes and Domitius a certain +tract of land which was laid waste by wide and muddy streams, and +which neither showed a pure expanse of water nor had preserved the +comeliness of solid earth, for them to reclaim and cultivate. + +'The petition of the _Actores_ of Spes sets forth that the operation +is put in jeopardy by the ill-timed parsimony of Domitius, which +throws back the labourers to the point from which they set out at +first[258]. Therefore let Domitius be stirred up to finish his part of +the work, or if he thinks that too expensive, let him throw up his +share of the concession and allow his partner to work it out.' + +[Footnote 258: 'Cum jam in soli faciem paulatim mollities siccata +duresceret, celatamque longâ voracitate tellurem sol insuetus +afflaret.' I cannot understand these words. I suppose there was a hard +cake of clay left when the water was drained off, which was baked by +the sun, and that there should have been further digging to work +through this stratum and get at the good soil beneath; but the wording +is not very clear.] + +[We find in this letter a good motto for Theodoric's reign: 'Nos +quibus cordi est in melius cuncta mutare.'] + + +22. KING THEODORIC TO FESTUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Ecdicius to be buried by his sons.] + +'The sons of Ecdicius, whom at first we had ordered to reside in the +city, are to be allowed to return to their own country in order to +bury their father. That grief is insatiable which feels that it has +been debarred from rendering the last offices to the dead. Think at +what risk of his life Priam implored the raging Achilles to give him +back the body of his son.' + +[Apparently the sons of Ecdicius, not Ecdicius himself, had fallen +into disgrace with Theodoric, or incurred some suspicion of +disloyalty, which led to the rigorous order for their detention in +Rome. See Dahn iii. 279-280.] + + +23. KING THEODORIC TO AMPELIUS, DESPOTIUS, AND THEODULUS, SENATORS. + +[Sidenote: Protection for owners of potteries.] + +'It befits the discipline of our time that those who are serving the +public interests shall not be loaded with superfluous burdens. Labour +therefore diligently at the potteries (figulinae) which our Royal +authority has conceded to you. Protection is hereby promised against +the wiles of wicked men.' [What was the nature of the artifices to +which they were exposed is not very clear.] + + +24. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Arrears of taxation due from Senators.] + +'We hear with sorrow, by the report of the Provincial Judges, that you +the Fathers of the State, who ought to set an example to your sons +(the ordinary citizens), have been so remiss in the payment of taxes +that on this first collection[259] nothing, or next to nothing, has +been brought in from any Senatorial house. Thus a crushing weight has +fallen on the lower orders (_tenues_, _curiales_), who have had to +make good your deficiencies and have been distraught by the violence +of the tax-gatherers. + +[Footnote 259: 'Primae transmissionis tempus.'] + +'Now then, oh Conscript Fathers, who owe as much duty to the Republic +as we do, pay the taxes for which each one of you is liable, to the +Procurators appointed in each Province, by three instalments (trinâ +illatione). Or, if you prefer to do so--and it used to be accounted a +privilege--pay all at once into the chest of the Vicarius. And let +this following edict be published, that all the Provincials may know +that they are not to be imposed upon and that they are invited to +state their grievances[260].' + +[Footnote 260: See Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 153 and 112, n. +5.] + + +25. AN EDICT OF KING THEODORIC. + +[Referred to in the preceding letter.] + +[Sidenote: Evasion of taxes by the rich.] + +The King detests the oppression of the unfortunate, and encourages +them to make their complaints to him. He has heard that the powerful +houses are failing to pay their share of the taxes, and that a larger +sum in consequence is being exacted from the _tenues_[261]. + +[Footnote 261: Here follows a sentence which I am unable to translate: +'Superbia deinde conductorum canonicos solidos non ordine traditos, +sed sub iniquo pondere imminentibus fuisse projectos nec universam +siliquam quam reddere consueverant solemniter intulisse.' I think the +meaning is, that the stewards of the Senators (conductores) arrogantly +refused to allow the money paid to the tax-collectors (canonici +solidi) to be tested, as in ordinary course it should have been, to +see if it was of full weight. The 'imminentes' are, I think, the +tax-collectors. I cannot at all understand the clause about 'universam +siliquam.'] + +To 'amputate' such wickedness for the future, the letter last +preceding has been addressed to the Senate; and the 'Possessores sive +curiales' are now invited to state their grievances fully and +frankly, or else ever after hold their peace and cultivate a habit of +patience. + + +26. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Regulations for corn-traffic of Southern Italy.] + +A difficult letter about the corn-merchants of Apulia and Calabria. + +1. The corn which they have collected by public sale is not to be +demanded over again from them under the title of 'interpretium' +[difference of price]. + +2. Similarly as to the Sextarius which the merchant of each Province +imports. No one is to dare insolently to exact the prices which have +been always condemned. + +3. Fines of £1,200 on the Praefect himself, and £400 on his _officium_ +(subordinates), are to be levied if this order is disobeyed. + +4. If the 'Siliquatarius' thinks right to withhold the monopoly (of +corn) from any merchant, he must not also exact the monopoly payment +from him. + +5. As to the Aurarii [persons liable to payment of the _lustralis auri +collatio_[262]], let the old order be observed, and those only be +classed under this function whom the authority of antiquity chose to +serve thereunder. + +[Footnote 262: This appears to have been a tax levied on all traders, +otherwise known as the Chrysargyron. See Cod. Theod. xiii. 1. Aurarii +is therefore equivalent to Licensed Traders.] + + +27. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE JEWS LIVING IN GENOA. + +[Sidenote: Rebuilding of Jewish Synagogue.] + +The Jews are permitted to roof in the old walls of their synagogue, +but they are not to enlarge it beyond its old borders, nor to add any +kind of ornament, under pain of the King's sharp displeasure; and this +leave is granted on the understanding that it does not conflict with +the thirty years' 'Statute of Limitations.' + +'Why do ye desire what ye ought to shun? In truth we give the +permission which you craved, but we suitably blame the desire of your +wandering minds. _We cannot order a religion, because no one is forced +to believe against his will._' + + +28. KING THEODORIC TO STEPHANUS, 'SENATOR, COMES PRIMI ORDINIS, AND +EX-PRINCEPS OF OUR OFFICIUM[263].' + +[Footnote 263: Are we to understand by this expression the Officium of +the Praetorian Praefect?] + +[Sidenote: Honours conferred on Stephanus on his retirement from the +Civil Service.] + +Praises him for all the good qualities which have been recognised by +successive Judges under whom he has served--his secrecy, efficiency, +and incorruptibility. + +He is therefore, on his retirement from active service, raised to the +honour of a 'Spectabilis,' and rewarded with the rank of 'Comitiva +Primi Ordinis.' As a substantial recompence he is to have all the +privileges which by 'divalia constituta' belong to the 'ex-principes' +of his Schola, and is guaranteed against all damage and 'sordid +burdens[264],' with a hope of further employment in other +capacities[265]. + +[Footnote 264: Curial obligations.] + +[Footnote 265: 'Fixum tenuisti _militiae probatae_ vestigium. +Spectabilitatis honorem, quem _militiae sudore_ detersis justa +deputavit antiquitas praesenti tibi auctoritate conferimus ut laboris +tui tandem finitas _excubias_ ... intelligas ... Tibique utpote +_militiae_ munere persoluto.' The term 'militia' is employed here, as +in the Codes, of 'service in a bureau.'] + + +29. KING THEODORIC TO ADILA, SENATOR AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Protection to dependents of the Church.] + +[Notice the Senatorial rank borne by a man with a Gothic name.] + +'We wish to protect all our subjects[266], but especially the Church, +because by so doing we earn the favour of Heaven. Therefore, in +accordance with the petition of the blessed Eustorgius[267], Bishop of +Milan, we desire you to accord all necessary protection to the men +and farms belonging to the Milanese Church in Sicily: always +understanding, however, that they are not to refuse to plead in answer +to any public or private suit that may be brought against them. They +are to be protected from wrong, but are not themselves to deviate from +the path of justice.' + +[Footnote 266: 'Quia Regnantes est gloria, subjectorum otiosa +tranquillitas.'] + +[Footnote 267: For Eustorgius, cf. Letter i. 9.] + + +30. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sequel to last letter.] + +[Sidenote: Freedom from taxation granted to Church of Milan.] + +'Our generosity to an individual does not harm the public, and there +is no reason for putting any bounds to its exercise. + +'The Defensores of the Holy Church of Milan want to be enabled to buy +as cheap as possible the things which they need for the relief of the +poor; and they say that we have bestowed this favour on the Church of +Ravenna. + +'Your Magnificence will therefore allow them to single out some one +merchant who shall buy for them in the market, without being subject +to monopoly, siliquaticum, or the payment of gold-fee[268].' + +[Footnote 268: Auraria pensio. See note on ii. 26.] + +[It is easy to see how liable to abuse such an exception was. Who was +to decide when this merchant was buying for the Church and when for +himself; when the Church was buying for the poor and when for her own +enrichment?] + + +31. KING THEODORIC TO THE DROMONARII [ROWERS IN EXPRESS-BOATS]. + +[Sidenote: State Galleys on the Po.] + +'Those who claim the title of "militia" ought to serve the public +advantage. We have therefore told the Count of Sacred Largesses that +you are to assemble at Hostilia [on the Padus, about fifteen miles +east of Mantua], there to receive pay from our Treasury, and then to +relieve the land postal-service (veredarii) by excursions up and down +the channel of the Padus. There is no fear of _your_ limping; you walk +with your hands. No fear of _your_ carriages wearing out; they travel +over liquid roads, and suffer no wear and tear because they are borne +along upon the wave which itself runs with them.' + + +32. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Drainage of marshes of Decennonium.] + +'We always enjoy rewarding public spirit. Decius, Magnificus and +Patrician, has most nobly volunteered to drain the marsh of +Decennonium, where the sea-like swamp, accustomed to impunity through +long licence, rushes in and spoils all the surrounding lands. + +'We, in consideration of so great an undertaking, determine to secure +to him the fruits of his labour, and we therefore wish that you, +Conscript Fathers, should appoint a commission of two to visit the +spot and mark out the ground, which is at present wasted by the +inundations, that this land may be secured to Decius as a permanent +possession when he has drained it.' + +[The Palus Decennonii is undoubtedly connected with the Decennovial +Canal mentioned by Procopius ('De Bello Gotth.' i. 11), and so called +because it flowed for nineteen miles alongside the Appian Way. In the +Piazza at Terracina there is a very interesting inscription, recording +the fact that Theodoric had ordered that nineteen miles of the Appian +Way should be cleared of the waters which had accumulated round it, +and had committed the work to Caecina Maurus Basilius Decius, 'Vir +Clarissimus et Illustris, Ex-Praefectus Urbi, Ex-Praefectus Praetori, +Ex-Consul Ordinarius et Patricius.' See 'Italy and her Invaders' iii. +348.] + + +33. KING THEODORIC TO DECIUS, ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +The complement of the foregoing letter, about the drainage of the +marshes of Decennonium, which are hereby granted to him, apparently +'sine fisco,' tax-free. + +[But the meaning may be, 'the marshes which you drain _sine +fisco_'--without help from the Treasury.] + +The chief point of difference between this and the previous letter is +that here Decius is allowed and encouraged to associate partners with +him in the drainage-scheme, whom he is to reward according to their +share of the work. Thus will he be less likely to sink under the +enterprise, and he will also lessen men's envy of his success. + + +34. KING THEODORIC TO ARTEMIDORUS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: Embezzlement of City building funds.] + +'The persons to whom money was entrusted for the rebuilding of the +walls of Rome have been embezzling it, as was proved by your +examination of their accounts (discussio). We are very glad that you +have not hidden their misconduct from us (inclined as a generous mind +is to cover up offences), since you would thereby have made yourself +partaker of their evil deeds. They must restore that which they have +dishonestly appropriated, but we shall not (as we might fairly do) +inflict upon them any further fine. We are naturally inclined to +clemency, and they will groan at having to give up plunder which they +had already calculated upon as their own.' + + +35. KING THEODORIC TO TANCILA, SENATOR. + +[We have here another Senator with a Gothic name]. + +[Sidenote: Theft of brazen statue at Como.] + +'We are much displeased at hearing that a brazen statue has been +stolen from the City of Como. It is vexatious that while we are +labouring to increase the ornaments of our cities, those which +Antiquity has bequeathed to us should by such deeds be diminished. +Offer a reward of 100 aurei (£60) to anyone who will reveal the author +of this crime; promise pardon [to an accomplice], and if this does not +suffice, call all the workmen together "post diem venerabilem" [Does +this mean on the day after Sunday?], and enquire of them "sub terrore" +[by torture?] by whose help this has been done. For such a piece of +work as moving this statue could only have been undertaken by some +handicraftsman.' + + +36. EDICT ABOUT THE STATUE AT COMO. + +[Refers to previous letter.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'Though impunity for the crime should be sufficient reward, we promise +100 aurei, as well as forgiveness for his share in the offence, to +anyone who will reveal the author of the theft of the statue at Como. +A golden reward for a brazen theft. Anyone not accepting this offer +and afterwards convicted will suffer the extreme penalty of the law.' + + +37. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Largesse to citizens of Spoleto.] + +'As our Kingdom and revenues prosper, we wish to increase our +liberality. Let your Magnificence therefore give to the citizens of +Spoletium another "millena" for extraordinary gratuitous admissions to +the baths[269]. We wish to pay freely for anything that tends to the +health of our citizens, because the praise of our times is the +celebration of the joys of the people.' + +[Footnote 269: 'Ad exhibitionem thermarum supra consuetudinem.'] + +[The 'millena' probably means 1,000 solidi, or £600.] + + +38. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Immunity from taxation. Hostile ravages.] + +'We have no pleasure in gains which are acquired by the misery of our +subjects. We are informed that the merchants of the city of Sipontum +[in Apulia] have been grievously despoiled by hostile incursions +[probably by the Byzantine fleet in 508]. Let your Magnificence +therefore see to it that they are for two years not vexed by any +claims for purveyance (coemptio) on the part of our Treasury. But +their other creditors must give them the same indulgence.' + + +39. KING THEODORIC TO ALOISIUS THE ARCHITECT. + +[Sidenote: Hot springs of Aponum.] + +'The fountain of Aponus--so called originally in the Greek language as +being the remover of pain[270]--has many marvellous and beneficial +properties, for the sake of which the buildings round it ought to be +kept in good repair. One may see it welling up from the bowels of the +earth in spherical form, under a canopy of steam. From this parent +spring the waters, glassy-clear and having lost their first +impetuosity, flow by various channels into chambers prepared for them +by nature but made longer by art. In the first, when the boiling +element dashes against the rock, it is hot enough to make a natural +sudatorium; then it cools sufficiently for the tepidarium; and at +last, quite cold, flows out into a fish-pond like that of Nero. +Marvellous provision of Nature, whereby the opposing elements, fire +and water, are joined in harmonious union and made to soothe the pain +and remove the sickness of man! Yet more wonderful is the moral purity +of this fountain. Should a woman descend into the bath when men are +using it, it suddenly grows hotter, as if with indignation that out of +its abundant supply of waters separate bathing-places should not be +constructed for the two sexes, if they wish to enjoy its bounty[271]. +Moreover, those secret caves, the bowels of the mountains from whence +it springs, have power even to judge contentious business. For if any +sheep-stealer presumes to bring to it the fleece of his prey, however +often he may dip it in the seething wave, he will have to boil it +before he succeeds in cleansing it. + +[Footnote 270: [Greek: aponos].] + +[Footnote 271: I think this is Cassiodorus' meaning, but his language +is obscure.] + +'This fountain then, as we before said, deserves a worthy habitation. +If there be anything to repair in the _thermae_ themselves or in the +passages (cuniculi), let this be done out of the money which we now +send you. Let the thorns and briers which have grown up around it be +rooted up. Let the palace, shaken with extreme old age, be +strengthened by careful restoration. Let the space which intervenes +between the public building and the source of the hot-spring be +cleared of its woodland roughness, and the turf around rejoice in the +green beauty which it derives from the heated waters.' + +[The hot-springs of Abano, the ancient Aponum, are situated near the +Euganean Hills, and are about six miles from Padua. The heat of the +water varies from 77° to 185° (Fahr.). The chief chemical ingredients +are, as stated by Cassiodorus, salt and sulphur. Some of the minute +description of Cassiodorus (greatly condensed in the above abstract) +seems to be still applicable; but he does not mention the mud-baths +which now take a prominent place in the cure. On the other hand, the +wonderful moral qualities of the spring are not mentioned by modern +travellers.] + + +40. KING THEODORIC TO BOETIUS THE PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Boetius to choose a harper for the King of the Franks.] + +'The King of the Franks [Clovis] has asked us to send him a harper. We +felt that in you lay our best chance of complying with his request, +because you, being such a lover of music yourself, will be able to +introduce us to the right man.' + +Reflections on the nature of music. She is the Queen of the senses; +when she comes forth from her secret abiding place all other thoughts +are cast out. Her curative influence on the soul. + +The five tones: the Dorian[272], influencing to modesty and purity; +the Phrygian to fierce combat; the Aeolian to tranquillity and +slumber; the Ionian (Jastius), which sharpens the intellect of the +dull and kindles the desire of heavenly things; the Lydian, which +soothes the soul oppressed with too many cares. + +[Footnote 272: Cf. Milton: + + 'To the Dorian mood + Of flutes and soft recorders; such as rais'd + To highth of noblest temper heroes old + Arming to battle, and instead of rage + Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd + With dread of death to flight or foul retreat.'] + +We distinguish the highest, middle, and lowest in each tone, obtaining +thus in all fifteen tones of artificial music. + +The diapason is collected from all, and unites all their virtues. + +Classical instances of music: + + Orpheus. + Amphion. + Musaeus. + +The human voice as an instrument of music. Oratory and Poesy as +branches of the art. + +The power of song: Ulysses and the Sirens. + +David the author of the Psalter, who by his melody three (?) times +drove away the evil spirit from Saul. + +The lyre is called 'chorda,' because it so easily moves the hearts +(corda) of men. + +As the diadem dazzles by the variegated lustre of its gems, so the +lyre with its divers sounds. + +The lyre, the loom of the Muses. + +Mercury, the inventor of the lyre, is said to have derived the idea of +it from the harmony of the spheres. This astral music, apprehended by +reason alone, is said to form one of the delights of heaven. 'If +philosophers had placed that enjoyment not in sweet sounds but in the +contemplation of the Creator, they would have spoken fitly; for there +is truly joy without end, eternity abiding for ever without weariness, +and the mere contemplation of the Divinity produces such happiness +that nothing can surpass it. This Being furnishes the true +immortality; this heaps delight upon delight; and as outside of Him no +creature can exist, so without Him changeless happiness cannot +be[273]. + +[Footnote 273: 'Bene quidem arbitrati, si causam celestis beatitudinis +non in sonis sed in Creatore possuissent; ubi veraciter sine fine +gaudium est, sine aliquo taedio manens semper aeternitas: et inspectio +sola Divinitatis efficit, ut beatius esse nil possit. Haec veraciter +perennitatem praestat: haec jucunditates accumulat; et sicut praeter +ipsam creatura non extat, ita sine ipsâ incommutabilem laetitiam +habere non praevalet.'] + +'We have indulged ourselves in a pleasant digression, because it is +always agreeable to talk of learning with the learned; but be sure to +get us that _Citharoedus_, who will go forth like another Orpheus to +charm the beast-like hearts of the Barbarians. You will thus both obey +us and render yourself famous.' + + +41. KING THEODORIC TO LUDUIN [CLOVIS], KING OF THE FRANKS. + +[Sidenote: Victories of Clovis over the Alamanni.] + +Congratulates him on his recent victories over the Alamanni. Refers to +the ties of affinity between them (Theodoric having married the sister +of Clovis). Clovis has stirred up the nation of the Franks, 'prisca +aetate residem,' to new and successful encounters. 'It is a memorable +triumph that the impetuous Alaman should be struck with such terror as +even to beg for his life. Let it suffice that that King with all the +pride of his race should have fallen: let it suffice that an +innumerable people should have been doomed either to the sword or to +slavery.' + +He recommends (almost orders) Clovis not to touch the panic-stricken +refugees who have fled to the territory of Theodoric. Theodoric +himself has always found that those wars were prosperously waged which +were ended moderately. + +Theodoric sends 'illum et illum' as ambassadors, to take certain +verbal counsels from himself, to bring this letter and carry back the +reply, and also to introduce the Citharoedus of whom we heard in the +preceding letter[274]. + +[Footnote 274: There are two allusions to the relationship between the +Kings: 'vestrae virtutis affinitate' (line 1), and 'ad parentum +vestrorum defensionem confugisse' (line 10).] + +[The campaign of Clovis against the Alamanni, referred to in this +letter, is not mentioned by Gregory of Tours. Ennodius, however, in +his Panegyric on Theodoric, and Agathias in his History, make distinct +allusions to this event, and to Theodoric's reception of the +vanquished Alamanni in his own dominions, probably in the valleys of +Raetia. + +This letter is very fully discussed by Von Schubert, at pp. 32-43 of +his 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen' (Strassburg, 1884). I may also refer +to 'Italy and her Invaders' iii. 390-91. + +The date of the letter is probably about 504.] + + + + +BOOK III. + +CONTAINING FIFTY-THREE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + +1. KING THEODORIC TO ALARIC, KING OF THE VISIGOTHS. + +[Sidenote: Dissuades Alaric the Visigoth from war with the Franks.] + +'Surrounded as you are by an innumerable multitude of subjects, and +strong in the remembrance of their having turned back Attila[275], +still do not fight with Clovis. War is a terrible thing, and a +terrible risk. The long peace may have softened the hearts of your +people, and your soldiers from want of practice may have lost the +habit of working together on the battlefield. Ere yet blood is shed, +draw back if possible. We are sending ambassadors to the King of the +Franks to try to prevent this war between our relatives; and the +ambassadors whom we are sending to you will go on to Gundibad, King of +the Burgundians, to get him to interpose on behalf of peace. Your +enemy will be mine also.' + +[Footnote 275: 'Quamvis Attilam potentem reminiscamini Visigothorum +viribus inclinatum.'] + +[The battle of Vouglé in which Alaric was overthrown by Clovis, was +fought in 507; but the date of this letter is probably 506 (Dahn's +date) rather than 507, as there were no doubt some premonitory +symptoms before the war broke out. + +Binding i. 181 (_n._ 608), and Pallmann ii. 55 _n._ 1, and 135 _n._ 2, +incline to a date somewhat earlier even than 506, thinking that there +may have been earlier threatenings of war, which Theodoric succeeded +for the time in averting. + +The earlier the date the better will it suit the allusion to Clovis +(and Alaric) as 'Regii _Juvenes_' in the following letter. Clovis was +born in 466, and was therefore 41 years of age at the battle of +Vouglé.] + + +2. KING THEODORIC TO GUNDIBAD, KING OF THE BURGUNDIANS. + +[Sidenote: Dissuades Gundibad from war.] + +Repeats the arguments in iii. 1 about the ill effects of war on the +fortunes of all, and says that it is Theodoric's part to moderate the +angry impulses of 'regii juvenes.' It becomes them to reverence +'senes,' such as Theodoric and Gundibad, although they are themselves +in the balmy vigour of the flower of their age. + +Sends two ambassadors ('illum atque illum') with letters and a verbal +message, hoping that the wisdom of Gundibad may reflect upon what they +say to him [perhaps too delicate a matter to be committed to writing], +and find some way of preserving peace. + +[It is remarkable that in this letter Theodoric, who was probably only +52, if the date of it be 506, and who may have been a year or two +younger, speaks of himself along with Gundibad as a _senex_, and of +Clovis, who could hardly be more than twelve years his junior, as +_regius juvenis_. Perhaps this is partly due to the fact that +Cassiodorus speaks from his own point of view. To him, now about 26 +years of age, Theodoric might seem to be fitly described as 'senex.' + +See Binding i. 181-183 on this letter and the reasons why it produced +no effect on Gundibad. See also Dahn ii. 144.] + + +3. KING THEODORIC TO THE KINGS OF THE HERULI, WARNI (GUARNI), AND +THURINGIANS. + +[Sidenote: Attempt to form a Teutonic coalition on behalf of Alaric.] + +[On the same subject.] If Clovis succeeds in his unprovoked aggression +on Alaric, none of his neighbours will be safe. 'I will tell you just +what I think: he who inclines to act without law is prepared to shake +the kingdoms of all of us[276].' + +[Footnote 276: Compare the state of Europe during the wars of the +French Revolution, as expressed by Tennyson: + + 'Again their ravening eagle rose, + In anger, wheel'd on Europe-shadowing wings, + And barking for the thrones of kings.'] + +'Remember how often Alaric's father Euric gave you presents and staved +off war from your borders. Repay to the son the kindness of the +father. I send you two ambassadors, and I want you to join your +representations to mine and Gundibad's, calling on Clovis to desist +from his attacks on Alaric and seek redress from the law of +nations[277], or else expect the combined attack of all of us, for +this quarrel is really the quarrel of us all.' + +[Footnote 277: 'Et leges gentium quaerat.' But how was the law of +nations to be enforced?] + +[The turn of the Thuringians to be swallowed up by the Frankish +Monarchy came in 531. + +See on this letter Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' ii. 144 and 8 _n._ 2; +Pallmann ii. 55.] + + +4. KING THEODORIC TO LUDUIN (LUDWIG, OR CLOVIS), KING OF THE FRANKS. + +[Sidenote: Desires Clovis to desist from war on Alaric.] + +[On the same subject.] 'The affinities of kings ought to keep their +subjects from the plague of war. We are grieved to hear of the paltry +causes which are giving rise to rumours of war between you and our son +Alaric, rumours which gladden the hearts of the enemies of both of +you. Let me say with all frankness, but with all affection, just what +I think: "It is the act of a passionate man to get his troops ready +for action at the first embassy which he sends." Instead of that refer +the matter to our arbitration. It would be a delight to me to choose +men capable of mediating between you. What would you yourselves think +of me if I could hear unmoved of your murderous intentions towards one +another? Away with this conflict, in which one of you will probably be +utterly destroyed. Throw away the sword which you wield for _my_ +humiliation. By what right do I thus threaten you? By the right of a +father and a friend. He who shall despise this advice of ours will +have to reckon us and our friends as his adversaries. + +'I send two ambassadors to you, as I have to my son Alaric, and hope +that they may be able so to arrange matters that no alien malignity +may sow the seeds of dissension between you, and that your nations, +which under your fathers have long enjoyed the blessings of peace, may +not now be laid waste by sudden collision. You ought to believe him +who, as you know, has rejoiced in your prosperity. No true friend is +he who launches his associates, unwarned, into the headlong dangers of +war.' + + +5. KING THEODORIC TO IMPORTUNUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Importunus promoted to the Patriciate.] + +[Importunus was Consul in 509. This letter therefore probably belongs +to the early part of 510.] + +'Noble birth and noble deeds meet in you, and we are therefore +bestowing on you an honour to which by age you are scarcely yet +entitled. Your father and uncle were especially noteworthy, the glory +of the Senate, men who adorned modern ages[278] with the antique +virtues, men who were prosperous without being hated. The Senate felt +their courage, the multitude their wisdom. + +[Footnote 278: Notice the use of the word _modernus_ here, a +post-classical word, which apparently occurs first in Cassiodorus.] + +'Therefore, being descended from such ancestors, and yourself +possessing such virtues, on laying down the Consular fasces, assume +the insignia of the Patriciate. Bind those fillets, which are +generally reserved for the hoary head, round your young locks, and by +your future actions justify my choice of you.' + + +6. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE ON IMPORTUNUS' ACCESSION TO THE +PATRICIATE. + +[See preceding letter.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We delight to introduce new men to the Senate, but we delight still +more when we can bring back to that venerable body, crowned with fresh +honours, her own offspring[279]. And such is now my fortune in +presenting to you Importunus, crowned with the honours of the +Patriciate; Importunus, who is descended from the great stock of the +Decii, a stock illustrated by noble names in every generation, by the +favour of the Senate and the choice of the people. Even as a boy he +had a countenance of serene beauty, and to the gifts of Nature he +added the endowments of the mind. From his parents in household lays +he learned the great deeds of the old Decii. Once, at a great +spectacle, the whole school at the recitation of the Lay of the Decii +turned their eyes on Importunus, discerning that he would one day +rival his ancestors. Thus his widowed mother brought him up, him and +all his troop of brothers, and gave to the Curia as many Consulars as +she had sons[280]. All these private virtues I have discerned in him, +and now seal them with promotion to the Patriciate. At this act I call +on you specially to rejoice.' + +[Footnote 279: 'Origo ipsa jam gloria est: laus nobilitati +connascitur. Idem vobis est dignitatis, quod vitae principium. Senatus +enim honor amplissimus vobiscum gignitur, ad quem vix maturis +aetatibus pervenitur.'] + +[Footnote 280: 'Et quot edidit familiae juvenes, tot reddidit curiae +consulares.'] + + +7. KING THEODORIC TO THE VENERABLE JANUARIUS, BISHOP OF SALONA. + +[Sidenote: Extortion by the Bishop of Salona.] + +'The lamentable petition of John says that you have taken sixty tuns +of oil from him, and never paid him for them. It is especially +important that preachers of righteousness should be righteous +themselves. We cannot suppose that God is ignorant whence come the +offerings which we make before Him [and He must therefore hate robbery +for a burnt offering]. Pray enquire into this matter, and if the +complaint be well founded remedy it promptly. You who preach to us our +duty in great things should not be caught tripping in little ones.' + + +8. KING THEODORIC TO VENANTIUS, SENATOR, CORRECTOR OF LUCANIA AND +BRUTTII. + +[Sidenote: Remissness of Venantius in collection of public revenue.] + +[Venantius, son of Liberius, was, with many high commendations, made +Comes Domesticorum in Letters ii. 15 and 16. See further as to his +fall in iii. 36, also iii. 46.] + +'Remissness in the collection of the public taxes is a great fault, +and no kindness in the end to the taxpayer. For want of a timely +caution you probably have to end by selling him up. + +'The Count of Sacred Largesses tells us that you were long ago +commissioned to get in the _Bina_ and _Terna_ [and have not done so]. +Be quick about it, that the collection may be completed according to +the registers of the Treasury. If you are not quick, and the Treasury +suffers loss, you will have to make it good out of your private +property. You have not shown proper respect to our orders, nor a due +sense of the obligation of your own promise.' + +[These 'Bina' and 'Terna' are a mystery; but Dahn[281] thinks they are +not a specially Gothic tax, but an inheritance from the fiscal +administration of Rome, having probably nothing to do with the +Tertiae.] + +[Footnote 281: iii. 145, _n._ 4.] + + +9. KING THEODORIC TO THE POSSESSORES, DEFENSORES, AND CURIALES[282] +DWELLING AT AESTUNAE[283]. + +[Footnote 282: Note these three classes; as also in ii. 17.] + +[Footnote 283: I have not been able to identify this place.] + +[Sidenote: Marbles for Ravenna.] + +'We wish to build new edifices without despoiling the old[284]. But we +are informed that in your municipality there are blocks of masonry and +columns formerly belonging to some building now lying absolutely +useless and unhonoured. If it be so, send these slabs of marble[285] +and columns[286] by all means to Ravenna, that they may be again made +beautiful and take their place in a building there.' + +[Footnote 284: 'Moderna sine priorum imminutione desideramus +erigere.'] + +[Footnote 285: 'Platonias.' This, which is the spelling found in +Nivellius' edition, seems to be a more correct form than the +'platomas' of Garet. Ducange, who has a long article on the subject, +refers the word to the Greek [Greek: platunion].] + +[Footnote 286: Possibly the columns in S. Apollinare Deutro may have +been some of those here mentioned.] + + +10. KING THEODORIC TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS FESTUS, PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +A similar order, for the transport of marbles from the Pincian Hill to +Ravenna, by Catabulenses[287]. 'We have ordered a "subvectus" +[assistance from the public postal-service?], that the labourers may +set to work at once.' + +[Footnote 287: 'Catabulenses,' or 'Catabolenses'--freighters, +contractors, who effected the transport of heavy goods by means of +draught-horses and mules.] + + +11. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS [A.D. 510]. + +[Sidenote: Argolicus appointed Praefect of the City.] + +Announces to this young man his nomination to the Praefecture of the +City (for the 4th Indiction). Enlarges on the dignity of the office, +especially as involving the Presidency of the Senate, and calls upon +him by a righteous and sober life to show himself worthy of the +choice. + +Argolicus is a great student [perhaps a literary friend of +Cassiodorus], and he is exhorted to keep himself in the right path by +musing on the great examples of antiquity. + +[There is a sort of tone of apology for the appointment of Argolicus, +which is perhaps accounted for by the fact, which comes out in the +next letter, that his father was a comparatively poor man. + +See a sharp rebuke of Argolicus for venal procrastination, iv. 29.] + + +12. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +Rehearses the usual sentiments about the dignity of the Senate and +Theodoric's care in the choice of officials. + +'It is easier, if one may say so, for Nature herself to err, than that +a Sovereign should make a State unlike to himself.' + +Recounts the ancestry of Argolicus. The older Senators will remember +his eloquent and purely-living grandfather, a man of perfectly +orthodox reputation, who filled the offices of Comes Sacrarum +Largitionum and Magister Officiorum. His father never stained the +dignity of 'Comes Privatarum' by cruelty, and was free from ill-gotten +gains in an age when avarice was not accounted a crime[288]. + +[Footnote 288: Tillemont understands this of the times of Odovacar, +vi. 438.] + +'We may hope that the son will follow the example of such +distinguished ancestors.' + + +13. KING THEODORIC TO SUNHIVAD, SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: Sunhivad, Governor of Samnium.] + +[Notice again the Roman title and Gothic name.] + +'You who have ruled your own life in a long career so well should make +a good governor of others. I therefore send you to Samnium as +Governor, in reply to the complaints which reach me from that +Province. Settle according to the law of justice the disputes which +have arisen there between the Romans and the Goths.' + + +14. KING THEODORIC TO THE VENERABLE BISHOP AURIGENES. + +[Sidenote: Accusations against the servants of a Bishop.] + +'You as a Bishop will be especially grieved to hear of any offences +against the sanctity of the married state. Julianus complains that his +wife has been outraged and his goods wasted by some of your servants +[probably slaves]. + +'Do you enquire into the matter, and if the complaint appears to be +just, deal promptly and severely with the offenders.' + +[Cf. Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 193, on this letter. He shows +that it has been improperly appealed to as proving the immunity of all +ecclesiastical persons from a secular tribunal. What Theodoric really +intended was to give the Bishop a chance of settling the affair +himself, and so to prevent the scandal of its appearing in the secular +Courts, which it assuredly would do if the Bishop were apathetic. But +one sees how easily this would glide into something like immunity from +secular tribunals.] + + +15. KING THEODORIC TO THEODAHAD, SENATOR[289]. + +[Footnote 289: This is no doubt the nephew of Theodoric.] + +[Sidenote: A contumacious person handed over to Theodahad.] + +'It is the extreme of insolence in anyone not to execute our "sacred +orders." A certain person whom we commanded to attend before the +judgment-seat of the Illustrious Sona, has with inveterate cunning +withdrawn himself therefrom. We therefore hand him over to you, that +your fame may grow by your skilful management of a difficult case like +this.' + + +16. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS, SENATOR (509-510). + +[Sidenote: Appointment of Gemellus as Governor of Gaul.] + +'Having proved your worth by experience we are now going to send you +to govern the Provinces of Gaul newly wrested [from Clovis], as Vicar +of the Praefects[290]. + +[Footnote 290: 'Vicarius Praefectorum.' Vicar of what Praefects? Why +the plural number? Had Theodoric a titular Praefect _of the Gauls_, to +whom this Vicarius was theoretically subject while practically obeying +the Praefect of Italy? Or, to prevent bickerings, did he give the +'Praefectus Italiae' and the 'Praefectus Urbis' conjoint authority +over the new conquests? There is some mystery here which would be +worth explaining.] + +'Think what a high opinion we must have formed of you to delegate to +you the government of these Provinces, the conquest of which has added +so much to our glory, and the good opinion of whose inhabitants we so +particularly wish to acquire. Abhor turbulence; do not think of +avarice; show yourself in all things such a Governor as "Romanus +Princeps" ought to send, and let the Province feel such an improvement +in her lot that she may "rejoice to have been conquered."' + +[This is so like the words put by Sidonius into the mouth of Lyons, +after Majorian's conquest of her, that I believe it to be +intentionally imitated.] + + +17. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GAULISH PROVINCES (510). + +[Sidenote: Proclamation to the new Gaulish subjects.] + +'Obey the Roman customs. You are now by God's blessing restored to +your ancient freedom; put off the barbarian; clothe yourselves with +the morals of the toga; unlearn cruelty, that you may not be unworthy +to be our subjects. We are sending you Spectabilis Gemellus as +Vicarius Praefectorum, a man of tried worth, who we trust will be +guilty of no crime, because he knows he would thereby seriously +displease us. Obey his commands therefore. Do not dislike the reign of +Law because it is new to you, after the aimless seethings of Barbarism +(Gentilitas). + +'You may now bring out your long-hidden treasures; the rich and the +noble will again have a chance of suitable promotion. You may now +enjoy what till now you have only heard of--the triumph of Public +Right, the most certain solace of human life, the help of the weak, +the curb of the strong. You may now understand that men are exalted +not by their bodily strength, but by reason.' + +[Some of these reflections on the past misgovernment of _Gentilitas_ +hit the Visigoths, Theodoric's friends, harder than the Franks. If the +Gaulish nobles of the south-eastern Provinces (and these were all that +Theodoric had conquered) had _long_ been obliged to hide the treasures +of their fathers, that surely was the fault rather of Euric and Alaric +II than of Clovis. + +Cf. Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 261-2, on all this +correspondence.] + + +18. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS. + +[Sidenote: Magnus to be restored to his possessions.] + +[Probably during his government of Gaul]. + +'We wish that all who have elected to live under our Clemency should +be the better for it. + +'The Spectabilis Magnus, spurning the conversation of our enemies +[Franks?], and remembering his own origin, has sought re-patriation in +the Roman Empire; but during his absence his property has suffered +loss. Let him therefore be restored to, and henceforward have +unquestioned possession of, all that he can prove to be his own in the +way of lands, urban or rural slaves.' + + +19. KING THEODORIC TO DANIEL [A 'COMMONITORIUM']. + +[Sidenote: Monopoly of supply of marble sarcophagi.] + +'We wish the servants of our palace to have proper reward for their +labours, though we might call on them to render them gratuitously. +Therefore, being much pleased with your skill in preparing and +ornamenting marbles, we concede to you the [sole] right of furnishing +the marble chests in which the citizens of Ravenna bury their dead. + +'They thus keep them above ground--no small consolation to the +survivors, since the souls alone depart from this world's +conversation; but they do not altogether lose the bodies which once +were dear to them. + +'Do not, however, impose upon their sadness; do not let a relative be +forced to the alternative of wasting his substance in funeral +expenses, or else throwing the body of his dear one into some well. Be +moderate in your charges.' + +[Odovacar was buried [Greek: en lithinê larnaki] (Joann. Ant. fr. +214). The great stone coffins of Honorius and Valentinian will be +remembered by every visitor to Ravenna.] + + +20. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO GRIMODA AND TO THE APPARITOR +FERROCINCTUS. + +[Sidenote: Oppression of Castorius by Faustus.] + +[Cf. Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 86 and 113.] + +'We are determined to assist the humble, and to repress the violence +of the proud. + +'The lamentable petition of Castorius sets forth that he has been +unjustly deprived of his property by the magnificent Praetorian +Praefect Faustus. [The same, no doubt, to whom are addressed iii. 55, +i. 35, and the immediately succeeding letter (iii. 21).] + +'If it be so, let the invader (pervasor) restore to Castorius his +property, and hand over, besides, another property of equal value. + +'If Faustus have employed any intermediate person in the act of +violence, let him be brought to us in chains; and if that well-known +author of ill [Faustus] tries any further to injure Castorius, he +shall pay £2,000, besides having the misery of seeing his would-be +victim unharmed. + +'No Powers of any kind, be they Praetorian Praefects or what they may, +shall be permitted to trample on the lowly.' + + +21. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: Disgrace and temporary exile of Faustus.] + +'As all men require change, Faustus is allowed to absent himself from +the sacred walls of Rome for four months, which he may spend at his +own Penates. The King expects, however, that he will then return to +the most famous (opinatissima) City, from which no Roman Senator can +long be absent without grief.' + +[Coupling this letter with its immediate predecessor it is difficult +not to believe that Faustus is sent away in disgrace--notwithstanding +the smooth words here used--for the act of injustice therein +mentioned. + +But why is he only addressed as Vir Illustris, and not also as +Praefectus? Perhaps his term of office was expired; perhaps he was +even dismissed from it.] + + +22. KING THEODORIC TO ARTEMIDORUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: An earnest invitation to the King's friend, Artemidorus.] + +'We hereby [by these oracles] invite your Greatness to behold us, +which we know will be most agreeable to you, in order that you who +have now spent a large portion of your life with us may be satisfied +by the sweetness of our presence. He who is permitted to share our +converse deems it a Divine boon. We believe that you will come gladly, +as we shall entertain you with alacrity.' + +[Cf. Dahn iii. 283-4. The ending of the letter (Venire te gaudentem +credimus, quem alacriter sustinemus) is the common form, and +'sustineo' is a technical word for the King's reception of his +subjects: see iii. 28, ad finem.] + + +23. KING THEODORIC TO COLOSSAEUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES (CIR. A.D. +505). + +[Sidenote: Appointment of Colossaeus as Governor of Pannonia.] + +'We delight to entrust our mandates to persons of approved character. + +'We are sending you "with the dignity of the illustrious belt" to +Pannonia Sirmiensis, an old habitation of the Goths. Let that Province +be induced to welcome her old defenders, even as she used gladly to +obey our ancestors. Show forth the justice of the Goths, a nation +happily situated for praise, since it is theirs to unite the +forethought of the Romans and the virtue of the Barbarians. Remove all +ill-planted customs[291], and impress upon all your subordinates that +we would rather that our Treasury lost a suit than that it gained one +wrongfully, rather that we lost money than the taxpayer was driven to +suicide.' + +[Footnote 291: 'Consuetudines abominanter inolitas.' Fornerius thinks +this means 'all extortionate taxes.' Compare the English use of the +word 'customs.'] + +[Cf. Muchar, 'Geschichte der Steiermark' iv. 131.] + + +24. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE BARBARIANS AND ROMANS SETTLED IN +PANNONIA. + +[Cf. Muchar, iv. 132.] + +[Sidenote: To the Pannonians, on the appointment of Colossaeus.] + +'Intent on the welfare of our subjects we are sending you Colossaeus +for Governor. His name means a mighty man; and a mighty man he is, who +has given many proofs of his virtue. Now we exhort you with patience +and constancy to submit yourselves to his authority. Do not excite +that wrath before which our enemies tremble. Acquiesce in the rule of +justice in which the whole world rejoices. Why should you, who have +now an upright Judge[292], settle your grievances by single combat? +What has man got a tongue for, if the armed hand is to settle all +differences? or where can peace be looked for, if there is fighting in +a civilised State like ours[293]? Imitate then our Goths, who have +learned to practise war abroad, to show peaceable dispositions at +home. We want you so to live as you see that our subjects (parentes) +have lived and flourished under the Divine blessing.' + +[Footnote 292: 'Cur ad monomachiam recurritis, qui venalem judicem non +habetis?'] + +[Footnote 293: 'Aut unde pax quaeritur si sub civilitate pugnetur.'] + + +25. KING THEODORIC TO SIMEON, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Tax-collecting and iron-mining in Dalmatia.] + +'We entrust to you the duty of collecting throughout the Province of +Dalmatia the arrears of Siliquaticum for the first, second, and third +Indictions [Sept. 1, 506, to Aug. 31, 509]. We do this not only for +the sake of gain to our Treasury, but to prevent the demoralisation of +our subjects. + +'Also by careful mining (cuniculo veritatis) seek out the iron veins +in Dalmatia, where the softness of earth is pregnant with the rigour +of iron, which is cooked by fire that it may become hard. + +'Iron enables us to defend our country, is serviceable for agriculture +and for countless arts of human life: yea, iron is master of gold, +compelling the rich man, weaponless, to obey the poor man who wields a +blade of steel.' + + +26. KING THEODORIC TO OSUN, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COUNT. + +[Sidenote: Simeon's journey to Dalmatia.] + +Commands him to provide all the necessaries for the journey of +'Clarissimus' Simeon, setting off for Dalmatia on the aforesaid +mission to collect Siliquaticum and develop the iron mines. + +[Why is Simeon not called Illustris, as in the previous letter? This +seems to show that the titles 'Clarissimus' and 'Illustris' were not +always used with technical exactness, as they would have been under +Diocletian.] + + +27. KING THEODORIC TO JOANNES, SENATOR, CONSULAR OF CAMPANIA. + +[Sidenote: Promises protection against the Praetorian Praefect.] + +'You have not complained to us in vain that the Praetorian Praefect +[perhaps again Faustus] is venting a private grudge against you under +colour of the discharge of his public duty. We will wall you round +with our protection. Go now and discharge the duties of Consular of +Campania with the like devotion as your predecessors, and with this +reflection: "If the King prevents my superior the Praetorian Praefect +from doing me harm, with what unfailing rigour will he visit me if I +do wrong."' + + +28. KING THEODORIC TO CASSIODORUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN[294]. + +[Footnote 294: Father of the writer.] + +[Sidenote: An invitation to Cassiodorus Senior to come to Court.] + +'For your glorious services, and your incorruptible administration, +which has given deep peace to the nation, we reward you by summoning +you to Court. + +'Having endeavoured to check _another_ [probably alluding to the +disgrace of Faustus], we have bestowed our praises on you, as all the +Palace knows. Come then, come eagerly, as he should do whom his +Sovereign is going to entertain[295].' + +[Footnote 295: There is an obscure sentence in this letter: 'Hinc +omnibus factus notior, quia multi te positum in potestate nesciunt.' +Possibly the meaning is that the elder Cassiodorus used his power so +little for his own private aggrandisement, that many people did not +even know that he possessed it.] + + +29. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, ILLUSTRIS AND PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: Permission to Paulinus to repair certain granaries at +Rome.] + +'The King should sow his gifts broadcast, as the sower his seeds--not +put them all into one hole. + +'The Patrician Paulinus represents to us that such and such granaries +are falling into ruin and are of no use to anyone, and asks to be +allowed to repair them and transmit them to his heirs. We consent to +this, if you are of opinion that they are not wanted for the public, +and if there is no corn in them belonging to our Treasury. + +'It is especially fitting that all ruined buildings should be repaired +in Rome. In Rome, praised beyond all other cities by the world's +mouth, there should be nothing sordid or mediocre[296].' + +[Footnote 296: This letter is well illustrated by an inscription of +the time of Severus Alexander, found at Great Chesters in +Northumberland, and recording the repair of 'horreum vetustate +conlabsum.' The words of Cassiodorus are 'horrea longi temporis +vetustate destructa.'] + + +30. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, ILLUSTRIS AND PRAEFECTUS URBIS. + +[Sidenote: Repair of the Cloacae of Rome.] + +'We are ever vigilant for the repair and beautification of Rome. + +'Let your Sublimity know that we have directed John to repair the +Cloacae of the City, those splendid works which strike astonishment +into the hearts of all beholders. There you see rivers as it were shut +in by concave mountains, flowing down through mighty rafters[297] (?). +There you see men steering their ships with the utmost possible care, +lest they should suffer shipwreck. Hence may the greatness of Rome be +inferred. What other city can compare with her in her heights when +even her depths are so incomparable? + +[Footnote 297: 'Per ingentia ligna decurrere.' Fornerius proposes to +read 'stagna.'] + +'See therefore, O Praefect, that John as a public officer receives his +proper salary.' + + +31. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Commission issued to John to check ruin of aqueducts and +temples in Rome.] + +'Our care is for the whole Republic, "in which, by the favour of God, +we are striving to bring back all things to their former state;" but +especially for the City of Rome. We hear that great depredations are +being committed on public property there. + +'(1) It is said that the water of the aqueducts (formae) is being +diverted to turn mills and water gardens--a thing which would not be +suffered even in the country districts. Even in redressing this wrong +we must be observant of law; and therefore if it should be found that +those who are doing this can plead thirty years' prescription, they +must be bought off, but the misuser must cease. If the diversion is of +less ancient date[298], it must of course be at once stopped without +compensation. + +[Footnote 298: 'Si vero aliquid modernâ praesumptione tentatum est.' +(Again 'modernus.')] + +'(2) Slaves assigned by the forethought of previous rulers to the +service of the formae have passed under the sway of private masters. + +'(3) Great weights of brass and lead (the latter very easy to steal, +from its softness) have been stripped off from the public buildings. +Now Ionos, King of Thessaly, is said to have first discovered lead, +and Midas, King of Phrygia, brass. How grievous that we should be +handed down to posterity as neglecting two metals which they were +immortalised by discovering! + +'(4) Temples and other public buildings, which at the request of many +we have repaired, are handed over without a thought to spoliation and +ruin. + +'We have appointed the Spectabilis John to enquire into and set +straight all these matters. _You_ ought to have brought the matter +before us yourselves: at least, now, support him with the necessary +"solatia."' + +[See preceding letter as to the commission entrusted to John, +Theodoric's Clerk of the Works in Rome.] + + +32. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS, SENATOR. A.D. 511. + +[Appointed Governor of the Gaulish Province in Letter iii. 16.] + +[Sidenote: Remission of taxes to citizens of Arles.] + +'The men of Arles, who were reduced to penury in the glorious siege +which they endured on our behalf, are freed from the obligation of +taxes for the fourth Indiction [Sept. 1, 510, to Aug. 31, 511]. We ask +for these payments from men at peace, not from men besieged. How can +one claim taxes from the lord of a field when one knows he has not +been able to cultivate it? They have already rendered a most precious +tribute in their fidelity to us. After this year, however, the taxes +will be collected as usual.' + + +33. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: Promotion of Armentarius and Superbus to post of Referendi +Curiae.] + +Armentarius (Clarissimus) and his son Superbus are to receive the +privilege of _Referendi Curiae_[299]. Thus will the profession of the +law be, as is most fitting, adorned with the honours of the Senate. + +[Footnote 299: Possibly Referendi is the same as Referendarii. See +Var. vi. 17.] + +Praises of Rhetoric. The man who has swayed the judges by his +eloquence is sure to have a favouring audience in the Senate. + + +34. KING THEODORIC TO THE INHABITANTS OF MASSILIA. + +[Sidenote: Count Marabad Governor of Marseilles.] + +'In accordance with our usual policy of sending persons of tried +ability and moderation to govern the Provinces, we are sending Count +Marabad [a Gothic name?] to act as your Governor, to bring solace to +the lowly and repress the insolent, and to force all into the path of +justice, which is the secret of the prosperity of our Empire. As +befits your long-tried loyalty, welcome and obey him.' + + +35. KING THEODORIC TO ROMULUS. + +[It is surely possible that this is the dethroned Emperor. The name +Romulus, which, as we know, he derived from his maternal grandfather, +was not a very common one in Rome (it must be admitted there is +another Romulus, ii. 14). And is there not something rather peculiar +in the entire absence of all titles of honour, the superscription +being simply 'Romulo Theodoricus Rex,' as if neither King nor scribe +quite knew how to address an ex-Emperor?] + +[Sidenote: Gifts to Romulus shall not be revoked.] + +'The liberality of the Prince must be kept firm and unshaken by the +arts of malignant men. Therefore any gift which shall be proved to +have been given according to our orders by the Patrician Liberius, to +you _or to your mother_, by written instrument (pictacium or +pittacium), shall remain in full force, and you need not fear its +being questioned.' + +[For Liberius, see ii. 16. A man of that eminence, who was employed to +arrange disputes between the Goths and Romans at the first settlement +of the former in Italy, was the very man to be also employed to +arrange terms with Augustulus. There is some reason to think that the +mother of the deposed Emperor was named Barbaria, and that she is +mentioned in the history of the translation of the relics of St. +Severinus. See 'Italy and her Invaders' iii. 190.] + + +36. KING THEODORIC TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS COUNT ARIGERN. + +[Sidenote: Complaints against Venantius.] + +'Firminus alleges that he has some cause of complaint against the +Magnificent Venantius [son of Liberius, mentioned in the previous +letter, and strongly commended in ii. 15], and that Venantius treats +his claims with contempt. There is always a danger of justice being +wrested in the interests of the great. We therefore desire you with +all due reverence to address the aforesaid Magnificent person and +desire him to appoint a representative, with proper credentials, to +plead in our Court in answer to the claims of Firminus, who will be +punished for his audacity if he have brought a false charge against so +illustrious a person.' + +[This and the preceding letter look as if the fortunes of the house of +Liberius (so greatly extolled in ii. 15 and 16) were passing under a +cloud. See also iii. 8, as to the disgrace of Venantius. This may have +made the ex-Emperor anxious as to the validity of the settlement made +through him.] + + +37. KING THEODORIC TO BISHOP PETER. + +[Sidenote: Alleged injustice of a Bishop.] + +[See the full explanation of this letter in Dahn, 'Könige der +Germanen' iii. 193-4. Cf. also Var. iii. 14. Observe how the marginal +note (in the edition of the Benedictine, Garet) strains the doctrine +of this letter in favour of the clergy[300].] + +[Footnote 300: 'Causae sacerdotum a sacerdotibus debent terminari.'] + +'Germanus, in his "flebilis allegatio," informs us that you detain +from him a part of the property of his father Thomas. As it is proper +that causes which concern you should first be remitted to you (so +often employed as judges to settle the disputes of others), we call +upon you to enquire into this claim, and if it be a just one to +satisfy it. Know that if you fail to do justice yourself to the +petitioner, his cause will be carried through to our own +audience-chamber.' + + +38. KING THEODORIC TO WANDIL [VUANDIL[301]]. + +[Footnote 301: Probably a Gothic officer.] + +[Sidenote: The Gothic troops at Avignon to abstain from molesting the +citizens.] + +'Our Piety wishes that there should be order and good government +everywhere in our dominions, but especially in Gaul, that our new +subjects there may form a good opinion of the ruler under whom they +have come. Therefore by this authority we charge you to see that no +violence happen in Avignon where you reside. Let our army live +"civiliter" with the Romans, and let the latter feel that our troops +are come for their defence, not for their annoyance.' + + +39. KING THEODORIC TO FELIX, ILLUSTRIS AND CONSUL (A.D. 511). + +[Sidenote: Largesse to charioteers of Milan.] + +'Those who minister to the pleasures of the public should be liberally +treated, and the Consul must not belie the expectations of his +generosity which have been formed when he was Senator. Therefore let +your Sublimity enquire into the petition for largesse presented by the +charioteers of Milan; and if their statements are correct, let them +have whatever it has been customary for them to receive. In matters +of this kind custom creates a kind of debt.' + + +40. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS SETTLED IN GAUL. + +[Sidenote: Immunity from taxes for districts ravaged by war.] + +'We wish promptly to relieve all the distresses of our subjects, and +we therefore at once announce to you that the districts ravaged by the +incursions of the enemy will not be called upon to pay tribute at the +fourth Indiction [Sept. 510, to Aug. 511]. For we have no pleasure in +receiving what is paid by a heavy-hearted contributor. The part of the +country, however, which has been untouched by the enemy will have to +contribute to the expense of our army. But a hungry defender is a weak +defender.' + + +41. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS, SENATOR [Governor of Gothic +Gaul[302]]. + +[Footnote 302: See Letters iii. 16 and 32.] + +[Sidenote: Corn for the garrisons on the Durance.] + +'A burden borne in common is lightened, since only the edge as it were +of the whole rests on the shoulders of each individual. We have +ordered the corn for the army to be carried from the granaries of +Marseilles to the forts upon the Durance. Let all unite in this toil. +The willing labour of many brings a speedy end to the work.' + +[This letter, as showing that at least one if not both banks of the +Durance were included in the Ostrogothic Monarchy in 511, has an +important bearing on the geographical extent of the Burgundian +Kingdom. See Exkurs vi. to Binding's 'Burgundisch-Romanische +Königreich.' He makes the northern bank of the Durance belong to +Burgundy, the southern to the Ostrogoths.] + + +42. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS IN GAUL. + +[Sidenote: No part of Gaul to be called on for military +contributions.] + +'Because the generosity of the Prince should even outrun the petitions +of his subjects we repeal that part of a previous letter [iii. 40] +which says that the unravaged portion of the Province of Gaul must pay +the expenses of our soldiers. We will transmit to the Duces and +Praepositi sufficient money to provide "alimonia nostris Gothis."' + +['Praebendae,' near the end of this letter, seems to be used in a +technical sense, almost equivalent to stipendia or annonae.] + + +43. KING THEODORIC TO UNIGIS, THE SWORD-BEARER [SPATARIUS]. + +[No doubt a high officer in the Royal household.] + +[Sidenote: Runaway slaves to be restored to their owners.] + +'We delight to live after the law of the Romans, whom we seek to +defend with our arms; and we are as much interested in the maintenance +of morality as we can possibly be in war. For what profit is there in +having removed the turmoil of the Barbarians, unless we live according +to law? Certain slaves, on our army's entry into Gaul, have run away +from their old masters and betaken themselves to new ones. Let them be +restored to their rightful owners. Rights must not be confounded under +the rule of justice, nor ought the defender of liberty to favour +recreant slaves. [Probably an allusion to the office of the _Assertor +Libertatis_ in the _Liberalis Causa_, as set forth in the Theodosian +Code iv. 8.] Let other kings desire the glory of battles won, of +cities taken, of ruins made; our purpose is, God helping us, so to +rule that our subjects shall grieve that they did not earlier acquire +the blessing of our dominion.' + + +44. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE LANDOWNERS [POSSESSORES] OF ARLES. + +[Sidenote: Repair of walls of Arles, and supply of corn.] + +'We wish to refresh men, but to repair cities also, that the renewed +fortune of the citizens may be displayed by the splendour of their +buildings. + +'We have therefore directed that a certain sum of money be sent for +the repair of the walls and old towers of Arles. But we are also going +to send you, as soon as the time is favourable for navigation, +provisions to supply the waste caused by the war. Be of good cheer, +therefore! Grain for which our word is pledged is as good as grain +already in your granaries.' + + +45. KING THEODORIC TO ARIGERN, ILLUSTRIS AND COUNT. + +[Sidenote: Site disputed between Roman Church and Samaritans.] + +'It is represented to us by the Defensors of the "sacrosanct" Roman +Church that Pope Simplicius, of blessed memory, bought a house at +Rome[303] of Eufrasius the Acolyte, with all proper formalities, and +that now the people of the Samaritan superstition, hardened in +effrontery, allege that a synagogue of theirs was built on that site, +and claim it accordingly; whereas the very style of building, say +their opponents, shows that this was meant as a private house and not +as a synagogue. Enquire into this matter, and do justice accordingly. +If we will not tolerate chicanery [calumniae] against men, much less +will we against the Divinity Himself.' + +[Footnote 303: 'In sacratissimâ urbe.'] + + +46. KING THEODORIC TO ADEODATUS. + +[Sidenote: Further charges of misgovernment against Venantius.] + +'The crimes of subjects are an occasion for manifesting the virtues of +princes. You have addressed to us your petition, alleging that you +were compelled by the Spectabilis Venantius, Governor of Lucania and +Bruttii, to confess yourself guilty of the rape of the maiden +Valeriana. + +[Sidenote: Illogical decision in the case of Adeodatus.] + +'Overcome, you say, by the severity of your imprisonment and the +tortures inflicted upon you, and longing for death as a release from +agony; being moreover refused the assistance of Advocates, while the +utmost resources of rhetoric were at the disposal of your opponents, +you confessed a crime which you had never committed. + +'Such is your statement. The Governor of Bruttii sends his _relatio_ +in opposition, saying that we must not give credence to a petitioner +who is deceitfully seeking to upset a sentence which was given in the +interests of public morality. + +'Our decision is that we will by our clemency mitigate the severity of +your punishment. From the date of this decree you shall be banished +for six months; and on your return no note of infamy of any kind shall +be attached to you; since it is competent for the Prince to wipe off +all the blots on a damaged reputation. Anyone who offends against this +decree [by casting your old offence in your teeth] shall be fined £120 +(3 lbs. of gold). And all who are accused of the same offence in any +place or time, but who offended through ignorance, are to be freed +from all fear of punishment.' + +[A most illogical and unjust conclusion, by which the judgment of +Venantius is in fact neither upheld nor reversed. And what the meaning +of the concluding sentence may be it is impossible to conjecture. See +Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 107, on this absurd decision. + +On the subject of the misgovernment and disgrace of Venantius, cf. +Letters ii. 15, 16; iii. 8, 36. Cf. also Procopius, 'De Bello +Gotthico' iii. 18 and 22, as to his son Tullianus. In connection with +the alleged misgovernment of Bruttii and Lucania by Venantius, +remember the close connection of Cassiodorus himself with those +Provinces.] + + +47. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Jovinus, for killing a fellow Curial, is banished to the +islands of Lipari, the volcanoes of which are described.] + +'Jovinus the Curialis, according to the report of the Corrector of +Lucania and Bruttii, had an angry altercation with a fellow Curial +(collega), and in his rage slew him. + +'He then took refuge within the precincts of a church, and refused to +surrender himself to justice. We decide that the capital punishment +shall be remitted out of reverence for his place of refuge, but he +shall be banished to the Vulcanian [Lipari] Islands, there to live +away from the paternal hearth, but ever in the midst of burning, like +a salamander, which is a small and subtile beast, of kin to the +slippery worm, clothed with a yellow colour. + +'The substance of volcanoes, which is perpetually destroyed, is by the +inextricable power of Nature perpetually renewed. + +'The Vulcanian Islands are named from Vulcan, the god of fire, and +burst into eruption on the day when Hannibal took poison at the Court +of Prusias. It is especially wonderful that a mountain kindling into +such a multitude of flames, should yet be half hidden by the waves of +the sea.' + + +48. KING THEODORIC TO ALL GOTHS AND ROMANS LIVING NEAR THE FORT OF +VERRUCA[304]. + +[Footnote 304: The double 'r' seems to be the correct spelling, though +the MSS. of the Variarum apparently have the single 'r.'] + +[Sidenote: Fortification of Verruca in the Tyrol.] + +'It is the duty and the glory of a ruler to provide with wise +forethought for the safety of his subjects. We have therefore ordered +the Sajo Leodifrid that under his superintendence you should build +yourselves houses in the fort Verruca, which from its position +receives its most suitable name[305]. + +[Footnote 305: 'Milites ad Verrucam illum--_sic enim M. Cato locum +editum asperumque appellat_--ire jubeas' (Gell. 3. 7. 6). Verruca +therefore means primarily a steep cliff, and only secondarily a wart. +See White and Biddell, s.v.] + +'For it is in the midst of the plains a hill of stone roundly arising, +which with its tall sides, being bare of woods, is all one great +mountain fortress. Its lower parts are slenderer (graciliora) than its +summit, and like some softest fungus the top broadens out, while it is +thin at bottom. It is a mound not made by soldiers[306], a stronghold +made safe by Nature[307], where the besieged can try no _coup-de-main_ +and the besieged need feel no panic. Past this fort swirls the Adige, +that prince of rivers, with the pleasant gurgle of his clear waters, +affording a defence and an adornment in one. It is a fort almost +unequalled in the whole world, "a key that unlocks a kingdom[308];" +and all the more important because it bars the invasion of wild and +savage nations. This admirable defence what inhabitant would not wish +to share, since even foreigners delight to visit it? and though by +God's blessing we trust that the Province [of Raetia] is in our times +secure, yet it is the part of prudence to guard against evils, though +we may think they will not arise.' + +[Footnote 306: 'Agger sine pugna.'] + +[Footnote 307: 'Obsessio secura.'] + +[Footnote 308: 'Tenens claustra provinciae.'] + +Examples of gulls, who fly inland when they foresee a storm; of +dolphins, which seek the shallower waters; of the edible sea-urchin, +'that honey of flesh, that dainty of the deep,' who anchors himself to +a little pebble to prevent being dashed about by the waves; of birds, +who change their dwellings when winter draws nigh; of beasts, who +adapt their lair to the time of year. And shall man alone be +improvident? Shall he not imitate that higher Providence by which the +world is governed? + +[The fortress of Verruca does not seem to be mentioned in the +'Notitia,' in the Antonine 'Itinerary,' or by the geographer of +Ravenna. + +Maffei ('Verona Illustrata,' Book ix. Vol. 2, pp. 391-2 in ed. 1825) +comments on this passage, and argues that _Verruca = Dos Trento_, a +cliff about a mile from Trient, and this identification seems to have +been accepted, for Ball ('Alpine Guide, Eastern Alps,' p. 404) says: +'In the centre of the valley, close to the city, rises a remarkable +rock known as _Dos Trento, and also called La Verruca_, formerly +frequented for the sake of the beautiful view which it commands. Since +1857 it has been strongly fortified, and permission to ascend to the +summit is not easily obtained.' + +Maffei says that the French bombarded Trient from this rock in 1703. +He speaks of another 'Verruca, or Rocca,' on the other side of +Aquileia, and thinks that the modern word 'rocca' (rock) may perhaps +have been derived herefrom (?). + +It is remarkable that there is a place called _Verrua_ near the Po in +Piedmont (about 20 miles east of Turin). 'Situated upon an abrupt and +insulated hill, in a most defensible position, it opposed an obstinate +resistance to the Emperor Frederick II. In more recent times (1704), +the Duc de Vendôme attacked it without success' (Murray's 'Guide to +Northern Italy,' p. 51). No doubt this was also originally called +_Verruca_.] + + +49. KING THEODORIC TO THE HONOURED POSSESSORES, DEFENSORES, AND +CURIALES OF THE CITY OF CATANA. + +[Sidenote: Repair of amphitheatre of Catana.] + +'It is a great delight to the Ruler when his subjects of their own +accord suggest that which is for the good of the State. You have +called our attention to the ruinous state of your walls, and ask leave +to use for its repair the stones of the amphitheatre, which have +fallen down from age and are now of no ornament to your town, in fact +only show disgraceful ruins. You have not only our permission to do +this, but our hearty approval. Let the stones, which can be of no use +while they lie there, rise again into the fabric of the walls; and +your improved defence will be our boast and confidence.' + +[Some remains of the amphitheatre are still visible at Catania; not, +however, so important as those of the theatre.] + + +50. KING THEODORIC TO THE PROVINCIALS OF NORICUM. + +[Sidenote: The Alamanni and Noricans to exchange their cattle.] + +'It is an admirable arrangement when a favour can be conferred by +which giver and receiver are alike benefited. + +'We therefore decree that you should exchange your oxen for those of +the Alamanni. + +'Theirs is the finer and larger breed of cattle, but they are worn out +by the long journey. Thus will they get fresh beasts capable of doing +the work which is required of them, and you will permanently improve +your breed of cattle, and so be able to till your fields better. Thus, +what does not often happen, the same transaction will equally benefit +both parties to it.' + +[Cf. ii. 41 as to these Alamannic exiles. Possibly this letter as well +as that refers to their expulsion by Clovis (cir. 504); but it seems +more probable, as von Schubert suggests (pp. 52-54), that we have here +to do with a removal of some of the Alamannic subjects of Theodoric +from Raetia to Noricum, in order to guard the north-east frontier of +the kingdom.] + + +51. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Stipend of Thomas the Charioteer. Description of the +Circus.] + +'Constancy in actors is not a very common virtue, therefore with all +the more pleasure do we record the faithful allegiance of Thomas the +Charioteer, who came long ago from the East hither, and who, having +become champion charioteer, has chosen to attach himself to "the seat +of our Empire[309];" and we therefore decide that he shall be rewarded +by a monthly allowance. He embraced what was then the losing side in +the chariot races and carried it to victory--victory which he won so +often that envious rivals declared that he conquered by means of +witchcraft. + +[Footnote 309: 'Nostri sedes delegit fovere _Imperii_.'] + +'The sight of a chariot-race (spectaculum) drives out morality and +invites the most trifling contentions; it is the emptier of honourable +conduct, the ever-flowing spring of squabbles: a thing which Antiquity +commenced as a matter of religion, but which a quarrelsome posterity +has turned into a sport. + +'For Aenomaus is said first to have exhibited this sport at Elis, a +city of Asia (?), and afterwards Romulus, at the time of the rape of +the Sabines, displayed it in rural fashion to Italy, no buildings for +the purpose being yet founded. Long after, Augustus, the lord of the +world, raising his works to the same high level as his power, built a +fabric marvellous even to Romans, which stretched far into the Vallis +Murcia. This immense mass, firmly girt round with hills, enclosed a +space which was fitted to be the theatre of great events. + +'Twelve _Ostia_ at the entrance represent the twelve signs of the +Zodiac. These are suddenly and equally opened by ropes let down by the +_Hermulae_ (little pilasters)[310]. The four colours worn by the four +parties of charioteers denote the seasons: green for verdant spring, +blue for cloudy winter, red for flaming summer, white for frosty +autumn. Thus, throughout the spectacle we see a determination to +represent the works of Nature. The _Biga_ is made in imitation of the +moon, the _Quadriga_ of the sun. The circus horses (_Equi +desultorii_), by means of which the servants of the Circus announce +the heats (_Missos_) that are to be run, imitate the herald-swiftness +of the morning star. Thus it came to pass that while they deemed they +were worshipping the stars, they profaned their religion by parodying +it in their games. + +[Footnote 310: The Ostia are denoted by A and the Hermulae by H in +the accompanying plan. (See page 230.)] + +'A white line is drawn not far from the ostia to each _Podium_ +(balcony), that the contest may begin when the quadrigae pass it, lest +they should interrupt the view of the spectators by their attempts to +get each before the other[311]. There are always seven circuits round +the goals (_Metae_) to one heat, in analogy with the days of the week. +The goals themselves have, like the decani[312] of the Zodiac, each +three pinnacles, round which the swift quadrigae circle like the sun. +The wheels indicate the boundaries of East and West. The channel +(_Euripus_) which surrounds the Circus presents us with an image of +the glassy sea, whence come the dolphins which swim hither through the +waters[313] (?). The lofty obelisks lift their height towards heaven; +but the upper one is dedicated to the sun, the lower one to the moon: +and upon them the sacred rites of the ancients are indicated with +Chaldee signs for letters[314]. + +[Footnote 311: 'Ut quadrigis progredientibus, inde certamen oriretur: +ne dum semper propere conantur elidere, spectandi voluptatem +viderentur populis abrogare.' In fact, to compel the charioteers to +start fair.] + +[Footnote 312: Each sign of the Zodiac was considered to have three +decani, occurring at intervals of ten days.] + +[Footnote 313: 'Unde illuc delphini aequorei aquas interfluunt.' The +sentence is very obscure, but the allusion must be to the dolphins, +the figures of which were placed upon the spina.] + +[Footnote 314: 'Obeliscorum quoque prolixitates ad coeli altitudinem +sublevantur: sed potior soli, inferior lunae dicatus est: ubi sacra +priscorum Chaldaicis signis, quasi litteris indicantur.'] + +'The _Spina_ (central wall, or backbone) represents the lot of the +unhappy captives, inasmuch as the generals of the Romans, marching +over the backs of their enemies, reaped that joy which was the reward +of their labours. The _Mappa_ (napkin), which is still seen to give +the signal at the games, came into fashion on this wise. Once when +Nero was loitering over his dinner, and the populace, as usual, was +impatient for the spectacle to begin, he ordered the napkin which he +had used for wiping his fingers to be thrown out of window, as a +signal that he gave the required permission. Hence it became a custom +that the display of a napkin gave a certain promise of future +_circenses_. + +'The _Circus_ is so called from "circuitus:" _circenses_ is, as it +were, _circu-enses_, because in the rude ages of antiquity, before an +elaborate building had been prepared for the purpose, the races were +exhibited on the green grass, and the multitude were protected by the +river on one side and the swords (_enses_) of the soldiers on the +other[315]. + +[Footnote 315: I can extract no other meaning than the above from this +extraordinary sentence: 'Circenses, quasi circu-enses: propterea quod +apud antiquitatem rudem, quae necdum spectacula in ornatum deduxerat +fabricarum, inter _enses_ et flumina locis virentibus agerentur.'] + +'We observe, too, that the rule of this contest is that it be decided +in twenty-four heats[316], an equal number to that of the hours of day +and night. Nor let it be accounted meaningless that the number of +circuits round the goals is expressed by the putting up of +_eggs_[317], since that emblem, pregnant as it is with many +superstitions[318], indicates that something is about to be born from +thence. And in truth we may well understand that the most fickle and +inconstant characters, well typified by the birds who have laid those +eggs, will spring from attendance on these spectacles[319]. It were +long to describe in detail all the other points of the Roman Circus, +since each appears to arise from some special cause. This only will we +remark upon as pre-eminently strange, that in these beyond all other +spectacles men's minds are hurried into excitement without any regard +to a fitting sobriety of character. The Green charioteer flashes by: +part of the people is in despair. The Blue gets a lead: a larger part +of the City is in misery. They cheer frantically when they have gained +nothing; they are cut to the heart when they have received no loss; +and they plunge with as much eagerness into these empty contests as if +the whole welfare of the imperilled fatherland were at stake. + +[Footnote 316: _Missibus._ In a previous sentence Cassiodorus makes +the acc. plural _missos_.] + +[Footnote 317: The number of times that the charioteers had rounded +the goal was indicated by large wooden _eggs_, which were posted up in +a conspicuous place on the spina. It seems that in a corresponding +place near the other end of the spina figures of _dolphins_ were used +for the same purpose. Upon the Cilurnum gem (figured on page 231) we +can perceive four eggs near one end of the spina, and four creatures +which may be dolphins near the other, indicating that four circuits +out of the seven which constitute a missus have been accomplished by +the quadrigae.] + +[Footnote 318: Alluding probably to the story of Castor and Pollux.] + +[Footnote 319: 'Et ideo datur intelligi, volitantes atque +inconstantissimos inde mores nasci, quos avium matribus aptaverunt.' +_Ovium_ would seem to give a better sense than _avium_.] + +'No wonder that such a departure from all sensible dispositions should +be attributed to a superstitious origin. We are compelled to support +this institution by the necessity of humouring the majority of the +people, who are passionately fond of it; for it is always the few who +are led by reason, while the many crave excitement and oblivion of +their cares. Therefore, as we too must sometimes share the folly of +our people, we will freely provide for the expenses of the Circus, +however little our judgment approves of this institution.' + +[Notwithstanding some absurdities, the above description of the Circus +Maximus (which I have attempted to translate in full) is of great +value, being, after that given by Dionysius of Halicarnassus, our +chief authority on the subject. The accompanying plan (taken, with +some slight variations, from Smith's 'Dictionary of Antiquities'), +will, I trust, render it intelligible. + +[Illustration: Plan of Ancient Circus.] + +It is well illustrated by the recently excavated 'Stadium of +Augustus,' on the Palatine; but perhaps even better by a beautifully +executed gem lately found at Chesters in Northumberland, on the site +of the Roman station at Cilurnum. By the kindness of the owner, Mr. +Clayton, I am able to give an enlarged copy of this gem, which is +described in the 'Archaeologia Aeliana,' vol. x. pp. 133-137. + +[Illustration: The Circus Maximus, a magnified engraving of an +intaglio on a carnelian signet-ring found at Cilurnum (Chesters in +Northumberland) in 1882.] + +The reader will easily discern the _Spina_ with one obelisk (not two, +as described by Cassiodorus) in the centre, the high tables supported +by pillars on which the Ova and Delphini are placed, the three +spindle-shaped columns which formed the _Meta_ at each end, and the +four quadrigae (four was the regular number for each missus) careering +in front.] + + +52. KING THEODORIC TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS CONSULARIS. + +[Sidenote: On Roman land surveying.] + +'We are sorry to hear that a dispute (which is on the point of being +settled by arms instead of by the law) has arisen between the +Spectabiles Leontius and Paschasius as to the boundaries of their +properties[320]. If they are so fierce against one another here in +Italy, where there are mountains and rivers and the "arcaturae" +[square turrets of the land surveyor] to mark the boundaries, what +would they have done in Egypt, where the yearly returning waters of +the Nile wash out all landmarks, and leave a deposit of mud over all? + +[Footnote 320: 'Casarum.' Casa is evidently no longer a cottage; +perhaps the estate attached to a villa. There is probably still a +flavour of rusticity about it.] + +'Geometry was discovered by the Chaldaeans, who perceived that its +principles lay at the root of Astronomy, Music, Mechanics, +Architecture, Medicine, Logic, and every science which deals with +generals. This science was eagerly welcomed by the Egyptians, who +perceived the advantage it would be to them in recovering the +boundaries of estates obliterated by the wished-for deluge[321] of the +Nile. + +[Footnote 321: 'Votiva inundatione.'] + +'Therefore let your Greatness send an experienced land surveyor +(agrimensor) to settle this dispute by assigning fixed boundaries to +the two estates. + +'Augustus made a complete survey of the whole "Orbis Romanus," in +order that each taxpayer should know exactly his resources and +obligations. The results of this survey were tabulated by the author +Hyrummetricus. The Professors of this Science [of land surveying] are +honoured with a more earnest attention than falls to the lot of any +other philosophers. Arithmetic, Theoretical Geometry, Astronomy, and +Music are discoursed upon to listless audiences, sometimes to empty +benches. But the land surveyor is like a judge; the deserted fields +become his forum, crowded with eager spectators. You would fancy him a +madman when you see him walking along the most devious paths. But in +truth he is seeking for the traces of lost facts in rough woods and +thickets[322]. He walks not as other men walk. His path is the book +from which he reads; he _shows_ what he is saying; he proves what he +hath learned; by his steps he divides the rights of hostile claimants; +and like a mighty river he takes away the fields of one side to bestow +them on the other. + +[Footnote 322: An excellent description of an antiquary walking along +a Roman 'Limes Imperii.'] + +'Wherefore, acting on our instructions, choose such a land surveyor, +whose authority may be sufficient to settle this dispute, that the +litigants may henceforth cultivate their lands in peace.' + + +53. KING THEODORIC TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS APRONIANUS, COUNT OF THE PRIVATE +DOMAINS. + +[Sidenote: On Water-finders.] + +'Your Greatness tells us that a water-finder has come to Rome from +Africa, where, on account of the dryness of the soil, his art is +greatly in request. + +'We are glad to hear it. It is a very useful art. + +'Signs of the existence of water are the greenness of the grass, the +size of the trees, the nature of the plants, reeds, rushes, brambles, +willows, poplars, &c. Some discover water by putting out dry wool +under a bowl at night. So too, if you see at sunrise a cloud [or +gossamer, 'spissitudinem'] of very small flies. A mist rising like a +column shows water as deep below as the column rises high above. + +'The water-finder will also predict the quality of the water, and so +prevent you from wasting labour on a brackish spring. This science was +ably treated of by ----[323], and by Marcellus among the Latins. They +tell us that waters which gush forth towards the east and south are +light and wholesome; that those which emerge towards the north and +west are too cold and heavy. + +[Footnote 323: 'Apud Graecos _ille_.' Cassiodorus has left the name +blank, and has either forgotten or been unable to fill it up; like the +'ille et ille' in his State documents.] + +'So then, if the testimonials of the aforesaid water-finder and the +results of his indications shall approve themselves to your wisdom, +you may pay his travelling expenses and relieve his wants: he having +to repay you by his future services. For though Rome itself is so +abundantly supplied with aqueducts, there are many suburban places in +which his help would be very useful. Associate with him also a +mechanician who can sink for and raise the water when he has pointed +it out. Rome ought not to lack anything which is an object of +desire.' + + + + +BOOK IV. + +CONTAINING FIFTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS 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 shine by the splendour of Imperial +blood[324]'. [A remarkable passage, 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 ambassadors: 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 God 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 fashion, 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 shields, 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 shield 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, Könige der +Germanen ii. 8, _n._ 2.] + + +3. KING THEODORIC TO SENARIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, 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 Illustrious 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. Restitisti +regibus non impar assertor, coactus justitiam 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 pronunciation. 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 shipmasters 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 ILLUSTRIS, 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 assured, 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 assign 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 ILLUSTRIS, COMES PRIVATARUM. + +[Sidenote: Losses by shipwreck to be refunded to those who were +sending provisions to Gaul.] + +'Any calamity which comes upon a man from causes beyond his control +ought not to be imputed to him as a fault. The pathetic petition of +the Superintendents of Grain[335] informs us that the cargoes which +they destined for Gaul have perished at sea. + +[Footnote 335: 'Prosecutores frumentorum.' It would seem that these +are not merchants supplying the famine-stricken Provinces of Gaul as a +private speculation (according to iv. 5), but public officers who have +had certain cargoes of corn entrusted to them from the State +magazines, and who, but for this letter, would be bound to make good +the loss suffered under their management.] + +'The framework of the timbers of the ships gaped under the violence of +the winds and waves, and from all that overabundance of water nothing +remains to them but their tears. + +'Let your Sublimity therefore promptly refund to them the proportion +(modiatio) which each of them can prove that he has thus lost. It +would be cruel to punish them for having merely suffered shipwreck.' + + +8. KING THEODORIC TO THE HONOURED POSSESSORES AND CURIALES OF FORUM +LIVII (FORLI). + +[Sidenote: Transport of timber ordered for Alsuanum.] + +'You must not think anything which we order hard; for our commands are +reasonable, and we know what you ought to do. Your Devotion is +therefore to cut timber and transport it to Alsuanum[336], where you +will be paid the proper price for it.' + +[Footnote 336: Where is this?] + + +9. KING THEODORIC TO OSUIN, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Tuitio regii nominis.] + +[This letter is quoted by Dahn ('Könige der Germanen' iii. 117) as an +illustration of '_tuitio regii nominis_.'] + +'Maurentius and Paula, who are left orphans, inform us that their +youth and helplessness expose them to the attacks of many unscrupulous +persons. + +'Let your Sublimity therefore cause it to be known that any suits +against them must be prosecuted in our Comitatus, the place of succour +for the distressed and of sharp punishment for tricksters.' + + +10. KING THEODORIC TO JOANNES, SENATOR AND CONSULARIS OF CAMPANIA. + +[Sidenote: The lawless custom of Pignoratio is to be repressed.] + +[A custom had apparently grown up during the lawless years of the +Fifth Century, of litigants helping themselves, during the slow +progress of the suit, to a 'material guarantee' from the fields of +their opponents. This custom, unknown apparently at the time of the +Theodosian Code, was called 'Pignoratio,' and was especially rife in +the Provinces of Campania and Samnium.] + +'How does peace differ from the confusion of war, if law-suits are to +be settled by violence? We hear with displeasure from our Provincials +in Campania and Samnium that certain persons there are giving +themselves up to the practice of _pignoratio_. And so far has this +gone that neighbours club together and transfer their claims to some +one person who "pignorates" for the whole of them, thus in fact +compelling a man to pay a debt to an entire stranger--a monstrous +perversion of all the rules of law, which separates so delicately +between the rights even of near relations, and will not allow the son +to be sued for the father's debts unless he is the heir, nor the wife +for the husband's unless she has succeeded to the estate. Hitherto our +ignorance has allowed this lawless practice to exist. Now that we know +of it we are determined to suppress it. Therefore, firstly, if any man +lays violent hands on any property to secure an alleged claim, he +shall at once forfeit that claim [and restore the _pignus_]. Secondly, +where one has "pignorated" for another, he shall be compelled to +restore twofold the value of that which he has taken. Thirdly, if any +offender is so poor and squalid that restitution cannot be compelled +from him, he shall be beaten with clubs.' + + +11. KING THEODORIC TO SENARIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Dispute between Possessores and Curiales.] + +'Let your Magnitude enquire into and decide promptly the dispute +between the Possessores and Curiales of Velia.' [A conjectural +emendation for _Volienses_.] + + +12. KING THEODORIC TO MARABAD, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES; AND GEMELLUS, +SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: Archotamia's complaint against the extravagant widow of her +grandson.] + +'It is our purpose not only to defend by arms but to govern by just +laws the Provinces which God has subjected to us. + +'Archotamia, an illustrious lady who has lost her grandson by death, +complains that his widow Aetheria, having married again with a certain +Liberius, is wasting the property of her children in order to make +her new home appear more splendid. + +'Let your Sublimities enquire into this matter. After suppressing all +violent action[337], placing the holy Gospels in the midst of the +Court, and calling in three honourable persons agreed upon by the +parties, as assessors, decide with their help upon the matter +according to ancient law, due reference being had to the arrangements +of modern times.' + +[Footnote 337: 'Omni incivilitate submotâ.'] + +[Theodoric says that in not hearing the case himself, but referring it +to Marabad and Gemellus, he is following his usual practice, +'remittere ad statuta Divalium sanctionum;' that is, apparently, +according to the Theodosian Code. See Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iv. +140, _n._ 2.] + + +13. KING THEODORIC TO SENARIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, COMES PRIVATARUM. + +[Sidenote: Supplies for Colossaeus and his suite.] + +'Let Colossaeus, who is sent as Governor to Pannonia Sirmiensis, have +rations for himself and suite, according to ancient usage. [For his +appointment, see Letters iii. 23 and 24.] + +'A hungry army cannot be expected to preserve discipline, since the +armed man will always help himself to that which he requires. Let him +have the chance of buying, that he may not be forced to think what he +can plunder. Necessity loves not a law[338], nor is it right to +command the many to observe a moderation which even the few can barely +practise.' + +[Footnote 338: 'Necessitas moderamen non diligit.'] + + +14. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO GESILA. + +[Sidenote: Evasion of land-tax by Goths in Picenum and Thuscia.] + +'It is a great offence to put off the burden of one's own debts upon +other people. That man ought to pay the "tributum" for a property who +receives the income of it. But some of the Goths in Picenum and the +two Tuscanies[339] are evading the payment of their proper taxes[340]. +This vicious practice must be suppressed at once, lest it spread by +imitation. If anyone in a spirit of clownish stubbornness shall still +refuse to obey our commands as expressed through you, affix the proper +notice to his houses and confiscate them, that he who would not pay a +small debt may suffer a great loss[341]. None ought to be more prompt +in their payments to the exchequer than those [the Goths] who are the +receivers of our donative. The sum thus given by our liberality is +much more than they could claim as soldiers' pay. In fact _we_ pay +them a voluntary tribute by the care which we have of their fortunes.' + +[Footnote 339: 'Gothi per Picenum sive Thuscias utrasque residentes.' +What are the two Thusciae?] + +[Footnote 340: 'Debitas functiones.'] + +[Footnote 341: 'Si quis ergo jussa nostra agresti spiritu resupinatus +abjecerit, casas ejus appositis titulis fisci nostri juribus +vindicabis; ut qui juste noluit parva solvere, rationabiliter videatur +maxima perdidisse.'] + + +15. KING THEODORIC TO BENENATUS, SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: New rowers to be selected. Their qualifications.] + +'Being informed by the Illustrious and Magnificent Count of the +Patrimony that twenty-one of the _Dromonarii_ [rowers in the +express-boats] have been removed by the inconvenient incident of +death, we hereby charge you to select others to fill their places. But +they must be strong men, for the toil of rowing requires powerful arms +and stout hearts to battle with the stormy waves. For what is in fact +more daring than with one's little bark to enter upon that wide and +treacherous sea, which only despair enables a man successfully to +combat?' + + +16. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Arigern entrusted with the charge of the City of Rome.] + +'Some time ago we committed the government of our new Gaulish +Provinces to Arigern, a member of your body, that he might by his +firmness and prudence bring about a settlement in that agitated +country. This he has accomplished to our entire satisfaction, and, +practising the lessons which he learned in your midst, he has also +brought back warlike trophies from thence. We now decide to bestow +upon him the charge of the Roman order. + +'He is to see that the laws are vigorously administered, and that +private revenge has no place. + +'Receive, O Conscript Fathers, your honoured and venerable member back +into your bosom.' + +[It seems probable that Arigern was not appointed 'Praefectus Urbis,' +because in Letter iv. 22 he is associated as Comes with Argolicus, +'Praefectus Urbis.' Was he 'Comes Urbis Romae?'] + + +17. KING THEODORIC TO IDA, VIR SUBLIMIS AND DUX. + +[Cf. the name of our own Northumbrian King.] + +[Sidenote: Possessions of the Church of Narbonne to be restored to +it.] + +'We do not wish to disturb anything that has been well settled by a +preceding King. Certain possessions of the Church of Narbonne, which +were secured to it by grant of the late King Alaric of exalted memory, +have been wrongfully wrested from it. Do you now restore these. As you +are illustrious in war, so be also excellent in "civilitas." The +wrong-doers will not dare to resist a man of your well-known bravery.' + + +18. KING THEODORIC TO ANNAS, SENATOR AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: A priestly Ghoul.] + +'Enquire if the story which is told us be true, namely that the +Presbyter Laurentius has been groping for fatal riches among human +corpses. An odious inversion of his functions, that he who should +preach peace to the living has been robbing the dead, and that hands +which have been touched with the oil of consecration should have been +grasping at unholy gains, instead of distributing his own honestly +acquired substance to the poor. If after diligent examination you +find that the charge is true, you must make him disgorge the gold. As +for punishment, for the sake of the honour of the priesthood we leave +that to a higher Power[342].' + +[Footnote 342: 'Scelus enim, quod nos pro sacerdotali honore +relinquimus impunitum, majori pondere credimus vindicandum.' The words +seem to be purposely vague, but I think they allude to the judgment of +Heaven on the offender.] + + +19. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS, SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: The Siliquaticum not to be levied on corn, wine, and oil.] + +'The Prince should try to remedy the afflictions of his subjects. +Therefore, for the present time [probably on account of the scarcity +in Gaul], we decree that the tax of Siliquaticum, which Antiquity +ordained should be levied on all buyings and sellings, shall not be +levied on corn, wine, and oil. We hope thus to stimulate trade, and to +benefit not only the Provincials, who are our chief care, but also the +merchants. Let the ship that traverses the seas not fear our harbours. +Often the sailor dreads the rapacity of the collector of customs more +than the danger of shipwreck. It shall not be so now.' + + +20. KING THEODORIC TO GEBERICH, SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: Land taken from the Church to be restored to it.] + +'If we are willing to enrich the Church by our own liberality, _à +fortiori_ will we not allow it to be despoiled of the gifts received +from pious princes in the past. + +'The supplication of the Venerable Bishop Constantius informs us that +a _jugum_ [= jugerum, about two-thirds of an English acre] of land so +bestowed on the "sacrosanct" Church has been taken away from her, and +is unlawfully held by the despoiler. + +'See that right is done, and that the Church has her own restored to +her without any diminution.' + + +21. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS, SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: Promptness and integrity required.] + +'Be prompt in the execution of our orders. No one should think our +commands harsh, since they are excused by the necessity of the times. +[Reject the thought of all unjustly acquired gains, for] you are sure +to receive from our favour all that you seem to lose by not yielding +to temptation.' + + +22. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PRAEFECT OF THE +CITY; AND + +23. KING THEODORIC TO ARIGERN, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Roman Senators accused of magic.] + +These two letters relate to the affair of Basilius[343] and +Praetextatus, men of high rank in Rome. They are accused of practising +magical arts, and in the interval between the first and second letters +they escape from prison by taking advantage of the insanity of the +gaoler. + +[Footnote 343: Basilius, the patron of Sidonius, was Consul in 463, +and another Basilius, perhaps the father of the accused, was Consul in +480. The person here spoken of _may_ be the same as the Basilius, +'olim regio ministerio depulsus,' whom Boethius (Phil. Cons. i. 4) +mentions as one of his accusers; but it seems more likely that in that +case this imputation of magical practices would also have been +referred to by him. The name Basilius was a somewhat common one at +this time.] + +Theodoric, who says that he will not suffer any such acts of treason +against the Divine Majesty, and that it is not lawful for Christian +times to deal in magical arts, orders the recapture of the offenders, +who are to be handed over to a Quinque-viral Board, consisting of the +Patricians Symmachus, Decius, Volusianus, and Caelianus, with the +Illustrious Maximian, and by them examined; if guilty to be punished +(probably with confiscation and exile); if innocent, of course to be +discharged[344]. + +[Footnote 344: At the beginning of the first letter occurs the +remarkable expression 'Abscedat ritus de medio jam profanus; +conticescat _poenale murmur animarum_,' which the commentator +interprets of the ventriloquistic sounds produced by soothsayers. Cf. +Milton's Christmas Hymn: + + 'No voice or hideous hum + Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving.'] + +[The association of the Quinque-viri with the Praefectus Urbis is a +mark of the high rank of the accused. The Praefectus Urbis could not +adjudicate on the crimes of Senators without five Assessors chosen by +lot from that body. Arigern, who was entrusted (it is not quite clear +in what capacity) with the 'Disciplina Romanae Civitatis,' is +commissioned to bring the accused to trial. Baronius says that we do +not hear whether they were ever re-captured.] + + +24. KING THEODORIC TO ELPIDIUS, DEACON [of Spoleto]. + +[Sidenote: Architectural restoration at Spoleto.] + +Gives leave to pull down a _porticus_ behind the Baths of Turasius at +Spoleto, and to build some new edifice [perhaps a church] on its site +and on the site of a yard (areola) adjoining it, on condition only +that the building thus pulled down is of no public utility. + +Reflections on the duty of architectural restoration. + + +25. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECTUS URBIS. + +[It is to be borne in mind that the Praefectus Urbis was the Official +President of the Senate.] + +[Sidenote: Petrus to be inscribed as Senator.] + +'Ambition ennobles man, and he who has aimed when young at high +honours is often stimulated to lead a worthy life by the fact of +having obtained them. We therefore look favourably on the petition of +Petrus, illustrious by descent, and in gravity of character already a +Senator, to enter the Sacred Order (the Senate); and we authorise your +Illustrious Magnificence to inscribe his name, according to ancient +custom, in the album of that body.' + +[A Petrus, probably the same as the subject of this letter, was Consul +in 516.] + + +26. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE CITIZENS OF MARSEILLES[345]. + +[Footnote 345: 'Universis Massiliae constitutis.' A curious +expression.] + +[Sidenote: Taxes remitted for a year.] + +Confirms all privileges and immunities granted by previous Princes, +and remits the taxes (censum) for one year, a boon which they had not +dared to ask for. 'For that is perfect _pietas_, which before it is +bent by prayer, knows how to consider the weary ones.' + +[Here, as in many other passages of Cassiodorus, _pietas_ shows signs +of passing into the Italian _pietà_ (= pity).] + + +27. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO TEZUTZAT, + +AND + +28. KING THEODORIC TO DUDA, SENATOR AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Petrus assaulted by the Sajo who was assigned for his +protection.] + +[Duda was also a Sajo, as we see from Letter 32. Dahn ('Könige der +Germanen' iv. 142, _n._ 3) thinks he was Comes Gothorum.] + +Both letters relate to the affair of Petrus (a Vir Spectabilis, and +probably the same whose admission to the Senate is ordered by iv. 25). + +This Roman nobleman, according to a usage common under Theodoric's +government, has had the Gothic Sajo Amara assigned to him as his +Defensor. Amara, by an inversion of his functions, which the letter +bitterly laments and upbraids, has turned upon his _protegé_ and even +used personal violence towards him. He has drawn a sword and wounded +him in the hand; and nothing but the fact that Petrus was sheltered by +a door saved him from losing his hand altogether. + +Yet, notwithstanding this assault, Amara has had the audacity to claim +from his victim 'commodi nomine,' the usual payment made by the +defended to the defender. + +The first letter decrees that this shall be refunded twofold, and +assigns Tezutzat instead of Amara to the office of Defender, warning +him not to follow the evil example of his predecessor. + +The second assigns to Duda the task of enquiring into the alleged +assault and punishing it with the sword[346]. + +[Footnote 346: The story of this assault is a typical specimen of the +style of Cassiodorus, high-flown yet not really pictorial: 'Ita ut +ictum gladii in se demersum, aliquatenus postium retardaret objectio: +subjecta est vulneri manus, quae ut in totum truncata non caderet, +januarum percussa robora praestiterunt: ubi lassato impetu corusca +ferri acies corporis extrema perstrinxit.'] + + +29. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: Official tardiness rebuked.] + +A sharp rebuke to him for having (if the _suggestio_ of the +Clarissimus Armentarius be correct) so long delayed, it is to be +feared with a corrupt motive, complying with the instructions of the +King to do justice in some case (not described) in which the honour of +the Senate is concerned. As head of the Senate he ought to have been +eager to examine into it, without any prompting from his master. + + +30. KING THEODORIC TO ALBINUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Workshops may be erected above the Porticus Curba, by the +Roman Forum.] + +'Those whom the Republic has honoured should in their turn bring +honour to the City. We are therefore gratified by receiving your +supplication for leave to erect workshops[347] above the Porticus +Curba, which being situated near the Domus Palmata, shuts in the Forum +in comely fashion "in modum areae." We like the plan. The range of +private dwellings will thereby be extended. A look of cheerful newness +will be given to the old walls; and the presence of residents in the +building will tend to preserve it from further decay. You have our +permission and encouragement to proceed, if the proposed erections do +not in any way interfere with public convenience or the beauty of the +City.' + +[Footnote 347: Fabricae.] + +[The MSS. of Cassiodorus waver between Curbae and Curiae in the above +letter. Jordan ('Topographie der Stadt Rom.' i. 2. 258) inclines to +the opinion that Porticus Curba denotes the Portico of the Secretarium +of the Senate, on the site of the present Church of Sta. Martina. As +the Curia immediately adjoined this building, there is practically but +little difference between the two readings. In either case the +fabricae were to be erected so as to overlook the north-west end of +the Forum. It is admitted that the Domus Palmata was near the Arch of +Septimius Severus.] + + +31. KING THEODORIC TO AEMILIANUS, VIR VENERABILIS, BISHOP. + +[Sidenote: An aqueduct to be promptly finished.] + +'Wise men should finish what they have begun, and not incur the +reproach which attends half-done work. + +'Let your Holiness therefore promptly complete what by our authority +you so well began in the matter of the aqueduct, and thus most fitly +provide water for your thirsting flock, imitating by labour the +miracle of Moses, who made water gush forth from the flinty rock.' + + +32. KING THEODORIC TO DUDA THE SAJO. + +[Sidenote: The rights of the Crown to the property of the proscribed +man, Tupha, to be asserted with moderation.] + +'We are anxious strictly to obey the laws, and to take no advantage +over our subjects in courts of justice. If a man knows that he can get +his own by legal process, even from the Sovereign, he is the less +likely to seek it by the armed hand. The memorandum of Marinus informs +us that the property of Tupha was long ago mortgaged to a certain +Joannes[348]. But since it is quite clear that the property of a +proscribed man belongs to our fiscus, we desire you to summon the +widow of this Joannes and his secretary Januarius, "moderata +executione." + +[Footnote 348: 'Marini relatione comperimus res Tuphae apud Joannem +quondam sub emissione chirographi fuisse depositas.'] + +'If they acknowledge that they have no right to the property let them +at once restore it; but if not, let them come before the _Consularis_ +of Campania and establish their right according to course of law. + +'But let all be done without loss or prejudice to the rights of +innocent persons. If any such charge be established against you, _you_ +will become the offender in our eyes.' + +[The description of Tupha as 'proscriptus' makes it probable that we +are dealing with that officer of Odovacar whose double treachery +(489-490) so nearly caused the failure of Theodoric's invasion of +Italy, and who finally fell in battle against his fellow-rebel, +Frederic the Rugian. The only difficulty is the lapse of time since +those events, as this letter was probably written not earlier than +about 511; but that is in some degree met by the word _quondam_ in the +sentence quoted (_n._ 1, p. 250).] + + +33. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE JEWS OF GENOA. + +[Sidenote: Privileges of the Jews confirmed.] + +'The true mark of _civilitas_ is the observance of law. It is this +which makes life in communities possible, and which separates man from +the brutes. We therefore gladly accede to your request that all the +privileges which the foresight of antiquity conferred upon the Jewish +customs shall be renewed to you[349], for in truth it is our great +desire that the laws of the ancients shall be kept in force to secure +the reverence due to us[350]. Everything which has been found to +conduce to _civilitas_ should be held fast with enduring devotion.' + +[Footnote 349: 'Privilegia debere servari quae Judaicis institutis +legum provida decrevit antiquitas.'] + +[Footnote 350: 'Quod nos libenter annuimus qui jura veterum ad nostram +cupimus reverentiam custodiri.'] + + +34. KING THEODORIC TO DUDA THE SAJO. + +[Sidenote: Buried treasure to be reclaimed for the State.] + +'It is the part of true prudence to recall to the uses of commerce +"the talent hidden in the earth." We therefore direct you, by this +"moderata jussio," where you hear of buried treasures to proceed to +the spot with suitable witnesses and reclaim for the public Treasury +either gold or silver, abstaining, however, from actually laying hands +on the ashes of the dead[351]. The dead can do nothing with treasure, +and it is not greedy to take away what the holder of it can never +mourn the loss of. + +[Footnote 351: How this was to be done is not quite clear, since it is +plain that this letter is really and chiefly an order for rifling +_sepulchres_ in search of buried treasure.] + +'Eacus is said to have discovered the use of gold, and Indus, King of +the Scythians, that of silver. They are extremely useful metals.' + + +35. KING THEODORIC TO THE REPRESENTATIVES (ACTORES) OF ALBINUS. + +[Sidenote: An extravagant minor. Restitutio in integrum.] + +'It has been wisely decided by Antiquity that minors cannot make a +binding contract, for they are naturally the prey of every sharper. +You allege that your _patronus_ [Albinus] is under age, that he is +heaping up expenses instead of property, and that his raw boyhood does +not know what is really for his benefit. If this be correct, and be +legally proved, he is entitled to a _restitutio in integrum_' [a suit +commenced through these Actores for the quashing of the contracts +which have been fraudulently made with the minor]. + +[For the _restitutio in integrum_, see Cod. Theod. ii. 16. 1, and vi. +4. 16. Nothing seems to be expressly said in this letter about the +appointment of a _Curator_.] + + +36. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. A.D. 509-510. + +[Sidenote: Remission of taxes for Provincials of Cottian Alps.] + +'A wise ruler will always lessen the weight of taxation when his +subjects are weighed down by temporary poverty. Therefore let your +Magnificence remit to the Provincials of the Cottian Alps the _as +publicum_ for this year [the third Indiction], in consideration of +their losses by the passage of our army. [The army of Ibbas, on its +march in 408 to fight Clovis, after the fall of the Visigothic +Monarchy.] True, that army went forth with shouts of concord to +_liberate_ Gaul. But so a river bursting forth may irrigate and +fertilise a whole country, and yet destroy the increase of that +particular channel in which its waters run. + +'We have earned new subjects by that campaign: we do not wish them to +suffer loss by it. Our own heart whispers to us the request which the +subjects dare not utter to their Prince.' + + +37. KING THEODORIC TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS WOMAN THEODAGUNDA. + +[Sidenote: Theodagunda is admonished to do justice to Renatus.] + +Warns Theodagunda [apparently a member of the royal family and +governing some Province; but what place could she hold in the Roman +official hierarchy?], that she must emulate the virtue of her +ancestors and show prompt obedience to the royal commands. 'The +lamentable petition of Renatus states that, after judgment given in +his favour by the King's Court, he is still harassed by the litigation +(not in the way of regular appeal) of Inquilina, who appears to be not +so much desirous of victory as anxious to ruin his adversary.' +[Notwithstanding the form of the name I think Inquilina is male, not +female.] + +'You must see that this is put right at once.' + + +38. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Taxes must be reduced to the figure at which they stood in +the days of Odoacer.] + +'The inhabitants of Gravasi (?) and Ponto (?) complain that they have +been overloaded with taxes by the Assessors (discussores) Probus and +Januarius. They have bad land, and say that they really cannot cope +with the taxes imposed upon them [at the last Indiction?]. The former +practice is to be reverted to, and they are not to be called upon to +pay more than they did in the days of Odoacer.' [An evidence that in +one case at least the fiscal yoke of Odoacer was lighter than that of +his successor.] + + +39. KING THEODORIC TO THEODAHAD, VIR ILLUSTRIS [AND NEPHEW OF THE +KING]. + +[Sidenote: The encroachments of Theodahad repressed.] + +'Avarice, which Holy Writ declares to be "the root of all evil," is a +vulgar vice which you, our kinsman, a man of Amal blood, whose family +is known to be royal, are especially bound to avoid[352]. + +[Footnote 352: 'Amali sanguinis virum nos decet vulgare desiderium: +quia genus suum conspicit esse purpuratum.'] + +'The Spectabilis Domitius complains to us that such and such portions +of his property have been seized by you with the strong hand, without +any pretence of establishing a legal claim to them. + +'We send the Sajo Duda to you, and order you on his arrival[353], +without any delay, to restore the property which you have taken +possession of, with all the moveables of which you have despoiled it. + +[Footnote 353: 'Si momenti tempora suffragantur.' What is the meaning +of this limitation?] + +'If you have any claim to make to the lands in question, send a person +fully informed of the facts to our Comitatus, and there let the case +be fairly heard. + +'A high-born man should ever act according to well-ordered +_civilitas_. Any neglect of this principle brings upon him odium, +proportioned to the oppression which the man of humbler rank conceives +himself to have suffered at his hands.' + + +40. KING THEODORIC TO THE REPRESENTATIVES (ACTORES) OF PROBINUS. + +[Sidenote: The affair of Agapeta. Basilius, her husband, ordered to +plead.] + +Recurs to the case of the Possessio Areciretina, which Agapeta, the +wife of Basilius, had given (or sold) to Probinus, and which Probinus +was commanded to restore. (See Letters ii. 10 and 11.) + +The petition, now presented by the representatives of Probinus, puts a +somewhat different face upon the matter, and seems to show that the +sale by Agapeta (notwithstanding her melancholy condition of fatuity +and vice) was a _bonâ fide_ one, for sufficient consideration. + +Her husband Basilius is now ordered to reply to the pleadings of the +opposite party, either at the King's Comitatus, or in some local court +of competent jurisdiction. The King's Comitatus is meant to be a +blessing to his subjects, and recourse to it is not made compulsory +where, on account of distance, the suitor would rather be excused from +resorting to it. + + +41. KING THEODORIC TO JOANNES, ARCH-PHYSICIAN. + +[Sidenote: An unjust judgment against Joannes reversed.] + +'A King should delight to succour the oppressed. + +'You inform us that, by the devices of the Spectabilis Vivianus and +his superior knowledge of the laws, an unjust judgment was obtained +against you, in default, in the Court of the Vicarius of the City of +Rome: that Vivianus himself has now renounced the world, repents of +his injustice to you, and interposes no obstacle to the restitution of +your rights. We therefore (if your statements shall prove to be +correct) quash the sentence against you, restore you to your country +and your property, and that you may be preserved from future +molestation, founded on the old sentence against you, we assign you to +the guardianship (tuitio) of the Patrician Albinus, without prejudice +to the laws (salvis legibus). + +'We wish that nothing contrary to _civilitas_ should be done, since +our daily labour is for the repose of all.' [I presume that this +letter is in fact an edict for 'Restitutio in integrum.'] + + +42. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: The sons of Velusian to have their property restored to +them.] + +'Under a good King the loss even of a father should be less felt than +with a different ruler, for the King is the father of his people. + +'The petition of Marcian and Maximius, sons of Velusian (Patrician and +Magnificus), sets forth that they lost their father at Easter; that +thus the time of joy to all Christians became to them a season of +sorrow; that while they were immersed in their grief and incapable of +attending to their affairs, "the tower of the circus and the place of +the amphitheatre[354]," which had belonged to their illustrious +father, were by some heartless intriguer wrested from them, under the +authority of the Praefect. + +[Footnote 354: Can this be the Amphitheatrum Castrense?] + +'Be pleased to enquire into this matter, and if those places truly +belonged to Velusian, restore them to his sons. We wish to cherish +rather than oppress the sons of illustrious men, who are the germ of +our future Senate.' + + +43. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Punishment of incendiaries who have burned a Jewish +Synagogue.] + +[On the burning of the Jewish synagogue. This synagogue of the Jews +was in the Trastevere. See Gregorovius i. 296-298 for a description of +it. I do not know on what authority he assigns 521 for the date of +the tumult in which it was burned.] + +'The propriety of manners which is characteristic of the City of Rome +must be upheld. To fall into the follies of popular tumult, and to set +about burning their own City, is not like the Roman disposition[355]. + +[Footnote 355: 'Levitates quippe seditionum et ambire propriae +civitatis incendium, non est velle Romanum.'] + +'But we are informed by Count Arigern[356] that the populace of Rome, +enraged at the punishment inflicted on some Christian servants who had +murdered their Jewish masters, has risen in fury and burned their +synagogue to the ground[357], idly venting on innocent buildings their +anger against the men who used them. + +[Footnote 356: It happens that one of the letters addressed to Count +Arigern also refers to a Jewish synagogue. See iii. 45.] + +[Footnote 357: 'Quod in dominorum caede proruperit servilis audacia: +in quibus cum fuisset pro districtione publicâ resecatum, statim +plebis inflammata contentio synagogam temerario duxerunt incendio +concremandam.' The above is Gregorovius' explanation of the somewhat +enigmatical language of Cassiodorus.] + +'Be pleased to enquire into this matter, and severely punish the +authors of the tumult, who are probably few in number. + +'At the same time enquire into the complaints which are brought +against the Jews, and if you find that there is any foundation for +them, punish accordingly.' + + +44. KING THEODORIC TO THE VENERABLE ANTONIUS, BISHOP OF POLA. + +[Sidenote: Bishop Antonius called upon to do justice to Stephanus.] + +'It is an invidious task to have to listen to complaints against the +revered ministers of the Church. + +'But the petition of Stephanus sets forth that a property, which +belonged to him before the time of your predecessor, has, within the +last nine months, wrongfully, and in defiance of _civilitas_, been +seized by the officers of your church. If this be so, we desire you, +as a matter of justice, to correct what your familiars have done +amiss, and restore it to him without delay. But if you dispute his +title, send a properly instructed person to plead the cause in our +Comitatus. + +'You will be better off by having the matter enquired into and +settled, than if the complaints of Stephanus had never come to a +hearing[358].' + +[Footnote 358: There are some technical terms in this letter the +meaning of which is not clear to me: 'Eam justitiae consideratione +_momenti_ jure restituite supplicanti.... Veruntamen si partibus +vestris in _causa_ possessionis _momentaria_ vel _principali_ +justitiam adesse cognoscitis.'] + + +45. KING THEODORIC TO THE COMITES, DEFENSORES, AND CURIALES OF TICINUM +(PAVIA). + +[Sidenote: The Heruli to be forwarded on their way to Ravenna.] + +[It is not easy to see why this order should be addressed to the +inhabitants of Ticinum. Had the Heruli crossed the Alps by some pass +near the modern Simplon?] + +'We have ordered the Heruli, who are suppliants to us, to come to our +Comitatus at Ravenna. + +'Provide them promptly with ships of provisions for five days, that +they may at once see the difference between Italy and their own hungry +country[359].' + +[Footnote 359: It is probably to the same transaction that Marcellinus +Comes refers when he says, s.a. 512: 'Gens Erulorum in terras atque +civitates Romanorum jussu Anastasii Caesaris introducta.' The words +'jussu Anastasii Caesaris' represent this chronicler's tendency to +refer everything that is done in Italy to the initiation of +Byzantium.] + + +46. KING THEODORIC TO MARABAD, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: The case of the wife of Liberius to be reheard.] + +'The Spectabilis Liberius[360] complains that his wife has had an +unjust judgment given against her in your Court. Try the case over +again, associating with yourself arbitrators chosen by both parties. +If it cannot so be ended, let them appoint properly instructed +persons to represent them at our Comitatus, if they cannot come +themselves.' + +[Footnote 360: Possibly a son of the Praefect Liberius.] + + +47. KING THEODORIC TO GUDISAL THE SAJO. + +[Sidenote: Abuses of the Cursus Publicus.] + +'If the public post-horses (veredi) are not allowed proper intervals +of rest they will soon be worn out. + +'We are informed by our _legati_ that these horses are constantly +employed by persons who have no right to use them. + +'You are therefore to reside in Rome, and to put yourself in constant +communication with the officers of the Praefectus Praetorio and the +Magister Officiorum, so as not to allow any to leave the City using +the horses of the _Cursus Publicus_ except the regularly commissioned +agents of those two functionaries. Anyone transgressing is to pay a +fine of 100 solidi (£60) per horse; not that the injury to the animal +is represented by so high a figure, but in order to punish his +impertinence. Our Sajones, when sent with a commission, are to go +straight to the mark and return, not to make pleasure-tours at the +public expense; and if they disobey this order, they are to pay the +same fine as that just mentioned. + +'Moreover, the extra horses (parhippi) are not to be weighted with a +load of more than 100 lbs. For we wish our messengers[361] to travel +in light marching order, not to make of their journey a regular +domestic migration. + +[Footnote 361: 'Mittendarii.' A 'Scrinium Mittendariorum' formed part +of the staff of the Count of Sacred Largesses. See Theodosian Code vi. +30. 7.] + +'Cranes, when they are going to cross the sea, clasp little pebbles +with their claws, in order to steady without overweighting themselves. +Why cannot those who are sent on public errands follow so good an +example? Every transport master[362] who violates this rule by loading +a horse with more than 100 lbs. shall pay 50 solidi (£30). + +[Footnote 362: 'Catabulensis.' See iii. 10.] + +'All fines levied under this edict are to go to the benefit of the +postal-servants[363], and thus the evil will, as we so often see in +human affairs, furnish its own remedy.' + +[Footnote 363: 'Mancipes mutationum.' The 'mutationes' were the places +for changing horses; there are generally two of them between each +'mansio' (hostelry). Probably the horses were found by the 'Mancipes +mutationum.' It was therefore a sort of _corvée_.] + + +48. KING THEODORIC TO EUSEBIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: Honourable retirement of Eusebius.] + +'After the worries of the noisy City, and the heavy burden of your +official duties, your Greatness is longing to taste the sweetness of +country life. When therefore you have finished your present duties, we +grant you by our authority a holiday of eight months in the charming +recesses of Lucania [near Cassiodorus' own country], to be reckoned +from the time when by Divine [royal?] favour you depart from the City. +When those months are at an end, return with speed, much missed as you +will be, to your Roman habitation, to the assembly of the nobles, and +to social intercourse of a kind that is worthy of your character.' + + +49. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS AND THE LONG-HAIRED +MEN[364], THE DEFENSORES AND THE CURIALES RESIDING IN SUAVIA[365]. + +[Footnote 364: _Capillatis._ The only passage which throws a light on +this name--and that is a doubtful one--is Jordanes, De Rebus Geticis +xi. After describing the _pileati_, the tiara-wearing priests of the +Getae, he says: 'Reliquam vero gentem capillatos dicere jussit +[Diceneus] quod nomen Gothi pro magno suscipientes adhuc hodie suis +cantionibus reminiscuntur.'] + +[Footnote 365: _Suavia_ is nearly equivalent to the modern Sclavonia, +between the rivers Drave and Save.] + +[Sidenote: Fridibad to be Governor of Suavia, and to punish +freebooters.] + +'The King's orders must be vigorously executed, that terror may be +struck into the hearts of the lawless, and that those who have +suffered violence may begin to hope for better days. Often the threat +of punishment does more to quiet a country than punishment itself. +Therefore, under Divine guidance, we have appointed Fridibad to be +your Governor. + +'He will punish cattle-lifters with due severity, will cut off +murderers, condemn thieves, and render you, who are now torn by +presumptuous iniquity, safe from the daring attempts of villains. Live +like a settled people; live like men who have learned the lessons of +morality; let neither nationality nor rank be alleged as an excuse +from these duties. If any man gives himself up to wicked courses, he +must needs undergo chastisement.' + + +50. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Remission of taxes for Campanians who have suffered from an +eruption of Vesuvius.] + +'The Campanians complain that their fields have been devastated by an +eruption of Vesuvius, and ask in consequence for a remission of +tribute. [This eruption is assigned--I do not know on what +authority--to the year 512[366].] + +[Footnote 366: The passage in Marcellinus Comes, s.a. 512, which at +first sight seems to describe an eruption taking place in that year, +really describes the _commemoration_ of the eruption of 472. See +following note.] + +'Let your Greatness send men of proved integrity to the territories of +Neapolis and Nola, who may examine the ravaged lands for themselves, +and proportion the relief granted, to the amount of damage done in +each case. + +'That Province is visited at intervals by this terrible calamity, as +if to mar its otherwise perfect happiness. There is one favourable +feature in the visitation. It does not come wholly unawares. For some +time before, the mountain groans with the strife of Nature going on +inside it, and it seems as if an angry spirit within would terrify all +the neighbourhood by his mighty roar. Then the air is darkened by its +foul exhalations; hot ashes scudding along the sea, a shower of drops +of dust upon the land, tell to all Italy, to the transmarine +Provinces, to the world, from what calamity Campania is +suffering[367]. + +[Footnote 367: In the eruption of 472 (apparently the last great +eruption previous to 512), the ashes were carried as far as Byzantium, +the inhabitants of which city instituted a yearly religious service in +memory of the event: 'Vesuvius mons Campaniae torridus intestinis +ignibus aestuans exusta evomuit viscera, nocturnisque in die tenebris +incumbentibus, _omnem Europae faciem minuto contexit pulvere_. Hujus +metuendi memoriam cineris Byzantii annue celebrant VIII Idus +Novembris.' The eruption was accompanied by widespread earthquake: 'In +Asia aliquantae civitates vel oppida terrae motu collapsa sunt' +(Marcellinus Comes, sub anno).] + +'Go nearer: you will see as it were rivers of dust flowing, and +glowing streams of barren sand moving over the country. You see and +wonder: the furrows of the fields are suddenly lifted to a level with +the tops of the trees; the country, which but now was dressed in a +robe of gladsome greenness, is laid waste by sudden and mournful heat. +And yet, even those sandy tracts of pumice-stone which the mountain +vomits forth, dry and burnt up as they appear, have their promise of +fertility. There are germs within them which will one day spring to +life, and re-clothe the mountain side which they have wasted. + +'How strange that one mountain alone should thus terrify the whole +world! Other mountains may be seen with silently glowing summits; this +alone announces itself to distant lands by darkened skies and changed +air. So it still goes on, shedding its dusty dews over the land; ever +parting with its substance, yet a mountain still undiminished in +height and amplitude. Who that sees those mighty blocks in the plain +would believe that they had boiled over from the depths of that +distant hill, that they had been tossed like straws upon the wind by +the angry spirit of the mountain? + +'Therefore let your Prudence so manage the enquiry that those who have +really suffered damage shall be relieved, while no room is left for +fraud.' + + +51. KING THEODORIC TO SYMMACHUS, PATRICIAN[368]. + +[Footnote 368: The father-in-law of Boethius.] + +[Sidenote: Commends the public spirit of Symmachus, as shown in the +restoration of Pompey's theatre.] + +Commends him for the diligence and skill with which he has decorated +Rome with new buildings--especially in the suburbs, which no one would +distinguish from the City except for the occasional glimpses of +pleasant fields; and still more for his restoration of the massive +ruins of past days[369], chiefly the theatre of Pompeius. + +[Footnote 369: We have here a striking description of the massive +strength of the public buildings of Rome: '[Videmus] caveas illas +saxis pendentibus apsidatas ita juncturis absconditis in formas +pulcherrimas convenisse, ut cryptas magis excelsi montis crederes quam +aliquid fabricatum esse judicares.'] + +As the letter is addressed to a learned man, it seems a suitable +opportunity to explain why Antiquity reared this mighty pile. +Accordingly a very long digression follows on the origin, progress, +and decline of Tragedy, Comedy, and Pantomime. + +It is remarked incidentally that Pompeius seems to have derived his +appellation _Magnus_ chiefly from the building of this wonderful +theatre. + +The expense which Symmachus has been put to in these vast works is to +be refunded to him by the _Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi_, that he may +still have the glory of the work, but that the King may have done his +due part in preserving the memorials of Antiquity. + + + + +BOOK V. + +CONTAINING FORTY-FOUR LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + +1. KING THEODORIC TO THE KING OF THE VANDALS[370]. + +[Footnote 370: No doubt Thrasamund, who married Theodoric's sister. He +reigned from 496 to 523.] + +[Sidenote: The King of the Vandals is thanked for his presents.] + +'The swords which you have sent us are most beautiful: so sharp that +they will cut other weapons; so bright that they reflect with a sort +of iron light[371] the face of the beholder; with the two blades +descending to their edges with such absolute equality of slope, that +you would fancy them the result of the furnace rather than of the +whetstone[372]; in the middle, between the blades, channels carved +which are filled in with beautiful enamel of various colours[373]. + +[Footnote 371: 'Ut speculum quoddam virorum faciat ferream lucem.'] + +[Footnote 372: 'Quarum margines in acutum tali aequalitate descendunt, +ut non limis compositae, sed igneis fornacibus credantur effusae.'] + +[Footnote 373: 'Harum media pulchris alveis excavata, quibusdam +videntur crispari posse vermiculis, ubi tanta varietatis umbra +concludit, ut intextum magis credas variis coloribus lucidum +metallum.'] + +'Along with these arms you have also sent us musical instruments of +ebony, and slave boys of beautiful whiteness. + +'We thank you heartily, send by A and B, our ambassadors, presents of +equal value; and hope that mutual concord will always unite our +States.' + + +2. KING THEODORIC TO THE HAESTI. + +[Sidenote: The Haesti, dwellers by the Baltic. Their present of +amber.] + +[These are the Aestii of Tacitus, dwelling in or on the south border +of the country which is still called Esthonia. Tacitus also mentions +their quest of amber[374].] + +[Footnote 374: Germ. 45: 'Ergo jam dextro Suevici maris litore +Aestiorum gentes alluuntur, quibus ritus habitusque Suevorum, lingua +Britannicae propior.... Sed et mare scrutantur ac soli omnium sucinum +quod ipsi glesum vocant, inter vada atque in ipso littore legunt.' +Then follows an account of the nature of amber, and a history of its +supposed origin, from which Cassiodorus has borrowed in this letter.] + +'It is gratifying to us to know that you have heard of our fame, and +have sent ambassadors who have pressed through so many strange nations +to seek our friendship. + +'We have received the amber which you have sent us. You say that you +gather this lightest of all substances from the shores of the ocean, +but how it comes thither you know not. But, as an author named +Cornelius [Tacitus] informs us, it is gathered in the innermost +islands of the ocean, being formed originally of the juice of a tree +(whence its name _succinum_[375]), and gradually hardened by the heat +of the sun. + +[Footnote 375: Cassiodorus apparently spells this word with two c's. +The more usual spelling is with one.] + +'Thus it becomes an exuded metal, a transparent softness, sometimes +blushing with the colour of saffron, sometimes glowing with flame-like +clearness[376]. Then, gliding down to the margin of the sea, and +further purified by the rolling of the tides, it is at length +transported to your shores to be cast up upon them. We have thought it +better to point this out to you, lest you should imagine that your +supposed secrets have escaped our knowledge. + +[Footnote 376: 'Modo croceo colore rubens, modo flammea claritate +pinguescens.'] + +'We send you some presents by our ambassadors, and shall be glad to +receive further visits from you by the road which you have thus opened +up, and to show you future favours.' + +[The collection of amber is also noticed by Pliny ('Nat. Hist.' 37. +2). It is interesting to observe that he there, on the authority of +Pytheas, attributes to the Guttones dwelling on the Baltic shore the +collection of amber, and its sale to the Teutones. These Guttones +were, if we are right in accepting Jordanes' account of the Gothic +migrations, themselves ancestors of the Ostrogoths.] + + +3. KING THEODORIC TO HONORATUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, QUAESTOR. + +4. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Honoratus, brother of Decoratus, is made Quaestor.] + +The usual pair of letters on the promotion of Honoratus to the +Quaestorship. He succeeds his brother Decoratus, whose early death +Theodoric regrets. The date of the letters is the Third Indiction, +September 1, 509. + +The writer remarks on the prophetic instinct[377] of the parents, who +named these two sons, destined to future eminence, Decoratus and +Honoratus. Decoratus was originally an advocate at Rome. His services +were often sought by men of Consular rank, and before his admission to +the Senate he had had a Patrician for his client in a very celebrated +case[378]. + +[Footnote 377: We have here a remark on unconscious prophecies: 'Loqui +datur quod nos sensisse nescimus: sed post casum reminiscimur, quod +ignorantes veraciter dixeramus.'] + +[Footnote 378: 'Inferior gradu praestabat viris consularibus se +patronum et cum honoribus vestris impar haberetur, Patricius ei dictus +est in celeberrima cognitione susceptus.' The last part of this +sentence is very obscure.] + +When he became Quaestor he distinguished himself by his excellent +qualities. 'He stood beside us, under the light of our Genius, bold +but reverent; silent at the right time, fluent when there was need of +fluency. He kept our secrets as if he had forgotten them; he +remembered every detail of our orders as if he had written them down. +Thus was he ever an eminent lightener of our labours[379].' + +[Footnote 379: Decoratus is called by Boethius, who was his colleague +in some office, 'a wretched buffoon and informer' (nequissimus scurra +et delator. Cons. Phil. iii. 4). But Ennodius addresses him in +friendly and cordial language (Epist. iv. 17). His epitaph, which +mentions his Spoletan origin, is of course laudatory: + + 'Nam fessis tribuit requiem, miseros que levavit, + Justitiae cultor, largus et hospes erat.' + +(Quoted in the notes to Ennodius in Migne's Patrologia.)] + +The past career of the younger brother, Honoratus, who has been +advocate at Spoleto, and has had to contend with the corrupt +tendencies of Provincial judges, full of their little importance, and +removed from the wholesome control which the opinion of the Senate +exercised upon them at Rome, is then sketched; and the hope is +expressed that, in the words of the Virgilian quotation[380], this +bough upon the family tree will be found as goodly as that which it +has untimely lost. + +[Footnote 380: 'Primo avulso non deficit alter' (Aen. vi. 143).] + +[Sidenote: Duties of the Quaestorship.] + +The letter to the Senate has an interesting passage on the duties and +responsibilities of the Quaestor. + +'It is only men whom we consider to be of the highest learning that we +raise to the dignity of the Quaestorship, such men as are fitted to be +interpreters of the laws and sharers of our counsels. This is an +honour which neither riches nor high birth by itself can procure, only +learning joined with prudence. In granting all other dignities we +confer favours, but from the holder of this we ever receive them. He +is favoured to have a share in our anxieties; he enters in by the +door of our thoughts; he is intimately acquainted with the breast in +which the cares of the whole State are weighed. Think what judgment +you ought to form of a man who is partaker of such a confidence. From +him we require skill in the laws; to him flow together all the prayers +of all suitors, and (a thing more precious than any treasure) to him +is committed our own reputation for _civilitas_. Under a just Quaestor +the mind of an innocent man is at rest: only the wicked become anxious +as to the success of their evil designs; and thus the bad lose their +hope of plunder, while more earnestness is shown in the practice of +virtue. It is his to safeguard the just rights of all men: temperate +in expenditure, lavish in his zeal for justice, incapable of +deception, prompt in succour. He serves that Sovereign mind before +which all bow: through his lips must he speak who has not an equal in +the land.' + + +5. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO MANNILA. + +[Sidenote: Abuses of the Cursus Publicus.] + +Repeats the injunctions given in Letter iv. 47 against improper use of +the public post-horses, and overloading of the extra horses. The fines +imposed are the same as in that letter [with the addition of a fine of +two ounces of gold (about £6 10s.) for overloading]; the examples from +Natural History are similar. 'The very bird when weighted with a load +flies slowly. Ships though they cannot feel their toils, yet move +tardily when they are filled with cargo. What can the poor quadruped +do when pressed by too great burden? It succumbs.' + +But apparently this rule against overloading is not to apply to +Praepositi (Provincial Governors?), since 'reverenda antiquitas' has +given them special rights over the _Cursus Publicus_. + + +6. KING THEODORIC TO STABULARIUS, COMITIACUS[381]. + +[Footnote 381: Officer of the Court. See vi. 13.] + +7. KING THEODORIC TO JOANNES, VIR CLARISSIMUS, ARCARIUS [TREASURER]. + +[Sidenote: Default in payments to Treasury made by Thomas. His +property assigned to his son-in-law Joannes.] + +'The _Vir Honestus_, Thomas, has long been a defaulter (reliquator) in +respect of the Indictions payable for certain farms which he has held +under the King's house in Apulia[382], and this default has now +reached the sum of 10,000 solidi (£6,000). Repeatedly summoned to pay, +he always procrastinates, and we can get no satisfaction out of him. +The petition of Joannes, who is son-in-law to Thomas, informs us that +he is willing to pay the 10,000 solidi due, if we will make over to +him the said farms, and all the property of his father-in-law. This we +therefore now do, reserving to Thomas the right to pay the debt at any +time before the next Kalends of September, and thus to redeem his +property. Failing such payment, the property is to pass finally into +the hands of Joannes, on his paying the 10,000 solidi to the +Illustrious Count of the Patrimony [possibly Stabularius]. + +[Footnote 382: 'Thomatem domus nostrae certa praedia suscepisse sed +eum male administrando suscepta usque ad decem millia solidorum de +Indictionibus illa atque illa reliquatorem publicis rationibus +extitisse.' It is not quite clear whether the debt is due as what we +should call rent or as land-tax. Perhaps the debt had accumulated +under both heads.] + +'It may be some little consolation to Thomas to reflect that after all +it is his son-in-law who enters into possession of his goods.' + +[Dahn ('Könige der Germanen' iii. 277) remarks on this letter: 'But +even the well-meaning Theodoric takes steps in the interests of +substantial justice which from a juristic point of view it would be +hard to justify.... Evidently here the King, in his consideration of +what was practically just, has decided according to caprice, not +according to right; for the Fiscus could strictly only be repaid its +debt out of the property of the defaulter, and hold the Arcarius +(Joannes) responsible for the balance' (for which Dahn thinks he had +already made himself liable). I do not quite agree with this view. It +seems to me that Thomas was hopelessly bankrupt (the debt was 10,000 +solidi, not 1,000, as stated by Dahn), and the Fiscus virtually sells +the bankrupt's estate to his son-in-law, for him to make of it what he +can.] + + +8. KING THEODORIC TO ANASTASIUS THE CONSULAR. + +[Sidenote: Transport of marble from Faenza to Ravenna.] + +'We rely upon your Sublimity's zeal and prudence to see that the +required blocks of marble are forwarded from Faventia (Faenza) to +Ravenna, without any extortion from private individuals; so that, on +the one hand, our desire for the adornment of that city may be +gratified, and on the other, there may be no cause for complaint on +the part of our subjects.' + + +9. KING THEODORIC TO THE POSSESSORES OF FELTRIA. + +[Sidenote: New city to be built in district of Trient.] + +'We have ordered the erection of a new city in the territory of +Tridentum (Trient). As the work is great and the inhabitants few, we +order you all to assist and build each your appointed length +(pedatura) of wall, for which you will receive suitable pay.' + +[This use of the word _pedatura_ is found in Vegetius, 'Epitoma Rei +Militaris' iii. 8, and is illustrated by the centurial stones on the +two great Roman walls in Britain, recording the number of feet +accomplished by each century of soldiers (See 'Archaeologia Aeliana,' +vol. ix. p. 28; paper by Mr. Clayton).] + +'None, not even the servants of the royal house (divina domus), are +excepted from this order.' + + +10. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO VERANUS. + +11. KING THEODORIC TO THE GEPIDAE, ON THEIR MARCH TO GAUL. + +[Sidenote: Payment to Gepidae on their march to Gaul.] + +'We desire that our soldiers should always be well paid, and that they +should never become the terror of the country which they are ordered +to defend. Do you therefore, Sajo Veranus, cause the Gepid troops whom +we have ordered to come to the defence of Gaul, to march in all peace +and quietness through Venetia and Liguria. + +'You Gepidae shall receive three solidi (£1 16s.) per week; and we +trust that thus supplied you will everywhere buy your provisions, and +not take them by force. + +'We generally give the soldiers their pay in kind, but in this case, +for obvious reasons, we think it better to pay them in money, and let +them buy for themselves. + +'If their waggons are becoming shaky with the long journey, or their +beasts of burden weary, let them exchange for sound waggons and fresh +beasts with the inhabitants of the country, but on such terms that the +latter shall not regret the transaction.' + +[Does this payment of three solidi mean per head? That would be an +enormously high rate of pay. Sartorius (p. 289) feels the difficulty +so strongly that he suggests that this was the pay given to the whole +troop, whose number was not large; but 'multitudo' seems hostile to +this hypothesis[383]. Possibly the high cost of provisions in the +Alpine mountain-country may help to explain this unheard-of rate of +pay to common soldiers.] + +[Footnote 383: 'Ut multitudinem Gepidarum quam fecimus ad Gallias +custodiae causâ properare, per Venetiam atque Liguriam sub omni facias +moderatione transire.'] + + +12. KING THEODORIC TO THEODAHAD, VIR ILLUSTRIS [NEPHEW OF THE KING]. + +[Sidenote: Avarice and injustice of Theodahad.] + +'If all are bound to seek justice and to avoid ignoble gains, most +especially are they thus bound who pride themselves on their close +relationship to us. + +'The heirs of the Illustrious Argolicus [probably the Praefect of +Rome] and the Clarissimus Amandianus complain that the estate[384] of +Palentia, which we generously gave them to console them for the loss +of the Casa Arbitana, has been by your servants, for no cause, +unbecomingly invaded; and thus you, who should have shown an example +of glorious moderation, have caused the scandal of high-handed +spoliation. Wherefore, if this be true, let your Greatness at once +restore what has been taken away; and if you consider that you have +any claims on the land, come and assert them in our Comitatus. Even +success yonder is injurious to your fame; but here, after full trial +of the case and hearing of witnesses, no one will believe that any +injustice has been done if your cause should triumph.' + +[Footnote 384: 'Massa;' cf. the American 'block.'] + +[The republication of this letter at the close of his official life +shows what was Cassiodorus' opinion of Theodahad, though he had served +under him.] + + +13. KING THEODORIC TO EUTROPIUS AND ACRETIUS. + +[Sidenote: Commissariat.] + +'We rely upon you to collect the prescribed rations and deliver them +to the soldiers. It is most important that they should be regularly +supplied, and that there should be no excuse for pillage, so hard to +check when once an army has begun to practise it.' + + +14. KING THEODORIC TO SEVERI(A)NUS[385], VIR ILLUSTRIS (514-515). + +[Footnote 385: In the next letter the same official is called +Severinus.] + +[Sidenote: Financial abuses in Suavia.] + +'We send you to redress the long-standing grievances of the +Possessores of the Province of Suavia, to which we have not yet been +able to apply a remedy. + +'(1) It appears that some of the chief Possessores are actually making +a profit out of the taxes, imposing heavy burdens on their poorer +neighbours and not honestly accounting for the receipts to us. See +that this is put right, that the land-tax (assis[386] publicus) is +fairly and equitably reimposed according to the ability of each +Possessor, and that those who have been oppressing their neighbours +heal the wounds which they have made. + +[Footnote 386: Cassiodorus uses the rare nominative form 'assis.'] + +'(2) See also that a strict account is rendered by all Defensores, +Curiales, and Possessores of any receipts on behalf of the public +Treasury. If a Possessor can show that he paid his tax (tributarius +solidus) for the now expired eighth Indiction (A.D. 514-515), and the +money has not reached our Treasury, find out the defaulter and punish +his crime. + +'(3) Similarly with sums disbursed by one of the clerks of our +Treasury[387], for the relief of the Province, which have not reached +their destination. + +[Footnote 387: 'Tabularius a cubiculo nostro.'] + +'(4) Men who were formerly Barbarians[388], who have married Roman +wives and acquired property in land, are to be compelled to pay their +Indictions and other taxes to the public Treasury just like any other +Provincials. + +[Footnote 388: 'Antiqui Barbari qui Romanis mulieribus elegerint +nuptiali foedere sociari, quolibet titulo praedia quaesiverint, fiscum +possessi cespitis persolvere, ac super indictitiis oneribus parere +cogantur.'] + +'(5) Judges are to visit each town (municipium) once in the year, and +are not entitled to claim from such towns more than three days' +maintenance. Our ancestors wished that the circuits of the Judges +should be a benefit, not a burden, to the Provincials. + +'(6) It is alleged that some of the servants of the Count of the Goths +and of the Vice-dominus (?) have levied black-mail on some of the +Provincials. Property so taken must be at once restored and the +offenders punished. + +'(7) Enter all your proceedings under this commission in official +registers (polyptycha), both for your own protection and for the sake +of future reference, to prevent the recurrence of similar abuses.' + +[A long and interesting letter, but with some obscure passages.] + + +15. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE POSSESSORES IN SUAVIA. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +'Although our Comitatus is always ready to redress the grievances of +our subjects, yet, on account of the length of the journey from your +Province hither, we have thought good to send the Illustrious and +Magnificent Severinus to you to enquire into your complaints on the +spot. He is a man fully imbued with our own principles of government, +and he has seen how greatly we have at heart the administration of +justice. We therefore doubt not that he will soon put right whatever +has been done wrong in your Province; and we have published our +"oracles" [the previous letter, containing Severinus' patent of +appointment], that all may know upon what principles he is to act, and +that those who have grievances against the present functionaries may +learn their rights.' + + +16. KING THEODORIC TO ABUNDANTIUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Formation of a navy.] + +'By Divine inspiration we have determined to raise a navy which may +both ensure the arrival of the cargoes of public corn and may, if +need be, combat the ships of an enemy. For, that Italy, a country +abounding in timber, should not have a navy of her own hath often +stricken us with regret. + +'Let your Greatness therefore give directions for the construction of +1,000 _dromones_ (swift cutters). Wherever cypresses and pines are +found near to the sea-shore, let them be bought at a suitable price. + +'Then as to the levy of sailors: any fitting man, if a slave, must be +hired of his master, or bought at a reasonable price. If free, he is +to receive 5 solidi (£3) as donative, and will have his rations during +the term of service. + +'Even those who were slaves are to be treated in the same way, "since +it is a kind of freedom to serve the Ruler of the State[389];" and are +to receive, according to their condition, two or three solidi (£1 4s. +or £1 16s.) of bounty money[390]. + +[Footnote 389: 'Quando libertatis genus est servire Rectori.'] + +[Footnote 390: 'Arrharum nomine.'] + +'Fishermen, however, are not to be enlisted in this force, since we +lose with regret one whose vocation it is to provide us with luxuries; +and moreover one kind of training is required for him who has to face +the stormy wind, and another for him who need only fish close to +shore.' + + +17. KING THEODORIC TO ABUNDANTIUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +'We praise you for your prompt fulfilment of the orders contained in +the previous letter. You have built a fleet almost as quickly as +ordinary men would sail one. The model of the triremes, revealing the +number of the rowers but concealing their faces, was first furnished +by the Argonauts. So too the sail, that flying sheet[391] which wafts +idle men to their destination quicker than swiftest birds can fly, +was first invented by the lorn Isis, when she set off on her +wanderings through the world to find her lost son Apochran. + +[Footnote 391: 'Linum volatile.'] + +'Now that we have our fleet, there is no need for the Greek to fasten +a quarrel upon us, or for the African [the Vandal] to insult us[392]. +With envy they see that we have now stolen from them the secret of +their strength. + +[Footnote 392: 'Non habet quod nobis Graecus imputet aut Afer +insultet.'] + +'Let all the fleet be assembled at Ravenna on the next Ides of June. +Let our own Padus send his home-born navy to the sea, his +river-nurtured firs to battle with the winds of Ocean. + +'But there is one suggestion of yours of great importance, and which +must be diligently acted upon, namely the removal of the nets whereby +the fishermen at present impede the channels of the following rivers: +Mincius, Ollius (Oglio), Anser (Serchio), Arno, Tiber. Let the river +lie open for the transit of ships; let it suffice for the appetite of +man to seek for delicacies in the ordinary way, not by rustic artifice +to hinder the freedom of the stream.' + + +18. KING THEODORIC TO UVILIAS [WILLIAS?], VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COUNT OF +THE PATRIMONY. + +19. KING THEODORIC TO GUDINAND, A SAJO. + +20. KING THEODORIC TO AVILF, A SAJO. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +These three letters all relate to the same subject as the two +preceding ones--the formation of a navy, and the _rendezvous_ of ships +and sailors at Ravenna on the Ides of June. + +The Count of the Patrimony is courteously requested to see if there is +any timber suitable for the purposes of the navy, growing in the royal +estates along the banks of the Po. + +The Sajones are ordered in more brusque and peremptory fashion: +Gudinand to collect the sailors at Ravenna on the appointed day; and +Avilf to collect timber along the banks of the Po, with as little +injury to the Possessors as possible (not, however, apparently paying +them anything for it), to keep his hands clean from extortion and +fraud, and to pull up the stake-nets in the channels of the five +rivers mentioned in Letter 17; 'for we all know that men ought to fish +with nets, not with hedges, and the opposite practice shows detestable +greediness.' + + +21. KING THEODORIC TO CAPUANUS, SENATOR. + +22. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Capuanus appointed Rector Decuriarum.] + +[On the appointment of Capuanus to the office of Rector of the Guilds +(Rector Decuriarum). The Guilds (Decuriae) of the City of Rome--not to +be confounded with the Provincial _Curiae_, membership in which was at +this time a burden rather than an advantage--enjoyed several special +privileges. We find from the Theodosian Code, Lib. xiv. Tit. 1, that +there were Decuriae of the _Librarii_, _Fiscales_, _Censuales_. The +_Decuria Scribarum_ is perhaps the same as the _Decuria Librariorum_. +I use the word Guilds, which seems best to describe a body of this +kind; but it will be seen from their names that these Guilds are not +of a commercial character, but are rather concerned with the +administration of justice. Some of them must have discharged the +duties of attorneys, others of Inland Revenue officers, others acted +as clerks to register the proceedings of the Senate, others performed +the mere mechanical work of copying, which is now undertaken by a law +stationer. + +It was ordained by a law of Constantius and Julian (357) that no one +should enter the first class in these Decuriae[393] unless he were a +trained and practised literary man. + +[Footnote 393: 'Locum primi ordinis.'] + +The office which in the Theodosian Code is called _Judex Decuriarum_ +seems here to be called _Rector_.] + +The young Capuanus has distinguished himself as a advocate both before +the Senate and other tribunals. There has been a certain diffidence +and hesitation in his manner, especially when he was dealing with +common subjects; but he always warmed with his peroration, and the +same man who even stammered in discussing some trifling detail became +fluent, nay eloquent, when the graver interests of his client were at +stake. When he saw that the Judge was against him he did not lose +heart, but, by praising his justice and impartiality, gradually coaxed +him into a more favourable mood. On one memorable occasion, when a +certain document was produced which appeared hostile, he boldly +challenged the accuracy of the copy [made probably by one of the +_Decuria Librariorum_] and insisted on seeing the original. This young +advocate is now appointed _Rector Decuriarum_, and thus accorded the +privilege of seniority over many men who are much older than himself. +He is exhorted to treat them with all courtesy, to remember the +importance of accuracy and fidelity in the execution of his duties and +those of the _Decuriales_ under him, on whose correct transcription of +documents the property, the liberty, nay even the life of their +fellow-subjects may depend. Especially he is exhorted to remember his +own challenge of the accuracy of a copied document, that he may not +ever find that memorable oration of his brought up against himself. + +The Senate is exhorted to give the young official a kindly welcome. It +will now devolve upon him to report with praiseworthy accuracy the +proceedings of that body, the most celebrated in the whole world. He +who has often pleaded before them the cause of the humble and weak, +will now have to introduce Consulars to their assembly. It is expected +that his eloquence will grow and his stammer will disappear, now that +he is clothed with a more dignified office. 'Freedom nourishes words, +but fear frequently interrupts their plenteous flow.' + + +23. KING THEODORIC TO ABUNDANTIUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Archery drill.] + +'Tata the Sajo is ordered to proceed to the Illustrious Count Julian, +with the young archers whom he has drilled, that they may practise on +the field the lessons which they have learned in the gymnasium. Let +your Greatness provide them with rations and ships according to +custom.' [The place to which this expedition was directed does not +seem to be stated.] + + +24. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATOR EPIPHANIUS, CONSULARIS OF DALMATIA. + +[Sidenote: Property of a widow dying intestate and without heirs to be +claimed for the State.] + +'We are informed that Joanna, the wife of Andreas, having succeeded to +her husband's estate, has died intestate without heirs. Her property +ought therefore to lapse to our Treasury[394], but it is being +appropriated, so we are informed, by divers persons who have no claim +to it. + +[Footnote 394: 'Quia caduca bona fisco nostro competere legum cauta +decreverunt.'] + +'Enquire into this matter; and if it be as we are informed, reclaim +for our Treasury so legitimate a possession. We should consider +ourselves guilty of negligence if we omitted to take possession of +that which, without harming anyone, so obviously comes in to lighten +the public burdens. + +'But if you find the facts different to these, by all means leave the +present owners in quiet possession. The secure enjoyment by our +subjects of that which is lawfully theirs we hold to be our truest +patrimony.' + + +25. KING THEODORIC TO BACAUDA[395], VIR SUBLIMIS. + +[Footnote 395: The name is a peculiar one, reminding us of the +Bacaudae, who for more than a century waged a sort of servile war in +Gaul against the officers of the Empire. It is not probable, however, +that there is any real connection between them and the receiver of +this letter.] + +[Sidenote: Bacauda receives the office of Tribunus Voluptatum for +life.] + +'By way of support for your declining years we appoint you, for life, +_Tribunus Voluptatum_ [Minister of Public Amusement] at Milan. + +'It is a new principle in the public service[396] to give any man a +life-tenure of his office; but you will now not have to fear the +interference of any successor, and your mind being at ease about your +own future, you will be able to minister to the pleasures of the +people with a smiling face.' + +[Footnote 396: 'Quod est in Reipublicae _militiâ_ novum.' Observe the +use of militia for civil service.] + + +26. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHS SETTLED IN PICENUM AND SAMNIUM. + +[Sidenote: The Goths summoned to the royal presence.] + +'The presence of the Sovereign doubles the sweetness of his gifts, and +that man is like one dead whose face is not known to his lord[397]. +Come therefore by God's assistance, come all into our presence on the +eighth day before the Ides of June (June 6th), there solemnly to +receive our royal largesse. But let there be no excesses by the way, +no plundering the harvest of the cultivators nor trampling down their +meadows, since for this cause do we gladly defray the expense of our +armies that _civilitas_ may be kept intact by armed men.' + +[Footnote 397: 'Nam pene similis est mortuo qui a suo Dominante +nescitur.' A motto more suited to the presence-chamber of Byzantium +than the camp-fires of a Gothic King.] + + +27. KING THEODORIC TO GUDUIM, SAJO. + +[Sidenote: The same.] + +'Order all the captains of thousands[398] of Picenum and Samnium to +come to our Court, that we may bestow the wonted largesse on our +Goths. We enquire diligently into the deeds of each of our soldiers, +that none may lose the credit of any exploit which he has performed in +the field. On the other hand, let the coward tremble at the thought of +coming into our presence. Even this fear may hereafter make him brave +against the enemy.' + +[Footnote 398: 'Millenarii.' Cf. the [Greek: chiliarchoi], who, as +Procopius tells us, were appointed by Gaiseric over the Vandals; also +the _thusundifaths_ of Ulfilas.] + + +28. KING THEODORIC TO CARINUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: Invitation to Court.] + +'Granting your request, and also satisfying our own desire for your +companionship, we invite you to our Court.' + + +29. KING THEODORIC TO NEUDES, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: A blind Gothic warrior enslaved.] + +'Our pity is greatly moved by the petition of Ocer, a blind Goth, who +has come by the help of borrowed sight to _feel_ the sweetness of our +clemency, though he cannot see our presence. + +'He asserts that he, a free Goth, who once followed our armies, has, +owing to his misfortune, been reduced to slavery by Gudila and Oppas. +Strange excess of impudence to make that man their servant, before +whose sword they had assuredly trembled had he possessed his eyesight! +He pleads that Count Pythias has already pronounced against the claims +of his pretended masters. If you find that this is so, restore him at +once to freedom, and warn those men not to dare to repeat their +oppression of the unfortunate.' + + +30. KING THEODORIC TO GUDUI[M], VIR SUBLIMIS [AND DUX]. + +[Sidenote: Servile tasks imposed on free Goths by a Duke.] + +'We expect those whom we choose as Dukes to work righteousness. +Costula and Daila, men who by the blessing of God rejoice in the +freedom of our Goths, complain that servile tasks are imposed upon +them by you. We do not do this ourselves, nor will we allow anyone +else to do it. If you find that the grievance is correctly stated +rectify it at once, or our anger will turn against the Duke who thus +abuses his power.' + + +31. KING THEODORIC TO DECORATUS, VIR DEVOTUS (?). + +[For the career of Decoratus see v. 3 and 4.] + +[Sidenote: Arrears of Siliquaticum to be enforced.] + +'Thomas, Vir Clarissimus, complains that he cannot collect the arrears +of Siliquaticum from certain persons in Apulia and Calabria. + +'Do you therefore summon Mark the Presbyter, Andreas, Simeonius, and +the others whose names are set forth in the accompanying schedule, to +come into your presence, using no unnecessary force[399] in your +summons. If they cannot clear themselves of this debt to the public +Treasury, they must be forced to pay.' + +[Footnote 399: 'Servata in omnibus civilitate.'] + +[The arrears are said to be for the 8th, 9th, 11th, 1st, 2nd, and 15th +Indictiones; i.e. probably for the years 500, 501, 503, 508, 509, 507. +I cannot account for this curious order in which the years are +arranged, which seems to suggest some corruption of the text. Probably +this letter was written about 509.] + + +32. KING THEODORIC TO BRANDILA (CIR. 508-9). + +[See remarks on this letter in Dahn ('Könige der Germanen' iv. +149-152); he claims it as a proof that Gothic law still existed for +the Goths in Italy.] + +[Sidenote: Assault of the wife of Brandila on the wife of Patzenes.] + +'Times without number has Patzenes laid his complaint upon us, to wit +that while he was absent on the recent successful expedition[400] your +wife Procula fell upon his wife [Regina], inflicted upon her three +murderous blows, and finally left her for dead, the victim having only +escaped by the supposed impossibility of her living. Now therefore, if +you acknowledge the fact to be so, you are to consult your own honour +by inflicting summary punishment as a husband on your wife, that we +may not hear of this complaint again[401]. But if you deny the fact, +you are to bring your said wife to our Comitatus and there prove her +innocence.' + +[Footnote 400: Into Gaul; see next letter.] + +[Footnote 401: 'Atque ideo decretis te praesentibus admonemus, ut si +factum evidenter agnoscis, delatam querimoniam, pudori tuo consulens, +_maritali districtione redarguas_; quatenus ex eâdem causâ ad nos +querela justa non redeat.'] + + +33. KING THEODORIC TO DUKE WILITANCH. + +[Containing the explanation of Procula's violence to Regina]. + +[Sidenote: Adulterous connection between Brandila and the wife of +Patzenes.] + +'Patzenes brings before us a most serious complaint: that during his +absence in the Gaulish campaign, Brandila dared to form an adulterous +connection with his wife Regina, and to go through the form of +marriage with her. + +'Whose honour will be safe if advantage is thus to be taken with +impunity of the absense of a brave defender of his country? Alas for +the immodesty of women! They might learn virtue even from the chaste +example of the cooing turtle-dove, who when once deprived by +misfortune of her mate, never pairs again with another. + +'Let your Sublimity compel the parties accused to come before you for +examination, and if the charge be true, if these shameless ones were +speculating on the soldier of the Republic not returning from the +wars, if they were hoping, as they must have hoped, for general +collapse and ruin in order to hide their shame, then proceed against +them as our laws against adulterers dictate[402], and thus vindicate +the rights of all husbands.' + +[Footnote 402: 'Et rerum veritate discussâ _sicut jura nostra +praecipiunt_, in adulteros maritorum favore resecetur.'] + +[If these laws were, as is probable, those contained in the _Edictum +Theodorici_, the punishment for both the guilty parties was death, § +38, 39.] + + +34. KING THEODORIC TO ABUNDANTIUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Endless evasions of Frontosus. The nature of the +chameleon.] + +'Frontosus, acting worthily of his name [the shameless-browed one], +confessed to having embezzled a large sum of public money, but +promised that, if a sufficient interval were allowed him, he would +repay it. Times without number has this interval expired and been +renewed, and still he does not pay. When he is arrested he trembles +with fear, and will promise anything; as soon as he is liberated he +seems to forget every promise that he has made. He changes his words, +like the chameleon, that little creature which in the shape of a +serpent is distinguished by a gold-coloured head, and has all the rest +of its body of a pale green. This little beast when it meets the gaze +of men, not being gifted with speed of flight, confused with its +excess of timidity, changes its colours in marvellous variety, now +azure, now purple, now green, now dark blue. The chameleon, again, may +be compared to the Pandian gem [sapphire?], which flashes with all +sorts of lights and colours while you hold it still in your hand. + +'Such then is the mind of Frontosus. He may be rightly compared to +Proteus, who when he was laid hold of, appeared in every shape but his +own, roared as a lion, hissed as a serpent, or foamed away in watery +waves, all in order to conceal his true shape of man. + +'Since this is his character, when you arrest him, first stop his +mouth from promising, for his facile nature is ready with all sorts of +promises which he has no chance of performing. Then ascertain what he +can really pay at once, and keep him bound till he does it. He must +not be allowed to think that he can get the better of us with his +tricks.' + + +35. KING THEODORIC TO COUNT LUVIRIT, AND AMPELIUS. + +[Sidenote: Fraudulent ship-owners to be punished.] + +'When we were in doubt about the food supply of Rome, we judged it +proper that Spain should send her cargoes of wheat hither, and the Vir +Spectabilis Marcian collected supplies there for this purpose. His +industry, however, was frustrated by the greed of the shipowners, who, +disliking the necessary delay, slipped off and disposed of the grain +for their own profit. Little as we like harshness, this offence must +be punished. We have therefore directed Catellus and Servandus (Viri +Strenui) to collect from these shipmasters the sum of 1,038 solidi +(£622 16s.), inasmuch as they appear to have received: + +'From the sale of the corn 280 solidi. +'And from the fares of passengers 758 " + ------ + '1,038 " + +'Let your Sublimity assist in the execution of this order.' + + +36. KING THEODORIC TO STARCEDIUS, VIR SUBLIMIS. + +[Sidenote: Honourable discharge.] + +'You tell us that your body, wearied out with continual labour, is no +longer equal to the fatigues of our glorious campaigns, and you +therefore ask to be released from the necessity of further military +service. We grant your request, but stop your donative; because it is +not right that you should consume the labourer's bread in idleness. We +shall extend to you our protection from the snares of your +adversaries, and allow no one to call you a deserter, since you are +not one[403].' + +[Footnote 403: This is perhaps a specimen of the 'honesta missio' of +which we read in the Theodosian Code xii. 1. 43, 45.] + + +37. KING THEODORIC TO THE JEWS OF MILAN. + +[Sidenote: Rights of the Jewish Synagogue not to be invaded by +Christians.] + +'For the preservation of _civilitas_ the benefits of justice are not +to be denied even to those who are recognised as wandering from the +right way in matters of faith. + +'You complain that you are often wantonly attacked, and that the +rights pertaining to your synagogue are disregarded[404]. We therefore +give you the needed protection of our Mildness, and ordain that no +ecclesiastic shall trench on the privileges of your synagogue, nor mix +himself up in your affairs. But let the two communities keep apart, as +their faiths are different: you on your part not attempting to do +anything _incivile_ against the rights of the said Church. + +[Footnote 404: 'Nonnullorum vos frequenter causamini praesumptione +laceratos et quae ad synagogam vestram pertinent perhibetis jura +rescindi.'] + +'The law of thirty years' prescription, which is a world-wide +custom[405], shall enure for your benefit also. + +[Footnote 405: 'Tricennalis humano generi patrona praescriptio vobis +jure servabitur; nec conventionalia vos irrationabiliter praecipimus +sustinere dispendia.' I do not know what is meant by 'conventionalia +dispendia.'] + +'But why, oh Jew, dost thou petition for peace and quietness on earth +when thou canst not find that rest which is eternal[406]?' + +[Footnote 406: 'Sed quid, Judaeo, supplicans temporalem quietem +quaeris si aeternam requiem invenire non possis.'] + + +38. KING THEODORIC TO ALL CULTIVATORS[407]. + +[Footnote 407: 'Universis Possessoribus.'] + +[Sidenote: Shrubs obstructing the aqueduct of Ravenna to be rooted +up.] + +'The aqueducts are an object of our special care. We desire you at +once to root up the shrubs growing in the Signine Channel[408], which +will before long become big trees scarcely to be hewn down with the +axe, and which interfere with the purity of the water in the aqueduct +of Ravenna. Vegetation is the peaceable overturner of buildings, the +battering-ram which brings them to the ground, though the trumpets +never sound for siege. + +[Footnote 408: Where was this? Signia in Latium is, of course, not to +be thought of.] + +'We shall now again have baths that we may look upon with pleasure; +water which will cleanse, not stain; water after using which we shall +not require to wash ourselves again; drinking-water such that the mere +sight of it will not take away all our appetite for food[409].' + +[Footnote 409: The scarcity of water at Ravenna was proverbial.] + + +39. KING THEODORIC TO AMPELIUS AND LIVERIA[410]. + +[Footnote 410: Cf. the somewhat similar letter to Severinus, Special +Commissioner for Suavia (v. 14).] + +[Sidenote: Sundry abuses in the administration of the Spanish +government to be rectified.] + +'That alone is the true life of men which is controlled by the reign +of law. + +'We regret to hear that through the capricious extortions of our +revenue-officers anarchy is practically prevailing in Spain. The +public registers (polyptycha), not the whim of the collector, ought to +measure the liability of the Provincial. + +'We therefore send your Sublimity to Spain in order to remedy these +disorders. + +'(1) Murder must be put down with a strong hand; but the sharper the +punishment is made the more rigid we ought to be in requiring proof of +the crime[411]. + +[Footnote 411: 'Homicidii scelus legum jubemus auctoritate resecari: +sed quantum vehementior poena est tanto ejus rei debet inquisitio plus +haberi: ne amore vindictae innocentes videantur vitae pericula +sustinere.'] + +'(2) The collectors of the land-tax (assis publicus) are accused of +using false weights [in collecting the quotas of produce from the +Provincials]. This must cease, and they must use none but the standard +weights kept by our Chamberlain[412]. + +[Footnote 412: 'Libra cubiculi nostri.'] + +'(3) The farmers[413] of our Royal domain must pay the rent imposed on +them, otherwise they will get to look on the farms as their own +property; but certain salaries may be paid them for their trouble, as +you shall think fit[414]. [Dahn suggests that the salary was to +reimburse them for their labours as a kind of local police, but is +not himself satisfied with this explanation.] + +[Footnote 413: 'Conductores domus Regiae.'] + +[Footnote 414: 'Et ne cuiquam labor suus videatur ingratus, salaria +eis pro qualitate locatae rei, vestrâ volumus aequitate constitui.'] + +'(4) Import duties[415] are to be regularly collected and honestly +paid over. + +[Footnote 415: 'Transmarinorum canon.'] + +'(5) The officers of the mint are not to make their private gains out +of the coinage.' + +(6) An obscure sentence as to the 'Canon telonei' [from the Greek +[Greek: telônês], a tax-gatherer. Garet reads 'Tolonei,' which is +probably an error]. + +(7) The same as to the _Actus Laeti_, whose conscience is assailed by +the grossest imputations. [Laetus is perhaps the name of an official.] + +'(8) Those concerned in _furtivae actiones_, and their accomplices, +are to disgorge the property thus acquired. + +'(9) Those who have received _praebendae_ [apparently official +allowances charged on the Province] are, with detestable injustice, +claiming them _both_ in money and in kind. This must be put a stop to: +of course the one mode of payment is meant to be alternative to the +other. + +'(10) The Exactores (Collectors) are said to be extorting from the +Provincials more than they pay into our chamber (_cubiculum_). Let +this be carefully examined into, and let the payment exacted be the +same that was fixed in the times of Alaric and Euric. + +'(11) The abuse of claiming extortions (_paraveredi_) by those who +have a right to use the public posts must be repressed. + +'(12) The defence of the Provincials by the _Villici_ is so costly, +and seems to be so unpopular, that we remove it altogether.' [For this +_tuitio villici_, see Dahn iii. 131; but he is not able to throw much +light on the nature of the office of the _Villicus_.] + +'(13) Degrading services (servitia famulatus) are not to be claimed of +our free-born Goths, although they may be residents in cities[416].' + +[Footnote 416: Cf. the 30th letter of this book.] + +[This very long letter is one of great importance, but also of great +difficulty.] + + +40. KING THEODORIC TO CYPRIAN, COUNT OF THE SACRED LARGESSES. + +[This Cyprian is the accuser of Albinus and Boethius.] + + +41. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[On Cyprian's appointment to the above office, 524.] + +[Sidenote: Promotion of Cyprian to the Comitiva Sacrarum Largitionum.] + +The usual pair of letters setting forth the merits of the new +official. The Senate is congratulated on the fact that the King never +presents to a place in that body a mere tyro in official life, but +always himself first tests the servants of the State, and rewards with +a place in the Senate only those who have shown themselves worthy of +it. + +Cyprian is the son of a man of merit, Opilio, who in the times of the +State's ill-fortune was chosen to a place in the royal household[417]. +He was not able, owing to the wretchedness of the times, to do much +for his son. The difference between the fortunes of father and son is +the measure of the happy change introduced by the rule of Theodoric. + +[Footnote 417: 'Vir quidem abjectis temporibus ad excubias tamen +Palatinas electus.' The time of Odovacar's government is here alluded +to (see viii. 17). An Opilio, probably father of the one here +mentioned, was Consul under Valentinian III in 453.] + +In some subordinate capacity in the King's final Court of Appeal +(probably as _Referendarius_[418]) Cyprian has hitherto had the duty +of stating the cases of the hostile litigants. He has shown wonderful +dexterity in suddenly stating the same case from the two opposite +points of view[419], and this so as to satisfy even the requirements +of the litigants themselves. + +[Footnote 418: Anonymus Valesii says: 'Cyprianus, qui tunc +Referendarius erat postea Comes Sacrarum et Magister,' § 85.] + +[Footnote 419: 'Nam cum oratoribus sit propositum diu tractata unius +partis vota dicere, tibi semper necesse fuit repentinum negotium +utroque latere declarare.'] + +Often the King has transacted business in his rides which used of old +to be brought before a formal Consistory. He has mounted his horse, +when weary with the cares of the Republic, to renew his vigour by +exercise and change of scene. In these rides he has been accompanied +by Cyprian, who has in such a lively manner stated the cases which had +come up on appeal, that an otherwise tedious business was turned into +a pleasure. Even when the King was most moved to wrath by what seemed +to him a thoroughly bad cause, he still appreciated the charm of the +Advocate's style in setting it before him. Thus has Cyprian had that +most useful of all trainings, action, not books. + +Thus prepared he was sent on an embassy to the East, a commission +which he discharged with conspicuous ability. Versed in three +languages (Greek, Roman, Gothic?), he found that Greece had nothing to +show him that was new; and as for subtlety, he was a match for the +keenest of the Greeks. The Emperor's presence had nothing in it to +make him hesitating or confused. Why should it, since he had seen and +pleaded before Theodoric[420]? + +[Footnote 420: 'Talibus igitur institutis edoctus, Eoae sumpsisti +legationis officium, missus ad summae quidem peritiae viros: sed nulla +inter eos confusus es trepidatione _quia nihil tibi post nos potuit +esse mirabile_. Instructus enim trifariis linguis, non tibi Graecia +quod novum ostentaret invenit; nec ipsâ quâ nimium praevalet, te +transcendit argutiâ.'] + +In addition to all these other gifts he possesses _faith_, that anchor +of the soul amidst the waves of a stormy world. + +He is therefore called upon to assume at the third Indiction [524-525] +the office of Count of the Sacred Largesses, and exhorted to bear +himself therein worthily of his parentage and his past career, that +the King may afterwards promote him to yet higher honour. + +[For further remarks on this letter--a very important one, as bearing +on the trial of Boethius--see viii. 16. The third Indiction might mean +either 509-510 or 524-525; but the statement of 'Anomymus Valesii,' +that Cyprian was still only Referendarius at the time of his +accusation of Albinus, warrants us in fixing on the later date. This +makes the encomiums conferred in this letter more significant, since +they must have been bestowed _after_ the delation against Albinus and +Boethius. Probably it was during Cyprian's embassy to Constantinople +(described in this letter) that he discovered these intrigues of the +Senators with the Byzantine Court, which he denounced on his return.] + + +42. KING THEODORIC TO MAXIMUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, CONSUL. + +[Flavius Anicius Maximus was Consul A.D. 523.] + +[Sidenote: Rewards to performers in the Amphitheatre.] + +'If singers and dancers are to be rewarded by the generosity of the +Consul, _à fortiori_ should the _Venator_, the fighter with wild +beasts in the amphitheatre, be rewarded for _his_ endeavours to please +the people, who after all are secretly hoping to see him killed. And +what a horrible death he dies--denied even the rites of burial, +disappearing before he has yet become a corpse into the maw of the +hungry animal which he has failed to kill. These spectacles were first +introduced as part of the worship of the Scythian Diana, who was +feigned to gloat on human gore. The ancients called her the triple +deity, Proserpina-Luna-Diana. They were right in one point; the +goddess who invented these games certainly reigned _in hell_.' + +The Colosseum (the Amphitheatre of Titus) is described. + +The combats with wild beasts are pourtrayed in a style of pompous +obscurity. We may dimly discern the form of the _bestiarius_, who is +armed with a wooden spear; of another who leaps into the air to escape +the beast's onset; of one who protects himself with a portable wall of +reeds, 'like a sea-urchin;' of others who are fastened to a revolving +wheel, and alternately brought within the range of the animal's claws +and borne aloft beyond his grasp. 'There are as many perilous forms of +encounter as Virgil described varieties of crime and punishment in +Tartarus. Alas for the pitiable error of mankind! If they had any true +intuition of Justice, they would sacrifice as much wealth for the +preservation of human life as they now lavish on its destruction.' ['A +noble regret,' says Gregorovius ('Geschichte der Stadt Rom.' i. 286), +'in which in our own day every well-disposed Minister of a military +state will feel bound to concur with Cassiodorus.'] + + +43. KING THEODORIC TO TRANSMUND [THRASAMUND], KING OF THE VANDALS +(CIR. 511). + +[Sidenote: Complains of the protection given by Thrasamund to +Gesalic.] + +'Having given you our sister, that singular ornament of the Amal race, +in marriage, in order to knit the bonds of friendship between us, we +are amazed that you should have given protection and support to our +enemy Gesalic [natural son of Alaric II]. If it was out of mere pity +and as an outcast that you received him into your realm, you ought to +have kept him there; whereas you have sent him forth furnished with +large supplies of money to disturb the peace of our Gaulish Provinces. +This is not the conduct of a friend, much less of a relative. We are +sure that you cannot have taken counsel in this matter with your wife, +who would neither have liked to see her brother injured, nor the fair +fame of her husband tarnished by such doubtful intrigues. We send you +A and B as our ambassadors, who will speak to you further on this +matter.' + + +44. KING THEODORIC TO TRANSMUND [THRASAMUND], KING OF THE VANDALS. + +[Sidenote: Reconciliation between Theodoric and Thrasamund.] + +'You have shown, most prudent of Kings, that wise men know how to +amend their faults, instead of persisting in them with that obstinacy +which is the characteristic of brutes. In the noblest and most truly +kinglike manner you have humbled yourself to confess your fault in +reference to the reception of Gesalic, and to lay bare to us the very +secrets of your heart in this matter. We thank you and praise you, and +accept your purgation of yourself from this offence with all our +heart. As for the presents sent us by your ambassadors, we accept them +with our minds, but not with our hands. Let them return to your +Treasury (cubiculum), that it may be seen that it was simply love of +justice, not desire of gain, which prompted our complaints. We have +both acted in a truly royal manner[421]. Let your frankness and our +contempt of gold be celebrated through the nations. It is sweeter to +us to return these presents to you, than to receive much larger ones +from anyone else. Your ambassadors carry back with them the fullest +salutation of love from your friend and ally.' + +[Footnote 421: 'Fecimus utrique regalia.'] + + + + +BOOK VI. + +CONTAINING TWENTY-FIVE FORMULAE[422]. + +[Footnote 422: For the reasons which induced Cassiodorus to compile +the two books of Formulae, see his Preface (translated, p. 133).] + + +1. FORMULA OF THE CONSULSHIP. + +[Sidenote: Consulship.] + +'In old days the supreme reward of the Consulship was given to him +who, by his strong right hand, had delivered the Republic. The mantle +embroidered with palms of victory[423], the privilege of giving his +name to the year and of enfranchising the slave, even power over the +lives of his fellow-citizens, were rightly given to a man to whom the +Republic owed so much. He received the axe--the power of life and +death--but bound up in the bundle of rods, in order that the necessary +delay in undoing these might prevent him from striking the irrevocable +stroke without due consideration. Whence also he received the name of +Consul, because it was his duty to _consult_ for the good of his +country. He was bound to spend money freely; and thus he who had shed +the blood of the enemies of Rome made the lives of her children happy +by his generosity. + +[Footnote 423: 'Palmata vestis.'] + +'But now take this office under happier circumstances, since we have +the labours of the Consul, you the joys of his dignity. Your +palm-embroidered robes therefore are justified by our victories, and +you, in the prosperous hour of peace, confer freedom on the slave, +because we by our wars are giving security to the Romans. Therefore, +for this Indiction, we decorate you with the ensigns of the +Consulship. + +'Adorn your broad shoulders[424] with the variegated colours of the +palm-robe; ennoble your strong hand with the sceptre of victory[425]. +Enter your private dwelling having even your sandals gilded; ascend +the curule chair by the many steps which its dignity requires: that +thus you, a subject and at your ease, may enjoy the dignity which we, +the Ruler, assumed only after mightiest labours. You enjoy the fruit +of victory who are ignorant of war; we, God helping us, will reign; we +will consult for the safety of the State, while your name marks the +year. You overtop Sovereigns in your good fortune, since you wear the +highest honours, and yet have not the annoyances of ruling. Wherefore +pluck up spirit and confidence. It becometh Consuls to be generous. Do +not be anxious about your private fortune, you who have elected to win +the public favour by your gifts. It is for this cause [because the +Consul has to spend lavishly during his year of office] that we make a +difference between your dignity and all others. Other magistrates we +appoint, even though they do not ask for the office. To the Consulship +we promote only those who are candidates for the dignity, those who +know that their fortunes are equal to its demands; otherwise we might +be imposing a burden rather than a favour. Enjoy therefore, in a +becoming manner, the honour which you wished for. This mode of +spending money is a legitimate form of canvassing[426]. Be illustrious +in the world, be prosperous in your own life, leave an example for the +happy imitation of your posterity.' + +[Footnote 424: 'Pinge vastos humeros vario colore palmatae.'] + +[Footnote 425: 'Validam manum victoriali scipione nobilita.'] + +[Footnote 426: 'Hic est ambitus qui probatur;' or, 'allowable +bribery.'] + + +2. FORMULA OF THE PATRICIATE. + +[Sidenote: Patriciate.] + +'In olden times the Patricians were said to derive their origin from +Jupiter, whose priests they were. Mythology apart, they derived their +name from _Patres_, the dignity of priest having blended itself with +that of Senator. + +'The great distinction of the Patriciate is that it is a rank held +_for life_, like that of the priesthood, from which it sprang. The +Patrician takes precedence of Praefects and all other dignities save +one (the Consulship), and that is one which we ourselves sometimes +assume. + +'Ascend then the pinnacle of the Patriciate. You may have yet further +honours to receive from us, if you bear yourself worthily in this +station.' + + +3. FORMULA OF THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECTURE. + +[On account of the importance of the office a translation of the whole +formula is here attempted, though with some hesitation on account of +its obscure allusions.] + +[Sidenote: Praetorian Praefecture.] + +'If the origin of any dignity can confer upon it special renown and +promise of future usefulness, the Praetorian Praefecture may claim +this distinction, illustrated as its establishment was by the wisdom +of this world, and also stamped by the Divine approval. For when +Pharaoh, King of Egypt, was oppressed by strange visions of future +famine, there was found a blessed man, even Joseph, able to foretell +the future with truth, and to suggest the wisest precautions for the +people's danger. He first consecrated the insignia of this dignity; he +in majesty entered the official chariot[427], raised to this height of +honour, in order that his wisdom might confer blessings on the people +which they could not receive from the mere power of the Ruler. + +[Footnote 427: 'Ipse carpentum reverendus ascendit.' The _carpentum_ +was one great mark of the dignity of the Praetorian Praefect, as of +his inferior, the Praefectus Urbis.] + +'From that Patriarch is this officer now called _Father of the +Empire_; his name is even to-day celebrated by the voice of the crier, +who calls upon the Judge to show himself not unworthy of his example. +Rightly was it felt that he to whom such power was committed should +always be thus delicately reminded of his duty. + +'For some prerogatives are shared in common between ourselves and the +holder of this dignity. [The next sentence[428] I leave untranslated, +as I am not sure of the meaning. Manso (p. 343) translates it, 'He +forces fugitives from justice, without regard to the lapse of time, to +come before his tribunal.'] He inflicts heavy fines on offenders, he +distributes the public revenue as he thinks fit, he has a like power +in bestowing rights of free conveyance[429], he appropriates unclaimed +property, he punishes the offences of Provincial Judges, he pronounces +sentence by word of mouth [whereas all other Judges had to read their +decisions from their tablets]. + +[Footnote 428: 'Exhibet enim sine prescriptione longinquos.'] + +[Footnote 429: 'Evectiones,' free passes by the _Cursus Publicus_.] + +'What is there that he has not entrusted to him whose very speech is +Judgment? He may almost be said to have the power of making laws, +since the reverence due to him enables him to finish law-suits without +appeal. + +'On his entrance into the palace he, like ourselves, is adored by the +assembled throng[430], and an office of such high rank appears to +excuse a practice which in other cases would be considered matter for +accusation[431]. + +[Footnote 430: 'Ingressus palatium nostra consuetudine frequenter +adoratur.' We know from Lydus (De Mag. ii. 9) that the highest +officers of the army _knelt_ at the entrance of the Praetorian +Praefect. Perhaps we need not infer from this passage that Oriental +_prostration_ was used either towards Theodoric or his Praefect.] + +[Footnote 431: 'Et tale officium morem videtur solvere, quod alios +potuit accusare.'] + +'In power, no dignity is his equal. He judges everywhere as the +representative of the Sovereign[432]. No soldier marks out to him the +limits of his jurisdiction, except the official of the Master of the +Soldiery. I suppose that the ancients wished [even the Praefect] to +yield something to those who were to engage in war on behalf of the +Republic. + +[Footnote 432: 'Vice sacrâ ubique judicat.'] + +'He punishes with stripes even the Curials, who are called in the laws +a Lesser Senate. + +'In his own official staff (officium) he is invested with peculiar +privileges; since all men can see that he lays his commands on men of +such high quality that not even the Judges of Provinces may presume to +look down upon them. The staff is therefore composed of men of the +highest education, energetic, strong-minded[433], intent on prompt +obedience to the orders of their head, and not tolerating obstruction +from others. To those who have served their time in his office, he +grants the rank of Tribunes and Notaries, thus making his attendants +equal to those who, mingled with the chiefs of the State, wait upon +our own presence. + +[Footnote 433: 'Officium plane geniatum, efficax, instructum et totâ +animi firmitate praevalidum.'] + +'We joyfully accomplish that which he arranges, since our reverence +for his office constrains us to give immediate effect to his decrees. +He deserves this at our hands, since his forethought nourishes the +Palace, procures the daily rations of our servants, provides the +salaries even of the Judges themselves[434]. By his arrangements he +satiates the hungry appetites of the ambassadors of the [barbarous] +nations[435]. And though other dignities have their specially defined +prerogatives, by him everything that comes within the scope of our +wisely-tempered sway is governed. + +[Footnote 434: 'Humanitates quoque judicibus ipsis facit.'] + +[Footnote 435: 'Legatos gentium voraces explet ordinationibus suis.' +_Voraces_ seems to give a better sense than the other reading, +_veraces_.] + +'Take therefore, from this Indiction, on your shoulders the noble +burden of all these cares. Administer it with vigour and with utmost +loyalty, that your rule may be prosperous to us and useful to the +Republic. The more various the anxieties, the greater your glory. Let +that glory beam forth, not in our Palace only, but be reflected in far +distant Provinces. Let your prudence be equal to your power; yea, let +the fourfold virtue [of the Platonic philosophy] be seated in your +conscience. Remember that your tribunal is placed so high that, when +seated there, you should think of nothing sordid, nothing mean. Weigh +well what you ought to say, seeing that it is listened to by so many. +Let the public records contain nothing [of your saying] which any need +blush to read. The good governor not only has no part nor lot in +injustice; unless he is ever diligently doing some noble work he +incurs blame even for his inactivity. For if that most holy author +[Moses?] be consulted, it will be seen that it is a kind of priesthood +to fill the office of the Praetorian Praefecture in a becoming +manner.' + + +4. FORMULA OF THE PRAEFECTURE OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: Praefecture of the City.] + +'You, to whose care Rome is committed, are exalted by that charge to a +position of the highest dignity. The Senate also is presided over by +you; and the Senators, who wield full power in that assembly, tremble +when they have to plead their own cause at your tribunal. But this is +because they, who are the makers of laws, are subject to the laws; and +so are we too, though not to a Judge. + +'Behave in a manner worthy of your high office. Treat the Consulars +with deference. Put away every base thought when you cross the +threshold of every virtue. If you wish to avoid unpopularity, avoid +receiving bribes. It is a grand thing when it can be said that Judges +will not accept that which thousands are eager to offer them. + +'To your care is committed not only Rome herself (though Rome +includes the world[436]), but, by ancient law, all within the +hundredth milestone. + +[Footnote 436: 'Quamvis in illa contineantur universa.'] + +'You judge, on appeal, causes brought from certain Provinces defined +by law. Your staff is composed of learned men; eloquent they can +hardly help being, since they are always hearing the masters of +eloquence. You ride in your _Carpentum_ through a populace of +nobles[437]; oh, act so as to deserve their shouts of welcome! How +will you deserve their favour? By seeing that merchandise is sold +without venality[438]; that the fires kindled to heat the wholesome +baths are not chilled by corruption; that the games, which are meant +for the pleasure of the people, are not by partisanship made a cause +of strife. For so great is the power of glorious truth, that even in +the affairs of the stage justice is desired[439]. Take then the robe +of Romulus, and administer the laws of Rome. Other honours await you +if you behave worthily in this office, and above all, if you win the +applause of the Senate.' + +[Footnote 437: 'Carpento veheris per nobilem plebem.'] + +[Footnote 438: i.e. probably, 'that you are not bribed by +monopolists.' Perhaps there is a reference to the _Annona Publica_.] + +[Footnote 439: 'Tanta est enim vis gloriosae veritatis, ut etiam in +rebus scenicis aequitas desideretur.'] + + +5. FORMULA OF THE QUAESTORSHIP. + +[This letter is particularly interesting, from the fact that it +describes Cassiodorus' own office, that which he filled during many +years of the reign of Theodoric, and in virtue of which he wrote the +greater part of his 'Various Letters.'] + +[Sidenote: Quaestorship.] + +'No Minister has more reason to glory in his office than the Quaestor, +since it brings him into constant and intimate communication with +Ourselves. The Quaestor has to learn our inmost thoughts, that he may +utter them to our subjects. Whenever we are in doubt as to any matter +we ask our Quaestor, who is the treasure-house of public fame, the +cupboard of laws; who has to be always ready for a sudden call, and +must exercise the wonderful powers which, as Cicero has pointed out, +are inherent in the art of an orator. He should so paint the delights +of virtue and the terrors of vice, that his eloquence should almost +make the sword of the magistrate needless. + +'What manner of man ought the Quaestor to be, who reflects the very +image of his Sovereign? If, as is often our custom, we chance to +listen to a suit, what authority must there be in his tongue who has +to speak the King's words in the King's own presence? He must have +knowledge of the law, wariness in speech, firmness of purpose, that +neither gifts nor threats may cause him to swerve from justice. For in +the interests of Equity we suffer even ourselves to be contradicted, +since we too are bound to obey her. Let your learning be such that you +may set forth every subject on which you have to treat, with suitable +embellishments. + +'Moved therefore by the fame of your wisdom and eloquence, we bestow +upon you, by God's grace, the dignity of the Quaestorship, which is +the glory of letters, the temple of _civilitas_, the mother of all the +dignities, the home of continence, the seat of all the virtues. + +'To you the Provinces transmit their prayers. From you the Senate +seeks the aid of law. You are expected to suffice for the needs of all +who seek from us the remedies of the law. But when you have done all +this, be not elated with your success, be not gnawed with envy, +rejoice not at the calamities of others; for what is hateful in the +Sovereign cannot be becoming in the Quaestor. + +'Exercise the power of the Prince in the condition of a subject; and +may you render a good account to the Judges at the end of your term of +office.' + + +6. FORMULA OF THE MAGISTERIAL DIGNITY, AND ITS EXCELLENCY (MAGISTER +OFFICIORUM). + +[The dignity and powers of the Master of the Offices were continually +rising throughout the Fourth and Fifth Centuries at the cost of the +Praetorian Praefect, many of whose functions were transferred to the +Master.] + +[Sidenote: Mastership of the Offices.] + +'The Master's is a name of dignity. To him belongs the discipline of +the Palace; he calms the stormy ranks of the insolent Scholares [the +household troops, 10,000 in number, in the palace of the Eastern +Emperor, according to Lydus (ii. 24)]. He introduces the Senators to +our presence, cheers them when they tremble, calms them when they are +speaking, sometimes inserts a word or two of his own, that all may be +laid in an orderly manner before us. It rests with him to fix a day +for the admission of a suitor to our _Aulicum Consistorium_, and to +fulfil his promise. The opportune velocity of the post-horses [the +care of the _Cursus Publicus_] is diligently watched over by him[440]. + +[Footnote 440: According to Lydus (ii. 10), the Cursus Publicus was +transferred from the Praefect to the Master, and afterwards, in part, +retransferred to the Praefect.] + +'The ambassadors of foreign powers are introduced by him, and their +_evectiones_ [free passes by the postal-service] are received from his +hands[441]. + +[Footnote 441: 'Per eum nominis nostri destinatur evectio.' The above +is a conjectural translation.] + +'To an officer with these great functions Antiquity gave great +prerogatives: that no Provincial Governor should assume office without +his consent, and that appeals should come to him from their decisions. +He has no charge of collecting money, only of spending it. It is his +to appoint _peraequatores_[442] of provisions in the capital, and a +Judge to attend to this matter. He also superintends the pleasures of +the people, and is bound to keep them from sedition by a generous +exhibition of shows. The members of his staff, when they have served +their full time, are adorned with the title of _Princeps_, and take +their places at the head of the Praetorian cohorts and those of the +Urban Praefecture [the officials serving in the bureaux of those two +Praefects]--a mark of favour which almost amounts to injustice, since +he who serves in one office (the Master's) is thereby put at the head +of all those who have been serving in another (the Praefect's)[443].' + +[Footnote 442: Are these Superintendents of the Markets, charged with +the regulation of prices?] + +[Footnote 443: 'Miroque modo inter Praetorianas cohortes et Urbanae +Praefecturae milites videantur invenisse primatum, a quibus tibi +humile solvebatur obsequium. Sic in favore magni honoris injustitia +quaedam a legibus venit, dum alienis excubiis praeponitur, qui alibi +militasse declaratur.'] + +[We learn from Lydus how intense was the jealousy of the grasping and +aspiring _Magistriani_ felt by the Praefect's subordinates; and we may +infer from this passage that Cassiodorus thought that there was some +justification for this feeling.] + +'The assistant (Adjutor) of the Magister is also present at our +audiences, a distinguished honour for his chief. + +'Take therefore this illustrious office and discharge it worthily, +that, in all which you do, you may show yourself a true Magister. If +_you_ should in anywise go astray (which God forbid), where should +morality be found upon earth?' + + +7. FORMULA OF THE OFFICE OF COMES SACRARUM LARGITIONUM. + +[Sidenote: Office of Count of Sacred Largesses.] + +'Yours is the high and pleasing office of administering the bounty of +your Sovereign[444]. Through you we dispense our favours and relieve +needy suppliants on New Year's Day. It is your business to see that +our face is imprinted on our coins, a reminder to our subjects of our +ceaseless care on their behalf, and a memorial of our reign to future +ages. + +[Footnote 444: 'Regalibus magna profecti felicitas _militare_ +donis.... Laetitia publica _militia_ tua est.' Observe the continued +use of military terms for what we call the Civil Service.] + +'To this your regular office we also add the place of _Primicerius_ +[_Primicerius Notariorum_?], so that you are the channel through which +honours as well as largesses flow. Not only the Judges of the +Provinces are subject to you, even the _Proceres Chartarum_ (?) have +not their offices assured to them till you have confirmed the +instrument. You have also the care of the royal robes. The sea-coasts +and their products, and therefore merchants, are under your sway. The +commerce of salt, that precious mineral, rightly classed with silken +robes and pearls, is placed under your superintendence. + +'Take therefore these two dignities, the Comitiva Sacrarum Largitionum +and the Primiceriatus. If some of the ancient privileges of your +office have been retrenched [some functions, probably, taken from the +Comes Sacrarum Largitionum and assigned to the Comes Patrimonii], +comfort yourself with the thought that you have two dignities instead +of one.' + + +8. FORMULA OF THE OFFICE OF COMES PRIVATARUM, AND ITS EXCELLENCY. + +[Sidenote: Office of Count of Private Domains.] + +'Your chief business, as the name of your office implies, is to govern +the royal estates by the instrumentality of the _Rationales_ under +you. + +'This work alone, however, would have given you a jurisdiction only +over slaves [those employed on the royal domains]; and as a slave is +not a person in the eye of the law, it seemed unworthy of the dignity +of Latium to confine your jurisdiction to these men. Some urban +authority has therefore been given you in addition to that which you +exercise over these boors: cases of incest, and of pollution or +spoliation of graves, come before you. Thus the chastity of the +living and the security of the dead are equally your care. In the +Provinces you superintend the tribute-collectors (Canonicarios), you +admonish the cultivators of the soil (Possessores), and you claim for +the Royal Exchequer property to which no heirs are forthcoming[445]. +Deposited monies also, the owners of which are lost by lapse of time, +are searched out by you and brought into our Exchequer, since those +who by our permission enjoy all their own property ought willingly and +without sense of loss to offer us that which belongs to other men. + +[Footnote 445: 'Caduca bona non sinis esse vacantia.'] + +'Take then the honour of _Comes Privatarum_: it also is a courtly +dignity, and you will augment it by your worthy fulfilment of its +functions.' + + +9. FORMULA OF THE OFFICE OF COUNT OF THE PATRIMONY, AND ITS +EXCELLENCY. + +[Sidenote: Office of Count of the Patrimony.] + +'To our distant servants we send long papers with instructions as to +their conduct; but you, admitted to our daily converse, do not need +these. You are to undertake the care of our royal patrimony. + +'Do not give in to all the suggestions of our servants on these +domains, who are apt to think that everything is permitted them +because they represent the King; but rather incline the scale against +them. You will have to act much in our sight; and as the rising sun +discloses the true colours of objects, so the King's constant presence +reveals the Minister's character in its true light. Avoid loud and +harsh tones in pronouncing your decisions: when we hear you using +these, we shall know that you are in the wrong. External acts and +bodily qualities show the habit of the mind. We know a proud man by +his swaggering gait, an angry one by his flashing eyes, a crafty one +by his downcast look, a fickle one by his wandering gaze, at +avaricious one by his hooked nails. + +'Take then the office of Count of the Patrimony, and discharge it +uprightly. Be expeditious in your decisions on the complaints of the +tillers of the soil. Justice speedily granted is thereby greatly +enhanced in value, and though it is really the suitor's right it +charms him as if it were a favour. + +'Attend also to the provision of suitable delicacies for our royal +table. It is a great thing that ambassadors coming from all parts of +the world should see rare dainties at our board, and such an +inexhaustible supply of provisions brought in by the crowds of our +servants that they are almost ready to think the food grows again in +the kitchen, whither they see the dishes carried with the broken +victuals. These banqueting times are, and quite deservedly, your times +for approaching us with business, when no one else is allowed to do +so.' + + +10. FORMULA BY WHICH MEN ARE MADE PROCERES PER CODICILLOS VACANTES. + +[Bestowal of Brevet-rank on persons outside the Civil Service.] + +[Sidenote: Codicilli Vacantes.] + +'There are cases in which men whom it is desirable for the Sovereign +to honour are unable, from delicate health or slender fortunes, to +enter upon an official career. For instance, a poor nobleman may dread +the expenses of the Consulship; a man illustrious by his wisdom may be +unable to bear the worries of a Praefecture; an eloquent tongue may +shun the weight of a Quaestorship. In these cases the laws have wisely +ordained that we may give such persons the rank which they merit by +_Codicilli Vacantes_. It must always be understood, however, that in +each dignity those who thus obtain it rank behind those who have +earned it by actual service. Otherwise we should have all men +flocking into these quiet posts, if the workers were not preferred to +men of leisure[446]. + +[Footnote 446: 'Alioqui omnes ad quietas possunt currere dignitates, +si laborantes minime praeferantur ociosis.'] + +'Take therefore, by these present codicils, the rank which you +deserve, though you have not earned it by your official career.' + + +11. FORMULA BY WHICH THE RANK OF AN ILLUSTRIS AND THE TITLE OF A COMES +DOMESTICORUM ARE CONFERRED, WITHOUT OFFICE. + +[Sidenote: Illustratus Vacans.] + +'The bestowal of honour, though it does not change the nature of a +man, induces him to consider his own reputation more closely, and to +abstain from that which may stain it[447]. + +[Footnote 447: 'Noblesse oblige.'] + +'Take therefore the rank (without office) of an Illustrious Count of +the Domestics[448], and enjoy that greatest luxury of worthy +minds--power to attend to your own pursuits. + +[Footnote 448: 'Cape igitur ... Comitivae Domesticorum Illustratum +Vacantem.'] + +'For what can be sweeter than to find yourself honoured when you enter +the City, and yet to be able to cultivate your own fields; to abstain +from fraudful gains, and yet see your barns overflowing with the fruit +of your own sweet toil? + +'But even as the seed and the soil must co-operate to produce the +harvest, so do we sow in you the seed of this dignity, trusting that +your own goodness of heart will give the increase.' + + +12. FORMULA FOR THE BESTOWAL OF A COUNTSHIP OF THE FIRST ORDER, +WITHOUT OFFICE. + +[A similar honour to that which is conferred on an English statesman +who, without receiving any place in the Ministry, is 'sworn of the +Privy Council.'] + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Primi Ordinis.] + +'It is a delightful thing to enjoy the pleasures of high rank without +having to undergo the toils and annoyances of office, which often make +a man loathe the very dignity which he eagerly desired. + +'The rank of _Comes_ is one which is reached by Governors (Rectores) +of Provinces after a year's tenure of office, and by the Counsellors +of the Praefect, whose functions are so important that we look upon +them as almost Quaestors. + +'Their rank[449] gives the holder of it, though only a _Spectabilis_, +admission to our Consistory, where he sits side by side with all the +Illustres. + +[Footnote 449: Betokened by the expression 'Ociosum cingulum.'] + +'We bestow it upon you, and name you a _Comes Primi Ordinis_, thereby +indicating that you are to take your place at the head of all the +other Spectabiles and next after the Illustres. See that you imitate +the latter, and that you are not surpassed in excellence of character +by any of those below you.' + + +13. FORMULA FOR BESTOWING THE [HONORARY] RANK OF MASTER OF THE BUREAU +[MAGISTER SCRINII] AND COUNT OF THE FIRST ORDER, ON AN OFFICER OF THE +COURTS (COMITIACUS) IN ACTIVE SERVICE. + +[Sidenote: Honorary promotion for a Comitiacus.] + +'Great toils and great perils are the portion of an officer of the +Courts in giving effect to their sentences. It is easy for the Judge +to say, "Let so and so be done;" but on the unhappy officer falls all +the difficulty and all the odium of doing it. He has to track out +offenders and hunt them to their very beds, to compel the contumacious +to obey the law, to make the proud learn their equality before it. If +he lingers over the business assigned to him, the plaintiff complains; +if he is energetic, the defendant calls out. The very honesty with +which he addresses himself to the work is sure to make him enemies, +enemies perhaps among powerful persons, who next year may be his +superiors in office, and thus subjects him to all sorts of accusations +which he may find it very hard to disprove. In short, if we may say it +without offence to the higher dignitaries, it is far easier to +discharge without censure the functions of a Judge than those of the +humble officer who gives effect to his decrees. + +'Wherefore, in reward for your long and faithful service, and in +accordance with ancient usage, we bestow on you the rank of a Count of +the First Order, and ordain that if anyone shall molest you on account +of your acts done in the discharge of your duties, he shall pay a fine +of so many [perhaps ten = £400] pounds of gold.' + +[This letter will be found well worth studying in the original, as +giving a picture of the kind of opposition met with by the men who +were charged with the execution of the orders of the Rectores +Provinciarum, and whose functions were themselves partly judicial, +varying between those of a Master in Chancery and those of a Sheriff's +officer. Throughout, the Civil Service is spoken of in military +language. The officer is called _miles_, and his duty is _excubiae_.] + + +14. FORMULA BESTOWING RANK AS A SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: Senatorial rank.] + +'We desire that our Senate should grow and flourish abundantly. As a +parent sees the increase of his family, as a husbandman the growth of +his trees with joy, so we the growth of the Senate. We therefore +desire that Graius should be included in that virtuous and +praiseworthy assembly[450]. This is a new kind of grafting, in which +the less noble shoot is grafted on to the nobler stock. As a candle +shines at night, but pales in the full sunlight, so does everyone, +however illustrious by birth or character, who is introduced into your +majestic body. Open your Curia, receive our candidate. He is already +predestined to the Senate upon whom we have conferred the dignity of +the Laticlave.' + +[Footnote 450: A conjectural translation of 'Sic nos virtutum +jucundissimas laudes incinctum Graium desideramus includere.' Perhaps +'incinctum' means, 'though _not_ girded with the belt of office.' +Graium must surely be a proper name, and this document is therefore, +strictly speaking, not a 'Formula.'] + + +15. FORMULA OF THE VICARIUS OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Vicariate of the City of Rome.] + +'Though nominally only the agent of another [the Praefectus Urbi] you +have powers and privileges of your own which almost entitle you to +rank with the Praefects. Suitors plead before you in causes otherwise +heard only before Praefects[451]; you pronounce sentence in the name +of the King[452] [not of the Praefect]; and you have jurisdiction even +in capital cases. You wear the chlamys, and are not to be saluted by +passers-by except when thus arrayed, as if the law wished you to be +always seen in military garb. [The chlamys was therefore at this time +a strictly military dress.] In all these things the glory of the +Praefecture seems to be exalted in you, as if one should say, "How +great must the Praefect be, if his Vicar is thus honoured!" Like the +highest dignitaries you ride in a state carriage[453]. You have +jurisdiction everywhere within the fortieth milestone from the City. +You preside over the games at Praeneste, sitting in the Consul's seat. +You enter the Senate-house itself, that palace of liberty[454]. Even +Senators and Consulars have to make their request to you, and may be +injured by you. + +[Footnote 451: 'Partes apud te sub Praetorianâ advocatione confligunt' +(?).] + +[Footnote 452: 'Vice sacrâ sententiam dicis.'] + +[Footnote 453: 'Carpentum.'] + +[Footnote 454: 'Aula libertatis.'] + +'Take therefore this dignity, and wield it with moderation and +courage.' + + +16. FORMULA OF THE NOTARIES. + +[Sidenote: Notaries.] + +'It is most important that the secrets of the Sovereign, which many +men so eagerly desire to discover, should be committed to persons of +tried fidelity. A good secretary should be like a well-arranged +_escritoire_, full of information when you want it, but absolutely +silent at other times. Nay, he must even be able to dissimulate his +knowledge, for keen questioners can often read in the face what the +lips utter not. [Cf. the description of the Quaestor Decoratus in v. +3.] + +'Our enquiries, keen-scented as they are for all men of good life and +conversation, have brought your excellent character before us. We +therefore ordain that you shall henceforth be a Notary. In due course +of service you will attain the rank of Primicerius, which will entitle +you to enter the Senate, "the Curia of liberty." Moreover, should you +then arrive at the dignity of Illustris or at the [Comitiva] Vacans, +you will be preferred to all who are in the same rank but who have not +acquired it by active service[455]. + +[Footnote 455: I think this must be the meaning of the sentence: +'Additur etiam perfuncti laboris aliud munus, ut si quo modo ad +Illustratum vel Vacantem meruerit pervenire, omnibus debeat anteponi, +qui Codicillis Illustratibus probantur ornari.'] + +'Enter then upon this duty, cheered by the prospect of one day +attaining to the highest honours.' + + +17. FORMULA OF THE REFERENDARII. + +[Sidenote: Referendarii.] + +[We have no word corresponding to this title. Registrar, Referee, +Solicitor, each expresses only part of the duties of the +Referendarius, whose business it was, _on behalf of the Court_, to +draw up a statement of the conflicting claims of the litigants before +it. See the interesting letters (v. 40 and 41) describing the useful +services rendered in this capacity by Cyprian in the King's Court of +Appeal. His duties seem to have been very similar to those which in +the Court of the Praetorian Praefect were discharged by the officer +called _Ab Actis_ (See p. 107).] + +'Great is the privilege of being admitted to such close converse with +the King as you will possess, but great also are the responsibilities +and the anxieties of the Referendarius. In the midst of the hubbub of +the Court he has to make out the case of the litigant, and to clothe +it in language suitable for our ears. If he softens it down ever so +little in his repetition of it, the claimant declares that he has been +bribed, that he is hostile to his suit. A man who is pleading his own +cause may soften down a word or two here and there, if he see that the +Court is against him; but the Referendarius dares not alter anything. +Then upon him rests the responsibility of drawing up our decree, +adding nothing, omitting nothing. Hard task to speak _our_ words in +our own presence. + +'Take then the office of Referendarius, and show by your exercise of +it to what learning men may attain by sharing our conversation. Under +us it is impossible for an officer of the Court to be unskilled in +speech. Like a whetstone we sharpen the intellects of our courtiers, +and polish them by practice at our bar[456].' + +[Footnote 456: 'Sub nobis enim non licet esse imperitos; quando in +vicem cotis ingenia splendida reddimus, quae causarum assiduitate +polimus.' Strange words to put into the mouth of a monarch who could +not write.] + + +18. FORMULA OF THE PRAEFECTUS ANNONAE, AND HIS EXCELLENCY. + +[Sidenote: Praefectus Annonae.] + +'If the benefit of the largest number of citizens is a test of the +dignity of an office yours is certainly a glorious one. You have to +prepare the Annona of the sacred City, and to feed the whole people as +at one board. You run up and down through the shops of the bakers, +looking after the weight and fineness of the bread, and not thinking +any office mean by which you may win the affections of the citizens. + +'You mount the chariot of the Praefect of the City, and are displayed +in closest companionship with him at the games. Should a sudden tumult +arise by reason of a scarcity of loaves, you have to still it by +promising a liberal distribution. It was from his conduct in this +office that Pompey attained the highest dignities and earned the +surname of the Great. + +'The pork-butchers also (Suarii) are subject to your control. + +'It is true that the corn is actually provided by the Praetorian +Praefect, but you see that it is worked up into elegant bread[457]. + +[Footnote 457: 'Quando in quavis abundantia querela non tollitur, si +panis elegantia nulla servetur.'] + +'Even so Ceres discovered corn, but Pan taught men how to bake it into +bread; whence its name (_Panis_, from Pan). + +'Take then this office: discharge it faithfully, and weigh, more +accurately than gold, the bread by which the Quirites live.' + + +19. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF THE CHIEF PHYSICIANS. + +[Sidenote: Comes Archiatrorum.] + +'The doctor helps us when all other helpers seem to fail. By his art +he finds out things about a man of which he himself is ignorant; and +his prognosis of a case, though founded on reason, seems to the +ignorant like prophecy. + +'It is disgraceful that there should be a president of the lascivious +pleasures of the people (Tribunus Voluptatum) and none of this healing +art. Excellent too may your office be in enabling you to control the +squabbles of the doctors. They ought not to quarrel. At the beginning +of their exercise of their art they take a sort of priestly oath to +hate wickedness and to love purity. Take then this rank of Comes +Archiatrorum, and have the distinguished honour of presiding over so +many skilled practitioners and of moderating their disputes. + +'Leave it to clumsy men to ask their patients "if they have had good +sleep; if the pain has left them." Do you rather incline the patient +to ask you about his own malady, showing him that you know more about +it than he does. The patient's pulse, the patient's water, tell to a +skilled physician the whole story of his disease. + +'Enter our palace unbidden; command us, whom all other men obey; weary +us if you will with fasting, and make us do the very opposite of that +which we desire, since all this is your prerogative.' + + +20. FORMULA OF THE OFFICE OF A CONSULAR, AND ITS EXCELLENCY. + +[Sidenote: Consularis.] + +'You bear among your trappings the axes and the rods of the Consul, as +a symbol of the nature of the jurisdiction which you exercise in the +Provinces. + +'In some Provinces you even wear the _paenula_ (military cloak) and +ride in the _carpentum_ (official chariot), as a proof of your +dignity. + +'You must not think that because your office is allied to that of +Consul any lavish expenditure by way of largesse is necessary. By no +means; but it is necessary that you should abstain from all unjust +gains. Nothing is worse than a mixture of rapacity and prodigality. + +'Respect the property of the Provincials, and your tenure of office +will be without blame. + +'Receive therefore, for this Indiction, the office of Consular in such +and such a Province, and let your moderation appear to all the +inhabitants.' + + +21. FORMULA OF THE GOVERNOR (RECTOR) OF A PROVINCE. + +[The distinction between the powers of a Rector and those of a +Consularis seems to have been very slight, if it existed at all; but +the dignity of the latter office was probably somewhat the greater.] + +[Sidenote: Rector Provinciae.] + +'It is important to repress crime on the spot. If all criminal causes +had to wait till they could be tried in the capital, robbers would +grow so bold as to be intolerable. Hence the advantage of Provincial +Governors. Receive then for this Indiction the office of Rector of +such and such a Province. Look at the broad stripe (laticlave) on your +purple robe, and remember the dignity which is betokened by that +bright garment, which poets say was first woven by Venus for her son +Priapus, that the son's beautiful robe might attest the mother's +loveliness. + +'You have to collect the public revenues, and to report to the +Sovereign all important events in your Province. You may judge even +Senators and the officers of Praefects. Your name comes before that of +even dignified Provincials, and you are called Brother by the +Sovereign. See that your character corresponds to this high vocation. +Your subjects will not fear you if they see that your own actions are +immoral. There can be no worse slavery than to sit on the +judgment-seat, knowing that the men who appear before you are +possessors of some disgraceful secret by which they can blast your +reputation. + +'Refrain from unholy gains, and we will reward you all the more +liberally.' + + +22. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Syracusana.] + +'We must provide such Governors for our distant possessions that +appeals from them shall not be frequent. Many men would rather lose a +just cause than have the expense of coming all the way from Sicily to +defend it; and as for complaints against a Governor, we should be +strongly inclined to think that a complaint presented by such distant +petitioners must be true. + +'Act therefore with all the more caution in the office which we bestow +upon you for this Indiction. You have all the pleasant pomp of an +official retinue provided for you at our expense. Do not let your +soldiers be insolent to the cultivators of the soil (possessores). Let +them receive their rations and be satisfied with them, nor mix in +matters outside their proper functions. Be satisfied with the dignity +which your predecessors held. It ought not to be lowered; but do not +seek to exalt it.' + + +23. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF NAPLES. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Neapolitana.] + +'As the sun sends forth his rays so we send out our servants to the +various cities of our dominions, to adorn them with the splendour of +their retinue, and to facilitate the untying of the knots of the law +by the multitude of jurisconsults who follow in their train. Thus we +sow a liberal crop of official salaries, and reap our harvest in the +tranquillity of our subjects. For this Indiction we send you as Count +to weigh the causes of the people of Naples. It is a populous city, +and one abounding in delights by sea and land. You may lead there a +most delicious life, if your cup be not mixed with bitterness by the +criticisms of the citizens on your judgments. You will sit on a +jewelled tribunal, and the Praetorium will be filled with your +officers; but you will also be surrounded by a multitude of fastidious +spectators, who assuredly, in their conversation, will judge the +Judge. See then that you walk warily. Your power extends for a certain +distance along the coast, and both the buyer and seller have to pay +you tribute. We give you the chance of earning the applause of a vast +audience: do you so act that your Sovereign may take pleasure in +multiplying his gifts.' + + +24. FORMULA ADDRESSED TO THE GENTLEMEN-FARMERS (OR THE TITLED +CULTIVATORS) AND COMMON COUNCILMEN[458] OF THE CITY OF NAPLES [AND +SURROUNDING DISTRICT]. + +[Footnote 458: An attempt to translate 'Honoratis possessoribus et +curialibus civitatis Neapolitanae.'] + +[Sidenote: Honorati Possessores et Curiales Civitatis Neapolitanae.] + +'You pay us tribute, but we have conferred honours upon you. We are +now sending you a Comes [the one appointed in the previous formula], +but he will be a terror only to the evil-disposed. Do you live +according to reason, since you are reasonable beings, and then the +laws may take holiday. Your quietness is our highest joy[459].' + +[Footnote 459: 'Erit nostrum gaudium vestra quies.... Degite moribus +compositis, ut vivatis legibus feriatis.'] + + +25 is entitled, 'FORMULA DE COMITIVA PRINCIPIS MILITUM;' but this is +evidently an inaccurate, or at least an insufficient title. + +[Sidenote: Doubtful.] + +The letter, though very short, is obscure. + +It starts with the maxim that every staff of officials ought to have +its own Judge[460], and then, apparently, proceeds to make an +exception to this rule by making the persons addressed--the civil or +military functionaries of Naples--subject to the Comes Neapolitanus +who was appointed by the Twenty-third Formula. No reason is given for +this exception, except an unintelligible one about preserving the +yearly succession of Judges[461]; but the persons are assured that +their salaries shall be safe[462]. + +[Footnote 460: 'Omnes apparitiones decet habere judices suos. Nam cui +praesul adimitur et militia denegatur.'] + +[Footnote 461: 'Ut judicibus annuâ successione reparatis, vobis +solemnitas non pereat actionis.'] + +[Footnote 462: 'Vos non patimur emolumentorum commoda perdere.'] + + + + +BOOK VII. + +CONTAINING FORTY-SEVEN FORMULAE. + + +1. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF A PROVINCE. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Provinciae.] + +'Your dignity, unlike that of most civil officers, is guarded by the +sword of war. See however that this terrible weapon is only drawn on +occasions of absolute necessity, and only wielded for the punishment +of evil-doers. Anyone who is determining a case of life and death +should decide slowly, since any other sentence is capable of +correction, but the dead man cannot be recalled to life. Let the +ensigns of your power be terrible to drivers-away of cattle, to +thieves and robbers; but let innocence rejoice when she sees the +tokens of approaching succour. Let no one pervert your will by bribes: +the sword of justice is sheathed when gold is taken. Receive then for +this Indiction the dignity of Count in such and such a Province. So +use your power that you may be able to defend your actions when +reduced to a private station, though indeed, if you serve us well in +this office, we are minded to promote you to yet higher dignities.' + + +2. FORMULA OF A PRAESES. + +[The Praeses had practically the same powers as the Consularis (v. 20) +and the Rector (v. 21), but occupied a less dignified position, being +only a 'Perfectissimus,' not a 'Clarissimus[463].'] + +[Footnote 463: See p. 92.] + +[Sidenote: Praesidatus.] + +'It has been wisely ordered by the Ancients that a Provincial +Governor's term of office should be only annual. Thus men are +prevented from growing arrogant by long tenure of power, and we are +enabled to reward a larger number of aspirants. Get through one year +of office if you can without blame: even that is not an easy matter. +It rests then with us to prolong the term of a deserving ruler[464], +since we are not keen to remove those whom we feel to be governing +justly. Receive then for this Indiction the Praesidatus of such and +such a Province, and so act that the tiller of the soil (possessor) +may bring us thanks along with his tribute. Follow the good example of +your predecessors: carefully avoid the bad. Remember how full your +Province is of nobles, whose good report you may earn but cannot +compel. You will find it a delightful reward, when you travel through +the neighbouring Provinces, to hear your praises sounded there where +your power extends not. You know our will: it is all contained in the +laws of the State. Govern in accordance with these, and you shall not +go unrewarded.' + +[Footnote 464: 'Nostrum est merentibus tempus augere.' The limit of +one year might therefore be exceeded by favour of the Sovereign.] + + +3. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF THE GOTHS IN THE SEVERAL PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Gothorum per singulas Provincias.] + +[Dahn remarks ('Könige der Germanen' iv. 157): 'We must go thoroughly +into the question of this office. The _Comes Gothorum_ is the most +important, in fact almost the only new dignity in the Gothic State, +and the formula of his installation is the chief proof of the +coexistence of Roman and Gothic law in this kingdom.' I have therefore +translated this formula at full length.] + +'As we know that, by God's help, Goths are dwelling intermingled among +you, in order to prevent the trouble (indisciplinatio) which is wont +to arise among partners (consortes) we have thought it right to send +to you as Count, A B, a sublime person, a man already proved to be of +high character, in order that he may terminate (amputare) any contests +arising between two Goths according to our edicts; but that, if any +matter should arise between a Goth and a born Roman, he may, after +associating with himself a Roman jurisconsult[465], decide the strife +by fair reason[466]. As between two Romans, let the decision rest with +the Roman examiners (cognitores), whom we appoint in the various +Provinces; that thus each may keep his own laws, and with various +Judges one Justice may embrace the whole realm. Thus, sharing one +common peace, may both nations, if God favour us, enjoy the sweets of +tranquillity. + +[Footnote 465: 'Adhibito sibi prudente Romano.'] + +[Footnote 466: 'Aequabili ratione.'] + +'Know, however, that we view all [our subjects] with one impartial +love; but he may commend himself more abundantly to our favour who +subdues his own will into loving submission to the law[467]. We like +nothing that is disorderly[468]; we detest wicked arrogance and all +who have anything to do with it. Our principles lead us to execrate +violent men[469]. In a dispute let laws decide, not the strong arm. +Why should men seek by choice violent remedies, when they know that +the Courts of Justice are open to them? It is for this cause that we +pay the Judges their salaries, for this that we maintain such large +official staffs with all their privileges, that we may not allow +anything to grow up among you which may tend towards hatred. Since you +see that one lordship (imperium) is over you, let there be also one +desire in your hearts, to live in harmony. + +[Footnote 467: 'Qui leges moderatâ voluntate dilexerit.' To translate +this literally might give a wrong idea, because with us 'to love the +law' means to be litigious.] + +[Footnote 468: 'Non amamus aliquid incivile.'] + +[Footnote 469: 'Violentos nostra pietas execratur.'] + +'Let both nations hear what we have at heart. You [oh Goths!] have the +Romans as neighbours to your lands: even so let them be joined to you +in affection. You too, oh Romans! ought dearly to love the Goths, who +in peace swell the numbers of your people and in war defend the whole +Republic[470]. It is fitting therefore that you obey the Judge whom we +have appointed for you, that you may by all means accomplish all that +he may ordain for the preservation of the laws; and thus you will be +found to have promoted your own interests while obeying our command.' + +[Footnote 470: 'Vos autem, Romani, magno studio Gothos diligere +debetis, qui et in pace numerosos vobis populos faciunt, et universam +Rempublicam per bella defendunt.'] + + +4. FORMULA OF THE DUKE OF RAETIA. + +[Sidenote: Ducatus Raetiarum.] + +'Although promotion among the _Spectabiles_ goes solely by seniority, +it is impossible to deny that those who are employed in the border +Provinces have a more arduous, and therefore in a sense more +honourable, office than those who command in the peaceful districts of +Italy. The former have to deal with war, the latter only with the +repression of crime. The former hear the trumpet's clang, the latter +the voice of the crier. + +'The Provinces of Raetia are the bars and bolts of Italy. Wild and +cruel nations ramp outside of them, and they, like nets, whence their +name[471], catch the Barbarian in their toils and hold him there till +the hurled arrow can chastise his mad presumption. + +[Footnote 471: Raetia, from _rete_, a net.] + +'Receive then for this Indiction the _Ducatus Raetiarum_. Let your +soldiers live on friendly terms with the Provincials, avoiding all +lawless presumption; and at the same time let them be constantly on +their guard against the Barbarians outside. Even bloodshed is often +prevented by seasonable vigilance.' + + +5. FORMULA OF THE PALACE ARCHITECT. + +[Sidenote: Cura Palatii.] + +'Much do we delight in seeing the greatness of our Kingdom imaged +forth in the splendour of our palace. + +'Thus do the ambassadors of foreign nations admire our power, for at +first sight one naturally believes that as is the house so is the +inhabitant. + +'The Cyclopes invented the art of working in metal, which then passed +over from Sicily to Italy. + +'Take then for this Indiction the care of our palace, thus receiving +the power of transmitting your fame to a remote posterity which shall +admire your workmanship. See that your new work harmonises well with +the old. Study Euclid--get his diagrams well into your mind; study +Archimedes and Metrobius. + +'When we are thinking of rebuilding a city, or of founding a fort or a +general's quarters, we shall rely upon you to express our thoughts on +paper [in an architect's design]. The builder of walls, the carver of +marbles, the caster of brass, the vaulter of arches[472], the +plasterer, the worker in mosaic, all come to you for orders, and you +are expected to have a wise answer for each. But, then, if you direct +them rightly, while theirs is the work yours is all the glory. + +[Footnote 472: 'Camerarum rotator.'] + +'Above all things, dispense honestly what we give you for the +workmen's wages; for the labourer who is at ease about his victuals +works all the better. + +'As a mark of your high dignity you bear a golden wand, and amidst the +numerous throng of servants walk first before the royal footsteps +[i.e. last in the procession and immediately before the King], that +even by your nearness to our person it may be seen that you are the +man to whom we have entrusted the care of our palaces.' + + +6. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF THE AQUEDUCTS. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Formarum Urbis.] + +'Though all the buildings of Rome are wonderful, and one can scarce +for this reason say which are the chief among them, we think a +distinction may be drawn between those which are reared only for the +sake of ornament and those which also serve a useful purpose. Thus, +however often one sees the Forum of Trajan, it always seems a +wonder[473]. To stand on the lofty Capitol is to see all other works +of the human intellect surpassed. And yet neither of these great works +touches human life, nor ministers to health or enjoyment. But in the +Aqueducts of Rome we note both the marvel of their construction and +the rare wholesomeness of their waters. When you look at those rivers, +led as it were over piled up mountains, you would think that their +solid stony beds were natural channels, through so many ages have they +borne the rush of such mighty waters. And yet even mountains are +frequently undermined, and let out the torrents which have excavated +them; while these artificial channels, the work of the ancients, never +perish, if reasonable care be taken of their preservation. + +[Footnote 473: 'Trajani Forum vel sub assiduitate videre miraculum +est.'] + +'Let us consider how much that wealth of waters adds to the adornment +of the City of Rome. Where would be the beauty of our _Thermae_, if +those softest waters were not supplied to them? + +'Purest and most delightful of all streams glides along the _Aqua +Virgo_, so named because no defilement ever stains it. For while all +the others, after heavy rain show some contaminating mixture of +earth, this alone by its ever pure stream would cheat us into +believing that the sky was always blue above us. Ah! how express these +things in words worthy of them? The _Aqua Claudia_ is led along on the +top of such a lofty pile that, when it reaches Mount Aventine, it +falls from above upon that lofty summit as if it were watering some +lowly valley. It is true that the Egyptian Nile, rising at certain +seasons, brings its flood of waters over the land under a cloudless +sky; but how much fairer a sight is it to see the Roman Claudia +flowing with a never-failing stream over all those thirsty mountain +tops, and bringing purest water through a multitude of pipes to so +many baths and houses. When Nile retreats he leaves mud behind him; +when he comes unexpectedly he brings a deluge. Shall we not then +boldly say that our Aqueducts surpass the famous Nile, which is so +often a terror to the dwellers on his banks either by what he brings +or by what he leaves behind him? It is in no spirit of pride that we +enumerate these particulars, but in order that you may consider how +great diligence should be shown by you to whom such splendid works are +entrusted. + +'Wherefore, after careful consideration, we entrust you for this +Indiction with the _Comitiva Formarum_, that you may zealously strive +to accomplish what the maintenance of such noble structures requires. +Especially as to the hurtful trees which are the ruin of buildings, +[inserting their roots between the stones and] demolishing them with +the destructiveness of a battering-ram: we wish them to be pulled up +by the roots, since it is no use dealing with an evil of this kind +except in its origin. If any part is falling into decay through age, +let it be repaired at once: the first expense is the least. The +strengthening of the Aqueducts will constitute your best claim on our +favour, and will be the surest means of establishing your own +fortune. Act with skill and honesty, and let there be no corrupt +practices in reference to the distribution of the water.' + + +7. FORMULA OF THE PRAEFECT OF THE WATCH OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Praefectus Vigilum Urbis Romae.] + +'Your office, exercised as it is in the City itself, and under the +eyes of Patricians and Consuls, is sure to bring you renown if you +discharge its duties with diligence. You have full power to catch +thieves, though the law reserves the right of punishing them for +another official, apparently because it would remember that even these +detestable plunderers are yet Roman citizens. Take then for this +Indiction the _Praefectura Vigilum_. You will be the safety of +sleepers, the bulwark of houses, the defence of bolts and bars, an +unseen scrutineer, a silent judge, one whose right it is to entrap the +plotters and whose glory to deceive them. Your occupation is a nightly +hunting, most feared when it is not seen. You rob the robbers, and +strive to circumvent the men who make a mock at all other citizens. It +is only by a sort of sleight of hand that you can throw your nets +around robbers; for it is easier to guess the riddles of the Sphinx +than to detect the whereabouts of a flying thief. He looks round him +on all sides, ready to start off at the sound of an advancing +footstep, trembling at the thought of a possible ambush. How can one +catch him who, like the wind, tarries never in one place? Go forth, +then, under the starry skies; watch diligently with all the birds of +night, and as they seek their food in the darkness so do you therein +hunt for fame. + +'Let there be no corruption, no deeds of darkness which the day need +blush for. Do this, and you will have our support in upholding the +rightful privileges of yourself and your staff.' + + +8. FORMULA OF THE PRAEFECT OF THE WATCH OF THE CITY OF RAVENNA. + +[Sidenote: Praefectus Vigilum Urbis Ravennatis.] + +Contains the same topics as the preceding formula, rather less +forcibly urged, and with no special reference to the City of Ravenna. + +An exhortation at the end not to be too hasty, nor to shed blood +needlessly, even when dealing with thieves. + + +9. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF PORTUS. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Portus Urbis Romae.] + +'It is a service of pleasure rather than of toil to hold the dignity +of Comes in the harbour of the City of Rome, to look forth upon the +wide sail-traversed main, to see the commerce of all the Provinces +tending towards Rome, and to welcome travellers arriving with the joy +of ended peril. Excellent thought of the men of old to provide two +channels by which strangers might enter the Tiber, and to adorn them +with those two stately cities [Portus and Ostia], which shine like +lights upon the watery way! + +'Do you therefore, by your fair administration, make it easy for +strangers to enter. Do not grasp at more than the lawful dues; for the +greedy hand closes a harbour, and extortion is as much dreaded by +mariners as adverse winds. Receive then for this Indiction the +_Comitiva Portus_; enjoy the pleasures of the office, and lay it down +with increased reputation.' + + +10. FORMULA OF THE TRIBUNUS VOLUPTATUM. + +[Sidenote: Tribunus Voluptatum.] + +[Minister of public amusements, the Roman equivalent to our 'Lord +Chamberlain' in that part of his office which relates to the control +of theatres.] + +'Though the wandering life of the stage-player seems as if it might +run to any excess of licence, Antiquity has wisely provided that even +it should be under some sort of discipline. Thus respectability +governs those who are not respectable, and people who are themselves +ignorant of the path of virtue are nevertheless obliged to live under +some sort of rule. Your place, in fact, is like that of a guardian; as +he looks after the tender years of his ward, so you bridle the +passionate pleasures of your theatrical subjects. + +'Therefore, for this Indiction, we appoint you Tribune of [the +people's] Pleasures. See that order is observed at the public +spectacles: they are not really popular without this. Keep your own +high character for purity in dealing with these men and women of +damaged reputation, that men may say, "Even in promoting the pleasures +of the people he showed his virtuous disposition." + +'It is our hope that through this frivolous employment you may pass to +more serious dignities.' + + +11. FORMULA OF THE DEFENSOR OF ANY CITY. + +[Sidenote: Defensor cujuslibet Civitatis.] + +[Observe that the Defensor has power to fix prices, in addition to his +original function of protecting the commonalty from oppression.] + +'The number of his clients makes it necessary for the representative +of a whole city to be especially wary in his conduct. + +'At the request of your fellow-citizens we appoint you, for this +Indiction, Defensor of such and such a city. Take care that there be +nothing venal in your conduct. Fix the prices for the citizens +according to the goodness or badness of the seasons, and remember to +pay yourself what you have prescribed to others. A good Defensor +allows his citizens neither to be oppressed by the laws nor harassed +by the dearness of provisions.' + + +12. FORMULA OF THE CURATOR OF A CITY. + +[Sidenote: Curator Civitatis.] + +[The Defensor and Curator had evidently almost equivalent powers, but +with some slight difference of dignity. They cannot both have existed +in the same city. It would be interesting to know what decided the +question whether a city should have a Defensor or a Curator.] + +This formula differs very little from the preceding, except that the +new officer is told 'wisely to govern the ranks of the Curia.' Stress +is again laid on the regulation of prices: 'Cause moderate prices to +be adhered to by those whom it concerns. Let not merchandise be in the +sole power of the sellers, but let an agreeable equability be observed +in all things. This is the most enriching kind of popularity, which is +derived from maintaining moderation in prices[474]. You shall have the +same salary (consuetudines) which your predecessors had in the same +place.' + +[Footnote 474: 'Opulentissima siquidem et hinc gratia civium +colligitur, si pretia sub moderatione serventur.'] + + +13. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Romana.] + +'If even bolts and bars cannot secure a house from robbery, much more +do the precious things left in the streets and open spaces of Rome +require protection. I refer to that most abundant population of +statues, to that mighty herd of horses [in stone and metal] which +adorn our City. It is true that if there were any reverence in human +nature, it, and not the watchman, ought to be the sufficient guardian +of the beauty of Rome[475]. But what shall we say of the marbles, +precious both by material and workmanship, which many a hand longs, if +it has opportunity, to pick out of their settings? Who when entrusted +with such a charge can be negligent? who venal? We entrust to you +therefore for this Indiction the dignity of the Comitiva Romana, with +all its rights and just emoluments. Watch for all such evil-doers as +we have described. Rightly does the public grief[476] punish those who +mar the beauty of the ancients with amputation of limbs, inflicting on +them that which they have made our monuments to suffer. Do you and +your staff and the soldiers at your disposal watch especially by +night; in the day the City guards itself. At night the theft looks +tempting; but the rascal who tries it is easily caught if the guardian +approaches him unperceived. Nor are the statues absolutely dumb; the +ringing sound which they give forth under the blows of the thief seems +to admonish their drowsy guardian. Let us see you then diligent in +this business, that whereas we now bestow upon you a toilsome dignity, +we may hereafter confer an honour without care.' + +[Footnote 475: 'Si esset humanis rebus ulla consideratio Romanam +pulchritudinem non vigiliae sed sola deberet reverentia custodire.'] + +[Footnote 476: 'Quia juste tales persequitur publicus dolor.'] + + +14. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF RAVENNA. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Ravennatis.] + +'High is your honour, to be the means of taking away all slowness from +the execution of our orders. Who knows not what a quantity of ships +you can muster at the least hint from us! Scarcely is the ink dry on +the _evectio_ [permission to use the public post] prepared by some +palace dignitary, when already with the utmost speed it is by you +being carried into effect. Do not exact too much service from +merchants[477], nor yet from corrupt motives let them off too easily. +Be very careful in your judicial capacity, and especially when trying +the causes of the poor, to whom a small error in your judgment may be +far more disastrous than to the rich.' + +[Footnote 477: 'Negociatorum operas consuetas nec nimias exigas, nec +venalitate derelinquas.' Apparently then a certain amount of forced +labour could be claimed from the owners of merchant-vessels by the +Count of Ravenna.] + + +15. FORMULA ADDRESSED TO THE PRAEFECT OF THE CITY ON THE APPOINTMENT +OF AN ARCHITECT. + +[Sidenote: Architectus Publicorum.] + +'It is desirable that the necessary repairs to this forest of walls +and population of statues which make up Rome should be in the hands of +a learned man who will make the new work harmonise with the old. +Therefore for this Indiction we desire your Greatness to appoint A B +Architect of the City of Rome. Let him read the books of the ancients; +but he will find more in this City than in his books. Statues of men, +showing the muscles swelling with effort, the nerves in tension, the +whole man looking as if he had grown rather than been cast in metal. +Statues of horses, full of fire, with the curved nostril, with rounded +tightly-knit limbs, with ears laid back--you would think the creature +longed for the race, though you know that the metal moves not. This +art of statuary the Etruscans are said to have practised first in +Italy; posterity has embraced it, and given to the City an artificial +population almost equal to its natural one. The ancients speak of the +wonders of the world [here enumerated and described], but this one of +the City of Rome surpasses them all. It had need to be a learned man +who is charged with the care of upholding all these works; else, in +his despair, he will deem himself the man of stone, and the statues +about him the truly living men.' + + +16. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF THE ISLANDS OF CURRITANA AND CELSINA. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Insulae Curritanae et Celsinae.] + +[Celsina, from the place in which it is mentioned in the 'Itinerary' +of Antonine (516), was probably one of the Lipari Islands. Curritana +must have been near it but is not further identified.] + +'The presence of a ruler is necessary; and it is not desirable that +men should live without discipline, according to their own wills. We +therefore appoint you Judge of these two islands. For it is right that +someone should go to the habitations of these men, who are shut out +from converse with the rest of their kind, and settle their +differences by fair reason. + +'Oh ye inhabitants of these islands, ye now know whom our Piety has +set over you, and we shall expect you to obey him.' + + +17. FORMULA CONCERNING THE PRESIDENT OF THE LIME-KILNS. + +[Sidenote: Praepositus Calcis.] + +'It is a glorious labour to serve the City of Rome. It cannot be +doubted that lime (coctilis calx), which is snow-white and lighter +than sponge, is useful for the mightiest buildings. In proportion as +it is itself disintegrated by the application of fire does it lend +strength to walls; a dissolvable rock, a stony softness, a sandy +pebble, which burns the best when it is most abundantly watered, +without which neither stones are fixed nor the minute particles of +sand hardened. + +'Therefore we set you, well known for your industry, over the burning +and distribution of lime, that there may be plenty of it both for +public and private works, and that thereby people may be put in good +heart for building. Do this well, and you shall be promoted to greater +things.' + + +18. FORMULA CONCERNING ARMOURERS. + +[Sidenote: Armorum Factores.] + +'Good arms are of the utmost importance to a community. By means of +them man, the frailest of creatures, is made stronger than monstrous +beasts. Phoroneus is said to have first invented them, and brought +them to Juno to consecrate them by her divinity. + +'For this Indiction we set you over the soldiers and workmen in our +armouries. Do not presume in our absence to pass bad workmanship. We +shall find out by diligent search all that you do, and in such a +matter as this consider no mistake venial.' + + +19. FORMULA ADDRESSED TO THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT CONCERNING THE +ARMOURERS. + +[Sidenote: Ad Praefectum Praetorio de Armorum Factoribus.] + +Announces to the Praefects the appointment conferred in the preceding +letter, and repeats that to supply inferior arms to soldiers is an act +of treason. The workmen are to receive their just _consuetudines_ +[wages]. + + +20 and 21. FORMULA AS TO THE COLLECTION OF BINA AND TERNA: + + (1) _If collected by the Judge himself;_ + (2) _If collected by his Officium._ + +[Sidenote: Binorum et Ternorum: (xx.) si per Judicem aguntur; (xxi.) +si per Officium aguntur.] + +These _Bina_ and _Terna_, as stated in the note to iii. 8, are a +mystery. All that can be positively stated about them is that they +were a kind of land-tax, collected from the cultivators (possessores), +and that they had to be brought into the Treasury by the first of +March in each year. Under the first formula the Judex himself, under +the second two _Scriniarii_ superintend the collection, reporting to +the Count of Sacred Largesses. As in the previous letter (iii. 8), the +Judex is reminded that if there is any deficiency he will have to make +it good himself. Cf. Manso, 'Geschichte des Ostgothischen Reiches' +388; and Sartorius, 'Regierung der Ostgothen' 207 and 347. + + +22. FORMULA OF EXHORTATION ADDRESSED TO THE TWO SCRINIARII REFERRED TO +IN FORMULA 21. + +[Sidenote: Commonitorium illi et illi Scriniariis.] + +'Your day of promotion is come. Proceed to such and such a Province, +in order that you may assist the Judex and his staff in collecting the +_Bina_ and _Terna_, before the first of March, and may forward them +without delay to the Count of Sacred Largesses. Let there be no +extortion from the cultivator, no dishonest surrender of our rights.' + + +23. FORMULA OF THE VICARIUS OF PORTUS. + +[Sidenote: Vicarius Portus.] + +'Great prudence is necessary in your office, since discords easily +arise between two nationalities. Therefore you must use skill to +soothe those [the Greek merchants and sailors from the Levant] whose +characters are unstable as the winds, and who, unless you bring their +minds into a state of calm, will, with their natural quickness of +temper, fly out into the extremity of insolence.' + + +24. FORMULA OF THE PRINCEPS OF DALMATIA. + +[Sidenote: Princeps Dalmatiarum.] + +[The Princeps, as observed on p. 96, seems to have practically +disappeared from the Officium of the Praefectus Praetorio. Here, +however, we find a Provincial Princeps whose rank and functions are +not a little perplexing. It seems probable that, while still nominally +only the chief of a staff of subordinates, he may, owing to the +character of the superior under whom he served, have practically +assumed more important functions. That superior in this case was a +Comes, whose military character is indicated by the first letter of +this book. The Princeps was therefore virtually the Civil Assessor of +this officer. + +The Comes under Theodoric would generally be a Goth; the Princeps must +be a Roman and a Jurisconsult. The business of the former was war and +administration; that of the latter, judgment, though his decisions +were apparently pronounced by the mouth of the Comes, his superior in +rank.] + +'Whosoever serves while bearing the title of Princeps has high +pre-eminence among his colleagues. To the Consul of the Provinces +power is given, but to you the Judge himself is entrusted. Without you +there is no access to the Secretarium, nor is the ceremony of +salutation[478] [by subordinate officers] performed. You hold the +vine-rod[479] which menaces the wicked; you have the right, withheld +from the Governor himself, of punishing the insolence of an orator +pleading in his Court. The records of the whole suit have to be signed +by you, and for this your consent is sought after the will of the +Judge has been explained.' + +[Footnote 478: 'Pompa osculationis.' Another reading is 'Pompa +postulationis.'] + +[Footnote 479: 'Tu vitem tenes improbis minantem.' The allusion is to +the vine-bough, which was used in scourging. The alternative reading, +_vitam_, does not seem to give so good a sense.] + + +25. FORMULA RECOMMENDING THE PRINCIPES[480] TO THE COMES. + +[Footnote 480: Plural. Apparently, therefore, each Count had more than +one Princeps, perhaps one for each large city in his Province.] + +[Sidenote: Ad Commendandos Comiti Principes.] + +'It is our glory to see you [a Goth, one of our own nation] +accompanied by a Roman official staff. Acting through such Ministers, +your power seems to be hallowed by the sanction of Antiquity. + +'For to this point, by God's help, have we brought our Goths, that +they should be both well-trained in arms and attuned to justice. It is +this which the other races cannot accomplish; this that makes you +unique among the nations, namely, that you, who are accustomed to war, +are seen to live obedient to the laws side by side with the Romans. +Therefore from out of our _Officium_, we have decided to send A and B +to you, that according to ancient custom, while forwarding the +execution of your commands they may bring those commands into +conformity with the mind of past ages[481].' + +[Footnote 481: 'Rationabili debeant antiquitate moderari.' Perhaps we +might translate, 'with the Common Law.'] + + +26. FORMULA OF THE COUNTSHIP OF THE SECOND RANK IN DIVERS CITIES[482]. + +[Footnote 482: The title runs thus (in Nivellius' Edition): 'Formula +Comitivae Honorum Scientiae Ordinis diversarum Civitatum.' I do not +know what is meant by 'Honorum Scientiae.' Can 'Scientiae' be a +transcriber's blunder for 'secundi?'] + +[Sidenote: Comitiva diversarum civitatum.] + +For the sentences, more than usually devoid of meaning, in which +Cassiodorus dilates on Free-will, Justice, and the mind of man, it may +be well to substitute Manso's description of this dignity (p. 379): + +'By the title of a Count of the Second Order the Judges in little +towns appear chiefly to have been rewarded and encouraged. Those named +for it, however, can hardly have received any great distinction or +especial privileges, for Cassiodorus not only enumerates no civic +advantages thus secured to them, but expressly says, "We intend to +bestow better things than this upon you, if you earn our approbation +in your present office." He does not use this language to those +adorned with the _Comitiva Primi Ordinis_.' + + +27. FORMULA ADDRESSED TO THE DIGNIFIED CULTIVATORS AND CURIALES[483]. + +[Footnote 483: Cf. vi. 24.] + +[Sidenote: Honorati Possessores et Curiales.] + +'As one must rule and the rest obey, we have for this Indiction +conferred the Countship of your City on A B, that he may hear your +causes and give effect to our orders.' + +[Apparently this letter and the preceding relate to the same +appointment. The words 'secundi ordinis' are not added to the title of +the new Count when his fellow-citizens are informed of it.] + + +28. FORMULA ANNOUNCING THE APPOINTMENT OF A COMES TO THE CHIEF OF HIS +STAFF[484]. + +[Footnote 484: This must, I think, be the meaning; but it is hard to +extract it from the words 'Formula Principis Militum Comitivae.'] + +[Sidenote: Princeps Militum Comitivae.] + +'Judge and Court Officer (Praesul and Miles) are terms which involve +one another. The officers of the Court have no right to exist, +without the Judge; he is powerless without them to execute his +commands. We therefore think it well to inform you of our appointment +of A B as Count over your body[485]. It is no light benefit that so +long as you attend to your duty[486] you are allowed to elect the +examiners.' + +[Footnote 485: 'Comitem Militiae Vestrae.'] + +[Footnote 486: 'Nec istud leve credatis beneficium, ut cum vos scitis +obsequium, vobis occurrat electio cognitorum.' For Cognitores, see +vii. 3. These Cognitores had virtually the decision of all 'issues of +fact,' and consequently their nomination was a very important matter. +I think the meaning of this passage is: 'I, the King, appoint the +_Comes_ (= Judex), and graciously inform you of my decision. But you +(the Officium) have the privilege--and it is no small one--of electing +the _Cognitores_.'] + + +29. FORMULA CONCERNING THE GUARD AT THE GATES OF A CITY. + +[Sidenote: De Custodiendis Portis Civitatis.] + +'We entrust to you an important office, the care of the gate of such +and such a city. Do not keep it always shut--that were to turn the +city into a prison; nor let it always lie open--then the walls are +useless. Use your own judgment, but remember that the gate of a city +is like the jaws of the human body, through which provisions enter to +nourish it.' + + +30. FORMULA OF THE TRIBUNATE IN THE PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: Tribunatus Provinciarum.] + +'It is right that one who has served his time in civil employment +should receive his reward, and we therefore appoint as your Tribune +the man who has a right to the office by seniority. You are to obey +him, since officers of this kind partake of the nature of Judges +[governors], as they are called to account for any excesses committed +by you.' + +[Who this Tribune was--since the _Tribunus Voluptatum_ is apparently +out of the question--and how his jurisdiction fitted in to that of +other officers, Manso (p. 362) deems it impossible to decide, nor can +I offer any suggestion.] + + +31. FORMULA OF THE PRINCEPS OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Formula Principatus Urbis Romae.] + +'As there must be the _Officium_, of a Count in Rome, and as we want +to have our chief Princeps[487] near us [in Ravenna], we wish you to +take his place and wield power as his _Vicarius_ in Rome. + +[Footnote 487: 'Principem nostrum _cardinalem_' (observe this use of +the word).] + +'If you think that any of the _Comitiaci_ ought to be sent to attend +our Comitatus [at Ravenna], do so at your own discretion, retaining +those whom you think proper to retain at Rome. Let there be an +alternation, however, that one set of men be not worn out with +continuous labour, while the others are rusting in idleness.' + + +32. FORMULA OF THE MASTER OF THE MINT. + +[Sidenote: Formula qua Moneta Committitur.] + +'Great is the crime of tampering with the coinage; a crime against the +many--whose buying and selling is disturbed by it; and a crime and a +sacrilege against us, whose image is impressed on the coins. + +'Let everything be pure and unalloyed which bears the impress of our +Serenity. Let the flame of gold be pale and unmixed, let the colour of +silver smile with its gracious whiteness, let the ruddy copper retain +its native glow. + +'Coins are to keep their full weight. They used to pass current by +weight, not by tale, whence the words for profit and expenditure[488]. +_Pecunia_ was named from cattle (pecus). You must see that our money +does not return to this low condition. King Servius first used +stamped money. Take then the care of the mint; hold it for five years, +and be very careful how you administer it.' + +[Footnote 488: 'Compendium et dispendium' (from _pendere_, to weigh).] + + +33. FORMULA RESPECTING THE AMBASSADORS OF VARIOUS NATIONS. + +[Sidenote: Formula Legatorum Gentium Diversarum.] + +'Since it is important that when ambassadors return to their country +they should feel that they have been well treated in ours, hand the +enclosed _douceur_ (humanitas), and a certain quantity of fodder for +their horses, to the ambassadors of such and such a nation. Nothing +pleases those who have commenced their return journey better than +speeding them on their way.' + + +34. FORMULA OF SUMMONS TO THE KING'S COURT (UNSOLICITED). + +[Sidenote: Formula Evocatoria quam Princeps dirigit.] + +'We summon you by these presents to our Comitatus, that you may have +an extraordinary pleasure. Be brisk therefore, and come on such a day +to such a city. Our Palace longs for the presence of good men, and God +puts it into our hearts to give them a cordial reception.' + + +35. FORMULA OF SUMMONS TO THE COURT (SOLICITED). + +[Sidenote: Formula Evocatoria quae petenti conceditur.] + +'It is a sign of a good conscience to seek the presence of a just +ruler; it is only good deeds that crave the light of the sun. Come +then speedily. We consider our own glory augmented when we see noble +men flocking to our obedience.' + + +36. FORMULA GRANTING TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE. + +[Sidenote: Formula Commeatalis ad tempus.] + +'All men require change: even honey cloys after a time. We therefore +give you leave to visit such a Province and remain there so many +months, with the understanding that when they are over you return to +the City. If it be tedious to live always in the City, how much more +to live long in the country! But we gladly give you this holiday, not +that Rome should be deserted, but that absence from her may commend +her to you all the more.' + + +37. FORMULA CONFERRING THE RANK OF A SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: Spectabilitas.] + +'Wishing to bestow the right honours on the right man among our +subjects, we decorate you with the splendour of a _Spectabilis_, that +you may know that your opinion is duly respected[489] at all public +meeting-places, when you take your honoured seat among the nobles.' + +[Footnote 489: 'Spectandam,' an allusion to the derivation of +_spectabilis_.] + + +38. FORMULA CONFERRING THE RANK OF A CLARISSIMUS. + +[Sidenote: Clarissimatus.] + +'The desire of praise is a good thing, and leads to the increase of +virtue. Receive the honour of the _Clarissimatus_, as a testimony to +the excellence of your past life and a pledge of your future +prosperity. Observe, you are not called _Clarus_, but _Clarissimus_. +Everything that is most excellent may be believed of him who is +saluted by such a splendid superlative.' + + +39. FORMULA BESTOWING 'POLICE PROTECTION.' + +[Sidenote: Tuitio Regii nominis.] + +'Though it seems superfluous to grant special protection to any of our +subjects, since all are shielded by the laws, yet moved by your cry +for help we are willing to relieve you and to give you as a strong +tower of defence the shelter of our name[490], into which you may +retire when wounded by the assaults of your enemies. This defence will +avail you alike against the hot-headed onslaughts [of the Goths] and +the ruinous chicanery [of the Romans][491]; but you must beware that +you, who have thus had to solicit the help of the law, do not yourself +set law at defiance by refusing to appear in answer to a summons. + +[Footnote 490: 'Tuitio nostri nominis.'] + +[Footnote 491: 'Validissimam turrem contra inciviles impetus et +conventionalia detrimenta.'] + +'That our royal protection be not a mere name, we appoint A and B to +protect you by their fidelity and diligence, the former against the +Goths, and the latter against the Romans[492]. If any one hereafter +attempt any act of _incivilitas_ against you, you will see your desire +upon your enemies.' + +[Footnote 492: 'Praesentis beneficii jussione adversus Gothis illa, +adversus Romanos illa, facile te fides et diligentia custodiet' +('custodivit' is surely an error).] + +[This important letter is commented upon at some length by Dahn +('Könige der Germanen' iii. 125-127). I am not sure that he is right +in stating that _Tuitio_ against a Goth would _necessarily_ be given +by means of a Sajo, though evidently this was often the rank of the +officer employed.] + + +40. FORMULA FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF MARRIAGE AND THE LEGITIMATION OF +OFFSPRING. + +[Sidenote: De Matrimonio confirmando et liberis legitime +constituendis.] + +'An eternal benefit is that which is bestowed on a man's offspring; +and hard is the lot of him who, born with a stain on his name, finds +his troubles prepared as soon as he comes forth to the light of day. + +'You pray that the woman whom you have loved but not married may +receive the honour of wedlock, and that your children by her may +attain the name of heirs. We grant your request, and ordain that your +mistress shall be your lawful wife, and the children whom you love +and whom Nature has given you, your successors.' + +[Some of the maxims of this letter can hardly have obtained the +approval of the author after he 'entered religion.'] + + +41. FORMULA CONFERRING THE RIGHTS OF FULL AGE. + +[Sidenote: Aetatis venia.] + +'An honourable boast is contained in the suit for "venia aetatis." In +it a young man says, "Give me those rights which my stability of +character warrants, though my age does not as yet entitle me to them." + +'Thus you refuse the protection which the law throws round the years +of weakness, and this is as bold a thing as any man can do. We grant +your request; and if you can prove that you have come to the age at +which "venia aetatis" should be asked for, we ordain that, with the +proper formalities which have been of old provided in this +matter[493], you shall be admitted to all the rights of an adult, and +that your dispositions of property, whether in city or country, shall +be held valid[494]. You must exhibit that steadfastness of character +which you claim. You say that you will not be caught by the snares of +designing men; and you must remember that now to deny the fulfilment +of your promise will become a much more serious matter than +heretofore.' + +[Footnote 493: 'Ut in foro competenti ea quae in his causis reverenda +legum dictat Antiquitas solenniter actitentur.'] + +[Footnote 494: 'Ita ut in alienandis rusticis vel urbanis praediis +constitutionum servitus auctoritas.'] + + +42. FORMULA OF AN EDICT TO THE QUAESTOR ORDERING THE PERSON WHO ASKS +FOR THE PROTECTION OF A SAJO TO GIVE BAIL. + +[Sidenote: Edictum ad Quaestorem, ut ipse spondere debeat qui Sajonem +meretur.] + +'Heavy charges are sometimes brought against the Sajones whom with the +best intentions we have granted for the protection of our wealthy +subjects. We are told that the valour of the Sajo is employed not +merely for the protection of him to whom he is assigned, but for +illegal violence and rapine against that person's enemies. Thus our +remedy becomes itself a disease. To guard against this perversion of +our beneficent designs we ordain that anyone asking for the +guardianship of a brave Sajo against violence with which he feels +himself unable to cope, shall give a penal bond to our Officium, with +this condition, that if the Sajo[495] who is assigned to him shall +exceed our orders by any improper violence, he himself shall pay by +way of fine so many pounds of gold, and shall make satisfaction for +the damage sustained by his adversary as well as for the expenses of +his journey [to obtain redress]. For our wish is to repress uncivil +dispositions, not to injure the innocent. As for the Sajo who shall +have wilfully transgressed the limit of our commands, he shall lose +his donative, and--which is the heaviest of all punishments--our +favour also. Nor will we entrust any further duty to him who has been +the violator rather than the executor of our will.' + +[Footnote 495: 'Sajus' in the original, and so in the next place where +it occurs.] + + +43. FORMULA APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF A CLERK IN THE RECORD-OFFICE. + +[Sidenote: Probatoria Cartariorum.] + +'At the suggestion of the Tribune of the Cartarii--to whom the whole +office pays fitting reverence--we bestow upon you the title of a +Cartarius. Flee avarice and avoid all unjust gains.' + +[This letter gives no information as to the duties of a Cartarius, or, +as he is called in the Codes, Cartularius.] + + +44. FORMULA FOR THE GRANT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY ON CONDITION OF +IMPROVEMENT[496]. + +[Footnote 496: Formula de Competitoribus is the somewhat obscure title +of this document, which might perhaps be compared to our Commons' +Enclosure Acts.] + +[Sidenote: De Competitoribus.] + +'He who seeks to become owner of public property can only justify his +claim by making the squalid beautiful, and by adorning the waste. +Therefore, as you desire it, we confer upon you as your full property +such and such a place, reserving all mineral rights--brass, lead, +marbles--should any such be found therein; but we do this on the +understanding that you will restore to beauty that which has become +shabby by age and neglect. It is the part of a good citizen to adorn +the face of his city, and you may securely transmit to your posterity +that which your own labour has accomplished[497].' + +[Footnote 497: 'Securus etiam ad posteros transmissurus, quod proprio +fuerit labore compositum.'] + + +45. FORMULA OF REMISSION OF TAXES WHERE THE TAXPAYER HAS ONLY ONE +HOUSE, TOO HEAVILY ASSESSED. + +[Sidenote: Formula qua census relevetur ei qui unam casam possidet +praegravatam.] + +'You complain that the land-tax (tributum) levied upon your holding +(possessio) in such a Province is so heavy that all your means are +swallowed up in the swamp of indebtedness, and that more is claimed by +the tax-collectors than can be obtained from the soil by the +husbandman. You might, by surrendering the property altogether, escape +from this miserable necessity which is making you a slave rather than, +a landowner; but since the Imperial laws (sacratissimae leges) give us +the power to relieve a man of moderate fortune in such circumstances, +our Greatness, which always hath the cause of justice at heart, +decrees by these presents that if the case be as you say, the +liability for the payment of so many solidi on behalf of the aforesaid +property shall be cancelled in the public archives, and that this +shall be done so thoroughly that there shall be no trace of it left in +any copy of the taxing-rolls by which the charge may be revived at a +future day[498].' + +[Footnote 498: 'Decernimus ut, si ita est, tot solidos tributario +supradictae possessionis ... ita faciatis de vasariis publicis +diligenter abradi ut hujus rei duplarum vestigium non debeat +inveniri.' Cf. what is said by Evagrius (iii. 39) of the proceedings +of Anastasius at the time of the abolition of the Chrysargyron.] + + +46. FORMULA LEGITIMATING MARRIAGE WITH A FIRST COUSIN. + +[Sidenote: Formula qua consobrina legitima fiat uxor.] + +'After the laws of the two tables, Moses adds the laws wherein God +forbids marriages between near kindred, to guard against incest and +provide for a wise admixture of divers strains of blood[499]. + +[Footnote 499: 'Ne dilationem providam in genus extraneum non +haberent.'] + +'These commands have been extended to remoter degrees of relationship +by the wise men of old, who have however reserved to the Prince the +power of granting dispensations from the rule in the cases (not likely +to be frequent) where first cousins (by the mother's side) seek to +intermarry. + +'Acting on this wise principle we permit you to marry C D, if she is +of no nearer kinship to you than first cousin. By God's favour may you +have legitimate heirs from this marriage, which, our consent having +been obtained, is not blameable but praiseworthy.' + + +47. FORMULA ADDRESSED TO THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT DIRECTING THE SALE OF +THE PROPERTY OF A CURIALIS. + +[Sidenote: Formula ad Praefectum, ut sub decreto Curialis praedia +vendat.] + +'It is the hard lot of human nature often to be injured by the very +things which were intended as remedies. The prohibition against the +sale of the property of a Curialis was intended for his protection, +and to enable him fearlessly to discharge his share of the public +burdens. In some cases, however, where he has contracted large debts, +this prohibition simply prevents him from saving anything out of the +gulf of indebtedness. You have the power, after making due enquiry +into the circumstances, to authorise the sale of such a property. You +have the power; but as the proceeding is an unusual one, to guard you +against any odium to which it may expose you, we fortify your Eminence +by this our present command. Let the Curialis who petitions for this +relief satisfy you as to the cause of his losses, that it may be shown +that they are really the result of circumstances beyond his own +control, not due to his own bad character. + +'Wisely has Antiquity laid upon _you_ the responsibility of deciding +cases of this kind, you whose advantage lies in the maintenance of the +Curia. For by whom could its burdens be borne, if the nerves of the +communities should everywhere be seen to be severed[500]?' + +[Footnote 500: 'Quapropter provide vobis permisit antiquitas de illâ +causa decernere, cui est utile Curiam custodire. A quibus enim munia +petuerunt sustineri, si civitatum nervi passim videantur abscidi.'] + + + + +BOOK VIII. + +CONTAINING THIRTY-THREE LETTERS, ALL WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF ATHALARIC +THE KING, EXCEPT THE ELEVENTH, WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF TULUM. + + +1. KING ATHALARIC TO THE EMPEROR JUSTIN (A.D. 526). + +[Sidenote: The accession of Athalaric announced to the Emperor +Justin.] + +[Some MSS. read Justiniano, but there can be no doubt that Justino is +the right reading. Athalaric's accession took place August 30, 526; +the death of Justin, August 1, 527. Justinian was associated with his +uncle in the Empire, April 1, 527.] + +'Most earnestly do I seek your friendship, oh most clement of Princes, +who are made even more illustrious by the wide extension of your +favours than by the purple robe and the kingly throne. On this +friendship I have an hereditary claim. My father was adorned by you +with the palm-enwoven robe of the Consul [Eutharic, Consul 519] and +adopted as a son in arms, a name which I, as one of a younger +generation, could more fittingly receive[501]. My grandfather also +received curule honours from you[502] in your city. Love and +friendship should pass from parents to their offspring, while hatred +should be buried in the tomb; and therefore with confidence, as one +who by reason of my tender years cannot be an object of suspicion to +you, and as one whose ancestors you have already known and cherished, +I claim from you your friendship on the same compacts and conditions +on which your renowned predecessors granted it to my lord and +grandfather of Divine memory[503]. It will be to me something better +than dominion to have the friendship of so excellent and so mighty a +ruler. My ambassadors (A and B) will open the purport of their +commission more fully to your Serenity.' + +[Footnote 501: The text is evidently corrupt here: 'Genitor meus +desiderio quoque concordiae factus est per arma filius, quia unis +nobis pene videbatur aequaevus.' The suggested reading, 'quamvis +vobis,' does not entirely remove the difficulty.] + +[Footnote 502: That is, of course, not from Justin himself but from +his predecessors.] + +[Footnote 503: 'Ut amicitiam nobis illis pactis, illis conditionibus +concedatis, quas cum divae memoriae domino avo nostro inclytos +decessores vestros constat habuisse.'] + + +2. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME ON HIS ACCESSION +(A.D. 526). + +[Sidenote: To the Senate.] + +'Great must be the joy of all orders of the State at hearing of the +accession of a new ruler, above all of a peaceful succession, without +war, without sedition, without loss of any kind to the Republic. + +'Such has been our succession to our grandfather. On account of the +glory of the Amal race, which yields to none[504], the hope of our +youth has been preferred to the merits of all others. The chiefs, +glorious in council and in war, have flocked to recognise us as King +so gladly, so unmurmuringly, that it seems like a Divine inspiration, +and the kingdom has been changed as one changes a garment. + +[Footnote 504: 'Quoniam quaevis claritas generis Amalis cedit.'] + +'The institution of royalty is consolidated when power thus passes +from one generation to another, and when a good prince lives again, +not in statues of brass but in the lineaments and the character of his +descendants. + +'The general consent of Goths and Romans [at Ravenna] has crowned us +King, and they have confirmed their allegiance by an oath. You, though +separated from us by space, are, we know, as near to us in heart as +they; and we call upon you therefore to follow their example. We all +know that the most excellent fathers of the Senate love their King +more fervently than other ranks of the State, in proportion to the +greater benefits which they have received at his hand. + +'And since one should never enter your Curia empty-handed, we have +sent our Count, the Illustrious Sigismer, with certain persons to +administer the oath to you. If you have any requests to make to us +which shall be for the common benefit of the Republic, make them +through him, and they are granted beforehand.' + + +3. KING ATHALARIC TO THE ROMAN PEOPLE (A.D. 526). + +[Sidenote: To the citizens of Rome.] + +'If a stranger to the royal line were succeeding to the throne, you +might doubt whether the friendship between him and you would endure, +and might look for a reversal of the policy of his predecessors. But +now the person of the King only, not his policy, is changed. We are +determined to follow the revered maxims of our predecessor, and to +load with even more abundant benefits those whom he most kindly +defended. + +'Everything was so ordered by our glorious grandfather that on his +death the glad consent of Goths called us to our kingdom; and that no +doubt might remain upon the matter they pledged themselves by an oath +most cordially taken, to accept us as their ruler. We invite you to +follow their example, and like Trajan, we, the Sovereign, in whose +name all oaths are made, will also swear to you. The bearers of this +letter will receive your sworn promise, and will give you ours, "by +the Lord's help to observe justice and fair clemency, the nourisher of +the nations; that Goths and Romans shall meet with impartial +treatment at our hands; and that there shall be no other division +between the two nations, except that _they_ undergo the labours of war +for the common benefit, while _you_ are increased in numbers by your +peaceable inhabitancy of the City of Rome[505]." Raise then your +spirits, and hope for even better things and more tranquillity, under +God's blessing, from our reign than from that of our predecessor.' + +[Footnote 505: 'Justitiam nos et aequabilem clementiam, quae populos +nutrit, juvante domino, custodire et _Gothis Romanisque apud nos jus +esse commune_, nec aliud inter vos esse divisum, nisi quod illi +labores bellicos pro communi utilitate subeunt, vos autem civitatis +Romanae habitatio quieta multiplicat.' I do not consider that the +words in Italics, taken with the context, are irreconcilable with +Dahn's view that the Goths were still, to a certain extent, under +Gothic law.] + + +4. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE ROMANS SETTLED IN ITALY AND THE DALMATIAS +(A.D. 526). + +[Sidenote: To the Romans in Italy and Dalmatia.] + +'He who hears of a change in the ruler is apt to fear that it may be a +change for the worse; and a new King who makes no kind promises at his +accession is supposed to be harbouring designs of severity. We +therefore inform you that we have received the oaths of Goths and +Romans and are ready to receive yours, which we doubt not you will +willingly offer.' [The rest as in the preceding letters.] + + +5. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE GOTHS SETTLED IN ITALY (A.D. 526). + +[Sidenote: To the Goths.] + +'Gladly would we have announced to you the prolonged life of our lord +and grandfather; but inasmuch as he has been withdrawn by hard fate +from us who loved him, he has substituted us, by Divine command, as +heirs of his kingdom, that through us his successors in blood, he +might make the benefits which he has conferred on you perpetual. And +in truth we hope not only to defend but to increase the blessings +wrought by him. All the Goths in the Royal City [Ravenna] have taken +the oaths to us. Do you do the same by this Count whom we send to you. + +'Receive then a name which ever brought prosperity to your race, the +royal offshoot of the Amals, the sprout of the Balthae[506], a +childhood clad in purple. Ye are they by whom, with God's help, our +ancestors were borne to such a height of honour, and obtained an ever +higher place amid the serried ranks of kings[507].' + +[Footnote 506: 'Amalorum regalem prosapiem, Baltheum germen.' I know +not how Athalaric had any blood of the Balths in his veins. The other +reading, 'blatteum,' gives the same idea as the following clause, +'infantiam purpuratam.'] + +[Footnote 507: 'Inter tam prolixum ordinem Regum susceperunt semper +augmenta.' Perhaps we should translate 'by such a long line of (Amal) +kings obtained advancement for their nation;' but the meaning is not +very clear.] + + +6. KING ATHALARIC TO LIBERIUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT OF THE GAULS (A.D. +526). + +[Sidenote: To the Governor of Gaul.] + +'You will be grieved to hear of the death of our lord and grandfather +of glorious memory, but will be comforted in learning that he is +succeeded by his descendant. Thus, by God's command, did he arrange +matters, associating us as lords in the throne of his royalty, in +order that he might leave his kingdom at peace, and that no revolution +might trouble it after his death.' + +[Invitation to take the oath, as in previous letters.] + + +7. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS SETTLED IN GAUL (A.D. 526). + +[Sidenote: To the Gaulish subjects of Athalaric.] + +'Our grandfather of glorious memory is dead, but we have succeeded +him, and will faithfully repay, both on his account and our own, the +loyalty of our subjects. + +'So unanimous was the acclamation of our [Italian] subjects when we +succeeded to the throne, that the thing seemed to be of God rather +than of man. + +'We now invite you to follow their example, that the Goths may give +their oath to the Romans, and the Romans may confirm it by a +_Sacramentum_ to the Goths, that they are unanimously devoted to our +King.' + +'Thus will your loyalty be made manifest, and concord and justice +flourish among you.' + +[There is an appearance of mutuality about this oath of allegiance as +between Goths and Romans, not merely by both to Athalaric, which we +have not had in the previous letters.] + + +8. KING ATHALARIC TO VICTORINUS, VIR VENERABILIS AND BISHOP[508] (A.D. +526). + +[Footnote 508: Baronius says (vii. 121): 'Cujusnam Ecclesiae Antistes +fuerit Victorinus ignoratur.' From the tone of the letter one may +conjecture that Victorinus was a Bishop in Gaul.] + +[Sidenote: To Bishop Victorinus.] + +'Saluting you with all the veneration due to your character and +office, we inform you with grief of the death of our lord and +grandfather. But your sadness will be moderated when you hear that his +kingdom is continued in us. Favour us with your prayers, that the King +of Heaven may confirm to us the kingdom, subdue foreign nations before +us, forgive us our sins, and propitiously preserve all that He was +pleased to bestow on our ancestors. Let your Holiness exhort all the +Provincials to concord.' + + +9. KING ATHALARIC TO TULUM, PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Praises of Tulum, who is raised to the Patriciate.] + +'As our grandfather used to refresh his mind and strengthen his +judgment by intercourse with you, so, _à fortiori_, may we in our +tender years do the same. We therefore make you, by this present +letter, Patrician, that the counsels which you give us may not seem to +proceed from any unknown and obscure source. + +'Greece adorned our hero [Tulum] with the chlamys and the painted +silken buskin; and the Eastern peoples yearned to see him, because +for some reason civic virtues are most prized in him who is believed +to be of warlike disposition[509]. Contented with this repayment of +honour he laboured with unwearied devotion for foreign countries (?), +and with his relations (or parents) he deigned to offer his obedience +to the Sovereign, who was begotten of the stock of so many Kings[510]. + +[Footnote 509: Probably Tulum had gone on some embassy to +Constantinople.] + +[Footnote 510: 'Hac igitur honoris remuneratione contentus, pro +exteris partibus indefessa devotione laboravit: et praestare com suis +parentibus principi dignabatur obsequium, qui tantorum regum fuerat +stirpe procreatus.' This sentence is full of difficulties. What can he +mean by the labour 'pro exteris partibus?' Who is the 'Princeps' whom +Tulum deigns to serve: the Eastern Emperor or Theodoric? Above all, +who is 'tantorum regum stirpe procreatus?' I think the turn of the +sentence requires that it should be Tulum; but Dahn has evidently not +so understood it, for in his Könige der Germanen (iii. 29, 30) he +makes Tulum a conspicuous example of a man not of noble birth raised +to high dignity, and says that the two long letters about him in the +Variae contain no allusion to illustrious descent.] + +[After some very obscure sentences, in which the writer appears to be +celebrating the praises of Theodoric, he turns to Tulum, of whom he +has hitherto spoken in the third person, and addresses him as _you_.] + +'His toil so formed your character that we have the less need to +labour. With you he discussed the sure blessings of peace, the +doubtful gains of war; and--rare boon from a wise King--to you, in his +anxiety, he confidently opened all the secrets of his breast. You, +however, responded fully to his trust. You never put him off with +doubtful answers. Ever patient and truthful, you won the entire +confidence of your King, and dared even, hardest of all tasks, to +argue against him for his own good. + +'Thus did your noble deeds justify your alliance with the Amal race +[apparently he has received an Amal princess in marriage], and thus +did you become worthy to be joined in common fame with Gensemund, a +man whose praises the whole world should sing, a man only made son by +adoption in arms to the King, yet who exhibited such fidelity to the +Amals that he transferred it even to their heirs, although he was +himself sought for to be crowned[511]. Therefore will his fame live +for ever, so long as the Gothic name endures. + +[Footnote 511: 'Exstat gentis Gothicae hujus probitatis exemplum: +Gensemundus ille toto orbe cantabilis, solum armis filius factus, +tanta se Amalis devotione conjunxit ut haeredibus eorum curiosum +exhibuerit famulatum, quamvis ipse peteretur ad regnum.' Dahn (ii. 61 +and iii. 309) and Köpke (p. 142) refer this mysterious affair of +Gensemund's renunciation to the interval after the death of Thorismund +(A.D. 416). But this is mere conjecture. See Italy and her Invaders +iii. 8-10.] + +'We look for even nobler things from you, because you are allied to us +by race.' + +[A singularly obscure, vapid, and ill-written letter. The allusion to +Gensemund seems introduced on purpose to bewilder the reader.] + + +10. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[On the elevation of Tulum to the Patriciate.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We are conferring new lustre on your body by the promotion of Tulum. +A man sprung from the noblest stock[512] he early undertook the duties +of attendance in the King's bedchamber[513], a difficult post, where +the knowledge that you share the secret counsels of royalty itself +exposes you to enmity. + +[Footnote 512: 'Primum, quod inter nationes eximium est, Gothorum +nobilissima stirpe gloriatur.'] + +[Footnote 513: 'Statim rudes annos ad sacri cubiculi secreta +portavit.'] + +'In the dawn of manhood he went forth with our army to the war of +Sirmium [A.D. 504], showed what one of our young nobles bred in peace +could do in war, triumphed over the Huns[514], and gave to slaughter +the Bulgarians, terrible to the whole world. Such warriors do even our +nurseries send forth: thus does the preparation of a courageous heart +supersede the necessity for martial training[515]. + +[Footnote 514: We do not hear from the other authorities of Huns being +engaged in this war. In 505 Mundo the Hun was in alliance with +Theodoric against the Empire.] + +[Footnote 515: 'Tales mittunt nostra cunabula bellatores: sic paratae +sunt manus, ubi exercetur animus.'] + +'Returned to the Court he became the most intimate counsellor of the +King, who arranged with him all his plans for campaign, and so +admitted him to his most secret thoughts that Tulum could always +anticipate how Theodoric would act in every fresh conjuncture of +events; and it may be said "by offering him counsel he ruled the +King[516]." + +[Footnote 516: 'Et ministrando consilium regebat ipse Rectorem.'] + +'He then distinguished himself in the Gaulish campaign [A.D. 508], +where he was already enrolled among the generals, directing the +campaign by his prudence, and bravely sharing its dangers. In the +fierce fight which was waged at Arles for the possession of the +covered bridge across the Rhone[517], the bravery of our _candidatus_ +was everywhere conspicuous, and he received many honourable wounds, +those best and most eloquent champions of a soldier's courage. + +[Footnote 517: 'Arelate est civitas supra undas Rhodani constituta, +quae in Orientis prospectum tabulatum pontem per nuncupati fluminis +dorsa transmittit.'] + +'But a general ought not to be always fighting. I have pleasure in +relating his next success, which was brilliant yet achieved without +bloodshed. When the Frank and Burgundian again fell out, he was sent +to Gaul [A.D. 523] to defend our frontier from hostile incursion. He +then obtained for the Roman Republic, without any trouble, a whole +Province while others were fighting. It was a triumph without a +battle, a palm-branch without toil, a victory without slaughter. + +'So great were his services in this campaign that Theodoric considered +that he ought to be rewarded by the possession of large lands in the +district which he had added to our dominions. + +'A storm overtook him on his return to Italy: the remembrance of the +vanished danger of that storm is sweet to us now[518]. In the wide, +foaming sea his ship was swallowed up. He had to save himself by +rowing; the sailors perished; he alone with the dear pledge of his +love [one child?] escaped. Theodoric rushed to the shore, and would +have dashed into the waves to save his friend, but had the delight of +receiving him unharmed, saved manifestly by Divine protection for his +present honours. + +[Footnote 518: 'Discrimina dum feliciter cedunt, suavissimae memoriae +sensum relinquunt.' Compare Claudian (De Bella Getico 207-8): + + 'An potius meminisse juvat semperque vicissim + Gaudia praemissi cumulant inopina dolores.'] + +'Favour then, Conscript Fathers, the ambition of our _candidatus_, and +open for the man of our choice the Hall of Liberty[519]. The race of +Romulus deserves to have such martial colleagues as Tulum.' + +[Footnote 519: 'Favete nunc auspiciis candidati, et viris nostris +libertatis atria reserate.'] + + +11. TULUM, ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN, TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Note that Cassiodorus has to provide an elegant oration not only for +his master, but for this Gothic fellow-minister of State. See Dahn's +remarks on the writer of this letter, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 273.] + +[Sidenote: Tulum's address to the Senate.] + +'I pray you to receive favourably the order of the King which makes me +a member of your body. + +'I have ever favoured the dignity of the Senate, as if with a +prescience that I should one day hold it. When I shared the counsels +of Theodoric, that chief of Kings, of glorious memory, I often by my +intercessions obtained for members of your body Consulships, +Patriciates, Praefectures; and now, behold, I am similarly honoured +myself. Reflect, I pray, that by my accepting it, the genius of the +Patriciate is exalted, since none of my fellow-countrymen will hold +cheaply that rank in you which he sees honoured in me. Live in +security, by the blessing of God; enjoy your prosperity with your +children; and strive, now as always, to show forth the true Roman type +of character. I shall defend those with whom I am now associated.' + + +12. KING ATHALARIC TO ARATOR, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Bestowing on him the rank of Comes Domesticorum.] + +[I have altered the order of subjects in this letter, to make it +correspond with that of time. There cannot be much doubt that Arator's +_pomposa legatio_ from Dalmatia was his first introduction to the +Court of Theodoric, and preceded his employment as Advocatus.] + +[Sidenote: Arator made Count of the Domestics.] + +'By raising Tulum to the Patriciate we have provided for the military +strength of the State. Now must we see to it that she is equally +adorned by the glory of letters, and for this purpose we raise you, +still in the prime of life, to the rank of _Comes Domesticorum_. By +your example it was seen that eloquence could be acquired elsewhere +than at Rome, since in your own Province [probably Dalmatia] your +father, who was an extremely learned man, taught you to excel in this +art: a happy lot for you, who obtained from your father's love that +accomplishment which most youths have to acquire with terror from a +master. + +'That I may say something here of a very _recherché_ character[520], I +may mention that, according to some, letters were first invented by +Mercury, who watched the flight of cranes by the Strymon, and turned +the shapes assumed by their flying squadron into forms expressive of +the various sounds of the human voice. + +[Footnote 520: 'Ut aliquid studiose exquisitum dicere videamur.'] + +'You were sent upon a stately embassy[521] by the Provincials of +Dalmatia to our grandfather; and there, not in commonplace words but +with a torrent of eloquence, you so set forth their needs and the +measures which would be for the advantage of the public, that +Theodoric, a man of cautious temperament, listened to your flow of +words without weariness, and all men desired still to listen, when you +ceased speaking. + +[Footnote 521: 'Juvat repetere pomposam legationem.'] + +'[Since then] you have filled the office of Advocate in our Court. You +might have been a trier of causes (Cognitor): you have preferred to be +a pleader, though to all your advocacy you have brought so fair and +judicial a mind that your eloquence and your zeal for your client have +never exceeded the bounds of truth.' + + +13. KING ATHALARIC TO AMBROSIUS. + +[Conferring on him the Quaestorship.] + +[This Ambrosius, son of Faustinus, is apparently the same to whom +Ennodius addressed his 'Paraenesis Didascalica,' containing some +important notices of Festus, Symmachus, Boethius, Cethegus, and their +contemporaries. (In Migne's 'Patrologia' lxiii. 250.)] + +[Sidenote: Ambrosius appointed Quaestor.] + +'A steady gradation of honours secures good servants for the State. +You have already served with credit the office of Count of the Private +Largesses. And you have also filled satisfactorily the place of a high +official who was dismissed in disgrace[522]. We now therefore promote +you to the office of Quaestor, and expect you to be the Pliny to the +new Trajan. Let your eloquent tongue adorn all that we have to say, +and be fearless in suggesting to us all that is for the welfare of the +State. A good Sovereign always allows his ministers to speak to him on +behalf of justice, while it is the sure mark of a tyrant to refuse to +listen to the voice of the ancient maxims of law. Remember that +celebrated saying of Trajan to an orator: "Plead, if I am a good +ruler, for the Republic and me; if I am a bad one, for the Republic +against me[523]." But remember, that if we are thus severe upon +ourselves we are equally strict with regard to you, and expect you to +follow the example of your noble ancestors, and to abstain from +everything like an infraction of the laws. We confer upon you the +insignia of the Quaestorship for this fifth Indiction' [Sept. 1, +526--Sept. 1, 527]. + +[Footnote 522: 'Gratiam quoque loci alterius invenisti. Dictationibus +enim probaris adhibitus, cum sit offensionibus alter expulsus: et ita +suspensum honorem tuum sustinebat ingenium, ut Palatio non sineres +decesse Judicem, cujus ad tempus abrogatam cognovimus dignitatem.' I +do not think we can say from this what the office temporarily filled +by Arator was.] + +[Footnote 523: 'Sume dicationem, si bonus fuero, pro Republica et me: +si malus, pro Republica in me.'] + + +14. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[On the elevation of Ambrosius to the Quaestorship]. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'As a kind of door to our royal favour do we appoint Ambrosius to be +our Quaestor. You know his merits of old: but, to speak only of recent +matters[524], we may remind you that when your hearts were wrung with +grief for the death of our glorious grandfather, it was by his mouth +that we assured you of our determination to continue to you the +blessings of good government. + +[Footnote 524: 'Quando et moderna quae loquimur.' (Notice again +_moderna_.)] + +'The presence of Ambrosius is full of dignity, and has a soothing +influence which the words of his speech do but confirm[525]. It is +unfortunate for an orator to have eloquence for his only gift, and to +have to obliterate by his oration the unfavourable effect produced on +the multitude by his appearance. + +[Footnote 525: So the contemporary poet Maximian, speaking of his own +past successes as an orator, and a good-looking one, says: + + 'Nec minor his aderat sublimis gratia formae + Quae vel si decent cetera, muta placet.' + + Elegiae i. 17-18.] + +'We consider it not necessary to praise his eloquence. Of course a +Quaestor is eloquent. While some have the government of a Province +committed to them, others the care of the Treasury, he receives the +ensigns of his dignity in order that by him his Sovereign's fame may +be spread abroad through the whole world.' + + +15. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[On the election of Pope Felix III, 526.] + +[As this letter has an important bearing on the royal rights in +connection with Papal elections, it is translated in full.] + +[Sidenote: Election of Pope Felix III (or IV).] + +'We profess that we hear with great satisfaction that you have +responded to the judgment of our glorious lord and grandfather in your +election of a Bishop. It was right in sooth to obey the will of a good +Sovereign, who, handling the matter with wise deliberation, although +it had reference to a form of faith alien from his own[526], thought +fit to select such a Pontiff as could rightfully be displeasing to +none. You may thus recognise that his one chief desire was that +Religion might flourish by good priests being supplied to all the +churches. + +[Footnote 526: 'Qui sapienti deliberatione pertractans quamvis in +aliena religione.'] + +'You have received then a man both admirably endowed with Divine grace +and approved by royal scrutiny. Let no one any longer be involved in +the old contention. There is no disgrace in being conquered when the +King's power has helped the winning side. That man makes him [the +successful candidate] his own, who manifests to him pure affection. +For what cause for regret can there be, when you find in this man, +those very qualities which you looked for in the other when you +embraced his party? + +'These are family quarrels[527], a battle without cold steel, a +contest without hatred: by shouts, not wounds, a matter like this is +decided. + +[Footnote 527: The words of Cassiodorus are, 'crinea sunt ista +certamina.' No one seems able to suggest a meaning for _crinea_. The +editors propose to read _civica_, which however is very flat, and not +exactly in Cassiodorus' manner. I suspect some recondite classical +allusion, which has been missed by the transcribers, has led to the +corruption of the text.] + +'For even though the person who is desired be taken from you, yet +naught is lost by the faithful, since the longed-for priesthood is +possessed by them. [They have a Pope, if not just the Pope whom they +wished for.] Wherefore on the return of your Legate, the Illustrious +Publianus, we have thought it right to send to your assembly these +letters of salutation. For we taste one of our highest pleasures when +we exchange words with our nobles; and we doubt not that this is very +sweet to you also, when you reflect that what you did by our +grandsire's order is personally agreeable to ourselves.' + +[For remarks on this important letter see Dahn's 'Könige der Germanen' +iii. 239. He makes it a simple appointment of the Pope by the bare +will of Theodoric, afterwards confirmed by Athalaric. To me it seems +more probable that there had been a contest, threatening the election +of an antipope (as in 498 in the case of Symmachus and Laurentius), +and that the matter had been, as on that occasion, referred to the +arbitration of Theodoric.] + + +16. KING ATHALARIC TO OPILIO, COUNT OF THE SACRED LARGESSES (527). + +[Sidenote: Opilio appointed Comes Sacrarum Largitionum.] + +'It is generally necessary to weigh carefully the merits of a new +aspirant to the honours of the Court (aulicas dignitates); but in your +case the merits of your family render this examination needless. Both +your father and brother held the same office[528] which we are now +entrusting to you, and one may say that this dignity has taken up its +abode in your house. + +[Footnote 528: 'Pater his fascibus praefuit sed et frater eadem +resplenduit claritate.'] + +'You learned the duties of a subordinate in the office under your +brother; and often did he, leaning upon you as on a staff, take a +little needful repose, knowing that all things would be attended to by +you. The crowds of suppliants who resorted to him with their +grievances, shared the confidence which the people had in you, and saw +that you were already assuming the character of a good judge. + +'Most useful also were your services to the throne at the commencement +of the new reign, when men's minds were in trouble as to what should +happen next. You bore the news of our accession to the Ligurians, and +so strengthened them by your wise address that the error into which +they had been betrayed by the sun-setting was turned into joy at the +rising of our empire[529].' + +[Footnote 529: 'Nam cum ... auspicia nostra Liguribus felix portitor +nuntiasti, et sapientiae tuae allocutione firmasti, in errorem _quem +de occasu conceperant_, ortum nostri imperii in gaudia commutabant.' +Does this obscure passage indicate some revolutionary movements in +Liguria after the death of Theodoric, perhaps fomented by the Frankish +neighbours of Italy?] + +'We therefore confer upon you the dignity of Count of the Sacred +Largesses from this sixth Indiction (Sept. 1, 527). Enjoy all the +privileges and emoluments which belonged to your predecessors. God +forbid that those whose own actions are right should be shaken by any +machinations of calumny. There was a time when even Judges were +harassed by informers (delatores); but that time is over. Lay aside +then all fear, you who have no errors to reproach yourself with, and +freely enjoy the advantages of your dignity. Imitate your brother: +even though a little way behind him you will still be before most +holders of the office. He was a man of the highest authority and of +proved constancy, and the highest testimony to his merits was afforded +by the fact that even under a successor who was hostile to him the +whole official staff of the palace was loud in his praises[530].' + +[Footnote 530: 'Quando sub ingrato successore palatinum officium +praeconia ejus tacere non potuit.'] + +[This letter is of great importance, as containing indirectly the +expression of Cassiodorus' opinion on the trial of Boethius, and the +tendency of that opinion seems to be against him and in favour of his +accusers. Comparing this letter with v. 40, addressed to Cyprian, +Cornes Sacrarum Largitionum and _son of Opilio_, we may with something +like certainty construct this genealogical table: + + OPILIO, + C.S.L. (? son of the Consul of 453). + _________________|_________________ + | | + CYPRIAN, OPILIO, +C.S.L. 524. C.S.L. 527. + +Now Cyprian, whose ready wit and ingenious eloquence had rendered him +a favourite with Theodoric, is represented to us in the 'Philosophiae +Consolatio' of Boethius (I. iv.) and in the 'Anonymus Valesii' (85) as +the informer by whom Albinus and Boethius were accused of high +treason. Opilio too (no doubt the same as the receiver of this letter) +is described by Boethius (loc. cit.) as a man who on account of his +numberless frauds had been ordered by the King to go into banishment, +had taken refuge at the altar, and had been sternly bidden to leave +Ravenna before a given day, and then had purchased pardon by coming +forward as a _delator_ against Boethius. + +Against all this passionate invective it is fair to set this +remarkable letter of Cassiodorus, written it is true in the young +King's name and presenting the Court view of these transactions, but +still written after the death of Theodoric, and perhaps republished by +Cassiodorus in the 'Variarum' after the downfall of the Gothic +Monarchy. In any case the allusions to _delatores_ in this letter, +considering the history of Opilio and his brother, are extraordinary.] + + +17. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +This letter, though it does not mention the name of Opilio, is +evidently written on his promotion to the office of Comes Sacrarum +Largitionum. It enumerates his good qualities, and declares that it is +marvellous and almost fortunate for Athalaric that so suitable a +candidate should not have been promoted in the reign of his +grandfather. The father of Opilio was a man of noble character and +robust body, who distinguished himself by his abstinence from the +vices of the times and his preference for dignified repose in the +stormy period of Odovacar[531]. + +[Footnote 531: 'Adjectis saeculi vitiis, ditatus claris honoribus.' +The text is evidently corrupt. 'Abjectis' seems to be required; but +some MSS. instead of 'vitiis' read 'Odovacris.' In any case Odovacar's +government is evidently alluded to. Cf. the words used of the same man +in the letter announcing the elevation of his other son, Cyprian (v. +41): 'Nam pater huic, sicut meministis, Opilio fuit, vir quidem +_abjectis temporibus_ ad excubias tamen Palatinas electus.'] + +'He was reputed an excellent man in those times, when the Sovereign +was not a man of honour[532]. But why go back to his parentage, when +his brother has set so noble an example. The friendship, the rivalry +in virtue of these two brothers, is worthy of the good old times. Both +are true to their friends; both are devoid of avarice. Both have kept +their loyalty to their King unspotted, and no marvel, since they have +first shown themselves true to their friends and colleagues. + +[Footnote 532: 'His temporibus habitus est eximius, cum princeps non +esset erectus.'] + +'Distinguished by these virtues, our candidate has been fittingly +allied by marriage with the noble family of Basilius[533]. + +[Footnote 533: This is probably the Basilius who was concerned in the +accusation of Boethius (Phil. Cons. I. iv.); possibly the Consul of +541, who fled to Constantinople when Totila took Rome in 546 (Procop. +De Bello Gotthico iii. 20, and Anastasius Lib. Pontif. apud Murator. +iii. 132); and perhaps the Basilius whom we find in trouble in +Variarum iv. 22, 23: scarcely the Basilius of Variarum ii. 10, 11.] + +'He has managed his private affairs so as to avoid the two extremes of +parsimony and extravagance. He has become popular with the Goths by +his manner of life, and with the Romans by his righteous +judgments[534]; and has been over and over again chosen as a referee +(Judex privatus), thus showing the high opinion in which his integrity +is held. + +[Footnote 534: 'Gentiles victu (?), Romanos sibi judiciis obligabat.'] + +'The Conscript Fathers are exhorted to endorse the favourable judgment +of the King, by welcoming the new Count of Sacred Largesses into their +body.' + +[In view of these letters I do not understand what Gibbon means by +saying (cap. xxxix. _n._ 95), 'The characters of the two delators, +Basilius ('Var.' ii. 10, 11; iv. 22) and Opilio (v. 41; viii. 16), are +illustrated, not much to their honour, in the Epistles of +Cassiodorus.' This is quite true of Basilius, if the person alluded to +in the references given by Gibbon be the same as the informer against +Boethius, of which there may be a doubt; but Opilio is mentioned, as +we see, with the highest honour by Cassiodorus. So, too, is Decoratus, +whom in the same note Gibbon too hastily stigmatises as 'the worthless +colleague of Boethius.'] + + +18. KING ATHALARIC TO FELIX, QUAESTOR (527). + +[This cannot be the same as the Consul of 511, nor even his son; for +that Felix was of Gaulish extraction, and came from beyond the Alps.] + +[Sidenote: Promotion of Felix to the Quaestorship.] + +'It is desirable that those who are appointed as Judges should know +something of law, and most unfitting that he whom so many officials +(_milites_) obey should be seen to be dependent for his law on some +one of his subordinates. + +'You long ago, when engaged in civil causes as an Advocate, were +marked out by your Sovereign's eye[535]. He noted your eloquence, your +fidelity, your youthful beauty, and your maturity of mind. No client +could ask for more devotion than you showed in his cause; no Judge +found in you anything to blame. + +[Footnote 535: 'Dudum te forensibus negociis insudantem, _oculus +imperialis_ aspexit'--an expression which goes very near to styling +Theodoric Imperator.] + +'Receive then now the dignity of Quaestor for this sixth Indiction +(Sept. 1, 527), and judge in the Courts where hitherto you have +pleaded. + +'You are called Felix; act so as always to merit that name; for it is +absurd to have a name which denotes one thing and to display the +opposite in one's character. We think we have now said enough for a +man of your good conscience. Many admonitions seem to imply a doubt of +the character of him who receives them.' [A maxim often forgotten by +Cassiodorus.] + + +19. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[On the promotion of Felix.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'As the sky with stars, or the meadow with flowers, so do we wish the +Senate to be resplendent with the men of eminence whom we introduce +into it. It is itself a seminary of Senators; but our favour and the +dignities of our Court also rear them. + +'The Quaestorship is the true mother of the senatorial dignity, since +who can be fitter to take his seat in the Curia than he who has shared +the counsels of his Sovereign? + +'You know the eloquence of our candidate [Felix], his early triumphs, +his modesty, his fidelity. To leave such a man unpromoted were a +public loss; and he will always love the laws by the practice of which +he has risen to eminence. + +'Nor is he the first of his race to earn rhetorical distinction. His +father shone so brilliantly in the Forum of Milan, that he bloomed +forth with undying fruits from the soil of Cicero[536]. He stood +against Magnus Olybrius, he was found equal in fluency to +Eugenius[537] and many others whom Rome knew as foremost in their +art. If the transmission of material wealth by long descent makes men +noble, how much more should the inheritance of the treasures of the +intellect give nobility.' + +[Footnote 536: 'Pater ita in Mediolanensi foro resplenduit, ut aeterno +fructu e Tulliano cespite pullularet.'] + +[Footnote 537: 'Is palmarum Eugenetis linguae ubertate suffecit.' +Possibly this is the Magister Officiorum of Var. i. 12, and the person +to whom is addressed a letter of Ennodius (iv. 26). The form +Eugenetis, instead of Eugenii, belongs to the debased Latinity of the +age.] + + +20. KING ATHALARIC TO ALBIENUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PRAEFECTUS +PRAETORIO[538] (527). + +[Footnote 538: In Nivellius' edition the title of this office is given +as _Praepositus_.] + +[Sidenote: Albienus made Praetorian Praefect.] + +'Your predecessor has been the model of a bad governor. As the North +wind clears the face of the sky from the rain and clouds brought by +the South wind, so do we look to you to repair the evils wrought by +his misgovernment. In all things your best maxim will be to do exactly +the opposite of what he did. He made himself hateful by his unjust +prosecutions: do you become popular by your righteous deeds. He was +rapacious: be you moderate. Soothe and relieve the harassed people +entrusted to your charge. Receive for this sixth Indiction [Sept. 1, +527-528] the fasces of the Praefecture, and let the office of +Praetorian Praefect return to its ancient fame, an object of praise to +the whole world[539]. This office dates from Joseph, and rightly is he +who holds it called by our laws Father of the Provinces, Father of the +Empire. + +[Footnote 539: 'Redeat ad nomen antiquum Praefectura illa Praetorii, +toto orbe laudabilis.' Is it possible that there had been some attempt +to change the _title_ of the Praefect, which accounts for the +_Praepositus_ which in some MSS. we find in the heading of this +letter?] + +'See that you avoid all unjust exactions. We cannot bear that our +Treasury should be filled by unrighteous means. + +'Your descent from a father who has held the same high office, and +your intimate knowledge of the _Dicta prudentum_, warrant us in +believing that you will make a good judge.' + +[I have not been able to find any hint of the name of the Praefectus +Praetorio for 526-527, so bitterly condemned in this letter. As he may +have held office for some years, his misgovernment may have been +connected with the death of Boethius (524). Can we connect him with +the Trigguilla 'Regiae Praepositus Domus' whose injustice is denounced +by Boethius ('Phil. Cons.' i. 4)?] + + +21. KING ATHALARIC TO CYPRIAN, PATRICIAN. + +22. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Cyprian's elevation to the Patriciate.] + +In these two letters the high character and distinguished services of +Cyprian are commemorated. 'Under Theodoric he distinguished himself +both in war and peace. At the time of the war of Sirmium he was +conspicuous both in his resistance to the fiery onslaught of the +Bulgarians and in his active pursuit of them when their ranks were +broken[540]. He then filled, with great credit to himself, the office +of Referendarius[541]. Great was the responsibility of exercising +peaceful as well as warlike offices under such a master as Theodoric. +In fact the training for one was helpful for the other, since it +required a soldier's courage and promptness to be always ready with a +truthful and accurate reply to that keen, firm-minded ruler of +men[542]. + +[Footnote 540: 'Vidit te adhuc gentilis' (still under the dominion of +the Gepidae) 'Danubius bellatorem: non te terruit Bulgarorum globus, +qui etiam nostris erat praesumptione certaminis obstaturus. Peculiare +tibi fuit et renitentes Barbaros aggredi, et conversos terrore +sectari. Sic victoriam Gothorum non tam numero quam labore juvisti.'] + +[Footnote 541: For a description of his services in this function, see +Var. v. 40.] + +[Footnote 542: This is evidently the meaning; but something seems to +have dropped out of the text.] + +'Thence he was promoted to the dignity of Count of the Sacred +Largesses, a post well suited to his pure, self-restrained +character[543]. He is now growing old in body, but ever young in fame, +and the King heartily wishes him increase of years to enjoy his +renown. + +[Footnote 543: 'Hoc est laborum tuorum aptissimum munus: quam sic +castâ sic moderatâ mente peregisti ut majora tibi deberi faceres, +quamvis eam in magna praemia suscepisses.'] + +'Rightly, too, is there now conferred upon him the dignity of +_Patricius_, since he is the father of such noble sons, men whose +childhood was passed in the palace under the very eye of Theodoric +(thus like young eagles already learning to gaze upon the sun), and +who now cultivate the friendship of the Goths, learn from them all +martial exercises, speak their language, and thus give evident tokens +of their future fidelity to the Gothic nation[544]. + +[Footnote 544: 'Relucent etiam gratia gentili, nec cessant armorum +imbui fortibus institutis. _Pueri stirpis Romanae nostra linguâ +loquuntur; eximie indicantes exhibere se nobis futuram fidem, quorum +jam videntur affectasse sermonem.... Variis linguis loquuntur +egregie_, maturis viris communione miscentur.'] + +'The Senate is therefore exhorted to welcome its thus promoted +colleague, who at each accession of rank has shown himself yet +worthier of his high place, and whom grandfather and grandson have +both delighted to honour. Thus will it renew the glories of the Decii +and the Corvini, who were its sons in the days of old.' + +[The subject of these letters is indisputably the same Cyprian whom +the 'Anonymus Valesii' speaks of as suborning false witnesses against +Albinus and Boethius, and of whom the latter says ('Phil. Cons.' i. +4): 'Ne Albinum, Consularem virum praejudicatae accusationis poena +corriperet, odiis me Cypriani delatoris opposui.' Compare the remarks +made on Letters 16 and 17; and remember that this letter was composed +three years after the death of Boethius, when Theodoric also was dead, +and his daughter was only too willing to retrace his steps, in all +that concerned the severities of the latter years of his reign. For +the pedigree of Cyprian see p. 363.] + + +23. KING ATHALARIC TO BERGANTINUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES PATRIMONII. + +[Sidenote: Gifts to Theodahad.] + +'Kings should always be generous, but especially to those of their own +family. + +'Therefore we desire your Greatness to transfer the farms herein +described, to the exalted and most honourable Theodahad, weighing out +to him so many solidi, out of that which was formerly the patrimony of +his magnificent Mother; and we guarantee to him the absolute ownership +of such farms, free from any claims to the inheritance on our +part[545]. + +[Footnote 545: 'Atque ideo illustrem magnitudinem tuam praecelso atque +amplissimo viro Theodahado massas subter annexas, tot solidos +pensitantes, ex patrimonio quondam magnificae foeminae matris ipsius, +praecipimus reformari, ejus feliciter dominio plenissime vendicandas, +cujus successionis integrum jus in ea qua praecipimus parte largimur.' +According to Dahn (Könige der Germanen iv. 60-61), these lands had +been given in her lifetime by Theodahad's mother to the King, and are +now begged for by Theodahad. But why 'tot solidos pensitantes?' Why +should Theodahad receive both land and money? There seems no authority +for translating 'pensitantes' receiving. Probably the solidi thus paid +to him are mesne rents received by the King and accounted for to +Theodahad. On the whole affair cf. Procopius, De Bello Gotthico i. 4.] + +'We trust to his sincerity and good faith, that in the future he will +deserve the remainder of the above-mentioned patrimony, with the +addition of the whole quantity[546]. + +[Footnote 546: 'De cujus fide ac synceritate praesumimus, ut sequenti +tempore reliqua supra memorati patrimonii cum omni adjecta quantitate +mereatur.' This sentence is to me quite unintelligible.] + +'What can we deny to such a man, whose obedience might claim a higher +reward even were he not our cousin--a man who is not puffed up by any +pride of his noble birth, humble in his modesty, always uniform in his +prudence? Therefore instruct the Cartarii of your office to make over +the aforesaid farms to his Actores without delay[547].' + +[Footnote 547: Cf. the formalities connected with Odovacar's deed of +gift to Pierius (Marini, Pap. Diplom. 82, 83), quoted in Italy and her +Invaders iii. 165.] + + +24. KING ATHALARIC TO THE CLERGY OF THE ROMAN CHURCH. + +[Sidenote: Ecclesiastical immunities.] + +'For the gift of kingly power we owe an infinite debt to God, whose +ministers ye are. + +'Ye state in your tearful memorial to us that it has been an ordinance +of long custom that anyone who has a suit of any kind against a +servant of the sacrosanct Roman Church should first address himself to +the chief Priest of that City, lest haply your clergy, being profaned +by the litigation of the Forum, should be occupied in secular rather +than religious matters. And you add that one of your Deacons has, to +the disgrace of religion, been so sharply handled by legal process +that the Sajo[548] has dared actually to take him into his own +custody. + +[Footnote 548: In the text, 'Sajus.'] + +'This dishonour to the Ministers of holy things is highly displeasing +to our inborn reverence, yet we are glad that it gives us the +opportunity of paying part of our debt to Heaven. + +'Therefore, considering the honour of the Apostolic See, and wishing +to meet the desires of the petitioners, we by the authority of this +letter decree in regular course[549]: + +[Footnote 549: 'Praesenti auctoritate moderato ordine definimus.' Dahn +interprets 'moderato ordine,' 'not so absolutely as the Roman clergy +desires.' Is not this to attribute rather too much force to the +conventional language of Cassiodorus?] + +'That if anyone shall think he has a good cause for going to law with +a person belonging to the Roman clergy, he shall first present himself +for hearing at the judgment-seat of the most blessed Pope, in order +that the latter may either decide between the two in his own holy +manner, or may delegate the cause to a Jurisconsult to be ended by +him. And if, perchance, which it is impiety to believe, the +reasonable desire of the petitioner shall have been evaded, then may +he come to the secular courts with his grievance, when he can prove +that his petitions have been spurned by the Bishop of the aforesaid +See[550]. + +[Footnote 550: 'Definimus, ut si quispiam ad Romanum Clerum aliquem +pertinentem, in quâlibet causâ probabili crediderit actione pulsandum, +ad beatissimi Papae judicium prius conveniat audiendus. Ut aut ipse +inter utrosque more suae sanctitatis agnoscat, aut causam deleget +aequitatis studio terminandam: et si forte, quod credi nefas est, +competens desiderium fuerit petitoris elusum, tuno ad saecularia fora +jurgaturus occurrat, quando suas petitiones probaverit a supradictae +sedis praesule fuisse contemptas.'] + +'Should any litigant be so dishonest and so irreverent, both towards +the Holy See and our authority, as to disregard this order [and +proceed first in our tribunals against one of the Roman clergy], he +shall forfeit 10 lbs. of gold [£400], to be exacted by the officers of +the Count of Sacred Largesses and distributed by the Pope to the poor; +and he shall lose his suit in addition, notwithstanding any decree +which he may have gained in the secular court. + +'Meanwhile do you, whom our judgments thus venerate, live according to +the ordinances of the Church. It is a great wickedness in you to admit +such crimes as do not become the conversation even of secular men. +Your profession is the heavenly life. Do not condescend to the +grovelling wishes and vulgar errors of ordinary mortals. Let the men +of this world be coerced by human laws; do you obey the precepts of +righteousness.' + +[See Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 191-2, Sartorius 145, and +Bauer's 'History of the Popes' ii. 323-4, for remarks on this +important _privilegium_. + +It is clear that it relates to civil, not criminal procedure, and that +it does leave a right of final appeal from the Papal Courts to the +dissatisfied secular litigant. At the same time, that such an appeal +would be prosecuted with immense difficulty is clear even from the +words of the decree. The appellant will have to satisfy the King's +Judges of a thing which it is almost impiety to believe, that the +occupant of the Roman See has spurned his petitions.] + + +25. KING ATHALARIC TO JOANNES, VIR SPECTABILIS, REFERENDARIUS. + +[Sidenote: Confirmation of Tulum's gift of property in the +Lucullanum.] + +'It is a very fitting thing to confirm the generosity of others +towards persons who might well have received gifts from oneself. We +therefore declare that in your case the gift is another's but the will +to give is our own, and the King has only been anticipated by the +rapid bounty of the subject[551]. + +[Footnote 551: 'Profitemur itaque alterius quidem donum, sed nostrum +esse judicium, et modernam principis mentem praevenisse tantum +velocissimam largitatem.' Observe again the use of Cassiodorus' +favourite word _modernam_.] + +'Everyone knows that our grandfather wished to give you the house of +Agnellus in the Castrum Lucullanum, but could not do so having already +given it to the Patrician Tulum[552]. Tulum, however, with his usual +generosity, seconding the wishes of his master, formally conveyed the +property to you; and that conveyance we now confirm, guaranteeing the +quiet possession of it to you and your heirs for all time to come. If +any doubt exist as to your title, by any mischance, or by reason of +any enquiry, such doubt is exploded by the authority of this letter of +ours[553]. + +[Footnote 552: Tholuit, or Tholum, in some MSS., but no doubt the same +as the Tulum of Letters 9 and 10.] + +[Footnote 553: 'Ubi et si quid esset quolibet casu, qualibet +inquisitione fortassis ambiguum, hujus auctoritatis nostrae judicio +constat explosum.'] + +'And should any envious person, in contempt of our royal will, dare to +raise any question in this matter hereafter, either on behalf of the +Fiscus or of any private individual, we declare that he shall pay to +you, or to the person to whom you may have assigned the said house, +100 lbs. of gold (£4,000) by way of penalty.' + +[Why should there be the necessity of this royal confirmation of a +transaction between two private individuals, Tulum and Joannes, and +this tremendous penalty on all future impugners of it? + +Evidently because the property had been impressed with the character +of State domain, and it was doubtful how far Tulum's alienation of it +might stand good against the claims of future Sovereigns. + +This becomes quite clear when we reflect what is the property to which +this letter refers. It is either the whole or a part of the +Lucullanum, to which the deposed Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was +banished in 476. On his death, as we may conjecture, this property, +one of the most delightful places of residence in Italy, has been +given by Theodoric to Tulum, perhaps just after he had distinguished +himself in the Gaulish campaign of 508. For some reason or other, +Tulum has alienated it (ostensibly, given it) to the Reporter Joannes, +no doubt a Roman, who is apparently nervous lest his title to it +should hereafter be impugned on the ground that the palace of the last +Roman Emperor was national property. Hence this letter. There is some +difficulty and variation between the MSS. in the words describing the +property: 'Saepe dicta domus paternae recordationis Agnelli, in +Lucullano castro posita.' For _paternae_, Migne's editor reads +_patriciae_. The forthcoming critical edition of the 'Variae' will +show whether there is any support in the MSS. for a conjecture which I +cannot help entertaining that _Agnelli_ is an error for _Augustuli_.] + + +26. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE INHABITANTS OF REATE AND NURSIA. + +[Sidenote: Gothic settlers in the Sabine territory exhorted to +obedience to their Prior, Quidila.] + +'Our glorious grandfather had arranged that, in accordance with your +desire, Quidila, son of Sibia, should be your Captain (Prior). We +confirm this appointment, and desire you to obey him in all things. +You are so far moulded by the character of our grandfather that you +willingly obey both the laws and the Judges. Our enemies are best +vanquished, and the favour both of Heaven and of other nations is best +conciliated for us, by our obeying the principles of justice. If +anyone is in need of anything, let him seek to obtain it from the +generosity of his Sovereign rather than by the strength of his own +right hand, since it is for your advantage that the Romans be at +peace, who, in filling our Treasury, at the same time multiply your +donatives.' + +[This letter is evidently addressed to Goths, and Quidila the _Prior_, +who is set over them, is also a Goth. We can only conjecture what the +office of Prior was: probably to some extent it involved civil as well +as military authority. The conjecture of Dahn ('Könige der Germanen' +iv. 173) that it corresponds to the Gothic _Hundafath_ (Centenarius), +seems to me extremely probable. The title of the letter is curious. It +is addressed 'Universis Reatinis et Nursinis.' Are we then to suppose +that strong military colonies of Goths had been settled in these +places, the Roman inhabitants having been extruded? The fact that St. +Benedict was born in Nursia, some fifty-seven years before the writing +of this letter, gives an additional interest to this question.] + + +27. KING ATHALARIC TO DUMERIT THE SAJO, AND TO FLORENTINUS, A ZEALOUS +OFFICER OF THE COURT[554]. + +[Footnote 554: 'Florentino viro devoto Comitiaco.'] + +[Sidenote: Robbery in the district of Faenza to be suppressed.] + +'Justice must be shown upon the wicked. Different diseases require +different remedies. + +'Let your Devotion speed instantly through the territory of Faventia, +and if you find any persons, either Goths or Romans, concerned in the +plunder of the possessors, punish them severely. How much better it +would be for those misguided persons to live according to our will, +and earn the reward of pleasing us.' [The last sentence is obscure, +and perhaps the text is corrupt.] + + +28. KING ATHALARIC TO CUNIGAST, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[No doubt the same as the Conigast attacked by Boethius in the +'Philosophiae Consolatio' i. 4[555].] + +[Footnote 555: 'Quoticus ego Conigastum in inbecillis cujusque +fortunas impetum facientem obvius excepi!'] + +[Sidenote: Possessores (or Coloni?) forced to become slaves.] + +'Our Serenity has been moved by the grievous petition of Constantius +and Venerius, who complain that Tanca [probably a Goth] has wrested +from them the farm which is called Fabricula, which belonged to them +in their own right, together with the stock upon it[556], and has +compelled them, in order to prevent similar forcible demands upon +their property in future, to allow the worst lot of all--the condition +of slavery--to be imposed upon them, who are really free[557]. + +[Footnote 556: 'Cum suo peculio.' If they were not slaves they could +not have _peculium_ in the technical sense. I therefore understand +'peculio' to be simply equivalent to _cattle_, a sense which is +confirmed by 'Calabri peculiosi' in Letter 33.] + +[Footnote 557: 'Adjicientes ne rerum suarum repetitionibus imminerent +[? imminuerent] liberis sibi conditionem ultimae servitutis imponi.' +Cf. Salvian, De Gubernatione Dei v. 8, 9, for a description of similar +occurrences in Gaul.] + +'Let your Greatness therefore summon Tanca to your judgment-seat, and, +after hearing all parties, pronounce a just judgment and one accordant +to your character. For though it is a serious matter to oust a lord +from his right, it is contrary to the feelings of our age to press +down free necks under the yoke of slavery. + +'Let Tanca therefore either establish his right to the slaves and +their property, or, if they are proved free, let him give them up, +whole and unharmed: in which case we will inflict upon him no further +penalty.' + + +29. KING ATHALARIC TO THE DIGNIFIED CULTIVATORS[558] AND CURIALS OF +THE CITY OF PARMA. + +[Footnote 558: 'Honoratis Possessoribus.'] + +[Sidenote: Sanitary measures needed in Parma.] + +'You ought willingly to co-operate in that which is being done for the +advantage of your town. When it was suffering from a long drought, our +grandfather, with God's help, watered it with the life-giving wave. +Cleanse out then the mouths of your sewers, lest otherwise, being +checked in its flow by the accumulated filth, it should surge back +into your houses, and bring into them the pollution which it was meant +to wash away. + +'The Spectabilis Genesius is appointed to superintend this work, and +to quicken your zeal regarding it.' + + +30. KING ATHALARIC TO GENESIUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Relating to the same subject as the preceding.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'Through love of your city our grandfather, with royal generosity, +constructed an aqueduct of the ancient type[559] for you. But it is of +no use to provide a good water-supply unless your sewers are in good +order. Therefore let your Sublimity set the citizens of Parma +diligently to work at this business, that all ancient channels, +whether underground or those which run by the sides of the streets, be +diligently repaired[560], in order that when the longed-for stream +flows into your town it be not hindered by any obstacle. + +[Footnote 559: 'Antiqui operis formam.'] + +[Footnote 560: 'Quatenus antiquos cuniculos, sive subterraneos, sive +qui junguntur marginibus platearum diligenter emendent.'] + +'How fair is water in a running stream, but how ugly in puddles and +swamps; it is good then neither for man nor beast. Without water city +and country alike languish; and rightly did the ancients punish one +who was unfit for human society by forbidding all men to give him +water. Therefore you ought all heartily to combine for this most +useful work, since the man who is not touched by the comeliness of his +city has not yet the mind of a citizen.' + + +31. KING ATHALARIC TO SEVERUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Is Severus _Vicarius Urbis_? His title Spectabilis seems to require +some such rank as this, otherwise he seems more like a _Corrector_ +(Clarissimus) _Bruttiorum et Lucaniae_. Perhaps already the strict +gradation established by Diocletian and Constantine was somewhat +broken down, and governors received higher titles than strictly +belonged to them.] + +[Sidenote: Dissuasions from a country life, and praises of +Cassiodorus' native land of Bruttii.] + +'Since you, when on the staff of the Praefect, have learned the +principles of statesmanship, we are sure that you will agree with us +that cities are the chief ornament of human society. Let the wild +beasts live in fields and woods: men ought to draw together into +cities. Even among birds we see that those of gentle disposition--like +thrushes, storks, and doves--love to flock together, while the greedy +hawk, intent on its bloody pastime, seeks solitude. + +'Now we say that the man who shuns human society becomes at once an +object of suspicion. Let therefore the Possessores and Curiales of +Bruttii return to their cities. The Coloni may cultivate the +soil--that is what their name denotes[561]; but the men whom we +decorate with civic honours ought to live in cities. + +[Footnote 561: 'Coloni sunt qui agros jugiter colunt.'] + +'In truth it is a lovely land. Ceres and Pallas have crowned it with +their respective gifts (corn and oil); the plains are green with +pastures, the slopes are purple with vineyards. Above all is it rich +in its vast herds of horses[562], and no wonder, since the dense shade +of its forests protects them from the bites of flies, and provides +them with ever verdant pasture even in the height of summer. Cool +waters flow from its lofty heights; fair harbours on both its shores +woo the commerce of the world. + +[Footnote 562: Cf. what is said (i. 4) as to the large present of +horses made by the father of Cassiodorus to Theodoric for the use of +the Gothic army.] + +'There the countryman enjoys the good food of the citizen, the poor +man the abundance of the wealthy[563]. If such then be the charms even +of the country in your Province, why should you shirk living in its +cities[564]? + +[Footnote 563: 'Vivunt illic rustici epulis urbanorum, mediocres autem +abundantia praepotentium.' 'Mediocres' and 'tenues' are technical +words with Cassiodorus for the poor.] + +[Footnote 564: Cassiodorus must have felt the weakness of his logic +here. He patriotically praises the rural beauty of Bruttii, yet the +conclusion which by main force he arrives at is, 'Leave the country +and live in towns.'] + +'Why should so many men refined by literature skulk in obscurity? The +boy goes to a good school, becomes imbued with the love of letters, +and then, when he is come to man's estate and should be seeking the +Forum in order to display his talents, he suddenly changes into a +boor, unlearns all that he has learned, and in his love for the fields +forgets what is due to a reasonable love for himself. And yet even +birds love human fellowship, and the nightingale boldly rears her +brood close to the haunts of men. + +'Let the cities then return to their old splendour; let none prefer +the charms of the country to the walls reared by the men of old. Why +should not everyone be attracted by the concourse of noble persons, by +the pleasures of converse with his equals? To stroll through the +Forum, to look in at some skilful craftsman at his work, to push one's +own cause through the law courts, then between whiles to play with the +counters of Palamedes (draughts), to go to the baths with one's +acquaintances, to indulge in the friendly emulation of the +banquet--these are the proper employments of a Roman noble; yet not +one of them is tasted by the man who chooses to live always in the +country with his farm-servants[565]. + +[Footnote 565: 'Cui enim minus grata nobilium videatur occursio. Cui +non affectuosum sit cum paribus miscere sermonem, forum petere, +honestas artes invisere, causas proprias legibus expedire, interdum +Palamediacis calculis occupari, ad balneas ire cum sociis, prandia +mutuis apparatibus exhibere? Caret profecto omnibus his, qui vitam +suam vult semper habere cum famulis.'] + +'We order therefore that all Possessores and Curiales shall, according +to their relative means, find bail and give bonds, promising that they +will for the larger part of the year reside in some city, such as they +may choose[566]. And thus, while not wholly debarred from the +pleasures of the country, they will furnish to the cities their proper +adornment of citizens.' + +[Footnote 566: 'Datis fidejussoribus jam Possessores quam Curiales, +sub aestimatione virium, poenâ interpositâ, promittant anni parte +majore se in civitatibus manere, quas habitare delegerint.'] + + +32. KING ATHALARIC TO SEVERUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: The Fountain of Arethusa.] + +'Nimfadius (Vir Sublimis) was journeying to the King's Comitatus on +some affair of his own, when, wearied with his journey, he lay down to +rest, and let his beasts of burden graze round the fountain of +Arethusa. + +'This fountain, situated in the territory of Squillace[567], at the +foot of the hills and above the sand of the sea, makes a green and +pleasant place all round it, fringed with rustling reeds as with a +crown. It has certain marvellous properties: for let a man go to it in +silence and he sees it calmly flowing, more like a pond than a +fountain. But let him cough or speak with a loud voice, and it becomes +violently agitated, heaving to and fro like a pot boiling. Strange +power this of a fountain to answer a man. I have read that some +fountains can change the colours of the animals that drink at them; +that others can turn wood dropped into them to stone. The human reason +is altogether unable to understand such things as these. + +[Footnote 567: 'In Scyllatino territoris.' Transcribers, thinking of +the Arethusa at Syracuse, have tried to alter this into _Siciliano_; +but there can be little doubt that the above reading is right. As to +the situation of the Fountain of Arethusa, see Introduction, p. 72.] + +'But let us return to the complaint of our suppliant. Nimfadius +asserts that, while he was resting, the country people artfully drove +off his beasts of burden. + +'This kind of crime brings our times into disgrace, and turns the +charm of that quiet resting-place into disgust. Diligently enquire +into it, for the credit of our Comitatus is involved in our subjects +being able to journey to it in safety. At first, no doubt, the +offenders will lie close, and seem as silent as the unmoved Arethusa. +But begin your investigations, and they will soon break forth, like +that fountain, with angry exclamations, in the midst of which you will +discover the truth. Punish the offenders severely; for we should +regret that owing to the excesses of robbers that wonderful and +joy-bringing fountain should be deserted.' + + +33. KING ATHALARIC TO SEVERUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: The Feast of St. Cyprian.] + +'We hear that the rustics are indulging in disorderly practices, and +robbing the market-people who come from all quarters to the chief fair +of Lucania on the day of St. Cyprian. This must by all means be +suppressed, and your Respectability should quietly collect a +sufficient number of the owners and tenants of the adjoining +farms[568] to overpower these freebooters and bring them to justice. +Any rustic or other person found guilty of disturbing the fair should +be at once punished with the stick[569], and then exhibited with some +mark of infamy upon him[570]. + +[Footnote 568: 'Spectabilitas vestra praedicto tempore, unâ cum +Possessoribus atque Conductoribus diversarum massarum ad quietem +convenientium ... reos inveniat,' &c.] + +[Footnote 569: 'Inter ipsa initia comprehensus fustuariae subdatur +ultioni.'] + +[Footnote 570: 'Pompatus mala nota.'] + +'This fair, which according to the old superstition was named +Leucothea [after the nymph], from the extreme purity of the fountain +at which it is held, is the greatest fair in all the surrounding +country. Everything that industrious Campania, or opulent Bruttii, or +cattle-breeding Calabria[571], or strong Apulia produces, is there to +be found exposed for sale, on such reasonable terms that no buyer goes +away dissatisfied. It is a charming sight to see the broad plains +filled with suddenly-reared houses formed of leafy branches +intertwined: all the beauty of the most leisurely-built city, and yet +not a wall to be seen. There stand ready boys and girls, with the +attractions which belong to their respective sexes and ages, whom not +captivity but freedom sets a price upon. These are with good reason +sold by their parents, since they themselves gain by their very +servitude. For one cannot doubt that they are benefited even as slaves +[or servants?], by being transferred from the toil of the fields to +the service of cities[572]. + +[Footnote 571: 'Calabri peculiosi.'] + +[Footnote 572: 'Praesto sunt pueri ac puellae, diverso sexu atque +aetate conspicuo, quos non facit captivitas esse sub pretio sed +libertas: hos merito parentes vendunt, quoniam de ipsa famulatione +proficiunt. Dubium quippe non est servos posse meliorari qui de labore +agrorum ad urbana servitia transferuntur.' With almost any writer but +Cassiodorus this would prove that in the Sixth Century free Italians +were selling their children into actual slavery. But I doubt whether +he really means more than that the children of the country people were +for hire as domestic servants in the cities. If so, the scene is not +unlike our own 'statute fairs' or 'hirings' in the north of England. +It appears from § 94 of the Edictum Theodorici that parents could sell +their children, but that the latter did not lose their _status +ingenuus_. Must they then claim it on coming of age? 'Parentes qui +cogente necessitate filios suos alimentorum gratia vendiderint +ingenuitati eorum non praejudicant. _Homo enim liber pretio nullo +aestimatur._' Cf. also § 95: 'Operas enim tantum parentes filiorum +quos in potestate habuerint, locare possunt.'] + +'What can I say of the bright and many-coloured garments? what of the +sleek and well-fed cattle offered at such a price as to tempt any +purchaser? + +'The place itself is situated in a wide and pleasant plain, a suburb +of the ancient city of Cosilinum, and has received the name of +Marcilianum from the founder of these sacred springs[573]. + +[Footnote 573: Marcilianum is now Sala, in the valley of the Calore +(Tanager). Padula is thought by some to mark the site of Cosilinum. +The Island of Leucosia, now Licosa, a few miles from Paestum, +evidently does not represent the Leucothea of this letter.] + +'And this is in truth a marvellous fountain, full and fresh, and of +such transparent clearness that when you look through it you think you +are looking through air alone. Choice fishes swim about in the pool, +perfectly tame, because if anyone presumes to capture them he soon +feels the Divine vengeance. On the morning which precedes the holy +night [of St. Cyprian], as soon as the Priest begins to utter the +baptismal prayer, the water begins to rise above its accustomed +height. Generally it covers but five steps of the well, but the brute +element, as if preparing itself for miracles, begins to swell, and at +last covers two steps more, never reached at any other time of the +year. Truly a stupendous miracle, that streams of water should thus +stand still or increase at the sound of the human voice, as if the +fountain itself desired to listen to the sermon. + +'Thus hath Lucania a river Jordan of her own. Wherefore, both for +religion's sake and for the profit of the people, it behoves that good +order should be kept among the frequenters of the fair, since in the +judgment of all, that man must be deemed a villain who would sully the +joys of such happy days.' + + + + +BOOK IX. + +CONTAINING TWENTY-FIVE LETTERS, ALL WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF ATHALARIC +THE KING. + + +1. KING ATHALARIC TO HILDERIC, KING OF THE VANDALS (A.D. 527). + +[Sidenote: Murder of Amalafrida, widow of King Thrasamund and sister +of Theodoric.] + +'Friendship and relationship are turned to bitterness by the tidings +that Amalafrida, of divine memory, the distinguished ornament of our +race, has been put to death by you[574]. If you had any cause of +offence against her, you ought to have sent her to us for judgment. +What you have done is a species of parricide. If the succession, on +the death of her husband, passed to another [yourself], that was no +reason why a woman should be embroiled in the contest. It was really +an addition to your nobility to have the purple dignity of the Amal +blood allied to the lineage of the Hasdingi. + +[Footnote 574: With reference to this event Victor Tunnunensis writes: +'Cujus (Trasamundi) uxor Amalafrida fugiens ad barbaros congressione +facta Capsae juxta Heremum capitur, et in custodia privata moritur.' +Procopius (De B. Vandalico i. 9) says: [Greek: Kai sphisi (tois +Bandilois) xynênechthê Theuderichô te kai Gotthois en Italia ek te +symmachôn kai philôn polemioi genesthai tên te gar Amalaphridan en +phylakê eschon kai tous Gotthous diephtheiran hapantas epenenkontes +autois neôterizein es te Bandilous kai Hilderichon]. Both Victor and +Procopius seem to place the conflict before the death of Theodoric; +Victor says A.D. 523. Probably therefore the fighting, the capture of +Amalafrida, and the death of her countrymen, took place in that year, +the year of her husband's death and Hilderic's accession. Three or +four years later (526 or 527), when her brother Theodoric was dead, +the imprisoned princess was murdered--a grievous insult to the young +Sovereign of the Goths, her great-nephew.] + +'Our Goths keenly feel the insults conveyed in this deed, since to +slay the royal lady of another race is to despise the valour of that +race and doubt its willingness to avenge her. + +'We send you two ambassadors to hear what your excuses are. We hear +that you pretend that her death was natural. And you also must send +ambassadors in return to us to explain the matter, without war or +bloodshed, and either pacify us or acknowledge your guilt. If you do +not do this, all ties of alliance between us are broken, and we must +leave you to the judgment of the Divine Majesty, which heard the blood +of Abel crying from the ground.' + + +2. EDICT OF KING ATHALARIC. + +[Sidenote: Oppression of the Curiales.] + +'The body of the Republic is so tempered together that if one member +suffers all the members suffer with it. The Curiales, whose name is +derived from their care (cura) and forethought, are, we are told, +molested by hostile proceedings, so that what was bestowed upon them +as an honour turns out rather to their injury. What scandalous +injustice! What an insupportable evil! that he who ought to have +benefited the Republic by his services, should often lose both fortune +and liberty. + +'Wherefore by this edict we decree that if any Curialis suffer +oppression, if anyone, without the express warrant of ourselves or the +high officers of State whose business it is, inflict upon a Curialis +any injury or loss of property, he shall pay a fine of 10 lbs. of gold +(£400), to go to the benefit of the person thus oppressed; or, if his +property be insufficient to pay this fine, he shall be beaten with +clubs. The Curialis must then give additional diligence to the +discharge of his public duties, since his debt to the State is, as it +were, increased by the protection which we are thus affording him. As +for the farms of Curiales, in connection with which the greatest +frauds are practised on poor men, let no one seek to obtain them by an +unlawful purchase; for a contract cannot be called a contract when it +is in violation of the law[575]. The Judges must help the Curiales +against the molestations of Sajones and other officials. It is a +grievous offence, when the very person to whom is entrusted the duty +of defending the weak, himself turns oppressor. + +[Footnote 575: 'Praedia Curialium, unde maximae mediocribus parantur +insidiae, nullus illicita emptione pervadat. Quia contractus dici non +potest nisi qui de legibus venit.'] + +'Raise your heads in hope, oh ye oppressed ones! lift up your hearts, +ye who are weighed down with a load of evils! To each citizen his own +city is his Republic. Administer justice in your cities in conformity +with the general will. Let your various ranks live on a footing of +justice. Do not oppress the weak, lest you in your turn be deservedly +oppressed by the strong. This is the penalty of wrong-doing, that each +one suffers in his own person what he has wantonly inflicted on +another. + +'Live then in justice and moderation. Follow the example of the +cranes, who change the order of their flight, making foremost +hindmost, and hindmost foremost, without difficulty, each willingly +obeying its fellow--a commonwealth of birds. + +'You have, according to the laws, power over your citizens. Not in +vain has Antiquity conceded to you the title of Curia: not vainly did +it call you the Lesser Senate, the nerves and vital organs of the +State[576]. What is not contained of honour and power in that title! +For that which is compared to the Senate is excluded from no kind of +glory.' + +[Footnote 576: 'Non enim incassum vobis Curiam concessit Antiquitas, +non inaniter appellavit Minorem Senatum, nervos quoque vocitans ac +viscera civitatum.'] + + +3. KING ATHALARIC TO BERGANTINUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, COMES [PATRIMONII], +AND PATRICIAN[577]. + +[Footnote 577: Cf. viii. 23.] + +[Sidenote: Gold-mining in Italy.] + +'Gold, as well as many other fair fruits of Nature which gold can buy, +is said to be produced by our generous Italy. Theodorus, who is an +expert in such matters, asserts that gold will be found on the farm +Rusticiana in Bruttii[578]. Let your Greatness therefore send a +_Cartarius_ to commence mining operations on that spot. The work of a +miner resembles that of a mole. He burrows underground, far from the +light of day. Sometimes the sides of his passages fall in and his way +is closed up behind him; but if he emerge safely with his treasure, +how happy is he! Then the gold-miner proceeds to immerse his ore in +water, that the heavy metal may be separated from the lighter earth; +then to submit it to a fervent heat, that it may thence derive its +beautiful colour[579]. + +[Footnote 578: Have we any clue to the geographical position of this +farm? The only Rusticiana known to the Itineraries is in Spain.] + +[Footnote 579: 'Origo quidem nobilis, sed de flamma suscipit vim +coloris, ut magis credas inde nasci, cujus similitudine videtur +ornari. Sed cum auro tribuat splendidum ruborem, argento confert +albissimam lucem. Ut mirum sit, unam substantiam tradere, quod rebus +dissimilibus possit aptari.' Have we here a hint of 'the transmutation +of metals?' Cassiodorus seems to think that it is only the furnace +that makes the difference between the colours of gold and of silver.] + +'Let then the land of Bruttii pay her tribute in gold, the most +desired of all treasure. To seek gold by war is wicked, by voyages +dangerous, by swindling shameful; but to seek it from Nature in its +own home is righteous. No one is hurt by this honest gain. Griffins +are said to dig for gold and to delight in the contemplation of this +metal; but no one blames them, because their proceedings are not +dictated by criminal covetousness. For it is not the act itself, but +the motive for the act, that gives it its moral quality.' + + +4. KING ATHALARIC TO ABUNDANTIUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: A family of Curiales permitted to step down into the ranks +of the Possessores.] + +'The _pietas_ of the King is happily shown in moderating the sentence +of the law, where for certain reasons it bears with especial hardness +on anyone. The Curiales have peculiar advantages in their opportunity +of being thus liberated by the Sovereign from the performance of their +duties[580]. It is reasonable to release a Curialis whose health +prevents him from fulfilling his appointed task; and a numerous Curia +will never miss a few names out of so large a number. + +[Footnote 580: 'Neque enim ob aliud Curiales leges sacratissimae +ligaverunt, nisi ut cum illos soli principes absolverent, indulgentiae +praeconia reperirent.'] + +'Therefore let your Illustrious Magnificence remove Agenantia, wife +[or widow?] of the most eloquent man Campanianus, dwelling in Lucania, +from the album of her Curia, and her sons also, so that posterity may +never know that they were formerly liable to Curial duties. + +'Remitted to the ranks of [mere] Possessores they will now be liable +to the same demands which formerly [as members of the Curia] they made +upon others. They will now dread the face of the tax-collector +(compulsor), and will begin to fear the mandates by which formerly +they made themselves feared[581]. Still this is a sign of their past +good life, that they are willing to live without office _among_ a +population whose dislike they are not conscious of having incurred, +and _under_ old colleagues whom they know that they have not incited +to an abuse of their powers.' + +[Footnote 581: 'Formidare delegata incipient, per quae antea +timebantur.' To translate by an analogy, 'And will tremble at the +rate-summonses, their signatures to which used to make other men +tremble.'] + + +5. KING ATHALARIC TO THE BISHOPS AND FUNCTIONARIES OF ----[582]. + +[Footnote 582: 'Episcopis et Honoratis.' Perhaps it is from motives of +delicacy that Cassiodorus has not added the name of the Province.] + +[Sidenote: Forestalling and regrating of corn prohibited.] + +'We learn with regret by the complaint of the Possessores of your +district that the severity of famine is being increased by the conduct +of certain persons who have bought up corn and are holding it for +higher prices. In a time of absolute famine there can be no "higgling +of the market;" the hungry man will submit to be cheated rather than +let another get the food before him[583]. + +[Footnote 583: 'In necessitate siquidem penuriae pretii nulla +contentio est: dum patitur quis induci ne possit aliquâ tarditate +percelli.'] + +'To stop this practice we send to you the present messengers, whose +business it is to examine all the stores of corn collected for public +distribution[584] or otherwise, to leave to each family sufficient for +its needs, and to purchase the remainder from the owners at a fair +market price. Co-operate with these orders of ours cheerfully, and do +not grumble at them. Complain not that your freedom is interfered +with. There is no free-trade in crime[585]. If you work with us you +will earn good renown for yourselves; if against us, the King's +reputation will gain by your loss. It is the sign of a good ruler to +make men act righteously, even against their wills.' + +[Footnote 584: 'Sive in gradu [panis gradilis?] sive in aliis locis.'] + +[Footnote 585: A paraphrase, confessedly anachronistic, of 'Ne quis +ergo venditionem sibi impositam conqueratur, sciat libertatem in +crimine non requiri.'] + + +6. KING ATHALARIC TO ----, PRIMISCRINIUS. + +[Sidenote: A furlough granted for a visit to Baiae.] + +'You complain that your health is failing under the long pressure of +your work, and that you fear, if you absent yourself, you may lose the +emoluments of your office. At the same time you ask leave to visit +the Baths of Baiae. Go then with a mind perfectly at rest as to your +emoluments, which we will keep safe for you. Seek the Sun, seek the +pure air and smiling shore of that lovely bay, thickly set with +harbours and dotted with noble islands--that bay in which Nature +displays all her marvels and invites man to explore her secrets. There +is the Lake of Avernus, with its splendid supply of oysters. There are +long piers jutting out into the sea; and the most delightful fishing +in the world is to be had in the fish-ponds--open to the sky--on +either side of them. There are warm baths, heated not by brick-work +flues and smoky balls of fire, but by Nature herself. The pure air +supplies the steam and softly stimulates perspiration, and the +health-giving work is so much the better done as Nature is above Art. +Let the Coralli [in Moesia, on the shore of the Euxine] boast their +wonderful sea, let the pearl fisheries of India vaunt themselves. In +our judgment Baiae, for its powers of bestowing pleasure and health, +surpasses them all. Go then to Baiae to bathe, and have no fear about +the emoluments.' + + +7. KING ATHALARIC TO REPARATUS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[We learn from Procopius ('De Bello Gotthico' i. 26) that Reparatus +was brother of Pope Vigilius; that in 537 he escaped from the +captivity in which the other Senators were kept at Ravenna by Witigis, +and fled to Milan. In 539 Reparatus, who was then Praefectus +Praetorio, was captured at Milan by the Goths, hewn in pieces, and his +flesh given to the dogs (Ibid. ii. 21).] + +[Sidenote: Reparatus appointed Praefectus Urbis.] + +'The son of a high official naturally aspires to emulate his father's +dignities. Your father had a distinguished career, first as Comes +Largitionum, then as Praefectus Praetorio. While holding the latter +office, he repaired the Senate-house, restored to the poor the gifts +(?) of which they had been deprived[586], and though not himself a man +of liberal education, pleased all by the natural charm of his manner. + +[Footnote 586: 'Curiam reparans, pauperibus ablata restituens.'] + +'You have those advantages of mental training which were denied to +your father. Education lifts an obscure man on to a level with nobles, +but also adorns him who is of noble birth. You have moreover been +chosen as son-in-law by a man of elevated character, whose choice is +in itself a mark of your high merit. You are coming young to +office[587]; but, with such a man's approbation, you cannot be said to +be untried. + +[Footnote 587: 'Licet primaevus venias ad honorem.'] + +'We therefore confer upon you for this Indiction the dignity of +Praefect of the City. The eyes of the world are upon you. The Senate, +that illustrious and critical body, the youngest members of which are +called _Patres_, will listen to your words. See that you say nothing +which can displease those wise men, whose praise, though hard to win, +will be most sweet to your ears. Diligently help the oppressed. Hand +on to your posterity the renown which you have received from your +ancestors.' + + +8. KING ATHALARIC TO COUNT OSUIN (OR OSUM), VIR ILLUSTRIS[588]. + +[Footnote 588: Cf. iii. 26 and iv. 9. In the former letter he is +called Osun.] + +[Sidenote: Osuin made Governor of Dalmatia and Savia.] + +'We reward our faithful servants with high honours, hoping thereby to +quicken the slothful into emulation, when they ask themselves why, +under such an impartial rule, they too do not receive promotion. + +'We therefore again entrust to your Illustrious Greatness the +Provinces of Dalmatia and S(u)avia. We need not hold up to you the +examples of others. You have only to imitate yourself, and to confer +now again in your old age the same blessings on those Provinces which, +as a younger man, you bestowed on them under our grandfather.' + + +9. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE GOTHS AND ROMANS (IN DALMATIA AND SAVIA). + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We send back to you the Illustrious Count Osuin, whose valour and +justice you already know, to ward off from you the fear of foreign +nations, and to keep you from unjust demands. With him comes the +Illustrious Severinus[589], that with one heart and one mind, like the +various reeds of an organ, they may utter their praiseworthy precepts. + +[Footnote 589: We are not told in what capacity Severinus came. +Probably it was on account of Osuin's age that Severinus was +associated with him.] + +[Sidenote: Remission of Augmentum.] + +'As an act of grace on the commencement of our reign, we direct the +Count of the Patrimony to remit to you all the super-assessment +(augmentum) which was fixed for your Province at the fourth +Indiction[590]. + +[Footnote 590: 'Per quartam Indictionem quod a nobis augmenti nomine +quaerebatur illustrem virum Comitem Patrimonii nostri nunc jussimus +removere.' As the fourth Indiction began Sept. 525, in the lifetime of +Theodoric, it is clear that that date belongs to the imposition, not +to the removal of the 'augmentum.'] + +'We also grant that when the aforesaid person [Severinus] returns to +our presence, you may send suitable men with him to inform us of your +financial position, that we may, by readjustment of the taxes, lighten +your load if it be still too heavy. Nothing consolidates the Republic +so much as the uninjured powers of the taxpayer.' + + +10. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE. + +[Sidenote: Remission of Augmentum to Syracusans.] + +'Lately we announced to you our accession: now we wish to confer upon +you a benefit in the matter of taxes. For we look on that only as our +revenue which the cultivator pays cheerfully. Our grandfather, +considering the great increase in wealth and population which his long +and peaceful reign had brought with it, thought it prudent to increase +the taxes to be paid by the Province of Sicily[591]. He was quite +right in doing this, but he thereby prepared for us, his young +successor, an opportunity of conferring an unexpected favour, for we +hereby remit to you all the augmentum which was assessed upon you at +the fourth Indiction. And not only so, but all that you have already +paid under this head for the fifth Indiction (526-7) we direct the +tax-collectors to carry to your credit on account[592]. + +[Footnote 591: 'Avus noster de suis beneficiis magna praesumens (quia +longa quies et culturam agris praestitit et populos ampliavit) intra +Siciliam provinciam sub consueta prudentiae suae moderatione censum +statuit subflagitari ut vobis cresceret devotio, quibus se facultas +extenderat.'] + +[Footnote 592: This most be the meaning of 'quicquid a discursoribus +novi census per quintam Indictionem probatur affixum, ad vestram eos +fecimus deferre notitiam.'] + +'Besides this, if anyone have to complain of oppression on the part of +the Governors of the Province, let him seek at once a remedy from our +Piety. Often did our grandfather of glorious memory grieve over the +slowness of the Governors to obey their letters of recall, feeling +sure that they were lingering in the Provinces neither for his good +nor yours. + +'We however, with God's help, shall go on in the good work which we +have begun. You have a Prince who, the older he grows, the more will +love you. We send to you our Sajo Quidila, who will convey to you our +orders on this matter.' + + +11. KING ATHALARIC TO GILDIAS, VIR SPECTABILIS, COUNT OF SYRACUSE. + +12. KING ATHALARIC TO VICTOR AND WITIGISCLUS (OR WIGISICLA), VIRI +SPECTABILES, CENSITORES[593] OF SICILY. + +[Footnote 593: Tax-collectors. The word is unknown to the Notitia, but +Censuales occurs once in it (Not. Occ. iv.).] + +[Sidenote: Oppressions exercised by the King's officers in Sicily +rebuked.] + +Victor and Witigisclus are sharply rebuked for their delay in +desisting from the oppression of the Provincials and coming to the +Court of Theodoric when called for[594], a delay which is made more +suspicious by their not having presented themselves to welcome +Athalaric on his accession. Both they and Count Gildias are informed +of the King's decision to remit the increased tax imposed at the +fourth Indiction (Sept. 525); and the two Censitores are recommended, +if they are conscious of having oppressed or injured any of the +Provincials, to remedy the matter themselves, as the King has given +all the Sicilians leave to appeal to himself against their +oppressions: and the complaints of the Sicilians, though distant, will +certainly reach his ears. + +[Footnote 594: 'Quos etiam seris praeceptionibus credidit esse +admonendos, ut _relicto tandem provincialium gravamine_ ad ejus +deberetis justitiam festinare.'] + + +13. KING ATHALARIC TO WILLIAS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, COMES PATRIMONII. + +[Sidenote: Increase of emoluments of Domestici.] + +'Your Greatness informs us of cases that have come to your knowledge, +in which the Guards (Domestici) attending the Counts who are appointed +[to the government of various Provinces] have oppressed the +Provincials by their exactions. As we believe that there is some +excuse for this in the smallness of their _emolumenta_, which at +present consist of only 200 solidi (£120) and ten rations (Annonae), +we direct that you henceforth pay them, as from the fifth Indiction +(Sept. 526), 50 solidi (£30) annually, in addition to the above, +charging this further payment to our account. By taking away +Necessity, the mother of crimes, we hope that the practice of sinning +will also be removed. If, after this, anyone is found oppressing the +Provincials, let him lose his _emolumenta_ altogether. Our gifts +ennoble the receiver, and are given in order to take away from him any +pretext for begging from others.' + +[The Domestici were a very select corps of Life-guardsmen; probably +only a very small number of them would accompany a Provincial Governor +to his charge. This may explain what seems an extraordinarily high +rate of pay. Perhaps it is the Comes himself, not his Domestici, who +is to receive the emolumenta here specified; but, if so, the letter is +very obscurely expressed.] + + +14. KING ATHALARIC TO GILDIAS, VIE SPECTABILIS, COUNT OF SYRACUSE. + +[Sidenote: Oppressive acts charged against Gildias, Comes of +Syracuse.] + +'We hear great complaints of you from the Sicilians; but, as they are +willing to let bye-gones be bye-gones, we accede to their request, but +give you the following warning: + +'(1) You are said to have extorted large sums from them on pretence of +rebuilding the walls, which you have not done. Either repay them the +money or build up their walls. It is too absurd, to promise +fortifications and give instead to the citizens hideous +desolation[595]. + +[Footnote 595: 'Nimis enim absurdum est, spondere munitiones et dare +civibus excecrabiles vastitates.'] + +'(2) You are said to be claiming for the Exchequer (under the name of +"Fiscus Caducus") the estates of deceased persons, without any sort of +regard for justice, whereas that title was only intended to apply to +the case of strangers dying without heirs, natural or testamentary. + +'(3) You are said to be oppressing the suitors in the Courts with +grievous charges[596], so that you make litigation utterly ruinous to +those who undertake it. + +[Footnote 596: 'Conventiones.' I think the complaint here is of the +expenses of 'executing process.' It is not as Judge but as the +functionary who carries the Judge's orders into effect that Gildias is +here blamed.] + +'We order therefore that when _our_[597] decrees are being enforced +against a beaten litigant, the gratuity claimed by the officer shall +be the same which our glorious grandfather declared to be +payable--according to the respective ranks of the litigants--to the +Sajo who was charged with the enforcement of the decree; for +gratuities ought not to be excessive[598]. + +[Footnote 597: 'Nostra' (the reading of Nivellius) seems evidently a +better reading than 'vestra' (which Migne has adopted).] + +[Footnote 598: 'Commodum debet esse _cum modo_.' A derivation or a +pun.] + +'But if _your_ decrees are being enforced--and that must be only in +cases against persons with whom the edicts allow you to +interfere[599]--then your officer must receive half the gratuity +allowed to him who carries our decrees into execution. It is obviously +improper that the man who only performs _your_ orders should receive +as much as is paid out of reverence for _our_ command. Anyone +infringing this constitution is to restore fourfold. + +[Footnote 599: 'Duntaxat in illis causis atque personis, ubi te +misceri edicta voluerunt.'] + +'(4) The edicts of our glorious grandfather, and all the precepts +which he made for the government of Sicily, are to be so obediently +observed that he shall be held guilty of sacrilege who, spurred on by +his own beastly disposition, shall try to break down the bulwark of +our commands[600]. + +[Footnote 600: 'Quisquis belluinis moribus excitatus munimen +tentaverit irrumpere jussionum.'] + +'(5) It is said that you cite causes between two Romans, even against +their will, before your tribunal. If you are conscious that this has +been done by you, do not so presume in future, lest while seeking the +office of Judge, for which you are incompetent, you wake up to find +yourself a culprit. You, of all men, ought to be mindful of the +Edictum, since you insist on its being followed by others. If not, if +this rule is not observed by you, your whole power of decreeing shall +be taken from you. Let the administration of the laws be preserved +intact to the _Judices Ordinarii_. Let the litigants throng, as they +ought to do, to the Courts of their _Cognitores_. Do not be gnawed by +envy of their pomp. The true praise of the Goths is +_law-abidingness_[601]. The more seldom the litigant is seen in your +presence the greater is your renown. Do you defend the State with your +arms; let the Romans plead before their own law courts in peace. + +[Footnote 601: 'Gothorum laus est civilitas custodita.'] + +'(6) You are also accused of insisting on buying the cargoes of +vessels that come to the port at your own price [and selling again at +a higher]--a practice the very suspicion of which is injurious to an +official, even if it cannot be proved against him in fact[602]. +Wherefore, if you wish to avoid the rumour of this deed, let the +Bishop and people of the city come forward as witnesses on behalf of +your conscience[603]. Prices ought to be fixed by the common +deliberation [of buyer and seller]; since no one likes a commercial +transaction which is forced upon the unwilling. + +[Footnote 602: This seems a possible interpretation of a dark +sentence: 'Navigiis vecta commercia te suggerunt occupare, et ambitu +cupiditatis exosae solum antiqua pretia definire, quod non creditur a +suspicione longinquum etiam si non sit actione vicinum.'] + +[Footnote 603: Is this a kind of compurgation which is here proposed?] + +'Wherefore we have thought it proper to warn your Sublimity by these +presents, since we do not like those whom we love to be guilty of +excess, nor to hear evil reports of those who are charged with +reforming the morals of others.' + +[This is an important letter, especially when taken in connection with +the words of Totila (Procopius, 'De Bello Gotthico' iii. 16), as to +the exceptional indulgence with which the Gothic Kings had treated +Sicily, 'leaving, at the request of the inhabitants, very few soldiers +in the island, that there might be no distaste to their freedom or to +their general prosperity.' + +Gildias is evidently a Goth, and though a _Vir Spectabilis_ and +holding a Roman office--the Comitiva Syracusanae Civitatis--still it +is essentially a military office, and he has no business to divert +causes from the Judices Ordinarii to his tribunal, though probably a +Roman Comes might often do this without serious blame. But by his +doing so, the general principle, that in purely Roman causes a Goth is +not to interfere, seems to be infringed, and therefore he receives +this sharp reprimand to prevent his doing it again.] + + +15. KING ATHALARIC TO POPE JOHN II (532). + +[Sidenote: Against Simony at Papal elections.] + +'The Defensor of the Roman Church hath informed us in his tearful +petition that lately, when a President was sought for the Papal chair, +so much were the usual largesses to the poor augmented by the promises +which had been extorted from the candidate, that, shameful to say, +even the sacred vessels were exposed to sale in order to provide the +necessary money[604]. + +[Footnote 604: 'Quosdam nefariâ machinatione necessitatem temporis +aucupatos, ita facultates pauperum extortis promissionibus ingravasse, +ut quod dictu nefas est, etiam sacra vasa emptioni publicae viderentur +exposita.'] + +'Therefore let your Holiness know that by this present decree, which +relates also to all the Patriarchs and Metropolitan Churches [the five +Metropolitan Churches in Rome, and such Sees as Milan, Aquileia, +Ravenna], we confirm the wise law passed by the Senate in the time of +the most holy Pope Boniface [predecessor of John II]. By it any +contract or promise made by any person in order to obtain a Bishopric +is declared void. + +'Anyone refusing to refund money so received is to be declared guilty +of sacrilege, and restitution is to be enforced by the Judge.' + +'Should a contention arise as to an election to the Apostolic See, and +the matter be brought to our Palace for decision, we direct that the +maximum fee to be paid, on the completion of the necessary documents +(?), shall be 3,000 solidi [£1,800][605]; but this is only to be +exacted from persons of sufficient ability to pay it. + +[Footnote 605: 'Et quia omnia decet sub ratione moderari, nec possunt +dici justa quae nimia sunt, cum de Apostolici consecratione Pontificis +intentio fortasse pervenerit, et ad Palatium nostrum producta fuerit +altercatio populorum, suggerentes (?) nobis intra tria millia +solidorum, cum collectione cartarum censemus accipere.'] + +'Patriarchs [Archbishops of the other great Italian Sees] under +similar circumstances are to pay not more than 2,000 solidi [£1,200]. + +'No one is to give [on his consecration] more than 500 solidi [£300] +to the poor. + +'Anyone professing to obtain for money the suffrage of any one of our +servants on behalf of a candidate for Papacy or Patriarchate, shall be +forced to refund the money. If it cannot be recovered from him, it may +be from his heirs. He himself shall be branded with infamy. + +'Should the giver of the money have been bound by such oaths, that, +without imperilling his soul, he cannot disclose the transaction, +anyone else may inform, and on establishing the truth of his +accusation, receive a third part of the money so corruptly paid, the +rest to go to the churches themselves, for the repair of the fabric or +for the daily ministry. Remember the fate of Simon Magus. We have +ordered that this decree be made known to the Senate and people by the +Praefect of the City.' + +[I think the early part of this letter gives us the clue to the +pretext under which these simoniacal practices were introduced. It was +usual for the Pope on his election to give a certain sum of money to +the poor. Then at a vehemently contested election certain of the +voters--perhaps especially the priests of the different _tituli_ of +Rome--claimed to be distributors of the Papal bounty, a large part of +which they no doubt kept for themselves.] + + +16. KING ATHALARIC TO SALVANTIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +Rehearses the motives of the previous edict, and directs that both it +and the Senatus Consulta having reference to the same subject [and +framed two years previously], be engraved on marble tablets, and fixed +up in a conspicuous place, before the Atrium of St. Peter the Apostle. + + +17. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SAME (BETWEEN 532 AND 534). + +[Sidenote: Release of two Roman citizens accused of sedition.] + +'We cannot bear that there should be sadness in Rome, the head of the +world. We hear with regret from the Apostolic Pope John, and other +nobles, that A and B, who are Romans, on a mere suspicion of sedition +are being macerated by so long imprisonment that the whole city mourns +for them; no gladness of a holyday and no respect for the Papal +name[606] (which is most dear to us) availing to mitigate their +confinement. This treatment of persons against whom no crime has been +proved distresses us much, and we admonish your Greatness, wherever +you may succeed in finding them, to set them free. If, confident in +their innocence, they think that they have been unjustly tormented, we +give them liberty to make their appeal to the laws. Judges were +raised to their high estate, not to oppress but to defend the +innocent. + +[Footnote 606: 'Nec ulla--quae apud nos est gratissima--nominis sui +dignitas subveniret.' I think _sui_ must refer to the +recently-mentioned _Papa Johannes_.] + +'Now let the Romans return to their ancient gladness; nor let them +think that any [rulers] please us but those who seek to act with +fairness and moderation. Let them understand that our forefathers +underwent labours and dangers that _they_ might have rest; and that we +are expending large sums in order that they may rejoice with garrulous +exultation. For even if they have before now suffered some rough and +unjust treatment, let them not believe that that is a thing to be +neglected by our Mildness. No; for we give ourselves no rest, that +they may enjoy secure peace and calm gladness. Let them understand at +once that _we_ cannot love the men whose excesses have made them +terrible to our subjects. Whose favour do those men expect to win who +have earned the dislike of their fellow-citizens? They might have +reaped a harvest of the public love, and instead thereof they have so +acted that their names are justly held in execration.' + + +18. THE EDICT OF ATHALARIC. + +[This edict is minutely examined by Dahn ('Könige der Germanen' iv. +123-135). I have adopted his division of paragraphs, though rather +disposed to think that the 'De Donationibus' should be broken up into +two, to prevent counting the Epilogue as a section. See also Manso +('Geschichte der Ostrogothen' 405-415).] + +[Sidenote: Edict of Athalaric.] + +'_Prologue._ This edict is a general one. No names are mentioned in +it, and those who are conscious of innocence need take no offence at +anything contained therein. + +'For long an ominous whisper has reached our ears that certain +persons, despising _civilitas_, affect a life of beastly +barbarism[607], returning to the wild beginnings of society, and +looking with a fierce hatred on all human laws. The present seems to +us a fitting time for repressing these men, in order that we may be +hunting down vice and immorality within the Republic at the same time +that, with God's help, we are resisting her external foes. Both are +hurtful, both have to be repelled; but the internal enemy is even more +dangerous than the external. One, however, rests upon the other; and +we shall more easily sweep down the armies of our enemies if we subdue +under us the vices of the age. [This allusion to foreign enemies is +perhaps explained by the hint in Jordanes ('De Reb. Get.' 59) of +threatened war with the Franks. But he gives us no sufficient +indication of time to enable us to fix the date of the Edictum.] + +[Footnote 607: 'Affectare vivere belluinâ saevitiâ.'] + +'I. _Forcible Appropriation of Landed Property_[608] (Pervasio). This +is a crime which is quite inconsistent with _civilitas_, and we remit +those who are guilty of it to the punishment[609] provided by a law of +Divus Valentinianus [Valentinian III. Novell. xix. 'De Invasoribus'], +adding that if anyone is unable to pay the penalty therein provided he +shall suffer banishment (deportatio). He ought to have been more chary +of disobeying the laws if he had no means to pay the penalty. Judges +who shrink from obeying this law, and allow the _Pervasor_ to remain +in possession of what he has forcibly annexed, shall lose their +offices and be held liable to pay to our Treasury the same fine which +might have been exacted from him. If the _Pervasor_ sets the Judge's +official staff (officium) at defiance, on the report of the Judge our +Sajones will make _him_ feel the weight of the royal vengeance who +refused to obey the [humbler] _Cognitor_. + +[Footnote 608: 'Praedia urbana vel rustica.'] + +[Footnote 609: The punishment consisted in loss of all claim to the +property--which was generally seized by someone who had some kind of +ostensible claim to it--and a penalty of equal value with that of the +property wrongfully seized.] + +'II. _Affixing Titles to Property._ [When land had from any cause +become public property, the Emperor's officers used to affix _tituli_, +to denote the fact and to warn off all other claimants. Powerful men +who had dispossessed weaker claimants used to imitate this practice, +and are here forbidden to do so.] + +'This offence shall subject the perpetrator to the same penalties as +_pervasio_. It is really a kind of sacrilege to try to add the majesty +of the royal name to the weight of his own oppression. Costs are to be +borne by the defeated claimant. + +'III. _Suppression of Words in a Decree._ Anyone obtaining a decree +against an adversary is to be careful to suppress nothing in the copy +which he serves upon him. If he does so, he shall lose all the +benefits that he obtained. We wish to help honest men, not rogues. + +'IV. _Seduction of a Married Woman._ He who tries to interfere with +the married rights of another, shall be punished by inability to +contract a valid marriage himself. [This punishment of compulsory +celibacy is, according to Dahn, derived neither from Roman nor German +law, but is possibly due to Church influence.] The offender who has no +hope of present or future matrimony[610] shall be punished by +confiscation of half his property; or, if a poor man, by banishment. + +[Footnote 610: 'Illis quos spes non habet praesentis conjugii vel +futuri.' It is not easy to see how the Judge could ascertain whether a +man belonged to this claim or not.] + +'V. _Adultery_. All the statutes of the late King (divalis commonitio) +in this matter are to be strictly observed. [Edict. Theodorici, § 38, +inflicted the penalty of death on both offenders and on the abettors +of the crime.] + +'VI. _Bigamy_ is to be punished with loss of all the offender's +property. + +'VII. _Concubinage._ If a married man forms a connection of this kind +with a free woman, she and all her children shall become the slaves +of the injured wife. If with a woman who is a slave already, she shall +be subjected to any revenge that the lawful wife likes to inflict upon +her, short of blood-shedding[611]. + +[Footnote 611: 'Quod si ad tale flagitium ancilla pervenerit, excepta +poena sanguinis, matronali subjaceat ultioni: ut illam patiatur +judicem, quam formidare debuisset absentem.' These provisions are +probably of Germanic origin.] + +'VIII. _Donations_ are not to be extorted by terror, nor acquired by +fraud, or as the price of immorality. Where a gift is _bonâ fide_, the +document conveying it is to be drawn up with the strictness prescribed +by Antiquity, in order to remove occasions of fraud. + +'IX. Magicians and other persons practising nefarious arts are to be +punished by the severity of the laws. What madness to leave the Giver +of life and seek to the Author of death! Let the Judges be especially +careful to avoid the contagion of these foul practices. + +'X. _Violence Exercised towards the Weak._ Let the condition of +mediocrity be safe from the arrogance of the rich. Let the madness of +bloodshed be avoided. To take the law into your own hands is to wage +private war, especially in the case of those who are fortified by the +authority of our _tuitio_. If anyone attempts with foul presumption to +act contrary to these principles, let him be considered a violator of +our orders. + +'XI. _Appeals_ are not to be made twice in the same cause. + +'XII. _Epilogue._ But lest, while touching on a few points, we should +be thought not to wish the laws to be observed in other matters, we +declare that all the edicts of ourself and of our lord and +grandfather, which were confirmed by venerable deliberation[612], and +the whole body of decided law[613], be adhered to with the utmost +rigour. + +[Footnote 612: 'Quae sunt venerabili deliberatione firmata.' Is it +possible that we have here a reference to a theoretical right of the +_Senate_ to concur in legislation?] + +[Footnote 613: 'Et usualia jura publica.' Dahn expands: 'All other +juristic material, all sources of law--Roman _leges_ and _jus_, and +Gothic customary law--the whole inheritance of the State in public and +private law.'] + +'And these laws are so scrupulously guarded that our own oath is +interposed for their defence. Why enlarge further? Let the usual rule +of law and the honest intent of our precepts be everywhere observed.' + + +19. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Promulgation of the Edict.] + +'Good laws are called forth by evil manners. If no complaints were +ever heard, the Prince might take holiday. Stirred up by many and +frequent complaints of our people, we have drawn up certain +regulations necessary for the Roman peace, in our edict which is +divided into twelve chapters, after the manner of the civil law[614]. +We do not thereby abrogate, but rather confirm, the previously +existing body of law. + +[Footnote 614: 'Necessaria quaedam Romanae quieti edictali programmate +duodecim capitibus sicut jus civile legitur institutum in aevum +servanda conscripsimus, quae custodita residuum jus non debilitare, +sed potius corroborare videantur.'] + +'Let this edict be read in your splendid assembly, and exhibited for +thirty days by the Praefect of the City in the most conspicuous +places. Thus shall our _civilitas_ be recognised, and truculent men +lose their confidence. What insolent subjects[615] can indulge in +violence when the Sovereign condemns it? Our armies fight that there +may be peace at home. Let the Judges do their duty fearlessly, and +avoid foul corruption.' + +[Footnote 615: Evidently aimed at the Goths.] + + +20. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'It is vexatious that, though we appoint you year by year to your +duties, and leave no district without its Judge, there is yet such +tardiness in administering justice that suitors come by preference to +our distant Court. + +'To take away all excuse from you, and relieve the necessity of our +subjects, we have drawn up an edict which we desire you to exhibit for +thirty days in the wonted manner at all places of public meeting.' + + +21. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Increase of salaries of grammarians.] + +'You who are called Fathers should be interested in all that concerns +the education of your sons. We hear by certain whisperings that the +teachers of eloquence at Rome are not receiving their proper reward, +and that the sums appointed to be paid to the masters of schools are +lessened by the haggling of some persons. + +'Grammar is the noble foundation of all literature, the glorious +mother of eloquence. As a virtuous man is offended by any act of vice, +as a musician is pained by a discordant note, so does the grammarian +in a moment perceive a false concord. + +'The grammatical art is not used by barbarous kings: it abides +peculiarly with legitimate sovereigns[616]. Other nations have arms: +the lords of the Romans alone have eloquence. Hence sounds the trumpet +for the legal fray in the Forum. Hence comes the eloquence of so many +chiefs of the State. Hence, to say nothing more, even this discourse +which is now addressed to you[617]. + +[Footnote 616: 'Hac non utuntur barbari reges: apud legales dominos +manere cognoscitur singularis.'] + +[Footnote 617: 'Et, ut reliqua taceamus, hoc quod loquimur inde est.'] + +'Wherefore let the teacher of grammar and of rhetoric, if he be found +suitable for his work and obey the decrees of the Praefect of the +City, be supported by your authority, and suffer no diminution of his +salary[618]. + +[Footnote 618: 'Et semel Primi Ordinis vestri ac reliqui Senatus +amplissimi auctoritate firmatus.' What is the meaning of 'Primi +Ordinis vestri?'] + +'To prevent his being dependent in any way on the caprice of his +employer, let him receive half his salary at the end of half a year, +and his _annonae_ at the customary times. If the person whose +business it is to pay him neglects this order, he shall be charged +interest on the arrears. + +'The Grammarian is a man to whom every hour unemployed is misery, and +it is a shame that such a man should have to wait the caprice of a +public functionary before he gets his pay. We provide for the salaries +of the play-actors, who minister only to the amusement of the public; +and how much more for these men, the moulders of the style and +character of our youth! Therefore let them henceforward not have to +try the philosophical problem of thinking about two things at once, +but, with their minds at ease about their subsistence, devote +themselves with all their vigour to the teaching of liberal arts.' + + +22. KING ATHALARIC TO PAULINUS, VIR CLARISSIMUS AND CONSUL (533). + +[Flavius Theodoras Paulinus Junior was Consul with the Emperor +Justinian in 534. This letter was written in Sept. 533, about thirteen +months before the death of Athalaric. Paulinus was son of Venantius +and grandson of Liberius.] + +[Sidenote: Paulinus chosen as Consul.] + +'The absent from our Court need not fear that they will be disregarded +in the distribution of honours, especially when they are sprung from +an illustrious stock, the offspring of the Senate. + +'In your family Rome recognises the descendants of her ancient heroes +the Decii, who, in a great crisis, alone saved their country. + +'Take then for the twelfth Indiction the ensigns of the +Consulship[619]. It is an arduous honour, but one which your family is +well used to. The Fasti are studded with its names, and nearly all +the Senate is of kin to you. Still, presume not too much on the merits +of your ancestors, but rather seek to emulate their noble deeds.' + +[Footnote 619: The twelfth Indiction began Sept. 1, 533. The Consul +would enter office Jan. 1, 534. Was he _designated_ when the great +Imperial officers were _appointed_ at the beginning of the Indiction?] + + +23. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: On the Consulship of Paulinus.] + +'Judge of our esteem for your honourable body, Conscript Fathers, +when, without any hesitation, we appoint your sons whom we have never +seen to high office, because they are your sons. + +'We admire the Patrician Venantius, blessed as he has been with such +an abundant progeny, and found equal to the weight of so many +Consulships. His sons have been all temperate and lively; worthy +members of the same distinguished family. They have been trained in +arms, their minds have been formed by letters, their bodies by the +exercises of the gymnasium. They have learned to show constancy to +their friends, loyalty to their lords; and they have succeeded to the +virtues of their ancestors, as they will to their patrimony. Wisely +husbanding his own fortune, Venantius has been able to support the +honour--gratifying, but burdensome--of seeing so many of his sons made +Consuls. But this is an honour not strange to his family, sprung from +the ancient Decii. His hall is full of laurelled Fasces, and in his +line one might almost say that each one is born a Consular. + +'Favour our candidate then, Conscript Fathers, and cherish him with +that care which the name of your body[620] signifies.' + +[Footnote 620: _Curia_, from _cura_.] + + +24. KING ATHALARIC TO SENATOR [CASSIODORUS HIMSELF], PRAETORIAN +PRAEFECT (SEPT. 1, 533). + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus appointed Praetorian Praefect.] + +'If you had been hitherto an obscure person we might feel some doubt +how you would bear yourself in your new office, but your long and +glorious career under our grandfather relieves us from any such +anxieties. _His_ choice of you is a thing to be not discussed but +reverently accepted. It was by him that we ourselves were chosen; and +the Divine favour so conspicuously followed him that no General whom +he selected was other than victorious, no Judge whom he appointed was +other than just. In short, one might almost deem him to have been +endowed with the gift of prophecy. + +[Sidenote: His Quaestorship.] + +'In your early manhood he received you into the office of Quaestor, +and soon found you to be a conscientious man, learned in the law +beyond your years[621]. You were the chief ornament of your times, +inasmuch as you, by your blameless service sustaining the weight of +that royal intellect by all the force of your eloquence, enabled him, +with his keen interest in all public affairs, to await the result with +confidence. In you he possessed a counsellor pleasant in the +transaction of business, rigid in his sense of justice, free from all +taint of avarice. You never fixed a scandalous tariff for the sale of +his benefits; and thus you reaped your reward in a wealth of public +opinion, not in gold. It was because that just Prince proved you to be +averse from all these vices that he selected you for his glorious +friendship. A wise judge, he threw upon you the weight of listening to +the arguments of contending parties; and so high was his opinion of +your tried sagacity that he at once uttered your decision as the +greatest benefit that he could confer on the litigants. How often did +he rank you among the oldest chiefs of his Council! How often was it +seen that your young beginnings were more than a match for them, who +had the experience of long years behind them! What he found to praise +in you was your excellent disposition, wide open for useful work, +tight closed against the vices of avarice. Whereas, for some reason, +it is rare to find amongst men, the hand closed and justice open. + +[Footnote 621: 'Primaevum recipiens ad Quaestoris Officium, mox +reperit conscientia praeditum, et legum eruditione maturum.'] + +[Sidenote: His career as Master of the Offices.] + +'Let us pass on to the dignity of _Magister Officiorum_, which all men +knew that you obtained, not from the reputation of wealth, but as a +testimony to your character. In this place you were always ready to +help the [successive] Quaestors; for, when pure eloquence was +required, the case was always put in your hands. The benignant +Sovereign claimed from you the fulfilment of duties which he knew that +he had not formally laid upon you; and such was the favour that he had +for you, while others laboured you received the reward of his abundant +praises[622]. For under your administration no dignity kept its exact +limits; anything that was to be honestly done by all the chiefs of the +State together, you considered to be entrusted to _your_ conscience +for its performance. + +[Footnote 622: 'Et quadam gratia praejudiciali vacabat alios laborare, +ut te sententiae suae copiosa laude compleret.' One would have +expected Cassiodorus to say, 'You had the special privilege of doing +other people's work and being praised for it, while they enjoyed their +leisure;' but I hardly see how we can get this meaning out of 'vacabat +alios laborare.'] + +'No one found occasion to murmur anything to your disadvantage, though +you had to bear all the weight of unpopularity which comes from the +Sovereign's favour. The integrity of your life conquered those who +longed to detract from your reputation, and your enemies were obliged +to utter the praises which their hearts abhorred; for even malice +leaves manifest goodness unattacked, lest it be itself exposed to +general hatred. + +[Sidenote: His friendship for Theodoric.] + +'To the Monarch you showed yourself a friendly Minister and an +intimate Noble[623]. For when he had laid aside the cares of State, he +would seek in your conversation the opinions of wise men of old, that +by his own deeds he might make himself equal to the ancients[624]. +Into the courses of the stars, into the gulfs of the sea, into the +marvels of springing fountains, this most acute questioner enquired, +so that by his diligent investigations into the nature of things he +seemed to be a Philosopher wearing the purple. + +[Footnote 623: 'Egisti rerum domino judicem familiarem et internum +procerem.'] + +[Footnote 624: 'Nam cum esset publica cura vacuatus, sententias +prudentum a tuis fabulis exigebat; ut factis propriis se aequaret +antiquis.'] + +'It were long to narrate all your merits in the past. Let us rather +turn to the future, and show how the heir of Theodoric's Empire +proposes to pay the debts of Theodoric. + +'Therefore, with the Divine help, we bestow on you from the twelfth +Indiction [Sept. 1, 533] the authority and insignia of Praetorian +Praefect. Let the Provinces, which we know to have been hitherto +wearied by the administration of dishonest men, fearlessly receive a +Judge of tried integrity. + +'Though you have before you the example of your father's +Praefecture[625], renowned throughout the Italian world, we do not so +much set before you either that or any other example, as your own past +character, exhorting you to rule consistently with that. You have +always been averse from bribery; now earnestly help the victims of +injustice. We have purposely delayed your accession to this high +office that you might be the more heartily welcomed by the people, who +expected to see you clothed with it long ago. Diligently seek out +anything belonging to the titles of the Praetorian Praefecture, of +which it has been defrauded by the cupidity of others. We send you as +a light into a dark chamber, and expect that your sagacity and loyalty +will discover many hidden things. + +[Footnote 625: 'Quamvis habeas paternam Praefecturam, Italico orbe +praedicatam.' This is one of the many proofs that Senator (now first +advanced to the office of Praefectus Praetorio) is the _son_ of the +Cassiodorus to whom the letter (i. 3) is addressed on his retirement +from that office.] + +'We know that you will work not so much for the sake of honour as in +order to satisfy your conscience; and work so done knows no limit to +its excellence.' + + +25. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME (ON THE PROMOTION +OF CASSIODORUS SENATOR TO THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECTURE). + +[Sidenote: Eulogy of Cassiodorus on his appointment as Praetorian +Praefect.] + +'We have loaded Senator with our benefits, Conscript Fathers, because +he abounds in virtue, is rich in excellence of character, and is +already full of the highest honours. But, in fact, we are his debtors. +How shall we repay that eloquent tongue of his, with which he set +forth the deeds of the Prince, till he himself who had wrought them +wondered at his story? In praising the reign of the wearer of the +purple, he made it acceptable to your nation. For taxes may be paid to +a tyrant; praise, such as this, is given only to a good Prince. + +[Sidenote: His Gothic History.] + +'Not satisfied with extolling living Kings, from whom he might hope +for a reward, he drew forth the Kings of the Goths from the dust of +ages, showing that the Amal family had been royal for seventeen +generations, and proved that the origin of the Gothic people belonged +to Roman history[626], adorning the whole subject with the flowers of +his learning gathered from wide fields of literature. + +[Footnote 626: 'Tetendit se etiam in antiquam prosapiem nostram, +lectione discens, quod vix majorum notitia cana retinebat. Iste Reges +Gothorum longa oblivione celatos, latibulo vetustatis eduxit. Iste +Amalos cum generis sui claritate restituit, evidenter ostendens in +decimam septimam progeniem stirpem nos habere regalem. Originem +Gothicam historiam fecit esse Romanam, colligens quasi in unam coronam +germen floridum quod per librorum campos passim fuerat ante +dispersum.'] + +'In the early days of our reign what labour he gave to the settling of +our affairs! He was alone sufficient for all. The duty of making +public harangues, our own private counsels, required him. He laboured +that the Empire might rest. + +[Sidenote: His official career.] + +'We found him Magister; but he discharged the duties of Quaestor, and +willingly bestowed on us, the heir, the experience which he had gained +in the counsels of our grandfather. + +[Sidenote: His military services.] + +'And not only so, he helped the beginning of our reign both with his +arms and his pen. For when the care of our shores[627] occupied our +royal meditation, he suddenly emerged from the seclusion of his +cabinet, boldly, like his ancestors, assumed the office of +General[628], and triumphed by his character when there was no enemy +to overcome. For he maintained the Gothic warriors[629] at his own +charges, so that there should be no robbery of the Provincials on the +one hand, no too heavy burden on the exchequer on the other. Thus was +the soldier what he ought to be, the true defender, not the ravager of +his country. Then when the time for victualling the ships was over, +and the war was laid aside, he shone as an administrator rather than a +warrior, healing, without injury to the litigants, the various suits +which arose out of the sudden cessation of the contracts[630]. + +[Footnote 627: Probably from some expected descent of the Vandals, in +connection with the affair of Amalafrida.] + +[Footnote 628: 'Par suis majoribus ducatum sumpsit intrepidus.'] + +[Footnote 629: 'Deputatos.'] + +[Footnote 630: A conjectural translation of a difficult sentence: 'Mox +autem ut tempus clausit navium commeatum, bellique cura resoluta est, +ingenium suum legum potius ductor exercuit: sanans sine damno +litigantium quod ante sub pretio comstabat esse laceratum.' I +conjecture that by the sudden stoppage of the warlike preparations +several of the contractors were in danger of being ruined, and there +was a general disposition to repudiate all purchases.] + +'Such was the glory of the military command of a Metellus in Asia, of +a Cato in Spain--a glory far more durable than any that can be derived +from the varying shock of war. + +[Sidenote: His religious character.] + +'Yet with all these merits, how humble he has been, how modest, how +benevolent, how slow to wrath, how generous in the distribution of +that which is his own, how slow to covet the property of others! All +these virtues have been consolidated by his reading of the Divine +Book, the fear of God helping him to triumph over baser, human +motives. Thus has he been rendered humble towards all, as one imbued +with heavenly teaching. + +'Him therefore, Conscript Fathers, we make, under God's blessing, +Praetorian Praefect from the twelfth Indiction [Sept. 1, 533], that he +may repress by his own loyalty the trafficking of knaves, and may use +his power for the good of the Republic, bequeathing eternal renown to +his posterity.' + + + + +BOOK X. + +CONTAINING THIRTY-FIVE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS: + +FOUR IN THE NAME OF QUEEN AMALASUENTHA. +TWENTY-TWO IN THAT OF KING THEODAHAD. +FOUR IN THAT OF HIS WIFE GUDELINA. +FIVE IN THAT OF KING WITIGIS. + + +1. QUEEN AMALASUENTHA TO JUSTINIAN THE EMPEROR (A.D. 534). + +[Sidenote: Association of Theodahad in the Sovereignty.] + +'I have hitherto forborne to distress you with the sad tidings of the +death of my son of glorious memory, but now am able to mingle a joyful +announcement with this mournful message. We have promoted to the +sceptre a man allied to us by a fraternal tie, that he may wear the +purple robes of his ancestors, and may cheer our own soul by his +prudent counsels. We are persuaded that you will give us your good +wishes on this event, as we hope that every kind of prosperity may +befall the kingdom of your Piety. The friendship of princes is always +comely, but your friendship absolutely ennobles me, since that person +is exalted in dignity who is united by friendship to your glory[631]. + +[Footnote 631: 'Nam licet concordia Principum semper deceat, vestra +tamen absolute me nobilitat; quoniam ille redditur amplius excelsus, +qui vestrae gloriae fuerit unanimiter conjunctus.'] + +'As we cannot in the short space of a letter express all that we +desire to say on such an occasion, we have entrusted certain verbal +messages to the ambassadors who bear this epistle.' + + +2. THEODAHAD THE KING TO JUSTINIAN THE EMPEROR. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'It is usual for newly-crowned Kings to signify their accession to the +different nations round them. I, in making this communication to you, +am greatly favoured by Providence, feeling secure of your favour, +because I know that my most excellent Lady and Sister has already +attained it. I feel confident that I shall justify the choice of one +who shines in such a light of wisdom that she both governs her own +kingdom with admirable forethought and keeps firmly the vows of +friendship which she has plighted to her neighbours. Partner of her +cares, I desire also to be a partner of her wisely-formed friendships, +those especially which she has contracted with you, who have nothing +like unto you in the whole world. This alliance is no new thing: if +you will look back upon the deeds of our ancestors you will find that +there is a custom which has obtained the force of a law, that the +Amals should be friendly with the Empire. So old a friendship is +likely to endure; and if, in obedience to it and to my Sister's +choice, I have your love, I shall feel that I am indeed a King. + +'The ambassadors who have charge of this letter will further express +my sentiments.' + + +3. QUEEN AMALASUENTHA TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'After the death of our son of blessed memory[632] our love for the +common weal overcame the yearnings of a mother's heart and caused us +to seek your prosperity rather than an opportunity to indulge in our +own sorrow. We have considered by what solace we should strengthen +ourselves for the cares of royalty. The same Providence which has +deprived us of a son in the dawn of manhood, has reserved for us the +affection of a brother in mature age. Under the Divine auspices we +have chosen Theodahad[633] as the fortunate partner of our throne. We +two, with conjoined counsels, shall now labour for the common welfare, +_two_ in our meditations, _one_ in the action which results from them. +The stars give one another mutual help in ruling the heavens, and God +has bestowed on man two hands, two ears, two eyes, that each one of +these members should assist the other. + +[Footnote 632: 'Divae recordationis.'] + +[Footnote 633: Is there any authority for the reading of Nivellius, +'Theo_baldum_?'] + +[Sidenote: Praises of Theodahad.] + +'Therefore exult, Conscript Fathers, and commend our deed to the +blessing of the Almighty. Our sharing our power with another is a +pledge of its being wisely and gently exercised. By God's help we have +opened our palace to a man of our own race, conspicuous by his +illustrious position, who, born of the Amal stock, has a kingly +dignity in all his actions, being patient in adversity, moderate in +prosperity, and, most difficult of all kinds of government, long used +to the government of himself. Moreover, he possesses that desirable +quality, literary erudition, lending a grace to a nature originally +praiseworthy. It is in books that the sage counsellor finds deeper +wisdom, in books that the warrior learns how he may be strengthened by +the courage of the soul, in books that the Sovereign discovers how he +may weld nations together under his equal rule. In short, there is no +condition in life the credit whereof is not augmented by the glorious +knowledge of literature. + +'Your new Sovereign is moreover learned in ecclesiastical lore, by +which we are ever reminded of the things which make for our own true +honour, right judgment, wise discretion, reverence for God, thought +of the future judgment. For the remembrance that we shall one day +stand at the bar to answer for ourselves compels us to follow the +footprints of Justice. Thus does religious reading not only sharpen +the intellect but ever tend to make men scrupulous in the performance +of their duties. + +'Let me pass on to that most generous frugality of his private +household[634] which procured the means of such abundance in his +gifts, of such plenty at his banquets, that even the kingdom will not +call for any new expenditure in this respect greater than the old. +Generous in his hospitality, most pitiful in his compassions, while he +was thus spending much, his fortune, by a heavenly reward, was ever on +the increase. + +[Footnote 634: 'Veniamus ad illam privatae Ecclesiae (?) largissimam +frugalitatem.' 'Ecclesiae,' if it means here 'the Church,' seems to +spoil the sense. Can Cassiodorus mean to compare the household of +Theodahad to a 'private Ecclesia?'] + +'The wish of the people should coincide with our choice of such a man, +who, reasonably spending his own goods, does not desire the goods of +others[635]. For moderation in his own expenditure takes away from the +Sovereign the temptation to transgress the precepts of justice and to +abandon the golden mean. + +[Footnote 635: 'Talem universitas debuit optare, qualem nos probamur +elegisse, qui rationabiliter disponens propria, non appetat aliena.' +And this of Theodahad!] + +'Rejoice then, Conscript Fathers, and give thanks to the Most High, +that I have chosen such a ruler, who will supplement my justice by the +good deeds which spring from his own piety. For this man is both +admonished by the virtue of his ancestors and powerfully stimulated by +the example of his uncle Theodoric.' + + +4. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We announce to you, Conscript Fathers, the Divine favour which has +been manifested unto us, in that our sovereign Lady[636], who is +renowned throughout the whole world, has with generous affection made +me partaker of her throne, so that she may not lack loyal support and +I may be fittingly clothed with the purple of my ancestors. + +[Footnote 636: 'Dominam rerum.'] + +'I know that this elevation of mine was the object of the wishes of +the community. Your whispers in my favour might have been a source of +danger, but now your openly expressed acclamations are my proudest +boast. You wished that God should bestow upon me this honour, to which +I for my part should not have ventured to aspire. But if I have, as I +trust I have, any influence with you, let me prevail upon you to join +with me in perpetually hymning the glorious praises of our Lady and +Sister. She has wished to strengthen the greatness of our Empire by +associating me therein, even as the two eyes of a man harmoniously +co-operate towards a single act of vision. Divine grace joins us +together: our near relationship cements our friendship. Persons of +diverse character may find it an arduous matter thus to work in +common; but, to those who resemble one another in the goodness of +their intentions, the difficulty would rather be _not_ to work in +harmony. The man devoid of forethought may fear the changing of his +purposes; but he who is really great in wisdom eagerly seeks wisdom in +another. + +'But of all the gifts which with this regal dignity the Divine favour +has bestowed upon me, none pleases me more than the fact that I should +have been thus chosen by that wisest Lady who is herself a moral +balance of the utmost delicacy, and who made me first feel her justice +before advancing me to this high dignity. For, as you know, she +ordained that I should plead my cause against private persons in the +common judgment-hall[637]. Oh wonderful nobility of her mind! Oh +admirable justice, which the world may well tell of! She hesitated +not first to subject her own relation to the course of public justice, +even him whom, a little after, she would raise above the laws +themselves. She thoroughly searched the conscience of him to whom she +was about to hand over the dignity of kingship, that she might be +recognised as sovereign Lady of all, and that I, when tested, might be +advanced by her to the throne. + +[Footnote 637: 'Cujus prius ideo justitiam pertuli ut prius +[posterius?] ad ejus provectionis gratiam pervenirem. Causas enim, ut +scitis, jure communi nos fecit dicere cum privatis.' We have here, no +doubt, an allusion to the punishment which, as we learn from +Procopius, Amalasuentha inflicted on her cousin for his various acts +of injustice towards his Tuscan neighbours.] + +[Sidenote: Praises of Amalasuentha.] + +'When shall I be able to repay her for all these favours: her who, +having reigned alone during the minority of her son, now chooses me as +the partner of her realm? In her is the glory of all kingdoms, the +flower of all our family. All our splendour is derived from her, and +she reflects a lustre not only on our ancestors, but on the whole +human race. Her dutiful affection, her weight of character, who can +set forth? The philosophers would learn new lessons if they knew her, +and would acknowledge that their books fail to describe all her +attributes. Acute she is in her powers of reasoning; but with royal +taciturnity she knows how to veil her conclusions in secrecy. She is +mistress of many languages; and her intellect, if suddenly tested, is +found so ready for the trial that it scarcely seems like that of a +mortal. In the Books of Kings the Queen of the South is said to have +come to learn the wisdom of Solomon: but here a woman speaks, and +Sovereigns listen to her with admiration. Infinite depths of meaning +are fathomed by her in few words, and she, with utmost ease, expresses +what others can only after long deliberation embody in language[638]. + +[Footnote 638: 'Et summâ felicitate componitur quod ab aliis sub longâ +deliberatione componitur.' 'Ab aliis' probably refers to Cassiodorus +himself. The contrast between his elaborate and diffuse rhetoric, and +the few, terse, soon-moulded sentences of his mistress is very fairly +drawn.] + +'Happy the commonwealth which boasts the guidance of such a mistress. +It was not enough that already liberty and convenience were combined +for the multitude[639]: her merits have secured the fitting reverence +for the person of the Sovereign. In obeying _her_ we obey all the +virtues. I, too, with such a counsellor, fear not the weight of the +crown; and I know that whatever is strange to me in my new duties I +shall learn from her as the safest of teachers. + +[Footnote 639: 'Minus fuit ut generalitas sub libertate serviret.'] + +'Acknowledge, noble Sirs, that all my power of increased usefulness to +the State comes from this our most wise Lady, from whom I may either +gain wisdom by asking questions, or virtue by following her example. + +'Live happily: live in harmony by God's help, and emulate that grace +of concord which you see prevailing between your Sovereigns.' + + +5. KING THEODAHAD TO HIS MAN THEODOSIUS[640]. + +[Footnote 640: 'Theodosio homini suo Theodahadus rex.' Does 'homo +suus' mean a member of his Comitatus? We seem to have here an +anticipation of the 'homagium' of later times.] + +[Sidenote: The followers of the new King must live justly.] + +'By my accession to the throne I have become lord of the whole nation +and guardian of the general welfare. I therefore command that all who +belong to my private household shall vindicate their rights only in +the courts of law, and shall abstain from all high-handed modes of +obtaining redress. Only that man must henceforward be called mine who +can live quietly subject to the laws. My new dignity has changed my +purpose; and if before I have defended my rights with pertinacity, I +shall now temper all my acts with clemency[641]; since there is +nothing exceptional about a Sovereign's household, but wheresoever, +by the grace of God, our rule extends, there, as we fully confess, is +something which it is our duty to defend. Augment therefore my renown +by your patience, and let me hear praises rather than complaints of +the actions of my servants.' + +[Footnote 641: 'Mutavimus cum dignitate propositum, et si ante justa +districte defendimus, nunc clementer omnia mitigamus.' A pretty plain +confession of Theodahad's past wrong-doing, and one which was probably +insisted upon by Amalasuentha in admitting him to a share in the +kingship.] + + +6. KING THEODAHAD TO PATRICIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND QUAESTOR. + +[Sidenote: Patricius appointed Quaestor.] + +'In conferring upon you the office of Quaestor we look first to +character, and we find in you that love of justice which is all +important in a representative of the Prince. Then we look at the +qualities of your intellect, and we find in you that flow of eloquence +which among all mental accomplishments we value most highly. What does +it profit to be a philosopher, if one cannot worthily set forth the +results of one's investigations? To discover is natural to man; but to +set forth one's discoveries in noble language, that is indeed a +desirable gift. Therefore we bestow on you for this thirteenth +Indiction[642] the fasces of the Quaestorship, desiring you to +consecrate your time to the study of the laws and the _responsa +prudentum_, and to spread abroad our fame by the eloquent manner in +which you shall communicate our decrees to the Cities and Provinces +under our sway, and speak in our name to the representatives of +foreign nations.' + +[Footnote 642: 534-535. As Athalaric died Oct. 2, 534, the appointment +of Patricius cannot have taken place on the usual day, Sept. 1.] + + +7. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'After announcing to you our own accession, one of our first cares was +to choose a Judge whose style of speaking might dignify the State. +Such a Judge have we found in Patricius (Patrician by his name +already), whom we hereby appoint to the office of Quaestor. He +studied eloquence at Rome. Where could he have studied better? For +while other parts of the world have their wine, their balm, their +frankincense, which they can export, the peculiar product of Rome is +eloquence. + +'Having thus learned his art, he practised it at the bar with singular +moderation. No heat of strife hurried him into abuse of his +competitors. Seeking only to win his client's cause, he calmly and +courteously set forth that client's rights without sacrificing his own +dignity of demeanour. + +'Thinking that this man has pleaded long enough, we now appoint that +he shall sit as Judge, having made diligent enquiry as to his +character. In this, and in all other matters, we wish to follow the +example of the Emperors who have gone before us, in so far as they +followed the paths of justice[643].' + +[Footnote 643: 'Velle nostrum antiquorum principum est voluntas, quos +in tantum desideramus imitari quantum illi justitiam sunt secuti.'] + + +8. QUEEN AMALASUENTHA TO JUSTINIAN, AUGUSTUS. + +[Sidenote: Present of marbles from Justinian to Amalasuentha.] + +'Delighting to receive from your Piety some of those treasures of +which the heavenly bounty has made you partaker, we send the bearer of +the present letter to receive those marbles and other necessaries +which we formerly ordered Calogenitus to collect on our behalf. All +our adornments, furnished by you, redound to your glory. For it is +fitting that by your assistance should shine resplendent that Roman +world which the love of your Serenity renders illustrious.' + + +9. KING THEODAHAD TO JUSTINIAN, AUGUSTUS. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +[On the same subject as the previous letter, and in nearly the same +words. Calogenitus apparently is dead.] + +'We have directed the bearer of this letter to exhibit (?) those +things for which Calogenitus was previously destined; so that, +although that person is withdrawn from this life, your benefits, by +God's help, may still be brought unto us.' + + +10. QUEEN AMALASUENTHA TO THEODORA, AUGUSTA[644]. + +[Footnote 644: There is something in the tone of this letter which +suggests that Theodora was known to be pregnant when it was written.] + +[Sidenote: Salutation to Theodora.] + +'We approach you with the language of veneration, because it is agreed +on all hands that your virtues increase more and more. Friendship +exists not for those only who are in one another's presence, but also +for the absent. Rendering you therefore the salutation of august +reverence, I hope that our ambassadors, whom we have directed to the +most clement and most glorious Emperor, will bring me news of your +welfare. Your prosperity is as dear to me as my own; and as I +constantly pray for your safety, I cannot hear without pleasure that +my prayers have been answered.' + + +11. KING THEODAHAD TO MAXIMUS[645], VIR ILLUSTRIS AND DOMESTICUS. + +[Footnote 645: This Maximus does not appear to be mentioned by +Procopius. He may be the same Maximus who took refuge in one of the +churches after Totila's capture of Rome in 546 (De Bello Gotthico iii. +20), and who was slain by order of Teias in 552 (Ibid. iv. 34); but +that person was grandson of an Emperor, and it seems hardly probable +that Cassiodorus would have spared us such a detail in the pedigree of +Theodahad's kinsman. We seem also to be entirely without information +as to the Amal princess who was the bride of Maximus.] + +[Sidenote: Maximus appointed to office of Primicerius (Domesticorum?)] + +'It is the glory of a good Sovereign to confer office on the deserving +descendants of illustrious families. Such are the Anicii, an ancient +family, almost on an equality with princes[646], from whom you are +descended. Gladly would we decorate the descendants of the Marii and +Corvini if time had permitted their progeny to survive to our own day. +But it were inconsistent to regret the impossibility of enjoying this +privilege if we neglected the opportunity which we do possess in your +case. + +[Footnote 646: 'Anicios quidem pene principibus pares aetas prisca +genuit.'] + +'Therefore we bestow upon you from this fourteenth Indiction[647] the +office of Primicerius, which is also called Domesticatus. This office +may appear somewhat less than you are entitled to by your pedigree, +but you have received an honour which is greater than all the _fasces_ +in being permitted to marry a wife of our royal race, a distinction +which you could not have hoped for even when you sat in the curule +chair. Comport yourself now with mildness, patience, and moderation, +that you may show yourself worthy of your affinity with us. Your +ancestors have hitherto been praised, but they were never dignified +with such an alliance. Your nobility has now reached a point beyond +which it can climb no further. All that you do henceforward of a +praiseworthy kind will but have the effect of rendering you more +worthy of the matrimonial alliance which you have already +achieved[648].' + +[Footnote 647: 535 to 536.] + +[Footnote 648: 'Laudati sunt hactenus parentes tui, sed tantâ non sunt +conjunctione decorati. Nobilitas tua non est ultra quod crescat. +Quicquid praeconialiter egeris, proprio matrimonio dignissimus +aestimaris.'] + + +12. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We do not think that the fact of a man's having received the +Consulship early in life should shut him out from holding office of +lower rank in his maturer years[649]. As the Tiber receives the water +of smaller rivers which merge their names in his, so a man of Consular +rank can serve the State in less conspicuous ways, yet still be +Consular. Therefore we have thought fit to bestow on the Illustrious +and Magnificent Patrician Maximus, the Primiceriatus which is also +called Domesticatus, from this fourteenth Indiction, that the +lowliness of the honour may be raised by the merit of the wearer. He +is an Anicius, sprung from a family renowned throughout the whole +world. He is also honoured with the affinity of our own illustrious +race. Receive him, welcome him, rejoice at these nuptials, which bind +me closer to you, now that you have in your ranks one whom I can truly +call a relation.' + +[Footnote 649: Flavius Anicius Maximus was Consul in 523.] + + +13. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[This letter may probably be referred to the Spring or Summer of 535. +Theodahad, soon after the deposition or death of Amalasuentha, has +apparently invited the Senate to Ravenna, an invitation which they +have respectfully declined. He chides their suspicions of him.] + +[Sidenote: Summons to Ravenna. Suspicions of the Senators.] + +'After we had dismissed the venerable Bishops who brought your +message, without taking exception to your requests, though there were +some things blameworthy among them, we received tidings that the City +of Rome was agitated by certain foolish anxieties, from which real +evil would grow unless the suspicion which caused them could be laid +to rest. + +'I fear that I cannot complain of "popular levity" if your illustrious +body, which should set an example to all others, should give way to +such fond imaginings. If Rome, which should govern the Provinces, be +so foolish, what can we expect of _them_? + +'Divine grace, however, prompts us both to pardon your faults and to +grant your requests. We owe you nothing, and yet we pay you[650]; but +we trust to be rewarded by hearing not our own praises but yours. Put +away these unworthy, these childish suspicions, and behave as becomes +the fathers of the people. + +[Footnote 650: 'Nihil debemus et solvimus.' Have we here an echo of +St. Augustine's thought, 'Reddis debita nulli debens?'] + +'In desiring your presence at our Court, we sought not your vexation +but your advantage. It is certainly a great privilege to see the face +of the Sovereign, and we thought to bestow on you, for the advantage +of the State, that which used to be counted as a reward. However, not +to deal harshly with you, we shall be satisfied with the attendance of +certain individuals from your body, as occasion may require, so that +on the one hand Rome may not be denuded of her citizens, and on the +other that we may not lack prudent counsellors in our chamber. Now +return to your old devotion, and serve us, not as a matter of fear, +but of love. The rest shall the bearer of this letter explain unto +you.' + + +14. KING THEODAHAD TO THE ROMAN PEOPLE. + +[The occasion of writing this letter, which we may perhaps refer to +the early part of 535, is apparently that some Gothic troops have been +sent to Rome, and the people have broken out into clamours against +them, or petitioned for their removal.] + +[Sidenote: Dissensions between citizens of Rome and Gothic troops.] + +'Your predecessors have always been distinguished by the loyal love +which they bore to the Chief of the State; and it is only right that +he [the Sovereign] who is defended with so much toil, he, for whom, as +the representative of public order, daily precautions are taken[651], +should in return love that people above all others whose loyalty gives +him a right to rule the world[652]. + +[Footnote 651: 'Qui maximo labore defenditur, cujus per dies singulos +civilitas custoditur.'] + +[Footnote 652: 'Ut illos diligat super omnia, per quos habere probatur +universa.'] + +'Oh! let there be nothing in you in our days which may justly move our +indignation. Still show forth your older loyalty. It is not fitting +that the Roman people should be fickle, or crafty, or full of +seditions. + +'Let no fond suspicions, no shadow of fear sway you. You have a +Sovereign who only longs to find opportunities to love you. Meet with +hostile arms your enemies, not your own defenders. + +'You ought to have invited, not to have shut out the succour which we +sent you. Evidently you have been misled by counsellors who care not +for the public weal. Return to your own better minds. + +'Was it some new and strange nation whose faces forsooth thus +terrified you? No: the very men whom hitherto you have called your +kinsmen, the men who in their anxiety for your safety have left their +homes and families in order to defend you. Strange return on your part +for their devotion! + +'As for you, you should know this, that night and day our one +ceaseless desire is to perfect, with God's help, the security which +was fostered in the times of our relations [Theodoric and +Amalasuentha]. Where, indeed, would our credit as a Sovereign be if +anything happened to your hurt? Dismiss all such thoughts from your +minds. If any have been unjustly cast down, we will raise him up +again. We have sent you some verbal messages by the bearer of this +letter, and hope that from henceforth we may rely on your constant +obedience.' + + +15. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. + +[Sidenote: Letter of introduction for an ecclesiastic.] + +'It is always a delight to us to have an opportunity of directing our +letters of salutation[653] to your Piety, since he is filled with +happy joy who converses with you with sincere heart. I therefore +recommend to your Clemency the bearer of this letter, who comes on the +affairs of the Church of Ravenna. There can be no doubt that if you +grant his request you will earn a just reward.' + +[Footnote 653: 'Salutiferos apices.'] + + +16. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Assurances of good-will. Oath of concord.] + +'It is worthy of a ruler to do good of his own freewill, not under +compulsion. By God's favour we _can_ do anything, but we choose to do +only things that are praiseworthy. Recognise now, oh prudent +counsellors, that clemency of mine which ye might always have reckoned +upon. Ye feared that I was your enemy; far from that, I cannot even +bear that ye should be racked by the fear of evil[654]. And therefore, +though I change no purpose of mine, since I never had thoughts of evil +towards you, I have ordained that A and B, the bearers of this letter, +should take unto you the oaths which you solicited[655]. I do this +thing for God's sake, not for man's; for how could I, who have run +through the story of ancient realms in Holy Writ, wish to do anything +else but that which is well-pleasing to God, who will assuredly +recompense me according to my works. Henceforward, then, serve me +loyally, and in the full security which you have thus acquired: yea, +your love will be now the repayment of a debt rather than a freewill +offering.' + +[Footnote 654: 'Ecce nec sollicitos patimur, quibus infensi esse +putabamur.'] + +[Footnote 655: 'Postulata siquidem sacramenta vobis, ab Illo atque +Illo praestari nostra decrevit auctoritas.'] + + +17. KING THEODAHAD TO THE ROMAN PEOPLE. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'Since your security is our highest ornament, and since our love +wishes to remove every shade of anxiety from your minds, we have +ordered A and B to take oaths to you in our name, whereby you may know +the mind of your King towards you. Though this act might seem not to +consort with our dignity, we willingly perform it for your sakes, and +add the sanction of an oath, though we have learned from the Sacred +Scriptures that a mere promise ought to be kept. Now it is for you to +show your devotion, and with assiduous prayers to implore of the +Majesty on high that the tranquil times which we long that you may +enjoy may be granted by the gift of Heaven.' + + +18. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: A Gothic garrison for Rome.] + +'Anxious that what we are devising for your safety should not be +misinterpreted by bitter suspicion, we do you to wit that the army +which is marching to Rome is intended for your defence, in order that +they who covet your possessions may by Divine help be resisted by the +arms of the Goths. If the shepherd is bound to watch over his flock, +the father of the family to see that no crafty deceiver enters +therein, with what anxious care ought not we to defend the City of +Rome, which by universal consent is unequalled in the world[656]. So +precious a possession must not be staked upon any throw. But that the +defence of the City may be in no wise burdensome to you, we have +ordered that the soldiers shall pay at the ordinary market rate for +the provisions which they require; and we have desired Vacco, the +steward of our house, to superintend these purchases. He is a man of +valour and integrity, whose character will secure him the obedience of +the troops, and enable him to prevent any excesses. + +[Footnote 656: 'Quâ nos convenit cautelâ Romam defendere, quam constat +in mundo simile nihil habere?'] + +'As for the soldiers, we have told them to take up their quarters in +fitting places [outside the City?], that without there may be armed +defence, within for you, tranquil order[657]. + +[Footnote 657: 'Quos tamen locis aptis praecipimus immorari, ut foris +sit armata defensio, intus vobis tranquilla civilitas.'] + +'God forbid that in our days that City should seem to be protected by +walls, the very name of which hath been of old a terror to the +nations[658]. We hope for this from the aid of Heaven, that she who +hath always been free may never be stained by the insult of any +blockade[659]. + +[Footnote 658: 'Absit enim ut nostris temporibus Urbs illa muris +videatur protegi, quam constat gentibus vel sola opinione fuisse +terrori.'] + +[Footnote 659: 'Ut quae semper fuit libera, nullius inclusionis +decoloretur injuria.'] + + +19. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. + +[Sidenote: Embassy of Peter.] + +'We thank the Divine Being, who loves to see Kings at peace with one +another, that you expressed such joy at our elevation to the throne. +Continue to set to the world this example of benignity; continue to +show your interest in one who recommends himself by his pure affection +for you. For you do not seek to pick shabby quarrels with other +Sovereigns; you do not delight in unjust contests, which are contrary +to sound morality[660], since you seek for nothing but what may +increase the good opinion which men have of you. How could you throw +away that peace which it is the glory of your Piety to have imposed +even on angry nations[661]? + +[Footnote 660: 'Non enim rixas viles per regna requiritis: non vos +injusta certamina quae sunt bonis moribus inimica, delectant.' No +doubt this was meant to be taken as a hint of the censure which it +professes to deny.] + +[Footnote 661: 'Pacem quam et iracundis gentibus consuevistis +imponere.' An allusion, perhaps, to the peace concluded with Persia.] + +'Even you, glorious Sovereigns! [Justinian and Theodora] gain somewhat +when all other realms revere you. It is a common thing for the ruler +to be praised in his own land, but to receive the unforced praise of +foreign lands, that is indeed desirable. You are loved, most pious +Emperor, in your own dominions; but how much grander a thing to be yet +more loved in the regions of Italy, from whence the glory of the Roman +name was diffused over the whole world! It behoves you therefore to +continue that peaceful disposition which you showed towards us at the +commencement of our reign. + +'We have desired the most blessed Pope and the most honourable Senate +of the City of Rome to give their answers to the eloquent and worthy +Peter, your ambassador, with as little delay as possible; and we have +joined with him that venerable person our ambassador[662], that you +may know our mind from our own messenger.' + +[Footnote 662: The name of 'virum illum venerabilem' is not given, but +we learn from Procopius (De Bello Gotthico i. 6) that it was Rusticus, +a priest, a Roman, and an intimate friend of Theodahad.] + + +20. QUEEN GUDELINA[663] TO THEODORA AUGUSTA. + +[Footnote 663: Wife of Theodahad.] + +[Sidenote: Embassy of Rusticus.] + +'I have received with thanks the earnestly-desired letters of your +Piety, and reverently prize the report of your spoken words as better +than all gifts. You exhort us first of all to impart to your hearing +whatever requests we wish to make to your triumphant lord and +consort[664]. Backed by such patronage as yours, how can there be any +doubt as to the success of our petitions? It is an addition to our joy +that your Serenity has chosen such a man for your ambassador, one whom +it is equally fitting for your glory to send and for our obedience to +receive[665]. There can be no doubt that it is by constant observation +of your character that his own has become so excellent, since it is by +good maxims that the mind of man is cleansed from impurity[666]. +According to the warning of your Reverence we have given orders that +both Pope and Senate shall give their answers to your messengers +quickly, so that there may be no delay. + +[Footnote 664: 'Hortamini enim ut quidquid expetendum a triumphali +principe domino jugali nostro (?) credimus vestris ante sensibus +ingeramus.' It seems to me that the sense requires _vestro_ instead of +_nostro_, and I have translated accordingly. (Dahn also makes this +correction.)] + +[Footnote 665: 'Et vestra decet obsequia retinere.' Here 'nostra' +seems to give a better sense than 'vestra.'] + +[Footnote 666: 'Dubium enim non est illam mores dare cui observatur +assidue, dum constat defaecari animum bonis praeceptionibus +institutum.' Rather hazardous praise to address to a Theodora.] + +[Sidenote: Possible reference to death of Amalasuentha.] + +'For moreover, concerning that person about whom something came to our +ears with tickling speech, know that that has been ordained which we +believed would suit your intentions[667]; for it is our desire that by +the interposition of our good offices your will should be law as much +in our kingdom as in your empire[668]. + +[Footnote 667: 'Nam et de illâ personâ, de quâ ad nos aliquid verbo +titillante pervenit, hoc ordinatum esse cognoscite, quod vestris +credidimus animis convenire.'] + +[Footnote 668: These mysterious sentences, according to Gibbon, cap. +xli. _n._ 56 (following Buat), refer to Amalasuentha, and thus lend +probability to the story in the Anecdote of Procopius that Theodora, +out of jealousy, intrigued with Theodahad to have Amalasuentha put to +death. But whatever may be the truth of that story, this sentence can +hardly by any possibility refer to it. For (1) it is clear that this +letter was written at the same time as Theodahad's, which precedes it, +therefore after the arrival of Peter in Italy. But Procopius is clear +that Amalasuentha was put to death before Peter had crossed the +Hadriatic, whereas this event, whatever it be, is evidently a piece of +news which Gudelina has to communicate to Theodora. (2) This letter, +though purporting to be from Gudelina, is confessedly written by +Cassiodorus, and published by him at the end of his official career. +It is hardly conceivable that he would deliberately publish to the +world his connection with the murder of Theodoric's daughter and his +own friend and benefactress. It is remarkable, on the contrary, how +complete (but for this passage) is the silence of the Variae as to +Amalasuentha's deposition and death: as if Cassiodorus had said, 'If +you do anything to harm _her_, you may get other apologists for your +deeds; I will be no champion of such wickedness.' It is scarcely +necessary to remark that there is nothing in the wording of the +sentence 'de illa persona,' &c. which makes it more applicable to a +woman than to a man. As Peter's embassy was ostensibly connected with +ecclesiastical affairs, there is perhaps an allusion in this sentence +to some scheme of Theodora's with reference to the Papacy. It is +possible that she may have been already working for the election of +Vigilius to the chair of St. Peter, and therefore that _he_ is meant +by 'illa persona.'] + +'We therefore inform you that we had caused our messenger [Rusticus +the priest] to be despatched by the Pope before your ambassador could +possibly have left Rome. So saluting you with all the veneration which +is your due, we assign the office of ambassador to a man eminent both +by his character and learning, and venerable by reason of his office; +since we believe that those persons are acceptable to you whom we have +thought suitable to be entrusted with the Divine ministry.' + + +21. QUEEN GUDELINA TO THEODORA, AUGUSTA. + +[Sidenote: Soliciting Theodora's friendship.] + +'Oh, wisest of Augustas, both I and my wedded lord earnestly desire +your friendship. The love of so great a lady seems to raise me higher +than royalty. Shed on us the lustre of your glory, for one light loses +nothing by imparting some of its brilliancy to another. With +affectionate presumption I commend myself to the favour of the Emperor +and yourself, desiring that, as is fitting, there should be no discord +between the two Roman realms[669].' + +[Footnote 669: 'Nullam inter Romana regna decet esse discordiam.'] + + +22. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN[670]. + +[Footnote 670: This letter seems as if it was written on precisely the +same occasion as x. 19. Again Peter is sent back, and with him a +'venerable man' to represent Theodahad. We learn from Procopius (i. 6) +that Theodahad, in his fear of war, recalled Peter when he had already +got as far as Albano, and gave him another set of propositions for +Justinian. It seems possible that these fresh letters (22 and 23) from +Theodahad and his Queen were given him when he set out the _second_ +time.] + +[Sidenote: Entreaties for peace.] + +'Our own ambassadors, and that most excellent person Peter, whom your +Piety despatched to us, will both have informed you how earnestly we +desire concord with your august Serenity. We now send two more +ambassadors charged with the same commission. We certainly with all +sincerity plead for peace who have no cause of quarrel with you. +Consider also, oh learned Sovereigns, and consult the archives of your +great grandfather[671], that you may see how large a part of their own +rights your predecessors were willing to relinquish for the sake of an +alliance with our ancestors[672]. Think how fortunate you are in +having that friendship willingly offered to you for which they had +humbly to sue. Yet, we may say it without arrogance, we know ourselves +to be better than those ancestors of ours with whom the treaty was +made[673]. We send you on this embassy a venerable man, made +illustrious by his priestly office, and conspicuous by the renown of +his learning. We pray the Divine goodness to bring our wishes to pass; +and as not even a series of letters can contain all that we have to +say, we have given some verbal messages to be conveyed to your sacred +ears, that you may not be wearied by the reading of too diffuse a +letter.' + +[Footnote 671: Zeno (not of course an ancestor in natural +relationship, but predecessor in the third degree).] + +[Footnote 672: 'Considerate etiam, principes docti, et abavi vestri +historica monumenta recolite, quantum decessores vestri studuerint de +suo jure relinquere ut eis parentum nostrorum foedera provenirent.'] + +[Footnote 673: 'Nunc illi vestram gratiam ultro quaerunt, qui suis +parentibus meliores se esse cognoscunt.' Dahn remarks that Theodahad's +asserted superiority to Theodoric probably consisted in his +philosophical culture.] + + +23. QUEEN GUDELINA TO THEODORA, AUGUSTA[674]. + +[Footnote 674: See note on the preceding letter.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We learn with satisfaction from that most eloquent man Peter, that +what has happened in this State is acceptable to you[675]. You show +your love of justice when, all suspicion by God's providence having +been wiped away, you desire that there should be lasting agreement +between us. Let there then be definite promises on both sides, and +lasting concord as the result. We therefore send that venerable man to +secure the peace of our most serene husband with yours in the sight of +all men. If there be anything in the Emperor's terms so hard that it +ought not to be imposed on us, we trust to your wise moderation to +mitigate the same, that the love which we have begun to feel towards +your kingdom be not chilled by harsh terms of peace. + +[Footnote 675: 'Ut per eum disceremus acceptum vobis esse quod in hac +republicâ constat evenisse.' At first sight this seems to refer to the +death of Amalasuentha or to the accession of Theodahad. Dahn thinks +that those events have been disposed of in previous letters. Perhaps +it is a general expression for 'the whole course of recent events in +Italy.' Though upon the whole rejecting the story of Theodora's +complicity in the death of Amalasuentha, I am bound to admit that this +passage lends a certain amount of probability to the charge. At the +same time, the words in the next sentence, 'per divinam providentiam +omni suspicione detersâ,' are susceptible of an honourable meaning, +even if the death of Amalasuentha be alluded to. 'You and your husband +accused us of that crime. Now by God's providence we have been able to +show that we were guiltless of it [that it was done without our +privity by the relations of the three Gothic nobles whom she had put +to death]. Nothing therefore remains to hinder peace between us.'] + +'Claim this palm of concord between the two States as your own +especial crown, that as the Emperor is renowned for his successful +wars, so you may receive the praises of all men for this accomplished +peace. Let the bearer of these letters see you often and +confidentially. We hope for just, not onerous, conditions of peace, +although in truth nothing seems impossible to us if we know that it is +asked for by such a glorious person as yourself.' + + +24. QUEEN GUDELINA TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN[676]. + +[Footnote 676: Apparently sent at the same time as the two preceding +letters.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +A short letter of compliments to the Emperor, and earnest desire for +the preservation of peace. Peter and 'ille vir venerabilis' are still +the messengers. + + +25. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'The august page written by your Serenity, and brought to us by the +venerable presbyter Heracleanus, has gleamed upon us, bringing us the +grace of your salutation. Oh, what a great benefit for us is this +sweet converse with so mighty a prince! + +'May we ever hear of your safety, and of the increase of the happiness +of your kingdom. We have no other wish but this. According to your +desire we have addressed letters to the Pope of the City of Rome[677], +telling him to reply to the letter brought by the present messenger +with the least possible delay, since anyone who comes from you should +be attended to with utmost celerity. We hope for many future +opportunities of thus obeying your desires and earning your love in +return.' + +[Footnote 677: Negotiations were evidently still going on between the +Emperor and the Pope, probably with reference to the election of +Anthimus, who, though accused of Monophysitism, had been made +Patriarch of Constantinople in 535 by Theodora's influence, and whom +the Pope apparently refused to recognise. He was afterwards deposed by +Pope Agapetus when he visited Constantinople.] + + +26. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. + +[Sidenote: A monastery too heavily taxed.] + +'Richer than all other gifts bestowed by your Serenity is this, when +you exhort us to do that which will profit for our own salvation and +recommend us to the Divine Power. We hear that it has been brought to +the knowledge of your Glory that a monastery of God's servants is too +heavily oppressed with tribute, and we point out that this is owing to +an inundation which has smitten their land with the curse of +barrenness. However, we have given orders to the most eminent +Senator[678] to appoint a careful inspector to visit the farm in +question, weigh the matter carefully, and make such reasonable +reduction as may leave a sufficient profit to the owners of the soil. +We consider that anything which we thus concede to the desire of your +Mildness will be to us the most precious of all gains. + +[Footnote 678: Cassiodorus.] + +[Sidenote: Alleged losses of a convert from Arianism.] + +'In the matter of Veranilda, too, about which your Serenity has +deigned to admonish me, though it happened long ago under the reign of +my relations, I thought it right to make good her loss by my own +generosity, that she might not repent her change of religion[679]. For +seeing that the Deity suffers many religions, we should not seek to +impose one on all our subjects. He who tries to do otherwise flies in +the face of the Divine commands. Your Piety, therefore, fittingly +invites me to these acts of obedience to God.' + +[Footnote 679: Apparently Veranilda had in the reign of Theodoric +become a convert from Arianism to Orthodoxy, and had suffered some +pecuniary losses in consequence, which Theodahad now proposes to make +up to her. See Dahn, Könige der Germanen iii. 199, _n._ 4.] + + +27. KING THEODAHAD TO SENATOR[680], PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO. + +[Footnote 680: Cassiodorus.] + +[Sidenote: Corn distributions in Liguria and Venetia.] + +'In succouring his subjects, the payers of tribute, the King does not +seem to give, so much as to restore what he has received. The +cultivator of the soil is abandoned to future famine, unless he is +helped in the day of his necessity. Therefore let the corn which has +been received by the government from industrious Liguria and loyal +Venetia, though it has been taken from their fields, be born again to +them in our granaries, since it is too outrageous that the cultivator +should starve while our barns are full. Therefore let your Illustrious +Greatness (whose office is said to have been instituted for the +express purpose of feeding the people from the accumulated stores of +the State[681]) sell to the impoverished Ligurians the third part of +the grain warehoused at Ticinum and Dertona, at the rate of 25 modii +to the solidus[682]. Similarly distribute the third part of the stores +in the warehouses of Tarvisium and Tridentum to the Venetians, at the +same rate, that pitying Heaven, seeing men's bounty to one another, +may give us fruitful harvests. Take care that this distribution is so +managed that our indulgence shall reach those persons chiefly, who are +least able to depend on their own resources.' + +[Footnote 681: 'Quorum dignitas ad hoc legitur instituta, ut de +repositis copiis populum saturare possetis.' Probably an allusion to +Joseph, whom Cassiodorus celebrates as the first Praefectus +Praetorio.] + +[Footnote 682: Six bushels for twelve shillings, or sixteen shillings +a quarter.] + + +28. KING THEODAHAD TO SENATOR[683], PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO. + +[Footnote 683: Cassiodorus.] + +[Sidenote: Grant of monopolies.] + +'The King ought to confirm whatever has been wisely ordered by the +Judges, especially those who are known to be above suspicion of +bribery. + +'Therefore we confirm in their offices[684] the stewards[685], +purveyors[686] of wheat, wine, and cheese, the meat sellers, vintners, +farmers of the revenue derived from granaries and taverns[687], hay +merchants, and general provision dealers[688], who belong to the City +of Rome or the royal residence of Ravenna[689]; also those who hold +public charges of this description along the river banks of Ticinum or +Placentia[690], or in any other places, whom we know to have been +appointed by you, whose judgments we willingly embrace and desire to +hold fast exactly as if they were our own; nor will we allow the +malice of any to prevail against those persons who by your choice have +assumed these public functions. If therefore they acquit themselves to +your satisfaction, they shall hold their office for five years without +fear of disturbance during that period. On account of the present +barrenness of the land you should cause them to fix such prices for +the different kinds of grain as shall seem reasonable to your +Eminence[691]. + +[Footnote 684: The sentence is so long that Cassiodorus seems to have +forgotten its construction, and these important words are in fact +omitted.] + +[Footnote 685: 'Arcarios.'] + +[Footnote 686: 'Prorogatores.'] + +[Footnote 687: 'Capitularios horreariorum et tabernariorum.'] + +[Footnote 688: 'Cellaritas.'] + +[Footnote 689: 'Mansionem Ravennatem.'] + +[Footnote 690: 'Ripam Ticinensem vel Placentinam.'] + +[Footnote 691: Here follows, 'Ut hi quibus commissum est exercere +singulos apparatus de injusto gravamine non querantur,' which I do not +venture to translate, as I am not sure whether it relates to buyers or +sellers.] + +'As human ambition requires to be checked by fear of punishment, +anyone who by petitioning or canvassing seeks to obtain the place of +one of these lawfully appointed purveyors shall be visited with a fine +of 30 lbs. of gold[692], to be exacted from him by you. If unable to +pay this fine he shall suffer corporal punishment and be noted as +infamous. Nothing can be considered safe or stable if men are to be +perpetually exposed to the snares of envious competitors like these. +Your Greatness is to bring this law to the knowledge of all men.' + +[Footnote 692: £1,200.] + +[It is clear that this letter refers to an office greatly coveted, and +one in which there was a possibility of making great gains, but also +one in which, owing to the regulation of prices by the government, +there might be temporary losses; to guard against which it was +considered reasonable that the holder should be guaranteed in his +office for five years. + +The office is the supply of the staple articles of food to the King's +household at Rome and Ravenna, and to the garrisons probably of Pavia +and Piacenza and the neighbouring country. Did this right carry with +it an absolute monopoly as far as the other inhabitants of those +places are concerned? This seems probable; but I do not know that we +can positively state it. + +The term used, 'Arcarii,' is applied in the Theodosian Code (xii. 6, +14) to the bailiffs by whom the rents on the Imperial domain were +collected. Here it has manifestly altered its meaning.] + + +29. KING THEODAHAD TO COUNT WINUSIAD. + +[Sidenote: An old soldier receives furlough for a visit to the baths +of Bormio.] + +'Your noble birth and tried fidelity induced us to commit to you the +government of the City of Ticinum, which you had defended in war: but +now, being deluged with a sudden inundation of muddy gout[693], you +ask leave to resort to the waters of Bormio, which by their drying +influences are of healing power for this malady. + +[Footnote 693: 'Limosae podagrae subitâ inundatione complutus.'] + +'We permit, nay earnestly encourage, you to undertake this journey; +for we cannot bear that one of our warriors should fall a victim to +the tyranny of this cruel disease, which, like the Barbarians, when it +has once claimed by force hospitality in the owner's body, ever after +defends its right thereto by cruelty. It seeks out all the hollow +places of the system, makes stones out of its moisture, and deposits +them there, destroying all the beautiful arrangements of Nature for +free and easy movement. It loosens what ought to be tight, it +contracts the nerves, and so shortens the limbs that a tall man finds +all the comeliness of his stature taken from him while he is still +unmutilated. It is in truth a living death; and when the excruciating +torment is gone, it leaves an almost worse legacy behind it--inability +to move. Even debtors in the torture chamber have the weights +sometimes removed from their feet; but this cruel malady, when it has +once taken hold of a man, seems never to relinquish possession. A +disease of this kind, bringing with it weakness and helplessness, is +especially terrible to a warrior, who after overcoming the foes that +came against him in battle, finds himself thus struck down by an enemy +within. + +'Go then, in Heaven's name, to the healing springs. We cannot bear the +thought that you the warrior should be carried on men's shoulders, +instead of bestriding your war-horse. We have painted all these evils +in somewhat exaggerated style in order to stir you up to seek an early +cure. + +'Use then these waters, soothing to the taste, and in the hot bath +able to dry up the gouty humours. God has given us this ally wherewith +to overcome that enemy of the human race; and under its double +influence, within and without, the malady, which ten years of regimen +and endless medicines cannot lessen, is put to flight by remedies +which are in themselves delightful. + +'May God grant that this far-famed place may restore your body to +health[694].' + +[Footnote 694: The nature-heated springs of Bormio are still resorted +to; and some pedestrian travellers, who have crossed the Stelvio from +Trafoi, have a grateful remembrance of their soothing waters.] + + +30. KING THEODAHAD TO HONORIUS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: The elephants in the Via Sacra.] + +'We regret to learn from your report that the brazen elephants placed +in the Via Sacra[695] (so called from the many superstitions to which +it was consecrated of old) are falling into ruins. + +[Footnote 695: I have not found any other mention of these brazen +elephants. Nardini (Roma Antica i. 295) cites this passage, and +illustrates it by quotations from Suetonius, Pliny, and the Historia +Augusta, showing that it was the custom to erect to Emperors and +Empresses statues of elephants drawing triumphal chariots.] + +'This is to be much regretted, that whereas these animals live in the +flesh more than a thousand years, their brazen effigies should be so +soon crumbling away. See therefore that their gaping limbs be +strengthened by iron hooks, and that their drooping bellies be +fortified by masonry placed underneath them. + +[Sidenote: Natural history of the elephant.] + +'The living elephant, when it is prostrate on the ground, as it often +is when helping men to fell trees, cannot get up again unaided. This +is because it has no joints in its feet; and accordingly you see +numbers of them lying as if dead till men come to help them up again. +Thus this creature, so terrible by its size, is really not equally +endowed by Nature with the tiny ant. + +'That the elephant surpasses all other animals in intelligence is +proved by the adoration which it renders to Him whom it understands to +be the Almighty Ruler of all. Moreover it pays to good princes a +homage which it refuses to tyrants. + +'It uses its proboscis[696], that nosëd hand which Nature has given it +to compensate for its very short neck, for the benefit of its master, +accepting the presents which will be profitable to him. It always +walks cautiously, mindful of that fatal fall [into the hunter's pit] +which was the beginning of its captivity. At its master's bidding it +exhales its breath, which is said to be a remedy for the human +headache. + +[Footnote 696: Cassiodorus calls it 'promuscis.'] + +'When it comes to water it sucks up in its trunk a vast quantity, +which at the word of command it squirts forth like a shower. If anyone +have treated it with contempt, it pours forth such a stream of dirty +water over him that one would think a river had entered his house. For +this beast has a wonderfully long memory, both of injury and of +kindness. Its eyes are small, but move solemnly. There is a sort of +kingly dignity in its appearance, and while it recognises with +pleasure all that is honourable, it seems to despise scurrilous jests. +Its skin is furrowed by deep channels, like that of the victims of the +foreign disease named after it[697], _elephantiasis_. It is on account +of the impenetrability of this hide that the Persian Kings used the +elephant in war. + +[Footnote 697: 'A quâ transportaneorum (?) nefanda passio nomen +accepit.'] + +'It is most desirable that we should preserve the images of these +creatures, and that our citizens should thus be familiarised with the +sight of the denizens of foreign lands. Do not therefore permit them +to perish, since it is for the glory of Rome to collect all specimens +of the process by which the art of workmen hath imitated the +productions of wealthy Nature in all parts of the world.' + +[This letter traverses the same ground as Pliny's 'Historia Naturalis' +viii. 1-11, but supplies some new facts. Pliny makes the elephant live +to the age of 200 or even 300 years. Cassiodorus boldly says 'more +than a thousand.' The curious story of the elephant's religion is +given with more detail by Pliny; but he knows nothing of the political +sagacity which enables it to discern between a good king and a tyrant. +Pliny mentions the fact that the elephant's breath is a cure for +headache, but adds, 'especially if he sneeze[698].' + +[Footnote 698: Hist. Nat. xxviii. 8.] + +Upon the whole, though Cassiodorus had probably read Pliny's +description, his own must be pronounced original. + +This marvellous letter is the last that we have, written in the name +of Theodahad.] + + +31. KING WITIGIS[699] TO ALL THE GOTHS. + +[Footnote 699: Spelt 'Vitigis' by Cassiodorus.] + +[Sidenote: Elevation of Witigis.] + +'Though every advance in station is to be accounted among the good +gifts of the Divinity, especially is the kingly dignity to be looked +upon as coming by His ordinance through Whom kings reign and subjects +obey. Wherefore, with liveliest satisfaction returning thanks to our +Maker Christ, we inform you that our kinsmen[700] the Goths, amid a +fence of circling swords, raising us in ancestral fashion upon a +shield, have by Divine guidance bestowed on us the kingly dignity, +thus making arms the emblem of honour to one who has earned all his +renown in war. For know that not in the corner of a presence-chamber, +but in wide-spreading plains I have been chosen King; and that not the +dainty discourse of flatterers, but the blare of trumpets announced my +elevation, that the Gothic people, roused by the sound to a kindling +of their inborn valour, might once more gaze upon a Soldier King. + +[Footnote 700: 'Parentes nostros Gothos.'] + +'Too long indeed have these brave men, bred up amid the shock of +battle, borne with a Sovereign who was untried in war; too long have +they laboured to uphold his dubious fame, though they might presume +upon their own well-known valour[701]. For it is inevitable that the +character of the ruler should in some degree influence the reputation +of the whole people. + +[Footnote 701: 'Ut de ejus fama laboraret quamvis de propria virtute +praesumeret.' I have translated as if 'laboraret' and 'praesumeret' +were in the plural, and even so, find it difficult to get a +satisfactory meaning out of these words.] + +'But, as ye have heard, called forth by the dangers of my kindred, I +was ready to undergo with them one common fate; but they would not +suffer me to continue a mere General, feeling that they needed a +veteran King. Wherefore now accept first the Divine decree, and then +the judgment of the Goths, since it is your unanimous wish which makes +me King. Lay aside then the fear of disaster: cast off the suspicion +of further losses: fear no rude strokes of fate under our dominion. We +who have ridden so oft to war have learned to love valiant men. +Associated in all things with your labours, I have been myself a +witness to the brave deeds of each of you, and need no other evidence +of your worth. By no fraudulent variations between my public and +private negotiations shall the might of the Gothic arms be +broken[702]. Everything that we do shall have respect to the welfare +of our whole people: in private we will not even love. We promise to +follow those courses which shall adorn the royal name. Finally, we +undertake that our rule shall in all things be such as becomes a +Gothic King, the successor of the renowned Theodoric--that man who was +so rarely and so nobly qualified by Nature for the cares of royalty; +that man of whom it may be truly said that every other Sovereign is +illustrious in so far as he loves _his_ counsels. Therefore he who +succeeds in imitating the deeds of Theodoric ought to be considered as +belonging to his line. Thus then, manifest your anxious care for the +welfare of our kingdom, while your hearts are at ease, through God's +goodness, as to our internal security.' + +[Footnote 702: 'Arma Gothorum nullâ promissionum mearum varietate +frangenda sunt.' An evident allusion to the treacherous and +unpatriotic diplomacy of Theodahad, as described by Procopius.] + + +32. KING WITIGIS TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. + +[Sidenote: Overtures for peace with the Empire.] + +'How much, oh most clement Emperor, we long for the sweetness of your +favour, may be understood from this fact alone, that after such +serious injuries and such grievous bloodshed as you have inflicted on +us, we still come forward to ask for peace with you, as if none of +your servants had ever wronged us. We have suffered such things as +might move the indignation even of our enemies, who must know that +they have attacked us without our guilt, have hated us without our +fault, have despoiled us without our owing them anything. Nor can it +be said that the blow has been so slight that no account need be taken +of it, since it has been struck not in the Provinces alone but in Rome +[or Italy] herself, the Capital of the World[703]. Think how great +must be our pain at this, which nevertheless we banish from memory in +order that we may obtain justice at your hands. Such disturbance has +been made as the whole world speaks of[704] [and condemns], and it +deserves to be so composed by you that all men may admire your spirit +of equity. + +[Footnote 703: 'Non in provinciis tantum sed in ipso rerum capite +probatur inflictum.'] + +[Footnote 704: 'Talis res effecta est quam mundus loquatur.' The +commentator Fornerius absurdly understands this of Mundus, the general +of Justinian in Dalmatia, who had already fallen in battle before the +accession of Witigis.] + +'If vengeance on King Theodahad be the thing required, I [who have put +him to death] merit your love. If you desire to honour the blessed +memory of Queen Amalasuentha, think of her daughter[705], who has +reached [by our means] that royal station to which your soldiers might +well have striven to exalt her, in order that all the nations might +see how faithful you remained to the old friendship. + +[Footnote 705: Matasuentha, now wife of Witigis.] + +'This fact too ought to influence you, that by the ordering of +Providence we were permitted to make your acquaintance before our +accession to the throne, that the remembrance of our favourable +reception at your Court, and the sight of your person in that splendid +position, might move us to love and reverence. + +'Even now you can undo all that has been misdone, since the continual +expectation of favours to come, makes perseverance in affection +easy[706]. Therefore, soliciting your Clemency with all due respect, +we inform you that we have appointed A and B our ambassadors to the +Wisdom of your Serenity, that you may, according to your custom, duly +weigh all these considerations, that the two Republics may persevere +in restored harmony, and that all which hath been settled in past +times by Sovereigns of blessed memory may, by God's help, be increased +and made more prosperous under your dominion. + +[Footnote 706: 'Quando non est difficile illum in affectu retinere, +qui gratiam constat desideranter expetere.' Very nearly, but not +quite, the modern proverb which says that gratitude is 'a lively sense +of favours to come.'] + +'The rest of their commission will be more fully explained to your +Serenity by the aforesaid ambassadors.' + + +33. KING WITIGIS TO THE MASTER OF THE OFFICES [AT CONSTANTINOPLE]. + +[Sidenote: Embassy to Constantinople.] + +'In sending our two ambassadors to the most serene Emperor, it is +fitting also to send letters of salutation[707] to your Greatness. May +your prudence support our reasonable requests with the Emperor. You +can easily correct those things [the war against the Gothic people] +which you ought never to have allowed to take place; and all things +can now be arranged in the most friendly manner, since a +reconciliation between men who have fought out their quarrel is often +the surest ground of friendship. An unknown man might possibly have +been shunned by you; but I, who have seen the magnificence of your +Republic, who have known the hearts of so many of your noble +statesmen, have no desire to quarrel with your most pious Emperor, if +he will only cherish thoughts of justice towards me. If another +[Theodahad] deserved the anger of the Emperor, I ought to be looked +upon with the highest favour, who have executed vengeance on that +hateful predecessor. I have carried your intentions into effect, and +therefore I deserve reward, not punishment. Let all hatred be buried +in the grave of the sinner; and even if you think nothing of our +deservings, think of the liberty of the Romans, which is everywhere +suffering amid the clash of arms. A few words to a man of your wisdom +are sufficient.' + +[Footnote 707: 'Salutiferos apices.' See x. 15.] + + +34. KING WITIGIS TO HIS BISHOPS. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'If we owe honour to Priests even when unknown to us, how much more so +to you whom we have seen and spoken to, and with whom we have had +frequent and familiar intercourse. + +'By the ambassadors who are bearing our letters to the most serene +Emperor we send a message of reverence to your Holiness, hoping that +you will pray for us and set them forward on their journey with all +necessary assistance, since you are bound to wish well to those whom +you know to be united to you by the ties of religion.' + + +35. KING WITIGIS TO THE PRAEFECT OF THESSALONICA. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We are sending two ambassadors to the most serene Emperor, who will +salute your Greatness. We earnestly hope that your Excellency will +speed them on their journey.' + + + + +BOOK XI. + +PREFACE. + + +'The necessity for a Preface often arises from some contrariety in an +Author's position which prevents him from writing as he would wish to +write. It is admitted that it is not fair to expect the same degree of +excellence from a busy man which we may reasonably look for in a man +of leisure. But a man in high official position cannot be a man of +leisure. It would be the highest disgrace to him if he were, since +even his so-called privy-chamber[708] resounds with the noise of +clamorous litigants. + +[Footnote 708: 'Secretum.'] + +'I can well understand that a man of few occupations will object +against me, here that a word has been thrown out with ill-considered +haste, there that a commonplace sentiment has not been dressed up in +sufficiently ornamental language, or there that I have not complied +with the rules of the Ancients by making my persons speak "in +character." But the busy man, hurried from one cause to another, and +constantly under the necessity of dictating to one man and replying to +another, will not make these objections, because the consciousness of +his own literary perils will make him tender in his judgments. And yet +there is something even in the pressure of business which sometimes +promotes briskness of mind, since the art of speaking is one which is +placed very much in our own power[709]. + +[Footnote 709: Here follows a sentence which I do not understand: +'Remanet itaque ad excusandum brevitas insperata librorum, quam nemo +purgat diutius, nisi qui bene creditur esse dicturus.'] + +'If anyone objects that I, placed in the height of the Praetorian +dignity, should have dictated so few decisions of a legal kind, let +him know that this was the result of my associating with myself that +most prudent man Felix[710], whose advice I have followed in every +case. He is a man of absolute purity of character, of surpassing +knowledge of the law, of distinguished accuracy of speech; a young man +with the gravity of age, a sweet pleader, a measured orator; one who +by his graceful discharge of his official duties has earned the +favourable opinion of the public. + +[Footnote 710: This can hardly be the Consul of A.D. 511, since he is +called in the next sentence 'senilis juvenis.'] + +'Had it not been for his help, overwhelmed by so great a multitude of +causes, I must either have been found unequal to the burden, or else +perchance have seemed arrogant [in my disregard of previously settled +decisions]. But, what was more important still, relieved by his +labours from this duty, I was able to give such attention to the +higher affairs of the State, that I could not fail to win approbation +even in those arduous duties. + +'I have therefore subjoined two books, in which I myself speak in my +capacity as Praefect, to the ten in which I have spoken by the mouth +of the King; for it seemed absurd to me to be silent in my +newly-acquired dignity, who had so often spoken on behalf of others. + +'Then, after these twelve books had been brought to their long-desired +end, my friends compelled me to discuss the substance and the powers +of the Soul, that I might say something _about_ that faculty +_through_ which I had already said so much[711]. + +[Footnote 711: 'De Animae substantiâ vel de virtutibus ejus amici me +disserere coëgerunt: ut per quam multa diximus, de ipsa quoque dicere +videremur.'] + +'Now then, learned men! view these letters with indulgence. If there +be no eloquence in them, attribute it to my many occupations, which +have prevented my reading as much as I would gladly have done. Cicero, +that fountain of eloquence, when he was one day asked to speak, +excused himself on the ground that he had read nothing the day before. +The barn must be constantly refilled if it is not to become empty. All +that is good in our minds is the fruit of study, and soon withers if +it be separated from reading, which is the parent stem. Great +indulgence therefore should be shown to us if we have often had to +write when we were busy, to be read by others when we had no leisure +to read, ourselves. And now enough of excuses, lest too elaborate a +defence should rather injure our cause.' + + + + +BOOK XI. + +CONTAINING THIRTY-NINE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME +AS PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO, AND ONE ON BEHALF OF THE ROMAN SENATE. + + +1. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME +(A.D. 534)[712]. + +[Footnote 712: This letter, which was not composed immediately after +Cassiodorus' accession to office, most have been written after the +death of the Frankish King Theodoric, which occurred, according to +Clinton, early in 534, and before October 2 of the same year, the date +of the death of Athalaric. Notwithstanding the obscurity of many of +the allusions in it, this document is one of our best authorities for +the history of Amalasuentha's regency, and is therefore translated +almost verbatim.] + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus on his promotion to the Praefecture.] + +'If I can only be sure that my advancement is acceptable to you, +Conscript Fathers, I shall not doubt of its being approved by God and +popular with all good men. + +'It is in the nature of things to love a colleague, and you are in +fact exalting your own honour when you approve of a dignity given to a +_Senator_[713]. + +[Footnote 713: Partly a pun on his name, partly an allusion to his +rank.] + +'After our Sovereigns there is none to whom I so much desire to +commend myself as you. To me honour will ever be the sole test of +advantage. Justice, like a handmaid, will wait upon my actions; and +the power, which I have not myself bought from our virtuous Sovereign, +I in my turn shall sell to no man. You have heard, noble Sirs, the +panegyrics[714] passed upon me at my entrance into office. These +praises I will not dare to call false, but I will say that they lay +upon me a heavy responsibility to show that they are not unmerited. + +[Footnote 714: The letter written by Cassiodorus himself, in the name +of Athalaric, to announce his elevation to the Praefecture (Var. ix. +25).] + +'Happy fortune of our time in which, while the Sovereign himself takes +holiday, the love of his mother rules and covers us all with the robe +of her universal charity! Happy for the young Ruler, who in this +difficult position learns first to triumph over his impetuous +impulses, and attains in the springtime of his life that self-control +which hoary age with difficulty acquires! + +[Sidenote: Praises of Amalasuentha.] + +'As for the Mother whom he so dutifully obeys, her most fittingly do +all kingdoms venerate, whom to behold is to adore, to listen to is to +witness a miracle. Of what language is she not a perfect mistress? She +is skilled in the niceties of Attic eloquence; she shines in the +majesty of Roman speech; she glories in the wealth of the language of +her fathers. She is equally marvellous in all these, and in each the +orator in his own especial tongue feels himself surpassed by her. A +great safeguard and a great excellence is this in the ruler of so many +nationalities. None needs an interpreter with his accomplished +mistress. No ambassador need wait, or hear his words slowly filtered +through the mind of a go-between. Everyone feels that his own words +are listened to, and receives his answer from her lips in the language +of his forefathers. + +'To these accomplishments, as a splendid diadem, is added that +priceless knowledge of Literature, by which the treasures of ancient +learning are appropriated, and the dignity of the throne is ever +enhanced. + +'Yet, while she rejoices in such perfect mastery of language, on +public occasions she is so taciturn that she might be supposed to be +indolent. With a few words she unties the knots of entangled +litigations, she calmly arranges hot disputes, she silently promotes +the public welfare. You do not hear her announce beforehand what will +be her course of action in public; but with marvellous skill she +attains, by feigning, those points which she knows require to be +rapidly gained[715]. + +[Footnote 715: 'Et temperamento mirabili dissimulando peragit quod +accelerandum esse cognoscit.'] + +[Sidenote: Comparison to Placidia.] + +'What case like this can be produced from the annals of revered +Antiquity? Placidia's care for her purple-clad son has often been +celebrated; but by Placidia's lax administration of the Empire its +boundaries were unbecomingly retrenched. She gained for him a wife and +for herself a daughter-in-law[716] by the loss of Illyricum; and thus +the union of Sovereigns was bought by a lamentable division of the +Provinces[717]. The discipline of the soldiers was relaxed by too long +peace; and, in short, Valentinian, under the guardianship of his +mother, lost more than he could have done if he had been a helpless +orphan. + +[Footnote 716: 'Eudoxia.'] + +[Footnote 717: 'Nurum denique sibi amissione Illyrici comparavit: +factaque est conjunctio Regnantis, divisio dolenda provinciis.' On +this alleged loss of Illyricum by the Western Empire, see Gibbon, cap. +xxxiii. note 6. One may doubt, however, whether Cassiodorus has been +correctly informed concerning it. Noricum and Pannonia at the time of +Valentinian's marriage must have been entirely in the possession of +the Huns; and on the dissolution of their monarchy Noricum at any rate +seems to be connected with the Western rather than the Eastern Empire. +As for Dalmatia, or the _Province_ (as distinct from the +_Praefecture_) of Illyricum, the retirement thither of the Emperor +Nepos in 475, and the previous history of his uncle Marcellinus, point +towards the conclusion that this Province was then considered as +belonging _de jure_ to the Caesar of Rome rather than to him of +Constantinople.] + +[Sidenote: Relations with the East.] + +'But under this Lady, who can count as many Kings as ancestors in her +pedigree, our army by Divine help is a terror to foreign nations. +Being kept in a prudent equipoise it is neither worn away by continual +fighting nor enervated by unbroken peace. In the very beginnings of +the reign, when a new ruler's precarious power is apt to be most +assailed, contrary to the wish of the Eastern Emperor she made the +Danube a Roman stream. Well known is all that the invaders suffered, +of which I therefore omit further mention, that the shame of defeat +may not be too closely associated with the thought of the Emperor, our +ally. Still, what he thought of your part of the Empire is clear from +this, that he conceded to our attack that peace which he has refused +to the abject entreaties of others. Add this fact, that though we have +rarely sought him he has honoured us with so many embassies, and that +thus his unique majesty has bowed down the stately head of the Orient +to exalt the lords of Italy[718]. + +[Footnote 718: 'Et singularis illa potentia, ut _Italicos Dominos_, +erigeret, reverentiam Eoi culminis ordinavit.' This somewhat favours +the notion that Theodoric and his successors called themselves Kings +of Italy.] + +[Sidenote: Expedition against the Franks.] + +'The Franks also, overmighty by their victories over so many barbarous +tribes--by what a great expedition were they harassed! Attacked, they +dreaded a contest with our soldiers; they who had leaped unawares upon +so many nations and forced them into battle. But though that haughty +race declined the offered conflict, they could not prevent the death +of their own King. For Theodoric[719], he who had so often availed +himself of the name of our glorious King as an occasion for triumph, +now fell vanquished in the struggle with disease--a stroke of Divine +Providence surely, to prevent us from staining ourselves with the +blood of our kindred, and yet to grant some revenge to the army which +had been justly called out to war. Hail! thou Gothic array, happy +above all other happiness, who strikest at the life of a Royal foe, +yet leavest us not the poorer by the life of one of the least of our +soldiers[720]. + +[Footnote 719: Theodoric I, son of Clovis, King of the Franks, +reigning at Metz, died, as before stated, in 534.] + +[Footnote 720: 'Et nobis nec unius ultimi facta subducis (?).'] + +[Sidenote: League with the Burgundians.] + +'The Burgundian too, in order to receive his own again, crouched in +devotion, giving up his whole self that he might receive a trifle. For +he chose to obey with unimpaired territories, rather than to resist +with these cut short; and thus, by laying aside his arms, he most +effectually defended his kingdom, recovering by his prayers what he +had lost by the sword[721]. + +[Footnote 721: 'Burgundio quinetiam, ut sua reciperet, devotus +effectus est: reddens se totum dum accepisset exiguum. Elegit quippe +integer obedire, quam imminutus obsistere: tutius tunc defendit regnum +quando arma deposuit. Recuperavit enim prece, quod amisit in acie.' +The meaning of these mysterious words, as interpreted by Binding +(268-270) and Jahn (ii. 252), is that Godomar, King of the +Burgundians, received back from Amalasuentha (probably about 530, or a +little later) the territory between the Durance and the Isere, which +Theodoric had wrested from his brother in 523. The occasion of this +cession was probably some league of mutual defence against the Franks, +which Cassiodorus could without dishonesty represent as a kind of +vassalage of Burgundy to Ostrogothia. If so, it availed Godomar +little, as his territories were overrun by the Frankish Kings in 532, +and the conquest of them was apparently completed by 534 (Jahn ii. +68-78).] + +'Happy Princess, whose enemies either fall by the hand of God, or else +by your bounty are united with your Empire! Rejoice, Goths and Romans +alike, and hail this marvel, a being who unites the excellences of +both the sexes! As woman she has given birth to your illustrious King, +while with manly fortitude of mind she has maintained the bounds of +your Empire. + +'And now, if leaving the realm of war we enter the inner courts of her +moral goodness, a hundred tongues will not suffice to sound forth all +her praises. Her justice is as great as her goodwill, but even greater +is her kindness than her power. You, Senators, know the heavenly +goodness which she has shown to your order, restoring those who had +met with affliction to a higher state than that from which they had +fallen[722], and exalting to honour those who were still uninjured. + +[Footnote 722: 'Afflictos statu meliore restituit.' An allusion, +probably, to her kindness to the families of Boethius and Symmachus.] + +'Look at the case of the Patrician Liberius[723], Praefect of the +Gauls--a man of charming manners, of distinguished merit, a soldier +with honourable scars--who even while absent in his Praefecture has +received the _fasces_ and a patrimony from her. + +[Footnote 723: No doubt the same Liberius who nobly defended the +character of Amalasuentha at the Court of Justinian (Procopius, De +Bello Gotthico i. 4). Apparently he was made Consul, but his name does +not appear in the Fasti at this time.] + +'What can I say of her strength of mind and tenacity of purpose, in +which she excels even philosophers? I speak of this from my own +experience. You know, oh Conscript Fathers, what influences were +arrayed against me[724]. Neither gold nor the prayers of great men +availed: all things were tried, and tried in vain, to prove the +glorious constancy of that wisest Lady. + +[Footnote 724: Probably to prevent his obtaining the Praefecture.] + +[Sidenote: Virtues of the Amal Kings.] + +'And here the rules of rhetoric would require me to compare her with a +long line of Empresses in the past. But if men cannot vie with her +glory, what is the use of adducing female examples? If we look at the +Royal Cohort of her ancestors, we shall see that she, like a pure +mirror, reflects all their excellences. For Amal[725] was conspicuous +for his good fortune, Ostrogotha for his patience, Athal for mildness, +Munitarius [Winithar] for justice, Unimund for beauty, Thorismuth for +chastity, Unalamer [Walamir] for faith, Theudimer for warmth of +heart[726], and Theodoric, the renowned father of Amalasuentha, as ye +have all seen, for patience. Each of these would recognise in her his +own special attribute, but all would acknowledge that in these very +attributes they are excelled by her. + +[Footnote 725: This and the following names belong to the ancestors of +Amalasuentha, and are found with slight variations in the treatise of +Jordanes on the History of the Goths, which was founded on a similar +treatise by Cassiodorus.] + +[Footnote 726: 'Pietate Theudimer.'] + +'You will now perhaps expect me to praise our young King, but in +extolling the author of his being, I have abundantly extolled him, her +offspring. You will remember that excellent saying of the eloquent +Symmachus, "I hesitate to praise the beginning of his career because I +am confidently hoping for his advance in virtue[727]." Come to my +help, Conscript Fathers, and render to your Lords and mine your united +thanks for my promotion.' + +[Footnote 727: 'Specto feliciter virtutis ejus augmenta, qui differo +laudare principia.' The annotator says that these words are not to be +found in the extant writings of Symmachus [the orator]. It was +probably the younger Symmachus, the father-in-law of Boethius, who +uttered them. At this time Athalaric was killing himself by his +debaucheries.] + + +2. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO POPE JOHN[728]. + +[Footnote 728: Pope John II (a Roman, son of Projectus, and originally +named Mercurius) succeeded Boniface II Jan. 1, 533. His pontificate +lasted till May 26, 535. His successor was Agapetus. This letter +appears to have been written at a time of scarcity in Rome.] + +[Sidenote: Salutations to the Pope.] + +'Your prayers are assuredly the cause of our promotion. Your fastings +have procured plenty for the citizens. Saluting you therefore with all +due reverence, we pray you to continue your prayers for long life to +our rulers, for peace and plenty to the State, and for an increase of +heavenly wisdom to me. Let the Judge in public life be such as the +Catholic Church has trained her son to be. I am indeed a Judge of the +Palace, but I shall not cease to be your disciple[729]. Cast not off +upon me the whole care of this City, which you watch over with a +father's love, but take thought both for its bodily and spiritual +wants, and admonish me whenever you think I am erring. Your See is an +object of admiration through all lands, and your charity is +world-wide; but yet you have also an especial, local love for the +sheep of your own flock. + +[Footnote 729: 'Sum quidem Judex Palatinus, sed vester non desinam +esse discipulus.'] + +'Rome has in her own borders those shrines of martyrdom[730] of the +Apostles [Peter and Paul] which the whole world longs to behold. With +such patrons, if only your prayers ascend, we need fear no evil.' + +[Footnote 730: 'Confessiones.'] + + +3. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO DIVERS BISHOPS. + +[Sidenote: Salutations to the Bishops.] + +'Fathers after the flesh delight in the advancement of their sons. +Even so do ye, my spiritual fathers, diligently pray to the Holy +Trinity that He may make my candle to give light to all that are in +the house; yea, and that He may so purge and enlighten mine own +conscience that I may not, while an accurate Judge over other men, be +a deceiver of mine own self. + +'I beg of you to declare a fast, and supplicate the Lord that He will +prolong the life of our Sovereigns[731], for the happiness of the +realm; that He will defend our State from the assaults of its enemies, +will give us all tranquillity in our time, and will deign to make me +worthy of your love. + +[Footnote 731: This was written, no doubt, when Athalaric was on his +deathbed.] + +'Watch narrowly the acts of the subordinates whom I send among you, +and inform me of anything which they do amiss. I cannot be held +responsible for deeds of which I know nothing. And if they take bribes +they at least cannot justify themselves by saying that they have first +had to pay money for their offices. + +'Continue to afford your wonted solace to the widow and orphan; yet +beware that your pity does not lead you to seek to set aside the laws +even for these. Oh, most holy men, banish to the home of all other +unclean spirits violence, avarice, hatred, rapine; and root out from +among your people luxury, which is the depopulator of the human race. +Let the Bishop teach, that the Judge may have a maiden assize[732]. If +only your preaching he continued, the penal course of law must +necessarily come to an end. + +[Footnote 732: 'Episcopus doceat, ne judex possit invenire quod +puniat.'] + +'I therefore commend my dignity to your prayers, and end my letter +with a salutation of love and honour to your Holinesses.' + + +4. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO HIS DEPUTY[733] AMBROSIUS, AN +ILLUSTRIS. + +[Footnote 733: 'Agenti vices.' Bethmann Hollweg (Gerichtsverfassung +des sinkenden römischen Reichs, pp. 49-50) remarks: 'The relation of +the _Vices Magistratuum agentes_ does not belong to the _Jurisdictio +mandata_. They are lieutenants (Stellvertreter) who are substituted +provisionally in the room of an ordinary official of the Empire or of +a Province, on account of his being temporarily disqualified or +suspended from office by the Emperor or Praetorian Praefect. The +municipal magistrates were also represented by _vices agentes_. But +the extant authorities give us no very clear information as to their +position.' Unfortunately this letter, relating to a _vices agens_ of +the Praetorian Praefect himself, does not add much to our +information.] + +[Sidenote: Functions of the Praefect's Deputy.] + +'We have formed a high opinion of you from long observation of your +career as an Advocate, and feel sure that you will justify that +opinion by your conduct in the office to which we are now calling you. +The Forum has long resounded to your eloquence: now your turn is come +to sit upon the magistrate's bench. Hitherto you have assisted the +officers of the court: now you are yourself called upon to play the +part of a Judge. Even when you are absent from me, you will be deemed +to be sitting by my side; but whatever credit you may earn when +hearing a case by yourself will be reckoned to you alone. + +'We therefore ordain that the official staff which waits upon our +orders shall be at your disposal, to carry your decisions into effect, +and to see that none treat them with contempt. + +'If you shall think it necessary to hand over any [insolvent] persons +to those who have become security for them, assume that right with +confidence, because that will most effectually relieve my mind when I +shall learn that this matter has been finally disposed of by you[734]. +For if I were present you might give me words only; but now in my +absence you owe me, rather, deeds. + +[Footnote 734: I suggest this with hesitation as the translation of a +difficult sentence: 'Si quos etiam fidejussoribus committere +necessarium aestimaveris, confidenter assume: quia illud magis +relevare potest animum nostrum, si aliquid per vos cognoscimus +impletum.' Cassiodorus seems to be urging his deputy not to shrink +from the exercise of even the most stringent rights inherent in his +office, in order that causes may be terminated without reference to +him. But is there authority for such a translation of the words +'fidejussoribus committere?'] + +'Think, then, of all that is involved in your high office. Let your +toil procure me rest from all men. Avoid the rocks on either side of +you. These warnings come rather from my over-particularity[735] than +from any distrust of you, for I believe that with God's help you will +order all things as shall be best for our fame and for the Republic.' + +[Footnote 735: 'Curiositas.'] + + +5. THE SAME TO THE SAME. + +[On the occasion of a scarcity in Rome, either existing or dreaded. +See the letter to Pope John II (xi. 2).] + +[Sidenote: Grain distributions for Rome.] + +'I am sure that you will rejoice with me if the needs of the Roman +people can be satisfied by our means, and thus we can testify our +gratitude for the hospitality which we have both received from that +City. To this end have we endured the discomforts of travel, for this +purpose have we racked our brains with anxious thought, that that +people, which tasted such delights of old in the happy days of its +former rulers, may now see its necessities relieved and again enjoy +its former prosperity. + +'Their poverty and hunger we make our own. Therefore, with all speed, +let stores of grain in good condition be at once collected, so that +the bread cooked therefrom may be a delight and not a horror. Let just +weight be given. Flee all thought of unholy profit from this source. +My own soul is wounded if anyone dares to transgress in this matter of +the food-supply of the people. Not favour nor popular applause is my +aim; but to be permitted, by God's help, to accomplish my own heart's +desire. + +'I love all my fellow-countrymen, but the Roman citizens deserve more +than ordinary love from me. Theirs is a City adorned with so many +illustrious Senators, blest with such a noble commonalty, a City so +well fitted to celebrate the victories of our glorious rulers. When +the question of my promotion hung in suspense, it was the good wishes +of these citizens which turned the scale in my favour with the lords +of the world[736], who complied with the universal desire of the Roman +people. Come, then; so act that this goodwill of theirs to me may +continue. Let us all beseech the mercy of the Most High to bless us +with an abundant harvest; and let us resolve that, if we are thus +favoured, no negligence of ours shall diminish, no venality divert +from its proper recipients, the bounty of Heaven[737].' + +[Footnote 736: Athalaric and Amalasuentha.] + +[Footnote 737: In the last sentence but one, 'Fidem meam promitto: sed +cum ipsis Divinitatis dona sustineo, cautelam offero,' I would suggest +_ipsius_ for 'ipsis,' making _cum_ = 'when,' not 'with.' There does +not seem to be any antecedent plural to which 'ipsis' can refer.] + + +6. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO JOANNES, CANCELLARIUS. + +[An interesting letter, as showing the lowly original of the office +from whence have sprung the mediaeval and modern Chancellors.] + +[Sidenote: Functions of the Cancellarius.] + +'Your rare merit causes you to enjoy a position beyond that which of +right belongs to you in the official hierarchy[738]. Those who are +above you cheerfully manifest to you a deference which you might be +required to show to them; and thus you, while keeping your inferiors +in their proper place, take without presumption precedence of many of +your superiors. + +[Footnote 738: 'Transgressio matriculae actio tua est.'] + +'This laudable prejudice has assigned to you, from the twelfth +Indiction[739], the dignity of Cancellarius[740]. + +[Footnote 739: September 1, 533.] + +[Footnote 740: 'Hoc igitur laudabili praejudicium a duodecima +Indictione cancellorum tibi decus attribuit.'] + +'Guard then the secrets of our Consistory with incorruptible fidelity. +Through your intervention the petitioner for justice has to approach +me. On your acts depends in great measure the opinion which men shall +form of me; for as a house is judged by its front towards the street, +and men by the trimness or shabbiness of their raiment, so are we high +officials judged by the demeanour of our subordinates who represent us +to the crowd. Therefore, if such officials do anything which redounds +to their master's dishonour, they put themselves altogether outside +the pale of his clemency. + +'Remember your title, _Cancellarius_. Ensconced behind the +lattice-work (cancelli) of your compartment, keeping guard behind +those windowed doors, however studiously you may conceal yourself, it +is inevitable that you be the observed of all observers[741]. If you +step forth, _my_ glances range all over you: if you return to your +shelter, the eyes of the litigants are upon you. This is where +Antiquity ruled that you should be placed, in order that your actions +should be visible to all. + +[Footnote 741: 'Respice quo nomine nuncuperis. Latere non potest quod +inter cancellos egeris. Tenes quippe lucidas fores, claustra patentia, +fenestratas januas; et quamvis studiose claudas, necesse est ut te +cunctis aperias.'] + +'Attend now to this advice which I have given you, and let it not +merely filter through your mind, like water through a pipe, but let it +sink down into your heart, and, safely stored up there, let it +influence the actions of your life.' + + +7. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ALL THE JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: Duties of the Collectors of Taxes.] + +'It is an excellent thing that the yearly taxes should be regularly +paid. What confidence does the consciousness of this give to the +taxpayer, who can march boldly through the Forum, feeling that he owes +nothing to anybody and need not fear the face of any official! One can +only enjoy an estate if one has no fear of the process-server making +his appearance upon it. + +'Therefore, in the Diocese of your Excellency[742], we desire you and +your staff at the beginning of this twelfth Indiction[743], with all +proper gentleness, to impress upon the cultivator of the soil that he +must pay his land-tax[744] and end those long arrears, which were +introduced not for the assistance of the taxpayer, but for the corrupt +profit of the tax-collector. For the officials who in this way +professed to relieve the burdens of the people, really imposed upon +them a heavier and more hateful weight in the shape of douceurs[745] +to themselves. + +[Footnote 742: 'Dicationis tuae.' A peculiar and untranslatable form +of respect.] + +[Footnote 743: September 1, 533.] + +[Footnote 744: 'Trina illatio' (See Var. ii. 24). So called because it +was collected three times in the year. See Dahn, Könige der Germanen +iii. 140; and Sartorius, Regierung der Ostg. 200. The latter seems +however to confuse it with the 'tertiae,' from which Dahn very +properly distinguishes it.] + +[Footnote 745: 'Nundinationes.'] + +'Let then this hateful swindling be henceforth banished. Let the +cultivator pay nothing more than his lawful debt to the Treasury, and +let him pay it at the appointed time, thus removing the confusion in +which the slowness of collection has involved our accounts. + +'Make up, therefore, the abstracts of accounts[746] at the stated +times, and forward them to the proper bureaux[747], according to old +law and the authority of this present edict; and if you neglect any of +these injunctions, know that you do so at your peril. To quicken your +diligence we have appointed A and B, persons of tried merit in the +past, to supervise the proceedings of yourself and your staff, that +this double check may prevent the possibility of negligence. + +[Footnote 746: 'Breves.'] + +[Footnote 747: 'Scrinia.'] + +'Act then with justice if you wish to receive further promotion. Only +those gains are to be sought for which the cultivator gladly offers +and which the public servant can securely accept. If you take bribes +you will be miserable ever after, through fear of discovery; but if +you act uprightly, you will have in me a willing spectator and +rewarder of your merits. I am most anxious to be your friend; do not +force me against my will to become your enemy.' + + +8. EDICT PUBLISHED THROUGH THE PROVINCES BY SENATOR, PRAETORIAN +PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Edict announcing Cassiodorus' principles of +administration.] + +'The custom of the ancients was for a new ruler to promulgate a new +set of laws to his subjects, but now it is sufficient praise to a +conscientious ruler that he adheres to the legislation of Antiquity. + +'Do you all study to perform good actions, and shrink from deeds of +lawlessness and sedition, and you will have nothing to fear from your +Governors. I know that some fear, however irrational, is felt in the +presence of the Judge; but as far as my purpose can avail, with the +help of God and the rulers of the State[748], I can promise you that +all things shall be done with justice and moderation. + +[Footnote 748: 'Juvante Deo, rerumque Dominis regnantibus.'] + +'Venality, that greatest stain upon a Judge's character, will be +unknown in me; for I should think scorn to sell the words that go out +of my lips, like clothes in the market-place. + +'In exercising the right of pre-emption we shall be solely guided by +the wants of the State, buying nothing at a forced price in order to +sell it again[749]. + +[Footnote 749: 'Sperari a vobis aliquid sola specierum indigentia +faciet, non malitiosa venalitas ... nec ad taxationem trahimus quae +necessaria non habentur.'] + +'Be cheerful and of good courage, therefore, with reference to the new +administration. No soldier or civil servant shall harass you for his +own pleasure. No tax-collector shall load you with burdens of his own +imposition. We are determined to keep not only our own hands clean, +but also those of our officials. Otherwise, vainly does a good Judge +guard himself from receiving money, if he leaves to the many under him +licence to receive it on their own account. But we, both by precept +and example, show that we aim at the public good, not at private and +fraudulent gains. + +'We know what prayers you put up for us, how anxiously you watched for +our elevation, and we are determined that you shall not be +disappointed. Our Praetorium, which no base action has ever denied, +shall be open to all. No servile throng shall lord it over you. You +shall come straight to us, making your requests known to us through no +hired interpreter, and none shall leave our presence poorer than he +entered it. With God's help we trust we shall so act as to conform to +the instructions which we have received from our Sovereign[750]; and +we trust that you, by your loyalty, will enable us to be rather the +Father of our Provinces than their Judge. You have patiently obeyed +governors who fleeced you; how much more ought you to obey one who, as +you know, loves you mightily! Pay the regular fees to the officials +who are labouring in your midst; for there is no such excuse for +high-handed oppression as the fact that a man is not receiving his +covenanted salary. Obey the rule of reason, and you will not have to +fear the armed man's wrath. + +[Footnote 750: 'Quemadmodum a rerum Dominis mandata suscepimus.'] + +'We wish that you should enjoy the privileges conceded to you by +former rulers without any encroachment by violent men. + +'And now be of good heart; I pledge myself for your righteous +government. Had I been present with you face to face, ye could not +have seen my mind; but ye can read it in this letter, which is the +mirror of my heart, the true image of my will, and ye can see that it +desires only your prosperity.' + + +9. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: Exhortation to the Judges to govern in conformity with the +Edict.] + +'Knowing that past suffering makes men anxious and timid as to the +future, we have put forth an edict [the preceding document] in order +to reassure the minds of the Provincials, and to deliver them from the +torment of ever-present fear. + +'Therefore we call upon your Excellency[751] to cause this edict to be +exposed in all the places which are most resorted to. Thus let the +love and devotion of all classes be excited towards our happy +Sovereigns[752], that as our thoughts towards the people are entirely +thoughts of goodwill, so their dispositions towards the rulers who +govern them in righteousness may be only loyal[753]. + +[Footnote 751: 'Dicatio tua.'] + +[Footnote 752: 'Circa Dominos felices.'] + +[Footnote 753: 'Ita se et illi devotos debent _pie regnantibus_ +exhibere.' Compare again Claudian's words: + + 'Nunquam libertas gratior exstat, + Quam sum _rege pio_.'] + +'It now rests with you, by your just government of the Provincials, to +carry our promises into effect. + +'Remember that the official staff standing by, is a witness of the +acts of every one of you; and so comport yourselves, that both they +and all others may see that you in your own conduct obey the laws +which you administer. + +'Be more anxious to remedy the poverty of the Provincials than to +inflict punishment upon them. So act that when you are giving an +account of your stewardship your year of office may be felt to have +been all too short[754]. If you have acted justly, and earned the +goodwill of your Provincials, you will have no need of gifts to stave +off accusations. + +[Footnote 754: 'Sic agite ut cum justitia probata quaeritur, annus +vester brevis esse videatur.'] + +'We do not appoint any spies upon your actions, and we pray you so to +act that this most humiliating expedient may not be necessary. + +'If you meet with any who pertinaciously set themselves up against the +authority of your _fasces_, send us at once a messenger with your +report; or, if you cannot spare such an one, send the report alone, as +you have authority to use the public postal-service[755]. Thus all +excuse for remissness on your part is taken away, since you can either +wield your power or explain to us the hindrances which beset you.' + +[Footnote 755: 'Quando et evectiones publicas accepistis et nobis +gratum sit audire de talibus.'] + + +10. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO BEATUS, VIR CLARISSIMUS AND +CANCELLARIUS. + +[Sidenote: Davus is invalided to the Mons Lactarius.] + +'Our lord the King[756] (whose prayer it is that he may ever rejoice +in the welfare of all his subjects), when he reflected upon the +impaired health of his servant Davus[757], ordered him to seek to the +healing properties of the Mons Lactarius[758], for the cure which +medical aid seemed powerless to bestow. A frequent cough resounded +from his panting chest, his limbs were becoming emaciated, and the +food which he took seemed to have lost all power to nourish his frame. +Persons in this state can neither feed nor endure to fast, and their +bodies seem like leaky casks, from which all strength must soon +dribble away. + +[Footnote 756: 'Rerum Domini clementia.'] + +[Footnote 757: Or David, according to some MSS.] + +[Footnote 758: This is no doubt the mountain on whose skirts was +fought the decisive battle between Narses and Teias in 553, now known +as Monte Lettere. It is a spur of the range reaching from Sorrento to +Salerno, which attains its highest elevation in Monte San Angelo +(4,690 feet high). It rises opposite to Mount Vesuvius on the +south-east, the ruins of Pompeii and the valley of the Sarno (formerly +the Draco) lying between the two.] + +[Sidenote: The milk-cure, a remedy for consumption.] + +'As an antidote to this cruel malady Heaven has given us the Mons +Lactarius, where the salubrious air working together with the fatness +of the soil has produced a herbage of extraordinary sweetness. The +cows which are fed on this herbage give a milk which seems to be the +only remedy for consumptive patients who have been quite given over by +their physicians. As sleep refreshes the weary limbs of toil, so does +this milk fill up the wasted limbs and restore the vanished strength. +Strange is it to see the herds feeding on this abundant pasture. They +look as if it did not profit them at all. Thin and scraggy, as they +wander through the thickets they look like the patients who seek their +aid; yet their milk is so thick that it sticks to the milker's +fingers. + +'Do you therefore supply the invalid when he arrives, with the +appointed rations and pecuniary allowance, that he may be suitably +maintained in that place while he is recreating his exhausted energies +with the food of infancy. + +'And, oh! all ye who are suffering under the like grievous malady, +lift up your hearts. There is hope for you. By no bitter antidote, but +by a delicious draught, you shall imbibe life--life, in itself the +sweetest of all things.' + + +11. EDICT CONCERNING PRICES TO BE MAINTAINED AT RAVENNA. + +[Sidenote: Prices at Ravenna.] + +'The price at which provisions are sold ought to follow, in a +reasonable way, the circumstances of the times, that there may be +neither cheapness in a dear season, nor dearness in a cheap one, and +that the grumblings of both buyers and sellers may be avoided, by +fairness being observed towards both. + +'Therefore, after careful consideration, we have fixed in the +subjoined schedule the prices of the various articles of produce, +which prices are to remain free from all ambiguity. + +'If any vendor does not observe the prices named in the present edict, +he will be liable to a fine of six solidi (£3 12s.) for each violation +of the law, and may be visited by corporal punishment[759].' + +[Footnote 759: 'Per singulos excessus sex solidorum mulctam a se +noverit exigendam et fustuario posse subjacere supplicio.'] + +[The schedule mentioned in this letter is unfortunately not preserved. +Few documents that Cassiodorus could have handed down to posterity +would have been more valuable. If we could have compared it with the +celebrated Edict of Stratonicea (cir. A.D. 301), we should have seen +what changes had been wrought in the value of the precious metals and +the distribution of wealth during the two centuries of disturbance and +barbaric invasion which had elapsed since the reign of Diocletian. +But, unfortunately, Cassiodorus believed that his rhetoric and his +natural history would be more interesting to us than these vulgar +facts.] + + +12. EDICT CONCERNING PRICES ALONG THE FLAMINIAN WAY. + +[Sidenote: Prices per Viam Flaminiam.] + +'If prices need to be fixed for the leisurely inhabitant of a town, +much more for the traveller, whose journey may otherwise become a +burden instead of a pleasure. Let strangers therefore find that they +are entertained by you at fixed prices. To fawn upon them with feigned +politeness and then terrify them with enormous charges is the act of +a highway robber. Do you not know how much better moderate prices +would suit your own purpose? Travellers would gladly flock to your +accommodation-houses[760] if they found that you treated them fairly. + +[Footnote 760: This is, I believe, the expression used in some of the +Australian colonies for what Cassiodorus calls _commoda vestra_.] + +'Let no one think that because he is a long way off, his extortion +will escape notice, for people are arriving here every day with tales +of your rapacity. + +'An official despatched for the purpose will, after deliberation with +the citizens and Bishops of each place, decide what prices are to be +charged there; and then whosoever dares to ask higher prices will have +to pay a fine of six solidi (£3 12s.) and will be afflicted by the +laceration of his body. + +'Honest gains at the expense of your fellow-citizens ought to suffice +for all of you. One would think that the highways were beset with +brigands.' + + +13. THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. + +[Sidenote: Supplications of the Senate to Justinian.] + +'It seems a right and proper thing that we should address our prayers +for the safety of the Roman Republic to a dutiful Sovereign[761], who +can only desire what will benefit our freedom. We therefore beseech +you, most clement Emperor, and from the bosom of the Curia we stretch +forth our two hands to you in prayer, that you will grant a most +enduring peace to our King. Spurn not us, who ever seemed certain of +your love. It is in truth the Roman name that you are commending, if +you grant gracious terms to our lords. May your league with them +assure the peace of Italy; and if our prayers be not sufficient to +accomplish this thing, imagine that you hear our country break forth +with these words of supplication: "If ever I was acceptable to thee, +love, oh most dutiful Sovereign, love my defenders! They who rule me +ought to be in harmony with thee, lest otherwise they begin to do such +deeds towards me as thou least of all men wouldest desire. Be not to +me a cause of death, thou who hast ever ministered unto me the joys of +life. Lo, while at peace with thee I have doubled the number of my +children, I have been decked with the glory of my citizens. If thou +sufferest me to be wounded, where is thy dutiful name of Son? What +couldest even thou do more for me [than these rulers], seeing that my +religion and thine thus flourish under their rule? + +[Footnote 761: 'Pio Principi.'] + +'"My Senate grows in honour and is incessantly increasing in wealth. +Do not dissipate in quarrels what thou oughtest rather to defend with +the sword. I have had many Kings; but none so trained in letters as +this one. I have had foreseeing statesmen, but none so powerful in +learning and religion. I love the Amal, bred up as he has been at my +knees, a strong man, one who has been formed by my conversation, dear +to the Romans by his prudence, venerable to the nations by his valour. +Join rather thy prayers to his; share with him thy counsels: so that +any prosperity which I may earn may redound to thy glory. Do not woo +me in the only fashion in which I may not be won. Thine am I already +in love, if thou sendest none of thy soldiers to lacerate my limbs. +For if Africa has deserved through thee to recover freedom, it were +hard that I should from the same hand lose that freedom which I have +ever possessed. Control the emotions of anger, oh illustrious +conqueror! The claims urged upon thee by the general voice of the +people ought to outweigh the offence which the ingratitude of any +private individual may have occasioned to thy heart." + +'Thus Rome speaks while, through her Senators, she makes supplications +to you. And if that be not enough, let the sacred petition of the +blessed Apostles Peter and Paul be also taken into your account. For +surely they, who are proved to have so often defended the peace of +Rome from her enemies, deserve that your Sovereignty should yield +everything to their merits. The venerable man, our most pious King's +ambassador to your Clemency, will further set forth our prayers.' + +[It is not easy to fix the exact occasion on which this petition was +likely to be sent from the Senate to the Emperor. The allusion to the +conquest of Africa shows that it was after the Vandal War, which ended +in March, 534. On the other hand, the language put into the mouth of +the Senate implies that the Imperial troops had not yet landed in +Italy or Sicily, and the petition is therefore of an earlier date than +the summer of 535. During the whole of these fourteen months the +relations between Empire and Kingdom were more or less strained, the +causes of complaint on the part of Constantinople beginning with the +occupation of Lilybaeum and ending with the murder of Amalasuentha. I +fear that the nattering portrait drawn of 'the Amal' can apply to no +one but Theodahad, the terms used being hopelessly inapplicable to a +boy like Athalaric. Who then are 'our lords' ('nostri Domini'), in +whose name peace is besought. The best that we can hope, for the sake +of the reputation of Cassiodorus, is that they are Amalasuentha and +Theodahad, the letter being written between October 2, 534 (when +Athalaric died), and April 30, 535 (when Amalasuentha was imprisoned). +Upon the whole this seems the most probable conclusion. If written +after Amalasuentha's death, in the few months or weeks which +intervened between that event and the landing of Belisarius in Sicily, +the language employed reflects deep discredit on the writer. In that +case, 'nostri Domini' must mean Theodahad and Gudelina.] + + +14. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO GAUDIOSUS, CANCELLARIUS OF THE +PROVINCE OF LIGURIA. + +[Sidenote: Praises of Como. Relief of its inhabitants.] + +'The City of Como[762] is visited by so many travellers that the +cultivators of the soil declare that they are quite worn out with +requisitions for post-horses[763]. Wherefore we direct that by Royal +indulgence they be favoured in this matter[764], that this city, so +beautifully situated, do not become a solitude for want of +inhabitants. + +[Footnote 762: Thus called by Cassiodorus; not Comum.] + +[Footnote 763: 'Se possessores paraveredorum assiduitate suggerunt +esse fatigatos.'] + +[Footnote 764: 'Quibus indultu Regali beneficium praecipimus jugiter +custodiri.' These words do not make it clear how the inhabitants were +relieved by the Royal decree; but it was probably by some gift of +money like that which is announced in the next letter.] + +'Como, with its precipitous mountains and its vast expanse of lake, +seems placed there for the defence of the Province of Liguria; and +yet, again, it is so beautiful that one would think it was created for +pleasure only. To the south lies a fertile plain with easy roads for +the transport of provisions; on the north a lake sixty miles long, +abounding in fish, soothing the mind with delicious recreation. + +'Rightly is it called _Como_, because it is adorned (compta) with such +gifts. The lake lies in a shell-like valley, with white margins. Above +rises a diadem of lofty mountains, their slopes studded with bright +villas[765], a girdle of olives below, vineyards above, while a crest +of thick chestnut-woods adorns the very summit of the hills. Streams +of snowy clearness dash from the hill-sides into the lake. On the +eastern side these unite to form the river Addua, so called because it +contains the _added_ volume of two streams. It plunges into the lake +with such force that it keeps its own colour[766] (dark among the +whiter waters) and its own name far along the northern shore[767], a +phenomenon often seen with rivers flowing into the ocean, but surely +marvellous with one flowing into an inland lake. And so swift is its +course as it moves through the alien waves, that you might fancy it a +river flowing over the solid plains. + +[Footnote 765: 'Praetoriorum luminibus decenter ornata.'] + +[Footnote 766: So Claudian (De VI Consolata Honorii 196), 'et Addua +visu caerulus.'] + +[Footnote 767: 'Ut nomen retinens et colorem in Septentrionem obesiore +alvei ventre generetur.'] + +'So delightful a region makes men delicate and averse to labour. +Therefore the inhabitants deserve especial consideration, and for this +reason we wish them to enjoy perpetually the royal bounty.' + + +15. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE LIGURIANS. + +[Announcing the despatch of money to relieve the necessities of the +Province, possibly after some incursions of the Franks. This would fit +in pretty well with the mention of _Astensis Civitas_ as having +suffered the most.] + +[Sidenote: Relief of the necessities of Liguria.] + +'It is the privilege of a King to increase the happiness of his +subjects. Not to postpone your joy by too long a preface, I will come +to the point at once, and inform you that our most glorious Lords, +taking the necessities of their loyal Liguria into account, have sent +100 lbs. of gold [£4,000] by the hands of A and B, officers of the +Royal Bedchamber. _You_ are to say how the money is to be spent, +indicating the persons who are in the greatest necessity; but as we +are informed that the city of Asti has been more heavily weighted than +others, it is our wish that it should be chiefly helped by this +disbursement. Now, do you who are tributaries, reflect upon the +clemency of your lords, who are inverting the usual order of things, +and paying out to you from the Treasury what they are accustomed to +receive. Let us know at once how much you think each taxpayer ought +to receive, that we may deduct it from his first instalment of +land-tax [768]. + +[Footnote 768: 'Sed ut beneficia Dominorum _subtractis exactionum, +incommodis_ augeantur, celerius relatio vestra nos instruat, quid +unicuique de hac summâ relaxandum esse judicetis, ut tantum de _primâ +illatione_ faciamus _suspendi_ quantum ad nos notitia directa +vulgaverit.' The meaning of Cassiodorus seems quite clear, though it +is not easy to understand how far the actual gift of money was +supplemented by, or independent of, remission of land-tax.] + +'And put up your prayers for your most affectionate Sovereigns, that +they may receive back again from Heaven the favour which they are +conferring on you.' + + +16. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE LIGURIANS. + +[Sidenote: Oppressions practised on the Ligurians to be remedied.] + +'In thanking me so earnestly for a recent benefit [probably the +present mentioned in the preceding letter] you invited me to further +favours, and the implied promise which I then gave you I now fulfil. + +'You complain that you are burdened with unjust weights and measures, +and I therefore declare that this iniquity shall cease, and that no +tax-collector or tithe-collector[769], shall dare to use too long a +measure or too heavy a weight [in the collection of the King's +revenue]. + +[Footnote 769: 'Exactores atque susceptores.' For the latter office, +see Cod. Theod. xii. 6.] + +'Also that their accounts shall be promptly balanced, and that any +overcharge that may be detected shall be at once repaid. + +'Now then, your minds being freed from anxiety on this score, turn +your attention to the supply of the wants of our most flourishing +army, and show your zeal for the public good, since we have satisfied +you that it is not for private and fraudulent gains that you are to +pay your contributions.' + + +17. ON THE PROMOTIONS IN THE OFFICIAL STAFF OF THE PRAETORIAN +PRAEFECT, MADE ON CHRISTMAS DAY[770]. + +[Footnote 770: This letter was probably addressed to the Princeps, the +highest person in the whole Officium, as it contains the words '_unus_ +quisque ... _tuâ designatione vulgetur_.'] + +[Sidenote: Promotions in Officium of Praefectus Praetorio.] + +'On this day of general rejoicing, when by the kindness of Heaven the +way of salvation was opened to all mankind, we wish that the members +of our staff should also be glad. For to rejoice, ourselves, when +those around us are mourning, is a kind of sacrilege. Hence some +philosophers have held that the whole human race is one being, the +various members of which are constrained to share one another's +feelings of joy or sadness. Therefore let every official in our staff +according to his grade[771] get promotion on this day, not only rising +himself, but creating a vacancy which enables those below him to rise +also.' + +[Footnote 771: 'Juxta matriculae seriem.'] + +[All the Letters from 18 to 35 are documents, for the most part very +short ones, relating to these promotions. + +For an explanation of the terms used in these letters, and of the +whole subject of the staff of the Praetorian Praefect, see chapter iv. +of the Introduction.] + +In Letter 18, Antianus, who is vacating the office of CORNICULARIUS, +receives the rank of _Spectabilis_, and has a place assigned him among +the Tribuni and Notarii, where he may 'adore the presence of his +Sovereign[772]'. + +[Footnote 772: 'Inter Tribunos et Notarios ad adorandos aspectus +properet Principales.'] + +In Letter 19 the successor of Antianus in the office of CORNICULARIUS +receives his appointment. + +In Letter 20 the retiring PRIMISCRINIUS also receives the rank of +_Spectabilis_, and takes his place among the Tribuni and Notarii, 'to +adore the Purple of Royalty.' + +In Letter 21 Andreas is rewarded for his faithful service on the +Praetorian staff[773], by being promoted to the office of +PRIMISCRINIUS. + +[Footnote 773: 'Qui Praetorianis fascibus inculpabiliter noscitur +obsecutus.'] + +In Letter 22 Catellus, who stands next in grade for this +promotion[774], obtains the post of SCRINIARIUS ACTORUM. + +[Footnote 774: 'Quem matriculae series fecit accedere.'] + +In Letter 23 Constantinian, to whose virtues Cassiodorus himself bears +witness, receives the charge of letters relating to the collection of +Land-Tax (CURA EPISTOLARUM CANONICARUM). + +In Letter 24 Lucillus is appointed a clerk in the War-Office +(SCRINIARIUS CURAE MILITARIS). + +In Letter 25 Patricius is appointed chief of the shorthand writers +(PRIMICERIUS EXCEPTORUM). + +In Letter 26 Justus obtains a place as member of the Sixth Schola +(SEXTUS SCHOLARIS[775]). + +[Footnote 775: I am unable to suggest any explanation of this title.] + +In Letter 27 Joannes, whom we saw in the Sixth Letter of this Book +entrusted with the duties of Cancellarius, is rewarded for his +faithful discharge of those duties by receiving the place of +PRAEROGATIVARIUS[776]. + +[Footnote 776: I have not found any explanation of this title, which +is apparently unknown to the Notitia, to Lydus, and to the Theodosian +Code.] + +In Letter 28 Cheliodorus[777] is appointed to the place of +COMMENTARIENSIS (Magistrates' clerk). + +[Footnote 777: Note the corrupt form of the name Heliodorus.] + +In Letter 29 Cart(h)erius is promoted to the office of REGERENDARIUS +(Secretary of the Post-Office), in the hope that this promotion will +render him yet more earnest in the discharge of his Praetorian +labours. + +In Letter 30 Ursus is appointed PRIMICERIUS DEPUTATORUM, and Beatus +(probably the Cancellarius addressed in Letter 10) is made PRIMICERIUS +AUGUSTALIUM. + +In Letter 31 Urbicus, on vacating the post of PRIMICERIUS +SINGULARIORUM (Chief of the King's Messengers), is placed among the +Body-guards (Domestici et Protectores), where he may adore the Royal +Purple, that, being made illustrious by gazing on the Sovereign, he +may rejoice in his liberation from official harassment. + +[As the Singularii did not form part of the learned staff (Militia +Litterata), their chief on retiring receives a guardsman's place, but +still one which gives him access to royalty.] + +In Letter 32 Pierius receives the post of PRIMICERIUS SINGULARIORUM +which is thus vacated. + +[Sidenote: Delegatoria.] + +In Letter 33 Cassiodorus, expanding the proverb 'Bis dat qui cito +dat,' agrees that the _Delegatoria_[778] (or Delegatiorius), the +letter conferring on the receiver the right to receive the increase of +rations due to his promotion, should not be long delayed. + +[Footnote 778: We get this sense of Delegatio in Cod. Theod. vii. 4. +35: '_Annonas omnes_, quae universis officiis atque Sacri Palatii +Ministeriis et Sacris Scriniis ceterisque cunctarum adminiculis +dignitatum adsolent _delegari_.'] + +In Letter 34 Antianus, the retired Cornicularius of Letter 18, +receives a somewhat evasive answer to a petition which apparently +affected the rights of those below him in the official hierarchy[779]. + +[Footnote 779: In this letter occurs a sentence of tantalising +obscurity: 'Sola nos Alpha complectitur ubi ea littera non timetur.'] + +In Letter 35 we have an example of the _Delegatoria_ alluded to in +Letter 33. It is concerned with a PRINCEPS, apparently the Princeps of +the AGENTES IN REBUS; and, after extolling the zeal and alacrity of +those officers, who are constantly intent on enforcing obedience to +the Imperial decrees and reverence for the authority of the Praetorian +Praefect, he observes that it would be impiety to delay the reward of +such labour. + +'Therefore let your Experience[780] pay, out of the third instalment +of land-tax[781] from such and such a Province, those monies which the +wisdom of Antiquity directed should be paid to the Princeps +Augustorum[782]. Let this be done at once to those who are chargeable +on the accounts of the thirteenth Indiction (Sept. 1, 534--Sept. 1, +535). Let there be no venal delays. Behave to the out-going public +servant as you would wish that others should behave to you on your +retirement from office. All men should honour the veteran, but +especially they who are still toiling in the public service.' + +[Footnote 780: It is not clear to whom the letter is addressed.] + +[Footnote 781: 'Ex illatione tertiâ.'] + +[Footnote 782: The marginal note says: 'i.e. Agentium in Rebus.'] + + +36. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ANAT(H)OLIUS, CANCELLARIUS OF THE +PROVINCE OF SAMNIUM. + +[Sidenote: The retirement of a Cornicularius on a superannuation +allowance justified on astronomical grounds.] + +'As all things else come to an end, so it is right that the laborious +life of a civil servant should have its appointed term. + +'The heavenly bodies have their prescribed time in which to complete +their journeyings. Saturn in thirty years wanders over his appointed +portion of space. Jupiter in twelve years finishes the survey of his +kingdom. Mars, with fiery rapidity, completes his course in eighteen +months. The Sun in one year goes through all the signs of the Zodiac. +Venus accomplishes her circuit in fifteen months; the rapid Mercury in +thirteen months. The Moon, peculiar in her nearer neighbourhood, +traverses in thirty days the space which it takes the Sun a year to +journey over[783]. + +[Footnote 783: As might be expected from an observer who did not +understand the earth's motion in its orbit, the periods assigned to +the _inferior_ planets in this paragraph are all wrong, while those +assigned to the _superior_ planets are pretty nearly right. + +_Periods according to Cassiodorus_. _True Periods_. + +Saturn 30 years 29 years 174 days. +Jupiter 12 " 11 " 317 " +Mars 1 year 182 days 1 year 321 " +Venus 1 " 91 " 224 " +Mercury 1 " 30 " 88 "] + +'All these bodies, which, as philosophers say, shall only perish with +the world, have an appointed end to their journeyings. But they +complete their course that they may begin it again: the human race +serves that it may rest from its ended labours. Therefore, since the +Cornicularius in my Court has completed his term of office, you are to +pay him without any deduction this 1st September 700 solidi (£420) +from the revenues of the Province of Samnium, taking them out of the +third instalment of land-tax[784]. He commanded the wings of the army +of the Praefect's assistants, from whence he derived his name[785]. +When he handed us the inkstand, we wrote, unbribed, those decrees +which men would have paid a great price to obtain[786]. We gratified +him whom the laws favoured, we frowned on him who had not justice on +his side. No litigant had cause to regret his success, since it came +to him unbought. You know all this that we are saying to be true, for +our business was all transacted in the office, not in the bedchamber. +What we did, the whole troop of civil servants knew[787]. We were +private persons in our power of harming, Judges in our power of doing +good. Our words might be stern, our deeds were kindly. We frowned +though mollified; we threatened though intending no evil; and we +struck terror that we might not have to strike. You have had in me, as +you were wont to say, a most clean-handed Judge: I shall leave behind +in you my most uncorrupted witnesses.' + +[Footnote 784: 'Per illam Indictionem de Samnii provinciâ ex illatione +tertiâ sine ambiguitate contrade.'] + +[Footnote 785: 'Praefuit enim Cornibus Secretarii Praetoriani, unde ei +nomen est derivatum.'] + +[Footnote 786: 'Eo ministrante caliculum scripsimus inempti quod +magnis pretiis optabatur impleri.'] + +[Footnote 787: 'Quod egimus cohortes noverunt.' Observe the military +character of the service, 'cohortes.'] + + +37. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE CLARISSIMUS LUCINUS, +CANCELLARIUS OF CAMPANIA. + +[Sidenote: Payment of retiring Primiscrinius.] + +'It was well ordered by Antiquity that the servants of the Public +should receive a due reward for their labours; and who of all these +are more deserving than the officers of the Praetorian Praefect +(Praetoriani). Theirs is the difficult task of waiting on the +necessities of the army. They must demand accounts, often minute and +intricate, from great officers whom they dare not offend. They must +collect the stores of food for the Roman people from the Provincials +without giving them cause for complaint[788]. Their acts constitute +our true glory; and in the formation of their characters, work, hard +work, that stern and anxious pedagogue[789], is better than all +literary or philosophic training. + +[Footnote 788: 'Eorum est etiam sudoribus applicandum, quod victuales +expensae longe quidem positae, _sed tamquam in urbe Regiâ natae_ [I do +not quite understand this antithesis] sine querelâ Provincialium +congregantur.'] + +[Footnote 789: 'Labores, violenti magistri, solliciti paedagogi, per +quos cautior quis efficitur dum incurri pericula formidantur.'] + +'Such men ought assuredly to receive their stipulated rewards; and +therefore we order you to pay regularly so many solidi of the third +instalment, from the land-tax of the Province of Campania[790], to +such and such a person, who has now just completed his term of service +as Primiscrinius.' + +[Footnote 790: 'Ex canone provinciae Campaniae tertiae illationis tot +solidos solenniter te dare censemus.'] + + +38. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO JOANNES, CANONICARIUS[791] OF +THUSCIA. + +[Footnote 791: Tax-collector.] + +[Sidenote: Praises of paper.] + +'Rightly did Antiquity ordain that a large store of paper should be +laid in by our Bureaux (Scrinia), that litigants might receive the +decision of the Judge clearly written, without delay, and without +avaricious and impudent charges for the paper which bore it[792]. + +[Footnote 792: Lydus (De Magistratibus iii. 14) makes a similar +remark, but says that in his time the copying clerks (Exceptarii, or +Exceptores) supplied disgracefully bad paper made of grass, and +charged a fee for doing so.] + +'A wonderful product in truth is this wherewith ingenious Memphis has +supplied all the offices in the world. The plants of Nile arise, a +wood without leaves or branches, a harvest of the waters, the fair +tresses of the marshes, plants full of emptiness, spongy, thirsty, +having all their strength in their outer rind, tall and light, the +fairest fruit of a foul inundation. + +'Before Paper was discovered, all the sayings of the wise, all the +thoughts of the ancients, were in danger of perishing. Who could write +fluently or pleasantly on the rough bark of trees, though it is from +that practice that we call a book _Liber_? While the scribe was +laboriously cutting his letters on the sordid material, his very +thought grew cold: a rude contrivance assuredly, and only fit for the +beginnings of the world. + +'Then was paper discovered, and therewith was eloquence made possible. +Paper, so smooth and so continuous, the snowy entrails of a green +herb; paper which can be spread out to such a vast extent, and yet be +folded up into such a little space; paper, on whose white expanse the +black characters look beautiful; paper which keeps the sweet harvest +of the mind, and restores it to the reader whenever he chooses to +consult it; paper which is the faithful witness of all human actions, +eloquent of the past, a sworn foe to oblivion. + +'Therefore for this thirteenth Indiction[793] pay so many solidi from +the land-tax of the Tuscan Province to our Bureau, that it may be able +to keep in perpetuity a faithful record of all its transactions.' + +[Footnote 793: Sept. 1, 534. The reading 'de tertiae decimae +Indictionis rationibus' seems required by the sense, instead of +'tertiam de decimae Indictionis rationibus.' It is quite clear that +Cassiodorus was not Praetorian Praefect at the tenth Indiction.] + + +39. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE CLARISSIMUS VITALIAN, +CANCELLARIUS OF LUCANIA AND BRUTTII. + +[Sidenote: Payment by Province of Bruttii of commuted cattle-tax.] + +'The vast numbers of the Roman people in old time are evidenced by the +extensive Provinces from which their food supply was drawn, as well as +by the wide circuit of their walls, the massive structure of their +amphitheatre, the marvellous bigness of their public baths, and the +enormous multitude of mills, which could only have been made for use, +not for ornament. + +'It was to feed this population, that mountainous Lucania paid her +tribute of swine, that fertile Bruttii furnished her droves of oxen. +It was a glorious privilege for them thus to feed the Roman people: +yet the length of roads over which the animals had to be driven made +the tribute unnecessarily burdensome, since every mile reduced their +weight, and the herdsman could not possibly obtain credit at the +journey's end for the same number of pounds of flesh which he +possessed at its beginning. For this reason the tribute was commuted +into a money payment, one which no journeyings can diminish and no +toil can wound. The Provinces should understand and respond to this +favourable change, and not show themselves more slack than their +ancestors were, under far more burdensome conditions. Your Diligence +has now collected both these taxes[794] at the appointed periods; and +I am glad of it, that my countrymen, who have served alien +magistrates with praiseworthy diligence, might not seem negligent +under my rule. These Provinces, which I, my grandfather, and my +great-grandfather have benefited as private persons, I have +endeavoured to help yet more earnestly while I bore the majesty of the +_fasces_, that they who have rejoiced in my exaltation might see that +I still retained my love for our common country. Let them pay the tax +then, not from fear but from love. I have prevailed on the royal +generosity to limit its amount; for whereas it used to be 1,200 solidi +[£720] annually, it is henceforward to be 1,000 [£600][795].' + +[Footnote 794: 'Ambos titulos.'] + +[Footnote 795: This sum seems ridiculously small for the Province of +Bruttii. Can it be the sum assessed on each district?] + + +40. AN INDULGENCE [OR AMNESTY TO PRISONERS ON SOME GREAT FESTIVAL OF +THE CHURCH, PROBABLY EASTER]. + +[Sidenote: General Amnesty.] + +'All the year we are bound to tread in the path of Justice, but on +this day we secure our approach to the Redeemer by the path of +Forgiveness. Therefore we forswear punishments of all kinds, we +condemn the torture, and thus feel ourselves, in forgiving, to be more +truly than ever a Judge. + +'Hail to thee, O Clemency[796], patroness of the human race! thou +reignest in the heavens and on the earth: and most fitting is it that, +at sacred seasons like this, thou shouldest be supreme. + +[Footnote 796: 'Indulgentia.'] + +'Therefore, O Lictor, thou who art allowed to do with impunity the +very thing for which other men are punished, put up thy axe; let it be +henceforth bright, not bloody. Let the chains which have been so often +wet with tears now grow rusty. The prison--that house of Pluto, in +which men suffer a living death, from its foul odours, from the sound +of groaning which assails their ears, from the long fastings which +destroy their taste, from the heavy weights which weary their hands, +from the endless darkness which makes their eyes grow dim--let the +prison now be filled with emptiness. Never is it so popular as when it +is seen to be deserted. + +'And you, its denizens, who are thus in a manner transplanted to +Heaven from Hell, avoid the evil courses which made you acquainted +with its horrors. Even animals shun the things which they have once +found harmful. Cattle which have once fallen into a pit seek not again +the same road. The bird once snared shuns bird-lime. The pike buries +himself in deep sand, that he may escape the drag-net, and when it has +scraped his back leaps nimbly into the waves and expresses by his +gambols his joy for his deliverance. When the wrasse[797] finds that +he is caught in an osier trap, he moves himself slowly backwards till +he can leave his tail protruding, that one of his fellows, perceiving +his capture, may pull him out from his prison. + +[Footnote 797: 'Scarus.'] + +'So too the Sauri (?), a clever race of fish, named from their speed, +when they have swum into a net, tie themselves together into a sort of +rope; and then, tugging backwards with all their might, seek to +liberate their fellow-prisoners. + +'Many facts of the same kind would be discovered on enquiry. But my +discourse must return to thee, O Gaoler. Thou wilt be miserable in the +general joy, because thou art wont to derive thy gladness from the +affliction of many. But as some consolation for thy groans, we leave +to thee those prisoners whom the Law, for very pity's sake, cannot set +free--the men found guilty of outrageous crimes, whose liberation +would make barbarous deeds frequent. Over these thou mayest still +exert thy power.' + + + + +BOOK XII. + +CONTAINING TWENTY-EIGHT LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME +AS PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + + +1. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE VARIOUS CANCELLARII OF THE +SEVERAL PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: General instructions to the Cancellarii.] + +'It is generally supposed that long attendance at the Courts of Law +increases the love of justice. The character of the Judge also is in +some degree estimated by that of his officers[798], as that of a +philosophical teacher by his disciples. Thus your bad actions might +endanger our reputation, while, on the other hand, with no effort on +our part, we earn glory from all that you do well. Beware, therefore, +lest by any misconduct of yours, which is sure to be exaggerated by +popular rumour, you rouse anger in us, who as your Judge will be sure +to exact stern recompence for all the wrong you have done to our +reputation. Study this rather, that you may receive praise and +promotion at our hands, and go forth, with Divine help, on this +Indiction, to such and such a Province, adorned with the pomp of the +Cancelli, and girt about with a certain proud gravity. Remember the +honour of the _fasces_ which are borne before you, of the Praetorian +seat whose commands you execute. + +[Footnote 798: 'Per milites suos judex intelligitur.'] + +'Fly Avarice, the Queen of all the vices, who never enters the human +heart alone, but always brings a flattering and deceiving train along +with her. Show yourself zealous for the public good; do more by reason +than by terror. Let your person be a refuge for the oppressed, a +defence of the weak, a stronghold for him who is stricken down by any +calamity. Never do you more truly discharge the functions of the +Cancelli than when you open the prison doors to those who have been +unjustly confined.' + + +2. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ALL THE JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES +(A.D. 534-535). + +[Sidenote: General instructions to the Provincial Governors.] + +'God be thanked, the Provincials have attended to all my admonitions, +and I have kept all my promises to them. You, as Judges, have +admirably copied my own freedom from corruption, and I can only desire +that you will go on as you have begun. + +'Let the peasant pay cheerfully his share of the public taxes, and I +on my part will guarantee him the administration of justice in the +courts[799]. + +[Footnote 799: 'Possessor mihi publicas pecunias libens inferat: ego +illi in conventus justitiae tributa persolvam.'] + +'It was evidently the intention of the legislators that you should be +imitators of our dignity, since they have given you almost the same +jurisdiction in the Provinces as ourselves. + +'What avails the reputation of being a rich man? It confers no glory. +But to be known as a just man wins the praise of all. Nothing mean or +avaricious is becoming in a Judge. All his faults are made more +conspicuous by his elevation. Better were it to be absolutely unknown, +than to be marked out for the scorn of all men. Let us keep our own +brews clear from shame; then can we rebuke the sins of others. A +terrible leveller is iniquity: it makes the Judge himself feel like +the culprit who is tried before him. All these considerations, +according to my custom, I bring before you in this my yearly address, +since it is impossible ever to have too much of a good thing[800]. + +[Footnote 800:'Haec nos annuo sermone convenit loqui: quia bonarum +rerum nulla satietas est.'] + +'Now, to proceed to business. Do you and your official staff impress +upon all the cultivators of the soil the absolute necessity of their +paying their land-tax[801] for this thirteenth Indiction[802] at the +appointed time. Let there be no pressing them to pay before the time, +and no venal connivance at their postponement of payment after the +time. What kindness is there in delay? The money must be paid, sooner +or later. + +[Footnote 801: 'Trina Illatio.'] + +[Footnote 802: Sept. 1, 534, to Sept. 1, 535.] + +'Prepare also a full and faithful statement of the expenditure for +every four months[803], and address it to our bureaux[804], that there +may be perfect clearness in the public accounts. + +[Footnote 803: 'Expensarum fidelem notitiam quaternis mensibus +comprehensam.' As the receipts of the _Trina Illatio_ had to be +gathered in every four months, the account of Provincial expenditure +covered the same period.] + +[Footnote 804: 'Ad scrinia nostra dirigere maturabis.'] + +'In order to help you, we send A and B, members of our official staff, +to examine your accounts. See that you come up to the standard of duty +here prescribed for you.' + + +3. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ALL THE SAJONES WHO HAVE BEEN +ASSIGNED TO THE CANCELLARII. + +[Sidenote: General instructions to the Sajones.] + +'There must be fear of the magistrate in the heart of the citizen, +else the laws would never be obeyed. But as in medicine various +remedies are required by various constitutions, so in the +administration of the laws sometimes force and sometimes gentleness +has to be used. Wisdom is required to decide which is the best mode +of dealing with each particular case. + +'Therefore we despatch your Devotion[805] to attend upon A B, +Clarissimus Cancellarius. Be terrible to the lawless, but to them +alone. Above all things see to the punctual collection of the taxes. +Do not study popularity. Attend only to those cases which are +entrusted to your care, and work them thoroughly. No greater disgrace +can attach to an officer of Court than that a Judge's sentence should +be left unexecuted[806]. Do not swagger through the streets exulting +in the fact that nobody dares meet you. Brave men are ever gentle in +time of peace, and there is no greater lover of justice than he who +has seen many battles. When you return to your parents and friends let +it not be brawls that you have to boast of, but good conduct. We also +shall in that case welcome you back with pleasure, and not leave you +long without another commission. And the King too, the lord of +all[807], will entrust higher duties to him who returns from the lower +with credit and the reward of a good conscience.' + +[Footnote 805: 'Devotio tua' was the technical way of addressing the +_fortis Sajo_.] + +[Footnote 806: 'In executore illud est pessimum, si judicis relinquat +arbitrium.'] + +[Footnote 807: 'Rerum Dominus.'] + + +4. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE CANONICARIUS[808] OF THE +VENETIAE. + +[Footnote 808: Revenue-officer.] + +[Sidenote: Praise of Acinaticium, a red wine of Verona.] + +'A well furnished royal table is a credit to the State. A private +person may eat only the produce of his own district; but it is the +glory of a King to collect at his table the delicacies of all lands. +Let the Danube send us her carp, let the _anchorago_ (?) come from the +Rhine, let the labour of Sicily furnish the _exormiston_[809], let the +sea of Bruttii send its sweet _acerniae_ (?); in short, let +well-flavoured dishes be gathered from all coasts. It becomes a King +so to regale himself that he may seem to foreign ambassadors to +possess almost everything. + +[Footnote 809: 'Perhaps a kind of lamprey' (White and Riddle's +Latin-English Dictionary).] + +'And therefore, not to neglect home-produce also, as our fertile Italy +is especially rich in wines, we must have these also provided for the +King's table. Now the report of the Count of the Patrimony informs us +that the stock of _Acinaticium_[810] has fallen very low in the royal +cellars. We therefore order you to visit the cultivators of Verona, +and offer them a sufficient price for this product of theirs, which +they ought to offer without price to their Sovereign. + +[Footnote 810: Apparently a kind of raisin wine; from _acina_, a grape +or berry.] + +'It is in truth a noble wine and one that Italy may be proud of. +Inglorious Greece may doctor her wines with foreign admixtures, or +disguise them with perfumes. There is no need of any such process with +this liquor. It is purple, as becomes the wine of kings. Sweet and +strong[811], it grows more dense in tasting it, so that you might +doubt whether it was a liquid food or an edible drink[812]. + +[Footnote 811: What are we to make of 'Stipsis nescio quâ firmitate +roboratur?'] + +[Footnote 812: 'Tactus ejus densitate pinguescit: ut dicas esse aut +carneum liquorem aut edibilem potionem.' Questionable praise, +according to the ideas of a modern wine-grower.] + +'I have a mind to describe the singular mode of manufacturing this +wine. The grape cluster, gathered in autumn, is hung up under the roof +of the house to dry till December. Thus exuding its insipid humours it +becomes much sweeter. Then in December, when everything else is bound +by the frost of winter, the chilly blood of these grapes is allowed to +flow forth. It is not insultingly trodden down by the feet, nor is any +foul admixture suffered to pollute it; its stream of gem-like +clearness is drawn forth from it by a noble provocation. It seems to +shed tears of joy, and delights the eye by its beauty as much as the +palate by its flavour. Collect this wine as speedily as possible, pay +a sufficient price for it, and hand it over to the _Cartarii_ who are +charged with this business. + +'And this point is not to be forgotten, that it is to be served up in +goblets of a milky whiteness. Lilies and roses thus unite their +charms, and a pleasure is ministered to the eye, far beyond the mere +commonplace facts that the wine has a pleasant taste, and that it +restores the strength of the drinker. + +'We rely on you to provide both the wine and the drinking vessels[813] +with all despatch.' + +[Footnote 813: We might have expected to find wine-bottles rather than +wine-glasses thus requisitioned; but I think the words of Cassiodorus, +'quod lacteo poculo relucescit,' oblige us to adopt the latter +translation.] + + +5. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO VALERIAN, VIR SUBLIMIS. + +[Written probably in the autumn or winter of 535, when Belisarius was +in Sicily threatening the Southern Provinces of Italy.] + +[Sidenote: Measures for relief of Lucania and Bruttii.] + +'The ruler's anxiety for the common good of all over whom he is +placed, may allowably show itself in an especial manner towards the +dwellers in his own home, and that pre-eminently at a time when they +need his succour from peril. + +'The numerous army which was destined for the defence of the Republic +is said to have laid waste the cultivated parts of Lucania and +Bruttii, and to have diminished the abundance of those regions by its +love of rapine. + +'Now since they must take and you must give, and since the cultivator +must not be robbed nor the army starved, know that the prices of +provisions are fixed by the order of the Lord of the State at a much +lower figure than you have been wont to sell at[814]. + +[Footnote 814: 'Pretia quae antiquus ordo constituit ex jussione rerum +Domini cognoscite temperata, ut multo arctius quam vendere solebatis +in assem publicum praebita debeant imputari.'] + +'Be not therefore anxious. You have escaped the hands of the +tax-collector. The present instrument takes away from you the +liability to tribute. In order that your knowledge may be made more +complete, we have thought it better that the amounts of the provisions +for which you are held responsible should be expressed in the +below-written letters[815], that no one may sell you a benefit which +you know to be conferred by the public generosity. + +[Footnote 815: 'Sed quo facilius instrueretur vestra notitia, +_imputationum summas infra scriptis brevibus credidimus exprimendas._' +Apparently the ordinary taxes for the two Provinces are remitted, but +a certain quantity of provisions has to be furnished to the army, +perhaps by each township; and besides this, the commissariat officers +have a right of pre-emption at prices considerably below the market +rate.] + +'Repress, therefore, the unruly movements of the cultivators[816]. +While the Gothic army is fighting, let the Roman peasant enjoy in +quiet the peace for which he sighs. According to the King's command, +admonish the several tenants on the farms, and the better sort of +peasants, not to mingle in the barbarism of the strife, lest the +danger to public tranquillity be greater than any service they can +render in the wars[817]. Let them lay hands to the iron, but only to +cultivate their fields; let them grasp the pointed steel, but only to +goad their oxen. + +[Footnote 816: 'Continete ergo possessorum intemperantes motus.'] + +[Footnote 817: 'Ex Regiâ jussione singulos conductores massarum et +possessores validos admonete, ut nullam contrahant in concertatione +barbariem: ne non tantum festinent bellis prodesse quantum quiete +confundere.' Evidently the rustics are dissuaded from taking up arms +lest they should use them on the side of Belisarius.] + +'Let the Judges be active: let the tribunals echo with their +denunciations of crime. Let the robber, the adulterer, the forger, the +thief, find that the arm of the State is still strong to punish their +crimes. True freedom rejoices when these men are made sad. Here, in +this civil battle, is full scope for your energies: attend to this, +and enjoy the thought that others are fighting the battle with the +foreign foe for you. + +'Exercise great care in calculating the rations of the soldiers, that +no trickery may succeed in defrauding the soldier of his due. + +'The officers of the army are by the rulers of the State placed under +my authority, and you are therefore to admonish them if they go wrong, +while redressing all their real grievances. They, in their turn, must +uphold discipline, which is the most powerful weapon of an army. Rise +to the dignity of the occasion, and show that you are able to govern a +Province in a disturbed condition of public affairs, since anyone can +govern it while all things are quiet. + +'The royal household is specially ordered to pay the same obedience to +this rescript as all the rest of the Province; and as for my own +dependants, I say expressly that, though I wish them well, I ask for +no favour for them which I would not grant to all the other +inhabitants of the Province.' + + +6. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ALL THE SUBORDINATE GOVERNORS OF +THE PRAEFECTURE[818]. + +[Footnote 818: 'Universis Praefecturae titulos administrantibus.'] + +[Sidenote: General instructions to subordinate Governors.] + +'The exhortations addressed to you by the inborn piety of our Lords +ought to suffice; but nevertheless, that we may be doubly assured, we +will address to you our threats against all who shall wield their +power unrighteously. Cease from avarice, from arrogance, from +venality. What will your money avail you when the day of inquisition +comes? _We_ shall not be tempted by it. Let it be clearly understood +that we shall not sell pardons to unjust Judges, but shall hunt them +to their ruin. + +'But all you, good and honest rulers, continue to serve the State +without fear. No rival will buy your offices over your heads; you are +secure in your seats so long as you do well, until the time fixed by +our Lords expires. Be earnest, therefore, that my good deeds may be +imitated and receive their due meed of praise in your persons.' + + +7. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE TAX-COLLECTOR OF THE VENETIAN +PROVINCE[819]. + +[Footnote 819: 'Canonicario Venetiarum.'] + +[Sidenote: Remission of taxes on account of invasion by the Suevi.] + +'A good Sovereign will always exert himself to repair fortuitous +disasters, and will allow those who have paid their taxes punctually +in prosperity, considerable liberty in times of barbaric invasion. On +this ground, and on account of the incursions of the Suevi, the King +grants for this year, the fifteenth Indiction[820], a discharge of all +claims by the Fiscus preferred against A and B. And in all similar +cases where you shall be satisfied that the property has really been +laid waste by those Barbarians, you are at liberty to remit the taxes +for this Indiction. Afterwards you will use all the ordinary methods, +in order that you may be able to pay over the stipulated sum to the +Royal Treasurer. But meanwhile the poor cultivator has the best of all +arguments against paying you, namely, that he has nothing left him +wherewith to pay. Thus is his calamity his best voucher for +payment[821]; and we do not wish that he who has been already alarmed +by the arms of the robber should further tremble at the official robe +of the civil servant[822]. + +[Footnote 820: Sept. 1, 536, to Sept. 1, 537.] + +[Footnote 821: 'Validas contra te apochas invenerunt.'] + +[Footnote 822: 'Chlamydes non pavescant, qui arma timuerunt.'] + + +8. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE CONSULARIS OF THE PROVINCE OF +LIGURIA. + +[Sidenote: Permission to pay taxes direct to Royal Treasury.] + +'It is a new and delightful kind of profit to be able to grant the +request of a petitioner without feeling any loss oneself. The present +suitor, complaining that he is vexed by the exactions of the +tax-gatherer on account of certain farms mentioned in the subjoined +letter, offers to bring the amount due from them himself to our +Treasurers[823]. We are willing to grant this request, on condition +that the Fiscus does not suffer thereby; and therefore desire your +Respectability to warn all _Curiales_, _Compulsores_, and all other +persons concerned, to remove for this Indiction every kind of legal +process from the before-mentioned properties; the condition of this +immunity being that he shall, before the kalends of such and such a +month produce the receipts[824] of the _Arcarius_, showing that he has +discharged his debt to the State. Otherwise the debt must be exacted +by ordinary process. But it is delightful to us whenever the tax is +paid without calling in the aid of the _Compulsor_. Would that the +peasant would always thus freely anticipate the needs of the +Treasury!' + +[Footnote 823: 'Arcarii.'] + +[Footnote 824: 'Apochae.'] + + +9. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO PASCHASIUS, PRAEFECT OF THE +CORN-DISTRIBUTIONS[825]. + +[Footnote 825: 'Praefectus Annonae.'] + +[Sidenote: African claims to succeed to estate of an intestate +countryman.] + +[To make this letter intelligible we must presuppose a custom, +certainly a very extraordinary one, by which on the death of an +African without heirs, any other African in Italy was allowed to claim +the inheritance. By 'African,' no doubt, we must understand one of the +indigenous inhabitants of Africa, perhaps a man of Negro race. The +custom certainly cannot have applied to African Provincials of Roman +descent. It was perhaps based on some old tribal notions of joint +possession and mutual inheritance.] + +'It is a work of wondrous kindness to oblige a foreign race with +public benefits, and not only to invite blood relations to enjoy the +advantages of property, but to permit even strangers to share them. +This kind of heirship is independent of the ties of kindred, +independent of succession from parents, and requires nothing else +save only power to utter the speech of the fatherland. + +'This is the privilege which, as the African asserts, was of old +bestowed on his race. By virtue thereof they lawfully demand the +inheritance of others, and thus obtain a right which the Roman in a +similar case could never claim. Nor have they this benefit in their +own land; but here they are for this purpose looked upon as all +related to one another. + +'The whole nation, in what relates to the advantages of succession, is +regarded as one family. + +'Your Experience is therefore to submit the subject of this man's +petition to a diligent examination, and if it shall turn out, as he +alleges, that the deceased has left no sons nor other persons who +might reasonably claim to succeed him, your official staff is to +induct him into the aforesaid property according to the established +usage. + +'He will thus cease to be a foreigner, and will acquire the status of +a native possessor, and therewith the usual liability to pay tribute. +He is inferior to other owners only in this one point, that he lacks +the power of alienating his property. Let him who has derived so much +benefit from our commiseration now relieve others. Fortunate and +enviable has turned out his captivity[826], which enables him at one +and the same time to enjoy the citizenship of Rome and the privileges +of the African.' + +[Footnote 826: 'Felix illi contigit et praedicanda captivitas.' A +little before, we read, 'Resumat facultatem quam se suspiraverat +amississe.' These sentences suggest the idea that the petitioner had +been brought over in the train of the lately deceased person as a +slave. This a little lessens the difficulty of his being admitted to +the inheritance. Compare Gen. xv. 3, where Abraham, before the birth +of a son, says, 'And one born in my house' (i.e. a slave) 'is mine +heir.'] + + +10. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO DIVERS CANCELLARII IN THE +PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: Taxes to be punctually enforced.] + +'Arrears of tribute are like bodily diseases, serious and enfeebling +when they become chronic. A man who is under a load of debt cannot be +called free: he has abandoned the power of controlling his actions to +another. Your supposed indulgence to the taxpayer is no real kindness. +There comes a time when the whole arrear of debt has to be claimed, +and then these venal delays of yours make the demand seem twice as +heavy in the eyes of the unfortunate taxpayer. Cease then to trade +upon the peasants' losses. Exact the whole amount of taxes for the +coming Indiction, and pay them in on the appointed day to the +Treasurer[827] of the Province; or else it will be the worse for you, +and you will have to return, stripped of all official rank[828], into +the Province which you are conscious of having badly administered. + +[Footnote 827: 'Arcarius.'] + +[Footnote 828: 'Degeniatus.'] + +'I shall not _speak_ again on this subject, but shall, if necessary, +extract the sums from you by an irrevocable act of distraint.' + + +11. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO PETER, VIR CLARISSIMUS, +DISTRIBUTOR OF RELISHES[829]. + +[Footnote 829: 'Erogatori obsoniorum.'] + +[Sidenote: Distribution of relishes to Roman citizens.] + +'The liberality of a good Sovereign must not be discredited by fraud +and carelessness in the person charged with its distribution. Even +molten gold contracts a stain if not poured into an absolutely clean +vessel. How sweet is it to see a stream flowing clear and unpolluted +over a snow-white channel! Even so must you see that the gifts of the +Sovereign of the State reach the Roman people as pure and as copious +as they issue forth from him. + +'All fraud is hateful; but fraud exercised upon the people of Romulus +is absolutely unbearable. That quiet and easily satisfied people, +whose existence you might forget except when they testify their +happiness by their shouts; noisy without a thought of sedition; whose +only care is to shun poverty without amassing wealth; lowly in fortune +but rich in temper--it is a kind of profanation to rob such people as +these. + +'We therefore entrust to you the task of distributing the +relishes[830] to the Roman people from this Indiction. Be true to the +citizens, else you will become as an alien unto us. Do not be bribed +into allowing anyone to pass as a Latin who was not born in Latium. + +[Footnote 830: 'Obsonia.'] + +'These privileges belong to the Quirites alone: no slave must be +admitted to share them. That man sins against the majesty of the Roman +people, who defiles the pure river of their blood by thrusting upon +them the fellowship of slaves.' + + +12. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ANASTASIUS, CANCELLARIUS OF +LUCANIA AND BRUTTII. + +[Sidenote: Praise of the cheese and wine of Bruttii.] + +'When we were dining, according to our wonted custom, with the +Sovereign of the State[831], the conversation happened to turn upon +the delicacies of various Provinces, and we praised the wines of +Bruttii and the cheese of the district around Mount Sila[832]. + +[Footnote 831: 'Cum apud rerum Dominum solemni more pranderemus.'] + +[Footnote 832: 'Silanum.' Mount Sila is a range of hills in Calabria +immediately to the north of Squillace, forty miles from north to +south, and twenty miles from east to west, and occupying the whole of +the projecting portion of the south-east side of Italy between the +Gulf of Squillace and the Bay of Taranto. The highest peaks, which are +about 5,700 feet high, are covered with snow during half the year. It +is said that from the beginning of June till far on into October, +15,000 head of cattle and 150,000 sheep, besides horses and mules, +graze in these uplands. (See Gael-Fells: Unter Italien, p. 721.)] + +'The _cheese_, which retains in its pores the milk which has been +collected there, recalls by its taste the fragrant herbs upon which +the cattle have fed; by its texture it reminds us of the softness of +oil, from which it differs in colour by its snowy whiteness. Having +been carefully pressed into a wide cask and hardened therein, it +retains permanently the beautiful round shape which has thus been +given to it[833]. + +[Footnote 833: From the description of Cassiodorus, it seems to have +been a kind of cream cheese.] + +'The _wine_, to which Antiquity gave the name of praise, Palmatiana, +must be selected not of a rough but sweet kind[834]. Though last [in +geographical position] among the wines of Bruttii, it is by general +opinion accounted the best, equal to that of Gaza, similar to the +Sabine, moderately thick, strong, brisk, of conspicuous whiteness, +distinguished by the fine aroma, of which a pleasant after-taste is +perceived by the drinker[835]. It constrains loosened bowels, dries up +moist wounds, and refreshes the weary breast. + +[Footnote 834: 'Non stipsi asperum sed gratum suavitate perquire.' The +same peculiar word, _stipsis_, which we had in Letter xii. 4. What +meaning are we to assign to the word?] + +[Footnote 835: 'Magnis odoribus singulare:--quod ita redolet ore +ructatum ut merito illi a palma nomen videatur impositum.'] + +'Let it be your care to provide as speedily as possible a stock of +both these products of our country, and send them in ships to the +Royal residence. For a temporary supply we have drawn on our own +cellars, but we look to you to choose specimens of the genuine quality +for the King. We cannot be deceived, who retain the true taste in our +patriotic memory; and at your peril will you provide any inferior +article to that which our cellars will have supplied[836].' + +[Footnote 836: Baronius (Ad Ann. 591) quotes this letter of +Cassiodorus to explain an allusion in the life of Pope Gregory the +Great, who refused to receive a present of 'Palmatiana' from the +Bishop of Messina, and insisted on paying for it.] + + +13. AN EDICT. + +[Sidenote: Frauds committed by the revenue officers on the Churches of +Bruttii and Lucania.] + +'The generous gifts of Kings ought to be respected by their subjects. + +'Long ago the constitutions of the Emperors enriched the holy +Churches of Bruttii and Lucania with certain gifts. But since the +sacrilegious mind is not afraid of sinning against the Divine +reverence, the Canonicarii (officers of the Exchequer) have robbed +these ecclesiastical positions of a certain portion of their revenue +in the name of the Numerarii of the Praetorian Praefect's staff; but +these latter, with righteous indignation, declare that they have +received no part of the spoils thus impiously collected in their name. + +'Thus have the Canonicarii turned the property of the clergy into a +_douceur_ for the laity[837]. Oh, audacity of man! what barriers can +be erected against thee? Thou mightest have hoped to escape human +observation, but why commit crimes which the Divinity cannot but +notice? + +[Footnote 837: 'Facientes laicum commodum substantiam clericorum.'] + +'Therefore we ordain by this edict that anyone who shall hereafter +commit this kind of fraud shall lose his own private gains, and shall +forfeit his place in the public service[838]. + +[Footnote 838: 'Edictali programmate definimus, ut qui in hac fuerit +ulterius fraude versatus et militiâ careat et compendium propriae +facultatis amittat.' The last clause is perhaps purposely vague. We +should have expected to hear something about restitution, but the +words will not bear that meaning.] + +'Let the poor keep the gifts which God has put it into the heart of +Kings to bestow upon them. It is cruel above all other cruelty to wish +to become rich by means of the scanty possessions of the mendicant.' + + +14. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ANASTASIUS, CANCELLARIUS OF +LUCANIA AND BRUTTII. + +[Sidenote: Plea for gentle treatment for citizens of Rhegium.] + +'The citizens of Rhegium (so called from the Greek word [Greek: +rhêgnumi], to break, because their island has been broken off from +Sicily by the violence of the waves) complain that they are being +unfairly harassed by the tax-gatherers. I, as an eyewitness, can +confirm the truth of their statement that their territory does not +bring forth the produce which is claimed at their hands. It is a rocky +and mountainous country, too dry for pasture, though sufficiently +undulating for vineyards; bad for grain-crops, though well suited for +olives. The shade has to be all provided by the industry of man, who +has planted there the tree of Pallas [the olive], which prospers in +even the driest soil, because it sends its roots down into the very +depths of the earth. + +'The corn has to be watered by hand, like pot-herbs in a garden. You +seldom see the husbandman bending beneath his load as he returns from +the threshing-floor. A few bushels full are all that he can boast of, +even in an abundant harvest[839]. + +[Footnote 839: I do not understand the following sentences: 'In hortis +autem rusticorum agmen habetur operosum: quia olus illic omne saporum +est marinâ irroratione respersum. Quod humanâ industriâ fieri +consuevit, hoc cum nutriretur accepit.' Can they have watered any +herbs with salt water?] + +'Contrary to the opinion of Virgil [who speaks of the bitter roots of +the endive[840]], the fibres of endive are here extremely sweet, and +encircled by their twisting leaves are caked together with a certain +callous tenderness[841]. + +[Footnote 840: + + 'Nec tamen, haec quum sint hominumque boumque labores + Versando terram experti, nihil improbus anser, + Strymoniaeque grues, et _amaris intuba fibris_ + Officiunt.'--Georgic i. 118-121.] + +[Footnote 841: I must renounce the attempt to translate the rest of +the sentence: 'Unde in morem nitri aliquid decerptum frangitur, dum a +fecundo cespite segregatur.' There is an alternative reading, _vitri_ +for _nitri_; but I am still unable to understand the author's +meaning.] + +'In the treasures of the deep that region is certainly rich; for the +Upper and Lower Sea meet there. The _exormiston_[842], a sort of king +among fishes, with bristly nostrils and a milky delicacy of flavour, +is found in these waters. In stormy weather it is tossed about on the +top of the waves, and seems to be too tired or too indolent to seek a +refuge in the deeper water[843]. No other fish can be compared to it +in sweetness[844]. + +[Footnote 842: Apparently a kind of lamprey. See the fourth letter of +this book.] + +[Footnote 843: Perhaps Cassiodorus means to say this makes it more +easy of capture, but he does not say so.] + +[Footnote 844: The praises of the exormiston are not only foreign to +the main subject of the letter, but to a certain extent weaken the +writer's argument on behalf of his countrymen; but, as a good +Bruttian, he cannot help vaunting the products of his country.] + +'These are the products--I speak from my own knowledge--of the Rhegian +shore. Therefore you must not seek to levy a tribute of wheat or lard +from the inhabitants under the name of "coemptio." + +'I may add that they are so troubled by the constant passage of +travellers entering Italy or leaving it, that it would have been right +to excuse them even if those products had been found there in +abundance[845].' + +[Footnote 845: The passage to and fro of travellers no doubt brought +with it burdensome duties for the inhabitants in connection with the +_Cursus Publicus_. It was therefore a reason for mitigating other +taxes.] + + +15. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO MAXIMUS, VIR CLARISSIMUS, +CANCELLARIUS OF LUCANIA AND BRUTTII[846]. + +[Footnote 846: This letter, being the description by Cassiodorus of +his native place, is translated entire.] + +[Sidenote: Praises of the author's birthplace, Scyllacium.] + +'Scyllacium, the first city of Bruttii, which Ulysses the destroyer of +Troy is believed to have founded, is said to be unreasonably vexed by +the exorbitant demands of purveyors[847]. These injuries grieve us all +the more on account of our patriotic love for the place. + +[Footnote 847: 'Irrationabiliter dicitur praesumentium nimietate +vexari.'] + +'The city of Scyllacium, which is so placed as to look down upon the +Hadriatic Gulf, hangs upon the hills like a cluster of grapes: not +that it may pride itself upon their difficult ascent, but that it may +voluptuously gaze on verdant plains and the blue back of the sea. The +city beholds the rising sun from its very cradle, when the day that is +about to be born sends forward no heralding Aurora; but as soon as it +begins to rise, the quivering brightness displays its torch. It +beholds Phoebus in his joy; it is bathed in the brightness of that +luminary, so that it might be thought to be itself the native land of +the sun, the claims of Rhodes to that honour being outdone. + +'It enjoys a translucent air, but withal so temperate that its winters +are sunny, and its summers cool; and life passes there without sorrow, +since hostile seasons are feared by none. Hence, too, man himself is +here freer of soul than elsewhere, for this temperateness of the +climate prevails in all things. + +'In sooth, a hot fatherland makes its children sharp and fickle, a +cold one slow and sly; it is only a temperate climate which composes +the characters of men by its own moderation. Hence was it that the +ancients pronounced Athens to be the seat of sages, because, enriched +with an air of the greatest purity, it prepared with glad liberality +the lucid intellects of its sons for the contemplative part of life. +Assuredly for the body to imbibe muddy waters is a different thing +from sucking in the transparency of a sweet fountain. Even so the +vigour of the mind is repressed when it is clogged by a heavy +atmosphere. Nature herself hath made us subject to these influences. +Clouds make us feel sad; and again a bright sky fills us with joy, +because the heavenly substance of the soul delights in everything that +is unstained and pure. + +'Scyllacium has also an abundant share of the delicacies of the sea, +possessing near it those gates of Neptune which we ourselves +constructed. At the foot of the Moscian Mount we hollowed out the +bowels of the rock, and tastefully[848] introduced therein the eddying +waves of Nereus. Here a troop of fishes, sporting in free captivity, +refreshes all minds with delight, and charms all eyes with admiration. +They run greedily to the hand of man, and before they become his food +seek dainties from him. Man feeds his own dainty morsels, and while he +has that which can bring them into his power, it often happens that +being already replete he lets them all go again. + +[Footnote 848: 'Decenter.'] + +'The spectacle moreover of men engaged in honourable labour is not +denied to those who are sitting tranquilly in the city. Plenteous +vineyards are beheld in abundance. The fruitful toil of the +threshing-floor is seen. The face of the green olive is disclosed. No +one need sigh for the pleasures of the country, when it is given him +to see them all from the town. + +'And inasmuch as it has now no walls, you believe Scyllacium to be a +rural city, though you might judge it to be an urban villa; and thus +placed between the two worlds of town and country, it is lavishly +praised by both. + +'This place wayfarers desire frequently to visit, and as they object +to the toil of walking, the citizens, called upon to provide them with +post-horses, and rations for their servants, have to pay heavily in +purse for the pleasantness of their city. Therefore to prevent this, +for the future we decide that all charges for providing post-horses +and rations shall be debited to the public account. We cut up, root +and branch, the system of paying _Pulveratica_[849] to the Judge; and +we decide, according to ancient custom, that rations for three days +only shall be given on their arrival to the great Dignitaries of the +State, and that any more prolonged delay in their locomotion be +provided for by themselves. + +[Footnote 849: Dust-money.] + +'To relieve your city of its heaviest burdens will be, according to +our injunctions, an act of judicial impartiality, not of laxity. Live, +by God's help, a mirror of the justice of the age, delighting in the +security of all. Some people call the Isles of the Atlantic +'Fortunate:' I would rather give that name to the place where you do +now dwell.' + + +16. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO A REVENUE OFFICER[850]. + +[Footnote 850: 'Canonicario.'] + +[This interesting letter is one of the few written by Cassiodorus as +Praetorian Praefect which we can date with certainty. It is written +apparently at the beginning of the first Indiction, i.e. Sept. 1, 537. +Witigis and the Goths have been for nearly six months besieging Rome, +and are beginning to be discouraged as to its capture. Cassiodorus is +probably at Ravenna, directing the machine of government from that +capital.] + +[Sidenote: Payment of Trina Illatio.] + +'Time, which adapts itself incessantly to the course of human affairs, +and reconciles us even to adversity[851], has brought round again the +period for collecting the _Trina Illatio_ from the taxpayer. Let the +peasant (_possessor_) pay in your Diocese, for this first Indiction, +his instalment of the tax freely, not being urged too soon nor allowed +to postpone it too late, so that he may plead that he has been let off +from payment[852]. Let none exceed the fair weight, but let him use a +just pound: if once the true weight is allowed to be exceeded, there +is no limit to extortion[853]. + +[Footnote 851: 'Dum res nobis etiam asperas captatâ semper opinione +conciliat.' Apparently a veiled allusion to the disasters of the +Goths.] + +[Footnote 852: 'Nec iterum remissione lentatâ quisquam se dicat esse +praeteritum.'] + +[Footnote 853: This mention of the just weight of course suits a tax +paid in kind, not in money.] + +'Let a faithful account of the expenses of collection be rendered +every four months to our office[854], that, all error and obscurity +being removed, truth may be manifest in the public accounts. + +[Footnote 854: 'Expensarum quoque fidelem notitiam per quaternos +menses ad scrinia nostra solemniter destinabis.'] + +'That you may, with God's help, be the better able to fulfil our +instructions, I have ordered A and B, servants of our tribunal, who +are mindful of their own past responsibilities, to assist you and your +staff[855]. Beware therefore, lest you incur the blame of corruptly +discharging the taxpayer, or of sluggish idleness in the discharge of +your duties, in which case your own fortunes will suffer from your +neglect.' + +[Footnote 855: 'Illum atque illum sedis nostrae milites, tibi +officioque tuo periculorum suorum memores praecipimus imminere.'] + + +17. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO JOHN, SILIQUATARIUS[856] OF +RAVENNA. + +[Footnote 856: Collector of the Siliquaticum, or tax of one +twenty-fourth on sales. See ii. 30, iii. 35, iv. 19.] + +[Sidenote: Defence of Ravenna.] + +'In times of peace, by contact with foreigners who swarm in our +cities, we learn what will be our best defence in war. Who can tell +with what nation we may be next at war? Therefore, to be on the safe +side, make such preparations as our future enemies, whosoever they may +be, will dislike to hear of. Accordingly you are to order the peasants +to dig a series of pits with wide mouths near the mountains of +Caprarius and the parts round about the walls[857]; and let such a +chasm yawn there that there shall be no possibility of entrance that +way. + +[Footnote 857: No doubt the walls of Ravenna. I cannot identify the +Mons Caprarius. The name Caprera is a common one in Italy.] + +'If strangers want to enter the city, why do they not enter it in the +right way--by the gates--instead of going skulking about these +bye-paths? Henceforth, anyone trying to take any such short cut to our +city will probably find that he loses his life in consequence[858].' + +[Footnote 858: One may conjecture that this letter was written in 535, +when war with the Empire was imminent, but before it was actually +declared.] + + +18. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO CONSTANTIAN, VIR +EXPERIENTISSIMUS. + +[Sidenote: Repair of Flaminian Way.] + +'Great is the reward of those who serve Kings efficiently; as severe +is the punishment of those who neglect their duties towards them. + +'How delightful is it to journey without obstacles over a well-made +road[859], to pass doubtful places without fear, to ascend mountainous +steeps by a gentle incline, to have no fear of the planking of a +bridge when one crosses it[860], and in short to accomplish one's +journey so that everything happens to one's liking! + +[Footnote 859: 'Videre judicia diligentia.' I leave this clause +untranslated, as I cannot understand it.] + +[Footnote 860: 'In pontibus contrabium non tremere.'] + +'This is the pleasure which you can now prepare for your Sovereign. +Therefore, as the Flaminian Way is furrowed by the action of torrents, +join the yawning chasms by the broadest of bridges; clear away the +rough woods which choke the sides of the highway; procure the +stipulated number of post-horses, and see that they have all the +points which are required in a good steed; collect the designated +quantities of provisions without plundering the peasants. A failure in +any one of these particulars will ruin your whole service. + +[Sidenote: Supply of delicacies for the King's table.] + +'Collect, too, with the utmost diligence the spices which are needed +for the King's table. What avails it to have satisfied the army, if +the King's own board lack proper care. Let all the Provincials attend +to your admonitions: let the cities furnish the stores set forth in +the accompanying letters. Then, when they have put the Sovereign in a +good humour, they may ask him for benefits to some purpose. + +'Think of me as present and as judging of all your deeds. I shall have +to bear the blame of your failures at Court; so act rather as to set +my mind at rest, to cover me and yourselves with glory, and to entitle +me to receive on your behalf the thanks of the whole army.' + +[This letter was probably written in the autumn of 535, when Theodahad +was preparing to march to Rome. The mention of the delicacies for the +royal table suggests that that King, in addition to the other +excellencies of his character, was probably an epicure.] + + +19. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO MAXIMUS, VICARIUS OF THE CITY OF +ROME. + +[Sidenote: Bridge of boats across the Tiber.] + +'As all great events in Nature have their heralding signs, so is the +approaching visit of the King announced to you even by the concourse +of wayfarers to your City. We, however, have to order you to clothe +the waves of Tiber with a bridge [of boats]. The boat, thus used, is +no longer moved by slowly hauled ropes, as it is wont to be. Fixed +itself, it affords a means of transit to others. The joining of its +planks gives the desired appearance of solidity; all the terror of the +waves is removed by its likeness to the land, and the traveller +passing over it unharmed only wishes that the bridge were longer. + +'Let a safe bulwark of lattice-work shield the bridge on the right +side and on the left. See that you give no cause for misadventure of +any kind. You have a noble opportunity of distinguishing yourself in +the presence of so many Senators and of the King himself, the rewarder +of every well-done work. On the other hand, if you do it badly and put +him out of humour, woe be unto you! + +'We send A B, a servant of our Praefecture[861], to assist you and +your staff and bring us report of the accomplishment of the work; for +so heavy is our responsibility in this matter that we dare not leave +anything to chance.' + +[Footnote 861: 'Illum sedis nostrae militem.'] + +[The King whose advent to Rome is here announced may be Witigis, after +his election in the plains of Regeta (August, 536). But the fact that +he is apparently approaching Rome by the northern bank of the Tiber, +coupled with the directions in the preceding letter for the repair of +the Flaminian Way, makes it more probable that some visit of Theodahad +(probably in the year 535), when he would come from Ravenna to Rome, +is here in prospect.] + + +20. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THOMAS AND PETER, VIRI CLARISSIMI +AND ARCARII. + +[Sidenote: Sacred vessels mortgaged by Pope Agapetus to be restored to +the stewards of the Papal See.] + +'You will remember, most faithful Sirs, that when the holy Agapetus, +Pope of the City of Rome, was sent as ambassador to the Sovereign of +the East[862], he received so many pounds of gold from you for the +expenses of the journey, for which he gave his bond[863] and deposited +some of the Church plate as security[864]. The provident ruler thus +lent him money in his necessity, and now, far more gloriously, returns +as a free gift those pledges which the Pope might well have thanked +him for taking. + +[Footnote 862: He was sent by Theodahad; entered Constantinople +February 20, 536, and died there 21st April of the same year.] + +[Footnote 863: 'Facto pictacio.'] + +[Footnote 864: 'Vasa sanctorum.' One would think this must refer to +the vessels used in celebrating mass; but I do not quite see how the +meaning is to be got out of the words.] + +'Therefore, in obedience to these instructions of ours, and fortified +by the Royal order, do you return without any delay to the +stewards[865] of the holy Apostle Peter the vessels of the saints +together with the written obligation, that these things may be felt to +be profitably restored and speedily granted, that the longed-for means +of performing their world-famous ministrations may be replaced in the +hands of the Levites. Let that be given back which was their own, +since that is justly received back by way of largesse which the Priest +had legally mortgaged. + +[Footnote 865: 'Actoribus.'] + +'Herein is the great example of King Alaric surpassed. He, when +glutted with the spoil of Rome, having received the vessels of the +Apostle Peter from his men, when he heard the story of their seizure, +ordered them to be carried back across the sacred threshold, that so +the remembrance of the cupidity of their capture might be effaced by +the generosity of their restoration. + +'But our King, with religious purpose, has restored the vessels which +had become his own by the law of mortgage. In recompense for such +deeds frequent prayer ought to ascend, and Heaven will surely gladly +grant the required return for such good actions[866].' + +[Footnote 866: Baronius not unfairly argues that if the Roman See was +so poor that the Church plate had to be pawned to provide for the +Pope's journey to Constantinople, the _wealth_ of the Pope cannot have +largely contributed to that great increase of his influence which +marked the early years of the Sixth Century.] + +[There are in this letter several extremely obscure sentences as to +the generosity of Theodahad. As the Papal journey was undertaken by +Theodahad's orders, it was a piece of meanness, quite in keeping with +that King's character, to treat the advance of money for the journey +as a loan, and to insist on a bond and the deposit of the Church plate +as a security for repayment. Cassiodorus evidently feels this; and +very probably the restoration of the vessels and the quittance of the +debt had been insisted on by him. But the more he despises his +master's shabbiness, the more he struggles through a maze of almost +nonsensical sentences, to prove that he has committed some very +glorious action in lending the money and then forgiving the debt.] + + +21. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO DEUSDEDIT, A SCRIBE OF RAVENNA. + +[Sidenote: Duties of a Scribe.] + +'The Scribe's office is the great safeguard of the rights of all men. +The evidence of ownership may be destroyed by fire or purloined by +dishonest men, but the State by making use of the Scribe's labours is +able to make good the loss so sustained. The Scribe is more diligent +in other men's business than they are in their own. His +muniment-chest is the refuge of all the oppressed, and the repository +of the fortunes of all men[867]. + +[Footnote 867: 'Armarium ipsius fortuna cunctorum est.'] + +'In testimony of your past integrity, and in the hope that no change +will mar this fair picture, we appoint you to this honourable office. +Remember that ancient Truth is committed to your keeping, and that it +often really rests with you, rather than with the Judge, to decide the +disputes of litigants. When your indisputable testimony is given, and +when the ancient voice of charters proceeds from your _sanctum_, +Advocates receive it with reverence, and suitors, even +evil-intentioned men, are constrained into obedience. + +'Banish, therefore, all thoughts of venality from your mind. The worst +moth that gets into papers and destroys them is the gold of the +dishonest litigant, who bribes the Scribes to make away with evidence +which he knows to be hostile. Thus, then, be ready always to produce +to suitors genuine old documents; and, on the other hand, transcribe +only, do not compose ancient proceedings[868]. Let the copy correspond +to the original as the wax to the signet-ring, that as the face is the +index of the emotions[869] so your handwriting may not err from the +authentic original in anything. + +[Footnote 868: 'Translator esto, non conditor antiquorum gestorum.'] + +[Footnote 869: Compare Cassiodorus' treatise De Animâ, chapters x. and +xi., in which he enumerates the various points in which the faces of +good men and bad men differ from one another.] + +'If a claimant succeed in enticing you even once from the paths of +honesty, vainly will you in any subsequent case seek to obtain his +credence for any document that you may produce; for he will always +believe that the trick which has been played once may be played again. +Keep to the line of justice, and even his angry exclamations at the +impossibility of inducing you to deviate therefrom, will be your +highest testimonial. Your whole career is public, and the favour or +disgrace which awaits you must be public also.' + + +22. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE PROVINCIALS OF ISTRIA. + +[This letter was written Sept. 1, 537, probably in consequence of the +scarcity which the operations of Belisarius were already causing at +Ravenna. Apparently the whole taxes levied from a Province at an +Indiction were divided into two heads: so much for the central +authority, and so much for the Province. Cassiodorus in this and the +following letter says in effect: 'All the State's share of the taxes +we will take not in money, but in your staple products, corn, wine, +and oil. The rest goes as usual to the Province; but owing to the +scarcity at Ravenna we shall be glad to buy all that can be spared +either by the authorities of the Province or by individuals, whether +farmers or merchants.'] + +'The true way to prevent the requirements of the public revenue from +becoming oppressive, is to order each Province to supply those +products in which it is naturally most fertile. + +[Sidenote: Requisition from Province of Istria.] + +'Now I have learned by conversation with travellers that the Province +of Istria is this year especially blessed in three of its crops--wine, +oil, and corn. Therefore let her give of these products the equivalent +of ... solidi, which are due from you in payment of tribute for this +first Indiction[870]: while the remainder we leave to that loyal +Province for her own regular expenses. But since we require a larger +quantity of the above-mentioned products, we send ... solidi from our +state chest for the purchase of them, that these necessaries may be +collected for us with as little delay as possible. Often when you are +desirous to sell you cannot find a purchaser, and suffer loss +accordingly. How much better is it to obey the requirements of your +Lords than to supply foreigners; and to pay your debts in the fruits +of the soil, rather than to wait on the caprices of a buyer! + +[Footnote 870: The first Indiction was from September 1, 537, to +September 1, 538.] + +'We will ourselves out of our love of justice state a fact of which +you might otherwise remind us, that we can afford to be liberal in +price because we are not burdened by the payment of freights [on +account of your nearness to the seat of government]. For what Campania +is to Rome, Istria is to Ravenna--a fruitful Province abounding in +corn, wine, and oil; so to speak, the cupboard of the capital. I might +carry the comparison further, and say that Istria can show her own +Baiae in the lagunes with which her shores are indented[871], her own +Averni in the pools abounding in oysters and fish. The palaces, strung +like pearls along the shores of Istria, show how highly our ancestors +appreciated its delights[872]. The beautiful chain of islands with +which it is begirt, shelter the sailor from danger and enrich the +cultivator. The residence of the Court in this district delights the +nobles and enriches the lower orders; and it may be said that all its +products find their way to the Royal city. Now let the loyal Province, +which has often tendered her services when they were less required, +send forward her stores freely. + +[Footnote 871: Here follows this sentence: 'Haec loca garismatia plura +nutriunt.' Garum seems to have been a sauce something like our +anchovy-sauce. Garismatium is evidently a garum-supplying place.] + +[Footnote 872: We have a special allusion in Martial (iv. 25) to the +villas of Altinum, and he too compares them to those of Baiae.] + +'To guard against any misunderstanding of our orders, we send +Laurentius, a man of great experience, whose instructions are +contained in the annexed letter. + +'We will publish a tariff of moderate prices when we next address you, +and when we have ascertained what is the yield of the present crops; +for we should be deciding quite at random before we have received that +information.' + + +23. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO LAURENTIUS, VIR +EXPERIENTISSIMUS[873]. + +[Footnote 873: Evidently 'the annexed letter' referred to in No. 22.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'Anyone can discharge the duties of the Commissariat in a time of +abundance. It is a mark of our high appreciation of your experience +and efficiency, that we select you for this service in a time of +scarcity. We therefore direct you to repair to the Province of Istria, +there to collect stores of wine, oil, and corn, equivalent to ... +solidi, due from the Province for land-tax[874], and with ... solidi +which you have received from our Treasurer to buy these products +either from the merchants or from the peasants directly, according to +the information prepared for you by the Cashiers[875]. Raise your +spirits for this duty, and discharge it in a manner worthy of your +past reputation. Make to us a faithful report of the yield of the +coming harvest, under these three heads[876], that we may fix a tariff +of prices which shall be neither burdensome to the Provincials nor +injurious to the public service.' + +[Footnote 874: 'Ut in tot solidos vini, olei, vel tritici species de +tributario solido debeas procurare.'] + +[Footnote 875: 'Sicut te a Numerariis instruxit porrecta Notitia.' +Note this use of the word 'Notitia,' as illustrating the title of the +celebrated document bearing that name.] + +[Footnote 876: Corn, wine, and oil.] + + +24. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE TRIBUNES OF THE MARITIME +POPULATION[877]. + +[Footnote 877: Written shortly after Sept. 1, 537. This is the +celebrated letter to which Venetian historians point as evidence of +the existence of their city (or at least of the group of settlements +out of which their city sprang) in the Sixth Century. We may set side +by side with it the words of the Anonymous Geographer of Ravenna (in +the Seventh Century), 'In patria vero Venetiae sunt aliquantae +insulae, quae hominibus habitantur.' + +The address, _Tribunis Maritimorum_, looks as if there were something +like a municipal government established in these islands. Tribunus was +at this time generally, but not exclusively, a military title. Compare +the Tribunus Fori Suarii and Tribunus Rerum Nitentium of the Notitia +(Occidens iv. 10 and iv. 17). But there can be no doubt, from the tone +of this letter, that the islanders were subjects of the Ostrogothic +King.] + +[Sidenote: First historical notice of Venice.] + +'We have previously given orders that Istria should send wine and oil, +of which there are abundant crops this year, to the Royal residence +at Ravenna. Do you, who possess numerous ships on the borders of the +Province, show the same devotion in forwarding the stores which they +do in supplying them. + +'Be therefore active in fulfilling this commission in your own +neighbourhood, you who often cross boundless distances. It may be said +that [in visiting Ravenna] you are going through your own +guest-chambers, you who in your voyages traverse your own home[878]. +This is also added to your other advantages, that to you another route +is open, marked by perpetual safety and tranquillity. For when by +raging winds the sea is closed, a way is opened to you through the +most charming river scenery[879]. Your keels fear no rough blasts; +they touch the earth with the greatest pleasure, and cannot perish +however frequently they may come in contact with it. Beholders from a +distance, not seeing the channel of the stream, might fancy them +moving through the meadows. Cables have been used to keep them at +rest: now drawn by ropes they move, and by a changed order of things +men help their ships with their feet. They draw their drawers without +labour, and instead of the capricious favour of sails they use the +more satisfactory steps of the sailor. + +[Footnote 878: An obscure sentence: 'Per hospitia quodammodo vestra +discurritis qui per patriam navigatis.' The idea seems to be: 'You +have to sail about from one room to another of your own house, and +therefore Ravenna will seem like a neighbouring inn.'] + +[Footnote 879: The next four sentences describe the movement of the +ships when towed along the channels of the streams (Brenta, Piave, +Tagliamento, &c.) the deposits from which have made the lagunes.] + +'It is a pleasure to recall the situation of your dwellings as I +myself have seen them. Venetia the praiseworthy[880], formerly full of +the dwellings of the nobility, touches on the south Ravenna and the +Po, while on the east it enjoys the delightsomeness of the Ionian +shore, where the alternating tide now discovers and now conceals the +face of the fields by the ebb and flow of its inundation. Here after +the manner of water-fowl have you fixed your home. He who was just now +on the mainland finds himself on an island, so that you might fancy +yourself in the Cyclades[881], from the sudden alterations in the +appearance of the shore. + +[Footnote 880: 'Venetiae praedicabiles.' An allusion, no doubt, as +other commentators have suggested, to the reputed derivation of +Venetia from [Greek: Ainetoi], 'the laudable.'] + +[Footnote 881: Alluding probably to the story of the floating island +of Delos.] + +'Like them[882] there are seen amid the wide expanse of the waters +your scattered homes, not the product of Nature, but cemented by the +care of man into a firm foundation[883]. For by a twisted and knotted +osier-work the earth there collected is turned into a solid mass, and +you oppose without fear to the waves of the sea so fragile a bulwark, +since forsooth the mass of waters is unable to sweep away the shallow +shore, the deficiency in depth depriving the waves of the necessary +power. + +[Footnote 882: 'Earum similitudine.' Does Cassiodorus mean 'like the +water-fowl,' or 'like the Cyclades?'] + +[Footnote 883: The reading of Nivellius (followed by Migne), +'Domicilia videntur sparsa, quae Natura non protulit sed hominum cura +fundavit,' seems to give a better sense than that of Garet, who omits +the 'non.'] + +'The inhabitants have one notion of plenty, that of gorging themselves +with fish. Poverty therefore may associate itself with wealth on equal +terms. One kind of food refreshes all; the same sort of dwelling +shelters all; no one can envy his neighbour's home; and living in this +moderate style they escape that vice [of envy] to which all the rest +of the world is liable. + +'Your whole attention is concentrated on your salt-works. Instead of +driving the plough or wielding the sickle, you roll your cylinders. +Thence arises your whole crop, when you find in them that product +which you have not manufactured[884]. There it may be said is your +subsistence-money coined[885]. Of this art of yours every wave is a +bondservant. In the quest for gold a man may be lukewarm: but salt +every one desires to find; and deservedly so, since to it every kind +of meat owes its savour. + +[Footnote 884: 'Inde vobis fructus omnis enascitur, quando in ipsis, +et quae non facitis possidetis.'] + +[Footnote 885: 'Moneta illic quodammodo percutitur victualis.' Some +have supposed that these words point to a currency in salt; but I +think they are only a Cassiodorian way of saying 'By this craft ye +have your wealth.'] + +'Therefore let your ships, which you have tethered, like so many +beasts of burden, to your walls, be repaired with diligent care: so +that when the most experienced Laurentius attempts to bring you his +instructions, you may hasten forth to greet him. Do not by any +hindrance on your part delay the necessary purchases which he has to +make; since you, on account of the character of your winds, are able +to choose the shortest sea-track[886].' + +[Footnote 886: This is the only translation I can suggest of 'quatenus +expensas necessarias nulla difficultate tardetis, qui pro qualitate +aeris compendium vobis eligere potestis itineris.'] + + +25. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO HIS DEPUTY[887] AMBROSIUS, AN +ILLUSTRIS. + +[Footnote 887: 'Agenti vices.' See note on xi. 4.] + +[This letter appears to have been written in the early autumn of 538, +about a year after the three last letters, and also after Letters 27 +and 28, which precede it in order of date, though they follow it in +this collection. For an account of the terrible famine in Italy, the +beginning of which is here described, see Procopius, De Bello Gotthico +ii. 20.] + +[Sidenote: Famine in Italy.] + +'Since the world is not governed by chance, but by a Divine Ruler who +does not change His purposes at random, men are alarmed, and naturally +alarmed, at the extraordinary signs in the heavens, and ask with +anxious hearts what events these may portend. The Sun, first of stars, +seems to have lost his wonted light, and appears of a bluish colour. +We marvel to see no shadows of our bodies at noon, to feel the mighty +vigour of his heat wasted into feebleness, and the phenomena which +accompany a transitory eclipse prolonged through a whole year. + +'The Moon too, even when her orb is full, is empty of her natural +splendour. Strange has been the course of the year thus far. We have +had a winter without storms, a spring without mildness, and a summer +without heat. Whence can we look for harvest, since the months which +should have been maturing the corn have been chilled by Boreas? How +can the blade open if rain, the mother of all fertility, is denied to +it? These two influences, prolonged frost and unseasonable drought, +must be adverse to all things that grow. The seasons seem to be all +jumbled up together, and the fruits, which were wont to be formed by +gentle showers, cannot be looked for from the parched earth. But as +last year was one that boasted of an exceptionally abundant harvest, +you are to collect all of its fruits that you can, and store them up +for the coming months of scarcity, for which it is well able to +provide. And that you may not be too much distressed by the signs in +the heavens of which I have spoken, return to the consideration of +Nature, and apprehend the reason of that which makes the vulgar gape +with wonder. + +'The middle air is thickened by the rigour of snow and rarefied by the +beams of the Sun. This is the great Inane, roaming between the heavens +and the earth. When it happens to be pure and lighted up by the rays +of the sun it opens out its true aspect[888]; but when alien elements +are blended with it, it is stretched like a hide across the sky, and +suffers neither the true colours of the heavenly bodies to appear nor +their proper warmth to penetrate. This often happens in cloudy weather +for a time; it is only its extraordinary prolongation which has +produced these disastrous effects, causing the reaper to fear a new +frost in harvest, making the apples to harden when they should grow +ripe, souring the old age of the grape-cluster. + +[Footnote 888: 'Vestros (?) veraciter pandit aspectus.'] + +'All this, however, though it would be wrong to construe it as an omen +of Divine wrath, cannot but have an injurious effect on the fruits of +the earth. Let it be your care to see that the scarcity of this one +year does not bring ruin on us all. Even thus was it ordained by the +first occupant of our present dignity[889], that the preceding plenty +should avail to mitigate the present penury.' + +[Footnote 889: Joseph, Praetorian Praefect of Egypt under Pharaoh.] + + +26. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO PAULUS, VIR STRENUUS[890]. + +[Footnote 890: Paulas was probably a Sajo.] + +[Sidenote: Remission of taxes for Province of Venetia in consequence +of the famine.] + +'We are glad when we can reconcile the claims of the public service +with the suggestions of pity. The Venerable Augustin, a man +illustrious by his life and name, has brought under our notice the +lamentable petition of the Venetians, to the effect that there have +been in their Province no crops of wine, wheat, or millet, and that +they must be ruined unless the Royal pity succours them. + +'In these circumstances it would be cruel to exact the customary +supplies from them, and we therefore remit the contributions of wine +and wheat for the use of the army which we had ordered from the cities +of Concordia, Aquileia, and Forojulii[891], exacting only the meat, as +shown by the accompanying letter[892]. + +[Footnote 891: Now Cividale in Friuli. Notice the terminations of +these names: 'ex Concordiense, Aquileiense, et Forojuliense +civitatibus' ('e,' not 'i').] + +[Footnote 892: The letter here alluded to does not appear to be +preserved.] + +'We shall send from hence a sufficient supply of wheat when the time +comes; and as we are told that there is a plentiful crop of wine in +Istria, you can buy there the wine that would have been furnished by +the three cities. Be sure that you ask for no fee in this matter. +This remission of taxes is absolutely gratuitous on our part.' + + +27. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO DATIUS[893], BISHOP OF MILAN. + +[Footnote 893: Cassiodorus, like Procopius, spells this name with a +'t.' Some of the ecclesiastical writers spell it with a 'c.'] + +[Sidenote: Relief of famine-stricken citizens of Ticinum and Dertona.] + +'It is most fitting that good and holy men should be made the stewards +of the Royal bounty. We therefore request your Holiness, in accordance +with the King's commands, to open the granaries at Ticinum[894], and +Dertona[895], and sell millet thereat to the starving people at the +rate of 20 modii per solidum[896]. We are anxious that you should do +this, lest the work should fall into venal hands which would sell the +King's bounty to those who are able to provide for themselves. It is +the poor, not the rich, that we wish to help: we would pour our bounty +into empty vessels. Let not then your Holiness think this work of +compassion, unworthy of your sacred office. In order to assist you we +have sent A and B, who will simply obey the orders of your Holiness, +doing nothing of their own motion. + +[Footnote 894: Pavia.] + +[Footnote 895: Tortona.] + +[Footnote 896: Twelve shillings for twenty pecks, or about nineteen +shillings and twopence a quarter; not a very low price, one would +think, for such a grain as millet. + +Datius is ordered to sell _tertiam portionem_ of this millet. Probably +this expression has the same meaning as the 'tertia illatio' of xi. +37. + +In the similar letter, x. 27, 'tertia portio' (whether of wheat or +millet is not stated) is to be sold at 25 modii per solidum.] + +'Send us an account of the solidi received in payment for the said +millet, that they may be stored up with our Treasurer[897], in order +to replace the before-mentioned grain, and thus provide a reserve for +future times of scarcity; like a garment taken to pieces that it may +be made up again as good as new.' + +[Footnote 897: 'Arcarius.'] + +[It is not very easy to assign a date to this letter. The mention of +the famine would incline us to assign it to 538, as that seems to have +been the year when the full force of the famine was felt in Italy (see +Procopius, De Bello Gotthico ii. 20, where 538 and 539 seem to be +marked as the two great famine years). But very early in 538 the +Bishop of Milan, the same Datius to whom this letter is addressed, +visited Rome to entreat Belisarius to send a small garrison to occupy +Milan, which had already revolted, or was on the verge of revolting, +from the Gothic King. As soon as the siege of Rome was raised +Belisarius complied with this request, and sent 1,000 men, under +Mundilas, to escort Datius back to Milan. This expedition set forth +probably in April 538, and as soon as it arrived at Milan that city +openly proclaimed its defection from Witigis and its allegiance to the +Emperor. It was soon besieged by Uraias, nephew of Witigis, by whom in +the following year (539) it was taken. The city, we are informed, was +rased to the ground, and Bishop Datius escaped to Constantinople. +Evidently we have here a continuous chain of events, which makes it +impossible for us to date this letter in 538 or any subsequent year. + +We ought probably therefore to assign it to the autumn of 537, and to +look upon it as an attempt (unsuccessful, as it proved) to retain +Datius and the citizens of Milan on the side of the Goths. We know +from the Twenty-second Letter of this book that signs of scarcity had +already shown themselves in Italy by the 1st September, 537; and in an +interesting passage of the 'Historia Miscella' (Book xvi.), famine in +Liguria, the year 537, and the name of Datius are all combined. +'Praeter belli instantiam angebatur insuper Roma famis penuriâ: tanta +siquidem per universum mundum eo anno [the year of the siege of Rome], +_maxime apud Liguriam_ fames excreverat, ut _sicut vir sanctissimus +Datius Mediolanensis antistes retulit_, pleraeque matres infelicium +natorum membra comederent.' I owe this reference to Baronius.] + + +28. AN EDICT [ADDRESSED TO THE LIGURIANS]. + +[Sidenote: Relief of inhabitants of Liguria.] + +'Divine Providence uses adversity as a means of testing our +characters. Famine has afflicted the Provinces, but the result of it +has been that they have proved more fully than before the bounty of +their King. Rejoice herein, oh ye Ligurians! For when, as you will +remember, on a previous occasion the savage temper of your neighbours +was aroused, and Aemilia and your Liguria were shaken by an incursion +of the Burgundians, who waged a sneaking campaign by reason of their +nearness to your territory, suddenly the renown of the insulted +Empire[898] arose like the sun in his strength. The enemy mourned the +ruin which was caused by his own presumption, when he learned that +that man was Ruler of the Gothic race whose rare valour he had +experienced when he was still a private soldier[899]. How often did +the Burgundian wish that he had never left his own frontiers to be +compelled to fight with such an adversary as our Sovereign; for though +he found with relief that he escaped his actual presence in the field, +none the less did his rashness bring him in contact with the good +fortune of his arms. For when with redoubled fortitude[900] the Goths +turned to the prosecution of the war, with such successfully combined +operations did they strike the bands of the rebels, that you would +have thought those were all armed men, these were all +defenceless[901]. Such was the just judgment of God, that the robber +should perish in those very plains which he had presumed to desolate. +Exult now, oh Province, adorned with the carcases of thine +adversaries! rejoice, oh Liguria, at the heap of dead bodies! If the +harvest of corn is denied thee, the harvest of dead enemies shall not +be wanting. Tribute thou mayest not be able to offer to thy King, but +the triumphs which are won in thy land thou canst offer with pride. + +[Footnote 898: Literally, 'of the present Empire:' 'subito praesentis +Imperii tanquam solis ortus fama radiavit.' I avoid the word +'present,' because of its ambiguity. Observe the use of 'Imperii' +applied to the Gothic Kingdom.] + +[Footnote 899: 'Quando illum cognovit nominatae (?) gentis esse +Rectorem, quem sub militis nomine probaverat esse singularem.' This +evident allusion to Witigis obliges us to place the date of this +Burgundian invasion not much earlier than the summer of 536, when +Witigis was raised to the throne. Apparently the Burgundians were +already in Italy when they heard the news of that event.] + +[Footnote 900: 'Ut Gothi ad belli studium geminâ se fortitudine +contulerunt.' These words perhaps allude to the necessity of fighting +two enemies at once, Belisarius and the Burgundians; or perhaps to the +existence of two Gothic armies, whose combined operations are +indicated by the following words, 'prospera concertatione.'] + +[Footnote 901: 'Quasi inde nudos hinc stare contigisset armatos.' +'Hinc' and 'inde' refer to geographical position, not to the order of +the words in the sentence.] + +'[902]To these triumphs must be added the lately foiled plunder-raid +of the Alamanni, so checked in its very first attempts that their +entrance and exit were almost one event, like a wound well and +opportunely cauterised. Thus were the excesses of the presumptuous +invader punished, and the subjects of our King were saved from +absolute ruin. I might indeed enumerate to you what crowds of the +enemy fell in other places, but I turn rather--such is human +nature--to more joyful themes, and revert to the point with which I at +first commenced, namely that the Sovereign who has saved you from the +hostile sword is determined now to avert from your Province the perils +of famine. + +[Footnote 902: See von Schubert's 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen,' pp. +57-59, for a careful analysis of the following paragraph.] + +'In this new war the citadels are well-stored granaries; Starvation is +the dreaded foe: if they are closed she enters; by opening them wide +she is put to flight. I know not what the world in general may think +of the relative merit of these two campaigns of our King. For my part, +though I recognise it as the mark of a brave man to have fought a +winning battle, I think it is something above mere human valour to +have conquered penury. + +'In addition to these benefits the King has remitted one-half of the +taxes of the Province, that he might not sadden with the one hand +those whom he was gladdening with the other. Herein he compares +favourably with Joseph, who sold corn to the Egyptians, but on such +terms that they lost their personal freedom. Doubtless that holy man +was placed in a dilemma between the necessity of satisfying a covetous +King on the one hand, and that of rescuing a starving people on the +other. Still I must think that the Egyptian, whose life was preserved, +groaned over the loss of his liberty; and if I may say so, with all +respect to so great a patriarch[903], far nobler is it to sell corn to +freemen who remain freemen, and to lighten their taxes on account of +poverty. This is really a gratuitous distribution, when both the money +with which to buy is handed over to you [by the abatement of tribute], +and a price is fixed on purpose to please you. + +[Footnote 903: 'Pace tanti patris dixerim.'] + +'The generosity of the State therefore will sell 25 modii, when the +peasant has lost his crops, at the price at which 10 are usually +sold[904]. Humanity has altered the usual course of affairs, and by a +strange kind of chaffering, but one which truly becomes a King, just +when the famished peasant is willing to offer us an enhanced price +for food, we are directed to offer it to him for a smaller one. + +[Footnote 904: Probably one solidus: making the largesse price 15s. +4d. a quarter (about four shillings less than the price named in the +preceding letter for millet); while the market price was 38s. 4d. a +quarter. I read these sentences thus: 'Vendit itaque largitas publica +vicenos quinque modios, dum possessor invenire non possit, ad denos. +Ordinem rerum saeculi mutavit humanitas.' The construction is harsh +and elliptical, but this makes sense, which the ordinary punctuation, +throwing 'ad denos' into the following sentence, does not.] + +'The King himself had seen your calamity, and thereupon bestowed on +you previously one favour. Now, on hearing of its continuance, he adds +to it a second. Happy calamity, which forced itself on the notice of +such an eye-witness! + +'Now, oh Ligurian, rejoice in the good fortune which has come to thee. +Compare thy lot with the Egyptian's and be happy. He was fed, but lost +his freedom; thou art fed, and at the same time defended from thy +enemies. Joseph gave back the purchase-money to his brethren in their +sacks, showing a greater kindness to his kindred than to his subjects. +Our King shows no such partiality, but bestows on all the taxpayers +larger benefits than he did on his brethren. Happy age! in which Kings +may be likened, not to Kings, but to Prophets, and yet bear away the +palm. + +'But that we may not longer detain you from the desired enjoyment of +the Royal benefits, know that our commands have been given to those +whose business it is to attend to this affair, that, according to the +tenour of this edict, the generosity of the Sovereign may penetrate +into your homes.' + +[The same considerations which were applied to the date of the +preceding letter seem to require that this also be dated in 537. After +the raising of the siege of Rome (March, 538), by the despatch of +Imperial troops into Liguria, and the enthusiastic adherence of that +Province to the Imperial cause, a new state of things was established, +and one to which the language of this letter would have been utterly +inapplicable. + +There are two events of which we have no other knowledge than that +furnished by this letter: the invasion of the Burgundians, and the +ravages of the Alamanni in the Province of Liguria. + +(1) The invasion of the Burgundians seems, as stated in a previous +note, to have occurred in the spring or early summer of 536; so that +Cassiodorus could represent the invaders as surprised and disheartened +by learning of the elevation of Witigis. It no doubt formed part of +those hostile operations of the Frankish Kings described by Procopius +(De Bello Gotthico i. 13), the termination of which was purchased by +Witigis by the cession of Provence and the payment of a subsidy. It is +interesting to observe, however, that the Burgundians, notwithstanding +their subjugation in 534, and their incorporation in the Frankish +monarchy, are still spoken of as conducting an invasion on their own +account. This is just like the invasion of Italy in 553 by the +Alamannic brethren, and is quite in keeping with the loosely compacted +character of the Merovingian monarchy, in which it was copied by the +Anglian and Saxon Kingdoms. + +(2) For the ravages of the Alamanni consult, as before stated, von +Schubert's monograph. This passage quite confirms his view of the +events connected with the overthrow of the Alamannic Kingdom by +Clovis. A remnant of the people, settled as refugees in Raetia under +Theodoric's protection, now, in the decline of the Ostrogothic +monarchy throw off their allegiance to his successors, and press +forward over the Alps to share the spoil of Italy. Witigis, however, +notwithstanding his struggle with Belisarius, is still able promptly +to repel this incursion; but it co-operates with the Burgundian +invasion and the inclement spring and summer of 537 to bring about the +famine in Liguria in the autumn of that year.] + + +THE END. + + + + +INDEX OF PERSONS + +TO WHOM THE LETTERS ARE ADDRESSED. + + +A. + +Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect, v. 16, 17, 23, 34; ix. 4. + +Acretius, _see_ Eutropius. + +Adeodatus, iii. 46. + +Adila, Vir Spectabilis, Comes, ii. 29. + +Aemilianus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, iv. 31. + +Aestunae, Possessores, Defensores, and Curiales dwelling at, iii. 9. + +Agapitus, Praefectus Urbis, + Vir Illustris atque Patricius, i. 6, 23, 32, 33, 41; ii. 6. + +Alaric (II), King of the Visigoths (484-507), iii. 1. + +Albienus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, i. 20; + Praefectus Praetorio, viii. 20. + +Albinus and Albienus, Viri Illustres atque Patricii, i. 20. + +Albinus, Vir Illustris, Patricius, iv. 30. + +Albinus, Actores of, iv. 35. + +Aloisius, Architect, ii. 39. + +Amabilis, Exsecutor, i. 8; + Vir Devotus (? Sajo) and Comes, iv. 5. + +Ambrosius, Quaestor, viii. 13; + Vir Illustris Agens Vices (Praefecti Praetorio), xi. 4, 5; xii. 25. + +Ampelius, Despotius, and Theodulus, Viri Spectabiles, ii. 23. + +Ampelius, Count Luvirit and, v. 35. + +Ampelius and Liveria, v. 39. + +Anastasius, Emperor (491-518), i. 1; ii. 1. + +Anastasius, Consularis, v. 8. + +Anastasius, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xii. 12, 14. + +Anat(h)olius, Cancellarius of Province of Samnium, xi. 36. + +Andreas, Primiscrinius, xi. 21. + +Andreas, _see_ Maximian. + +Annas, Vir Spectabilis and Comes, iv. 18. + +Antianus, Vir Spectabilis, ex-Cornicularius, xi. 18, 34. + +Antonius, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop of Pola, iv. 44. + +Apronianus, Vir Illustris, Comes Privatarum, iii. 53. + +Arator, Vir Illustris, Comes Domesticorum, viii. 12. + +Arelate (_Arles_), Possessores of, iii. 44. + +Argolicus, Vir Illustris, + Praefectas Urbis, iii. 11, 29, 30, 33; iv. 22, 25, 29, 42. + +Arigern, Vir Illustris, Comes, iii. 36, 45; iv. 23. + +Artemidorus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, + Praefectus Urbis, i. 42; ii. 34; iii. 22. + +Assuin (Assius, or Assum), Vir Illustris, Comes, i. 40. + +Aurigenes, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, iii. 14. + +Avilf, Sajo, v. 20. + + +B. + +Baion (Coion, or Goinon), Vir Spectabilis, i. 38. + +Beatus, Vir Clarissimus and Cancellarius, xi. 10; + Primicerius Augustalium, xi. 30. + +Benenatus, Vir Spectabilis, iv. 15. + +Bergantinus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, + Comes Patrimonii, viii. 23; ix. 3. + +Boetius, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, i. 10, 45; ii. 40. + +Brandila, v. 32. + + +C. + +Cancellarii diversi Provinciarum Singularum, xii. 1, 10. + +Canonicarius Venetiarum, xii. 4, 7. + +Capuanus, Vir Spectabilis, v. 21. + +Carinus, Vir Illustris, v. 28. + +Cart(h)erius, Regerendarius, xi. 29. + +Cassiodorus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius + (father of Cassiodorus Senator), i. 3; iii. 28. + +Catana, City of, + Honorati Possessores, Defensores, and Curiales of, iii. 49. + +Catellus, Scriniarius Actorum, xi. 22. + +Cheliodorus, Commentariensis, xi. 28. + +Clovis, _see_ Luduin. + +Coelianus and Agapitus, Viri Illustres et Patricii, i. 23. + +Colossaeus, Vir Illustris, Comes, Governor of Pannonia, iii. 23. + +Comes Siliquatariorum et Portus Curas Agens, ii. 12. + +Constantian, Vir Experientissimus, xii. 18. + +Constantinian, Cura Epistolarum Canonicarum, xi. 23. + +Consularis, Vir Illustris, iii. 52. + +Consularis Liguriae, xii. 8. + +Crispianus, i. 37. + +Cunigast, Vir Illustris, viii. 28. + +Cyprian, Comes Sacrarum Largitionum and Patrician, v. 40; viii. 21. + + +D. + +Dalmatia and S(u)avia, all the Goths and Romans in, ix. 9. + +Daniel, iii. 19. + +Datius, Bishop of Milan, xii. 27. + +Decius, Vir Illustris, Patricius, ii. 33. + +Decoratus, Vir Devotus, v. 31. + +Dertona (_Tortona_), all Goths and + Romans abiding (consistentes) at, i. 17. + +Despotius, _see_ Ampelius. + +Densdedit, Scriba Ravennas, xii. 21. + +Domitianus and Willias, i. 18. + +Dromonarii, the, ii. 31. + +Duda, Vir Spectabilis and Comes, iv. 28; + Sajo, iv. 32, 34. + +Dumerit, Sajo, viii. 27. + + +E. + +Ecdicius (or Benedictus), Vir Honestus, ii. 4. + +Elpidius (or Hespidius), Deacon, iv. 24. + +Epiphanius, Vir Spectabilis, Consularis of Dalmatia, v. 24. + +Episcopi et Honorati (?), ix. 5. + +Episcopi sui, x. 34; + diversi, xi. 3. + +Eugenius (Eugenites, or Eugenes), Vir Illustris, + Magister Officiorum, i. 12. + +Eusebius, Vir Illustris, iv. 48. + +Eustorgius, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop of Milan, i. 9. + +Eutropius and Acretius, v. 13. + + +F. + +Faustus, Praefectus Praetorio + (in the edition of Nivellius his title is + given as Praepositus), i. 14, 26, 34, 35; ii. 5, 9, 26, 30, 37, 38; + Vir Illustris, iii. 21; + Praefectus Praetorio, iii. 47, 51; iv. 36, 38, 50. + +Felix, Vir Clarissimus, i. 7; + Vir Illustris, Consul (511), ii. 2; iii. 39. + +Felix, Quaestor, viii. 18. + +Feltria (_Feltre_), Possessors of, v. 9. + +Ferrocinctus, _see_ Grimoda. + +Festus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, i. 15, 39; ii. 22; iii. 10. + +Florentinus (or Florentianus), Vir Devotus, Comitiacus, viii. 27. + +Florianus, Vir Spectabilis, i. 5. + +Forum Livii (_Forli_), Honorati Possessores, and Curiales of, iv. 8. + +Fruinarith, Sajo, ii. 13. + + +G. + +Gaudiosus, Cancellarius of Province of Liguria, xi. 14. + +Gaul, all the Provincials of, iii. 17, 42; viii. 7. + +Geberich, Vir Spectabilis, iv. 20. + +Gemellus, Vir Spectabilis, + Governor of Gaul, iii. 16, 18, 32; iv. 12, 19, 21. + +Genesius, Vir Spectabilis, viii. 30. + +Gepidae, ad Gallias destinati, v. 11. + +Gesila, Sajo, iv. 14. + +Gildias, Vir Spectabilis, Count of Syracuse, ix. 11, 14. + +Goths, all the, i. 24; x. 31; + settled in Italy, viii. 5. + +Goths, all the, and Romans, i. 28. + +Goths, all the, and Romans, + and those who hold the harbours and mountain-passes, ii. 19. + +Grimoda, Sajo, and Ferrocinctus, Apparitor, iii. 20. + +Gudila, Bishop, ii. 18. + +Gudinand, Sajo, v. 19. + +Gudisal, Sajo, iv. 47. + +Guduim, Sajo, v. 27; + Vir Sublimis and Dux, v. 30. + +Gundibad, King of the Burgundians (473-516), i. 46; iii. 2. + + +H. + +Haesti, the, v. 2. + +Herminafrid, King of the Thuringians, iv. 1. + +Heruli, King of the, iv. 2. + +Heruli, Warni, and Thoringi, Kings of the, iii. 3. + +Hilderic, King of the Vandals (523-531), ix. 1. + +Honoratus, Vir Illustris, Quaestor, v. 3. + +Honorius, Praefectus Urbis, x. 30. + + +I. + +Ida (perhaps Ibbas), Vir Sublimis and Dux, iv. 17. + +Importunus, Vir Illustris, Patricius, iii. 5. + +Istria, Provincials of, xii. 22. + + +J. + +Januarius, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop of Salona, iii. 7. + +Jews, all the, residing in Genoa, ii. 27; iv. 33. + +Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Consularis Campaniae, iii. 27; iv. 10. + +Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Referendarius, viii. 25. + +Joannes, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius, v. 7. + +Joannes, Canonicarius of Thuscia, xi. 38. + +Joannes, Cancellarius, xi. 6; + Praerogativarius, xi. 27. + +Joannes, Siliquatarius of Ravenna, xii. 17. + +Joannes, Apparitor, ii. 21; + Arch-Physician, iv. 41. + +John II, Pope (533-535), ix. 15; xi. 2. + +Judges, all the, of the Provinces, ix. 20; xi. 7, 9; xii. 2. + +Julianus, Comes Patrimonii, i. 16. + +Justin, Emperor (518-527), viii. 1. + +Justinian, Emperor (527-566), + x. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 19, 22, 24, 25, 26, 32; xi. 13. + +Justus, Sextus Scholaris, xi. 26. + + +L. + +Laurentius, Vir Experientissimus, xii. 23. + +Liberius, Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls, viii. 6. + +Ligurians, the, xi. 15, 16; xii. 28. + +Liveria, _see_ Ampelius. + +Lucillus, Scriniarius Curae Militaris, xi. 24. + +Lucinus, Vir Clarissimus, Cancellarius of Campania, xi. 37. + +Lucristani (Lustriani?), the, + settled (constituti) on the river Sontius (_Isonzo_), i. 29. + +Luduin (Clovis), King of the Franks (481-511), ii. 41; iii. 4. + +Luvirit, Count, and Ampelius, v. 35. + + +M. + +Magister Officiorum (at Constantinople), x. 33. + +Mannila, Sajo, v. 5. + +Marabad, Vir Illustris and Comes, iv. 12, 46. + +Marcellus, Vir Spectabilis, Advocatus Fisci, i. 22. + +Massilia (_Marseilles_), citizens of, iii. 34; iv. 26. + +Maximian, Vir Illustris, and Andreas, Vir Spectabilis, i. 21. + +Maximus, Vir lllustris, Consul, v. 42; + Vir Illustris and Domesticus, x. 11. + +Maximus, Vir Clarissimus, + Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xii. 15. + +Maximus, Vicarius Urbis Romae, xii. 19. + +Milan, the Jews of, v. 37. + + +N. + +Neudes, Vir Illustris, v. 29. + +Noricum, Provincials of, iii. 50. + +Nursia, _see_ Reate. + + +O. + +Opilio, Comes Sacrarum Largitionum, viii. 16. + +Osun (Osuin, or Osum), Vir Illustris, Comes, iii. 26; iv. 9; ix. 8. + + +P. + +Pannonia, all the Barbarians and Romans settled in, iii. 24. + +Parma, Honorati Possessores, and Curiales of, viii. 29. + +Paschasius, Praefectus Annonae, xii. 9. + +Patricius, Vir Illustris and Quaestor, x. 6. + +Patricius, Primicerius Exceptorum, xi. 25. + +Paulinas, Vir Clarissimus and Consul, ix. 22. + +Paulus, Vir Strenuus, xii. 26. + +Peter, Bishop, iii. 37. + +Peter, Vir Clarissimus, Erogator Obsoniorum, xii. 11; + Arcarius, xii. 20. + +Picenum and Samnium, all the Goths settled in, v. 26. + +Pierius, Primicerius Singulariorum, xi. 32. + +Possessores, universi, v. 38. + +Provinus (Probinus), Vir Illustris, Patricius, ii. 11; + Actores of, iv. 40. + + +R. + +Reate and Nursia, all the inhabitants of, viii. 26. + +Reparatus, Praefectus Urbis, ix. 7. + +Roman Church, Clergy of, viii. 24. + +Romans, all the, i. 28; + in Italy and the Dalmatias, viii. 4. + +Roman people, the, i. 31; viii. 3; x. 14, 17. + +Rome, people of the City of, i. 44. + +Romulus (? ex-Emperor), iii. 35. + + +S. + +Sabinianus, Vir Spectabilis, i. 25. + +Sajones, universi, qui sunt Cancellariis deputati, xii. 3. + +Salvantius, Vir Illustris, Praefectus Urbis, ix. 16, 17. + +Samnium, _see_ Picenum. + +Saturninus and Verbusius, Viri Illustres, Senatores, i. 19. + +Senarius, Vir Illustris, Comes Patrimonii, iv. 3; + Comes Privatarum, iv. 7, 11, 13. + +Senate of the City of Rome, + i. 4, 13, 30, 43; ii. 3, 16, 24, 32; iii. 6, 12, 31; + iv. 4, 16, 43; v. 4, 22, 41; viii. 2, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22; + ix. 19, 21, 23, 25; x. 3, 4, 7, 12, 13, 16, 18; xi. 1. + +SENATOR (MAGNUS AURELIUS CASSIODORUS), + Praetorian Praefect, ix. 24; x. 27, 28. + +Servatus, Dux Raetiarum, i. 11. + +Severianus (or Severinus), Vir Illustris, v. 14. + +Severus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, ii. 8. + +Severus, Vir Spectabilis, viii. 31, 32, 33. + +Simeon, Vir Illustris, Comes, iii. 25. + +Speciosus, i. 27; Vir Devotus, Comitiacus, ii. 10. + +Stabularius, Comitiacus, v. 6. + +Starcedius, Vir Sublimis, v. 36. + +Stephanus, Vir Spectabilis, + Comes Primi Ordinis et ex-Princeps nostri Ordinis, ii. 28. + +S(u)avia, all the Provincials and Capillati, Defensores and Curiales, + residing in, iv. 49; + all the Possessores in, v. 15; + all the Goths and Romans in, ix. 9. + +Sunhivad, Vir Spectabilis, iii. 13. + +Sura (or Suna), Vir Illustris, Comes, ii. 7. + +Symmachus, Vir Illustris and Patricius, ii. 14; iv. 6, 51. + +Syracuse, all the Provincials of the City of, ix. 10. + + +T. + +Tancila, Vir Spectabilis, ii. 35. + +Tezutzat, Sajo, iv. 27. + +Theodagunda, Illustris Femina, iv. 37. + +Theodahad, Vir Spectabilis, iii. 15; + Vir Illustris, iv. 39; v. 12. + +Theodora, Augusta, x. 10, 20, 21, 23. + +Theodosius, Homo Theodahadi (?), x. 5. + +Theodulus, _see_ Ampelius. + +Theon (or Theonius), Vir Sublimis, i. 2. + +Theriolus, Vir Spectabilis, i. 36. + +Thessalonica, Praefect of, x. 35. + +Thomas, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius, xii. 20. + +Thoringi (Thuringians). _see_ Heruli. + +Ticinum (_Pavia_), Comites, Defensores, and Curiales of, iv. 45. + +Transmund (or Thrasamund), King of the Vandals, v. 43, 44. + +Tribuni Maritimorum, xii. 24. + +Tridentinae Civitatis, + Honorati Possessores, Defensores, et Curiales, ii. 17. + +Tulum, Patrician, viii. 9. + + +U. + +Unigis, Spatarius, iii. 43. + +Uniligis (or Wiligis), Sajo, ii. 20. + +Urbicus, ex-Primicerius Singulariorum, xi. 31. + +Ursus, Primicerius Deputatorum, xi. 30. + + +V. + +Valerian, Vir Sublimis, xii. 5. + +Vandals, King of the, v. 1, 43, 44; ix. 1. + +Venantius, Vir Illustris, ii. 15; + Spectabilis, Corrector of Lucania and Bruttii, iii. 8. + +Veranus, Sajo, v. 10. + +Verbusius, _see_ Saturninus. + +Verruca, fort of, all Goths and Romans living near, iii. 48. + +Victor, Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, ix. 12. + +Victorinus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, viii. 8. + +Vitalian, Vir Clarissimus, + Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xi. 39. + + +W. + +Wandil (Vuandil), iii. 38. + +Warni (Guarni), _see_ Heruli. + +Wilitanch, Duke, v. 33. + +Willias, i. 18; v. 18; + Vir Illustris, Comes Patrimonii, ix. 13. + +Winusiad, Count, x. 29. + +Witigisclus (or Wigisicla), Vir Spectabilis, + Censitor of Sicily, ix. 12. + + + + +GENERAL INDEX. + +[NOTE.--_The references to the Introduction and to the Notes are by +the page (thus, 106-108); references to the 'Variae' are by the +numbers of the Book and Letter (thus, v. 16, 17). The FORMULAE are +printed in small capitals._] + + +A. + +Ab Actis (Registrar), officer in Court of Praetorian Praefect, 106-108; + origin of the name, 107; + compared to Referendarius, 312. + +Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect, + instructions to, as to forming a navy, v. 16, 17; + to provide ships, and rations for young recruits, v. 23; + instructions to, in the case of Frontosus, v. 34; + to allow a family of Curials to degrade into Possessores, ix. 4. + +Acinaticium, red wine of Verona, praises of, and account of its +manufacture, xii. 4. + +Actores (Representatives, Attorneys), of Albinus, iv. 35; + of the holy Apostle Peter, xii. 20; + of Probinus, iv. 40; + of Spes, ii. 21; + of Theodahad, viii. 23. + +Addua, River (_Adda_), derivation of the name, xi. 14. + +Adeodatus, + forced by torture to confess himself guilty of rape, iii. 46; + the sentence against him partially cancelled, iii. 46. + +Adjutores, general word for assistants, 97, 102-104; + is Adjutor equivalent to Primiscrinius? 103; + a lower class of Exceptores seem to have been called Adjutores, 111; + of Magister Officiorum, vi. 6. + +Admissionales, Ushers of the Praefectoral Court, 112. + +Adriana, petition of Curiales of, as to taxation, i. 19. + +Adulterer slain by the injured husband, case of, i. 37. + +Adultery, punishment of (Edictum Athalarici), ix. 18. + +Aemilia, Province of, invaded by Burgundians, xii. 28. + +Aemilianus, Bishop, ordered to finish the aqueduct which he has begun, +iv. 31. + +Aestii, _see_ Haesti. + +Aestunae (?), inhabitants of, ordered to send marbles to Ravenna, iii. +9. + +AETATIS VENIA, FORMULA GRANTING, vii. 41; + letter relating to, i. 38. + +Aetheria, a widow, re-married, accused of wasting her children's +property, iv. 12. + +African. Singular custom by which an African was allowed to claim +estate of a fellow-countryman dying without heirs, xii. 9. + +Agapetus, Pope (June 3, 535--April 21, 536), + Cassiodorus seeks to persuade him to found a School of Theology at + Rome, 56; + ordered by Theodahad and Gudelina to give his answer to Justinian's + ambassador promptly, x. 19, 20, 25; + mortgaged the Church plate to defray expenses of his journey to + Constantinople, xii. 20. + +Agapita (or Agapeta), Foemina Spectabilis, + wife of Basilius, and a person of feeble intellect ii. 11; + affair of her abduction, ii. 10, 11; + further light on this affair, iv. 40. + +Agapitus, with Coelianus, seems to have had special jurisdiction in +cases affecting Patricians, i. 23, 27. + +Agathias on Theodoric's protection of the Alamanni, 195. + +Agenantia, widow of Campanianus, ix. 4. + +_Agens Vices_ (Deputy), functions of, 460 _n_; xii. 25. + +Agentes in Rebus, Schola of, emissaries of the Magister Officiorum, 36; + Princeps of, xi. 35. + +Agnellus, Patrician, chooses Festus to defend his interests in his +absence, i. 15. + +Agnellus, fidei-jussor of Crispianus, i. 37. + +Agnellus, house of, in Castrum Lucullanum given to Joannes, viii. 25. + +Agrimensor, a Roman, description of, iii. 52. + +Alamanni, date of Clovis' victory over, 23, 24, 195; + Theodoric congratulates Clovis on his victory over, ii. 41; + directed to exchange their cattle with Noricans, iii. 50; + plundering incursion of, into Liguria, xii. 28; 527. + +Alaric I, clemency of, at siege of Rome, 28; xii. 20. + +Alaric II, + letters intended to avert war between Alaric and Clovis, iii. 1-4; + possessions granted by, to Church of Narbonne, iv. 17; + taxation in the time of, v. 39; + reception of his son Gesalic by Thrasamund, v. 43, 44. + +Albienus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, + deputed to select a Pantomimist, i. 20, 33; + appointed Praetorian Praefect (527), viii. 20. + +Albinus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, + deputed to select a Pantomimist, i. 20, 33; + allowed to erect 'fabricae' overlooking the Forum, iv. 30; + accused by Cyprian of treason, 289, 291. + +Albinus, an extravagant minor, case of, iv. 35. + +Allecticii, Symmachus' oration on behalf of, 74; + probable explanation of the term, 78. + +Alpes Cottiae, Provincials of, to be relieved from taxation, iv. 36. + +Alsuanum (?), transport of timber to, iv. 8. + +Altinum, villas of, 514 _n_. + +Amal race, glorified by Cassiodorus in his Gothic History, 29, 30, 33; + 'Amali sanguinis purpurea dignitas,' ix. 1. + +Amal race, glory of, viii. 2, 5; + 'consuetudinis est lex, cum imperio [Romano] amicitiam Amalos semper + habuisse,' x. 11. + +Amalus (according to Jordanes, Amala), ancestor of Theodoric, +'felicitate enituit,' xi. 1. + +Amalabirga, niece of Theodoric, married to Herminafrid, King of the +Thuringians, iv. 1. + +Amalafrida, Queen of the Vandals, sister of Theodoric, wife of King +Thrasamund, put to death by his successor Hilderic, ix. 1. + +Amalasuentha, daughter of Theodoric, mother of Athalaric, + her regency, 38, 42-43; + associates Theodahad in the kingship on the death of her son, + 44; x. 1-4; + dethroned and put to death by Theodahad, 45; + praises of her character, x. 4; xi. 1; + sends present of marbles to Justinian, x. 8; + writes warmly to Theodora, x. 10; + a doubtful allusion to her death, x. 20 (_see_ note on p. 433). + +Amandianus, Clarissimus, heirs of, defrauded by Theodahad, v. 12. + +AMBASSADORS, FORMULA RESPECTING, vii. 33. + +Amber, nature of, described, v. 2. + +Ambrosius, son of Faustinus, + addressed by Ennodius in 'Paraenesis Didascalica,' 358; + Count of the Sacred Largesses, viii. 13; + appointed Quaestor, viii. 13, 14. + +Ambrosius, Illustris (probably the same as preceding), + appointed 'Vices Agens' to Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect, xi. 4; + instructions to, xii. 25. + +Amphitheatre, sports of, described and condemned, v. 42. + +Anastasius, Emperor, date of letter to, in the 'Variae,' 23; + his wrath against Apion and Macedonius, 105; + relations between him and Theodoric, i. 1 _n_; + informed of elevation of Felix to Consulship, ii. 1; + as to introduction of Heruli into Italy, 258 _n_. + +Anchorago, a fish caught in the Rhine, xii. 4. + +Andreas, intestacy of widow of, v. 24. + +Andreas, defaulting taxpayer in Apulia, v. 31. + +'Anecdoton Holderi,' MS. containing information as to Cassiodorus and +his friends, 73-84. + +Anicii, dignity of the family of, x. 11. + +Annonae, of soldiers stationed in passes near Aosta, ii. 5; + of garrisons on the Durance, iii. 41, 43; + is _praebendae_ equivalent to? 219; + to be regularly supplied, v. 13 (_see_ Praefectus Annonae). + +Anonymus Valesii (an unknown chronicler of the Sixth Century, whose +fragments are generally edited along with the history of Ammianus +Marcellinus), quoted, 291, 363, 369. + +Anthimus, Patriarch of Constantinople (535-536), deposition of, by +Pope Agapetus, 436 _n_. + +Antianus, ex-Cornicularius, made a Spectabilis, xi. 18; + evasive reply to, xi. 19. + +Antiochus, apparently a tax-collector, ii. 4. + +Antiquarius, transcriber of manuscripts, Cassiodorus on the functions +of, 60. + +Apion, anger of Anastasius against, 105. + +Apocha, a voucher for payment of taxes, xii. 7, 8. + +Aponus (_Abano_, six miles from Padua), marvellous qualities of +hot-springs at, ii. 39. + +Apparitores, attendants on the great Ministers of War, 114; + Joannes, Apparitor, ii. 21; + Ferrocinctus, Apparitor, iii. 20. + +Applicitarii, officers of arrest, 114; + under orders of Commentariensis, 104. + +Apulia, Conductores of, despoiled by hostile invaders, i. 16; + merchants similarly despoiled, ii. 38; + crops from, not forwarded expeditiously, i. 35; + corn-merchants of, ii. 26; + farms of Thomas in, transferred to his son-in-law Joannes, v. 6, 7; + arrears of Siliquaticum in, v. 31. + +'Apuli idonei,' viii. 33. + +Aqua Claudia, Roman aqueduct, description of, vii. 6. + +Aqua Virgo, Roman aqueduct, description of, vii. 6. + +Aqueducts of Rome, abuses connected with, iii. 31; + glory of, vii. 6. + +Aqueduct begun by Bishop Aemilianus must be finished by him, iv. 31. + +Aqueduct of Ravenna protected, v. 38. + +Aqueduct constructed by Theodoric for City of Parma, viii. 30. + +Aquileia, contributions of wine and wheat from, remitted, xii. 26. + +Arator, Vir Illustris, + sent by Provincials of Dalmatia to Theodoric, viii. 12; + made Comes Domesticorum, viii. 12. + +Arcadius, Emperor (395-408), change effected by him in relation of +Praetorian Praefect to Master of the Offices, 99. + +Arcarius, Treasurer or Steward, v. 7; x. 28 (_see_ p. 440); xii. 8, +11, 27. + +Archery, practice in, for young soldiers, v. 23. + +Archiatrus, Arch-Physician, iv. 41 (_see_ Comes Archiatrorum). + +Architect, duties of, vii. 5. + +ARCHITECT, PUBLIC, FORMULA FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF, vii. 15. + +Archotamia, 'Illustris Femina,' accuses her grandson's widow of +wasting her children's property, iv. 12. + +Arelate (_Arles_), remission of taxation to inhabitants of, iii. 32; + 'glorious defence of,' iii. 32; + its walls to be repaired and its citizens fed, iii. 44; + fight for possession of covered bridge at, viii. 10. + +Arethusa, Fountain of, site of, near Squillace, 72; + qualities of, described, viii. 32. + +Argolicus, Vir Illustris, + made Praefect of the City of Rome, iii. 11, 12; + his ancestry and character, ii. 11, 12; + ordered to repair Cloacae of Rome, iii. 30; + other references to, iii. 29, 30; iv. 22, 25; iv. 42; + his tardiness rebuked, iv. 29; + heirs of, defrauded by Theodahad, v. 12. + +Arigern, Vir Illustris and Comes, + Governor of the new Gaulish Provinces, iv. 16; + appointed Comes Urbis Romae (?), iv. 16; + instructions to, iii. 45; iv. 23; + report by, iv. 43. + +Armentarius, Clarissimus, appointed Referendus Curiae, iii. 33; + informs against Argolicus, Praefect of the City, iv. 29. + +Armourers (ARMORUM FACTORES), Formulae of, vii. 18, 19. + +Arsenals of Italy, under the Magister Officiorum, 37. + +Artemidorus, Illustris and Patrician, + a relation of Emperor Zeno, and friend of Theodoric, i. 43; + Tribunus Voluptatum (?), i. 43; + Praefectus Urbis, i. 42, 44; + detects embezzlement by persons employed for repair of walls of Rome, + ii. 34; + invited to Theodoric's Court, iii. 22. + +Assertor Libertatis (of the Theodosian Code, iv. 8), a possible +allusion to, iii. 43. + +Astensis Civitas (_Asti_), to be especially helped in relief of +necessities of Liguria, xi. 15. + +Astronomy, reasons derived from, for pensioning off civil servants, +xi. 36. + +Athala, ancestor of Theodoric, 'mansuetudine enituit,' xi. 1. + +Athalaric, grandson of Theodoric, date of birth of, 29 _n_; + accession of (Aug. 30, 526), 37; + manner of his education, 42; + his death (Oct. 2, 534), 43; + letters announcing his accession, viii. 1-7; + edict of, ix. 2; + his death announced to Justinian, x. 1; + praises of, by Cassiodorus, xi. 1. + +Athens (_Adige_), flows past fort of Verruca, iii. 48. + +Attila, defeat of, in Catalaunian plains, 28; iii. 1; + embassy of Cassiodorus (grandfather of Senator) to, i. 4. + +Augiensis, Codex, of 'Anecdoton Holderi,' 73. + +Augmentum, super-assessment, + remitted by Athalaric for Dalmatia and Suavia, ix. 9; + for Syracuse, ix. 10. + +Augusta (_Turin_, or _Aosta_), Bishop of, + falsely accused of treason, i. 9; + fastnesses (clusurae) of, soldiers stationed at, ii. 5. + +Augustales, highest class of Exceptores (shorthand writers), 104 _n_, +110; xi. 30. + +Augustin, Vir Venerabilis (probably a bishop), brings the scarcity in +Venetia under the notice of the King, xii. 26. + +Augustus, builder of the Circus Maximus, iii. 51; + his survey of the 'Orbis Romanus,' iii. 52. + +Aurarii, persons liable to payment of 'lustralis auri collatio,' ii. +26. + +Auraria Pensio = probably 'lustralis auri collatio,' ii. 30. + +Avenio (_Avignon_), Gothic troops not to molest citizens of, iii. 38. + + +B. + +Bacauda, Vir Sublimis, Tribunes Voluptatum, v. 25. + +Bacaudae, insurgent peasantry of Gaul, v. 25. + +Baiae, baths of, praises of, ix. 6; xii. 22. + +Balthae, royal house of the Visigoths, was Athalaric descended from? +viii. 5. + +Balzani, Ugo, on Cassiodorus, 121. + +Barbarians, checked by fear, not honour, ii. 5. + +Barbaria, probably the name of the mother of Romulus Augustulus, 216. + +Barbarian Kings, intellects of, subdued by diplomacy, iv. 3; + do not use the grammatical art, ix. 21. + +Baronius, Cardinal, author of 'Annales Ecclesiae,' quoted, 500 _n_, +511 _n_. + +Basilius (No. 1), Vir Spectabilis, claims restoration of his wife's +property from Probinus, ii. 10, 11; iv. 40. + +Basilius (No. 2), accused of magical practices, iv. 22, 23 (_see_ note +on p. 246). + +Basilius (No. 3, possibly same as No. 2), + Opilio connected with him by marriage, viii. 17; + concerned in accusation of Boethius (?), 364 _n_. + +Baths, gratuitous admission to, at Spoletium, ii. 37; + of Turasius, at Spoletium, iv. 24; + at Baiae, ix. 6. + +Baudi de Vesme, fragments of oration of Cassiodorus (?), published by, +117. + +Beatus, Vir Clarissimus and Cancellarius, + ordered to supply rations to invalided officer, xi. 10; + made Primicerius Augustalium, xi. 30. + +Belisarius, Imperial general, his capture of Neapolis, 48; + his campaign in Southern Italy, 492; + his recovery and loss of Milan, 522; + his entry into Ravenna, 51. + +Bellum (war), derived from King Belus, i. 30. + +Benedict, St., not alluded to by Cassiodorus, 55; + relation of his rule to that of Cassiodorus, 57, 59. + +Benedictus, a civil officer of some kind in the City of Pedon, +guardianship of his children assigned to Theriolus, i. 36. + +Bethmann Hollweig, his 'Gerichtsverfassung des sinkenden römischen +Reichs,' 41, 95, 109 _n._ + +Bigamy, punishment of, according to Edictum Athalarici, ix. 18. + +Bina, a kind of tax, iii. 8. + +BINA ET TERNA, FORMULAE FOR THE COLLECTION OF, vii. 20, 21, 22. + +Birds, habits of, i. 21; + the hawk's way of teaching her young to fly, i. 24; + the eagle and her young, i. 38; + filial piety of the stork, ii. 14; + instinct of young partridges towards their mother, ii. 14; + the vulture protects little birds from attacks of the hawk, ii. 19; + gulls fly inland when they foresee a storm, iii. 48; + cranes when about to cross the sea clasp pebbles with their claws, + iv. 47; + the turtle-dove once widowed never takes another mate, v. 33; + flight of cranes suggested to Mercury shapes of letters, viii. 12; + thrushes, storks, and doves gregarious, the greedy hawk loves + solitude, viii. 31; + orderly evolutions of cranes, ix. 2. + +Bishops, King Witigis' exhortations to, x. 34; + Cassiodorus' exhortations to, xi. 4. + +Blue party in the Circus, rivalry of, with the Greens, iii. 51. + +Bodily signs by which character may be discerned, vi. 9 (_compare_ +also Cassiodorus, 'De Animâ,' capp. 10 and 11, referred to p. 53). + +Boethius (or Boetius), Illustris and Patrician, + receives orders to choose a harper to be sent to Clovis, 23, 24; + ii. 40; + information as to his life in the 'Anecdoton Holderi,' 74, 79-84; + really author of the theological treatises which have passed current + with his name, 74, 80-83; + and of a 'Bucolic Poem,' 74, 83; + difficulty caused by the non-Christian character of his 'Consolations + of Philosophy,' 81, 83; + consulted as to depreciation of currency, i. 10; + ordered to prepare water-clock and sundial for King of Burgundians, + i. 45. + +Boethius, as to character of Basilius, 246 _n_; + as to character of Decoratus, 267 _n_; + character of his accuser Cyprian, v. 40, 41; viii. 21, 22; + character of Opilio, viii. 17. + +Boethus, Bishop of Byzacene Province in Africa, author, according to +M. Jourdain, of the theological treatises attributed to Boethius, 82. + +Bormiae Aquae (_Baths of Bormio_), Count Winusiad recommended to +visit, x. 29. + +Brandila, husband of Procula, story of his intrigue with Regina, wife +of Patzenes, v. 32, 33. + +Breones, a Raetian freebooting tribe living near the Brenner pass, i. +11. + +Bribery repressed, xii. 2, 6, 21, 26. + +Bridge of boats ordered to be built across the Tiber, xii. 19. + +Brosse, Pierre, notes of, on Cassiodorus, 117. + +Bruttii and Lucania, Venantius Corrector of, iii. 8, 46, 47; + his misgovernment of, 221; + the praises of, viii. 31; xii. 15; + 'opulenti Bruttii,' viii. 33; + gold-mining to be commenced in, ix. 3; + abundance of cattle in, ii. 39; + measures for relief of, during presence of Gothic army, xii. 5; + praise of the wine of, xii. 12; + Canonicarii of, rebuked for despoiling the churches, xii. 13. + +Buat, Count, on the life and ancestry of Cassiodorus, 118; + as to Theodora's share in the murder of Amalasuentha, 433 _n_. + +Burgundians, King of (_see_ Gundibad); + cease to be 'Gentiles' under Gundibad, i. 46; + boundary of, with Ostrogothic kingdom, iii. 41; + dispute with Franks, viii. 10; + league with Amalasuentha, xi. 1 (_see_ 456 _n_); + invasion of Liguria and Aemilia, xii. 28; 527. + +Butilianus, Presbyter, land allotment given by Theodoric to, in +neighbourhood of Trient, ii. 17. + + +C. + +Caduca bona, property to which no heir is forthcoming, and which is +therefore claimed by the State, v. 24; vi. 8. + +Caelianus, one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and +Praetextatus, iv. 22, 23. + +Calabria, crops from, not forwarded expeditiously, i. 35; + regulations for corn-traffic in, ii. 26; + arrears of Siliquaticum in, v. 31. + +'Calabri peculiosi,' viii. 33. + +Calogenitus, sent by Amalasuentha to Justinian with a present of +marbles, x. 8, 9. + +Campania, practice of _pignoratio_ prevalent in, iv. 10; + suffers from eruption of Vesuvius, iv. 50; + 'industriosa Campania,' viii. 33; + Cancellarius of, to pay pension to retiring Primiscrinius, xi. 37; + the cupboard of Rome ('urbis regiae cella penaria'), xii. 22. + +Campanianus, of Lucania, widow and family of, permitted to step down +from rank of Curiales, ix. 4. + +Cancellarius, + an officer of humble rank in the Court of the Praetorian + Praefect, 111, 112; + origin of the name, 112; + his functions described, xi. 6; + of Faustus, desired to forward corn from Apulia, i. 35; + Beatus (Vir Clarissimus) ordered to supply rations to invalided + officer, xi. 10; + Gaudiosus, Cancellarius of Province of Inguria, xi. 14; + Anatholius, Cancellarius of Samnium, xi. 36; + Lucinus, Cancellarius of Campania, xi. 37; + Vitalian, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xi. 39; + admonition to various Cancellarii, xii. 1, 10; + Sajones ordered to wait upon Cancellarii, xii. 3; + Anastasius, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, ordered to send + cheese and wine for royal table, xii. 12; + the same, ordered to be gentle with the citizens of Rhegium, xii. 14; + Maximus, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xii. 15. + +Canonicarii, tribute-collectors under Comes Rerum Privatarum, vi. 8; + to collect the Trina Illatio, xii. 16; + of Thuscia, xi. 38; + of Venetia, xii. 4, 6; + of Bruttii, rebuked for robbing the churches, xii. 13. + +Candac, King of Alani, mentioned by Jordanes, 164. + +Candax, apparently next of kin to a man slain by Crispianus, i. 37. + +Capillati (?) of Suavia, iv. 49. + +Capitularii horreariorum et tabernariorum, farmers of revenue derived +from granaries and taverns, x. 28. + +Caprarius, Mons (situation of doubtful, but near Ravenna), xii. 17; + works of defence to be constructed near, xii. 17. + +Capuanus, Senator, appointed Rector Decuriarum, v. 21, 22; + his character, v. 22. + +Cardinalis = chief officer of Court, vii. 31. + +Carpentum, official chariot of Praetorian Praefect, vi. 3; + of Praefect of the City, vi. 4; + of Consularis of a Province, vi. 20. + +CARTARIUS (or Cartularius), Clerk in the Record Office, FORMULA +APPROVING APPOINTMENT OF, vii. 43. + +Cartarii ordered to prepare transfers of property to Theodahad, + viii. 23; + to receive the wine collected for the royal table, xii. 4. + +Casa Arbitana taken from heirs of Argolicus and Amandianus, v. 12. + +Casa Areciretina, deed of gift of, from Agapita to Probinus, + annulled, ii. 11; + this decree revoked, iv. 40. + +Cassian, one of the founders of Western Monachism, Cassiodorus' +qualified praises of, 55. + +Cassiodorus (1), an Illustris, + great-grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator, 3; + history of, i. 4. + +Cassiodorus (2), grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator, + Tribunus and Notarius under Valentinian III, + his embassy to Attila, 3; + history of, i. 4. + +Cassiodorus (3), father of Cassiodorus Senator, + Comes Privatarum Rerum and Comes Sacrarum Largitionum under + Odovacar, 3; + Consularis of Sicily, 4; + Corrector of Bruttii and Lucania, 4; + Praetorian Praefect (cir. 500), 4, 12; + Patrician (cir. 504), 4; + frequently confused with his son, 11; + his praises, i. 3, 4; + a man of tried integrity and pure fidelity, i. 26; + invited to visit Court of Theodoric, iii. 28. + +CASSIODORUS, MAGNUS AURELIUS SENATOR, his position in history, 1, 2; + his name, Cassiodorus or Cassiodorius (?), 5; + Senator not a title, 5; + his birthplace, Scyllacium, 6; + date of his birth (cir. 480), 9-12; + his love of Natural History, 12; ix. 24; + appointed Consiliarius under his father, 12; + his panegyric on Theodoric, 13, 16; + appointed Quaestor, 14; ix. 24; + his special utility, as Quaestor, to Theodoric, 15; + his official correspondence, the 'VARIAE,' 16-19, 22-24; + statesmanlike insight which led him to second Theodoric's policy, + 20, 21; + his religious tolerance, 22; + duration of his Quaestorship, 25; + his Consulship (514), 25; + restores harmony between clergy and people of Rome, 25; + Patrician, 27; + his 'Chronicon,' its defective character, 27-29; + his Gothic History, 29-35; ix. 25; + appointed Magister Officiorum, 36; ix. 24; + his services to the regent Amalasuentha, 38; + provides ships and soldiers for the state, 38; + appointed Praefectus Praetorio, 39; ix. 24; + letters during his Praefecture, 42; + continues in office after murder of Amalasuentha, 46; + announces the elevation of Witigis, 49; + his position during the first five years of the Gothic War, 50; + he retires from office (538 or 539?), 51; + probably did not meet Procopius, 51; + edits the 'Variae,' 51, 52; + writes the treatise 'De Animâ,' 53, 450, 512; + his reasons for publishing the 'Variae,' 133-140; + letter written by himself to himself on receiving the Praetorian + Praefecture, describing his many virtues, ix. 24; + letters to the Senate on the same subject, ix. 25; xi. 1; + his account of his occupations as Praetorian Praefect, 450; + issues his Edict, xi. 8, 9; + his own and his ancestors' services to Bruttii and Lucania, xi. 39; + his praises of Scyllacium, xii. 15; + resides at Ravenna (?) during the war, 506; + retires to Scyllacium and founds two monasteries there, 54; + probably never Abbot, 56; + devotes the leisure of his monks to literature, 57; + his relation to the Benedictines, 59; + his merits as a transcriber of the Scriptures, 60; + his Commentary on the Psalms, 60; + on the Epistles, 61; + his Tripartite History, 61; + his 'Institutiones Divinarum et Humanarum Lectionum,' 62-65; + his 'De Orthographiâ, 65, 66; + his death, (575?), 66; + his knowledge of Greek probably slight, 61; + information derived from the 'Anecdoton Holderi' as to his life, + 74, 84; + editions of his works, 115-121; + chronology of the life of, 122-130. + +Castellius, Mons, near Scyllacium, monastery founded by Cassiodorus +at, 55. + +Castorius unjustly deprived of his property by Faustus, iii. 20. + +Castrensis, Butler or Seneschal, 88, 91. + +Catabulenses, freighters, transport masters, iv. 47; + ordered to transport marbles from Pincian Hill to Ravenna, iii. 10. + +Catana, walls of, to be repaired with stones of amphitheatre, iii. 49. + +Cathalia (?), petition of inhabitants of, as to collection of Tertiae, +i. 14. + +Catos, the mob of the circus is not precisely a congregation of, i. 27; + 'the father of Felix was the Cato of our times,' ii. 3. + +Cellaritae, provision dealers (?), x. 28. + +Celsina, _see_ Curritana. + +Censitores, tax-collectors, ix. 12. + +Cethegus, Rufus Petronius Nicomachus, Consul (504), Magister +Officiorum, Patrician, probably the person to whom the 'Anecdoton +Holderi' was addressed, 76. + +Chameleon, appearance and habits of, v. 34. + +Chance, the world not governed by, xii. 25. + +Chariot-race, effect of, on spectators, iii. 51; + picture of, from Cilurnum gem, 231. + +Cheese of Mount Sila described, xii. 12. + +Chorda, the lyre so called 'quia facile corda moveat,' ii. 40. + +Christmas Day (Natale Domini), promotions of Praefect's staff upon, +xi. 17. + +'Chronicon' of Cassiodorus, faulty character of the work, 28, 29. + +Chrysargyron, tax on traders = 'lustralis auri collatio,' ii. 26 _n_. + +Church, Dean, author of article on Cassiodorus, 121. + +Cilurnum (_Chesters_ in Northumberland), gem found at, representing +chariot-race, 231. + +Circus, factions of the, i. 20, 27, 30, 31; iii. 51. + +Circus Maximus, description of, iii. 51; + plan of, 227. + +City and country life contrasted, viii. 31. + +Civilitas, Theodoric's anxious care for, 20; + description of, iv. 33; + Theodahad exhorted to observe, iv. 39; + for the sake of it even Jews are to be protected, v. 37; + references to, iv. 41, 44; v. 31; vi. 5; ix. 14, 18, 19. + +CLARISSIMUS, FORMULA CONFERRING RANK OF, vii. 38. + +Clarissimus, title of ministers of the third rank, 91; + epithet of Clarissimus conferred on all Senators, 91. + +Clavicularii, gaolers, 114; + under orders of Commentariensis, 104. + +Climate, influence of, on character, xii. 15. + +Cloacae of Rome, description of, iii. 30. + +Clovis (Luduin), King of the Franks, date of letters to, 23, 24; + Theodoric marches his troops against (508), i. 24; + a harper sent to, chosen by Boethius, ii. 40; + congratulated on victory over Alamanni, ii. 41; + letter dissuading from war with Alaric II, iii. 3; + called 'regius juvenis' by Theodoric, iii. 2; + his overthrow of the Alamannic kingdom, 527. + +Clusurae, mountain fastnesses, ii. 5, 19. + +Codicilli Vacantes, vi. 10. + +Coelianus, with Agapitus, seems to have had special jurisdiction in +cases affecting Patricians, i. 23, 27. + +Coemptio (purveyance) of wheat or lard not to be claimed from the +citizens of Rhegium, xii. 14. + +Cognitor, trier of causes, viii. 12; ix. 14, 18. + +Cohortes, used of civil servants of Praetorian Praefect, xi. 36. + +Coloni, apparent case of, reduced to slavery, viii. 28; + 'coloni sunt qui agros jugiter colunt,' viii. 31. + +Colossaeus, Illustris and Comes, + appointed Governor of Pannonia Sirmiensis, iii. 23; + pun on his name, iii. 24; + rations ordered for him and his suite, iv. 13. + +Colosseum described, v. 42. + +COMES ARCHIATRORUM, FORMULA OF, vi. 19. + +Comes, a Spectabilis, nature of his office (military), 90 _n_; + relation of Comes to his Principes, vii. 25, 28. + +COMES DOMESTICORUM (VACANS), FORMULA OF, vi. 11; + Arator receives the rank of, viii. 12. + +Comes Domorum, his functions, 88. + +COMES FORMARUM, FORMULA OF, vii. 6. + +COMES GOTHORUM, FORMULA OF, vii. 3; + servants of, have oppressed Provincials of Suavia, v. 14; + his dignity almost the only one peculiar to the Gothic state, 320. + +COMES NEAPOLITANUS, FORMULA OF, vi. 23; + reference to, vi. 24. + +COMES PATRIMONII, FORMULA OF, vi. 9; + references to, iv. 3, 15; + Bergantinus as, ordered to transfer property to Theodahad, viii. 23; + ordered to commence gold-mining in Bruttii, ix. 3; + Willias (Comes Patrimonii) ordered to increase the pay of the + Domestici, ix. 13. + +COMES PORTUS URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 9. + +COMES PRIMI ORDINIS, FORMULA OF, vi. 12, 13; + letter addressed to, ii. 28. + +COMES PRINCIPIS MILITUM (?), FORMULA OF, vi. 25. + +COMES PROVINCIAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 1. + +COMES RAVENNAS, FORMULA OF, vii. 14. + +COMES RERUM PRIVATARUM, FORMULA OF, vi. 8; + an Illustris, 86; iv. 7; + his functions, 89; + office of, held by father of Argolicus, iii. 12; + held by Senarius (510), iv. 13. + +COMES ROMANUS, FORMULA OF, vii. 13. + +Comes Sacrae Vestis, Keeper of the Wardrobe, 88. + +COMES SACRARUM LARGITIONUM, FORMULA OF, vi. 7; + an Illustris, 86; + his functions, 88; + orders given to, ii. 31; + reports remissness of Venantius, iii. 8; + office of, held by grandfather of Argolicus, iii. 12; + Bina and Terna to be collected under his superintendence, vii. 21; + Ambrosius held office of, viii. 13; + Opilio, father and son, held office of, viii. 16; + Cyprian held office of, v. 40. + +COMES SECUNDI ORDINIS, FORMULA OF, vii. 26. + +COMES SYRACUSANUS, FORMULA OF, vi. 22 (_see_ also ix. 11, 14). + +Comitatus of the King, + litigants summoned to, i. 7; iv. 44, 45; v. 12, 32; + presence of in Liguria requires extraordinary supply of provisions, + ii. 20; + the place 'ubi et innocentia perfugium et calumniatores jus possunt + invenire districtum,' iv. 9; + meant to be a blessing to his subjects, iv. 40; + recourse to it by a distant suitor not compulsory, iv. 40; + journey of the Heruli to, iv. 45; + always ready for redress of grievances, v. 15; + Nimfadius journeying to, viii. 32. + +Comites of Pavia, iv. 45. + +COMITIACUS (officer of the law courts), + FORMULA BESTOWING HONORARY RANK ON, vi. 13; + Stabularius, Comitiacus, v. 6; + Florentinus, Vir Devotus, Comitiacus, viii. 7. + +Commentariensis (or Commentarisius), officer in Court of Praetorian + Praefect, nature of his functions, 104-106; + Cheliodorus appointed, xi. 28. + +Commonitorium, iii. 19; vii. 22. + +Como, City and Lake of, the praises of, xi. 14. + +COMPETITORES, FORMULA CONCERNING, vii. 44. + +Compulsor, officer employed to compel payment of taxes, xii. 8. + +Compurgation, evidences of a practice similar to, ix. 14 (p. 397). + +Computus Paschalis, tract on determination of Easter, attributed to +Cassiodorus, 10, 11. + +Comum (_Como_), theft of brazen statue at, ii. 35, 36. + +Concordia (_Caorle_), contributions of wine and wheat from, remitted, +xii. 26. + +Conductores, farmers of royal domain, losses of, in Apulia, i. 16; + in Spain, v. 39. + +Confiscated property, manner of asserting claims of Crown to, iv. 32. + +Consiliarius (Assessor), nature of the office, 12, 13; + Cassiodorus appointed to office of, 12. + +Constantinople, character of diplomatists of, ii. 6; + Cyprian's mission to, v. 41. + +Constantius, Bishop, his petition as to spoliation of the Church, iv. +20. + +Constantius, a farmer, unjustly reduced to slavery by Tanca, viii. 28. + +CONSULARIS, FORMULA OF, vi. 20; + of Liguria, xii. 8. + +CONSULSHIP, FORMULA OF, vi. 1; + of Cassiodorus (514), 25-26; + of reigning Emperors, 28 _n_; + of Felix, ii. 1, 2, 3; + of Maximus, not to prevent his filling lower offices afterwards, + x. 12. + +Consuls, Eastern and Western, order of precedence of, in the Fasti, +122. + +Consumption cured by milk of the cows on Mons Lactarius, xi. 10. + +Corn, restraints on exportation of, i. 34; + traffic in, for Southern Italy, regulated, ii. 26; + traffic in, from western coast of Italy to Gaul, iv. 5, 7; + traffic in, from Spain to Rome, v. 35; + forestalling and regrating of, prohibited, ix. 5; + sale of, at reduced price, in Liguria and Venetia, x. 27; + distribution of, in Rome, xi. 5; + sale of, at reduced price, to citizens of Milan, xii. 27. + +Cornicularius, + his position on the official staff of the Praetorian Praefect, 97; + nature of his functions, 97-102; + must be chosen from the Augustales, 110; + Antianus vacates office of, xi. 18, 19; + retired, to be pensioned, xi. 36. + +Corrector (lowest grade of Provincial Governor) of Bruttii and +Lucania, iii. 8. + +Cosilinum (? _Padula_), a city of Lucania, viii. 33. + +Costula, a free Goth, complains that servile tasks are imposed on him +by Guduim, v. 30. + +Cubiculum = royal treasury, v. 44; + 'libra cubiculi nostri' = the standard pound, v. 39. + +Cunigast (or Conigast), Vir Illustris, + evil character of, according to Boethius, 376; + ordered to administer justice between Tanca and his poorer + neighbours, viii. 28. + +Cura Epistolarum, officer charged with copying letters on fiscal +matters, 109. + +Cura Epistolarum Canonicarum, Constantinian appointed, xi. 23. + +CURA PALATII, FORMULA OF, vii. 5. + +CURATOR OF A CITY, FORMULA OF, vii. 12. + +Curia, called by Antiquity Minor Senatus, ii. 18; vi. 3; ix. 2. + +CURIALIS, FORMULA DIRECTING SALE OF PROPERTY OF, vii. 47. + +Curiales, condition of, ii. 18; + conflict between Curial and Ecclesiastical obligations, ii. 18; + have to make good the Senators' deficiencies in payment of taxes, + ii. 24; + 'sordid burdens' = Curial obligations (?), ii. 28; + of Aestunae, iii. 9; + penalty on Jovinus for killing a fellow-curial, iii. 47; + might be punished with stripes by Praetorian Praefect, vi. 3; + oppression of, forbidden by Edictum Athalarici, ix. 2; + of Adriana, i. 19; + of Catana, iii. 49; of Forum Livii, iv. 8; + of Velia (?), iv. 11; + of Ticinum, iv. 45; + of Suavia, iv. 49; v. 14; + of Neapolis, vi. 24; + of Liguria, xii. 8; + FORMULA ADDRESSED TO, vii. 27; + family of, permitted to descend from the Curia, ix. 4. + +Currency, wickedness of depreciating, i. 10; vii. 32. + +CURRITANA INSULA ET CELSINA (two of the Lipari Islands), FORMULA FOR +THE COMES OF, vii. 16. + +Cursus Publicus, Postal-service, 37; + transferred from Praetorian Praefect to Magister Officiorum, 99, 302; + vi. 3, 6; + under Regerendarius, 109; + letter as to, i. 29; + abuses of, to be reformed by the Sajo Gudisal, iv. 47; + by Sajo Mannila, v. 5; + abuses of, in Spain, v. 39; + citizens of Scyllacium not to be harassed by, xii. 15. + +Cyprian, Vir Illustris, Count of the Sacred Largesses (524-525), + his character and appointment to above office, v. 40, 41; viii. 16; + his services as Referendarius, v. 40; + his mission to Constantinople, v. 40; + his accusation of Albinus and Boethius, 289, 291, 363, 369; + raised to honour of Patricate, viii. 21, 22. + + +D. + +Dahn, Felix (author of 'Könige der Germanen'), quoted, 119, 152, 155, +165, 177, 180, 182, 183, 184, 197, 198, 202, 204, 206, 207, 209, 216, +221, 236, 240, 242, 248, 269, 282, 287, 320, 341, 350 _n_, 353 _n_, +356, 361, 370 _n_, 372, 375, 401, 403, 435, 437 _n_. + +Daila, a free Goth, complains that servile tasks are imposed on him by +Duke Guduim, v. 30. + +Dalmatia, + Simeon appointed to collect arrears of taxation from, iii. 25; + iron mining in, iii. 25; + Epiphanius Consularis of, v. 24; + address of Athalario to Goths settled in, viii. 4; + Arator sent on an embassy from Provincials of, to Theodoric, viii. 12; + Osuin appointed Governor of, ix. 8, 9. + +Danube, River, 'made a Roman stream by Amalasuentha, xi. 1. + +Datius, Bishop of Milan, made steward of the King's bounty to the +citizens, xii. 27. (For his history, _see_ 522.) + +Davus receives sick-leave to visit Mons Lactarius, xi. 10. + +Death, the inconvenience of, 'comperimus dromonarios viginti et unum +de constituto numero _mortis incommodo_ fuisse subtractos,' iv. 15. + +Decennonium, Marsh of, drained by Decius, ii. 32, 33. + +Decennovial Canal mentioned by Procopius, 188. + +Decii, Lay of the, recited at school, iii. 6; + family of Liberius and Paulinas descended from, ix. 22, 23. + +Decius, Caecina Maurus Basilius, Illustris, ex-Praefect of the City, + and ex-Praetorian Praefect, + undertakes to drain the Marsh of Decennonium, ii. 32, 33; + one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and Praetextatus + (?), iv. 22, 23. + +Decoratus (Vir Devotus), brother of Honoratus, appointed Quaestor, + his character and early death, v. 3, 4; + conflicting testimony of Boethius and Ennodius as to, 267 _n_; + instructions to, as to arrears of Siliquaticum, v. 31. + +Decuriae, guilds of copying-clerks, &c., connected with administration +of justice, 277. + +Defensor, Gothic soldier of a Roman noble, iv. 27, 28. + +DEFENSOR OF A CITY, FORMULA OF, vii. 11. + +Defensores of Church of Milan, ii. 30; + of Aestunae, iii. 9; + of the sacrosanct Roman Church, iii. 45; + of Catena, iii. 49; + of Ticinum, iv. 45; + of Suavia, iv. 49; v. 14. + +'Defloratis prosperitatibus,' meaning of this phrase, used by +Cassiodorus of his Gothic History, 137 _n_. + +Degeniatus = (apparently) stripped of official rank, xii. 10. + +Delegatoria, warrant for increased rations consequent on promotion, +xi. 33, 35. + +Denarius, puzzling passage as to relation of to solidus, i. 10. + +Deputati, fifteen shorthand writers of the highest class, appropriated +to the Emperor's service, 111; xi. 30. + +Dertona (_Tortona_), fortification of, i. 17; + corn warehouse at, to be opened, x. 27; xii. 27. + +Diceneus, philosopher-king of Dacia, perhaps Cassiodorus' ideal of a +king, 32. + +Dionysius 'Exiguus,' author of our present chronology, a colleague of +Cassiodorus in his literary enterprises, 64. + +Dionysius of Halicarnassus, chief authority on the Roman +chariot-races, 230. + +Discussores, assessors of taxes, iv. 38. + +Documents not to be tampered with by the Scribe, xii. 21. + +Domestici, life-guardsmen attached to the Provincial Governors, to +receive larger pay, ix. 13. + +Domitian, office of Master of the Horse abolished by, 99. + +Domitius, Spectabilis, has received a concession for drainage of land + which he is too parsimonious to take full advantage of, ii. 21; + complains of seizure of his estates by Theodahad, iv. 39. + +Domus Palmata, near the Forum, iv. 30. + +Donativum, _see_ Largesse. + +Drainage concession to Spes and Domitius, ii. 21. + +Drill, need of, exemplified, i. 40. + +Dromonarii, rowers in express boats, ii. 31; + twenty-one dead, iv. 15. + +Dromones, express boats, one thousand to be built, v. 16. + +Druentia (_Durance_), River, + frontier of Ostrogothic and Burgundian Monarchies, 218; + provisions for garrisons upon, iii. 41. + +Dux, a military officer of the rank of Spectabilis, his relation to +the Comes, 90 _n_. + +DUX RAETIARUM, FORMULA OF, vii. 4. + + +E. + +Eastern Empire, Amalasuentha's relations with, xi. 1. + +Ecclesiastical privileges and immunities, i. 9, 26; ii. 29, 30; + iii. 14, 37, 45; iv. 17, 20; viii. 24; ix. 15, 16; x. 26, 34; + xii. 13, 20; + conflict between Ecclesiastical and Curial obligations, ii. 18. + +Ecdicius, sons of, allowed to leave Rome to bury their father, ii. 22. + +Edictum Athalarici, ix. 2, 18, 19, 20. + +Edictum Theodorici, + published by Nivellius, from a MS. belonging to Pithou, 116; + punishment for adulterers according to, 283, 403; + permission to parents to sell their children, 382 _n_. + +Egregii, fifth rank in Imperial service, 92; + not mentioned by Cassiodorus, 92. + +Elephant, natural history of the, x. 30; + brazen images of, in Via Sacra, x. 30. + +Eloquence the special product of Rome--'Aliae regiones vina, balsama +et olentia thura transmittant: Roma tradit eloquium, quo suavius nil +sit auditum,' x. 7. + +Endive of Bruttii has not the bitter fibres spoken of by Virgil, xii. +14. + +Ennodius, Magnus Felix, Bishop of Ticinum (died 516), + information given by, as to Boethius, 79 _n_; + information as to Alamannic refugees, 195; + his testimony to character of Decoratus, 267 _n_; + addressed his 'Paraenesis' to Ambrosius, 358. + +Epiphanius employed by Cassiodorus to assist him in the compilation of +'Historia Tripartita,' 61. + +Eufrasius the Acolyte sold a house at Rome to Pope Simplicius, iii. +45. + +Eugenius, Vir Illustris, + receives the dignity of Master of the Offices, i. 12, 13; + possibly alluded to, viii. 19 (_see_ note). + +Euric, King of the Visigoths (466-485), father of Alaric II, taxation +in his time, v. 39. + +Eustorgius, Bishop of Milan, his petition for protection to Milanese +Church granted, ii. 29. + +Eutharic, husband of Amalasuentha, Consulship of (519), 27, 28; + adopted as son in arms by Justin, viii. 1. + +Evans, Arthur J., on the topography of Squillace, 9, 68-72. + +Exceptores, shorthand writers, 104, 110, 111; xi. 25; + charged a fee for the bad paper which they supplied to suitors, + 483 _n_. + +Exormiston, a kind of lamprey (?), xii. 4, 14. + +Expeditio, derivation of, i. 17. + + +F. + +Famine, provisions for relief of, x. 27; + unusual appearances foreboding the famine of 538, xii. 25; + in Liguria to be relieved, xii. 28. + +Faustus, Praetorian Praefect, Illustris, + rebuked for his delay in sending corn from south of Italy to Rome, + 17-19; i. 35; + embassy of, to Constantinople (493), 23; + Consulship of, 122; + severely censured for his oppression of Castorius, iii. 20, 28; + sent into the country for change of air, iii. 21; + oppression of Joannes (?), iii. 27. + +Faustus the younger, son of the above, i. 41; + enquiry into character of, on his admission to the Senate, i. 41. + +Faventia (_Faenza_), blocks of marble to be forwarded to Ravenna from, +v. 8. + +Felix III, Pope (526-530), election of, in deference to recommendation +of Theodoric, viii. 15. + +Felix (apparently a native of Milan), + appointed Quaestor (527), viii. 18, 19; + his pedigree, viii. 19. + +Felix, Vir Clarissimus, accused by Venantius of defrauding the minor +Plutianus, i. 7, 8. + +Felix, Consul with Secundinus (511), + his character and elevation to the Consulship, ii. 1, 2, 3; + ordered to give largesse to charioteers of Milan, iii. 39. + +Felix, Consul with Taurus (428), 173. + +Felix, an assistant (probably Vices Agens), to Cassiodorus in the +discharge of his duties as Praetorian Praefect, 450. + +Feltria (_Feltre_), inhabitants of, to assist in erection of new city +in district of Tridentum, v. 9. + +Festus, embassy of, to Constantinople (497), 23; + chosen by Agnellus to defend his interests in his absence, i. 15; + his claims against Paulinus, i. 23. + +Fidei-jussor, guarantor, i. 37; ii. 13; xi. 4. + +Filagrius, Vir Spectabilis, petition of, as to his nephew's detention +in Rome, i. 39. + +'Filius per arma,' adoption of, iv. 2. + +Firminus, complaints of, against Venantius, iii. 36. + +Fiscus Gothorum, rights of, i. 19; + its claims not to be pressed unduly, i. 22. + +Fiscus, rights of, as to Castrum Lucullanum, viii. 25; + rights of, to estates of deceased persons (Fiscus Caducus), ix. 14. + +Fishermen, not to be enlisted for the navy, v. 16; + their nets not to be allowed to hinder navigation of rivers, + v. 17, 20. + +Fishes, natural history of: + the echeneis or sucking-fish, 18; i. 35; + shell-fish of Indian Ocean, their power of arresting vessels, 18; + i. 35; + torpedo, its numbing touch, 18; i. 35; + dolphins, habits of, iii. 48; + echinus, 'that honey of flesh, that dainty of the deep,' iii. 48; + the strange habits of the pike and the wrasse, xi. 40; + in the fishponds (vivaria) of Scyllacium, xii. 15; + the anchorage, exormiston, &c., xii. 4, 14. + +Flaminian Way, edict regulating prices upon the, xi. 12; + to be put in order for the King's passage, xii. 18. + +Flavianus, Virius Nicomachus, Consul Suffectus (394), + ancestor of Symmachus, 78; + a leader of the heathen party in the Senate, 78; + author of a Roman History, 78. + +Formulae, reasons given by Cassiodorus for composing, 138. + +Fornerius, notes of, on Cassiodorus, 116. + +Forojulii (_Cividale_), contributions of wine and wheat from, +remitted, xii. 26. + +Forum Livii (_Forli_), inhabitants of, to transport timber to +Alsuanum, iv. 8. + +Franks, the, dispute of with Burgundians (533), viii. 10; + war between Amalasuentha and, xi. 1. + +Franz, Adolph, author of 'M. Aurel. Cassiodorius Senator,' 119. + +Fraudulent shipowners punished, v. 35. + +Frontinus (cir. A.D. 97), author of 'Strategematicon' and 'De +Aquaeductibus,' quoted by Lydus, 97. + +Frontosus has embezzled a large sum of public money, v. 34; + his evasions and slippery character, v. 34. + +'Furtivae actiones,' those concerned in, to be punished, v. 39. + +Fuscus, appointed Praetorian Praefect by Domitian, 99. + + +G. + +Garet, F.J., his edition of Cassiodorus, 117; + his ecclesiastical bias, 217. + +Garismatium, a place supplying garum, 514 _n_. + +Garum, a kind of sauce, 514 _n_. + +Gaul, summons to the Goths to take up arms for invasion of, i. 24; + Gemellus appointed Governor of, iii. 16; + address to Theodoric's subjects in, iii. 17; + remission of taxation in, iii. 32, 40; iv. 19, 36; + especial desire of Theodoric for good government of, iii. 38; + famine in, to be relieved from Italy, iv. 5, 7; + placed under government of Arigern (probably before Gemellus), + iv. 16; + Gepid troops ordered for defence of, v. 10, 11; + peace of, disturbed by Gesalic, v. 43; + Athalaric's accession announced to his subjects in, viii. 6, 7. + +Gemellus, Senator, appointed Governor of Gaul, iii. 16, 17; + instructions to, iii. 32, 41; iv. 12, 19, 21. + +Genesius, Vir Spectabilis, directed to reform the sanitary condition +of Parma, viii. 30. + +Genoa, Jews living at, ii. 27. + +Gensemund, an example of fidelity to the Amal race, viii. 9; + his history mysterious, 354 _n_. + +Gentilis, barbarian, i. 46; ii. 16; viii. 22. + +Gentilitas, barbarism, misery of, iii. 17. + +Geometry, origin of, iii. 52. + +Gepidae, ordered for defence of Gaul, + to march peaceably through Northern Italy, v. 10, 11; + extraordinarily high rate of pay of (?), v. 11. + +Germanus, his complaint against Bishop Peter, iii. 37. + +Gesalic, natural son of Alaric II, sheltered by Thrasamund, King of +the Vandals, v. 43, 44. + +Getae, confusion of, with Goths, 31, 32. + +Gibbon, on the 'Variae,' 120; + as to character of accusers of Boethius, 365; + as to Theodoric's participation in murder of Amalasuentha, 433 _n_. + +Gildias, Vir Spectabilis, Count of Syracuse, rebuked for oppression of +the Sicilians, ix. 14 (_see_ also ix. 11). + +Godomar, King of the Burgundians (524-534), 456 _n_. + +Gold-mining in Bruttii, ix. 3. + +Gothic History of Cassiodorus, + estimate of, by its author, 29, 30, 137; ix. 25; + purpose of, 30; + Jordanes' abstract of, 34. + +Gothic law for Gothic men (?), vii. 3; viii. 3; + not for Romans, ix. 14. + +Goths, delight of in war, i. 24; + manner of training young, i. 38; + disputes between, and Romans, in Samnium, to be settled by Sunhivad, + iii. 13; + Pannonia of old the dwelling of, iii. 23; + in Picenum and Tuscia evading payment of taxes, iv. 14; + ancestors of (Guttones), dealers in amber, 266; + in Picenum and Samnium summoned to royal presence, v. 26, 27; + free Gothic warriors enslaved, v. 29, 30; + degrading services not to be claimed from, v. 39; + disputes with Romans, how to be decided, vii. 3; + relation of Gothic Comes to his Roman staff, vii. 25; + oath between, and Romans on Athalaric's accession, viii. 7; + settled at Reate and Nursia, viii. 26; + indignant at the murder of Amalafrida, ix. 1; + 'Gothorum laus est civilitas custodita,' ix. 14; + dissensions between Gothic soldiers and Roman populace, x. 14; + raise Witigis on the shield as King, 'indicamus parentes nostros + Gothos inter procinctuales gladios, more majorum, scuto supposito, + regalem nobis contulisse, praestante Deo, dignitatem,' x. 31. + +Gout, a living death, x. 29. + +Graius (?), Senatorial rank conferred on, vi. 14. + +Grammarians, twelve eminent, quoted by Cassiodorus, 65; + salaries of, to be increased, ix. 21. + +Granaries in Rome, repair of, iii. 29. + +Gravasiani (?), iv. 38. + +Green party in the Circus, complaint made by, i. 20; + complaint against Theodoric (the Patrician) and Importunus, i. 27; + mentioned, i. 32, 33; + rivalry of with the Blues, iii. 51. + +Gregory of Tours, incompleteness of his history of Clovis, 24. + +Gregory the Great, Pope (590-604), as to wine called Palmatiana, 500 +_n_. + +Griffins dig for gold, and delight in contemplation of that metal, ix. +3. + +GUARD AT THE GATES OF A CITY, FORMULA RESPECTING, vii. 29. + +Guardianship of orphans delegated by Theodoric, i. 36; + of the young Hilarius not to be protracted, i. 38. + +Gudelina, wife of Theodahad, letters of, to Theodora, x. 20, 21, 23; + letter of, to Justinian, x. 24; + doubtful allusion of, to murder of Amalasuentha, x. 20. + +Gudila accused of enslaving Ocer, a blind Goth, v. 29. + +Guduim, Sajo, v. 27; + Vir Sublimis and Dux, v. 30; + accused of imposing servile tasks on Costula and Daila, v. 30. + +Gundibad (Gundobad), King of the Burgundians (473-516), + Theodoric sends him a water-clock and sundial, i. 45, 46; + Theodoric asks him to assist in reconciling Clovis and Alaric, + iii. 2; + called 'senex' by Theodoric, iii. 2. + + +H. + +Haesti, or Aestii, inhabitants of Esthonia, send present of amber to +Theodoric, v. 2. + +Hannibal, death of, iii. 47. + +Hasdingi (Hasdirigi?), or Asdingi, royal family of the Vandals, +honoured by alliance with the Amals, ix. 1. + +Heliodorus, a relative of Cassiodorus, Praefect in the Eastern Empire, +i. 4. + +Helladius, candidate for office of Pantomimist, i. 20; + ordered to come forth and amuse the people, i. 32. + +Heracleanus, Presbyter, messenger from Justinian to Theodahad, x. 25. + +Herminafrid, King of the Thuringians, married to Amalabirga, niece of +Theodoric, iv. 1. + +Heruli, King of, + appealed to by Theodoric to prevent war between Clovis and Alaric, + iii. 3; + King of, adopted as Theodoric's son by right of arms, iv. 2; + to receive provisions at Ticinum on their journey to Ravenna, iv. 45. + +Hilarius, a young Goth, grandson of Baion, i. 38; + to be allowed to enter on enjoyment of his property, i. 38. + +Hilderic, King of the Vandals (523-531), murders Amalafrida, widow of +his predecessor, ix. 1. + +Histrius (or Historius), ii. 9. + +Homer quoted, as to travels of Ulysses, i. 39; + as to Priam's request for the body of Hector, ii. 22. + +Homo; Theodosius is addressed by Theodahad as _Homo suus_; meaning of +the term (?), x. 5. + +'Honesta missio' of the Theodosian Code illustrated by, v. 36. + +Honoratus, Vir Illustris, brother of Decoratus, appointed Quaestor; +his character, v. 3, 4. + +Hormisdas, Pope (514-523), election of during Consulship of +Cassiodorus, 26. + +Horses, description of, sent as a present by the King of the +Thuringians, iv. 1. + +Hostilia, on the Po, place of rendezvous for the dromonarii, ii. 31. + +Hot-springs of Abano described, ii. 39. + +Hydruntum, or Hydron (_Otranto_), chief seat of the purple +manufacture, i. 2. + + +I. + +Ibbas, General of Theodoric in Gaul (perhaps the person to whom iv. 17 +is addressed), 253. + +Ides of June (June 13th), + sailors and ships to meet at Ravenna on, v. 19, 20; + eighth day before (June 6th), Goths to come to Ravenna for their + largesse upon, v. 26. + +ILLUSTRATUS VACANS, FORMULA OF, vi. 11. + +Illustres, highest class of Ministers; who belonged to it? 86-90; + was an Illustris once, always an Illustris? 89; + were the Consuls Illustres? 90. + +Illyricum, alleged loss of, under Placidia, xi. 1. + +Imperium, used of the Gothic kingdom, xii. 28. + +Importunus, Illustris and Consul (509), accused of assaulting the +Green party at the Circus, i. 27. + +Importunus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, Consul (509), + descended from the Decii, iii. 5; + incident of the recitation of Lay of the Decii, iii. 5. + +Indictions, mode of reckoning by, 123-125; + remission of taxes at, i. 16. + +Indulgentia, an amnesty to prisoners, xi. 40. + +Inquilina persists in harassing Benatus with litigation, iv. 37. + +Interpretium not to be exacted from Apulian corn-merchants, ii. 26. + +Intestate property of widow claimed by the State, v. 24 + (_see_ also vi. 8); + property of an African claimed by a fellow-countryman, xii. 9. + +Iron, mines of, in Dalmatia, iii. 25; + praises of, iii. 25. + +Istria, Province of, large harvests of wine, oil, and corn in, xii. 22; + extraordinary requisition from, xii. 22; + plentiful yield of wine in, xii. 26. + +Italy, ought to enjoy her own products, ii. 12; + western coast of, exports corn to Gaul, iv. 5. + + +J. + +Januarius, Secretary of Joannes, iv. 32. + +Januarius, Assessor of taxes, iv. 38. + +Jews, of Genoa, + permitted to rebuild but not enlarge their synagogue, ii. 27; + their privileges confirmed, iv. 33; + synagogue of, at Rome, burned by the mob, iv. 43; + Christian servants of, punished for murdering their masters, iv. 43; + of Milan, protected from molestation, v. 37. + +Joanna, widow of Andreas, intestacy of, v. 24. + +Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Referendarius, receives gift of property at +Castrum Lucullanum from Tulum, confirmed by Athalaric, viii. 25. + +Joannes, Cancellarius (533-534), xi. 6; + appointed Praerogativarius, xi. 27. + +Joannes, mortgagee of property of Tupha, iv. 32. + +Joannes, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius (perhaps same as preceding), pays +off the debt of his father-in-law Thomas, and takes his property in +Apulia, v. 6, 7. + +Joannes, Arch-Physician, unjust judgment against, reversed, iv. 41. + +John II, Pope (Jan. 1, 533--May 27, 535), + letter to, against simony at Papal elections, ix. 15; + report from, as to imprisonment of Roman citizens, ix. 17; + Cassiodorus sends greeting to, on his promotion, xi. 2. + +John complains that the Bishop of Salona has taken 60 tuns of oil from +him, iii. 7. + +John, Spectabilis, ordered to enquire into abuses connected with +aqueducts of Rome, iii. 31. + +Jordanes, relation of his book 'De Rebus Geticis' to the Gothic + History of Cassiodorus, 34; + his quotations from Symmachus' History, 78; + as to 'Capillati' among the Getae, 260 _n_; + as to Goths by the Baltic Sea, 266; + as to threatened war between Goths and Franks, 402. + +Joseph, the Patriarch, + office of Praetorian Praefect derived from, vi. 3; + alluded to, x. 27; + precautions of, against Egyptian famine, xii. 25; + his bargain with the starving Egyptians criticised, xii. 28. + +Jovinus banished to the Lipari Islands for murder of a fellow-curial, +iii. 47. + +Judges to visit each town once in the year, and not to claim more than +three days' maintenance, v. 14. + +Julianus complains of injuries received from the servants of Bishop +Aurigenes, iii. 14. + +Julian, Count and Illustris, Tata is ordered to conduct recruits to, +v. 23. + +Justin, Emperor (518-527), Athalaric announces his accession to, viii. +1. + +Justinian, Emperor (527-566), his negotiations with Amalasuentha, 43; + with Theodahad, 46, 47; + Amalasuentha announces her son's death and the association of + Theodahad to, x. 1, 2; + present of marbles from Amalasuentha to, x. 8, 9; + letters of Theodahad to, x. 15, 19, 22, 25, 26; + letter of Gudelina to, x. 24; + letter of Witigis to, x. 32; + his interference on bt half of a heavily taxed monastery, x. 26; + on behalf of Veranilda, a Catholic convert, x. 26; + petition of Senate to, xi. 13. + + +L. + +Lactarius, Mons (_Monte Lettere_), description of, xi. 10; + health-resort for consumptive patients, xi. 10. + +Land surveying among the Romans, iii. 52. + +Lard not to be exported from Italy, ii. 12. + +Largesse (Regalia Dona, Donativum), + Goths summoned to Court to receive, on the Ides of June, v. 26, 27; + Starcedius' donative stopped on his retirement from service, v. 36. + +Laurentius, Presbyter, accused of rifling graves, iv. 18. + +Laurentius, Vir Experientissimus, ordered to collect in Istria stores +of wine, oil, and corn for Ravenna, xii. 22, 23, 24. + +Lawsuits not to be interminable, i. 5. + +LEAVE OF ABSENCE, TEMPORARY, FORMULA COMMEATALIS AD TEMPUS, vii. 36. + +Lenormant, his work 'La Grande Grèce' quoted, 7, 8, 71. + +Leodifrid, _see_ under Sajo. + +Leontius, Vir Spectabilis, his dispute about boundaries with +Paschasius, iii. 52. + +Leontius, Praefecture of, 105. + +Letters, origin of, from imitation of flight of cranes, viii. 12. + +Leucothea, Fountain of, its marvellous qualities, viii. 33. + +Liber, derivation of, xi. 38. + +Liberius (1), + Praetorian Praefect under Theodoric (493-500), 16; ii. 15, 16; + his fidelity to Odovacar, ii. 16; + conduct in assignment of 'Tertiae,' ii. 16; + father of Venantius, ii. 15; + arranged gift from Theodoric to ex-Emperor (?) Romulus, iii. 35. + +Liberius (2), Spectabilis (possibly son of preceding), complains of +unjust judgment by Marabad, iv. 47. + +Liberius (3), Senator, sent as ambassador by Theodahad to Justinian, +45. + +Liberius (4, probably same as No. 3), Patrician, Praetorian Praefect +of the Gauls (526), viii. 6; xi. 1. + +Liberius (5), second husband of Aetheria, iv. 12. + +Lictor, apostrophised by Cassiodorus in his 'Indulgentia,' xi. 40. + +Liguria, Province of, ships ordered from Ravenna to, ii. 20; + the Gepidae on their way to Gaul to march peaceably through, + v. 10, 11; + obscure allusion to troubles in, viii. 16; + famine in 'Liguria industriosa' to be relieved by corn-distribution, + x. 27; + relief of 'devota Liguria,' xi. 15, 16; + Consularis of, addressed, xii. 8; + invaded by the Burgundians, xii. 28; + plunder-raid of Alamanni into, xii. 28; + famine in, relieved, xii. 28. + +Lime, the praises of, vii. 17. + +Lime-kilns, President of, PRAEPOSITUS CALCIS, FORMULA OF, vii. 17. + +Lucania, Province of, + Eusebius is recommended to take holiday in, iv. 48; + rustics of, at Feast of St. Cyprian, viii. 33; + Campanianus, inhabitant of, ix. 4; + 'Montuosa Lucania' abounded in swine, xi. 39; + measures for relief of, during presence of Gothic army, xii. 5. + (_See_ also Bruttii.) + +Lucrine Port (?) to furnish tiles for repair of walls of Rome, i. 25. + +Lucullanum, Castrum (_Castel dell Ovo_, at Naples), property at, given +by Theodoric to Tulum, and by Athalaric to Joannes, viii. 25 (_see_ +note, p. 374). + +Lydus, Joannes, civil servant in Constantinople under Justinian, + author of 'De Dignitatibus;' + his account of the dignity of the Praetorian Praefect, 40; + on the official staff of the Praetorian Praefect, 94-114; + his disappointment with the emoluments of the Cornicularius, 101; + as to salutation of Praetorian Praefect, 297; + as to Scholares, 302; + jealousy of Magistriani, 303; + as to supply of paper for law courts, xi. 38. + + +M. + +Maffei, Scipione, author of 'Verona Illustrate,' on situation of +Verruca, 224. + +Magic, trial of Roman Senators on accusation of practising, iv. 22, 23; + punishment of, according to Edictum Athalarici, ix. 18. + +MAGISTER OFFICIORUM, FORMULA OF, vi. 6; + nature of his office, 36, 37; + jealousy between his subordinates and those of the Praefectus + Praetorio, 100, 302; + Eugenius promoted to office of, i. 12, 13; + office of, held by grandfather of Argolicus, iii. 12; + as to Cursus Publicus, 99; iv. 47; vi. 6; + letter of Witigis to M.O. at Constantinople, x. 33. + +MAGISTER SCRINII, FORMULA OF, vi. 13. + +Magistriani, officers under Magister Officiorum, jealousy of, felt by +members of Praefectoral staff, 303. + +Magistri Scriniorum, Spectabiles, 91. + +Magnus, a Spectabilis, of Gaul (?), to be reimbursed for losses +sustained from the Franks, iii. 18. + +Major Domus, Steward of the Royal House; Theodahad calls Vacco +'majorem domus nostrae,' and orders him to superintend the purchase of +provisions for Gothic garrison of Rome, x. 18. + +Mancipes mutationum, servants at posting-stations, iv. 47. + +Maniarius, complaint of, as to abstraction of his slaves by the +Breones, i. 11. + +Manso, author of 'Geschichte des Ostgothischen Reiches,' quoted, 333, +336, 401. + +Mappa, why used to denote the signal for the races, iii. 51. + +Marabad, Vir Illustris and Comes, + appointed Governor of Marseilles, iii. 34; + instructions to, iv. 12, 46. + +Marcellinus Comes, chronicler in the reign of Justinian, + as to introduction of Heruli into Italy, 258 _n_; + as to eruption of Vesuvius, 261 _n_, 262 _n_. + +Marcellus on water-finding, iii. 53. + +Marcian, Vir Spectabilis, employed to collect grain for Italy in +Spain, v. 35. + +Marcilianum (_Sala_, in Lucania), viii. 33. + +Marinus, his petition about the property of Tupha, iv. 32. + +Mark the Presbyter summoned for arrears of Siliquaticum, v. 31. + +MARRIAGE, CONFIRMATION OF, AND LEGITIMATION OF OFFSPRING, FORMULA FOR, +vii. 40. + +MARRIAGE, FORMULA LEGITIMATING WITH FIRST COUSIN, vii. 46. + +Marriage law (Edictum Athalarici), ix. 18. + +Martinus, his son Romulus accused of parricide, ii. 14. + +Massa Palentiana, wrested from rightful owners by Theodahad, v. 12. + +Massa, a farm, viii. 23. + +Massilia (_Marseilles_), + inhabitants of, to welcome Count Marabad, iii. 34; + privileges confirmed to, and exemption from taxation granted to for + one year, iv. 26. + +Master of the Horse, office of, abolished by Domitian, 99. + +Matasuentha, granddaughter of Theodoric, married to Witigis, 49. + +Maurentius, an orphan, taken under the King's guardianship, iv. 9. + +Maximian, Vir Illustris, one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try +Basilius and Praetextatus, iv. 22, 23. + +Maximus, Flavius Anicius, Vir Illustris, Consul (523), + encouraged to reward handsomely the _Venator_ in the amphitheatre, + v. 42; + appointed Primicerius Domesticorum (535), x. 11, 12; + married a wife of the Amal race, x. 11; + discussion as to his subsequent history, 424 _n_. + +Mercury, inventor of letters, viii. 12. + +Milan, Church of, immunities granted to, ii. 29, 30; + charioteers of, to receive largesse from Felix, iii. 39; + Bacauda, Tribunus Voluptatum at, v. 25; + Jews of, protected from molestation, v. 37; + famine in, to be relieved by Datius, xii. 27; + sieges and demolition of, 522. + +Militia, used of the purely civil service of the staff of the + Praetorian Praefect, 92; ii. 28; + obligations of the title, ii. 31; + used of service of Tribunus Voluptatum, v. 25; + of functions of Count of Sacred Largesses, vi. 7; + of functions of Comitiacus, vi. 13. + +Militia Litterata, the learned staff, 479. + +Millenarius (in Gothic, _thusundifaths_), captain of a thousand, v. +27. + +Millet (panicum), to be sold to citizens of Milan at 20 modii per +solidum, xii. 27. + +Minors, protection of, from fraud, iv. 35. + +MINT (MONETA) MASTER OF, FORMULA APPOINTING, vii. 32. + +Mommsen, Theodor, severe judgment of, on 'Chronicon' of Cassiodorus, +29, 120. + +Monopoly, letters relating to, ii. 26, 30; iii. 19; x. 28. + +Montanarius, bearer of money to Bishop Severus, ii. 8. + +Mosaic, discription of, i. 6. + +Moscius, Mons, near Scyllacium, xii. 15. + +Mundus, General of Justinian, in Dalmatia, 446 _n_. + +Munitarius (Winithar), ancestor of Theodoric, 'aequitate enituit,' xi. +1. + +Music, dissertation on, ii. 40. + + +N. + +Narbonne, Church of, possessions granted by Alaric, wrested from, iv. +17. + +Navy, Theodoric's directions as to raising, v. 16, 17. + +Neapolis (_Naples_), territory of, + suffers from eruption of Vesuvius, iv. 50; + FORMULA OF COUNT OF NAPLES, vi. 23; + FORMULA addressed HONORATIS POSSESSORIBUS, ET CURIALIBUS CIVITATIS + NEAPOLITANAE, vi. 24. + +Neotherius, a spendthrift, and brother of Plutianus, i. 7, 8. + +Nero, anecdote of, giving the signal for the chariot-race, iii. 51. + +Nicephorus Phocas, Emperor of the East (963-969), his work of +restoration at Squillace, 71. + +Nicomachus, _see_ Cethegus. + +Nimfadius, Vir Sublimis, his adventure at the Fountain of Arethusa, +viii. 32. + +Nivellius, Sebastianus, his edition of Cassiodorus, 115, 116. + +Nobilissimus, title given to nearest relatives of the Emperor, 85, 86. + +Nola, territory of, suffers from eruption of Vesuvius, iv. 50. + +Noricum, Provincials of, to exchange their cattle with the Alamanni, +iii. 50. + +NOTARII, FORMULA OF, vi. 16. + +Notitia Utriusque Imperii, + general correspondence of, with the 'Variae,' 85; + on the official staff of the Praetorian Praefect, 94-114; + illustration of the name, xii. 23. + +Numerarii, cashiers in the Court of Praetorian Praefect, 96, 108; + spoliation of churches of Bruttii alleged to be committed in their + name, xii. 13; + referred to, xii. 23. + +Nursia, the birthplace of St. Benedict, 375; + colony of Goths settled at, viii. 26. + + +O. + +Oath, mutual, + between Athalaric and his subjects on his accession, viii. 3; + between Goths and Romans, viii. 7. + +Obsonia (= relishes, anything eaten with bread, especially fish), to +be distributed to the Roman people, xii. 11. + +Ocer, a blind Gothic warrior, reduced to slavery by Gudila and Oppas, +v. 29. + +Odovacar (Odoacer), King (476-493), + faithful service of Liberius to, ii. 16; + possible allusion to times of, iii. 12; + buried in a stone chest, 207; + Tupha an officer of, 251; + moderate taxation under, iv. 38; + Opilio filled a place under (?), v. 41. + +Officium (official staff) of Praetorian Praefect, 93-114; + otherwise called Praetoriani, xi. 37; + to be fined if they disobey the King's orders, ii. 26; + duties of in collection of Bina and Terna, vii. 21; + promotion of, on Christmas Day, xi. 17; + their duties and rightful claims, xi. 37. + +Opilio, Count of Sacred Largesses, father of Cyprian, viii. 16, 17; + chosen for a place in household of Odovacar (?), v. 41. + +Opilio, son of above, Count of Sacred Largesses, viii. 16, 17; + ambassador from Theodahad to Justinian (535), 45; + evil character of, given by Boethius, 363. + +Oppas, accused of enslaving Ocer, a blind Goth, v. 29. + +Orthography, difficulties of Latin, in Sixth Century, 66. + +Ostrogotha, ancestor of Theodoric, 'patientiâ enituit,' xi. 1. + +Osuin (or Osum), Vir Illustris and Comes, made Governor of Dalmatia +and Suavitt, ix. 8, 9. + + +P. + +Padus (_Po_), + timber for navy to be collected upon the banks of, v. 17, 20; + stake-nets to be removed from mouth of, v. 17, 20. + +Palamediaci calculi = draughts, citizens fond of playing at, viii. 31. + +Palmatiana, wine of Bruttii, described, xii. 12. + +Panis, derivation of, from Pan, vi. 18. + +Pannonia Sirmiensis, Colossaeus appointed Governor of, iii. 23, 24; + an old habitation of the Goths, iii. 23. + +Pantomimist, dispute as to choice of, i. 20; + his menstruum (monthly allowance), i. 32, 33. + +Papal election, contested between Symmachus and Laurentius (498), 26; + of Felix III (526), viii. 15. + +Paper, praises of, xi. 38. + +Paraveredi, extra horses, v. 39. (_See Errata._) + +Parhippi, extra horses, iv. 47. + +Parma, sanitary measures in, viii. 29, 30. + +Parricide, the horror of, ii. 14. + +Paschasius, Vir Spectabilas, his dispute about boundaries with +Leontius, iii. 52. + +PATRICIATE, FORMULA OF, vi. 2. + +Patricius, Vir Illustris, appointed Quaestor by Theodahad, x. 6, 7. + +Patzenes, husband of Regina, story of his wife's intrigue with +Brandila during his absence on Gaulish campaign, v. 32, 33. + +Paula, an orphan, taken under the King's guardianship, iv. 9. + +Paulinus, Illustris and Patrician, + claims of Festus and Symmachus against, i. 23 + [N.B. Compare the following passage from Boethius' + 'Philosophiae Consolatio' i. 4: 'Paulinum consularem virum + cujus opes palatini canes jam spe atque ambitione + devorassent, ab ipsis hiantium faucibus traxi.' Considering + the relationship between Boethius and Symmachus, it is + impossible that Symmachus could be one of these 'palatini + canes,' but perhaps not impossible that Festus may be here + aimed at. Paulinus was Consul 498]; + Felix is praised for cultivating the friendship of, ii. 3; + allowed to repair and appropriate public granaries, iii. 29. + +Paulinas (Flavius Theodoras Paulinus Junior), Vir Clarissimus, son of +Venantius, grandson of Liberius, chosen Consul for 534, ix. 22. + +Peace, praises of, i. 1. + +Pedatura, length of wall assigned to be built by soldiers, v. 9. + +Pedonensis Civitas (situation unknown), Benedictus a citizen of, i. +36. + +Peraequatores, regulators of prices of provisions (?), vi. 6. + +Perfectissimi, fourth grade in the Imperial service, 92, 320; + not mentioned by Cassiodorus, 92. + +Pervasio, forcible appropriation of landed property, condemned by +Edict of Athalaric, ix. 18. + +Peter, Consul (516) and rhetorician, ambassador from Justinian to +Theodahad, 46, 47; x. 19, 22, 23, 24. + +Petrus, Vir Spectabilis, illustrious by descent, + allowed to enter the Senate, iv. 25; + his troubles with the Sajo assigned to him as his Defensor, + iv. 27, 28. + +Physician, duty of a good, vi. 19. + +Picenum, Province of, Goths resident in, iv. 14; v. 26, 27. + +Pietas = pity (very nearly), iv. 26. + +Pignoratio, lawless practice of, described and repressed, iv. 10. + +Pincian Hill, _see_ Rome. + +Pithoeus (Pierre Pithou), editor of Cassiodorus, attributes to him the +'Computus Paschalis,' 11. + +Placentia, provision dealers at, x. 28. + +Placidia, unfavourable comparison of with Amalasuentha, xi. 1. + +Planets, periods of, xi. 36. + +Pliny, on amber, 266; + on the elephant, 443. + +Plutianus, a minor, Felix accused of defrauding, i. 7, 8. + +Pola, Antonius, Bishop of, iv. 44. + +Pollentia, battle of, represented as Gothic victory by Cassiodorus, +28. + +Polyptycha, official registers, v. 14, 39. + +Pompeius Magnus, theatre of, the origin of his epithet, iv. 51. + +Pontonates (?), iv. 38. + +Popes, _see_ Agapetus, Felix III, Gregory the Great, John II, +Symmachus, Vigilius. + +Porticus Curba (or Curiae), near the Forum, 'fabricae' to be erected +above, iv. 30. + +Portus (_Porto_), quays and warehouses of, + under the Praefectus Urbis Romae, 87; + 'Portus Curas Agens,' ii. 12; + Comes Portus, vii. 9; + Vicarius Portus, vii. 23. + +Possessores, ii. 25; vi. 8; + of Aestunae, iii. 9; + of Arles, iii. 44; + of Velia, iv. 11. + +Possessores Honorati, of Catena, iii. 49; + of Forum Livii, iv. 8; + of Feltria, v. 9; + of Suavia, v. 14, 15; + of neighbourhood of Ravenna (?), v. 38; + of Sicily, vi. 22; + of Neapolis, vi. 24. + +POSSESSORES HONORATI, ET CURIALES, FORMULA ADDRESSED TO, vii. 27; + of Parma, viii. 29; + of Bruttii, exhorted to return to their cities, viii. 31. + +Possessores, Curiales permitted to become, ix. 4; + complain of abuses in corn-traffic, ix. 5. + +Potteries (figulinae), owners of, safeguarded, ii. 23. + +Praebendae, apparently = stipendia or annonae, 219; + claimed both in money and kind, v. 39. + +PRAEFECTUS ANNONAE, FORMULA OF, vi. 18; + office of, held by Paschasius, xii. 9. + +PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO, FORMULA OF, vi. 3; + FORMULA AS TO SUPERINTENDENCE OF ARMOURERS, vii. 19; + dignity of the office, 39-41, 134; + quotation from Lydus as to, 40; + his functions described by Bethmann-Hollweg, 41 _n_; + gradations of rank in his official staff, 93-114; + fine on, for disobeying King's orders, ii. 26; + not to be allowed to oppress men in humbler station, iii. 20, 27; + as to Cursus Publicus, 99; iv. 47; vi. 3; + Albienus appointed (527), viii. 20; + was Trigguilla his predecessor? 368. + +PRAEFECTUS URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vi. 4; + an Illustris, 86; + his functions described, 87, 88; + to punish insults against the Senate, i. 30, 31; + Artemidorus raised to dignity of, i. 42; + Argolicus raised to dignity of (510), iii. 11; + Quinque-viri associated with him for trial of Senators, iv. 22, 23; + his close companionship with the Praefectus Annonae, vi. 18; + Honorius ordered to see to preservation of brazen elephants at Rome, + x. 30. + +PRAEFECTUS VIGILUM URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 7. + +PRAEFECTUS VIGILUM URBIS RAVENNATIS, FORMULA OF, vii. 8. + +Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi, an Illustris, 86; + his functions, 88; + to refund to Symmachus expense of restoration of Pompey's Theatre, + iv. 51. + +Praepositi (?) have special rights as to the Cursus Publicus, v. 5. + +Praerogativarius (?), Joannes appointed, xi. 27. + +PRAESES PROVINCIAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 2. + +Praetextatus, a Roman Senator, accused of magical practices, iv. 22, +23. + +Prescription, title by, i. 18; ii. 27; v. 37. + +Prices, to be fixed by the Defensor of a city, vii. 11; + by the Curator, vii. 12; + tariff of, to be charged at Ravenna, xi. 11; + regulated along the Flaminian Way, xi. 12; + fixed in, Bruttii and Lucania, xii. 5; + tariff of, for Istria, xii. 22, 23; + of corn sold for relief of Ligurians in time of famine, x. 27; + xii. 27. + +Primicerius Augustalium, Beatus appointed, xi. 30 (_see_ Augustales). + +Primicerius Cubiculariorum, a Spectabilis, 88; + his functions, 88. + +Primicerius Deputatorum, Ursua appointed, xi. 30; (_see_ Deputati). + +Primicerius Domesticorum, Maximus appointed, x. 11, 12. + +Primicerius Exceptorum, chief of shorthand writers, Patricius +appointed, xi. 25. + +Primicerius Notariorum, vi. 16; + a Spectabilis, 91; + his office (apparently) joined to that of Count of Sacred Largesses, + vi. 7. + +Primicerius Singulariorum, Pierius appointed, in the room of Urbicus, +xi. 31, 32 (_see_ Singularii). + +Primiscrinii, officers of Court of Praetorian Praefect, 96, 103; + perhaps equivalent to Adjutores, 103; + might be chosen from the ordinary Exceptores, 110; + retiring Primiscrinius receives rank of Spectabilis, xi. 20; + Andreas obtains rank of, xi. 21; + retiring Primiscrinius to receive pension, xi. 37. + +Princeps, head of the Officium of the Praefectus Praetorio, + nature of his office, 96, 97, 477 _n_; + ex-Princeps, ii. 28; + title of, given to Magistriani, vi. 6; + FORMULA RECOMMENDING PRINCIPES TO COMES, vii. 25; + FORMULA ANNOUNCING APPOINTMENT OF COMES TO PRINCEPS, vii. 28. + +Princeps Augustorum, 96; xi. 35. + +Princeps Magistrianorum, 97, 99, 100. + +PRINCEPS DALMATIAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 24. + +PRINCEPS URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 31. + +Prior, a military officer among the Goths, viii. 26; + perhaps equivalent to 'Hundafath,' 375. + +Probinus (or Provinus), Illustris and Patrician (perhaps same as Consul 489), + obtains property by undue influence from Agapita, ii. 11; + the transfer declared to be bonâ fide, iv. 40. + +Probus, Assessor of taxes, iv. 38. + +PROCERES PER CODICILLOS VACANTES, FORMULA OF, vi. 10. + +Proceres Chartarum (?), subordinate to Count of Sacred Largesses, vi. +7. + +Procopius, his narrative of events in Italy in 534 and 535, 42-48; + makes no mention of the name of Cassiodorus, 51; + his statement of Justinian's argument as to the position of + Theodoric, 143 _n_; + his account of family of Venantius, 221; + attributes the death of Amalasuentha to Theodora, 433 _n_; + quoted, 370 _n_, 384 _n_, 390, 397, 431, 434, 518, 522, 527. + +Procula, wife of Brandila, her assault on Regina, v. 32. + +Prorogatores, purveyors (?), x. 28. + +Prosecutores frumentorum, petition of, as to loss of cargoes, iv. 7. + +Provincials, compensation to, for damage done by troops on march, ii. +8. + +Publianus, Vir Illustris, messenger from the Senate to Court at +Ravenna as to election of Pope (526), viii. 15. + +Public property assigned on condition of improvement, vii. 44. + +Pulveratica (dust-money) not to be paid to a Judge on his journeys, +xii. 15. + +Purple dye, history of the discovery of, i. 2. + +Pyctacium (pictacium or pittacium), delegatoris, bond or document of +title, i. 18; iii. 35; xii. 20. + +Pythias, Count, pronounces decree in favour of liberty of Ocer, a +blind Goth, v. 29. + + +Q. + +QUAESTOR, FORMULA OF, vi. 5; + duties of the office of, 14, 135; v. 4; vi. 5; + other Quaestors besides Cassiodorus between 501 and 510, 25 _n_; + Ambrosius appointed (526), viii. 13; + Felix appointed (527), viii. 18; + Patricius appointed (534), x. 6. + +Quidila, son of Sibia, made 'Prior' of the Goths in Reate and Nursia, +viii. 26. + +Quinque-viri associated with Praefectus Urbis to try two Senators +accused of magical arts, iv. 22, 23. + + +R. + +Raetia (Grisons and Tyrol), Servatus, Duke of, i. 11; + Alamannic refugees received in, ii. 41; + guarded by fortress of Verruca, iii. 48; + duties of the Duke of, vii. 4; + derivation of the name from _rete_, vii. 4. + +Rationales, bailiffs superintending the royal estates under the Comes +Rerum Privatarum, vi. 8. + +Rationalii, persons charged with distribution of the annona, 114. + +Rations for three days only, to be given to Provincial Governors and +others journeying to Scyllacium, xii. 15. + +Ravenna, Basilica of Hercules (?) at, i. 6; + mosaic ordered for, i. 6; + ships ordered round from, to Liguria, ii. 20; + favour bestowed on Church of, ii. 30; + marbles to be transported to, iii. 9, 10; + marble chests in which the citizens of Ravenna buried their dead, + iii. 19; + blocks of marble to be forwarded from Faventia to, v. 8; + fleet to be mustered at, v. 17, 19; + aqueduct of, to be kept clean, v. 38; + drinking water of, de-appetising, v. 38; + police of, vii. 8; + elevation of Athalaric at, viii. 2, 5; + provision dealers at, x. 28; + tariff of prices at, xi. 11; + siliquatarius of, xii. 17; + defences of, to be strengthened, xii. 17; + Deusdedit, a Scribe of, xii. 21; + wine, oil, and corn to be furnished by Provincials of Istria to, + xii. 22, 23, 24. + +Reate (_Rieti_, in the Sabine territory), Goths settled at, viii. 26. + +Rector Decuriarum, Governor of Guilds, v. 21, 22; + same as Judex Decuriarum of Theodosian Code, 278. + +RECTOR PROVINCIAE, FORMULA OF, vi. 21. + +Referendi Curiae, Armentarius and his son Superbus appointed, iii. 33. + +REFERENDARIUS, FORMULA OF, vi. 17; + Cyprian's services as, v. 40, 41; viii. 22; + Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, holds the post of, viii. 25. + +Regerendarius (or Regendarius), + officer charged with regulation of the postal-service, 109; + Cartherius appointed, xi. 29. + +Regina, wife of Patzenes, her intrigue with Brandila, v. 33; + assaulted by Brandila's wife, v. 32. + +Religious toleration practised by Theodoric, 21, 22; + principle of, stated, ii. 27; v. 37; x. 26. + +Remission of taxes, i. 16. + +Renatus complains that he is harassed by litigation of Inquilina, iv. +37. + +Reparatus, brother of Pope Vigilius, + appointed Praefect of the City, ix. 7; + his subsequent history, 390. + +Restitutio in integrum, 252. + +Retentator, a wrongful detainer, ii. 10. + +Rhegium (_Reggio_) derivation of the name, xii. 14; + the citizens of, to be exempt from 'coemptio' of wheat and lard, + xii. 14. + +Roccella, near Squillace, probable site of Scyllacium, 68. + +Roman law only to be administered between Romans, ix. 14. + +Roman citizens, release of, imprisoned on suspicion of sedition, ix. 17. + +Rome, Theodoric's measures for embellishment of, i. 21; ii. 7; + walls of, to be repaired, i. 25, 28; ii. 34; + the nephews of Filagrius detained at, for their education, i. 39; + 'everyone's country,' i. 39; + blocks of marble lying about in, to be used, ii. 7; + sons of Ecdicius detained at, ii. 22; + marbles on the Pincian Hill to be transported to Ravenna, iii. 10; + repair of granaries in, iii. 29; + Cloacae of, iii. 30; + repair of aqueducts and temples in, iii. 31; vii. 6; + sons of Valerian detained at, iv. 6; + new buildings overlooking Forum of, iv. 30; + 'turris circi et locus amphitheatri' wrested from sons of Volusianus, + iv. 42; + burning of Jewish synagogue at, iv. 43; + theatre of Pompey restored by Symmachus, iv. 51; + to receive supplies of corn from Spain, v. 35; + brazen elephants in Via Sacra, x. 30; + police of, vii. 7; + statues of, vii. 13, 15; + dissensions between citizens of, and Gothic troops (535), x. 14; + a Gothic garrison for, x. 18; + owns the shrines of the Apostles, xi. 2; + scarcity in, relieved by corn-distributions, xi. 5; + Roman citizens, and they only, to receive _obsonia_, xii. 11; + high character given to the Roman populace, xii. 11. + +Romulus, assured that Theodoric's gift to him through the Patrician + Liberius shall not be revoked, iii. 35; + probably this is the ex-Emperor Romulus Augustulus, 216; + subsequent disposal of his palace, the Lucullanum, 374. + +Romulus accused of murder of his father, ii. 14. + +Rufinus, Praetorian Praefect under Arcadius, his usurpation caused +some of Praetorian Praefect's powers to be transferred to the +Magister, 99. + +Rusticiana, farm of, in Bruttii, gold discovered at, ix. 3. + +Rusticus, a priest and a friend of Theodahad, sent on return embassy +with Peter to Justinian, 431 _n_; x. 20, 24. + + +S. + +Sabinus, ex-Charioteer, his pension increased, ii. 9. + +Sacrilege, the folly of, xii. 13. + +St. Cyprian's fair (in Lucania) described, viii. 33. + +Sajo, Saio, or Sajus (henchman), description of his office, 177 _n_; + to go straight to object of his mission, and not to make pleasure + tours at the public expense, iv. 47; + Nandius, sent to summon Goths to war, i. 24; + to support Ecdicius in levying Siliquaticum, ii. 4; + Fruinarith to enquire into conduct of Venantius, ii. 13; + Grimoda ordered to redress the oppression of Faustus, iii. 20; + Leodifrid ordered to superintend building of houses near fort + Verruca, iii. 48; + Amabilis (?) ordered to superintend grain traffic from Italy to + Gaul, iv. 5; + Gesila ordered to make Gothic defaulters in Picenum and Tuscia pay + their taxes, iv. 14; + Tezutzat assigned as Defensor to Petrus, iv. 27; + Amara has wounded Petrus, whose Defensor he nominally was, + iv. 27, 28; + Duda (Vir Spectabilis and Comes), instructions to, iv. 28, 32, 34; + Gudisal ordered to reform abuses of _Cursus Publicus_, iv. 47; + Mannila receives like instructions, v. 5; + Veranus to see that the Gepidae march peaceably through Liguria, + v. 10; + Gudinand and Avilf ordered to muster sailors and collect timber for + navy, v. 19, 20; + Tata ordered to conduct recruits to Count Julian, v. 23; + Guduim ordered to summon Gothic captains to Court, v. 27; + Catellus and Servandus (?), 'Viri Strenui,' to collect fines from + fraudulent shipowners, v. 35; + a Sajo (unnamed) accused of rough treatment of a deacon, viii. 24; + Dumerit sent to repress robbery at Faventia, viii. 27; + Quidila sent with Athalaric's orders to Sicily, ix. 10; + to execute vengeance on Pervasores, ix. 18; + BOND FOR PROPER USE OF SAJO'S SERVICES, FORMULA OF, vii. 42; + was he necessarily the instrument by which 'tuitio regii nominis' + was given? 341; + Sajones assigned to various Cancellarii, xii. 3; + their duties and temptations, xii. 3; + Paulus, Vir Strenuus, perhaps a Sajo, xii. 26. + +Salamander, nature of, iii. 47. + +Salona (in Dalmatia), inhabitants of, to be armed and drilled, i. 40; + Bishop of, takes 60 tuns of oil from one John, iii. 7. + +Salt-works at Venice, xii. 24. + +Samaritans contest possession of a house in Rome with the Roman +Church, iii. 45. + +Samnium, Province of, Sunhivad appointed Governor of, iii. 13; + practice of _pignoratio_ prevalent in, iv. 10; + Goths resident in, v. 26, 27; + Anatholius, Cancellarius of, xi. 36; + retiring allowance of Cornicularius charged on revenues of, xi. 36. + +Sarsena (?), Curia of, ii. 18. + +Scholares, household troops, under Magister Officiorum, v. 6. + +Scholaris, Sextus (?), Justus appointed, xi. 26. + +Schubert, von, author of 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen,' 120, 524, 527. + +Science, list of Greek men of, whose works were translated by Boetius, +i. 45. + +Scribe, importance of the office of, xii. 21. + +Scrinia, the four, under the Magister Officiorum, 36, 112; + to provide themselves with paper, xi. 38. + +Scriniarii, vii. 21, 22. + +Scriniarius, 106. + +Scriniarius Curae Militaris, 109; + Lucillus appointed, xi. 24. + +Scrinium Memoriae, 102. + +Scriniarius Actorum, Catellus obtains rank of, xi. 22. + +Scyllacium (_Squillace_), birthplace of Cassiodorus, 6; + the Greek colony, Scylletion, 6, 7; + Roman colony, Minerva Scolacium, 7, 8; + appearance of, 8; xii. 15; + modern remains at, 9; + Cassiodorus founds his monasteries at, 55; + topography of, 68-73; + citizens of, not to be called on to contribute to the _Cursus + Publicus_, xii. 15. + +Scythian, vagueness of the term, which was often applied to the Goths, +31, 32. + +Senarius, Vir Illustris, appointed Comes Patrimonii, iv. 3, 4; + instructions to, as Comes Privatarum Rerum, iv. 7, 11, 13. + +Senate of Rome, attitude of Theodoric and Cassiodorus towards, 26, 27; + flattery of, i. 13, 42; iii. 12; v. 41; + not to degrade themselves by altercations with the mob in the + Circus, i. 27, 30; + enquiry into character of candidates for admission to, i. 41; + iv. 25; + Senators' taxes in arrear, ii. 24; + Senators with Gothic names, ii. 29, 35; iii. 13; + proceedings on trial of Senators, iv. 22, 23; vi. 21; + addressed on election of Pope Felix III, viii. 15; + Theodahad's elevation announced to, x. 4; + chidden by Theodahad for not accepting his invitation to Ravenna, + x. 13; + Theodahad announces arrival of Gothic garrison to, x. 18; + ordered by Theodahad to communicate with Justinian, x. 19; + Cassiodorus writes to, on his elevation to the Praetorian + Praefecture, xi. 1; + petition of, to Justinian for peace, xi. 13. + +SENATOR, FORMULA CONFERRING THE RANK OF, vi. 14. + +Severinus (or Severianus), Vir Illustris, + appointed a Commissioner for Province of Suavia, to remedy financial + abuses, v. 14, 15; + again sent to Suavia and Dalmatia with Osuin, ix. 9. + +Severus, Vir Spectabilis, apparently Governor of Bruttii and Lucania, +vii. 31-33. + +Sextarius, corn measure, ii. 26. + +Sicily, inhabitants of, suspicious, + and with difficulty won over to the rule of Theodoric, i. 3; + Filagrius, a citizen of Syracuse, asks leave to return to, i. 39; + possessions of Milanese Church in, ii. 29; + Valerian, a citizen of Syracuse, allowed to return thither, iv. 6; + FORMULA OF COUNT OF SYRACUSE, vi. 22; + _augmentum_ imposed by Theodoric remitted by Athalaric, ix. 10, 11, + 12; + oppressive acts of Censitores and Count of Syracuse rebuked, ix. 11, + 14. + +Sidonius, Apollinaris, possible quotation from, iii. 16. + +Sigismer, Illustris and Count, sent to administer to the Senate the +oath of fidelity to Athalaric, viii. 2. + +Signine Channel, near Ravenna (?), shrubs growing in, to be rooted up, +v. 38. + +Sila, Mount, in Bruttii, celebrated for its cheese, xii. 12. + +Silentiarii, thirty life-guards, 88. + +Siliqua, one-twenty-fourth of solidus, 173. + +Siliquaticum, a tax of one-twenty-fourth on sales in open market, + collection of, ii. 4; + exemption from, ii. 30; iv. 19; + collection of arrears of, in Dalmatia, iii. 25; + collection of arrears of, in Apulia and Calabria, v. 31. + +Siliquatarii, ii. 12, 26; xii. 17. + +Simeon, Vir Illustris and Comes, appointed to collect arrears of +taxation in Dalmatia, iii. 25, 26. + +Simeonius (an Apulian or Calabrian), summoned for arrears of +Siliquaticum, v. 31. + +Simony practised at Papal elections, edict against, ix. 15, 16. + +Simplicius, Pope (468-483), bought a house at Rome claimed by the +Samaritans, iii. 45. + +Singularii, servants charged with conveying the orders of the + Praetorian Praefect into the Provinces, 113; + origin of their name, 113. (_See_ also, xi. 31, 32.) + +Sipontum in Apulia, merchants of, despoiled by Byzantine fleet (?), +ii. 38. + +Sirmium, war of (504), Tulum's services in, viii. 10; + Cyprian's services in, viii. 22. + +Slave of a Senator, murderer of a freeborn citizen, + to be surrendered, i. 30; + as to levy of slaves for the navy, v. 16; + Gothic soldier made a slave wrongfully, v. 29; + degrading services (servitia famulatus) not to be claimed of + freeborn Goths, v. 30, 39; + Tanca is accused of unjustly enslaving two rustic neighbours, + viii. 28. + +Slaves, runaway, to be restored to their owners, iii. 43; + did free Italians sell their children as? viii. 33 _n_. + +Solidus, 'the ancients wished that it should consist of 6,000 denarii' +(?), i. 10. + +Sona, Illustris, iii. 15. + +Sontius (_Isonzo_), River of, Theodoric's crossing of, + made an era in lawsuits as to landed property, i. 18; + the Lucristani (?) on, ordered to attend to the Cursus Publicus, + i. 29. + +Sors, land-allotment, ii. 17. + +Sors nascendi of the Curialis, ii. 18. + +Spain, to send corn-supplies to Rome, v. 35; + abuses in administration of, to be repressed, v. 39. + +Spatarius, sword-bearer, an officer in the royal household, iii. 43. + +Spectabiles, second class of Ministers, who belonged to it? 90, 91; + honour of, conferred on Stephanus, ii. 28; + Comes Primi Ordinis, highest of, vi. 12; + FORMULA CONFERRING RANK OF, vii. 37; + Antianus, ex-Cornicularius, receives rank of, xi. 18; + retiring Primiscrinius receives rank of, xi. 20. + +Spes, Spectabilis, has a concession for draining land, ii. 21. + +Spoletium (_Spoleto_), gratuitous admission to baths at, ii. 37; + rebuilding behind the Baths of Turasius at, iv. 24; + Honoratus, advocate at, v. 4. + +_Staletti_, near Squillace, near the site of Vivarian Monastery, 71. + +Starcedius, Vir Sublimis, allowed to retire from military service, but +without a pension, v. 36. + +Statue, theft of brazen, at Comum, ii. 35, 36. + +Statues, care of, at Como, ii. 35, 36; + at Rome, vii. 13, 15. + +Ste. Marthe, Denys de, author of 'Vie de Cassiodore,' 118. + +Stephanus, killed by his servants and left unburied, ii. 19. + +Stephanus, petition of, against Bishop of Pola, iv. 44. + +Stratonicea, Edict of, by Diocletian, 'de pretiis venalium rerum,' +470. + +Style, Cassiodorus on the different kinds of, 139. + +Suarii, pork-butchers, subject to Praefectus Annonae, vi. 18. + +S(u)avia (_Sclavonia_), Fridibad appointed Governor of, iv. 49; + order to be maintained in, iv. 49; + grievances of the Possossores of, to be redressed, v. 14; + Osuin appointed Governor of, ix. 8, 9. + +Subadjuvae, deputy cashiers (?), 109. + +Sublimis, epithet used in the 'Variae,' 91 _n_; + equivalent to Spectabilis (?), 91. + +Suevi (perhaps here the same as Alamanni) invade the Venetian Province +(536), xii. 7. + +Sulcatoriae (?), some kind of merchant ships, ii. 20. + +SUMMONS, LETTERS OF, TO THE KING'S COURT, FORMULAE EVOCATORIAE, vii. +34, 35. + +Sundial, description of, to be made by Boetius for Gundibad, i. 45. + +Superbus, son of Armentarius, appointed Referendus Curiae, iii. 33. + +Sustineo, technically used of the King's reception of his guests, iii. +22 (and 28). + +Swords, description of, sent by King of the Vandals to Theodoric, v. +1. + +Symmachus, Pope (498-514), contested election with Laurentius, 26. + +Symmachus the Elder, + orator and leader of the Pagan party in the Senate, 78; + was he also a historian? 78. + +Symmachus, Q. Aurelius Memmius, Consul (485), Patrician, + father-in-law of Boethius, information as to, in the 'Anecdoton + Holderi,' 74, 77-79; + his speech for the 'Allecticii,' 78; + his Roman History, 78; + his claims against Paulinus, i. 23; + one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Barilius and Praetextatus, + iv. 22, 23; + commended for his restoration of buildings in Rome, iv. 51; + a saying of, xi. 1. + + +T. + +Table of the King, provision of delicacies for, vi. 9; xii. 4, 18. + +Tabularii, Cashiers of a municipality, a lower class of Numerarii, +108. + +Tacitus, on amber, quoted, v. 2. + +Tanca, a Goth (?), accused of unjustly enslaving free rustics, viii. +28. + +Tarvisium (_Treviso_), corn-warehouse at, to be opened, x. 27. + +Taxation, arrears of, ii. 24, 25; iv. 14; v. 31; + immunity from, ii. 30; + remissness in tax-collectors condemned, iii. 8; xii. 10; + remission of, for citizens of Aries, iii. 32; + remission of, for all Provincials of Gaul, iii. 40; iv. 19; + remission of, for one year, for citizens of Marseilles, iv. 26; + weight of, to be lessened, iv. 38; + regulation of, for Province of Suavia, v. 14, 15; + abuses of, in Spain, corrected, v. 39; + collection of _Bina_ and _Terna_, vii. 20-22; + remission of super-assessment for Dalmatia, ix. 9; + similar remission for Sicily, ix. 10, 11, 12; + remission of, for a monastery, x. 26; + proper manner of collecting, xi. 7; + correction of abuses of, in Liguria, xi. 16; + commutation of cattle-tax for Lucania and Bruttii, xi. 39; + taxes to be paid punctually, xii. 2; + in Lucania and Bruttii in time of war, xii. 5; + remission of, for Venetia, on account of invasion of the Suevi, + xii. 7; + tax-gatherer allowed to make prepayment of his taxes, xii. 8; + _Trina Illatio_ to be collected regularly, xii. 16; + special requisition from Istria, xii. 22, 23; + contributions from Venetia remitted, xii. 26; + remission of half of, for Liguria, xii. 28. + +TAXES, FORMULA FOR REMISSION OF, WHERE THE TAXPAYER IS TOO HEAVILY +ASSESSED, vii. 45. + +Teias, King of the Goths (552-663), his battle with Narses on Monte +Lettere, 468 _n_. + +Tenues = the poor, ii. 24, 25. + +Terna, a kind of tax + (not to be confounded with the Tertiae or the Trina Illatio), iii. 8; + collection of, vii. 20, 21, 22. + +Terracina, inscription at, as to draining Marsh of Decennonium, 188. + +Tertiae, probably either the land assigned to the Goths in Italy or + the pecuniary equivalent paid by the Roman possessor for an + undivided 'Sors Barbarica,' 152; + (tax), to be collected at same time as ordinary tribute, i. 14; + (land), demarcation of, by Liberius, ii. 16; + (tax), immunity from, ii. 17. + +Theodagunda, Illustris Foemina, apparently a Gothic princess, ordered +to do justice to Renatus, iv. 37. + +Theodahad, nephew of Theodoric, + associated in the sovereignty by Amalasuentha, 44; x. 1-4; + his character, 44; + he dethrones Amalasuentha (April 30, 535), and puts her to death, 45; + his negotiations with Justinian, 47; + his deposition and death, 49; + style of address in the 'Variae,' 86; + ordered to undertake a case of contumacy, iii. 15; + his avarice condemned, iv. 39; v. 12; + to receive farms which had belonged to his mother, viii. 23; + declares that his character has changed with his accession, x. 5; + chides the Senate for their suspicions of him, x. 13; + thinks himself much superior to Theodoric, x. 22; + intended journey of, to Rome, xii. 18, 19; + his questionable generosity in releasing his mortgage on the Church + plate to the Pope, xii. 20. + +Theodora, Augusta (married to Justinian 525, died 548), + letter of Amalasuentha to, x. 10; + letters of Gudelina to, x. 20, 21, 23; + alleged complicity of, in murder of Amalasuentha, 433, 435. + +Theodoric, King of the Goths and Romans (493-525), + his position in Italy, 16, 19; + story of his inability to write, 15; + relation of Cassiodorus to, 16, 19; + his religious tolerance, 21, 22; + his persecution of the Orthodox, 35; + condemnation of Boethius and Symmachus, 35; + death of (Aug. 30, 526), 37; + may _possibly_ have called himself King of Italy, 62 _n_; 455 _n_; + confusion between him and Theodoric II the Visigoth, 116; + letters written in the name of, 141-293; + learned in the Roman Republic the art of governing Romans with + equity, i. 1; + relations between him and Anastasius, i. 1; + allusion to his adoption by Zeno (?), i. 20; + his intervention in Gaul (508), i. 24; + his friendship for Artemidoras, i. 43; + motto for his reign, ii. 21; + inscription recording his drainage of Decennonial Marsh, 188; + his attempts to prevent war between Alaric and Clovis, iii. 1-4; + calls himself 'Romanus Princeps,' iii. 16; + his high purpose in ruling, iii. 43; + his alliance with the Thuringians, iv. 1; + his alliance with the Heruli, iv. 2; + his rides after the hours of business with Cyprian his + _Referendarius_, v. 40; + Cassiodorus speaks of his 'oculus imperialis,' viii. 18; + praises of, by Witigis, x. 31; + his especial characteristic was patience, xi. 1. + +Theodoric I, King of the Franks (511-534), death of, xi. 1; 452 _n_; +455 _n_. + +Theodoric, or more probably Theodorus, Patrician, accused of +assaulting the Green party in the Circus, i. 27. + +Theodorus, candidate for office of Pantomimist, i. 20. + +Theodoras, report of, as to gold in Bruttii, ix. 3. + +Theodosian Code, perhaps referred to in the words 'Statuta Divalium + sanctionum,' iv. 12; + as to Decuriae Librariorum, &c. 277; + as to Delegatio, 479 _n_. + +Theodosius, man of Theodahad (?), exhorted to abstain from violence, +x. 5. + +Thessalonica, Praefect of, entreated by Witigis to speed his +ambassadors on their way to Justinian, x. 35. + +Theudimer, father of Theodoric, 'pietate enituit,' xi. 1. + +Thomas, father of Germanus, iii. 37. + +Thomas, Vir Clarissimus, complains that he cannot collect arrears of +taxes in Apulia, v. 31. + +Thomas, Vir Honestus, hopelessly in debt for taxes on Apulian farms, +v. 6, 7. + +Thomas the Charioteer to receive a monthly allowance, iii. 51. + +Thorbecke, August, author of 'Cassiodorus Senator,' 119. + +Thorismuth, predecessor of Theodoric, 'castitate enituit,' xi. 1. + +Thuringians, King of, + appealed to by Theodoric to prevent war between Clovis and Alaric, + iii. 3; + Herminafrid, King of, married to Amalabirga, niece of Theodoric, + iv. 1. + +Tiber to be crossed by a bridge of boats, xii. 19. + +Ticinum (_Pavia_), inhabitants of, + ordered to provision the Heruli on their journey to King's Comitatus, + iv. 45; + corn warehouse at, to be opened, x. 27; xii. 27; + provision dealers at, x. 28; + Count Winusiad, Governor of, x. 29. + +Tituli, practice of affixing to property, condemned, ix. 18. + +Totila, words of, as to exceptional favour accorded to Sicily, 397. + +Trajan, oath taken by, to the Roman people, viii. 3; + noble saying of, to an orator, viii. 13. + +Transmund (Thrasamund), King of the Vandals (496-523), + complained of for sheltering Gesalic, Theodoric's enemy, v. 43; + the reconciliation, v. 44. + +Transmutation of metals (?), viii. 3. + +Treasure, buried, search for, iv. 34. + +TRIBUNATUS PROVINCIARUM, FORMULA OF, vii. 30. + +Tribuni Maritimorum (in islands of Venetia), xii. 24. + +TRIBUNUS VOLUPTATUM, MINISTER OF PUBLIC AMUSEMENT, FORMULA OF, vii. 10; + Bacauda appointed, at Milan, v. 25; + referred to, vi. 19. + +Tridentum (_Trient_), proprietors in district of, ii. 17; + new city to be erected in district of, v. 9; + corn warehouse at, to be opened, x. 27. + +Trigguilla, 'Regiae Praepositus Domus,' was he the Praetorian Praefect +whose misgovernment is denounced, viii. 20? + +Trina Illatio, three instalments for payment of taxes, ii. 24; x. 27 +(?); xi. 7, 35, 36, 37; xii. 2, 16, 27 (?). + +Trittheim, John (Trithemius), Abbot of Spanheim, + his notice of date of Cassiodorus' birth, 9, 10, 66; + as to office of Abbot held by Cassiodorus, 56 _n_. + +TUITIO REGII NOMINIS, FORMULA BESTOWING, vii. 39; + promised to owner of potteries, ii. 23; + to Milanese Church, ii. 29; + to Maurentius and Paula, iv. 9; + alluded to in Edictum Athalarici, ix. 18 (p. 404). + +Tullianus, son of Venantius, 221. + +Tulum, Patrician, his early history and character, viii. 9, 10; + embassy to Constantinople (?), viii. 9; + share in the war of Sirmium, viii. 10; + in the Gaulish wars (508 and 523), viii. 10; + his escape from shipwreck, viii. 10; + marriage with an Amal princess, viii. 9; + letter written on his behalf to the Senate, viii. 11; + declared Patrician, viii. 9, 10, 11, 12; + receives Castrum Lucullanum from Theodoric and hands it over to + Joannes, viii. 25. + +Tupha (Tufa), an officer of Odovacar, + who deserted to Theodoric and then betrayed him, 251; + lawsuit about his property, confiscated to the Treasury, iv. 32. + +Tusciae (Thusciae) utraeque, iv. 14; + Goths resident in, iv. 14; + Canonicarius of, to buy a fitting quantity of paper, xi. 38. + + +U. + +Ulpianus, guarantor for Venantius, has lost 400 solidi by his default, +ii. 13. (As this occurred 'administrationis suae tempore,' Ulpianus +must have held some kind of public office.) + +Ulysses, reputed founder of Scyllacium, xii. 15. + +Unalamer (Walamir), uncle of Theodoric, 'fide enituit,' xi. 1. + +Unimundus (Hunimund), collateral ancestor of Theodoric, 'forma +enituit,' xi. 1. + +Uraias, nephew of King Witigis, his capture of Milan (539), xii. 27. + +Usener, Hermann, editor of 'Anecdoton Holderi,' 73-84, 119. + + +V. + +Vacco, Major Domus to Theodahad, x. 18; + to superintend purchase of provisions for Gothic garrison, x. 18. + +Valentinian III, Emperor (425-455), quotation from Novellae of, ix. 18; + Placidia's guardianship of, xi. 1. + +Valerian, a Spectabilis, citizen of Syracuse, sons of, to be detained +in Rome, iv. 6. + +Valeriana, Adeodatus condemned for rape of, iii. 46. + +Vandals, King of (Thrasamund), sends presents to Theodoric, v. 1. +(_See_ also _Transmund_ and _Hilderic_.) + +Vandals, allusion to, v. 17. + +'VARIAE' of Cassiodorus, their style described, 16-19; + not arranged in chronological order, 22; + time and manner of their editing, 51, 52; + reason of the name, 138, 139. + +Velia (or Volia), dispute between Possessores and Curiales of, iv. 11. + +Venantius (1), guardian of Plutianus, his accusation of Felix, i. 7, +8. + +Venantius (2), by his dishonesty has caused his guarantor Ulpianus to +forfeit 400 solidi, ii. 13. + +Venantius (3), son of Liberius, Vir Illustris, praises of, ii. 15; + made Comes Domesticorum, ii. 15, 16; + rebuked for remissness in collection of taxes when Corrector of + Bruttii and Lucania, iii. 8; + complaints of Firminus against, iii. 36; + his alleged unjust judgment of Adeodatus, iii. 46; + descended from the ancient Decii, ix. 23; + congratulated on Consulship of his son Paulinus (534), ix. 23. + +Venerius, a farmer, unjustly reduced to slavery by Tanca, viii. 28. + +Venetia, Province of, + Gepidae on their way to Gaul to march peaceably through, v. 10, 11; + famine in 'devotae Venetiae' to be relieved by corn distribution, + x. 27; + Canonicarius of, ordered to collect wine for the King's table, + xii. 4; + taxes of, remitted, on account of invasion of the Suevi, xii. 7; + 'Venetiae praedicabiles,' xii. 24; + scarcity of crops in, xii. 26. + +Venice, letter containing first historical notice of (537), xii. 24. + +Veranilda, convert from Arianism to Catholic faith, interceded for by +Justinian, x. 26. + +Vercelli, grant of freedom from taxation made to Church of, i. 26. + +Veredarii, drivers of the royal mail, ii. 31. + +Veredi, post-horses, not to be overworked, iv. 47. + +Verruca (perhaps _Dos Trento_), near Trient, + description of the fort of, iii. 48; + meaning of the word, 223, _n_ 1. + +Vesuvius, eruption of, iv. 50. + +Vicarius, a Spectabilis and Governor of a Diocese, 90; i. 37. + +Vicarius Praefectorum (?), title borne by Gemellus as Governor of +Gaul, iii. 16. + +VICARIUS PORTUS, FORMULA OF, vii. 23. + +VICARIUS URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vi. 15; + limits of his jurisdiction, 88. + +Vice-dominus (?), servants of, have oppressed Provincials of Suavia, +v. 14. + +Victor Tunnunensis, chronicler (died in 569), as to the death of +Amalafrida, 384 _n_. + +Victor, Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, severely rebuked for acts +of oppression, ix. 12. + +Vigilus, Pope (537-555), allusion to by Cassiodorus, 6; + brother of Reparatus, 390; + perhaps alluded to by Gudelina, x. 20 (_see_ p. 433 _n_). + +Villiciorum Tuitio (?), removed in Spain, as being costly and +unpopular, v. 39. + +Virgil quoted, 63 _n_; xii. 14. + +Vivarian Monastery, founded by Cassiodorus, near Scyllacium, 55; + site of, 71. + +Vivianus, Spectabilis, renouncing the world, foregoes the benefit of +an unjust decree which he has obtained against Joannes, iv. 41. + +Volcanoes, nature of, iii. 47; iv. 50. + +Volusianus, one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and + Praetextatus, iv. 22, 23; + died at Easter, iv. 42; + his sons robbed of their possessions by a heartless intriguer, + iv. 42. + +Vulcanian Islands (_Lipari_), a murderer banished to, iii. 47. + + +W. + +Walamir (_see_ Unalamer). + +Warni (or Guarni), King of, appealed to by Theodoric to prevent war +between Clovis and Alaric, iii. 3. + +Water-clock, description of, to be made by Boetius for Gundibad, i. +45. + +Water-finder has come from Africa to Rome, iii. 53; + description of his art, iii. 53. + +Wine, Acinaticium, xii. 4; + Palmatiana, xii. 12; + of Gaza, xii. 12; + Sabine, xii. 12. + +Winithar (_see_ Munitarius). + +Winusiad, Comes, Governor of Ticinum, recommended to visit baths of +Bormio, x. 29. + +Witigis (or Vitigis), King of the Goths (536-540), + proclamation announcing his accession, 49; x. 31; + letters written in the name of, x. 32-35; + his vengeance on Theodahad, x. 32; + his marriage with Matasuentha, x. 32; + his siege of Rome, 506; + possibly alluded to in xii. 19; 509; + the Burgundians' fear of him, xii. 28. + +Witigisclus (or Wigisicla), Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, +severely rebuked for acts of oppression, ix. 12. + + +Z. + +Zeno, Emperor (474-491), his concessions to Theodoric, x. 22. + + * * * * * + +_Printed at the University Press, Oxford_ + +_By_ HORACE HART, _Printer to the University_ + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Letters of Cassiodorus, by +Cassiodorus (AKA Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS *** + +***** This file should be named 18590-8.txt or 18590-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/5/9/18590/ + +Produced by Robert Connal, Linda Cantoni, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at +http://gallica.bnf.fr) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Letters of Cassiodorus + Being A Condensed Translation Of The Variae Epistolae Of + Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator + +Author: Cassiodorus (AKA Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator) + +Translator: Thomas Hodgkin + +Release Date: June 15, 2006 [EBook #18590] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Connal, Linda Cantoni, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at +http://gallica.bnf.fr) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h2>THE</h2> + +<h1>LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS</h1> + +<h3>BEING</h3> + +<h2> +A CONDENSED TRANSLATION OF THE VARIAE EPISTOLAE<br /> +OF MAGNUS AURELIUS CASSIODORUS SENATOR<br /> +</h2> + +<h3>With an Introduction</h3> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>THOMAS HODGKIN</h2> + +<h3> +FELLOW OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON; HON. D.C.L. OF DURHAM UNIVERSITY<br /> +AUTHOR OF 'ITALY AND HER INVADERS'<br /> +</h3> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<p style="text-align: center"> +LONDON: HENRY FROWDE<br /> +AMEN CORNER, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.<br /> +</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><b>1886.</b></p> + +<p style="text-align: center">[<i>All rights reserved</i>]</p> + +<p style="text-align: center">Oxford</p> + +<p style="text-align: center">PRINTED BY HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<p style="text-align: center"><b><a href="#CONTENTS">Table of Contents</a></b></p> +<p style="text-align: center"> </p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +[<i>Transcriber's Note:</i> This e-text contains a number of words and phrases +in ancient Greek. In the original text, some of the Greek characters have +diacritical marks which do not display properly in some browsers, such as +Internet Explorer. In order to make this e-text as accessible as possible, +the diacritical marks have been omitted, except that the rough-breathing +mark is here represented by an apostrophe at the beginning of the word. +All text in Greek has a mouse-hover transliteration, e.g., +<span lang="el" title="Greek: kalos">καλος</span>.] +</p></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> abstract of the 'Variae' of Cassiodorus which I now offer to the +notice of historical students, belongs to that class of work which +Professor Max Müller happily characterised when he entitled two of his +volumes 'Chips from a German Workshop.' In the course of my +preparatory reading, before beginning the composition of the third and +fourth volumes of my book on 'Italy and Her Invaders,' I found it +necessary to study very attentively the 'Various Letters' of +Cassiodorus, our best and often our only source of information, for +the character and the policy of the great Theodoric. The notes which +in this process were accumulated upon my hands might, I hoped, be +woven into one long chapter on the Ostrogothic government of Italy. +When the materials were collected, however, they were so manifold, so +perplexing, so full of curious and unexpected detail, that I quite +despaired of ever succeeding in the attempt to group them into one +harmonious and artistic picture. Frankly, therefore, renouncing a task +which is beyond my powers, I offer my notes for the perusal of the few +readers who may care to study the mutual reactions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> of the Roman and +the Teutonic mind upon one another in the Sixth Century, and I ask +these to accept the artist's assurance, 'The curtain is the picture.'</p> + +<p>It will be seen that I only profess to give an abstract, not a full +translation of the letters. There is so much repetition and such a +lavish expenditure of words in the writings of Cassiodorus, that they +lend themselves very readily to the work of the abbreviator. Of course +the longer letters generally admit of greater relative reduction in +quantity than the shorter ones, but I think it may be said that on an +average the letters have lost at least half their bulk in my hands. On +any important point the real student will of course refuse to accept +my condensed rendering, and will go straight to the fountain-head. I +hope, however, that even students may occasionally derive the same +kind of assistance from my labours which an astronomer derives from +the humble instrument called the 'finder' in a great observatory.</p> + +<p>A few important letters have been translated, to the best of my +ability, verbatim. In the not infrequent instances where I have been +unable to extract any intelligible meaning, on grammatical principles, +from the words of my author, I have put in the text the nearest +approximation that I could discover to his meaning, and placed the +unintelligible words in a note, hoping that my readers may be more +fortunate in their interpretation than I have been.</p> + +<p>With the usual ill-fortune of authors, just as my last sheet was +passing through the press I received from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span> Italy a number of the 'Atti +e Memorie della R. Deputazione di Storia Patria per le Provincie di +Romagna' (to which I am a subscriber), containing an elaborate and +scholarlike article by S. Augusto Gaudenzi, entitled 'L'Opera di +Cassiodorio a Ravenna.' It is a satisfaction to me to see that in +several instances S. Gaudenzi and I have reached practically the same +conclusions; but I cannot but regret that his paper reached me too +late to prevent my benefiting from it more fully. A few of the more +important points in which I think S. Gaudenzi throws useful light on +our common subject are noticed in the '<a href="#ADDITIONS_AND_CORRECTIONS">Additions and Corrections</a>,' to +which I beg to draw my readers' attention.</p> + +<p>I may perhaps be allowed to add that the <a href="#GENERAL_INDEX">Index</a>, the preparation of +which has cost me no small amount of labour, ought (if I have not +altogether failed in my endeavour) to be of considerable assistance to +the historical enquirer. For instance, if he will refer to the heading +<i><a href="#Sajo">Sajo</a></i>, and consult the passages there referred to, he will find, I +believe, all that Cassiodorus has to tell us concerning these +interesting personages, the Sajones, who were almost the only +representatives of the intrusive Gothic element in the fabric of Roman +administration.</p> + +<p>From textual criticism and the discussion of the authority of +different MSS. I have felt myself entirely relieved by the +announcement of the forthcoming critical edition of the 'Variae,' +under the superintendence of Professor Meyer. The task to which an +eminent German scholar has devoted the labour of several years, it +would be quite useless for me, without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span> appliances and without special +training, to approach as an amateur; and I therefore simply help +myself to the best reading that I can get from the printed texts, +leaving to Professor Meyer to say which reading possesses the highest +diplomatic authority. Simply as a a matter of curiosity I have spent +some days in examining the MSS. of Cassiodorus in the British Museum. +If they are at all fair representatives (which probably they are not) +of the MSS. which Professor Meyer has consulted, I should say that +though the titles of the letters have often got into great confusion +through careless and unintelligent copying, the main text is not +likely to show any very important variations from the editions of +Nivellius and Garet.</p> + +<p>I now commend this volume with all its imperfections to the indulgent +criticism of the small class of historical students who alone will +care to peruse it. The man of affairs and the practical politician +will of course not condescend to turn over its pages; yet the anxious +and for a time successful efforts of Theodoric and his Minister to +preserve to Italy the blessings of <i>Civilitas</i> might perhaps teach +useful lessons even to a modern statesman.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right">THOS. HODGKIN.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="NOTE" id="NOTE"></a>NOTE.</h2> + + +<p>The following Note as to the MSS. at the British Museum may save a +future enquirer a little trouble.</p> + +<p>(1) 10 B. XV. is a MS. about 11 inches by 8, written in a fine bold +hand, and fills 157 folios, of which 134 belong to the 'Variae' and 23 +to the 'Institutiones Divinarum Litterarum.' There are also two folios +at the end which I have not deciphered. The MS. is assigned to the +Thirteenth Century. The title of the <a href="#BOOK_I">First</a> Book is interesting, +because it contains the description of Cassiodorus' official rank, 'Ex +Magistri Officii,' which Mommsen seems to have looked for in the MSS. +in vain. The MS. contains the first Three Books complete, but only 39 +letters of the <a href="#BOOK_IV">Fourth</a>. Letters <a href="#iv40">40</a>-51 of the +<a href="#BOOK_IV">Fourth Book</a>, and the whole +of the <a href="#BOOK_V">Fifth</a>, <a href="#BOOK_VI">Sixth</a>, and +<a href="#BOOK_VII">Seventh</a> Books, are missing. It then goes on +to the <a href="#BOOK_VIII">Eighth</a> Book (which it calls the Fifth), but omits the first +five letters. The remaining 28 appear to be copied satisfactorily. The +<a href="#BOOK_IX">Ninth</a>, <a href="#BOOK_X">Tenth</a>, <a href="#BOOK_XI">Eleventh</a>, and +<a href="#BOOK_XII">Twelfth</a> Books, which the transcriber calls +the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth, seem to be on the whole +correctly copied.</p> + +<p>There seems to be a certain degree of correspondence between the +readings of this MS. and those of the Leyden MS. of the Twelfth +Century (formerly at Fulda) which are described by Ludwig Tross in his +'Symbolae Criticae' (Hammone, 1853).</p> + +<p>(2) 8 B. XIX. is a MS. also of the Thirteenth Century, in a smaller +hand than the foregoing. The margins are very large, but the Codex +measures only 6-3/4 inches by 4-1/4. The rubricated titles are of +somewhat later date than the body of the text. The initial letters are +elaborately illuminated. This MS. contains, in a mutilated state and +in a peculiar order, the books from the <a href="#BOOK_VIII">Eighth</a> to the <a href="#BOOK_XII">Twelfth</a>. The +following is the order in which the books are placed:</p> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="books"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#BOOK_IX">IX.</a></td><td style="text-align: right;"> + <a href="#ix8">8</a>-25,</td><td style="text-align: center;">folios</td><td style="text-align: right;">1-14.</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#BOOK_X">X.</a></td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;">"</td><td style="text-align: right;">14-33.</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#BOOK_XI">XI.</a></td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;">"</td><td style="text-align: right;">33-63.</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#BOOK_XII">XII.</a></td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;">"</td><td style="text-align: right;">63-83.</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#BOOK_VIII">VIII.</a></td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;">"</td><td style="text-align: right;">83-126.</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#BOOK_IX">IX.</a></td><td style="text-align: right;"> + <a href="#ix1">1</a>-7,</td><td style="text-align: center;">"</td><td style="text-align: right;">126-134.</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span></p> + +<p>The amanuensis, who has evidently been a thoroughly dishonest worker, +constantly omits whole letters, from which however he sometimes +extracts a sentence or two, which he tacks on to the end of some +preceding letter without regard to the sense. This process makes it +exceedingly difficult to collate the MS. with the printed text. Owing +to the <a href="#BOOK_VIII">Eighth</a> Book being inserted after the +<a href="#BOOK_XII">Twelfth</a>, it is erroneously +labelled on the back, 'Cassiodori Senatoris Epistolae, Lib. X-XIII.'</p> + +<p>(3) 10 B. IV. (also of the Thirteenth Century, and measuring 11 inches +by 8) contains, in a tolerably complete state, the first Three Books +of the 'Variae,' <a href="#BOOK_IV">Book IV.</a> <a href="#iv5">5</a>-39, +<a href="#BOOK_VIII">Book VIII.</a> <a href="#viii1">1</a>-12, and Books +<a href="#BOOK_X">X</a>-XII. The +order, however, is transposed, Books <a href="#BOOK_IV">IV.</a> and +<a href="#BOOK_VIII">VIII.</a> coming after Book +<a href="#BOOK_XII">XII.</a> These excerpts from Cassiodorus, which occupy folios 66 to 134 of +the MS., are preceded by some collections relative to the Civil and +Canon Law. The letters which are copied seem to be carefully and +conscientiously done.</p> + +<p>These three MSS. are all in the King's Library.</p> + +<p>Besides these MSS. I have also glanced at No. 1,919 in the Bodleian +Library at Oxford. Like those previously described it is, I believe, +of the Thirteenth Century, and professes to contain the whole of the +'Variae;' but the letters are in an exceedingly mutilated form. On an +average it seems to me that not more than one-third of each letter is +copied. In this manner the 'Variae' are compressed into the otherwise +impossible number of 33 folios (149-182).</p> + +<p>All these MSS., even the best of them, give me the impression of being +copied by very unintelligent scribes, who had but little idea of the +meaning of the words which they were transcribing. In all, the +superscription V.S. is expanded (wrongly, as I believe) into 'Viro +Senatori;' for 'Praefecto Praetorio' we have the meaningless +'Praeposito;' and the Agapitus who is addressed in the <a href="#i6">6th</a>, +<a href="#i32">32nd</a>, and +<a href="#i33">33rd</a> letters of the <a href="#BOOK_I">First Book</a> is turned, in defiance of chronology, +into a Pope.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span></p> +<h1><a name="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</a></h1> + +<p style="text-align: center"><a href="#PREFACE"><b>PREFACE.</b></a></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><a href="#NOTE"><b>NOTE.</b></a></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><a href="#ADDITIONS_AND_CORRECTIONS"><b>ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.</b></a></p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></h3> + +<h4>LIFE OF CASSIODORUS.</h4> + +<table style="width: 50%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="chapter 1"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;"> </td><td style="text-align: right;">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Historical position of Cassiodorus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">His ancestry</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_3">3</a>-4</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">His name</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_5">5</a>-6</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">His birthplace</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_6">6</a>-9</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Date of his birth</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_9">9</a>-12</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">His education</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Consiliarius to his father</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Quaestor</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_14">14</a>-16</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Composition of the 'Variae'</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Their style</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_17">17</a>-19</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Policy of Theodoric</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_20">20</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Date of composition of the 'Variae'</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Consulship</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Patriciate</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Composition of the 'Chronicon'</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Composition of the Gothic History</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_29">29</a>-35</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Relation of the work of Jordanes to this History</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Master of the Offices</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Praetorian Praefect</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Sketch of history during his Praefecture</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_42">42</a>-50</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">End of official career</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Edits the 'Variae'</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">His treatise 'De Animâ'</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">He retires to the cloister</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_54">54</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">His theological works</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_60">60</a>-63</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">His literary works</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_64">64</a>-66</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">His death</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_67">67</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap"> + <a href="#NOTE_ON_THE_TOPOGRAPHY_OF_SQUILLACE">Note on the Topography of Squillace</a></span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_68">68</a>-72</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></h3> + +<h4>THE 'ANECDOTON HOLDERI.'</h4> + +<table style="width: 50%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="chapter 2"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Content of the MS.</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_74">74</a>-75</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">To whom addressed</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Information as to life of Symmachus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Information as to life of Boethius</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Religious position of Boethius</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Information as to life of Cassiodorus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></h3> + +<h4>THE GRADATIONS OF OFFICIAL RANK IN THE LOWER EMPIRE.</h4> + +<table style="width: 50%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="chapter 3"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Nobilissimi</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Illustres</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_86">86</a>-90</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Spectabiles</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_90">90</a>-91</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Clarissimi</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Perfectissimi</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Egregii</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></h3> + +<h4>ON THE OFFICIUM OF THE PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO.</h4> + +<table style="width: 50%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="chapter 4"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Military character of the Roman Civil Service</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Sources of information</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Princeps</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Cornicularius</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_97">97</a>-102</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Adjutor</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Commentariensis</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Ab Actis</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Numerarii</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Inferior Officers</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_109">109</a>-114</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></h3> + +<h4>BIBLIOGRAPHY.</h4> + +<table style="width: 50%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="chapter 5"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Editions of the 'Variae'</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_115">115</a>-118</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Literature concerning the 'Variae'</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_118">118</a>-121</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></h3> + +<h4>CHRONOLOGY.</h4> + +<table style="width: 50%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="chapter 6"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Consular Fasti</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;">Indictions</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a href="#Chronological_Tables">Chronological Tables</a></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_126">126</a>-130</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<h2>ABSTRACT OF THE 'VARIAE.'</h2> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="abstract"> +<tbody> +<tr><td> </td><td style="text-align: right;">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PREFACE2">Preface</a></span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_133">133</a>-140</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#BOOK_I">BOOK I.</a></h3> + +<h4>CONTAINING FORTY-SIX LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC.</h4> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book 1"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">1.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Emperor Anastasius</span>. Persuasives to peace</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">2.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Theon</span>. Manufacture of purple dye</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">3.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Cassiodorus</span>, father of the author. His praises</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">4.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Great deeds of ancestors of Cassiodorus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">5.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Florianus</span>. End of litigation</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">6.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Agapitus</span>. Mosaics for Ravenna</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">7.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Felix</span>. Inheritance of Plutianus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">8.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Amabilis</span>. Prodigality of Neotherius</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">9.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Bishop Eustorgius</span>. Offences of Ecclesiastics</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">10.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Boetius</span>. Frauds of moneyers</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">11.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Servatus</span>. Violence of Breones</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">12.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Eugenius</span>. Appointment as Magister Officium</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">13.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. On the same</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_152">152</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">14.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Collection of 'Tertiae'</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_152">152</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">15.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Festus</span>. Interests of the absent</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">16.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Julianus</span>. Remission of taxes</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">17.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gothic and Roman Inhabitants of Dertona</span>. Fortification of Camp</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">18.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Domitianus and Wilias</span>. Statute of Limitations, &c.</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">19.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Saturninus and Verbusius</span>. Rights of the Fiscus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">20.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Albinus and Albienus</span>. Circus quarrels</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">21.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Maximian and Andreas</span>. Embellishment of Rome</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">22.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Marcellus</span>. His promotion to rank of Advocatus Fisci</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">23.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Coelianus and Agapitus</span>. Litigation between Senators</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">24.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">all the Goths</span>. Call to arms</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">25.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Sabinianus</span>. Repair of the walls of Rome</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_158">158</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">26.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Immunity of certain Church property</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">27.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Speciosus</span>. Circus quarrels</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">28.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Goths and Romans</span>. Building of walls of Rome</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">29.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">the Lucristani on River Sontius</span>. Postal Service</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">30.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Injury to public peace from Circus rivalries</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">31.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">the Roman People</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">32.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Agapitus</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_162">162</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">33.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Agapitus</span>. Arrangements for Pantomime</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_162">162</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">34.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Exportation of corn</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">35.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span> Unreasonable delays in transmission of corn</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">36.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Theriolus</span>. Guardianship of sons of Benedictus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">37.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Crispianus</span>. Justifiable homicide</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">38.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Baion</span>. Hilarius to have possession of his property</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">39.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Festus</span>. Nephews of Filagrius to be detained in Rome</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">40.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Assuin</span> (or <span class="smcap">Assius</span>). Inhabitants of Salona to be drilled</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">41.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Agapitus</span>. Enquiries into character of younger Faustus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">42.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Artemidorus</span>. Appointment as Praefect of the City</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">43.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Promotion of Artemidorus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">44.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">the People of Rome</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_168">168</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">45.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Boetius</span>. Water-clock and sundial for Burgundian King</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_168">168</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">46.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gundibad</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#BOOK_II">BOOK II.</a></h3> + +<h4>CONTAINING FORTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC.</h4> + + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book 2"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">1.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Emperor Anastasius</span>. Consulship of Felix</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">2.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Felix</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">3.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">4.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Ecdicius</span> (or <span class="smcap">Benedictus</span>). Collection of <i>Siliquaticum</i></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">5.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Soldiers' arrears</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">6.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Agapitus</span>. Embassy to Constantinople</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_174">174</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">7.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Sura</span> (or <span class="smcap">Suna</span>). Embellishment of City</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_174">174</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">8.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Bishop Severus</span>. Compensation for damage by troops</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">9.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Allowance to retired charioteer</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">10.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Speciosus</span>. Abduction of Agapita</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">11.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Provinus</span> (<span class="smcap">Probinus</span>?). Gift unduly obtained from Agapita</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">12.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">the Count of the Siliquatarii, and the Harbour Master</span> (<span class="smcap">of Portus</span>?). Prohibition of export of lard</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">13.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Fruinarith</span>. Dishonest conduct of Venantius</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">14.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Symmachus</span>. Romulus the parricide</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_178">178</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">15.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Venantius</span>. Appointment as Comes Domesticorum</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_178">178</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">16.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Same subject. Panegyric on Liberius, father of Venantius</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">17.<br /> </td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Possessors, Defensors, and Curials of Tridentum</span> (<span class="smcap">Trient</span>).<br />Immunity from Tertiae enjoyed by lands granted by the King</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_180">180</a><br /> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">18.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Bishop Gudila</span>. Ecclesiastics as Curiales</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">19.<br /> </td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Goths and Romans, and Keepers of Harbours and Mountain Fortresses</span>.<br />Domestic treachery and murder</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_181">181</a><br /> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">20.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Uniligis</span> (or <span class="smcap">Wiligis</span>). Order for provision ships</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">21.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Joannes</span>. Drainage-concession too timidly acted upon</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">22.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Festus</span>. Ecdicius to be buried by his sons</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_183">183</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">23.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Ampelius, Despotius, and Theodulus</span>. Protection for owners of potteries</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_183">183</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">24.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Arrears of taxation due from Senators</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_183">183</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">25.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate. An Edict</span>. Evasion of taxes by the rich</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_184">184</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">26.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Regulations for corn-traffic</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">27.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Jews living in Genoa</span>. Rebuilding of Synagogue</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">28.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Stephanus</span>. Honours bestowed on retirement</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_186">186</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">29.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Adila</span>. Protection to dependents of the Church</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_186">186</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">30.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Privileges granted to Church of Milan</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">31.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">the Dromonarii [Rowers in Express-boats</span>]. State Galleys on the Po</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">32.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Drainage of marshes of Decennonium</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_188">188</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">33.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Decius</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">34.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Artemidorus</span>. Embezzlement of City building funds</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">35.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Tancila</span>. Theft of statue at Como</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_190">190</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">36.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Edict</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_190">190</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">37.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Faustus</span>. Largesse to citizens of Spoleto</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_190">190</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">38.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">To Faustus</span>. Immunity from taxation</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_191">191</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">39.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Aloisius</span>. Hot springs of Aponum</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_191">191</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">40.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Boetius</span>. Harper for King of the Franks</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">41.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Luduin [Clovis]</span>. Victories over the Alamanni</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#BOOK_III">BOOK III.</a></h3> + +<h4>CONTAINING FIFTY-THREE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC.</h4> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book 3"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">1.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Alaric</span>. Dissuades from war with the Franks</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_196">196</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">2.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gundibad</span>. Dissuades from war</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">3.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">the Kings of the Heruli, Warni (Guarni), and Thuringians</span>.Attempt to form a Teutonic coalition</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_198">198</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">4.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Luduin</span> (<span class="smcap">Ludwig</span>, or <span class="smcap">Clovis</span>). To desist from war on Alaric.</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_198">198</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">5.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Importunus</span>. Promotion to the Patriciate</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">6.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_200">200</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">7.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Januarius</span>. Reproof for alleged extortion</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">8.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Venantius</span>. Remissness in collection of public revenue</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">9.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Possessores, Defensores, and Curiales of Aestunae</span>.Marbles for Ravenna</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_202">202</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">10.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Festus</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_202">202</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">11.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Argolicus</span>. Appointment to Praefecture of the City</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">12.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">13.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Sunhivad</span>. Appointment as Governor of Samnium</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">14.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Bishop Aurigenes</span>. Accusations against servants of a Bishop</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">15.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Theodahad</span>. Disposal of contumacious person</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">16.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gemellus</span>. Appointment as Governor of Gaulish Provinces</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">17.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gaulish Provincials</span>. Proclamation</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">18.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gemellus</span>. Re-patriation of Magnus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_206">206</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi">[Pg xvi]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">19.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Daniel</span>. Supply of marble sarcophagi</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_207">207</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">20.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Grimoda and Ferrocinctus</span>. Oppression of Castorius by Faustus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_207">207</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">21.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Disgrace and temporary exile</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">22.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Artemidorus</span>. Invitation to King's presence</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_209">209</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">23.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Colossaeus</span>. Appointment as Governor of Pannonia</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_209">209</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">24.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Barbarians and Romans settled in Pannonia</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_210">210</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">25.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Simeon</span>. Tax-collecting and iron-mining in Dalmatia</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_210">210</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">26.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Osun</span>. Simeon's journey to Dalmatia</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">27.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Joannes</span>. Protection against Praetorian Praefect</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">28.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Cassiodorus (Senior)</span>. Invitation to Court</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">29.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Argolicus</span>. Repair of granaries in Rome</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_212">212</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">30.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Argolicus</span>. Repair of Cloacae in Rome</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_212">212</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">31.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Conservation of aqueducts and temples in Rome</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_213">213</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">32.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gemellus</span>. Remission of taxes to citizens of Arles</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_214">214</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">33.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Argolicus</span>. Promotion of Armentarius and Superbus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_214">214</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">34.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Inhabitants of Massilia</span>. Appointment of Governor</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_215">215</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">35.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Romulus</span>. Gifts not to be revoked</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_215">215</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">36.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Arigern</span>. Complaints against Venantius</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_216">216</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">37.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Bishop Peter</span>. Alleged injustice</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_216">216</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">38.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Wandil [Vuandil]</span>. Gothic troops not to molest citizens</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">39.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Felix</span>. Largesse to charioteers of Milan</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">40.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Provincials settled in Gaul</span>. Exemption from taxation</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">41.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gemellus</span>. Corn for garrisons on the Durance</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">42.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Provincials in Gaul</span>. Exemption from military contributions</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_219">219</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">43.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Unigis</span>. Fugitive slaves to be restored to owners</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_219">219</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">44.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Landowners (Possessores) of Arles</span>. Repair of walls, &c.</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">45.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Arigern</span>. Dispute between Roman Church and Samaritans</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">46.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Adeodatus</span>. Further charges against Venantius</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">47.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Banishment of Jovinus to Vulcanian Islands</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_222">222</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">48.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Goths and Romans living near Fort Verruca</span>. Fortification</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_222">222</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">49.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Possessores, Defensores, and Curiales of Catana</span>.Repair of walls</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_224">224</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">50.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Provincials of Noricum</span>.Alamanni and Noricans to exchange cattle</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_225">225</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">51.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Stipend of charioteer. Description of Circus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">52.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Consularis</span>. Roman land surveying</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_231">231</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">53.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Apronianus</span>. Water-finders</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_233">233</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#BOOK_IV">BOOK IV.</a></h3> + +<h4>CONTAINING FIFTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC.</h4> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book 4"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">1.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To King of the Thuringians</span>. Marriage with Theodoric's niece</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_235">235</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">2.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">King of the Heruli</span>. Adoption as son</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_236">236</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">3.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senarius</span>. Appointment as Comes Patrimonii</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_237">237</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xvii" id="Page_xvii">[Pg xvii]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">4.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_237">237</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">5.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Amabilis</span>. Supply of provisions to Gaulish Provinces</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_238">238</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">6.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Symmachus</span>. Sons of Valerian to be detained in Rome</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_238">238</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">7.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senarius</span>. Losses by shipwreck to be refunded</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">8.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Possessores and Curiales of Forum Livii (Forli)</span>. Transport of timber to Alsuanum</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">9.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Osuin</span>. '<i>Tuitio regii nominis</i>'</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">10.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Joannes</span>. Repression of lawless custom of Pignoratio</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">11.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senarius</span>. Dispute between Possessores and Curiales</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_241">241</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">12.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Marabad and Gemellus</span>. Complaint of Archotamia</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_241">241</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">13.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senarius</span>. Supplies for Colossaeus and suite</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_242">242</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">14.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gesila</span>. Evasion of land-tax by Goths</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_242">242</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">15.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Benenatus</span>. New rowers, and their qualifications</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_243">243</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">16.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Arigern entrusted with charge of City of Rome</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_243">243</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">17.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Ida</span>. Church possessions to be restored</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">18.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Annas</span>. Enquiry concerning a priestly Ghoul</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">19.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gemellus</span>. Corn, wine, and oil to be exempt from the Siliquaticum</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_245">245</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">20.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Geberich</span>. Church land to be restored</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_245">245</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">21.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gemellus</span>. Promptness and integrity required</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_245">245</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">22.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Argolicus</span>. }</td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">23.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Arigern</span>. } Accusation of magic against Roman Senators</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_246">246</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">24.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Elpidius</span>. Architectural restoration at Spoleto</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">25.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Argolicus</span>. Petrus to become Senator</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">26.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Citizens of Marseilles</span>. Remission of taxes</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_248">248</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">27.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Tezutzat</span>. }</td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">28.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Duda</span>. } Petrus assaulted by his Defensor</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_248">248</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">29.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Argolicus</span>. Official tardiness rebuked</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">30.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Albinus</span>. Erection of workshops near Roman Forum</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">31.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Aemilianus</span>. Aqueduct to be promptly finished</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_250">250</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">32.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Duda</span>. Crown rights to be asserted with moderation</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_250">250</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">33.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Jews of Genoa</span>. Their privileges confirmed</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">34.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Duda</span>. Reclamation of buried treasure</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_252">252</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">35.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Representatives (Actores) of Albinus</span>. Extravagant minor</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_252">252</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">36.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Remission of taxes for Provincials</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_253">253</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">37.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Theodagunda</span>. To do justice to Renatus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_253">253</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">38.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Taxes to be reduced</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_254">254</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">39.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Theodahad</span>. His encroachments</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_254">254</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">40.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Representatives (Actores) of Probinus</span>. The affair of Agapita</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_255">255</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">41.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Joannes</span>. Unjust judgment reversed</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_255">255</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">42.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Argolicus</span>. Property to be restored to sons of Volusian</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_256">256</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">43.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Punishment of incendiaries of Jewish Synagogue</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_256">256</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">44.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Antonius</span>. To do justice to Stephanus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">45.<br /> </td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Comites, Defensores, and Curiales of Ticinum (Pavia)</span>.<br />Heruli to be forwarded on their way to Ravenna</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_258">258</a><br /> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">46.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Marabad</span>. Case of Liberius' wife to be reheard</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_258">258</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">47.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gudisal</span>. Abuses of the Cursus Publicus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_259">259</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xviii" id="Page_xviii">[Pg xviii]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">48.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Eusebius</span>. His honourable retirement</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_260">260</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">49.<br /> </td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Provincials and the Long-haired Men, the Defensores and Curiales residing in Suavia</span>.<br />Appointment of Governor, &c.</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_260">260</a><br /> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">50.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Faustus</span>. Campanian taxes remitted. Eruption of Vesuvius</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_261">261</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">51.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Symmachus</span>. Restoration of Theatre of Pompey</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_263">263</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#BOOK_V">BOOK V.</a></h3> + +<h4>CONTAINING FORTY-FOUR LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC.</h4> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book 5"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">1.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To King of the Vandals</span>. Thanking for presents</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_264">264</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">2.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">the Haesti</span>. Their present of amber</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">3.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Honoratus</span>. }</td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">4.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. } Promotion to Quaestorship, &c.</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_266">266</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">5.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Mannila</span>. Abuses of the Cursus Publicus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_268">268</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">6.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Stabularius</span>. }</td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">7.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Joannes</span>. } Default in payments to Treasury</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_269">269</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">8.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Anastasius</span>. Transport of marbles to Ravenna</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_270">270</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">9.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Possessores of Feltria</span>. New city to be built</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_270">270</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">10.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Veranus</span>. }</td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">11.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">the Gepidae</span>. } Payment on march to Gaul</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_271">271</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">12.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Theodahad</span>. His avarice and injustice</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_272">272</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">13.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Eutropius and Acretius</span>. Commissariat</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_272">272</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">14.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Severi(a)nus</span>. Financial abuses in Suavia</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_273">273</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">15.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Possessores in Suavia</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_274">274</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">16.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Abundantius</span>. Formation of navy</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_274">274</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">17.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Abundantius</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_275">275</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">18.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Uvilias [Willias?]</span>. }</td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">19.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gudinand</span>. } Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_276">276</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">20.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Avilf</span>. }</td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">21.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Capuanus</span>. }</td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">22.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. } Appointment as Rector Decuriarum</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_277">277</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">23.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Abundantius</span>. Archery drill</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">24.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Epiphanius</span>. Property of intestate claimed for the State</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">25.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Bacauda</span>. Appointment as Tribunus Voluptatum</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">26.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Goths settled in Picenum and Samnium</span>. Summons to the royal presence</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">27.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Guduim</span>. The same</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">28.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Carinus</span>. Invitation to Court</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_281">281</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">29.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Neudes</span>. Blind Gothic warrior enslaved</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_281">281</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">30.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gudui[m]</span>. Servile tasks imposed on free Goths</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_281">281</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">31.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Decoratus</span>. Arrears of Siliquaticum to be enforced</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_282">282</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">32.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Brandila</span>. Assault of his wife on Regina</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_282">282</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">33.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Wilitanch</span>. Adulterous connection between Brandila and Regina</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_283">283</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">34.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Abundantius</span>. Frontosus compared to chameleon</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_284">284</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">35.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Luvirit and Ampelius</span>. Punishment of fraudulent shipowners</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_285">285</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xix" id="Page_xix">[Pg xix]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">36.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Starcedius</span>. Honourable discharge</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_285">285</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">37.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Jews of Milan</span>. Rights of Synagogue not to be invaded</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_286">286</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">38.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">all Cultivators</span>. Shrubs obstructing aqueduct of Ravenna</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_286">286</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">39.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Ampelius and Liveria</span>. Abuses in administration of Spanish government</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_287">287</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">40.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Cyprian</span>. }</td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">41.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. } Promotion to the Comitiva Sacrarum Largitionum</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_289">289</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">42.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Maximus</span>. Rewards to performers in Amphitheatre</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_291">291</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">43.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Transmund [Thrasamund]</span>. Complains of protection given to Gesalic</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_292">292</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">44.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Transmund [Thrasamund]</span>. Reconciliation</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_293">293</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#BOOK_VI">BOOK VI.</a></h3> + +<h4>CONTAINING TWENTY-FIVE FORMULAE.</h4> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book 6"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">1.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of</span></td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the</span></td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Consulship</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_294">294</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">2.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Patriciate</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_296">296</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">3.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Praetorian Praefecture</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_296">296</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">4.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Praefecture of the City</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_299">299</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">5.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Quaestorship</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_300">300</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">6.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Magisterial Dignity, and its Excellency (Magistratus Officiorum)</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_302">302</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">7.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Office of Comes Sacrarum Largitionum</span>.</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_303">303</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">8.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Office of Comes Privatarum, and its Excellency</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_304">304</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">9.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Office of Count of the Patrimony, and its Excellency</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_305">305</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">10.</td> + <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"> <span class="smcap">For Promotion as Proceres per Codicillos Vacantes</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_306">306</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">11.<br /> </td> + <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"> <span class="smcap">Conferring the Rank of an Illustris and Title of Comes Domesticorum, without<br />Office</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_307">307</a><br /> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">12.</td> + <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"> <span class="smcap">Bestowal of Countship of First Order, without Office</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_307">307</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">13.<br /> </td> + <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"> <span class="smcap">Bestowing the Honorary Rank of Master of the Bureau and Count of the First Order<br />on an Officer of the Courts in Active Service</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_308">308</a><br /> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">14.</td> + <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"> <span class="smcap">Bestowing Rank as a Senator</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_309">309</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">15.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of</span></td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the</span></td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Vicarius of the City of Rome</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_310">310</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">16.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Notaries</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_311">311</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">17.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Referendarii</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_311">311</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">18.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Praefectus Annonae, and his Excellency</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_312">312</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">19.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Count of the Chief Physicians</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_313">313</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">20.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Office of a Consular, and its Excellency</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_314">314</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">21.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Governor (Rector) of a Province</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_315">315</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">22.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Count of the City of Syracuse</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_316">316</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">23.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Count of Naples</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_316">316</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">24.</td> + <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"> <span class="smcap">To the Gentlemen-Farmers and Common Councilmen of the City of Naples</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_317">317</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">25.</td> + <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"> '<span class="smcap">De Comitiva Principis Militum</span>'(?)</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_317">317</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xx" id="Page_xx">[Pg xx]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a href="#BOOK_VII">BOOK VII.</a></h3> + +<h4>CONTAINING FORTY-SEVEN FORMULAE.</h4> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book 7"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">1.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Count of a Province</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_319">319</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">2.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of a Praeses</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_319">319</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">3.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of Count of the Goths in the Several Provinces</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_320">320</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">4.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Duke of Raetia</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_322">322</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">5.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Palace Architect</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_323">323</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">6.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Count of the Aqueducts</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_324">324</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">7.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Praefect of the Watch of City of Rome</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_326">326</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">8.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Praefect of the Watch of City of Ravenna</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_327">327</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">9.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Count of Portus</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_327">327</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">10.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Tribunus Voluptatum</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_327">327</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">11.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Defensor of any City</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_328">328</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">12.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Curator of a City</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_329">329</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">13.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Count of Rome</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_329">329</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">14.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Count of Ravenna</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_330">330</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">15.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Addressed to the Praefect of the City on Appointment of an Architect</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_331">331</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">16.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Count of the Islands of Curritana and Celsina</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_331">331</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">17.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Concerning the President of the Lime-kilns</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_332">332</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">18.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Concerning Armourers</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_332">332</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">19.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To the Praetorian Praefect concerning Armourers</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_333">333</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">20.</td><td style="text-align: left;">}</td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">21.</td><td style="text-align: left;">} <span class="smcap">Relating to Collection of Bina and Terna</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_333">333</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">22.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Exhortation addressed to two Scriniarii</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_333">333</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">23.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Vicarius of Portus</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_334">334</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">24.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Princeps of Dalmatia</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_334">334</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">25.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Recommending the Principes to the Comes</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_335">335</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">26.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Countship of Second Rank in divers Cities</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_336">336</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">27.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Addressed to the Dignified Cultivators and Curiales</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_336">336</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">28.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Announcing Appointment of a Comes to the Chief of his Staff</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_336">336</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">29.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Concerning the Guard at the Gates of a City</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_337">337</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">30.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Tribunate in the Provinces</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_337">337</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">31.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Princeps of the City of Rome</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_338">338</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">32.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of the Master of the Mint</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_338">338</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">33.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Respecting the Ambassadors of Various Nations</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_339">339</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">34.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of Summons to the King's Court (unsolicited)</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_339">339</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">35.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Of Summons to the Court (solicited)</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_339">339</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">36.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Granting temporary Leave of Absence</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_339">339</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">37.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Conferring the Rank of a Spectabilis</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_340">340</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">38.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Conferring the Rank of a Clarissimus</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_340">340</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">39.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Bestowing 'Police Protection'</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_340">340</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxi" id="Page_xxi">[Pg xxi]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">40.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">For the Confirmation of Marriage and the Legitimation of Offspring</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_341">341</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">41.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Conferring the Rights of Full Age</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_342">342</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">42.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Edict to Quaestor, ordering Person who asks for Protection of Sajo to give Bail</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_342">342</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">43.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Approving the Appointment of a Clerk in Record-Office</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_343">343</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">44.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Grant of Public Property on Condition of Improvement</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_343">343</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">45.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Remission of Taxes where Taxpayer has only one House, too heavily assessed</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_344">344</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">46.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Legitimating Marriage with a First Cousin</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_345">345</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">47.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Praetorian Praefect, directing Sale of the Property of a Curialis</span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_345">345</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#BOOK_VIII">BOOK VIII.</a></h3> + +<h4>CONTAINING THIRTY-THREE LETTERS, ALL WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF ATHALARIC +THE KING, EXCEPT THE ELEVENTH, WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF TULUM.</h4> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book 8"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">1.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To</span></td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the Emperor Justin</span>. Announcement of Athalaric's accession</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_347">347</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">2.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the Senate</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_348">348</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">3.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the Roman People</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_349">349</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">4.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the Romans settled in Italy and the Dalmatias</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_350">350</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">5.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the Goths settled in Italy</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_350">350</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">6.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Liberius, Governor of Gaul</span>.Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_351">351</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">7.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the Provincials settled in Gaul</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_351">351</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">8.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Bishop Victorinus</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_352">352</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">9.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Tulum</span>. Raised to the Patriciate. His praises</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_352">352</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">10.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_354">354</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">11.</td> + <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="2"> <span class="smcap">Tulum's Address to Senate</span>. Elevation to the Patriciate</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_356">356</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">12.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To</span></td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Arator</span>. Promotion to Count of the Domestics</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_357">357</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">13.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Ambrosius</span>. Appointment to Quaestorship</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_358">358</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">14.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_359">359</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">15.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Election of Pope Felix III (or IV)</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_360">360</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">16.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Opilio</span>. Appointment as Count of the Sacred Largesses</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_361">361</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">17.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_363">363</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">18.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Felix</span>. Promotion to Quaestorship</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_365">365</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">19.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_366">366</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">20.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Albienus</span>. Appointment as Praetorian Praefect</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_367">367</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">21.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Cyprian</span>. }</td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">22.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Senate</span>. } Elevation to the Patriciate</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_368">368</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">23.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Bergantinus</span>. Gifts to Theodahad</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_370">370</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">24.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Clergy of the Roman Church</span>. Ecclesiastical immunities</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_371">371</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">25.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Joannes</span>. Confirmation of Tulum's gift of property</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_373">373</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxii" id="Page_xxii">[Pg xxii]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">26.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Inhabitants of Reate and Nursia</span>. To obey their Prior</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_374">374</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">27.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Dumerit and Florentinus</span>. To suppress robbery at Faventia</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_375">375</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">28.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Cunigast</span>. Enforced slavery of Possessores (or Coloni?)</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_376">376</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">29.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the Dignified Cultivators and Curials of Parma</span>. Necessity for sanitary measures</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_377">377</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">30.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Genesius</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_377">377</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">31.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Severus</span>. Dissuasions from a country life, and praises of Bruttii</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_378">378</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">32.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Severus</span>. Fountain of Arethusa</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_380">380</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">33.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Severus</span>. Feast of St. Cyprian</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_381">381</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#BOOK_IX">BOOK IX.</a></h3> + +<h4>CONTAINING TWENTY-FIVE LETTERS, WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF ATHALARIC THE +KING.</h4> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book 9"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">1.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Hilderic</span>. Murder of Amalafrida</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_384">384</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">2.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Edict</span>. Oppression of the Curiales</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_385">385</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">3.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Bergantinus</span>. Gold-mining in Italy</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_387">387</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">4.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Abundantius</span>. Curiales to become Possessores</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_388">388</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">5.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">certain Bishops and Functionaries</span>. Forestalling and regrating prohibited</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_389">389</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">6.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">a certain Primiscrinius</span>. Leave to visit Baiae</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_389">389</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">7.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Reparatus</span>. Appointment to Praefecture of City</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_390">390</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">8.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Osuin</span> (or <span class="smcap">Osum</span>). Promotion to Governorship of Dalmatia and Savia</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_391">391</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">9.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Goths and Romans in Dalmatia and Savia</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_392">392</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">10.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Provincials of Syracuse</span>. Remission of Augmentum</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_393">393</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">11.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gildias</span>. }</td><td style="text-align: right;"> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">12.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Victor and Witigisclus</span> (or <span class="smcap">Wigisicla</span>). } Oppression by King's officers rebuked</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_394">394</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">13.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Willias</span>. Increase of emoluments of Domestici</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_394">394</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">14.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Gildias</span>. Charge of oppression</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_395">395</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">15.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Pope John II</span>. Against Simony at Papal elections</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_398">398</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">16.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Salvantius</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_400">400</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">17.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Salvantius</span>. Release of two Roman citizens</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_400">400</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">18.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Edict</span>. Offences against Civilitas</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_401">401</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">19.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Senate</span>. Promulgation of Edict</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_405">405</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">20.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Judges of Provinces</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_405">405</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">21.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Increase of Grammarians' salaries</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_406">406</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">22.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Paulinus</span>. Appointment as Consul</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_407">407</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">23.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_408">408</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">24.</td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senator [Cassiodorus himself]</span>. Appointment as Praetorian Praefect, &c.</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_408">408</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">25.<br /> </td><td style="text-align: left;">" <span class="smcap">Senate</span>. Eulogy of Cassiodorus on his appointment. His Gothic History.<br />His official career. His military services. His religious character</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_412">412</a>-413<br /> </td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxiii" id="Page_xxiii">[Pg xxiii]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a href="#BOOK_X">BOOK X.</a></h3> + +<h4>CONTAINING THIRTY-FIVE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS:</h4> + +<h4> +FOUR IN THE NAME OF QUEEN AMALASUENTHA;<br /> +TWENTY-TWO IN THAT OF KING THEODAHAD;<br /> +FOUR IN THAT OF HIS WIFE GUDELINA;<br /> +FIVE IN THAT OF KING WITIGIS.<br /> +</h4> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book 10"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">1.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Queen Amalasuentha to Emperor Justinian</span>. Association of Theodahad in the Sovereignty</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_415">415</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">2.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">King Theodahad to Emperor Justinian</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_416">416</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">3.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Amalasuentha to Senate</span>. Same. Praises of Theodahad</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_416">416</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">4.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Senate</span>. Same. Praises of Amalasuentha</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_418">418</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">5.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to His Man Theodosius</span>. Followers of new King to live justly</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_421">421</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">6.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Patricius</span>. Appointment to Quaestorship</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_422">422</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">7.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Senate</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_422">422</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">8.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Amalasuentha to Justinian</span>. Acknowledging present of marbles</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_423">423</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">9.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Justinian</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_423">423</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">10.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Amalasuentha to Theodora</span>. Salutation</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_424">424</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">11.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Maximus</span>. Appointment to office of Primicerius</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_424">424</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">12.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Senate</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_425">425</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">13.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Senate</span>. Summons to Ravenna. Suspicions of Senators</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_426">426</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">14.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to the Roman People</span>. Dissensions between citizens of Rome and Gothic troops</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_427">427</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">15.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Emperor Justinian</span>. Letter of introduction for Ecclesiastic</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_428">428</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">16.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Senate</span>. Assurances of good-will</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_428">428</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">17.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to the Roman People</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_429">429</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">18.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Senate</span>. Gothic garrison for Rome</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_430">430</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">19.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Justinian</span>. Embassy of Peter</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_431">431</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">20.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Queen Gudelina to Theodora, Augusta</span>. Embassy of Rusticus</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_432">432</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">21.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Queen Gudelina to Theodora, Augusta</span>. Soliciting friendship</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_433">433</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">22.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Justinian</span>. Entreaties for peace</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_434">434</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">23.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Gudelina to Theodora</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_435">435</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">24.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Gudelina to Justinian</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_436">436</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">25.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Justinian</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_436">436</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">26.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Justinian</span>. Monastery too heavily taxed</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_437">437</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">27.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Senator</span>. Corn distributions in Liguria and Venetia</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_438">438</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">28.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Senator</span>. Grant of monopolies</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_438">438</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">29.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Winusiad</span>. Old soldier gets leave to visit baths of Bormio</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_440">440</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">30.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Theodahad to Honorius</span>. Brazen elephants in the Via Sacra. Natural history of elephant</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_442">442</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">31.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">King Witigis to all the Goths</span>. On his elevation</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_444">444</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxiv" id="Page_xxiv">[Pg xxiv]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">32.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">King Witigis to Justinian</span>. Overtures for peace</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_445">445</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">33.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">King Witigis to the Master of the Offices</span> (at Constantinople). Sending of embassy</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_447">447</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">34.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">King Witigis to his Bishops</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_448">448</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">35.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">King Witigis to the Praefect of Thessalonica</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_448">448</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><a href="#BOOK_XI_P">BOOK XI.</a></h3> + +<h4>CONTAINING THIRTY-NINE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME +AS PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO, AND ONE ON BEHALF OF THE ROMAN SENATE.</h4> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book 11"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"> </td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap"> + <a href="#BOOK_XI_P">Preface</a></span></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_449">449</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">1.<br /> </td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Senate</span>. On his promotion to the Praefecture. Praises of Amalasuentha. Comparison to Placidia.<br />Relations with the East. Expedition against Franks. League with Burgundians. Virtues of Amal Kings</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_452">452</a>-457<br /> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">2.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Pope John</span>. Salutations</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_458">458</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">3.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To divers Bishops</span>. The same</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_459">459</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">4.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Ambrosius (his Deputy)</span>. Functions of Praefect's Deputy</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_460">460</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">5.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To the Same</span>. Grain distributions for Rome</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_461">461</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">6.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Joannes</span>. Functions of the Cancellarius</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_462">462</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">7.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Judges of the Provinces</span>. Duties of tax-collectors</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_464">464</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">8.<br /> </td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Edict published through the Provinces</span>. Announcement of Cassiodorus' principles<br />of administration</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_465">465</a><br /> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">9.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Judges of the Provinces</span>. Exhortation to govern in conformity with Edict</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_467">467</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">10.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Beatus</span>. Davus invalided to Mons Lactarius. The milk-cure for consumption</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_468">468</a>-469</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">11.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Edict</span>. Concerning prices to be maintained at Ravenna</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_469">469</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">12.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Edict</span>. Concerning prices along the Flaminian Way</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_470">470</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">13.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">The Senate to Emperor Justinian</span>. Supplications of the Senate</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_471">471</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">14.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Gaudiosus</span>. Praises of Como. Relief of its inhabitants</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_474">474</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">15.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To the Ligurians</span>. Relief of their necessities</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_475">475</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">16.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To the Same</span>. Oppressions practised on them to be remedied</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_476">476</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">17.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To the Princeps</span>(?). Promotions in Official Staff of Praetorian Praefect</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_477">477</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">18-35.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Variously Addressed</span>. [Documents, for the most part very short ones, relating to these promotions.]</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_477">477</a>-480</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">36.<br /> </td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Anat(h)olius</span>. Retirement of a Cornicularius on superannuation allowance justified on<br />astronomical grounds</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_480">480</a><br /> </td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">37.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Lucinus</span>. Payment of retiring Primiscrinius</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_482">482</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">38.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Joannes</span>. Praises of paper</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_483">483</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">39.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To Vitalian</span>. Payment of commuted cattle-tax</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_484">484</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">40.<br /> </td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Indulgence [to Prisoners on some great Festival of the Church, probably Easter]</span>.<br />General Amnesty</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_485">485</a><br /> </td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxv" id="Page_xxv">[Pg xxv]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a href="#BOOK_XII">BOOK XII.</a></h3> + +<h4>CONTAINING TWENTY-EIGHT LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME +AS PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT.</h4> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book 12"> +<tbody> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">1.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To</span></td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the Various Cancellarii of the Provinces</span>. General instructions</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_487">487</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">2.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">all Judges of the Provinces</span>. General instructions to Provincial Governors</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_488">488</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">3.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Sajones assigned to the Cancellarii</span>. General instructions</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_489">489</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">4.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the Canonicarius of the Venetiae</span>. Praise of <i>Acinaticium</i></td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_490">490</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">5.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Valerian</span>. Measures for relief of Lucania and Bruttii</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_492">492</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">6.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">all Subordinate Governors of the Praefecture</span>. General instructions</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_494">494</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">7.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the Tax-Collector of the Venetian Province</span>. Remission of taxes on account of invasion by Suevi</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_495">495</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">8.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">the Consularis of the Province of Liguria</span>. Permission to pay taxes direct to Royal Treasury</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_495">495</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">9.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Paschasius</span>. Claim of an African to succeed to estate of intestate countryman</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_496">496</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">10.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">divers Cancellarii</span>. Taxes to be punctually enforced</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_497">497</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">11.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Peter, Distributor of Relishes</span>. Their due distribution</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_498">498</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">12.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Anastasius</span>. Praise of the cheese and wine of Bruttii</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_499">499</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">13.</td> + <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="2"> <span class="smcap">Edict</span>. Frauds committed by revenue-officers on Churches</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_500">500</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">14.</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">To</span></td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Anastasius</span>. Plea for gentle treatment of citizens of Rhegium</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_501">501</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">15.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Maximus</span>. Praises of author's birthplace, Scyllacium</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_503">503</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">16.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">a Revenue Officer</span>. Payment of Trina Illatio</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_506">506</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">17.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">John, Siliquatarius of Ravenna</span>. Defence of city</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_507">507</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">18.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Constantian</span>. Repair of Flaminian Way</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_507">507</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">19.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Maximus</span>. Bridge of boats across the Tiber</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_509">509</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">20.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Thomas and Peter</span>. Sacred vessels mortgaged by Pope Agapetus to be restored to Papal See</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_510">510</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">21.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Deusdedit</span>. Duties of a Scribe</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_511">511</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">22.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Provincials of Istria</span>. Requisition from Province of Istria</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_513">513</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">23.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Laurentius</span>. Same subject</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_515">515</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">24.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Tribunes of the Maritime Population</span>. First historical notice of Venice</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_515">515</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">25.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Ambrosius, his Deputy</span>. Famine in Italy</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_518">518</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">26.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Paulus</span>. Remission of taxes in consequence of famine</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_520">520</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">27.</td><td style="text-align: left;">"</td><td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Datius</span>. Relief of famine-stricken citizens of Ticinum, &c.</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_521">521</a></td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">28.</td> + <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="2"> <span class="smcap">Edict [addressed to Ligurians]</span>. Relief of inhabitants</td><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#Page_523">523</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><a href="#INDEX_OF_PERSONS"><b>INDEX OF PERSONS.</b></a></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><a href="#GENERAL_INDEX"><b>GENERAL INDEX.</b></a></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><a href="#FOOTNOTES"><b>FOOTNOTES.</b></a></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxvii" id="Page_xxvii">[Pg xxvii]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="ADDITIONS_AND_CORRECTIONS" id="ADDITIONS_AND_CORRECTIONS"></a>ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.</h2> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>[<i>Transcriber's Note:</i> The errata listed below have been + retained as they appear in the original text.  They are marked in <b>bold</b> and are hyperlinked to this +section.]</p></div> + + +<p> </p> + + +<p><a href="#Page_6">P. 6</a>, l. 30, <a name="err1">for</a> 'Scylletium' read 'Scylletion.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Footnote_31_31">P. 24, <i>n.</i> 1</a>, <a name="err2">for</a> 'Uterwerfung' read 'Unterwerfung.'</p> + +<p><a name="err3">In</a> the '<a href="#NOTE_ON_THE_TOPOGRAPHY_OF_SQUILLACE">Note on the Topography of Squillace</a>' (pp. +<a href="#Page_68">68</a>-72), and the map +illustrating it, for 'Scylacium' read 'Scyllacium.' (The line of +Virgil, however, quoted on <a href="#Page_6">p. 6</a>, shows that the name was sometimes +spelt with only one 'l.')</p> + +<p>Pp. 94 and 96, head line, dele 'the.' [<i>Transcriber's Note:</i> headers +have been deleted from this e-text.]</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_128">P. 128</a> (<a href="#Chronological_Tables">Chronological Table</a>, under heading 'Popes') <a name="err5">for</a> 'John III.' +read 'John II.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_146">P. 146</a> (last line of text). <a name="err6">S.</a> Gaudenzi remarks that the addresses of +the laws in the Code of Justinian forbid us to suppose that Heliodorus +was Praetorian Praefect for eighteen years. He thinks that most likely +the meaning of the words 'in illa republica nobis videntibus +praefecturam bis novenis annis gessit eximie' is that twice in the +space of nine years Heliodorus filled the office of Praefect.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_159">P. 159</a>, <a href="#i27">Letter 27 of Book I</a>. <a name="err7">The</a> date of this letter is probably 509, +as Importunus, who is therein mentioned as Consul, was Consul in that +year.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_160">P. 160</a>, <a href="#i29">Letter 29 of Book I</a>. <a name="err8">S.</a> Gaudenzi points out that a letter has +probably dropped out here, as the title does not fit the contents of +the letter, which seems to have been addressed to a Sajo.</p> + +<p><a name="err9">In</a> the titles of <a href="#i14">I. 14</a>, <a href="#i26">26</a>, +<a href="#i34">34</a>, <a href="#i35">35</a>, and <a href="#ii5">II. 5</a> and +<a href="#ii9">9</a>, for 'Praepositus' +read 'Praetorian Praefect.' The contraction used by the early +amanuenses for Praefecto Praetorio has been misunderstood by their +successors, and consequently many MSS. read 'Praeposito,' and this +reading has been followed by Nivellius. There can be no doubt, +however, that Garet is right in restoring 'Praefecto Praetorio.'</p> + +<p><a name="err10">On</a> the other hand, I have been misled by Garet's edition into quoting +the following letters as addressed <i>Viro Senatori</i>; <a href="#i38">I. 38</a>; +<a href="#ii23">II. 23</a>, <a href="#ii28">28</a>, +<a href="#ii29">29</a>, <a href="#ii35">35</a>; <a href="#iii8">III. 8</a>, +<a href="#iii13">13</a>, <a href="#iii15">15</a>, <a href="#iii16">16</a>, +<a href="#iii27">27</a>, <a href="#iii32">32</a>, <a href="#iii41">41</a>; +<a href="#iv10">IV. 10</a>, <a href="#iv12">12</a>, <a href="#iv15">15</a>, +<a href="#iv18">18</a>, <a href="#iv19">19</a>, <a href="#iv20">20</a>, +<a href="#iv21">21</a>, <a href="#iv28">28</a>; <a href="#v21">V. 21</a>, +<a href="#v24">24</a>. Here, too, the only MSS. that I have examined read +'Viro Senatori;' but Nivellius preserves what is no doubt the earlier +reading, 'V.S.,' which assuredly stands for 'Viro Spectabili.' +Practically there is no great difference between the two readings, and +the remarks made by me on <a href="#ii29">II. 29</a>, <a href="#ii35">35</a>, &c., as to Senators with Gothic +names may still stand; for as every Senator was (at least) a +Clarissimus, it is not likely that any person who reached the higher +dignity of a Spectabilis was not also a Senator. (See pp. <a href="#Page_90">90</a> and +<a href="#Page_91">91</a>.)</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_181">P. 181</a>, <a href="#ii19">Letter 19 of Book II</a>. <a name="err11">Here</a> again, on account of the want of +correspondence between the title and contents of the letter, S. +Gaudenzi suggests that a letter has dropped out.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxviii" id="Page_xxviii">[Pg xxviii]</a></span></p> + +<p><a href="#Page_182">P. 182</a>, title of <a href="#ii20">Letter 20</a>, <a name="err12">for</a> 'Unigilis' read 'Uniligis.'</p> + +<p>P. 205, l. 6 from bottom, for 'Praefectum' read 'Praefectorum.' +[<i>Transcriber's Note:</i> Original already reads "Praefectorum."]</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_206">P. 206</a>, l. 1, <a name="err14">for</a> 'Provinces' read 'Provincials.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_224">P. 224</a> (marginal note), <a name="err15">for</a> 'amphitheatre' read 'walls.' Last line +(text), for 'its' read 'their.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_244">P. 244</a>, title of <a href="#iv17">Letter 17</a>, <a name="err16">for</a> 'Idae' some MSS. read 'Ibbae,' which +is probably the right reading, Ibbas having commanded the Ostrogothic +army in Gaul in 510.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_247">P. 247</a>, <a name="err17">dele</a> the last two lines. (The Peter who was Consul in 516 was +an official of the Eastern Empire, the same who came on an embassy to +Theodahad in 535.)</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_253">P. 253</a>. l. 9, <a name="err18">for</a> '408' read '508.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_255">P. 255</a>, ll. 9, 14, and in margin, <a name="err19">for</a> 'Agapeta' read 'Agapita.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_256">P. 256</a>, ll. 16, 26, and in margin, <a name="err20">for</a> 'Velusian' read 'Volusian.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_256">P. 256</a>, title of <a href="#iv43">Letter 43</a>. <a name="err21">S.</a> Gaudenzi thinks this letter was really +addressed to Argolicus, Praefectus Urbis.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_269">P. 269</a>, l. 20, <a name="err22">dele</a> 'possibly Stabularius.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_282">P. 282</a>, <a href="#v31">Letter 31 of Book V</a>. (to Decoratus). <a name="err23">As</a> Decoratus is described +in <a href="#v3">V. 3</a> and <a href="#v4">4</a> as already dead, it is clear that the letters are not +arranged in chronological order.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_282">P. 282</a>, l. 27, <a name="err24">for</a> 'upon' read 'before.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_288">P. 288</a>, l. 25, <a name="err25">for</a> 'extortions' read 'extra horses.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_291">P. 291</a>, l. 6, <a name="err26">for</a> 'Anomymus' read 'Anonymus.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_308">P. 308</a>, l. 7. <a name="err27">This</a> is an important passage, as illustrating the nature +of the office which Cassiodorus held as Consiliarius to his father.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_333">P. 333</a>, second marginal note, <a name="err28">for</a> 'aguntur' read 'agantur' (twice).</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_398">P. 398</a>, title of <a href="#ix15">Letter 15</a>, <a name="err29">for</a> '532' read '533-535.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_400">P. 400</a>, title of <a href="#ix17">Letter 17</a>, <a name="err30">for</a> 'between 532 and 534' read 'between +533 and 535.'</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_450">P. 450</a>, l. 8. <a name="err31">Probably,</a> as suggested by S. Gaudenzi, Felix was +Consiliarius to Cassiodorus.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></h2> + +<h3>LIFE OF CASSIODORUS.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> interest of the life of Cassiodorus is derived from his position +rather than from his character. He was a statesman of considerable +sagacity and of unblemished honour, a well-read scholar, and a devout +Christian; but he was apt to crouch before the possessors of power +however unworthy, and in the whole of his long and eventful life we +never find him playing a part which can be called heroic.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Position of Cassiodorus on the confines of the Ancient and +the Modern.</div> + +<p>His position, however, which was in more senses than one that of a +borderer between two worlds, gives to the study of his writings an +exceptional value. Born a few years after the overthrow of the Western +Empire, a Roman noble by his ancestry, a rhetorician-philosopher by +his training, he became what we should call the Prime Minister of the +Ostrogothic King Theodoric; he toiled with his master at the +construction of the new state, which was to unite the vigour of +Germany and the culture of Rome; for a generation he saw this edifice +stand, and when it fell beneath the blows of Belisarius he retired, +perhaps well-nigh broken-hearted, from the political arena. The +writings of such a man could hardly fail, at any rate they do not +fail, to give us many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> interesting glimpses into the political life +both of the Romans and the Barbarians. It is true that they throw more +light backwards than forwards, that they teach us far more about the +constitution of the Roman Empire than they do about the Teutonic +customs from whence in due time Feudalism was to be born. Still, they +do often illustrate these Teutonic usages; and when we remember that +the writer to whom after Tacitus we are most deeply indebted for our +knowledge of Teutonic antiquity, Jordanes, professedly compiled his +ill-written pamphlet from the Twelve Books of the Gothic History of +Cassiodorus, we see that indirectly his contribution to the history of +the German factor in European civilisation is a most important one.</p> + +<p>Thus then, as has been already said, Cassiodorus stood on the confines +of two worlds, the Ancient and the Modern; indeed it is a noteworthy +fact that the very word <i>modernus</i> occurs for the first time with any +frequency in his writings. Or, if the ever-shifting boundary between +Ancient and Modern be drawn elsewhere than in the fifth and sixth +centuries, at any rate it is safe to say, that he stood on the +boundary of two worlds, the Roman and the Teutonic.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Also on the confines of Politics and Religion.</div> + +<p>But the statesman who, after spending thirty years at the Court of +Theodoric and his daughter, spent thirty-three years more in the +monastery which he had himself erected at Squillace, was a borderer in +another sense than that already mentioned—a borderer between the two +worlds of Politics and Religion; and in this capacity also, as the +contemporary, perhaps the friend, certainly the imitator, of St. +Benedict, and in some respects the improver upon his method, +Cassiodorus largely helped to mould the destinies of mediaeval and +therefore of modern Europe.</p> + +<p>I shall now proceed to indicate the chief points in the life and +career of Cassiodorus. Where, as is generally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> the case, our +information comes from his own correspondence, I shall, to avoid +repetition, not do much more than refer the reader to the passage in +the following collection, where he will find the information given as +nearly as may be in the words of the great Minister himself.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His ancestors.</div> + +<p>The ancestors of Cassiodorus for three generations, and their public +employments, are enumerated for us in the letters (Var. <a href="#i3">i. 3</a>-4) which +in the name of Theodoric he wrote on his father's elevation to the +Patriciate. From these letters we learn that—</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Great grandfather.</div> + +<p>(1) Cassiodorus, the writer's great grandfather, who held the rank of +an Illustris, defended the shores of Sicily and Bruttii from the +incursions of the Vandals. This was probably between 430 and 440, and, +as we may suppose, towards the end of the life of this statesman, to +whom we may conjecturally assign a date from 390 to 460.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Grandfather.</div> + +<p>(2) His son and namesake, the grandfather of our Cassiodorus, was a +Tribune (a military rank nearly corresponding to our 'Colonel') and +Notarius under Valentinian III. He enjoyed the friendship of the great +Aetius, and was sent with Carpilio the son of that statesman on an +embassy to Attila, probably between the years 440 and 450. In this +embassy, according to his grandson, he exerted an extraordinary +influence over the mind of the Hunnish King. Soon after this he +retired to his native Province of Bruttii, where he passed the +remainder of his days. We may probably fix the limits of his life from +about 420 to 490.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Father.</div> + +<p>(3) His son, the third Cassiodorus, our author's father, served under +Odovacar (therefore between 476 and 492), as Comes Privatarum Rerum +and Comes Sacrarum Largitionum. These two offices, one of which +nominally involved the care of the domains of the Sovereign and the +other the regulation of his private charities, were in fact the two +great financial offices of the Empire and of the barbarian royalties +which modelled their system upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> it. Upon the fall of the throne of +Odovacar, Cassiodorus transferred his services to Theodoric, at the +beginning of whose reign he acted as Governor (Consularis<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>) of +Sicily. In this capacity he showed much tact and skill, and thereby +succeeded in reconciling the somewhat suspicious and intractable +Sicilians to the rule of their Ostrogothic master. He next +administered (as Corrector<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a>) his own native Province of 'Bruttii et +Lucania<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a>.' Either in the year 500 or soon after, he received from +Theodoric the highest mark of his confidence that the Sovereign could +bestow, being raised to the great place of Praetorian Praefect, which +still conferred a semi-regal splendour upon its holder, and which +possibly under a Barbarian King may have involved yet more +participation in the actual work of reigning than it had done under a +Roman Emperor.</p> + +<p>The Praefecture of this Cassiodorus probably lasted three or four +years, and at its close he received the high honour of the Patriciate. +We are not able to name the exact date of his retirement from office; +but the important point for us is, that while he still held this +splendid position his son was first introduced to public life. To that +son's history we may now proceed, for we have no further information +of importance as to the father's old age or death beyond the +intimation (contained in Var. <a href="#iii28">iii. 28</a>) that Theodoric invited him, +apparently in vain, to leave his beloved Bruttii and return to the +Court of Ravenna.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator</span> was born at Scyllacium +(<i>Squillace</i>) about the year 480. His name, his birthplace, and his +year of birth will each require a short notice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">Name.</div> + +<p>(1) <i>Name.</i> Magnus (not Marcus, as it has been sometimes incorrectly +printed) is the author's praenomen. Aurelius, the gentile name, +connects him with a large gens, of which Q. Aurelius Memmius Symmachus +was one of the most distinguished ornaments. <span class="sidenote">Cassiodorus, or Cassiodorius.</span>As to the form of the +cognomen there is a good deal of diversity of opinion, the majority of +German scholars preferring Cassiodor<i>i</i>us to Cassiodorus. The argument +in favour of the former spelling is derived from the fact that some of +the MSS. of his works (not apparently the majority) write the name +with the termination <i>rius</i>, and that while it is easy to understand +how from the genitive form <i>ri</i> a nominative <i>rus</i> might be wrongly +inferred instead of the real nominative <i>rius</i>, it is not easy to see +why the opposite mistake should be made, and <i>rius</i> substituted for +the genuine <i>rus</i>.</p> + +<p>The question will probably be decided one way or the other by the +critical edition of the 'Variae' which is to be published among the +'Monumenta Germaniae Historica;' but in the meantime it may be +remarked that the correct Greek form of the name as shown by +inscriptions appears to be Cassiodo<i>rus</i>, and that in a poem of +Alcuin's<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> occurs the line</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Cassiodorus item Chrysostomus atque Johannes,'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>showing that the termination <i>rus</i> was generally accepted as early as +the eighth century. It is therefore to be hoped that this is the form +which may finally prevail.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Senator.</div> + +<p>Senator, it is clear, was part of the original name of Cassiodorus, +and not a title acquired by sitting in the Roman Senate. It seems a +curious custom to give a title of this kind to an infant as part of +his name, but the well-known instance of Patricius (St. Patrick) shows +that this was sometimes done, and there are other instances<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +(collected by Thorbecke, p. 34) of this very title Senator being used +as a proper name.</p> + +<p>It is clear from Jordanes (who calls the Gothic History of Cassiodorus +'duodecem Senatoris volumina de origine actibusque Getarum<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a>'), from +Pope Vigilius (who speaks of 'religiosum virum filium nostrum +Senatorem<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a>'), from the titles of the letters written by +Cassiodorus<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a>, and from his punning allusions to his own name and the +love to the Senate which it had prophetically expressed, that Senator +was a real name and not a title of honour.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Birthplace, Scyllacium.</div> + +<p>(2) Scyllacium, the modern Squillace, was, according to Cassiodorus, +the first, either in age or in importance, of the cities of Bruttii, a +Province which corresponds pretty closely with the modern Calabria. It +is situated at the head of the gulf to which it gives its name, on the +eastern side of Italy, and at the point where the peninsula is pinched +in by the Tyrrhene and Ionian Seas to a width of only fifteen miles, +the narrowest dimensions to which it is anywhere reduced. The Apennine +chain comes here within a distance of about five miles of the sea, and +upon one of its lower dependencies Scyllacium was placed. The slight +promontory in front of the town earned for it from the author of the +Aeneid the ominous name of 'Navifragum Scylaceum<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a>.' In the +description which Cassiodorus himself gives of his birthplace (Var. +<a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>) we hear nothing of the danger to mariners which had attracted +the attention of Virgil, possibly a somewhat timid sailor. The name, +however, given to the place by the Greek colonists who founded it, <b> +<i><a href="#err1">Scylletium</a></i></b>, is thought by some to contain an allusion to dangers of +the coast similar to those which were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> typified by the barking dogs of +the not far distant Scylla.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Greek city.</div> + +<p>According to Cassiodorus, this Greek city was founded by Ulysses after +the destruction of Troy. Strabo<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> attributes the foundation of it to +the almost equally widespread energy of Menestheus. The form of the +name makes it probable that the colonists were in any case of Ionian +descent; but in historic times we find Scylletion subject to the +domineering Achaian city of Crotona, from whose grasp it was wrested +(<span class="smcap">b.c.</span> 389) by the elder Dionysius. It no doubt shared in the general +decay of the towns of this part of Magna Graecia consequent on the +wars of Dionysius and Agathocles, and may very probably, like Crotona, +have been taken and laid waste by the Bruttian banditti in the Second +Punic War. During the latter part of this war Hannibal seems to have +occupied a position near to, but not in, the already ruined city, and +its port was known long after as Castra Hannibalis<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Roman colony.</div> + +<p><a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> +'A century before the end of the Republic, a city much more +considerable than that which had existed in the past was again +established near the point where the Greek Scylletion had existed. +Among the colonies of Roman citizens founded <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> 123 on the rogation +of Caius Gracchus, was one sent to this part of Bruttii, under the +name of Colonia Minervia Scolacium, a name parallel to those of +Colonia Neptunia Tarentum and Colonia Junonia Karthago, decided on at +the same time. <i>Scolacium</i> is the form that we meet with in Velleius +Paterculus, and that is found in an extant Latin inscription of the +time of Antoninus Pius. This is the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> Latin form of the name of the +town. <i>Scylacium</i>, which first appears as used by the writers of the +first century of our era, is a purely literary form springing from the +desire to get nearer to the Greek type <i>Scylletion</i>.</p> + +<p>'Scolacium, or Scylacium, a town purely Roman by reason of the origin +of its first colonists, was from its earliest days an important city, +and remained such till the end of the Empire. Pomponius Mela, Strabo, +Pliny, and Ptolemy speak of it as one of the principal cities of +Bruttii. It had for its port Castra Hannibalis. Under Nero its +population was strengthened by a new settlement of veterans as +colonists. The city then took the names of Colonia Minervia Nervia +Augusta Scolacium. We read these names in an inscription discovered in +1762 at 1,800 metres from the modern Squillace, between that city and +the sea—an inscription which mentions the construction of an aqueduct +bringing water to Scolacium, executed 143 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> at the cost of the +Emperor Antoninus.'</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Appearance of the city at the time of Cassiodorus.</div> + +<p>For the appearance of this Roman colony in the seventh century of its +existence the reader is referred to the letter of Cassiodorus before +quoted (Var. <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>). The picture of the city, 'hanging like a +cluster of grapes upon the hills, basking in the brightness of the sun +all day long, yet cooled by the breezes from the sea, and looking at +her leisure on the labours of the husbandman in the corn-fields, the +vineyards, and the olive-groves around her,' is an attractive one, and +shows that kind of appreciation of the gentler beauties of Nature +which befits a countryman of Virgil.</p> + +<p>This picture, however, is not distinctive enough to enable us from it +alone to fix the exact site of the Roman city. Lenormant (pp. +360-370), while carefully distinguishing between the sites of the +Greek Scylletion and the Latin Scolacium, and assigning the former +with much apparent probability to the neighbourhood of the promontory +and the Grotte di Stalletti, has been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> probably too hasty in his +assertion that the modern city of Squillace incontestably covers the +ground of the Latin Scolacium. Mr. Arthur J. Evans, after making a +much more careful survey of the place and its neighbourhood than the +French archaeologist had leisure for, has come to the conclusion that +in this identification M. Lenormant is entirely wrong, and that the +Roman city was not at Squillace, where there are no remains of earlier +than mediaeval times, but at Roccella del Vescovo, five or six miles +from Squillace in a north-easterly direction, where there are such +remains as can only have belonged to a Roman provincial city of the +first rank. For a further discussion of the question the reader is +referred to the <a href="#NOTE_ON_THE_TOPOGRAPHY_OF_SQUILLACE">Note</a> (and accompanying Map) at the end of this +chapter.</p> + +<p>We pass on from considering the place of Cassiodorus' birth to +investigate the date of that event.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Date of birth.</div> + +<p>(3) The only positive statement that we possess as to the birth-year +of Cassiodorus comes from a very late and somewhat unsatisfactory +source. John Trittheim (or Trithemius), Abbot of the Benedictine +Monastery of Spanheim, who died in 1516, was one of the ecclesiastical +scholars of the Renaissance period, and composed, besides a multitude +of other books, a treatise 'De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis,' in which +is found this notice of Cassiodorus<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a>:—</p> + +<p>'Claruit temporibus Justini senioris usque ad imperii Justini junioris +paene finem, annos habens aetatis plus quam 95, Anno Domini 575.'</p> + +<p>This notice is certainly not one to which we should attach much +importance if it contradicted earlier and trustworthy authorities, or +if there were any internal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> evidence against it. But if this cannot be +asserted, it is not desirable entirely to discard the assertion of a +scholar who, in the age of the Renaissance and before the havoc +wrought among the monasteries of Germany by the Thirty Years' War, may +easily have had access to some sources which are now no longer +available.</p> + +<p>When we examine the information which is thus given us, we find it +certainly somewhat vague. 'Cassiodorus was illustrious' (no doubt as a +writer, since it is 'ecclesiastici scriptores' of whom Trittheim is +speaking) 'in the time of Justin the Elder [518-527] down nearly to +the end of the reign of Justin the Younger [565-578], attaining to +more than 95 years of age in the year of our Lord 575.' But on +reflection we see that the meaning must be that Cassiodorus died in +575 (which agrees well with the words 'paene finem imperii Justini +junioris'), and that when he died he was some way on in his 96th year, +or as we say colloquially 'ninety-five off.' The marvel of his +attaining such an age is no doubt the reason for inserting the 'plus +quam,' to show that he did not die immediately after his 95th +birthday. If this notice be trustworthy, therefore, we may place the +birth of Cassiodorus in 479 or 480.</p> + +<p>Now upon examining all the facts in our possession as to his career as +a statesman and an author, and especially our latest acquired +information<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a>, we find that they do in a remarkable manner agree +with Trittheim's date, while we have no positive statement by any +author early or late which really conflicts with it.</p> + +<p>The only shadow of an argument that has been advanced for a different +and earlier date is so thin that it is difficult to state without +confuting it. In some editions of the works of Cassiodorus there +appears a very short anonymous tract on the method of determining +Easter, called 'Computus Paschalis,' and composed in 562. In the +'Orthographiâ,' which was undoubtedly written by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> Cassiodorus at the +age of 93, and which contains a list of his previously published +works, no mention is made of this 'Computus.' It must therefore, say +the supporters of the theory, have been written after he was 93. He +must have been at least 94 in 562, and the year of his birth must be +put back at least to 468. In this argument there are two absolutely +worthless links. There is no evidence to show that the 'Computus +Paschalis' came from the pen of Cassiodorus at all, but much reason to +think that Pithoeus, the editor who first published it under his name, +was mistaken in doing so. And if it were his, a little memorandum like +this—only two pages long, and with no literary pretension +whatever—we may almost say with certainty would <i>not</i> be included by +the veteran author in the enumeration of his theological works +prefixed to his 'Orthographiâ.'</p> + +<p>The reason why a theory founded on such an absurdly weak basis has +held its ground at all, has probably been that it buttressed up +another obvious fallacy. A whole school of biographers of Cassiodorus +and commentators on his works has persisted, in spite of the plainest +evidence of his letters, in identifying him with his father, who bore +office under Odovacar (476-493). To do this it was necessary to get +rid of the date 480 for the birth of Cassiodorus Senator, and to throw +back that event as far as possible. And yet, not even by pushing it +back to 468, do they make it reasonably probable that a person, who +was only a child of eight years old at Odovacar's accession, could in +the course of his short reign (the last four years of which were +filled by his struggle with Theodoric) have held the various high +offices which were really held during that reign by the father of +Senator.</p> + +<p>We assume therefore with some confidence the year 480 as the +approximate date of the birth of our author; and while we observe that +this date fits well with those which the course of history induces us +to assign to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> ancestors in the three preceding generations<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a>, we +also note with interest that it was, as nearly as we can ascertain, +the year of the birth of two of the most distinguished contemporaries +of Cassiodorus—Boethius and Benedict.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Education of Cassiodorus.</div> + +<p>Of the training and education of the young Senator we can only speak +from their evident results as displayed in the 'Variae,' to which the +reader is accordingly referred. It may be remarked, however, that +though he evidently received the usual instruction in philosophy and +rhetoric which was given to a young Roman noble aspiring to employment +in the Civil Service, there are some indications that the bent of his +own genius was towards Natural History, strange and often laughable as +are the facts or fictions which this taste of his has caused him to +accumulate.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Consiliarius to his father.</div> + +<p>In the year 500<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a>, when Senator had just attained the age of twenty, +his father, as we have already seen, received from Theodoric the high +office of Praetorian Praefect. As a General might make an +<i>Aide-de-camp</i> of his son, so the Praefect conferred upon the young +Senator the post of <i>Consiliarius</i>, or Assessor in his Court<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a>. The +Consiliarius<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> had been in the time of the Republic an experienced +jurist who sat beside the Praetor or the Consul (who might be a man +quite unversed in the law) and advised him as to his judgments. From +the time of Severus onwards he became a paid functionary of the Court, +receiving a salary which varied from 12 to 72 solidi (£7 to £43). At +the time which we are now describing it was customary for the Judge to +choose his Consiliarius from among the ranks of young jurists who had +just completed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> their studies. The great legal school of Berytus +especially furnished a large number of Consiliarii to the Roman +Governors. In order to prevent an officer in this position from +obtaining an undue influence over the mind of his principal, the +latter was forbidden by law to keep a Consiliarius, who was a native +of the Province in which he was administering justice, more than four +months in his employ<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a>. This provision, of course, would not apply +when the young Assessor, as in the case of Cassiodorus, came with his +father from a distant Province: and in such a case, if the Magistrate +died during his year of office, by a special enactment the +fairly-earned pay of the Assessor was protected from unjust demands on +the part of the Exchequer<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a>. The functions thus exercised by Senator +in his father's court at Rome, and the title which he bore, were +somewhat similar to those which Procopius held in the camp of +Belisarius, but doubtless required a more thorough legal training. In +our own system, if we could imagine the Judge's Marshal invested with +the responsibilities of a Registrar of the Court, we should perhaps +get a pretty fair idea of the position and duties of a Roman +Consiliarius<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Panegyric on Theodoric.</div> + +<p>It was while Cassiodorus was holding this agreeable but not important +position, that the opportunity came to him, by his dexterous use of +which he sprang at one bound into the foremost ranks of the official +hierarchy. On some public occasion it fell to his lot to deliver an +oration in praise of Theodoric<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a>, and he did this with such +admirable eloquence—admirable according to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> depraved taste of the +time—that Theodoric at once bestowed upon the orator, still in the +first dawn of manhood<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a>, <span class="sidenote">Appointed Quaestor.</span>the 'Illustrious' office of Quaestor, +giving him thereby what we should call Cabinet-rank, and placing him +among the ten or eleven ministers of the highest class<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a>, by whom, +under the King, the fortunes of the Gothic-Roman State were absolutely +controlled.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Nature of the Quaestor's office.</div> + +<p>The Quaestor's duty required him to be beyond all other Ministers the +mouthpiece of the Sovereign. In the 'Notitia<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a>' the matters under +his control are concisely stated to be 'Laws which are to be dictated, +and Petitions.'</p> + +<p>To him therefore was assigned the duty (which the British Parliament +in its folly assigns to no one) of giving a final revision to the laws +which received the Sovereign's signature, and seeing that they were +consistent with one another and with previous enactments, and were +clothed in fitting language. He replied in the Sovereign's name to the +petitions which were presented to him. He also, as we learn from +Cassiodorus, had audience with the ambassadors of foreign powers, to +whom he addressed suitable and stately harangues, or through whom he +forwarded written replies to the letters which they had brought, but +always of course speaking or writing in the name of his master. In the +performance of these duties he had chiefly to rely on his own +intellectual resources as a trained jurist and rhetorician.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> The large +official staff which waited upon the nod of the other great Ministers +of State was absent from his apartments<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a>; but for the mere manual +work of copying, filing correspondence, and the like, he could summon +the needful number of clerks from the four great bureaux (scrinia) +which were under the control of the Master of the Offices.</p> + +<p>We have an interesting summary of the Quaestor's duties and privileges +from the pen of Cassiodorus himself in the 'Variae' (vi. 5), under the +title 'Formula Quaesturae,' and to this document I refer the reader +who wishes to complete the picture of the occupations in which the +busiest years of the life of Cassiodorus were passed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Special utility of a Quaestor to Theodoric.</div> + +<p>To a ruler in Theodoric's position the acquisition of such a Quaestor +as Cassiodorus was a most fortunate event. He himself was doubtless +unable to speak or to write Latin with fluency. According to the +common story, which passes current on the authority of the 'Anonymus +Valesii,' he never could learn to write, and had to 'stencil' his +signature. I look upon this story with some suspicion, especially +because it is also told of his contemporary, the Emperor Justin; but I +have no doubt that such literary education as Theodoric ever received +was Greek rather than Latin, being imparted during the ten years of +his residence as a hostage at Constantinople. Years of marches and +countermarches, of battle and foray, at the head of his Ostrogothic +warriors, may well have effaced much of the knowledge thus acquired. +At any rate, when he descended the Julian Alps, close upon forty years +of age, and appeared for the first time in Italy to commence his long +and terrible duel with Odovacar, it was too late to learn the language +of her sons in such fashion that the first sentence spoken by him in +the Hall of Audience should not betray him to his new subjects as an +alien and a barbarian.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p>Yet Theodoric was by no means indifferent to the power of well-spoken +words, by no means unconcerned as to the opinion which his +Latin-speaking subjects held concerning him. He was no Cambyses or +Timour, ruling by the sword alone. His proud title was 'Gothorum +Romanorumque Rex,' and the ideal of his hopes, successfully realised +during the greater part of his long and tranquil reign, was to be +equally the King of either people. He had been fortunate thus far in +his Praetorian Praefects. Liberius, a man of whom history knows too +little, had amid general applause steered the vessel of the State for +the first seven years of the new reign. The elder Cassiodorus, who had +succeeded him, seemed likely to follow the same course. But possibly +Theodoric had begun to feel the necessity laid upon all rulers of men, +not only to be, but also to seem, anxious for the welfare of their +subjects. Possibly some dull, unsympathetic Quaestor had failed to +present the generous thoughts of the King in a sufficiently attractive +shape to the minds of the people. This much at all events we know, +that when the young Consiliarius, high-born, fluent, and learned, +poured forth his stream of panegyric on 'Our Lord Theodoric'—a +panegyric which, to an extent unusual with these orations, reflected +the real feelings of the speaker, and all the finest passages of which +were the genuine outcome of his own enthusiasm—the great Ostrogoth +recognised at once the man whom he was in want of to be the exponent +of his thoughts to the people, and by one stroke of wise audacity +turned the boyish and comparatively obscure Assessor into the +Illustrious Quaestor, one of the great personages of his realm.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Composition of the VARIAE.</div> + +<p>The monument of the official life of Cassiodorus is the correspondence +styled the 'Variae,' of which an abstract is now submitted to the +reader. There is no need to say much here, either as to the style or +the thoughts of these letters; a perusal of a few pages of the +abstract will give<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> a better idea of both than an elaborate +description. The style is undoubtedly a bad one, whether it be +compared with the great works of Greek and Latin literature or with +our own estimate of excellence in speech. <span class="sidenote">Their style.</span>Scarcely ever do we find a +thought clothed in clear, precise, closely-fitting words, or a +metaphor which really corresponds to the abstract idea that is +represented by it. We take up sentence after sentence of verbose and +flaccid Latin, analyse them with difficulty, and when at last we come +to the central thought enshrouded in them, we too often find that it +is the merest and most obvious commonplace, a piece of tinsel wrapped +in endless folds of tissue paper. Perhaps from one point of view the +study of the style of Cassiodorus might prove useful to a writer of +English, as indicating the faults which he has in this age most +carefully to avoid. Over and over again, when reading newspaper +articles full of pompous words borrowed from Latin through French, +when wearied with 'velleities' and 'solidarities' and 'altruisms' and +'homologators,' or when vainly endeavouring to discover the real +meaning which lies hidden in a jungle of Parliamentary verbiage, I +have said to myself, remembering my similar labour upon the 'Variae,' +'How like this is to Cassiodorus.'</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Lack of humour.</div> + +<p>Intellectually one of the chief deficiencies of our author—a +deficiency in which perhaps his age and nation participated—was a +lack of humour. It is difficult to think that anyone who possessed a +keen sense of humour could have written letters so drolly unsuited to +the character of Theodoric, their supposed author, as are some which +we find in the 'Variae.' For instance, the King had reason to complain +that Faustus, the Praetorian Praefect, was dawdling over the execution +of an order which he had received for the shipment of corn from the +regions of Calabria and Apulia to Rome. We find the literary Quaestor +putting such words as these into the mouth of Theodoric, when +reprimanding the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> lazy official<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a>: <span class="sidenote">The letter about the sucking-fish.</span>'Why is there such great delay in +sending your swift ships to traverse the tranquil seas? Though the +south wind blows and the rowers are bending to their oars, has the +sucking-fish<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> fixed its teeth into the hulls through the liquid +waves; or have the shells of the Indian Sea, whose quiet touch is said +to hold so firmly that the angry billows cannot loosen it, with like +power fixed their lips into your keels? Idle stands the bark though +winged by swelling sails; the wind favours her but she makes no way; +she is fixed without an anchor, she is bound without a cable; and +these tiny animals hinder more than all such prospering circumstances +can help. Thus, though the loyal wave may be hastening its course, we +are informed that the ship stands fixed on the surface of the sea, and +by a strange paradox the swimmer [the ship] is made to remain +immovable while the wave is hurried along by movements numberless. Or, +to describe the nature of another kind of fish, perchance the sailors +in the aforesaid ships have grown dull and torpid by the touch of the +torpedo, by which such a deadly chill is struck into the right hand of +him who attacks it, that even through the spear by which it is itself +wounded, it gives a shock which causes the hand of the striker to +remain, though still a living substance, senseless and immovable. I +think some such misfortunes as these must have happened to men who are +unable to move their own bodies. But I know that in their case the +echeneis is corruption trading on delays; the bite of the Indian +shell-fish is insatiable cupidity; the torpedo is fraudulent pretence. +With perverted ingenuity they manufacture delays that they may seem to +have met with a run of ill-luck. Wherefore let your Greatness, whom it +specially concerns to look after such men as these, by a speedy rebuke +bring them to a better mind. Else the famine which we fear, will be +imputed not to the barrenness of the times but to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> official +negligence, whose true child it will manifestly appear.'</p> + +<p>It is not likely that Theodoric ever read a letter like this before +affixing to it his (perhaps stencilled) signature. If he did, he must +surely have smiled to see his few angry Teutonic words transmuted into +this wonderful rhapsody about sucking-fishes and torpedoes and +shell-fish in the Indian Sea.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Character of Cassiodorus.</div> + +<p>The French proverb 'Le style c'est l'homme,' is not altogether true as +to the character of Cassiodorus. From his inflated and tawdry style we +might have expected to find him an untrustworthy friend and an +inefficient administrator. This, however, was not the case. As was +before said, his character was not heroic; he was, perhaps, inclined +to humble himself unduly before mere power and rank, and he had the +fault, common to most rhetoricians, of over-estimating the power of +words and thinking that a few fluent platitudes would heal inveterate +discords and hide disastrous blunders. But when we have said this we +have said the worst. He was, as far as we have any means of judging, a +loyal subject, a faithful friend, a strenuous and successful +administrator, and an exceptionally far-sighted statesman. His right +to this last designation rests upon the part which he bore in the +establishment of the Italian Kingdom 'of the Goths and Romans,' +founded by the great Theodoric.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His work in seconding the policy of Theodoric.</div> + +<p>Theodoric, it must always be remembered, had entered Italy not +ostensibly as an invader but as a deliverer. He came in pursuance of a +compact with the legitimate Emperor of the New Rome, to deliver the +Elder Rome and the land of Italy from the dominion of 'the upstart +King of Rugians and Turcilingians<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a>,' Odovacar. The compact, it is +true, was loose and indefinite, and contained within itself the germs +of that misunderstanding which, forty-seven years later, was developed +into a terrible war. Still, for the present, Theodoric, King of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> the +Ostrogoths, was also in some undefined way legitimate representative +of the Old Roman Empire within the borders of Italy. This double +aspect of his rule was illustrated by that which (rather than the +doubtful Rex Italiae) seems to have been his favourite title, +'Gothorum Romanorumque Rex.'</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Theodoric's love of <i>Civilitas</i>.</div> + +<p>The great need of Italy was peace. After a century of wars and rumours +of wars; after Alaric, Attila, and Gaiseric had wasted her fields or +sacked her capital; after she had been exhausting her strength in +hopeless efforts to preserve the dominion of Gaul, Spain, and Africa; +after she had groaned under the exactions of the insolent <i>foederati</i>, +Roman soldiers only in name, who followed the standards of Ricimer or +Odovacar, she needed peace and to be governed with a strong hand, in +order to recover some small part of her old material prosperity. These +two blessings, peace and a strong government, Theodoric's rule ensured +to her. The theory of his government was this, that the two nations +should dwell side by side, not fused into one, not subject either to +the other, but the Romans labouring at the arts of peace, the Goths +wielding for their defence the sword of war. Over all was to be the +strong hand of the King of Goths and Romans, repressing the violence +of the one nation, correcting the chicanery of the other, and from one +and all exacting the strict observance of that which was the object of +his daily and nightly cares, <span class="smcap">civilitas</span>. Of this civilitas—which we +may sometimes translate 'good order,' sometimes 'civilisation,' +sometimes 'the character of a law-abiding citizen,' but which no +English word or phrase fully expresses—the reader of the following +letters will hear, even to weariness. But though we may be tired of +the phrase, we ought none the less to remember that the thing was that +which Italy stood most in need of, that it was secured for her during +forty years by the labours of Theodoric and Cassiodorus, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> that +happiness, such as she knew not again for many centuries, was the +result.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Foresight of Cassiodorus in aiding this policy.</div> + +<p>But the theory of a warrior caste of Goths and a trading and labouring +caste of Romans was not flattering to the national vanity of a people +who, though they had lost all relish for fighting, could not forget +the great deeds of their forefathers. This was no doubt the weak point +of the new State-system, though one cannot say that it is a weakness +which need have been fatal if time enough had been given for the +working out of the great experiment, and for Roman and Goth to become +in Italy, as they did become in Spain, one people. The grounds upon +which the praise of far-seeing statesmanship may be claimed for +Cassiodorus are, that notwithstanding the bitter taste which it must +have had in his mouth, as in the mouth of every educated Roman, he +perceived that here was the best medicine for the ills of Italy. All +attempts to conjure with the great name of the Roman Empire could only +end in subjection to the really alien rule of Byzantium. All attempts +to rouse the religious passions of the Catholic against the heretical +intruders were likely to benefit the Catholic but savage Frank. The +cruel sufferings of the Italians at the hands of the Heruli of +Belisarius and from the ravages of the Alamannic Brethren are +sufficient justification of the soundness of Cassiodorus' view that +Theodoric's State-system was the one point of hope for Italy.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His religious tolerance.</div> + +<p>Allusion has been made in the last paragraph to the religious +differences which divided the Goths from the Italians. It is well +known that Theodoric was an Arian, but an Arian of the most tolerant +type, quite unlike the bitter persecutors who reigned at Toulouse and +at Carthage. During the last few years of his reign, indeed, when his +mind was perhaps in some degree failing, he was tempted by the +persecuting policy of the Emperor Justin into retaliatory measures of +persecution towards his Catholic subjects, but as a rule his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> policy +was eminently fair and even-handed towards the professors of the two +hostile creeds, and even towards the generally proscribed nation of +the Jews. So conspicuous to all the world was his desire to hold the +balance perfectly even between the two communions, that it was said of +him that he beheaded an orthodox deacon who was singularly dear to +him, because he had professed the Arian faith in order to win his +favour. But this story, though told by a nearly contemporary +writer<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a>, is, it may be hoped, mere Saga.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">This did not proceed from indifference.</div> + +<p>The point which we may note is, that this policy of toleration or +rather of absolute fairness between warring creeds, though not +initiated by Cassiodorus, seems to have thoroughly commended itself to +his reason and conscience. It is from his pen that we get those golden +words which may well atone for many platitudes and some ill-judged +display of learning: <i>Religionem imperare non possumus, quia nemo +cogitur ut credat invitus</i><a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a>. And this tolerant temper of mind is +the more to be commended, because it did not proceed from any +indifference on his part to the subjects of religious controversy. +Cassiodorus was evidently a devout and loyal Catholic. Much the larger +part of his writings is of a theological character, and the +thirty-five years of his life which he passed in a monastery were +evidently</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Bound each to each in natural piety'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>with the earlier years passed at Court and in the Council-chamber.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Date of the commencement of the Variae.</div> + +<p>We cannot trace as we should like to do the precise limits of time by +which the official career of Cassiodorus was bounded. The 'Various +Letters' are evidently not arranged in strict chronological order, and +to but few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> of them is it possible to affix an exact date. There are +two or three, however, which require especial notice, because some +authors have assigned them to a date previous to that at which, as I +believe, the author entered the service of the Emperor.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Letter to Anastasius.</div> + +<p>The first letter of the whole series is addressed to the Emperor +Anastasius. It has been sometimes connected with the embassy of +Faustus in 493, or with that of Festus in 497, to the Court of +Constantinople, the latter of which embassies resulted in the +transmission to Theodoric of 'the ornaments of the palace' (that is +probably the regal insignia) which Odovacar had surrendered to Zeno. +But the language of the letter in question, which speaks of 'causas +iracundiae,' does not harmonise well with either of these dates, since +there was then, as far as we know, no quarrel between Ravenna and +Constantinople. On the other hand, it would fit perfectly with the +state of feeling between the two Courts in 505, after Sabinian the +general of Anastasius had been defeated by the troops of Theodoric +under Pitzias at the battle of Horrea Margi; or in 508, when the +Byzantine ships had made a raid on Apulia and plundered Tarentum. To +one of these dates it should probably be referred, its place at the +beginning of the collection being due to the exalted rank of the +receiver of the letter, not to considerations of chronology.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Letters to Clovis.</div> + +<p>The <a href="#ii40">fortieth</a> and <a href="#ii40">forty-first</a> letters of the +<a href="#BOOK_II">Second Book</a> relate to the +sending of a harper to Clovis, or, as Cassiodorus calls him, Luduin, +King of the Franks. In the earlier letter Boethius is directed to +procure such a harper (citharoedus), and to see that he is a +first-rate performer. In the later, Theodoric congratulates his royal +brother-in-law on his victory over the Alamanni, adjures him not to +pursue the panic-stricken fugitives who have taken refuge within the +Ostrogothic territory, and sends ambassadors to introduce the harper<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +whom Boethius has provided. It used to be thought that these letters +must be referred to 496, the year of the celebrated victory of Clovis +over the Alamanni, commonly, but incorrectly, called the battle of +Tulbiacum. But this was a most improbable theory, for it was difficult +to understand how a boy of sixteen (and that was the age of Boethius +in 496) should have attained such eminence as a musical connoisseur as +to be entrusted with the task of selecting the citharoedus. And in a +very recent monograph<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> Herr von Schubert has shown, I think +convincingly, that the last victory of Clovis over the Alamanni, and +their migration to Raetia within the borders of Theodoric's territory, +occurred not in 496 but a few years later, probably about 503 or 504. +It is true that Gregory of Tours (to whom the earlier battle is +all-important, as being the event which brought about the conversion +of Clovis) says nothing about this later campaign; but to those who +know the fragmentary and incomplete character of this part of his +history, such an omission will not appear an important argument.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Letters to Gaulish princes.</div> + +<p>The letters written in Theodoric's name to Clovis, to Alaric II, to +Gundobad of Burgundy, and to other princes, in order to prevent the +outbreak of a war between the Visigoths and the Franks, have been by +some authors<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> assigned to a date some years before the war actually +broke out; but though this cannot, perhaps, be disproved, it seems to +me much more probable that they were written in the early part of 507 +on the eve of the war between Clovis and Alaric, which they were +powerless to avert.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Duration of Cassiodorus' office.</div> + +<p>More difficult than the question of the beginning of the Quaestorship +of Cassiodorus is that of its duration and its close. It was an office +which was in its nature<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> an annual one. At the commencement of each +fresh year 'of the Indiction,' that is on the first of September of +the calendar year, a Quaestor was appointed; but there does not seem +to have been anything to prevent the previous holder of the office +from being re-appointed. In the case of Cassiodorus, the Quaestor +after Theodoric's own heart, his intimate friend and counsellor, this +may have been done for several years running, or he may have +apparently retired from office for a year and then resumed it. It is +clear, that whether in or out of office he had always, as the King's +friend, a large share in the direction of State affairs. He himself +says, in a letter supposed to be addressed to himself after the death +of Theodoric<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a>: 'Non enim proprios fines sub te <i>ulla dignitas</i> +custodivit;' and that this was the fact we cannot doubt. Whatever his +nominal dignity might be, or if for the moment he possessed no +ostensible office at all, he was still virtually what we should call +the Prime Minister of the Ostrogothic King<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Consulship of Cassiodorus, 514.</div> + +<p>In the year 514 he received an honour which, notwithstanding that it +was utterly divorced from all real authority, was still one of the +highest objects of the ambition of every Roman noble: he was hailed as +Consul Ordinarius, and gave his name to the year. For some reason +which is not stated, possibly because the City of Constantinople was +in that year menaced by the insurrection of Vitalian, no colleague in +the East was nominated to share his dignity; and the entry in the +Consular Calendars is therefore 'Senatore solo Consule.'</p> + +<p>In his own Chronicle, Cassiodorus adds the words,'Me etiam Consule in +vestrorum laude temporum, adunato clero vel [= et] populo, Romanae +Ecclesiae rediit optata<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> concordia.' This sentence no doubt relates to +the dissensions which had agitated the Roman Church ever since the +contested Papal election of Symmachus and Laurentius in the year 498. +Victory had been assured to Symmachus by the Synod of 501, but +evidently the feelings of hatred then aroused had still smouldered on, +especially perhaps among the Senators and high nobles of Rome, who had +for the most part adopted the candidature of Laurentius. Now, on the +death of Symmachus (July 18, 514) the last embers of the controversy +were extinguished, and the genial influence of Cassiodorus, Senator by +name and Consul by office, was successfully exerted to induce nobles, +clergy, and people to unite in electing a new Pope. After eight days +Hormisdas the Campanian sat in the Chair of St. Peter, an undoubted +Pontiff.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Deference to the Roman Senate.</div> + +<p>Not only in maintaining the dignity of the Consulship, but also in +treating the Roman Senate with every outward show of deference and +respect, did the Ostrogothic King follow and even improve upon the +example of the Roman Emperors. The student of the following letters +will observe the tone of deep respect which is almost always adopted +towards the Senate; how every nomination of importance to an official +post is communicated to them, almost as if their suffrages were +solicited for the new candidate; what a show is made of consulting +them in reference to peace and war; and what a reality there seems to +be in the appeals made to their loyalty to the new King after the +death of Theodoric. In all this, as in the whole relation of the +Empire to the Senate during the five centuries of their joint +existence, it is difficult to say where well-acted courtesy ended, and +where the desire to secure such legal power as yet remained to a +venerable assembly began. Perhaps when we remember that for many +glorious centuries the Senate had been the real ruler of the Roman +State, we may assert that the attitude and the language of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> the +successors of Augustus towards the Conscript Fathers were similar to +those used by a modern House of Commons towards the Crown, only that +in the one case the individual supplanted the assembly, in the other +the assembly supplanted the individual. But whatever the exact +relations between King and Senate may have been, and though +occasionally the former found it necessary to rebuke the latter pretty +sharply for conduct unbecoming their high position, there can be no +doubt that the general intention of Theodoric was to soothe the +wounded pride and flatter the vanity of the Roman Senators by every +means in his power: and for this purpose no one could be so well +fitted as Cassiodorus, Senator by name and by office, descendant of +many generations of Roman nobles, and master of such exuberant +rhetoric that it was difficult then, as it is often impossible now, to +extract any definite meaning from his sonorous periods.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cassiodorus Patrician.</div> + +<p>It was possibly upon his laying down the Consulship, that Cassiodorus +received the dignity of Patrician—a dignity only, for in itself it +seems to have conferred neither wealth nor power. Yet a title which +had been borne by Ricimer, Odovacar, and Theodoric himself might well +excite the ambition of Theodoric's subject. If our conjecture be +correct that it was conferred upon Cassiodorus in the year 515, he +received it at an earlier age than his father, to whom only about ten +or eleven years before he had written the letter announcing his +elevation to this high dignity.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Chronicon.</div> + +<p>Five years after his Consulate, Cassiodorus undertook a little piece +of literary labour which he does not appear to have held in high +account himself (since he does not include it in the list of his +works), and which has certainly added but little to his fame. This was +his 'Chronicon,' containing an abstract of the history of the world +from the deluge down to <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 519, the year of the Consulship of the +Emperor Justin, and of Theo<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>doric's son-in-law Eutharic. This +Chronicle is for the most part founded upon, or rather copied from, +the well-known works of Eusebius and Prosper, the copying being +unfortunately not correctly done. More than this, Cassiodorus has +attempted with little judgment to combine the mode of reckoning by +Consular years and by years of Emperors. As he is generally two or +three years out in his reckoning of the former, this proceeding has +the curious result of persistently throwing some Consulships of the +reigning Emperor into the reign of his predecessor.<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> Thus Probus is +Consul for two years under Aurelian, and for one year under Tacitus; +both the two Consulships of Carus and the first of Diocletian are +under Probus, while Diocletian's second Consulship is under Carinus +and Numerianus; and so forth. It is wonderful that so intelligent a +person as Cassiodorus did not see that combinations of this kind were +false upon the face of them.</p> + +<p>When the Chronicle gets nearer to the compiler's own times it becomes +slightly more interesting, but also slightly less fair. Throughout the +fourth century a few little remarks are interspersed in the dry list +of names and dates, the general tendency of which is to praise up the +Gothic nation or to extenuate their faults and reverses. The battle of +Pollentia (402<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a>) is unhesitatingly claimed as a Gothic victory; the +clemency of Alaric at the capture of Rome (410) is magnified; the +valour of the Goths is made the cause of the defeat of Attila in the +Catalaunian plains (451); the name of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> Gothic Eutharic is put before +that of Byzantine Justin in the consular list; and so forth. Upon the +whole, as has been already said, the work cannot be considered as +adding to the reputation of its author; nor can it be defended from +the terrible attack which has been made upon it by that scholar of our +own day whose opinion upon such a subject stands the highest, Theodor +Mommsen<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a>. Only, when he makes this unfortunate Chronicle reflect +suspicion on the other works of Cassiodorus, and especially on the +Gothic History<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a>, the German scholar seems to me to chastise the +busy Minister more harshly than he deserves.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Gothic History.</div> + +<p>I have just alluded to the Gothic History of Cassiodorus. It was +apparently shortly after the composition of his Chronicle<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> that +this, in some respects his most important work, was compiled and +arranged according to his accustomed habit in twelve books. His own +estimate—and it is not a low one—of the value of this performance is +expressed in a letter which he makes his young Sovereign Athalaric +address to the Senate on his promotion to the Praefecture<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a>: 'He +extended his labours even to our remote ancestry, learning by his +reading that which scarcely the hoar memories of our forefathers +retained. He drew forth from their hiding-place the Kings of the +Goths, hidden by long forgetfulness. He restored the Amals to their +proper place with the lustre of his own<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> lineage (?), evidently +proving that up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> to the seventeenth generation we have had kings for +our ancestors. He made the origin of the Goths a part of Roman +history, collecting as it were into one wreath all the flowery growth +which had before been scattered through the plains of many books. +Consider therefore what love he showed to you [the Senate] in praising +us, he who showed that the nation of your Sovereign had been from +antiquity a marvellous people; so that ye, who from the days of your +forefathers have ever been deemed noble, are yet ruled over by the +ancient progeny of Kings<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a>.'</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Its purpose.</div> + +<p>In reading this estimate by Cassiodorus of his own performance, we can +see at once that it lacked that first of all conditions precedent for +the attainment of absolute historic truth, complete impartiality<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a>. +Like Hume and like Macaulay Cassiodorus wrote his history with a +purpose. We may describe that purpose as two-fold:</p> + +<p>(1) To vindicate the claim of the Goths to rank among the historic +nations of antiquity by bringing them into some sort of connection +with Greece and Rome ('Originem Gothicam historiam fecit esse +Romanam'); and (2) among the Goths, to exalt as highly as possible the +family of the Amals, that family from which Theodoric had sprung, and +to string as many regal names as possible upon the Amal chain +('Evidenter ostendens in decimam septimam progeniem stirpem nos habere +regalem').</p> + +<p>I have said that the possession of a purpose like this is unfavourable +to the attainment of absolute historic truth; but the aim which +Cassiodorus proposed to himself was a lofty one, being in fact the +reconciliation of the past and the future of the world by showing to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +the outworn Latin race that the new blood which was being poured into +it by the northern nations came, like its own, from a noble ancestry: +and, for us, the labour to which it stimulated him has been full of +profit, since to it we owe something like one half of our knowledge of +the Teutonic ancestors of Modern Europe.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Confusion between Goths and Getae.</div> + +<p>The much-desired object of 'making the origin of Gothic history Roman' +was effected chiefly by attributing to the Goths all that Cassiodorus +found written in classic authors concerning the Getae or the +Scythians. The confusion between Goths and Getae, though modern +ethnologists are nearly unanimous in pronouncing it to be a confusion +between two utterly different nations, is not one for which +Cassiodorus is responsible, since it had been made at least a hundred +years before his time. When the Emperor Claudius II won his great +victories over the Goths in the middle of the Third Century, he was +hailed rightly enough by the surname of <i>Gothicus</i>; but when at the +beginning of the Fifth Century the feeble Emperors Arcadius and +Honorius wished to celebrate a victory which, as they vainly hoped, +had effectually broken the power of the Goths, the words which they +inscribed upon the Arch of Triumph were 'Quod <i>Getarum</i> nationem in +omne aevum docuere extingui.' In the poems of Claudian, and generally +in all the contemporary literature of the time, the regular word for +the countrymen of Alaric is Getae.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The term Scythian.</div> + +<p>The Greek historians, on the other hand, freely applied the general +term Scythian—as they had done at any time since the Scythian +campaign of Darius Hystaspis—to any barbarian nation living beyond +the Danube and the Cimmerian Bosporus. With these two clues, or +imaginary clues, in his hand, Cassiodorus could traverse a +considerable part of the border-land of classical antiquity. The +battles between the Scythians and the Egyptians, the story of the +Amazons, Telephus son of Hercules and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> nephew of Priam, the defeat of +Cyrus by Tomyris, and the unsuccessful expedition of Darius—all were +connected with Gothic history by means of that easily stretched word, +Scythia. Then comes Sitalces, King of Thrace, who makes war on +Perdiccas of Macedon; and then, 'in the time of Sylla,' a certain wise +philosopher-king of Dacia, Diceneus by name, in whose character and +history Cassiodorus perhaps outlined his own ideal of wisdom swaying +brute force. With these and similar stories culled from classical +authors Cassiodorus appears to have filled up the interval—which was +to him of absolutely uncertain duration—between the Gothic migration +from the Baltic to the Euxine and their appearance as conquerors and +ravagers in the eastern half of the Roman Empire in the middle of the +third century of the Christian era. Now, soothing as it may have been +to the pride of a Roman subject of Theodoric to be informed that his +master's ancestors had fought at the war of Troy and humbled the pride +of Perdiccas, to a scientific historian these Scytho-Getic histories +culled from Herodotus and Trogus are of little or no value, and his +first step in the process of enquiry is to eliminate them from +'Gothica historia,' thus making it, as far as he can, <i>not</i> 'Romana.' +The question then arises whether there was another truly Gothic +element in the history of Cassiodorus, and if so, what value can be +attached to it. Thus enquiring we soon find, both before and after +this intrusive Scytho-Getic element, matter of quite a different kind, +which has often much of the ring of the true Teutonic <i>Saga</i>. It is +reasonable to believe that here Cassiodorus, whose mission it was to +reconcile Roman and Goth, and who could not have achieved this end by +altering the history of the less civilised people out of all +possibility of recognition by its own chieftains and warriors, has +really interwoven in his work some part of the songs and Sagas which +were still current among the older men who had shared the wanderings +of Theodoric. This<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> legendary portion, which Cassiodorus himself +perhaps half despised, as being gathered not from books but from the +lips of rude minstrels, is in fact the only part of his work which has +any scientific value.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Amal pedigree.</div> + +<p>In his glorification of the Amal line, Cassiodorus follows more +closely these genuine national traditions than in his history of the +Gothic people. References to Herodotus and Trogus would have been here +obviously out of place, and he accordingly puts before us a pedigree +fashioned on the same model as those which we find in the Saxon +Chronicle, and therefore probably genuine. By genuine of course is +meant a pedigree which was really current and accepted among the +people over whom Theodoric ruled. How many of the links which form it +represent real historical personages is a matter about which we may +almost be said neither to know nor care. We see that it begins in the +approved fashion with 'Non puri homines sed semidei id est Anses<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a>,' +and that the first of these half-divine ancestors is named <i>Gaut</i>, +evidently the eponymous hero of the Gothic people. Some of the later +links—Amal, Ostrogotha, Athal—have the same appearance of names +coined to embody facts of the national consciousness. At the end of +the genealogy appear the undoubtedly historical names of the immediate +ancestors of Theodoric. It is noteworthy that several, in fact the +majority of the names of Kings who figure in early Gothic history, are +not included in this genealogy. While this fact permits us to doubt +whether Cassiodorus has not exaggerated the pre-eminence of the Amal +race in early days, it must be admitted to be also an evidence of the +good faith with which he preserved the national tradition on these +points. Had he been merely inventing, it would have been easy to +include every name of a distinguished Gothic King among the +progenitors of his Sovereign.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">Abstract by Jordanes.</div> + +<p>Such then was the general purpose of the Gothic History of +Cassiodorus. The book itself has perished—a tantalising loss when we +consider how many treatises from the same pen have been preserved to +us which we could well have spared. But we can speak, as will be seen +from the preceding remarks, with considerable confidence as to its +plan and purpose, because we possess in the well-known treatise of +Jordanes 'On the Origin of the Goths<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a>' an abbreviated copy, +executed it is true by a very inferior hand, but still manifestly +preserving some of the features of the original. It will not be +necessary here to go into the difficult question as to the personality +of this writer, which has been debated at considerable length and with +much ingenuity by several German authors<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a>. It is enough to say that +Jordanes, who was, according to his own statement, 'agrammatus,' a man +of Gothic descent, a notary, and then a monk<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a>, on the alleged +request of his friend Castalius, 'compressed the twelve books of +Senator, <i>de origine actibusque Getarum</i>, bringing down the history +from olden times to our own days by kings and generations, into one +little pamphlet.' Still, according to his statement, which there can +be little doubt is here thoroughly false, he had the loan of the +Gothic History for only three days from the steward of Cassiodorus, +and wrote chiefly or entirely from his recollection of this hasty +perusal<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a>. He says that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> added some suitable passages from the +Greek and Latin historians, but his own range of historical reading +was evidently so narrow that we may fairly suspect these additions to +have been of the slenderest possible dimensions. Upon the whole, there +can be little doubt that it is a safe rule to attribute everything +that is good or passable in this little treatise to Cassiodorus, and +everything that is very bad, childish, and absurd in it to Jordanes.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Temporary retirement from official life (?).</div> + +<p>The literary labours of Cassiodorus, of which the Gothic History was +one of the fruits, were probably continued for two or three years +after its completion<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a>. At least there is reason to believe that he +was not actively engaged in the service of the State during those +terrible years (524 and 525) in which the failing intellect of +Theodoric, goaded almost to madness by Justin's persecution of his +Arian co-religionists, condescended to ignoble measures of +retaliation, which brought him into collision with Senate and Pope, +and in the end tarnished his fame by the judicial murder of Boethius +and Symmachus. It was fortunate indeed for Cassiodorus if he was +during this time, perhaps because of his unwillingness to help the +King to his own hurt, enjoying an interval of literary retirement at +Squillace. His honour must have suffered if he had abetted the +intolerant policy of Theodoric; his life might have been forfeit if he +had openly opposed it.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cassiodorus as Master of the Offices, 526.</div> + +<p>Whatever may have been the cause of the temporary obscuration of +Cassiodorus, he was soon again shining in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> all the splendour of +official dignity; for when Theodoric died, his old and trusted +minister was holding—probably not for the first time in his official +career<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a>—the great place of Master of the Offices.</p> + +<p>The <i>Magister Officiorum</i>, whose relation to the other members of the +Cabinet of the Sovereign was somewhat indefinite, and who was in fact +constantly trying to enlarge the circle of his authority at their +expense, was at the head of the Civil Service of the Roman Empire, and +afterwards occupied a similar position in the Ostrogothic State. It +was said of him by the Byzantine orator Priscus (himself a man who had +been engaged in important embassies), 'Of all the counsels of the +Emperor the Magister is a partaker, inasmuch as the messengers and +interpreters and the soldiers employed on guard at the palace are +ranged under him.' Quite in harmony with this general statement are +the more precise indications of the 'Notitia.' There, 'under the +disposition of the illustrious Magister Officiorum,' we find five +<i>Scholae</i>, which seem to have been composed of household troops<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a>. +Then comes the great Schola of the <i>Agentes in rebus</i> and their +deputies—a mighty army of 'king's messengers,' who swarmed through +all the Provinces of the Empire, executing the orders of the +Sovereign, and earning gold and hatred from the helpless Provincials +among whom their errands lay. In addition to these the four great +stationary bureaux—the Scrinium Memoriae, Scrinium Dispositionum, +Scrinium Epistolarum, and Scrinium Libellorum—the offices whose duty +it was to conduct the correspondence of the Sovereign with foreign +powers, and to answer the petitions of his own subjects, all owned the +Master of the Offices as their head. More<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>over, the great arsenals (of +which there were six in Italy at Concordia, Verona, Mantua, Cremona, +Ticinum, and Lucca) received their orders from the same official. An +anomalous and too widely dispersed range of functions this seems +according to our ideas, including something of the Secretaryship for +Foreign Affairs, something of the Home Secretaryship, and something of +the War Office and the Horse Guards. Yet, as if this were not enough, +there was also transferred to him from the office of the Praetorian +Praefect the superintendence of the Cursus Publicus, that excellent +institution by which facilities for intercourse were provided between +the capital and the most distant Provinces, relays of post-horses +being kept at every town, available for use by those who bore properly +signed 'letters of evection.' Thus to the multifarious duties of the +Master of the Offices was added in effect the duty of +Postmaster-General. It was found however in practice to be an +inconvenient arrangement for the Master of the Offices to have the +control of the services of the 'public horses,' while the Praetorian +Praefect remained responsible for the supply of their food; and the +charge of the <i>Cursus Publicus</i> was accordingly retransferred—at any +rate in the Eastern Empire—to the office of the Praefect, though the +letters of evection still required the counter-signature of the +Master<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Death of Theodoric, Aug. 30, 526.</div> + +<p>Such was the position of Cassiodorus when, on the 30th of August, 526, +by the death of Theodoric, he lost the master whom he had served so +long and so faithfully. The difficulties which beset the new reign are +pretty clearly indicated in the letters which Cassiodorus published in +the name of the young King Athalaric, Theodoric's grandson, and which +are to be found in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +<a href="#BOOK_VIII">Eighth Book</a> of the 'Variae.' Athalaric himself +being only a boy of eight or ten years of age, supreme power was +vested in his mother Amalasuentha, with what title we are unable to +say, but apparently not with that of Queen. This Princess, a woman of +great and varied accomplishments, perhaps once a pupil, certainly a +friend, of Cassiodorus, ruled entirely in accordance with the maxims +of his statesmanship, and endeavoured with female impulsiveness to +carry into effect his darling scheme of Romanising the Goths. During +the whole of her regency we may doubtless consider Cassiodorus as +virtually her Prime Minister, and the eight years which it occupied +were without doubt that portion of his life in which he exercised the +most direct and unquestioned influence on State affairs.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Services of Cassiodorus to the Regent Amalasuentha.</div> + +<p>His services at the commencement of the new reign will be best +described in his own words: 'Nostris quoque principiis<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a>' (the +letter is written in Athalaric's name) 'quanto se labore concessit, +cum novitas regni multa posceret ordinari? Erat solus ad universa +sufficiens. Ipsum dictatio publica, ipsum consilia nostra poscebant; +et labore ejus actum est ne laboraret imperium. <i>Reperimus eum quidem +Magistrum sed implevit nobis Quaestoris officium</i>: et mercedes +justissima devotione persolvens, cautelam, quam ab auctore nostro +didicerat, libenter haeredis utilitatibus exhibebat<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a>.'</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Fears of invasion.</div> + +<p>Cassiodorus then goes on to describe how he laboured for his young +Sovereign with the sword as well as with the pen. Some hostile +invasion was dreaded, perhaps from the Franks, or, more probably, from +the Vandals, whose relations with the Ostrogoths at that time were +strained, owing to the murder of Theodoric's sister Amalafrida by +Hilderic the Vandal King. Cassiodorus provided ships and equipped +soldiers at his own expense,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> probably for the defence of his beloved +Province of Bruttii. The alarm of war passed away, but difficulties +appear to have arisen owing to the sudden cancellation of the +contracts which had been entered into when hostilities seemed +imminent; and to these difficulties Cassiodorus tells us that he +brought his trained experience as an administrator and a judge, +resolving them so as to give satisfaction to all who were concerned.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect, 533.</div> + +<p>Seven years of Amalasuentha's regency thus passed, and now at length, +at fifty-three years of age, Cassiodorus was promoted (Sept. 1, 533) +to the most distinguished place which a subject could occupy. He +received from Amalasuentha the office of Praetorian Praefect. As +thirty-three years had elapsed since his father was invested with the +same dignity, we may fairly conjecture that father and son both +climbed this eminence at the same period of their lives; yet, +considering the extraordinary credit which the younger Cassiodorus +enjoyed at Court, we might have expected that he would have been +clothed with the Praefecture before he attained the fifty-third year +of his age. And, in fact, he hints in the letter composed by him, in +which he informs himself of his own elevation<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a>, that that elevation +had been somewhat too long delayed, though the reason which he alleges +for the delay (namely, that the people might greet the new Praefect +the more heartily<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a>) is upon the face of it not the true cause.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Office of the Praetorian Praefect.</div> + +<p>The majesty of the Praetorian Praefect's office is fully dwelt upon +and its functions described in a letter in the following +collection<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a>, to which the reader is referred. Originally only the +chief officer of those Praetorian troops in Rome by whom the Emperor +was guarded, until, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> was so often the case, he was in some fit of +petulance by the same pampered sentinels dethroned, the Praefectus +Praetorio had gradually become more and more of a judge, less and less +of a soldier. In the great changes wrought by Constantine the +Praetorian guards disappeared—somewhat in the same fashion after +which the Janissaries were removed by Sultan Mahmoud. The Praetorian +Praefect's dignity, however, survived, and though he lost every shred +of military command he became or continued to be the first civil +servant of the Empire. Cassiodorus is fond of comparing him to Joseph +at the Court of Pharaoh, nor is the comparison an inapt one. In the +Constantinople of our own day the Grand Vizier holds a position not +altogether unlike that which the Praefect held in the Court of +Arcadius and Theodosius. 'The office of this Praefect,' said one who +had spent his life as one of his subordinates<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a>,' is like the Ocean, +encircling all other offices and ministering to all their needs. The +Consulate is indeed higher in rank than the Praefecture, but less in +power. The Praefect wears a <i>mandye</i>, or woollen cloak, dyed with the +purple of Cos, and differing from the Emperor's only in the fact that +it reaches not to the feet but to the knees. Girt with his sword he +takes his seat as President of the Senate. When that body has +assembled, the chiefs of the army fall prostrate before the Praefect, +who raises them and kisses each in turn, in order to express his +desire to be on good terms with the military power. Nay, even the +Emperor himself walks (or till lately used to walk) on foot from his +palace to meet the Praefect as he moves slowly towards him at the head +of the Senate. The insignia of the Praefect's office are his lofty +chariot, his golden reed-case [pen-holder], weighing one hundred +pounds, his massive silver inkstand, and silver bowl on a tripod of +the same metal to receive the petitions of suitors. Three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> official +yachts wait upon his orders, and convey him from the capital to the +neighbouring Provinces.'</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Praetorian Praefect as Judge of Appeal.</div> + +<p>The personage thus highly placed had a share in the government of the +State, a share which the Master of the Offices was for ever trying to +diminish, but which, in the hands of one who like Cassiodorus was +<i>persona grata</i> at the Court, might be made not only important but +predominant<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a>. The chief employment, however, of the ordinary +Praefectus Praetorio consisted in hearing appeals from the Governors +of the Provinces. When the magical words 'Provoco ad Caesarem' had +been uttered, it was in most cases before the Praetorian Praefect that +the appeal was practically heard; and when the Praetorian Praefect had +pronounced his decision, no appeal from that was permitted, even to +the Emperor himself<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Letters written during the Praefecture of Cassiodorus.</div> + +<p>Cassiodorus held the post of Praetorian Praefect, amid various changes +in the fortunes of the State, from 533 to 538, or perhaps a year or +two longer. Of his activity in the domain of internal administration, +the <a href="#BOOK_XI">Eleventh</a> and <a href="#BOOK_XII">Twelfth</a> Books of the 'Variae' give a vivid and +interesting picture. Unfortunately, neither those books nor the +<a href="#BOOK_X">Tenth +Book</a> of the same collection, which contains the letters written by him +during the same time in the names of the successive Gothic Sovereigns, +give any sufficient information as to the real course of public<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +events. Great misfortunes, great crimes, and the movements of great +armies are covered over in these documents by a veil of unmeaning +platitudes and hypocritical compliments. In order to enable the +student to 'read between the lines,' and to pierce through the +verbiage of these letters to the facts which they were meant to hint +at or to conceal, it will be necessary briefly to describe the +political history of the period as we learn it from the narratives of +Procopius and Jordanes—narratives which may be inaccurate in a few +minor details but are doubtless correct in their main outlines.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Opposition to Romanising policy of Amalasuentha.</div> + +<p>The Romanising policy of the cultivated but somewhat self-willed +Princess Amalasuentha met with considerable opposition on the part of +her Gothic subjects. Above all, they objected to the bookish education +which she was giving to her son, the young King. They declared that it +was entirely contrary to the maxims of Theodoric that a young Goth +should be trembling before the strap of a pedagogue when he ought to +be learning to look unfalteringly on spear and sword. These +representations were so vigorously made, and by speakers of such high +rank in the State, that Amalasuentha was compelled to listen to them, +to remove her son from the society of his teachers, and to allow him +to associate with companions of his own age, who, not being wisely +chosen, soon initiated him in every kind of vice and dissipation.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Amalasuentha puts three Gothic nobles to death.</div> + +<p>The Princess, who had not forgiven the leaders of the Gothic party for +their presumptuously offered counsels, singled out three of the most +powerful nobles who were at the head of that party and sent them into +honourable banishment at the opposite ends of Italy. Finding, however, +that they were still holding communication with one another, she sent +to the Emperor Justinian to ask if he would give her an asylum in his +dominions if she required it, and then gave orders for the secret +assassination of the three noblemen. The <i>coup d'état</i> succeeded: she +had no need to flee the country; and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> ship bearing the royal +treasure, which amounted to 40,000 pounds weight of gold, which she +had sent to Dyrrhachium to await her possible flight, was ordered to +return home.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Embassies between Ravenna and Constantinople.</div> + +<p>Athalaric's health was now rapidly failing, owing to his licentious +excesses, and Amalasuentha, fearing that after his death her own life +might be in danger, began again secretly to negotiate with Justinian +for the entire surrender of the kingdom of Italy into his hands, on +receiving an assurance of shelter and maintenance at the Court of +Byzantium. These negotiations were masked by others of a more public +kind, in which Justinian claimed the Sicilian fortress of Lilybaeum, +which had once belonged to the Vandals; insisted on the surrender of +some Huns, deserters from the army of Africa; and demanded redress for +the sack by the Goths of the Moesian city of Gratiana. These claims +Amalasuentha met publicly with a reply as brave and uncompromising as +her most patriotic subjects could desire, but in private, as has been +already said, she was prepared, for an adequate assurance of personal +safety, to barter away all the rights and liberties of her Italian +subjects, Roman as well as Gothic, and to allow her father's +hard-earned kingdom to sink into a mere dependency of Constantinople.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Death of Athalaric, Oct. 2, 534.</div> + +<p>Such was the position of affairs when on the 2nd October 534, little +more than a year after Cassiodorus had donned the purple of the +Praefect, Athalaric died, and by his death the whole attitude of the +parties to the negotiations was changed. The power to rule, and with +it the very power to make terms of any kind with the Emperor, was in +danger of slipping from the hands of Amalasuentha. The principle of +female sovereignty was barely accepted by any Teutonic tribe. +Evidently the Ostrogoths had not accepted it, or Amalasuentha would +have ruled as Queen in her own right instead of as Regent for her son. +In order to strengthen her position, and ensure her acceptance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> as +Sovereign by the Gothic warriors, she decided to associate with +herself, not in matrimony, for he was already married, but in regal +partnership, her cousin Theodahad, the nearest male heir of Theodoric, +and to mount the throne together with him. Previously, however, to +announcing this scheme in public, she sent for Theodahad and exacted +from him 'tremendous oaths<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a>' that if he were chosen King he would +be satisfied with the mere name of royalty, leaving her as much of the +actual substance of power as she possessed at that moment.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Amalasuentha associates Theodahad in the Sovereignty.</div> + +<p>The partnership-royalty and the oath of self-abnegation were the +desperate expedients of a woman who knew herself to have mighty +enemies among her subjects, and who felt power slipping from her +grasp. With one side of her character her new partner could +sympathise; for Theodahad, though sprung from the loins of Gothic +warriors, was a man of some literary culture, who preferred poring +over the 'Republic' of Plato to heading a charge of the Gothic +cavalry. But his acquaintance with Latin and Greek literature had done +nothing to ennoble his temper or expand his heart. A cold, hard, +avaricious soul, he had been entirely bent on adding field to field +and removing his neighbour's landmark, until the vast possessions +which he had received from the generosity of Theodoric should embrace +the whole of the great Tuscan plain. It will be seen by referring to +two letters in the following collection<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> that Theodoric himself had +twice employed the pen of Cassiodorus to rebuke the rapacity of his +nephew; and at a more recent date, since the beginning of Athalaric's +illness, Amalasuentha had been compelled by the complaints of her +Tuscan subjects to issue a commission of enquiry, which had found +Theodahad guilty of the various acts of land-robbery which had been +charged against him, and had compelled him to make restitution.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">Amalasuentha is deposed and imprisoned by Theodahad, April +30, 535.</div> + +<p>The new Queen persuaded herself, and tried to persuade her cousin, +that this ignominious sentence had in some way put the subject of it +straight with the world, and had smoothed his pathway to the throne. +She trusted to his gratitude and his tremendous oaths for her own +undisturbed position at the helm of the State, but she found before +many months of the joint reign had passed that the reed upon which she +was leaning was about to pierce her hand. Only four letters, it will +be seen, of the following collection were written by order of +Amalasuentha after the commencement of the joint reign. Soon Theodahad +felt himself strong enough to hurl from the throne the woman who had +dared to compel him to draw back the boundary of his Tuscan +<i>latifundium.</i> The relations of the three noblemen whom Amalasuentha +had put to death gathered gladly round him, eager to work out the +blood-feud; and by their help he slew many of the strongest supporters +of the Queen, and shut her up in prison in a little lonely island upon +the lake of Vulsinii. This event took place on the 30th of April, 535, +not quite seven months after the death of Athalaric<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Embassy of Peter.</div> + +<p>During all these later months there had been a perpetual flux and +reflux of diplomatic communications between Ravenna and +Constantinople. The different stages of the negotiations are marked, +apparently with clearness, by Procopius; but it is not always easy to +harmonise them with the letters published by Cassiodorus, who either +did not write, or shrank from republishing, some of the most important +letters to the Emperor. This remark applies to the missive which was +probably taken by the Senators Liberius and Opilio, who were now sent +by Theodahad to Justinian to apologise for the imprisonment of +Amalasuentha, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> to promise that she should receive no injury. +Meanwhile Peter, a rhetorician and an ex-Consul, was travelling from +Constantinople with a commission the character of which was being +constantly changed by the rapid current of events. He started with +instructions to complete the transaction with Amalasuentha as to the +surrender of Italy, and to buy from Theodahad, who was still a private +individual, his possessions in Tuscany. Soon after his departure he +met the ambassadors, who told him of the death of Athalaric and the +accession of Theodahad. On the shores of the Hadriatic he heard of +Amalasuentha's captivity. He waited for further instructions from his +master, and on his arrival at Ravenna he found that all was over. The +letter which he was to have handed to the deposed Queen, assuring her +of Justinian's protection, was already obsolete. The kinsmen of the +three nobles had been permitted or encouraged by Theodahad to end the +blood-feud bloodily. <span class="sidenote">Death of Amalasuentha.</span>They had repaired to the Lake of Vulsinii and +murdered Amalasuentha in her bath<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a>. The Byzantine ambassador sought +the presence of the King, boldly denounced his wicked deed, and +declared on the part of his master a war which would be waged without +truce or treaty till Amalasuentha was avenged. Thus began the eighteen +years' war between Justinian and the Ostrogoths.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Why did Cassiodorus continue in the service of Theodahad?</div> + +<p>It might certainly have been expected that a statesman who had been +honoured with the intimate friendship of Theodoric and his daughter, +even if unable to avenge her death, would have refused to serve in the +Cabinet of her murderer. It is accordingly with a feeling of painful +surprise that we find Cassiodorus still holding the Secretary's pen, +and writing letter after letter (they form the majority of the +documents in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +<a href="#BOOK_X">Tenth Book</a> of the 'Variae') in the name of Theodahad +and his wife Gudelina. Dangers no doubt were thickening round his +beloved Italy. He may have thought that whoever wore the Gothic crown, +Duty forbade him to quit the Secretum at Ravenna just when war with +the Empire was becoming every day more imminent. On the other hand, +the Praetorian Praefecture, the object of a life's ambition, was now +his, but had been his only for two years. It was hard to lay aside the +purple <i>mandye</i> while the first gloss was yet upon it; hard to have to +fall back into the ranks of the ordinary senators, and no longer to +receive the reverent salutations of the chiefs of the army when he +entered the hall of meeting. Whether the public good or the private +advantage swayed him most who shall say? There are times when +patriotism calls for the costliest sacrifice which a statesman can +make—the sacrifice, apparently, of his own honour. The man who has +made such a sacrifice must be content to be misjudged by his +fellow-men. Certainly, to us the one stain upon an otherwise pure +reputation seems to be found in the service, the apparently willing +service, which in the <a href="#BOOK_X">Tenth Book</a> of his letters Cassiodorus renders to +Theodahad.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Vacillation of Theodahad.</div> + +<p>Throughout the latter half of 535, Belisarius in Sicily and Mundus in +Dalmatia were warring for Justinian against Theodahad. The rhetorician +Peter, who had boldly rebuked the Gothic King for the murder of his +benefactress, and had on his master's behalf denounced a truceless war +against him, still lingered at his Court. Theodahad, who during part +of the summer and autumn of 535 seems to have been at Rome, not at +Ravenna, was more than half inclined to resume his old negotiations +with the Emperor, and either to purchase peace by sinking into the +condition of a tributary, or to sell his kingdom outright for a +revenue of £48,000 a year and a high place among the nobles of the +Empire. Pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>copius<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> gives us a vivid and detailed narrative of the +manner in which these negotiations were conducted by Theodahad, who +was perpetually wavering between arrogance and timidity; trembling at +the successes of Belisarius, elated by any victory which his generals +might win in Dalmatia; and who at length, upon receiving the tidings +of the defeat and death of Mundus, broke off the negotiations +altogether, and shut up Peter and his colleague Athanasius in prison.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Silence of the 'Variae' as to many of the negotiations +between Theodahad and Justinian.</div> + +<p>Here again, while not doubting the truth of the narrative of +Procopius, I do not find it possible exactly to fit in the letters +written by Cassiodorus for Theodahad with the various stages of the +negotiation as described by him. Especially the striking letter of the +King to the Emperor—striking by reason of its very abjectness—which +is quoted by Procopius in the sixth chapter of his First Book, appears +to be entirely unrepresented in the collection of Cassiodorus. +Evidently all this part of the 'Variae' has been severely edited by +its author, who has expunged all that seemed to reflect too great +discredit on the Sovereign whom he had once served, and has preserved +only some letters written to Justinian and Theodora by Theodahad and +his wife, vaguely praising peace, and beseeching the Imperial pair to +restore it to Italy; letters which, as it seems to me, may be applied +with about equal fitness to any movement of the busy shuttle of +diplomacy backwards and forwards between Ravenna and Constantinople.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Theodahad deposed, Witigis elected, Aug. 536.</div> + +<p>The onward march of Belisarius trampled all the combinations of +diplomatists into the dust. In the early part of July, 536, he had +succeeded in capturing the important city of Neapolis, and had begun +to threaten Rome. The Gothic warriors, disgusted at the incapacity of +their King, and probably suspecting his disloyalty to the nation, met +(August, 536) under arms upon the plain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> of Regeta<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a>, deposed +Theodahad, and elected a veteran named Witigis as his successor. +Witigis at once ordered Theodahad to be put to death, and being +himself of somewhat obscure lineage, endeavoured to strengthen his +title to the crown by marrying Matasuentha, the sister of Athalaric +and the only surviving descendant of Theodoric.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Letter on the elevation of Witigis.</div> + +<p>Whether Cassiodorus had any hand in this revolution—which was +pre-eminently a Gothic movement—we cannot tell; but certainly one of +the best specimens of his letters is that written in the name of the +new King<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a>, in which he makes Witigis thus speak, 'Universis +Gothis'—not as Theodoric had so often spoken, 'Universis Gothis et +Romanis:'</p> + +<p>'Unde Auctori nostro Christo gratias humillimâ satisfactione +referentes, indicamus parentes nostros Gothos inter procinctuales +gladios, more majorum, scuto supposito, regalem nobis contulisse, +praestante Deo, dignitatem, ut honorem arma darent, cujus opinionem +bella pepererant. Non enim in cubilis angustis, sed in campis latè +patentibus electum me esse noveritis: nec inter blandientium delicata +colloquia, sed tubis concrepantibus sum quaesitus, ut tali fremitu +concitatus desiderio virtutis ingenitae regem sibi Martium Geticus +populus inveniret.'</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Letters written in name of Witigis.</div> + +<p>We have only five letters written by Cassiodorus for Witigis (who +reigned from August, 536, to May<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a>, 540). One has been already +described. All the other four are concerned with negotiations for +peace with Justinian, and may probably be referred to the early part +of the new reign.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Share of Cassiodorus in the administration during the war.</div> + +<p>It will be seen that the letters written by Cassiodorus for the +Sovereign during the five years following the death of Athalaric are +few and somewhat unsatisfactory.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> But, on the other hand, it was just +during these years that he wrote in his own name as Praetorian +Praefect the letters which are comprised in the <a href="#BOOK_XI">Eleventh</a> and +<a href="#BOOK_XII">Twelfth</a> +Books of his collection, and which are in some respects the most +interesting of the whole series. There is a strong probability that he +was not present at the long siege of Rome (March, 537, to March, 538), +nor is it likely that he, an elderly civilian, would take much part in +any of the warlike operations that followed. Upon the whole, it seems +probable that during the greater part of this time Cassiodorus was, to +the best of his power, keeping the civil administration together by +virtue of his own authority as Praetorian Praefect, without that +constant reference to the wishes of the Sovereign which would have +been necessary under Theodoric and his daughter. Perhaps, in the +transitional state of things which then prevailed in Italy, with the +power of the Gothic sceptre broken but the sway of the Roman Caesar +not yet firmly established in its stead, men of all parties and both +nationalities were willing that as much as possible of the routine of +government should be carried on by a statesman who was Roman by birth +and culture, but who had been the trusted counsellor of Gothic Kings.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Dates of later letters.</div> + +<p>I have endeavoured as far as possible to fix the dates of these later +letters. It will be seen that we have one<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> probably belonging to +the year 536, five<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> to 537, and one<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> (possibly) to 538. These +later letters refer chiefly to the terrible famine which followed in +the train of the war, and of which Cassiodorus strenuously laboured to +mitigate the severity.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">End of Cassiodorus' official career.</div> + +<p>It is possible that the Praefect may have continued to hold office +down to the capture of Ravenna in May, 540, which made Witigis a +prisoner, and seemed to bring the Ostrogothic monarchy to an end. Upon +the whole,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> however, it is rather more probable that in the year 538 +or 539 he finally retired from public life. The dates of his letters +will show that there is nothing in them which forbids us to accept +this conclusion; and the fact, if it be a fact, that in 540, when +Belisarius, with his Secretary Procopius in his train, made his +triumphal entry into Ravenna, the late Praefect was no longer there, +but in his native Province of Bruttii, a little lessens the difficulty +of that which still remains most difficult of comprehension, the +entire omission from Procopius' History of the Gothic War of all +mention of the name of Cassiodorus.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Variae edited.</div> + +<p>The closing years of the veteran statesman's tenure of office were +years of some literary activity. It was in them that he was +collecting, and to some extent probably revising, the letters which +appear in the following collection. His motives for publishing this +monument of his official life are sufficiently set forth in the two +prefaces, one prefixed to the <a href="#BOOK_I">First Book</a> and the other to the +<a href="#BOOK_XI_P">Eleventh</a>. Much emphasis is laid on the entreaties of his friends, the +regular excuse, in the sixth century as in the nineteenth, for an +author or a politician doing the very thing which most pleases his own +vanity. A worthier reason probably existed in the author's natural +desire to vindicate his own consistency, by showing that the influence +which for more than thirty years he had wielded in the councils of the +Gothic Sovereigns had been uniformly exerted on the side of law and +order and just government, directed equally to the repression of +Teutonic barbarism and the punishment of Roman venality.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">What alterations were made in the letters.</div> + +<p>The question how far the letters which now appear in the 'Variae' +really reproduce the actual documents originally issued by Cassiodorus +is one which has been a good deal discussed by scholars, but with no +very definite result. It is, after all, a matter of conjecture; and +every student who peruses the following letters is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> entitled to form +his own conjecture—especially as to those marvellous digressions on +matters of Natural History, Moral Philosophy, and the like—whether +they were veritably included in the original letters that issued from +the Royal Secretum, and were carried over Italy by the Cursus +Publicus. My own conjecture is, that though they may have been a +little amplified and elaborated, substantially they were to be found +in those original documents. The age was pedantic and half-educated, +and had lost both its poetic inspiration and its faculty of humour; +and I fear that these marvellous letters were read by the officials to +whom they were addressed with a kind of stolid admiration, provoking +neither the smile of amusement nor the shrug of impatience which are +their rightful meed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">'Illum atque Illum.'</div> + +<p>The reader will observe that in many, in fact most of the letters, +which were meant to serve as credentials to ambassadors or commissions +to civil servants, no names are inserted, but we have instead only the +tantalising formula, 'Illum atque Illum,' which I have generally +translated, 'A and B.' This circumstance has also been much commented +upon, but without our arriving at any very definite result. All that +can be said is, that Cassiodorus must have formed his collection of +State-papers either from rough drafts in his own possession, or from +copies preserved in the public archives, and that, from whichsoever +source he drew, the names in that source had not been preserved: a +striking comment on the rhetorical unbusinesslike character of the +Royal and Imperial Chanceries of that day, in which words were deemed +of more importance than things, and the flowers of speech which were +showered upon the performer of some piece of public business were +preserved, while the name of the performer was forgotten.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Treatise 'De Animâ.'</div> + +<p>As soon as he had finished the collection of the 'Variae,' the +Praefect—again in obedience to the entreaties of his +friends—composed a short philosophic treatise on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> Nature of the +Soul ('De Animâ'). As he said, it seems an absurd thing to treat as a +stranger and an unknown quantity the very centre of our being; to seek +to understand the height of the air, the extent of the earth, the +causes of storms and earthquakes, and the nature of the wandering +winds, and yet to leave the faculty, by which we grasp all this +knowledge, itself uncomprehended<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a>. He therefore sets himself to +enquire, in twelve chapters:</p> + +<p>1. Why the Soul is called Anima?</p> + +<p>2. What is the definition of the Soul?</p> + +<p>3. What is its substantial quality?</p> + +<p>4. If it is to be believed to have any shape?</p> + +<p>5. What moral virtues it has which contribute to its glory and its +adornment?</p> + +<p>6. What are its natural virtues [or powers], given to enable it to +hold together the framework of the body?</p> + +<p>7. Concerning the origin of the Soul.</p> + +<p>8. What is its especial seat, since it appears to be in a certain +sense diffused over the whole body?</p> + +<p>9. Concerning the form and composition of the body itself.</p> + +<p>10. Sufficient signs by which we may discern what properties the souls +of sinners possess.</p> + +<p>11. Similar signs by which we may distinguish the souls of righteous +men, since we cannot see them with our bodily eyes.</p> + +<p>12. Concerning the Soul's state after death, and how it will be +affected by the general resurrection.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>The treatise ends with a prayer to Christ to preserve the body in good +health, that it may be in tune with the harmony of the soul; to give +reason the ascendancy over the flesh; and to keep the mind in happy +equipoise, neither so strong as to be puffed up with pride, nor so +languid as to fail of its proper powers.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cassiodorus retires to the cloister.</div> + +<p>The line of thought indicated by the 'De Animâ' led, in such a country +as Italy, at such a time as the Gothic War, to one inevitable end—the +cloister. It can have surprised none of the friends of Cassiodorus +when the veteran statesman announced his intention of spending the +remainder of his days in monastic retirement. He was now sixty years +of age<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a>; his wife, if he had ever married, was probably by this +time dead; and we hear nothing of any children for whose sake he need +have remained longer in the world. The Emperor would probably have +received him gladly into his service, but Cassiodorus had now done +with politics. The dream of his life had been to build up an +independent Italian State, strong with the strength of the Goths, and +wise with the wisdom of the Romans. That dream was now scattered to +the winds. Providence had made it plain that not by this bridge was +civilisation to pass over from the Old World to the New. Cassiodorus +accepted the decision, and consecrated his old age to religious +meditation and to a work even more important than any of his political +labours (though one which must be lightly touched on here), the +preservation by the pens of monastic copyists of the Christian +Scriptures, and of the great works of classical antiquity.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">He founds two monasteries at Scyllacium.</div> + +<p>It was to his ancestral Scyllacium that Cassiodorus retired; and here, +between the mountains of Aspromonte and the sea, he founded his +monastery, or, more accurately, his two monasteries, one for the +austere hermit, and the other for the less aspiring coenobite. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +former was situated among the 'sweet recesses of Mons Castellius<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a>,' +the latter among the well-watered gardens which took their name from +the Vivaria (fish-ponds) that Cassiodorus had constructed among them +in connection with the river Pellena<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a>. Baths, too, especially +intended for the use of the sick, had been prepared on the banks of +the stream<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a>. Here in monastic simplicity, but not without comfort, +Cassiodorus ordained that his monks should dwell. The Rule of the +order—in so far as it had a written Rule—was drawn from the writings +of Cassian, the great founder of Western Monachism, who had died about +a century before the Vivarian monastery was founded. In commending the +writings of Cassian to the study of his monks, Cassiodorus warns them +against the bias shown in them towards the Semi-Pelagian heresy, and +desires them to choose the good in those treatises and to refuse the +evil. Whatever the reason may have been, it seems clear that +Cassiodorus did not make the Rule of Benedict the law of his new +monastery; and indeed, strange as the omission may appear, there is, I +believe, no allusion to that great contemporary Saint, the 'Father of +Monks,' in the whole of his writings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Probably never Abbot.</div> + +<p>Though the founder and patron of these two monasteries, it seems +probable that Cassiodorus never formally assumed the office of Abbot +in either of them<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a>. He had probably still some duties to perform as +a large landholder in Bruttii; but besides these he had also work to +do for 'his monks' (as he affectionately called them)—work of a +literary and educational kind—which perhaps made it undesirable that +he should be burdened with the petty daily routine of an Abbot's +duties. Some years before, he had endeavoured to induce Pope +Agapetus<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> to found a School of Theology and Christian Literature at +Rome, in imitation of the schools of Alexandria and Nisibis<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a>. The +clash of arms consequent on the invasion of Italy by Belisarius had +prevented the fulfilment of this scheme; but the aged statesman now +determined to devote the remainder of his days to the accomplishment +of the same purpose in connection with the Vivarian convent.</p> + +<p>In the earliest days of Monasticism men like the hermits of the +Thebaid had thought of little else but mortifying the flesh by vigils +and fastings, and withdrawing from all human voices to enjoy an +ecstatic communion with their Maker. The life in common of monks like +those of Nitria and Lerinum had chastened some of the extravagances of +these lonely enthusiasts while still keeping their main ends in view.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +St. Jerome, in his cell at Bethlehem, had shown what great results +might be obtained for the Church of all ages from the patient literary +toil of one religious recluse. And finally St. Benedict, in that Rule +of his which was to be the code of monastic Christendom for centuries, +had sanctified Work as one of the most effectual preservatives of the +bodily and spiritual health of the ascetic, bringing together +<i>Laborare</i> and <i>Orare</i> in friendly union, and proclaiming anew for the +monk as for the untonsured citizen the primal ordinance, 'In the sweat +of thy brow thou shalt eat bread.'</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The father of literary Monasticism.</div> + +<p>The great merit of Cassiodorus, that which shows his deep insight into +the needs of his age and entitles him to the eternal gratitude of +Europe, was his determination to utilise the vast leisure of the +convent for the preservation of Divine and human learning and for its +transmission to after ages. In the miserable circumstances of the +times Theology was in danger of becoming brutified and ignorant; the +great treasures of Pagan literature were no longer being perpetuated +by the slaves who had once acted as <i>librarii</i> to the Greek or Roman +noble; and with every movement of the Ostrogothic armies, or of the +yet more savage hordes who served under the Imperial standard, with +every sacked city and with every ravaged villa, some Codex, it may be +such as we should now deem priceless and irreplaceable, was perishing. +This being the state of Italy, Cassiodorus resolved to make of his +monastery not merely a place for pious meditation, but a theological +school and a manufactory for the multiplication of copies, not only of +the Scriptures, not only of the Fathers and the commentators on +Scripture, but also of the great writers of pagan antiquity. In the +chapter<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> which he devotes to the description of the <i>scriptorium</i> +of his monastery he describes, with an enthusiasm which must have been +con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>tagious, the noble work done there by the <i>antiquarius</i>: 'He may +fill his mind with the Scriptures while copying the sayings of the +Lord. With his fingers he gives life to men and arms them against the +wiles of the devil. So many wounds does Satan receive as the +<i>antiquarius</i> copies words of Christ. What he writes in his cell will +be scattered far and wide over distant Provinces. Man multiplies the +heavenly words, and by a striking figure—if I may dare so to +speak—the three fingers of his hand express the utterances of the +Holy Trinity. The fast-travelling reed writes down the holy words, and +thus avenges the malice of the Wicked One, who caused a reed to be +used to smite the head of the Saviour.'</p> + +<p>It is true that the passage here quoted refers only to the work of the +copyist of the Christian Scriptures, but it could easily be shown from +other passages<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> that the literary activity of the monastery was not +confined to these, but was also employed on secular literature.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Bookbinding.</div> + +<p>Cassiodorus then goes on to describe the care which he has taken for +the binding of the sacred Codices in covers worthy of the beauty of +their contents, following the example of the householder in the +parable, who provided wedding garments for all who came to the supper +of his son. One pattern volume had been prepared, containing samples +of various sorts of binding, that the amanuensis might choose that +which pleased him best. <span class="sidenote">Mechanical appliances for the convent.</span>He had moreover provided, to help the nightly +toil of the <i>scriptorium</i>, mechanical lamps of some wonderful +construction, which appears to have made them self-trimming, and to +have ensured their having always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> a sufficient supply of oil<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a>. +Sun-dials also for bright days, and water-clocks for cloudy days and +the night-season, regulated their labour, and admonished them when it +was time to unclose the three fingers, to lay down the reed, and to +assemble with their brethren in the chapel of the convent for psalmody +and prayer.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Relation to the Benedictine Rule.</div> + +<p>Upon the whole, though the idea of using the convent as a place of +literary toil and theological training was not absolutely new, +Cassiodorus seems certainly entitled to the praise of having first +realised it systematically and on an extensive scale. It was entirely +in harmony with the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict, if it was not +formally ordained in that document. At a very early date in the +history of their order, the Benedictines, influenced probably by the +example of the monastery of Vivaria, commenced that long series of +services to the cause of literature which they have never wholly +intermitted. Thus, instead of accepting the obsolete formula for which +some scholars in the last age contended, 'Cassiodorus was a +Benedictine,' we should perhaps be rather justified in maintaining +that Benedict, or at least his immediate followers, were +Cassiodorians.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cassiodorus as a transcriber of the Scriptures.</div> + +<p>In order to set an example of literary diligence to his monks, and to +be able to sympathise with the difficulties of an amanuensis, +Cassiodorus himself transcribed the Psalter, the Prophets, and the +Epistles<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a>, no doubt from the translation of Jerome. This is not the +place<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> for enlarging on the merits of Cassiodorus as a custodian and +transmitter of the sacred text. They were no doubt considerable; and +the rules which he gives to his monks, to guide them in the work of +transcription, show that he belonged to the Conservative school of +critics, and was anxious to guard against hasty emendations of the +text, however plausible. Practically, however, his MSS. of the Latin +Scriptures, showing the Itala and the Vulgate in parallel columns, +seem to have been answerable for some of that confusion between the +two versions which to some extent spoiled the text of Jerome, without +preserving to us in its purity the interesting translation of the +earlier Church.</p> + +<p>Besides his labours as a transcriber, Cassiodorus, both as an original +author and a compiler, used his pen for the instruction of his +fellow-inmates at Vivarium.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Commentary on the Psalms.</div> + +<p>(1) He began and slowly completed a Commentary on the Psalms. This +very diffuse performance (which occupies more than five hundred +closely printed pages in Migne's edition) displays, in the opinion of +those who have carefully studied it<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a>, a large amount of +acquaintance with the writings of the Fathers, and was probably looked +upon as a marvel of the human intellect by the Vivarian monks, for +whose benefit it was composed, and to whom it revealed, in the Psalms +which they were daily and nightly intoning, refutations of all the +heresies that had ever racked the Church, and the rudiments of all the +sciences that flourished in the world. It is impossible now for this +or any future age to do aught but lament over so much wasted +ingenuity, when we find the author maintaining that the whole of the +one hundred and fifty Psalms were written by King David, and that +Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun have only a mystical meaning; that the +first seventy represent the Old Testament, and the last eighty the +New, because we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> on the eighth +day of the week, and so forth. A closer study of the book might +perhaps discover in it some genuine additions to the sum of human +knowledge; but it is difficult to repress a murmur at the misdirected +industry which has preserved to us the whole of this ponderous +futility, while it has allowed the History of the Goths to perish.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Commentary on the Epistles.</div> + +<p>(2) The 'Complexiones in Epistolas Apostolorum' (first published by +Maffei in 1721, from a MS. discovered by him at Verona) have at least +the merit of being far shorter than the Commentary on the Psalms. +Perhaps the only points of interest in them, even for theological +scholars, are that Cassiodorus evidently attributes the Epistle to the +Hebrews without hesitation to the Apostle Paul, and that he notices +the celebrated passage concerning the Three Heavenly Witnesses (1 John +v. 7) in a way which seems to imply that he found that passage in the +text of the Vulgate, though on examination his language is seen to be +consistent with the theory that these words are a gloss added by the +commentator himself.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Historia Tripartita.</div> + +<p>(3) In order to supply the want of any full Church History in the +Latin tongue, a want which was probably felt not only by his own monks +but throughout the Churches of the West, Cassiodorus induced his +friend Epiphanius to translate from the Greek the ecclesiastical +histories of Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret, and then himself fused +these three narratives into one, the well-known 'Historia Tripartita,' +which contains the story of the Church's fortunes from the accession +of Constantine to the thirty-second year of the reign of Theodosius II +(306-439). The fact that the numerous mistranslations of Epiphanius +have passed uncorrected, probably indicates that Cassiodorus' own +knowledge of Greek was but slight, and that he depended on his +coadjutor entirely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> for this part of the work. The 'Historia +Tripartita' has probably had a larger circulation than any other of +its author's works; but Cassiodorus himself thought so little of his +share in it, that he does not include it in the list of his writings +prefixed to the treatise 'De Orthographiâ.' And, in fact, the +inartistic way in which the three narratives are soldered together, +rather than recast into one symmetrical and harmonious whole, obliges +us to admit that Cassiodorus' work at this book was little more than +mechanical, and entitles him to scarcely any other praise than that of +industry.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Institutiones Divinarum et Humanarum Lectionum.</div> + +<p>(4) Of a different quality, though still partaking somewhat of the +nature of a compilation, was his chief educational treatise, the +'Institutiones Divinarum et Humanarum Lectionum<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a>.' About the year +543, some three or four years after his retirement from public life, +while he was slowly ploughing his way through the Commentary on the +Psalms, twenty of which he had already interpreted, he seems to have +laid it aside for a time in order to devote himself to this work, +which aimed more at instruction than at religious edification. In the +outset of this book he describes that unsuccessful attempt of his, to +which allusion has already been made, for the establishment of a +theological school in Rome, and continues that, 'as the rage of war +and the turbulence of strife in the Italian realm<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> had prevented +the fulfilment of this desire, he felt himself constrained by Divine +charity to write for his monks' behoof these <i>libri introductorii</i>, in +which, after the manner of a teacher, he would open to them the +series<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> of the books of Holy Scripture, and would give them a +compendious acquaintance with secular literature.' As the book is not +written for the learned, he undertakes to abstain from 'affectata +eloquentia,' and he does in the main keep his promise. The simple, +straightforward style of the book, which occasionally rises into real +and 'unaffected eloquence' where the subject inspires him to make an +appeal to the hearts of his readers, presents a striking and +favourable contrast to the obscure and turgid phraseology in which the +perverted taste of the times caused him generally to shroud his +meaning<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a>.</p> + +<p>In the first part of this treatise (commonly called the 'De +Institutione Divinarum Litterarum') Cassiodorus briefly describes the +contents of the nine Codices<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> which made up the Scripture of the +Old and New Testaments, and mentions the names of the chief +commentators upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> each. After some important cautions as to the +preservation of the purity of the sacred text and abstinence from +plausible emendations, the author proceeds to enumerate the Christian +historians—Eusebius, Orosius, Marcellinus, Prosper, and others<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a>; +and he then slightly sketches the characters of some of the principal +Fathers—Hilary, Cyprian, Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine. This part of +the work contains an interesting allusion to 'Dionysius Monachus, +Scytha natione, sed moribus omnino Romanus,' of whom Cassiodorus +speaks as a colleague in his literary enterprises. This is the +so-called Dionysius Exiguus, who fixed (erroneously, as it now +appears) the era of the birth of Christ, and whose system of +chronology founded on this event has been accepted by all the nations +of Christendom. At the conclusion of this the first part of the +treatise we find some general remarks on the nature of the monastic +life, and some pictures of Vivarium and its neighbourhood, to which we +are indebted for some of the information contained in the preceding +pages. The book ends with a prayer, and contains thirty-three +chapters, the same number, remarks Cassiodorus (who is addicted to +this kind of moralising on numbers) that was reached by the years of +the life of Christ on earth.</p> + +<p>The second part of the treatise, commonly called 'De Artibus ac +Disciplinis Liberalium Litterarum,' contains so much as the author +thought that every monk should be acquainted with concerning the four +liberal arts—Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Mathematics—the last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> of +which is divided into the four 'disciplines' of Arithmetic, Geometry, +Music, and Astronomy. As illustrating the relative importance of these +sciences (as we call them) as apprehended by Cassiodorus, it is +curious to observe that while Geometry and Astronomy occupy only about +one page, and Arithmetic and Music two pages each, Logic takes up +eighteen pages, Grammar two, and Rhetoric six.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">De Orthographiâ.</div> + +<p>(5) Some other works, chiefly of a grammatical kind<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a>, which have +now perished, together with the exegetical treatises already named, +occupied the leisure hours of the old age of Cassiodorus. At length, +in the ninety-third year of his age, the veteran statesman, nobleman, +and judge crowned his life of useful service by writing for his +beloved monks his still extant treatise 'De Orthographiâ<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a>.' He +tells us that the monks suddenly exclaimed, 'What doth it profit us to +study either those works which the ancients have composed or those +which your Wisdom has caused to be added to the list, if we are +altogether ignorant how we ought to write these things, and on the +other hand cannot understand and accurately represent in speech the +words which we find written?' In other words, 'Give us a treatise on +spelling.' The venerable teacher gladly complied with the request, and +compiled from twelve grammarians<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a> various rules, the observance of +which would prevent the student from committing the usual faults in +spelling.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> It is no doubt true<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> that this work is a mere collection +of excerpts from other authors, not arranged on any systematic +principle. Still, even as such a collection, it does great credit to +the industry of a nonagenarian; and it seems to me that there is much +in it which a person who was studying the transition of Latin into the +Lingua Volgare might peruse with profit. To an epigraphist especially +it must be interesting to see what were the mistakes which an +imperfectly educated Italian in that age was most likely to commit. +The confusion between <i>b</i> and <i>v</i> was evidently a great source of +error, and their nice discrimination, to which Cassiodorus devotes +four chapters, a very <i>crux</i> of accurate scholarship. We see also from +a passage in the 'De Institutione Divinarum Litterarum<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a>' that the +practice of assimilating the last letter of the prefix in compound +words, like i<i>l</i>luminatio, i<i>r</i>risio, i<i>m</i>probus, though it had been +introduced, was as yet hardly universal; and similarly that the monks +required to be instructed to write qui<i>c</i>quam for euphony, instead of +qui<i>d</i>quam.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Death of Cassiodorus, 575 (?).</div> + +<p>The treatise 'De Orthographiâ' was the last product, as far as we +know, of the industrious brain of Cassiodorus. Two years after its +composition the aged statesman and scholar, in the ninety-sixth year +of his age, entered into his well-earned rest<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a>. The death of +Cassiodorus occurred (as I believe) in the year 575, three years +before the death of the Emperor Justin II, nephew and successor of +Justinian. The period covered by his life had been one of vast +changes. Born when the Kingdom of Odovacar was only four years old, +he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> had as a young man seen that Kingdom overthrown by the arms of +Theodoric; he had sat by the cradle of the Ostrogothic monarchy, and +mourned over its grave; had seen the eunuch Narses supreme vicegerent +of the Emperor; had heard the avalanche of the Lombard invasion +thunder over Italy, and had outlived even the Lombard invader Alboin. +Pope Leo, the tamer of Attila and the hero of Chalcedon, had not been +dead twenty years when Cassiodorus was born. Pope Gregory the Great, +the converter of England, was within fifteen years of his accession to +the Pontificate when Cassiodorus died. The first great schism between +the Eastern and Western Churches was begun in his boyhood and ended +before he had reached old age. He saw the irretrievable ruin of Rome, +such as Augustus and Trajan had known her; the extinction of the Roman +Senate; the practical abolition of the Consulate; the close of the +schools of philosophy at Athens.</p> + +<p>Reverting to the line of thought with which this chapter opened, if +one were asked to specify any single life which more than another was +in contact both with the Ancient World and the Modern, none could be +more suitably named than the life of Cassiodorus.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> +<h3><a name="NOTE_ON_THE_TOPOGRAPHY_OF_SQUILLACE" id="NOTE_ON_THE_TOPOGRAPHY_OF_SQUILLACE"></a>NOTE ON THE TOPOGRAPHY OF SQUILLACE.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> chief conclusions which Mr. Evans came to after his two days' +study of the country about Squillace are these:—</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Position of Scylacium.</div> + +<p>I. The <b><a href="#err3">Scylacium</a></b> or Scolacium of Roman times, the city of Cassiodorus, +is not to be looked for at the modern Squillace, but at the place +called Roccella in the Italian military map, which Lenormant and Evans +know as <i>La Roccelletta del Vescovo di Squillace</i>.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"> </p> + +<p style="text-align: center"> +<img src="images/image01.png" width="287" height="500" alt="map" /></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><a href="images/image01b.png">[Enlarge]</a></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"> </p> + +<p>This place, which is about ten kilometres north-east of modern +Squillace, is on a little hill immediately overhanging the sea, while +Squillace is on a spur of the Apennines three or four miles distant +from the sea. Mr. Evans' chief reasons for identifying Roccella with +Scylacium are (1) its position, 'hanging like a cluster of grapes on +hills not so high as to make the ascent of them a weariness, but high +enough to command a delightful prospect over land and sea.' This +description by Cassiodorus exactly suits Roccella, but does not suit +Squillace, which is at the top of a conical hill, and is reached only +by a very toilsome ascent. 'With its gradual southern and eastern +slope and its freedom from overlooking heights (different in this +respect from Squillace),' says Mr. Evans, 'Roccella was emphatically, +as Cassiodorus describes it, "a city of the sun."'</p> + +<p>(2) Its ruins. While no remains of a pre-mediaeval time have been +discovered at Squillace, there is still standing at Roccella the shell +of a splendid basilica, of which Mr. Evans has taken some plans and +sketches, but which seems to have strangely escaped the notice of most +preceding travellers. The total length of this building is 94 paces, +the width of the nave 30, the extreme width of the transept 54. It has +three fine apses at the eastern end, and is built in the form of a +Latin cross. On either side of the nave was an exterior arcade, which +apparently consisted originally of eleven window arches, six of them +not being for the transmission of light. 'Altogether,' says Mr. Evans, +'this church, even in its dilapidated state, is one of the finest +monuments of the kind anywhere existing. We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> should have to go to +Rome, to Ravenna, or to Thessalonica, to find its parallel; but I +doubt whether, even at any of those places, there is to be seen a +basilica with such fine exterior arcading. It is a great tribute to +the strength of the original fabric that so much should have survived +the repeated shocks of earthquake that have desolated Calabria, and +scarcely left one stone upon another of her ancient cities.'</p> + +<p>After a careful examination of the architectural peculiarities of this +basilica, Mr. Evans is disposed to fix its erection somewhere about +the time of the Emperor Justinian.</p> + +<p>In addition to this fine building there are at Roccella the ruins of +two smaller late Roman churches, mausolea, and endless foundations of +buildings which must have formed very extensive suburbs.</p> + +<p>More important than all, the massive walls of a considerable city can +still be traced for nearly a mile in two parallel lines, with the +transverse wall which unites them. Certainly all these indications +seem to point to the existence at this spot of a great provincial city +of the Empire, and to make Mr. Evans' conjecture more probable than +that of M. Lenormant, who identified the ruins at Roccella with those +of Castra Hannibalis, the seaport of Scylacium. It would seem +probable, if Mr. Evans' theory be correct, that the city may have been +removed to its present site in the early middle ages, in order to +guard it against the incursions of the Saracens.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Vivarian Monastery.</div> + +<p>II. As to the situation of the <i>Vivarian Monastery</i> Mr. Evans comes to +nearly the same conclusion as M. Lenormant. Both place it on the +promontory of Squillace (eastward of Staletti), and, as Mr. Evans +observes, 'only such a position can be reconciled, on the one hand, +with the presence of an abundant stream and rich Campagna, on the +other with the neighbourhood of caves and grottoes on the sea-shore.' +But while M. Lenormant places it at a place called Coscia, almost +immediately to the north of and under Staletti, Mr. Evans pleads for +the site now occupied by the Church of S. Maria del Mare, on the cliff +top, very near the sea, and about three kilometres south of Staletti. +This church is itself of later date than Cassiodorus, and probably +formed part of the work of restoration undertaken by Nicephorus Phocas +in the Tenth Century; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> there are signs of its having formerly +joined on to a monastery, and some of the work about it looks as if +materials taken from the Cassiodorian edifice had been used in the +work of reconstruction.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Fons Arethusae.</div> + +<p>III. The <i>Fountain of Arethusa</i> may possibly, according to Mr. Evans, +be identified with the Fontana della Panaghia, a small fountain by the +sea-shore at the south end of a little bay under the promontory of S. +Gregorio. The so-called Fontana di Cassiodoro, near Coscia, has +received its name and its present appearance in modern times, and is +much too far from the sea to be the Fountain of Arethusa.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>THE ANECDOTON HOLDERI.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A few</span> pages must be devoted to the MS. bearing the somewhat uncouth +title of 'Anecdoton Holderi,' because it is the most recently opened +source of information as to the life and works of Cassiodorus, and one +which, if genuine, settles some questions which have been long and +vigorously debated among scholars.</p> + +<p>My information on the subject is derived from a pamphlet of 79 pages +by Hermann Usener, printed at Bonn in 1877, and bearing the title +'Anecdoton Holderi: Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte Roms in Ostgothischer +Zeit.' I am indebted to Mr. Bywater, of Exeter College, Oxford, for my +introduction to this pamphlet, which, while strikingly confirming some +conclusions which I had come to from my own independent study of the +'Variae,' has been of the greatest possible service to me in studying +the lives of Cassiodorus and Boethius.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Description of the MS.</div> + +<p>The 'Anecdoton' (which loses its right to that name by Usener's +publication of it) was discovered by Alfred Holder in a MS. known as +Codex Augiensis, No. CVL, which came from the Monastery of Reichenau +and is now in the Grand-Ducal Library at Carlsruhe. The monks of the +fertile island of Reichenau (Augia Dives), in the Lake of Constance, +were celebrated in the ninth and tenth centuries for their zeal in the +collection and transcription of manuscripts. The well-known Codex +Augiensis (an uncial MS. of the Greek text of the New Testament, with +the Vulgate version in parallel columns)<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> is referred by +palaeographers to the ninth century<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a>. The Codex Augiensis with +which we are now concerned, and which is a copy of the 'Institutiones +Humanarum Rerum' of Cassiodorus, is believed to have been written in +the next succeeding century. On the last page of this MS. Holder +discovered the fragment—not properly belonging to the +'Institutiones'—to which he has given his name, and which is as +follows<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a>:—</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Contents of the Anecdoton Holderi.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Excerpta ex libello Cassiodori Senatoris monachi servi Dei, +ex-Patricio, ex-Consule Ordinario Quaestore et Magistro +Officiorum, quem scripsit ad Rufum Petronium Nicomachum +ex-Consule Ordinario Patricium et Magistrum Officiorum. Ordo +generis Cassiodororum<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a>: qui scriptores exstiterint ex +eorum progenie vel ex civibus<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a> eruditis.</p></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Symmachus Patricius et Consul Ordinarius, vir philosophus, +qui antiqui Catonis fuit novellus imitator, sed virtutes +veterum sanctissima religione transcendit. Dixit sententiam +pro allecticiis in Senatu, parentesque suos imitatus +historiam quoque Romanam septem libris edidit.</p> + +<p>'Boethius dignitatibus summis excelluit. Utraque lingua +peritissimus orator fuit. Qui regem Theodorichum in Senatu +pro Consulatu filiorum luculenta oratione laudavit. Scripsit +librum de Sancta Trinitate et capita quaedam dogmatica et +librum contra Nestorium. Condidit et carmen bucolicum. Sed +in opere artis logicae, id est dialecticae, trans<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>ferendo ac +mathematicis disciplinis talis fuit ut antiquos auctores aut +aequiperaret aut vinceret.</p> + +<p>'Cassiodorus Senator, vir eruditissimus et multis +dignitatibus pollens. Juvenis adeo, dum patris Cassiodori +Patricii et Praefecti Praetorii Consiliarius fieret et +laudes Theodorichi regis Gothorum facundissime recitasset, +ab eo Quaestor est factus. Patricius et Consul Ordinarius, +postmodum dehinc Magister Officiorum [et praefuisset +formulas dictionum, quas in duodecim libris ordinavit et +Variarum titulum superposuit] scripsit praecipiente +Theodoricho rege historiam Gothicam, originem eorum et loca +moresque XII libris annuntians.'</p></div> + +<p>This memorandum, for it is hardly more, is a vestige, and the only +vestige now remaining, of a short tract by Cassiodorus on the literary +history of his family and kinsmen. The 'Excerpta' have been made by +some later hand—perhaps that of a monk in the Vivarian convent. To +him undoubtedly we owe the words 'monachi servi Dei' as a description +of Cassiodorus; probably also the 'ex-Patricio,' which is perhaps an +incorrect designation. 'Vir eruditissimus,' in the last paragraph, is +probably due to the same hand, as, with all his willingness to do +justice to his own good qualities, Cassiodorus would hardly have +spoken thus of himself in a work avowedly proceeding from his own pen. +The clause which is placed in brackets [et ... superposuit] is +probably also due to the copyist, anxious to supply what he deemed the +imperfections of his memorandum. In short, it must be admitted that +the fragment cannot consist of the very words of Cassiodorus in +however abbreviated a form. Still it contains so much that is +valuable, and that could hardly have been invented by any writer of a +post-Cassiodorian age, that it is well worthy of the careful and, so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +to speak, microscopical examination to which it has been subjected by +Usener.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Date of the fragment.</div> + +<p>The work from which these 'Excerpta' are taken was composed, according +to Usener, in the year 522. This is proved by the facts that the +receiver of the letter is spoken of as Magister Officiorum, a post +which he apparently held from Sept. 1, 521, to Sept. 1, 522; and that +the Consulship of the two sons of Boethius, which began on Jan. 1, +522, is also referred to. <span class="sidenote">Persons to whom addressed.</span>The name of the person to whom the letter is +addressed is given as Rufius Petronius Nicomachus. Usener, however, +shows good reason for thinking that his final name, the name by which +he was known in the consular lists, is omitted, and that his full +designation was Rufius Petronius Nicomachus Cethegus, Consul in 504, +Magister Officiorum (as above stated) in 521-522, and Patrician. He +was probably the same Cethegus whom Procopius mentions<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> as +Princeps Senatus, and as withdrawing from Rome to Centumcellae in the +year 545 because he was accused of treachery to the Imperial +cause<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Its object.</div> + +<p>The object of the little treatise referred to evidently was to give an +account of those members of the family to which Cassiodorus belonged +who had distinguished themselves in literature. The words 'Ex genere +Cassiodororum' are perhaps a gloss of the transcribers. At least it +does not appear that they would correctly describe the descent of +Symmachus and Boethius, though they were relations of Cassiodorus, +being de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>scended from or allied to the great house of the Aurelii from +which he also sprang. Probably several other names may have been +noticed in the original treatise, but the only three as to which the +'Anecdoton' informs us are the three as to whom information is most +acceptable—Symmachus, Boethius, and Cassiodorus himself.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Information as to life of Symmachus.</div> + +<p>I. The name of Q. Aurelius Memmius <i>Symmachus</i> was already known to us +as that of the friend, guardian, and father-in-law of Boethius, and +his fellow-sufferer from the outburst of suspicious rage which +disgraced the last years of Theodoric. That he was Consul in 485 +(under the dominion of Odovacar), and that he had at the time of his +fall attained the honoured position of Father of the Senate<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a>, we +also know from the 'Consular Fasti' and the 'Anonymus Valesii.' This +extract tells us that he had attained the rank of Patricius, which may +perhaps have been bestowed upon him when he laid down the Consulship. +He was 'a philosopher, and a modern imitator of the ancient Cato; but +surpassed the virtues of the men of old by [his devotion to] our most +holy religion.' This sentence quite accords with all that we hear of +the character of Symmachus from our other authorities—the 'Anonymus +Valesii,' Procopius, and Boethius. The blending of old Roman gravity +and Christian piety in such a man's disposition is happily indicated +in the words before us. It would be an interesting commentary upon +them if we were to contrast the career of the Christian Symmachus, who +suffered in some sense as a martyr for the Nicene Creed under +Theodoric, with that of his ancestor the Pagan Symmachus, who, 143 +years before, incurred the anger of Gratian by his protests against +the removal of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> Altar of Victory from the Senate House, and the +curtailment of the grant to the Vestal Virgins.</p> + +<p>The Symmachus with whom we are now concerned was also an orator; and +we learn from this extract that he delivered a speech, evidently of +some importance, in the Senate, 'pro allecticiis.' There seems much +probability in Usener's contention that these 'allecticii' were men +who had been 'allecti,' or admitted by co-optation into the Senate +during the reign of Odovacar, and whom, on the downfall of that ruler, +it had been proposed to strip of their recently acquired dignity—a +proposal which seems to have been successfully resisted by Symmachus +and his friends.</p> + +<p>Lastly, we learn that Symmachus, 'in imitation of his ancestors,' put +forth a Roman History in seven books. The expression for ancestors +(parentes) here used is thought by Usener to refer chiefly to Virius +Nicomachus Flavianus (Consul in 394<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a>), whose granddaughter married +Q. Fabius Memmius Symmachus, and was the grandmother of our Symmachus. +This Flavianus, who was in his time one of the chief leaders of the +heathen party in the Senate, is spoken of in one inscription as +'historicus disertissimus;' and in another, mention is made of the +fact that he dedicated his annals to Theodosius.</p> + +<p>Whether the elder Symmachus, the Pagan champion, was a historian as +well as an orator is a matter about which there is a good deal of +doubt. Jordanes twice quotes 'The History of Symmachus,' once as to +the elevation of the Emperor Maximin, and once as to his death<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a>. +Usener thinks that the 'Anecdoton Holderi' authorises us henceforward +to assign these quotations without doubt to the younger, Christian +Symmachus,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> not to his Pagan ancestor. To me the allusion to +<i>parentes</i> (in the plural), whose industry as historians the Symmachus +there spoken of imitated, seems to make it at least as probable that +the earlier, not the later member of the family composed the history +which is here quoted by Jordanes.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Information as to life of Boethius.</div> + +<p>II. We now pass on to consider the information furnished by this +fragment as to the illustrious son-in-law of Symmachus, Anicius +Manlius Severinus <i>Boethius</i>. Of the facts of his life we had already +pretty full information, from the autobiographical sections of the +'Consolation of Philosophy' and other sources. He does not indeed +mention the exact year of his birth, but the allusion to 'untimely +gray hairs' which he makes in that work, written in 523 or 524, +together with other indications<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a> as to his age, entitle us to fix +it at about 480, certainly not earlier than that year. The death of +his father (who was Consul in 487) occurred while he was still a +child. Symmachus, as has been already said, was the guardian of his +youth and the friend of his manhood, and gave him his daughter +Rusticiana to wife. That he received the honour of the Consulship in +510 we know from the 'Fasti Consulares;' but it is perplexing to find +him even before that year spoken of<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a> as Patricius, since this +honour was generally bestowed only on those who had already sat in the +curule chair of the Consul<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a>. The high consideration in which he +was held at the Court of Theodoric, and the value placed upon his +scientific attainments, are sufficiently proved by the letters in the +following collec<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>tion, especially by those in which he is consulted +about the frauds committed by the officers of the Mint, about the +water-clock which is to be sent to Gundobad King of the Burgundians, +and the harper who is to be provided for the King of the Franks<a name="FNanchor_108_108" id="FNanchor_108_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a>. +In the year 522 his two sons, Symmachus and Boethius, though they had +but just attained to man's estate, received the honour of the +Consulship, upon which occasion the proud and happy father pronounced +a panegyric upon Theodoric before the assembled Senate. Some of these +facts in the life of Boethius are referred to in the extract before +us, which, as was before said, appears to be taken from a treatise +composed in this same year 522, the year of the Consulship of the +young Boethii. Of their father's investiture with the office of +<i>Magister Officiorum</i> on September 1, 522, of his sudden fall from the +royal favour, of the charge of treason which was preferred against him +before the end of that year, of his imprisonment during 523 and +execution (probably in the early part of 524), we have of course no +trace in this extract; and the fact that we have none is a strong +argument for the genuineness and contemporary character of the +treatise from which it is taken.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His theological treatises.</div> + +<p>So far, then, we have in the 'Anecdoton Holderi' only a somewhat +meagre reiteration of facts already known to us. But when we come to +the statement of the literary labours of Boethius the case is entirely +altered. It is well known that in the Middle Ages certain treatises on +disputed points of Christian theology were attributed to him as their +author. They are:—</p> + +<p>1. A treatise 'De Sancta Trinitate.'</p> + +<p>2. 'Ad Johannem Diaconum: Utrum Pater et Filius et Spiritus Sanctus de +Divinitate substantialiter praedicentur.'</p> + +<p>3. 'Ad eundem: Quomodo substantiae in eo quod sint bonae sint cum non +sint substantialia bona.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>4. 'De Fide Catholica.'</p> + +<p>5. 'Contra Eutychen et Nestorium.'</p> + +<p>It may be said at once that in the earlier MSS. the fourth treatise is +not attributed to Boethius. It seems to have been included with the +others by some mistake, and I shall therefore in the following remarks +assume that it is not his, and shall confine my attention to the first +three and the fifth.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Difficulty as to religious position of Boethius.</div> + +<p>Even as to these, notwithstanding the nearly unanimous voice of the +early Middle Ages (as represented by MSS. of the Ninth, Tenth, and +Eleventh Centuries) assigning them to Boethius as their author, +scholars, especially recent scholars, have felt the gravest possible +doubts of their being really his, doubts which have of late ripened +into an almost complete certainty that he was not their author. The +difficulty does not arise from anything in the diction or in the +theology which points to a later age as the time of their composition, +but from the startling contrast which they present to the religious +atmosphere of the 'Consolation of Philosophy.' Here, in these +theological treatises, we have the author entering cheerfully into the +most abstruse points of the controversy concerning the Nature of +Christ, without apparently one wavering thought as to the Deity of the +Son of Mary. There, in the 'Consolation,' a book written in prison and +in disgrace, with death at the executioner's hands impending over +him—a book in which above all others we should have expected a man +possessing the Christian faith to dwell upon the promises of +Christianity—the name of Christ is never once mentioned, the tone, +though religious and reverential, is that of a Theist only; and from +beginning to end, except one or two sentences in which an obscure +allusion may possibly be detected to the Christian revelation, there +is nothing which might not have been written by a Greek philosopher +ignorant of the very name of Christianity. Of the various attempts +which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> have been made to solve this riddle perhaps the most ingenious +is that of M. Charles Jourdain, who, in a monograph devoted to the +subject<a name="FNanchor_109_109" id="FNanchor_109_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a>, seeks to prove that the author of the theological +treatises referred to was a certain Boethus, an African Bishop of the +Byzacene Province, who was banished to Sardinia about the year 504 by +the Vandal King Thrasamond.</p> + +<p>Not thus, however, as it now appears, is the knot to be cut. And after +all, M. Jourdain, in arguing, as he seems disposed to argue, against +any external profession of Christianity on the part of Boethius, +introduces contradictions greater than any that his theory would +remove. To any person acquainted with the thoughts and words of the +little coterie of Roman nobles to which Boethius belonged, it will +seem absolutely impossible that the son-in-law of Symmachus, the +receiver of the praises of Ennodius and Cassiodorus, should have been +a professed votary of the old Paganism. It is not the theological +treatises coming from a man in his position which are hard to account +for; it is the apparently non-Christian tone of the 'Consolation.'</p> + +<p>The fragment now before us shows that the old-fashioned belief in +Boethius as a theologian was well founded. 'He wrote a book concerning +the Holy Trinity, and certain dogmatic chapters, and a book against +Nestorius.' That is a sufficiently accurate <i>resumé</i> of the four +theological treatises enumerated above. Here Usener also observes—and +I am inclined to agree with him—that there is a certain resemblance +between the style of thought of these treatises and that of the +'Consolation' itself. They are, after all, philosophical rather than +religious; one of the earliest samples of that kind of logical +discussion of theological dogmas which the Schoolmen of the Middle +Ages so delighted to indulge in. The young philosopher, hearing at his +father-in-law's table the discussions between Chalce<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>donian and +Monophysite with which all Rome resounded, on account of the prolonged +strife with the Church of Constantinople, set himself down to discuss +the same topics which they were wrangling over by the light—to him so +clear and precious—of the Greek philosophy. There was perhaps in this +employment neither reverence nor irreverence. He had not St. +Augustine's intense and almost passionate conviction of the truth of +Christianity; but he was quite willing to accept it and to discourse +upon it, as he discoursed on Arithmetic, Music, and Geometry.</p> + +<p>But when premature old age, solitude, and the loss of liberty befell +him, it was not to the highly elaborated Christian theology of the +Sixth Century that he turned for support and consolation. Probably +enough the very fact that he knew some of the pitfalls in the way +deterred him from that dangerous journey, where the slightest +deviation on either side landed him in some detested heresy, the +heresy of Nestorius or of Eutyches. 'On revient toujours à ses +premiers amours;' and even so Boethius, though undoubtedly professing +himself a Christian, and about to die in full communion with the +Catholic Church, turned for comfort in his dungeon to the +philosophical studies of his youth, especially to the ethical writings +of Plato and Aristotle.</p> + +<p>After all, the title of the treatise is '<i>Philosophiae</i> Consolatio;' +and however vigorous a literature of philosophy may in the course of +centuries have grown up in the Christian domain, in the sixth century +the remembrance of the old opposition between Christianity and +Philosophy was perhaps still too strong for a writer to do anything +more than stand neutral as to the distinctive claims of Christianity, +when he had for the time donned the cloak of the philosopher.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Bucolic Poem of Boethius.</div> + +<p>We learn from the fragment before us that Boethius also wrote a +'Bucolic Poem.' This is an interesting fact, and helps to explain the +facility with which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> breaks into song in the midst of the +'Consolation.' It may have been to this effort of the imagination that +he alluded when he said at the beginning of that work—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Carmina qui quondam studio florente peregi<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Flebilis, heu, moestos cogor inire modos.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>We would gladly know something more of this 'Bucolic Poem' indited by +the universal genius, Boethius.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cassiodorus.</div> + +<p>III. As for <i>Cassiodorus</i> himself, the additional information +furnished by this fragment has been already discussed in the +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">foregoing +chapter</a>. That he was <i>Consilarius</i> to his father during his +Praefecture, and that in that capacity he recited an eloquent +panegyric on Theodoric, which was rewarded by his promotion to the +high office of the Quaestorship, are facts which we learn from this +fragment only; and they are of high importance, not only for the life +of Cassiodorus but for the history of Europe at the beginning of the +Sixth Century, because they make it impossible to assign to any letter +in the 'Variae' an earlier date than 500.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>THE GRADATIONS OF OFFICIAL RANK IN THE LATER EMPIRE.</h3> + + +<div class="sidenote">Official Hierarchy introduced by Diocletian.</div> + +<p>It is well known that Diocletian introduced and Constantine perfected +an elaborate system of administration under which the titles, +functions, order of precedence, and number of attendants of the +various officers of the Civil Service as well as of the Imperial army +were minutely and punctiliously regulated. This system, which, as +forming the pattern upon which the nobility of mediaeval Europe was to +a great extent modelled, perhaps deserves even more careful study than +it has yet received, is admirably illustrated by the letters of +Cassiodorus. The <i>Notitia Utriusque Imperii</i>, our copies of which must +have been compiled in the early years of the Fifth Century, furnishes +us with a picture of official life which, after we have made allowance +for the fact that the Empire of the West has shrunk into the +Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy (with the addition of Dalmatia and some +other portions of Illyricum), is almost precisely reproduced in the +pages of the 'Various Letters.' In order that the student may +understand the full significance of many passages in those letters, +and especially of the superscriptions by which each letter is +prefaced, it will be well to give a brief outline of the system which +existed alike under Theodosius and Theodoric.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Nobilissimi.</div> + +<p>In the first place, then, we come to what is rather a family than a +class, the persons bearing the title <i>Nobilissimus</i><a name="FNanchor_110_110" id="FNanchor_110_110"></a><a href="#Footnote_110_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a>. These were +the nearest relatives of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> the reigning Emperor; his brothers, sisters, +sons, and daughters. The title therefore is not unlike that of Royal +or Imperial Highness in modern monarchies. I am not sure whether any +trace can be found of the survival of this title in the Ostrogothic +Court. Theodahad, nephew of Theodoric, is addressed simply as 'Vir +Senator<a name="FNanchor_111_111" id="FNanchor_111_111"></a><a href="#Footnote_111_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a>,' and he is spoken of as 'praecelsus et amplissimus +vir<a name="FNanchor_112_112" id="FNanchor_112_112"></a><a href="#Footnote_112_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a>.' It is not so, however, in respect of the three great +official classes which follow—the Illustres, Spectabiles, and +Clarissimi—whose titles were rendered as punctiliously in the Italy +of Theodoric as ever they were in the Italy of Diocletian and +Constantine.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Illustres.</div> + +<p>I. The <i>Illustres</i> were a small and select circle of men, the chief +depositaries of power after the Sovereign, and they may with some +truth be compared to the Cabinet Ministers of our own political +system. The 'Notitia' mentions thirteen of them as bearing rule in the +Western Empire. They are:</p> + +<p>1. The Praetorian Praefect of Italy.</p> + +<p>2. The Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls.</p> + +<p>3. The Praefect of the City of Rome.</p> + +<p>4. The Master of the Foot Guards (Magister Peditum in Praesenti).</p> + +<p>5. The Master of the Horse Guards (Magister Equitum in Praesenti).</p> + +<p>6. The Master of the Horse for the Gauls (per Gallias).</p> + +<p>7. The Grand Chamberlain (Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi).</p> + +<p>8. The Master of the Offices.</p> + +<p>9. The Quaestor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>10. The Count of Sacred Largesses.</p> + +<p>11. The Count of the Private Domains (Comes Rerum Privatarum).</p> + +<p>12. The Count of the Household Cavalry (Comes Domesticorum Equitum).</p> + +<p>13. The Count of the Household Infantry (Comes Domesticorum Peditum).</p> + +<p>Substantially these same titles were borne by the Illustres to whom +Cassiodorus (himself one of them) addressed his 'Various Letters.' The +second and the sixth (the Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls, and the +Master of the Horse for the Gauls) may possibly have disappeared; and +yet, in view of the fact that Theodoric was during the greater part of +his reign ruler of a portion of Gaul, it is not necessary to assume +even this change. Into the question of the military officers I will +not enter, as I confess that I do not understand the relations +(whether co-ordinate or subordinated one to another) of the two pairs +of officers, Nos. 4 and 5 and Nos. 12 and 13.</p> + +<p>The rank and duties of the Praetorian Praefect of Italy, the Master of +the Offices, and the Quaestor have already been described in the +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">first +chapter</a>. It will be well to say a few words as to the four remaining +civil dignitaries, the Praefect of the City, the Grand Chamberlain, +the Count of Sacred Largesses, and the Count of the Private Domains.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Praefect of the City.</div> + +<p>(<i>a</i>) The <i>Praefectus Urbis Romae</i> was by virtue of his office head of +the Senate. He had the care of the Annona or corn-largesses to the +people, the command of the City-watch, and the duty of keeping the +aqueducts in proper repair. The shores and channel of the Tiber, the +vast <i>cloacae</i> which carried off the refuse of the City, the quays and +warehouses of Portus at the river's mouth were also under his +authority. The officer who was charged with taking the census, the +officers charged with levying the duties on wine, the masters of the +markets, the superintendents of the granaries, the curators of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> the +statues, baths, theatres, and the other public buildings with which +the City was adorned, all owned the supreme control of the Urban +Praefect. At the beginning of the Fifth Century the <i>Vicarius Urbis</i> +(whom it is difficult not to think of as in some sort subject to the +<i>Praefectus Urbis</i>), had jurisdiction over all central and southern +Italy and Sicily. But if this was the arrangement then, it must have +been altered before the time of Cassiodorus, who certainly appears as +Praetorian Praefect to have wielded authority over the greater part of +Italy. He states, however<a name="FNanchor_113_113" id="FNanchor_113_113"></a><a href="#Footnote_113_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a>, that the Urban Praefect had, by an +ancient law, jurisdiction, not only over Rome itself, but over all the +district within 100 miles of the capital.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Grand Chamberlain.</div> + +<p>(<i>b</i>) The <i>Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi</i> had under his orders the large +staff of Grooms of the Bedchamber, at whose head stood the +<i>Primicerius Cubiculariorum</i>, an officer of 'respectable' rank. The +<i>Castrensis</i>, Butler or Seneschal, with his army of lacqueys and pages +who attended to the spreading and serving of the royal table; the +<i>Comes Sacrae Vestis</i>, who with similar assistance took charge of the +royal wardrobe; the <i>Comes Domorum</i>, who perhaps superintended the +needful repairs of the royal palace, all took their orders in the last +resort from the Grand Chamberlain. So, too, did the three Decurions, +officers with a splendid career of advancement before them, who +marshalled the thirty brilliantly armed Silentiarii, that paced +backwards and forwards before the purple veil guarding the slumbers of +the Sovereign.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Count of Sacred Largesses.</div> + +<p>(<i>c</i>) The <i>Comes Sacrarum Largitionum</i>, theoretically only the Grand +Almoner of the Sovereign, discharged in practice many of the duties of +Chancellor of the Exchequer. The mines, the mint, the Imperial linen +factories, the receipt of the tribute of the Provinces, and many other +departments of the public revenue were originally under the care of +this functionary,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> whose office however, as we are expressly told by +Cassiodorus, had lost part of its lustre, probably by a transfer of +some of these duties to the Count of the Private Domains.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Count of Private Domains.</div> + +<p>(<i>d</i>) This Minister, the <i>Comes Rerum Privatarum</i>, had the +superintendence of the Imperial estates in Italy and the Provinces. +Confiscations and the absorption by the State of the properties of +defaulting tax-payers were probably always tending to increase the +extent of these estates, and to make the office of Count of the Domain +more important. The collection of the land-tax, far the most important +item of the Imperial revenue, was also made subject to his authority. +Finally, in order, as Cassiodorus quaintly observes<a name="FNanchor_114_114" id="FNanchor_114_114"></a><a href="#Footnote_114_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a>, that his +jurisdiction should not be exercised only over slaves (the cultivators +of the State domains), some authority was given to him within the +City, and by a curious division of labour all charges of incestuous +crime, or of the spoliation of graves, were brought before the +tribunal of the Comes Privatarum.</p> + +<p>Besides the thirteen persons who, as acting Ministers of the highest +class, were entitled to the designation of Illustris, there were also +those whom we may call honorary members of the class: the persons who +had received the dignity of the Patriciate—a dignity which was +frequently bestowed on those who had filled the office of Consul, and +which, unlike the others of which we have been speaking, was held for +life.</p> + +<p>It is a question on which I think we need further information, whether +a person who had once filled an Illustrious office lost the right to +be so addressed on vacating it. I am not sure that we have any clear +case in the following collection of an ex-official holding this +courtesy-rank; but it seems probable that such would be the case.</p> + +<p>Considering also the great show of honour with which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> the Consulate, +though now destitute of all real power, was still greeted, it seems +probable that the Consuls for the year would rank as Illustres; but +here, too, we seem to require fuller details.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Spectabiles.</div> + +<p>II. We now come to the Second Class, the <i>Spectabiles</i>, which consists +chiefly of the lieutenants and deputies of the Illustres.</p> + +<p>For instance, every Praetorian Praefect had immediately under him a +certain number of <i>Vicarii</i>, each of whom was a Spectabilis. The +Praefecture included an extent of territory equivalent to two or three +countries of Modern Europe (for instance, the Praefecture of the Gauls +embraced Britain, Gaul, a considerable slice of Germany, Spain, and +Morocco). This was divided into Dioceses (in the instance above +referred to Britain formed one Diocese, Gaul another, and Spain with +its attendant portion of Africa a third), and the Diocese was again +divided into Provinces. The title of the ruler of the Diocese, who in +his restricted but still ample domain wielded a similar authority to +that of the Illustrious Praefect, was <i>Spectabilis Vicarius</i>.</p> + +<p>But the Praefect and the Vicar controlled only the civil government of +the territories over which they respectively bore sway. The military +command of the Diocese was vested in a <i>Spectabilis Comes</i>, who was +under the orders of the Illustrious Magister Militum. Subordinate in +some way to the Comes was the <i>Dux</i>, who was also a Spectabilis, but +whose precise relation to his superior the Comes is, to me at least, +not yet clear<a name="FNanchor_115_115" id="FNanchor_115_115"></a><a href="#Footnote_115_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a>.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> +<p>Besides these three classes of dignitaries, the <i>Castrensis</i>, who was +a kind of head steward in the Imperial household, and most of the +Heads of Departments in the great administrative offices, such as the +<i>Primicerius Notariorum</i> and the <i>Magistri Scriniorum</i><a name="FNanchor_116_116" id="FNanchor_116_116"></a><a href="#Footnote_116_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a>, bore the +title of Spectabilis. We have perhaps hardly sufficient data for an +exact calculation, but I conjecture that there would be as many as +fifty or sixty Spectabiles in the Kingdom of Theodoric.</p> + +<p>It appears to me that the epithet <i>Sublimis</i> (which is almost unknown +to the Theodosian Code), when it occurs in the 'Variae' is used as +synonymous with Spectabilis<a name="FNanchor_117_117" id="FNanchor_117_117"></a><a href="#Footnote_117_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Clarissimi.</div> + +<p>III. The <i>Clarissimi</i> were the third rank in the official hierarchy. +To our minds it may appear strange that the 'most renowned' should +come below 'the respectable,' but such was the Imperial pleasure. The +title 'Clarissimus' had moreover its own value, for from the time of +Constantine onwards it was conferred on all the members of the Senate, +and was in fact identical with Senator<a name="FNanchor_118_118" id="FNanchor_118_118"></a><a href="#Footnote_118_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a>; and this was doubtless, +as Usener points out<a name="FNanchor_119_119" id="FNanchor_119_119"></a><a href="#Footnote_119_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a>, the reason why the letters Cl. were still +appended to a Roman nobleman's name after he had risen higher in the +official scale<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> and was entitled to be called Spectabilis or +Illustris. The <i>Consulares</i> or <i>Correctores</i>, who administered the +Provinces under the Vicarii, were called Clarissimi; and we shall +observe in the collection before us many other cases in which the +title is given to men in high, but not the highest, positions in the +Civil Service of the State.</p> + +<p>Besides the three classes above enumerated there were also:—</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Perfectissimi.</div> + +<p>IV. The <i>Perfectissimi</i>, to which some of the smaller provincial +governors belonged, as well as some of the clerks in the Revenue +Offices (Numerarii) who had seen long service, and even some veteran +Decurions.</p> + +<p>Below these again were:—</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Egregii.</div> + +<p>V. The <i>Egregii</i>, who were also Decurions who had earned a right to +promotion, or even what we should call veteran non-commissioned +officers in the army (Primipilares).</p> + +<p>But of these two classes slight mention is made in the Theodosian +Code, and none at all (I believe) in the 'Notitia' or the 'Letters of +Cassiodorus.'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>ON THE OFFICIUM OF THE PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO<a name="FNanchor_120_120" id="FNanchor_120_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_120_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a>.</h3> + + +<div class="sidenote">Military character of the Roman Civil Service.</div> + +<p>The official staff that served under the Roman governors of high rank +was an elaborately organised body, with a carefully arranged system of +promotion, and liberal superannuation allowances for those of its +members who had attained a certain position in the office.</p> + +<p>Although, in consequence of the changes introduced by Diocletian and +Constantine, the civil and military functions had been for the most +part divided from one another, and it was now unusual to see the same +magistrate riding at the head of armies and hearing causes in the +Praetorium, in theory the officers of the Courts of Justice were still +military officers. Their service was spoken of as a <i>militia</i>; the +type of their office was the <i>cingulum</i>, or military belt; and one of +the leading officers of the court, as we shall see, was styled +<i>Cornicularius</i>, or trumpeter.</p> + +<p>The Praetorian Praefect, whose office had been at first a purely +military one, had now for centuries been chiefly concerned in civil +administration, and as Judge over the highest court of appeal in the +Empire. His <i>Officium</i> (or staff of subordinates) was, at any rate in +the Fifth Century, still the most complete and highly developed that +served under any great functionary; and probably the career which it +offered to its members was more brilliant than any that they could +look for elsewhere. Accordingly, in studying the composition of this +body we shall familiarise ourselves with the type to which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> all the +other <i>officia</i> throughout the Empire more or less closely +approximated.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="officia"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 3px solid black;"><b>NOTITIA.</b><br /> </td> +<td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 3px solid black;"><b>CASSIODORUS</b><br />(xi.).</td> +<td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 3px solid black;"><b>LYDUS</b><br />(iii. 3 and ii. 18.).</td> +</tr> +<tr><td>Princeps.</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Cornicularius.</td><td>Cornicularius.</td><td>Cornicularius.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Adjutor.</td><td>Primiscrinius.</td><td>II Primiscrinii.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Commentariensis.</td><td>Scriniarius Actorum.</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Ab Actis.</td><td>Cura Epistolarum.</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>IV Numerarii.</td><td>Scriniarius Curae Militaris.</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Subadjuva.</td><td>Primicerius Exceptorum.</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Cura Epistolarum.</td><td>Sextus Scholarius.</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Regerendarius.</td><td>Praerogativarius.</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Exceptores.</td><td>Commentariensis.</td><td>II Commentarisii.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Adjutores.</td><td>Regendarius.</td><td>II Regendarii.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Singularii.</td><td>Primicerius Deputatorum.</td><td>II Curae Epistolarum Ponticae.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td>Primicerius Augustalium.</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td>Primicerius Singulariorum.</td><td>Singularii.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" style="text-align: center;">Lydus calls all the officers down to the Curae Ep. Ponticae +<span lang="el" title="Greek: Hai Logikai Leitourgiai">'Αι Λογικαι Λειτουργιαι</span> (Officium Litteratum).</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sources of information as to the Officium.</div> + +<p>Our chief information as to this elaborate official hierarchy is +derived from three sources<a name="FNanchor_121_121" id="FNanchor_121_121"></a><a href="#Footnote_121_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a>:—</p> + +<p>(1) The <i>Notitia Dignitatum</i>, the great Official Gazetteer of the +Empire<a name="FNanchor_122_122" id="FNanchor_122_122"></a><a href="#Footnote_122_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a>, which in its existing shape appears to date from the +reign of Arcadius and Honorius, early in the Fifth Century.</p> + +<p>(2) The <i>De Magistratibus</i> of Joannes Lydus, composed by a civil +servant of the Eastern Empire in the middle of the Sixth Century.</p> + +<p>(3) The <i>Variae Epistolae</i> of Cassiodorus, the composition of which +ranges from about 504 to 540.</p> + +<p>The first of these authorities relates to the Eastern and Western +Empires, the second to the Eastern alone, the third to the Western +Empire as represented by the Ostrogothic Kingdom founded by Theodoric.</p> + +<p>Much light is also thrown on the subject by the Codes of Theodosius +and Justinian.</p> + +<p>Godefroy's Commentary on the Theodosian Code, and Bethmann Hollweg's +'Gerichtsverfassung des sinkenden Römischen Reichs,' are the chief +modern works which have treated of the subject.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Officium as described in the Notitia.</div> + +<p>We will follow the order in which the various offices are arranged by +the 'Notitia,' which is most likely to correspond with that of +official precedence.</p> + +<p>In the second chapter of the 'Notitia Orientis,' after an enumeration +of the five Dioceses and forty-six Provinces which are 'sub +dispositione viri illustris Praefecti Praetorio per Orientem,' we have +this list, 'Officium viri illustris Praefecti Praetorio Orientis:'</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +Princeps.<br /> +Cornicularius.<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>Adjutor.<br /> +Commentariensis.<br /> +Ab actis.<br /> +Numerarii.<br /> +Subadjuvae.<br /> +Cura Epistolarum.<br /> +Regerendarius.<br /> +Exceptores.<br /> +Adjutores.<br /> +Singularii.<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>The lists of the officia of all the other Praetorian Praefects in the +'Notitia' are exactly the same as this, except that under the head +'Praefectus Praetorio per Illyricum' we have, instead of the simple +entry 'Numerarii,'</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Numerarii quatuor: in his auri unus, operum alter;'</p></div> + +<p>and the 'Praefectus Urbis Romae' had under his Numerarii, a</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Primiscrinius,'</p></div> + +<p>and between the 'Adjutores' and 'Singularii,'</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +Censuales and<br /> +Nomenculatores.<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>We will go through the offices enumerated above in order:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Princeps.</div> + +<p>(1) The <span class="smcap">Princeps</span> was the head of the whole official staff. In the case +of the officium of the Praetorian Praefect, however, this officer +seems, after the compilation of the 'Notitia,' to have disappeared, +and his rights and privileges became vested in the Cornicularius. It +will be observed that in the letters of Cassiodorus to the members of +his staff there is none addressed to the Princeps; and similarly there +is no mention of a Princeps as serving under the Praetorian Praefect +in the treatise of Lydus. This elimination of the Princeps, however, +was not universally applicable to all the officia. Cassiodorus (xi. +35) mentions a <i>Princeps Augustorum</i>, who was, perhaps, Princeps of +the <i>Agentes in Rebus</i>; and Lydus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> more distinctly ('De Mag.' iii. 24) +speaks of a bargain made between the Cornicularius of the Praetorian +Praefect and the <span lang="el" title="Greek: Prinkips tôn magistrianôn">Πριγκιπς των μαγιστριανων</span>, who must be +supposed to be Princeps in the officium of the <i>Magister Officiorum</i>, +though no such officer appears in the 'Notitia<a name="FNanchor_123_123" id="FNanchor_123_123"></a><a href="#Footnote_123_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a>.'</p> + +<p>Speaking generally, however, we may perhaps say that the greater part +of what we are about to hear concerning the rights and endowments of +the Cornicularius in the Praefect's office might be truly asserted of +the Princeps at the time when the 'Notitia' was compiled, before the +two offices had been amalgamated.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cornicularius.</div> + +<p>(2) The <i>Cornicularius</i>. As to this officer we have a good many +details in the pages of Joannes Lydus. The antiquarian and +etymological part of his information must generally be received with +caution; but as to the actual privileges of the office in the days of +Justinian we may very safely speak after him, since it was an office +which he himself held, and whose curtailed gains and privileges caused +him bitter disappointment.</p> + +<p>'The foremost in rank,' says he<a name="FNanchor_124_124" id="FNanchor_124_124"></a><a href="#Footnote_124_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a>, 'of the Emperor's assistants +(Adjutores) is even to this day called <i>Cornicularius</i>, that is to say +<i>horned</i> (<span lang="el" title="Greek: keraïtês">κεραιτης</span>), or <i>fighting in the front rank</i>. For the +place of the monarch or the Caesar was in the middle of the army, +where he alone might direct the stress of battle. This being the +Emperor's place, according to Frontinus, on the left wing was posted +the Praefect or Master of the Horse, and on the right the Praetors or +Legati, the latter being the officers left in charge of the army when +their year of office was drawing to a close, to hold the command till +the new Consul should come out to take it from them.</p> + +<p>'Of the whole Legion then, amounting to 6,000 men, exclusive of +cavalry and auxiliaries, as I before said, the <i>Cornicularius</i> took +the foremost place; and for that reason he still presides over the +whole [civil] service,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> now that the Praefect, for reasons before +stated, no longer goes forth to battle.</p> + +<p>'Since, then, all the rest of the staff are called assistants +(<i>Adjutores</i>), the Praefect gives an intimation under his own hand to +him who is entering the service in what department (<span lang="el" title="Greek: katalogos">καταλογος</span>) +he is ordered to take up his station<a name="FNanchor_125_125" id="FNanchor_125_125"></a><a href="#Footnote_125_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a>. And the +following are the names of all the departments of the service. First +the <i>Cornicularius</i>, resplendent in all the dignity of a so-called +Count (<span lang="el" title="Greek: komês">κομης</span>; comes; companion), but having not yet laid +aside his belt of office, nor received the honour of admission to the +palace, or what they call brevet-rank (<i>codicilli vacantes</i>), which +honour at the end of his term of service is given to him, and to none +of the other chiefs of departments<a name="FNanchor_126_126" id="FNanchor_126_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_126_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a>.</p> + +<p>'And after the Cornicularius follow:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +'2 Primiscrinii,<br /> +'2 Commentarisii,<br /> +'2 Regendarii,<br /> +'2 Curae Epistolarum,<br /> +'15 Scholae of Exceptores,<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>and then the "unlearned service" of the Singularii<a name="FNanchor_127_127" id="FNanchor_127_127"></a><a href="#Footnote_127_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a>.'</p> + +<p>Again, further on<a name="FNanchor_128_128" id="FNanchor_128_128"></a><a href="#Footnote_128_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a>, Lydus, who delights to 'magnify his office,' +gives us this further information as to the rank and functions of the +Cornicularius:</p> + +<p>'Now that, if I am not mistaken, we have described all the various +official grades, it is meet to set forth the history of the +Cornicularius, the venerable head of the Civil Service, the man who, +as beginning and ending, sums up in himself the complete history of +the whole official order. The mere antiquity of his office is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +sufficient to establish his credit, seeing that he was the leader of +his troop for 1,300 years, and made his appearance in the world at the +same time with the sacred City of Rome itself: for the Cornicularius +was, from the first, attendant on the Master of the Horse, and the +Master of the Horse on the King, and thus the Cornicularius, if he +retained nothing of his office but the name, would still be connected +with the very beginnings of the Roman State.</p> + +<p>'But from the time when Domitian appointed Fuscus to the office of +Praefect of the Praetorians (an office which had been instituted by +Augustus), and abolished the rank of Master of the Horse, taking upon +himself the command of the army<a name="FNanchor_129_129" id="FNanchor_129_129"></a><a href="#Footnote_129_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a>, everything was changed. +Henceforward, therefore, all affairs that were transacted in the +office of the Praefect were arranged by the Cornicularius alone, and +he received the revenues arising from them for his own refreshment. +This usage, which prevailed from the days of Domitian to our own +Theodosius, was then changed, on account of the usurpation of Rufinus. +For the Emperor Arcadius, fearing the overgrown power of the +Praefectoral office, passed a law that the Princeps of the Magister +[Officiorum]'s staff<a name="FNanchor_130_130" id="FNanchor_130_130"></a><a href="#Footnote_130_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> ... should appear in the highest courts, and +should busy himself with part of the Praefect's duties, and especially +should enquire into the principle upon which orders for the Imperial +post-horses (<span lang="el" title="Greek: synthêmata">συνθηματα</span>; <i>evectiones</i>) were granted<a name="FNanchor_131_131" id="FNanchor_131_131"></a><a href="#Footnote_131_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a>.... +This order of Arcadius was inscribed in the earlier editions of the +Theodosian Code, but has been omitted in the later as superfluous.</p> + +<p>'Thus, then, the Princeps of the Magistriani, being introduced into +the highest courts, but possessing nothing there beyond his mere empty +dignity, made a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> bargain with the Cornicularius of the day, the object +of which was to open up to him some portion of the business; and, +having come to terms, the Princeps agreed to hand over to the +Cornicularius one pound's weight of gold [£40] monthly, and to give +instant gratuities to all his subordinates according to their rank in +the service. In consequence of this compact the Cornicularius then in +office, after receiving his 12 lbs. weight of gold without any +abatement, with every show of honour conceded to his superior<a name="FNanchor_132_132" id="FNanchor_132_132"></a><a href="#Footnote_132_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a> (?) +the preferential right of introducing "one-membered" cases +(<span lang="el" title="Greek: tên tôn monomerôn entuchiôn eisagôgên">την των μονομερων εντυχιων εισαγωγην</span>), having reserved to himself, +beside the fees paid for promotion in the office<a name="FNanchor_133_133" id="FNanchor_133_133"></a><a href="#Footnote_133_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a>, and other +sources of gain, especially the sole right of subscribing the <i>Acta</i> +of the court, and thus provided for himself a yearly revenue of not +less than 1,000 aurei [£600].'</p> + +<p>I have endeavoured to translate as clearly as possible the obscure +words of Lydus as to this bargain between the two court-officers. The +complaint of Lydus appears to be that the Cornicularius of the day, by +taking the money of the Princeps Magistrianorum, and conceding to him +in return the preferential claim to manage 'one-membered' cases (or +unopposed business), made a purse for himself, but prepared the way +for the ruin of his successors. The monthly payment was, I think, to +be made for twelve months only, and thus the whole amount which the +Cornicularius received from this source was only £480, but from other +sources—chiefly the sums paid for promotion by the subordinate +members of the <i>officium</i>, and the fees charged by him for affixing +his subscription to the <i>acta</i> of the court—he still remained in +receipt of a yearly revenue of £600.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Jealousy between the Officia of the Praefect and the +Magister.</div> + +<p>The jealousy between the Officia of the Praetorian Praefect and the +Magister Officiorum was intense. Almost every line in the treatise of +Lydus testifies to it, and shows that the former office, in which he +had the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> misfortune to serve, was being roughly shouldered out of the +way by its younger and more unscrupulous competitor.</p> + +<p>Lydus continues<a name="FNanchor_134_134" id="FNanchor_134_134"></a><a href="#Footnote_134_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a>: 'Now, what followed, like the Peleus of +Euripides, I can never describe without tears. For on account of all +these sources of revenue having been dried up, I myself have had to +bear my part in the general misery of our time, since, though I have +reached the highest grade of promotion in the service, I have derived +nothing from it but the bare name. I do not blush to call Justice +herself as a witness to the truth of what I say, when I affirm that I +am not conscious of having received one obol from the Princeps, nor +from the Letters Patent for promotions in the office<a name="FNanchor_135_135" id="FNanchor_135_135"></a><a href="#Footnote_135_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a>. For indeed +whence should I have derived it, since it was the ancient custom that +those who in any way appeared in the highest courts should pay to the +<i>officium</i> seven and thirty <i>aurei</i> [£22] for a "one-membered" suit; +but ever after this bargain was made there has been given only a very +moderate sum of copper—not gold—in a beggarly way, as if one were +buying a flask of oil, and that not regularly? Or how compel the +Princeps to pay the ancient covenanted sum to the Cornicularius of the +day, when he now scarcely remembered the bare name of that officer, as +he never condescended to be present in the court when promotions were +made from a lower grade to a higher? Bitterly do I regret that I was +so late in coming to perceive for what a paltry price I was rendering +my long services as assistant in the courts, receiving in fact nothing +therefrom as my own <i>solatium</i>. It serves me right, however, for +having chosen that line of employment, as I will explain, if the +reader will allow me to recount to him my career from its commencement +to the present time.'</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p><p>Lydus then goes on to describe his arrival at Constantinople (<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> +511), his intention to enter the <i>Scrinium Memoriae</i> (in which he +would have served under the Magister Officiorum), and his abandonment +of this intention upon the pressing entreaties of his countryman +Zoticus, who was at the time Praefectus Praetorio. This step Lydus +looks upon as the fatal mistake of his life, though the consequences +of it to him were in some degree mitigated by the marriage which +Zoticus enabled him to make with a lady possessed of a fortune of 100 +pounds' weight of gold (£4,000). Her property, her virtues (for 'she +was superior to all women who have ever been admired for their moral +excellence'), and the consolations of Philosophy and Literature, did +much to soothe the disappointment of Lydus, who nevertheless felt, +when he retired to his books after forty years of service, in which he +had reached the unrewarded post of Cornicularius, that his official +life had been a failure.</p> + +<p>It has seemed worth while to give this sketch of the actual career of +a Byzantine official, as it may illustrate in some points the lives of +the functionaries to whom so many of the letters of Cassiodorus are +addressed; though I know not whether we have any indications of such a +rivalry at Ravenna as that which prevailed at Constantinople between +the <i>officium</i> of the Praefect and that of the Magister. We now pass +on to</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Adjutor.</div> + +<p>(3) The <i>Adjutor</i>. Some of the uses of this term are very perplexing. +It seems clear (from Lydus, 'De Mag.' iii. 3) that all the members of +the officium were known by the generic name <i>Adjutores</i>. Here however +we may perhaps safely assume that Adjutor means simply an assistant to +the officer next above him, as we find, lower down in the list of the +'Notitia,' the Exceptores followed by their Adjutores. We may find a +parallel to Adjutor in the word Lieutenant, which, for the same reason +is applied to officers of such different rank as the Lord Lieutenant +of Ireland, a Lieutenant-General,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> a Lieutenant-Colonel, and a simple +Lieutenant in the Army or Navy. <span class="sidenote">Primiscrinius.</span>In the lists of Cassiodorus and Lydus +we find no mention of an officer bearing the special name of Adjutor, +but we meet instead with a <i>Primiscrinius</i>, of whom, according to +Lydus, there were two. He says<a name="FNanchor_136_136" id="FNanchor_136_136"></a><a href="#Footnote_136_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a>, 'After the Cornicularius are two +Primiscrinii, whom the Greeks call first of the service<a name="FNanchor_137_137" id="FNanchor_137_137"></a><a href="#Footnote_137_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a>.' And +later on<a name="FNanchor_138_138" id="FNanchor_138_138"></a><a href="#Footnote_138_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a>, when he is describing the course of business in the +<i>secretum</i> of the Praefect, as it used to be in the good old days, he +informs us that after judgment had been given, and the Secretarii had +read to the litigant the decree prepared by the Assessors and +carefully copied by one of the Cancellarii, and after an accurate +digest of the case had been prepared in the Latin language by a +Secretarius, in order to guard against future error or +misrepresentation, the successful litigant passed on with the decree +in his hand <i>to the Primiscrinii, who appointed an officer to execute +the judgment of the Court</i><a name="FNanchor_139_139" id="FNanchor_139_139"></a><a href="#Footnote_139_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a>. These men then put the decree into +its final shape by means of the persons appointed to assist them<a name="FNanchor_140_140" id="FNanchor_140_140"></a><a href="#Footnote_140_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a> +(men who could puzzle even the professors themselves in logical +discussions), and endorsed it on the litigant's petition in characters +which at once struck awe into the reader, and which seemed actually +swollen with official importance<a name="FNanchor_141_141" id="FNanchor_141_141"></a><a href="#Footnote_141_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a>. The name and titles of the +'completing' officer were then subscribed.</p> + +<p>If the suggestion that the Primiscrinii were considered as in some +sense substitutes (Adjutores) for the Cornicularius be correct, we may +perhaps account for there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> being two of them in the days of Lydus by +the disappearance of the Princeps. The office of Cornicularius had +swallowed up that of Princeps, and accordingly the single Adjutor, who +was sufficient at the compilation of the 'Notitia,' had to be +multiplied by two.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Commentariensis, or Commentarisius.</div> + +<p>(4) The <i>Commentariensis</i>. Here we come again to an officer who is +mentioned by all our three authorities, though in Cassiodorus he seems +to be degraded some steps below his proper rank (but this may only be +from an accidental transposition of the order of the letters), and +though Lydus again gives us two of the name instead of one. The +last-named authority inserts next after the Primiscrinii 'two +Commentarisii—so the law calls those who are appointed to attend to +the drawing up of indictments<a name="FNanchor_142_142" id="FNanchor_142_142"></a><a href="#Footnote_142_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a>.'</p> + +<p>The Commentariensis (or Commentarisius, as Lydus calls him<a name="FNanchor_143_143" id="FNanchor_143_143"></a><a href="#Footnote_143_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a>) was +evidently the chief assistant of the Judge in all matters of criminal +jurisdiction<a name="FNanchor_144_144" id="FNanchor_144_144"></a><a href="#Footnote_144_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a>. We have a remarkably full, and in the main clear +account of his functions in the pages of Lydus (iii. 16-18), from +which it appears that he was promoted from the ranks of the +<i>Exceptores</i> (shorthand writers), and had six of his former colleagues +serving under him as Adjutores<a name="FNanchor_145_145" id="FNanchor_145_145"></a><a href="#Footnote_145_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a>. Great was the power, and high the +position in the Civil Service, of the Commentariensis. The whole tribe +of process-servers, gaolers, lictors<a name="FNanchor_146_146" id="FNanchor_146_146"></a><a href="#Footnote_146_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a>—all that we now understand +by the police force—waited subserviently on his nod. It rested with +him, says Lydus, to establish the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> authority of the Court of Justice +by means of the wholesome fear inspired by iron chains and scourges +and the whole apparatus of torture<a name="FNanchor_147_147" id="FNanchor_147_147"></a><a href="#Footnote_147_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a>. Nay, not only did the +subordinate magistrates execute their sentences by his agency, he had +even the honour of being chosen by the Emperor himself to be the +minister of vengeance against the persons who had incurred his anger +or his suspicion. 'I myself remember,' says Lydus, 'when I was serving +as Chartularius in the office of the Commentariensis, under the +praefecture of Leontius (a man of the highest legal eminence), and +when the wrath of Anastasius was kindled against Apion, a person of +the most exalted rank, and one who had assisted in his elevation to +the throne<a name="FNanchor_148_148" id="FNanchor_148_148"></a><a href="#Footnote_148_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a>, at the same time when Kobad, King of Persia, blazed +out into fury<a name="FNanchor_149_149" id="FNanchor_149_149"></a><a href="#Footnote_149_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a>, that then all the confiscations and banishments +which were ordered by the enraged Emperor were entrusted to no one +else but to the Commentarienses serving under the Praefect. In this +service they acquitted themselves so well, with such vigour, such +harmonious energy, such entire clean-handedness and absence of all +dishonest gain, as to move the admiration of the Emperor, who made use +of them on all similar occasions that presented themselves in the +remainder of his reign. They had even the honour of being employed +against Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, when that prelate had +provoked the Emperor by suspending all intercourse with him as a +heretic; and that, although Celer, one of the most intimate friends of +Anastasius, was at that very time holding the rank of Magister +Officiorum.'</p> + +<p>An officer who was thus privileged to lay hands on Patriarch and +Patrician in the name of Augustus was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> looked up to with awful +reverence by all the lower members of the official hierarchy; and +Lydus, with one graphic touch, brings before us the glow of gratified +self-love with which, when he was a subordinate <i>Scriniarius</i>, he +found himself honoured by the familiar conversation of so great a +person as the Commentariensis<a name="FNanchor_150_150" id="FNanchor_150_150"></a><a href="#Footnote_150_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a>: 'I too am struck with somewhat of +my old awe, recurring in memory to those who were then holders of the +office. I remember what fear of the Commentarisii fell upon all who at +all took the lead in the <i>Officium</i>, but especially on the Scriniarii; +and how greatly he who was favoured with a chat with a Commentarisius +passing by valued himself on the honour.' Lydus also describes to us +how the Commentariensis, instructed by the Praefect, or perhaps even +by the Emperor himself, would take with him one of his faithful +servants, the Chartularii, would visit the abode of the suspected +person (who might, as we have seen, be one of the very highest +officers of the State), and would then in his presence dictate in +solemn Latin words the indictment which was to be laid against him, +the mere hearing of which sometimes brought the criminal to confess +his guilt and throw himself on the mercy of the Emperor.</p> + +<p>It was from this <i>commentum</i>, the equivalent of a French <i>acte +d'accusation</i>, that the Commentariensis derived his title.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Ab Actis (Scriniarius Actorum?).</div> + +<p>(5) The <i>Ab Actis</i>. The officer who bore this title (which is perhaps +the same as the Scriniarius Actorum of Cassiodorus<a name="FNanchor_151_151" id="FNanchor_151_151"></a><a href="#Footnote_151_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a>) seems to have +been exclusively concerned with civil cases, and perhaps held the same +place in reference to them that the Commentarienses held in criminal +matters<a name="FNanchor_152_152" id="FNanchor_152_152"></a><a href="#Footnote_152_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a>. Practically, his office appears to have been very much +what we understand by that of <i>Chief Registrar</i> of the Court. He (or +they, for in Lydus'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> time there were two <i>Ab Actis</i> as well as two +Commentarienses<a name="FNanchor_153_153" id="FNanchor_153_153"></a><a href="#Footnote_153_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a>) was chosen from the select body of shorthand +writers who were known as Augustales, and was assisted by six men of +the same class, 'men of high character and intelligence and still in +the vigour of their years<a name="FNanchor_154_154" id="FNanchor_154_154"></a><a href="#Footnote_154_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a>.' His chief business—and in this he +was served by the <i>Nomenclatores</i>, who shouted out in a loud voice the +names of the litigants—was to introduce the plaintiff and defendant +into the Court, or to make a brief statement of the nature of the case +to the presiding magistrate. He then had to watch the course of the +pleadings and listen to the Judge's decision, so as to be able to +prepare a full statement of the case for the Registers or +Journals<a name="FNanchor_155_155" id="FNanchor_155_155"></a><a href="#Footnote_155_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> of the Court. These Registers—at least in the +flourishing days of Roman jurisprudence—were most fully and +accurately kept. Even the <i>Dies Nefasti</i> were marked upon them, and +the reason for their being observed as legal holidays duly noted. +Elaborate indices, prepared by the Chartularii, made search an easy +matter to those who wished to ascertain what was the decision of the +law upon every point; and the marginal notes, or <i>personalia</i>, +prepared in Latin<a name="FNanchor_156_156" id="FNanchor_156_156"></a><a href="#Footnote_156_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a> by the Ab Actis or his assistants, were so +excellent and so full that sometimes when the original entry in the +Registers had been lost the whole case could be sufficiently +reconstructed from them alone.</p> + +<p>The question was already mooted at Constantinople in the sixth century +whence the Ab Actis derived his somewhat elliptical name; and our +archaeology-loving scribe was able to inform his readers that as the +officer of the household who was called <i>A Pigmentis</i> had the care of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +the aromatic ointments of the Court; as the <i>A Sabanis</i><a name="FNanchor_157_157" id="FNanchor_157_157"></a><a href="#Footnote_157_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a> had +charge of the bathing towels of the baths; as the <i>A Secretis</i> (who +was called Ad Secretis by vulgar Byzantines, ignorant of the niceties +of Latin grammar) was concerned in keeping the secret counsels of his +Sovereign: so the <i>Ab Actis</i> derived his title from the Acts of the +Court which it was his duty to keep duly posted up and properly +indexed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Numerarii.</div> + +<p>(6) The <i>Numerarii</i> (whose exact number is not stated in the +'Notitia'<a name="FNanchor_158_158" id="FNanchor_158_158"></a><a href="#Footnote_158_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a>) were the cashiers of the Praefect's office. Though +frequently mentioned in the Theodosian Code, and though persons +exercising this function must always have existed in a great Court of +Justice like the Praefect's, we hear but little of them from +Cassiodorus<a name="FNanchor_159_159" id="FNanchor_159_159"></a><a href="#Footnote_159_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a>; and Lydus' notices of the <span lang="el" title="Greek: diapsêphistai">διαψηφισται</span>, +who seem to correspond to the Numerarii<a name="FNanchor_160_160" id="FNanchor_160_160"></a><a href="#Footnote_160_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a>, are scanty and +imperfect. Our German commentator has collected the passages of the +Theodosian Code which relate to this class of officers, and has shown +that on account of their rapacity and extortion their office was +subjected to a continual process of degradation. All the Numerarii, +except those of the two highest classes of judges<a name="FNanchor_161_161" id="FNanchor_161_161"></a><a href="#Footnote_161_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a>, were degraded +into <i>Tabularii</i>, a name which had previously indicated the cashiers +of a municipality as distinguished from those in the Imperial service; +and the Numerarii, even of the Praetorian Praefect himself, were made +subject to examination by torture. This was not only to be dreaded on +account of the bodily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> suffering which it inflicted, but was also a +mark of the humble condition of those to whom it was applied.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Scriniarius Curae Militaris.</div> + +<p>We may perhaps see in the <i>Scriniarius Curae Militaris</i> of +Cassiodorus<a name="FNanchor_162_162" id="FNanchor_162_162"></a><a href="#Footnote_162_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a> one of these Numerarii detailed for service as +paymaster to the soldiers who waited upon the orders of the Praefect.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Subadjuvae.</div> + +<p>(7) The <i>Subadjuvae</i>. This is probably a somewhat vague term, like +Adjutores, and indicates a second and lower class of cashiers who +acted as deputies for the regular Numerarii.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cura Epistolarum.</div> + +<p>(8) <i>Cura Epistolarum.</i> The officer who bore this title appears to +have had the duty of copying out all letters relating to fiscal +matters<a name="FNanchor_163_163" id="FNanchor_163_163"></a><a href="#Footnote_163_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a>. This theory as to his office is confirmed by the words +of Cassiodorus (Var. <a href="#xi23">xi. 23</a>): 'Let Constantinian on his promotion +receive the care of the letters relating to the land-tax' (Hic itaque +epistolarum <i>canonicarum</i> curam provectus accipiat).</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Regerendarius, or Regendarius.</div> + +<p>(9) <i>Regerendarius</i>, or <i>Regendarius</i><a name="FNanchor_164_164" id="FNanchor_164_164"></a><a href="#Footnote_164_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a>. This officer had the +charge of all contracts relating to the very important department of +the <i>Cursus Publicus</i>, or Imperial Mail Service. At the time of the +compilation of the 'Notitia' only one person appears to have acted in +this capacity under each Praefect. When Lydus wrote, there were two +Regendarii in each Praefecture, but, owing to the increasing influence +of the Magister Officiorum over the Cursus Publicus<a name="FNanchor_165_165" id="FNanchor_165_165"></a><a href="#Footnote_165_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a>, their office +had become apparently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> little more than an ill-paid sinecure. As we +hear nothing of similar changes in the West, the Cursus Publicus was +probably a part of the public service which was directly under the +control of Cassiodorus when Praetorian Praefect, and was administered +at his bidding by one or more Regendarii.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Exceptores.</div> + +<p>(10) We now come to the <i>Exceptores</i>, or shorthand writers<a name="FNanchor_166_166" id="FNanchor_166_166"></a><a href="#Footnote_166_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a>, a +large and fluctuating body who stood on the lowest step of the +official ladder<a name="FNanchor_167_167" id="FNanchor_167_167"></a><a href="#Footnote_167_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a> and formed the raw material out of which all its +higher functionaries were fashioned in the regular order of promotion.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Augustales.</div> + +<p>We are informed by Lydus<a name="FNanchor_168_168" id="FNanchor_168_168"></a><a href="#Footnote_168_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a>, that in his time the Exceptores in the +Eastern Empire were divided into two corps, the higher one called +<i>Augustales</i>, who were limited in number to thirty, and the lower, of +indefinite number and composing the rank and file of the profession. +The Augustales only could aspire to the rank of Cornicularius; but in +order that some prizes might still be left of possible attainment by +the larger class, the rank of Primiscrinius was tenable by those who +remained 'on the rolls of the Exceptores.' The reason for this change +was that the unchecked application of the principle of seniority to so +large a body of public servants was throwing all the more important +offices in the Courts of Justice into the hands of old men. The +principle of 'seniority tempered by selection' was therefore +introduced, and the ablest and most learned members of the class of +Exceptores were drafted off into this favoured section of Augustales, +fifteen of the most experienced of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> whom were appropriated to the +special service of the Emperor, while the other fifteen filled the +higher offices (with the exception of the Primiscriniate) in the +Praefectoral Courts<a name="FNanchor_169_169" id="FNanchor_169_169"></a><a href="#Footnote_169_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a>. <span class="sidenote">Deputati.</span>The first fifteen were called +<i>Deputati</i><a name="FNanchor_170_170" id="FNanchor_170_170"></a><a href="#Footnote_170_170" class="fnanchor">[170]</a>, the others were apparently known simply as +Augustales.</p> + +<p>The change thus described by Lydus appears to have been made in the +West as well as in the East, since we hear in the 'Variae' of +Cassiodorus (<a href="#xi30">xi. 30</a>) of the appointment of a certain Ursus to be +Primicerius of the Deputati, and of Beatus to take the same place +among the Augustales<a name="FNanchor_171_171" id="FNanchor_171_171"></a><a href="#Footnote_171_171" class="fnanchor">[171]</a>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Adjutores.</div> + +<p>(11) The <i>Adjutores</i> of the 'Notitia' were probably a lower class of +Exceptores, who may very likely have disappeared when the Augustales +were formed out of them by the process of differentiation which has +been described above.</p> + +<p>We have now gone through the whole of what was termed the 'Learned +Service<a name="FNanchor_172_172" id="FNanchor_172_172"></a><a href="#Footnote_172_172" class="fnanchor">[172]</a>' mentioned in the 'Notitia,' with one exception—the +title of an officer, in himself humble and obscure, who has given his +name to the highest functionaries of mediaeval and modern Europe.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cancellarius.</div> + +<p>(12) The <i>Cancellarius</i> appears in the 'Notitia' only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> once<a name="FNanchor_173_173" id="FNanchor_173_173"></a><a href="#Footnote_173_173" class="fnanchor">[173]</a>, and +then in connection not with the Praetorian Praefect, but with the +Master of the Offices. At the very end of the Officium of this +dignitary, after the six <i>Scholae</i> and four <i>Scrinia</i> of his +subordinates, and after the <i>Admissionales</i>, whom we must look upon as +the Ushers of the Court, comes the entry,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Cancellarii:</p></div> + +<p>their very number not stated, the office being too obscure to make a +few less or more a matter of importance.</p> + +<p>After the compilation of the 'Notitia' the office of Cancellarius +apparently rose somewhat in importance, and was introduced into other +departments besides that of the Master of the Offices.</p> + +<p>One Cancellarius appears attached to the Court of Cassiodorus as +Praetorian Praefect, and from the admonitions addressed to him by his +master<a name="FNanchor_174_174" id="FNanchor_174_174"></a><a href="#Footnote_174_174" class="fnanchor">[174]</a>, we see that he had it in his power considerably to aid +the administration of justice by his integrity, or to hinder it by +showing himself accessible to bribes.</p> + +<p>In describing the Cancellarius, as in almost every other part of his +treatise, Lydus has to tell a dismal story of ruin and decay<a name="FNanchor_175_175" id="FNanchor_175_175"></a><a href="#Footnote_175_175" class="fnanchor">[175]</a>:</p> + +<p>'Now the Scriniarii [subordinates of the Magister Officiorum] are made +Cancellarii and Logothetes and purveyors of the Imperial table, +whereas in old time the Cancellarius was chosen only from the ranks of +Augustales and Exceptores who had served with credit. In those days +the Judgment Hall [of the Praefect] recognised only two Cancellarii, +who received an <i>aureus</i> apiece<a name="FNanchor_176_176" id="FNanchor_176_176"></a><a href="#Footnote_176_176" class="fnanchor">[176]</a> per day from the Treasury. There +was aforetime in the Court of Justice a fence separating the +Magistrate from his subordinates, and this fence, being made of long +splinters of wood placed diagonally, was called <i>cancellus</i>, from its +likeness to network, the regular Latin word for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> a net being casses, +and the diminutive cancellus<a name="FNanchor_177_177" id="FNanchor_177_177"></a><a href="#Footnote_177_177" class="fnanchor">[177]</a>. At this latticed barrier then stood +two <i>Cancellarii</i>, by whom, since no one was allowed to approach the +judgment-seat, paper was brought to the members of the staff and +needful messages were delivered. But now that the office owing to the +number of its holders<a name="FNanchor_178_178" id="FNanchor_178_178"></a><a href="#Footnote_178_178" class="fnanchor">[178]</a> has fallen into disrepute, and that the +Treasury no longer makes a special provision for their maintenance, +almost all the hangers-on of the Courts of Law call themselves +Cancellarii; and, not only in the capital but in the Provinces, they +give themselves this title in order that they may be able more +effectually to plunder the wealthy.'</p> + +<p>This description by Lydus, while it aptly illustrates Cassiodorus' +exhortations to his Cancellarii to keep their hands clean from bribes, +shows how lowly their office was still considered; and indeed, but for +his statement that it used to be filled by veteran Augustales, we +might almost have doubted whether it is rightly classed among the +'Learned Services' at all.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">End of the Militia Literata.</div> + +<p>Now at any rate we leave the ranks of the gentlemen of the Civil +Service behind us, and come to the 'Militia Illiterata,' of whom the +'Notitia' enumerates only</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Militia Illiterata: Singularii.</div> + +<p>(13) The <i>Singularii</i>, a class of men of whose useful services Lydus +speaks in terms of high praise, contrasting their modest efficiency +with the pompous verbosity<a name="FNanchor_179_179" id="FNanchor_179_179"></a><a href="#Footnote_179_179" class="fnanchor">[179]</a> of the Magistriani (servants of the +Master of the Offices) by whom they were being generally superseded in +his day. They travelled through the Provinces, carrying the Praefect's +orders, and riding in a post-chaise drawn by a single horse (veredus), +from which circumstance, according to Lydus, they derived their name +Singularii<a name="FNanchor_180_180" id="FNanchor_180_180"></a><a href="#Footnote_180_180" class="fnanchor">[180]</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p><p>We observe that the letter of Cassiodorus<a name="FNanchor_181_181" id="FNanchor_181_181"></a><a href="#Footnote_181_181" class="fnanchor">[181]</a> addressed to the +retiring chief (Primicerius) of the Singularii informs him that he is +promoted to a place among the King's Body-guard (Domestici et +Protectores), a suitable reward for one who had not been a member of +the 'Learned Services.'</p> + +<p>After the Singularii Lydus mentions the <i>Mancipes</i>, the men who were +either actually slaves or were at any rate engaged in servile +occupations; as, for instance, the bakers at the public bakeries, the +<i>Rationalii</i>, who distributed the rations to the receivers of the +annona<a name="FNanchor_182_182" id="FNanchor_182_182"></a><a href="#Footnote_182_182" class="fnanchor">[182]</a>, the <i>Applicitarii</i> (officers of arrest), and +<i>Clavicularii</i> (gaolers), who, as we before heard, obeyed the mandate +of the Commentariensis. The Lictors, I think, are not mentioned by +him. A corresponding class of men would probably be the <i>Apparitores</i>, +who in the 'Notitia' appear almost exclusively attached to the service +of the great Ministers of War<a name="FNanchor_183_183" id="FNanchor_183_183"></a><a href="#Footnote_183_183" class="fnanchor">[183]</a>.</p> + +<p>Thus, it will be seen, from the well-paid and often highly-connected +Princeps, who, no doubt, discussed the business of the court with the +Praetorian Praefect on terms of friendly though respectful +familiarity, down to the gaoler and the lictor and the lowest of the +half-servile <i>mancipes</i>, there was a regular gradation of rank, which +still preserved, in the staff of the highest court of justice in the +land, all the traditions of subordination and discipline which had +once characterised the military organisation out of which it +originally sprang.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>BIBLIOGRAPHY.</h3> + + +<div class="sidenote">Editiones Principes.</div> + +<p>The Ecclesiastical History ('Historia Tripartita') seems to have been +the first of the works of Cassiodorus to attract the notice of +printers at the revival of learning. The Editio Princeps of this book +(folio) was printed by Johann Schuszler, at Augsburg, in 1472<a name="FNanchor_184_184" id="FNanchor_184_184"></a><a href="#Footnote_184_184" class="fnanchor">[184]</a>.</p> + +<p>The Editio Princeps of the 'Chronicon' is contained in a collection of +Chronicles published at Basel in 1529 by Joannes Sichardus (printer, +Henricus Petrus). The contribution of Cassiodorus is prefaced by an +appropriate Epistle Dedicatory to Sir Thos. More, in which a parallel +is suggested between the lives of these two literary statesmen.</p> + +<p>Next followed the Editio Princeps of the 'Variae,' published at +Augsburg in 1533, by Mariangelus Accurtius.</p> + +<p>In 1553, Joannes Cuspinianus, a counsellor of the Emperor Maximilian, +published at Basel a series of Chronicles with which he interwove the +Chronicle of Cassiodorus, and to which he prefixed a short life of our +author.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Edition of Nivellius.</div> + +<p>The Editio Princeps of the collected works of Cassiodorus was +published at Paris in 1579 by Sebastianus Nivellius; and other +editions by the same publisher followed in 1584 and 1589. This edition +does not contain the Tripartite History, the Exposition of the +Psalter, or the 'Complexiones' on the Epistles. Some notes, not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +without merit, are added, which were compiled in 1578 by 'Gulielmus +Fornerius, Parisiensis, Regius apud Aurelianenses Consiliarius et +Antecessor.' The annotator says<a name="FNanchor_185_185" id="FNanchor_185_185"></a><a href="#Footnote_185_185" class="fnanchor">[185]</a> that these notes had gradually +accumulated on the margin of his copy of Cassiodorus, an author who +had been a favourite of his from youth, and whom he had often quoted +in his forensic speeches.</p> + +<p>The edition of Nivellius, which is evidently prepared with a view to +aid the historical rather than the theological study of the writings +of Cassiodorus, contains also the Gothic history of Jordanus (sic), +the 'Edictum Theoderici,' the letter of Sidonius describing the Court +of Theodoric II <i>the Visigoth</i> (453-466), and the Panegyric of +Ennodius on Theodoric the Great. The letter of Sidonius is evidently +inserted owing to a confusion between the two Theodorics; and this +error has led many later commentators astray. But the reprint of the +'Edictum Theoderici' is of great interest and value, because the MS. +from which it was taken has since disappeared, and none other is known +to be in existence. A letter is prefixed to the 'Edictum,' written by +Pierre Pithou to Edouard Molé, Dec. 31, 1578, and describing his +reasons for sending this document to the publisher who was printing +the works of Cassiodorus. At the same time, 'that the West might not +have cause to envy the East,' he sent a MS. of the 'Leges +Wisigothorum,' with illustrative extracts from Isidore and Procopius, +which is printed at the end of Nivellius' edition.</p> + +<p>I express no opinion about the text of this edition; but it possesses +the advantage of an Index to the 'Variae' only, which will be found at +the end of the Panegyric of Ennodius. Garet's Index, which is in +itself not so full, has the additional disadvantage of being muddled +up with the utterly alien matter of the Tripartite History.</p> + +<p>In 1588 appeared an edition in 4to. of the works of Cassiodorus (still +excluding the Tripartite History and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> the Biblical Commentaries), +published at Paris by Marc Orry. This was republished in 1600 in two +volumes 12mo.</p> + +<p>The 'Variae' and 'Chronicon' only, in 12mo. were published at Lyons by +Jacques Chouet in 1595, and again by Pierre and Jacques Chouet at +Geneva in 1609, and by their successors in 1650. These editions +contain the notes of Pierre Brosse, Jurisconsult, as well as those of +Fornerius.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Edition of Garet.</div> + +<p>In 1679 appeared, in two volumes folio, the great Rouen edition by +François Jean Garet (of the Congregation of S. Maur), which has ever +since been the standard edition of the works of Cassiodorus. Garet +speaks of collating several MSS. of various ages for the text of this +edition, especially mentioning 'Codex S. Audoeni' (deficient for Books +<a href="#BOOK_V">5</a>, <a href="#BOOK_VI">6</a>, and <a href="#BOOK_VII">7</a> of the 'Variae'), 'et antiquissimae membranae S. Remigii +Remensis' (containing only the first four books of the same +collection). A codex which once belonged to the jurist Cujacius, and +which had been collated with Accurtius' text in 1575 by a certain +Claude Grulart, seems to have given Garet some valuable readings by +means of Grulart's notes, though the codex itself had disappeared. +Garet's edition was re-issued at Venice in 1729, and more recently in +Migne's 'Patrologia' (Paris, 1865), of which it forms vols. 69 and 70.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Forthcoming Edition by Meyer.</div> + +<p>There can be little doubt, however, that all these editions will be +rendered obsolete by the new edition which is expected to appear as a +volume of the 'Auctores Antiquissimi' in the <i>Monumenta Germaniae +Historica</i>. The editor is Professor Wilhelm Meyer, of Munich. The work +has been for some years announced as near completion, but I have not +been able to ascertain how soon it may be expected to appear.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Supposed fragment of orations.</div> + +<p>Finally, I must not omit to notice the fragments of an oration +published by Baudi de Vesme in the Transactions of the Royal Academy +of Sciences at Turin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> (1846). Those fragments, which were found in a +palimpsest MS. of the Acts of the Council of Chalcedon, were first +published in 1822 by Angelo Mai, who was then disposed to attribute +them to Symmachus (the elder), and to assign them to the early part of +the fifth century. On reflection, however, he came to the conclusion +that they were probably the work of Cassiodorus, and formed part of a +panegyric addressed to Theodoric. This theory appears now to meet with +general approval. The style is certainly very similar to that of +Cassiodorus; but, as will be inferred from the doubt as to their +origin, there is little or nothing in these scanty fragments which +adds anything to our knowledge of the history of Theodoric.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Life by Garet.</div> + +<p>To the literature relating to Cassiodorus the most important +contribution till recent times was the life by Garet prefixed to his +edition of 1679. I cannot speak of this from a very minute +investigation, but it seems to be a creditable performance, the work +of one who had carefully studied the 'Variae,' but unfortunately quite +misleading as to the whole framework of the life of Cassiodorus, from +the confusion which it makes between him and his father, an error +which Garet has probably done more than any other author to +perpetuate.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Life by St. Marthe.</div> + +<p>The life by Garet was paraphrased in French by Denys de <i>Ste. Marthe</i> +('Vie de Cassiodore,' Paris, 1695), whose work has enjoyed a +reputation to which it was not entitled on the ground either of +originality or accuracy, but which was probably due to the fact that +the handy octavo volume written in French was accessible to a wider +circle of readers than Garet's unwieldy folio in Latin. A more +original performance was that of <i>Count Buat</i> (in the 'Abhandlungen +der Kurfürstlichen Bairischen Akademie der Wissenschaften,' Munich, +1763); but this author, though he pointed out the cardinal error of +Garet, his confusion between Senator and his father, introduced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> some +further gratuitous entanglements of his own into the family history of +the Cassiodori.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Modern monographs.</div> + +<p>All these works, however, are rendered entirely obsolete by three +excellent monographs which have recently been published in Germany on +the life and writings of Cassiodorus. These are—</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Thorbecke.</div> + +<p>August <i>Thorbecke's</i> 'Cassiodorus Senator' (Heidelberg, 1867);</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Franz.</div> + +<p>Adolph <i>Franz's</i> 'M. Aurelius Cassiodorius Senator' (Breslau, 1872); +and</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Usener.</div> + +<p>Hermann <i>Usener's</i> 'Anecdoton Holderi' (Bonn, 1877), described in the +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">second chapter</a> of this introduction.</p> + +<p>Thorbecke discusses the political, and Franz the religious and +literary aspects of the life of their common hero, and between them +they leave no point of importance in obscurity. Usener, as we have +already seen, brings an important contribution to our knowledge of the +subject in presenting us with Holder's fragment; and his Commentary +(of eighty pages) on this fragment is a model of patient and +exhaustive research. It seems probable that these three authors have +really said pretty nearly the last word about the life and writings of +Cassiodorus. In addition to these authors many writers of historical +works in Germany have of late years incidentally contributed to a more +accurate understanding of the life and times of Cassiodorus.</p> + +<p><i>Dahn</i>, in the third section of his 'Könige der Germanen' (Würzburg, +1866), has written a treatise on the political system of the +Ostrogoths which is almost a continuous commentary on the 'Variae,' +and from which I have derived the greatest possible assistance.</p> + +<p><i>Köpke</i>, in his 'Anfänge des Königthums bei den Gothen' (Berlin, +1859), has condensed into a small compass a large amount of useful +disquisition on Cassiodorus and his copyist Jordanes. The relation +between these two writers was also elaborately discussed by <i>von +Sybel</i> in his thesis 'De Fontibus Libri Jordanis' (Berlin, 1838),<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> and +by <i>Schirren</i>, in his monograph 'De Ratione quae inter Jordanem et +Cassiodorum intercedat' (Dorpat, 1885). The latter, though upon the +whole a creditable performance, is disfigured by one or two strange +blunders, and not improved by some displays of irrelevant learning.</p> + +<p><i>Von Schubert</i>, in his 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen unter die Franken' +(Strassburg, 1884), throws some useful light on the question of the +date of the early letters in the 'Variae;' and <i>Binding</i>, in his +'Geschichte des Burgundisch-Romanischen Königreichs' (Leipzig, 1868), +discusses the relations between Theodoric and the Sovereigns of Gaul, +as disclosed by the same collection of letters, in a manner which I +must admit to be forcible, though I do not accept all his conclusions.</p> + +<p><i>Mommsen</i>, in his paper 'Die Chronik des Cassiodorus Senator' (Vol. +viii. of the 'Abhandlungen der Königlich Sächsischen Gesellschaft der +Wissenschaften;' Leipzig, 1861), has said all that is to be said +concerning the unfortunate 'Chronicon' of Cassiodorus, which he +handles with merciless severity.</p> + +<p>To say that <i>Ebert</i>, in his 'Allgemeine Geschichte der Litteratur des +Mittelalters im Abendlande' (Leipzig, 1874), and <i>Wattenbach</i>, in his +'Deutschlands Geschichtsquellen im Mittelalter,' tell us with fullness +and accuracy just what the student ought to wish to know concerning +Cassiodorus as an author, is only to say that they are Ebert and +Wattenbach. Every one who has had occasion to refer to these two books +knows their merits.</p> + +<p>Passing from German literature, I regret that I am prevented by +ignorance of the Dutch language from forming an opinion as to the work +of <i>Thijm</i> ('Iets over M.A. Cassiodorus en zijne eeuw;' Amsterdam, +1857), which is frequently quoted by my German authorities.</p> + +<p><i>Gibbon</i> of course quotes from the 'Variae,' and though he did not +know them intimately, he has with his usual sagacity apprehended the +true character of the book and of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> its author. But the best account of +the 'Various Letters' in English, as far as I know, is unfortunately +entombed in the pages of a periodical, being an article by Dean +<i>Church</i>, contributed in July, 1880, to the 'Church Quarterly Review.' +There is also a very good though necessarily brief notice of +Cassiodorus in <i>Ugo Balzani's</i> little volume on the 'Early Chroniclers +of Italy,' published by the Christian Knowledge Society in 1883.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>CHRONOLOGY.</h3> + + +<p>In the following chronological table of the life of Cassiodorus I +have, for convenience sake, assumed 480 as the year of his birth, and +575 as that of his death. It is now, I think, sufficiently proved that +if these dates are not absolutely correct, they cannot be more than a +year or two wrong in one direction or the other.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Consular Fasti.</div> + +<p>As dates were still reckoned by Consulships, at any rate through the +greater part of the life of Cassiodorus, I have inserted the Consular +Fasti for the period in question. It will be seen that several names +of correspondents of Cassiodorus figure in this list. As a general +though not universal practice, one of the two Consuls at this time was +chosen from out of the Senate of Rome and the other from that of +Constantinople. We can almost always tell whether a chronicler belongs +to the Eastern or Western Empire by observing whether he puts the +Eastern or Western Consul first. Thus, for <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 501, Marcellinus +Comes, who was an official of the Eastern Empire, gives us 'Pompeius +et Avienus, Coss.;' while Cassiodorus, in his 'Chronicon,' assigns the +year to 'Avienus et Pompeius.' Pompeius was a nobleman of +Constantinople, nephew of the Emperor Anastasius; while Avienus was a +Roman Senator<a name="FNanchor_186_186" id="FNanchor_186_186"></a><a href="#Footnote_186_186" class="fnanchor">[186]</a>. Again, in <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 490, Marcellinus gives the names of +Longinus and Faustus, which Cassiodorus quotes as Faustus and +Longinus. Longinus was a brother of the Emperor Zeno, and Faustus was +for many years Praetorian Praefect under Theodoric, and was the +receiver of many letters in the following collection.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> +<p>I have endeavoured to give the priority always to the <i>Western</i> Consul +in the list before us, except in those cases where an Emperor (who was +of course an Eastern) condescended to assume the Consular <i>trabea</i>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Indictions.</div> + +<p>Another mode of reckoning the dates which the reader will continually +meet with in the following pages is by <i>Indictions</i>. The Indiction, as +is well known, was a cycle of fifteen years, during which, as we have +reason to believe, the assessment for the taxes remained undisturbed, +a fresh valuation being made all round when the cycle was ended. +Traces of this quindecennial period may be found in the third century, +but the formal adoption of the Indiction is generally assigned to the +Emperor Constantine, and to the year 312<a name="FNanchor_187_187" id="FNanchor_187_187"></a><a href="#Footnote_187_187" class="fnanchor">[187]</a>. The Indiction itself, +and every one of the years composing it, began on the 1st of September +of the calendar year. The reason for this period being chosen probably +was that the harvests of the year being then gathered in, the +collection of the tithes of the produce, which formed an important +part of the Imperial revenue, could be at once proceeded with. What +gives an especial importance to this method of dating by Indictions, +for the reader of the following letters is, that most of the great +offices of State changed hands at the beginning of the year of the +Indiction (Sept. 1), not at the beginning of the Calendar year.</p> + +<p>To make such a mode of dating the year at all satisfactory, it would +seem to us necessary that the number of the cycle itself, as well as +of the year in the cycle, should be given; for instance, that <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 313 +should be called the first year of the first Indiction, and <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 351 +the ninth year of the third Indiction. This practice, however, was not +adopted till far on into the Middle Ages<a name="FNanchor_188_188" id="FNanchor_188_188"></a><a href="#Footnote_188_188" class="fnanchor">[188]</a>. At the time we are +speaking of, the word Indic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>tion seems generally to have been given +not to the cycle itself, but to the year in the cycle. Thus, 313 was +the first Indiction, 314 the second Indiction, 315 the third +Indiction, and so on. And thus we find a year, which from other +sources we know to be 313, called the first Indiction, 351 the ninth +Indiction, 537 the fifteenth Indiction, without any clue being given +to guide us to the important point in what cycles these years held +respectively the first, the ninth, and the fifteenth places.</p> + +<p>As the Indiction began on the 1st of September a question arises +whether the calendar year is to be named after the number of the +Indiction which belongs to its beginning or its end; whether, to go +back to the beginning, <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 312 or <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 313 is to be accounted the +first Indiction. The practice of the chroniclers and of most writers +on chronology appears to be in favour of the latter method, which is +natural, inasmuch as nine months of the Indiction belong to the later +date and only three to the earlier. Thus, for instance, Marcellinus +Comes calls the year of the Consulship of Belisarius, which was +undoubtedly 535, 'Indictio XIII:' the thirteenth Indiction of that +cycle having begun Sept. 1, 534, and ended August 31, 535. But it is +well that the student should be warned that our greatest English +authority, Mr. Fynes Clinton, adopts the other method. In the very +useful table of comparative chronology which he gives in his Fasti +Romani<a name="FNanchor_189_189" id="FNanchor_189_189"></a><a href="#Footnote_189_189" class="fnanchor">[189]</a> he assigns the Indiction to that year of the Christian era +in which it had its beginning, and accordingly 534, not 535, is +identified with the thirteenth Indiction.</p> + +<p>In order to translate years of Indiction into years of the Christian +era it is necessary first to add some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> multiple of 15 (<i>what</i> multiple +our knowledge of history must inform us) to 312. On the 1st of +September of the year so obtained the Indiction cycle began; and for +any other year of the same cycle we must of course add its own number +minus one. Thus, when we find Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect +writing a letter<a name="FNanchor_190_190" id="FNanchor_190_190"></a><a href="#Footnote_190_190" class="fnanchor">[190]</a> informing Joannes of his appointment to the +office of Cancellarius 'for the <i>twelfth</i> Indiction,' as we know +within a little what date is wanted, we first of all add 14 x 15 (= +210) to 312, and so obtain 522. The first Indiction in that cycle ran +from September 1, 522, to August 31, 523. The twelfth Indiction was +therefore from September 1, 533, to August 31, 534, and that is the +date we require.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, when we find a letter written by Cassiodorus as +Praetorian Praefect to the Provincials of Istria<a name="FNanchor_191_191" id="FNanchor_191_191"></a><a href="#Footnote_191_191" class="fnanchor">[191]</a> as to the +payment of tribute for the <i>first</i> Indiction, we know that we must now +have entered upon a new cycle. We therefore add 15 x 15 (= 225) to +312, and get 537. As it happens to be the <i>first</i> Indiction that we +require, our calculation ends here: September 1, 537, to August 31, +538, is the answer required.</p> + +<p>If anyone objects that such a system of chronology is cumbrous, +uncertain, and utterly unscientific, I can only say that I entirely +agree with him, and that the system is worthy of the perverted +ingenuity which produced the Nones and Ides of the Roman Calendar.</p> + +<p>In the following tables I have not attempted to mark the years of the +Indiction, on account of the confusion caused by the fact that two +calendar years require the same number. But I have denoted by the +abbreviation 'Ind.' the years in which each cycle of the Indictions +<i>began</i>. These years are 492, 507, 522, 537, 552, and 567.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> +<h3><a name="Chronological_Tables" id="Chronological_Tables"></a><i>Chronological Tables.</i></h3> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Chronological Tables"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 2px solid black;"><b>A.D.</b></td> +<td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 2px solid black;"><b>Consuls.</b></td> +<td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 2px solid black;"><b>Private Events.</b></td> +<td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 2px solid black;"><b>Public Events.</b></td> +<td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 2px solid black;"><b>Rulers of Italy.</b></td> +<td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 2px solid black;"><b>Popes.</b></td> +<td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 2px solid black;"><b>Emperors.</b></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>480</td> +<td>Basilius Junior.</td> +<td>Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator, born at Scyllacium (?).</td> +<td>Assassination of Nepos, formerly Emperor of the West.</td> +<td>ODOVACAR (from 476).</td> +<td>SIMPLICIUS (from 468).</td> +<td>ZENO (from 474).</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>481</td> +<td>Placidus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Odovacar avenges the murder of Nepos. Death of Theodoricus Triarii.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>482</td> +<td>Trocondus and Severinus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Accession of Clovis.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>483</td> +<td>Faustus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Zeno issues the Henoticon.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>FELIX II (or III).</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>484</td> +<td>Theodoricus and Venantius.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Illus revolts against Zeno. Schism between Eastern and Western Churches.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>485</td> +<td>Q. Aurelius Memmius Symmachus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>486</td> +<td>Decius and Longinus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>487</td> +<td>Boethius (<i>Father of the great Boethius</i>).</td> +<td> </td> +<td>War between Odovacar and the Rugians.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>488</td> +<td>Dyanamius and Sifidius.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Theodoric starts for Italy. Death of Illus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>489</td> +<td>Anicius Probinus and Eusebius.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Theodoric descends into Italy. Battles of the Isonzo and Verona.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>490</td> +<td>Flavius Faustus Junior and Longinus (II).</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Battle of the Adda.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>491</td> +<td>Olybrius Junior.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Battle of Ravenna.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>ANASTASIUS.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>492 (Ind.)</td> +<td>Flavius <span class="smcap">Anastasius</span> Augustus and Rufus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>GELASIUS.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>493</td> +<td>Eusebius (II) and Albinus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Surrender of Ravenna. Death of Odovacar.</td> +<td>THEODORIC.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>494</td> +<td>Turcius Rufus Apronianus Asterius and Praesidius.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>495</td> +<td>Flavius Viator.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>496</td> +<td>Paulus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Clovis defeats the Alamanni. His conversion.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>ANASTASIUS.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>497</td> +<td>Flavius <span class="smcap">Anastasius</span> Aug. (II).</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>SYMMACHUS (Antipope Laurentius).</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>498</td> +<td>Paulinus and Joannes Scytha.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>499</td> +<td>Joannes Gibbus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>500</td> +<td>Patricius and Hypatius.</td> +<td>Cassiodorus Senior, Patrician, Praefect. His son becomes his <i>Consiliarius</i>.</td> +<td>War between Gundobad and Clovis. Theodoric's visit to Rome. Conspiracy of Odoin.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>501</td> +<td>Rufius Magnus Faustus Avienus and Flavius Pompeius.</td> +<td>About this time Cassiodorus pronounces his panegyric on Theodoric, and is rewarded by being appointed Quaestor.</td> +<td>Synodus Palmaris at Rome. Symmachus confirmed in the Pontificate.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>502</td> +<td>Flavius Avienus Junior and Probus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>503</td> +<td>Dexicrates and Volusianus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>504</td> +<td>Cethegus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>War of Sirmium.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>505</td> +<td>Theodorus and Sabinianus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>War between Theodoric and Anastasius (affair of Mundo). Battle of Horrea Margi.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>506</td> +<td>Messala and Areobinda.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>507 (Ind.)</td> +<td>Flavius <span class="smcap">Anastasius</span> Aug. (III) and Venantius.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Clovis defeats Alaric II at Campus Vogladensis.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>508</td> +<td>Venantius and Celer.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Tulum endeavours to raise siege of Arles. Byzantine raid on Apulia.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>509</td> +<td>Importunus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Mammo invades Burgundy.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>510</td> +<td>Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius (<i>Author of the 'Consolation'</i>).</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Ibbus defeats Franks and Burgundians.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>511</td> +<td>Felix and Secundinus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Death of Clovis.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>512</td> +<td>Paulus and Muschianus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>513</td> +<td>Probus and Clementinus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>514</td> +<td>Senator, <i>solus Consul</i> (Cassiodorus).</td> +<td>Cassiodorus as Consul restores harmony between clergy and people of Rome.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>HORMISDAS.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>515</td> +<td>Florentius and Anthemius.</td> +<td>Cassiodorus receives the Patriciate (?).</td> +<td>Marriage of Eutharic and Amalasuentha.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>516</td> +<td>Petrus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>517</td> +<td>Agapitus and Flavius Anastasius (<i>nephew of the Emperor</i>).</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>518</td> +<td>Magnus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>JUSTIN I.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>519</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Justinus</span> Augustus and Eutharicus Cillica.</td> +<td>Composition of the 'Chronicon,' dedicated to Eutharic.</td> +<td>End of schism between Eastern and Western Churches.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>520</td> +<td>Rusticus and Vitalianus.</td> +<td>Composition of the Gothic History (?).</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>521</td> +<td>Valerius and Flavius Justinianus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>522 (Ind.)</td> +<td>Symmachus and Boethius (<i>sons of the great Boethius</i>).</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>523</td> +<td>Flavius Anicius Maximus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Franks invade Burgundy. Imprisonment of Boethius.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>JOHN I.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>524</td> +<td>Flavius <span class="smcap">Justinus</span> Aug. (II) and Opilio.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Death of Boethius.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>525</td> +<td>Anicius Probus Junior and Flavius Theodorus Philoxenus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Death of Symmachus. Pope John's Mission to Constantinople.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>526</td> +<td>Olybrius.</td> +<td>Cassiodorus Master of the Offices.</td> +<td>Pope John dies in prison (May 25). Death of Theodoric (Aug. 30).</td> +<td>ATHALARIC.</td> +<td>FELIX III (or IV).</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>527</td> +<td>Vettius Agorius Basilius Mavortius.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Death of Amalafrida, Queen-dowager of the Vandals.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>JUSTINIAN.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>528</td> +<td>Flavius <span class="smcap">Justinianus</span> Aug. (II).</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>529</td> +<td>Decius Junior.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>BONIFACE II.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>530</td> +<td>Flavius Lampadius and Orestes.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>531</td> +<td><i>Post Consulatum Lampadii et Orestis.</i></td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>532</td> +<td><i>Post Consulatum Lampadii et Orestis Anno II.</i></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Final invasion of Burgundy by the Franks.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>533</td> +<td>Flavius <span class="smcap">Justinianus</span> Aug. (III).</td> +<td>Cassiodorus Praetorian Praefect (Sept. 1), which office he holds till he retires from public life.</td> +<td>The Vandal War of Justinian (June, 533--March, 534).</td> +<td> </td> +<td><b><a href="#err5">JOHN III.</a></b></td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>534</td> +<td>Flavius <span class="smcap">Justinianus</span> Aug. (IV) and Flavius Theodorus Paulinus Junior.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Death of Athalaric (Oct. 2). Association of Theodahad with Amalasuentha.</td> +<td>AMALASUENTHA. THEODAHAD.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>535</td> +<td>Flavius Belisarius.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Death of Amalasuentha. The Gothic War begins.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>AGAPETUS.</td> +<td> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>536</td> +<td><i>Post Consulatum Fl. Belisarii.</i></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Belisarius takes Naples and enters Rome.</td> +<td>WITIGIS.</td> +<td>SILVERIUS.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>537 (Ind.)</td> +<td><i>Post Consulatum Fl. Belisarii Anno II.</i></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Siege of Rome by Witigis.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>VIGILIUS.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>538</td> +<td>Flavius Johannes (John of Cappadocia).</td> +<td>Collection of the 'Variae.' Composition of the 'De Animâ.'</td> +<td>Siege of Rome raised.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>539</td> +<td>Flavius Appion.</td> +<td>Cassiodorus about this time lays down his office and retires to his birthplace (Scyllacium), where he founds the Monastery of Vivaria.</td> +<td>Mediolanum taken by the Goths. Belisarius takes Auximum.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>540</td> +<td>Flavius Justinus Junior.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Ravenna surrendered to Belisarius. Captivity of Witigis.</td> +<td>ILDIBAD.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>541</td> +<td>Flavius Basilius Junior.</td> +<td>He writes Commentary on the Psalms as far as Psalm 20.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>ERARIC. BADUILA (TOTILA).</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>542</td> +<td>Years reckoned Post Consulatum Basilii.</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td>Totila twice defeats the Imperial generals, and retrieves the fortune of the Ostrogoths.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>543</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td>Composition of the 'Institutiones Divinarum et Humanarum Litterarum.'</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>544</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Belisarius returns to Italy.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>545</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Rome taken by Totila.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>546</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td>Continues and completes his Commentary on the Psalms.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>547</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td>Rome re-occupied by Belisarius.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>548</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td>Death of Empress Theodora.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>549</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td>Rome again taken by Totila.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>550</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td>Death of Germanus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>551</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Narses Commander of Italian Expedition.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>552 (Ind.)</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td>Writes the 'Complexiones in Epistolas Apostolorum,' and compiles the 'Historia Tripartita' (the precise date of these works unknown).</td> +<td>Narses defeats Totila near Tadinum.</td> +<td>TEIAS.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>553</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td>Teias defeated and slain near Mons Lactarius. The Ostrogoths leave Italy. Invasion of the Alamannic brethren.</td> +<td>NARSES, Governor of Italy under the Emperor.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>554</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>555</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>PELAGIUS.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>556</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>557</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>558</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>559</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td>Belisarius defeats the Huns under Zabergan.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>560</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>JOHN III.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>561</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>562</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Disgrace of Belisarius. Belisarius restored to favour.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>563</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>564</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>565</td> +<td>Post Consulatum Basilii XXIV.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>JUSTIN II.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>566</td> +<td>Flavius <span class="smcap">Justinus</span> Augustus.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Death of Belisarius and of Justinian.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>567 (Ind.)</td> +<td>Years reckoned Post Consulatum Justini.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Narses recalled by Justin. Alleged invitation to the Lombards.</td> +<td>LONGINUS, Exarch.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>568</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td>The Lombards under Alboin enter Italy.</td> +<td>ALBOIN, King of the Lombards.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>569</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Milan taken by the Lombards.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>570</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>571</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Ticinum taken by the Lombards.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>572</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>573</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td>Composition of treatise 'De Orthographiâ' in 93rd year of Cassiodorus.</td> +<td>Assassination of Alboin.</td> +<td>CLEPH, King of the Lombards.</td> +<td>Death of John III.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>574</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>Death of Cleph.</td> +<td>BENEDICT I.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>575</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td>Cassiodorus dies in his 95th year (?).</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> +<h3>THE</h3> + +<h2>LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS.</h2> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="PREFACE2" id="PREFACE2"></a>PREFACE<a name="FNanchor_192_192" id="FNanchor_192_192"></a><a href="#Footnote_192_192" class="fnanchor">[192]</a>.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Reason for publication: entreaties of friends.</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Learned</span> men, who had become my friends through conversations which we +had had together, or benefits which I had bestowed upon them, sought +to persuade me to draw together into one work the various utterances +which it had been my duty to make, during my tenure of office, for the +explanation of different affairs. They desired me to do this, in order +that future generations might recognise the painful labours which I +had undergone for the public good, and the workings of my own unbribed +conscience. I then replied that their very kindness for me might turn +out to my disadvantage, since the letters which their good-will found +acceptable might to future readers seem insipid. I reminded them also +of the words of Horace, warning us of the dangers of hasty +publication.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Difficulty of writing.</div> + +<p>'You see,' said I, 'that all require from me a speedy reply to their +petitions; and do you think that I couch those replies in words which +leave me nothing to regret hereafter? Our diction must be somewhat +rude when there is no sufficient delay to enable the speaker to choose +words which shall rightly express the precise shade of his meaning. +Speech is the common gift of all mankind: it is embellishment +(ornatus) alone which distinguishes between the learned and unlearned. +The author is told to keep his writings by him for nine years for +reflection; but I have not as many hours, hardly as many moments.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> As +soon as I begin the petitioner worries me with his clamours, and +hurries me too much to prevent my finishing cautiously, even if I have +so begun my task. One vexes me past endurance by his interruptions and +innuendoes; another torments me with the doleful tale of his miseries; +others surround me with the mad shouts of their seditious +contentions<a name="FNanchor_193_193" id="FNanchor_193_193"></a><a href="#Footnote_193_193" class="fnanchor">[193]</a>. In such circumstances how can you expect elegance of +language, when we have scarcely opportunity to put words together in +any fashion? Even at night indescribable cares are flitting round our +couch<a name="FNanchor_194_194" id="FNanchor_194_194"></a><a href="#Footnote_194_194" class="fnanchor">[194]</a>, while we are harassed with fear lest the cities should +lack their supplies of food—food which the common people insist upon +more than anything else, caring more for their bellies than for the +gratification of their ears by eloquence. This thought obliges us to +wander in imagination through all the Provinces, and ever to enquire +after the execution of our orders, since it is not enough to tell our +staff what has to be done, but the diligent administrator must see +that it is done<a name="FNanchor_195_195" id="FNanchor_195_195"></a><a href="#Footnote_195_195" class="fnanchor">[195]</a>. Therefore, I pray you, spare us your harmful +love. I must decline this persuasion of yours, which will bring me +more of danger than of glory.'</p> + +<p>So I pleaded; but they plied me all the more with such arguments as +these:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Praefecture.</div> + +<p>'All men have known you as Praefect of the Praetorian throne, a +dignity which all other public employments wait upon like lacqueys. +For from this high office, ways and means for the army are demanded; +from this, without any regard for the difficulty of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> times, the +food of the people is required; on this, a weight of judicial +responsibility is thrown, which would be by itself a heavy burden. Now +the law, which has thrown this immense load on the Praefect's office, +has, on the other hand, honoured him by putting almost all things +under his control. In truth, what interval of leisure could you snatch +from your public labours, when into your single breast flowed every +claim which could be made on behalf of the common good of all?</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Quaestorship.</div> + +<p>'We must add, moreover, that when you were on frequent occasions +charged with the office of the Quaestorship, the leisure which you +might have enjoyed was taken from you by your own constant +thoughtfulness for the public good; and when you were thus bearing the +weight of an honour which was not the highest, your Sovereigns used to +lay upon you those duties, properly belonging to other offices, which +their own holders were unable to discharge<a name="FNanchor_196_196" id="FNanchor_196_196"></a><a href="#Footnote_196_196" class="fnanchor">[196]</a>. All these duties you +discharged with absolute freedom from corruption, following your +father's example in receiving, from those who hoped for your favour, +nothing but the obligation to serve them, and bestowing on petitioners +all that they had a right to ask for without traffic or reward.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Intimacy with Theodoric.</div> + +<p>'Moreover, men know that the conversations which you were honoured by +holding with the King occupied a large portion of your days, greatly +to the public welfare<a name="FNanchor_197_197" id="FNanchor_197_197"></a><a href="#Footnote_197_197" class="fnanchor">[197]</a>, so that men of leisure have no right<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> to +expect that their requirements shall be met by you, whose day was thus +occupied with continuous toil<a name="FNanchor_198_198" id="FNanchor_198_198"></a><a href="#Footnote_198_198" class="fnanchor">[198]</a>. But in truth this will redound yet +more to your glory, if amid so many and such severe labours you +succeed in writing that which is worthy to be read. Besides, your work +can without wounding their self-love instruct unlettered persons who +are not prepared by any consciousness of eloquence for the service of +the Republic<a name="FNanchor_199_199" id="FNanchor_199_199"></a><a href="#Footnote_199_199" class="fnanchor">[199]</a>; and the experience which you have gained by being +tossed to and fro on the waves of stormy altercation, they in their +more tranquil lot may more fortunately make their own. Again (and here +we make an appeal which your loyalty cannot resist), if you allow +posterity to be ignorant of the numerous benefits conferred by your +King, it is in vain that with benevolent eagerness he so often granted +your requests. Do not, we pray, draw back once more into silence and +obscurity those who, while you were sounding their eulogies, seemed +worthy to receive illustrious dignities. For you then professed to +describe them with true praises, and to paint their characters with +the colours of history<a name="FNanchor_200_200" id="FNanchor_200_200"></a><a href="#Footnote_200_200" class="fnanchor">[200]</a>. Now if you leave it to posterity to write +the panegyric on these men, you take away as it were from those who +die an honourable death the funeral oration to which, by the customs +of our ancestors, they are entitled. Besides, in these letters you +correct immorality with a ruler's authority; you break the insolence +of the transgressor; you restore to the laws their reverence. Do you +still hesitate about publishing that which, as you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> know, satisfies so +many needs? Will you conceal, if we may say so, the mirror of your own +mind, in which all ages to come may behold your likeness? Often does +it happen that a man begets a son unlike himself, but his writings are +hardly ever found unequal to his character<a name="FNanchor_201_201" id="FNanchor_201_201"></a><a href="#Footnote_201_201" class="fnanchor">[201]</a>. The progeny of his +own will is his truest child; what is born in the secret recesses of +his own heart is that by which posterity will know him best.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Gothic History.</div> + +<p>'You have often, amid universal acclamation, pronounced the praises of +kings and queens. In twelve books you have compiled the History of the +Goths, culling the story of their triumphs<a name="FNanchor_202_202" id="FNanchor_202_202"></a><a href="#Footnote_202_202" class="fnanchor">[202]</a>. Since these works +have had such favourable fortunes, and since you have thus served your +first campaign in literature, why hesitate to give these productions +of yours also to the public?'</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cassiodorus consents to publish.</div> + +<p>So pleaded my friends, and to my shame I must own that I was +conquered, and could no longer resist so many prayers; especially when +I saw myself accused of want of affection. I have now only to crave my +readers' pardon; and if they find rashness and presumption in my +attempt, to blame my advisers rather than me, since my own judgment +agrees with that of my severest critic.</p> + +<p>All the letters, therefore, which I have been able to find<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> in various +public archives that had been dictated by me as Quaestor, as Magister +[Officiorum], or as Praefect, are here collected and arranged in +twelve books. By the variety of subjects touched upon, the attention +of the reader will be aroused, and it will be maintained by the +feeling that he is rapidly approaching the conclusion of the letter.</p> + +<p>I have also wished to preserve others from those unpolished and hasty +forms of speech into which I am conscious that I have often fallen in +announcing the bestowal of dignities, a kind of document which is +often asked for in such haste that there seems scarce time for the +mere manual labour of writing it. I have therefore included in my +<a href="#BOOK_VI">Sixth</a> and <a href="#BOOK_VII">Seventh</a> Books <i>Formulae</i> for the granting of all the +dignities of the State, hoping thus to be of some service to myself, +though at a late period of my career, and to help my successors who +may be hard pressed for time. What I have thus written concerning the +past will serve equally well for the future, since I have said nothing +about the qualities of the individual office-holder, but have made +such explanations as seemed suitable concerning the office.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Reason of the title Variarum.</div> + +<p>As for the title of all twelve books, the index of the work, the +herald of its meaning, the expression in briefest compass of the whole +performance, I have for this chosen the name <span class="smcap">variae</span>. And this, because +it was necessary for me not always to use the same style, since I had +undertaken to address various kinds of persons. One must speak in one +way to men jaded with much reading; in another to those who skim +lightly over the surface, tasting here and there; in another (if one +would persuade them), to persons who are devoid of a taste for +letters, since it is sometimes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> a proof of skill to avoid the very +things which please the learned. In short, the definition given by our +ancestors is a good one: 'To speak fitly is to persuade the hearers to +accept your wishes for their own.' Nor was it at random that the +prudence of Antiquity thus defined the three modes of speaking:—</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The three styles of composition.</div> + +<p>(1) The <i>humble</i> style, which seems to creep along the ground in the +very expression of its thought.</p> + +<p>(2) The <i>middle</i> style, which is neither swollen with self-importance +nor shrunk into littleness; but being placed between the two, and +enriched by a peculiar elegance, is contained within its own true +boundaries.</p> + +<p>(3) The <i>supreme</i> style, which by exquisite phraseology is raised to +the very highest pitch of oratory.</p> + +<p>The object of this distinction is that the various sorts and +conditions of men may each receive their appropriate address, and that +the thoughts which proceed from the same breast may nevertheless flow +in divers channels. No man is entitled to the name of eloquent who is +not prepared to do his duty manfully with the triple strength of these +three styles, as one cause after another may arise. It must be added +hereto that we have sometimes to speak to Kings, sometimes to the +Officers of the Court, sometimes to the very humblest of the people. +To the last we may allowably pour out our words with some degree of +haste, but the other addresses should be deeply pondered before they +are delivered. Deservedly therefore is a work entitled <span class="smcap">variae</span>, which +is subject to so much diversity in its composition.</p> + +<p>Would that, as we have received these maxims from those who have gone +before us, so our own compositions could claim the praise of having +reduced them into practice. In sooth we do with shamefacedness +promise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> that the Humble style shall be found in us; we think we may +without dishonesty covenant for the Middle style; but the Supreme +style, which on account of its nobility is the fitting language of a +royal Edict<a name="FNanchor_203_203" id="FNanchor_203_203"></a><a href="#Footnote_203_203" class="fnanchor">[203]</a>, we cannot hope that we have attained unto.</p> + +<p>But since we are to be read, let us abstain from further unlawful +canvassing for the votes of our readers. It is an incongruous thing +for us to be thus piling up our own discourses about ourselves: we +ought rather to wait for your judgment on our work.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_I" id="BOOK_I"></a>BOOK I.</h2> + +<h3>CONTAINING FORTY-SIX LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC.</h3> + + +<h3><a name="i1">1.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Emperor Anastasius</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Persuasives to peace between Italy and Constantinople.</div> + +<p>'<span class="smcap">It</span> behoves us, most clement Emperor, to seek for peace, since there +are no causes for anger between us.</p> + +<p>'Peace by which the nations profit; Peace the fair mother of all +liberal arts, the softener of manners, the replenisher of the +generations of mankind. Peace ought certainly to be an object of +desire to every kingdom.</p> + +<p>'Therefore, most pious of princes, it accords with your power and your +glory that we who have already profited by your affection [personally] +should seek concord with your Empire. You are the fairest ornament of +all realms; you are the healthful defence of the whole world, to which +all other rulers rightfully look up with reverence<a name="FNanchor_204_204" id="FNanchor_204_204"></a><a href="#Footnote_204_204" class="fnanchor">[204]</a>, because they +know that there is in you something which is unlike all others<a name="FNanchor_205_205" id="FNanchor_205_205"></a><a href="#Footnote_205_205" class="fnanchor">[205]</a>: +we above all, who by Divine help learned in your Republic the art of +governing Romans with equity. Our royalty is an imitation of yours, +modelled on your good purpose, a copy of the only Empire; and in so +far as we follow you do we excel all other nations.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p><p>'Often have you exhorted me to love the Senate, to accept cordially +the laws of past Emperors, to join together in one all the members of +Italy. How can you separate from your august alliance one whose +character you thus try to make conformable to your own? There is +moreover that noble sentiment, love for the City of Rome, from which +two princes, both of whom govern in her name, should never be +disjoined.</p> + +<p>'We have thought fit therefore to send A and B<a name="FNanchor_206_206" id="FNanchor_206_206"></a><a href="#Footnote_206_206" class="fnanchor">[206]</a> as ambassadors to +your most serene Piety, that Peace, which has been broken, through a +variety of causes, may, by the removal of all matters of dispute, be +firmly restored between us. For we think you will not suffer that any +discord should remain between two Republics, which are declared to +have ever formed one body under their ancient princes<a name="FNanchor_207_207" id="FNanchor_207_207"></a><a href="#Footnote_207_207" class="fnanchor">[207]</a>, and which +ought not to be joined by a mere sentiment of love, but actively to +aid one another with all their powers. Let there be always one will, +one purpose in the Roman Kingdom. Therefore, while greeting you with +our respectful salutations, we humbly beg that you will not remove +from us the high honour of your Mildness's affection<a name="FNanchor_208_208" id="FNanchor_208_208"></a><a href="#Footnote_208_208" class="fnanchor">[208]</a>, which we +have a right to hope for if it were never granted to any others.</p> + +<p>'The rest of their commission will be verbally conveyed to your Piety +by the bearers of these letters<a name="FNanchor_209_209" id="FNanchor_209_209"></a><a href="#Footnote_209_209" class="fnanchor">[209]</a>.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="i2">2.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Theon, Vir Sublimis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Manufacture of purple dye.</div> + +<p>'We are informed by Count Stephen that the work of preparing the +purple for the sacred (<i>i.e.</i> royal) robes, which was put under your +charge, has been interrupted through reprehensible negligence on your +part. There must be neglect somewhere, or else the wool with its +milk-white hairs would long before now have imbibed the precious +quality of the adorable <i>murex</i>. If the diver in the waters of +Hydruntum<a name="FNanchor_210_210" id="FNanchor_210_210"></a><a href="#Footnote_210_210" class="fnanchor">[210]</a> had sought for these murex-shells at the proper season, +that Neptunian harvest, mixed with an abundant supply of water, would +already have generated the flame-bright liquid which dyes the robes +that adorn the throne. The colour of that dye is gay<a name="FNanchor_211_211" id="FNanchor_211_211"></a><a href="#Footnote_211_211" class="fnanchor">[211]</a> with too +great beauty; 'tis a blushing obscurity, an ensanguined blackness, +which distinguishes the wearer from all others, and makes it +impossible for the human race not to know who is the king. It is +marvellous that that substance after death should for so long a time +exude an amount of gore which one would hardly find flowing from the +wounds of a living creature. For even six months after they have been +separated from the delights of the sea, these shell-fish are not +offensive to the keenest nostrils, as if on purpose that that noble +blood might inspire no disgust. Once this dye is imparted to the +cloth, it remains there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> for ever; the tissue may be destroyed sooner +than part with it. If the murex has not changed its quality, if the +press (torcular) is still there to receive its one vintage, it must be +the fault of the labourers that the dye is not forthcoming. What are +they doing, all those crowds of sailors, those families of rustics? +And you who bear the name of Count, and were exalted high over your +fellow-citizens on purpose that you might attend to this very thing, +what sacrilegious negligence is this which you are manifesting in +reference to the sacred vesture? If you have any care for your own +safety come at once with the purple<a name="FNanchor_212_212" id="FNanchor_212_212"></a><a href="#Footnote_212_212" class="fnanchor">[212]</a>, which you have hitherto been +accustomed to render up every year. If not, if you think to mock us by +delay, we shall send you not a constrainer but an avenger.</p> + +<p>'How easy was the discovery of this great branch of manufacture! A +dog, keen with hunger, bounding along the Tyrian shore, crunched the +shells which were cast up there. The purple gore dyed his jaws with a +marvellous colour; and the men who saw it, after the sudden fashion of +inventors, conceived the idea of making therewith a noble adornment +for their kings. What Tyre is for the East, Hydron<a name="FNanchor_213_213" id="FNanchor_213_213"></a><a href="#Footnote_213_213" class="fnanchor">[213]</a> is for +Italy—the great cloth-factory of Courts, not keeping its old art +(merely), but ever transmitting new improvements.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i3">3.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Cassiodorus, Vir Illustris and Patrician</span><a name="FNanchor_214_214" id="FNanchor_214_214"></a><a href="#Footnote_214_214" class="fnanchor">[214]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Praises of the father of Cassiodorus.</div> + +<p>Extols in high-flown language the merits of the minister who in the +early and troublous days of Theodoric's reign conciliated the wavering +affections of the suspicious Sicilians<a name="FNanchor_215_215" id="FNanchor_215_215"></a><a href="#Footnote_215_215" class="fnanchor">[215]</a>, governed them so justly +that not even they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> (addicted as they are, according to Cicero, to +grumbling) could complain; then displayed equal rectitude in the +government of his own native Province of Bruttii and Lucania (hard as +it is to be perfectly just in the government of one's own native +place); then administered the Praefecture in such a way as to earn the +thanks of all Italy, even the taxes not being felt to be burdensome +under his rule, because so justly levied; and now, finally, as a +reward for all these services, is raised to the distinguished honour +of the Patriciate.</p> + + +<h3><a name="i4">4.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<p>[Introducing Cassiodorus (Senior) on his accession to the honours of +the Patriciate.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Great deeds of the ancestors of Cassiodorus for three +generations.</div> + +<p>Compliments to the Senate, of which Theodoric wishes to increase the +dignity by bestowing honours on its most eminent members.</p> + +<p>Recital of the services and good qualities of Cassiodorus<a name="FNanchor_216_216" id="FNanchor_216_216"></a><a href="#Footnote_216_216" class="fnanchor">[216]</a>:</p> + +<p>(<i>a</i>) as 'Comes Privatarum;'</p> + +<p>(<i>b</i>) as 'Comes Sacrarum Largitionum;'</p> + +<p>(<i>c</i>) as Governor of Provinces.</p> + +<p>(General reflections on the importance of a governor being himself a +virtuous man).</p> + +<p>'Having been trained thus to official life under the preceding King +[Odovacar] he came with well-earned praises to our palace.'</p> + +<p>(<i>d</i>) His eminent career as Praetorian Praefect and modest demeanour +therein.</p> + +<p>Services of previous members of his family. Fame seems to be always at +home among the Cassiodori. They are of noble birth, equally celebrated +among orators and warriors, healthy of body, and very tall.</p> + +<p>His father, <i>Cassiodorus</i><a name="FNanchor_217_217" id="FNanchor_217_217"></a><a href="#Footnote_217_217" class="fnanchor">[217]</a>, was 'Tribunus et Notarius'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> under +Valentinian III. This last was a great honour, for only men of +spotless life were associated with the Imperial 'Secretum.' A +friendship, founded on likeness, drew him to the side of Aetius, whose +labours for the State he shared.</p> + +<p><i>Embassy to Attila.</i> 'With the son of this Aetius, named Carpilio, he +was sent on no vain embassy to Attila, the mighty in arms. He looked +undaunted on the man before whom the Empire quailed. Calm in conscious +strength, he despised all those terrible wrathful faces that scowled +around him. He did not hesitate to meet the full force of the +invectives of the madman who fancied himself about to grasp the Empire +of the world. He found the King insolent; he left him pacified; and so +ably did he argue down all his slanderous pretexts for dispute that +though the Hun's interest was to quarrel with the richest Empire in +the world, he nevertheless condescended to seek its favour. The +firmness of the orator roused the fainting courage of his countrymen, +and men felt that Rome could not be pronounced defenceless while she +was armed with such ambassadors. Thus did he bring back the peace +which men had despaired of; and as earnestly as they had prayed for +his success, so thankfully did they welcome his return.'</p> + +<p>He was offered honours and revenues, but preferred to seek the +pleasant retirement of Bruttii in the land which his exertions had +freed from the terror of the stranger.</p> + +<p>His father, Cassiodorus<a name="FNanchor_218_218" id="FNanchor_218_218"></a><a href="#Footnote_218_218" class="fnanchor">[218]</a>, an 'Illustris,' defended the coasts of +Sicily and Bruttii from the Vandals, thus averting from those regions +the ruin which afterwards fell upon Rome from the same quarter.</p> + +<p>In the East, Heliodorus, a cousin of the Cassiodori, has brilliantly +discharged the office of Praefect for <b><a href="#err6">eighteen</a></b> years, as Theodoric +himself can testify. Thus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> the family, conspicuous both in the Eastern +and Western World, has two eyes with which it shines with equal +brilliancy in each Senate.</p> + +<p>Cassiodorus is so wealthy that his herds of horses surpass those of +the King, to whom he makes presents of some of them in order to avoid +envy. 'Hence it arises that our present candidate [for patrician +honours] mounts the armies of the Goths; and having even improved upon +his education, generously administers the wealth which he received +from his parents.</p> + +<p>'Now, Conscript Fathers, welcome and honour the new Patrician, who is +so well worthy of a high place among you.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i5">5.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Florianus, Vir Spectabilis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium.</div> + +<p>'Lawsuits must not be dragged on for ever. There must be some +possibility of reaching a quiet haven. Wherefore, if the petitioners +have rightly informed us that the controversy as to the farm at +Mazenes has been decided in due course of law by Count Annas, and +there is no reasonable ground for appeal<a name="FNanchor_219_219" id="FNanchor_219_219"></a><a href="#Footnote_219_219" class="fnanchor">[219]</a>, let that sentence be +held final and irreversible. We must sometimes save a litigious man +from himself, as a good doctor will not allow a patient to take that +which is injurious to him.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i6">6.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Agapitus, Praefectus Urbis</span>.</h3> + +<p>[One of the MSS. reads <i>Pontifici</i>, but this is clearly wrong. The +language is not at all suitable to be addressed to a Pope, and there +was no Pope Agapetus till 535, nine years after the death of +Theodoric.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Mosaics ordered for Ravenna.</div> + +<p>'I am going to build a great Basilica of Hercules at Ravenna, for I +wish my age to match preceding ones<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> in the beauty of its buildings, +as it does in the happiness of the lives of my subjects.</p> + +<p>'Send me therefore skilful workers in Mosaic' [of which kind of work +we have a very good description as follows].</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>(Cassiodorus on Mosaic).</i></p> + +<p>'Send us from your city some of your most skilful marble-workers, who +may join together those pieces which have been exquisitely divided, +and, connecting together their different veins of colour, may +admirably represent the natural appearance<a name="FNanchor_220_220" id="FNanchor_220_220"></a><a href="#Footnote_220_220" class="fnanchor">[220]</a>. From Art proceeds +this gift, which conquers Nature. And thus the discoloured surface of +the marble is woven into the loveliest variety of pictures; the value +of the work, now as always, being increased by the minute labour which +has to be expended on the production of the Beautiful.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i7">7.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Felix, Vir Clarissimus</span>.</h3> + +<p>This letter will be best understood by a reference to the following +pedigree:</p> + +<p> </p> + +<table style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" summary="pedigree"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="3">N.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid black;" colspan="3">|</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: left;">|</td> + <td style="text-align: center;">|</td> + <td style="text-align: right;">|</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Felix</span> = <br /> + <br /> + <br /></td> + <td style="text-align: left;">A daughter.<br /> + <br /> + <br /></td> + <td style="text-align: center;"><span class="smcap">Neotherius</span><br /> + [a spendthrift].<br /> + <br /></td> + <td style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Plutianus</span><br /> + [a minor, whose<br /> + guardian is<br /> + Venantius].</td> + </tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> </p> + + +<div class="sidenote">The inheritance of Plutianus.</div> + +<p>Apparently Felix is accused by Venantius, the guardian of his young +brother-in-law Plutianus, of having, on behalf of his wife, made an +unfair division of the family property (which had been originally +given to the father of these lads by Theodoric, as a reward for his +services). In doing this he has availed himself of the spendthrift +character of Neotherius, the elder brother, who was probably already +of age.</p> + +<p>Felix is severely blamed, and ordered to hand over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> what he has +fraudulently appropriated to the official, who is charged with the +execution of this mandate.</p> + +<p>Both are summoned to the 'Comitatus' of the King, that a fair division +may there be made between them.</p> + + +<h3><a name="i8">8.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Amabilis, the Collector (Exsecutor)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The prodigality of Neotherius.</div> + +<p>In reference to this same matter of the wasted property of Plutianus. +It appears from this letter that Neotherius has been not merely a +spendthrift, but has been actuated by motives of passionate hatred to +his younger brother<a name="FNanchor_221_221" id="FNanchor_221_221"></a><a href="#Footnote_221_221" class="fnanchor">[221]</a>. 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.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i9">9.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Eustorgius, Bishop of Milan</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Offences charged against Ecclesiastics.</div> + +<p>'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.'</p> + +<p>[The reflections in this letter about the impropriety of believing +readily accusations against a Bishop<a name="FNanchor_222_222" id="FNanchor_222_222"></a><a href="#Footnote_222_222" class="fnanchor">[222]</a>, and the course adopted of +handing over the clerical false accusers to be dealt with by their +Bishop, have an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> obvious bearing on the great Hildebrandic +controversy. But as Dahn ('Könige der Germanen' iii. 191) points out, +there is no abandonment by the King of the ultimate right to punish an +ecclesiastic.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="i10">10.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Boetius<a name="FNanchor_223_223" id="FNanchor_223_223"></a><a href="#Footnote_223_223" class="fnanchor">[223]</a>, Vir Illustris and Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Frauds of the moneyers.</div> + +<p>The Horse and Foot Guards<a name="FNanchor_224_224" id="FNanchor_224_224"></a><a href="#Footnote_224_224" class="fnanchor">[224]</a> seem to have complained that after +their severe labours they were not paid in solidi of full weight by +the 'Arcarius Praefectorum.'</p> + +<p>Cassiodorus gives—</p> + +<p>(1) Some sublime reflections in the true Cassiodorian vein on the +nature of Arithmetic, by which earth and the heavens are ruled.</p> + +<p>(2) Some excellent practical remarks on the wickedness of clipping and +depreciating the currency.</p> + +<p>The most interesting but most puzzling sentence in this letter is that +in which he says that 'the ancients wished that the <i>solidus</i> should +consist of 6,000 <i>denarii</i>, 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 shillings. 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 Cassiodorus is talking about the an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>cients (veteres), +whereas the solidus was a comparatively modern coin. It seems that +either Cassiodorus 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.</p> + +<p>This passage is quoted by Finlay ('Greece under the Romans,' p. 536, +ed. 1857), but the difficulty is not removed by his remarks.</p> + + +<h3><a name="i11">11.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Servatus, Duke of the Raetias</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Violence of the Breones.</div> + +<p>'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 +<i>Breones</i> [a Raetian tribe dwelling near the pass of the Brenner], who +are continuing in peace the habits and maxims of war.</p> + +<p>'If this proves to be a true complaint, see that justice is done, and +speedily.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i12">12.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Eugenius (or Eugenites)<a name="FNanchor_225_225" id="FNanchor_225_225"></a><a href="#Footnote_225_225" class="fnanchor">[225]</a>, Vir Illustris, +Magister Officiorum</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Bestowal of dignity of Magister Officiorum.</div> + +<p>'It is the glory of our reign to confer office on those who deserve +it.</p> + +<p>'You are a learned man, and arrived long ago at the dignity of the +Quaestorship as a reward for your creditable exertions as an Advocate.</p> + +<p>'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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> what our standard +of righteousness is. A sort of religious holiness is required from +those who hold office under a righteous king<a name="FNanchor_226_226" id="FNanchor_226_226"></a><a href="#Footnote_226_226" class="fnanchor">[226]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i13">13.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the same subject.</div> + +<p>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 <a href="#i12">preceding letter</a>. He is to +go from one office to another, 'even as the sun having shone one day, +rises in order to shine 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 +noble deeds.'</p> + +<p>[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.']</p> + + +<h3><a name="i14">14.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, +<a href="#err9">Praepositus</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Collection of 'Tertiae.'</div> + +<p>'We have no objection to grant the petition 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.'</p> + +<p>[See Dahn ('Könige der Germanen' iii. 143), who decides that the +'Tertiae' was the pecuniary equivalent paid by the Roman possessor for +that portion of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> the <i>Sors Barbarica</i> (the Gothic third of the lands +of Italy) which, for convenience sake, was left in the actual +occupation of Romans.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="i15">15.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Festus, Vir Illustris and Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Looking after the interests of the absent.</div> + +<p>'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.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i16">16.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Julianus, Comes Patrimonii</span> [probably 508].</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Remission of taxes. Hostile incursions.</div> + +<p>'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<a name="FNanchor_227_227" id="FNanchor_227_227"></a><a href="#Footnote_227_227" class="fnanchor">[227]</a>. 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.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i17">17.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Gothic and Roman Inhabitants of Dertona +(Tortona)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Fortification of camp near Dertona.</div> + +<p>'We have decided that the camp near you shall at once be fortified. It +is expedient to execute works of this kind in peace rather than in +war.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> + +<p>'The true meaning of <i>expeditio</i> shows that the leader of a military +expedition should have an unencumbered mind.</p> + +<p>'Do you therefore second our efforts by building good private houses, +in which you will be sheltered, while the enemy (whenever he comes) +will be in the worst possible quarters<a name="FNanchor_228_228" id="FNanchor_228_228"></a><a href="#Footnote_228_228" class="fnanchor">[228]</a>, and exposed to all the +severity of the weather.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i18">18.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Domitianus and Wilias</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Statute of Limitations.</div> + +<p>'It is right that you, who are administering justice to the nations, +should learn and practise it yourselves. We therefore hasten to reply +to the question which you have asked [concerning the length of time +that is required to bestow a title by prescription]. If any Barbarian +usurper have taken possession of a Roman farm since the time when we, +through God's grace, crossed the streams of the Isonzo, when first the +Empire of Italy received us<a name="FNanchor_229_229" id="FNanchor_229_229"></a><a href="#Footnote_229_229" class="fnanchor">[229]</a>, and if he have no documents of title +[sine delegatoris cujusquam pyctacio] to show that he is the rightful +holder, then let him without delay restore the property to its former +owner. But if he shall be found to have entered upon the property +before the aforesaid time, since the principle of the thirty years' +prescription comes in, we order that the petition of the plaintiff +shall be dropped.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Crimes of violence.</div> + +<p>'The assailant, as well as the murderer, of his brother, is to be +driven forth from the kingdom, that the serenity of our Commonwealth +may not be troubled with any such dark spots.'</p> + +<p>[Theodoric crossed the Isonzo, August, 489, and as I understand this +letter, it was written somewhere about 518, and he therefore lays down +a convenient practical<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> rule: 'No dispossession which occurred before +I crossed the Isonzo shall be enquired into; any which have happened +since, may.' But the letter is a very difficult one, and I am bound to +say that Dahn's interpretation ('Könige der Germanen' iii. 11, 12) +does not agree with mine.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="i19">19.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Saturninus and Verbusius, Viri Sublimes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The rights of the Fiscus.</div> + +<p>'The <i>Fiscus</i> is to have its rights, but we do not wish to oppress our +people. Let moderation be observed in all things.</p> + +<p>'When you receive the petition of the Curiales of Adriana, if anyone +who is able to pay, stubbornly and impudently refuses to contribute to +the <i>Fiscus Gothorum</i>, you are to compel him to do so. But let off the +really poor man who is unable to contribute.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i20">20.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Albinus and Albienus, Viri Illustres and +Patricians</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Circus quarrels. Patronage of the Greens. Rivalry between +Helladius and Theodorus.</div> + +<p>'Notwithstanding our greater cares for the Republic, we are willing to +provide also for the amusement of our subjects. For it is the +strongest possible proof of the success of our labours that the +multitude knows itself to be again at leisure<a name="FNanchor_230_230" id="FNanchor_230_230"></a><a href="#Footnote_230_230" class="fnanchor">[230]</a>.</p> + +<p>'The petition of the Green party in the circus informs us that they +are oppressed, and that the factions of the circus are fatal to public +tranquillity. We therefore order you to assume the patronage of the +Green party, which our father of glorious memory paid for<a name="FNanchor_231_231" id="FNanchor_231_231"></a><a href="#Footnote_231_231" class="fnanchor">[231]</a>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> So +let the spectators be assembled, and let them choose between Helladius +and Theodorus which is fittest to be Pantomimist of the Greens, whose +salary we will pay.'</p> + +<p>Then follows a digression on pantomimes.</p> + + +<h3><a name="i21">21.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Maximian, Vir Illustris; and Andreas, Vir +Spectabilis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Embellishment of Rome.</div> + +<p>'If the people of Rome will beautify their City we will help them.</p> + +<p>'Institute a strict audit (of which no one need be ashamed) of the +money given by us to the different workmen for the beautification of +the City. See that we are receiving money's worth for the money spent. +If there is embezzlement anywhere, cause the funds so embezzled to be +disgorged. We expect the Romans to help from their own resources in +this patriotic work, and certainly not to intercept our contributions +for the purpose.</p> + +<p>'The wandering birds love their own nests; the beasts haste to their +own lodgings in the brake; the voluptuous fish, roaming the fields of +ocean, returns to its own well-known cavern. How much more should Rome +be loved by her children!'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i22">22.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Marcellus, Vir Spectabilis, Advocatus Fisci</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Promotion of Marcellus.</div> + +<p>After some rather vapid praise of the eloquence and good qualities of +Marcellus, Theodoric promotes him from the rank of a Private Advocate +to that of an <i>Advocatus Fisci</i>, and gives him some excellent counsels +about not pressing the claims of the Crown too far. 'We shall not +enquire how many causes you have gained, but how you have gained them. +Let there sometimes be a bad cause for the Fiscus, that the Sovereign +may be seen to be good.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="i23">23.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Coelianus and Agapitus, Viri Illustres and +Patricians</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Litigation between Senators.</div> + +<p>'The concord and harmony of subjects redound to the praise of their +prince.</p> + +<p>'We desire that Festus and Symmachus (Patricians and Magnifici) should +prosecute the causes for action which they say they have against +Paulinus (Illustris and Patrician) in your Court. Let Paulinus bring +before you any counter-claim which he may assert himself to possess. +Let justice be rendered speedily. Show yourselves worthy of this high +trust. It is a matter of great moment to end lawsuits between men of +such eminence in the State as these.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i24">24.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Goths</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">A call to arms for the invasion of Gaul.</div> + +<p>'To the Goths a hint of war rather than persuasion to the strife is +needed, since a warlike race such as ours delights to prove its +courage. In truth, he shuns no labour who hungers for the renown of +valour. Therefore with the help of God, whose blessing alone brings +prosperity, we design to send our army to the Gauls for the common +benefit of all, that you may have an opportunity of promotion, and we +the power of testing your merits; for in time of peace the courage +which we admire lies hidden, and when men have no chance of showing +what is in them, their relative merits are concealed. We have +therefore given our Sajo<a name="FNanchor_232_232" id="FNanchor_232_232"></a><a href="#Footnote_232_232" class="fnanchor">[232]</a>, Nandius, instructions to warn you that, +on the eighth day before the kalends of next July, you move forward to +the campaign in the name of God, sufficiently equipped, according to +your old custom, with horses, arms, and every requisite for war. Thus +will ye at the same time show that the old valour of your sires yet +dwells in your hearts, and also successfully perform<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> your King's +command. Bring forth your young men for the discipline of Mars. Let +them see you do deeds which they may love to tell of to their +children. For an art not learned in youth is an art missing in our +riper years. The very hawk, whose food is plunder, thrusts her still +weak and tender young ones out of the nest, that they may not become +accustomed to soft repose. She strikes the lingerers with her wings; +she forces her callow young to fly, that they may prove to be such in +the future as her maternal fondness can be proud of. Do you therefore, +lofty by nature, and stimulated yet more by the love of fame, study to +leave such sons behind you as your fathers have left in leaving you.'</p> + +<p>[We can hardly be wrong in referring this stirring proclamation to the +year 508, when Theodoric sent troops into Gaul to save the remnants of +the Visigothic Monarchy from the grasp of Clovis. The first sentence +recalls the expression 'certaminis gaudia,' which Jordanes no doubt +borrowed from Cassiodorus. For the simile at the end of the letter, +cf. Deuteronomy xxxii. 11, 'As an eagle stirreth up her nest'.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="i25">25.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Sabinianus, Vir Spectabilis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Repair of the walls of Rome.</div> + +<p>'It is important to preserve as well as to create. We are earnestly +anxious to keep the walls of Rome in good repair, and have therefore +ordered the Lucrine port<a name="FNanchor_233_233" id="FNanchor_233_233"></a><a href="#Footnote_233_233" class="fnanchor">[233]</a> to furnish 25,000 tiles annually for +this purpose. See that this is done, that the cavities which have been +formed by the fall of stones may be roofed over with tiles, and so +preserved, and that thus we may deserve the thanks of ancient kings, +to whose works we have given immortal youth.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="i26">26.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, +<a href="#err9">Praepositus</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Immunity of Church property from taxation.</div> + +<p>In the time of Cassiodorus the Patrician (a man of tried integrity and +pure fidelity<a name="FNanchor_234_234" id="FNanchor_234_234"></a><a href="#Footnote_234_234" class="fnanchor">[234]</a>), a grant of freedom from taxation<a name="FNanchor_235_235" id="FNanchor_235_235"></a><a href="#Footnote_235_235" class="fnanchor">[235]</a> was made to +the Church of Vercelli. Since that time other property has been +conveyed to the same Church, apparently by a soldier. An attempt is +made to represent this after-acquired property as also tax-free. 'No,' +says the King. 'It would be very wrong in us to recall our gift; but +it is equally wrong in you to try to stretch it to something which it +never included. Private persons must not make grants to the injury of +our treasury. Tribute belongs to the purple, not to the military +cloak<a name="FNanchor_236_236" id="FNanchor_236_236"></a><a href="#Footnote_236_236" class="fnanchor">[236]</a>. Your newly acquired possessions must pay taxes along with +those of other owners.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i27">27.</a> <a href="#err7"> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Speciosus</span>.</a></h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Circus quarrels.</div> + +<p>'If we are moderating under our laws the character of foreign nations, +if the Roman law is supreme over all that is in alliance with Italy, +how much more doth it become the Senate of the seat of civilisation +itself to have a surpassing reverence for law, that by the example of +their moderation the beauty of their dignities may shine forth more +eminently. For where shall we look for moderation, if violence stains +Patricians? The Green party complain that they have been truculently +assaulted by the Patrician Theodoric and the "Illustris and Consul +Importunus," and that one life has been lost in the fray. We wish the +matter to be at once brought before the Illustres Coelianus and +Agapitus and examined into by them<a name="FNanchor_237_237" id="FNanchor_237_237"></a><a href="#Footnote_237_237" class="fnanchor">[237]</a>.</p> + +<p>'As to their counter-complaints of rudeness against the mob, you must +distinguish between deliberate inso<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>lence and the licence of the +theatre. Who expects seriousness of character at the spectacles? It is +not exactly a congregation of Catos that comes together at the circus. +The place excuses some excesses. And besides, it is the <i>beaten</i> party +which vents its rage in insulting cries. Do not let the Patricians +complain of clamour that is really the result of a victory for their +own side, which they greatly desired.'</p> + +<p>[The mention of 'the Patrician Theodoric' is a difficulty, as we know +of no namesake of the King among the Roman nobility. Perhaps we ought +to read (with the Remensian MS.) 'Theodoro,' as we know from 'Anon. +Valesii' 68 that there was a Theodorus, son of Basilius, who perhaps +succeeded Liberius, Praef. Praetorio.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="i28">28.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Goths and Romans</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The walls of Rome.</div> + +<p>'Most worthy of Royal attention is the rebuilding of ancient cities, +an adornment in time of peace, a precaution for time of war.</p> + +<p>'Therefore, if anyone have in his fields stones suitable for the +building of the walls, let him cheerfully and promptly produce them. +Even though he should be paid at a low rate, he will have his reward +as a member of the community, which will benefit thereby.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i29">29.</a> <a href="#err8"> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Lucristani (Lustriani?) on the River +Sontius (Isonzo)</span>.</a></h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The Postal Service.</div> + +<p>'The post (<i>Cursus Publicus</i>) is evidently an institution of great +public utility, tending to the rapid promulgation of our decrees.</p> + +<p>'Care must therefore be taken that the horses are not allowed to get +out of condition, lest they break down under their work, and lest the +journey, which should be rapid, become tediously slow.</p> + +<p>'Also any lands formerly appropriated to the <i>muta</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span><i>tiones</i> [places for +changing horses] which have fallen into private hands must be +reclaimed for the public service, the owners being sufficiently +indemnified for their loss.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i30">30.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the injury to public peace arising from the Circus +rivalries.</div> + +<p>The Senators are exhorted not to allow their menials to embroil +themselves with the populace, and thus bring their good name into +disgrace. Any slave accused of the murder of a free-born citizen is to +be at once given up, under penalty of a fine of 10 lbs. of gold +(£400), and the King's severe displeasure for the master who disobeys +this command.</p> + +<p>'And do not you, oh Senators, be too severe in marking every idle word +which the mob may utter amidst the general rejoicing. If there is any +insult which requires notice, bring it before the "Praefectus +Urbis"—a far better and safer course than taking the law into your +own hands.'</p> + +<p>[This letter, a very interesting and sensible one, is somewhat spoilt +by a characteristic Cassiodorian sentence at the end:—</p> + +<p>'Men in old time used always to fight with their fists, whence the +word <i>pugna</i>, "a pugnis." Afterwards iron was introduced by King +Belus, and hence came <i>bellum</i>, "a Belo."']</p> + + +<h3><a name="i31">31.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Roman People</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the same subject.</div> + +<p>Gives similar good advice to that contained in the <a href="#i30">previous letter</a> to +the Senate.</p> + +<p>'The Circus, in which the King spends so much money, is meant to be +for public delight, not for stirring up wrath. Instead of uttering +howls and insults like other nations [the populace of Byzantium?], +whom they have despised for doing so, let them tune their voices, so +that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> their applause shall sound like the notes of some vast organ, +and even the brute creation delight to hear it.</p> + +<p>'Anyone uttering outrageous reproaches against any Senator will be +dealt with by the Praefectus Urbis.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i32">32.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Agapitus, Vir Illustris, Praefectus Urbis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the same subject.</div> + +<p>'The ruler of the city ought to keep the peace, and justify my choice +of him. Your highest praise is a quiet people.</p> + +<p>'We have issued our "oracles" to the "amplissimus ordo" (Senate) and +to the people, that the custom of insulting persons in the Circus is +to be put under some restraint; on the other hand, any Senator who +shall be provoked to kill a free-born person shall pay a fine. The +games are meant to make people happy, not to stir them up to deadly +rage. Helladius<a name="FNanchor_238_238" id="FNanchor_238_238"></a><a href="#Footnote_238_238" class="fnanchor">[238]</a> is to come forth into the midst and afford the +people pleasure [as a pantomimist], and he is to receive his monthly +allowance (menstruum) with the other actors of the Green Faction. His +partisans are to be allowed to sit where they please.'</p> + +<p>[Was there not some division in the Green Faction itself concerning +the merits of Helladius and his rival Theodorus?]</p> + + +<h3><a name="i33">33.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Agapitus, Vir Illustris, Praefectus Urbis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Arrangements for the Pantomime.</div> + +<p>'Our Serenity is not going to change the arrangements which we have +once made for the public good. We told Albinus and Albienus<a name="FNanchor_239_239" id="FNanchor_239_239"></a><a href="#Footnote_239_239" class="fnanchor">[239]</a> to +choose the most fitting person they could find as Pantomimist of the +Greens. They have done so [choosing probably Helladius]. He shall have +his monthly allowance, and let there be peace.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="i34">34.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, +<a href="#err9">Praepositus</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Only the surplus of corn to be exported.</div> + +<p>'It should be only the surplus of the crops of any Province, beyond +what is needed for the supply of its own wants, that should be +exported. Station persons in the harbours to see that foreign ships do +not take away produce to foreign shores until the Public +Providers<a name="FNanchor_240_240" id="FNanchor_240_240"></a><a href="#Footnote_240_240" class="fnanchor">[240]</a> have got all that they require.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i35">35.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, +<a href="#err9">Praepositus</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Unreasonable delays. The sucking-fish and torpedo.</div> + +<p>'This extraordinarily dry season having ruined the hopes of our +harvest, it is more than ever necessary that the produce should be +brought forward promptly. We are therefore exceedingly annoyed at +finding that the crops which are generally sent forward by your +Chancellor from the coasts of Calabria and Apulia in summer have not +yet arrived, though it is near autumn and the time is at hand when the +sun, entering the southern signs (which are all named from showers), +will send us storm and tempest.</p> + +<p>'What are you waiting for? Why are your ships not spreading their +sails to the breeze? With a favourable wind and with bending oarsmen, +are you perhaps delayed by the <i>echeneis</i> (Remora, or sucking-fish)? +or by the shell-fish of the Indian Ocean? or by the torpedo, whose +touch paralyses the hand? No; the echeneis in this case is entangling +venality; the bites of the shell-fish, insatiable avarice; the +torpedo, fraudulent pretence.</p> + +<p>'The merchants are making delays in order that they may seem to have +fallen on adverse weather.</p> + +<p>'Let your Magnitude put all this to rights promptly, otherwise our +famine will be imputed, not to bad seasons, but to negligence<a name="FNanchor_241_241" id="FNanchor_241_241"></a><a href="#Footnote_241_241" class="fnanchor">[241]</a>.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="i36">36.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Theriolus, Vir Spectabilis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Guardianship of children of Benedictus.</div> + +<p>'We wish you to take the place of the late Benedictus in the city of +Pedon.</p> + +<p>'As we never forget the services of the dead, we wish you to undertake +officially the guardianship of the sons of the said Benedictus.</p> + +<p>'We always pay back to our faithful servants more than we have +received from them, and thus we do not go on the principle "equality +is equity," because we think it just to make them <i>more</i> than an equal +recompence.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i37">37.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Crispianus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Justifiable homicide.</div> + +<p>'Murder is abominable, but it is right to take into account the +circumstances which may have provoked to homicide. If the slain man +was trying to violate the rights of wedlock, his blood be on his own +head. For even brute beasts vindicate their conjugal rights by force: +how much more man, who is so deeply dishonoured by the adulterer!</p> + +<p>'Therefore, if it be true that the man whom you slew had wronged you +as a husband, we do not agree to the punishment of exile which has +been inflicted upon you. Nor will we uphold the action of the +<i>Vicarius</i> or of his <i>Officium</i>, who, as you say, have impounded the +money paid by your <i>fidei-jussor</i> (guarantor) Agnellus. Also, we will +protect you against the hostile assaults of Candax [next of kin to the +murdered man?] in future. But your allegation as to the provocation +must be fully established by legal process.'</p> + +<p>[It may be remarked that Candac, King of the Alani in Moesia, is +mentioned in the pedigree of Jordanes ('Getica,' cap. 4).]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="i38">38.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Baion, +<a href="#err10">a Senator</a></span><a name="FNanchor_242_242" id="FNanchor_242_242"></a><a href="#Footnote_242_242" class="fnanchor">[242]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The young Hilarius to be allowed to enter on possession of +his property.</div> + +<p>'We are told that you are keeping in your own hands the administration +of the property of your young nephew [or grandson] Hilarius against +his will, and not for his good, but yours. Restore it at once. Let him +dispose of it as he likes. He seems to be quite able to enter upon the +lordship of his own. The eagle feeds her callow young with food which +she has procured for them, till their wings grow. Then, when their +flight is strong and their nails sharp, she trains them to strike +their own prey. So with our young Goths: when they are fit for +soldiership we cannot bear that they should be deemed incapable of +managing their own concerns. "To the Goths valour makes full age. And +he who is strong enough to stab his enemy to the heart should be +allowed to vindicate himself from every accusation of incapacity."'</p> + +<p>[Notwithstanding his Roman name, Hilarius is evidently a Goth.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="i39">39.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Festus, Vir Illustris and Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The nephews of Filagrius to be detained in Rome.</div> + +<p>'We are always delighted to grant just requests.</p> + +<p>'Filagrius (Vir Spectabilis), who has been long absent from his home +on our business, seeks to return to Syracuse, but at the same time +asks that his brother's sons may be kept for their education's sake at +Rome. Do you attend to this petition, and do not let the lads go till +we send you a second order to that effect. No one ought to murmur at +being detained in Rome, which is every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>one's country, the fruitful +mother of eloquence, the wide temple of all virtues. Ulysses would +very likely never have become famous if he had lingered on at home; +but Homer's noble poem most chiefly proclaims his wisdom in this fact, +that he roamed among many cities and nations.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i40">40.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Assuin (or Assius), Vir Illustris and Comes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The inhabitants of Salona to be drilled.</div> + +<p>'War needs rehearsal and preparation. Therefore let your Illustrious +Sublimity provide the inhabitants of Salona with arms, and let them +practise themselves in the use of them; for the surest safeguard of +the Republic is an armed defender.'</p> + +<p>The necessity of drill and practice is shown by the early combats of +bullocks, the play-huntings of puppies, the necessity of first +kindling a fire with very little sticks, and so forth.</p> + + +<h3><a name="i41">41.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Agapitus, Vir Illustris, Praefectus Urbis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Enquiries into character of the younger Faustus.</div> + +<p>'The dignity of the Senate makes it necessary to be unusually careful +who is admitted into that body. Let other orders receive middling men: +the Senate must receive none but those who are of proved excellence.</p> + +<p>'Therefore let your Illustrious Magnificence cause those enquiries to +be made concerning Faustus, the grown-up son of the Illustrious +Faustus, which the Senate hath ordered to be made concerning all +persons who are to be enrolled in its council<a name="FNanchor_243_243" id="FNanchor_243_243"></a><a href="#Footnote_243_243" class="fnanchor">[243]</a>. In thus confirming +and ratifying the proceedings of the Senate we are in no degree +trenching on the accustomed authority of that sacred order.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="i42">42.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Artemidorus, Vir Illustris and Patrician</span> [509 <span class="smcap">or</span> +524].</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Artemidorus to be Praefect of the City.</div> + +<p>'We are especially bound to reward merit. Everyone who does us a +service makes a very good investment. You have long had what was +formerly considered more precious than great dignity—near access to +our person. Much as we loved you, we somewhat retarded your advance in +order that you might be the more richly adorned with all virtues when +you came to honour. Your birthplace, your lineage, your merit, all +declare you worthy of the promotion which we now bestow upon you, +declaring you for this third Indiction<a name="FNanchor_244_244" id="FNanchor_244_244"></a><a href="#Footnote_244_244" class="fnanchor">[244]</a> <i>Praefectus Urbis</i>. You +will thus have the function of presiding over the Senate, a far higher +office than that of ruling the Palace or arranging private houses. The +value of the object committed to a person's care increases the dignity +of the post. It is much more honourable to be caretaker of a diadem +than of a wine-cellar. Judge of our esteem for you by the preciousness +of the body over which we are thus calling you to preside.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i43">43.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Promotion of Artemidorus.</div> + +<p>[Announcing the elevation of Artemidorus to the post of Praefectus +Urbis.]</p> + +<p>'Artemidorus, though entitled from his relationship to the Emperor +Zeno to expect great promotion at the Court of Constantinople, has +preferred to share the fortunes and attach himself to the person of +Theodoric, who has often been refreshed after the cares of State by an +hour of his charming converse. Though he might have aspired to the +highest dignities of the Court, he has hitherto been satisfied with +the comparatively humble post of Superintendent of the Public +Spectacles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> [as Tribunus Voluptatum?]. Now, as Praefectus Urbis, he is +to preside over and become a member of your body. Welcome him.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i44">44.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the People of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the same subject.</div> + +<p>[On the same subject as <a href="#i42">42</a> and <a href="#i43">43</a>, the elevation of Artemidorus to the +Urban Praefecture.]</p> + +<p>Rebukes the commonalty sharply for their recent disturbances, which +defile with illicit seditions the blessings of peace, earned under +God's blessing by their Prince. The newly-appointed Praefectus +Urbanus, Artemidorus, long devoted to the service of Theodoric, will +attest the innocence of the good, and sharply punish the errors of the +bad, both by his own inherent prerogative and by a special commission +entrusted to him for that purpose by the King.</p> + + +<h3><a name="i45">45.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Boetius, Vir Illustris and Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The water-clock and sundial destined for the Burgundian +King.</div> + +<p>'It is important to oblige our royal neighbours even in trifles, for +none can tell what great matters may be aided thereby. Often what arms +cannot obtain the offices of kindness bring to pass. Thus let even our +unbending be for the benefit of the Republic. For our object in +seeking pleasure is that we may thereby discharge the serious duties +of life.</p> + +<p>'The Lord of the Burgundians has earnestly requested that we would +send him a clock which is regulated by water flowing under a modulus, +and one which is marked by embracing the illumination of the immense +sun<a name="FNanchor_245_245" id="FNanchor_245_245"></a><a href="#Footnote_245_245" class="fnanchor">[245]</a>.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> +<p>[I transcribe, and do not attempt to translate, the further +description of the two machines, the order of which is now changed.]</p> + +<p>'<i>Primum</i> sit, ubi stylus diei index, per umbram exiguam horas +consuevit ostendere. Radius itaque immobilis, et parvus, peragens quod +tam miranda magnitudo solis discurrit, et fugam solis aequiparat quod +modum semper ignorat. [This must be the sundial.] Inviderent talibus, +si astra sentirent: et meatum suum fortasse deflecterent, ne tali +ludibrio subjacerent. Ubi est illud horarum de lumine venientium +singulare miraculum, si has et umbra demonstrat? Ubi praedicabilis +indefecta roratio, si hoc et metalla peragunt, quae situ perpetuo +continentur? O artis inaestimabilis virtus quae dum se dicit ludere, +naturae praevalet secreta vulgare.</p> + +<p>'<i>Secundum</i> sit [the clepsydra] ubi praeter solis radios hora +dignoscitur, noctes in partes dividens: quod ut nihil deberet astris, +rationem coeli ad aquarum potius fluenta convertit, quorum motibus +ostendit, quod coelum volvitur; et audaci praesumptione concepta, ars +elementis confert quod originis conditio denegavit.'</p> + +<p>'It will be a great gain to us that the Burgundians should daily look +upon something sent by us which will appear to them little short of +miraculous. Exert yourself therefore, oh Boetius, to get this thing +put in hand. You have thoroughly imbued yourself with Greek +philosophy<a name="FNanchor_246_246" id="FNanchor_246_246"></a><a href="#Footnote_246_246" class="fnanchor">[246]</a>. You have translated Pythagoras the musician, Ptolemy +the astronomer, Nicomachus the arithmetician, Euclid the geometer, +Plato the theologian, Aristotle the logician, and have given back the +mechanician Archimedes to his own Sicilian countrymen (who now speak +Latin). You know the whole science of Mathematics, and the marvels +wrought thereby. A machine [perhaps something like a modern orrery] +has been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> made to exhibit the courses of the planets and the causes of +eclipses. What a wonderful art is Mechanics! The mechanician, if we +may say so, is almost Nature's comrade, opening her secrets, changing +her manifestations, sporting with miracles, feigning so beautifully, +that what we know to be an illusion is accepted by us as truth.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="i46">46.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Gundibad [sic], King of the Burgundians</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the same subject.</div> + +<p>Sends the two clocks, or rather perhaps the celestial globe and the +water-clock.</p> + +<p>'Have therefore in your country what you have often seen in Rome. It +is right that we should send you presents, because you are connected +with us by affinity. It is said that under you "Burgundia" looks into +the most subtle things, and praises the discoveries of the ancients. +Through you she lays aside her "Gentile" (barbarous) nature, and +imitating the prudence of her King, rightly desires to possess the +inventions of sages. Let her arrange her daily actions by the +movements of God's great lights; let her nicely adjust the moments of +each hour. In mere confusion passes the order of life when this +accurate division of time is unknown. Men are like the beasts, if they +only know the passage of the hours by the pangs of hunger, and have no +greater certainty as to the flight of time than such as is afforded +them by their bellies. For certainty is undoubtedly meant to be +entwined in human actions.'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_II" id="BOOK_II"></a>BOOK II.</h2> + +<h3>CONTAINING FORTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC.</h3> + + +<h3><a name="ii1">1.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Anastasius, Most Pious Emperor. a.d.</span> 511.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Consulship of Felix.</div> + +<p>'By excellent ordinance of the ancients the year is named from the +Consul. Let the happy year take its title from our new Consul, <i>Felix</i> +[Consul with Secundinus, <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 511<a name="FNanchor_247_247" id="FNanchor_247_247"></a><a href="#Footnote_247_247" class="fnanchor">[247]</a>].</p> + +<p>'It is most suitable that Rome should gather back her children to her +bosom, and in her venerable Senate should enrol a son of Gaul.</p> + +<p>'Felix showed his excellent disposition first in this, that while +still a young man he hastened to "the native land of all the virtues" +[Rome]. Success followed his choice; we promoted him as he deserved. +While still a young man, deprived of his father's care, he showed the +rare gift of continence; he subdued avarice, the enemy of wisdom; he +despised the blandishments of vice; he trampled under foot the +vanities of pride.</p> + +<p>'We have now determined to reward him with the Consulship. Do you who +can with indiscriminate pleasure rejoice in both the blessings of the +Republic [in the Consuls of the East and West] join your favouring +vote. He who is worthy of so high an office as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> the Consulship may +well be chosen by the judgment of both' [Emperor and King].</p> + +<p>[An important letter, as showing the extent to which concurrent choice +of Consuls was vested in Rome, or rather Ravenna, and Constantinople.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii2">2.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Felix, Vir Illustris, Consul Ordinarius, a.d. 511 +(4th of the Indiction)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the same subject.</div> + +<p>An address on his elevation to the Consulship, touching on nearly the +same topics as the <a href="#ii1">preceding</a>.</p> + +<p>Theodoric delights in bestowing larger favours on those whom he has +once honoured [a favourite topic with Cassiodorus].</p> + +<p>Felix has come back from Gaul to the old fatherland<a name="FNanchor_248_248" id="FNanchor_248_248"></a><a href="#Footnote_248_248" class="fnanchor">[248]</a>. Thus the +Consulship has returned to a Transalpine family, and green laurels are +seen on a brown stock.</p> + +<p>Felix has shown an early maturity of character. He has made a wise use +of his father's wealth. The honour which other men often acquire by +prodigality he has acquired by saving. Cassiodorus evidently has a +little fear that the new Consul may carry his parsimony too far, and +tells him that this office of the Consulship is one in which +liberality, almost extravagance, earns praise<a name="FNanchor_249_249" id="FNanchor_249_249"></a><a href="#Footnote_249_249" class="fnanchor">[249]</a>; in which it is a +kind of virtue not to love one's own possessions; and in which one +gains in good opinion all that one loses in wealth.</p> + +<p>'See the sacred City all white with your <i>vota</i> (?). See yourself +borne upon the shoulders of all, and your name flitting through their +mouths, and manifest yourself such that you may be deemed worthy of +your race, worthy of the City, worthy of our choice, worthy of the +Consular <i>trabea</i>.'</p> + +<p>[The letter makes one suspect a certain narrowness and coldness of +heart in the subject of its praise.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="ii3">3.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate. a.d.</span> 511.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the same subject.</div> + +<p>Recommends Felix for the Consulship, going over again the topics +mentioned in the two last letters. It appears that it was the father +of Felix who emerged, after a temporary eclipse of the family +fortunes, and then showed himself 'the Cato of our times, abstaining +from vice himself, and forming the characters of others; imbued also +with all Greek philosophy, he glutted himself with the honey of the +Cecropian doctrine.'</p> + +<p>Mention is made of the Consulship of an earlier Felix, <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 428, the +happy renown of which still lingered in the memories of men.</p> + +<p>The young Felix is praised for the qualities described in the two +previous letters, and also for his power of conciliating the +friendship of older men, especially the excellent Patrician Paulinus.</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii4">4.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Ecdicius (or Benedictus), Vir Honestus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Collection of Siliquaticum.</div> + +<p>'We wish always to observe long-established rules in fiscal matters, +the best guarantee against extortion. Therefore, whatever dues in the +way of <i>Siliquaticum</i> appertained to Antiochus are now transferred to +you by the present authority, and the Sajo is charged to support your +claims herein; only the contention must not be mixed up with any +private matters of your own.'</p> + +<p>[The <i>Siliquaticum</i> was a tax of one twenty-fourth—the <i>siliqua</i> +being the twenty-fourth of a <i>solidus</i>—payable on all sales in market +overt by buyer and seller together.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii5">5.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, +<a href="#err9">Praepositus</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Soldiers' arrears.</div> + +<p>'We are always generous, and sometimes out of clemency we bestow our +gifts on persons who have no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> claim upon us. How much more fitting is +it then that the servants of the State should receive our gifts +promptly! Wherefore, pray let your Magnificence see to it that the +sixty soldiers who are keeping guard in the fastnesses of Aosta +receive their <i>annonae</i> without delay. Think what a life of hardship +the soldier leads in those frontier forts for the general peace, thus, +as at the gate of the Province, shutting out the entry of the +barbarous nations. He must be ever on the alert who seeks to keep out +the Barbarians. For fear alone checks these men, whom honour will not +keep back.'</p> + +<p>[A singular letter to write in the name of one who was himself a +Barbarian invader.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii6">6.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Agapitus, Illustris and Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Embassy to Constantinople.</div> + +<p>'We have decided to send you on an embassy to the East +(Constantinople). Every embassy requires a prudent man, but here there +is need of especial prudence, because you will have to dispute against +the most subtle persons—artificers of words, who think they can +foresee every possible answer to their arguments. Do your best +therefore to justify the opinion which I formed of you before full +trial of your powers.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii7">7.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Sura (or Suna), Illustris and Comes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Embellishment of the City.</div> + +<p>'Let nothing lie useless which may redound to the beauty of the City. +Let your Illustrious Magnificence therefore cause the blocks of marble +which are everywhere lying about in ruins to be wrought up into the +walls by the hands of the workmen whom I send herewith. Only take care +to use only those stones which have really fallen from public +buildings, as we do not wish to appropriate private property, even for +the glorification of the City.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="ii8">8.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Bishop Severus, Vir Venerabilis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Compensation for damage done by troops on march.</div> + +<p>'None is more suitable than a member of the Priesthood to perform acts +of justice towards his flock.</p> + +<p>'We therefore send your Holiness, by Montanarius, 1,500 solidi (£900), +for distribution among the Provincials, according to the amount of +damage which each one has sustained this year by the passage of our +army. See that the distribution is made systematically—not at +random—so that it may reach the right persons.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii9">9.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, +<a href="#err9">Praepositus</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Allowance to a retired charioteer.</div> + +<p>'We always enjoy being generous. Compassion is the one virtue to which +all other virtues may honourably give way. Long ago we made the +charioteer Sabinus a monthly allowance of a solidus [twelve +shillings]. Now, as we learn from Histrius [or Historius] that this +former servant of the public pleasures is afflicted with the most +melancholy poverty, we have pleasure in adding <i>another</i> solidus to +his monthly allowance. We are never so well pleased as when the +accounts of our expenditure show these items of charitable +disbursement.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii10">10.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Speciosus, Vir Devotus, Comitiacus [Officer of +the Court]</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The abduction of Agapita.</div> + +<p>'The laws guarding the sanctity of the marriage bed<a name="FNanchor_250_250" id="FNanchor_250_250"></a><a href="#Footnote_250_250" class="fnanchor">[250]</a> must be +carefully upheld.</p> + +<p>'Agapita<a name="FNanchor_251_251" id="FNanchor_251_251"></a><a href="#Footnote_251_251" class="fnanchor">[251]</a> has explained to us that she was tempted away from her +husband by seducers, who promised to procure his death. From the time +of her leaving his company let all revenues which came to her under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +the marriage contract (invalidated by her unfaithfulness) be given up +by her wrongful detainers<a name="FNanchor_252_252" id="FNanchor_252_252"></a><a href="#Footnote_252_252" class="fnanchor">[252]</a> without any delay. It is too absurd +that men who ought to be severely punished for their wrong-doing +should even seek to make a profit out of it.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii11">11.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Provinus (Probinus?), Illustris and Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Gift obtained from Agapita under undue influence.</div> + +<p>[Refers to the same business of Agapita, who seems to have been a +woman of feeble intellect as well as an unfaithful wife.] The petition +of her husband Basilius (vir Spectabilis) sets forth that, influenced +by seducers, and from the levity so natural to woman, she for no good +reason quitted her own home. Her own petition confirms this; and she +states that, while taking refuge within the precincts of the Church, +she by deed of gift bestowed on Provinus the 'Casa Areciretina,' a +most preposterous gift from a poor woman to a rich man; from one whose +reputation was gone to a chaste man; from a half-crazy creature to one +who knew fully what he was about. This gift Agapita [and Basilius] now +seek to annul. Provinus is exhorted at once to throw up a possession +which cannot possibly bring him any credit, and the loss of which has +brought the poor woman to destitution. Alienation of property should +be the act of a person having 'solidum judicium,' which this poor +creature evidently had not, or she would not have left her husband +causelessly.</p> + +<p>'This is the second time of writing. Let there be no further delay in +complying.'</p> + +<p>[Probably, therefore, Probinus really is one of the 'Retentatores' +referred to in <a href="#ii10">Letter 10</a>, though this letter does not distinctly +identify him with them.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="ii12">12.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Count of the Siliquatarii (Customs +Officers), and to him who has the Care of the Harbour (of Portus?)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Prohibition of export of lard.</div> + +<p>'Italy ought to enjoy her own products, and it is monstrous that +anything which she produces should be wanting to her own children.</p> + +<p>'Therefore let no lard be exported to foreign parts, but let it by +God's grace be all kept for consumption at home.</p> + +<p>'Now take care not to incur the slightest blame in this matter. It is +a very serious fault even in trifles to disobey orders. Sin consists +in quality, not in quantity; and injustice cannot be measured. A +command, if it be despised in one part, is violated in the whole.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii13">13.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Sajo<a name="FNanchor_253_253" id="FNanchor_253_253"></a><a href="#Footnote_253_253" class="fnanchor">[253]</a> Fruinarith</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Dishonest conduct of Venantius.</div> + +<p>'We are always especially touched by the prayers of petitioners who +complain that they are forced to pay unjustly. Ulpianus in his +lamentable petition informs us that on the request of Venantius he +bound himself as a guarantor (fidei jussionis vinculo) to pay over to +the public Treasury at the time of his administration 400 solidi +(£240). With the presumption of a truculent rustic Venantius despised +his own promise, and Ulpianus has therefore been burdened with payment +of the money. We therefore order that Venantius, who has been accused +of many other crimes besides this, shall be summoned before you, and +if found to be legally liable, shall be at once, and sharply, +compelled to fulfil his promise.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="ii14">14.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Symmachus, Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Romulus the parricide.</div> + +<p>'Parricide is the most terrible and unnatural of crimes. Even the cubs +of wild beasts follow their sires; the offshoot of the vine serves the +parent stem: shall man war against him who gave him being? It is for +our little ones that we lay up wealth. Shall we not earn the love of +those for whom we would willingly incur death itself? The young stork, +that harbinger of spring, gives a signal example of filial piety, +warming and feeding its aged parents in the moulting season till they +have recovered their strength, and thus repaying the good offices +received in its earlier years. So too, when the partridge, which is +wont to hatch the young of other birds, takes her adopted brood forth +into the fields, if these hear the cry of their genuine mother they +run to her, leaving the partridge forsaken.</p> + +<p>'Wherefore, if Romulus<a name="FNanchor_254_254" id="FNanchor_254_254"></a><a href="#Footnote_254_254" class="fnanchor">[254]</a> have fouled the Roman name by laying +violent hands on his father Martinus, we look to your justice (we +chose you because we knew you would not spare the cruel) to inflict on +him legitimate revenge.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii15">15.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Venantius, Vir Illustris</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Promotion of Venantius to Comitiva Domesticorum Vacans.</div> + +<p>'We always like to promote to office the sons of distinguished +fathers. We therefore bestow on you the honour of Comes Domesticorum +(Comitiva Vacans), in memory of your glorious father. He held at the +same time the Praefecture [of Italy] and the command of the army, so +that neither the Provinces lacked his ordering, nor did his wise care +for the army fail. All was mastered by his skilled and indefatigable +prudence; he inclined the manners of the Barbarians to peace, and +governed so that all were satisfied with our rule.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<p>'You are a zealous student of literature, illustrious by birth and +eloquent by education. Go on as you have begun, and show yourself +worthy of our choice.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii16">16.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the same subject.</div> + +<p>This letter adds a little to the information contained in the +<a href="#ii15">preceding</a> one, as to the career of Liberius, father of Venantius.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Praises of Liberius.</div> + +<p>Liberius was a faithful servant of Odovacar, who adhered to his master +to the last. 'He awaited incorruptly the Divine judgments, nor did he +allow himself to seek a new King till he had first lost his old one. +On the overthrow of his lord he was bowed by no terror; he bore +unmoved the ruin of his Prince; nor did the revolution, at which even +the proud hearts of the Barbarians trembled<a name="FNanchor_255_255" id="FNanchor_255_255"></a><a href="#Footnote_255_255" class="fnanchor">[255]</a>, avail to move him +from his calm.</p> + +<p>'Prudently did he follow the common fortunes, in order that while +fixedly bearing the Divine judgments he might with the more +approbation find the Divine favour. We approved the faith of the man; +he came over in sadness to our allegiance as one who being overcome +changes his mind, not like one who has contrived [treacherously] that +he should be conquered. We made him Praefectus Praetorio. He +administered the finances admirably. By his economical management we +felt the increased returns, while you knew nothing of added tributes.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Apportionment of Tertiae.</div> + +<p>'We especially like to remember how in the assignment of the [Gothic] +Thirds (in Tertiarum deputatione) he joined both the possessions and +the hearts of Goths and Romans alike. For whereas men are wont to come +into collision on account of their being neighbours, with these men +the common holding of their farms proved in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> practice a reason for +concord. Thus it has happened that while the two nations have been +living in common they have concurred in the same desires. Lo! a new +fact, and one wholly laudable. The friendship of the lords has been +joined with the division of the soil; amity has grown out of the loss +of the Provincials, and by the land a defender has been gained whose +occupation of part guarantees the quiet enjoyment of the whole. One +law includes them: one equal administration rules them: for it is +necessary that sweet affection should grow between those who always +keep the boundaries which have been allotted them.</p> + +<p>'All this the Roman Republic owes to Liberius, who to two such +illustrious nations has imparted sentiments of mutual affection. See +to it, Conscript Fathers, that his offspring does not go unrewarded.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii17">17.</a> <span class="smcap">To the Possessors, Defensors, and Curials<a name="FNanchor_256_256" id="FNanchor_256_256"></a><a href="#Footnote_256_256" class="fnanchor">[256]</a> of the City of +Tridentum (Trient)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Immunity from Tertiae enjoyed by lands granted by the +King.</div> + +<p>'We do not wish to be generous at the expense of others, and we +therefore declare that the <i>Sors</i> which in our generosity we have +bestowed on Butilianus the Presbyter, is not to be reckoned in to the +tax calculations; but as many solidi as are comprehended in that gift, +so many are you to be relieved from, in the contribution of +"Tertiae."'</p> + +<p>[That is to say, the land given by the Gothic King to Butilian was to +be itself, as a matter of course, free from Tertiae; but, in order +that this might not throw a heavier burden on the other owners in the +district, they were to be allowed to deduct the solidi of that portion +from the gross amount payable by them on behalf of the whole district. +Butilian's own immunity from Tertiae seems to be taken for granted as +a result of the King's gift to him. (See Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' +iii. 145.)]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="ii18">18.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Bishop Gudila</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Ecclesiastics as Curiales.</div> + +<p>An interesting but rather obscure letter on the condition of +<i>Curiales</i>.</p> + +<p>Apparently some ecclesiastics were claiming as slaves some men whom +the Curia of Sarsena (?) asserted to be fellow-curials of their own, +whom they therefore wanted to assist them in performing curial +obligations.</p> + +<p>Cassiodorus argues that as the 'Sors nascendi' prevented the Curialis +from rising to the higher honours of the State, it certainly ought +also to prevent him from sinking into slavery<a name="FNanchor_257_257" id="FNanchor_257_257"></a><a href="#Footnote_257_257" class="fnanchor">[257]</a>. 'Therefore we +advise you to look well to your facts, and see whether these men are +not justly claimed as Curials, in which case the Church should give +them up before the matter comes to trial. It does not look well for +the Bishop, who should be known as a lover of justice, to be publicly +vanquished in a suit of this kind.'</p> + +<p>[Did the alleged Curials, in such a case, wish to have their curiality +or their quasi-ecclesiastical character established? Who can say?]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii19">19.</a> <a href="#err11"> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Goths and Romans, and those who keep the +Harbours and Mountain-Fortresses (Clusuras)</span>.</a></h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Domestic treachery and murder.</div> + +<p>'We hate all crime, but domestic bloodshed and treachery most of all. +Therefore we command you to act with the utmost severity of the law +against the servants of Stephanus, who have killed their master and +left him unburied. They might have learned pity even from birds. Even +the vulture, who lives on the corpses of other creatures, protects +little birds from the attacks of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> the hawk. Yet men are found cruel +enough to slay him who has fed them. To the gallows with them! Let +<i>him</i> become the food of the pious vulture, who has cruelly contrived +the death of his provider. That is the fitting sepulchre for the man +who has left his lord unburied.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii20">20.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Sajo +<a href="#err12">Unigilis</a> (or Wiligis)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Provision-ships to follow movements of Theodoric's Court.</div> + +<p>'Let any provision-ships [<i>sulcatoriæ?</i>] which may be now lying at +Ravenna be ordered round to Liguria (which in ordinary times supplies +the needs of Ravenna herself).</p> + +<p>'Our presence and that of our Court (Comitatus) attracts many +spectators and petitioners to those parts, for whose maintenance an +extra effort must be made.' [See Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. +282.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii21">21.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Joannes the Apparitor</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">A concession too timidly acted upon.</div> + +<p>'The King has conceded to the Spectabiles Spes and Domitius a certain +tract of land which was laid waste by wide and muddy streams, and +which neither showed a pure expanse of water nor had preserved the +comeliness of solid earth, for them to reclaim and cultivate.</p> + +<p>'The petition of the <i>Actores</i> of Spes sets forth that the operation +is put in jeopardy by the ill-timed parsimony of Domitius, which +throws back the labourers to the point from which they set out at +first<a name="FNanchor_258_258" id="FNanchor_258_258"></a><a href="#Footnote_258_258" class="fnanchor">[258]</a>. Therefore let Domitius be stirred up to finish his part of +the work, or if he thinks that too expensive, let him throw up his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +share of the concession and allow his partner to work it out.'</p> + +<p>[We find in this letter a good motto for Theodoric's reign: 'Nos +quibus cordi est in melius cuncta mutare.']</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii22">22.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Festus, Vir Illustris and Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Ecdicius to be buried by his sons.</div> + +<p>'The sons of Ecdicius, whom at first we had ordered to reside in the +city, are to be allowed to return to their own country in order to +bury their father. That grief is insatiable which feels that it has +been debarred from rendering the last offices to the dead. Think at +what risk of his life Priam implored the raging Achilles to give him +back the body of his son.'</p> + +<p>[Apparently the sons of Ecdicius, not Ecdicius himself, had fallen +into disgrace with Theodoric, or incurred some suspicion of +disloyalty, which led to the rigorous order for their detention in +Rome. See Dahn iii. 279-280.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii23">23.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Ampelius, Despotius, and Theodulus, +<a href="#err10">Senators</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Protection for owners of potteries.</div> + +<p>'It befits the discipline of our time that those who are serving the +public interests shall not be loaded with superfluous burdens. Labour +therefore diligently at the potteries (figulinae) which our Royal +authority has conceded to you. Protection is hereby promised against +the wiles of wicked men.' [What was the nature of the artifices to +which they were exposed is not very clear.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii24">24.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Arrears of taxation due from Senators.</div> + +<p>'We hear with sorrow, by the report of the Provincial Judges, that you +the Fathers of the State, who ought to set an example to your sons +(the ordinary citizens),<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> have been so remiss in the payment of taxes +that on this first collection<a name="FNanchor_259_259" id="FNanchor_259_259"></a><a href="#Footnote_259_259" class="fnanchor">[259]</a> nothing, or next to nothing, has +been brought in from any Senatorial house. Thus a crushing weight has +fallen on the lower orders (<i>tenues</i>, <i>curiales</i>), who have had to +make good your deficiencies and have been distraught by the violence +of the tax-gatherers.</p> + +<p>'Now then, oh Conscript Fathers, who owe as much duty to the Republic +as we do, pay the taxes for which each one of you is liable, to the +Procurators appointed in each Province, by three instalments (trinâ +illatione). Or, if you prefer to do so—and it used to be accounted a +privilege—pay all at once into the chest of the Vicarius. And let +this following edict be published, that all the Provincials may know +that they are not to be imposed upon and that they are invited to +state their grievances<a name="FNanchor_260_260" id="FNanchor_260_260"></a><a href="#Footnote_260_260" class="fnanchor">[260]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii25">25.</a> <span class="smcap">An Edict of King Theodoric</span>.</h3> + +<p>[Referred to in the <a href="#ii24">preceding letter</a>.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Evasion of taxes by the rich.</div> + +<p>The King detests the oppression of the unfortunate, and encourages +them to make their complaints to him. He has heard that the powerful +houses are failing to pay their share of the taxes, and that a larger +sum in consequence is being exacted from the <i>tenues</i><a name="FNanchor_261_261" id="FNanchor_261_261"></a><a href="#Footnote_261_261" class="fnanchor">[261]</a>.</p> + +<p>To 'amputate' such wickedness for the future, the letter last +preceding has been addressed to the Senate; and the 'Possessores sive +curiales' are now invited<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> to state their grievances fully and +frankly, or else ever after hold their peace and cultivate a habit of +patience.</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii26">26.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Regulations for corn-traffic of Southern Italy.</div> + +<p>A difficult letter about the corn-merchants of Apulia and Calabria.</p> + +<p>1. The corn which they have collected by public sale is not to be +demanded over again from them under the title of 'interpretium' +[difference of price].</p> + +<p>2. Similarly as to the Sextarius which the merchant of each Province +imports. No one is to dare insolently to exact the prices which have +been always condemned.</p> + +<p>3. Fines of £1,200 on the Praefect himself, and £400 on his <i>officium</i> +(subordinates), are to be levied if this order is disobeyed.</p> + +<p>4. If the 'Siliquatarius' thinks right to withhold the monopoly (of +corn) from any merchant, he must not also exact the monopoly payment +from him.</p> + +<p>5. As to the Aurarii [persons liable to payment of the <i>lustralis auri +collatio</i><a name="FNanchor_262_262" id="FNanchor_262_262"></a><a href="#Footnote_262_262" class="fnanchor">[262]</a>], let the old order be observed, and those only be +classed under this function whom the authority of antiquity chose to +serve thereunder.</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii27">27.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Jews living in Genoa</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Rebuilding of Jewish Synagogue.</div> + +<p>The Jews are permitted to roof in the old walls of their synagogue, +but they are not to enlarge it beyond its old borders, nor to add any +kind of ornament, under pain of the King's sharp displeasure; and this +leave is granted on the understanding that it does not conflict with +the thirty years' 'Statute of Limitations.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Why do ye desire what ye ought to shun? In truth we give the +permission which you craved, but we suitably blame the desire of your +wandering minds. <i>We cannot order a religion, because no one is forced +to believe against his will.</i>'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii28">28.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Stephanus, '<a href="#err10">Senator</a>, Comes Primi Ordinis, and +ex-princeps of our Officium</span><a name="FNanchor_263_263" id="FNanchor_263_263"></a><a href="#Footnote_263_263" class="fnanchor">[263]</a>.'</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Honours conferred on Stephanus on his retirement from the +Civil Service.</div> + +<p>Praises him for all the good qualities which have been recognised by +successive Judges under whom he has served—his secrecy, efficiency, +and incorruptibility.</p> + +<p>He is therefore, on his retirement from active service, raised to the +honour of a 'Spectabilis,' and rewarded with the rank of 'Comitiva +Primi Ordinis.' As a substantial recompence he is to have all the +privileges which by 'divalia constituta' belong to the 'ex-principes' +of his Schola, and is guaranteed against all damage and 'sordid +burdens<a name="FNanchor_264_264" id="FNanchor_264_264"></a><a href="#Footnote_264_264" class="fnanchor">[264]</a>,' with a hope of further employment in other +capacities<a name="FNanchor_265_265" id="FNanchor_265_265"></a><a href="#Footnote_265_265" class="fnanchor">[265]</a>.</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii29">29.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Adila, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a> and Comes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Protection to dependents of the Church.</div> + +<p>[Notice the Senatorial rank borne by a man with a Gothic name.]</p> + +<p>'We wish to protect all our subjects<a name="FNanchor_266_266" id="FNanchor_266_266"></a><a href="#Footnote_266_266" class="fnanchor">[266]</a>, but especially the Church, +because by so doing we earn the favour of Heaven. Therefore, in +accordance with the petition of the blessed Eustorgius<a name="FNanchor_267_267" id="FNanchor_267_267"></a><a href="#Footnote_267_267" class="fnanchor">[267]</a>, Bishop of +Milan, we desire you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> to accord all necessary protection to the men +and farms belonging to the Milanese Church in Sicily: always +understanding, however, that they are not to refuse to plead in answer +to any public or private suit that may be brought against them. They +are to be protected from wrong, but are not themselves to deviate from +the path of justice.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii30">30.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<p>[Sequel to <a href="#ii29">last letter</a>.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Freedom from taxation granted to Church of Milan.</div> + +<p>'Our generosity to an individual does not harm the public, and there +is no reason for putting any bounds to its exercise.</p> + +<p>'The Defensores of the Holy Church of Milan want to be enabled to buy +as cheap as possible the things which they need for the relief of the +poor; and they say that we have bestowed this favour on the Church of +Ravenna.</p> + +<p>'Your Magnificence will therefore allow them to single out some one +merchant who shall buy for them in the market, without being subject +to monopoly, siliquaticum, or the payment of gold-fee<a name="FNanchor_268_268" id="FNanchor_268_268"></a><a href="#Footnote_268_268" class="fnanchor">[268]</a>.'</p> + +<p>[It is easy to see how liable to abuse such an exception was. Who was +to decide when this merchant was buying for the Church and when for +himself; when the Church was buying for the poor and when for her own +enrichment?]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii31">31.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Dromonarii [Rowers in Express-boats]</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">State Galleys on the Po.</div> + +<p>'Those who claim the title of "militia" ought to serve the public +advantage. We have therefore told the Count of Sacred Largesses that +you are to assemble<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> at Hostilia [on the Padus, about fifteen miles +east of Mantua], there to receive pay from our Treasury, and then to +relieve the land postal-service (veredarii) by excursions up and down +the channel of the Padus. There is no fear of <i>your</i> limping; you walk +with your hands. No fear of <i>your</i> carriages wearing out; they travel +over liquid roads, and suffer no wear and tear because they are borne +along upon the wave which itself runs with them.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii32">32.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Drainage of marshes of Decennonium.</div> + +<p>'We always enjoy rewarding public spirit. Decius, Magnificus and +Patrician, has most nobly volunteered to drain the marsh of +Decennonium, where the sea-like swamp, accustomed to impunity through +long licence, rushes in and spoils all the surrounding lands.</p> + +<p>'We, in consideration of so great an undertaking, determine to secure +to him the fruits of his labour, and we therefore wish that you, +Conscript Fathers, should appoint a commission of two to visit the +spot and mark out the ground, which is at present wasted by the +inundations, that this land may be secured to Decius as a permanent +possession when he has drained it.'</p> + +<p>[The Palus Decennonii is undoubtedly connected with the Decennovial +Canal mentioned by Procopius ('De Bello Gotth.' i. 11), and so called +because it flowed for nineteen miles alongside the Appian Way. In the +Piazza at Terracina there is a very interesting inscription, recording +the fact that Theodoric had ordered that nineteen miles of the Appian +Way should be cleared of the waters which had accumulated round it, +and had committed the work to Caecina Maurus Basilius Decius, 'Vir +Clarissimus et Illustris, Ex-Praefectus Urbi, Ex-Praefectus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> Praetori, +Ex-Consul Ordinarius et Patricius.' See 'Italy and her Invaders' iii. +348.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii33">33.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Decius, Illustris and Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>The complement of the foregoing letter, about the drainage of the +marshes of Decennonium, which are hereby granted to him, apparently +'sine fisco,' tax-free.</p> + +<p>[But the meaning may be, 'the marshes which you drain <i>sine +fisco</i>'—without help from the Treasury.]</p> + +<p>The chief point of difference between this and the previous letter is +that here Decius is allowed and encouraged to associate partners with +him in the drainage-scheme, whom he is to reward according to their +share of the work. Thus will he be less likely to sink under the +enterprise, and he will also lessen men's envy of his success.</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii34">34.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Artemidorus, Praefect of the City</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Embezzlement of City building funds.</div> + +<p>'The persons to whom money was entrusted for the rebuilding of the +walls of Rome have been embezzling it, as was proved by your +examination of their accounts (discussio). We are very glad that you +have not hidden their misconduct from us (inclined as a generous mind +is to cover up offences), since you would thereby have made yourself +partaker of their evil deeds. They must restore that which they have +dishonestly appropriated, but we shall not (as we might fairly do) +inflict upon them any further fine. We are naturally inclined to +clemency, and they will groan at having to give up plunder which they +had already calculated upon as their own.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="ii35">35.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Tancila, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a></span>.</h3> + +<p>[We have here another Senator with a Gothic name].</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Theft of brazen statue at Como.</div> + +<p>'We are much displeased at hearing that a brazen statue has been +stolen from the City of Como. It is vexatious that while we are +labouring to increase the ornaments of our cities, those which +Antiquity has bequeathed to us should by such deeds be diminished. +Offer a reward of 100 aurei (£60) to anyone who will reveal the author +of this crime; promise pardon [to an accomplice], and if this does not +suffice, call all the workmen together "post diem venerabilem" [Does +this mean on the day after Sunday?], and enquire of them "sub terrore" +[by torture?] by whose help this has been done. For such a piece of +work as moving this statue could only have been undertaken by some +handicraftsman.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii36">36.</a> <span class="smcap">Edict about the Statue at Como</span>.</h3> + +<p>[Refers to <a href="#ii35">previous letter</a>.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'Though impunity for the crime should be sufficient reward, we promise +100 aurei, as well as forgiveness for his share in the offence, to +anyone who will reveal the author of the theft of the statue at Como. +A golden reward for a brazen theft. Anyone not accepting this offer +and afterwards convicted will suffer the extreme penalty of the law.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii37">37.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Largesse to citizens of Spoleto.</div> + +<p>'As our Kingdom and revenues prosper, we wish to increase our +liberality. Let your Magnificence therefore give to the citizens of +Spoletium another "millena" for extraordinary gratuitous admissions to +the baths<a name="FNanchor_269_269" id="FNanchor_269_269"></a><a href="#Footnote_269_269" class="fnanchor">[269]</a>. We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> wish to pay freely for anything that tends to the +health of our citizens, because the praise of our times is the +celebration of the joys of the people.'</p> + +<p>[The 'millena' probably means 1,000 solidi, or £600.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii38">38.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Immunity from taxation. Hostile ravages.</div> + +<p>'We have no pleasure in gains which are acquired by the misery of our +subjects. We are informed that the merchants of the city of Sipontum +[in Apulia] have been grievously despoiled by hostile incursions +[probably by the Byzantine fleet in 508]. Let your Magnificence +therefore see to it that they are for two years not vexed by any +claims for purveyance (coemptio) on the part of our Treasury. But +their other creditors must give them the same indulgence.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii39">39.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Aloisius the Architect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Hot springs of Aponum.</div> + +<p>'The fountain of Aponus—so called originally in the Greek language as +being the remover of pain<a name="FNanchor_270_270" id="FNanchor_270_270"></a><a href="#Footnote_270_270" class="fnanchor">[270]</a>—has many marvellous and beneficial +properties, for the sake of which the buildings round it ought to be +kept in good repair. One may see it welling up from the bowels of the +earth in spherical form, under a canopy of steam. From this parent +spring the waters, glassy-clear and having lost their first +impetuosity, flow by various channels into chambers prepared for them +by nature but made longer by art. In the first, when the boiling +element dashes against the rock, it is hot enough to make a natural +sudatorium; then it cools sufficiently for the tepidarium; and at +last, quite cold, flows out into a fish-pond like that of Nero. +Marvellous provision of Nature, whereby the opposing elements, fire +and water, are joined in harmonious union and made to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> soothe the pain +and remove the sickness of man! Yet more wonderful is the moral purity +of this fountain. Should a woman descend into the bath when men are +using it, it suddenly grows hotter, as if with indignation that out of +its abundant supply of waters separate bathing-places should not be +constructed for the two sexes, if they wish to enjoy its bounty<a name="FNanchor_271_271" id="FNanchor_271_271"></a><a href="#Footnote_271_271" class="fnanchor">[271]</a>. +Moreover, those secret caves, the bowels of the mountains from whence +it springs, have power even to judge contentious business. For if any +sheep-stealer presumes to bring to it the fleece of his prey, however +often he may dip it in the seething wave, he will have to boil it +before he succeeds in cleansing it.</p> + +<p>'This fountain then, as we before said, deserves a worthy habitation. +If there be anything to repair in the <i>thermae</i> themselves or in the +passages (cuniculi), let this be done out of the money which we now +send you. Let the thorns and briers which have grown up around it be +rooted up. Let the palace, shaken with extreme old age, be +strengthened by careful restoration. Let the space which intervenes +between the public building and the source of the hot-spring be +cleared of its woodland roughness, and the turf around rejoice in the +green beauty which it derives from the heated waters.'</p> + +<p>[The hot-springs of Abano, the ancient Aponum, are situated near the +Euganean Hills, and are about six miles from Padua. The heat of the +water varies from 77° to 185° (Fahr.). The chief chemical ingredients +are, as stated by Cassiodorus, salt and sulphur. Some of the minute +description of Cassiodorus (greatly condensed in the above abstract) +seems to be still applicable; but he does not mention the mud-baths +which now take a prominent place in the cure. On the other hand, the +wonderful moral qualities of the spring are not mentioned by modern +travellers.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="ii40">40.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Boetius the Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Boetius to choose a harper for the King of the Franks.</div> + +<p>'The King of the Franks [Clovis] has asked us to send him a harper. We +felt that in you lay our best chance of complying with his request, +because you, being such a lover of music yourself, will be able to +introduce us to the right man.'</p> + +<p>Reflections on the nature of music. She is the Queen of the senses; +when she comes forth from her secret abiding place all other thoughts +are cast out. Her curative influence on the soul.</p> + +<p>The five tones: the Dorian<a name="FNanchor_272_272" id="FNanchor_272_272"></a><a href="#Footnote_272_272" class="fnanchor">[272]</a>, influencing to modesty and purity; +the Phrygian to fierce combat; the Aeolian to tranquillity and +slumber; the Ionian (Jastius), which sharpens the intellect of the +dull and kindles the desire of heavenly things; the Lydian, which +soothes the soul oppressed with too many cares.</p> + +<p>We distinguish the highest, middle, and lowest in each tone, obtaining +thus in all fifteen tones of artificial music.</p> + +<p>The diapason is collected from all, and unites all their virtues.</p> + +<p>Classical instances of music:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +Orpheus.<br /> +Amphion.<br /> +Musaeus.<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>The human voice as an instrument of music. Oratory and Poesy as +branches of the art.</p> + +<p>The power of song: Ulysses and the Sirens.</p> + +<p>David the author of the Psalter, who by his melody three (?) times +drove away the evil spirit from Saul.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>The lyre is called 'chorda,' because it so easily moves the hearts +(corda) of men.</p> + +<p>As the diadem dazzles by the variegated lustre of its gems, so the +lyre with its divers sounds.</p> + +<p>The lyre, the loom of the Muses.</p> + +<p>Mercury, the inventor of the lyre, is said to have derived the idea of +it from the harmony of the spheres. This astral music, apprehended by +reason alone, is said to form one of the delights of heaven. 'If +philosophers had placed that enjoyment not in sweet sounds but in the +contemplation of the Creator, they would have spoken fitly; for there +is truly joy without end, eternity abiding for ever without weariness, +and the mere contemplation of the Divinity produces such happiness +that nothing can surpass it. This Being furnishes the true +immortality; this heaps delight upon delight; and as outside of Him no +creature can exist, so without Him changeless happiness cannot +be<a name="FNanchor_273_273" id="FNanchor_273_273"></a><a href="#Footnote_273_273" class="fnanchor">[273]</a>.</p> + +<p>'We have indulged ourselves in a pleasant digression, because it is +always agreeable to talk of learning with the learned; but be sure to +get us that <i>Citharoedus</i>, who will go forth like another Orpheus to +charm the beast-like hearts of the Barbarians. You will thus both obey +us and render yourself famous.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ii41">41.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Luduin [Clovis], King of the Franks</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Victories of Clovis over the Alamanni.</div> + +<p>Congratulates him on his recent victories over the Alamanni. Refers to +the ties of affinity between them (Theodoric having married the sister +of Clovis). Clovis has stirred up the nation of the Franks, 'prisca +aetate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> residem,' to new and successful encounters. 'It is a memorable +triumph that the impetuous Alaman should be struck with such terror as +even to beg for his life. Let it suffice that that King with all the +pride of his race should have fallen: let it suffice that an +innumerable people should have been doomed either to the sword or to +slavery.'</p> + +<p>He recommends (almost orders) Clovis not to touch the panic-stricken +refugees who have fled to the territory of Theodoric. Theodoric +himself has always found that those wars were prosperously waged which +were ended moderately.</p> + +<p>Theodoric sends 'illum et illum' as ambassadors, to take certain +verbal counsels from himself, to bring this letter and carry back the +reply, and also to introduce the Citharoedus of whom we heard in the +preceding letter<a name="FNanchor_274_274" id="FNanchor_274_274"></a><a href="#Footnote_274_274" class="fnanchor">[274]</a>.</p> + +<p>[The campaign of Clovis against the Alamanni, referred to in this +letter, is not mentioned by Gregory of Tours. Ennodius, however, in +his Panegyric on Theodoric, and Agathias in his History, make distinct +allusions to this event, and to Theodoric's reception of the +vanquished Alamanni in his own dominions, probably in the valleys of +Raetia.</p> + +<p>This letter is very fully discussed by Von Schubert, at pp. 32-43 of +his 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen' (Strassburg, 1884). I may also refer +to 'Italy and her Invaders' iii. 390-91.</p> + +<p>The date of the letter is probably about 504.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_III" id="BOOK_III"></a>BOOK III.</h2> + +<h3>CONTAINING FIFTY-THREE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC.</h3> + + +<h3><a name="iii1">1.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Alaric, King of the Visigoths</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Dissuades Alaric the Visigoth from war with the Franks.</div> + +<p>'<span class="smcap">Surrounded</span> as you are by an innumerable multitude of subjects, and +strong in the remembrance of their having turned back Attila<a name="FNanchor_275_275" id="FNanchor_275_275"></a><a href="#Footnote_275_275" class="fnanchor">[275]</a>, +still do not fight with Clovis. War is a terrible thing, and a +terrible risk. The long peace may have softened the hearts of your +people, and your soldiers from want of practice may have lost the +habit of working together on the battlefield. Ere yet blood is shed, +draw back if possible. We are sending ambassadors to the King of the +Franks to try to prevent this war between our relatives; and the +ambassadors whom we are sending to you will go on to Gundibad, King of +the Burgundians, to get him to interpose on behalf of peace. Your +enemy will be mine also.'</p> + +<p>[The battle of Vouglé in which Alaric was overthrown by Clovis, was +fought in 507; but the date of this letter is probably 506 (Dahn's +date) rather than 507, as there were no doubt some premonitory +symptoms before the war broke out.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + +<p>Binding i. 181 (<i>n.</i> 608), and Pallmann ii. 55 <i>n.</i> 1, and 135 <i>n.</i> 2, +incline to a date somewhat earlier even than 506, thinking that there +may have been earlier threatenings of war, which Theodoric succeeded +for the time in averting.</p> + +<p>The earlier the date the better will it suit the allusion to Clovis +(and Alaric) as 'Regii <i>Juvenes</i>' in the <a href="#iii2">following letter</a>. Clovis was +born in 466, and was therefore 41 years of age at the battle of +Vouglé.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii2">2.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Gundibad, King of the Burgundians</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Dissuades Gundibad from war.</div> + +<p>Repeats the arguments in <a href="#iii1">iii. 1</a> about the ill effects of war on the +fortunes of all, and says that it is Theodoric's part to moderate the +angry impulses of 'regii juvenes.' It becomes them to reverence +'senes,' such as Theodoric and Gundibad, although they are themselves +in the balmy vigour of the flower of their age.</p> + +<p>Sends two ambassadors ('illum atque illum') with letters and a verbal +message, hoping that the wisdom of Gundibad may reflect upon what they +say to him [perhaps too delicate a matter to be committed to writing], +and find some way of preserving peace.</p> + +<p>[It is remarkable that in this letter Theodoric, who was probably only +52, if the date of it be 506, and who may have been a year or two +younger, speaks of himself along with Gundibad as a <i>senex</i>, and of +Clovis, who could hardly be more than twelve years his junior, as +<i>regius juvenis</i>. Perhaps this is partly due to the fact that +Cassiodorus speaks from his own point of view. To him, now about 26 +years of age, Theodoric might seem to be fitly described as 'senex.'</p> + +<p>See Binding i. 181-183 on this letter and the reasons why it produced +no effect on Gundibad. See also Dahn ii. 144.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iii3">3.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Kings of the Heruli, Warni (Guarni), and +Thuringians</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Attempt to form a Teutonic coalition on behalf of Alaric.</div> + +<p>[On the same subject.] If Clovis succeeds in his unprovoked aggression +on Alaric, none of his neighbours will be safe. 'I will tell you just +what I think: he who inclines to act without law is prepared to shake +the kingdoms of all of us<a name="FNanchor_276_276" id="FNanchor_276_276"></a><a href="#Footnote_276_276" class="fnanchor">[276]</a>.'</p> + +<p>'Remember how often Alaric's father Euric gave you presents and staved +off war from your borders. Repay to the son the kindness of the +father. I send you two ambassadors, and I want you to join your +representations to mine and Gundibad's, calling on Clovis to desist +from his attacks on Alaric and seek redress from the law of +nations<a name="FNanchor_277_277" id="FNanchor_277_277"></a><a href="#Footnote_277_277" class="fnanchor">[277]</a>, or else expect the combined attack of all of us, for +this quarrel is really the quarrel of us all.'</p> + +<p>[The turn of the Thuringians to be swallowed up by the Frankish +Monarchy came in 531.</p> + +<p>See on this letter Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' ii. 144 and 8 <i>n.</i> 2; +Pallmann ii. 55.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii4">4.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Luduin (Ludwig, or Clovis), King of the Franks</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Desires Clovis to desist from war on Alaric.</div> + +<p>[On the same subject.] 'The affinities of kings ought to keep their +subjects from the plague of war. We are grieved to hear of the paltry +causes which are giving rise to rumours of war between you and our son +Alaric,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> rumours which gladden the hearts of the enemies of both of +you. Let me say with all frankness, but with all affection, just what +I think: "It is the act of a passionate man to get his troops ready +for action at the first embassy which he sends." Instead of that refer +the matter to our arbitration. It would be a delight to me to choose +men capable of mediating between you. What would you yourselves think +of me if I could hear unmoved of your murderous intentions towards one +another? Away with this conflict, in which one of you will probably be +utterly destroyed. Throw away the sword which you wield for <i>my</i> +humiliation. By what right do I thus threaten you? By the right of a +father and a friend. He who shall despise this advice of ours will +have to reckon us and our friends as his adversaries.</p> + +<p>'I send two ambassadors to you, as I have to my son Alaric, and hope +that they may be able so to arrange matters that no alien malignity +may sow the seeds of dissension between you, and that your nations, +which under your fathers have long enjoyed the blessings of peace, may +not now be laid waste by sudden collision. You ought to believe him +who, as you know, has rejoiced in your prosperity. No true friend is +he who launches his associates, unwarned, into the headlong dangers of +war.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii5">5.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Importunus, Vir Illustris and Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Importunus promoted to the Patriciate.</div> + +<p>[Importunus was Consul in 509. This letter therefore probably belongs +to the early part of 510.]</p> + +<p>'Noble birth and noble deeds meet in you, and we are therefore +bestowing on you an honour to which by age you are scarcely yet +entitled. Your father and uncle were especially noteworthy, the glory +of the Senate,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> men who adorned modern ages<a name="FNanchor_278_278" id="FNanchor_278_278"></a><a href="#Footnote_278_278" class="fnanchor">[278]</a> with the antique +virtues, men who were prosperous without being hated. The Senate felt +their courage, the multitude their wisdom.</p> + +<p>'Therefore, being descended from such ancestors, and yourself +possessing such virtues, on laying down the Consular fasces, assume +the insignia of the Patriciate. Bind those fillets, which are +generally reserved for the hoary head, round your young locks, and by +your future actions justify my choice of you.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii6">6.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate on Importunus' Accession to the +Patriciate</span>.</h3> + +<p>[See <a href="#iii5">preceding letter</a>.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'We delight to introduce new men to the Senate, but we delight still +more when we can bring back to that venerable body, crowned with fresh +honours, her own offspring<a name="FNanchor_279_279" id="FNanchor_279_279"></a><a href="#Footnote_279_279" class="fnanchor">[279]</a>. And such is now my fortune in +presenting to you Importunus, crowned with the honours of the +Patriciate; Importunus, who is descended from the great stock of the +Decii, a stock illustrated by noble names in every generation, by the +favour of the Senate and the choice of the people. Even as a boy he +had a countenance of serene beauty, and to the gifts of Nature he +added the endowments of the mind. From his parents in household lays +he learned the great deeds of the old Decii. Once, at a great +spectacle, the whole school at the recitation of the Lay of the Decii +turned their eyes on Importunus, discerning that he would one day +rival his ancestors. Thus his widowed mother brought him up, him and +all his troop of brothers, and gave to the Curia as many Consulars as +she had sons<a name="FNanchor_280_280" id="FNanchor_280_280"></a><a href="#Footnote_280_280" class="fnanchor">[280]</a>. All these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> private virtues I have discerned in him, +and now seal them with promotion to the Patriciate. At this act I call +on you specially to rejoice.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii7">7.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Venerable Januarius, Bishop of Salona</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Extortion by the Bishop of Salona.</div> + +<p>'The lamentable petition of John says that you have taken sixty tuns +of oil from him, and never paid him for them. It is especially +important that preachers of righteousness should be righteous +themselves. We cannot suppose that God is ignorant whence come the +offerings which we make before Him [and He must therefore hate robbery +for a burnt offering]. Pray enquire into this matter, and if the +complaint be well founded remedy it promptly. You who preach to us our +duty in great things should not be caught tripping in little ones.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii8">8.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Venantius, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a>, Corrector of Lucania and +Bruttii</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Remissness of Venantius in collection of public revenue.</div> + +<p>[Venantius, son of Liberius, was, with many high commendations, made +Comes Domesticorum in Letters <a href="#ii15">ii. 15</a> and <a href="#ii16">16</a>. See further as to his +fall in <a href="#iii36">iii. 36</a>, also <a href="#iii46">iii. 46</a>.]</p> + +<p>'Remissness in the collection of the public taxes is a great fault, +and no kindness in the end to the taxpayer. For want of a timely +caution you probably have to end by selling him up.</p> + +<p>'The Count of Sacred Largesses tells us that you were long ago +commissioned to get in the <i>Bina</i> and <i>Terna</i> [and have not done so]. +Be quick about it, that the collection may be completed according to +the registers of the Treasury. If you are not quick, and the Treasury +suffers loss, you will have to make it good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> out of your private +property. You have not shown proper respect to our orders, nor a due +sense of the obligation of your own promise.'</p> + +<p>[These 'Bina' and 'Terna' are a mystery; but Dahn<a name="FNanchor_281_281" id="FNanchor_281_281"></a><a href="#Footnote_281_281" class="fnanchor">[281]</a> thinks they are +not a specially Gothic tax, but an inheritance from the fiscal +administration of Rome, having probably nothing to do with the +Tertiae.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii9">9.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Possessores, Defensores, and Curiales<a name="FNanchor_282_282" id="FNanchor_282_282"></a><a href="#Footnote_282_282" class="fnanchor">[282]</a> +dwelling at Aestunae<a name="FNanchor_283_283" id="FNanchor_283_283"></a><a href="#Footnote_283_283" class="fnanchor">[283]</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Marbles for Ravenna.</div> + +<p>'We wish to build new edifices without despoiling the old<a name="FNanchor_284_284" id="FNanchor_284_284"></a><a href="#Footnote_284_284" class="fnanchor">[284]</a>. But we +are informed that in your municipality there are blocks of masonry and +columns formerly belonging to some building now lying absolutely +useless and unhonoured. If it be so, send these slabs of marble<a name="FNanchor_285_285" id="FNanchor_285_285"></a><a href="#Footnote_285_285" class="fnanchor">[285]</a> +and columns<a name="FNanchor_286_286" id="FNanchor_286_286"></a><a href="#Footnote_286_286" class="fnanchor">[286]</a> by all means to Ravenna, that they may be again made +beautiful and take their place in a building there.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii10">10.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Illustrious Festus, Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>A similar order, for the transport of marbles from the Pincian Hill to +Ravenna, by Catabulenses<a name="FNanchor_287_287" id="FNanchor_287_287"></a><a href="#Footnote_287_287" class="fnanchor">[287]</a>. 'We have ordered a "subvectus" +[assistance from the public postal-service?], that the labourers may +set to work at once.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="iii11">11.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Argolicus, Vir Illustris [a.d. 510]</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Argolicus appointed Praefect of the City.</div> + +<p>Announces to this young man his nomination to the Praefecture of the +City (for the 4th Indiction). Enlarges on the dignity of the office, +especially as involving the Presidency of the Senate, and calls upon +him by a righteous and sober life to show himself worthy of the +choice.</p> + +<p>Argolicus is a great student [perhaps a literary friend of +Cassiodorus], and he is exhorted to keep himself in the right path by +musing on the great examples of antiquity.</p> + +<p>[There is a sort of tone of apology for the appointment of Argolicus, +which is perhaps accounted for by the fact, which comes out in the +next letter, that his father was a comparatively poor man.</p> + +<p>See a sharp rebuke of Argolicus for venal procrastination, <a href="#iv29">iv. 29</a>.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii12">12.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>Rehearses the usual sentiments about the dignity of the Senate and +Theodoric's care in the choice of officials.</p> + +<p>'It is easier, if one may say so, for Nature herself to err, than that +a Sovereign should make a State unlike to himself.'</p> + +<p>Recounts the ancestry of Argolicus. The older Senators will remember +his eloquent and purely-living grandfather, a man of perfectly +orthodox reputation, who filled the offices of Comes Sacrarum +Largitionum and Magister Officiorum. His father never stained the +dignity of 'Comes Privatarum' by cruelty, and was free from ill-gotten +gains in an age when avarice was not accounted a crime<a name="FNanchor_288_288" id="FNanchor_288_288"></a><a href="#Footnote_288_288" class="fnanchor">[288]</a>.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> +<p>'We may hope that the son will follow the example of such +distinguished ancestors.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii13">13.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Sunhivad, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Sunhivad, Governor of Samnium.</div> + +<p>[Notice again the Roman title and Gothic name.]</p> + +<p>'You who have ruled your own life in a long career so well should make +a good governor of others. I therefore send you to Samnium as +Governor, in reply to the complaints which reach me from that +Province. Settle according to the law of justice the disputes which +have arisen there between the Romans and the Goths.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii14">14.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Venerable Bishop Aurigenes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Accusations against the servants of a Bishop.</div> + +<p>'You as a Bishop will be especially grieved to hear of any offences +against the sanctity of the married state. Julianus complains that his +wife has been outraged and his goods wasted by some of your servants +[probably slaves].</p> + +<p>'Do you enquire into the matter, and if the complaint appears to be +just, deal promptly and severely with the offenders.'</p> + +<p>[Cf. Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 193, on this letter. He shows +that it has been improperly appealed to as proving the immunity of all +ecclesiastical persons from a secular tribunal. What Theodoric really +intended was to give the Bishop a chance of settling the affair +himself, and so to prevent the scandal of its appearing in the secular +Courts, which it assuredly would do if the Bishop were apathetic. But +one sees how easily this would glide into something like immunity from +secular tribunals.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iii15">15.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Theodahad, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a></span><a name="FNanchor_289_289" id="FNanchor_289_289"></a><a href="#Footnote_289_289" class="fnanchor">[289]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">A contumacious person handed over to Theodahad.</div> + +<p>'It is the extreme of insolence in anyone not to execute our "sacred +orders." A certain person whom we commanded to attend before the +judgment-seat of the Illustrious Sona, has with inveterate cunning +withdrawn himself therefrom. We therefore hand him over to you, that +your fame may grow by your skilful management of a difficult case like +this.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii16">16.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Gemellus, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a></span> (509-510).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Appointment of Gemellus as Governor of Gaul.</div> + +<p>'Having proved your worth by experience we are now going to send you +to govern the Provinces of Gaul newly wrested [from Clovis], as Vicar +of the Praefects<a name="FNanchor_290_290" id="FNanchor_290_290"></a><a href="#Footnote_290_290" class="fnanchor">[290]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Think what a high opinion we must have formed of you to delegate to +you the government of these Provinces, the conquest of which has added +so much to our glory, and the good opinion of whose inhabitants we so +particularly wish to acquire. Abhor turbulence; do not think of +avarice; show yourself in all things such a Governor as "Romanus +Princeps" ought to send, and let the Province feel such an improvement +in her lot that she may "rejoice to have been conquered."'</p> + +<p>[This is so like the words put by Sidonius into the mouth of Lyons, +after Majorian's conquest of her, that I believe it to be +intentionally imitated.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iii17">17.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Gaulish +<a href="#err14">Provinces</a></span> (510).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Proclamation to the new Gaulish subjects.</div> + +<p>'Obey the Roman customs. You are now by God's blessing restored to +your ancient freedom; put off the barbarian; clothe yourselves with +the morals of the toga; unlearn cruelty, that you may not be unworthy +to be our subjects. We are sending you Spectabilis Gemellus as +Vicarius Praefectorum, a man of tried worth, who we trust will be +guilty of no crime, because he knows he would thereby seriously +displease us. Obey his commands therefore. Do not dislike the reign of +Law because it is new to you, after the aimless seethings of Barbarism +(Gentilitas).</p> + +<p>'You may now bring out your long-hidden treasures; the rich and the +noble will again have a chance of suitable promotion. You may now +enjoy what till now you have only heard of—the triumph of Public +Right, the most certain solace of human life, the help of the weak, +the curb of the strong. You may now understand that men are exalted +not by their bodily strength, but by reason.'</p> + +<p>[Some of these reflections on the past misgovernment of <i>Gentilitas</i> +hit the Visigoths, Theodoric's friends, harder than the Franks. If the +Gaulish nobles of the south-eastern Provinces (and these were all that +Theodoric had conquered) had <i>long</i> been obliged to hide the treasures +of their fathers, that surely was the fault rather of Euric and Alaric +II than of Clovis.</p> + +<p>Cf. Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 261-2, on all this +correspondence.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii18">18.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Gemellus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Magnus to be restored to his possessions.</div> + +<p>[Probably during his government of Gaul].</p> + +<p>'We wish that all who have elected to live under our Clemency should +be the better for it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> + +<p>'The Spectabilis Magnus, spurning the conversation of our enemies +[Franks?], and remembering his own origin, has sought re-patriation in +the Roman Empire; but during his absence his property has suffered +loss. Let him therefore be restored to, and henceforward have +unquestioned possession of, all that he can prove to be his own in the +way of lands, urban or rural slaves.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii19">19.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Daniel [a 'Commonitorium']</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Monopoly of supply of marble sarcophagi.</div> + +<p>'We wish the servants of our palace to have proper reward for their +labours, though we might call on them to render them gratuitously. +Therefore, being much pleased with your skill in preparing and +ornamenting marbles, we concede to you the [sole] right of furnishing +the marble chests in which the citizens of Ravenna bury their dead.</p> + +<p>'They thus keep them above ground—no small consolation to the +survivors, since the souls alone depart from this world's +conversation; but they do not altogether lose the bodies which once +were dear to them.</p> + +<p>'Do not, however, impose upon their sadness; do not let a relative be +forced to the alternative of wasting his substance in funeral +expenses, or else throwing the body of his dear one into some well. Be +moderate in your charges.'</p> + +<p>[Odovacar was buried <span lang="el" title="Greek: en lithinê larnaki">εν λιθινη λαρνακι</span> (Joann. Ant. fr. +214). The great stone coffins of Honorius and Valentinian will be +remembered by every visitor to Ravenna.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii20">20.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Sajo Grimoda and to the Apparitor +Ferrocinctus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Oppression of Castorius by Faustus.</div> + +<p>[Cf. Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 86 and 113.]</p> + +<p>'We are determined to assist the humble, and to repress the violence +of the proud.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> + +<p>'The lamentable petition of Castorius sets forth that he has been +unjustly deprived of his property by the magnificent Praetorian +Praefect Faustus. [The same, no doubt, to whom are addressed <a href="#iii51">iii. 51</a>, +<a href="#i35">i. 35</a>, and the immediately succeeding letter (<a href="#iii21">iii. 21</a>).]</p> + +<p>'If it be so, let the invader (pervasor) restore to Castorius his +property, and hand over, besides, another property of equal value.</p> + +<p>'If Faustus have employed any intermediate person in the act of +violence, let him be brought to us in chains; and if that well-known +author of ill [Faustus] tries any further to injure Castorius, he +shall pay £2,000, besides having the misery of seeing his would-be +victim unharmed.</p> + +<p>'No Powers of any kind, be they Praetorian Praefects or what they may, +shall be permitted to trample on the lowly.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii21">21.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, Vir Illustris</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Disgrace and temporary exile of Faustus.</div> + +<p>'As all men require change, Faustus is allowed to absent himself from +the sacred walls of Rome for four months, which he may spend at his +own Penates. The King expects, however, that he will then return to +the most famous (opinatissima) City, from which no Roman Senator can +long be absent without grief.'</p> + +<p>[Coupling this letter with its <a href="#iii20">immediate predecessor</a> it is difficult +not to believe that Faustus is sent away in disgrace—notwithstanding +the smooth words here used—for the act of injustice therein +mentioned.</p> + +<p>But why is he only addressed as Vir Illustris, and not also as +Praefectus? Perhaps his term of office was expired; perhaps he was +even dismissed from it.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iii22">22.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Artemidorus, Vir Illustris</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">An earnest invitation to the King's friend, Artemidorus.</div> + +<p>'We hereby [by these oracles] invite your Greatness to behold us, +which we know will be most agreeable to you, in order that you who +have now spent a large portion of your life with us may be satisfied +by the sweetness of our presence. He who is permitted to share our +converse deems it a Divine boon. We believe that you will come gladly, +as we shall entertain you with alacrity.'</p> + +<p>[Cf. Dahn iii. 283-4. The ending of the letter (Venire te gaudentem +credimus, quem alacriter sustinemus) is the common form, and +'sustineo' is a technical word for the King's reception of his +subjects: see <a href="#iii28">iii. 28</a>, ad finem.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii23">23.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Colossaeus, Vir Illustris and Comes (cir. a.d. +505)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Appointment of Colossaeus as Governor of Pannonia.</div> + +<p>'We delight to entrust our mandates to persons of approved character.</p> + +<p>'We are sending you "with the dignity of the illustrious belt" to +Pannonia Sirmiensis, an old habitation of the Goths. Let that Province +be induced to welcome her old defenders, even as she used gladly to +obey our ancestors. Show forth the justice of the Goths, a nation +happily situated for praise, since it is theirs to unite the +forethought of the Romans and the virtue of the Barbarians. Remove all +ill-planted customs<a name="FNanchor_291_291" id="FNanchor_291_291"></a><a href="#Footnote_291_291" class="fnanchor">[291]</a>, and impress upon all your subordinates that +we would rather that our Treasury lost a suit than that it gained one +wrongfully, rather that we lost money than the taxpayer was driven to +suicide.'</p> + +<p>[Cf. Muchar, 'Geschichte der Steiermark' iv. 131.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iii24">24.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Barbarians and Romans settled in +Pannonia</span>.</h3> + +<p>[Cf. Muchar, iv. 132.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">To the Pannonians, on the appointment of Colossaeus.</div> + +<p>'Intent on the welfare of our subjects we are sending you Colossaeus +for Governor. His name means a mighty man; and a mighty man he is, who +has given many proofs of his virtue. Now we exhort you with patience +and constancy to submit yourselves to his authority. Do not excite +that wrath before which our enemies tremble. Acquiesce in the rule of +justice in which the whole world rejoices. Why should you, who have +now an upright Judge<a name="FNanchor_292_292" id="FNanchor_292_292"></a><a href="#Footnote_292_292" class="fnanchor">[292]</a>, settle your grievances by single combat? +What has man got a tongue for, if the armed hand is to settle all +differences? or where can peace be looked for, if there is fighting in +a civilised State like ours<a name="FNanchor_293_293" id="FNanchor_293_293"></a><a href="#Footnote_293_293" class="fnanchor">[293]</a>? Imitate then our Goths, who have +learned to practise war abroad, to show peaceable dispositions at +home. We want you so to live as you see that our subjects (parentes) +have lived and flourished under the Divine blessing.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii25">25.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Simeon, Vir Illustris and Comes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Tax-collecting and iron-mining in Dalmatia.</div> + +<p>'We entrust to you the duty of collecting throughout the Province of +Dalmatia the arrears of Siliquaticum for the first, second, and third +Indictions [Sept. 1, 506, to Aug. 31, 509]. We do this not only for +the sake of gain to our Treasury, but to prevent the demoralisation of +our subjects.</p> + +<p>'Also by careful mining (cuniculo veritatis) seek out the iron veins +in Dalmatia, where the softness of earth is pregnant with the rigour +of iron, which is cooked by fire that it may become hard.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Iron enables us to defend our country, is serviceable for agriculture +and for countless arts of human life: yea, iron is master of gold, +compelling the rich man, weaponless, to obey the poor man who wields a +blade of steel.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii26">26.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Osun, Vir Illustris and Count</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Simeon's journey to Dalmatia.</div> + +<p>Commands him to provide all the necessaries for the journey of +'Clarissimus' Simeon, setting off for Dalmatia on the aforesaid +mission to collect Siliquaticum and develop the iron mines.</p> + +<p>[Why is Simeon not called Illustris, as in the previous letter? This +seems to show that the titles 'Clarissimus' and 'Illustris' were not +always used with technical exactness, as they would have been under +Diocletian.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii27">27.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Joannes, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a>, Consular of Campania</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Promises protection against the Praetorian Praefect.</div> + +<p>'You have not complained to us in vain that the Praetorian Praefect +[perhaps again Faustus] is venting a private grudge against you under +colour of the discharge of his public duty. We will wall you round +with our protection. Go now and discharge the duties of Consular of +Campania with the like devotion as your predecessors, and with this +reflection: "If the King prevents my superior the Praetorian Praefect +from doing me harm, with what unfailing rigour will he visit me if I +do wrong."'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii28">28.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Cassiodorus, Vir Illustris and Patrician</span><a name="FNanchor_294_294" id="FNanchor_294_294"></a><a href="#Footnote_294_294" class="fnanchor">[294]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">An invitation to Cassiodorus Senior to come to Court.</div> + +<p>'For your glorious services, and your incorruptible<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> administration, +which has given deep peace to the nation, we reward you by summoning +you to Court.</p> + +<p>'Having endeavoured to check <i>another</i> [probably alluding to the +disgrace of Faustus], we have bestowed our praises on you, as all the +Palace knows. Come then, come eagerly, as he should do whom his +Sovereign is going to entertain<a name="FNanchor_295_295" id="FNanchor_295_295"></a><a href="#Footnote_295_295" class="fnanchor">[295]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii29">29.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Argolicus, Illustris and Praefect of the City</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Permission to Paulinus to repair certain granaries at +Rome.</div> + +<p>'The King should sow his gifts broadcast, as the sower his seeds—not +put them all into one hole.</p> + +<p>'The Patrician Paulinus represents to us that such and such granaries +are falling into ruin and are of no use to anyone, and asks to be +allowed to repair them and transmit them to his heirs. We consent to +this, if you are of opinion that they are not wanted for the public, +and if there is no corn in them belonging to our Treasury.</p> + +<p>'It is especially fitting that all ruined buildings should be repaired +in Rome. In Rome, praised beyond all other cities by the world's +mouth, there should be nothing sordid or mediocre<a name="FNanchor_296_296" id="FNanchor_296_296"></a><a href="#Footnote_296_296" class="fnanchor">[296]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii30">30.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Argolicus, Illustris and Praefectus Urbis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Repair of the Cloacae of Rome.</div> + +<p>'We are ever vigilant for the repair and beautification of Rome.</p> + +<p>'Let your Sublimity know that we have directed John to repair the +Cloacae of the City, those splendid works<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> which strike astonishment +into the hearts of all beholders. There you see rivers as it were shut +in by concave mountains, flowing down through mighty rafters<a name="FNanchor_297_297" id="FNanchor_297_297"></a><a href="#Footnote_297_297" class="fnanchor">[297]</a> (?). +There you see men steering their ships with the utmost possible care, +lest they should suffer shipwreck. Hence may the greatness of Rome be +inferred. What other city can compare with her in her heights when +even her depths are so incomparable?</p> + +<p>'See therefore, O Praefect, that John as a public officer receives his +proper salary.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii31">31.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Commission issued to John to check ruin of aqueducts and +temples in Rome.</div> + +<p>'Our care is for the whole Republic, "in which, by the favour of God, +we are striving to bring back all things to their former state;" but +especially for the City of Rome. We hear that great depredations are +being committed on public property there.</p> + +<p>'(1) It is said that the water of the aqueducts (formae) is being +diverted to turn mills and water gardens—a thing which would not be +suffered even in the country districts. Even in redressing this wrong +we must be observant of law; and therefore if it should be found that +those who are doing this can plead thirty years' prescription, they +must be bought off, but the misuser must cease. If the diversion is of +less ancient date<a name="FNanchor_298_298" id="FNanchor_298_298"></a><a href="#Footnote_298_298" class="fnanchor">[298]</a>, it must of course be at once stopped without +compensation.</p> + +<p>'(2) Slaves assigned by the forethought of previous rulers to the +service of the formae have passed under the sway of private masters.</p> + +<p>'(3) Great weights of brass and lead (the latter very easy to steal, +from its softness) have been stripped off from the public buildings. +Now Ionos, King of Thessaly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> is said to have first discovered lead, +and Midas, King of Phrygia, brass. How grievous that we should be +handed down to posterity as neglecting two metals which they were +immortalised by discovering!</p> + +<p>'(4) Temples and other public buildings, which at the request of many +we have repaired, are handed over without a thought to spoliation and +ruin.</p> + +<p>'We have appointed the Spectabilis John to enquire into and set +straight all these matters. <i>You</i> ought to have brought the matter +before us yourselves: at least, now, support him with the necessary +"solatia."'</p> + +<p>[See <a href="#iii30">preceding letter</a> as to the commission entrusted to John, +Theodoric's Clerk of the Works in Rome.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii32">32.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Gemellus, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a></span>. <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 511.</h3> + +<p>[Appointed Governor of the Gaulish Province in <a href="#iii16">Letter iii. 16</a>.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Remission of taxes to citizens of Arles.</div> + +<p>'The men of Arles, who were reduced to penury in the glorious siege +which they endured on our behalf, are freed from the obligation of +taxes for the fourth Indiction [Sept. 1, 510, to Aug. 31, 511]. We ask +for these payments from men at peace, not from men besieged. How can +one claim taxes from the lord of a field when one knows he has not +been able to cultivate it? They have already rendered a most precious +tribute in their fidelity to us. After this year, however, the taxes +will be collected as usual.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii33">33.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Argolicus, Illustris, Praefect of the City</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Promotion of Armentarius and Superbus to post of Referendi +Curiae.</div> + +<p>Armentarius (Clarissimus) and his son Superbus are to receive the +privilege of <i>Referendi Curiae</i><a name="FNanchor_299_299" id="FNanchor_299_299"></a><a href="#Footnote_299_299" class="fnanchor">[299]</a>. Thus will the profession of the +law be, as is most fitting, adorned with the honours of the Senate.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span></p> +<p>Praises of Rhetoric. The man who has swayed the judges by his +eloquence is sure to have a favouring audience in the Senate.</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii34">34.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Inhabitants of Massilia</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Count Marabad Governor of Marseilles.</div> + +<p>'In accordance with our usual policy of sending persons of tried +ability and moderation to govern the Provinces, we are sending Count +Marabad [a Gothic name?] to act as your Governor, to bring solace to +the lowly and repress the insolent, and to force all into the path of +justice, which is the secret of the prosperity of our Empire. As +befits your long-tried loyalty, welcome and obey him.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii35">35.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Romulus</span>.</h3> + +<p>[It is surely possible that this is the dethroned Emperor. The name +Romulus, which, as we know, he derived from his maternal grandfather, +was not a very common one in Rome (it must be admitted there is +another Romulus, <a href="#ii14">ii. 14</a>). And is there not something rather peculiar +in the entire absence of all titles of honour, the superscription +being simply 'Romulo Theodoricus Rex,' as if neither King nor scribe +quite knew how to address an ex-Emperor?]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Gifts to Romulus shall not be revoked.</div> + +<p>'The liberality of the Prince must be kept firm and unshaken by the +arts of malignant men. Therefore any gift which shall be proved to +have been given according to our orders by the Patrician Liberius, to +you <i>or to your mother</i>, by written instrument (pictacium or +pittacium), shall remain in full force, and you need not fear its +being questioned.'</p> + +<p>[For Liberius, see <a href="#ii16">ii. 16</a>. A man of that eminence, who was employed to +arrange disputes between the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> Goths and Romans at the first settlement +of the former in Italy, was the very man to be also employed to +arrange terms with Augustulus. There is some reason to think that the +mother of the deposed Emperor was named Barbaria, and that she is +mentioned in the history of the translation of the relics of St. +Severinus. See 'Italy and her Invaders' iii. 190.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii36">36.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Illustrious Count Arigern</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Complaints against Venantius.</div> + +<p>'Firminus alleges that he has some cause of complaint against the +Magnificent Venantius [son of Liberius, mentioned in the <a href="#iii35">previous +letter</a>, and strongly commended in <a href="#ii15">ii. 15</a>], and that Venantius treats +his claims with contempt. There is always a danger of justice being +wrested in the interests of the great. We therefore desire you with +all due reverence to address the aforesaid Magnificent person and +desire him to appoint a representative, with proper credentials, to +plead in our Court in answer to the claims of Firminus, who will be +punished for his audacity if he have brought a false charge against so +illustrious a person.'</p> + +<p>[This and the <a href="#iii35">preceding letter</a> look as if the fortunes of the house of +Liberius (so greatly extolled in <a href="#ii15">ii. 15</a> and <a href="#ii16">16</a>) were passing under a +cloud. See also <a href="#iii8">iii. 8</a>, as to the disgrace of Venantius. This may have +made the ex-Emperor anxious as to the validity of the settlement made +through him.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii37">37.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Bishop Peter</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Alleged injustice of a Bishop.</div> + +<p>[See the full explanation of this letter in Dahn, 'Könige der +Germanen' iii. 193-4. Cf. also Var. <a href="#iii14">iii. 14</a>. Observe how the marginal +note (in the edition of the Bene<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>dictine, Garet) strains the doctrine +of this letter in favour of the clergy<a name="FNanchor_300_300" id="FNanchor_300_300"></a><a href="#Footnote_300_300" class="fnanchor">[300]</a>.]</p> + +<p>'Germanus, in his "flebilis allegatio," informs us that you detain +from him a part of the property of his father Thomas. As it is proper +that causes which concern you should first be remitted to you (so +often employed as judges to settle the disputes of others), we call +upon you to enquire into this claim, and if it be a just one to +satisfy it. Know that if you fail to do justice yourself to the +petitioner, his cause will be carried through to our own +audience-chamber.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii38">38.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Wandil [Vuandil<a name="FNanchor_301_301" id="FNanchor_301_301"></a><a href="#Footnote_301_301" class="fnanchor">[301]</a>]</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The Gothic troops at Avignon to abstain from molesting the +citizens.</div> + +<p>'Our Piety wishes that there should be order and good government +everywhere in our dominions, but especially in Gaul, that our new +subjects there may form a good opinion of the ruler under whom they +have come. Therefore by this authority we charge you to see that no +violence happen in Avignon where you reside. Let our army live +"civiliter" with the Romans, and let the latter feel that our troops +are come for their defence, not for their annoyance.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii39">39.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Felix, Illustris and Consul</span> (<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 511).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Largesse to charioteers of Milan.</div> + +<p>'Those who minister to the pleasures of the public should be liberally +treated, and the Consul must not belie the expectations of his +generosity which have been formed when he was Senator. Therefore let +your Sublimity enquire into the petition for largesse presented by the +charioteers of Milan; and if their statements are correct, let them +have whatever it has been cus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>tomary for them to receive. In matters +of this kind custom creates a kind of debt.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii40">40.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Provincials settled in Gaul</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Immunity from taxes for districts ravaged by war.</div> + +<p>'We wish promptly to relieve all the distresses of our subjects, and +we therefore at once announce to you that the districts ravaged by the +incursions of the enemy will not be called upon to pay tribute at the +fourth Indiction [Sept. 510, to Aug. 511]. For we have no pleasure in +receiving what is paid by a heavy-hearted contributor. The part of the +country, however, which has been untouched by the enemy will have to +contribute to the expense of our army. But a hungry defender is a weak +defender.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii41">41.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Gemellus, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a></span> [Governor of Gothic +Gaul<a name="FNanchor_302_302" id="FNanchor_302_302"></a><a href="#Footnote_302_302" class="fnanchor">[302]</a>].</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Corn for the garrisons on the Durance.</div> + +<p>'A burden borne in common is lightened, since only the edge as it were +of the whole rests on the shoulders of each individual. We have +ordered the corn for the army to be carried from the granaries of +Marseilles to the forts upon the Durance. Let all unite in this toil. +The willing labour of many brings a speedy end to the work.'</p> + +<p>[This letter, as showing that at least one if not both banks of the +Durance were included in the Ostrogothic Monarchy in 511, has an +important bearing on the geographical extent of the Burgundian +Kingdom. See Exkurs vi. to Binding's 'Burgundisch-Romanische +Königreich.' He makes the northern bank of the Durance belong to +Burgundy, the southern to the Ostrogoths.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iii42">42.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Provincials in Gaul</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">No part of Gaul to be called on for military +contributions.</div> + +<p>'Because the generosity of the Prince should even outrun the petitions +of his subjects we repeal that part of a previous letter [<a href="#iii40">iii. 40</a>] +which says that the unravaged portion of the Province of Gaul must pay +the expenses of our soldiers. We will transmit to the Duces and +Praepositi sufficient money to provide "alimonia nostris Gothis."'</p> + +<p>['Praebendae,' near the end of this letter, seems to be used in a +technical sense, almost equivalent to stipendia or annonae.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii43">43.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Unigis, the Sword-bearer [Spatarius]</span>.</h3> + +<p>[No doubt a high officer in the Royal household.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Runaway slaves to be restored to their owners.</div> + +<p>'We delight to live after the law of the Romans, whom we seek to +defend with our arms; and we are as much interested in the maintenance +of morality as we can possibly be in war. For what profit is there in +having removed the turmoil of the Barbarians, unless we live according +to law? Certain slaves, on our army's entry into Gaul, have run away +from their old masters and betaken themselves to new ones. Let them be +restored to their rightful owners. Rights must not be confounded under +the rule of justice, nor ought the defender of liberty to favour +recreant slaves. [Probably an allusion to the office of the <i>Assertor +Libertatis</i> in the <i>Liberalis Causa</i>, as set forth in the Theodosian +Code iv. 8.] Let other kings desire the glory of battles won, of +cities taken, of ruins made; our purpose is, God helping us, so to +rule that our subjects shall grieve that they did not earlier acquire +the blessing of our dominion.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iii44">44.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Landowners [Possessores] of Arles</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Repair of walls of Arles, and supply of corn.</div> + +<p>'We wish to refresh men, but to repair cities also, that the renewed +fortune of the citizens may be displayed by the splendour of their +buildings.</p> + +<p>'We have therefore directed that a certain sum of money be sent for +the repair of the walls and old towers of Arles. But we are also going +to send you, as soon as the time is favourable for navigation, +provisions to supply the waste caused by the war. Be of good cheer, +therefore! Grain for which our word is pledged is as good as grain +already in your granaries.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii45">45.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Arigern, Illustris and Count</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Site disputed between Roman Church and Samaritans.</div> + +<p>'It is represented to us by the Defensors of the "sacrosanct" Roman +Church that Pope Simplicius, of blessed memory, bought a house at +Rome<a name="FNanchor_303_303" id="FNanchor_303_303"></a><a href="#Footnote_303_303" class="fnanchor">[303]</a> of Eufrasius the Acolyte, with all proper formalities, and +that now the people of the Samaritan superstition, hardened in +effrontery, allege that a synagogue of theirs was built on that site, +and claim it accordingly; whereas the very style of building, say +their opponents, shows that this was meant as a private house and not +as a synagogue. Enquire into this matter, and do justice accordingly. +If we will not tolerate chicanery [calumniae] against men, much less +will we against the Divinity Himself.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii46">46.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Adeodatus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Further charges of misgovernment against Venantius.<br /> +Illogical decision in the case of Adeodatus.</div> + +<p>'The crimes of subjects are an occasion for manifesting the virtues of +princes. You have addressed to us your petition, alleging that you +were compelled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> by the Spectabilis Venantius, Governor of Lucania and +Bruttii, to confess yourself guilty of the rape of the maiden +Valeriana.</p> + +<p>'Overcome, you say, by the severity of your imprisonment and the +tortures inflicted upon you, and longing for death as a release from +agony; being moreover refused the assistance of Advocates, while the +utmost resources of rhetoric were at the disposal of your opponents, +you confessed a crime which you had never committed.</p> + +<p>'Such is your statement. The Governor of Bruttii sends his <i>relatio</i> +in opposition, saying that we must not give credence to a petitioner +who is deceitfully seeking to upset a sentence which was given in the +interests of public morality.</p> + +<p>'Our decision is that we will by our clemency mitigate the severity of +your punishment. From the date of this decree you shall be banished +for six months; and on your return no note of infamy of any kind shall +be attached to you; since it is competent for the Prince to wipe off +all the blots on a damaged reputation. Anyone who offends against this +decree [by casting your old offence in your teeth] shall be fined £120 +(3 lbs. of gold). And all who are accused of the same offence in any +place or time, but who offended through ignorance, are to be freed +from all fear of punishment.'</p> + +<p>[A most illogical and unjust conclusion, by which the judgment of +Venantius is in fact neither upheld nor reversed. And what the meaning +of the concluding sentence may be it is impossible to conjecture. See +Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 107, on this absurd decision.</p> + +<p>On the subject of the misgovernment and disgrace of Venantius, cf. +Letters <a href="#ii15">ii. 15</a>, <a href="#ii16">16</a>; <a href="#iii8">iii. 8</a>, +<a href="#iii36">36</a>. Cf. also Procopius, 'De Bello +Gotthico' iii. 18 and 22, as to his son Tullianus. In connection with +the alleged misgovernment of Bruttii and Lucania by Venantius,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +remember the close connection of Cassiodorus himself with those +Provinces.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii47">47.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Jovinus, for killing a fellow Curial, is banished to the +islands of Lipari, the volcanoes of which are described.</div> + +<p>'Jovinus the Curialis, according to the report of the Corrector of +Lucania and Bruttii, had an angry altercation with a fellow Curial +(collega), and in his rage slew him.</p> + +<p>'He then took refuge within the precincts of a church, and refused to +surrender himself to justice. We decide that the capital punishment +shall be remitted out of reverence for his place of refuge, but he +shall be banished to the Vulcanian [Lipari] Islands, there to live +away from the paternal hearth, but ever in the midst of burning, like +a salamander, which is a small and subtile beast, of kin to the +slippery worm, clothed with a yellow colour.</p> + +<p>'The substance of volcanoes, which is perpetually destroyed, is by the +inextricable power of Nature perpetually renewed.</p> + +<p>'The Vulcanian Islands are named from Vulcan, the god of fire, and +burst into eruption on the day when Hannibal took poison at the Court +of Prusias. It is especially wonderful that a mountain kindling into +such a multitude of flames, should yet be half hidden by the waves of +the sea.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii48">48.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all Goths and Romans living near the Fort of +Verruca</span><a name="FNanchor_304_304" id="FNanchor_304_304"></a><a href="#Footnote_304_304" class="fnanchor">[304]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Fortification of Verruca in the Tyrol.</div> + +<p>'It is the duty and the glory of a ruler to provide with wise +forethought for the safety of his subjects. We have therefore ordered +the Sajo Leodifrid that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> under his superintendence you should build +yourselves houses in the fort Verruca, which from its position +receives its most suitable name<a name="FNanchor_305_305" id="FNanchor_305_305"></a><a href="#Footnote_305_305" class="fnanchor">[305]</a>.</p> + +<p>'For it is in the midst of the plains a hill of stone roundly arising, +which with its tall sides, being bare of woods, is all one great +mountain fortress. Its lower parts are slenderer (graciliora) than its +summit, and like some softest fungus the top broadens out, while it is +thin at bottom. It is a mound not made by soldiers<a name="FNanchor_306_306" id="FNanchor_306_306"></a><a href="#Footnote_306_306" class="fnanchor">[306]</a>, a stronghold +made safe by Nature<a name="FNanchor_307_307" id="FNanchor_307_307"></a><a href="#Footnote_307_307" class="fnanchor">[307]</a>, where the besieged can try no <i>coup-de-main</i> +and the besieged need feel no panic. Past this fort swirls the Adige, +that prince of rivers, with the pleasant gurgle of his clear waters, +affording a defence and an adornment in one. It is a fort almost +unequalled in the whole world, "a key that unlocks a kingdom<a name="FNanchor_308_308" id="FNanchor_308_308"></a><a href="#Footnote_308_308" class="fnanchor">[308]</a>;" +and all the more important because it bars the invasion of wild and +savage nations. This admirable defence what inhabitant would not wish +to share, since even foreigners delight to visit it? and though by +God's blessing we trust that the Province [of Raetia] is in our times +secure, yet it is the part of prudence to guard against evils, though +we may think they will not arise.'</p> + +<p>Examples of gulls, who fly inland when they foresee a storm; of +dolphins, which seek the shallower waters; of the edible sea-urchin, +'that honey of flesh, that dainty of the deep,' who anchors himself to +a little pebble to prevent being dashed about by the waves; of birds, +who change their dwellings when winter draws nigh; of beasts, who +adapt their lair to the time of year. And shall man alone be +improvident? Shall he not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> imitate that higher Providence by which the +world is governed?</p> + +<p>[The fortress of Verruca does not seem to be mentioned in the +'Notitia,' in the Antonine 'Itinerary,' or by the geographer of +Ravenna.</p> + +<p>Maffei ('Verona Illustrata,' Book ix. Vol. 2, pp. 391-2 in ed. 1825) +comments on this passage, and argues that <i>Verruca = Dos Trento</i>, a +cliff about a mile from Trient, and this identification seems to have +been accepted, for Ball ('Alpine Guide, Eastern Alps,' p. 404) says: +'In the centre of the valley, close to the city, rises a remarkable +rock known as <i>Dos Trento, and also called La Verruca</i>, formerly +frequented for the sake of the beautiful view which it commands. Since +1857 it has been strongly fortified, and permission to ascend to the +summit is not easily obtained.'</p> + +<p>Maffei says that the French bombarded Trient from this rock in 1703. +He speaks of another 'Verruca, or Rocca,' on the other side of +Aquileia, and thinks that the modern word 'rocca' (rock) may perhaps +have been derived herefrom (?).</p> + +<p>It is remarkable that there is a place called <i>Verrua</i> near the Po in +Piedmont (about 20 miles east of Turin). 'Situated upon an abrupt and +insulated hill, in a most defensible position, it opposed an obstinate +resistance to the Emperor Frederick II. In more recent times (1704), +the Duc de Vendôme attacked it without success' (Murray's 'Guide to +Northern Italy,' p. 51). No doubt this was also originally called +<i>Verruca</i>.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii49">49.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Honoured Possessores, Defensores, and +Curiales of the City of Catana</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Repair of<br /><a href="#err15">amphitheatre</a><br />of Catana.</div> + +<p>'It is a great delight to the Ruler when his subjects of their own +accord suggest that which is for the good of the State. You have +called our attention to the ruinous state of your walls, and ask leave +to use for <b><a href="#err15">its</a></b> repair<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> the stones of the amphitheatre, which have +fallen down from age and are now of no ornament to your town, in fact +only show disgraceful ruins. You have not only our permission to do +this, but our hearty approval. Let the stones, which can be of no use +while they lie there, rise again into the fabric of the walls; and +your improved defence will be our boast and confidence.'</p> + +<p>[Some remains of the amphitheatre are still visible at Catania; not, +however, so important as those of the theatre.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii50">50.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Provincials of Noricum</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The Alamanni and Noricans to exchange their cattle.</div> + +<p>'It is an admirable arrangement when a favour can be conferred by +which giver and receiver are alike benefited.</p> + +<p>'We therefore decree that you should exchange your oxen for those of +the Alamanni.</p> + +<p>'Theirs is the finer and larger breed of cattle, but they are worn out +by the long journey. Thus will they get fresh beasts capable of doing +the work which is required of them, and you will permanently improve +your breed of cattle, and so be able to till your fields better. Thus, +what does not often happen, the same transaction will equally benefit +both parties to it.'</p> + +<p>[Cf. <a href="#ii41">ii. 41</a> as to these Alamannic exiles. Possibly this letter as well +as that refers to their expulsion by Clovis (cir. 504); but it seems +more probable, as von Schubert suggests (pp. 52-54), that we have here +to do with a removal of some of the Alamannic subjects of Theodoric +from Raetia to Noricum, in order to guard the north-east frontier of +the kingdom.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iii51">51.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Stipend of Thomas the Charioteer. Description of the +Circus.</div> + +<p>'Constancy in actors is not a very common virtue, therefore with all +the more pleasure do we record the faithful allegiance of Thomas the +Charioteer, who came long ago from the East hither, and who, having +become champion charioteer, has chosen to attach himself to "the seat +of our Empire<a name="FNanchor_309_309" id="FNanchor_309_309"></a><a href="#Footnote_309_309" class="fnanchor">[309]</a>;" and we therefore decide that he shall be rewarded +by a monthly allowance. He embraced what was then the losing side in +the chariot races and carried it to victory—victory which he won so +often that envious rivals declared that he conquered by means of +witchcraft.</p> + +<p>'The sight of a chariot-race (spectaculum) drives out morality and +invites the most trifling contentions; it is the emptier of honourable +conduct, the ever-flowing spring of squabbles: a thing which Antiquity +commenced as a matter of religion, but which a quarrelsome posterity +has turned into a sport.</p> + +<p>'For Aenomaus is said first to have exhibited this sport at Elis, a +city of Asia (?), and afterwards Romulus, at the time of the rape of +the Sabines, displayed it in rural fashion to Italy, no buildings for +the purpose being yet founded. Long after, Augustus, the lord of the +world, raising his works to the same high level as his power, built a +fabric marvellous even to Romans, which stretched far into the Vallis +Murcia. This immense mass, firmly girt round with hills, enclosed a +space which was fitted to be the theatre of great events.</p> + +<p>'Twelve <i>Ostia</i> at the entrance represent the twelve signs of the +Zodiac. These are suddenly and equally opened by ropes let down by the +<i>Hermulae</i> (little pilasters)<a name="FNanchor_310_310" id="FNanchor_310_310"></a><a href="#Footnote_310_310" class="fnanchor">[310]</a>. The four colours worn by the four +parties of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> charioteers denote the seasons: green for verdant spring, +blue for cloudy winter, red for flaming summer, white for frosty +autumn. Thus, throughout the spectacle we see a determination to +represent the works of Nature. The <i>Biga</i> is made in imitation of the +moon, the <i>Quadriga</i> of the sun. The circus horses (<i>Equi +desultorii</i>), by means of which the servants of the Circus announce +the heats (<i>Missos</i>) that are to be run, imitate the herald-swiftness +of the morning star. Thus it came to pass that while they deemed they +were worshipping the stars, they profaned their religion by parodying +it in their games.</p> + +<p>'A white line is drawn not far from the ostia to each <i>Podium</i> +(balcony), that the contest may begin when the quadrigae pass it, lest +they should interrupt the view of the spectators by their attempts to +get each before the other<a name="FNanchor_311_311" id="FNanchor_311_311"></a><a href="#Footnote_311_311" class="fnanchor">[311]</a>. There are always seven circuits round +the goals (<i>Metae</i>) to one heat, in analogy with the days of the week. +The goals themselves have, like the decani<a name="FNanchor_312_312" id="FNanchor_312_312"></a><a href="#Footnote_312_312" class="fnanchor">[312]</a> of the Zodiac, each +three pinnacles, round which the swift quadrigae circle like the sun. +The wheels indicate the boundaries of East and West. The channel +(<i>Euripus</i>) which surrounds the Circus presents us with an image of +the glassy sea, whence come the dolphins which swim hither through the +waters<a name="FNanchor_313_313" id="FNanchor_313_313"></a><a href="#Footnote_313_313" class="fnanchor">[313]</a> (?). The lofty obelisks lift their height towards heaven; +but the upper one is dedicated to the sun, the lower one to the moon: +and upon them the sacred rites of the ancients are indicated with +Chaldee signs for letters<a name="FNanchor_314_314" id="FNanchor_314_314"></a><a href="#Footnote_314_314" class="fnanchor">[314]</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p><p>'The <i>Spina</i> (central wall, or backbone) represents the lot of the +unhappy captives, inasmuch as the generals of the Romans, marching +over the backs of their enemies, reaped that joy which was the reward +of their labours. The <i>Mappa</i> (napkin), which is still seen to give +the signal at the games, came into fashion on this wise. Once when +Nero was loitering over his dinner, and the populace, as usual, was +impatient for the spectacle to begin, he ordered the napkin which he +had used for wiping his fingers to be thrown out of window, as a +signal that he gave the required permission. Hence it became a custom +that the display of a napkin gave a certain promise of future +<i>circenses</i>.</p> + +<p>'The <i>Circus</i> is so called from "circuitus:" <i>circenses</i> is, as it +were, <i>circu-enses</i>, because in the rude ages of antiquity, before an +elaborate building had been prepared for the purpose, the races were +exhibited on the green grass, and the multitude were protected by the +river on one side and the swords (<i>enses</i>) of the soldiers on the +other<a name="FNanchor_315_315" id="FNanchor_315_315"></a><a href="#Footnote_315_315" class="fnanchor">[315]</a>.</p> + +<p>'We observe, too, that the rule of this contest is that it be decided +in twenty-four heats<a name="FNanchor_316_316" id="FNanchor_316_316"></a><a href="#Footnote_316_316" class="fnanchor">[316]</a>, an equal number to that of the hours of day +and night. Nor let it be accounted meaningless that the number of +circuits round the goals is expressed by the putting up of +<i>eggs</i><a name="FNanchor_317_317" id="FNanchor_317_317"></a><a href="#Footnote_317_317" class="fnanchor">[317]</a>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> since that emblem, pregnant as it is with many +superstitions<a name="FNanchor_318_318" id="FNanchor_318_318"></a><a href="#Footnote_318_318" class="fnanchor">[318]</a>, indicates that something is about to be born from +thence. And in truth we may well understand that the most fickle and +inconstant characters, well typified by the birds who have laid those +eggs, will spring from attendance on these spectacles<a name="FNanchor_319_319" id="FNanchor_319_319"></a><a href="#Footnote_319_319" class="fnanchor">[319]</a>. It were +long to describe in detail all the other points of the Roman Circus, +since each appears to arise from some special cause. This only will we +remark upon as pre-eminently strange, that in these beyond all other +spectacles men's minds are hurried into excitement without any regard +to a fitting sobriety of character. The Green charioteer flashes by: +part of the people is in despair. The Blue gets a lead: a larger part +of the City is in misery. They cheer frantically when they have gained +nothing; they are cut to the heart when they have received no loss; +and they plunge with as much eagerness into these empty contests as if +the whole welfare of the imperilled fatherland were at stake.</p> + +<p>'No wonder that such a departure from all sensible dispositions should +be attributed to a superstitious origin. We are compelled to support +this institution by the necessity of humouring the majority of the +people, who are passionately fond of it; for it is always the few who +are led by reason, while the many crave excitement and oblivion of +their cares. Therefore, as we too must sometimes share the folly of +our people, we will freely provide for the expenses of the Circus, +however little our judgment approves of this institution.'</p> + +<p>[Notwithstanding some absurdities, the above description of the Circus +Maximus (which I have attempted to translate in full) is of great +value, being, after that given by Dionysius of Halicarnassus, our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +chief authority on the subject. The accompanying plan (taken, with +some slight variations, from Smith's 'Dictionary of Antiquities'), +will, I trust, render it intelligible.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"> </p> + +<p style="text-align: center"> +<img src="images/image02.png" width="140" height="500" alt="Plan of Ancient Circus" /></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><b>Plan of Ancient Circus.</b></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"> </p> + +<p>It is well illustrated by the recently excavated 'Stadium of +Augustus,' on the Palatine; but perhaps even better by a beautifully +executed gem lately found at Chesters<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> in Northumberland, on the site +of the Roman station at Cilurnum. By the kindness of the owner, Mr. +Clayton, I am able to give an enlarged copy of this gem, which is +described in the 'Archaeologia Aeliana,' vol. x. pp. 133-137.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"> </p> + +<p style="text-align: center"> +<img src="images/image03.png" width="400" height="322" alt="Circus Maximus" /></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><b>The Circus Maximus, a magnified engraving of an +intaglio on a carnelian signet-ring found at Cilurnum (Chesters in +Northumberland) in 1882.</b></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"> </p> + +<p>The reader will easily discern the <i>Spina</i> with one obelisk (not two, +as described by Cassiodorus) in the centre, the high tables supported +by pillars on which the Ova and Delphini are placed, the three +spindle-shaped columns which formed the <i>Meta</i> at each end, and the +four quadrigae (four was the regular number for each missus) careering +in front.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii52">52.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Illustrious Consularis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On Roman land surveying.</div> + +<p>'We are sorry to hear that a dispute (which is on the point of being +settled by arms instead of by the law) has arisen between the +Spectabiles Leontius and Paschasius<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> as to the boundaries of their +properties<a name="FNanchor_320_320" id="FNanchor_320_320"></a><a href="#Footnote_320_320" class="fnanchor">[320]</a>. If they are so fierce against one another here in +Italy, where there are mountains and rivers and the "arcaturae" +[square turrets of the land surveyor] to mark the boundaries, what +would they have done in Egypt, where the yearly returning waters of +the Nile wash out all landmarks, and leave a deposit of mud over all?</p> + +<p>'Geometry was discovered by the Chaldaeans, who perceived that its +principles lay at the root of Astronomy, Music, Mechanics, +Architecture, Medicine, Logic, and every science which deals with +generals. This science was eagerly welcomed by the Egyptians, who +perceived the advantage it would be to them in recovering the +boundaries of estates obliterated by the wished-for deluge<a name="FNanchor_321_321" id="FNanchor_321_321"></a><a href="#Footnote_321_321" class="fnanchor">[321]</a> of the +Nile.</p> + +<p>'Therefore let your Greatness send an experienced land surveyor +(agrimensor) to settle this dispute by assigning fixed boundaries to +the two estates.</p> + +<p>'Augustus made a complete survey of the whole "Orbis Romanus," in +order that each taxpayer should know exactly his resources and +obligations. The results of this survey were tabulated by the author +Hyrummetricus. The Professors of this Science [of land surveying] are +honoured with a more earnest attention than falls to the lot of any +other philosophers. Arithmetic, Theoretical Geometry, Astronomy, and +Music are discoursed upon to listless audiences, sometimes to empty +benches. But the land surveyor is like a judge; the deserted fields +become his forum, crowded with eager spectators. You would fancy him a +madman when you see him walking along the most devious paths. But in +truth he is seeking for the traces of lost facts in rough woods and +thickets<a name="FNanchor_322_322" id="FNanchor_322_322"></a><a href="#Footnote_322_322" class="fnanchor">[322]</a>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> He walks not as other men walk. His path is the book +from which he reads; he <i>shows</i> what he is saying; he proves what he +hath learned; by his steps he divides the rights of hostile claimants; +and like a mighty river he takes away the fields of one side to bestow +them on the other.</p> + +<p>'Wherefore, acting on our instructions, choose such a land surveyor, +whose authority may be sufficient to settle this dispute, that the +litigants may henceforth cultivate their lands in peace.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iii53">53.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Illustrious Apronianus, Count of the Private +Domains</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On Water-finders.</div> + +<p>'Your Greatness tells us that a water-finder has come to Rome from +Africa, where, on account of the dryness of the soil, his art is +greatly in request.</p> + +<p>'We are glad to hear it. It is a very useful art.</p> + +<p>'Signs of the existence of water are the greenness of the grass, the +size of the trees, the nature of the plants, reeds, rushes, brambles, +willows, poplars, &c. Some discover water by putting out dry wool +under a bowl at night. So too, if you see at sunrise a cloud [or +gossamer, 'spissitudinem'] of very small flies. A mist rising like a +column shows water as deep below as the column rises high above.</p> + +<p>'The water-finder will also predict the quality of the water, and so +prevent you from wasting labour on a brackish spring. This science was +ably treated of by ——<a name="FNanchor_323_323" id="FNanchor_323_323"></a><a href="#Footnote_323_323" class="fnanchor">[323]</a>, and by Marcellus among the Latins. They +tell us that waters which gush forth towards the east and south are +light and wholesome; that those which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> emerge towards the north and +west are too cold and heavy.</p> + +<p>'So then, if the testimonials of the aforesaid water-finder and the +results of his indications shall approve themselves to your wisdom, +you may pay his travelling expenses and relieve his wants: he having +to repay you by his future services. For though Rome itself is so +abundantly supplied with aqueducts, there are many suburban places in +which his help would be very useful. Associate with him also a +mechanician who can sink for and raise the water when he has pointed +it out. Rome ought not to lack anything which is an object of +desire.'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_IV" id="BOOK_IV"></a>BOOK IV.</h2> + +<h3>CONTAINING FIFTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC.</h3> + + +<h3><a name="iv1">1.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Herminafrid, King of the Thuringians</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Marriage of Theodoric's niece to the King of the +Thuringians.</div> + +<p>'<span class="smcap">Desiring</span> 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 shine by the splendour of Imperial +blood<a name="FNanchor_324_324" id="FNanchor_324_324"></a><a href="#Footnote_324_324" class="fnanchor">[324]</a>'. [A remarkable passage, as showing that Theodoric did in a +sense consider himself to be filling the place of the Emperors of the +West.]</p> + +<p>The virtues and intellectual accomplishments of the new Queen of the +Thuringians are described.</p> + +<p>'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 ambassadors: 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> 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.</p> + +<p>'We too are sending you some presents, but our niece is the fairest +present of all. May God bless you with children, so that our lines may +be allied in future.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv2">2.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the King of the Heruli</span>.</h3> + +<p style="text-align: center">[Adopting him as his son by right of arms.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Herminafrid adopted as 'filius per arma' by Theodoric.</div> + +<p>'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 <i>worthy to be our +son</i> is indeed praise. As such, after the manner of the nations and in +manly fashion, do we now beget you<a name="FNanchor_325_325" id="FNanchor_325_325"></a><a href="#Footnote_325_325" class="fnanchor">[325]</a>.</p> + +<p>'We send you horses, spears, and shields, 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<a name="FNanchor_326_326" id="FNanchor_326_326"></a><a href="#Footnote_326_326" class="fnanchor">[326]</a>. Highest among the nations will you +be considered who are thus approved by the mind of Theodoric.</p> + +<p>'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 shield 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<a name="FNanchor_327_327" id="FNanchor_327_327"></a><a href="#Footnote_327_327" class="fnanchor">[327]</a>.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="iv3">3.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Senarius, Vir Illustris, Comes</span>.</h3> + +<p style="text-align: center">[Conferring upon him the dignity of 'Comitiva Patrimonii.']</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Senarius made Comes Patrimonii.</div> + +<p>'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 <i>judicia</i><a name="FNanchor_328_328" id="FNanchor_328_328"></a><a href="#Footnote_328_328" class="fnanchor">[328]</a> have +been justified. We therefore hereby bestow upon you, for the fourth +Indiction [Sept. 1, 510], the Illustrious dignity of Comes of our +Patrimony.'</p> + +<p>Services of Senarius as a diplomatist, in standing up against +Barbarian Kings and subduing their intellects to the moderate counsels +of Theodoric<a name="FNanchor_329_329" id="FNanchor_329_329"></a><a href="#Footnote_329_329" class="fnanchor">[329]</a>.</p> + +<p>His success as an advocate<a name="FNanchor_330_330" id="FNanchor_330_330"></a><a href="#Footnote_330_330" class="fnanchor">[330]</a>. The charm of his pronunciation. 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.</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv4">4.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<p style="text-align: center">[Announcing the promotion of Senarius, conferred in the +<a href="#iv3">preceding +letter</a>.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">On the same subject.</div> + +<p>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<a name="FNanchor_331_331" id="FNanchor_331_331"></a><a href="#Footnote_331_331" class="fnanchor">[331]</a> and his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> 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.</p> + +<p>Compliments to the Senate, who are invited to give a hearty welcome to +the new comer.</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv5">5.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Amabilis, Vir Devotus<a name="FNanchor_332_332" id="FNanchor_332_332"></a><a href="#Footnote_332_332" class="fnanchor">[332]</a> and Comes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Supply of provisions to famine-stricken Provinces of Gaul.</div> + +<p>'Having heard that there is dearth in our Gaulish Provinces we direct +your Devotion to take bonds from the shipmasters 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 <i>giving</i> +him what he needs, and can very nearly ask his own price.'</p> + +<p>[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.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv6">6.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Symmachus, Vir Illustris, Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The sons of Valerian to be detained in Rome.</div> + +<p>'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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> + +<p>'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 assured, 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<a name="FNanchor_333_333" id="FNanchor_333_333"></a><a href="#Footnote_333_333" class="fnanchor">[333]</a>. 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 assign such a City as a residence to any of our +subjects<a name="FNanchor_334_334" id="FNanchor_334_334"></a><a href="#Footnote_334_334" class="fnanchor">[334]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv7">7.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Senarius, Vir Illustris, Comes Privatarum</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Losses by shipwreck to be refunded to those who were +sending provisions to Gaul.</div> + +<p>'Any calamity which comes upon a man from causes beyond his control +ought not to be imputed to him as a fault. The pathetic petition of +the Superintendents of Grain<a name="FNanchor_335_335" id="FNanchor_335_335"></a><a href="#Footnote_335_335" class="fnanchor">[335]</a> informs us that the cargoes which +they destined for Gaul have perished at sea.</p> + +<p>'The framework of the timbers of the ships gaped under the violence of +the winds and waves, and from all that overabundance of water nothing +remains to them but their tears.</p> + +<p>'Let your Sublimity therefore promptly refund to them the proportion +(modiatio) which each of them can prove that he has thus lost. It +would be cruel to punish them for having merely suffered shipwreck.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iv8">8.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the honoured Possessores and Curiales of Forum +Livii (Forli)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Transport of timber ordered for Alsuanum.</div> + +<p>'You must not think anything which we order hard; for our commands are +reasonable, and we know what you ought to do. Your Devotion is +therefore to cut timber and transport it to Alsuanum<a name="FNanchor_336_336" id="FNanchor_336_336"></a><a href="#Footnote_336_336" class="fnanchor">[336]</a>, where you +will be paid the proper price for it.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv9">9.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Osuin, Vir Illustris and Comes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Tuitio regii nominis.</div> + +<p>[This letter is quoted by Dahn ('Könige der Germanen' iii. 117) as an +illustration of '<i>tuitio regii nominis</i>.']</p> + +<p>'Maurentius and Paula, who are left orphans, inform us that their +youth and helplessness expose them to the attacks of many unscrupulous +persons.</p> + +<p>'Let your Sublimity therefore cause it to be known that any suits +against them must be prosecuted in our Comitatus, the place of succour +for the distressed and of sharp punishment for tricksters.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv10">10.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Joannes, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a> and Consularis of Campania</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The lawless custom of Pignoratio is to be repressed.</div> + +<p>[A custom had apparently grown up during the lawless years of the +Fifth Century, of litigants helping themselves, during the slow +progress of the suit, to a 'material guarantee' from the fields of +their opponents. This custom, unknown apparently at the time of the +Theodosian Code, was called 'Pignoratio,' and was especially rife in +the Provinces of Campania and Samnium.]</p> + +<p>'How does peace differ from the confusion of war, if law-suits are to +be settled by violence? We hear with displeasure from our Provincials +in Campania and Sam<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>nium that certain persons there are giving +themselves up to the practice of <i>pignoratio</i>. And so far has this +gone that neighbours club together and transfer their claims to some +one person who "pignorates" for the whole of them, thus in fact +compelling a man to pay a debt to an entire stranger—a monstrous +perversion of all the rules of law, which separates so delicately +between the rights even of near relations, and will not allow the son +to be sued for the father's debts unless he is the heir, nor the wife +for the husband's unless she has succeeded to the estate. Hitherto our +ignorance has allowed this lawless practice to exist. Now that we know +of it we are determined to suppress it. Therefore, firstly, if any man +lays violent hands on any property to secure an alleged claim, he +shall at once forfeit that claim [and restore the <i>pignus</i>]. Secondly, +where one has "pignorated" for another, he shall be compelled to +restore twofold the value of that which he has taken. Thirdly, if any +offender is so poor and squalid that restitution cannot be compelled +from him, he shall be beaten with clubs.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv11">11.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Senarius, Vir Illustris and Comes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Dispute between Possessores and Curiales.</div> + +<p>'Let your Magnitude enquire into and decide promptly the dispute +between the Possessores and Curiales of Velia.' [A conjectural +emendation for <i>Volienses</i>.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv12">12.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Marabad, Vir Illustris and Comes; and Gemellus, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Archotamia's complaint against the extravagant widow of her +grandson.</div> + +<p>'It is our purpose not only to defend by arms but to govern by just +laws the Provinces which God has subjected to us.</p> + +<p>'Archotamia, an illustrious lady who has lost her grandson by death, +complains that his widow Aetheria, having married again with a certain +Liberius, is wasting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> the property of her children in order to make +her new home appear more splendid.</p> + +<p>'Let your Sublimities enquire into this matter. After suppressing all +violent action<a name="FNanchor_337_337" id="FNanchor_337_337"></a><a href="#Footnote_337_337" class="fnanchor">[337]</a>, placing the holy Gospels in the midst of the +Court, and calling in three honourable persons agreed upon by the +parties, as assessors, decide with their help upon the matter +according to ancient law, due reference being had to the arrangements +of modern times.'</p> + +<p>[Theodoric says that in not hearing the case himself, but referring it +to Marabad and Gemellus, he is following his usual practice, +'remittere ad statuta Divalium sanctionum;' that is, apparently, +according to the Theodosian Code. See Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iv. +140, <i>n.</i> 2.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv13">13.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Senarius, Vir Illustris, Comes Privatarum</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Supplies for Colossaeus and his suite.</div> + +<p>'Let Colossaeus, who is sent as Governor to Pannonia Sirmiensis, have +rations for himself and suite, according to ancient usage. [For his +appointment, see Letters <a href="#iii23">iii. 23</a> and <a href="#iii24">24</a>.]</p> + +<p>'A hungry army cannot be expected to preserve discipline, since the +armed man will always help himself to that which he requires. Let him +have the chance of buying, that he may not be forced to think what he +can plunder. Necessity loves not a law<a name="FNanchor_338_338" id="FNanchor_338_338"></a><a href="#Footnote_338_338" class="fnanchor">[338]</a>, nor is it right to +command the many to observe a moderation which even the few can barely +practise.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv14">14.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Sajo Gesila</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Evasion of land-tax by Goths in Picenum and Thuscia.</div> + +<p>'It is a great offence to put off the burden of one's own debts upon +other people. That man ought to pay the "tributum" for a property who +receives the income of it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> But some of the Goths in Picenum and the +two Tuscanies<a name="FNanchor_339_339" id="FNanchor_339_339"></a><a href="#Footnote_339_339" class="fnanchor">[339]</a> are evading the payment of their proper taxes<a name="FNanchor_340_340" id="FNanchor_340_340"></a><a href="#Footnote_340_340" class="fnanchor">[340]</a>. +This vicious practice must be suppressed at once, lest it spread by +imitation. If anyone in a spirit of clownish stubbornness shall still +refuse to obey our commands as expressed through you, affix the proper +notice to his houses and confiscate them, that he who would not pay a +small debt may suffer a great loss<a name="FNanchor_341_341" id="FNanchor_341_341"></a><a href="#Footnote_341_341" class="fnanchor">[341]</a>. None ought to be more prompt +in their payments to the exchequer than those [the Goths] who are the +receivers of our donative. The sum thus given by our liberality is +much more than they could claim as soldiers' pay. In fact <i>we</i> pay +them a voluntary tribute by the care which we have of their fortunes.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv15">15.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Benenatus, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">New rowers to be selected. Their qualifications.</div> + +<p>'Being informed by the Illustrious and Magnificent Count of the +Patrimony that twenty-one of the <i>Dromonarii</i> [rowers in the +express-boats] have been removed by the inconvenient incident of +death, we hereby charge you to select others to fill their places. But +they must be strong men, for the toil of rowing requires powerful arms +and stout hearts to battle with the stormy waves. For what is in fact +more daring than with one's little bark to enter upon that wide and +treacherous sea, which only despair enables a man successfully to +combat?'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv16">16.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Arigern entrusted with the charge of the City of Rome.</div> + +<p>'Some time ago we committed the government of our new Gaulish +Provinces to Arigern, a member of your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> body, that he might by his +firmness and prudence bring about a settlement in that agitated +country. This he has accomplished to our entire satisfaction, and, +practising the lessons which he learned in your midst, he has also +brought back warlike trophies from thence. We now decide to bestow +upon him the charge of the Roman order.</p> + +<p>'He is to see that the laws are vigorously administered, and that +private revenge has no place.</p> + +<p>'Receive, O Conscript Fathers, your honoured and venerable member back +into your bosom.'</p> + +<p>[It seems probable that Arigern was not appointed 'Praefectus Urbis,' +because in Letter <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a> he is associated as Comes with Argolicus, +'Praefectus Urbis.' Was he 'Comes Urbis Romae?']</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv17">17.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to +<a href="#err16">Ida</a>, Vir Sublimis and Dux</span>.</h3> + +<p style="text-align: center">[Cf. the name of our own Northumbrian King.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Possessions of the Church of Narbonne to be restored to +it.</div> + +<p>'We do not wish to disturb anything that has been well settled by a +preceding King. Certain possessions of the Church of Narbonne, which +were secured to it by grant of the late King Alaric of exalted memory, +have been wrongfully wrested from it. Do you now restore these. As you +are illustrious in war, so be also excellent in "civilitas." The +wrong-doers will not dare to resist a man of your well-known bravery.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv18">18.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Annas, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a> and Comes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">A priestly Ghoul.</div> + +<p>'Enquire if the story which is told us be true, namely that the +Presbyter Laurentius has been groping for fatal riches among human +corpses. An odious inversion of his functions, that he who should +preach peace to the living has been robbing the dead, and that hands +which have been touched with the oil of consecration should have been +grasping at unholy gains, instead of distributing his own honestly +acquired substance to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> the poor. If after diligent examination you +find that the charge is true, you must make him disgorge the gold. As +for punishment, for the sake of the honour of the priesthood we leave +that to a higher Power<a name="FNanchor_342_342" id="FNanchor_342_342"></a><a href="#Footnote_342_342" class="fnanchor">[342]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv19">19.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Gemellus, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The Siliquaticum not to be levied on corn, wine, and oil.</div> + +<p>'The Prince should try to remedy the afflictions of his subjects. +Therefore, for the present time [probably on account of the scarcity +in Gaul], we decree that the tax of Siliquaticum, which Antiquity +ordained should be levied on all buyings and sellings, shall not be +levied on corn, wine, and oil. We hope thus to stimulate trade, and to +benefit not only the Provincials, who are our chief care, but also the +merchants. Let the ship that traverses the seas not fear our harbours. +Often the sailor dreads the rapacity of the collector of customs more +than the danger of shipwreck. It shall not be so now.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv20">20.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Geberich, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Land taken from the Church to be restored to it.</div> + +<p>'If we are willing to enrich the Church by our own liberality, <i>à +fortiori</i> will we not allow it to be despoiled of the gifts received +from pious princes in the past.</p> + +<p>'The supplication of the Venerable Bishop Constantius informs us that +a <i>jugum</i> [= jugerum, about two-thirds of an English acre] of land so +bestowed on the "sacrosanct" Church has been taken away from her, and +is unlawfully held by the despoiler.</p> + +<p>'See that right is done, and that the Church has her own restored to +her without any diminution.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv21">21.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Gemellus, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a></span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Promptness and integrity required.</div> + +<p>'Be prompt in the execution of our orders. No one should think our +commands harsh, since they are ex<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>cused by the necessity of the times. +[Reject the thought of all unjustly acquired gains, for] you are sure +to receive from our favour all that you seem to lose by not yielding +to temptation.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv22">22.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Argolicus, Vir Illustris and Praefect of the +City;</span></h3> + +<h3><span class="smcap">and</span></h3> + +<h3><a name="iv23">23.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Arigern, Vir Illustris and Comes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Roman Senators accused of magic.</div> + +<p>These two letters relate to the affair of Basilius<a name="FNanchor_343_343" id="FNanchor_343_343"></a><a href="#Footnote_343_343" class="fnanchor">[343]</a> and +Praetextatus, men of high rank in Rome. They are accused of practising +magical arts, and in the interval between the first and second letters +they escape from prison by taking advantage of the insanity of the +gaoler.</p> + +<p>Theodoric, who says that he will not suffer any such acts of treason +against the Divine Majesty, and that it is not lawful for Christian +times to deal in magical arts, orders the recapture of the offenders, +who are to be handed over to a Quinque-viral Board, consisting of the +Patricians Symmachus, Decius, Volusianus, and Caelianus, with the +Illustrious Maximian, and by them examined; if guilty to be punished +(probably with confiscation and exile); if innocent, of course to be +discharged<a name="FNanchor_344_344" id="FNanchor_344_344"></a><a href="#Footnote_344_344" class="fnanchor">[344]</a>.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span></p> +<p>[The association of the Quinque-viri with the Praefectus Urbis is a +mark of the high rank of the accused. The Praefectus Urbis could not +adjudicate on the crimes of Senators without five Assessors chosen by +lot from that body. Arigern, who was entrusted (it is not quite clear +in what capacity) with the 'Disciplina Romanae Civitatis,' is +commissioned to bring the accused to trial. Baronius says that we do +not hear whether they were ever re-captured.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv24">24.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Elpidius, Deacon</span> [of Spoleto].</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Architectural restoration at Spoleto.</div> + +<p>Gives leave to pull down a <i>porticus</i> behind the Baths of Turasius at +Spoleto, and to build some new edifice [perhaps a church] on its site +and on the site of a yard (areola) adjoining it, on condition only +that the building thus pulled down is of no public utility.</p> + +<p>Reflections on the duty of architectural restoration.</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv25">25.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Argolicus, Vir Illustris, Praefectus Urbis</span>.</h3> + +<p>[It is to be borne in mind that the Praefectus Urbis was the Official +President of the Senate.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Petrus to be inscribed as Senator.</div> + +<p>'Ambition ennobles man, and he who has aimed when young at high +honours is often stimulated to lead a worthy life by the fact of +having obtained them. We therefore look favourably on the petition of +Petrus, illustrious by descent, and in gravity of character already a +Senator, to enter the Sacred Order (the Senate); and we authorise your +Illustrious Magnificence to inscribe his name, according to ancient +custom, in the album of that body.'</p> + +<p><a href="#err17"><b>[A Petrus, probably the same as the subject of this letter, was Consul +in 516.]</b></a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iv26">26.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Citizens of Marseilles</span><a name="FNanchor_345_345" id="FNanchor_345_345"></a><a href="#Footnote_345_345" class="fnanchor">[345]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Taxes remitted for a year.</div> + +<p>Confirms all privileges and immunities granted by previous Princes, +and remits the taxes (censum) for one year, a boon which they had not +dared to ask for. 'For that is perfect <i>pietas</i>, which before it is +bent by prayer, knows how to consider the weary ones.'</p> + +<p>[Here, as in many other passages of Cassiodorus, <i>pietas</i> shows signs +of passing into the Italian <i>pietà</i> (= pity).]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv27">27.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Sajo Tezutzat</span>,</h3> + +<h3><span class="smcap">and</span></h3> + +<h3><a name="iv28">28.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Duda, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a> and Comes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Petrus assaulted by the Sajo who was assigned for his +protection.</div> + +<p>[Duda was also a Sajo, as we see from <a href="#iv32">Letter 32</a>. Dahn ('Könige der +Germanen' iv. 142, <i>n.</i> 3) thinks he was Comes Gothorum.]</p> + +<p>Both letters relate to the affair of Petrus (a Vir Spectabilis, and +probably the same whose admission to the Senate is ordered by <a href="#iv25">iv. 25</a>).</p> + +<p>This Roman nobleman, according to a usage common under Theodoric's +government, has had the Gothic Sajo Amara assigned to him as his +Defensor. Amara, by an inversion of his functions, which the letter +bitterly laments and upbraids, has turned upon his <i>protegé</i> and even +used personal violence towards him. He has drawn a sword and wounded +him in the hand; and nothing but the fact that Petrus was sheltered by +a door saved him from losing his hand altogether.</p> + +<p>Yet, notwithstanding this assault, Amara has had the audacity to claim +from his victim 'commodi nomine,' the usual payment made by the +defended to the defender.</p> + +<p>The first letter decrees that this shall be refunded twofold, and +assigns Tezutzat instead of Amara to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> office of Defender, warning +him not to follow the evil example of his predecessor.</p> + +<p>The second assigns to Duda the task of enquiring into the alleged +assault and punishing it with the sword<a name="FNanchor_346_346" id="FNanchor_346_346"></a><a href="#Footnote_346_346" class="fnanchor">[346]</a>.</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv29">29.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Argolicus, Vir Illustris, Praefect of the City</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Official tardiness rebuked.</div> + +<p>A sharp rebuke to him for having (if the <i>suggestio</i> of the +Clarissimus Armentarius be correct) so long delayed, it is to be +feared with a corrupt motive, complying with the instructions of the +King to do justice in some case (not described) in which the honour of +the Senate is concerned. As head of the Senate he ought to have been +eager to examine into it, without any prompting from his master.</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv30">30.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Albinus, Vir Illustris and Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Workshops may be erected above the Porticus Curba, by the +Roman Forum.</div> + +<p>'Those whom the Republic has honoured should in their turn bring +honour to the City. We are therefore gratified by receiving your +supplication for leave to erect workshops<a name="FNanchor_347_347" id="FNanchor_347_347"></a><a href="#Footnote_347_347" class="fnanchor">[347]</a> above the Porticus +Curba, which being situated near the Domus Palmata, shuts in the Forum +in comely fashion "in modum areae." We like the plan. The range of +private dwellings will thereby be extended. A look of cheerful newness +will be given to the old walls; and the presence of residents in the +building will tend to preserve it from further decay. You have our +permission and encouragement to proceed, if the proposed erections do +not in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> any way interfere with public convenience or the beauty of the +City.'</p> + +<p>[The MSS. of Cassiodorus waver between Curbae and Curiae in the above +letter. Jordan ('Topographie der Stadt Rom.' i. 2. 258) inclines to +the opinion that Porticus Curba denotes the Portico of the Secretarium +of the Senate, on the site of the present Church of Sta. Martina. As +the Curia immediately adjoined this building, there is practically but +little difference between the two readings. In either case the +fabricae were to be erected so as to overlook the north-west end of +the Forum. It is admitted that the Domus Palmata was near the Arch of +Septimius Severus.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv31">31.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Aemilianus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">An aqueduct to be promptly finished.</div> + +<p>'Wise men should finish what they have begun, and not incur the +reproach which attends half-done work.</p> + +<p>'Let your Holiness therefore promptly complete what by our authority +you so well began in the matter of the aqueduct, and thus most fitly +provide water for your thirsting flock, imitating by labour the +miracle of Moses, who made water gush forth from the flinty rock.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv32">32.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Duda the Sajo</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The rights of the Crown to the property of the proscribed +man, Tupha, to be asserted with moderation.</div> + +<p>'We are anxious strictly to obey the laws, and to take no advantage +over our subjects in courts of justice. If a man knows that he can get +his own by legal process, even from the Sovereign, he is the less +likely to seek it by the armed hand. The memorandum of Marinus informs +us that the property of Tupha was long ago mortgaged to a certain +Joannes<a name="FNanchor_348_348" id="FNanchor_348_348"></a><a href="#Footnote_348_348" class="fnanchor">[348]</a>. But since it is quite clear that the property of a +proscribed man belongs to our fiscus, we desire you to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> summon the +widow of this Joannes and his secretary Januarius, "moderata +executione."</p> + +<p>'If they acknowledge that they have no right to the property let them +at once restore it; but if not, let them come before the <i>Consularis</i> +of Campania and establish their right according to course of law.</p> + +<p>'But let all be done without loss or prejudice to the rights of +innocent persons. If any such charge be established against you, <i>you</i> +will become the offender in our eyes.'</p> + +<p>[The description of Tupha as 'proscriptus' makes it probable that we +are dealing with that officer of Odovacar whose double treachery +(489-490) so nearly caused the failure of Theodoric's invasion of +Italy, and who finally fell in battle against his fellow-rebel, +Frederic the Rugian. The only difficulty is the lapse of time since +those events, as this letter was probably written not earlier than +about 511; but that is in some degree met by the word <i>quondam</i> in the +sentence quoted (<a href="#Footnote_348_348"><i>n.</i> 1, p. 250</a>).]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv33">33.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Jews of Genoa</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Privileges of the Jews confirmed.</div> + +<p>'The true mark of <i>civilitas</i> is the observance of law. It is this +which makes life in communities possible, and which separates man from +the brutes. We therefore gladly accede to your request that all the +privileges which the foresight of antiquity conferred upon the Jewish +customs shall be renewed to you<a name="FNanchor_349_349" id="FNanchor_349_349"></a><a href="#Footnote_349_349" class="fnanchor">[349]</a>, for in truth it is our great +desire that the laws of the ancients shall be kept in force to secure +the reverence due to us<a name="FNanchor_350_350" id="FNanchor_350_350"></a><a href="#Footnote_350_350" class="fnanchor">[350]</a>. Everything which has been found to +conduce to <i>civilitas</i> should be held fast with enduring devotion.'</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span></p> +<h3><a name="iv34">34.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Duda the Sajo</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Buried treasure to be reclaimed for the State.</div> + +<p>'It is the part of true prudence to recall to the uses of commerce +"the talent hidden in the earth." We therefore direct you, by this +"moderata jussio," where you hear of buried treasures to proceed to +the spot with suitable witnesses and reclaim for the public Treasury +either gold or silver, abstaining, however, from actually laying hands +on the ashes of the dead<a name="FNanchor_351_351" id="FNanchor_351_351"></a><a href="#Footnote_351_351" class="fnanchor">[351]</a>. The dead can do nothing with treasure, +and it is not greedy to take away what the holder of it can never +mourn the loss of.</p> + +<p>'Eacus is said to have discovered the use of gold, and Indus, King of +the Scythians, that of silver. They are extremely useful metals.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv35">35.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Representatives (Actores) of Albinus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">An extravagant minor. Restitutio in integrum.</div> + +<p>'It has been wisely decided by Antiquity that minors cannot make a +binding contract, for they are naturally the prey of every sharper. +You allege that your <i>patronus</i> [Albinus] is under age, that he is +heaping up expenses instead of property, and that his raw boyhood does +not know what is really for his benefit. If this be correct, and be +legally proved, he is entitled to a <i>restitutio in integrum</i>' [a suit +commenced through these Actores for the quashing of the contracts +which have been fraudulently made with the minor].</p> + +<p>[For the <i>restitutio in integrum</i>, see Cod. Theod. ii. 16. 1, and vi. +4. 16. Nothing seems to be expressly said in this letter about the +appointment of a <i>Curator</i>.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iv36">36.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Praefect. a.d.</span> 509-510.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Remission of taxes for Provincials of Cottian Alps.</div> + +<p>'A wise ruler will always lessen the weight of taxation when his +subjects are weighed down by temporary poverty. Therefore let your +Magnificence remit to the Provincials of the Cottian Alps the <i>as +publicum</i> for this year [the third Indiction], in consideration of +their losses by the passage of our army. [The army of Ibbas, on its +march in <b><a href="#err18">408</a></b> to fight Clovis, after the fall of the Visigothic +Monarchy.] True, that army went forth with shouts of concord to +<i>liberate</i> Gaul. But so a river bursting forth may irrigate and +fertilise a whole country, and yet destroy the increase of that +particular channel in which its waters run.</p> + +<p>'We have earned new subjects by that campaign: we do not wish them to +suffer loss by it. Our own heart whispers to us the request which the +subjects dare not utter to their Prince.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv37">37.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Illustrious Woman Theodagunda</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Theodagunda is admonished to do justice to Renatus.</div> + +<p>Warns Theodagunda [apparently a member of the royal family and +governing some Province; but what place could she hold in the Roman +official hierarchy?], that she must emulate the virtue of her +ancestors and show prompt obedience to the royal commands. 'The +lamentable petition of Renatus states that, after judgment given in +his favour by the King's Court, he is still harassed by the litigation +(not in the way of regular appeal) of Inquilina, who appears to be not +so much desirous of victory as anxious to ruin his adversary.' +[Notwithstanding the form of the name I think Inquilina is male, not +female.]</p> + +<p>'You must see that this is put right at once.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iv38">38.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Taxes must be reduced to the figure at which they stood in +the days of Odoacer.</div> + +<p>'The inhabitants of Gravasi (?) and Ponto (?) complain that they have +been overloaded with taxes by the Assessors (discussores) Probus and +Januarius. They have bad land, and say that they really cannot cope +with the taxes imposed upon them [at the last Indiction?]. The former +practice is to be reverted to, and they are not to be called upon to +pay more than they did in the days of Odoacer.' [An evidence that in +one case at least the fiscal yoke of Odoacer was lighter than that of +his successor.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv39">39.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Theodahad, Vir Illustris [and Nephew of the +King]</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The encroachments of Theodahad repressed.</div> + +<p>'Avarice, which Holy Writ declares to be "the root of all evil," is a +vulgar vice which you, our kinsman, a man of Amal blood, whose family +is known to be royal, are especially bound to avoid<a name="FNanchor_352_352" id="FNanchor_352_352"></a><a href="#Footnote_352_352" class="fnanchor">[352]</a>.</p> + +<p>'The Spectabilis Domitius complains to us that such and such portions +of his property have been seized by you with the strong hand, without +any pretence of establishing a legal claim to them.</p> + +<p>'We send the Sajo Duda to you, and order you on his arrival<a name="FNanchor_353_353" id="FNanchor_353_353"></a><a href="#Footnote_353_353" class="fnanchor">[353]</a>, +without any delay, to restore the property which you have taken +possession of, with all the moveables of which you have despoiled it.</p> + +<p>'If you have any claim to make to the lands in question, send a person +fully informed of the facts to our Comitatus, and there let the case +be fairly heard.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p> + +<p>'A high-born man should ever act according to well-ordered +<i>civilitas</i>. Any neglect of this principle brings upon him odium, +proportioned to the oppression which the man of humbler rank conceives +himself to have suffered at his hands.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv40">40.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Representatives (Actores) of Probinus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The affair of <a href="#err19">Agapeta</a>. Basilius, her husband, ordered to +plead.</div> + +<p>Recurs to the case of the Possessio Areciretina, which <b><a href="#err19">Agapeta</a></b>, the +wife of Basilius, had given (or sold) to Probinus, and which Probinus +was commanded to restore. (See Letters <a href="#ii10">ii. 10</a> and +<a href="#ii11">11</a>.)</p> + +<p>The petition, now presented by the representatives of Probinus, puts a +somewhat different face upon the matter, and seems to show that the +sale by <b><a href="#err19">Agapeta</a></b> (notwithstanding her melancholy condition of fatuity +and vice) was a <i>bonâ fide</i> one, for sufficient consideration.</p> + +<p>Her husband Basilius is now ordered to reply to the pleadings of the +opposite party, either at the King's Comitatus, or in some local court +of competent jurisdiction. The King's Comitatus is meant to be a +blessing to his subjects, and recourse to it is not made compulsory +where, on account of distance, the suitor would rather be excused from +resorting to it.</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv41">41.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Joannes, Arch-physician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">An unjust judgment against Joannes reversed.</div> + +<p>'A King should delight to succour the oppressed.</p> + +<p>'You inform us that, by the devices of the Spectabilis Vivianus and +his superior knowledge of the laws, an unjust judgment was obtained +against you, in default, in the Court of the Vicarius of the City of +Rome: that Vivianus himself has now renounced the world, repents of +his injustice to you, and interposes no obstacle to the restitution of +your rights. We therefore (if your statements shall prove to be +correct) quash the sentence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> against you, restore you to your country +and your property, and that you may be preserved from future +molestation, founded on the old sentence against you, we assign you to +the guardianship (tuitio) of the Patrician Albinus, without prejudice +to the laws (salvis legibus).</p> + +<p>'We wish that nothing contrary to <i>civilitas</i> should be done, since +our daily labour is for the repose of all.' [I presume that this +letter is in fact an edict for 'Restitutio in integrum.']</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv42">42.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Argolicus, Praefect of the City</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The sons of <a href="#err20">Velusian</a> to have their property restored to +them.</div> + +<p>'Under a good King the loss even of a father should be less felt than +with a different ruler, for the King is the father of his people.</p> + +<p>'The petition of Marcian and Maximius, sons of <b><a href="#err20">Velusian</a></b> (Patrician and +Magnificus), sets forth that they lost their father at Easter; that +thus the time of joy to all Christians became to them a season of +sorrow; that while they were immersed in their grief and incapable of +attending to their affairs, "the tower of the circus and the place of +the amphitheatre<a name="FNanchor_354_354" id="FNanchor_354_354"></a><a href="#Footnote_354_354" class="fnanchor">[354]</a>," which had belonged to their illustrious +father, were by some heartless intriguer wrested from them, under the +authority of the Praefect.</p> + +<p>'Be pleased to enquire into this matter, and if those places truly +belonged to <b><a href="#err20">Velusian</a></b>, restore them to his sons. We wish to cherish +rather than oppress the sons of illustrious men, who are the germ of +our future Senate.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv43">43.</a> <a href="#err21"> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</a></h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Punishment of incendiaries who have burned a Jewish +Synagogue.</div> + +<p>[On the burning of the Jewish synagogue. This synagogue of the Jews +was in the Trastevere. See Gregorovius i. 296-298 for a description of +it. I do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> not know on what authority he assigns 521 for the date of +the tumult in which it was burned.]</p> + +<p>'The propriety of manners which is characteristic of the City of Rome +must be upheld. To fall into the follies of popular tumult, and to set +about burning their own City, is not like the Roman disposition<a name="FNanchor_355_355" id="FNanchor_355_355"></a><a href="#Footnote_355_355" class="fnanchor">[355]</a>.</p> + +<p>'But we are informed by Count Arigern<a name="FNanchor_356_356" id="FNanchor_356_356"></a><a href="#Footnote_356_356" class="fnanchor">[356]</a> that the populace of Rome, +enraged at the punishment inflicted on some Christian servants who had +murdered their Jewish masters, has risen in fury and burned their +synagogue to the ground<a name="FNanchor_357_357" id="FNanchor_357_357"></a><a href="#Footnote_357_357" class="fnanchor">[357]</a>, idly venting on innocent buildings their +anger against the men who used them.</p> + +<p>'Be pleased to enquire into this matter, and severely punish the +authors of the tumult, who are probably few in number.</p> + +<p>'At the same time enquire into the complaints which are brought +against the Jews, and if you find that there is any foundation for +them, punish accordingly.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv44">44.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Venerable Antonius, Bishop of Pola</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Bishop Antonius called upon to do justice to Stephanus.</div> + +<p>'It is an invidious task to have to listen to complaints against the +revered ministers of the Church.</p> + +<p>'But the petition of Stephanus sets forth that a property, which +belonged to him before the time of your predecessor, has, within the +last nine months, wrongfully, and in defiance of <i>civilitas</i>, been +seized by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> officers of your church. If this be so, we desire you, +as a matter of justice, to correct what your familiars have done +amiss, and restore it to him without delay. But if you dispute his +title, send a properly instructed person to plead the cause in our +Comitatus.</p> + +<p>'You will be better off by having the matter enquired into and +settled, than if the complaints of Stephanus had never come to a +hearing<a name="FNanchor_358_358" id="FNanchor_358_358"></a><a href="#Footnote_358_358" class="fnanchor">[358]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv45">45.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Comites, Defensores, and Curiales of Ticinum +(Pavia)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The Heruli to be forwarded on their way to Ravenna.</div> + +<p>[It is not easy to see why this order should be addressed to the +inhabitants of Ticinum. Had the Heruli crossed the Alps by some pass +near the modern Simplon?]</p> + +<p>'We have ordered the Heruli, who are suppliants to us, to come to our +Comitatus at Ravenna.</p> + +<p>'Provide them promptly with ships of provisions for five days, that +they may at once see the difference between Italy and their own hungry +country<a name="FNanchor_359_359" id="FNanchor_359_359"></a><a href="#Footnote_359_359" class="fnanchor">[359]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv46">46.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Marabad, Vir Illustris</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The case of the wife of Liberius to be reheard.</div> + +<p>'The Spectabilis Liberius<a name="FNanchor_360_360" id="FNanchor_360_360"></a><a href="#Footnote_360_360" class="fnanchor">[360]</a> complains that his wife has had an +unjust judgment given against her in your Court. Try the case over +again, associating with yourself arbitrators chosen by both parties. +If it cannot so be ended,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> let them appoint properly instructed +persons to represent them at our Comitatus, if they cannot come +themselves.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv47">47.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Gudisal the Sajo</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Abuses of the Cursus Publicus.</div> + +<p>'If the public post-horses (veredi) are not allowed proper intervals +of rest they will soon be worn out.</p> + +<p>'We are informed by our <i>legati</i> that these horses are constantly +employed by persons who have no right to use them.</p> + +<p>'You are therefore to reside in Rome, and to put yourself in constant +communication with the officers of the Praefectus Praetorio and the +Magister Officiorum, so as not to allow any to leave the City using +the horses of the <i>Cursus Publicus</i> except the regularly commissioned +agents of those two functionaries. Anyone transgressing is to pay a +fine of 100 solidi (£60) per horse; not that the injury to the animal +is represented by so high a figure, but in order to punish his +impertinence. Our Sajones, when sent with a commission, are to go +straight to the mark and return, not to make pleasure-tours at the +public expense; and if they disobey this order, they are to pay the +same fine as that just mentioned.</p> + +<p>'Moreover, the extra horses (parhippi) are not to be weighted with a +load of more than 100 lbs. For we wish our messengers<a name="FNanchor_361_361" id="FNanchor_361_361"></a><a href="#Footnote_361_361" class="fnanchor">[361]</a> to travel +in light marching order, not to make of their journey a regular +domestic migration.</p> + +<p>'Cranes, when they are going to cross the sea, clasp little pebbles +with their claws, in order to steady without overweighting themselves. +Why cannot those who are sent on public errands follow so good an +example? Every transport master<a name="FNanchor_362_362" id="FNanchor_362_362"></a><a href="#Footnote_362_362" class="fnanchor">[362]</a> who violates this rule by loading +a horse with more than 100 lbs. shall pay 50 solidi (£30).</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p> +<p>'All fines levied under this edict are to go to the benefit of the +postal-servants<a name="FNanchor_363_363" id="FNanchor_363_363"></a><a href="#Footnote_363_363" class="fnanchor">[363]</a>, and thus the evil will, as we so often see in +human affairs, furnish its own remedy.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv48">48.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Eusebius, Vir Illustris</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Honourable retirement of Eusebius.</div> + +<p>'After the worries of the noisy City, and the heavy burden of your +official duties, your Greatness is longing to taste the sweetness of +country life. When therefore you have finished your present duties, we +grant you by our authority a holiday of eight months in the charming +recesses of Lucania [near Cassiodorus' own country], to be reckoned +from the time when by Divine [royal?] favour you depart from the City. +When those months are at an end, return with speed, much missed as you +will be, to your Roman habitation, to the assembly of the nobles, and +to social intercourse of a kind that is worthy of your character.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv49">49.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Provincials and the Long-haired +Men<a name="FNanchor_364_364" id="FNanchor_364_364"></a><a href="#Footnote_364_364" class="fnanchor">[364]</a>, the Defensores and the Curiales residing in Suavia</span><a name="FNanchor_365_365" id="FNanchor_365_365"></a><a href="#Footnote_365_365" class="fnanchor">[365]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Fridibad to be Governor of Suavia, and to punish +freebooters.</div> + +<p>'The King's orders must be vigorously executed, that terror may be +struck into the hearts of the lawless, and that those who have +suffered violence may begin to hope for better days. Often the threat +of punishment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> does more to quiet a country than punishment itself. +Therefore, under Divine guidance, we have appointed Fridibad to be +your Governor.</p> + +<p>'He will punish cattle-lifters with due severity, will cut off +murderers, condemn thieves, and render you, who are now torn by +presumptuous iniquity, safe from the daring attempts of villains. Live +like a settled people; live like men who have learned the lessons of +morality; let neither nationality nor rank be alleged as an excuse +from these duties. If any man gives himself up to wicked courses, he +must needs undergo chastisement.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="iv50">50.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Remission of taxes for Campanians who have suffered from an +eruption of Vesuvius.</div> + +<p>'The Campanians complain that their fields have been devastated by an +eruption of Vesuvius, and ask in consequence for a remission of +tribute. [This eruption is assigned—I do not know on what +authority—to the year 512<a name="FNanchor_366_366" id="FNanchor_366_366"></a><a href="#Footnote_366_366" class="fnanchor">[366]</a>.]</p> + +<p>'Let your Greatness send men of proved integrity to the territories of +Neapolis and Nola, who may examine the ravaged lands for themselves, +and proportion the relief granted, to the amount of damage done in +each case.</p> + +<p>'That Province is visited at intervals by this terrible calamity, as +if to mar its otherwise perfect happiness. There is one favourable +feature in the visitation. It does not come wholly unawares. For some +time before, the mountain groans with the strife of Nature going on +inside it, and it seems as if an angry spirit within would terrify all +the neighbourhood by his mighty roar. Then the air is darkened by its +foul exhalations; hot ashes scudding along the sea, a shower of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> drops +of dust upon the land, tell to all Italy, to the transmarine +Provinces, to the world, from what calamity Campania is +suffering<a name="FNanchor_367_367" id="FNanchor_367_367"></a><a href="#Footnote_367_367" class="fnanchor">[367]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Go nearer: you will see as it were rivers of dust flowing, and +glowing streams of barren sand moving over the country. You see and +wonder: the furrows of the fields are suddenly lifted to a level with +the tops of the trees; the country, which but now was dressed in a +robe of gladsome greenness, is laid waste by sudden and mournful heat. +And yet, even those sandy tracts of pumice-stone which the mountain +vomits forth, dry and burnt up as they appear, have their promise of +fertility. There are germs within them which will one day spring to +life, and re-clothe the mountain side which they have wasted.</p> + +<p>'How strange that one mountain alone should thus terrify the whole +world! Other mountains may be seen with silently glowing summits; this +alone announces itself to distant lands by darkened skies and changed +air. So it still goes on, shedding its dusty dews over the land; ever +parting with its substance, yet a mountain still undiminished in +height and amplitude. Who that sees those mighty blocks in the plain +would believe that they had boiled over from the depths of that +distant hill, that they had been tossed like straws upon the wind by +the angry spirit of the mountain?</p> + +<p>'Therefore let your Prudence so manage the enquiry that those who have +really suffered damage shall be relieved, while no room is left for +fraud.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="iv51">51.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Symmachus, Patrician</span><a name="FNanchor_368_368" id="FNanchor_368_368"></a><a href="#Footnote_368_368" class="fnanchor">[368]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Commends the public spirit of Symmachus, as shown in the +restoration of Pompey's theatre.</div> + +<p>Commends him for the diligence and skill with which he has decorated +Rome with new buildings—especially in the suburbs, which no one would +distinguish from the City except for the occasional glimpses of +pleasant fields; and still more for his restoration of the massive +ruins of past days<a name="FNanchor_369_369" id="FNanchor_369_369"></a><a href="#Footnote_369_369" class="fnanchor">[369]</a>, chiefly the theatre of Pompeius.</p> + +<p>As the letter is addressed to a learned man, it seems a suitable +opportunity to explain why Antiquity reared this mighty pile. +Accordingly a very long digression follows on the origin, progress, +and decline of Tragedy, Comedy, and Pantomime.</p> + +<p>It is remarked incidentally that Pompeius seems to have derived his +appellation <i>Magnus</i> chiefly from the building of this wonderful +theatre.</p> + +<p>The expense which Symmachus has been put to in these vast works is to +be refunded to him by the <i>Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi</i>, that he may +still have the glory of the work, but that the King may have done his +due part in preserving the memorials of Antiquity.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_V" id="BOOK_V"></a>BOOK V.</h2> + +<h3>CONTAINING FORTY-FOUR LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC.</h3> + + +<h3><a name="v1">1.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the King of the Vandals</span><a name="FNanchor_370_370" id="FNanchor_370_370"></a><a href="#Footnote_370_370" class="fnanchor">[370]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The King of the Vandals is thanked for his presents.</div> + +<p>'The swords which you have sent us are most beautiful: so sharp that +they will cut other weapons; so bright that they reflect with a sort +of iron light<a name="FNanchor_371_371" id="FNanchor_371_371"></a><a href="#Footnote_371_371" class="fnanchor">[371]</a> the face of the beholder; with the two blades +descending to their edges with such absolute equality of slope, that +you would fancy them the result of the furnace rather than of the +whetstone<a name="FNanchor_372_372" id="FNanchor_372_372"></a><a href="#Footnote_372_372" class="fnanchor">[372]</a>; in the middle, between the blades, channels carved +which are filled in with beautiful enamel of various colours<a name="FNanchor_373_373" id="FNanchor_373_373"></a><a href="#Footnote_373_373" class="fnanchor">[373]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Along with these arms you have also sent us musical instruments of +ebony, and slave boys of beautiful whiteness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p> + +<p>'We thank you heartily, send by A and B, our ambassadors, presents of +equal value; and hope that mutual concord will always unite our +States.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v2">2.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Haesti</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The Haesti, dwellers by the Baltic. Their present of +amber.</div> + +<p>[These are the Aestii of Tacitus, dwelling in or on the south border +of the country which is still called Esthonia. Tacitus also mentions +their quest of amber<a name="FNanchor_374_374" id="FNanchor_374_374"></a><a href="#Footnote_374_374" class="fnanchor">[374]</a>.]</p> + +<p>'It is gratifying to us to know that you have heard of our fame, and +have sent ambassadors who have pressed through so many strange nations +to seek our friendship.</p> + +<p>'We have received the amber which you have sent us. You say that you +gather this lightest of all substances from the shores of the ocean, +but how it comes thither you know not. But, as an author named +Cornelius [Tacitus] informs us, it is gathered in the innermost +islands of the ocean, being formed originally of the juice of a tree +(whence its name <i>succinum</i><a name="FNanchor_375_375" id="FNanchor_375_375"></a><a href="#Footnote_375_375" class="fnanchor">[375]</a>), and gradually hardened by the heat +of the sun.</p> + +<p>'Thus it becomes an exuded metal, a transparent softness, sometimes +blushing with the colour of saffron, sometimes glowing with flame-like +clearness<a name="FNanchor_376_376" id="FNanchor_376_376"></a><a href="#Footnote_376_376" class="fnanchor">[376]</a>. Then, gliding down to the margin of the sea, and +further purified by the rolling of the tides, it is at length +transported to your shores to be cast up upon them. We have thought it +better to point this out to you, lest you should imagine that your +supposed secrets have escaped our knowledge.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span></p> +<p>'We send you some presents by our ambassadors, and shall be glad to +receive further visits from you by the road which you have thus opened +up, and to show you future favours.'</p> + +<p>[The collection of amber is also noticed by Pliny ('Nat. Hist.' 37. +2). It is interesting to observe that he there, on the authority of +Pytheas, attributes to the Guttones dwelling on the Baltic shore the +collection of amber, and its sale to the Teutones. These Guttones +were, if we are right in accepting Jordanes' account of the Gothic +migrations, themselves ancestors of the Ostrogoths.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="v3">3.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Honoratus, Vir Illustris, Quaestor</span>.</h3> + +<h3><a name="v4">4.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Honoratus, brother of Decoratus, is made Quaestor.</div> + +<p>The usual pair of letters on the promotion of Honoratus to the +Quaestorship. He succeeds his brother Decoratus, whose early death +Theodoric regrets. The date of the letters is the Third Indiction, +September 1, 509.</p> + +<p>The writer remarks on the prophetic instinct<a name="FNanchor_377_377" id="FNanchor_377_377"></a><a href="#Footnote_377_377" class="fnanchor">[377]</a> of the parents, who +named these two sons, destined to future eminence, Decoratus and +Honoratus. Decoratus was originally an advocate at Rome. His services +were often sought by men of Consular rank, and before his admission to +the Senate he had had a Patrician for his client in a very celebrated +case<a name="FNanchor_378_378" id="FNanchor_378_378"></a><a href="#Footnote_378_378" class="fnanchor">[378]</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span></p><p>When he became Quaestor he distinguished himself by his excellent +qualities. 'He stood beside us, under the light of our Genius, bold +but reverent; silent at the right time, fluent when there was need of +fluency. He kept our secrets as if he had forgotten them; he +remembered every detail of our orders as if he had written them down. +Thus was he ever an eminent lightener of our labours<a name="FNanchor_379_379" id="FNanchor_379_379"></a><a href="#Footnote_379_379" class="fnanchor">[379]</a>.'</p> + +<p>The past career of the younger brother, Honoratus, who has been +advocate at Spoleto, and has had to contend with the corrupt +tendencies of Provincial judges, full of their little importance, and +removed from the wholesome control which the opinion of the Senate +exercised upon them at Rome, is then sketched; and the hope is +expressed that, in the words of the Virgilian quotation<a name="FNanchor_380_380" id="FNanchor_380_380"></a><a href="#Footnote_380_380" class="fnanchor">[380]</a>, this +bough upon the family tree will be found as goodly as that which it +has untimely lost.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Duties of the Quaestorship.</div> + +<p>The letter to the Senate has an interesting passage on the duties and +responsibilities of the Quaestor.</p> + +<p>'It is only men whom we consider to be of the highest learning that we +raise to the dignity of the Quaestorship, such men as are fitted to be +interpreters of the laws and sharers of our counsels. This is an +honour which neither riches nor high birth by itself can procure, only +learning joined with prudence. In granting all other dignities we +confer favours, but from the holder of this we ever receive them. He +is favoured to have a share in our anxieties; he enters in by the +door<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> of our thoughts; he is intimately acquainted with the breast in +which the cares of the whole State are weighed. Think what judgment +you ought to form of a man who is partaker of such a confidence. From +him we require skill in the laws; to him flow together all the prayers +of all suitors, and (a thing more precious than any treasure) to him +is committed our own reputation for <i>civilitas</i>. Under a just Quaestor +the mind of an innocent man is at rest: only the wicked become anxious +as to the success of their evil designs; and thus the bad lose their +hope of plunder, while more earnestness is shown in the practice of +virtue. It is his to safeguard the just rights of all men: temperate +in expenditure, lavish in his zeal for justice, incapable of +deception, prompt in succour. He serves that Sovereign mind before +which all bow: through his lips must he speak who has not an equal in +the land.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v5">5.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Sajo Mannila</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Abuses of the Cursus Publicus.</div> + +<p>Repeats the injunctions given in Letter <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a> against improper use of +the public post-horses, and overloading of the extra horses. The fines +imposed are the same as in that letter [with the addition of a fine of +two ounces of gold (about £6 10s.) for overloading]; the examples from +Natural History are similar. 'The very bird when weighted with a load +flies slowly. Ships though they cannot feel their toils, yet move +tardily when they are filled with cargo. What can the poor quadruped +do when pressed by too great burden? It succumbs.'</p> + +<p>But apparently this rule against overloading is not to apply to +Praepositi (Provincial Governors?), since 'reverenda antiquitas' has +given them special rights over the <i>Cursus Publicus</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="v6">6.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Stabularius, Comitiacus</span><a name="FNanchor_381_381" id="FNanchor_381_381"></a><a href="#Footnote_381_381" class="fnanchor">[381]</a>.</h3> + +<h3><a name="v7">7.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Joannes, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius [Treasurer]</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Default in payments to Treasury made by Thomas. His +property assigned to his son-in-law Joannes.</div> + +<p>'The <i>Vir Honestus</i>, Thomas, has long been a defaulter (reliquator) in +respect of the Indictions payable for certain farms which he has held +under the King's house in Apulia<a name="FNanchor_382_382" id="FNanchor_382_382"></a><a href="#Footnote_382_382" class="fnanchor">[382]</a>, and this default has now +reached the sum of 10,000 solidi (£6,000). Repeatedly summoned to pay, +he always procrastinates, and we can get no satisfaction out of him. +The petition of Joannes, who is son-in-law to Thomas, informs us that +he is willing to pay the 10,000 solidi due, if we will make over to +him the said farms, and all the property of his father-in-law. This we +therefore now do, reserving to Thomas the right to pay the debt at any +time before the next Kalends of September, and thus to redeem his +property. Failing such payment, the property is to pass finally into +the hands of Joannes, on his paying the 10,000 solidi to the +Illustrious Count of the Patrimony <b><a href="#err22">[possibly Stabularius]</a></b>.</p> + +<p>'It may be some little consolation to Thomas to reflect that after all +it is his son-in-law who enters into possession of his goods.'</p> + +<p>[Dahn ('Könige der Germanen' iii. 277) remarks on this letter: 'But +even the well-meaning Theodoric takes steps in the interests of +substantial justice which from a juristic point of view it would be +hard to justify.... Evidently here the King, in his consideration of +what was practically just, has decided according to caprice, not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> +according to right; for the Fiscus could strictly only be repaid its +debt out of the property of the defaulter, and hold the Arcarius +(Joannes) responsible for the balance' (for which Dahn thinks he had +already made himself liable). I do not quite agree with this view. It +seems to me that Thomas was hopelessly bankrupt (the debt was 10,000 +solidi, not 1,000, as stated by Dahn), and the Fiscus virtually sells +the bankrupt's estate to his son-in-law, for him to make of it what he +can.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="v8">8.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Anastasius the Consular</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Transport of marble from Faenza to Ravenna.</div> + +<p>'We rely upon your Sublimity's zeal and prudence to see that the +required blocks of marble are forwarded from Faventia (Faenza) to +Ravenna, without any extortion from private individuals; so that, on +the one hand, our desire for the adornment of that city may be +gratified, and on the other, there may be no cause for complaint on +the part of our subjects.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v9">9.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Possessores of Feltria</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">New city to be built in district of Trient.</div> + +<p>'We have ordered the erection of a new city in the territory of +Tridentum (Trient). As the work is great and the inhabitants few, we +order you all to assist and build each your appointed length +(pedatura) of wall, for which you will receive suitable pay.'</p> + +<p>[This use of the word <i>pedatura</i> is found in Vegetius, 'Epitoma Rei +Militaris' iii. 8, and is illustrated by the centurial stones on the +two great Roman walls in Britain, recording the number of feet +accomplished by each century of soldiers (See 'Archaeologia Aeliana,' +vol. ix. p. 28; paper by Mr. Clayton).]</p> + +<p>'None, not even the servants of the royal house (divina domus), are +excepted from this order.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="v10">10.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Sajo Veranus</span>.</h3> + +<h3><a name="v11">11.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Gepidae, on their March to Gaul</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Payment to Gepidae on their march to Gaul.</div> + +<p>'We desire that our soldiers should always be well paid, and that they +should never become the terror of the country which they are ordered +to defend. Do you therefore, Sajo Veranus, cause the Gepid troops whom +we have ordered to come to the defence of Gaul, to march in all peace +and quietness through Venetia and Liguria.</p> + +<p>'You Gepidae shall receive three solidi (£1 16s.) per week; and we +trust that thus supplied you will everywhere buy your provisions, and +not take them by force.</p> + +<p>'We generally give the soldiers their pay in kind, but in this case, +for obvious reasons, we think it better to pay them in money, and let +them buy for themselves.</p> + +<p>'If their waggons are becoming shaky with the long journey, or their +beasts of burden weary, let them exchange for sound waggons and fresh +beasts with the inhabitants of the country, but on such terms that the +latter shall not regret the transaction.'</p> + +<p>[Does this payment of three solidi mean per head? That would be an +enormously high rate of pay. Sartorius (p. 289) feels the difficulty +so strongly that he suggests that this was the pay given to the whole +troop, whose number was not large; but 'multitudo' seems hostile to +this hypothesis<a name="FNanchor_383_383" id="FNanchor_383_383"></a><a href="#Footnote_383_383" class="fnanchor">[383]</a>. Possibly the high cost of provisions in the +Alpine mountain-country may help to explain this unheard-of rate of +pay to common soldiers.]</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="v12">12.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Theodahad, Vir Illustris [Nephew of the King]</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Avarice and injustice of Theodahad.</div> + +<p>'If all are bound to seek justice and to avoid ignoble gains, most +especially are they thus bound who pride themselves on their close +relationship to us.</p> + +<p>'The heirs of the Illustrious Argolicus [probably the Praefect of +Rome] and the Clarissimus Amandianus complain that the estate<a name="FNanchor_384_384" id="FNanchor_384_384"></a><a href="#Footnote_384_384" class="fnanchor">[384]</a> of +Palentia, which we generously gave them to console them for the loss +of the Casa Arbitana, has been by your servants, for no cause, +unbecomingly invaded; and thus you, who should have shown an example +of glorious moderation, have caused the scandal of high-handed +spoliation. Wherefore, if this be true, let your Greatness at once +restore what has been taken away; and if you consider that you have +any claims on the land, come and assert them in our Comitatus. Even +success yonder is injurious to your fame; but here, after full trial +of the case and hearing of witnesses, no one will believe that any +injustice has been done if your cause should triumph.'</p> + +<p>[The republication of this letter at the close of his official life +shows what was Cassiodorus' opinion of Theodahad, though he had served +under him.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="v13">13.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Eutropius and Acretius</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Commissariat.</div> + +<p>'We rely upon you to collect the prescribed rations and deliver them +to the soldiers. It is most important that they should be regularly +supplied, and that there should be no excuse for pillage, so hard to +check when once an army has begun to practise it.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="v14">14.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Severi(a)nus<a name="FNanchor_385_385" id="FNanchor_385_385"></a><a href="#Footnote_385_385" class="fnanchor">[385]</a>, Vir Illustris</span> (514-515).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Financial abuses in Suavia.</div> + +<p>'We send you to redress the long-standing grievances of the +Possessores of the Province of Suavia, to which we have not yet been +able to apply a remedy.</p> + +<p>'(1) It appears that some of the chief Possessores are actually making +a profit out of the taxes, imposing heavy burdens on their poorer +neighbours and not honestly accounting for the receipts to us. See +that this is put right, that the land-tax (assis<a name="FNanchor_386_386" id="FNanchor_386_386"></a><a href="#Footnote_386_386" class="fnanchor">[386]</a> publicus) is +fairly and equitably reimposed according to the ability of each +Possessor, and that those who have been oppressing their neighbours +heal the wounds which they have made.</p> + +<p>'(2) See also that a strict account is rendered by all Defensores, +Curiales, and Possessores of any receipts on behalf of the public +Treasury. If a Possessor can show that he paid his tax (tributarius +solidus) for the now expired eighth Indiction (<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 514-515), and the +money has not reached our Treasury, find out the defaulter and punish +his crime.</p> + +<p>'(3) Similarly with sums disbursed by one of the clerks of our +Treasury<a name="FNanchor_387_387" id="FNanchor_387_387"></a><a href="#Footnote_387_387" class="fnanchor">[387]</a>, for the relief of the Province, which have not reached +their destination.</p> + +<p>'(4) Men who were formerly Barbarians<a name="FNanchor_388_388" id="FNanchor_388_388"></a><a href="#Footnote_388_388" class="fnanchor">[388]</a>, who have married Roman +wives and acquired property in land, are to be compelled to pay their +Indictions and other taxes to the public Treasury just like any other +Provincials.</p> + +<p>'(5) Judges are to visit each town (municipium) once in the year, and +are not entitled to claim from such towns more than three days' +maintenance. Our ancestors<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> wished that the circuits of the Judges +should be a benefit, not a burden, to the Provincials.</p> + +<p>'(6) It is alleged that some of the servants of the Count of the Goths +and of the Vice-dominus (?) have levied black-mail on some of the +Provincials. Property so taken must be at once restored and the +offenders punished.</p> + +<p>'(7) Enter all your proceedings under this commission in official +registers (polyptycha), both for your own protection and for the sake +of future reference, to prevent the recurrence of similar abuses.'</p> + +<p>[A long and interesting letter, but with some obscure passages.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="v15">15.</a><span class="smcap"> King Theodoric to all the Possessores in Suavia</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the same subject.</div> + +<p>'Although our Comitatus is always ready to redress the grievances of +our subjects, yet, on account of the length of the journey from your +Province hither, we have thought good to send the Illustrious and +Magnificent Severinus to you to enquire into your complaints on the +spot. He is a man fully imbued with our own principles of government, +and he has seen how greatly we have at heart the administration of +justice. We therefore doubt not that he will soon put right whatever +has been done wrong in your Province; and we have published our +"oracles" [the <a href="#v14">previous letter</a>, containing Severinus' patent of +appointment], that all may know upon what principles he is to act, and +that those who have grievances against the present functionaries may +learn their rights.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v16">16.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Formation of a navy.</div> + +<p>'By Divine inspiration we have determined to raise a navy which may +both ensure the arrival of the cargoes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> of public corn and may, if +need be, combat the ships of an enemy. For, that Italy, a country +abounding in timber, should not have a navy of her own hath often +stricken us with regret.</p> + +<p>'Let your Greatness therefore give directions for the construction of +1,000 <i>dromones</i> (swift cutters). Wherever cypresses and pines are +found near to the sea-shore, let them be bought at a suitable price.</p> + +<p>'Then as to the levy of sailors: any fitting man, if a slave, must be +hired of his master, or bought at a reasonable price. If free, he is +to receive 5 solidi (£3) as donative, and will have his rations during +the term of service.</p> + +<p>'Even those who were slaves are to be treated in the same way, "since +it is a kind of freedom to serve the Ruler of the State<a name="FNanchor_389_389" id="FNanchor_389_389"></a><a href="#Footnote_389_389" class="fnanchor">[389]</a>;" and are +to receive, according to their condition, two or three solidi (£1 4s. +or £1 16s.) of bounty money<a name="FNanchor_390_390" id="FNanchor_390_390"></a><a href="#Footnote_390_390" class="fnanchor">[390]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Fishermen, however, are not to be enlisted in this force, since we +lose with regret one whose vocation it is to provide us with luxuries; +and moreover one kind of training is required for him who has to face +the stormy wind, and another for him who need only fish close to +shore.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v17">17.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the same subject.</div> + +<p>'We praise you for your prompt fulfilment of the orders contained in +the previous letter. You have built a fleet almost as quickly as +ordinary men would sail one. The model of the triremes, revealing the +number of the rowers but concealing their faces, was first furnished +by the Argonauts. So too the sail, that flying sheet<a name="FNanchor_391_391" id="FNanchor_391_391"></a><a href="#Footnote_391_391" class="fnanchor">[391]</a> which wafts +idle men to their destination quicker than swiftest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> birds can fly, +was first invented by the lorn Isis, when she set off on her +wanderings through the world to find her lost son Apochran.</p> + +<p>'Now that we have our fleet, there is no need for the Greek to fasten +a quarrel upon us, or for the African [the Vandal] to insult us<a name="FNanchor_392_392" id="FNanchor_392_392"></a><a href="#Footnote_392_392" class="fnanchor">[392]</a>. +With envy they see that we have now stolen from them the secret of +their strength.</p> + +<p>'Let all the fleet be assembled at Ravenna on the next Ides of June. +Let our own Padus send his home-born navy to the sea, his +river-nurtured firs to battle with the winds of Ocean.</p> + +<p>'But there is one suggestion of yours of great importance, and which +must be diligently acted upon, namely the removal of the nets whereby +the fishermen at present impede the channels of the following rivers: +Mincius, Ollius (Oglio), Anser (Serchio), Arno, Tiber. Let the river +lie open for the transit of ships; let it suffice for the appetite of +man to seek for delicacies in the ordinary way, not by rustic artifice +to hinder the freedom of the stream.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v18">18.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Uvilias [Willias?], Vir Illustris and Count of +the Patrimony</span>.</h3> + +<h3><a name="v19">19.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Gudinand, a Sajo</span>.</h3> + +<h3><a name="v20">20.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Avilf, a Sajo</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the same subject.</div> + +<p>These three letters all relate to the same subject as the two +preceding ones—the formation of a navy, and the <i>rendezvous</i> of ships +and sailors at Ravenna on the Ides of June.</p> + +<p>The Count of the Patrimony is courteously requested to see if there is +any timber suitable for the purposes of the navy, growing in the royal +estates along the banks of the Po.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Sajones are ordered in more brusque and peremptory fashion: +Gudinand to collect the sailors at Ravenna on the appointed day; and +Avilf to collect timber along the banks of the Po, with as little +injury to the Possessors as possible (not, however, apparently paying +them anything for it), to keep his hands clean from extortion and +fraud, and to pull up the stake-nets in the channels of the five +rivers mentioned in <a href="#v17">Letter 17</a>; 'for we all know that men ought to fish +with nets, not with hedges, and the opposite practice shows detestable +greediness.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v21">21.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Capuanus, +<a href="#err10">Senator</a></span>.</h3> + +<h3><a name="v22">22.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Capuanus appointed Rector Decuriarum.</div> + +<p>[On the appointment of Capuanus to the office of Rector of the Guilds +(Rector Decuriarum). The Guilds (Decuriae) of the City of Rome—not to +be confounded with the Provincial <i>Curiae</i>, membership in which was at +this time a burden rather than an advantage—enjoyed several special +privileges. We find from the Theodosian Code, Lib. xiv. Tit. 1, that +there were Decuriae of the <i>Librarii</i>, <i>Fiscales</i>, <i>Censuales</i>. The +<i>Decuria Scribarum</i> is perhaps the same as the <i>Decuria Librariorum</i>. +I use the word Guilds, which seems best to describe a body of this +kind; but it will be seen from their names that these Guilds are not +of a commercial character, but are rather concerned with the +administration of justice. Some of them must have discharged the +duties of attorneys, others of Inland Revenue officers, others acted +as clerks to register the proceedings of the Senate, others performed +the mere mechanical work of copying, which is now undertaken by a law +stationer.</p> + +<p>It was ordained by a law of Constantius and Julian (357) that no one +should enter the first class in these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> Decuriae<a name="FNanchor_393_393" id="FNanchor_393_393"></a><a href="#Footnote_393_393" class="fnanchor">[393]</a> unless he were a +trained and practised literary man.</p> + +<p>The office which in the Theodosian Code is called <i>Judex Decuriarum</i> +seems here to be called <i>Rector</i>.]</p> + +<p>The young Capuanus has distinguished himself as a advocate both before +the Senate and other tribunals. There has been a certain diffidence +and hesitation in his manner, especially when he was dealing with +common subjects; but he always warmed with his peroration, and the +same man who even stammered in discussing some trifling detail became +fluent, nay eloquent, when the graver interests of his client were at +stake. When he saw that the Judge was against him he did not lose +heart, but, by praising his justice and impartiality, gradually coaxed +him into a more favourable mood. On one memorable occasion, when a +certain document was produced which appeared hostile, he boldly +challenged the accuracy of the copy [made probably by one of the +<i>Decuria Librariorum</i>] and insisted on seeing the original. This young +advocate is now appointed <i>Rector Decuriarum</i>, and thus accorded the +privilege of seniority over many men who are much older than himself. +He is exhorted to treat them with all courtesy, to remember the +importance of accuracy and fidelity in the execution of his duties and +those of the <i>Decuriales</i> under him, on whose correct transcription of +documents the property, the liberty, nay even the life of their +fellow-subjects may depend. Especially he is exhorted to remember his +own challenge of the accuracy of a copied document, that he may not +ever find that memorable oration of his brought up against himself.</p> + +<p>The Senate is exhorted to give the young official a kindly welcome. It +will now devolve upon him to report with praiseworthy accuracy the +proceedings of that body, the most celebrated in the whole world. He +who has often pleaded before them the cause of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> humble and weak, +will now have to introduce Consulars to their assembly. It is expected +that his eloquence will grow and his stammer will disappear, now that +he is clothed with a more dignified office. 'Freedom nourishes words, +but fear frequently interrupts their plenteous flow.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v23">23.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Archery drill.</div> + +<p>'Tata the Sajo is ordered to proceed to the Illustrious Count Julian, +with the young archers whom he has drilled, that they may practise on +the field the lessons which they have learned in the gymnasium. Let +your Greatness provide them with rations and ships according to +custom.' [The place to which this expedition was directed does not +seem to be stated.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="v24">24.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the +<a href="#err10">Senator</a> Epiphanius, Consularis of Dalmatia</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Property of a widow dying intestate and without heirs to be +claimed for the State.</div> + +<p>'We are informed that Joanna, the wife of Andreas, having succeeded to +her husband's estate, has died intestate without heirs. Her property +ought therefore to lapse to our Treasury<a name="FNanchor_394_394" id="FNanchor_394_394"></a><a href="#Footnote_394_394" class="fnanchor">[394]</a>, but it is being +appropriated, so we are informed, by divers persons who have no claim +to it.</p> + +<p>'Enquire into this matter; and if it be as we are informed, reclaim +for our Treasury so legitimate a possession. We should consider +ourselves guilty of negligence if we omitted to take possession of +that which, without harming anyone, so obviously comes in to lighten +the public burdens.</p> + +<p>'But if you find the facts different to these, by all means leave the +present owners in quiet possession. The secure enjoyment by our +subjects of that which is lawfully theirs we hold to be our truest +patrimony.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="v25">25.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Bacauda<a name="FNanchor_395_395" id="FNanchor_395_395"></a><a href="#Footnote_395_395" class="fnanchor">[395]</a>, Vir Sublimis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Bacauda receives the office of Tribunus Voluptatum for +life.</div> + +<p>'By way of support for your declining years we appoint you, for life, +<i>Tribunus Voluptatum</i> [Minister of Public Amusement] at Milan.</p> + +<p>'It is a new principle in the public service<a name="FNanchor_396_396" id="FNanchor_396_396"></a><a href="#Footnote_396_396" class="fnanchor">[396]</a> to give any man a +life-tenure of his office; but you will now not have to fear the +interference of any successor, and your mind being at ease about your +own future, you will be able to minister to the pleasures of the +people with a smiling face.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v26">26.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all the Goths settled in Picenum and Samnium</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The Goths summoned to the royal presence.</div> + +<p>'The presence of the Sovereign doubles the sweetness of his gifts, and +that man is like one dead whose face is not known to his lord<a name="FNanchor_397_397" id="FNanchor_397_397"></a><a href="#Footnote_397_397" class="fnanchor">[397]</a>. +Come therefore by God's assistance, come all into our presence on the +eighth day before the Ides of June (June 6th), there solemnly to +receive our royal largesse. But let there be no excesses by the way, +no plundering the harvest of the cultivators nor trampling down their +meadows, since for this cause do we gladly defray the expense of our +armies that <i>civilitas</i> may be kept intact by armed men.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v27">27.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Guduim, Sajo</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same.</div> + +<p>'Order all the captains of thousands<a name="FNanchor_398_398" id="FNanchor_398_398"></a><a href="#Footnote_398_398" class="fnanchor">[398]</a> of Picenum and Samnium to +come to our Court, that we may bestow the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> wonted largesse on our +Goths. We enquire diligently into the deeds of each of our soldiers, +that none may lose the credit of any exploit which he has performed in +the field. On the other hand, let the coward tremble at the thought of +coming into our presence. Even this fear may hereafter make him brave +against the enemy.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v28">28.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Carinus, Vir Illustris</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Invitation to Court.</div> + +<p>'Granting your request, and also satisfying our own desire for your +companionship, we invite you to our Court.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v29">29.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Neudes, Vir Illustris</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">A blind Gothic warrior enslaved.</div> + +<p>'Our pity is greatly moved by the petition of Ocer, a blind Goth, who +has come by the help of borrowed sight to <i>feel</i> the sweetness of our +clemency, though he cannot see our presence.</p> + +<p>'He asserts that he, a free Goth, who once followed our armies, has, +owing to his misfortune, been reduced to slavery by Gudila and Oppas. +Strange excess of impudence to make that man their servant, before +whose sword they had assuredly trembled had he possessed his eyesight! +He pleads that Count Pythias has already pronounced against the claims +of his pretended masters. If you find that this is so, restore him at +once to freedom, and warn those men not to dare to repeat their +oppression of the unfortunate.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v30">30.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Gudui[m], Vir Sublimis [and Dux]</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Servile tasks imposed on free Goths by a Duke.</div> + +<p>'We expect those whom we choose as Dukes to work righteousness. +Costula and Daila, men who by the blessing of God rejoice in the +freedom of our Goths, complain that servile tasks are imposed upon +them by you. We do not do this ourselves, nor will we allow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> anyone +else to do it. If you find that the grievance is correctly stated +rectify it at once, or our anger will turn against the Duke who thus +abuses his power.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v31">31.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to <a href="#err23">Decoratus</a>, Vir Devotus</span> (?).</h3> + +<p>[For the career of Decoratus see <a href="#v3">v. 3</a> and <a href="#v4">4</a>.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Arrears of Siliquaticum to be enforced.</div> + +<p>'Thomas, Vir Clarissimus, complains that he cannot collect the arrears +of Siliquaticum from certain persons in Apulia and Calabria.</p> + +<p>'Do you therefore summon Mark the Presbyter, Andreas, Simeonius, and +the others whose names are set forth in the accompanying schedule, to +come into your presence, using no unnecessary force<a name="FNanchor_399_399" id="FNanchor_399_399"></a><a href="#Footnote_399_399" class="fnanchor">[399]</a> in your +summons. If they cannot clear themselves of this debt to the public +Treasury, they must be forced to pay.'</p> + +<p>[The arrears are said to be for the 8th, 9th, 11th, 1st, 2nd, and 15th +Indictiones; i.e. probably for the years 500, 501, 503, 508, 509, 507. +I cannot account for this curious order in which the years are +arranged, which seems to suggest some corruption of the text. Probably +this letter was written about 509.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="v32">32.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Brandila (cir.</span> 508-9).</h3> + +<p>[See remarks on this letter in Dahn ('Könige der Germanen' iv. +149-152); he claims it as a proof that Gothic law still existed for +the Goths in Italy.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Assault of the wife of Brandila on the wife of Patzenes.</div> + +<p>'Times without number has Patzenes laid his complaint <b> +<a href="#err24">upon</a></b> us, to wit +that while he was absent on the recent successful expedition<a name="FNanchor_400_400" id="FNanchor_400_400"></a><a href="#Footnote_400_400" class="fnanchor">[400]</a> your +wife Procula fell upon his wife [Regina], inflicted upon her three +murderous blows, and finally left her for dead, the victim having only +escaped by the supposed impossibility of her living. Now therefore, if +you acknowledge the fact to be so,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> you are to consult your own honour +by inflicting summary punishment as a husband on your wife, that we +may not hear of this complaint again<a name="FNanchor_401_401" id="FNanchor_401_401"></a><a href="#Footnote_401_401" class="fnanchor">[401]</a>. But if you deny the fact, +you are to bring your said wife to our Comitatus and there prove her +innocence.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v33">33.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Duke Wilitanch</span>.</h3> + +<p>[Containing the explanation of Procula's violence to Regina].</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Adulterous connection between Brandila and the wife of +Patzenes.</div> + +<p>'Patzenes brings before us a most serious complaint: that during his +absence in the Gaulish campaign, Brandila dared to form an adulterous +connection with his wife Regina, and to go through the form of +marriage with her.</p> + +<p>'Whose honour will be safe if advantage is thus to be taken with +impunity of the absense of a brave defender of his country? Alas for +the immodesty of women! They might learn virtue even from the chaste +example of the cooing turtle-dove, who when once deprived by +misfortune of her mate, never pairs again with another.</p> + +<p>'Let your Sublimity compel the parties accused to come before you for +examination, and if the charge be true, if these shameless ones were +speculating on the soldier of the Republic not returning from the +wars, if they were hoping, as they must have hoped, for general +collapse and ruin in order to hide their shame, then proceed against +them as our laws against adulterers dictate<a name="FNanchor_402_402" id="FNanchor_402_402"></a><a href="#Footnote_402_402" class="fnanchor">[402]</a>, and thus vindicate +the rights of all husbands.'</p> + +<p>[If these laws were, as is probable, those contained in the <i>Edictum +Theodorici</i>, the punishment for both the guilty parties was death, § +38, 39.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="v34">34.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Endless evasions of Frontosus. The nature of the +chameleon.</div> + +<p>'Frontosus, acting worthily of his name [the shameless-browed one], +confessed to having embezzled a large sum of public money, but +promised that, if a sufficient interval were allowed him, he would +repay it. Times without number has this interval expired and been +renewed, and still he does not pay. When he is arrested he trembles +with fear, and will promise anything; as soon as he is liberated he +seems to forget every promise that he has made. He changes his words, +like the chameleon, that little creature which in the shape of a +serpent is distinguished by a gold-coloured head, and has all the rest +of its body of a pale green. This little beast when it meets the gaze +of men, not being gifted with speed of flight, confused with its +excess of timidity, changes its colours in marvellous variety, now +azure, now purple, now green, now dark blue. The chameleon, again, may +be compared to the Pandian gem [sapphire?], which flashes with all +sorts of lights and colours while you hold it still in your hand.</p> + +<p>'Such then is the mind of Frontosus. He may be rightly compared to +Proteus, who when he was laid hold of, appeared in every shape but his +own, roared as a lion, hissed as a serpent, or foamed away in watery +waves, all in order to conceal his true shape of man.</p> + +<p>'Since this is his character, when you arrest him, first stop his +mouth from promising, for his facile nature is ready with all sorts of +promises which he has no chance of performing. Then ascertain what he +can really pay at once, and keep him bound till he does it. He must +not be allowed to think that he can get the better of us with his +tricks.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="v35">35.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Count Luvirit, and Ampelius</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Fraudulent ship-owners to be punished.</div> + +<p>'When we were in doubt about the food supply of Rome, we judged it +proper that Spain should send her cargoes of wheat hither, and the Vir +Spectabilis Marcian collected supplies there for this purpose. His +industry, however, was frustrated by the greed of the shipowners, who, +disliking the necessary delay, slipped off and disposed of the grain +for their own profit. Little as we like harshness, this offence must +be punished. We have therefore directed Catellus and Servandus (Viri +Strenui) to collect from these shipmasters the sum of 1,038 solidi +(£622 16s.), inasmuch as they appear to have received:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" summary="corn"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td>'From the sale of the corn</td> + <td style="text-align: right">280</td> + <td>solidi.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>'And from the fares of passengers</td> + <td style="text-align: right">758</td> + <td style="text-align: center">"</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: right">———<br /> + '1,038</td> + <td style="text-align: center">"</td> + </tr> + </tbody> + </table> + + +<p>'Let your Sublimity assist in the execution of this order.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v36">36.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Starcedius, Vir Sublimis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Honourable discharge.</div> + +<p>'You tell us that your body, wearied out with continual labour, is no +longer equal to the fatigues of our glorious campaigns, and you +therefore ask to be released from the necessity of further military +service. We grant your request, but stop your donative; because it is +not right that you should consume the labourer's bread in idleness. We +shall extend to you our protection from the snares of your +adversaries, and allow no one to call you a deserter, since you are +not one<a name="FNanchor_403_403" id="FNanchor_403_403"></a><a href="#Footnote_403_403" class="fnanchor">[403]</a>.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="v37">37.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Jews of Milan</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Rights of the Jewish Synagogue not to be invaded by +Christians.</div> + +<p>'For the preservation of <i>civilitas</i> the benefits of justice are not +to be denied even to those who are recognised as wandering from the +right way in matters of faith.</p> + +<p>'You complain that you are often wantonly attacked, and that the +rights pertaining to your synagogue are disregarded<a name="FNanchor_404_404" id="FNanchor_404_404"></a><a href="#Footnote_404_404" class="fnanchor">[404]</a>. We therefore +give you the needed protection of our Mildness, and ordain that no +ecclesiastic shall trench on the privileges of your synagogue, nor mix +himself up in your affairs. But let the two communities keep apart, as +their faiths are different: you on your part not attempting to do +anything <i>incivile</i> against the rights of the said Church.</p> + +<p>'The law of thirty years' prescription, which is a world-wide +custom<a name="FNanchor_405_405" id="FNanchor_405_405"></a><a href="#Footnote_405_405" class="fnanchor">[405]</a>, shall enure for your benefit also.</p> + +<p>'But why, oh Jew, dost thou petition for peace and quietness on earth +when thou canst not find that rest which is eternal<a name="FNanchor_406_406" id="FNanchor_406_406"></a><a href="#Footnote_406_406" class="fnanchor">[406]</a>?'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v38">38.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to all Cultivators</span><a name="FNanchor_407_407" id="FNanchor_407_407"></a><a href="#Footnote_407_407" class="fnanchor">[407]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Shrubs obstructing the aqueduct of Ravenna to be rooted +up.</div> + +<p>'The aqueducts are an object of our special care. We desire you at +once to root up the shrubs growing in the Signine Channel<a name="FNanchor_408_408" id="FNanchor_408_408"></a><a href="#Footnote_408_408" class="fnanchor">[408]</a>, which +will before long become big trees scarcely to be hewn down with the +axe, and which interfere with the purity of the water in the aqueduct +of Ravenna. Vegetation is the peaceable overturner of buildings, the +battering-ram which brings them to the ground, though the trumpets +never sound for siege.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span></p> +<p>'We shall now again have baths that we may look upon with pleasure; +water which will cleanse, not stain; water after using which we shall +not require to wash ourselves again; drinking-water such that the mere +sight of it will not take away all our appetite for food<a name="FNanchor_409_409" id="FNanchor_409_409"></a><a href="#Footnote_409_409" class="fnanchor">[409]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="v39">39.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Ampelius and Liveria</span><a name="FNanchor_410_410" id="FNanchor_410_410"></a><a href="#Footnote_410_410" class="fnanchor">[410]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Sundry abuses in the administration of the Spanish +government to be rectified.</div> + +<p>'That alone is the true life of men which is controlled by the reign +of law.</p> + +<p>'We regret to hear that through the capricious extortions of our +revenue-officers anarchy is practically prevailing in Spain. The +public registers (polyptycha), not the whim of the collector, ought to +measure the liability of the Provincial.</p> + +<p>'We therefore send your Sublimity to Spain in order to remedy these +disorders.</p> + +<p>'(1) Murder must be put down with a strong hand; but the sharper the +punishment is made the more rigid we ought to be in requiring proof of +the crime<a name="FNanchor_411_411" id="FNanchor_411_411"></a><a href="#Footnote_411_411" class="fnanchor">[411]</a>.</p> + +<p>'(2) The collectors of the land-tax (assis publicus) are accused of +using false weights [in collecting the quotas of produce from the +Provincials]. This must cease, and they must use none but the standard +weights kept by our Chamberlain<a name="FNanchor_412_412" id="FNanchor_412_412"></a><a href="#Footnote_412_412" class="fnanchor">[412]</a>.</p> + +<p>'(3) The farmers<a name="FNanchor_413_413" id="FNanchor_413_413"></a><a href="#Footnote_413_413" class="fnanchor">[413]</a> of our Royal domain must pay the rent imposed on +them, otherwise they will get to look on the farms as their own +property; but certain salaries may be paid them for their trouble, as +you shall think fit<a name="FNanchor_414_414" id="FNanchor_414_414"></a><a href="#Footnote_414_414" class="fnanchor">[414]</a>. [Dahn suggests that the salary was to +reimburse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> them for their labours as a kind of local police, but is +not himself satisfied with this explanation.]</p> + +<p>'(4) Import duties<a name="FNanchor_415_415" id="FNanchor_415_415"></a><a href="#Footnote_415_415" class="fnanchor">[415]</a> are to be regularly collected and honestly +paid over.</p> + +<p>'(5) The officers of the mint are not to make their private gains out +of the coinage.'</p> + +<p>(6) An obscure sentence as to the 'Canon telonei' [from the Greek +<span lang="el" title="Greek: telônês">τελωνης</span>, a tax-gatherer. Garet reads 'Tolonei,' which is +probably an error].</p> + +<p>(7) The same as to the <i>Actus Laeti</i>, whose conscience is assailed by +the grossest imputations. [Laetus is perhaps the name of an official.]</p> + +<p>'(8) Those concerned in <i>furtivae actiones</i>, and their accomplices, +are to disgorge the property thus acquired.</p> + +<p>'(9) Those who have received <i>praebendae</i> [apparently official +allowances charged on the Province] are, with detestable injustice, +claiming them <i>both</i> in money and in kind. This must be put a stop to: +of course the one mode of payment is meant to be alternative to the +other.</p> + +<p>'(10) The Exactores (Collectors) are said to be extorting from the +Provincials more than they pay into our chamber (<i>cubiculum</i>). Let +this be carefully examined into, and let the payment exacted be the +same that was fixed in the times of Alaric and Euric.</p> + +<p>'(11) The abuse of claiming <b><a href="#err25">extortions</a></b> (<i>paraveredi</i>) by those who +have a right to use the public posts must be repressed.</p> + +<p>'(12) The defence of the Provincials by the <i>Villici</i> is so costly, +and seems to be so unpopular, that we remove it altogether.' [For this +<i>tuitio villici</i>, see Dahn iii. 131; but he is not able to throw much +light on the nature of the office of the <i>Villicus</i>.]</p> + +<p>'(13) Degrading services (servitia famulatus) are not to be claimed of +our free-born Goths, although they may be residents in cities<a name="FNanchor_416_416" id="FNanchor_416_416"></a><a href="#Footnote_416_416" class="fnanchor">[416]</a>.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p> +<p>[This very long letter is one of great importance, but also of great +difficulty.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="v40">40.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Cyprian, Count of the Sacred Largesses</span>.</h3> + +<p>[This Cyprian is the accuser of Albinus and Boethius.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="v41">41.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<p>[On Cyprian's appointment to the above office, 524.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Promotion of Cyprian to the Comitiva Sacrarum Largitionum.</div> + +<p>The usual pair of letters setting forth the merits of the new +official. The Senate is congratulated on the fact that the King never +presents to a place in that body a mere tyro in official life, but +always himself first tests the servants of the State, and rewards with +a place in the Senate only those who have shown themselves worthy of +it.</p> + +<p>Cyprian is the son of a man of merit, Opilio, who in the times of the +State's ill-fortune was chosen to a place in the royal household<a name="FNanchor_417_417" id="FNanchor_417_417"></a><a href="#Footnote_417_417" class="fnanchor">[417]</a>. +He was not able, owing to the wretchedness of the times, to do much +for his son. The difference between the fortunes of father and son is +the measure of the happy change introduced by the rule of Theodoric.</p> + +<p>In some subordinate capacity in the King's final Court of Appeal +(probably as <i>Referendarius</i><a name="FNanchor_418_418" id="FNanchor_418_418"></a><a href="#Footnote_418_418" class="fnanchor">[418]</a>) Cyprian has hitherto had the duty +of stating the cases of the hostile litigants. He has shown wonderful +dexterity in suddenly stating the same case from the two oppo<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span>site +points of view<a name="FNanchor_419_419" id="FNanchor_419_419"></a><a href="#Footnote_419_419" class="fnanchor">[419]</a>, and this so as to satisfy even the requirements +of the litigants themselves.</p> + +<p>Often the King has transacted business in his rides which used of old +to be brought before a formal Consistory. He has mounted his horse, +when weary with the cares of the Republic, to renew his vigour by +exercise and change of scene. In these rides he has been accompanied +by Cyprian, who has in such a lively manner stated the cases which had +come up on appeal, that an otherwise tedious business was turned into +a pleasure. Even when the King was most moved to wrath by what seemed +to him a thoroughly bad cause, he still appreciated the charm of the +Advocate's style in setting it before him. Thus has Cyprian had that +most useful of all trainings, action, not books.</p> + +<p>Thus prepared he was sent on an embassy to the East, a commission +which he discharged with conspicuous ability. Versed in three +languages (Greek, Roman, Gothic?), he found that Greece had nothing to +show him that was new; and as for subtlety, he was a match for the +keenest of the Greeks. The Emperor's presence had nothing in it to +make him hesitating or confused. Why should it, since he had seen and +pleaded before Theodoric<a name="FNanchor_420_420" id="FNanchor_420_420"></a><a href="#Footnote_420_420" class="fnanchor">[420]</a>?</p> + +<p>In addition to all these other gifts he possesses <i>faith</i>, that anchor +of the soul amidst the waves of a stormy world.</p> + +<p>He is therefore called upon to assume at the third Indiction [524-525] +the office of Count of the Sacred Largesses, and exhorted to bear +himself therein worthily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> of his parentage and his past career, that +the King may afterwards promote him to yet higher honour.</p> + +<p>[For further remarks on this letter—a very important one, as bearing +on the trial of Boethius—see <a href="#viii16">viii. 16</a>. The third Indiction might mean +either 509-510 or 524-525; but the statement of '<b><a href="#err26">Anomymus</a></b> Valesii,' +that Cyprian was still only Referendarius at the time of his +accusation of Albinus, warrants us in fixing on the later date. This +makes the encomiums conferred in this letter more significant, since +they must have been bestowed <i>after</i> the delation against Albinus and +Boethius. Probably it was during Cyprian's embassy to Constantinople +(described in this letter) that he discovered these intrigues of the +Senators with the Byzantine Court, which he denounced on his return.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="v42">42.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Maximus, Vir Illustris, Consul</span>.</h3> + +<p>[Flavius Anicius Maximus was Consul <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 523.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Rewards to performers in the Amphitheatre.</div> + +<p>'If singers and dancers are to be rewarded by the generosity of the +Consul, <i>à fortiori</i> should the <i>Venator</i>, the fighter with wild +beasts in the amphitheatre, be rewarded for <i>his</i> endeavours to please +the people, who after all are secretly hoping to see him killed. And +what a horrible death he dies—denied even the rites of burial, +disappearing before he has yet become a corpse into the maw of the +hungry animal which he has failed to kill. These spectacles were first +introduced as part of the worship of the Scythian Diana, who was +feigned to gloat on human gore. The ancients called her the triple +deity, Proserpina-Luna-Diana. They were right in one point; the +goddess who invented these games certainly reigned <i>in hell</i>.'</p> + +<p>The Colosseum (the Amphitheatre of Titus) is described.</p> + +<p>The combats with wild beasts are pourtrayed in a style of pompous +obscurity. We may dimly discern<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> the form of the <i>bestiarius</i>, who is +armed with a wooden spear; of another who leaps into the air to escape +the beast's onset; of one who protects himself with a portable wall of +reeds, 'like a sea-urchin;' of others who are fastened to a revolving +wheel, and alternately brought within the range of the animal's claws +and borne aloft beyond his grasp. 'There are as many perilous forms of +encounter as Virgil described varieties of crime and punishment in +Tartarus. Alas for the pitiable error of mankind! If they had any true +intuition of Justice, they would sacrifice as much wealth for the +preservation of human life as they now lavish on its destruction.' ['A +noble regret,' says Gregorovius ('Geschichte der Stadt Rom.' i. 286), +'in which in our own day every well-disposed Minister of a military +state will feel bound to concur with Cassiodorus.']</p> + + +<h3><a name="v43">43.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Transmund [Thrasamund], King of the Vandals +(cir.</span> 511).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Complains of the protection given by Thrasamund to +Gesalic.</div> + +<p>'Having given you our sister, that singular ornament of the Amal race, +in marriage, in order to knit the bonds of friendship between us, we +are amazed that you should have given protection and support to our +enemy Gesalic [natural son of Alaric II]. If it was out of mere pity +and as an outcast that you received him into your realm, you ought to +have kept him there; whereas you have sent him forth furnished with +large supplies of money to disturb the peace of our Gaulish Provinces. +This is not the conduct of a friend, much less of a relative. We are +sure that you cannot have taken counsel in this matter with your wife, +who would neither have liked to see her brother injured, nor the fair +fame of her husband tarnished by such doubtful intrigues. We send you +A and B as our ambassadors, who will speak to you further on this +matter.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="v44">44.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodoric to Transmund [Thrasamund], King of the Vandals</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Reconciliation between Theodoric and Thrasamund.</div> + +<p>'You have shown, most prudent of Kings, that wise men know how to +amend their faults, instead of persisting in them with that obstinacy +which is the characteristic of brutes. In the noblest and most truly +kinglike manner you have humbled yourself to confess your fault in +reference to the reception of Gesalic, and to lay bare to us the very +secrets of your heart in this matter. We thank you and praise you, and +accept your purgation of yourself from this offence with all our +heart. As for the presents sent us by your ambassadors, we accept them +with our minds, but not with our hands. Let them return to your +Treasury (cubiculum), that it may be seen that it was simply love of +justice, not desire of gain, which prompted our complaints. We have +both acted in a truly royal manner<a name="FNanchor_421_421" id="FNanchor_421_421"></a><a href="#Footnote_421_421" class="fnanchor">[421]</a>. Let your frankness and our +contempt of gold be celebrated through the nations. It is sweeter to +us to return these presents to you, than to receive much larger ones +from anyone else. Your ambassadors carry back with them the fullest +salutation of love from your friend and ally.'</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_VI" id="BOOK_VI"></a>BOOK VI.</h2> + +<h3>CONTAINING TWENTY-FIVE FORMULAE<a name="FNanchor_422_422" id="FNanchor_422_422"></a><a href="#Footnote_422_422" class="fnanchor">[422]</a>.</h3> + + +<h3><a name="vi1">1.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Consulship</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Consulship.</div> + +<p>'In old days the supreme reward of the Consulship was given to him +who, by his strong right hand, had delivered the Republic. The mantle +embroidered with palms of victory<a name="FNanchor_423_423" id="FNanchor_423_423"></a><a href="#Footnote_423_423" class="fnanchor">[423]</a>, the privilege of giving his +name to the year and of enfranchising the slave, even power over the +lives of his fellow-citizens, were rightly given to a man to whom the +Republic owed so much. He received the axe—the power of life and +death—but bound up in the bundle of rods, in order that the necessary +delay in undoing these might prevent him from striking the irrevocable +stroke without due consideration. Whence also he received the name of +Consul, because it was his duty to <i>consult</i> for the good of his +country. He was bound to spend money freely; and thus he who had shed +the blood of the enemies of Rome made the lives of her children happy +by his generosity.</p> + +<p>'But now take this office under happier circumstances, since we have +the labours of the Consul, you the joys of his dignity. Your +palm-embroidered robes therefore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> are justified by our victories, and +you, in the prosperous hour of peace, confer freedom on the slave, +because we by our wars are giving security to the Romans. Therefore, +for this Indiction, we decorate you with the ensigns of the +Consulship.</p> + +<p>'Adorn your broad shoulders<a name="FNanchor_424_424" id="FNanchor_424_424"></a><a href="#Footnote_424_424" class="fnanchor">[424]</a> with the variegated colours of the +palm-robe; ennoble your strong hand with the sceptre of victory<a name="FNanchor_425_425" id="FNanchor_425_425"></a><a href="#Footnote_425_425" class="fnanchor">[425]</a>. +Enter your private dwelling having even your sandals gilded; ascend +the curule chair by the many steps which its dignity requires: that +thus you, a subject and at your ease, may enjoy the dignity which we, +the Ruler, assumed only after mightiest labours. You enjoy the fruit +of victory who are ignorant of war; we, God helping us, will reign; we +will consult for the safety of the State, while your name marks the +year. You overtop Sovereigns in your good fortune, since you wear the +highest honours, and yet have not the annoyances of ruling. Wherefore +pluck up spirit and confidence. It becometh Consuls to be generous. Do +not be anxious about your private fortune, you who have elected to win +the public favour by your gifts. It is for this cause [because the +Consul has to spend lavishly during his year of office] that we make a +difference between your dignity and all others. Other magistrates we +appoint, even though they do not ask for the office. To the Consulship +we promote only those who are candidates for the dignity, those who +know that their fortunes are equal to its demands; otherwise we might +be imposing a burden rather than a favour. Enjoy therefore, in a +becoming manner, the honour which you wished for. This mode of +spending money is a legitimate form of canvassing<a name="FNanchor_426_426" id="FNanchor_426_426"></a><a href="#Footnote_426_426" class="fnanchor">[426]</a>. Be illustrious +in the world, be prosperous in your own life, leave an example for the +happy imitation of your posterity.'</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span></p> +<h3><a name="vi2">2.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Patriciate</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Patriciate.</div> + +<p>'In olden times the Patricians were said to derive their origin from +Jupiter, whose priests they were. Mythology apart, they derived their +name from <i>Patres</i>, the dignity of priest having blended itself with +that of Senator.</p> + +<p>'The great distinction of the Patriciate is that it is a rank held +<i>for life</i>, like that of the priesthood, from which it sprang. The +Patrician takes precedence of Praefects and all other dignities save +one (the Consulship), and that is one which we ourselves sometimes +assume.</p> + +<p>'Ascend then the pinnacle of the Patriciate. You may have yet further +honours to receive from us, if you bear yourself worthily in this +station.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi3">3.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Praetorian Praefecture</span>.</h3> + +<p>[On account of the importance of the office a translation of the whole +formula is here attempted, though with some hesitation on account of +its obscure allusions.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Praetorian Praefecture.</div> + +<p>'If the origin of any dignity can confer upon it special renown and +promise of future usefulness, the Praetorian Praefecture may claim +this distinction, illustrated as its establishment was by the wisdom +of this world, and also stamped by the Divine approval. For when +Pharaoh, King of Egypt, was oppressed by strange visions of future +famine, there was found a blessed man, even Joseph, able to foretell +the future with truth, and to suggest the wisest precautions for the +people's danger. He first consecrated the insignia of this dignity; he +in majesty entered the official chariot<a name="FNanchor_427_427" id="FNanchor_427_427"></a><a href="#Footnote_427_427" class="fnanchor">[427]</a>, raised to this height of +honour, in order that his wisdom might confer bless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span>ings on the people +which they could not receive from the mere power of the Ruler.</p> + +<p>'From that Patriarch is this officer now called <i>Father of the +Empire</i>; his name is even to-day celebrated by the voice of the crier, +who calls upon the Judge to show himself not unworthy of his example. +Rightly was it felt that he to whom such power was committed should +always be thus delicately reminded of his duty.</p> + +<p>'For some prerogatives are shared in common between ourselves and the +holder of this dignity. [The next sentence<a name="FNanchor_428_428" id="FNanchor_428_428"></a><a href="#Footnote_428_428" class="fnanchor">[428]</a> I leave untranslated, +as I am not sure of the meaning. Manso (p. 343) translates it, 'He +forces fugitives from justice, without regard to the lapse of time, to +come before his tribunal.'] He inflicts heavy fines on offenders, he +distributes the public revenue as he thinks fit, he has a like power +in bestowing rights of free conveyance<a name="FNanchor_429_429" id="FNanchor_429_429"></a><a href="#Footnote_429_429" class="fnanchor">[429]</a>, he appropriates unclaimed +property, he punishes the offences of Provincial Judges, he pronounces +sentence by word of mouth [whereas all other Judges had to read their +decisions from their tablets].</p> + +<p>'What is there that he has not entrusted to him whose very speech is +Judgment? He may almost be said to have the power of making laws, +since the reverence due to him enables him to finish law-suits without +appeal.</p> + +<p>'On his entrance into the palace he, like ourselves, is adored by the +assembled throng<a name="FNanchor_430_430" id="FNanchor_430_430"></a><a href="#Footnote_430_430" class="fnanchor">[430]</a>, and an office of such high rank appears to +excuse a practice which in other cases would be considered matter for +accusation<a name="FNanchor_431_431" id="FNanchor_431_431"></a><a href="#Footnote_431_431" class="fnanchor">[431]</a>.</p> + +<p>'In power, no dignity is his equal. He judges everywhere as the +representative of the Sovereign<a name="FNanchor_432_432" id="FNanchor_432_432"></a><a href="#Footnote_432_432" class="fnanchor">[432]</a>. No<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> soldier marks out to him the +limits of his jurisdiction, except the official of the Master of the +Soldiery. I suppose that the ancients wished [even the Praefect] to +yield something to those who were to engage in war on behalf of the +Republic.</p> + +<p>'He punishes with stripes even the Curials, who are called in the laws +a Lesser Senate.</p> + +<p>'In his own official staff (officium) he is invested with peculiar +privileges; since all men can see that he lays his commands on men of +such high quality that not even the Judges of Provinces may presume to +look down upon them. The staff is therefore composed of men of the +highest education, energetic, strong-minded<a name="FNanchor_433_433" id="FNanchor_433_433"></a><a href="#Footnote_433_433" class="fnanchor">[433]</a>, intent on prompt +obedience to the orders of their head, and not tolerating obstruction +from others. To those who have served their time in his office, he +grants the rank of Tribunes and Notaries, thus making his attendants +equal to those who, mingled with the chiefs of the State, wait upon +our own presence.</p> + +<p>'We joyfully accomplish that which he arranges, since our reverence +for his office constrains us to give immediate effect to his decrees. +He deserves this at our hands, since his forethought nourishes the +Palace, procures the daily rations of our servants, provides the +salaries even of the Judges themselves<a name="FNanchor_434_434" id="FNanchor_434_434"></a><a href="#Footnote_434_434" class="fnanchor">[434]</a>. By his arrangements he +satiates the hungry appetites of the ambassadors of the [barbarous] +nations<a name="FNanchor_435_435" id="FNanchor_435_435"></a><a href="#Footnote_435_435" class="fnanchor">[435]</a>. And though other dignities have their specially defined +prerogatives, by him everything that comes within the scope of our +wisely-tempered sway is governed.</p> + +<p>'Take therefore, from this Indiction, on your shoulders the noble +burden of all these cares. Administer it with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> vigour and with utmost +loyalty, that your rule may be prosperous to us and useful to the +Republic. The more various the anxieties, the greater your glory. Let +that glory beam forth, not in our Palace only, but be reflected in far +distant Provinces. Let your prudence be equal to your power; yea, let +the fourfold virtue [of the Platonic philosophy] be seated in your +conscience. Remember that your tribunal is placed so high that, when +seated there, you should think of nothing sordid, nothing mean. Weigh +well what you ought to say, seeing that it is listened to by so many. +Let the public records contain nothing [of your saying] which any need +blush to read. The good governor not only has no part nor lot in +injustice; unless he is ever diligently doing some noble work he +incurs blame even for his inactivity. For if that most holy author +[Moses?] be consulted, it will be seen that it is a kind of priesthood +to fill the office of the Praetorian Praefecture in a becoming +manner.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi4">4.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Praefecture of the City</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Praefecture of the City.</div> + +<p>'You, to whose care Rome is committed, are exalted by that charge to a +position of the highest dignity. The Senate also is presided over by +you; and the Senators, who wield full power in that assembly, tremble +when they have to plead their own cause at your tribunal. But this is +because they, who are the makers of laws, are subject to the laws; and +so are we too, though not to a Judge.</p> + +<p>'Behave in a manner worthy of your high office. Treat the Consulars +with deference. Put away every base thought when you cross the +threshold of every virtue. If you wish to avoid unpopularity, avoid +receiving bribes. It is a grand thing when it can be said that Judges +will not accept that which thousands are eager to offer them.</p> + +<p>'To your care is committed not only Rome herself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> (though Rome +includes the world<a name="FNanchor_436_436" id="FNanchor_436_436"></a><a href="#Footnote_436_436" class="fnanchor">[436]</a>), but, by ancient law, all within the +hundredth milestone.</p> + +<p>'You judge, on appeal, causes brought from certain Provinces defined +by law. Your staff is composed of learned men; eloquent they can +hardly help being, since they are always hearing the masters of +eloquence. You ride in your <i>Carpentum</i> through a populace of +nobles<a name="FNanchor_437_437" id="FNanchor_437_437"></a><a href="#Footnote_437_437" class="fnanchor">[437]</a>; oh, act so as to deserve their shouts of welcome! How +will you deserve their favour? By seeing that merchandise is sold +without venality<a name="FNanchor_438_438" id="FNanchor_438_438"></a><a href="#Footnote_438_438" class="fnanchor">[438]</a>; that the fires kindled to heat the wholesome +baths are not chilled by corruption; that the games, which are meant +for the pleasure of the people, are not by partisanship made a cause +of strife. For so great is the power of glorious truth, that even in +the affairs of the stage justice is desired<a name="FNanchor_439_439" id="FNanchor_439_439"></a><a href="#Footnote_439_439" class="fnanchor">[439]</a>. Take then the robe +of Romulus, and administer the laws of Rome. Other honours await you +if you behave worthily in this office, and above all, if you win the +applause of the Senate.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi5">5.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Quaestorship</span>.</h3> + +<p>[This letter is particularly interesting, from the fact that it +describes Cassiodorus' own office, that which he filled during many +years of the reign of Theodoric, and in virtue of which he wrote the +greater part of his 'Various Letters.']</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Quaestorship.</div> + +<p>'No Minister has more reason to glory in his office than the Quaestor, +since it brings him into constant and intimate communication with +Ourselves. The Quaestor has to learn our inmost thoughts, that he may +utter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> them to our subjects. Whenever we are in doubt as to any matter +we ask our Quaestor, who is the treasure-house of public fame, the +cupboard of laws; who has to be always ready for a sudden call, and +must exercise the wonderful powers which, as Cicero has pointed out, +are inherent in the art of an orator. He should so paint the delights +of virtue and the terrors of vice, that his eloquence should almost +make the sword of the magistrate needless.</p> + +<p>'What manner of man ought the Quaestor to be, who reflects the very +image of his Sovereign? If, as is often our custom, we chance to +listen to a suit, what authority must there be in his tongue who has +to speak the King's words in the King's own presence? He must have +knowledge of the law, wariness in speech, firmness of purpose, that +neither gifts nor threats may cause him to swerve from justice. For in +the interests of Equity we suffer even ourselves to be contradicted, +since we too are bound to obey her. Let your learning be such that you +may set forth every subject on which you have to treat, with suitable +embellishments.</p> + +<p>'Moved therefore by the fame of your wisdom and eloquence, we bestow +upon you, by God's grace, the dignity of the Quaestorship, which is +the glory of letters, the temple of <i>civilitas</i>, the mother of all the +dignities, the home of continence, the seat of all the virtues.</p> + +<p>'To you the Provinces transmit their prayers. From you the Senate +seeks the aid of law. You are expected to suffice for the needs of all +who seek from us the remedies of the law. But when you have done all +this, be not elated with your success, be not gnawed with envy, +rejoice not at the calamities of others; for what is hateful in the +Sovereign cannot be becoming in the Quaestor.</p> + +<p>'Exercise the power of the Prince in the condition of a subject; and +may you render a good account to the Judges at the end of your term of +office.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="vi6">6.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Magisterial Dignity, and its Excellency (Magister +Officiorum)</span>.</h3> + +<p>[The dignity and powers of the Master of the Offices were continually +rising throughout the Fourth and Fifth Centuries at the cost of the +Praetorian Praefect, many of whose functions were transferred to the +Master.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Mastership of the Offices.</div> + +<p>'The Master's is a name of dignity. To him belongs the discipline of +the Palace; he calms the stormy ranks of the insolent Scholares [the +household troops, 10,000 in number, in the palace of the Eastern +Emperor, according to Lydus (ii. 24)]. He introduces the Senators to +our presence, cheers them when they tremble, calms them when they are +speaking, sometimes inserts a word or two of his own, that all may be +laid in an orderly manner before us. It rests with him to fix a day +for the admission of a suitor to our <i>Aulicum Consistorium</i>, and to +fulfil his promise. The opportune velocity of the post-horses [the +care of the <i>Cursus Publicus</i>] is diligently watched over by him<a name="FNanchor_440_440" id="FNanchor_440_440"></a><a href="#Footnote_440_440" class="fnanchor">[440]</a>.</p> + +<p>'The ambassadors of foreign powers are introduced by him, and their +<i>evectiones</i> [free passes by the postal-service] are received from his +hands<a name="FNanchor_441_441" id="FNanchor_441_441"></a><a href="#Footnote_441_441" class="fnanchor">[441]</a>.</p> + +<p>'To an officer with these great functions Antiquity gave great +prerogatives: that no Provincial Governor should assume office without +his consent, and that appeals should come to him from their decisions. +He has no charge of collecting money, only of spending it. It is his +to appoint <i>peraequatores</i><a name="FNanchor_442_442" id="FNanchor_442_442"></a><a href="#Footnote_442_442" class="fnanchor">[442]</a> of provisions in the capital, and a +Judge to attend to this matter. He also superintends the pleasures of +the people, and is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> bound to keep them from sedition by a generous +exhibition of shows. The members of his staff, when they have served +their full time, are adorned with the title of <i>Princeps</i>, and take +their places at the head of the Praetorian cohorts and those of the +Urban Praefecture [the officials serving in the bureaux of those two +Praefects]—a mark of favour which almost amounts to injustice, since +he who serves in one office (the Master's) is thereby put at the head +of all those who have been serving in another (the Praefect's)<a name="FNanchor_443_443" id="FNanchor_443_443"></a><a href="#Footnote_443_443" class="fnanchor">[443]</a>.'</p> + +<p>[We learn from Lydus how intense was the jealousy of the grasping and +aspiring <i>Magistriani</i> felt by the Praefect's subordinates; and we may +infer from this passage that Cassiodorus thought that there was some +justification for this feeling.]</p> + +<p>'The assistant (Adjutor) of the Magister is also present at our +audiences, a distinguished honour for his chief.</p> + +<p>'Take therefore this illustrious office and discharge it worthily, +that, in all which you do, you may show yourself a true Magister. If +<i>you</i> should in anywise go astray (which God forbid), where should +morality be found upon earth?'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi7">7.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Office of Comes Sacrarum Largitionum</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Office of Count of Sacred Largesses.</div> + +<p>'Yours is the high and pleasing office of administering the bounty of +your Sovereign<a name="FNanchor_444_444" id="FNanchor_444_444"></a><a href="#Footnote_444_444" class="fnanchor">[444]</a>. Through you we dispense our favours and relieve +needy suppliants on New Year's Day. It is your business to see that +our face<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> is imprinted on our coins, a reminder to our subjects of our +ceaseless care on their behalf, and a memorial of our reign to future +ages.</p> + +<p>'To this your regular office we also add the place of <i>Primicerius</i> +[<i>Primicerius Notariorum</i>?], so that you are the channel through which +honours as well as largesses flow. Not only the Judges of the +Provinces are subject to you, even the <i>Proceres Chartarum</i> (?) have +not their offices assured to them till you have confirmed the +instrument. You have also the care of the royal robes. The sea-coasts +and their products, and therefore merchants, are under your sway. The +commerce of salt, that precious mineral, rightly classed with silken +robes and pearls, is placed under your superintendence.</p> + +<p>'Take therefore these two dignities, the Comitiva Sacrarum Largitionum +and the Primiceriatus. If some of the ancient privileges of your +office have been retrenched [some functions, probably, taken from the +Comes Sacrarum Largitionum and assigned to the Comes Patrimonii], +comfort yourself with the thought that you have two dignities instead +of one.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi8">8.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Office of Comes Privatarum, and its Excellency</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Office of Count of Private Domains.</div> + +<p>'Your chief business, as the name of your office implies, is to govern +the royal estates by the instrumentality of the <i>Rationales</i> under +you.</p> + +<p>'This work alone, however, would have given you a jurisdiction only +over slaves [those employed on the royal domains]; and as a slave is +not a person in the eye of the law, it seemed unworthy of the dignity +of Latium to confine your jurisdiction to these men. Some urban +authority has therefore been given you in addition to that which you +exercise over these boors: cases of incest, and of pollution or +spoliation of graves,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> come before you. Thus the chastity of the +living and the security of the dead are equally your care. In the +Provinces you superintend the tribute-collectors (Canonicarios), you +admonish the cultivators of the soil (Possessores), and you claim for +the Royal Exchequer property to which no heirs are forthcoming<a name="FNanchor_445_445" id="FNanchor_445_445"></a><a href="#Footnote_445_445" class="fnanchor">[445]</a>. +Deposited monies also, the owners of which are lost by lapse of time, +are searched out by you and brought into our Exchequer, since those +who by our permission enjoy all their own property ought willingly and +without sense of loss to offer us that which belongs to other men.</p> + +<p>'Take then the honour of <i>Comes Privatarum</i>: it also is a courtly +dignity, and you will augment it by your worthy fulfilment of its +functions.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi9">9.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Office of Count of the Patrimony, and its +Excellency</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Office of Count of the Patrimony.</div> + +<p>'To our distant servants we send long papers with instructions as to +their conduct; but you, admitted to our daily converse, do not need +these. You are to undertake the care of our royal patrimony.</p> + +<p>'Do not give in to all the suggestions of our servants on these +domains, who are apt to think that everything is permitted them +because they represent the King; but rather incline the scale against +them. You will have to act much in our sight; and as the rising sun +discloses the true colours of objects, so the King's constant presence +reveals the Minister's character in its true light. Avoid loud and +harsh tones in pronouncing your decisions: when we hear you using +these, we shall know that you are in the wrong. External acts and +bodily qualities show the habit of the mind. We know a proud man by +his swaggering gait, an angry one by his flashing eyes, a crafty one +by his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> downcast look, a fickle one by his wandering gaze, at +avaricious one by his hooked nails.</p> + +<p>'Take then the office of Count of the Patrimony, and discharge it +uprightly. Be expeditious in your decisions on the complaints of the +tillers of the soil. Justice speedily granted is thereby greatly +enhanced in value, and though it is really the suitor's right it +charms him as if it were a favour.</p> + +<p>'Attend also to the provision of suitable delicacies for our royal +table. It is a great thing that ambassadors coming from all parts of +the world should see rare dainties at our board, and such an +inexhaustible supply of provisions brought in by the crowds of our +servants that they are almost ready to think the food grows again in +the kitchen, whither they see the dishes carried with the broken +victuals. These banqueting times are, and quite deservedly, your times +for approaching us with business, when no one else is allowed to do +so.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi10">10.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula by which Men are made Proceres per Codicillos Vacantes</span>.</h3> + +<p style="text-align: center">[Bestowal of Brevet-rank on persons outside the Civil Service.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Codicilli Vacantes.</div> + +<p>'There are cases in which men whom it is desirable for the Sovereign +to honour are unable, from delicate health or slender fortunes, to +enter upon an official career. For instance, a poor nobleman may dread +the expenses of the Consulship; a man illustrious by his wisdom may be +unable to bear the worries of a Praefecture; an eloquent tongue may +shun the weight of a Quaestorship. In these cases the laws have wisely +ordained that we may give such persons the rank which they merit by +<i>Codicilli Vacantes</i>. It must always be understood, however, that in +each dignity those who thus obtain it rank behind those who have +earned it by actual service. Otherwise we should have all men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> +flocking into these quiet posts, if the workers were not preferred to +men of leisure<a name="FNanchor_446_446" id="FNanchor_446_446"></a><a href="#Footnote_446_446" class="fnanchor">[446]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Take therefore, by these present codicils, the rank which you +deserve, though you have not earned it by your official career.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi11">11.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula by which the Rank of an Illustris and the Title of a Comes +Domesticorum are Conferred, without Office</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Illustratus Vacans.</div> + +<p>'The bestowal of honour, though it does not change the nature of a +man, induces him to consider his own reputation more closely, and to +abstain from that which may stain it<a name="FNanchor_447_447" id="FNanchor_447_447"></a><a href="#Footnote_447_447" class="fnanchor">[447]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Take therefore the rank (without office) of an Illustrious Count of +the Domestics<a name="FNanchor_448_448" id="FNanchor_448_448"></a><a href="#Footnote_448_448" class="fnanchor">[448]</a>, and enjoy that greatest luxury of worthy +minds—power to attend to your own pursuits.</p> + +<p>'For what can be sweeter than to find yourself honoured when you enter +the City, and yet to be able to cultivate your own fields; to abstain +from fraudful gains, and yet see your barns overflowing with the fruit +of your own sweet toil?</p> + +<p>'But even as the seed and the soil must co-operate to produce the +harvest, so do we sow in you the seed of this dignity, trusting that +your own goodness of heart will give the increase.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi12">12.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula for the Bestowal of a Countship of the First Order, +without Office</span>.</h3> + +<p>[A similar honour to that which is conferred on an English statesman +who, without receiving any place in the Ministry, is 'sworn of the +Privy Council.']<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">Comitiva Primi Ordinis.</div> + +<p>'It is a delightful thing to enjoy the pleasures of high rank without +having to undergo the toils and annoyances of office, which often make +a man loathe the very dignity which he eagerly desired.</p> + +<p>'The rank of <i>Comes</i> is one which is reached by Governors (Rectores) +of Provinces after a year's tenure of office, and by the <b> +<a href="#err27">Counsellors +of the Praefect</a></b>, whose functions are so important that we look upon +them as almost Quaestors.</p> + +<p>'Their rank<a name="FNanchor_449_449" id="FNanchor_449_449"></a><a href="#Footnote_449_449" class="fnanchor">[449]</a> gives the holder of it, though only a <i>Spectabilis</i>, +admission to our Consistory, where he sits side by side with all the +Illustres.</p> + +<p>'We bestow it upon you, and name you a <i>Comes Primi Ordinis</i>, thereby +indicating that you are to take your place at the head of all the +other Spectabiles and next after the Illustres. See that you imitate +the latter, and that you are not surpassed in excellence of character +by any of those below you.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi13">13.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula for Bestowing the [honorary] Rank of Master of the Bureau +[Magister Scrinii] and Count of the First Order, on an Officer of the +Courts (Comitiacus) in Active Service</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Honorary promotion for a Comitiacus.</div> + +<p>'Great toils and great perils are the portion of an officer of the +Courts in giving effect to their sentences. It is easy for the Judge +to say, "Let so and so be done;" but on the unhappy officer falls all +the difficulty and all the odium of doing it. He has to track out +offenders and hunt them to their very beds, to compel the contumacious +to obey the law, to make the proud learn their equality before it. If +he lingers over the business assigned to him, the plaintiff complains; +if he is energetic, the defendant calls out. The very honesty with +which he addresses himself to the work is sure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> to make him enemies, +enemies perhaps among powerful persons, who next year may be his +superiors in office, and thus subjects him to all sorts of accusations +which he may find it very hard to disprove. In short, if we may say it +without offence to the higher dignitaries, it is far easier to +discharge without censure the functions of a Judge than those of the +humble officer who gives effect to his decrees.</p> + +<p>'Wherefore, in reward for your long and faithful service, and in +accordance with ancient usage, we bestow on you the rank of a Count of +the First Order, and ordain that if anyone shall molest you on account +of your acts done in the discharge of your duties, he shall pay a fine +of so many [perhaps ten = £400] pounds of gold.'</p> + +<p>[This letter will be found well worth studying in the original, as +giving a picture of the kind of opposition met with by the men who +were charged with the execution of the orders of the Rectores +Provinciarum, and whose functions were themselves partly judicial, +varying between those of a Master in Chancery and those of a Sheriff's +officer. Throughout, the Civil Service is spoken of in military +language. The officer is called <i>miles</i>, and his duty is <i>excubiae</i>.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi14">14.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula Bestowing Rank as a Senator</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Senatorial rank.</div> + +<p>'We desire that our Senate should grow and flourish abundantly. As a +parent sees the increase of his family, as a husbandman the growth of +his trees with joy, so we the growth of the Senate. We therefore +desire that Graius should be included in that virtuous and +praiseworthy assembly<a name="FNanchor_450_450" id="FNanchor_450_450"></a><a href="#Footnote_450_450" class="fnanchor">[450]</a>. This is a new kind of graft<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span>ing, in which +the less noble shoot is grafted on to the nobler stock. As a candle +shines at night, but pales in the full sunlight, so does everyone, +however illustrious by birth or character, who is introduced into your +majestic body. Open your Curia, receive our candidate. He is already +predestined to the Senate upon whom we have conferred the dignity of +the Laticlave.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi15">15.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Vicarius of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Vicariate of the City of Rome.</div> + +<p>'Though nominally only the agent of another [the Praefectus Urbi] you +have powers and privileges of your own which almost entitle you to +rank with the Praefects. Suitors plead before you in causes otherwise +heard only before Praefects<a name="FNanchor_451_451" id="FNanchor_451_451"></a><a href="#Footnote_451_451" class="fnanchor">[451]</a>; you pronounce sentence in the name +of the King<a name="FNanchor_452_452" id="FNanchor_452_452"></a><a href="#Footnote_452_452" class="fnanchor">[452]</a> [not of the Praefect]; and you have jurisdiction even +in capital cases. You wear the chlamys, and are not to be saluted by +passers-by except when thus arrayed, as if the law wished you to be +always seen in military garb. [The chlamys was therefore at this time +a strictly military dress.] In all these things the glory of the +Praefecture seems to be exalted in you, as if one should say, "How +great must the Praefect be, if his Vicar is thus honoured!" Like the +highest dignitaries you ride in a state carriage<a name="FNanchor_453_453" id="FNanchor_453_453"></a><a href="#Footnote_453_453" class="fnanchor">[453]</a>. You have +jurisdiction everywhere within the fortieth milestone from the City. +You preside over the games at Praeneste, sitting in the Consul's seat. +You enter the Senate-house itself, that palace of liberty<a name="FNanchor_454_454" id="FNanchor_454_454"></a><a href="#Footnote_454_454" class="fnanchor">[454]</a>. Even +Senators and Consulars have to make their request to you, and may be +injured by you.</p> + +<p>'Take therefore this dignity, and wield it with moderation and +courage.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="vi16">16.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Notaries</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Notaries.</div> + +<p>'It is most important that the secrets of the Sovereign, which many +men so eagerly desire to discover, should be committed to persons of +tried fidelity. A good secretary should be like a well-arranged +<i>escritoire</i>, full of information when you want it, but absolutely +silent at other times. Nay, he must even be able to dissimulate his +knowledge, for keen questioners can often read in the face what the +lips utter not. [Cf. the description of the Quaestor Decoratus in <a href="#v3">v. +3</a>.]</p> + +<p>'Our enquiries, keen-scented as they are for all men of good life and +conversation, have brought your excellent character before us. We +therefore ordain that you shall henceforth be a Notary. In due course +of service you will attain the rank of Primicerius, which will entitle +you to enter the Senate, "the Curia of liberty." Moreover, should you +then arrive at the dignity of Illustris or at the [Comitiva] Vacans, +you will be preferred to all who are in the same rank but who have not +acquired it by active service<a name="FNanchor_455_455" id="FNanchor_455_455"></a><a href="#Footnote_455_455" class="fnanchor">[455]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Enter then upon this duty, cheered by the prospect of one day +attaining to the highest honours.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi17">17.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Referendarii</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Referendarii.</div> + +<p>[We have no word corresponding to this title. Registrar, Referee, +Solicitor, each expresses only part of the duties of the +Referendarius, whose business it was, <i>on behalf of the Court</i>, to +draw up a statement of the conflicting claims of the litigants before +it. See the interesting letters (<a href="#v40">v. 40</a> and <a href="#v41">41</a>) describing the useful +services rendered in this capacity by Cyprian in the King's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> Court of +Appeal. His duties seem to have been very similar to those which in +the Court of the Praetorian Praefect were discharged by the officer +called <i>Ab Actis</i> (See p. <a href="#Page_107">107</a>).]</p> + +<p>'Great is the privilege of being admitted to such close converse with +the King as you will possess, but great also are the responsibilities +and the anxieties of the Referendarius. In the midst of the hubbub of +the Court he has to make out the case of the litigant, and to clothe +it in language suitable for our ears. If he softens it down ever so +little in his repetition of it, the claimant declares that he has been +bribed, that he is hostile to his suit. A man who is pleading his own +cause may soften down a word or two here and there, if he see that the +Court is against him; but the Referendarius dares not alter anything. +Then upon him rests the responsibility of drawing up our decree, +adding nothing, omitting nothing. Hard task to speak <i>our</i> words in +our own presence.</p> + +<p>'Take then the office of Referendarius, and show by your exercise of +it to what learning men may attain by sharing our conversation. Under +us it is impossible for an officer of the Court to be unskilled in +speech. Like a whetstone we sharpen the intellects of our courtiers, +and polish them by practice at our bar<a name="FNanchor_456_456" id="FNanchor_456_456"></a><a href="#Footnote_456_456" class="fnanchor">[456]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi18">18.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Praefectus Annonae, and his Excellency</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Praefectus Annonae.</div> + +<p>'If the benefit of the largest number of citizens is a test of the +dignity of an office yours is certainly a glorious one. You have to +prepare the Annona of the sacred City, and to feed the whole people as +at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> one board. You run up and down through the shops of the bakers, +looking after the weight and fineness of the bread, and not thinking +any office mean by which you may win the affections of the citizens.</p> + +<p>'You mount the chariot of the Praefect of the City, and are displayed +in closest companionship with him at the games. Should a sudden tumult +arise by reason of a scarcity of loaves, you have to still it by +promising a liberal distribution. It was from his conduct in this +office that Pompey attained the highest dignities and earned the +surname of the Great.</p> + +<p>'The pork-butchers also (Suarii) are subject to your control.</p> + +<p>'It is true that the corn is actually provided by the Praetorian +Praefect, but you see that it is worked up into elegant bread<a name="FNanchor_457_457" id="FNanchor_457_457"></a><a href="#Footnote_457_457" class="fnanchor">[457]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Even so Ceres discovered corn, but Pan taught men how to bake it into +bread; whence its name (<i>Panis</i>, from Pan).</p> + +<p>'Take then this office: discharge it faithfully, and weigh, more +accurately than gold, the bread by which the Quirites live.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi19">19.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Count of the Chief Physicians</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Comes Archiatrorum.</div> + +<p>'The doctor helps us when all other helpers seem to fail. By his art +he finds out things about a man of which he himself is ignorant; and +his prognosis of a case, though founded on reason, seems to the +ignorant like prophecy.</p> + +<p>'It is disgraceful that there should be a president of the lascivious +pleasures of the people (Tribunus Voluptatum) and none of this healing +art. Excellent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> too may your office be in enabling you to control the +squabbles of the doctors. They ought not to quarrel. At the beginning +of their exercise of their art they take a sort of priestly oath to +hate wickedness and to love purity. Take then this rank of Comes +Archiatrorum, and have the distinguished honour of presiding over so +many skilled practitioners and of moderating their disputes.</p> + +<p>'Leave it to clumsy men to ask their patients "if they have had good +sleep; if the pain has left them." Do you rather incline the patient +to ask you about his own malady, showing him that you know more about +it than he does. The patient's pulse, the patient's water, tell to a +skilled physician the whole story of his disease.</p> + +<p>'Enter our palace unbidden; command us, whom all other men obey; weary +us if you will with fasting, and make us do the very opposite of that +which we desire, since all this is your prerogative.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi20">20.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Office of a Consular, and its Excellency</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Consularis.</div> + +<p>'You bear among your trappings the axes and the rods of the Consul, as +a symbol of the nature of the jurisdiction which you exercise in the +Provinces.</p> + +<p>'In some Provinces you even wear the <i>paenula</i> (military cloak) and +ride in the <i>carpentum</i> (official chariot), as a proof of your +dignity.</p> + +<p>'You must not think that because your office is allied to that of +Consul any lavish expenditure by way of largesse is necessary. By no +means; but it is necessary that you should abstain from all unjust +gains. Nothing is worse than a mixture of rapacity and prodigality.</p> + +<p>'Respect the property of the Provincials, and your tenure of office +will be without blame.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Receive therefore, for this Indiction, the office of Consular in such +and such a Province, and let your moderation appear to all the +inhabitants.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi21">21.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Governor (Rector) of a Province</span>.</h3> + +<p>[The distinction between the powers of a Rector and those of a +Consularis seems to have been very slight, if it existed at all; but +the dignity of the latter office was probably somewhat the greater.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Rector Provinciae.</div> + +<p>'It is important to repress crime on the spot. If all criminal causes +had to wait till they could be tried in the capital, robbers would +grow so bold as to be intolerable. Hence the advantage of Provincial +Governors. Receive then for this Indiction the office of Rector of +such and such a Province. Look at the broad stripe (laticlave) on your +purple robe, and remember the dignity which is betokened by that +bright garment, which poets say was first woven by Venus for her son +Priapus, that the son's beautiful robe might attest the mother's +loveliness.</p> + +<p>'You have to collect the public revenues, and to report to the +Sovereign all important events in your Province. You may judge even +Senators and the officers of Praefects. Your name comes before that of +even dignified Provincials, and you are called Brother by the +Sovereign. See that your character corresponds to this high vocation. +Your subjects will not fear you if they see that your own actions are +immoral. There can be no worse slavery than to sit on the +judgment-seat, knowing that the men who appear before you are +possessors of some disgraceful secret by which they can blast your +reputation.</p> + +<p>'Refrain from unholy gains, and we will reward you all the more +liberally.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="vi22">22.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Count of the City of Syracuse</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Comitiva Syracusana.</div> + +<p>'We must provide such Governors for our distant possessions that +appeals from them shall not be frequent. Many men would rather lose a +just cause than have the expense of coming all the way from Sicily to +defend it; and as for complaints against a Governor, we should be +strongly inclined to think that a complaint presented by such distant +petitioners must be true.</p> + +<p>'Act therefore with all the more caution in the office which we bestow +upon you for this Indiction. You have all the pleasant pomp of an +official retinue provided for you at our expense. Do not let your +soldiers be insolent to the cultivators of the soil (possessores). Let +them receive their rations and be satisfied with them, nor mix in +matters outside their proper functions. Be satisfied with the dignity +which your predecessors held. It ought not to be lowered; but do not +seek to exalt it.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi23">23.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Count of Naples</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Comitiva Neapolitana.</div> + +<p>'As the sun sends forth his rays so we send out our servants to the +various cities of our dominions, to adorn them with the splendour of +their retinue, and to facilitate the untying of the knots of the law +by the multitude of jurisconsults who follow in their train. Thus we +sow a liberal crop of official salaries, and reap our harvest in the +tranquillity of our subjects. For this Indiction we send you as Count +to weigh the causes of the people of Naples. It is a populous city, +and one abounding in delights by sea and land. You may lead there a +most delicious life, if your cup be not mixed with bitterness by the +criticisms of the citizens on your judgments. You will sit on a +jewelled tri<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span>bunal, and the Praetorium will be filled with your +officers; but you will also be surrounded by a multitude of fastidious +spectators, who assuredly, in their conversation, will judge the +Judge. See then that you walk warily. Your power extends for a certain +distance along the coast, and both the buyer and seller have to pay +you tribute. We give you the chance of earning the applause of a vast +audience: do you so act that your Sovereign may take pleasure in +multiplying his gifts.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vi24">24.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula addressed to the Gentlemen-Farmers (or the Titled +Cultivators) and Common Councilmen<a name="FNanchor_458_458" id="FNanchor_458_458"></a><a href="#Footnote_458_458" class="fnanchor">[458]</a> of the City of Naples [and +surrounding District]</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Honorati Possessores et Curiales Civitatis Neapolitanae.</div> + +<p>'You pay us tribute, but we have conferred honours upon you. We are +now sending you a Comes [the one appointed in the previous formula], +but he will be a terror only to the evil-disposed. Do you live +according to reason, since you are reasonable beings, and then the +laws may take holiday. Your quietness is our highest joy<a name="FNanchor_459_459" id="FNanchor_459_459"></a><a href="#Footnote_459_459" class="fnanchor">[459]</a>.'</p> + + +<p style="text-align: center"><b><a name="vi25">25</a></b> is entitled, '<b><span class="smcap">Formula de Comitiva Principis Militum</span></b>;' but this is +evidently an inaccurate, or at least an insufficient title.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Doubtful.</div> + +<p>The letter, though very short, is obscure.</p> + +<p>It starts with the maxim that every staff of officials ought to have +its own Judge<a name="FNanchor_460_460" id="FNanchor_460_460"></a><a href="#Footnote_460_460" class="fnanchor">[460]</a>, and then, apparently,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> proceeds to make an +exception to this rule by making the persons addressed—the civil or +military functionaries of Naples—subject to the Comes Neapolitanus +who was appointed by the Twenty-third Formula. No reason is given for +this exception, except an unintelligible one about preserving the +yearly succession of Judges<a name="FNanchor_461_461" id="FNanchor_461_461"></a><a href="#Footnote_461_461" class="fnanchor">[461]</a>; but the persons are assured that +their salaries shall be safe<a name="FNanchor_462_462" id="FNanchor_462_462"></a><a href="#Footnote_462_462" class="fnanchor">[462]</a>.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_VII" id="BOOK_VII"></a>BOOK VII.</h2> + +<h3>CONTAINING FORTY-SEVEN FORMULAE.</h3> + + +<h3><a name="vii1">1.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Count of a Province</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Comitiva Provinciae.</div> + +<p>'<span class="smcap">Your</span> dignity, unlike that of most civil officers, is guarded by the +sword of war. See however that this terrible weapon is only drawn on +occasions of absolute necessity, and only wielded for the punishment +of evil-doers. Anyone who is determining a case of life and death +should decide slowly, since any other sentence is capable of +correction, but the dead man cannot be recalled to life. Let the +ensigns of your power be terrible to drivers-away of cattle, to +thieves and robbers; but let innocence rejoice when she sees the +tokens of approaching succour. Let no one pervert your will by bribes: +the sword of justice is sheathed when gold is taken. Receive then for +this Indiction the dignity of Count in such and such a Province. So +use your power that you may be able to defend your actions when +reduced to a private station, though indeed, if you serve us well in +this office, we are minded to promote you to yet higher dignities.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii2">2.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of a Praeses</span>.</h3> + +<p>[The Praeses had practically the same powers as the Consularis (<a href="#v20">v. 20</a>) +and the Rector (<a href="#v21">v. 21</a>), but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> occupied a less dignified position, being +only a 'Perfectissimus,' not a 'Clarissimus<a name="FNanchor_463_463" id="FNanchor_463_463"></a><a href="#Footnote_463_463" class="fnanchor">[463]</a>.']</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Praesidatus.</div> + +<p>'It has been wisely ordered by the Ancients that a Provincial +Governor's term of office should be only annual. Thus men are +prevented from growing arrogant by long tenure of power, and we are +enabled to reward a larger number of aspirants. Get through one year +of office if you can without blame: even that is not an easy matter. +It rests then with us to prolong the term of a deserving ruler<a name="FNanchor_464_464" id="FNanchor_464_464"></a><a href="#Footnote_464_464" class="fnanchor">[464]</a>, +since we are not keen to remove those whom we feel to be governing +justly. Receive then for this Indiction the Praesidatus of such and +such a Province, and so act that the tiller of the soil (possessor) +may bring us thanks along with his tribute. Follow the good example of +your predecessors: carefully avoid the bad. Remember how full your +Province is of nobles, whose good report you may earn but cannot +compel. You will find it a delightful reward, when you travel through +the neighbouring Provinces, to hear your praises sounded there where +your power extends not. You know our will: it is all contained in the +laws of the State. Govern in accordance with these, and you shall not +go unrewarded.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii3">3.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Count of the Goths in the several Provinces</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Comitiva Gothorum per singulas Provincias.</div> + +<p>[Dahn remarks ('Könige der Germanen' iv. 157): 'We must go thoroughly +into the question of this office. The <i>Comes Gothorum</i> is the most +important, in fact almost the only new dignity in the Gothic State, +and the formula of his installation is the chief proof of the +coexistence of Roman and Gothic law in this kingdom.' I have therefore +translated this formula at full length.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span></p> + +<p>'As we know that, by God's help, Goths are dwelling intermingled among +you, in order to prevent the trouble (indisciplinatio) which is wont +to arise among partners (consortes) we have thought it right to send +to you as Count, A B, a sublime person, a man already proved to be of +high character, in order that he may terminate (amputare) any contests +arising between two Goths according to our edicts; but that, if any +matter should arise between a Goth and a born Roman, he may, after +associating with himself a Roman jurisconsult<a name="FNanchor_465_465" id="FNanchor_465_465"></a><a href="#Footnote_465_465" class="fnanchor">[465]</a>, decide the strife +by fair reason<a name="FNanchor_466_466" id="FNanchor_466_466"></a><a href="#Footnote_466_466" class="fnanchor">[466]</a>. As between two Romans, let the decision rest with +the Roman examiners (cognitores), whom we appoint in the various +Provinces; that thus each may keep his own laws, and with various +Judges one Justice may embrace the whole realm. Thus, sharing one +common peace, may both nations, if God favour us, enjoy the sweets of +tranquillity.</p> + +<p>'Know, however, that we view all [our subjects] with one impartial +love; but he may commend himself more abundantly to our favour who +subdues his own will into loving submission to the law<a name="FNanchor_467_467" id="FNanchor_467_467"></a><a href="#Footnote_467_467" class="fnanchor">[467]</a>. We like +nothing that is disorderly<a name="FNanchor_468_468" id="FNanchor_468_468"></a><a href="#Footnote_468_468" class="fnanchor">[468]</a>; we detest wicked arrogance and all +who have anything to do with it. Our principles lead us to execrate +violent men<a name="FNanchor_469_469" id="FNanchor_469_469"></a><a href="#Footnote_469_469" class="fnanchor">[469]</a>. In a dispute let laws decide, not the strong arm. +Why should men seek by choice violent remedies, when they know that +the Courts of Justice are open to them? It is for this cause that we +pay the Judges their salaries, for this that we maintain such large +official staffs with all their privileges, that we may not allow +anything to grow up among you which may tend towards hatred. Since you +see that one lordship (imperium)<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> is over you, let there be also one +desire in your hearts, to live in harmony.</p> + +<p>'Let both nations hear what we have at heart. You [oh Goths!] have the +Romans as neighbours to your lands: even so let them be joined to you +in affection. You too, oh Romans! ought dearly to love the Goths, who +in peace swell the numbers of your people and in war defend the whole +Republic<a name="FNanchor_470_470" id="FNanchor_470_470"></a><a href="#Footnote_470_470" class="fnanchor">[470]</a>. It is fitting therefore that you obey the Judge whom we +have appointed for you, that you may by all means accomplish all that +he may ordain for the preservation of the laws; and thus you will be +found to have promoted your own interests while obeying our command.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii4">4.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Duke of Raetia</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Ducatus Raetiarum.</div> + +<p>'Although promotion among the <i>Spectabiles</i> goes solely by seniority, +it is impossible to deny that those who are employed in the border +Provinces have a more arduous, and therefore in a sense more +honourable, office than those who command in the peaceful districts of +Italy. The former have to deal with war, the latter only with the +repression of crime. The former hear the trumpet's clang, the latter +the voice of the crier.</p> + +<p>'The Provinces of Raetia are the bars and bolts of Italy. Wild and +cruel nations ramp outside of them, and they, like nets, whence their +name<a name="FNanchor_471_471" id="FNanchor_471_471"></a><a href="#Footnote_471_471" class="fnanchor">[471]</a>, catch the Barbarian in their toils and hold him there till +the hurled arrow can chastise his mad presumption.</p> + +<p>'Receive then for this Indiction the <i>Ducatus Raetiarum</i>. Let your +soldiers live on friendly terms with the Provincials, avoiding all +lawless presumption; and at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> the same time let them be constantly on +their guard against the Barbarians outside. Even bloodshed is often +prevented by seasonable vigilance.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii5">5.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Palace Architect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Cura Palatii.</div> + +<p>'Much do we delight in seeing the greatness of our Kingdom imaged +forth in the splendour of our palace.</p> + +<p>'Thus do the ambassadors of foreign nations admire our power, for at +first sight one naturally believes that as is the house so is the +inhabitant.</p> + +<p>'The Cyclopes invented the art of working in metal, which then passed +over from Sicily to Italy.</p> + +<p>'Take then for this Indiction the care of our palace, thus receiving +the power of transmitting your fame to a remote posterity which shall +admire your workmanship. See that your new work harmonises well with +the old. Study Euclid—get his diagrams well into your mind; study +Archimedes and Metrobius.</p> + +<p>'When we are thinking of rebuilding a city, or of founding a fort or a +general's quarters, we shall rely upon you to express our thoughts on +paper [in an architect's design]. The builder of walls, the carver of +marbles, the caster of brass, the vaulter of arches<a name="FNanchor_472_472" id="FNanchor_472_472"></a><a href="#Footnote_472_472" class="fnanchor">[472]</a>, the +plasterer, the worker in mosaic, all come to you for orders, and you +are expected to have a wise answer for each. But, then, if you direct +them rightly, while theirs is the work yours is all the glory.</p> + +<p>'Above all things, dispense honestly what we give you for the +workmen's wages; for the labourer who is at ease about his victuals +works all the better.</p> + +<p>'As a mark of your high dignity you bear a golden wand, and amidst the +numerous throng of servants walk first before the royal footsteps +[i.e. last in the procession<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> and immediately before the King], that +even by your nearness to our person it may be seen that you are the +man to whom we have entrusted the care of our palaces.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii6">6.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Count of the Aqueducts</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Comitiva Formarum Urbis.</div> + +<p>'Though all the buildings of Rome are wonderful, and one can scarce +for this reason say which are the chief among them, we think a +distinction may be drawn between those which are reared only for the +sake of ornament and those which also serve a useful purpose. Thus, +however often one sees the Forum of Trajan, it always seems a +wonder<a name="FNanchor_473_473" id="FNanchor_473_473"></a><a href="#Footnote_473_473" class="fnanchor">[473]</a>. To stand on the lofty Capitol is to see all other works +of the human intellect surpassed. And yet neither of these great works +touches human life, nor ministers to health or enjoyment. But in the +Aqueducts of Rome we note both the marvel of their construction and +the rare wholesomeness of their waters. When you look at those rivers, +led as it were over piled up mountains, you would think that their +solid stony beds were natural channels, through so many ages have they +borne the rush of such mighty waters. And yet even mountains are +frequently undermined, and let out the torrents which have excavated +them; while these artificial channels, the work of the ancients, never +perish, if reasonable care be taken of their preservation.</p> + +<p>'Let us consider how much that wealth of waters adds to the adornment +of the City of Rome. Where would be the beauty of our <i>Thermae</i>, if +those softest waters were not supplied to them?</p> + +<p>'Purest and most delightful of all streams glides along the <i>Aqua +Virgo</i>, so named because no defilement ever stains it. For while all +the others, after heavy rain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> show some contaminating mixture of +earth, this alone by its ever pure stream would cheat us into +believing that the sky was always blue above us. Ah! how express these +things in words worthy of them? The <i>Aqua Claudia</i> is led along on the +top of such a lofty pile that, when it reaches Mount Aventine, it +falls from above upon that lofty summit as if it were watering some +lowly valley. It is true that the Egyptian Nile, rising at certain +seasons, brings its flood of waters over the land under a cloudless +sky; but how much fairer a sight is it to see the Roman Claudia +flowing with a never-failing stream over all those thirsty mountain +tops, and bringing purest water through a multitude of pipes to so +many baths and houses. When Nile retreats he leaves mud behind him; +when he comes unexpectedly he brings a deluge. Shall we not then +boldly say that our Aqueducts surpass the famous Nile, which is so +often a terror to the dwellers on his banks either by what he brings +or by what he leaves behind him? It is in no spirit of pride that we +enumerate these particulars, but in order that you may consider how +great diligence should be shown by you to whom such splendid works are +entrusted.</p> + +<p>'Wherefore, after careful consideration, we entrust you for this +Indiction with the <i>Comitiva Formarum</i>, that you may zealously strive +to accomplish what the maintenance of such noble structures requires. +Especially as to the hurtful trees which are the ruin of buildings, +[inserting their roots between the stones and] demolishing them with +the destructiveness of a battering-ram: we wish them to be pulled up +by the roots, since it is no use dealing with an evil of this kind +except in its origin. If any part is falling into decay through age, +let it be repaired at once: the first expense is the least. The +strengthening of the Aqueducts will constitute your best claim on our +favour, and will be the surest means of establishing your own +fortune.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> Act with skill and honesty, and let there be no corrupt +practices in reference to the distribution of the water.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii7">7.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Praefect of the Watch of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Praefectus Vigilum Urbis Romae.</div> + +<p>'Your office, exercised as it is in the City itself, and under the +eyes of Patricians and Consuls, is sure to bring you renown if you +discharge its duties with diligence. You have full power to catch +thieves, though the law reserves the right of punishing them for +another official, apparently because it would remember that even these +detestable plunderers are yet Roman citizens. Take then for this +Indiction the <i>Praefectura Vigilum</i>. You will be the safety of +sleepers, the bulwark of houses, the defence of bolts and bars, an +unseen scrutineer, a silent judge, one whose right it is to entrap the +plotters and whose glory to deceive them. Your occupation is a nightly +hunting, most feared when it is not seen. You rob the robbers, and +strive to circumvent the men who make a mock at all other citizens. It +is only by a sort of sleight of hand that you can throw your nets +around robbers; for it is easier to guess the riddles of the Sphinx +than to detect the whereabouts of a flying thief. He looks round him +on all sides, ready to start off at the sound of an advancing +footstep, trembling at the thought of a possible ambush. How can one +catch him who, like the wind, tarries never in one place? Go forth, +then, under the starry skies; watch diligently with all the birds of +night, and as they seek their food in the darkness so do you therein +hunt for fame.</p> + +<p>'Let there be no corruption, no deeds of darkness which the day need +blush for. Do this, and you will have our support in upholding the +rightful privileges of yourself and your staff.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="vii8">8.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Praefect of the Watch of the City of Ravenna</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Praefectus Vigilum Urbis Ravennatis.</div> + +<p>Contains the same topics as the <a href="#vii7">preceding formula</a>, rather less +forcibly urged, and with no special reference to the City of Ravenna.</p> + +<p>An exhortation at the end not to be too hasty, nor to shed blood +needlessly, even when dealing with thieves.</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii9">9.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Count of Portus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Comitiva Portus Urbis Romae.</div> + +<p>'It is a service of pleasure rather than of toil to hold the dignity +of Comes in the harbour of the City of Rome, to look forth upon the +wide sail-traversed main, to see the commerce of all the Provinces +tending towards Rome, and to welcome travellers arriving with the joy +of ended peril. Excellent thought of the men of old to provide two +channels by which strangers might enter the Tiber, and to adorn them +with those two stately cities [Portus and Ostia], which shine like +lights upon the watery way!</p> + +<p>'Do you therefore, by your fair administration, make it easy for +strangers to enter. Do not grasp at more than the lawful dues; for the +greedy hand closes a harbour, and extortion is as much dreaded by +mariners as adverse winds. Receive then for this Indiction the +<i>Comitiva Portus</i>; enjoy the pleasures of the office, and lay it down +with increased reputation.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii10">10.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Tribunus Voluptatum</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Tribunus Voluptatum.</div> + +<p>[Minister of public amusements, the Roman equivalent to our 'Lord +Chamberlain' in that part of his office which relates to the control +of theatres.]</p> + +<p>'Though the wandering life of the stage-player seems<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> as if it might +run to any excess of licence, Antiquity has wisely provided that even +it should be under some sort of discipline. Thus respectability +governs those who are not respectable, and people who are themselves +ignorant of the path of virtue are nevertheless obliged to live under +some sort of rule. Your place, in fact, is like that of a guardian; as +he looks after the tender years of his ward, so you bridle the +passionate pleasures of your theatrical subjects.</p> + +<p>'Therefore, for this Indiction, we appoint you Tribune of [the +people's] Pleasures. See that order is observed at the public +spectacles: they are not really popular without this. Keep your own +high character for purity in dealing with these men and women of +damaged reputation, that men may say, "Even in promoting the pleasures +of the people he showed his virtuous disposition."</p> + +<p>'It is our hope that through this frivolous employment you may pass to +more serious dignities.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii11">11.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Defensor of any City</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Defensor cujuslibet Civitatis.</div> + +<p>[Observe that the Defensor has power to fix prices, in addition to his +original function of protecting the commonalty from oppression.]</p> + +<p>'The number of his clients makes it necessary for the representative +of a whole city to be especially wary in his conduct.</p> + +<p>'At the request of your fellow-citizens we appoint you, for this +Indiction, Defensor of such and such a city. Take care that there be +nothing venal in your conduct. Fix the prices for the citizens +according to the goodness or badness of the seasons, and remember to +pay yourself what you have prescribed to others. A good Defensor +allows his citizens neither to be oppressed by the laws nor harassed +by the dearness of provisions.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="vii12">12.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Curator of a City</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Curator Civitatis.</div> + +<p>[The Defensor and Curator had evidently almost equivalent powers, but +with some slight difference of dignity. They cannot both have existed +in the same city. It would be interesting to know what decided the +question whether a city should have a Defensor or a Curator.]</p> + +<p>This formula differs very little from the <a href="#vii11">preceding</a>, except that the +new officer is told 'wisely to govern the ranks of the Curia.' Stress +is again laid on the regulation of prices: 'Cause moderate prices to +be adhered to by those whom it concerns. Let not merchandise be in the +sole power of the sellers, but let an agreeable equability be observed +in all things. This is the most enriching kind of popularity, which is +derived from maintaining moderation in prices<a name="FNanchor_474_474" id="FNanchor_474_474"></a><a href="#Footnote_474_474" class="fnanchor">[474]</a>. You shall have the +same salary (consuetudines) which your predecessors had in the same +place.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii13">13.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Count of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Comitiva Romana.</div> + +<p>'If even bolts and bars cannot secure a house from robbery, much more +do the precious things left in the streets and open spaces of Rome +require protection. I refer to that most abundant population of +statues, to that mighty herd of horses [in stone and metal] which +adorn our City. It is true that if there were any reverence in human +nature, it, and not the watchman, ought to be the sufficient guardian +of the beauty of Rome<a name="FNanchor_475_475" id="FNanchor_475_475"></a><a href="#Footnote_475_475" class="fnanchor">[475]</a>. But what shall we say of the marbles, +precious both by material and workmanship, which many a hand longs, if +it has opportunity, to pick out of their settings? Who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> when entrusted +with such a charge can be negligent? who venal? We entrust to you +therefore for this Indiction the dignity of the Comitiva Romana, with +all its rights and just emoluments. Watch for all such evil-doers as +we have described. Rightly does the public grief<a name="FNanchor_476_476" id="FNanchor_476_476"></a><a href="#Footnote_476_476" class="fnanchor">[476]</a> punish those who +mar the beauty of the ancients with amputation of limbs, inflicting on +them that which they have made our monuments to suffer. Do you and +your staff and the soldiers at your disposal watch especially by +night; in the day the City guards itself. At night the theft looks +tempting; but the rascal who tries it is easily caught if the guardian +approaches him unperceived. Nor are the statues absolutely dumb; the +ringing sound which they give forth under the blows of the thief seems +to admonish their drowsy guardian. Let us see you then diligent in +this business, that whereas we now bestow upon you a toilsome dignity, +we may hereafter confer an honour without care.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii14">14.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Count of Ravenna</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Comitiva Ravennatis.</div> + +<p>'High is your honour, to be the means of taking away all slowness from +the execution of our orders. Who knows not what a quantity of ships +you can muster at the least hint from us! Scarcely is the ink dry on +the <i>evectio</i> [permission to use the public post] prepared by some +palace dignitary, when already with the utmost speed it is by you +being carried into effect. Do not exact too much service from +merchants<a name="FNanchor_477_477" id="FNanchor_477_477"></a><a href="#Footnote_477_477" class="fnanchor">[477]</a>, nor yet from corrupt motives let them off too easily. +Be very careful in your judicial capacity, and especially when trying +the causes of the poor, to whom a small error in your judgment may be +far more disastrous than to the rich.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="vii15">15.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula addressed to the Praefect of the City on the Appointment +of an Architect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Architectus Publicorum.</div> + +<p>'It is desirable that the necessary repairs to this forest of walls +and population of statues which make up Rome should be in the hands of +a learned man who will make the new work harmonise with the old. +Therefore for this Indiction we desire your Greatness to appoint A B +Architect of the City of Rome. Let him read the books of the ancients; +but he will find more in this City than in his books. Statues of men, +showing the muscles swelling with effort, the nerves in tension, the +whole man looking as if he had grown rather than been cast in metal. +Statues of horses, full of fire, with the curved nostril, with rounded +tightly-knit limbs, with ears laid back—you would think the creature +longed for the race, though you know that the metal moves not. This +art of statuary the Etruscans are said to have practised first in +Italy; posterity has embraced it, and given to the City an artificial +population almost equal to its natural one. The ancients speak of the +wonders of the world [here enumerated and described], but this one of +the City of Rome surpasses them all. It had need to be a learned man +who is charged with the care of upholding all these works; else, in +his despair, he will deem himself the man of stone, and the statues +about him the truly living men.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii16">16.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Count of the Islands of Curritana and Celsina</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Comitiva Insulae Curritanae et Celsinae.</div> + +<p>[Celsina, from the place in which it is mentioned in the 'Itinerary' +of Antonine (516), was probably one of the Lipari Islands. Curritana +must have been near it but is not further identified.]</p> + +<p>'The presence of a ruler is necessary; and it is not desirable that +men should live without discipline, accord<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span>ing to their own wills. We +therefore appoint you Judge of these two islands. For it is right that +someone should go to the habitations of these men, who are shut out +from converse with the rest of their kind, and settle their +differences by fair reason.</p> + +<p>'Oh ye inhabitants of these islands, ye now know whom our Piety has +set over you, and we shall expect you to obey him.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii17">17.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula concerning the President of the Lime-kilns</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Praepositus Calcis.</div> + +<p>'It is a glorious labour to serve the City of Rome. It cannot be +doubted that lime (coctilis calx), which is snow-white and lighter +than sponge, is useful for the mightiest buildings. In proportion as +it is itself disintegrated by the application of fire does it lend +strength to walls; a dissolvable rock, a stony softness, a sandy +pebble, which burns the best when it is most abundantly watered, +without which neither stones are fixed nor the minute particles of +sand hardened.</p> + +<p>'Therefore we set you, well known for your industry, over the burning +and distribution of lime, that there may be plenty of it both for +public and private works, and that thereby people may be put in good +heart for building. Do this well, and you shall be promoted to greater +things.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii18">18.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula concerning Armourers</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Armorum Factores.</div> + +<p>'Good arms are of the utmost importance to a community. By means of +them man, the frailest of creatures, is made stronger than monstrous +beasts. Phoroneus is said to have first invented them, and brought +them to Juno to consecrate them by her divinity.</p> + +<p>'For this Indiction we set you over the soldiers and workmen in our +armouries. Do not presume in our absence to pass bad workmanship. We +shall find out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> by diligent search all that you do, and in such a +matter as this consider no mistake venial.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii19">19.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula addressed to the Praetorian Praefect concerning the +Armourers</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Ad Praefectum Praetorio de Armorum Factoribus.</div> + +<p>Announces to the Praefects the appointment conferred in the preceding +letter, and repeats that to supply inferior arms to soldiers is an act +of treason. The workmen are to receive their just <i>consuetudines</i> +[wages].</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii20">20</a> and <a name="vii21">21.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula as to the Collection of Bina and Terna</span>:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +(1) <i>If collected by the Judge himself;</i><br /> +(2) <i>If collected by his Officium.</i><br /> +</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Binorum et Ternorum: (xx.) si per Judicem <a href="#err28">aguntur</a>; (xxi.) +si per Officium <a href="#err28">aguntur</a>.</div> + +<p>These <i>Bina</i> and <i>Terna</i>, as stated in the note to <a href="#iii8">iii. 8</a>, are a +mystery. All that can be positively stated about them is that they +were a kind of land-tax, collected from the cultivators (possessores), +and that they had to be brought into the Treasury by the first of +March in each year. Under the first formula the Judex himself, under +the second two <i>Scriniarii</i> superintend the collection, reporting to +the Count of Sacred Largesses. As in the previous letter (<a href="#iii8">iii. 8</a>), the +Judex is reminded that if there is any deficiency he will have to make +it good himself. Cf. Manso, 'Geschichte des Ostgothischen Reiches' +388; and Sartorius, 'Regierung der Ostgothen' 207 and 347.</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii22">22.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of Exhortation addressed to the two Scriniarii referred to +in Formula 21</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Commonitorium illi et illi Scriniariis.</div> + +<p>'Your day of promotion is come. Proceed to such and such a Province, +in order that you may assist the Judex and his staff in collecting the +<i>Bina</i> and <i>Terna</i>, before the first of March, and may forward them +without delay<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> to the Count of Sacred Largesses. Let there be no +extortion from the cultivator, no dishonest surrender of our rights.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii23">23.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Vicarius of Portus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Vicarius Portus.</div> + +<p>'Great prudence is necessary in your office, since discords easily +arise between two nationalities. Therefore you must use skill to +soothe those [the Greek merchants and sailors from the Levant] whose +characters are unstable as the winds, and who, unless you bring their +minds into a state of calm, will, with their natural quickness of +temper, fly out into the extremity of insolence.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii24">24.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Princeps of Dalmatia</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Princeps Dalmatiarum.</div> + +<p>[The Princeps, as observed on <a href="#Page_96">p. 96</a>, seems to have practically +disappeared from the Officium of the Praefectus Praetorio. Here, +however, we find a Provincial Princeps whose rank and functions are +not a little perplexing. It seems probable that, while still nominally +only the chief of a staff of subordinates, he may, owing to the +character of the superior under whom he served, have practically +assumed more important functions. That superior in this case was a +Comes, whose military character is indicated by the first letter of +this book. The Princeps was therefore virtually the Civil Assessor of +this officer.</p> + +<p>The Comes under Theodoric would generally be a Goth; the Princeps must +be a Roman and a Jurisconsult. The business of the former was war and +administration; that of the latter, judgment, though his decisions +were apparently pronounced by the mouth of the Comes, his superior in +rank.]</p> + +<p>'Whosoever serves while bearing the title of Princeps has high +pre-eminence among his colleagues. To the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> Consul of the Provinces +power is given, but to you the Judge himself is entrusted. Without you +there is no access to the Secretarium, nor is the ceremony of +salutation<a name="FNanchor_478_478" id="FNanchor_478_478"></a><a href="#Footnote_478_478" class="fnanchor">[478]</a> [by subordinate officers] performed. You hold the +vine-rod<a name="FNanchor_479_479" id="FNanchor_479_479"></a><a href="#Footnote_479_479" class="fnanchor">[479]</a> which menaces the wicked; you have the right, withheld +from the Governor himself, of punishing the insolence of an orator +pleading in his Court. The records of the whole suit have to be signed +by you, and for this your consent is sought after the will of the +Judge has been explained.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii25">25.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula recommending the Principes<a name="FNanchor_480_480" id="FNanchor_480_480"></a><a href="#Footnote_480_480" class="fnanchor">[480]</a> to the Comes</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Ad Commendandos Comiti Principes.</div> + +<p>'It is our glory to see you [a Goth, one of our own nation] +accompanied by a Roman official staff. Acting through such Ministers, +your power seems to be hallowed by the sanction of Antiquity.</p> + +<p>'For to this point, by God's help, have we brought our Goths, that +they should be both well-trained in arms and attuned to justice. It is +this which the other races cannot accomplish; this that makes you +unique among the nations, namely, that you, who are accustomed to war, +are seen to live obedient to the laws side by side with the Romans. +Therefore from out of our <i>Officium</i>, we have decided to send A and B +to you, that according to ancient custom, while forwarding the +execution of your commands they may bring those commands into +conformity with the mind of past ages<a name="FNanchor_481_481" id="FNanchor_481_481"></a><a href="#Footnote_481_481" class="fnanchor">[481]</a>.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="vii26">26.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Countship of the Second Rank in divers Cities</span><a name="FNanchor_482_482" id="FNanchor_482_482"></a><a href="#Footnote_482_482" class="fnanchor">[482]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Comitiva diversarum civitatum.</div> + +<p>For the sentences, more than usually devoid of meaning, in which +Cassiodorus dilates on Free-will, Justice, and the mind of man, it may +be well to substitute Manso's description of this dignity (p. 379):</p> + +<p>'By the title of a Count of the Second Order the Judges in little +towns appear chiefly to have been rewarded and encouraged. Those named +for it, however, can hardly have received any great distinction or +especial privileges, for Cassiodorus not only enumerates no civic +advantages thus secured to them, but expressly says, "We intend to +bestow better things than this upon you, if you earn our approbation +in your present office." He does not use this language to those +adorned with the <i>Comitiva Primi Ordinis</i>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii27">27.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula addressed to the Dignified Cultivators and Curiales</span><a name="FNanchor_483_483" id="FNanchor_483_483"></a><a href="#Footnote_483_483" class="fnanchor">[483]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Honorati Possessores et Curiales.</div> + +<p>'As one must rule and the rest obey, we have for this Indiction +conferred the Countship of your City on A B, that he may hear your +causes and give effect to our orders.'</p> + +<p>[Apparently this letter and the <a href="#vii26">preceding</a> relate to the same +appointment. The words 'secundi ordinis' are not added to the title of +the new Count when his fellow-citizens are informed of it.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii28">28.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula announcing the Appointment of a Comes to the Chief of his +Staff</span><a name="FNanchor_484_484" id="FNanchor_484_484"></a><a href="#Footnote_484_484" class="fnanchor">[484]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Princeps Militum Comitivae.</div> + +<p>'Judge and Court Officer (Praesul and Miles) are terms which involve +one another. The officers of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span> Court have no right to exist, +without the Judge; he is powerless without them to execute his +commands. We therefore think it well to inform you of our appointment +of A B as Count over your body<a name="FNanchor_485_485" id="FNanchor_485_485"></a><a href="#Footnote_485_485" class="fnanchor">[485]</a>. It is no light benefit that so +long as you attend to your duty<a name="FNanchor_486_486" id="FNanchor_486_486"></a><a href="#Footnote_486_486" class="fnanchor">[486]</a> you are allowed to elect the +examiners.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii29">29.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula concerning the Guard at the Gates of a City</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">De Custodiendis Portis Civitatis.</div> + +<p>'We entrust to you an important office, the care of the gate of such +and such a city. Do not keep it always shut—that were to turn the +city into a prison; nor let it always lie open—then the walls are +useless. Use your own judgment, but remember that the gate of a city +is like the jaws of the human body, through which provisions enter to +nourish it.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii30">30.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Tribunate in the Provinces</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Tribunatus Provinciarum.</div> + +<p>'It is right that one who has served his time in civil employment +should receive his reward, and we therefore appoint as your Tribune +the man who has a right to the office by seniority. You are to obey +him, since officers of this kind partake of the nature of Judges +[governors], as they are called to account for any excesses committed +by you.'</p> + +<p>[Who this Tribune was—since the <i>Tribunus Voluptatum</i> is apparently +out of the question—and how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> his jurisdiction fitted in to that of +other officers, Manso (p. 362) deems it impossible to decide, nor can +I offer any suggestion.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii31">31.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Princeps of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Formula Principatus Urbis Romae.</div> + +<p>'As there must be the <i>Officium</i>, of a Count in Rome, and as we want +to have our chief Princeps<a name="FNanchor_487_487" id="FNanchor_487_487"></a><a href="#Footnote_487_487" class="fnanchor">[487]</a> near us [in Ravenna], we wish you to +take his place and wield power as his <i>Vicarius</i> in Rome.</p> + +<p>'If you think that any of the <i>Comitiaci</i> ought to be sent to attend +our Comitatus [at Ravenna], do so at your own discretion, retaining +those whom you think proper to retain at Rome. Let there be an +alternation, however, that one set of men be not worn out with +continuous labour, while the others are rusting in idleness.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii32">32.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of the Master of the Mint</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Formula qua Moneta Committitur.</div> + +<p>'Great is the crime of tampering with the coinage; a crime against the +many—whose buying and selling is disturbed by it; and a crime and a +sacrilege against us, whose image is impressed on the coins.</p> + +<p>'Let everything be pure and unalloyed which bears the impress of our +Serenity. Let the flame of gold be pale and unmixed, let the colour of +silver smile with its gracious whiteness, let the ruddy copper retain +its native glow.</p> + +<p>'Coins are to keep their full weight. They used to pass current by +weight, not by tale, whence the words for profit and expenditure<a name="FNanchor_488_488" id="FNanchor_488_488"></a><a href="#Footnote_488_488" class="fnanchor">[488]</a>. +<i>Pecunia</i> was named from cattle (pecus). You must see that our money +does not return to this low condition. King<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> Servius first used +stamped money. Take then the care of the mint; hold it for five years, +and be very careful how you administer it.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii33">33.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula respecting the Ambassadors of Various Nations</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Formula Legatorum Gentium Diversarum.</div> + +<p>'Since it is important that when ambassadors return to their country +they should feel that they have been well treated in ours, hand the +enclosed <i>douceur</i> (humanitas), and a certain quantity of fodder for +their horses, to the ambassadors of such and such a nation. Nothing +pleases those who have commenced their return journey better than +speeding them on their way.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii34">34.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of Summons to the King's Court (unsolicited)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Formula Evocatoria quam Princeps dirigit.</div> + +<p>'We summon you by these presents to our Comitatus, that you may have +an extraordinary pleasure. Be brisk therefore, and come on such a day +to such a city. Our Palace longs for the presence of good men, and God +puts it into our hearts to give them a cordial reception.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii35">35.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of Summons to the Court (solicited)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Formula Evocatoria quae petenti conceditur.</div> + +<p>'It is a sign of a good conscience to seek the presence of a just +ruler; it is only good deeds that crave the light of the sun. Come +then speedily. We consider our own glory augmented when we see noble +men flocking to our obedience.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii36">36.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula granting temporary Leave of Absence</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Formula Commeatalis ad tempus.</div> + +<p>'All men require change: even honey cloys after a time. We therefore +give you leave to visit such<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> a Province and remain there so many +months, with the understanding that when they are over you return to +the City. If it be tedious to live always in the City, how much more +to live long in the country! But we gladly give you this holiday, not +that Rome should be deserted, but that absence from her may commend +her to you all the more.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii37">37.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula conferring the Rank of a Spectabilis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Spectabilitas.</div> + +<p>'Wishing to bestow the right honours on the right man among our +subjects, we decorate you with the splendour of a <i>Spectabilis</i>, that +you may know that your opinion is duly respected<a name="FNanchor_489_489" id="FNanchor_489_489"></a><a href="#Footnote_489_489" class="fnanchor">[489]</a> at all public +meeting-places, when you take your honoured seat among the nobles.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii38">38.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula conferring the Rank of a Clarissimus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Clarissimatus.</div> + +<p>'The desire of praise is a good thing, and leads to the increase of +virtue. Receive the honour of the <i>Clarissimatus</i>, as a testimony to +the excellence of your past life and a pledge of your future +prosperity. Observe, you are not called <i>Clarus</i>, but <i>Clarissimus</i>. +Everything that is most excellent may be believed of him who is +saluted by such a splendid superlative.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii39">39.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula bestowing 'Police Protection.'</span></h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Tuitio Regii nominis.</div> + +<p>'Though it seems superfluous to grant special protection to any of our +subjects, since all are shielded by the laws, yet moved by your cry +for help we are willing to relieve you and to give you as a strong<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> +tower of defence the shelter of our name<a name="FNanchor_490_490" id="FNanchor_490_490"></a><a href="#Footnote_490_490" class="fnanchor">[490]</a>, into which you may +retire when wounded by the assaults of your enemies. This defence will +avail you alike against the hot-headed onslaughts [of the Goths] and +the ruinous chicanery [of the Romans]<a name="FNanchor_491_491" id="FNanchor_491_491"></a><a href="#Footnote_491_491" class="fnanchor">[491]</a>; but you must beware that +you, who have thus had to solicit the help of the law, do not yourself +set law at defiance by refusing to appear in answer to a summons.</p> + +<p>'That our royal protection be not a mere name, we appoint A and B to +protect you by their fidelity and diligence, the former against the +Goths, and the latter against the Romans<a name="FNanchor_492_492" id="FNanchor_492_492"></a><a href="#Footnote_492_492" class="fnanchor">[492]</a>. If any one hereafter +attempt any act of <i>incivilitas</i> against you, you will see your desire +upon your enemies.'</p> + +<p>[This important letter is commented upon at some length by Dahn +('Könige der Germanen' iii. 125-127). I am not sure that he is right +in stating that <i>Tuitio</i> against a Goth would <i>necessarily</i> be given +by means of a Sajo, though evidently this was often the rank of the +officer employed.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii40">40.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula for the Confirmation of Marriage and the Legitimation of +Offspring</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">De Matrimonio confirmando et liberis legitime +constituendis.</div> + +<p>'An eternal benefit is that which is bestowed on a man's offspring; +and hard is the lot of him who, born with a stain on his name, finds +his troubles prepared as soon as he comes forth to the light of day.</p> + +<p>'You pray that the woman whom you have loved but not married may +receive the honour of wedlock, and that your children by her may +attain the name of heirs. We grant your request, and ordain that your +mistress<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> shall be your lawful wife, and the children whom you love +and whom Nature has given you, your successors.'</p> + +<p>[Some of the maxims of this letter can hardly have obtained the +approval of the author after he 'entered religion.']</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii41">41.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula conferring the Rights of Full Age</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Aetatis venia.</div> + +<p>'An honourable boast is contained in the suit for "venia aetatis." In +it a young man says, "Give me those rights which my stability of +character warrants, though my age does not as yet entitle me to them."</p> + +<p>'Thus you refuse the protection which the law throws round the years +of weakness, and this is as bold a thing as any man can do. We grant +your request; and if you can prove that you have come to the age at +which "venia aetatis" should be asked for, we ordain that, with the +proper formalities which have been of old provided in this +matter<a name="FNanchor_493_493" id="FNanchor_493_493"></a><a href="#Footnote_493_493" class="fnanchor">[493]</a>, you shall be admitted to all the rights of an adult, and +that your dispositions of property, whether in city or country, shall +be held valid<a name="FNanchor_494_494" id="FNanchor_494_494"></a><a href="#Footnote_494_494" class="fnanchor">[494]</a>. You must exhibit that steadfastness of character +which you claim. You say that you will not be caught by the snares of +designing men; and you must remember that now to deny the fulfilment +of your promise will become a much more serious matter than +heretofore.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii42">42.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of an Edict to the Quaestor ordering the Person who asks +for the Protection of a Sajo to give Bail</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Edictum ad Quaestorem, ut ipse spondere debeat qui Sajonem +meretur.</div> + +<p>'Heavy charges are sometimes brought against the Sajones whom with the +best intentions we have granted for the protection of our wealthy +subjects. We are told that the valour of the Sajo is employed not +merely for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> the protection of him to whom he is assigned, but for +illegal violence and rapine against that person's enemies. Thus our +remedy becomes itself a disease. To guard against this perversion of +our beneficent designs we ordain that anyone asking for the +guardianship of a brave Sajo against violence with which he feels +himself unable to cope, shall give a penal bond to our Officium, with +this condition, that if the Sajo<a name="FNanchor_495_495" id="FNanchor_495_495"></a><a href="#Footnote_495_495" class="fnanchor">[495]</a> who is assigned to him shall +exceed our orders by any improper violence, he himself shall pay by +way of fine so many pounds of gold, and shall make satisfaction for +the damage sustained by his adversary as well as for the expenses of +his journey [to obtain redress]. For our wish is to repress uncivil +dispositions, not to injure the innocent. As for the Sajo who shall +have wilfully transgressed the limit of our commands, he shall lose +his donative, and—which is the heaviest of all punishments—our +favour also. Nor will we entrust any further duty to him who has been +the violator rather than the executor of our will.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii43">43.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula approving the Appointment of a Clerk in the Record-Office</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Probatoria Cartariorum.</div> + +<p>'At the suggestion of the Tribune of the Cartarii—to whom the whole +office pays fitting reverence—we bestow upon you the title of a +Cartarius. Flee avarice and avoid all unjust gains.'</p> + +<p>[This letter gives no information as to the duties of a Cartarius, or, +as he is called in the Codes, Cartularius.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii44">44.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula for the Grant of Public Property on Condition of +Improvement</span><a name="FNanchor_496_496" id="FNanchor_496_496"></a><a href="#Footnote_496_496" class="fnanchor">[496]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">De Competitoribus.</div> + +<p>'He who seeks to become owner of public property can only justify his +claim by making the squalid beau<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span>tiful, and by adorning the waste. +Therefore, as you desire it, we confer upon you as your full property +such and such a place, reserving all mineral rights—brass, lead, +marbles—should any such be found therein; but we do this on the +understanding that you will restore to beauty that which has become +shabby by age and neglect. It is the part of a good citizen to adorn +the face of his city, and you may securely transmit to your posterity +that which your own labour has accomplished<a name="FNanchor_497_497" id="FNanchor_497_497"></a><a href="#Footnote_497_497" class="fnanchor">[497]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii45">45.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula of Remission of Taxes where the Taxpayer has only one +House, too heavily Assessed</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Formula qua census relevetur ei qui unam casam possidet +praegravatam.</div> + +<p>'You complain that the land-tax (tributum) levied upon your holding +(possessio) in such a Province is so heavy that all your means are +swallowed up in the swamp of indebtedness, and that more is claimed by +the tax-collectors than can be obtained from the soil by the +husbandman. You might, by surrendering the property altogether, escape +from this miserable necessity which is making you a slave rather than, +a landowner; but since the Imperial laws (sacratissimae leges) give us +the power to relieve a man of moderate fortune in such circumstances, +our Greatness, which always hath the cause of justice at heart, +decrees by these presents that if the case be as you say, the +liability for the payment of so many solidi on behalf of the aforesaid +property shall be cancelled in the public archives, and that this +shall be done so thoroughly that there shall be no trace of it left in +any copy of the taxing-rolls by which the charge may be revived at a +future day<a name="FNanchor_498_498" id="FNanchor_498_498"></a><a href="#Footnote_498_498" class="fnanchor">[498]</a>.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="vii46">46.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula legitimating Marriage with a First Cousin</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Formula qua consobrina legitima fiat uxor.</div> + +<p>'After the laws of the two tables, Moses adds the laws wherein God +forbids marriages between near kindred, to guard against incest and +provide for a wise admixture of divers strains of blood<a name="FNanchor_499_499" id="FNanchor_499_499"></a><a href="#Footnote_499_499" class="fnanchor">[499]</a>.</p> + +<p>'These commands have been extended to remoter degrees of relationship +by the wise men of old, who have however reserved to the Prince the +power of granting dispensations from the rule in the cases (not likely +to be frequent) where first cousins (by the mother's side) seek to +intermarry.</p> + +<p>'Acting on this wise principle we permit you to marry C D, if she is +of no nearer kinship to you than first cousin. By God's favour may you +have legitimate heirs from this marriage, which, our consent having +been obtained, is not blameable but praiseworthy.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="vii47">47.</a> <span class="smcap">Formula addressed to the Praetorian Praefect directing the Sale of +the Property of a Curialis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Formula ad Praefectum, ut sub decreto Curialis praedia +vendat.</div> + +<p>'It is the hard lot of human nature often to be injured by the very +things which were intended as remedies. The prohibition against the +sale of the property of a Curialis was intended for his protection, +and to enable him fearlessly to discharge his share of the public +burdens. In some cases, however, where he has contracted large debts, +this prohibition simply prevents him from saving anything out of the +gulf of indebtedness. You have the power, after making due enquiry +into the circumstances, to authorise the sale of such a property. You +have the power; but as the proceeding is an unusual one, to guard you +against any odium to which it may expose you, we fortify your Eminence +by this our present<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> command. Let the Curialis who petitions for this +relief satisfy you as to the cause of his losses, that it may be shown +that they are really the result of circumstances beyond his own +control, not due to his own bad character.</p> + +<p>'Wisely has Antiquity laid upon <i>you</i> the responsibility of deciding +cases of this kind, you whose advantage lies in the maintenance of the +Curia. For by whom could its burdens be borne, if the nerves of the +communities should everywhere be seen to be severed<a name="FNanchor_500_500" id="FNanchor_500_500"></a><a href="#Footnote_500_500" class="fnanchor">[500]</a>?'</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_VIII" id="BOOK_VIII"></a>BOOK VIII.</h2> + +<h3>CONTAINING THIRTY-THREE LETTERS, ALL WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF ATHALARIC +THE KING, EXCEPT THE ELEVENTH, WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF TULUM.</h3> + + +<h3><a name="viii1">1.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Emperor Justin (a.d.</span> 526).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The accession of Athalaric announced to the Emperor +Justin.</div> + +<p>[<span class="smcap">Some</span> MSS. read Justiniano, but there can be no doubt that Justino is +the right reading. Athalaric's accession took place August 30, 526; +the death of Justin, August 1, 527. Justinian was associated with his +uncle in the Empire, April 1, 527.]</p> + +<p>'Most earnestly do I seek your friendship, oh most clement of Princes, +who are made even more illustrious by the wide extension of your +favours than by the purple robe and the kingly throne. On this +friendship I have an hereditary claim. My father was adorned by you +with the palm-enwoven robe of the Consul [Eutharic, Consul 519] and +adopted as a son in arms, a name which I, as one of a younger +generation, could more fittingly receive<a name="FNanchor_501_501" id="FNanchor_501_501"></a><a href="#Footnote_501_501" class="fnanchor">[501]</a>. My grandfather also +received curule honours from you<a name="FNanchor_502_502" id="FNanchor_502_502"></a><a href="#Footnote_502_502" class="fnanchor">[502]</a> in your city. Love and +friendship<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> should pass from parents to their offspring, while hatred +should be buried in the tomb; and therefore with confidence, as one +who by reason of my tender years cannot be an object of suspicion to +you, and as one whose ancestors you have already known and cherished, +I claim from you your friendship on the same compacts and conditions +on which your renowned predecessors granted it to my lord and +grandfather of Divine memory<a name="FNanchor_503_503" id="FNanchor_503_503"></a><a href="#Footnote_503_503" class="fnanchor">[503]</a>. It will be to me something better +than dominion to have the friendship of so excellent and so mighty a +ruler. My ambassadors (A and B) will open the purport of their +commission more fully to your Serenity.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii2">2.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Senate of the City of Rome on his Accession +(a.d.</span> 526).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">To the Senate.</div> + +<p>'Great must be the joy of all orders of the State at hearing of the +accession of a new ruler, above all of a peaceful succession, without +war, without sedition, without loss of any kind to the Republic.</p> + +<p>'Such has been our succession to our grandfather. On account of the +glory of the Amal race, which yields to none<a name="FNanchor_504_504" id="FNanchor_504_504"></a><a href="#Footnote_504_504" class="fnanchor">[504]</a>, the hope of our +youth has been preferred to the merits of all others. The chiefs, +glorious in council and in war, have flocked to recognise us as King +so gladly, so unmurmuringly, that it seems like a Divine inspiration, +and the kingdom has been changed as one changes a garment.</p> + +<p>'The institution of royalty is consolidated when power thus passes +from one generation to another, and when a good prince lives again, +not in statues of brass but in the lineaments and the character of his +descendants.</p> + +<p>'The general consent of Goths and Romans [at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> Ravenna] has crowned us +King, and they have confirmed their allegiance by an oath. You, though +separated from us by space, are, we know, as near to us in heart as +they; and we call upon you therefore to follow their example. We all +know that the most excellent fathers of the Senate love their King +more fervently than other ranks of the State, in proportion to the +greater benefits which they have received at his hand.</p> + +<p>'And since one should never enter your Curia empty-handed, we have +sent our Count, the Illustrious Sigismer, with certain persons to +administer the oath to you. If you have any requests to make to us +which shall be for the common benefit of the Republic, make them +through him, and they are granted beforehand.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii3">3.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Roman People (a.d.</span> 526).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">To the citizens of Rome.</div> + +<p>'If a stranger to the royal line were succeeding to the throne, you +might doubt whether the friendship between him and you would endure, +and might look for a reversal of the policy of his predecessors. But +now the person of the King only, not his policy, is changed. We are +determined to follow the revered maxims of our predecessor, and to +load with even more abundant benefits those whom he most kindly +defended.</p> + +<p>'Everything was so ordered by our glorious grandfather that on his +death the glad consent of Goths called us to our kingdom; and that no +doubt might remain upon the matter they pledged themselves by an oath +most cordially taken, to accept us as their ruler. We invite you to +follow their example, and like Trajan, we, the Sovereign, in whose +name all oaths are made, will also swear to you. The bearers of this +letter will receive your sworn promise, and will give you ours, "by +the Lord's help to observe justice and fair clemency, the nourisher of +the nations; that Goths and Romans shall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span> meet with impartial +treatment at our hands; and that there shall be no other division +between the two nations, except that <i>they</i> undergo the labours of war +for the common benefit, while <i>you</i> are increased in numbers by your +peaceable inhabitancy of the City of Rome<a name="FNanchor_505_505" id="FNanchor_505_505"></a><a href="#Footnote_505_505" class="fnanchor">[505]</a>." Raise then your +spirits, and hope for even better things and more tranquillity, under +God's blessing, from our reign than from that of our predecessor.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii4">4.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to all the Romans settled in Italy and the Dalmatias +(a.d.</span> 526).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">To the Romans in Italy and Dalmatia.</div> + +<p>'He who hears of a change in the ruler is apt to fear that it may be a +change for the worse; and a new King who makes no kind promises at his +accession is supposed to be harbouring designs of severity. We +therefore inform you that we have received the oaths of Goths and +Romans and are ready to receive yours, which we doubt not you will +willingly offer.' [The rest as in the preceding letters.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii5">5.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to all the Goths settled in Italy (a.d.</span> 526).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">To the Goths.</div> + +<p>'Gladly would we have announced to you the prolonged life of our lord +and grandfather; but inasmuch as he has been withdrawn by hard fate +from us who loved him, he has substituted us, by Divine command, as +heirs of his kingdom, that through us his successors in blood, he +might make the benefits which he has conferred on you perpetual. And +in truth we hope not only to defend but to increase the blessings +wrought by him. All the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span> Goths in the Royal City [Ravenna] have taken +the oaths to us. Do you do the same by this Count whom we send to you.</p> + +<p>'Receive then a name which ever brought prosperity to your race, the +royal offshoot of the Amals, the sprout of the Balthae<a name="FNanchor_506_506" id="FNanchor_506_506"></a><a href="#Footnote_506_506" class="fnanchor">[506]</a>, a +childhood clad in purple. Ye are they by whom, with God's help, our +ancestors were borne to such a height of honour, and obtained an ever +higher place amid the serried ranks of kings<a name="FNanchor_507_507" id="FNanchor_507_507"></a><a href="#Footnote_507_507" class="fnanchor">[507]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii6">6.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Liberius, Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls (a.d.</span> +526).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">To the Governor of Gaul.</div> + +<p>'You will be grieved to hear of the death of our lord and grandfather +of glorious memory, but will be comforted in learning that he is +succeeded by his descendant. Thus, by God's command, did he arrange +matters, associating us as lords in the throne of his royalty, in +order that he might leave his kingdom at peace, and that no revolution +might trouble it after his death.'</p> + +<p>[Invitation to take the oath, as in previous letters.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii7">7.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to all the Provincials settled in Gaul (a.d.</span> 526).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">To the Gaulish subjects of Athalaric.</div> + +<p>'Our grandfather of glorious memory is dead, but we have succeeded +him, and will faithfully repay, both on his account and our own, the +loyalty of our subjects.</p> + +<p>'So unanimous was the acclamation of our [Italian] subjects when we +succeeded to the throne, that the thing seemed to be of God rather +than of man.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span></p> + +<p>'We now invite you to follow their example, that the Goths may give +their oath to the Romans, and the Romans may confirm it by a +<i>Sacramentum</i> to the Goths, that they are unanimously devoted to our +King.'</p> + +<p>'Thus will your loyalty be made manifest, and concord and justice +flourish among you.'</p> + +<p>[There is an appearance of mutuality about this oath of allegiance as +between Goths and Romans, not merely by both to Athalaric, which we +have not had in the previous letters.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii8">8.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Victorinus, Vir Venerabilis and Bishop<a name="FNanchor_508_508" id="FNanchor_508_508"></a><a href="#Footnote_508_508" class="fnanchor">[508]</a> (a.d.</span> +526).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">To Bishop Victorinus.</div> + +<p>'Saluting you with all the veneration due to your character and +office, we inform you with grief of the death of our lord and +grandfather. But your sadness will be moderated when you hear that his +kingdom is continued in us. Favour us with your prayers, that the King +of Heaven may confirm to us the kingdom, subdue foreign nations before +us, forgive us our sins, and propitiously preserve all that He was +pleased to bestow on our ancestors. Let your Holiness exhort all the +Provincials to concord.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii9">9.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Tulum, Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Praises of Tulum, who is raised to the Patriciate.</div> + +<p>'As our grandfather used to refresh his mind and strengthen his +judgment by intercourse with you, so, <i>à fortiori</i>, may we in our +tender years do the same. We therefore make you, by this present +letter, Patrician, that the counsels which you give us may not seem to +proceed from any unknown and obscure source.</p> + +<p>'Greece adorned our hero [Tulum] with the chlamys and the painted +silken buskin; and the Eastern peoples<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span> yearned to see him, because +for some reason civic virtues are most prized in him who is believed +to be of warlike disposition<a name="FNanchor_509_509" id="FNanchor_509_509"></a><a href="#Footnote_509_509" class="fnanchor">[509]</a>. Contented with this repayment of +honour he laboured with unwearied devotion for foreign countries (?), +and with his relations (or parents) he deigned to offer his obedience +to the Sovereign, who was begotten of the stock of so many Kings<a name="FNanchor_510_510" id="FNanchor_510_510"></a><a href="#Footnote_510_510" class="fnanchor">[510]</a>.</p> + +<p>[After some very obscure sentences, in which the writer appears to be +celebrating the praises of Theodoric, he turns to Tulum, of whom he +has hitherto spoken in the third person, and addresses him as <i>you</i>.]</p> + +<p>'His toil so formed your character that we have the less need to +labour. With you he discussed the sure blessings of peace, the +doubtful gains of war; and—rare boon from a wise King—to you, in his +anxiety, he confidently opened all the secrets of his breast. You, +however, responded fully to his trust. You never put him off with +doubtful answers. Ever patient and truthful, you won the entire +confidence of your King, and dared even, hardest of all tasks, to +argue against him for his own good.</p> + +<p>'Thus did your noble deeds justify your alliance with the Amal race +[apparently he has received an Amal princess in marriage], and thus +did you become worthy to be joined in common fame with Gensemund, a +man whose praises the whole world should sing,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span> a man only made son by +adoption in arms to the King, yet who exhibited such fidelity to the +Amals that he transferred it even to their heirs, although he was +himself sought for to be crowned<a name="FNanchor_511_511" id="FNanchor_511_511"></a><a href="#Footnote_511_511" class="fnanchor">[511]</a>. Therefore will his fame live +for ever, so long as the Gothic name endures.</p> + +<p>'We look for even nobler things from you, because you are allied to us +by race.'</p> + +<p>[A singularly obscure, vapid, and ill-written letter. The allusion to +Gensemund seems introduced on purpose to bewilder the reader.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii10">10.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<p style="text-align: center">[On the elevation of Tulum to the Patriciate.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'We are conferring new lustre on your body by the promotion of Tulum. +A man sprung from the noblest stock<a name="FNanchor_512_512" id="FNanchor_512_512"></a><a href="#Footnote_512_512" class="fnanchor">[512]</a> he early undertook the duties +of attendance in the King's bedchamber<a name="FNanchor_513_513" id="FNanchor_513_513"></a><a href="#Footnote_513_513" class="fnanchor">[513]</a>, a difficult post, where +the knowledge that you share the secret counsels of royalty itself +exposes you to enmity.</p> + +<p>'In the dawn of manhood he went forth with our army to the war of +Sirmium [<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 504], showed what one of our young nobles bred in peace +could do in war, triumphed over the Huns<a name="FNanchor_514_514" id="FNanchor_514_514"></a><a href="#Footnote_514_514" class="fnanchor">[514]</a>, and gave to slaughter +the Bulgarians, terrible to the whole world. Such warriors do even our +nurseries send forth: thus does the prepa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span>ration of a courageous heart +supersede the necessity for martial training<a name="FNanchor_515_515" id="FNanchor_515_515"></a><a href="#Footnote_515_515" class="fnanchor">[515]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Returned to the Court he became the most intimate counsellor of the +King, who arranged with him all his plans for campaign, and so +admitted him to his most secret thoughts that Tulum could always +anticipate how Theodoric would act in every fresh conjuncture of +events; and it may be said "by offering him counsel he ruled the +King<a name="FNanchor_516_516" id="FNanchor_516_516"></a><a href="#Footnote_516_516" class="fnanchor">[516]</a>."</p> + +<p>'He then distinguished himself in the Gaulish campaign [<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 508], +where he was already enrolled among the generals, directing the +campaign by his prudence, and bravely sharing its dangers. In the +fierce fight which was waged at Arles for the possession of the +covered bridge across the Rhone<a name="FNanchor_517_517" id="FNanchor_517_517"></a><a href="#Footnote_517_517" class="fnanchor">[517]</a>, the bravery of our <i>candidatus</i> +was everywhere conspicuous, and he received many honourable wounds, +those best and most eloquent champions of a soldier's courage.</p> + +<p>'But a general ought not to be always fighting. I have pleasure in +relating his next success, which was brilliant yet achieved without +bloodshed. When the Frank and Burgundian again fell out, he was sent +to Gaul [<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 523] to defend our frontier from hostile incursion. He +then obtained for the Roman Republic, without any trouble, a whole +Province while others were fighting. It was a triumph without a +battle, a palm-branch without toil, a victory without slaughter.</p> + +<p>'So great were his services in this campaign that Theodoric considered +that he ought to be rewarded by the possession of large lands in the +district which he had added to our dominions.</p> + +<p>'A storm overtook him on his return to Italy: the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span> remembrance of the +vanished danger of that storm is sweet to us now<a name="FNanchor_518_518" id="FNanchor_518_518"></a><a href="#Footnote_518_518" class="fnanchor">[518]</a>. In the wide, +foaming sea his ship was swallowed up. He had to save himself by +rowing; the sailors perished; he alone with the dear pledge of his +love [one child?] escaped. Theodoric rushed to the shore, and would +have dashed into the waves to save his friend, but had the delight of +receiving him unharmed, saved manifestly by Divine protection for his +present honours.</p> + +<p>'Favour then, Conscript Fathers, the ambition of our <i>candidatus</i>, and +open for the man of our choice the Hall of Liberty<a name="FNanchor_519_519" id="FNanchor_519_519"></a><a href="#Footnote_519_519" class="fnanchor">[519]</a>. The race of +Romulus deserves to have such martial colleagues as Tulum.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii11">11.</a> <span class="smcap">Tulum, Illustris and Patrician, to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<p>[Note that Cassiodorus has to provide an elegant oration not only for +his master, but for this Gothic fellow-minister of State. See Dahn's +remarks on the writer of this letter, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 273.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Tulum's address to the Senate.</div> + +<p>'I pray you to receive favourably the order of the King which makes me +a member of your body.</p> + +<p>'I have ever favoured the dignity of the Senate, as if with a +prescience that I should one day hold it. When I shared the counsels +of Theodoric, that chief of Kings, of glorious memory, I often by my +intercessions obtained for members of your body Consulships, +Patriciates, Praefectures; and now, behold, I am similarly honoured +myself. Reflect, I pray, that by my accepting it, the genius of the +Patriciate is exalted, since none of my fellow-countrymen will hold +cheaply that rank in you which he sees honoured in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span> me. Live in +security, by the blessing of God; enjoy your prosperity with your +children; and strive, now as always, to show forth the true Roman type +of character. I shall defend those with whom I am now associated.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii12">12.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Arator, Vir Illustris</span>.</h3> + +<p style="text-align: center">[Bestowing on him the rank of Comes Domesticorum.]</p> + +<p>[I have altered the order of subjects in this letter, to make it +correspond with that of time. There cannot be much doubt that Arator's +<i>pomposa legatio</i> from Dalmatia was his first introduction to the +Court of Theodoric, and preceded his employment as Advocatus.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Arator made Count of the Domestics.</div> + +<p>'By raising Tulum to the Patriciate we have provided for the military +strength of the State. Now must we see to it that she is equally +adorned by the glory of letters, and for this purpose we raise you, +still in the prime of life, to the rank of <i>Comes Domesticorum</i>. By +your example it was seen that eloquence could be acquired elsewhere +than at Rome, since in your own Province [probably Dalmatia] your +father, who was an extremely learned man, taught you to excel in this +art: a happy lot for you, who obtained from your father's love that +accomplishment which most youths have to acquire with terror from a +master.</p> + +<p>'That I may say something here of a very <i>recherché</i> character<a name="FNanchor_520_520" id="FNanchor_520_520"></a><a href="#Footnote_520_520" class="fnanchor">[520]</a>, I +may mention that, according to some, letters were first invented by +Mercury, who watched the flight of cranes by the Strymon, and turned +the shapes assumed by their flying squadron into forms expressive of +the various sounds of the human voice.</p> + +<p>'You were sent upon a stately embassy<a name="FNanchor_521_521" id="FNanchor_521_521"></a><a href="#Footnote_521_521" class="fnanchor">[521]</a> by the Provincials of +Dalmatia to our grandfather; and there, not in commonplace words but +with a torrent of elo<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span>quence, you so set forth their needs and the +measures which would be for the advantage of the public, that +Theodoric, a man of cautious temperament, listened to your flow of +words without weariness, and all men desired still to listen, when you +ceased speaking.</p> + +<p>'[Since then] you have filled the office of Advocate in our Court. You +might have been a trier of causes (Cognitor): you have preferred to be +a pleader, though to all your advocacy you have brought so fair and +judicial a mind that your eloquence and your zeal for your client have +never exceeded the bounds of truth.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii13">13.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Ambrosius</span>.</h3> + +<p style="text-align: center">[Conferring on him the Quaestorship.]</p> + +<p>[This Ambrosius, son of Faustinus, is apparently the same to whom +Ennodius addressed his 'Paraenesis Didascalica,' containing some +important notices of Festus, Symmachus, Boethius, Cethegus, and their +contemporaries. (In Migne's 'Patrologia' lxiii. 250.)]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Ambrosius appointed Quaestor.</div> + +<p>'A steady gradation of honours secures good servants for the State. +You have already served with credit the office of Count of the Private +Largesses. And you have also filled satisfactorily the place of a high +official who was dismissed in disgrace<a name="FNanchor_522_522" id="FNanchor_522_522"></a><a href="#Footnote_522_522" class="fnanchor">[522]</a>. We now therefore promote +you to the office of Quaestor, and expect you to be the Pliny to the +new Trajan. Let your eloquent tongue adorn all that we have to say, +and be fearless in suggesting to us all that is for the welfare of the +State. A good Sovereign always allows his ministers to speak to him on +behalf of justice, while it is the sure mark of a tyrant to refuse to +listen to the voice of the ancient maxims of law. Remember that +celebrated saying of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span> Trajan to an orator: "Plead, if I am a good +ruler, for the Republic and me; if I am a bad one, for the Republic +against me<a name="FNanchor_523_523" id="FNanchor_523_523"></a><a href="#Footnote_523_523" class="fnanchor">[523]</a>." But remember, that if we are thus severe upon +ourselves we are equally strict with regard to you, and expect you to +follow the example of your noble ancestors, and to abstain from +everything like an infraction of the laws. We confer upon you the +insignia of the Quaestorship for this fifth Indiction' [Sept. 1, +526—Sept. 1, 527].</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii14">14.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<p style="text-align: center">[On the elevation of Ambrosius to the Quaestorship].</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'As a kind of door to our royal favour do we appoint Ambrosius to be +our Quaestor. You know his merits of old: but, to speak only of recent +matters<a name="FNanchor_524_524" id="FNanchor_524_524"></a><a href="#Footnote_524_524" class="fnanchor">[524]</a>, we may remind you that when your hearts were wrung with +grief for the death of our glorious grandfather, it was by his mouth +that we assured you of our determination to continue to you the +blessings of good government.</p> + +<p>'The presence of Ambrosius is full of dignity, and has a soothing +influence which the words of his speech do but confirm<a name="FNanchor_525_525" id="FNanchor_525_525"></a><a href="#Footnote_525_525" class="fnanchor">[525]</a>. It is +unfortunate for an orator to have eloquence for his only gift, and to +have to obliterate by his oration the unfavourable effect produced on +the multitude by his appearance.</p> + +<p>'We consider it not necessary to praise his eloquence. Of course a +Quaestor is eloquent. While some have the government of a Province +committed to them, others<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span> the care of the Treasury, he receives the +ensigns of his dignity in order that by him his Sovereign's fame may +be spread abroad through the whole world.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii15">15.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<p style="text-align: center">[On the election of Pope Felix III, 526.]</p> + +<p>[As this letter has an important bearing on the royal rights in +connection with Papal elections, it is translated in full.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Election of Pope Felix III (or IV).</div> + +<p>'We profess that we hear with great satisfaction that you have +responded to the judgment of our glorious lord and grandfather in your +election of a Bishop. It was right in sooth to obey the will of a good +Sovereign, who, handling the matter with wise deliberation, although +it had reference to a form of faith alien from his own<a name="FNanchor_526_526" id="FNanchor_526_526"></a><a href="#Footnote_526_526" class="fnanchor">[526]</a>, thought +fit to select such a Pontiff as could rightfully be displeasing to +none. You may thus recognise that his one chief desire was that +Religion might flourish by good priests being supplied to all the +churches.</p> + +<p>'You have received then a man both admirably endowed with Divine grace +and approved by royal scrutiny. Let no one any longer be involved in +the old contention. There is no disgrace in being conquered when the +King's power has helped the winning side. That man makes him [the +successful candidate] his own, who manifests to him pure affection. +For what cause for regret can there be, when you find in this man, +those very qualities which you looked for in the other when you +embraced his party?</p> + +<p>'These are family quarrels<a name="FNanchor_527_527" id="FNanchor_527_527"></a><a href="#Footnote_527_527" class="fnanchor">[527]</a>, a battle without cold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span> steel, a +contest without hatred: by shouts, not wounds, a matter like this is +decided.</p> + +<p>'For even though the person who is desired be taken from you, yet +naught is lost by the faithful, since the longed-for priesthood is +possessed by them. [They have a Pope, if not just the Pope whom they +wished for.] Wherefore on the return of your Legate, the Illustrious +Publianus, we have thought it right to send to your assembly these +letters of salutation. For we taste one of our highest pleasures when +we exchange words with our nobles; and we doubt not that this is very +sweet to you also, when you reflect that what you did by our +grandsire's order is personally agreeable to ourselves.'</p> + +<p>[For remarks on this important letter see Dahn's 'Könige der Germanen' +iii. 239. He makes it a simple appointment of the Pope by the bare +will of Theodoric, afterwards confirmed by Athalaric. To me it seems +more probable that there had been a contest, threatening the election +of an antipope (as in 498 in the case of Symmachus and Laurentius), +and that the matter had been, as on that occasion, referred to the +arbitration of Theodoric.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii16">16.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Opilio, Count of the Sacred Largesses</span> (527).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Opilio appointed Comes Sacrarum Largitionum.</div> + +<p>'It is generally necessary to weigh carefully the merits of a new +aspirant to the honours of the Court (aulicas dignitates); but in your +case the merits of your family render this examination needless. Both +your father and brother held the same office<a name="FNanchor_528_528" id="FNanchor_528_528"></a><a href="#Footnote_528_528" class="fnanchor">[528]</a> which we are now +entrusting to you, and one may say that this dignity has taken up its +abode in your house.</p> + +<p>'You learned the duties of a subordinate in the office under your +brother; and often did he, leaning upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span> you as on a staff, take a +little needful repose, knowing that all things would be attended to by +you. The crowds of suppliants who resorted to him with their +grievances, shared the confidence which the people had in you, and saw +that you were already assuming the character of a good judge.</p> + +<p>'Most useful also were your services to the throne at the commencement +of the new reign, when men's minds were in trouble as to what should +happen next. You bore the news of our accession to the Ligurians, and +so strengthened them by your wise address that the error into which +they had been betrayed by the sun-setting was turned into joy at the +rising of our empire<a name="FNanchor_529_529" id="FNanchor_529_529"></a><a href="#Footnote_529_529" class="fnanchor">[529]</a>.'</p> + +<p>'We therefore confer upon you the dignity of Count of the Sacred +Largesses from this sixth Indiction (Sept. 1, 527). Enjoy all the +privileges and emoluments which belonged to your predecessors. God +forbid that those whose own actions are right should be shaken by any +machinations of calumny. There was a time when even Judges were +harassed by informers (delatores); but that time is over. Lay aside +then all fear, you who have no errors to reproach yourself with, and +freely enjoy the advantages of your dignity. Imitate your brother: +even though a little way behind him you will still be before most +holders of the office. He was a man of the highest authority and of +proved constancy, and the highest testimony to his merits was afforded +by the fact that even under a successor who was hostile to him the +whole official staff of the palace was loud in his praises<a name="FNanchor_530_530" id="FNanchor_530_530"></a><a href="#Footnote_530_530" class="fnanchor">[530]</a>.'</p> + +<p>[This letter is of great importance, as containing indirectly the +expression of Cassiodorus' opinion on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span> trial of Boethius, and the +tendency of that opinion seems to be against him and in favour of his +accusers. Comparing this letter with <a href="#v40">v. 40</a>, addressed to Cyprian, +Cornes Sacrarum Largitionum and <i>son of Opilio</i>, we may with something +like certainty construct this genealogical table:</p> + +<p> </p> + +<table style="width: 50%;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" summary="Opilio Family Tree"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Opilio</span>,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2">C.S.L. (? son of the Consul of 453).</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid black;" colspan="2">|</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td style="text-align: left;">|</td> + <td style="text-align: right;">|</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td style="text-align: left;"><span class="smcap">Cyprian</span>,<br />C.S.L. 524.</td> + <td style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Opilio</span>,<br />C.S.L. 527.</td> + </tr> + </tbody> + </table> + +<p> </p> + +<p>Now Cyprian, whose ready wit and ingenious eloquence had rendered him +a favourite with Theodoric, is represented to us in the 'Philosophiae +Consolatio' of Boethius (I. iv.) and in the 'Anonymus Valesii' (85) as +the informer by whom Albinus and Boethius were accused of high +treason. Opilio too (no doubt the same as the receiver of this letter) +is described by Boethius (loc. cit.) as a man who on account of his +numberless frauds had been ordered by the King to go into banishment, +had taken refuge at the altar, and had been sternly bidden to leave +Ravenna before a given day, and then had purchased pardon by coming +forward as a <i>delator</i> against Boethius.</p> + +<p>Against all this passionate invective it is fair to set this +remarkable letter of Cassiodorus, written it is true in the young +King's name and presenting the Court view of these transactions, but +still written after the death of Theodoric, and perhaps republished by +Cassiodorus in the 'Variarum' after the downfall of the Gothic +Monarchy. In any case the allusions to <i>delatores</i> in this letter, +considering the history of Opilio and his brother, are extraordinary.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii17">17.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>This letter, though it does not mention the name of Opilio, is +evidently written on his promotion to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span> office of Comes Sacrarum +Largitionum. It enumerates his good qualities, and declares that it is +marvellous and almost fortunate for Athalaric that so suitable a +candidate should not have been promoted in the reign of his +grandfather. The father of Opilio was a man of noble character and +robust body, who distinguished himself by his abstinence from the +vices of the times and his preference for dignified repose in the +stormy period of Odovacar<a name="FNanchor_531_531" id="FNanchor_531_531"></a><a href="#Footnote_531_531" class="fnanchor">[531]</a>.</p> + +<p>'He was reputed an excellent man in those times, when the Sovereign +was not a man of honour<a name="FNanchor_532_532" id="FNanchor_532_532"></a><a href="#Footnote_532_532" class="fnanchor">[532]</a>. But why go back to his parentage, when +his brother has set so noble an example. The friendship, the rivalry +in virtue of these two brothers, is worthy of the good old times. Both +are true to their friends; both are devoid of avarice. Both have kept +their loyalty to their King unspotted, and no marvel, since they have +first shown themselves true to their friends and colleagues.</p> + +<p>'Distinguished by these virtues, our candidate has been fittingly +allied by marriage with the noble family of Basilius<a name="FNanchor_533_533" id="FNanchor_533_533"></a><a href="#Footnote_533_533" class="fnanchor">[533]</a>.</p> + +<p>'He has managed his private affairs so as to avoid the two extremes of +parsimony and extravagance. He has become popular with the Goths by +his manner of life, and with the Romans by his righteous +judgments<a name="FNanchor_534_534" id="FNanchor_534_534"></a><a href="#Footnote_534_534" class="fnanchor">[534]</a>; and has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span> been over and over again chosen as a referee +(Judex privatus), thus showing the high opinion in which his integrity +is held.</p> + +<p>'The Conscript Fathers are exhorted to endorse the favourable judgment +of the King, by welcoming the new Count of Sacred Largesses into their +body.'</p> + +<p>[In view of these letters I do not understand what Gibbon means by +saying (cap. xxxix. <i>n.</i> 95), 'The characters of the two delators, +Basilius ('Var.' <a href="#ii10">ii. 10</a>, <a href="#ii11">11</a>; +<a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>) and Opilio (<a href="#v41">v. 41</a>; +<a href="#viii16">viii. 16</a>), are +illustrated, not much to their honour, in the Epistles of +Cassiodorus.' This is quite true of Basilius, if the person alluded to +in the references given by Gibbon be the same as the informer against +Boethius, of which there may be a doubt; but Opilio is mentioned, as +we see, with the highest honour by Cassiodorus. So, too, is Decoratus, +whom in the same note Gibbon too hastily stigmatises as 'the worthless +colleague of Boethius.']</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii18">18.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Felix, Quaestor</span> (527).</h3> + +<p>[This cannot be the same as the Consul of 511, nor even his son; for +that Felix was of Gaulish extraction, and came from beyond the Alps.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Promotion of Felix to the Quaestorship.</div> + +<p>'It is desirable that those who are appointed as Judges should know +something of law, and most unfitting that he whom so many officials +(<i>milites</i>) obey should be seen to be dependent for his law on some +one of his subordinates.</p> + +<p>'You long ago, when engaged in civil causes as an Advocate, were +marked out by your Sovereign's eye<a name="FNanchor_535_535" id="FNanchor_535_535"></a><a href="#Footnote_535_535" class="fnanchor">[535]</a>. He noted your eloquence, your +fidelity, your youthful beauty, and your maturity of mind. No client +could ask for more devotion than you showed in his cause; no Judge +found in you anything to blame.</p> + +<p>'Receive then now the dignity of Quaestor for this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span> sixth Indiction +(Sept. 1, 527), and judge in the Courts where hitherto you have +pleaded.</p> + +<p>'You are called Felix; act so as always to merit that name; for it is +absurd to have a name which denotes one thing and to display the +opposite in one's character. We think we have now said enough for a +man of your good conscience. Many admonitions seem to imply a doubt of +the character of him who receives them.' [A maxim often forgotten by +Cassiodorus.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii19">19.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<p style="text-align: center">[On the promotion of Felix.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'As the sky with stars, or the meadow with flowers, so do we wish the +Senate to be resplendent with the men of eminence whom we introduce +into it. It is itself a seminary of Senators; but our favour and the +dignities of our Court also rear them.</p> + +<p>'The Quaestorship is the true mother of the senatorial dignity, since +who can be fitter to take his seat in the Curia than he who has shared +the counsels of his Sovereign?</p> + +<p>'You know the eloquence of our candidate [Felix], his early triumphs, +his modesty, his fidelity. To leave such a man unpromoted were a +public loss; and he will always love the laws by the practice of which +he has risen to eminence.</p> + +<p>'Nor is he the first of his race to earn rhetorical distinction. His +father shone so brilliantly in the Forum of Milan, that he bloomed +forth with undying fruits from the soil of Cicero<a name="FNanchor_536_536" id="FNanchor_536_536"></a><a href="#Footnote_536_536" class="fnanchor">[536]</a>. He stood +against Magnus Olybrius, he was found equal in fluency to +Eugenius<a name="FNanchor_537_537" id="FNanchor_537_537"></a><a href="#Footnote_537_537" class="fnanchor">[537]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span> and many others whom Rome knew as foremost in their +art. If the transmission of material wealth by long descent makes men +noble, how much more should the inheritance of the treasures of the +intellect give nobility.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii20">20.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Albienus, Vir Illustris and Praefectus +Praetorio</span><a name="FNanchor_538_538" id="FNanchor_538_538"></a><a href="#Footnote_538_538" class="fnanchor">[538]</a> (527).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Albienus made Praetorian Praefect.</div> + +<p>'Your predecessor has been the model of a bad governor. As the North +wind clears the face of the sky from the rain and clouds brought by +the South wind, so do we look to you to repair the evils wrought by +his misgovernment. In all things your best maxim will be to do exactly +the opposite of what he did. He made himself hateful by his unjust +prosecutions: do you become popular by your righteous deeds. He was +rapacious: be you moderate. Soothe and relieve the harassed people +entrusted to your charge. Receive for this sixth Indiction [Sept. 1, +527-528] the fasces of the Praefecture, and let the office of +Praetorian Praefect return to its ancient fame, an object of praise to +the whole world<a name="FNanchor_539_539" id="FNanchor_539_539"></a><a href="#Footnote_539_539" class="fnanchor">[539]</a>. This office dates from Joseph, and rightly is he +who holds it called by our laws Father of the Provinces, Father of the +Empire.</p> + +<p>'See that you avoid all unjust exactions. We cannot bear that our +Treasury should be filled by unrighteous means.</p> + +<p>'Your descent from a father who has held the same high office, and +your intimate knowledge of the <i>Dicta prudentum</i>, warrant us in +believing that you will make a good judge.'</p> + +<p>[I have not been able to find any hint of the name<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span> of the Praefectus +Praetorio for 526-527, so bitterly condemned in this letter. As he may +have held office for some years, his misgovernment may have been +connected with the death of Boethius (524). Can we connect him with +the Trigguilla 'Regiae Praepositus Domus' whose injustice is denounced +by Boethius ('Phil. Cons.' i. 4)?]</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii21">21.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Cyprian, Patrician</span>.</h3> + +<h3><a name="viii22">22.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Cyprian's elevation to the Patriciate.</div> + +<p>In these two letters the high character and distinguished services of +Cyprian are commemorated. 'Under Theodoric he distinguished himself +both in war and peace. At the time of the war of Sirmium he was +conspicuous both in his resistance to the fiery onslaught of the +Bulgarians and in his active pursuit of them when their ranks were +broken<a name="FNanchor_540_540" id="FNanchor_540_540"></a><a href="#Footnote_540_540" class="fnanchor">[540]</a>. He then filled, with great credit to himself, the office +of Referendarius<a name="FNanchor_541_541" id="FNanchor_541_541"></a><a href="#Footnote_541_541" class="fnanchor">[541]</a>. Great was the responsibility of exercising +peaceful as well as warlike offices under such a master as Theodoric. +In fact the training for one was helpful for the other, since it +required a soldier's courage and promptness to be always ready with a +truthful and accurate reply to that keen, firm-minded ruler of +men<a name="FNanchor_542_542" id="FNanchor_542_542"></a><a href="#Footnote_542_542" class="fnanchor">[542]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Thence he was promoted to the dignity of Count of the Sacred +Largesses, a post well suited to his pure,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span> self-restrained +character<a name="FNanchor_543_543" id="FNanchor_543_543"></a><a href="#Footnote_543_543" class="fnanchor">[543]</a>. He is now growing old in body, but ever young in fame, +and the King heartily wishes him increase of years to enjoy his +renown.</p> + +<p>'Rightly, too, is there now conferred upon him the dignity of +<i>Patricius</i>, since he is the father of such noble sons, men whose +childhood was passed in the palace under the very eye of Theodoric +(thus like young eagles already learning to gaze upon the sun), and +who now cultivate the friendship of the Goths, learn from them all +martial exercises, speak their language, and thus give evident tokens +of their future fidelity to the Gothic nation<a name="FNanchor_544_544" id="FNanchor_544_544"></a><a href="#Footnote_544_544" class="fnanchor">[544]</a>.</p> + +<p>'The Senate is therefore exhorted to welcome its thus promoted +colleague, who at each accession of rank has shown himself yet +worthier of his high place, and whom grandfather and grandson have +both delighted to honour. Thus will it renew the glories of the Decii +and the Corvini, who were its sons in the days of old.'</p> + +<p>[The subject of these letters is indisputably the same Cyprian whom +the 'Anonymus Valesii' speaks of as suborning false witnesses against +Albinus and Boethius, and of whom the latter says ('Phil. Cons.' i. +4): 'Ne Albinum, Consularem virum praejudicatae accusationis poena +corriperet, odiis me Cypriani delatoris opposui.' Compare the remarks +made on <a href="#viii16">Letters 16</a> and <a href="#viii17">17</a>; and remember that this letter was composed +three years after the death of Boethius, when Theodoric also was dead, +and his daughter was only too willing to retrace his steps, in all +that concerned the severities of the latter years of his reign. For +the pedigree of Cyprian see <a href="#Page_363">p. 363</a>.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="viii23">23.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Bergantinus, Vir Illustris and Comes Patrimonii</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Gifts to Theodahad.</div> + +<p>'Kings should always be generous, but especially to those of their own +family.</p> + +<p>'Therefore we desire your Greatness to transfer the farms herein +described, to the exalted and most honourable Theodahad, weighing out +to him so many solidi, out of that which was formerly the patrimony of +his magnificent Mother; and we guarantee to him the absolute ownership +of such farms, free from any claims to the inheritance on our +part<a name="FNanchor_545_545" id="FNanchor_545_545"></a><a href="#Footnote_545_545" class="fnanchor">[545]</a>.</p> + +<p>'We trust to his sincerity and good faith, that in the future he will +deserve the remainder of the above-mentioned patrimony, with the +addition of the whole quantity<a name="FNanchor_546_546" id="FNanchor_546_546"></a><a href="#Footnote_546_546" class="fnanchor">[546]</a>.</p> + +<p>'What can we deny to such a man, whose obedience might claim a higher +reward even were he not our cousin—a man who is not puffed up by any +pride of his noble birth, humble in his modesty, always uniform in his +prudence? Therefore instruct the Cartarii of your office to make over +the aforesaid farms to his Actores without delay<a name="FNanchor_547_547" id="FNanchor_547_547"></a><a href="#Footnote_547_547" class="fnanchor">[547]</a>.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="viii24">24.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Clergy of the Roman Church</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Ecclesiastical immunities.</div> + +<p>'For the gift of kingly power we owe an infinite debt to God, whose +ministers ye are.</p> + +<p>'Ye state in your tearful memorial to us that it has been an ordinance +of long custom that anyone who has a suit of any kind against a +servant of the sacrosanct Roman Church should first address himself to +the chief Priest of that City, lest haply your clergy, being profaned +by the litigation of the Forum, should be occupied in secular rather +than religious matters. And you add that one of your Deacons has, to +the disgrace of religion, been so sharply handled by legal process +that the Sajo<a name="FNanchor_548_548" id="FNanchor_548_548"></a><a href="#Footnote_548_548" class="fnanchor">[548]</a> has dared actually to take him into his own +custody.</p> + +<p>'This dishonour to the Ministers of holy things is highly displeasing +to our inborn reverence, yet we are glad that it gives us the +opportunity of paying part of our debt to Heaven.</p> + +<p>'Therefore, considering the honour of the Apostolic See, and wishing +to meet the desires of the petitioners, we by the authority of this +letter decree in regular course<a name="FNanchor_549_549" id="FNanchor_549_549"></a><a href="#Footnote_549_549" class="fnanchor">[549]</a>:</p> + +<p>'That if anyone shall think he has a good cause for going to law with +a person belonging to the Roman clergy, he shall first present himself +for hearing at the judgment-seat of the most blessed Pope, in order +that the latter may either decide between the two in his own holy +manner, or may delegate the cause to a Jurisconsult to be ended by +him. And if, perchance, which it is impiety to believe, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span> +reasonable desire of the petitioner shall have been evaded, then may +he come to the secular courts with his grievance, when he can prove +that his petitions have been spurned by the Bishop of the aforesaid +See<a name="FNanchor_550_550" id="FNanchor_550_550"></a><a href="#Footnote_550_550" class="fnanchor">[550]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Should any litigant be so dishonest and so irreverent, both towards +the Holy See and our authority, as to disregard this order [and +proceed first in our tribunals against one of the Roman clergy], he +shall forfeit 10 lbs. of gold [£400], to be exacted by the officers of +the Count of Sacred Largesses and distributed by the Pope to the poor; +and he shall lose his suit in addition, notwithstanding any decree +which he may have gained in the secular court.</p> + +<p>'Meanwhile do you, whom our judgments thus venerate, live according to +the ordinances of the Church. It is a great wickedness in you to admit +such crimes as do not become the conversation even of secular men. +Your profession is the heavenly life. Do not condescend to the +grovelling wishes and vulgar errors of ordinary mortals. Let the men +of this world be coerced by human laws; do you obey the precepts of +righteousness.'</p> + +<p>[See Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 191-2, Sartorius 145, and +Bauer's 'History of the Popes' ii. 323-4, for remarks on this +important <i>privilegium</i>.</p> + +<p>It is clear that it relates to civil, not criminal procedure, and that +it does leave a right of final appeal from the Papal Courts to the +dissatisfied secular litigant. At the same time, that such an appeal +would be prosecuted with immense difficulty is clear even from the +words of the decree. The appellant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span> will have to satisfy the King's +Judges of a thing which it is almost impiety to believe, that the +occupant of the Roman See has spurned his petitions.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii25">25.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Referendarius</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Confirmation of Tulum's gift of property in the +Lucullanum.</div> + +<p>'It is a very fitting thing to confirm the generosity of others +towards persons who might well have received gifts from oneself. We +therefore declare that in your case the gift is another's but the will +to give is our own, and the King has only been anticipated by the +rapid bounty of the subject<a name="FNanchor_551_551" id="FNanchor_551_551"></a><a href="#Footnote_551_551" class="fnanchor">[551]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Everyone knows that our grandfather wished to give you the house of +Agnellus in the Castrum Lucullanum, but could not do so having already +given it to the Patrician Tulum<a name="FNanchor_552_552" id="FNanchor_552_552"></a><a href="#Footnote_552_552" class="fnanchor">[552]</a>. Tulum, however, with his usual +generosity, seconding the wishes of his master, formally conveyed the +property to you; and that conveyance we now confirm, guaranteeing the +quiet possession of it to you and your heirs for all time to come. If +any doubt exist as to your title, by any mischance, or by reason of +any enquiry, such doubt is exploded by the authority of this letter of +ours<a name="FNanchor_553_553" id="FNanchor_553_553"></a><a href="#Footnote_553_553" class="fnanchor">[553]</a>.</p> + +<p>'And should any envious person, in contempt of our royal will, dare to +raise any question in this matter hereafter, either on behalf of the +Fiscus or of any private individual, we declare that he shall pay to +you, or to the person to whom you may have assigned the said house, +100 lbs. of gold (£4,000) by way of penalty.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span></p> + +<p>[Why should there be the necessity of this royal confirmation of a +transaction between two private individuals, Tulum and Joannes, and +this tremendous penalty on all future impugners of it?</p> + +<p>Evidently because the property had been impressed with the character +of State domain, and it was doubtful how far Tulum's alienation of it +might stand good against the claims of future Sovereigns.</p> + +<p>This becomes quite clear when we reflect what is the property to which +this letter refers. It is either the whole or a part of the +Lucullanum, to which the deposed Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was +banished in 476. On his death, as we may conjecture, this property, +one of the most delightful places of residence in Italy, has been +given by Theodoric to Tulum, perhaps just after he had distinguished +himself in the Gaulish campaign of 508. For some reason or other, +Tulum has alienated it (ostensibly, given it) to the Reporter Joannes, +no doubt a Roman, who is apparently nervous lest his title to it +should hereafter be impugned on the ground that the palace of the last +Roman Emperor was national property. Hence this letter. There is some +difficulty and variation between the MSS. in the words describing the +property: 'Saepe dicta domus paternae recordationis Agnelli, in +Lucullano castro posita.' For <i>paternae</i>, Migne's editor reads +<i>patriciae</i>. The forthcoming critical edition of the 'Variae' will +show whether there is any support in the MSS. for a conjecture which I +cannot help entertaining that <i>Agnelli</i> is an error for <i>Augustuli</i>.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii26">26.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric To All The Inhabitants Of Reate And Nursia</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Gothic settlers in the Sabine territory exhorted to +obedience to their Prior, Quidila.</div> + +<p>'Our glorious grandfather had arranged that, in accordance with your +desire, Quidila, son of Sibia, should be your Captain (Prior). We +confirm this ap<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span>pointment, and desire you to obey him in all things. +You are so far moulded by the character of our grandfather that you +willingly obey both the laws and the Judges. Our enemies are best +vanquished, and the favour both of Heaven and of other nations is best +conciliated for us, by our obeying the principles of justice. If +anyone is in need of anything, let him seek to obtain it from the +generosity of his Sovereign rather than by the strength of his own +right hand, since it is for your advantage that the Romans be at +peace, who, in filling our Treasury, at the same time multiply your +donatives.'</p> + +<p>[This letter is evidently addressed to Goths, and Quidila the <i>Prior</i>, +who is set over them, is also a Goth. We can only conjecture what the +office of Prior was: probably to some extent it involved civil as well +as military authority. The conjecture of Dahn ('Könige der Germanen' +iv. 173) that it corresponds to the Gothic <i>Hundafath</i> (Centenarius), +seems to me extremely probable. The title of the letter is curious. It +is addressed 'Universis Reatinis et Nursinis.' Are we then to suppose +that strong military colonies of Goths had been settled in these +places, the Roman inhabitants having been extruded? The fact that St. +Benedict was born in Nursia, some fifty-seven years before the writing +of this letter, gives an additional interest to this question.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii27">27.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Dumerit the Sajo, and to Florentinus, a zealous +Officer of the Court</span><a name="FNanchor_554_554" id="FNanchor_554_554"></a><a href="#Footnote_554_554" class="fnanchor">[554]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Robbery in the district of Faenza to be suppressed.</div> + +<p>'Justice must be shown upon the wicked. Different diseases require +different remedies.</p> + +<p>'Let your Devotion speed instantly through the territory of Faventia, +and if you find any persons, either Goths or Romans, concerned in the +plunder of the pos<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span>sessors, punish them severely. How much better it +would be for those misguided persons to live according to our will, +and earn the reward of pleasing us.' [The last sentence is obscure, +and perhaps the text is corrupt.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii28">28.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Cunigast, Vir Illustris</span>.</h3> + +<p>[No doubt the same as the Conigast attacked by Boethius in the +'Philosophiae Consolatio' i. 4<a name="FNanchor_555_555" id="FNanchor_555_555"></a><a href="#Footnote_555_555" class="fnanchor">[555]</a>.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Possessores (or Coloni?) forced to become slaves.</div> + +<p>'Our Serenity has been moved by the grievous petition of Constantius +and Venerius, who complain that Tanca [probably a Goth] has wrested +from them the farm which is called Fabricula, which belonged to them +in their own right, together with the stock upon it<a name="FNanchor_556_556" id="FNanchor_556_556"></a><a href="#Footnote_556_556" class="fnanchor">[556]</a>, and has +compelled them, in order to prevent similar forcible demands upon +their property in future, to allow the worst lot of all—the condition +of slavery—to be imposed upon them, who are really free<a name="FNanchor_557_557" id="FNanchor_557_557"></a><a href="#Footnote_557_557" class="fnanchor">[557]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Let your Greatness therefore summon Tanca to your judgment-seat, and, +after hearing all parties, pronounce a just judgment and one accordant +to your character. For though it is a serious matter to oust a lord +from his right, it is contrary to the feelings of our age to press +down free necks under the yoke of slavery.</p> + +<p>'Let Tanca therefore either establish his right to the slaves and +their property, or, if they are proved free, let him give them up, +whole and unharmed: in which case we will inflict upon him no further +penalty.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="viii29">29.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Dignified Cultivators<a name="FNanchor_558_558" id="FNanchor_558_558"></a><a href="#Footnote_558_558" class="fnanchor">[558]</a> and Curials of +the City of Parma</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Sanitary measures needed in Parma.</div> + +<p>'You ought willingly to co-operate in that which is being done for the +advantage of your town. When it was suffering from a long drought, our +grandfather, with God's help, watered it with the life-giving wave. +Cleanse out then the mouths of your sewers, lest otherwise, being +checked in its flow by the accumulated filth, it should surge back +into your houses, and bring into them the pollution which it was meant +to wash away.</p> + +<p>'The Spectabilis Genesius is appointed to superintend this work, and +to quicken your zeal regarding it.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii30">30.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Genesius, Vir Spectabilis</span>.</h3> + +<p>[Relating to the same subject as the <a href="#viii29">preceding</a>.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'Through love of your city our grandfather, with royal generosity, +constructed an aqueduct of the ancient type<a name="FNanchor_559_559" id="FNanchor_559_559"></a><a href="#Footnote_559_559" class="fnanchor">[559]</a> for you. But it is of +no use to provide a good water-supply unless your sewers are in good +order. Therefore let your Sublimity set the citizens of Parma +diligently to work at this business, that all ancient channels, +whether underground or those which run by the sides of the streets, be +diligently repaired<a name="FNanchor_560_560" id="FNanchor_560_560"></a><a href="#Footnote_560_560" class="fnanchor">[560]</a>, in order that when the longed-for stream +flows into your town it be not hindered by any obstacle.</p> + +<p>'How fair is water in a running stream, but how ugly in puddles and +swamps; it is good then neither for man nor beast. Without water city +and country alike languish; and rightly did the ancients punish one +who was unfit for human society by forbidding all men to give him +water. Therefore you ought all heartily to combine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span> for this most +useful work, since the man who is not touched by the comeliness of his +city has not yet the mind of a citizen.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii31">31.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Severus, Vir Spectabilis</span>.</h3> + +<p>[Is Severus <i>Vicarius Urbis</i>? His title Spectabilis seems to require +some such rank as this, otherwise he seems more like a <i>Corrector</i> +(Clarissimus) <i>Bruttiorum et Lucaniae</i>. Perhaps already the strict +gradation established by Diocletian and Constantine was somewhat +broken down, and governors received higher titles than strictly +belonged to them.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Dissuasions from a country life, and praises of +Cassiodorus' native land of Bruttii.</div> + +<p>'Since you, when on the staff of the Praefect, have learned the +principles of statesmanship, we are sure that you will agree with us +that cities are the chief ornament of human society. Let the wild +beasts live in fields and woods: men ought to draw together into +cities. Even among birds we see that those of gentle disposition—like +thrushes, storks, and doves—love to flock together, while the greedy +hawk, intent on its bloody pastime, seeks solitude.</p> + +<p>'Now we say that the man who shuns human society becomes at once an +object of suspicion. Let therefore the Possessores and Curiales of +Bruttii return to their cities. The Coloni may cultivate the +soil—that is what their name denotes<a name="FNanchor_561_561" id="FNanchor_561_561"></a><a href="#Footnote_561_561" class="fnanchor">[561]</a>; but the men whom we +decorate with civic honours ought to live in cities.</p> + +<p>'In truth it is a lovely land. Ceres and Pallas have crowned it with +their respective gifts (corn and oil); the plains are green with +pastures, the slopes are purple with vineyards. Above all is it rich +in its vast herds of horses<a name="FNanchor_562_562" id="FNanchor_562_562"></a><a href="#Footnote_562_562" class="fnanchor">[562]</a>, and no wonder, since the dense shade +of its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span> forests protects them from the bites of flies, and provides +them with ever verdant pasture even in the height of summer. Cool +waters flow from its lofty heights; fair harbours on both its shores +woo the commerce of the world.</p> + +<p>'There the countryman enjoys the good food of the citizen, the poor +man the abundance of the wealthy<a name="FNanchor_563_563" id="FNanchor_563_563"></a><a href="#Footnote_563_563" class="fnanchor">[563]</a>. If such then be the charms even +of the country in your Province, why should you shirk living in its +cities<a name="FNanchor_564_564" id="FNanchor_564_564"></a><a href="#Footnote_564_564" class="fnanchor">[564]</a>?</p> + +<p>'Why should so many men refined by literature skulk in obscurity? The +boy goes to a good school, becomes imbued with the love of letters, +and then, when he is come to man's estate and should be seeking the +Forum in order to display his talents, he suddenly changes into a +boor, unlearns all that he has learned, and in his love for the fields +forgets what is due to a reasonable love for himself. And yet even +birds love human fellowship, and the nightingale boldly rears her +brood close to the haunts of men.</p> + +<p>'Let the cities then return to their old splendour; let none prefer +the charms of the country to the walls reared by the men of old. Why +should not everyone be attracted by the concourse of noble persons, by +the pleasures of converse with his equals? To stroll through the +Forum, to look in at some skilful craftsman at his work, to push one's +own cause through the law courts, then between whiles to play with the +counters of Palamedes (draughts), to go to the baths with one's +acquaintances, to indulge in the friendly emulation of the +banquet—these are the proper employments of a Roman noble; yet not +one of them is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span> tasted by the man who chooses to live always in the +country with his farm-servants<a name="FNanchor_565_565" id="FNanchor_565_565"></a><a href="#Footnote_565_565" class="fnanchor">[565]</a>.</p> + +<p>'We order therefore that all Possessores and Curiales shall, according +to their relative means, find bail and give bonds, promising that they +will for the larger part of the year reside in some city, such as they +may choose<a name="FNanchor_566_566" id="FNanchor_566_566"></a><a href="#Footnote_566_566" class="fnanchor">[566]</a>. And thus, while not wholly debarred from the +pleasures of the country, they will furnish to the cities their proper +adornment of citizens.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii32">32.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Severus, Vir Spectabilis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The Fountain of Arethusa.</div> + +<p>'Nimfadius (Vir Sublimis) was journeying to the King's Comitatus on +some affair of his own, when, wearied with his journey, he lay down to +rest, and let his beasts of burden graze round the fountain of +Arethusa.</p> + +<p>'This fountain, situated in the territory of Squillace<a name="FNanchor_567_567" id="FNanchor_567_567"></a><a href="#Footnote_567_567" class="fnanchor">[567]</a>, at the +foot of the hills and above the sand of the sea, makes a green and +pleasant place all round it, fringed with rustling reeds as with a +crown. It has certain marvellous properties: for let a man go to it in +silence and he sees it calmly flowing, more like a pond than a +fountain. But let him cough or speak with a loud voice, and it becomes +violently agitated, heaving to and fro like a pot boiling. Strange +power this of a fountain to answer a man. I have read that some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span> +fountains can change the colours of the animals that drink at them; +that others can turn wood dropped into them to stone. The human reason +is altogether unable to understand such things as these.</p> + +<p>'But let us return to the complaint of our suppliant. Nimfadius +asserts that, while he was resting, the country people artfully drove +off his beasts of burden.</p> + +<p>'This kind of crime brings our times into disgrace, and turns the +charm of that quiet resting-place into disgust. Diligently enquire +into it, for the credit of our Comitatus is involved in our subjects +being able to journey to it in safety. At first, no doubt, the +offenders will lie close, and seem as silent as the unmoved Arethusa. +But begin your investigations, and they will soon break forth, like +that fountain, with angry exclamations, in the midst of which you will +discover the truth. Punish the offenders severely; for we should +regret that owing to the excesses of robbers that wonderful and +joy-bringing fountain should be deserted.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="viii33">33.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Severus, Vir Spectabilis</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The Feast of St. Cyprian.</div> + +<p>'We hear that the rustics are indulging in disorderly practices, and +robbing the market-people who come from all quarters to the chief fair +of Lucania on the day of St. Cyprian. This must by all means be +suppressed, and your Respectability should quietly collect a +sufficient number of the owners and tenants of the adjoining +farms<a name="FNanchor_568_568" id="FNanchor_568_568"></a><a href="#Footnote_568_568" class="fnanchor">[568]</a> to overpower these freebooters and bring them to justice. +Any rustic or other person found guilty of disturbing the fair should +be at once punished with the stick<a name="FNanchor_569_569" id="FNanchor_569_569"></a><a href="#Footnote_569_569" class="fnanchor">[569]</a>, and then exhibited with some +mark of infamy upon him<a name="FNanchor_570_570" id="FNanchor_570_570"></a><a href="#Footnote_570_570" class="fnanchor">[570]</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span></p><p>'This fair, which according to the old superstition was named +Leucothea [after the nymph], from the extreme purity of the fountain +at which it is held, is the greatest fair in all the surrounding +country. Everything that industrious Campania, or opulent Bruttii, or +cattle-breeding Calabria<a name="FNanchor_571_571" id="FNanchor_571_571"></a><a href="#Footnote_571_571" class="fnanchor">[571]</a>, or strong Apulia produces, is there to +be found exposed for sale, on such reasonable terms that no buyer goes +away dissatisfied. It is a charming sight to see the broad plains +filled with suddenly-reared houses formed of leafy branches +intertwined: all the beauty of the most leisurely-built city, and yet +not a wall to be seen. There stand ready boys and girls, with the +attractions which belong to their respective sexes and ages, whom not +captivity but freedom sets a price upon. These are with good reason +sold by their parents, since they themselves gain by their very +servitude. For one cannot doubt that they are benefited even as slaves +[or servants?], by being transferred from the toil of the fields to +the service of cities<a name="FNanchor_572_572" id="FNanchor_572_572"></a><a href="#Footnote_572_572" class="fnanchor">[572]</a>.</p> + +<p>'What can I say of the bright and many-coloured garments? what of the +sleek and well-fed cattle offered at such a price as to tempt any +purchaser?</p> + +<p>'The place itself is situated in a wide and pleasant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span> plain, a suburb +of the ancient city of Cosilinum, and has received the name of +Marcilianum from the founder of these sacred springs<a name="FNanchor_573_573" id="FNanchor_573_573"></a><a href="#Footnote_573_573" class="fnanchor">[573]</a>.</p> + +<p>'And this is in truth a marvellous fountain, full and fresh, and of +such transparent clearness that when you look through it you think you +are looking through air alone. Choice fishes swim about in the pool, +perfectly tame, because if anyone presumes to capture them he soon +feels the Divine vengeance. On the morning which precedes the holy +night [of St. Cyprian], as soon as the Priest begins to utter the +baptismal prayer, the water begins to rise above its accustomed +height. Generally it covers but five steps of the well, but the brute +element, as if preparing itself for miracles, begins to swell, and at +last covers two steps more, never reached at any other time of the +year. Truly a stupendous miracle, that streams of water should thus +stand still or increase at the sound of the human voice, as if the +fountain itself desired to listen to the sermon.</p> + +<p>'Thus hath Lucania a river Jordan of her own. Wherefore, both for +religion's sake and for the profit of the people, it behoves that good +order should be kept among the frequenters of the fair, since in the +judgment of all, that man must be deemed a villain who would sully the +joys of such happy days.'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_IX" id="BOOK_IX"></a>BOOK IX.</h2> + +<h3>CONTAINING TWENTY-FIVE LETTERS, ALL WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF ATHALARIC +THE KING.</h3> + + +<h3><a name="ix1">1.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Hilderic, King of the Vandals (a.d.</span> 527).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Murder of Amalafrida, widow of King Thrasamund and sister +of Theodoric.</div> + +<p>'Friendship and relationship are turned to bitterness by the tidings +that Amalafrida, of divine memory, the distinguished ornament of our +race, has been put to death by you<a name="FNanchor_574_574" id="FNanchor_574_574"></a><a href="#Footnote_574_574" class="fnanchor">[574]</a>. If you had any cause of +offence against her, you ought to have sent her to us for judgment. +What you have done is a species of parricide. If the succession, on +the death of her husband, passed to another [yourself], that was no +reason why a woman should be embroiled in the contest. It was really +an addition to your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span> nobility to have the purple dignity of the Amal +blood allied to the lineage of the Hasdingi.</p> + +<p>'Our Goths keenly feel the insults conveyed in this deed, since to +slay the royal lady of another race is to despise the valour of that +race and doubt its willingness to avenge her.</p> + +<p>'We send you two ambassadors to hear what your excuses are. We hear +that you pretend that her death was natural. And you also must send +ambassadors in return to us to explain the matter, without war or +bloodshed, and either pacify us or acknowledge your guilt. If you do +not do this, all ties of alliance between us are broken, and we must +leave you to the judgment of the Divine Majesty, which heard the blood +of Abel crying from the ground.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix2">2.</a> <span class="smcap">Edict of King Athalaric</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Oppression of the Curiales.</div> + +<p>'The body of the Republic is so tempered together that if one member +suffers all the members suffer with it. The Curiales, whose name is +derived from their care (cura) and forethought, are, we are told, +molested by hostile proceedings, so that what was bestowed upon them +as an honour turns out rather to their injury. What scandalous +injustice! What an insupportable evil! that he who ought to have +benefited the Republic by his services, should often lose both fortune +and liberty.</p> + +<p>'Wherefore by this edict we decree that if any Curialis suffer +oppression, if anyone, without the express warrant of ourselves or the +high officers of State whose business it is, inflict upon a Curialis +any injury or loss of property, he shall pay a fine of 10 lbs. of gold +(£400), to go to the benefit of the person thus oppressed; or, if his +property be insufficient to pay this fine, he shall be beaten with +clubs. The Curialis must then give additional diligence to the +discharge of his public duties, since his debt to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span> State is, as it +were, increased by the protection which we are thus affording him. As +for the farms of Curiales, in connection with which the greatest +frauds are practised on poor men, let no one seek to obtain them by an +unlawful purchase; for a contract cannot be called a contract when it +is in violation of the law<a name="FNanchor_575_575" id="FNanchor_575_575"></a><a href="#Footnote_575_575" class="fnanchor">[575]</a>. The Judges must help the Curiales +against the molestations of Sajones and other officials. It is a +grievous offence, when the very person to whom is entrusted the duty +of defending the weak, himself turns oppressor.</p> + +<p>'Raise your heads in hope, oh ye oppressed ones! lift up your hearts, +ye who are weighed down with a load of evils! To each citizen his own +city is his Republic. Administer justice in your cities in conformity +with the general will. Let your various ranks live on a footing of +justice. Do not oppress the weak, lest you in your turn be deservedly +oppressed by the strong. This is the penalty of wrong-doing, that each +one suffers in his own person what he has wantonly inflicted on +another.</p> + +<p>'Live then in justice and moderation. Follow the example of the +cranes, who change the order of their flight, making foremost +hindmost, and hindmost foremost, without difficulty, each willingly +obeying its fellow—a commonwealth of birds.</p> + +<p>'You have, according to the laws, power over your citizens. Not in +vain has Antiquity conceded to you the title of Curia: not vainly did +it call you the Lesser Senate, the nerves and vital organs of the +State<a name="FNanchor_576_576" id="FNanchor_576_576"></a><a href="#Footnote_576_576" class="fnanchor">[576]</a>. What is not contained of honour and power in that title! +For that which is compared to the Senate is excluded from no kind of +glory.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="ix3">3.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Bergantinus, Vir Illustris, Comes [Patrimonii], +and Patrician</span><a name="FNanchor_577_577" id="FNanchor_577_577"></a><a href="#Footnote_577_577" class="fnanchor">[577]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Gold-mining in Italy.</div> + +<p>'Gold, as well as many other fair fruits of Nature which gold can buy, +is said to be produced by our generous Italy. Theodorus, who is an +expert in such matters, asserts that gold will be found on the farm +Rusticiana in Bruttii<a name="FNanchor_578_578" id="FNanchor_578_578"></a><a href="#Footnote_578_578" class="fnanchor">[578]</a>. Let your Greatness therefore send a +<i>Cartarius</i> to commence mining operations on that spot. The work of a +miner resembles that of a mole. He burrows underground, far from the +light of day. Sometimes the sides of his passages fall in and his way +is closed up behind him; but if he emerge safely with his treasure, +how happy is he! Then the gold-miner proceeds to immerse his ore in +water, that the heavy metal may be separated from the lighter earth; +then to submit it to a fervent heat, that it may thence derive its +beautiful colour<a name="FNanchor_579_579" id="FNanchor_579_579"></a><a href="#Footnote_579_579" class="fnanchor">[579]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Let then the land of Bruttii pay her tribute in gold, the most +desired of all treasure. To seek gold by war is wicked, by voyages +dangerous, by swindling shameful; but to seek it from Nature in its +own home is righteous. No one is hurt by this honest gain. Griffins +are said to dig for gold and to delight in the contemplation of this +metal; but no one blames them, because their proceedings are not +dictated by criminal covetousness. For it is not the act itself, but +the motive for the act, that gives it its moral quality.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="ix4">4.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">A family of Curiales permitted to step down into the ranks +of the Possessores.</div> + +<p>'The <i>pietas</i> of the King is happily shown in moderating the sentence +of the law, where for certain reasons it bears with especial hardness +on anyone. The Curiales have peculiar advantages in their opportunity +of being thus liberated by the Sovereign from the performance of their +duties<a name="FNanchor_580_580" id="FNanchor_580_580"></a><a href="#Footnote_580_580" class="fnanchor">[580]</a>. It is reasonable to release a Curialis whose health +prevents him from fulfilling his appointed task; and a numerous Curia +will never miss a few names out of so large a number.</p> + +<p>'Therefore let your Illustrious Magnificence remove Agenantia, wife +[or widow?] of the most eloquent man Campanianus, dwelling in Lucania, +from the album of her Curia, and her sons also, so that posterity may +never know that they were formerly liable to Curial duties.</p> + +<p>'Remitted to the ranks of [mere] Possessores they will now be liable +to the same demands which formerly [as members of the Curia] they made +upon others. They will now dread the face of the tax-collector +(compulsor), and will begin to fear the mandates by which formerly +they made themselves feared<a name="FNanchor_581_581" id="FNanchor_581_581"></a><a href="#Footnote_581_581" class="fnanchor">[581]</a>. Still this is a sign of their past +good life, that they are willing to live without office <i>among</i> a +population whose dislike they are not conscious of having incurred, +and <i>under</i> old colleagues whom they know that they have not incited +to an abuse of their powers.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="ix5">5.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Bishops and Functionaries of</span> ——<a name="FNanchor_582_582" id="FNanchor_582_582"></a><a href="#Footnote_582_582" class="fnanchor">[582]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Forestalling and regrating of corn prohibited.</div> + +<p>'We learn with regret by the complaint of the Possessores of your +district that the severity of famine is being increased by the conduct +of certain persons who have bought up corn and are holding it for +higher prices. In a time of absolute famine there can be no "higgling +of the market;" the hungry man will submit to be cheated rather than +let another get the food before him<a name="FNanchor_583_583" id="FNanchor_583_583"></a><a href="#Footnote_583_583" class="fnanchor">[583]</a>.</p> + +<p>'To stop this practice we send to you the present messengers, whose +business it is to examine all the stores of corn collected for public +distribution<a name="FNanchor_584_584" id="FNanchor_584_584"></a><a href="#Footnote_584_584" class="fnanchor">[584]</a> or otherwise, to leave to each family sufficient for +its needs, and to purchase the remainder from the owners at a fair +market price. Co-operate with these orders of ours cheerfully, and do +not grumble at them. Complain not that your freedom is interfered +with. There is no free-trade in crime<a name="FNanchor_585_585" id="FNanchor_585_585"></a><a href="#Footnote_585_585" class="fnanchor">[585]</a>. If you work with us you +will earn good renown for yourselves; if against us, the King's +reputation will gain by your loss. It is the sign of a good ruler to +make men act righteously, even against their wills.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix6">6.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to ——, Primiscrinius</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">A furlough granted for a visit to Baiae.</div> + +<p>'You complain that your health is failing under the long pressure of +your work, and that you fear, if you absent yourself, you may lose the +emoluments of your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span> office. At the same time you ask leave to visit +the Baths of Baiae. Go then with a mind perfectly at rest as to your +emoluments, which we will keep safe for you. Seek the Sun, seek the +pure air and smiling shore of that lovely bay, thickly set with +harbours and dotted with noble islands—that bay in which Nature +displays all her marvels and invites man to explore her secrets. There +is the Lake of Avernus, with its splendid supply of oysters. There are +long piers jutting out into the sea; and the most delightful fishing +in the world is to be had in the fish-ponds—open to the sky—on +either side of them. There are warm baths, heated not by brick-work +flues and smoky balls of fire, but by Nature herself. The pure air +supplies the steam and softly stimulates perspiration, and the +health-giving work is so much the better done as Nature is above Art. +Let the Coralli [in Moesia, on the shore of the Euxine] boast their +wonderful sea, let the pearl fisheries of India vaunt themselves. In +our judgment Baiae, for its powers of bestowing pleasure and health, +surpasses them all. Go then to Baiae to bathe, and have no fear about +the emoluments.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix7">7.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Reparatus, Praefect of the City</span>.</h3> + +<p>[We learn from Procopius ('De Bello Gotthico' i. 26) that Reparatus +was brother of Pope Vigilius; that in 537 he escaped from the +captivity in which the other Senators were kept at Ravenna by Witigis, +and fled to Milan. In 539 Reparatus, who was then Praefectus +Praetorio, was captured at Milan by the Goths, hewn in pieces, and his +flesh given to the dogs (Ibid. ii. 21).]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Reparatus appointed Praefectus Urbis.</div> + +<p>'The son of a high official naturally aspires to emulate his father's +dignities. Your father had a distinguished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span> career, first as Comes +Largitionum, then as Praefectus Praetorio. While holding the latter +office, he repaired the Senate-house, restored to the poor the gifts +(?) of which they had been deprived<a name="FNanchor_586_586" id="FNanchor_586_586"></a><a href="#Footnote_586_586" class="fnanchor">[586]</a>, and though not himself a man +of liberal education, pleased all by the natural charm of his manner.</p> + +<p>'You have those advantages of mental training which were denied to +your father. Education lifts an obscure man on to a level with nobles, +but also adorns him who is of noble birth. You have moreover been +chosen as son-in-law by a man of elevated character, whose choice is +in itself a mark of your high merit. You are coming young to +office<a name="FNanchor_587_587" id="FNanchor_587_587"></a><a href="#Footnote_587_587" class="fnanchor">[587]</a>; but, with such a man's approbation, you cannot be said to +be untried.</p> + +<p>'We therefore confer upon you for this Indiction the dignity of +Praefect of the City. The eyes of the world are upon you. The Senate, +that illustrious and critical body, the youngest members of which are +called <i>Patres</i>, will listen to your words. See that you say nothing +which can displease those wise men, whose praise, though hard to win, +will be most sweet to your ears. Diligently help the oppressed. Hand +on to your posterity the renown which you have received from your +ancestors.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix8">8.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Count Osuin (or Osum), Vir Illustris</span><a name="FNanchor_588_588" id="FNanchor_588_588"></a><a href="#Footnote_588_588" class="fnanchor">[588]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Osuin made Governor of Dalmatia and Savia.</div> + +<p>'We reward our faithful servants with high honours, hoping thereby to +quicken the slothful into emulation, when they ask themselves why, +under such an impartial rule, they too do not receive promotion.</p> + +<p>'We therefore again entrust to your Illustrious Great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</a></span>ness the +Provinces of Dalmatia and S(u)avia. We need not hold up to you the +examples of others. You have only to imitate yourself, and to confer +now again in your old age the same blessings on those Provinces which, +as a younger man, you bestowed on them under our grandfather.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix9">9.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to all the Goths and Romans (in Dalmatia and Savia)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'We send back to you the Illustrious Count Osuin, whose valour and +justice you already know, to ward off from you the fear of foreign +nations, and to keep you from unjust demands. With him comes the +Illustrious Severinus<a name="FNanchor_589_589" id="FNanchor_589_589"></a><a href="#Footnote_589_589" class="fnanchor">[589]</a>, that with one heart and one mind, like the +various reeds of an organ, they may utter their praiseworthy precepts.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Remission of Augmentum.</div> + +<p>'As an act of grace on the commencement of our reign, we direct the +Count of the Patrimony to remit to you all the super-assessment +(augmentum) which was fixed for your Province at the fourth +Indiction<a name="FNanchor_590_590" id="FNanchor_590_590"></a><a href="#Footnote_590_590" class="fnanchor">[590]</a>.</p> + +<p>'We also grant that when the aforesaid person [Severinus] returns to +our presence, you may send suitable men with him to inform us of your +financial position, that we may, by readjustment of the taxes, lighten +your load if it be still too heavy. Nothing consolidates the Republic +so much as the uninjured powers of the taxpayer.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="ix10">10.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to all the Provincials of the City of Syracuse</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Remission of Augmentum to Syracusans.</div> + +<p>'Lately we announced to you our accession: now we wish to confer upon +you a benefit in the matter of taxes. For we look on that only as our +revenue which the cultivator pays cheerfully. Our grandfather, +considering the great increase in wealth and population which his long +and peaceful reign had brought with it, thought it prudent to increase +the taxes to be paid by the Province of Sicily<a name="FNanchor_591_591" id="FNanchor_591_591"></a><a href="#Footnote_591_591" class="fnanchor">[591]</a>. He was quite +right in doing this, but he thereby prepared for us, his young +successor, an opportunity of conferring an unexpected favour, for we +hereby remit to you all the augmentum which was assessed upon you at +the fourth Indiction. And not only so, but all that you have already +paid under this head for the fifth Indiction (526-7) we direct the +tax-collectors to carry to your credit on account<a name="FNanchor_592_592" id="FNanchor_592_592"></a><a href="#Footnote_592_592" class="fnanchor">[592]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Besides this, if anyone have to complain of oppression on the part of +the Governors of the Province, let him seek at once a remedy from our +Piety. Often did our grandfather of glorious memory grieve over the +slowness of the Governors to obey their letters of recall, feeling +sure that they were lingering in the Provinces neither for his good +nor yours.</p> + +<p>'We however, with God's help, shall go on in the good work which we +have begun. You have a Prince who, the older he grows, the more will +love you. We send to you our Sajo Quidila, who will convey to you our +orders on this matter.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="ix11">11.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Gildias, Vir Spectabilis, Count of Syracuse</span>.</h3> + +<h3><a name="ix12">12.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Victor and Witigisclus (or Wigisicla), Viri +Spectabiles, Censitores<a name="FNanchor_593_593" id="FNanchor_593_593"></a><a href="#Footnote_593_593" class="fnanchor">[593]</a> of Sicily</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Oppressions exercised by the King's officers in Sicily +rebuked.</div> + +<p>Victor and Witigisclus are sharply rebuked for their delay in +desisting from the oppression of the Provincials and coming to the +Court of Theodoric when called for<a name="FNanchor_594_594" id="FNanchor_594_594"></a><a href="#Footnote_594_594" class="fnanchor">[594]</a>, a delay which is made more +suspicious by their not having presented themselves to welcome +Athalaric on his accession. Both they and Count Gildias are informed +of the King's decision to remit the increased tax imposed at the +fourth Indiction (Sept. 525); and the two Censitores are recommended, +if they are conscious of having oppressed or injured any of the +Provincials, to remedy the matter themselves, as the King has given +all the Sicilians leave to appeal to himself against their +oppressions: and the complaints of the Sicilians, though distant, will +certainly reach his ears.</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix13">13.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Willias, Vir Illustris, Comes Patrimonii</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Increase of emoluments of Domestici.</div> + +<p>'Your Greatness informs us of cases that have come to your knowledge, +in which the Guards (Domestici) attending the Counts who are appointed +[to the government of various Provinces] have oppressed the +Provincials by their exactions. As we believe that there is some +excuse for this in the smallness of their <i>emolumenta</i>, which at +present consist of only 200 solidi (£120) and ten rations (Annonae), +we direct that you henceforth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</a></span> pay them, as from the fifth Indiction +(Sept. 526), 50 solidi (£30) annually, in addition to the above, +charging this further payment to our account. By taking away +Necessity, the mother of crimes, we hope that the practice of sinning +will also be removed. If, after this, anyone is found oppressing the +Provincials, let him lose his <i>emolumenta</i> altogether. Our gifts +ennoble the receiver, and are given in order to take away from him any +pretext for begging from others.'</p> + +<p>[The Domestici were a very select corps of Life-guardsmen; probably +only a very small number of them would accompany a Provincial Governor +to his charge. This may explain what seems an extraordinarily high +rate of pay. Perhaps it is the Comes himself, not his Domestici, who +is to receive the emolumenta here specified; but, if so, the letter is +very obscurely expressed.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix14">14.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Gildias, Vie Spectabilis, Count of Syracuse</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Oppressive acts charged against Gildias, Comes of +Syracuse.</div> + +<p>'We hear great complaints of you from the Sicilians; but, as they are +willing to let bye-gones be bye-gones, we accede to their request, but +give you the following warning:</p> + +<p>'(1) You are said to have extorted large sums from them on pretence of +rebuilding the walls, which you have not done. Either repay them the +money or build up their walls. It is too absurd, to promise +fortifications and give instead to the citizens hideous +desolation<a name="FNanchor_595_595" id="FNanchor_595_595"></a><a href="#Footnote_595_595" class="fnanchor">[595]</a>.</p> + +<p>'(2) You are said to be claiming for the Exchequer (under the name of +"Fiscus Caducus") the estates of deceased persons, without any sort of +regard for justice, whereas that title was only intended to apply to +the case of strangers dying without heirs, natural or testamentary.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</a></span></p> + +<p>'(3) You are said to be oppressing the suitors in the Courts with +grievous charges<a name="FNanchor_596_596" id="FNanchor_596_596"></a><a href="#Footnote_596_596" class="fnanchor">[596]</a>, so that you make litigation utterly ruinous to +those who undertake it.</p> + +<p>'We order therefore that when <i>our</i><a name="FNanchor_597_597" id="FNanchor_597_597"></a><a href="#Footnote_597_597" class="fnanchor">[597]</a> decrees are being enforced +against a beaten litigant, the gratuity claimed by the officer shall +be the same which our glorious grandfather declared to be +payable—according to the respective ranks of the litigants—to the +Sajo who was charged with the enforcement of the decree; for +gratuities ought not to be excessive<a name="FNanchor_598_598" id="FNanchor_598_598"></a><a href="#Footnote_598_598" class="fnanchor">[598]</a>.</p> + +<p>'But if <i>your</i> decrees are being enforced—and that must be only in +cases against persons with whom the edicts allow you to +interfere<a name="FNanchor_599_599" id="FNanchor_599_599"></a><a href="#Footnote_599_599" class="fnanchor">[599]</a>—then your officer must receive half the gratuity +allowed to him who carries our decrees into execution. It is obviously +improper that the man who only performs <i>your</i> orders should receive +as much as is paid out of reverence for <i>our</i> command. Anyone +infringing this constitution is to restore fourfold.</p> + +<p>'(4) The edicts of our glorious grandfather, and all the precepts +which he made for the government of Sicily, are to be so obediently +observed that he shall be held guilty of sacrilege who, spurred on by +his own beastly disposition, shall try to break down the bulwark of +our commands<a name="FNanchor_600_600" id="FNanchor_600_600"></a><a href="#Footnote_600_600" class="fnanchor">[600]</a>.</p> + +<p>'(5) It is said that you cite causes between two Romans, even against +their will, before your tribunal. If you are conscious that this has +been done by you, do not so presume in future, lest while seeking the +office of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</a></span> Judge, for which you are incompetent, you wake up to find +yourself a culprit. You, of all men, ought to be mindful of the +Edictum, since you insist on its being followed by others. If not, if +this rule is not observed by you, your whole power of decreeing shall +be taken from you. Let the administration of the laws be preserved +intact to the <i>Judices Ordinarii</i>. Let the litigants throng, as they +ought to do, to the Courts of their <i>Cognitores</i>. Do not be gnawed by +envy of their pomp. The true praise of the Goths is +<i>law-abidingness</i><a name="FNanchor_601_601" id="FNanchor_601_601"></a><a href="#Footnote_601_601" class="fnanchor">[601]</a>. The more seldom the litigant is seen in your +presence the greater is your renown. Do you defend the State with your +arms; let the Romans plead before their own law courts in peace.</p> + +<p>'(6) You are also accused of insisting on buying the cargoes of +vessels that come to the port at your own price [and selling again at +a higher]—a practice the very suspicion of which is injurious to an +official, even if it cannot be proved against him in fact<a name="FNanchor_602_602" id="FNanchor_602_602"></a><a href="#Footnote_602_602" class="fnanchor">[602]</a>. +Wherefore, if you wish to avoid the rumour of this deed, let the +Bishop and people of the city come forward as witnesses on behalf of +your conscience<a name="FNanchor_603_603" id="FNanchor_603_603"></a><a href="#Footnote_603_603" class="fnanchor">[603]</a>. Prices ought to be fixed by the common +deliberation [of buyer and seller]; since no one likes a commercial +transaction which is forced upon the unwilling.</p> + +<p>'Wherefore we have thought it proper to warn your Sublimity by these +presents, since we do not like those whom we love to be guilty of +excess, nor to hear evil reports of those who are charged with +reforming the morals of others.'</p> + +<p>[This is an important letter, especially when taken in connection with +the words of Totila (Procopius, 'De<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</a></span> Bello Gotthico' iii. 16), as to +the exceptional indulgence with which the Gothic Kings had treated +Sicily, 'leaving, at the request of the inhabitants, very few soldiers +in the island, that there might be no distaste to their freedom or to +their general prosperity.'</p> + +<p>Gildias is evidently a Goth, and though a <i>Vir Spectabilis</i> and +holding a Roman office—the Comitiva Syracusanae Civitatis—still it +is essentially a military office, and he has no business to divert +causes from the Judices Ordinarii to his tribunal, though probably a +Roman Comes might often do this without serious blame. But by his +doing so, the general principle, that in purely Roman causes a Goth is +not to interfere, seems to be infringed, and therefore he receives +this sharp reprimand to prevent his doing it again.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix15">15.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Pope John II</span> (<a href="#err29">532</a>).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Against Simony at Papal elections.</div> + +<p>'The Defensor of the Roman Church hath informed us in his tearful +petition that lately, when a President was sought for the Papal chair, +so much were the usual largesses to the poor augmented by the promises +which had been extorted from the candidate, that, shameful to say, +even the sacred vessels were exposed to sale in order to provide the +necessary money<a name="FNanchor_604_604" id="FNanchor_604_604"></a><a href="#Footnote_604_604" class="fnanchor">[604]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Therefore let your Holiness know that by this present decree, which +relates also to all the Patriarchs and Metropolitan Churches [the five +Metropolitan Churches in Rome, and such Sees as Milan, Aquileia, +Ravenna], we confirm the wise law passed by the Senate in the time of +the most holy Pope Boniface [predecessor of John II]. By it any +contract or promise made by any person in order to obtain a Bishopric +is declared void.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Anyone refusing to refund money so received is to be declared guilty +of sacrilege, and restitution is to be enforced by the Judge.'</p> + +<p>'Should a contention arise as to an election to the Apostolic See, and +the matter be brought to our Palace for decision, we direct that the +maximum fee to be paid, on the completion of the necessary documents +(?), shall be 3,000 solidi [£1,800]<a name="FNanchor_605_605" id="FNanchor_605_605"></a><a href="#Footnote_605_605" class="fnanchor">[605]</a>; but this is only to be +exacted from persons of sufficient ability to pay it.</p> + +<p>'Patriarchs [Archbishops of the other great Italian Sees] under +similar circumstances are to pay not more than 2,000 solidi [£1,200].</p> + +<p>'No one is to give [on his consecration] more than 500 solidi [£300] +to the poor.</p> + +<p>'Anyone professing to obtain for money the suffrage of any one of our +servants on behalf of a candidate for Papacy or Patriarchate, shall be +forced to refund the money. If it cannot be recovered from him, it may +be from his heirs. He himself shall be branded with infamy.</p> + +<p>'Should the giver of the money have been bound by such oaths, that, +without imperilling his soul, he cannot disclose the transaction, +anyone else may inform, and on establishing the truth of his +accusation, receive a third part of the money so corruptly paid, the +rest to go to the churches themselves, for the repair of the fabric or +for the daily ministry. Remember the fate of Simon Magus. We have +ordered that this decree be made known to the Senate and people by the +Praefect of the City.'</p> + +<p>[I think the early part of this letter gives us the clue to the +pretext under which these simoniacal practices were introduced. It was +usual for the Pope on his elec<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</a></span>tion to give a certain sum of money to +the poor. Then at a vehemently contested election certain of the +voters—perhaps especially the priests of the different <i>tituli</i> of +Rome—claimed to be distributors of the Papal bounty, a large part of +which they no doubt kept for themselves.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix16">16.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Salvantius, Vir Illustris, Praefect of the City</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>Rehearses the motives of the <a href="#ix15">previous edict</a>, and directs that both it +and the Senatus Consulta having reference to the same subject [and +framed two years previously], be engraved on marble tablets, and fixed +up in a conspicuous place, before the Atrium of St. Peter the Apostle.</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix17">17.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Same (<a href="#err30">between 532 and 534</a>)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Release of two Roman citizens accused of sedition.</div> + +<p>'We cannot bear that there should be sadness in Rome, the head of the +world. We hear with regret from the Apostolic Pope John, and other +nobles, that A and B, who are Romans, on a mere suspicion of sedition +are being macerated by so long imprisonment that the whole city mourns +for them; no gladness of a holyday and no respect for the Papal +name<a name="FNanchor_606_606" id="FNanchor_606_606"></a><a href="#Footnote_606_606" class="fnanchor">[606]</a> (which is most dear to us) availing to mitigate their +confinement. This treatment of persons against whom no crime has been +proved distresses us much, and we admonish your Greatness, wherever +you may succeed in finding them, to set them free. If, confident in +their innocence, they think that they have been unjustly tormented, we +give them liberty to make their appeal to the laws. Judges<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</a></span> were +raised to their high estate, not to oppress but to defend the +innocent.</p> + +<p>'Now let the Romans return to their ancient gladness; nor let them +think that any [rulers] please us but those who seek to act with +fairness and moderation. Let them understand that our forefathers +underwent labours and dangers that <i>they</i> might have rest; and that we +are expending large sums in order that they may rejoice with garrulous +exultation. For even if they have before now suffered some rough and +unjust treatment, let them not believe that that is a thing to be +neglected by our Mildness. No; for we give ourselves no rest, that +they may enjoy secure peace and calm gladness. Let them understand at +once that <i>we</i> cannot love the men whose excesses have made them +terrible to our subjects. Whose favour do those men expect to win who +have earned the dislike of their fellow-citizens? They might have +reaped a harvest of the public love, and instead thereof they have so +acted that their names are justly held in execration.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix18">18.</a> <span class="smcap">The Edict of Athalaric</span>.</h3> + +<p>[This edict is minutely examined by Dahn ('Könige der Germanen' iv. +123-135). I have adopted his division of paragraphs, though rather +disposed to think that the 'De Donationibus' should be broken up into +two, to prevent counting the Epilogue as a section. See also Manso +('Geschichte der Ostrogothen' 405-415).]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Edict of Athalaric.</div> + +<p>'<i>Prologue.</i> This edict is a general one. No names are mentioned in +it, and those who are conscious of innocence need take no offence at +anything contained therein.</p> + +<p>'For long an ominous whisper has reached our ears that certain +persons, despising <i>civilitas</i>, affect a life of beastly +barbarism<a name="FNanchor_607_607" id="FNanchor_607_607"></a><a href="#Footnote_607_607" class="fnanchor">[607]</a>, returning to the wild beginnings of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</a></span> society, and +looking with a fierce hatred on all human laws. The present seems to +us a fitting time for repressing these men, in order that we may be +hunting down vice and immorality within the Republic at the same time +that, with God's help, we are resisting her external foes. Both are +hurtful, both have to be repelled; but the internal enemy is even more +dangerous than the external. One, however, rests upon the other; and +we shall more easily sweep down the armies of our enemies if we subdue +under us the vices of the age. [This allusion to foreign enemies is +perhaps explained by the hint in Jordanes ('De Reb. Get.' 59) of +threatened war with the Franks. But he gives us no sufficient +indication of time to enable us to fix the date of the Edictum.]</p> + +<p>'I. <i>Forcible Appropriation of Landed Property</i><a name="FNanchor_608_608" id="FNanchor_608_608"></a><a href="#Footnote_608_608" class="fnanchor">[608]</a> (Pervasio). This +is a crime which is quite inconsistent with <i>civilitas</i>, and we remit +those who are guilty of it to the punishment<a name="FNanchor_609_609" id="FNanchor_609_609"></a><a href="#Footnote_609_609" class="fnanchor">[609]</a> provided by a law of +Divus Valentinianus [Valentinian III. Novell. xix. 'De Invasoribus'], +adding that if anyone is unable to pay the penalty therein provided he +shall suffer banishment (deportatio). He ought to have been more chary +of disobeying the laws if he had no means to pay the penalty. Judges +who shrink from obeying this law, and allow the <i>Pervasor</i> to remain +in possession of what he has forcibly annexed, shall lose their +offices and be held liable to pay to our Treasury the same fine which +might have been exacted from him. If the <i>Pervasor</i> sets the Judge's +official staff (officium) at defiance, on the report of the Judge our +Sajones will make <i>him</i> feel the weight of the royal vengeance who +refused to obey the [humbler] <i>Cognitor</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</a></span></p><p>'II. <i>Affixing Titles to Property.</i> [When land had from any cause +become public property, the Emperor's officers used to affix <i>tituli</i>, +to denote the fact and to warn off all other claimants. Powerful men +who had dispossessed weaker claimants used to imitate this practice, +and are here forbidden to do so.]</p> + +<p>'This offence shall subject the perpetrator to the same penalties as +<i>pervasio</i>. It is really a kind of sacrilege to try to add the majesty +of the royal name to the weight of his own oppression. Costs are to be +borne by the defeated claimant.</p> + +<p>'III. <i>Suppression of Words in a Decree.</i> Anyone obtaining a decree +against an adversary is to be careful to suppress nothing in the copy +which he serves upon him. If he does so, he shall lose all the +benefits that he obtained. We wish to help honest men, not rogues.</p> + +<p>'IV. <i>Seduction of a Married Woman.</i> He who tries to interfere with +the married rights of another, shall be punished by inability to +contract a valid marriage himself. [This punishment of compulsory +celibacy is, according to Dahn, derived neither from Roman nor German +law, but is possibly due to Church influence.] The offender who has no +hope of present or future matrimony<a name="FNanchor_610_610" id="FNanchor_610_610"></a><a href="#Footnote_610_610" class="fnanchor">[610]</a> shall be punished by +confiscation of half his property; or, if a poor man, by banishment.</p> + +<p>'V. <i>Adultery</i>. All the statutes of the late King (divalis commonitio) +in this matter are to be strictly observed. [Edict. Theodorici, § 38, +inflicted the penalty of death on both offenders and on the abettors +of the crime.]</p> + +<p>'VI. <i>Bigamy</i> is to be punished with loss of all the offender's +property.</p> + +<p>'VII. <i>Concubinage.</i> If a married man forms a connection of this kind +with a free woman, she and all her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</a></span> children shall become the slaves +of the injured wife. If with a woman who is a slave already, she shall +be subjected to any revenge that the lawful wife likes to inflict upon +her, short of blood-shedding<a name="FNanchor_611_611" id="FNanchor_611_611"></a><a href="#Footnote_611_611" class="fnanchor">[611]</a>.</p> + +<p>'VIII. <i>Donations</i> are not to be extorted by terror, nor acquired by +fraud, or as the price of immorality. Where a gift is <i>bonâ fide</i>, the +document conveying it is to be drawn up with the strictness prescribed +by Antiquity, in order to remove occasions of fraud.</p> + +<p>'IX. Magicians and other persons practising nefarious arts are to be +punished by the severity of the laws. What madness to leave the Giver +of life and seek to the Author of death! Let the Judges be especially +careful to avoid the contagion of these foul practices.</p> + +<p>'X. <i>Violence Exercised towards the Weak.</i> Let the condition of +mediocrity be safe from the arrogance of the rich. Let the madness of +bloodshed be avoided. To take the law into your own hands is to wage +private war, especially in the case of those who are fortified by the +authority of our <i>tuitio</i>. If anyone attempts with foul presumption to +act contrary to these principles, let him be considered a violator of +our orders.</p> + +<p>'XI. <i>Appeals</i> are not to be made twice in the same cause.</p> + +<p>'XII. <i>Epilogue.</i> But lest, while touching on a few points, we should +be thought not to wish the laws to be observed in other matters, we +declare that all the edicts of ourself and of our lord and +grandfather, which were confirmed by venerable deliberation<a name="FNanchor_612_612" id="FNanchor_612_612"></a><a href="#Footnote_612_612" class="fnanchor">[612]</a>, and +the whole body of decided law<a name="FNanchor_613_613" id="FNanchor_613_613"></a><a href="#Footnote_613_613" class="fnanchor">[613]</a>, be adhered to with the utmost +rigour.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</a></span></p><p>'And these laws are so scrupulously guarded that our own oath is +interposed for their defence. Why enlarge further? Let the usual rule +of law and the honest intent of our precepts be everywhere observed.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix19">19.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Promulgation of the Edict.</div> + +<p>'Good laws are called forth by evil manners. If no complaints were +ever heard, the Prince might take holiday. Stirred up by many and +frequent complaints of our people, we have drawn up certain +regulations necessary for the Roman peace, in our edict which is +divided into twelve chapters, after the manner of the civil law<a name="FNanchor_614_614" id="FNanchor_614_614"></a><a href="#Footnote_614_614" class="fnanchor">[614]</a>. +We do not thereby abrogate, but rather confirm, the previously +existing body of law.</p> + +<p>'Let this edict be read in your splendid assembly, and exhibited for +thirty days by the Praefect of the City in the most conspicuous +places. Thus shall our <i>civilitas</i> be recognised, and truculent men +lose their confidence. What insolent subjects<a name="FNanchor_615_615" id="FNanchor_615_615"></a><a href="#Footnote_615_615" class="fnanchor">[615]</a> can indulge in +violence when the Sovereign condemns it? Our armies fight that there +may be peace at home. Let the Judges do their duty fearlessly, and +avoid foul corruption.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix20">20.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to all the Judges of the Provinces</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'It is vexatious that, though we appoint you year by year to your +duties, and leave no district without its Judge, there is yet such +tardiness in administering justice that suitors come by preference to +our distant Court.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</a></span></p> + +<p>'To take away all excuse from you, and relieve the necessity of our +subjects, we have drawn up an edict which we desire you to exhibit for +thirty days in the wonted manner at all places of public meeting.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix21">21.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Increase of salaries of grammarians.</div> + +<p>'You who are called Fathers should be interested in all that concerns +the education of your sons. We hear by certain whisperings that the +teachers of eloquence at Rome are not receiving their proper reward, +and that the sums appointed to be paid to the masters of schools are +lessened by the haggling of some persons.</p> + +<p>'Grammar is the noble foundation of all literature, the glorious +mother of eloquence. As a virtuous man is offended by any act of vice, +as a musician is pained by a discordant note, so does the grammarian +in a moment perceive a false concord.</p> + +<p>'The grammatical art is not used by barbarous kings: it abides +peculiarly with legitimate sovereigns<a name="FNanchor_616_616" id="FNanchor_616_616"></a><a href="#Footnote_616_616" class="fnanchor">[616]</a>. Other nations have arms: +the lords of the Romans alone have eloquence. Hence sounds the trumpet +for the legal fray in the Forum. Hence comes the eloquence of so many +chiefs of the State. Hence, to say nothing more, even this discourse +which is now addressed to you<a name="FNanchor_617_617" id="FNanchor_617_617"></a><a href="#Footnote_617_617" class="fnanchor">[617]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Wherefore let the teacher of grammar and of rhetoric, if he be found +suitable for his work and obey the decrees of the Praefect of the +City, be supported by your authority, and suffer no diminution of his +salary<a name="FNanchor_618_618" id="FNanchor_618_618"></a><a href="#Footnote_618_618" class="fnanchor">[618]</a>.</p> + +<p>'To prevent his being dependent in any way on the caprice of his +employer, let him receive half his salary at the end of half a year, +and his <i>annonae</i> at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</a></span> customary times. If the person whose +business it is to pay him neglects this order, he shall be charged +interest on the arrears.</p> + +<p>'The Grammarian is a man to whom every hour unemployed is misery, and +it is a shame that such a man should have to wait the caprice of a +public functionary before he gets his pay. We provide for the salaries +of the play-actors, who minister only to the amusement of the public; +and how much more for these men, the moulders of the style and +character of our youth! Therefore let them henceforward not have to +try the philosophical problem of thinking about two things at once, +but, with their minds at ease about their subsistence, devote +themselves with all their vigour to the teaching of liberal arts.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix22">22.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Paulinus, Vir Clarissimus and Consul</span> (533).</h3> + +<p>[Flavius Theodoras Paulinus Junior was Consul with the Emperor +Justinian in 534. This letter was written in Sept. 533, about thirteen +months before the death of Athalaric. Paulinus was son of Venantius +and grandson of Liberius.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Paulinus chosen as Consul.</div> + +<p>'The absent from our Court need not fear that they will be disregarded +in the distribution of honours, especially when they are sprung from +an illustrious stock, the offspring of the Senate.</p> + +<p>'In your family Rome recognises the descendants of her ancient heroes +the Decii, who, in a great crisis, alone saved their country.</p> + +<p>'Take then for the twelfth Indiction the ensigns of the +Consulship<a name="FNanchor_619_619" id="FNanchor_619_619"></a><a href="#Footnote_619_619" class="fnanchor">[619]</a>. It is an arduous honour, but one which your family is +well used to. The Fasti are studded with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</a></span> its names, and nearly all +the Senate is of kin to you. Still, presume not too much on the merits +of your ancestors, but rather seek to emulate their noble deeds.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix23">23.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">On the Consulship of Paulinus.</div> + +<p>'Judge of our esteem for your honourable body, Conscript Fathers, +when, without any hesitation, we appoint your sons whom we have never +seen to high office, because they are your sons.</p> + +<p>'We admire the Patrician Venantius, blessed as he has been with such +an abundant progeny, and found equal to the weight of so many +Consulships. His sons have been all temperate and lively; worthy +members of the same distinguished family. They have been trained in +arms, their minds have been formed by letters, their bodies by the +exercises of the gymnasium. They have learned to show constancy to +their friends, loyalty to their lords; and they have succeeded to the +virtues of their ancestors, as they will to their patrimony. Wisely +husbanding his own fortune, Venantius has been able to support the +honour—gratifying, but burdensome—of seeing so many of his sons made +Consuls. But this is an honour not strange to his family, sprung from +the ancient Decii. His hall is full of laurelled Fasces, and in his +line one might almost say that each one is born a Consular.</p> + +<p>'Favour our candidate then, Conscript Fathers, and cherish him with +that care which the name of your body<a name="FNanchor_620_620" id="FNanchor_620_620"></a><a href="#Footnote_620_620" class="fnanchor">[620]</a> signifies.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix24">24.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to Senator [Cassiodorus himself], Praetorian +Praefect (Sept.</span> 1, 533).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Cassiodorus appointed Praetorian Praefect.</div> + +<p>'If you had been hitherto an obscure person we might feel some doubt +how you would bear yourself in your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</a></span> new office, but your long and +glorious career under our grandfather relieves us from any such +anxieties. <i>His</i> choice of you is a thing to be not discussed but +reverently accepted. It was by him that we ourselves were chosen; and +the Divine favour so conspicuously followed him that no General whom +he selected was other than victorious, no Judge whom he appointed was +other than just. In short, one might almost deem him to have been +endowed with the gift of prophecy.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His Quaestorship.</div> + +<p>'In your early manhood he received you into the office of Quaestor, +and soon found you to be a conscientious man, learned in the law +beyond your years<a name="FNanchor_621_621" id="FNanchor_621_621"></a><a href="#Footnote_621_621" class="fnanchor">[621]</a>. You were the chief ornament of your times, +inasmuch as you, by your blameless service sustaining the weight of +that royal intellect by all the force of your eloquence, enabled him, +with his keen interest in all public affairs, to await the result with +confidence. In you he possessed a counsellor pleasant in the +transaction of business, rigid in his sense of justice, free from all +taint of avarice. You never fixed a scandalous tariff for the sale of +his benefits; and thus you reaped your reward in a wealth of public +opinion, not in gold. It was because that just Prince proved you to be +averse from all these vices that he selected you for his glorious +friendship. A wise judge, he threw upon you the weight of listening to +the arguments of contending parties; and so high was his opinion of +your tried sagacity that he at once uttered your decision as the +greatest benefit that he could confer on the litigants. How often did +he rank you among the oldest chiefs of his Council! How often was it +seen that your young beginnings were more than a match for them, who +had the experience of long years behind them! What he found to praise +in you was your excellent disposition, wide open for useful work, +tight closed against<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</a></span> the vices of avarice. Whereas, for some reason, +it is rare to find amongst men, the hand closed and justice open.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His career as Master of the Offices.</div> + +<p>'Let us pass on to the dignity of <i>Magister Officiorum</i>, which all men +knew that you obtained, not from the reputation of wealth, but as a +testimony to your character. In this place you were always ready to +help the [successive] Quaestors; for, when pure eloquence was +required, the case was always put in your hands. The benignant +Sovereign claimed from you the fulfilment of duties which he knew that +he had not formally laid upon you; and such was the favour that he had +for you, while others laboured you received the reward of his abundant +praises<a name="FNanchor_622_622" id="FNanchor_622_622"></a><a href="#Footnote_622_622" class="fnanchor">[622]</a>. For under your administration no dignity kept its exact +limits; anything that was to be honestly done by all the chiefs of the +State together, you considered to be entrusted to <i>your</i> conscience +for its performance.</p> + +<p>'No one found occasion to murmur anything to your disadvantage, though +you had to bear all the weight of unpopularity which comes from the +Sovereign's favour. The integrity of your life conquered those who +longed to detract from your reputation, and your enemies were obliged +to utter the praises which their hearts abhorred; for even malice +leaves manifest goodness unattacked, lest it be itself exposed to +general hatred.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His friendship for Theodoric.</div> + +<p>'To the Monarch you showed yourself a friendly Minister and an +intimate Noble<a name="FNanchor_623_623" id="FNanchor_623_623"></a><a href="#Footnote_623_623" class="fnanchor">[623]</a>. For when he had laid aside the cares of State, he +would seek in your conversation the opinions of wise men of old, that +by his own deeds he might make himself equal to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</a></span> ancients<a name="FNanchor_624_624" id="FNanchor_624_624"></a><a href="#Footnote_624_624" class="fnanchor">[624]</a>. +Into the courses of the stars, into the gulfs of the sea, into the +marvels of springing fountains, this most acute questioner enquired, +so that by his diligent investigations into the nature of things he +seemed to be a Philosopher wearing the purple.</p> + +<p>'It were long to narrate all your merits in the past. Let us rather +turn to the future, and show how the heir of Theodoric's Empire +proposes to pay the debts of Theodoric.</p> + +<p>'Therefore, with the Divine help, we bestow on you from the twelfth +Indiction [Sept. 1, 533] the authority and insignia of Praetorian +Praefect. Let the Provinces, which we know to have been hitherto +wearied by the administration of dishonest men, fearlessly receive a +Judge of tried integrity.</p> + +<p>'Though you have before you the example of your father's +Praefecture<a name="FNanchor_625_625" id="FNanchor_625_625"></a><a href="#Footnote_625_625" class="fnanchor">[625]</a>, renowned throughout the Italian world, we do not so +much set before you either that or any other example, as your own past +character, exhorting you to rule consistently with that. You have +always been averse from bribery; now earnestly help the victims of +injustice. We have purposely delayed your accession to this high +office that you might be the more heartily welcomed by the people, who +expected to see you clothed with it long ago. Diligently seek out +anything belonging to the titles of the Praetorian Praefecture, of +which it has been defrauded by the cupidity of others. We send you as +a light into a dark chamber, and expect that your sagacity and loyalty +will discover many hidden things.</p> + +<p>'We know that you will work not so much for the sake of honour as in +order to satisfy your con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</a></span>science; and work so done knows no limit to +its excellence.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="ix25">25.</a> <span class="smcap">King Athalaric to the Senate of the City of Rome (on the Promotion +of Cassiodorus Senator to the Praetorian Praefecture)</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Eulogy of Cassiodorus on his appointment as Praetorian +Praefect.</div> + +<p>'We have loaded Senator with our benefits, Conscript Fathers, because +he abounds in virtue, is rich in excellence of character, and is +already full of the highest honours. But, in fact, we are his debtors. +How shall we repay that eloquent tongue of his, with which he set +forth the deeds of the Prince, till he himself who had wrought them +wondered at his story? In praising the reign of the wearer of the +purple, he made it acceptable to your nation. For taxes may be paid to +a tyrant; praise, such as this, is given only to a good Prince.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His Gothic History.</div> + +<p>'Not satisfied with extolling living Kings, from whom he might hope +for a reward, he drew forth the Kings of the Goths from the dust of +ages, showing that the Amal family had been royal for seventeen +generations, and proved that the origin of the Gothic people belonged +to Roman history<a name="FNanchor_626_626" id="FNanchor_626_626"></a><a href="#Footnote_626_626" class="fnanchor">[626]</a>, adorning the whole subject with the flowers of +his learning gathered from wide fields of literature.</p> + +<p>'In the early days of our reign what labour he gave to the settling of +our affairs! He was alone sufficient for all. The duty of making +public harangues, our own private counsels, required him. He laboured +that the Empire might rest.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">His official career.</div> + +<p>'We found him Magister; but he discharged the duties of Quaestor, and +willingly bestowed on us, the heir, the experience which he had gained +in the counsels of our grandfather.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His military services.</div> + +<p>'And not only so, he helped the beginning of our reign both with his +arms and his pen. For when the care of our shores<a name="FNanchor_627_627" id="FNanchor_627_627"></a><a href="#Footnote_627_627" class="fnanchor">[627]</a> occupied our +royal meditation, he suddenly emerged from the seclusion of his +cabinet, boldly, like his ancestors, assumed the office of +General<a name="FNanchor_628_628" id="FNanchor_628_628"></a><a href="#Footnote_628_628" class="fnanchor">[628]</a>, and triumphed by his character when there was no enemy +to overcome. For he maintained the Gothic warriors<a name="FNanchor_629_629" id="FNanchor_629_629"></a><a href="#Footnote_629_629" class="fnanchor">[629]</a> at his own +charges, so that there should be no robbery of the Provincials on the +one hand, no too heavy burden on the exchequer on the other. Thus was +the soldier what he ought to be, the true defender, not the ravager of +his country. Then when the time for victualling the ships was over, +and the war was laid aside, he shone as an administrator rather than a +warrior, healing, without injury to the litigants, the various suits +which arose out of the sudden cessation of the contracts<a name="FNanchor_630_630" id="FNanchor_630_630"></a><a href="#Footnote_630_630" class="fnanchor">[630]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Such was the glory of the military command of a Metellus in Asia, of +a Cato in Spain—a glory far more durable than any that can be derived +from the varying shock of war.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His religious character.</div> + +<p>'Yet with all these merits, how humble he has been, how modest, how +benevolent, how slow to wrath, how generous in the distribution of +that which is his own,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[Pg 414]</a></span> how slow to covet the property of others! All +these virtues have been consolidated by his reading of the Divine +Book, the fear of God helping him to triumph over baser, human +motives. Thus has he been rendered humble towards all, as one imbued +with heavenly teaching.</p> + +<p>'Him therefore, Conscript Fathers, we make, under God's blessing, +Praetorian Praefect from the twelfth Indiction [Sept. 1, 533], that he +may repress by his own loyalty the trafficking of knaves, and may use +his power for the good of the Republic, bequeathing eternal renown to +his posterity.'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[Pg 415]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_X" id="BOOK_X"></a>BOOK X.</h2> + +<h3>CONTAINING THIRTY-FIVE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS:</h3> + +<h3> +FOUR IN THE NAME OF QUEEN AMALASUENTHA.<br /> +TWENTY-TWO IN THAT OF KING THEODAHAD.<br /> +FOUR IN THAT OF HIS WIFE GUDELINA.<br /> +FIVE IN THAT OF KING WITIGIS.<br /> +</h3> + + +<h3><a name="x1">1.</a> <span class="smcap">Queen Amalasuentha to Justinian the Emperor (a.d.</span> 534).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Association of Theodahad in the Sovereignty.</div> + +<p>'<span class="smcap">I have</span> hitherto forborne to distress you with the sad tidings of the +death of my son of glorious memory, but now am able to mingle a joyful +announcement with this mournful message. We have promoted to the +sceptre a man allied to us by a fraternal tie, that he may wear the +purple robes of his ancestors, and may cheer our own soul by his +prudent counsels. We are persuaded that you will give us your good +wishes on this event, as we hope that every kind of prosperity may +befall the kingdom of your Piety. The friendship of princes is always +comely, but your friendship absolutely ennobles me, since that person +is exalted in dignity who is united by friendship to your glory<a name="FNanchor_631_631" id="FNanchor_631_631"></a><a href="#Footnote_631_631" class="fnanchor">[631]</a>.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[Pg 416]</a></span></p> +<p>'As we cannot in the short space of a letter express all that we +desire to say on such an occasion, we have entrusted certain verbal +messages to the ambassadors who bear this epistle.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x2">2.</a> <span class="smcap">Theodahad the King to Justinian the Emperor</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'It is usual for newly-crowned Kings to signify their accession to the +different nations round them. I, in making this communication to you, +am greatly favoured by Providence, feeling secure of your favour, +because I know that my most excellent Lady and Sister has already +attained it. I feel confident that I shall justify the choice of one +who shines in such a light of wisdom that she both governs her own +kingdom with admirable forethought and keeps firmly the vows of +friendship which she has plighted to her neighbours. Partner of her +cares, I desire also to be a partner of her wisely-formed friendships, +those especially which she has contracted with you, who have nothing +like unto you in the whole world. This alliance is no new thing: if +you will look back upon the deeds of our ancestors you will find that +there is a custom which has obtained the force of a law, that the +Amals should be friendly with the Empire. So old a friendship is +likely to endure; and if, in obedience to it and to my Sister's +choice, I have your love, I shall feel that I am indeed a King.</p> + +<p>'The ambassadors who have charge of this letter will further express +my sentiments.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x3">3.</a> <span class="smcap">Queen Amalasuentha to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'After the death of our son of blessed memory<a name="FNanchor_632_632" id="FNanchor_632_632"></a><a href="#Footnote_632_632" class="fnanchor">[632]</a> our love for the +common weal overcame the yearnings of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[Pg 417]</a></span> mother's heart and caused us +to seek your prosperity rather than an opportunity to indulge in our +own sorrow. We have considered by what solace we should strengthen +ourselves for the cares of royalty. The same Providence which has +deprived us of a son in the dawn of manhood, has reserved for us the +affection of a brother in mature age. Under the Divine auspices we +have chosen Theodahad<a name="FNanchor_633_633" id="FNanchor_633_633"></a><a href="#Footnote_633_633" class="fnanchor">[633]</a> as the fortunate partner of our throne. We +two, with conjoined counsels, shall now labour for the common welfare, +<i>two</i> in our meditations, <i>one</i> in the action which results from them. +The stars give one another mutual help in ruling the heavens, and God +has bestowed on man two hands, two ears, two eyes, that each one of +these members should assist the other.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Praises of Theodahad.</div> + +<p>'Therefore exult, Conscript Fathers, and commend our deed to the +blessing of the Almighty. Our sharing our power with another is a +pledge of its being wisely and gently exercised. By God's help we have +opened our palace to a man of our own race, conspicuous by his +illustrious position, who, born of the Amal stock, has a kingly +dignity in all his actions, being patient in adversity, moderate in +prosperity, and, most difficult of all kinds of government, long used +to the government of himself. Moreover, he possesses that desirable +quality, literary erudition, lending a grace to a nature originally +praiseworthy. It is in books that the sage counsellor finds deeper +wisdom, in books that the warrior learns how he may be strengthened by +the courage of the soul, in books that the Sovereign discovers how he +may weld nations together under his equal rule. In short, there is no +condition in life the credit whereof is not augmented by the glorious +knowledge of literature.</p> + +<p>'Your new Sovereign is moreover learned in ecclesiastical lore, by +which we are ever reminded of the things which make for our own true +honour, right judgment, wise discretion, reverence for God, thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[Pg 418]</a></span> +of the future judgment. For the remembrance that we shall one day +stand at the bar to answer for ourselves compels us to follow the +footprints of Justice. Thus does religious reading not only sharpen +the intellect but ever tend to make men scrupulous in the performance +of their duties.</p> + +<p>'Let me pass on to that most generous frugality of his private +household<a name="FNanchor_634_634" id="FNanchor_634_634"></a><a href="#Footnote_634_634" class="fnanchor">[634]</a> which procured the means of such abundance in his +gifts, of such plenty at his banquets, that even the kingdom will not +call for any new expenditure in this respect greater than the old. +Generous in his hospitality, most pitiful in his compassions, while he +was thus spending much, his fortune, by a heavenly reward, was ever on +the increase.</p> + +<p>'The wish of the people should coincide with our choice of such a man, +who, reasonably spending his own goods, does not desire the goods of +others<a name="FNanchor_635_635" id="FNanchor_635_635"></a><a href="#Footnote_635_635" class="fnanchor">[635]</a>. For moderation in his own expenditure takes away from the +Sovereign the temptation to transgress the precepts of justice and to +abandon the golden mean.</p> + +<p>'Rejoice then, Conscript Fathers, and give thanks to the Most High, +that I have chosen such a ruler, who will supplement my justice by the +good deeds which spring from his own piety. For this man is both +admonished by the virtue of his ancestors and powerfully stimulated by +the example of his uncle Theodoric.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x4">4.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'We announce to you, Conscript Fathers, the Divine favour which has +been manifested unto us, in that our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[Pg 419]</a></span> sovereign Lady<a name="FNanchor_636_636" id="FNanchor_636_636"></a><a href="#Footnote_636_636" class="fnanchor">[636]</a>, who is +renowned throughout the whole world, has with generous affection made +me partaker of her throne, so that she may not lack loyal support and +I may be fittingly clothed with the purple of my ancestors.</p> + +<p>'I know that this elevation of mine was the object of the wishes of +the community. Your whispers in my favour might have been a source of +danger, but now your openly expressed acclamations are my proudest +boast. You wished that God should bestow upon me this honour, to which +I for my part should not have ventured to aspire. But if I have, as I +trust I have, any influence with you, let me prevail upon you to join +with me in perpetually hymning the glorious praises of our Lady and +Sister. She has wished to strengthen the greatness of our Empire by +associating me therein, even as the two eyes of a man harmoniously +co-operate towards a single act of vision. Divine grace joins us +together: our near relationship cements our friendship. Persons of +diverse character may find it an arduous matter thus to work in +common; but, to those who resemble one another in the goodness of +their intentions, the difficulty would rather be <i>not</i> to work in +harmony. The man devoid of forethought may fear the changing of his +purposes; but he who is really great in wisdom eagerly seeks wisdom in +another.</p> + +<p>'But of all the gifts which with this regal dignity the Divine favour +has bestowed upon me, none pleases me more than the fact that I should +have been thus chosen by that wisest Lady who is herself a moral +balance of the utmost delicacy, and who made me first feel her justice +before advancing me to this high dignity. For, as you know, she +ordained that I should plead my cause against private persons in the +common judgment-hall<a name="FNanchor_637_637" id="FNanchor_637_637"></a><a href="#Footnote_637_637" class="fnanchor">[637]</a>. Oh wonderful nobility of her mind! Oh +admir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[Pg 420]</a></span>able justice, which the world may well tell of! She hesitated +not first to subject her own relation to the course of public justice, +even him whom, a little after, she would raise above the laws +themselves. She thoroughly searched the conscience of him to whom she +was about to hand over the dignity of kingship, that she might be +recognised as sovereign Lady of all, and that I, when tested, might be +advanced by her to the throne.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Praises of Amalasuentha.</div> + +<p>'When shall I be able to repay her for all these favours: her who, +having reigned alone during the minority of her son, now chooses me as +the partner of her realm? In her is the glory of all kingdoms, the +flower of all our family. All our splendour is derived from her, and +she reflects a lustre not only on our ancestors, but on the whole +human race. Her dutiful affection, her weight of character, who can +set forth? The philosophers would learn new lessons if they knew her, +and would acknowledge that their books fail to describe all her +attributes. Acute she is in her powers of reasoning; but with royal +taciturnity she knows how to veil her conclusions in secrecy. She is +mistress of many languages; and her intellect, if suddenly tested, is +found so ready for the trial that it scarcely seems like that of a +mortal. In the Books of Kings the Queen of the South is said to have +come to learn the wisdom of Solomon: but here a woman speaks, and +Sovereigns listen to her with admiration. Infinite depths of meaning +are fathomed by her in few words, and she, with utmost ease, expresses +what others can only after long deliberation embody in language<a name="FNanchor_638_638" id="FNanchor_638_638"></a><a href="#Footnote_638_638" class="fnanchor">[638]</a>.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[Pg 421]</a></span></p> +<p>'Happy the commonwealth which boasts the guidance of such a mistress. +It was not enough that already liberty and convenience were combined +for the multitude<a name="FNanchor_639_639" id="FNanchor_639_639"></a><a href="#Footnote_639_639" class="fnanchor">[639]</a>: her merits have secured the fitting reverence +for the person of the Sovereign. In obeying <i>her</i> we obey all the +virtues. I, too, with such a counsellor, fear not the weight of the +crown; and I know that whatever is strange to me in my new duties I +shall learn from her as the safest of teachers.</p> + +<p>'Acknowledge, noble Sirs, that all my power of increased usefulness to +the State comes from this our most wise Lady, from whom I may either +gain wisdom by asking questions, or virtue by following her example.</p> + +<p>'Live happily: live in harmony by God's help, and emulate that grace +of concord which you see prevailing between your Sovereigns.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x5">5.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to his Man Theodosius</span><a name="FNanchor_640_640" id="FNanchor_640_640"></a><a href="#Footnote_640_640" class="fnanchor">[640]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The followers of the new King must live justly.</div> + +<p>'By my accession to the throne I have become lord of the whole nation +and guardian of the general welfare. I therefore command that all who +belong to my private household shall vindicate their rights only in +the courts of law, and shall abstain from all high-handed modes of +obtaining redress. Only that man must henceforward be called mine who +can live quietly subject to the laws. My new dignity has changed my +purpose; and if before I have defended my rights with pertinacity, I +shall now temper all my acts with clemency<a name="FNanchor_641_641" id="FNanchor_641_641"></a><a href="#Footnote_641_641" class="fnanchor">[641]</a>; since there is +nothing exceptional about a Sovereign's household, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[Pg 422]</a></span> wheresoever, +by the grace of God, our rule extends, there, as we fully confess, is +something which it is our duty to defend. Augment therefore my renown +by your patience, and let me hear praises rather than complaints of +the actions of my servants.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x6">6.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to Patricius, Vir Illustris and Quaestor</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Patricius appointed Quaestor.</div> + +<p>'In conferring upon you the office of Quaestor we look first to +character, and we find in you that love of justice which is all +important in a representative of the Prince. Then we look at the +qualities of your intellect, and we find in you that flow of eloquence +which among all mental accomplishments we value most highly. What does +it profit to be a philosopher, if one cannot worthily set forth the +results of one's investigations? To discover is natural to man; but to +set forth one's discoveries in noble language, that is indeed a +desirable gift. Therefore we bestow on you for this thirteenth +Indiction<a name="FNanchor_642_642" id="FNanchor_642_642"></a><a href="#Footnote_642_642" class="fnanchor">[642]</a> the fasces of the Quaestorship, desiring you to +consecrate your time to the study of the laws and the <i>responsa +prudentum</i>, and to spread abroad our fame by the eloquent manner in +which you shall communicate our decrees to the Cities and Provinces +under our sway, and speak in our name to the representatives of +foreign nations.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x7">7.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'After announcing to you our own accession, one of our first cares was +to choose a Judge whose style of speaking might dignify the State. +Such a Judge have we found in Patricius (Patrician by his name +already), whom we hereby appoint to the office of Quaestor. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[Pg 423]</a></span> +studied eloquence at Rome. Where could he have studied better? For +while other parts of the world have their wine, their balm, their +frankincense, which they can export, the peculiar product of Rome is +eloquence.</p> + +<p>'Having thus learned his art, he practised it at the bar with singular +moderation. No heat of strife hurried him into abuse of his +competitors. Seeking only to win his client's cause, he calmly and +courteously set forth that client's rights without sacrificing his own +dignity of demeanour.</p> + +<p>'Thinking that this man has pleaded long enough, we now appoint that +he shall sit as Judge, having made diligent enquiry as to his +character. In this, and in all other matters, we wish to follow the +example of the Emperors who have gone before us, in so far as they +followed the paths of justice<a name="FNanchor_643_643" id="FNanchor_643_643"></a><a href="#Footnote_643_643" class="fnanchor">[643]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x8">8.</a> <span class="smcap">Queen Amalasuentha to Justinian, Augustus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Present of marbles from Justinian to Amalasuentha.</div> + +<p>'Delighting to receive from your Piety some of those treasures of +which the heavenly bounty has made you partaker, we send the bearer of +the present letter to receive those marbles and other necessaries +which we formerly ordered Calogenitus to collect on our behalf. All +our adornments, furnished by you, redound to your glory. For it is +fitting that by your assistance should shine resplendent that Roman +world which the love of your Serenity renders illustrious.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x9">9.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to Justinian, Augustus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>[On the same subject as the <a href="#x8">previous letter</a>, and in nearly the same +words. Calogenitus apparently is dead.]</p> + +<p>'We have directed the bearer of this letter to exhibit (?) those +things for which Calogenitus was previously des<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[Pg 424]</a></span>tined; so that, +although that person is withdrawn from this life, your benefits, by +God's help, may still be brought unto us.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x10">10.</a> <span class="smcap">Queen Amalasuentha to Theodora, Augusta</span><a name="FNanchor_644_644" id="FNanchor_644_644"></a><a href="#Footnote_644_644" class="fnanchor">[644]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Salutation to Theodora.</div> + +<p>'We approach you with the language of veneration, because it is agreed +on all hands that your virtues increase more and more. Friendship +exists not for those only who are in one another's presence, but also +for the absent. Rendering you therefore the salutation of august +reverence, I hope that our ambassadors, whom we have directed to the +most clement and most glorious Emperor, will bring me news of your +welfare. Your prosperity is as dear to me as my own; and as I +constantly pray for your safety, I cannot hear without pleasure that +my prayers have been answered.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x11">11.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to Maximus<a name="FNanchor_645_645" id="FNanchor_645_645"></a><a href="#Footnote_645_645" class="fnanchor">[645]</a>, Vir Illustris and Domesticus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Maximus appointed to office of Primicerius (Domesticorum?)</div> + +<p>'It is the glory of a good Sovereign to confer office on the deserving +descendants of illustrious families. Such are the Anicii, an ancient +family, almost on an equality with princes<a name="FNanchor_646_646" id="FNanchor_646_646"></a><a href="#Footnote_646_646" class="fnanchor">[646]</a>, from whom you are +descended. Gladly would we decorate the descendants of the Marii and +Corvini if time had permitted their progeny to survive to our own day. +But it were inconsistent to regret the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[Pg 425]</a></span> impossibility of enjoying this +privilege if we neglected the opportunity which we do possess in your +case.</p> + +<p>'Therefore we bestow upon you from this fourteenth Indiction<a name="FNanchor_647_647" id="FNanchor_647_647"></a><a href="#Footnote_647_647" class="fnanchor">[647]</a> the +office of Primicerius, which is also called Domesticatus. This office +may appear somewhat less than you are entitled to by your pedigree, +but you have received an honour which is greater than all the <i>fasces</i> +in being permitted to marry a wife of our royal race, a distinction +which you could not have hoped for even when you sat in the curule +chair. Comport yourself now with mildness, patience, and moderation, +that you may show yourself worthy of your affinity with us. Your +ancestors have hitherto been praised, but they were never dignified +with such an alliance. Your nobility has now reached a point beyond +which it can climb no further. All that you do henceforward of a +praiseworthy kind will but have the effect of rendering you more +worthy of the matrimonial alliance which you have already +achieved<a name="FNanchor_648_648" id="FNanchor_648_648"></a><a href="#Footnote_648_648" class="fnanchor">[648]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x12">12.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'We do not think that the fact of a man's having received the +Consulship early in life should shut him out from holding office of +lower rank in his maturer years<a name="FNanchor_649_649" id="FNanchor_649_649"></a><a href="#Footnote_649_649" class="fnanchor">[649]</a>. As the Tiber receives the water +of smaller rivers which merge their names in his, so a man of Consular +rank can serve the State in less conspicuous ways, yet still be +Consular. Therefore we have thought fit to bestow on the Illustrious +and Magnificent Patrician Maximus, the Primiceriatus which is also +called Domesticatus, from this fourteenth Indiction, that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[Pg 426]</a></span> +lowliness of the honour may be raised by the merit of the wearer. He +is an Anicius, sprung from a family renowned throughout the whole +world. He is also honoured with the affinity of our own illustrious +race. Receive him, welcome him, rejoice at these nuptials, which bind +me closer to you, now that you have in your ranks one whom I can truly +call a relation.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x13">13.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<p>[This letter may probably be referred to the Spring or Summer of 535. +Theodahad, soon after the deposition or death of Amalasuentha, has +apparently invited the Senate to Ravenna, an invitation which they +have respectfully declined. He chides their suspicions of him.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Summons to Ravenna. Suspicions of the Senators.</div> + +<p>'After we had dismissed the venerable Bishops who brought your +message, without taking exception to your requests, though there were +some things blameworthy among them, we received tidings that the City +of Rome was agitated by certain foolish anxieties, from which real +evil would grow unless the suspicion which caused them could be laid +to rest.</p> + +<p>'I fear that I cannot complain of "popular levity" if your illustrious +body, which should set an example to all others, should give way to +such fond imaginings. If Rome, which should govern the Provinces, be +so foolish, what can we expect of <i>them</i>?</p> + +<p>'Divine grace, however, prompts us both to pardon your faults and to +grant your requests. We owe you nothing, and yet we pay you<a name="FNanchor_650_650" id="FNanchor_650_650"></a><a href="#Footnote_650_650" class="fnanchor">[650]</a>; but +we trust to be rewarded by hearing not our own praises but yours. Put +away these unworthy, these childish suspicions, and behave as becomes +the fathers of the people.</p> + +<p>'In desiring your presence at our Court, we sought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[Pg 427]</a></span> not your vexation +but your advantage. It is certainly a great privilege to see the face +of the Sovereign, and we thought to bestow on you, for the advantage +of the State, that which used to be counted as a reward. However, not +to deal harshly with you, we shall be satisfied with the attendance of +certain individuals from your body, as occasion may require, so that +on the one hand Rome may not be denuded of her citizens, and on the +other that we may not lack prudent counsellors in our chamber. Now +return to your old devotion, and serve us, not as a matter of fear, +but of love. The rest shall the bearer of this letter explain unto +you.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x14">14.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Roman People</span>.</h3> + +<p>[The occasion of writing this letter, which we may perhaps refer to +the early part of 535, is apparently that some Gothic troops have been +sent to Rome, and the people have broken out into clamours against +them, or petitioned for their removal.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Dissensions between citizens of Rome and Gothic troops.</div> + +<p>'Your predecessors have always been distinguished by the loyal love +which they bore to the Chief of the State; and it is only right that +he [the Sovereign] who is defended with so much toil, he, for whom, as +the representative of public order, daily precautions are taken<a name="FNanchor_651_651" id="FNanchor_651_651"></a><a href="#Footnote_651_651" class="fnanchor">[651]</a>, +should in return love that people above all others whose loyalty gives +him a right to rule the world<a name="FNanchor_652_652" id="FNanchor_652_652"></a><a href="#Footnote_652_652" class="fnanchor">[652]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Oh! let there be nothing in you in our days which may justly move our +indignation. Still show forth your older loyalty. It is not fitting +that the Roman people should be fickle, or crafty, or full of +seditions.</p> + +<p>'Let no fond suspicions, no shadow of fear sway you. You have a +Sovereign who only longs to find opportunities to love you. Meet with +hostile arms your enemies, not your own defenders.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[Pg 428]</a></span></p> + +<p>'You ought to have invited, not to have shut out the succour which we +sent you. Evidently you have been misled by counsellors who care not +for the public weal. Return to your own better minds.</p> + +<p>'Was it some new and strange nation whose faces forsooth thus +terrified you? No: the very men whom hitherto you have called your +kinsmen, the men who in their anxiety for your safety have left their +homes and families in order to defend you. Strange return on your part +for their devotion!</p> + +<p>'As for you, you should know this, that night and day our one +ceaseless desire is to perfect, with God's help, the security which +was fostered in the times of our relations [Theodoric and +Amalasuentha]. Where, indeed, would our credit as a Sovereign be if +anything happened to your hurt? Dismiss all such thoughts from your +minds. If any have been unjustly cast down, we will raise him up +again. We have sent you some verbal messages by the bearer of this +letter, and hope that from henceforth we may rely on your constant +obedience.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x15">15.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Emperor Justinian</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Letter of introduction for an ecclesiastic.</div> + +<p>'It is always a delight to us to have an opportunity of directing our +letters of salutation<a name="FNanchor_653_653" id="FNanchor_653_653"></a><a href="#Footnote_653_653" class="fnanchor">[653]</a> to your Piety, since he is filled with +happy joy who converses with you with sincere heart. I therefore +recommend to your Clemency the bearer of this letter, who comes on the +affairs of the Church of Ravenna. There can be no doubt that if you +grant his request you will earn a just reward.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x16">16.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Assurances of good-will. Oath of concord.</div> + +<p>'It is worthy of a ruler to do good of his own freewill, not under +compulsion. By God's favour we <i>can</i> do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[Pg 429]</a></span> anything, but we choose to do +only things that are praiseworthy. Recognise now, oh prudent +counsellors, that clemency of mine which ye might always have reckoned +upon. Ye feared that I was your enemy; far from that, I cannot even +bear that ye should be racked by the fear of evil<a name="FNanchor_654_654" id="FNanchor_654_654"></a><a href="#Footnote_654_654" class="fnanchor">[654]</a>. And therefore, +though I change no purpose of mine, since I never had thoughts of evil +towards you, I have ordained that A and B, the bearers of this letter, +should take unto you the oaths which you solicited<a name="FNanchor_655_655" id="FNanchor_655_655"></a><a href="#Footnote_655_655" class="fnanchor">[655]</a>. I do this +thing for God's sake, not for man's; for how could I, who have run +through the story of ancient realms in Holy Writ, wish to do anything +else but that which is well-pleasing to God, who will assuredly +recompense me according to my works. Henceforward, then, serve me +loyally, and in the full security which you have thus acquired: yea, +your love will be now the repayment of a debt rather than a freewill +offering.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x17">17.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Roman People</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'Since your security is our highest ornament, and since our love +wishes to remove every shade of anxiety from your minds, we have +ordered A and B to take oaths to you in our name, whereby you may know +the mind of your King towards you. Though this act might seem not to +consort with our dignity, we willingly perform it for your sakes, and +add the sanction of an oath, though we have learned from the Sacred +Scriptures that a mere promise ought to be kept. Now it is for you to +show your devotion, and with assiduous prayers to implore of the +Majesty on high that the tranquil times which we long that you may +enjoy may be granted by the gift of Heaven.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[Pg 430]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="x18">18.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Senate of the City of Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">A Gothic garrison for Rome.</div> + +<p>'Anxious that what we are devising for your safety should not be +misinterpreted by bitter suspicion, we do you to wit that the army +which is marching to Rome is intended for your defence, in order that +they who covet your possessions may by Divine help be resisted by the +arms of the Goths. If the shepherd is bound to watch over his flock, +the father of the family to see that no crafty deceiver enters +therein, with what anxious care ought not we to defend the City of +Rome, which by universal consent is unequalled in the world<a name="FNanchor_656_656" id="FNanchor_656_656"></a><a href="#Footnote_656_656" class="fnanchor">[656]</a>. So +precious a possession must not be staked upon any throw. But that the +defence of the City may be in no wise burdensome to you, we have +ordered that the soldiers shall pay at the ordinary market rate for +the provisions which they require; and we have desired Vacco, the +steward of our house, to superintend these purchases. He is a man of +valour and integrity, whose character will secure him the obedience of +the troops, and enable him to prevent any excesses.</p> + +<p>'As for the soldiers, we have told them to take up their quarters in +fitting places [outside the City?], that without there may be armed +defence, within for you, tranquil order<a name="FNanchor_657_657" id="FNanchor_657_657"></a><a href="#Footnote_657_657" class="fnanchor">[657]</a>.</p> + +<p>'God forbid that in our days that City should seem to be protected by +walls, the very name of which hath been of old a terror to the +nations<a name="FNanchor_658_658" id="FNanchor_658_658"></a><a href="#Footnote_658_658" class="fnanchor">[658]</a>. We hope for this from the aid of Heaven, that she who +hath always been free may never be stained by the insult of any +blockade<a name="FNanchor_659_659" id="FNanchor_659_659"></a><a href="#Footnote_659_659" class="fnanchor">[659]</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[Pg 431]</a></span></p> +<h3><a name="x19">19.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Emperor Justinian</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Embassy of Peter.</div> + +<p>'We thank the Divine Being, who loves to see Kings at peace with one +another, that you expressed such joy at our elevation to the throne. +Continue to set to the world this example of benignity; continue to +show your interest in one who recommends himself by his pure affection +for you. For you do not seek to pick shabby quarrels with other +Sovereigns; you do not delight in unjust contests, which are contrary +to sound morality<a name="FNanchor_660_660" id="FNanchor_660_660"></a><a href="#Footnote_660_660" class="fnanchor">[660]</a>, since you seek for nothing but what may +increase the good opinion which men have of you. How could you throw +away that peace which it is the glory of your Piety to have imposed +even on angry nations<a name="FNanchor_661_661" id="FNanchor_661_661"></a><a href="#Footnote_661_661" class="fnanchor">[661]</a>?</p> + +<p>'Even you, glorious Sovereigns! [Justinian and Theodora] gain somewhat +when all other realms revere you. It is a common thing for the ruler +to be praised in his own land, but to receive the unforced praise of +foreign lands, that is indeed desirable. You are loved, most pious +Emperor, in your own dominions; but how much grander a thing to be yet +more loved in the regions of Italy, from whence the glory of the Roman +name was diffused over the whole world! It behoves you therefore to +continue that peaceful disposition which you showed towards us at the +commencement of our reign.</p> + +<p>'We have desired the most blessed Pope and the most honourable Senate +of the City of Rome to give their answers to the eloquent and worthy +Peter, your ambassador, with as little delay as possible; and we have +joined with him that venerable person our ambassador<a name="FNanchor_662_662" id="FNanchor_662_662"></a><a href="#Footnote_662_662" class="fnanchor">[662]</a>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">[Pg 432]</a></span> that you +may know our mind from our own messenger.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x20">20.</a> <span class="smcap">Queen Gudelina<a name="FNanchor_663_663" id="FNanchor_663_663"></a><a href="#Footnote_663_663" class="fnanchor">[663]</a> to Theodora Augusta</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Embassy of Rusticus.</div> + +<p>'I have received with thanks the earnestly-desired letters of your +Piety, and reverently prize the report of your spoken words as better +than all gifts. You exhort us first of all to impart to your hearing +whatever requests we wish to make to your triumphant lord and +consort<a name="FNanchor_664_664" id="FNanchor_664_664"></a><a href="#Footnote_664_664" class="fnanchor">[664]</a>. Backed by such patronage as yours, how can there be any +doubt as to the success of our petitions? It is an addition to our joy +that your Serenity has chosen such a man for your ambassador, one whom +it is equally fitting for your glory to send and for our obedience to +receive<a name="FNanchor_665_665" id="FNanchor_665_665"></a><a href="#Footnote_665_665" class="fnanchor">[665]</a>. There can be no doubt that it is by constant observation +of your character that his own has become so excellent, since it is by +good maxims that the mind of man is cleansed from impurity<a name="FNanchor_666_666" id="FNanchor_666_666"></a><a href="#Footnote_666_666" class="fnanchor">[666]</a>. +According to the warning of your Reverence we have given orders that +both Pope and Senate shall give their answers to your messengers +quickly, so that there may be no delay.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Possible reference to death of Amalasuentha.</div> + +<p>'For moreover, concerning that person about whom something came to our +ears with tickling speech, know that that has been ordained which we +believed would suit your intentions<a name="FNanchor_667_667" id="FNanchor_667_667"></a><a href="#Footnote_667_667" class="fnanchor">[667]</a>; for it is our desire that by +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">[Pg 433]</a></span> interposition of our good offices your will should be law as much +in our kingdom as in your empire<a name="FNanchor_668_668" id="FNanchor_668_668"></a><a href="#Footnote_668_668" class="fnanchor">[668]</a>.</p> + +<p>'We therefore inform you that we had caused our messenger [Rusticus +the priest] to be despatched by the Pope before your ambassador could +possibly have left Rome. So saluting you with all the veneration which +is your due, we assign the office of ambassador to a man eminent both +by his character and learning, and venerable by reason of his office; +since we believe that those persons are acceptable to you whom we have +thought suitable to be entrusted with the Divine ministry.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x21">21.</a> <span class="smcap">Queen Gudelina to Theodora, Augusta</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Soliciting Theodora's friendship.</div> + +<p>'Oh, wisest of Augustas, both I and my wedded lord earnestly desire +your friendship. The love of so great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">[Pg 434]</a></span> a lady seems to raise me higher +than royalty. Shed on us the lustre of your glory, for one light loses +nothing by imparting some of its brilliancy to another. With +affectionate presumption I commend myself to the favour of the Emperor +and yourself, desiring that, as is fitting, there should be no discord +between the two Roman realms<a name="FNanchor_669_669" id="FNanchor_669_669"></a><a href="#Footnote_669_669" class="fnanchor">[669]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x22">22.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Emperor Justinian</span><a name="FNanchor_670_670" id="FNanchor_670_670"></a><a href="#Footnote_670_670" class="fnanchor">[670]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Entreaties for peace.</div> + +<p>'Our own ambassadors, and that most excellent person Peter, whom your +Piety despatched to us, will both have informed you how earnestly we +desire concord with your august Serenity. We now send two more +ambassadors charged with the same commission. We certainly with all +sincerity plead for peace who have no cause of quarrel with you. +Consider also, oh learned Sovereigns, and consult the archives of your +great grandfather<a name="FNanchor_671_671" id="FNanchor_671_671"></a><a href="#Footnote_671_671" class="fnanchor">[671]</a>, that you may see how large a part of their own +rights your predecessors were willing to relinquish for the sake of an +alliance with our ancestors<a name="FNanchor_672_672" id="FNanchor_672_672"></a><a href="#Footnote_672_672" class="fnanchor">[672]</a>. Think how fortunate you are in +having that friendship willingly offered to you for which they had +humbly to sue. Yet, we may say it without arrogance, we know ourselves +to be better than those ancestors of ours with whom the treaty was +made<a name="FNanchor_673_673" id="FNanchor_673_673"></a><a href="#Footnote_673_673" class="fnanchor">[673]</a>. We send<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">[Pg 435]</a></span> you on this embassy a venerable man, made +illustrious by his priestly office, and conspicuous by the renown of +his learning. We pray the Divine goodness to bring our wishes to pass; +and as not even a series of letters can contain all that we have to +say, we have given some verbal messages to be conveyed to your sacred +ears, that you may not be wearied by the reading of too diffuse a +letter.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x23">23.</a> <span class="smcap">Queen Gudelina to Theodora, Augusta</span><a name="FNanchor_674_674" id="FNanchor_674_674"></a><a href="#Footnote_674_674" class="fnanchor">[674]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'We learn with satisfaction from that most eloquent man Peter, that +what has happened in this State is acceptable to you<a name="FNanchor_675_675" id="FNanchor_675_675"></a><a href="#Footnote_675_675" class="fnanchor">[675]</a>. You show +your love of justice when, all suspicion by God's providence having +been wiped away, you desire that there should be lasting agreement +between us. Let there then be definite promises on both sides, and +lasting concord as the result. We therefore send that venerable man to +secure the peace of our most serene husband with yours in the sight of +all men. If there be anything in the Emperor's terms so hard that it +ought not to be imposed on us, we trust to your wise moderation to +mitigate the same,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">[Pg 436]</a></span> that the love which we have begun to feel towards +your kingdom be not chilled by harsh terms of peace.</p> + +<p>'Claim this palm of concord between the two States as your own +especial crown, that as the Emperor is renowned for his successful +wars, so you may receive the praises of all men for this accomplished +peace. Let the bearer of these letters see you often and +confidentially. We hope for just, not onerous, conditions of peace, +although in truth nothing seems impossible to us if we know that it is +asked for by such a glorious person as yourself.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x24">24.</a> <span class="smcap">Queen Gudelina to the Emperor Justinian</span><a name="FNanchor_676_676" id="FNanchor_676_676"></a><a href="#Footnote_676_676" class="fnanchor">[676]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>A short letter of compliments to the Emperor, and earnest desire for +the preservation of peace. Peter and 'ille vir venerabilis' are still +the messengers.</p> + + +<h3><a name="x25">25.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Emperor Justinian</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'The august page written by your Serenity, and brought to us by the +venerable presbyter Heracleanus, has gleamed upon us, bringing us the +grace of your salutation. Oh, what a great benefit for us is this +sweet converse with so mighty a prince!</p> + +<p>'May we ever hear of your safety, and of the increase of the happiness +of your kingdom. We have no other wish but this. According to your +desire we have addressed letters to the Pope of the City of Rome<a name="FNanchor_677_677" id="FNanchor_677_677"></a><a href="#Footnote_677_677" class="fnanchor">[677]</a>, +telling him to reply to the letter brought by the present messenger +with the least possible delay, since anyone<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">[Pg 437]</a></span> who comes from you should +be attended to with utmost celerity. We hope for many future +opportunities of thus obeying your desires and earning your love in +return.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x26">26.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to the Emperor Justinian</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">A monastery too heavily taxed.</div> + +<p>'Richer than all other gifts bestowed by your Serenity is this, when +you exhort us to do that which will profit for our own salvation and +recommend us to the Divine Power. We hear that it has been brought to +the knowledge of your Glory that a monastery of God's servants is too +heavily oppressed with tribute, and we point out that this is owing to +an inundation which has smitten their land with the curse of +barrenness. However, we have given orders to the most eminent +Senator<a name="FNanchor_678_678" id="FNanchor_678_678"></a><a href="#Footnote_678_678" class="fnanchor">[678]</a> to appoint a careful inspector to visit the farm in +question, weigh the matter carefully, and make such reasonable +reduction as may leave a sufficient profit to the owners of the soil. +We consider that anything which we thus concede to the desire of your +Mildness will be to us the most precious of all gains.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Alleged losses of a convert from Arianism.</div> + +<p>'In the matter of Veranilda, too, about which your Serenity has +deigned to admonish me, though it happened long ago under the reign of +my relations, I thought it right to make good her loss by my own +generosity, that she might not repent her change of religion<a name="FNanchor_679_679" id="FNanchor_679_679"></a><a href="#Footnote_679_679" class="fnanchor">[679]</a>. For +seeing that the Deity suffers many religions, we should not seek to +impose one on all our subjects. He who tries to do otherwise flies in +the face of the Divine commands. Your Piety, therefore, fittingly +invites me to these acts of obedience to God.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">[Pg 438]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="x27">27.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to Senator<a name="FNanchor_680_680" id="FNanchor_680_680"></a><a href="#Footnote_680_680" class="fnanchor">[680]</a>, Praefectus Praetorio</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Corn distributions in Liguria and Venetia.</div> + +<p>'In succouring his subjects, the payers of tribute, the King does not +seem to give, so much as to restore what he has received. The +cultivator of the soil is abandoned to future famine, unless he is +helped in the day of his necessity. Therefore let the corn which has +been received by the government from industrious Liguria and loyal +Venetia, though it has been taken from their fields, be born again to +them in our granaries, since it is too outrageous that the cultivator +should starve while our barns are full. Therefore let your Illustrious +Greatness (whose office is said to have been instituted for the +express purpose of feeding the people from the accumulated stores of +the State<a name="FNanchor_681_681" id="FNanchor_681_681"></a><a href="#Footnote_681_681" class="fnanchor">[681]</a>) sell to the impoverished Ligurians the third part of +the grain warehoused at Ticinum and Dertona, at the rate of 25 modii +to the solidus<a name="FNanchor_682_682" id="FNanchor_682_682"></a><a href="#Footnote_682_682" class="fnanchor">[682]</a>. Similarly distribute the third part of the stores +in the warehouses of Tarvisium and Tridentum to the Venetians, at the +same rate, that pitying Heaven, seeing men's bounty to one another, +may give us fruitful harvests. Take care that this distribution is so +managed that our indulgence shall reach those persons chiefly, who are +least able to depend on their own resources.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x28">28.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to Senator<a name="FNanchor_683_683" id="FNanchor_683_683"></a><a href="#Footnote_683_683" class="fnanchor">[683]</a>, Praefectus Praetorio</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Grant of monopolies.</div> + +<p>'The King ought to confirm whatever has been wisely ordered by the +Judges, especially those who are known to be above suspicion of +bribery.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">[Pg 439]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Therefore we confirm in their offices<a name="FNanchor_684_684" id="FNanchor_684_684"></a><a href="#Footnote_684_684" class="fnanchor">[684]</a> the stewards<a name="FNanchor_685_685" id="FNanchor_685_685"></a><a href="#Footnote_685_685" class="fnanchor">[685]</a>, +purveyors<a name="FNanchor_686_686" id="FNanchor_686_686"></a><a href="#Footnote_686_686" class="fnanchor">[686]</a> of wheat, wine, and cheese, the meat sellers, vintners, +farmers of the revenue derived from granaries and taverns<a name="FNanchor_687_687" id="FNanchor_687_687"></a><a href="#Footnote_687_687" class="fnanchor">[687]</a>, hay +merchants, and general provision dealers<a name="FNanchor_688_688" id="FNanchor_688_688"></a><a href="#Footnote_688_688" class="fnanchor">[688]</a>, who belong to the City +of Rome or the royal residence of Ravenna<a name="FNanchor_689_689" id="FNanchor_689_689"></a><a href="#Footnote_689_689" class="fnanchor">[689]</a>; also those who hold +public charges of this description along the river banks of Ticinum or +Placentia<a name="FNanchor_690_690" id="FNanchor_690_690"></a><a href="#Footnote_690_690" class="fnanchor">[690]</a>, or in any other places, whom we know to have been +appointed by you, whose judgments we willingly embrace and desire to +hold fast exactly as if they were our own; nor will we allow the +malice of any to prevail against those persons who by your choice have +assumed these public functions. If therefore they acquit themselves to +your satisfaction, they shall hold their office for five years without +fear of disturbance during that period. On account of the present +barrenness of the land you should cause them to fix such prices for +the different kinds of grain as shall seem reasonable to your +Eminence<a name="FNanchor_691_691" id="FNanchor_691_691"></a><a href="#Footnote_691_691" class="fnanchor">[691]</a>.</p> + +<p>'As human ambition requires to be checked by fear of punishment, +anyone who by petitioning or canvassing seeks to obtain the place of +one of these lawfully appointed purveyors shall be visited with a fine +of 30 lbs. of gold<a name="FNanchor_692_692" id="FNanchor_692_692"></a><a href="#Footnote_692_692" class="fnanchor">[692]</a>, to be exacted from him by you. If unable to +pay this fine he shall suffer corporal punishment and be noted as +infamous. Nothing can be considered safe or stable if men are to be +perpetually exposed to the snares of envious competitors like these.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">[Pg 440]</a></span> +Your Greatness is to bring this law to the knowledge of all men.'</p> + +<p>[It is clear that this letter refers to an office greatly coveted, and +one in which there was a possibility of making great gains, but also +one in which, owing to the regulation of prices by the government, +there might be temporary losses; to guard against which it was +considered reasonable that the holder should be guaranteed in his +office for five years.</p> + +<p>The office is the supply of the staple articles of food to the King's +household at Rome and Ravenna, and to the garrisons probably of Pavia +and Piacenza and the neighbouring country. Did this right carry with +it an absolute monopoly as far as the other inhabitants of those +places are concerned? This seems probable; but I do not know that we +can positively state it.</p> + +<p>The term used, 'Arcarii,' is applied in the Theodosian Code (xii. 6, +14) to the bailiffs by whom the rents on the Imperial domain were +collected. Here it has manifestly altered its meaning.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="x29">29.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to Count Winusiad</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">An old soldier receives furlough for a visit to the baths +of Bormio.</div> + +<p>'Your noble birth and tried fidelity induced us to commit to you the +government of the City of Ticinum, which you had defended in war: but +now, being deluged with a sudden inundation of muddy gout<a name="FNanchor_693_693" id="FNanchor_693_693"></a><a href="#Footnote_693_693" class="fnanchor">[693]</a>, you +ask leave to resort to the waters of Bormio, which by their drying +influences are of healing power for this malady.</p> + +<p>'We permit, nay earnestly encourage, you to undertake this journey; +for we cannot bear that one of our warriors should fall a victim to +the tyranny of this cruel disease, which, like the Barbarians, when it +has once claimed by force hospitality in the owner's body,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">[Pg 441]</a></span> ever after +defends its right thereto by cruelty. It seeks out all the hollow +places of the system, makes stones out of its moisture, and deposits +them there, destroying all the beautiful arrangements of Nature for +free and easy movement. It loosens what ought to be tight, it +contracts the nerves, and so shortens the limbs that a tall man finds +all the comeliness of his stature taken from him while he is still +unmutilated. It is in truth a living death; and when the excruciating +torment is gone, it leaves an almost worse legacy behind it—inability +to move. Even debtors in the torture chamber have the weights +sometimes removed from their feet; but this cruel malady, when it has +once taken hold of a man, seems never to relinquish possession. A +disease of this kind, bringing with it weakness and helplessness, is +especially terrible to a warrior, who after overcoming the foes that +came against him in battle, finds himself thus struck down by an enemy +within.</p> + +<p>'Go then, in Heaven's name, to the healing springs. We cannot bear the +thought that you the warrior should be carried on men's shoulders, +instead of bestriding your war-horse. We have painted all these evils +in somewhat exaggerated style in order to stir you up to seek an early +cure.</p> + +<p>'Use then these waters, soothing to the taste, and in the hot bath +able to dry up the gouty humours. God has given us this ally wherewith +to overcome that enemy of the human race; and under its double +influence, within and without, the malady, which ten years of regimen +and endless medicines cannot lessen, is put to flight by remedies +which are in themselves delightful.</p> + +<p>'May God grant that this far-famed place may restore your body to +health<a name="FNanchor_694_694" id="FNanchor_694_694"></a><a href="#Footnote_694_694" class="fnanchor">[694]</a>.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">[Pg 442]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="x30">30.</a> <span class="smcap">King Theodahad to Honorius, Praefect of the City</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The elephants in the Via Sacra.</div> + +<p>'We regret to learn from your report that the brazen elephants placed +in the Via Sacra<a name="FNanchor_695_695" id="FNanchor_695_695"></a><a href="#Footnote_695_695" class="fnanchor">[695]</a> (so called from the many superstitions to which +it was consecrated of old) are falling into ruins.</p> + +<p>'This is to be much regretted, that whereas these animals live in the +flesh more than a thousand years, their brazen effigies should be so +soon crumbling away. See therefore that their gaping limbs be +strengthened by iron hooks, and that their drooping bellies be +fortified by masonry placed underneath them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Natural history of the elephant.</div> + +<p>'The living elephant, when it is prostrate on the ground, as it often +is when helping men to fell trees, cannot get up again unaided. This +is because it has no joints in its feet; and accordingly you see +numbers of them lying as if dead till men come to help them up again. +Thus this creature, so terrible by its size, is really not equally +endowed by Nature with the tiny ant.</p> + +<p>'That the elephant surpasses all other animals in intelligence is +proved by the adoration which it renders to Him whom it understands to +be the Almighty Ruler of all. Moreover it pays to good princes a +homage which it refuses to tyrants.</p> + +<p>'It uses its proboscis<a name="FNanchor_696_696" id="FNanchor_696_696"></a><a href="#Footnote_696_696" class="fnanchor">[696]</a>, that nosëd hand which Nature has given it +to compensate for its very short neck, for the benefit of its master, +accepting the presents which will be profitable to him. It always +walks cautiously, mindful of that fatal fall [into the hunter's pit] +which was the beginning of its captivity. At its master's bidding it +exhales its breath, which is said to be a remedy for the human +headache.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">[Pg 443]</a></span></p> +<p>'When it comes to water it sucks up in its trunk a vast quantity, +which at the word of command it squirts forth like a shower. If anyone +have treated it with contempt, it pours forth such a stream of dirty +water over him that one would think a river had entered his house. For +this beast has a wonderfully long memory, both of injury and of +kindness. Its eyes are small, but move solemnly. There is a sort of +kingly dignity in its appearance, and while it recognises with +pleasure all that is honourable, it seems to despise scurrilous jests. +Its skin is furrowed by deep channels, like that of the victims of the +foreign disease named after it<a name="FNanchor_697_697" id="FNanchor_697_697"></a><a href="#Footnote_697_697" class="fnanchor">[697]</a>, <i>elephantiasis</i>. It is on account +of the impenetrability of this hide that the Persian Kings used the +elephant in war.</p> + +<p>'It is most desirable that we should preserve the images of these +creatures, and that our citizens should thus be familiarised with the +sight of the denizens of foreign lands. Do not therefore permit them +to perish, since it is for the glory of Rome to collect all specimens +of the process by which the art of workmen hath imitated the +productions of wealthy Nature in all parts of the world.'</p> + +<p>[This letter traverses the same ground as Pliny's 'Historia Naturalis' +viii. 1-11, but supplies some new facts. Pliny makes the elephant live +to the age of 200 or even 300 years. Cassiodorus boldly says 'more +than a thousand.' The curious story of the elephant's religion is +given with more detail by Pliny; but he knows nothing of the political +sagacity which enables it to discern between a good king and a tyrant. +Pliny mentions the fact that the elephant's breath is a cure for +headache, but adds, 'especially if he sneeze<a name="FNanchor_698_698" id="FNanchor_698_698"></a><a href="#Footnote_698_698" class="fnanchor">[698]</a>.'</p> + +<p>Upon the whole, though Cassiodorus had probably read Pliny's +description, his own must be pronounced original.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">[Pg 444]</a></span></p> + +<p>This marvellous letter is the last that we have, written in the name +of Theodahad.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="x31">31.</a> <span class="smcap">King Witigis<a name="FNanchor_699_699" id="FNanchor_699_699"></a><a href="#Footnote_699_699" class="fnanchor">[699]</a> to all the Goths</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Elevation of Witigis.</div> + +<p>'Though every advance in station is to be accounted among the good +gifts of the Divinity, especially is the kingly dignity to be looked +upon as coming by His ordinance through Whom kings reign and subjects +obey. Wherefore, with liveliest satisfaction returning thanks to our +Maker Christ, we inform you that our kinsmen<a name="FNanchor_700_700" id="FNanchor_700_700"></a><a href="#Footnote_700_700" class="fnanchor">[700]</a> the Goths, amid a +fence of circling swords, raising us in ancestral fashion upon a +shield, have by Divine guidance bestowed on us the kingly dignity, +thus making arms the emblem of honour to one who has earned all his +renown in war. For know that not in the corner of a presence-chamber, +but in wide-spreading plains I have been chosen King; and that not the +dainty discourse of flatterers, but the blare of trumpets announced my +elevation, that the Gothic people, roused by the sound to a kindling +of their inborn valour, might once more gaze upon a Soldier King.</p> + +<p>'Too long indeed have these brave men, bred up amid the shock of +battle, borne with a Sovereign who was untried in war; too long have +they laboured to uphold his dubious fame, though they might presume +upon their own well-known valour<a name="FNanchor_701_701" id="FNanchor_701_701"></a><a href="#Footnote_701_701" class="fnanchor">[701]</a>. For it is inevitable that the +character of the ruler should in some degree influence the reputation +of the whole people.</p> + +<p>'But, as ye have heard, called forth by the dangers of my kindred, I +was ready to undergo with them one common fate; but they would not +suffer me to continue a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">[Pg 445]</a></span> mere General, feeling that they needed a +veteran King. Wherefore now accept first the Divine decree, and then +the judgment of the Goths, since it is your unanimous wish which makes +me King. Lay aside then the fear of disaster: cast off the suspicion +of further losses: fear no rude strokes of fate under our dominion. We +who have ridden so oft to war have learned to love valiant men. +Associated in all things with your labours, I have been myself a +witness to the brave deeds of each of you, and need no other evidence +of your worth. By no fraudulent variations between my public and +private negotiations shall the might of the Gothic arms be +broken<a name="FNanchor_702_702" id="FNanchor_702_702"></a><a href="#Footnote_702_702" class="fnanchor">[702]</a>. Everything that we do shall have respect to the welfare +of our whole people: in private we will not even love. We promise to +follow those courses which shall adorn the royal name. Finally, we +undertake that our rule shall in all things be such as becomes a +Gothic King, the successor of the renowned Theodoric—that man who was +so rarely and so nobly qualified by Nature for the cares of royalty; +that man of whom it may be truly said that every other Sovereign is +illustrious in so far as he loves <i>his</i> counsels. Therefore he who +succeeds in imitating the deeds of Theodoric ought to be considered as +belonging to his line. Thus then, manifest your anxious care for the +welfare of our kingdom, while your hearts are at ease, through God's +goodness, as to our internal security.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x32">32.</a> <span class="smcap">King Witigis to the Emperor Justinian</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Overtures for peace with the Empire.</div> + +<p>'How much, oh most clement Emperor, we long for the sweetness of your +favour, may be understood from this fact alone, that after such +serious injuries and such grievous bloodshed as you have inflicted on +us, we still come forward to ask for peace with you, as if none of +your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">[Pg 446]</a></span> servants had ever wronged us. We have suffered such things as +might move the indignation even of our enemies, who must know that +they have attacked us without our guilt, have hated us without our +fault, have despoiled us without our owing them anything. Nor can it +be said that the blow has been so slight that no account need be taken +of it, since it has been struck not in the Provinces alone but in Rome +[or Italy] herself, the Capital of the World<a name="FNanchor_703_703" id="FNanchor_703_703"></a><a href="#Footnote_703_703" class="fnanchor">[703]</a>. Think how great +must be our pain at this, which nevertheless we banish from memory in +order that we may obtain justice at your hands. Such disturbance has +been made as the whole world speaks of<a name="FNanchor_704_704" id="FNanchor_704_704"></a><a href="#Footnote_704_704" class="fnanchor">[704]</a> [and condemns], and it +deserves to be so composed by you that all men may admire your spirit +of equity.</p> + +<p>'If vengeance on King Theodahad be the thing required, I [who have put +him to death] merit your love. If you desire to honour the blessed +memory of Queen Amalasuentha, think of her daughter<a name="FNanchor_705_705" id="FNanchor_705_705"></a><a href="#Footnote_705_705" class="fnanchor">[705]</a>, who has +reached [by our means] that royal station to which your soldiers might +well have striven to exalt her, in order that all the nations might +see how faithful you remained to the old friendship.</p> + +<p>'This fact too ought to influence you, that by the ordering of +Providence we were permitted to make your acquaintance before our +accession to the throne, that the remembrance of our favourable +reception at your Court, and the sight of your person in that splendid +position, might move us to love and reverence.</p> + +<p>'Even now you can undo all that has been misdone, since the continual +expectation of favours to come, makes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">[Pg 447]</a></span> perseverance in affection +easy<a name="FNanchor_706_706" id="FNanchor_706_706"></a><a href="#Footnote_706_706" class="fnanchor">[706]</a>. Therefore, soliciting your Clemency with all due respect, +we inform you that we have appointed A and B our ambassadors to the +Wisdom of your Serenity, that you may, according to your custom, duly +weigh all these considerations, that the two Republics may persevere +in restored harmony, and that all which hath been settled in past +times by Sovereigns of blessed memory may, by God's help, be increased +and made more prosperous under your dominion.</p> + +<p>'The rest of their commission will be more fully explained to your +Serenity by the aforesaid ambassadors.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x33">33.</a> <span class="smcap">King Witigis to the Master of the Offices [at Constantinople]</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Embassy to Constantinople.</div> + +<p>'In sending our two ambassadors to the most serene Emperor, it is +fitting also to send letters of salutation<a name="FNanchor_707_707" id="FNanchor_707_707"></a><a href="#Footnote_707_707" class="fnanchor">[707]</a> to your Greatness. May +your prudence support our reasonable requests with the Emperor. You +can easily correct those things [the war against the Gothic people] +which you ought never to have allowed to take place; and all things +can now be arranged in the most friendly manner, since a +reconciliation between men who have fought out their quarrel is often +the surest ground of friendship. An unknown man might possibly have +been shunned by you; but I, who have seen the magnificence of your +Republic, who have known the hearts of so many of your noble +statesmen, have no desire to quarrel with your most pious Emperor, if +he will only cherish thoughts of justice towards me. If another +[Theodahad] deserved the anger of the Emperor, I ought to be looked +upon with the highest favour, who have executed vengeance on that +hateful predecessor. I have carried your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">[Pg 448]</a></span> intentions into effect, and +therefore I deserve reward, not punishment. Let all hatred be buried +in the grave of the sinner; and even if you think nothing of our +deservings, think of the liberty of the Romans, which is everywhere +suffering amid the clash of arms. A few words to a man of your wisdom +are sufficient.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x34">34.</a> <span class="smcap">King Witigis to his Bishops</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'If we owe honour to Priests even when unknown to us, how much more so +to you whom we have seen and spoken to, and with whom we have had +frequent and familiar intercourse.</p> + +<p>'By the ambassadors who are bearing our letters to the most serene +Emperor we send a message of reverence to your Holiness, hoping that +you will pray for us and set them forward on their journey with all +necessary assistance, since you are bound to wish well to those whom +you know to be united to you by the ties of religion.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="x35">35.</a> <span class="smcap">King Witigis to the Praefect of Thessalonica</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'We are sending two ambassadors to the most serene Emperor, who will +salute your Greatness. We earnestly hope that your Excellency will +speed them on their journey.'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449">[Pg 449]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_XI_P" id="BOOK_XI_P"></a>BOOK XI.</h2> + +<h3>PREFACE.</h3> + + +<p>'<span class="smcap">The</span> necessity for a Preface often arises from some contrariety in an +Author's position which prevents him from writing as he would wish to +write. It is admitted that it is not fair to expect the same degree of +excellence from a busy man which we may reasonably look for in a man +of leisure. But a man in high official position cannot be a man of +leisure. It would be the highest disgrace to him if he were, since +even his so-called privy-chamber<a name="FNanchor_708_708" id="FNanchor_708_708"></a><a href="#Footnote_708_708" class="fnanchor">[708]</a> resounds with the noise of +clamorous litigants.</p> + +<p>'I can well understand that a man of few occupations will object +against me, here that a word has been thrown out with ill-considered +haste, there that a commonplace sentiment has not been dressed up in +sufficiently ornamental language, or there that I have not complied +with the rules of the Ancients by making my persons speak "in +character." But the busy man, hurried from one cause to another, and +constantly under the necessity of dictating to one man and replying to +another, will not make these objections, because the consciousness of +his own literary perils will make him tender in his judgments. And yet +there is something even in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450">[Pg 450]</a></span> pressure of business which sometimes +promotes briskness of mind, since the art of speaking is one which is +placed very much in our own power<a name="FNanchor_709_709" id="FNanchor_709_709"></a><a href="#Footnote_709_709" class="fnanchor">[709]</a>.</p> + +<p>'If anyone objects that I, placed in the height of the Praetorian +dignity, should have dictated so few decisions of a legal kind, let +him know that this was the result of my associating with myself that +most prudent man <b> +<a href="#err31">Felix</a></b><a name="FNanchor_710_710" id="FNanchor_710_710"></a><a href="#Footnote_710_710" class="fnanchor">[710]</a>, whose advice I have followed in every +case. He is a man of absolute purity of character, of surpassing +knowledge of the law, of distinguished accuracy of speech; a young man +with the gravity of age, a sweet pleader, a measured orator; one who +by his graceful discharge of his official duties has earned the +favourable opinion of the public.</p> + +<p>'Had it not been for his help, overwhelmed by so great a multitude of +causes, I must either have been found unequal to the burden, or else +perchance have seemed arrogant [in my disregard of previously settled +decisions]. But, what was more important still, relieved by his +labours from this duty, I was able to give such attention to the +higher affairs of the State, that I could not fail to win approbation +even in those arduous duties.</p> + +<p>'I have therefore subjoined two books, in which I myself speak in my +capacity as Praefect, to the ten in which I have spoken by the mouth +of the King; for it seemed absurd to me to be silent in my +newly-acquired dignity, who had so often spoken on behalf of others.</p> + +<p>'Then, after these twelve books had been brought to their long-desired +end, my friends compelled me to discuss the substance and the powers +of the Soul, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451">[Pg 451]</a></span> I might say something <i>about</i> that faculty +<i>through</i> which I had already said so much<a name="FNanchor_711_711" id="FNanchor_711_711"></a><a href="#Footnote_711_711" class="fnanchor">[711]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Now then, learned men! view these letters with indulgence. If there +be no eloquence in them, attribute it to my many occupations, which +have prevented my reading as much as I would gladly have done. Cicero, +that fountain of eloquence, when he was one day asked to speak, +excused himself on the ground that he had read nothing the day before. +The barn must be constantly refilled if it is not to become empty. All +that is good in our minds is the fruit of study, and soon withers if +it be separated from reading, which is the parent stem. Great +indulgence therefore should be shown to us if we have often had to +write when we were busy, to be read by others when we had no leisure +to read, ourselves. And now enough of excuses, lest too elaborate a +defence should rather injure our cause.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452">[Pg 452]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h2><a name="BOOK_XI" id="BOOK_XI"></a>BOOK XI.</h2> + +<h3>CONTAINING THIRTY-NINE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME +AS PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO, AND ONE ON BEHALF OF THE ROMAN SENATE.</h3> + + +<h3><a name="xi1">1.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to the Senate of the City of Rome +(a.d.</span> 534)<a name="FNanchor_712_712" id="FNanchor_712_712"></a><a href="#Footnote_712_712" class="fnanchor">[712]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Cassiodorus on his promotion to the Praefecture.</div> + +<p>'<span class="smcap">If</span> I can only be sure that my advancement is acceptable to you, +Conscript Fathers, I shall not doubt of its being approved by God and +popular with all good men.</p> + +<p>'It is in the nature of things to love a colleague, and you are in +fact exalting your own honour when you approve of a dignity given to a +<i>Senator</i><a name="FNanchor_713_713" id="FNanchor_713_713"></a><a href="#Footnote_713_713" class="fnanchor">[713]</a>.</p> + +<p>'After our Sovereigns there is none to whom I so much desire to +commend myself as you. To me honour will ever be the sole test of +advantage. Justice, like a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453">[Pg 453]</a></span> handmaid, will wait upon my actions; and +the power, which I have not myself bought from our virtuous Sovereign, +I in my turn shall sell to no man. You have heard, noble Sirs, the +panegyrics<a name="FNanchor_714_714" id="FNanchor_714_714"></a><a href="#Footnote_714_714" class="fnanchor">[714]</a> passed upon me at my entrance into office. These +praises I will not dare to call false, but I will say that they lay +upon me a heavy responsibility to show that they are not unmerited.</p> + +<p>'Happy fortune of our time in which, while the Sovereign himself takes +holiday, the love of his mother rules and covers us all with the robe +of her universal charity! Happy for the young Ruler, who in this +difficult position learns first to triumph over his impetuous +impulses, and attains in the springtime of his life that self-control +which hoary age with difficulty acquires!</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Praises of Amalasuentha.</div> + +<p>'As for the Mother whom he so dutifully obeys, her most fittingly do +all kingdoms venerate, whom to behold is to adore, to listen to is to +witness a miracle. Of what language is she not a perfect mistress? She +is skilled in the niceties of Attic eloquence; she shines in the +majesty of Roman speech; she glories in the wealth of the language of +her fathers. She is equally marvellous in all these, and in each the +orator in his own especial tongue feels himself surpassed by her. A +great safeguard and a great excellence is this in the ruler of so many +nationalities. None needs an interpreter with his accomplished +mistress. No ambassador need wait, or hear his words slowly filtered +through the mind of a go-between. Everyone feels that his own words +are listened to, and receives his answer from her lips in the language +of his forefathers.</p> + +<p>'To these accomplishments, as a splendid diadem, is added that +priceless knowledge of Literature, by which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454">[Pg 454]</a></span> the treasures of ancient +learning are appropriated, and the dignity of the throne is ever +enhanced.</p> + +<p>'Yet, while she rejoices in such perfect mastery of language, on +public occasions she is so taciturn that she might be supposed to be +indolent. With a few words she unties the knots of entangled +litigations, she calmly arranges hot disputes, she silently promotes +the public welfare. You do not hear her announce beforehand what will +be her course of action in public; but with marvellous skill she +attains, by feigning, those points which she knows require to be +rapidly gained<a name="FNanchor_715_715" id="FNanchor_715_715"></a><a href="#Footnote_715_715" class="fnanchor">[715]</a>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Comparison to Placidia.</div> + +<p>'What case like this can be produced from the annals of revered +Antiquity? Placidia's care for her purple-clad son has often been +celebrated; but by Placidia's lax administration of the Empire its +boundaries were unbecomingly retrenched. She gained for him a wife and +for herself a daughter-in-law<a name="FNanchor_716_716" id="FNanchor_716_716"></a><a href="#Footnote_716_716" class="fnanchor">[716]</a> by the loss of Illyricum; and thus +the union of Sovereigns was bought by a lamentable division of the +Provinces<a name="FNanchor_717_717" id="FNanchor_717_717"></a><a href="#Footnote_717_717" class="fnanchor">[717]</a>. The discipline of the soldiers was relaxed by too long +peace; and, in short, Valentinian, under the guardianship of his +mother, lost more than he could have done if he had been a helpless +orphan.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455">[Pg 455]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Relations with the East.</div> + +<p>'But under this Lady, who can count as many Kings as ancestors in her +pedigree, our army by Divine help is a terror to foreign nations. +Being kept in a prudent equipoise it is neither worn away by continual +fighting nor enervated by unbroken peace. In the very beginnings of +the reign, when a new ruler's precarious power is apt to be most +assailed, contrary to the wish of the Eastern Emperor she made the +Danube a Roman stream. Well known is all that the invaders suffered, +of which I therefore omit further mention, that the shame of defeat +may not be too closely associated with the thought of the Emperor, our +ally. Still, what he thought of your part of the Empire is clear from +this, that he conceded to our attack that peace which he has refused +to the abject entreaties of others. Add this fact, that though we have +rarely sought him he has honoured us with so many embassies, and that +thus his unique majesty has bowed down the stately head of the Orient +to exalt the lords of Italy<a name="FNanchor_718_718" id="FNanchor_718_718"></a><a href="#Footnote_718_718" class="fnanchor">[718]</a>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Expedition against the Franks.</div> + +<p>'The Franks also, overmighty by their victories over so many barbarous +tribes—by what a great expedition were they harassed! Attacked, they +dreaded a contest with our soldiers; they who had leaped unawares upon +so many nations and forced them into battle. But though that haughty +race declined the offered conflict, they could not prevent the death +of their own King. For Theodoric<a name="FNanchor_719_719" id="FNanchor_719_719"></a><a href="#Footnote_719_719" class="fnanchor">[719]</a>, he who had so often availed +himself of the name of our glorious King as an occasion for triumph, +now fell vanquished in the struggle with disease—a stroke of Divine +Providence surely, to prevent us from staining ourselves with the +blood of our kindred, and yet to grant some revenge to the army which +had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_456" id="Page_456">[Pg 456]</a></span> been justly called out to war. Hail! thou Gothic array, happy +above all other happiness, who strikest at the life of a Royal foe, +yet leavest us not the poorer by the life of one of the least of our +soldiers<a name="FNanchor_720_720" id="FNanchor_720_720"></a><a href="#Footnote_720_720" class="fnanchor">[720]</a>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">League with the Burgundians.</div> + +<p>'The Burgundian too, in order to receive his own again, crouched in +devotion, giving up his whole self that he might receive a trifle. For +he chose to obey with unimpaired territories, rather than to resist +with these cut short; and thus, by laying aside his arms, he most +effectually defended his kingdom, recovering by his prayers what he +had lost by the sword<a name="FNanchor_721_721" id="FNanchor_721_721"></a><a href="#Footnote_721_721" class="fnanchor">[721]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Happy Princess, whose enemies either fall by the hand of God, or else +by your bounty are united with your Empire! Rejoice, Goths and Romans +alike, and hail this marvel, a being who unites the excellences of +both the sexes! As woman she has given birth to your illustrious King, +while with manly fortitude of mind she has maintained the bounds of +your Empire.</p> + +<p>'And now, if leaving the realm of war we enter the inner courts of her +moral goodness, a hundred tongues will not suffice to sound forth all +her praises. Her justice is as great as her goodwill, but even greater +is her kindness than her power. You, Senators, know the heavenly +goodness which she has shown to your order, restoring those who had +met with affliction to a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457">[Pg 457]</a></span> higher state than that from which they had +fallen<a name="FNanchor_722_722" id="FNanchor_722_722"></a><a href="#Footnote_722_722" class="fnanchor">[722]</a>, and exalting to honour those who were still uninjured.</p> + +<p>'Look at the case of the Patrician Liberius<a name="FNanchor_723_723" id="FNanchor_723_723"></a><a href="#Footnote_723_723" class="fnanchor">[723]</a>, Praefect of the +Gauls—a man of charming manners, of distinguished merit, a soldier +with honourable scars—who even while absent in his Praefecture has +received the <i>fasces</i> and a patrimony from her.</p> + +<p>'What can I say of her strength of mind and tenacity of purpose, in +which she excels even philosophers? I speak of this from my own +experience. You know, oh Conscript Fathers, what influences were +arrayed against me<a name="FNanchor_724_724" id="FNanchor_724_724"></a><a href="#Footnote_724_724" class="fnanchor">[724]</a>. Neither gold nor the prayers of great men +availed: all things were tried, and tried in vain, to prove the +glorious constancy of that wisest Lady.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Virtues of the Amal Kings.</div> + +<p>'And here the rules of rhetoric would require me to compare her with a +long line of Empresses in the past. But if men cannot vie with her +glory, what is the use of adducing female examples? If we look at the +Royal Cohort of her ancestors, we shall see that she, like a pure +mirror, reflects all their excellences. For Amal<a name="FNanchor_725_725" id="FNanchor_725_725"></a><a href="#Footnote_725_725" class="fnanchor">[725]</a> was conspicuous +for his good fortune, Ostrogotha for his patience, Athal for mildness, +Munitarius [Winithar] for justice, Unimund for beauty, Thorismuth for +chastity, Unalamer [Walamir] for faith, Theudimer for warmth of +heart<a name="FNanchor_726_726" id="FNanchor_726_726"></a><a href="#Footnote_726_726" class="fnanchor">[726]</a>, and Theodoric, the renowned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_458" id="Page_458">[Pg 458]</a></span> father of Amalasuentha, as ye +have all seen, for patience. Each of these would recognise in her his +own special attribute, but all would acknowledge that in these very +attributes they are excelled by her.</p> + +<p>'You will now perhaps expect me to praise our young King, but in +extolling the author of his being, I have abundantly extolled him, her +offspring. You will remember that excellent saying of the eloquent +Symmachus, "I hesitate to praise the beginning of his career because I +am confidently hoping for his advance in virtue<a name="FNanchor_727_727" id="FNanchor_727_727"></a><a href="#Footnote_727_727" class="fnanchor">[727]</a>." Come to my +help, Conscript Fathers, and render to your Lords and mine your united +thanks for my promotion.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi2">2.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Pope John</span><a name="FNanchor_728_728" id="FNanchor_728_728"></a><a href="#Footnote_728_728" class="fnanchor">[728]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Salutations to the Pope.</div> + +<p>'Your prayers are assuredly the cause of our promotion. Your fastings +have procured plenty for the citizens. Saluting you therefore with all +due reverence, we pray you to continue your prayers for long life to +our rulers, for peace and plenty to the State, and for an increase of +heavenly wisdom to me. Let the Judge in public life be such as the +Catholic Church has trained her son to be. I am indeed a Judge of the +Palace, but I shall not cease to be your disciple<a name="FNanchor_729_729" id="FNanchor_729_729"></a><a href="#Footnote_729_729" class="fnanchor">[729]</a>. Cast not off +upon me the whole care of this City, which you watch over with a +father's love, but take thought both for its bodily and spiritual +wants, and admonish me whenever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_459" id="Page_459">[Pg 459]</a></span> you think I am erring. Your See is an +object of admiration through all lands, and your charity is +world-wide; but yet you have also an especial, local love for the +sheep of your own flock.</p> + +<p>'Rome has in her own borders those shrines of martyrdom<a name="FNanchor_730_730" id="FNanchor_730_730"></a><a href="#Footnote_730_730" class="fnanchor">[730]</a> of the +Apostles [Peter and Paul] which the whole world longs to behold. With +such patrons, if only your prayers ascend, we need fear no evil.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi3">3.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to divers Bishops</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Salutations to the Bishops.</div> + +<p>'Fathers after the flesh delight in the advancement of their sons. +Even so do ye, my spiritual fathers, diligently pray to the Holy +Trinity that He may make my candle to give light to all that are in +the house; yea, and that He may so purge and enlighten mine own +conscience that I may not, while an accurate Judge over other men, be +a deceiver of mine own self.</p> + +<p>'I beg of you to declare a fast, and supplicate the Lord that He will +prolong the life of our Sovereigns<a name="FNanchor_731_731" id="FNanchor_731_731"></a><a href="#Footnote_731_731" class="fnanchor">[731]</a>, for the happiness of the +realm; that He will defend our State from the assaults of its enemies, +will give us all tranquillity in our time, and will deign to make me +worthy of your love.</p> + +<p>'Watch narrowly the acts of the subordinates whom I send among you, +and inform me of anything which they do amiss. I cannot be held +responsible for deeds of which I know nothing. And if they take bribes +they at least cannot justify themselves by saying that they have first +had to pay money for their offices.</p> + +<p>'Continue to afford your wonted solace to the widow and orphan; yet +beware that your pity does not lead you to seek to set aside the laws +even for these. Oh, most holy men, banish to the home of all other +unclean spirits violence, avarice, hatred, rapine; and root out from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_460" id="Page_460">[Pg 460]</a></span> +among your people luxury, which is the depopulator of the human race. +Let the Bishop teach, that the Judge may have a maiden assize<a name="FNanchor_732_732" id="FNanchor_732_732"></a><a href="#Footnote_732_732" class="fnanchor">[732]</a>. If +only your preaching he continued, the penal course of law must +necessarily come to an end.</p> + +<p>'I therefore commend my dignity to your prayers, and end my letter +with a salutation of love and honour to your Holinesses.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi4">4.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to his Deputy<a name="FNanchor_733_733" id="FNanchor_733_733"></a><a href="#Footnote_733_733" class="fnanchor">[733]</a> Ambrosius, an +Illustris</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Functions of the Praefect's Deputy.</div> + +<p>'We have formed a high opinion of you from long observation of your +career as an Advocate, and feel sure that you will justify that +opinion by your conduct in the office to which we are now calling you. +The Forum has long resounded to your eloquence: now your turn is come +to sit upon the magistrate's bench. Hitherto you have assisted the +officers of the court: now you are yourself called upon to play the +part of a Judge. Even when you are absent from me, you will be deemed +to be sitting by my side; but whatever credit you may earn when +hearing a case by yourself will be reckoned to you alone.</p> + +<p>'We therefore ordain that the official staff which waits upon our +orders shall be at your disposal, to carry your decisions into effect, +and to see that none treat them with contempt.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_461" id="Page_461">[Pg 461]</a></span></p> + +<p>'If you shall think it necessary to hand over any [insolvent] persons +to those who have become security for them, assume that right with +confidence, because that will most effectually relieve my mind when I +shall learn that this matter has been finally disposed of by you<a name="FNanchor_734_734" id="FNanchor_734_734"></a><a href="#Footnote_734_734" class="fnanchor">[734]</a>. +For if I were present you might give me words only; but now in my +absence you owe me, rather, deeds.</p> + +<p>'Think, then, of all that is involved in your high office. Let your +toil procure me rest from all men. Avoid the rocks on either side of +you. These warnings come rather from my over-particularity<a name="FNanchor_735_735" id="FNanchor_735_735"></a><a href="#Footnote_735_735" class="fnanchor">[735]</a> than +from any distrust of you, for I believe that with God's help you will +order all things as shall be best for our fame and for the Republic.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi5">5.</a> <span class="smcap">The Same to the Same</span>.</h3> + +<p>[On the occasion of a scarcity in Rome, either existing or dreaded. +See the letter to Pope John II (<a href="#xi2">xi. 2</a>).]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Grain distributions for Rome.</div> + +<p>'I am sure that you will rejoice with me if the needs of the Roman +people can be satisfied by our means, and thus we can testify our +gratitude for the hospitality which we have both received from that +City. To this end have we endured the discomforts of travel, for this +purpose have we racked our brains with anxious thought, that that +people, which tasted such delights of old in the happy days of its +former rulers, may now see its necessities relieved and again enjoy +its former prosperity.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_462" id="Page_462">[Pg 462]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Their poverty and hunger we make our own. Therefore, with all speed, +let stores of grain in good condition be at once collected, so that +the bread cooked therefrom may be a delight and not a horror. Let just +weight be given. Flee all thought of unholy profit from this source. +My own soul is wounded if anyone dares to transgress in this matter of +the food-supply of the people. Not favour nor popular applause is my +aim; but to be permitted, by God's help, to accomplish my own heart's +desire.</p> + +<p>'I love all my fellow-countrymen, but the Roman citizens deserve more +than ordinary love from me. Theirs is a City adorned with so many +illustrious Senators, blest with such a noble commonalty, a City so +well fitted to celebrate the victories of our glorious rulers. When +the question of my promotion hung in suspense, it was the good wishes +of these citizens which turned the scale in my favour with the lords +of the world<a name="FNanchor_736_736" id="FNanchor_736_736"></a><a href="#Footnote_736_736" class="fnanchor">[736]</a>, who complied with the universal desire of the Roman +people. Come, then; so act that this goodwill of theirs to me may +continue. Let us all beseech the mercy of the Most High to bless us +with an abundant harvest; and let us resolve that, if we are thus +favoured, no negligence of ours shall diminish, no venality divert +from its proper recipients, the bounty of Heaven<a name="FNanchor_737_737" id="FNanchor_737_737"></a><a href="#Footnote_737_737" class="fnanchor">[737]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi6">6.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Joannes, Cancellarius</span>.</h3> + +<p>[An interesting letter, as showing the lowly original of the office +from whence have sprung the mediaeval and modern Chancellors.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Functions of the Cancellarius.</div> + +<p>'Your rare merit causes you to enjoy a position beyond<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_463" id="Page_463">[Pg 463]</a></span> that which of +right belongs to you in the official hierarchy<a name="FNanchor_738_738" id="FNanchor_738_738"></a><a href="#Footnote_738_738" class="fnanchor">[738]</a>. Those who are +above you cheerfully manifest to you a deference which you might be +required to show to them; and thus you, while keeping your inferiors +in their proper place, take without presumption precedence of many of +your superiors.</p> + +<p>'This laudable prejudice has assigned to you, from the twelfth +Indiction<a name="FNanchor_739_739" id="FNanchor_739_739"></a><a href="#Footnote_739_739" class="fnanchor">[739]</a>, the dignity of Cancellarius<a name="FNanchor_740_740" id="FNanchor_740_740"></a><a href="#Footnote_740_740" class="fnanchor">[740]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Guard then the secrets of our Consistory with incorruptible fidelity. +Through your intervention the petitioner for justice has to approach +me. On your acts depends in great measure the opinion which men shall +form of me; for as a house is judged by its front towards the street, +and men by the trimness or shabbiness of their raiment, so are we high +officials judged by the demeanour of our subordinates who represent us +to the crowd. Therefore, if such officials do anything which redounds +to their master's dishonour, they put themselves altogether outside +the pale of his clemency.</p> + +<p>'Remember your title, <i>Cancellarius</i>. Ensconced behind the +lattice-work (cancelli) of your compartment, keeping guard behind +those windowed doors, however studiously you may conceal yourself, it +is inevitable that you be the observed of all observers<a name="FNanchor_741_741" id="FNanchor_741_741"></a><a href="#Footnote_741_741" class="fnanchor">[741]</a>. If you +step forth, <i>my</i> glances range all over you: if you return to your +shelter, the eyes of the litigants are upon you. This is where +Antiquity ruled that you should be placed, in order that your actions +should be visible to all.</p> + +<p>'Attend now to this advice which I have given you, and let it not +merely filter through your mind, like water through a pipe, but let it +sink down into your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_464" id="Page_464">[Pg 464]</a></span> heart, and, safely stored up there, let it +influence the actions of your life.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi7">7.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to all the Judges of the Provinces</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Duties of the Collectors of Taxes.</div> + +<p>'It is an excellent thing that the yearly taxes should be regularly +paid. What confidence does the consciousness of this give to the +taxpayer, who can march boldly through the Forum, feeling that he owes +nothing to anybody and need not fear the face of any official! One can +only enjoy an estate if one has no fear of the process-server making +his appearance upon it.</p> + +<p>'Therefore, in the Diocese of your Excellency<a name="FNanchor_742_742" id="FNanchor_742_742"></a><a href="#Footnote_742_742" class="fnanchor">[742]</a>, we desire you and +your staff at the beginning of this twelfth Indiction<a name="FNanchor_743_743" id="FNanchor_743_743"></a><a href="#Footnote_743_743" class="fnanchor">[743]</a>, with all +proper gentleness, to impress upon the cultivator of the soil that he +must pay his land-tax<a name="FNanchor_744_744" id="FNanchor_744_744"></a><a href="#Footnote_744_744" class="fnanchor">[744]</a> and end those long arrears, which were +introduced not for the assistance of the taxpayer, but for the corrupt +profit of the tax-collector. For the officials who in this way +professed to relieve the burdens of the people, really imposed upon +them a heavier and more hateful weight in the shape of douceurs<a name="FNanchor_745_745" id="FNanchor_745_745"></a><a href="#Footnote_745_745" class="fnanchor">[745]</a> +to themselves.</p> + +<p>'Let then this hateful swindling be henceforth banished. Let the +cultivator pay nothing more than his lawful debt to the Treasury, and +let him pay it at the appointed time, thus removing the confusion in +which the slowness of collection has involved our accounts.</p> + +<p>'Make up, therefore, the abstracts of accounts<a name="FNanchor_746_746" id="FNanchor_746_746"></a><a href="#Footnote_746_746" class="fnanchor">[746]</a> at the stated +times, and forward them to the proper bureaux<a name="FNanchor_747_747" id="FNanchor_747_747"></a><a href="#Footnote_747_747" class="fnanchor">[747]</a>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_465" id="Page_465">[Pg 465]</a></span> according to old +law and the authority of this present edict; and if you neglect any of +these injunctions, know that you do so at your peril. To quicken your +diligence we have appointed A and B, persons of tried merit in the +past, to supervise the proceedings of yourself and your staff, that +this double check may prevent the possibility of negligence.</p> + +<p>'Act then with justice if you wish to receive further promotion. Only +those gains are to be sought for which the cultivator gladly offers +and which the public servant can securely accept. If you take bribes +you will be miserable ever after, through fear of discovery; but if +you act uprightly, you will have in me a willing spectator and +rewarder of your merits. I am most anxious to be your friend; do not +force me against my will to become your enemy.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi8">8.</a> <span class="smcap">Edict Published through the Provinces by Senator, Praetorian +Praefect</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Edict announcing Cassiodorus' principles of +administration.</div> + +<p>'The custom of the ancients was for a new ruler to promulgate a new +set of laws to his subjects, but now it is sufficient praise to a +conscientious ruler that he adheres to the legislation of Antiquity.</p> + +<p>'Do you all study to perform good actions, and shrink from deeds of +lawlessness and sedition, and you will have nothing to fear from your +Governors. I know that some fear, however irrational, is felt in the +presence of the Judge; but as far as my purpose can avail, with the +help of God and the rulers of the State<a name="FNanchor_748_748" id="FNanchor_748_748"></a><a href="#Footnote_748_748" class="fnanchor">[748]</a>, I can promise you that +all things shall be done with justice and moderation.</p> + +<p>'Venality, that greatest stain upon a Judge's character, will be +unknown in me; for I should think scorn to sell the words that go out +of my lips, like clothes in the market-place.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_466" id="Page_466">[Pg 466]</a></span></p> + +<p>'In exercising the right of pre-emption we shall be solely guided by +the wants of the State, buying nothing at a forced price in order to +sell it again<a name="FNanchor_749_749" id="FNanchor_749_749"></a><a href="#Footnote_749_749" class="fnanchor">[749]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Be cheerful and of good courage, therefore, with reference to the new +administration. No soldier or civil servant shall harass you for his +own pleasure. No tax-collector shall load you with burdens of his own +imposition. We are determined to keep not only our own hands clean, +but also those of our officials. Otherwise, vainly does a good Judge +guard himself from receiving money, if he leaves to the many under him +licence to receive it on their own account. But we, both by precept +and example, show that we aim at the public good, not at private and +fraudulent gains.</p> + +<p>'We know what prayers you put up for us, how anxiously you watched for +our elevation, and we are determined that you shall not be +disappointed. Our Praetorium, which no base action has ever denied, +shall be open to all. No servile throng shall lord it over you. You +shall come straight to us, making your requests known to us through no +hired interpreter, and none shall leave our presence poorer than he +entered it. With God's help we trust we shall so act as to conform to +the instructions which we have received from our Sovereign<a name="FNanchor_750_750" id="FNanchor_750_750"></a><a href="#Footnote_750_750" class="fnanchor">[750]</a>; and +we trust that you, by your loyalty, will enable us to be rather the +Father of our Provinces than their Judge. You have patiently obeyed +governors who fleeced you; how much more ought you to obey one who, as +you know, loves you mightily! Pay the regular fees to the officials +who are labouring in your midst; for there is no such excuse for +high-handed oppression as the fact that a man is not receiving his +covenanted salary. Obey the rule of reason, and you will not have to +fear the armed man's wrath.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_467" id="Page_467">[Pg 467]</a></span></p> +<p>'We wish that you should enjoy the privileges conceded to you by +former rulers without any encroachment by violent men.</p> + +<p>'And now be of good heart; I pledge myself for your righteous +government. Had I been present with you face to face, ye could not +have seen my mind; but ye can read it in this letter, which is the +mirror of my heart, the true image of my will, and ye can see that it +desires only your prosperity.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi9">9.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to the Judges of the Provinces</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Exhortation to the Judges to govern in conformity with the +Edict.</div> + +<p>'Knowing that past suffering makes men anxious and timid as to the +future, we have put forth an edict [the preceding document] in order +to reassure the minds of the Provincials, and to deliver them from the +torment of ever-present fear.</p> + +<p>'Therefore we call upon your Excellency<a name="FNanchor_751_751" id="FNanchor_751_751"></a><a href="#Footnote_751_751" class="fnanchor">[751]</a> to cause this edict to be +exposed in all the places which are most resorted to. Thus let the +love and devotion of all classes be excited towards our happy +Sovereigns<a name="FNanchor_752_752" id="FNanchor_752_752"></a><a href="#Footnote_752_752" class="fnanchor">[752]</a>, that as our thoughts towards the people are entirely +thoughts of goodwill, so their dispositions towards the rulers who +govern them in righteousness may be only loyal<a name="FNanchor_753_753" id="FNanchor_753_753"></a><a href="#Footnote_753_753" class="fnanchor">[753]</a>.</p> + +<p>'It now rests with you, by your just government of the Provincials, to +carry our promises into effect.</p> + +<p>'Remember that the official staff standing by, is a witness of the +acts of every one of you; and so comport yourselves, that both they +and all others may see that you in your own conduct obey the laws +which you administer.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_468" id="Page_468">[Pg 468]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Be more anxious to remedy the poverty of the Provincials than to +inflict punishment upon them. So act that when you are giving an +account of your stewardship your year of office may be felt to have +been all too short<a name="FNanchor_754_754" id="FNanchor_754_754"></a><a href="#Footnote_754_754" class="fnanchor">[754]</a>. If you have acted justly, and earned the +goodwill of your Provincials, you will have no need of gifts to stave +off accusations.</p> + +<p>'We do not appoint any spies upon your actions, and we pray you so to +act that this most humiliating expedient may not be necessary.</p> + +<p>'If you meet with any who pertinaciously set themselves up against the +authority of your <i>fasces</i>, send us at once a messenger with your +report; or, if you cannot spare such an one, send the report alone, as +you have authority to use the public postal-service<a name="FNanchor_755_755" id="FNanchor_755_755"></a><a href="#Footnote_755_755" class="fnanchor">[755]</a>. Thus all +excuse for remissness on your part is taken away, since you can either +wield your power or explain to us the hindrances which beset you.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi10">10.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Beatus, Vir Clarissimus and +Cancellarius</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Davus is invalided to the Mons Lactarius.</div> + +<p>'Our lord the King<a name="FNanchor_756_756" id="FNanchor_756_756"></a><a href="#Footnote_756_756" class="fnanchor">[756]</a> (whose prayer it is that he may ever rejoice +in the welfare of all his subjects), when he reflected upon the +impaired health of his servant Davus<a name="FNanchor_757_757" id="FNanchor_757_757"></a><a href="#Footnote_757_757" class="fnanchor">[757]</a>, ordered him to seek to the +healing properties of the Mons Lactarius<a name="FNanchor_758_758" id="FNanchor_758_758"></a><a href="#Footnote_758_758" class="fnanchor">[758]</a>, for the cure which +medical aid seemed powerless to bestow. A frequent cough resounded +from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_469" id="Page_469">[Pg 469]</a></span> his panting chest, his limbs were becoming emaciated, and the +food which he took seemed to have lost all power to nourish his frame. +Persons in this state can neither feed nor endure to fast, and their +bodies seem like leaky casks, from which all strength must soon +dribble away.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The milk-cure, a remedy for consumption.</div> + +<p>'As an antidote to this cruel malady Heaven has given us the Mons +Lactarius, where the salubrious air working together with the fatness +of the soil has produced a herbage of extraordinary sweetness. The +cows which are fed on this herbage give a milk which seems to be the +only remedy for consumptive patients who have been quite given over by +their physicians. As sleep refreshes the weary limbs of toil, so does +this milk fill up the wasted limbs and restore the vanished strength. +Strange is it to see the herds feeding on this abundant pasture. They +look as if it did not profit them at all. Thin and scraggy, as they +wander through the thickets they look like the patients who seek their +aid; yet their milk is so thick that it sticks to the milker's +fingers.</p> + +<p>'Do you therefore supply the invalid when he arrives, with the +appointed rations and pecuniary allowance, that he may be suitably +maintained in that place while he is recreating his exhausted energies +with the food of infancy.</p> + +<p>'And, oh! all ye who are suffering under the like grievous malady, +lift up your hearts. There is hope for you. By no bitter antidote, but +by a delicious draught, you shall imbibe life—life, in itself the +sweetest of all things.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi11">11.</a> <span class="smcap">Edict concerning Prices to be Maintained at Ravenna</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Prices at Ravenna.</div> + +<p>'The price at which provisions are sold ought to follow, in a +reasonable way, the circumstances of the times, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_470" id="Page_470">[Pg 470]</a></span> there may be +neither cheapness in a dear season, nor dearness in a cheap one, and +that the grumblings of both buyers and sellers may be avoided, by +fairness being observed towards both.</p> + +<p>'Therefore, after careful consideration, we have fixed in the +subjoined schedule the prices of the various articles of produce, +which prices are to remain free from all ambiguity.</p> + +<p>'If any vendor does not observe the prices named in the present edict, +he will be liable to a fine of six solidi (£3 12s.) for each violation +of the law, and may be visited by corporal punishment<a name="FNanchor_759_759" id="FNanchor_759_759"></a><a href="#Footnote_759_759" class="fnanchor">[759]</a>.'</p> + +<p>[The schedule mentioned in this letter is unfortunately not preserved. +Few documents that Cassiodorus could have handed down to posterity +would have been more valuable. If we could have compared it with the +celebrated Edict of Stratonicea (cir. <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 301), we should have seen +what changes had been wrought in the value of the precious metals and +the distribution of wealth during the two centuries of disturbance and +barbaric invasion which had elapsed since the reign of Diocletian. +But, unfortunately, Cassiodorus believed that his rhetoric and his +natural history would be more interesting to us than these vulgar +facts.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi12">12.</a> <span class="smcap">Edict concerning Prices along the Flaminian Way</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Prices per Viam Flaminiam.</div> + +<p>'If prices need to be fixed for the leisurely inhabitant of a town, +much more for the traveller, whose journey may otherwise become a +burden instead of a pleasure. Let strangers therefore find that they +are entertained by you at fixed prices. To fawn upon them with feigned +politeness and then terrify them with enormous charges<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_471" id="Page_471">[Pg 471]</a></span> is the act of +a highway robber. Do you not know how much better moderate prices +would suit your own purpose? Travellers would gladly flock to your +accommodation-houses<a name="FNanchor_760_760" id="FNanchor_760_760"></a><a href="#Footnote_760_760" class="fnanchor">[760]</a> if they found that you treated them fairly.</p> + +<p>'Let no one think that because he is a long way off, his extortion +will escape notice, for people are arriving here every day with tales +of your rapacity.</p> + +<p>'An official despatched for the purpose will, after deliberation with +the citizens and Bishops of each place, decide what prices are to be +charged there; and then whosoever dares to ask higher prices will have +to pay a fine of six solidi (£3 12s.) and will be afflicted by the +laceration of his body.</p> + +<p>'Honest gains at the expense of your fellow-citizens ought to suffice +for all of you. One would think that the highways were beset with +brigands.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi13">13.</a> <span class="smcap">The Senate of the City of Rome to the Emperor Justinian</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Supplications of the Senate to Justinian.</div> + +<p>'It seems a right and proper thing that we should address our prayers +for the safety of the Roman Republic to a dutiful Sovereign<a name="FNanchor_761_761" id="FNanchor_761_761"></a><a href="#Footnote_761_761" class="fnanchor">[761]</a>, who +can only desire what will benefit our freedom. We therefore beseech +you, most clement Emperor, and from the bosom of the Curia we stretch +forth our two hands to you in prayer, that you will grant a most +enduring peace to our King. Spurn not us, who ever seemed certain of +your love. It is in truth the Roman name that you are commending, if +you grant gracious terms to our lords. May your league with them +assure the peace of Italy; and if our prayers be not sufficient to +accomplish this thing, imagine that you hear our country break forth +with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_472" id="Page_472">[Pg 472]</a></span> these words of supplication: "If ever I was acceptable to thee, +love, oh most dutiful Sovereign, love my defenders! They who rule me +ought to be in harmony with thee, lest otherwise they begin to do such +deeds towards me as thou least of all men wouldest desire. Be not to +me a cause of death, thou who hast ever ministered unto me the joys of +life. Lo, while at peace with thee I have doubled the number of my +children, I have been decked with the glory of my citizens. If thou +sufferest me to be wounded, where is thy dutiful name of Son? What +couldest even thou do more for me [than these rulers], seeing that my +religion and thine thus flourish under their rule?</p> + +<p>'"My Senate grows in honour and is incessantly increasing in wealth. +Do not dissipate in quarrels what thou oughtest rather to defend with +the sword. I have had many Kings; but none so trained in letters as +this one. I have had foreseeing statesmen, but none so powerful in +learning and religion. I love the Amal, bred up as he has been at my +knees, a strong man, one who has been formed by my conversation, dear +to the Romans by his prudence, venerable to the nations by his valour. +Join rather thy prayers to his; share with him thy counsels: so that +any prosperity which I may earn may redound to thy glory. Do not woo +me in the only fashion in which I may not be won. Thine am I already +in love, if thou sendest none of thy soldiers to lacerate my limbs. +For if Africa has deserved through thee to recover freedom, it were +hard that I should from the same hand lose that freedom which I have +ever possessed. Control the emotions of anger, oh illustrious +conqueror! The claims urged upon thee by the general voice of the +people ought to outweigh the offence which the ingratitude of any +private individual may have occasioned to thy heart."</p> + +<p>'Thus Rome speaks while, through her Senators, she makes supplications +to you. And if that be not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_473" id="Page_473">[Pg 473]</a></span> enough, let the sacred petition of the +blessed Apostles Peter and Paul be also taken into your account. For +surely they, who are proved to have so often defended the peace of +Rome from her enemies, deserve that your Sovereignty should yield +everything to their merits. The venerable man, our most pious King's +ambassador to your Clemency, will further set forth our prayers.'</p> + +<p>[It is not easy to fix the exact occasion on which this petition was +likely to be sent from the Senate to the Emperor. The allusion to the +conquest of Africa shows that it was after the Vandal War, which ended +in March, 534. On the other hand, the language put into the mouth of +the Senate implies that the Imperial troops had not yet landed in +Italy or Sicily, and the petition is therefore of an earlier date than +the summer of 535. During the whole of these fourteen months the +relations between Empire and Kingdom were more or less strained, the +causes of complaint on the part of Constantinople beginning with the +occupation of Lilybaeum and ending with the murder of Amalasuentha. I +fear that the nattering portrait drawn of 'the Amal' can apply to no +one but Theodahad, the terms used being hopelessly inapplicable to a +boy like Athalaric. Who then are 'our lords' ('nostri Domini'), in +whose name peace is besought. The best that we can hope, for the sake +of the reputation of Cassiodorus, is that they are Amalasuentha and +Theodahad, the letter being written between October 2, 534 (when +Athalaric died), and April 30, 535 (when Amalasuentha was imprisoned). +Upon the whole this seems the most probable conclusion. If written +after Amalasuentha's death, in the few months or weeks which +intervened between that event and the landing of Belisarius in Sicily, +the language employed reflects deep discredit on the writer. In that +case, 'nostri Domini' must mean Theodahad and Gudelina.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_474" id="Page_474">[Pg 474]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="xi14">14.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Gaudiosus, Cancellarius of the +Province of Liguria</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Praises of Como. Relief of its inhabitants.</div> + +<p>'The City of Como<a name="FNanchor_762_762" id="FNanchor_762_762"></a><a href="#Footnote_762_762" class="fnanchor">[762]</a> is visited by so many travellers that the +cultivators of the soil declare that they are quite worn out with +requisitions for post-horses<a name="FNanchor_763_763" id="FNanchor_763_763"></a><a href="#Footnote_763_763" class="fnanchor">[763]</a>. Wherefore we direct that by Royal +indulgence they be favoured in this matter<a name="FNanchor_764_764" id="FNanchor_764_764"></a><a href="#Footnote_764_764" class="fnanchor">[764]</a>, that this city, so +beautifully situated, do not become a solitude for want of +inhabitants.</p> + +<p>'Como, with its precipitous mountains and its vast expanse of lake, +seems placed there for the defence of the Province of Liguria; and +yet, again, it is so beautiful that one would think it was created for +pleasure only. To the south lies a fertile plain with easy roads for +the transport of provisions; on the north a lake sixty miles long, +abounding in fish, soothing the mind with delicious recreation.</p> + +<p>'Rightly is it called <i>Como</i>, because it is adorned (compta) with such +gifts. The lake lies in a shell-like valley, with white margins. Above +rises a diadem of lofty mountains, their slopes studded with bright +villas<a name="FNanchor_765_765" id="FNanchor_765_765"></a><a href="#Footnote_765_765" class="fnanchor">[765]</a>, a girdle of olives below, vineyards above, while a crest +of thick chestnut-woods adorns the very summit of the hills. Streams +of snowy clearness dash from the hill-sides into the lake. On the +eastern side these unite to form the river Addua, so called because it +contains the <i>added</i> volume of two streams. It plunges into the lake +with such force that it keeps its own colour<a name="FNanchor_766_766" id="FNanchor_766_766"></a><a href="#Footnote_766_766" class="fnanchor">[766]</a> (dark among the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_475" id="Page_475">[Pg 475]</a></span> +whiter waters) and its own name far along the northern shore<a name="FNanchor_767_767" id="FNanchor_767_767"></a><a href="#Footnote_767_767" class="fnanchor">[767]</a>, a +phenomenon often seen with rivers flowing into the ocean, but surely +marvellous with one flowing into an inland lake. And so swift is its +course as it moves through the alien waves, that you might fancy it a +river flowing over the solid plains.</p> + +<p>'So delightful a region makes men delicate and averse to labour. +Therefore the inhabitants deserve especial consideration, and for this +reason we wish them to enjoy perpetually the royal bounty.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi15">15.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to the Ligurians</span>.</h3> + +<p>[Announcing the despatch of money to relieve the necessities of the +Province, possibly after some incursions of the Franks. This would fit +in pretty well with the mention of <i>Astensis Civitas</i> as having +suffered the most.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Relief of the necessities of Liguria.</div> + +<p>'It is the privilege of a King to increase the happiness of his +subjects. Not to postpone your joy by too long a preface, I will come +to the point at once, and inform you that our most glorious Lords, +taking the necessities of their loyal Liguria into account, have sent +100 lbs. of gold [£4,000] by the hands of A and B, officers of the +Royal Bedchamber. <i>You</i> are to say how the money is to be spent, +indicating the persons who are in the greatest necessity; but as we +are informed that the city of Asti has been more heavily weighted than +others, it is our wish that it should be chiefly helped by this +disbursement. Now, do you who are tributaries, reflect upon the +clemency of your lords, who are inverting the usual order of things, +and paying out to you from the Treasury what they are accustomed to +receive. Let us know at once<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_476" id="Page_476">[Pg 476]</a></span> how much you think each taxpayer ought +to receive, that we may deduct it from his first instalment of +land-tax<a name="FNanchor_768_768" id="FNanchor_768_768"></a><a href="#Footnote_768_768" class="fnanchor">[768]</a>.</p> + +<p>'And put up your prayers for your most affectionate Sovereigns, that +they may receive back again from Heaven the favour which they are +conferring on you.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi16">16.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to the Ligurians</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Oppressions practised on the Ligurians to be remedied.</div> + +<p>'In thanking me so earnestly for a recent benefit [probably the +present mentioned in the preceding letter] you invited me to further +favours, and the implied promise which I then gave you I now fulfil.</p> + +<p>'You complain that you are burdened with unjust weights and measures, +and I therefore declare that this iniquity shall cease, and that no +tax-collector or tithe-collector<a name="FNanchor_769_769" id="FNanchor_769_769"></a><a href="#Footnote_769_769" class="fnanchor">[769]</a>, shall dare to use too long a +measure or too heavy a weight [in the collection of the King's +revenue].</p> + +<p>'Also that their accounts shall be promptly balanced, and that any +overcharge that may be detected shall be at once repaid.</p> + +<p>'Now then, your minds being freed from anxiety on this score, turn +your attention to the supply of the wants of our most flourishing +army, and show your zeal for the public good, since we have satisfied +you that it is not for private and fraudulent gains that you are to +pay your contributions.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_477" id="Page_477">[Pg 477]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="xi17">17.</a> <span class="smcap">On the Promotions in the Official Staff of the Praetorian +Praefect, made on Christmas Day</span><a name="FNanchor_770_770" id="FNanchor_770_770"></a><a href="#Footnote_770_770" class="fnanchor">[770]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Promotions in Officium of Praefectus Praetorio.</div> + +<p>'On this day of general rejoicing, when by the kindness of Heaven the +way of salvation was opened to all mankind, we wish that the members +of our staff should also be glad. For to rejoice, ourselves, when +those around us are mourning, is a kind of sacrilege. Hence some +philosophers have held that the whole human race is one being, the +various members of which are constrained to share one another's +feelings of joy or sadness. Therefore let every official in our staff +according to his grade<a name="FNanchor_771_771" id="FNanchor_771_771"></a><a href="#Footnote_771_771" class="fnanchor">[771]</a> get promotion on this day, not only rising +himself, but creating a vacancy which enables those below him to rise +also.'</p> + +<p>[All the Letters from <a href="#xi18">18</a> to <a href="#xi35">35</a> are documents, for the most part very +short ones, relating to these promotions.</p> + +<p>For an explanation of the terms used in these letters, and of the +whole subject of the staff of the Praetorian Praefect, see <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">chapter iv.</a> +of the Introduction.]</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi18">Letter 18</a></b>, Antianus, who is vacating the office of <span class="smcap">Cornicularius</span>, +receives the rank of <i>Spectabilis</i>, and has a place assigned him among +the Tribuni and Notarii, where he may 'adore the presence of his +Sovereign<a name="FNanchor_772_772" id="FNanchor_772_772"></a><a href="#Footnote_772_772" class="fnanchor">[772]</a>'.</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi19">Letter 19</a></b> the successor of Antianus in the office of <span class="smcap">Cornicularius</span> +receives his appointment.</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi20">Letter 20</a></b> the retiring <span class="smcap">Primiscrinius</span> also receives the rank of +<i>Spectabilis</i>, and takes his place among<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_478" id="Page_478">[Pg 478]</a></span> the Tribuni and Notarii, 'to +adore the Purple of Royalty.'</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi21">Letter 21</a></b> Andreas is rewarded for his faithful service on the +Praetorian staff<a name="FNanchor_773_773" id="FNanchor_773_773"></a><a href="#Footnote_773_773" class="fnanchor">[773]</a>, by being promoted to the office of +<span class="smcap">Primiscrinius</span>.</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi22">Letter 22</a></b> Catellus, who stands next in grade for this +promotion<a name="FNanchor_774_774" id="FNanchor_774_774"></a><a href="#Footnote_774_774" class="fnanchor">[774]</a>, obtains the post of <span class="smcap">Scriniarius Actorum</span>.</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi23">Letter 23</a></b> Constantinian, to whose virtues Cassiodorus himself bears +witness, receives the charge of letters relating to the collection of +Land-Tax (<span class="smcap">Cura Epistolarum Canonicarum</span>).</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi24">Letter 24</a></b> Lucillus is appointed a clerk in the War-Office +(<span class="smcap">Scriniarius Curae Militaris</span>).</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi25">Letter 25</a></b> Patricius is appointed chief of the shorthand writers +(<span class="smcap">Primicerius Exceptorum</span>).</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi26">Letter 26</a></b> Justus obtains a place as member of the Sixth Schola +(<span class="smcap">Sextus Scholaris</span><a name="FNanchor_775_775" id="FNanchor_775_775"></a><a href="#Footnote_775_775" class="fnanchor">[775]</a>).</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi27">Letter 27</a></b> Joannes, whom we saw in the +<a href="#xi6">Sixth Letter</a> of this Book +entrusted with the duties of Cancellarius, is rewarded for his +faithful discharge of those duties by receiving the place of +<span class="smcap">Praerogativarius</span><a name="FNanchor_776_776" id="FNanchor_776_776"></a><a href="#Footnote_776_776" class="fnanchor">[776]</a>.</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi28">Letter 28</a></b> Cheliodorus<a name="FNanchor_777_777" id="FNanchor_777_777"></a><a href="#Footnote_777_777" class="fnanchor">[777]</a> is appointed to the place of +<span class="smcap">Commentariensis</span> (Magistrates' clerk).</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_479" id="Page_479">[Pg 479]</a></span></p> +<p>In <b><a name="xi29">Letter 29</a></b> Cart(h)erius is promoted to the office of <span class="smcap">Regerendarius</span> +(Secretary of the Post-Office), in the hope that this promotion will +render him yet more earnest in the discharge of his Praetorian +labours.</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi30">Letter 30</a></b> Ursus is appointed <span class="smcap">Primicerius Deputatorum</span>, and Beatus +(probably the Cancellarius addressed in <a href="#xi10">Letter 10</a>) is made <span class="smcap">Primicerius +Augustalium</span>.</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi31">Letter 31</a></b> Urbicus, on vacating the post of <span class="smcap">Primicerius +Singulariorum</span> (Chief of the King's Messengers), is placed among the +Body-guards (Domestici et Protectores), where he may adore the Royal +Purple, that, being made illustrious by gazing on the Sovereign, he +may rejoice in his liberation from official harassment.</p> + +<p>[As the Singularii did not form part of the learned staff (Militia +Litterata), their chief on retiring receives a guardsman's place, but +still one which gives him access to royalty.]</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi32">Letter 32</a></b> Pierius receives the post of <span class="smcap">Primicerius Singulariorum</span> +which is thus vacated.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Delegatoria.</div> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi33">Letter 33</a></b> Cassiodorus, expanding the proverb 'Bis dat qui cito +dat,' agrees that the <i>Delegatoria</i><a name="FNanchor_778_778" id="FNanchor_778_778"></a><a href="#Footnote_778_778" class="fnanchor">[778]</a> (or Delegatiorius), the +letter conferring on the receiver the right to receive the increase of +rations due to his promotion, should not be long delayed.</p> + +<p>In <b><a name="xi34">Letter 34</a></b> Antianus, the retired Cornicularius of +<a href="#xi18">Letter 18</a>, +receives a somewhat evasive answer to a petition which apparently +affected the rights of those below him in the official hierarchy<a name="FNanchor_779_779" id="FNanchor_779_779"></a><a href="#Footnote_779_779" class="fnanchor">[779]</a>.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_480" id="Page_480">[Pg 480]</a></span></p> +<p>In <b><a name="xi35">Letter 35</a></b> we have an example of the <i>Delegatoria</i> alluded to in +<a href="#xi33">Letter 33</a>. It is concerned with a <span class="smcap">Princeps</span>, apparently the Princeps of +the <span class="smcap">Agentes in Rebus</span>; and, after extolling the zeal and alacrity of +those officers, who are constantly intent on enforcing obedience to +the Imperial decrees and reverence for the authority of the Praetorian +Praefect, he observes that it would be impiety to delay the reward of +such labour.</p> + +<p>'Therefore let your Experience<a name="FNanchor_780_780" id="FNanchor_780_780"></a><a href="#Footnote_780_780" class="fnanchor">[780]</a> pay, out of the third instalment +of land-tax<a name="FNanchor_781_781" id="FNanchor_781_781"></a><a href="#Footnote_781_781" class="fnanchor">[781]</a> from such and such a Province, those monies which the +wisdom of Antiquity directed should be paid to the Princeps +Augustorum<a name="FNanchor_782_782" id="FNanchor_782_782"></a><a href="#Footnote_782_782" class="fnanchor">[782]</a>. Let this be done at once to those who are chargeable +on the accounts of the thirteenth Indiction (Sept. 1, 534—Sept. 1, +535). Let there be no venal delays. Behave to the out-going public +servant as you would wish that others should behave to you on your +retirement from office. All men should honour the veteran, but +especially they who are still toiling in the public service.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi36">36.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Anat(h)olius, Cancellarius of the +Province of Samnium</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The retirement of a Cornicularius on a superannuation +allowance justified on astronomical grounds.</div> + +<p>'As all things else come to an end, so it is right that the laborious +life of a civil servant should have its appointed term.</p> + +<p>'The heavenly bodies have their prescribed time in which to complete +their journeyings. Saturn in thirty years wanders over his appointed +portion of space. Jupiter in twelve years finishes the survey of his +kingdom. Mars, with fiery rapidity, completes his course in eighteen +months. The Sun in one year goes through all the signs of the Zodiac. +Venus accomplishes her circuit in fifteen months; the rapid Mercury in +thirteen months. The Moon, peculiar in her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_481" id="Page_481">[Pg 481]</a></span> nearer neighbourhood, +traverses in thirty days the space which it takes the Sun a year to +journey over<a name="FNanchor_783_783" id="FNanchor_783_783"></a><a href="#Footnote_783_783" class="fnanchor">[783]</a>.</p> + +<p>'All these bodies, which, as philosophers say, shall only perish with +the world, have an appointed end to their journeyings. But they +complete their course that they may begin it again: the human race +serves that it may rest from its ended labours. Therefore, since the +Cornicularius in my Court has completed his term of office, you are to +pay him without any deduction this 1st September 700 solidi (£420) +from the revenues of the Province of Samnium, taking them out of the +third instalment of land-tax<a name="FNanchor_784_784" id="FNanchor_784_784"></a><a href="#Footnote_784_784" class="fnanchor">[784]</a>. He commanded the wings of the army +of the Praefect's assistants, from whence he derived his name<a name="FNanchor_785_785" id="FNanchor_785_785"></a><a href="#Footnote_785_785" class="fnanchor">[785]</a>. +When he handed us the inkstand, we wrote, unbribed, those decrees +which men would have paid a great price to obtain<a name="FNanchor_786_786" id="FNanchor_786_786"></a><a href="#Footnote_786_786" class="fnanchor">[786]</a>. We gratified +him whom the laws favoured, we frowned on him who had not justice on +his side. No litigant had cause to regret his success, since it came +to him unbought. You know all this that we are saying to be true, for +our business was all transacted in the office, not in the bedchamber. +What we did, the whole troop of civil servants knew<a name="FNanchor_787_787" id="FNanchor_787_787"></a><a href="#Footnote_787_787" class="fnanchor">[787]</a>. We were +private<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_482" id="Page_482">[Pg 482]</a></span> persons in our power of harming, Judges in our power of doing +good. Our words might be stern, our deeds were kindly. We frowned +though mollified; we threatened though intending no evil; and we +struck terror that we might not have to strike. You have had in me, as +you were wont to say, a most clean-handed Judge: I shall leave behind +in you my most uncorrupted witnesses.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi37">37.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to the Clarissimus Lucinus, +Cancellarius of Campania</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Payment of retiring Primiscrinius.</div> + +<p>'It was well ordered by Antiquity that the servants of the Public +should receive a due reward for their labours; and who of all these +are more deserving than the officers of the Praetorian Praefect +(Praetoriani). Theirs is the difficult task of waiting on the +necessities of the army. They must demand accounts, often minute and +intricate, from great officers whom they dare not offend. They must +collect the stores of food for the Roman people from the Provincials +without giving them cause for complaint<a name="FNanchor_788_788" id="FNanchor_788_788"></a><a href="#Footnote_788_788" class="fnanchor">[788]</a>. Their acts constitute +our true glory; and in the formation of their characters, work, hard +work, that stern and anxious pedagogue<a name="FNanchor_789_789" id="FNanchor_789_789"></a><a href="#Footnote_789_789" class="fnanchor">[789]</a>, is better than all +literary or philosophic training.</p> + +<p>'Such men ought assuredly to receive their stipulated rewards; and +therefore we order you to pay regularly so many solidi of the third +instalment, from the land-tax of the Province of Campania<a name="FNanchor_790_790" id="FNanchor_790_790"></a><a href="#Footnote_790_790" class="fnanchor">[790]</a>, to +such and such a person, who has now just completed his term of service +as Primiscrinius.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_483" id="Page_483">[Pg 483]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="xi38">38.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Joannes, Canonicarius<a name="FNanchor_791_791" id="FNanchor_791_791"></a><a href="#Footnote_791_791" class="fnanchor">[791]</a> of +Thuscia</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Praises of paper.</div> + +<p>'Rightly did Antiquity ordain that a large store of paper should be +laid in by our Bureaux (Scrinia), that litigants might receive the +decision of the Judge clearly written, without delay, and without +avaricious and impudent charges for the paper which bore it<a name="FNanchor_792_792" id="FNanchor_792_792"></a><a href="#Footnote_792_792" class="fnanchor">[792]</a>.</p> + +<p>'A wonderful product in truth is this wherewith ingenious Memphis has +supplied all the offices in the world. The plants of Nile arise, a +wood without leaves or branches, a harvest of the waters, the fair +tresses of the marshes, plants full of emptiness, spongy, thirsty, +having all their strength in their outer rind, tall and light, the +fairest fruit of a foul inundation.</p> + +<p>'Before Paper was discovered, all the sayings of the wise, all the +thoughts of the ancients, were in danger of perishing. Who could write +fluently or pleasantly on the rough bark of trees, though it is from +that practice that we call a book <i>Liber</i>? While the scribe was +laboriously cutting his letters on the sordid material, his very +thought grew cold: a rude contrivance assuredly, and only fit for the +beginnings of the world.</p> + +<p>'Then was paper discovered, and therewith was eloquence made possible. +Paper, so smooth and so continuous, the snowy entrails of a green +herb; paper which can be spread out to such a vast extent, and yet be +folded up into such a little space; paper, on whose white expanse the +black characters look beautiful; paper which keeps the sweet harvest +of the mind, and restores it to the reader whenever he chooses to +consult it; paper which is the faithful witness of all human actions, +eloquent of the past, a sworn foe to oblivion.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_484" id="Page_484">[Pg 484]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Therefore for this thirteenth Indiction<a name="FNanchor_793_793" id="FNanchor_793_793"></a><a href="#Footnote_793_793" class="fnanchor">[793]</a> pay so many solidi from +the land-tax of the Tuscan Province to our Bureau, that it may be able +to keep in perpetuity a faithful record of all its transactions.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi39">39.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to the Clarissimus Vitalian, +Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Payment by Province of Bruttii of commuted cattle-tax.</div> + +<p>'The vast numbers of the Roman people in old time are evidenced by the +extensive Provinces from which their food supply was drawn, as well as +by the wide circuit of their walls, the massive structure of their +amphitheatre, the marvellous bigness of their public baths, and the +enormous multitude of mills, which could only have been made for use, +not for ornament.</p> + +<p>'It was to feed this population, that mountainous Lucania paid her +tribute of swine, that fertile Bruttii furnished her droves of oxen. +It was a glorious privilege for them thus to feed the Roman people: +yet the length of roads over which the animals had to be driven made +the tribute unnecessarily burdensome, since every mile reduced their +weight, and the herdsman could not possibly obtain credit at the +journey's end for the same number of pounds of flesh which he +possessed at its beginning. For this reason the tribute was commuted +into a money payment, one which no journeyings can diminish and no +toil can wound. The Provinces should understand and respond to this +favourable change, and not show themselves more slack than their +ancestors were, under far more burdensome conditions. Your Diligence +has now collected both these taxes<a name="FNanchor_794_794" id="FNanchor_794_794"></a><a href="#Footnote_794_794" class="fnanchor">[794]</a> at the appointed periods; and +I am glad of it, that my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_485" id="Page_485">[Pg 485]</a></span> countrymen, who have served alien +magistrates with praiseworthy diligence, might not seem negligent +under my rule. These Provinces, which I, my grandfather, and my +great-grandfather have benefited as private persons, I have +endeavoured to help yet more earnestly while I bore the majesty of the +<i>fasces</i>, that they who have rejoiced in my exaltation might see that +I still retained my love for our common country. Let them pay the tax +then, not from fear but from love. I have prevailed on the royal +generosity to limit its amount; for whereas it used to be 1,200 solidi +[£720] annually, it is henceforward to be 1,000 [£600]<a name="FNanchor_795_795" id="FNanchor_795_795"></a><a href="#Footnote_795_795" class="fnanchor">[795]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xi40">40.</a> <span class="smcap">An Indulgence [or Amnesty to Prisoners on some great Festival of +the Church, probably Easter]</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">General Amnesty.</div> + +<p>'All the year we are bound to tread in the path of Justice, but on +this day we secure our approach to the Redeemer by the path of +Forgiveness. Therefore we forswear punishments of all kinds, we +condemn the torture, and thus feel ourselves, in forgiving, to be more +truly than ever a Judge.</p> + +<p>'Hail to thee, O Clemency<a name="FNanchor_796_796" id="FNanchor_796_796"></a><a href="#Footnote_796_796" class="fnanchor">[796]</a>, patroness of the human race! thou +reignest in the heavens and on the earth: and most fitting is it that, +at sacred seasons like this, thou shouldest be supreme.</p> + +<p>'Therefore, O Lictor, thou who art allowed to do with impunity the +very thing for which other men are punished, put up thy axe; let it be +henceforth bright, not bloody. Let the chains which have been so often +wet with tears now grow rusty. The prison—that house of Pluto, in +which men suffer a living death, from its foul odours, from the sound +of groaning which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_486" id="Page_486">[Pg 486]</a></span> assails their ears, from the long fastings which +destroy their taste, from the heavy weights which weary their hands, +from the endless darkness which makes their eyes grow dim—let the +prison now be filled with emptiness. Never is it so popular as when it +is seen to be deserted.</p> + +<p>'And you, its denizens, who are thus in a manner transplanted to +Heaven from Hell, avoid the evil courses which made you acquainted +with its horrors. Even animals shun the things which they have once +found harmful. Cattle which have once fallen into a pit seek not again +the same road. The bird once snared shuns bird-lime. The pike buries +himself in deep sand, that he may escape the drag-net, and when it has +scraped his back leaps nimbly into the waves and expresses by his +gambols his joy for his deliverance. When the wrasse<a name="FNanchor_797_797" id="FNanchor_797_797"></a><a href="#Footnote_797_797" class="fnanchor">[797]</a> finds that +he is caught in an osier trap, he moves himself slowly backwards till +he can leave his tail protruding, that one of his fellows, perceiving +his capture, may pull him out from his prison.</p> + +<p>'So too the Sauri (?), a clever race of fish, named from their speed, +when they have swum into a net, tie themselves together into a sort of +rope; and then, tugging backwards with all their might, seek to +liberate their fellow-prisoners.</p> + +<p>'Many facts of the same kind would be discovered on enquiry. But my +discourse must return to thee, O Gaoler. Thou wilt be miserable in the +general joy, because thou art wont to derive thy gladness from the +affliction of many. But as some consolation for thy groans, we leave +to thee those prisoners whom the Law, for very pity's sake, cannot set +free—the men found guilty of outrageous crimes, whose liberation +would make barbarous deeds frequent. Over these thou mayest still +exert thy power.'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_487" id="Page_487">[Pg 487]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BOOK_XII" id="BOOK_XII"></a>BOOK XII.</h2> + +<h3>CONTAINING TWENTY-EIGHT LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME +AS PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT.</h3> + + +<h3><a name="xii1">1.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to the various Cancellarii of the +Several Provinces</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">General instructions to the Cancellarii.</div> + +<p>'<span class="smcap">It</span> is generally supposed that long attendance at the Courts of Law +increases the love of justice. The character of the Judge also is in +some degree estimated by that of his officers<a name="FNanchor_798_798" id="FNanchor_798_798"></a><a href="#Footnote_798_798" class="fnanchor">[798]</a>, as that of a +philosophical teacher by his disciples. Thus your bad actions might +endanger our reputation, while, on the other hand, with no effort on +our part, we earn glory from all that you do well. Beware, therefore, +lest by any misconduct of yours, which is sure to be exaggerated by +popular rumour, you rouse anger in us, who as your Judge will be sure +to exact stern recompence for all the wrong you have done to our +reputation. Study this rather, that you may receive praise and +promotion at our hands, and go forth, with Divine help, on this +Indiction, to such and such a Province, adorned with the pomp of the +Cancelli, and girt about with a certain proud gravity. Remember the +honour of the <i>fasces</i> which are borne before you, of the Praetorian +seat whose commands you execute.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_488" id="Page_488">[Pg 488]</a></span></p> +<p>'Fly Avarice, the Queen of all the vices, who never enters the human +heart alone, but always brings a flattering and deceiving train along +with her. Show yourself zealous for the public good; do more by reason +than by terror. Let your person be a refuge for the oppressed, a +defence of the weak, a stronghold for him who is stricken down by any +calamity. Never do you more truly discharge the functions of the +Cancelli than when you open the prison doors to those who have been +unjustly confined.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii2">2.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to all the Judges of the Provinces +(a.d.</span> 534-535).</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">General instructions to the Provincial Governors.</div> + +<p>'God be thanked, the Provincials have attended to all my admonitions, +and I have kept all my promises to them. You, as Judges, have +admirably copied my own freedom from corruption, and I can only desire +that you will go on as you have begun.</p> + +<p>'Let the peasant pay cheerfully his share of the public taxes, and I +on my part will guarantee him the administration of justice in the +courts<a name="FNanchor_799_799" id="FNanchor_799_799"></a><a href="#Footnote_799_799" class="fnanchor">[799]</a>.</p> + +<p>'It was evidently the intention of the legislators that you should be +imitators of our dignity, since they have given you almost the same +jurisdiction in the Provinces as ourselves.</p> + +<p>'What avails the reputation of being a rich man? It confers no glory. +But to be known as a just man wins the praise of all. Nothing mean or +avaricious is becoming in a Judge. All his faults are made more +conspicuous by his elevation. Better were it to be absolutely unknown, +than to be marked out for the scorn of all men. Let us keep our own +brews clear from shame; then can we rebuke the sins of others.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_489" id="Page_489">[Pg 489]</a></span> A +terrible leveller is iniquity: it makes the Judge himself feel like +the culprit who is tried before him. All these considerations, +according to my custom, I bring before you in this my yearly address, +since it is impossible ever to have too much of a good thing<a name="FNanchor_800_800" id="FNanchor_800_800"></a><a href="#Footnote_800_800" class="fnanchor">[800]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Now, to proceed to business. Do you and your official staff impress +upon all the cultivators of the soil the absolute necessity of their +paying their land-tax<a name="FNanchor_801_801" id="FNanchor_801_801"></a><a href="#Footnote_801_801" class="fnanchor">[801]</a> for this thirteenth Indiction<a name="FNanchor_802_802" id="FNanchor_802_802"></a><a href="#Footnote_802_802" class="fnanchor">[802]</a> at the +appointed time. Let there be no pressing them to pay before the time, +and no venal connivance at their postponement of payment after the +time. What kindness is there in delay? The money must be paid, sooner +or later.</p> + +<p>'Prepare also a full and faithful statement of the expenditure for +every four months<a name="FNanchor_803_803" id="FNanchor_803_803"></a><a href="#Footnote_803_803" class="fnanchor">[803]</a>, and address it to our bureaux<a name="FNanchor_804_804" id="FNanchor_804_804"></a><a href="#Footnote_804_804" class="fnanchor">[804]</a>, that there +may be perfect clearness in the public accounts.</p> + +<p>'In order to help you, we send A and B, members of our official staff, +to examine your accounts. See that you come up to the standard of duty +here prescribed for you.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii3">3.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to all the Sajones who have been +assigned to the Cancellarii</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">General instructions to the Sajones.</div> + +<p>'There must be fear of the magistrate in the heart of the citizen, +else the laws would never be obeyed. But as in medicine various +remedies are required by various constitutions, so in the +administration of the laws sometimes force and sometimes gentleness +has to be used.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_490" id="Page_490">[Pg 490]</a></span> Wisdom is required to decide which is the best mode +of dealing with each particular case.</p> + +<p>'Therefore we despatch your Devotion<a name="FNanchor_805_805" id="FNanchor_805_805"></a><a href="#Footnote_805_805" class="fnanchor">[805]</a> to attend upon A B, +Clarissimus Cancellarius. Be terrible to the lawless, but to them +alone. Above all things see to the punctual collection of the taxes. +Do not study popularity. Attend only to those cases which are +entrusted to your care, and work them thoroughly. No greater disgrace +can attach to an officer of Court than that a Judge's sentence should +be left unexecuted<a name="FNanchor_806_806" id="FNanchor_806_806"></a><a href="#Footnote_806_806" class="fnanchor">[806]</a>. Do not swagger through the streets exulting +in the fact that nobody dares meet you. Brave men are ever gentle in +time of peace, and there is no greater lover of justice than he who +has seen many battles. When you return to your parents and friends let +it not be brawls that you have to boast of, but good conduct. We also +shall in that case welcome you back with pleasure, and not leave you +long without another commission. And the King too, the lord of +all<a name="FNanchor_807_807" id="FNanchor_807_807"></a><a href="#Footnote_807_807" class="fnanchor">[807]</a>, will entrust higher duties to him who returns from the lower +with credit and the reward of a good conscience.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii4">4.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to the Canonicarius<a name="FNanchor_808_808" id="FNanchor_808_808"></a><a href="#Footnote_808_808" class="fnanchor">[808]</a> of the +Venetiae</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Praise of Acinaticium, a red wine of Verona.</div> + +<p>'A well furnished royal table is a credit to the State. A private +person may eat only the produce of his own district; but it is the +glory of a King to collect at his table the delicacies of all lands. +Let the Danube send us her carp, let the <i>anchorago</i> (?) come from the +Rhine, let the labour of Sicily furnish the <i>exormiston</i><a name="FNanchor_809_809" id="FNanchor_809_809"></a><a href="#Footnote_809_809" class="fnanchor">[809]</a>, let the +sea of Bruttii send its sweet <i>acerniae</i> (?); in short, let<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_491" id="Page_491">[Pg 491]</a></span> +well-flavoured dishes be gathered from all coasts. It becomes a King +so to regale himself that he may seem to foreign ambassadors to +possess almost everything.</p> + +<p>'And therefore, not to neglect home-produce also, as our fertile Italy +is especially rich in wines, we must have these also provided for the +King's table. Now the report of the Count of the Patrimony informs us +that the stock of <i>Acinaticium</i><a name="FNanchor_810_810" id="FNanchor_810_810"></a><a href="#Footnote_810_810" class="fnanchor">[810]</a> has fallen very low in the royal +cellars. We therefore order you to visit the cultivators of Verona, +and offer them a sufficient price for this product of theirs, which +they ought to offer without price to their Sovereign.</p> + +<p>'It is in truth a noble wine and one that Italy may be proud of. +Inglorious Greece may doctor her wines with foreign admixtures, or +disguise them with perfumes. There is no need of any such process with +this liquor. It is purple, as becomes the wine of kings. Sweet and +strong<a name="FNanchor_811_811" id="FNanchor_811_811"></a><a href="#Footnote_811_811" class="fnanchor">[811]</a>, it grows more dense in tasting it, so that you might +doubt whether it was a liquid food or an edible drink<a name="FNanchor_812_812" id="FNanchor_812_812"></a><a href="#Footnote_812_812" class="fnanchor">[812]</a>.</p> + +<p>'I have a mind to describe the singular mode of manufacturing this +wine. The grape cluster, gathered in autumn, is hung up under the roof +of the house to dry till December. Thus exuding its insipid humours it +becomes much sweeter. Then in December, when everything else is bound +by the frost of winter, the chilly blood of these grapes is allowed to +flow forth. It is not insultingly trodden down by the feet, nor is any +foul admixture suffered to pollute it; its stream of gem-like +clearness is drawn forth from it by a noble provocation. It seems to +shed tears of joy, and delights the eye by its beauty as much as the +palate by its flavour. Collect this wine as speedily as possible, pay +a sufficient price for it, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_492" id="Page_492">[Pg 492]</a></span> hand it over to the <i>Cartarii</i> who are +charged with this business.</p> + +<p>'And this point is not to be forgotten, that it is to be served up in +goblets of a milky whiteness. Lilies and roses thus unite their +charms, and a pleasure is ministered to the eye, far beyond the mere +commonplace facts that the wine has a pleasant taste, and that it +restores the strength of the drinker.</p> + +<p>'We rely on you to provide both the wine and the drinking vessels<a name="FNanchor_813_813" id="FNanchor_813_813"></a><a href="#Footnote_813_813" class="fnanchor">[813]</a> +with all despatch.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii5">5.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Valerian, Vir Sublimis</span>.</h3> + +<p>[Written probably in the autumn or winter of 535, when Belisarius was +in Sicily threatening the Southern Provinces of Italy.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Measures for relief of Lucania and Bruttii.</div> + +<p>'The ruler's anxiety for the common good of all over whom he is +placed, may allowably show itself in an especial manner towards the +dwellers in his own home, and that pre-eminently at a time when they +need his succour from peril.</p> + +<p>'The numerous army which was destined for the defence of the Republic +is said to have laid waste the cultivated parts of Lucania and +Bruttii, and to have diminished the abundance of those regions by its +love of rapine.</p> + +<p>'Now since they must take and you must give, and since the cultivator +must not be robbed nor the army starved, know that the prices of +provisions are fixed by the order of the Lord of the State at a much +lower figure than you have been wont to sell at<a name="FNanchor_814_814" id="FNanchor_814_814"></a><a href="#Footnote_814_814" class="fnanchor">[814]</a>.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_493" id="Page_493">[Pg 493]</a></span></p> +<p>'Be not therefore anxious. You have escaped the hands of the +tax-collector. The present instrument takes away from you the +liability to tribute. In order that your knowledge may be made more +complete, we have thought it better that the amounts of the provisions +for which you are held responsible should be expressed in the +below-written letters<a name="FNanchor_815_815" id="FNanchor_815_815"></a><a href="#Footnote_815_815" class="fnanchor">[815]</a>, that no one may sell you a benefit which +you know to be conferred by the public generosity.</p> + +<p>'Repress, therefore, the unruly movements of the cultivators<a name="FNanchor_816_816" id="FNanchor_816_816"></a><a href="#Footnote_816_816" class="fnanchor">[816]</a>. +While the Gothic army is fighting, let the Roman peasant enjoy in +quiet the peace for which he sighs. According to the King's command, +admonish the several tenants on the farms, and the better sort of +peasants, not to mingle in the barbarism of the strife, lest the +danger to public tranquillity be greater than any service they can +render in the wars<a name="FNanchor_817_817" id="FNanchor_817_817"></a><a href="#Footnote_817_817" class="fnanchor">[817]</a>. Let them lay hands to the iron, but only to +cultivate their fields; let them grasp the pointed steel, but only to +goad their oxen.</p> + +<p>'Let the Judges be active: let the tribunals echo with their +denunciations of crime. Let the robber, the adulterer, the forger, the +thief, find that the arm of the State is still strong to punish their +crimes. True freedom rejoices when these men are made sad. Here, in +this civil battle, is full scope for your energies: attend to this, +and enjoy the thought that others are fighting the battle with the +foreign foe for you.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_494" id="Page_494">[Pg 494]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Exercise great care in calculating the rations of the soldiers, that +no trickery may succeed in defrauding the soldier of his due.</p> + +<p>'The officers of the army are by the rulers of the State placed under +my authority, and you are therefore to admonish them if they go wrong, +while redressing all their real grievances. They, in their turn, must +uphold discipline, which is the most powerful weapon of an army. Rise +to the dignity of the occasion, and show that you are able to govern a +Province in a disturbed condition of public affairs, since anyone can +govern it while all things are quiet.</p> + +<p>'The royal household is specially ordered to pay the same obedience to +this rescript as all the rest of the Province; and as for my own +dependants, I say expressly that, though I wish them well, I ask for +no favour for them which I would not grant to all the other +inhabitants of the Province.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii6">6.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to all the Subordinate Governors of +the Praefecture</span><a name="FNanchor_818_818" id="FNanchor_818_818"></a><a href="#Footnote_818_818" class="fnanchor">[818]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">General instructions to subordinate Governors.</div> + +<p>'The exhortations addressed to you by the inborn piety of our Lords +ought to suffice; but nevertheless, that we may be doubly assured, we +will address to you our threats against all who shall wield their +power unrighteously. Cease from avarice, from arrogance, from +venality. What will your money avail you when the day of inquisition +comes? <i>We</i> shall not be tempted by it. Let it be clearly understood +that we shall not sell pardons to unjust Judges, but shall hunt them +to their ruin.</p> + +<p>'But all you, good and honest rulers, continue to serve the State +without fear. No rival will buy your offices over your heads; you are +secure in your seats so long as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_495" id="Page_495">[Pg 495]</a></span> you do well, until the time fixed by +our Lords expires. Be earnest, therefore, that my good deeds may be +imitated and receive their due meed of praise in your persons.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii7">7.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to the Tax-Collector of the Venetian +Province</span><a name="FNanchor_819_819" id="FNanchor_819_819"></a><a href="#Footnote_819_819" class="fnanchor">[819]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Remission of taxes on account of invasion by the Suevi.</div> + +<p>'A good Sovereign will always exert himself to repair fortuitous +disasters, and will allow those who have paid their taxes punctually +in prosperity, considerable liberty in times of barbaric invasion. On +this ground, and on account of the incursions of the Suevi, the King +grants for this year, the fifteenth Indiction<a name="FNanchor_820_820" id="FNanchor_820_820"></a><a href="#Footnote_820_820" class="fnanchor">[820]</a>, a discharge of all +claims by the Fiscus preferred against A and B. And in all similar +cases where you shall be satisfied that the property has really been +laid waste by those Barbarians, you are at liberty to remit the taxes +for this Indiction. Afterwards you will use all the ordinary methods, +in order that you may be able to pay over the stipulated sum to the +Royal Treasurer. But meanwhile the poor cultivator has the best of all +arguments against paying you, namely, that he has nothing left him +wherewith to pay. Thus is his calamity his best voucher for +payment<a name="FNanchor_821_821" id="FNanchor_821_821"></a><a href="#Footnote_821_821" class="fnanchor">[821]</a>; and we do not wish that he who has been already alarmed +by the arms of the robber should further tremble at the official robe +of the civil servant<a name="FNanchor_822_822" id="FNanchor_822_822"></a><a href="#Footnote_822_822" class="fnanchor">[822]</a>.</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii8">8.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to the Consularis of the Province of +Liguria</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Permission to pay taxes direct to Royal Treasury.</div> + +<p>'It is a new and delightful kind of profit to be able to grant the +request of a petitioner without feeling any loss oneself. The present +suitor, complaining that he is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_496" id="Page_496">[Pg 496]</a></span> vexed by the exactions of the +tax-gatherer on account of certain farms mentioned in the subjoined +letter, offers to bring the amount due from them himself to our +Treasurers<a name="FNanchor_823_823" id="FNanchor_823_823"></a><a href="#Footnote_823_823" class="fnanchor">[823]</a>. We are willing to grant this request, on condition +that the Fiscus does not suffer thereby; and therefore desire your +Respectability to warn all <i>Curiales</i>, <i>Compulsores</i>, and all other +persons concerned, to remove for this Indiction every kind of legal +process from the before-mentioned properties; the condition of this +immunity being that he shall, before the kalends of such and such a +month produce the receipts<a name="FNanchor_824_824" id="FNanchor_824_824"></a><a href="#Footnote_824_824" class="fnanchor">[824]</a> of the <i>Arcarius</i>, showing that he has +discharged his debt to the State. Otherwise the debt must be exacted +by ordinary process. But it is delightful to us whenever the tax is +paid without calling in the aid of the <i>Compulsor</i>. Would that the +peasant would always thus freely anticipate the needs of the +Treasury!'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii9">9.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Paschasius, Praefect of the +Corn-Distributions</span><a name="FNanchor_825_825" id="FNanchor_825_825"></a><a href="#Footnote_825_825" class="fnanchor">[825]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">African claims to succeed to estate of an intestate +countryman.</div> + +<p>[To make this letter intelligible we must presuppose a custom, +certainly a very extraordinary one, by which on the death of an +African without heirs, any other African in Italy was allowed to claim +the inheritance. By 'African,' no doubt, we must understand one of the +indigenous inhabitants of Africa, perhaps a man of Negro race. The +custom certainly cannot have applied to African Provincials of Roman +descent. It was perhaps based on some old tribal notions of joint +possession and mutual inheritance.]</p> + +<p>'It is a work of wondrous kindness to oblige a foreign race with +public benefits, and not only to invite blood relations to enjoy the +advantages of property, but to permit even strangers to share them. +This kind of heirship is independent of the ties of kindred, +independent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_497" id="Page_497">[Pg 497]</a></span> of succession from parents, and requires nothing else +save only power to utter the speech of the fatherland.</p> + +<p>'This is the privilege which, as the African asserts, was of old +bestowed on his race. By virtue thereof they lawfully demand the +inheritance of others, and thus obtain a right which the Roman in a +similar case could never claim. Nor have they this benefit in their +own land; but here they are for this purpose looked upon as all +related to one another.</p> + +<p>'The whole nation, in what relates to the advantages of succession, is +regarded as one family.</p> + +<p>'Your Experience is therefore to submit the subject of this man's +petition to a diligent examination, and if it shall turn out, as he +alleges, that the deceased has left no sons nor other persons who +might reasonably claim to succeed him, your official staff is to +induct him into the aforesaid property according to the established +usage.</p> + +<p>'He will thus cease to be a foreigner, and will acquire the status of +a native possessor, and therewith the usual liability to pay tribute. +He is inferior to other owners only in this one point, that he lacks +the power of alienating his property. Let him who has derived so much +benefit from our commiseration now relieve others. Fortunate and +enviable has turned out his captivity<a name="FNanchor_826_826" id="FNanchor_826_826"></a><a href="#Footnote_826_826" class="fnanchor">[826]</a>, which enables him at one +and the same time to enjoy the citizenship of Rome and the privileges +of the African.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii10">10.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to divers Cancellarii in the +Provinces</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Taxes to be punctually enforced.</div> + +<p>'Arrears of tribute are like bodily diseases, serious and enfeebling +when they become chronic. A man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_498" id="Page_498">[Pg 498]</a></span> who is under a load of debt cannot be +called free: he has abandoned the power of controlling his actions to +another. Your supposed indulgence to the taxpayer is no real kindness. +There comes a time when the whole arrear of debt has to be claimed, +and then these venal delays of yours make the demand seem twice as +heavy in the eyes of the unfortunate taxpayer. Cease then to trade +upon the peasants' losses. Exact the whole amount of taxes for the +coming Indiction, and pay them in on the appointed day to the +Treasurer<a name="FNanchor_827_827" id="FNanchor_827_827"></a><a href="#Footnote_827_827" class="fnanchor">[827]</a> of the Province; or else it will be the worse for you, +and you will have to return, stripped of all official rank<a name="FNanchor_828_828" id="FNanchor_828_828"></a><a href="#Footnote_828_828" class="fnanchor">[828]</a>, into +the Province which you are conscious of having badly administered.</p> + +<p>'I shall not <i>speak</i> again on this subject, but shall, if necessary, +extract the sums from you by an irrevocable act of distraint.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii11">11.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Peter, Vir Clarissimus, +Distributor of Relishes</span><a name="FNanchor_829_829" id="FNanchor_829_829"></a><a href="#Footnote_829_829" class="fnanchor">[829]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Distribution of relishes to Roman citizens.</div> + +<p>'The liberality of a good Sovereign must not be discredited by fraud +and carelessness in the person charged with its distribution. Even +molten gold contracts a stain if not poured into an absolutely clean +vessel. How sweet is it to see a stream flowing clear and unpolluted +over a snow-white channel! Even so must you see that the gifts of the +Sovereign of the State reach the Roman people as pure and as copious +as they issue forth from him.</p> + +<p>'All fraud is hateful; but fraud exercised upon the people of Romulus +is absolutely unbearable. That quiet and easily satisfied people, +whose existence you might forget except when they testify their +happiness by their shouts; noisy without a thought of sedition; whose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_499" id="Page_499">[Pg 499]</a></span> +only care is to shun poverty without amassing wealth; lowly in fortune +but rich in temper—it is a kind of profanation to rob such people as +these.</p> + +<p>'We therefore entrust to you the task of distributing the +relishes<a name="FNanchor_830_830" id="FNanchor_830_830"></a><a href="#Footnote_830_830" class="fnanchor">[830]</a> to the Roman people from this Indiction. Be true to the +citizens, else you will become as an alien unto us. Do not be bribed +into allowing anyone to pass as a Latin who was not born in Latium.</p> + +<p>'These privileges belong to the Quirites alone: no slave must be +admitted to share them. That man sins against the majesty of the Roman +people, who defiles the pure river of their blood by thrusting upon +them the fellowship of slaves.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii12">12.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Anastasius, Cancellarius of +Lucania and Bruttii</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Praise of the cheese and wine of Bruttii.</div> + +<p>'When we were dining, according to our wonted custom, with the +Sovereign of the State<a name="FNanchor_831_831" id="FNanchor_831_831"></a><a href="#Footnote_831_831" class="fnanchor">[831]</a>, the conversation happened to turn upon +the delicacies of various Provinces, and we praised the wines of +Bruttii and the cheese of the district around Mount Sila<a name="FNanchor_832_832" id="FNanchor_832_832"></a><a href="#Footnote_832_832" class="fnanchor">[832]</a>.</p> + +<p>'The <i>cheese</i>, which retains in its pores the milk which has been +collected there, recalls by its taste the fragrant herbs upon which +the cattle have fed; by its texture it reminds us of the softness of +oil, from which it differs in colour by its snowy whiteness. Having +been carefully pressed into a wide cask and hardened therein,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_500" id="Page_500">[Pg 500]</a></span> it +retains permanently the beautiful round shape which has thus been +given to it<a name="FNanchor_833_833" id="FNanchor_833_833"></a><a href="#Footnote_833_833" class="fnanchor">[833]</a>.</p> + +<p>'The <i>wine</i>, to which Antiquity gave the name of praise, Palmatiana, +must be selected not of a rough but sweet kind<a name="FNanchor_834_834" id="FNanchor_834_834"></a><a href="#Footnote_834_834" class="fnanchor">[834]</a>. Though last [in +geographical position] among the wines of Bruttii, it is by general +opinion accounted the best, equal to that of Gaza, similar to the +Sabine, moderately thick, strong, brisk, of conspicuous whiteness, +distinguished by the fine aroma, of which a pleasant after-taste is +perceived by the drinker<a name="FNanchor_835_835" id="FNanchor_835_835"></a><a href="#Footnote_835_835" class="fnanchor">[835]</a>. It constrains loosened bowels, dries up +moist wounds, and refreshes the weary breast.</p> + +<p>'Let it be your care to provide as speedily as possible a stock of +both these products of our country, and send them in ships to the +Royal residence. For a temporary supply we have drawn on our own +cellars, but we look to you to choose specimens of the genuine quality +for the King. We cannot be deceived, who retain the true taste in our +patriotic memory; and at your peril will you provide any inferior +article to that which our cellars will have supplied<a name="FNanchor_836_836" id="FNanchor_836_836"></a><a href="#Footnote_836_836" class="fnanchor">[836]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii13">13.</a> <span class="smcap">An Edict</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Frauds committed by the revenue officers on the Churches of +Bruttii and Lucania.</div> + +<p>'The generous gifts of Kings ought to be respected by their subjects.</p> + +<p>'Long ago the constitutions of the Emperors enriched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_501" id="Page_501">[Pg 501]</a></span> the holy +Churches of Bruttii and Lucania with certain gifts. But since the +sacrilegious mind is not afraid of sinning against the Divine +reverence, the Canonicarii (officers of the Exchequer) have robbed +these ecclesiastical positions of a certain portion of their revenue +in the name of the Numerarii of the Praetorian Praefect's staff; but +these latter, with righteous indignation, declare that they have +received no part of the spoils thus impiously collected in their name.</p> + +<p>'Thus have the Canonicarii turned the property of the clergy into a +<i>douceur</i> for the laity<a name="FNanchor_837_837" id="FNanchor_837_837"></a><a href="#Footnote_837_837" class="fnanchor">[837]</a>. Oh, audacity of man! what barriers can +be erected against thee? Thou mightest have hoped to escape human +observation, but why commit crimes which the Divinity cannot but +notice?</p> + +<p>'Therefore we ordain by this edict that anyone who shall hereafter +commit this kind of fraud shall lose his own private gains, and shall +forfeit his place in the public service<a name="FNanchor_838_838" id="FNanchor_838_838"></a><a href="#Footnote_838_838" class="fnanchor">[838]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Let the poor keep the gifts which God has put it into the heart of +Kings to bestow upon them. It is cruel above all other cruelty to wish +to become rich by means of the scanty possessions of the mendicant.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii14">14.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Anastasius, Cancellarius of +Lucania and Bruttii</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Plea for gentle treatment for citizens of Rhegium.</div> + +<p>'The citizens of Rhegium (so called from the Greek word <span lang="el" title="Greek: rhêgnumi">'ρηγνυμι</span>, to break, because their island has been broken off from +Sicily by the violence of the waves) complain that they are being +unfairly harassed by the tax-gatherers. I, as an eyewitness, can +confirm the truth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_502" id="Page_502">[Pg 502]</a></span> of their statement that their territory does not +bring forth the produce which is claimed at their hands. It is a rocky +and mountainous country, too dry for pasture, though sufficiently +undulating for vineyards; bad for grain-crops, though well suited for +olives. The shade has to be all provided by the industry of man, who +has planted there the tree of Pallas [the olive], which prospers in +even the driest soil, because it sends its roots down into the very +depths of the earth.</p> + +<p>'The corn has to be watered by hand, like pot-herbs in a garden. You +seldom see the husbandman bending beneath his load as he returns from +the threshing-floor. A few bushels full are all that he can boast of, +even in an abundant harvest<a name="FNanchor_839_839" id="FNanchor_839_839"></a><a href="#Footnote_839_839" class="fnanchor">[839]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Contrary to the opinion of Virgil [who speaks of the bitter roots of +the endive<a name="FNanchor_840_840" id="FNanchor_840_840"></a><a href="#Footnote_840_840" class="fnanchor">[840]</a>], the fibres of endive are here extremely sweet, and +encircled by their twisting leaves are caked together with a certain +callous tenderness<a name="FNanchor_841_841" id="FNanchor_841_841"></a><a href="#Footnote_841_841" class="fnanchor">[841]</a>.</p> + +<p>'In the treasures of the deep that region is certainly rich; for the +Upper and Lower Sea meet there. The <i>exormiston</i><a name="FNanchor_842_842" id="FNanchor_842_842"></a><a href="#Footnote_842_842" class="fnanchor">[842]</a>, a sort of king +among fishes, with bristly nostrils and a milky delicacy of flavour, +is found in these waters. In stormy weather it is tossed about on the +top of the waves, and seems to be too tired or too indolent to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_503" id="Page_503">[Pg 503]</a></span> seek a +refuge in the deeper water<a name="FNanchor_843_843" id="FNanchor_843_843"></a><a href="#Footnote_843_843" class="fnanchor">[843]</a>. No other fish can be compared to it +in sweetness<a name="FNanchor_844_844" id="FNanchor_844_844"></a><a href="#Footnote_844_844" class="fnanchor">[844]</a>.</p> + +<p>'These are the products—I speak from my own knowledge—of the Rhegian +shore. Therefore you must not seek to levy a tribute of wheat or lard +from the inhabitants under the name of "coemptio."</p> + +<p>'I may add that they are so troubled by the constant passage of +travellers entering Italy or leaving it, that it would have been right +to excuse them even if those products had been found there in +abundance<a name="FNanchor_845_845" id="FNanchor_845_845"></a><a href="#Footnote_845_845" class="fnanchor">[845]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii15">15.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Maximus, Vir Clarissimus, +Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii</span><a name="FNanchor_846_846" id="FNanchor_846_846"></a><a href="#Footnote_846_846" class="fnanchor">[846]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Praises of the author's birthplace, Scyllacium.</div> + +<p>'Scyllacium, the first city of Bruttii, which Ulysses the destroyer of +Troy is believed to have founded, is said to be unreasonably vexed by +the exorbitant demands of purveyors<a name="FNanchor_847_847" id="FNanchor_847_847"></a><a href="#Footnote_847_847" class="fnanchor">[847]</a>. These injuries grieve us all +the more on account of our patriotic love for the place.</p> + +<p>'The city of Scyllacium, which is so placed as to look down upon the +Hadriatic Gulf, hangs upon the hills like a cluster of grapes: not +that it may pride itself upon their difficult ascent, but that it may +voluptuously gaze on verdant plains and the blue back of the sea. The +city beholds the rising sun from its very cradle, when the day that is +about to be born sends forward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_504" id="Page_504">[Pg 504]</a></span> no heralding Aurora; but as soon as it +begins to rise, the quivering brightness displays its torch. It +beholds Phoebus in his joy; it is bathed in the brightness of that +luminary, so that it might be thought to be itself the native land of +the sun, the claims of Rhodes to that honour being outdone.</p> + +<p>'It enjoys a translucent air, but withal so temperate that its winters +are sunny, and its summers cool; and life passes there without sorrow, +since hostile seasons are feared by none. Hence, too, man himself is +here freer of soul than elsewhere, for this temperateness of the +climate prevails in all things.</p> + +<p>'In sooth, a hot fatherland makes its children sharp and fickle, a +cold one slow and sly; it is only a temperate climate which composes +the characters of men by its own moderation. Hence was it that the +ancients pronounced Athens to be the seat of sages, because, enriched +with an air of the greatest purity, it prepared with glad liberality +the lucid intellects of its sons for the contemplative part of life. +Assuredly for the body to imbibe muddy waters is a different thing +from sucking in the transparency of a sweet fountain. Even so the +vigour of the mind is repressed when it is clogged by a heavy +atmosphere. Nature herself hath made us subject to these influences. +Clouds make us feel sad; and again a bright sky fills us with joy, +because the heavenly substance of the soul delights in everything that +is unstained and pure.</p> + +<p>'Scyllacium has also an abundant share of the delicacies of the sea, +possessing near it those gates of Neptune which we ourselves +constructed. At the foot of the Moscian Mount we hollowed out the +bowels of the rock, and tastefully<a name="FNanchor_848_848" id="FNanchor_848_848"></a><a href="#Footnote_848_848" class="fnanchor">[848]</a> introduced therein the eddying +waves of Nereus. Here a troop of fishes, sporting in free captivity, +refreshes all minds with delight, and charms all eyes with admiration. +They run greedily to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_505" id="Page_505">[Pg 505]</a></span> the hand of man, and before they become his food +seek dainties from him. Man feeds his own dainty morsels, and while he +has that which can bring them into his power, it often happens that +being already replete he lets them all go again.</p> + +<p>'The spectacle moreover of men engaged in honourable labour is not +denied to those who are sitting tranquilly in the city. Plenteous +vineyards are beheld in abundance. The fruitful toil of the +threshing-floor is seen. The face of the green olive is disclosed. No +one need sigh for the pleasures of the country, when it is given him +to see them all from the town.</p> + +<p>'And inasmuch as it has now no walls, you believe Scyllacium to be a +rural city, though you might judge it to be an urban villa; and thus +placed between the two worlds of town and country, it is lavishly +praised by both.</p> + +<p>'This place wayfarers desire frequently to visit, and as they object +to the toil of walking, the citizens, called upon to provide them with +post-horses, and rations for their servants, have to pay heavily in +purse for the pleasantness of their city. Therefore to prevent this, +for the future we decide that all charges for providing post-horses +and rations shall be debited to the public account. We cut up, root +and branch, the system of paying <i>Pulveratica</i><a name="FNanchor_849_849" id="FNanchor_849_849"></a><a href="#Footnote_849_849" class="fnanchor">[849]</a> to the Judge; and +we decide, according to ancient custom, that rations for three days +only shall be given on their arrival to the great Dignitaries of the +State, and that any more prolonged delay in their locomotion be +provided for by themselves.</p> + +<p>'To relieve your city of its heaviest burdens will be, according to +our injunctions, an act of judicial impartiality, not of laxity. Live, +by God's help, a mirror of the justice of the age, delighting in the +security of all. Some people call the Isles of the Atlantic +'Fortunate:' I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_506" id="Page_506">[Pg 506]</a></span> would rather give that name to the place where you do +now dwell.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii16">16.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to a Revenue Officer</span><a name="FNanchor_850_850" id="FNanchor_850_850"></a><a href="#Footnote_850_850" class="fnanchor">[850]</a>.</h3> + +<p>[This interesting letter is one of the few written by Cassiodorus as +Praetorian Praefect which we can date with certainty. It is written +apparently at the beginning of the first Indiction, i.e. Sept. 1, 537. +Witigis and the Goths have been for nearly six months besieging Rome, +and are beginning to be discouraged as to its capture. Cassiodorus is +probably at Ravenna, directing the machine of government from that +capital.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Payment of Trina Illatio.</div> + +<p>'Time, which adapts itself incessantly to the course of human affairs, +and reconciles us even to adversity<a name="FNanchor_851_851" id="FNanchor_851_851"></a><a href="#Footnote_851_851" class="fnanchor">[851]</a>, has brought round again the +period for collecting the <i>Trina Illatio</i> from the taxpayer. Let the +peasant (<i>possessor</i>) pay in your Diocese, for this first Indiction, +his instalment of the tax freely, not being urged too soon nor allowed +to postpone it too late, so that he may plead that he has been let off +from payment<a name="FNanchor_852_852" id="FNanchor_852_852"></a><a href="#Footnote_852_852" class="fnanchor">[852]</a>. Let none exceed the fair weight, but let him use a +just pound: if once the true weight is allowed to be exceeded, there +is no limit to extortion<a name="FNanchor_853_853" id="FNanchor_853_853"></a><a href="#Footnote_853_853" class="fnanchor">[853]</a>.</p> + +<p>'Let a faithful account of the expenses of collection be rendered +every four months to our office<a name="FNanchor_854_854" id="FNanchor_854_854"></a><a href="#Footnote_854_854" class="fnanchor">[854]</a>, that, all error and obscurity +being removed, truth may be manifest in the public accounts.</p> + +<p>'That you may, with God's help, be the better able to fulfil our +instructions, I have ordered A and B, ser<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_507" id="Page_507">[Pg 507]</a></span>vants of our tribunal, who +are mindful of their own past responsibilities, to assist you and your +staff<a name="FNanchor_855_855" id="FNanchor_855_855"></a><a href="#Footnote_855_855" class="fnanchor">[855]</a>. Beware therefore, lest you incur the blame of corruptly +discharging the taxpayer, or of sluggish idleness in the discharge of +your duties, in which case your own fortunes will suffer from your +neglect.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii17">17.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to John, Siliquatarius<a name="FNanchor_856_856" id="FNanchor_856_856"></a><a href="#Footnote_856_856" class="fnanchor">[856]</a> of +Ravenna</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Defence of Ravenna.</div> + +<p>'In times of peace, by contact with foreigners who swarm in our +cities, we learn what will be our best defence in war. Who can tell +with what nation we may be next at war? Therefore, to be on the safe +side, make such preparations as our future enemies, whosoever they may +be, will dislike to hear of. Accordingly you are to order the peasants +to dig a series of pits with wide mouths near the mountains of +Caprarius and the parts round about the walls<a name="FNanchor_857_857" id="FNanchor_857_857"></a><a href="#Footnote_857_857" class="fnanchor">[857]</a>; and let such a +chasm yawn there that there shall be no possibility of entrance that +way.</p> + +<p>'If strangers want to enter the city, why do they not enter it in the +right way—by the gates—instead of going skulking about these +bye-paths? Henceforth, anyone trying to take any such short cut to our +city will probably find that he loses his life in consequence<a name="FNanchor_858_858" id="FNanchor_858_858"></a><a href="#Footnote_858_858" class="fnanchor">[858]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii18">18.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Constantian, Vir +Experientissimus</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Repair of Flaminian Way.</div> + +<p>'Great is the reward of those who serve Kings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_508" id="Page_508">[Pg 508]</a></span> efficiently; as severe +is the punishment of those who neglect their duties towards them.</p> + +<p>'How delightful is it to journey without obstacles over a well-made +road<a name="FNanchor_859_859" id="FNanchor_859_859"></a><a href="#Footnote_859_859" class="fnanchor">[859]</a>, to pass doubtful places without fear, to ascend mountainous +steeps by a gentle incline, to have no fear of the planking of a +bridge when one crosses it<a name="FNanchor_860_860" id="FNanchor_860_860"></a><a href="#Footnote_860_860" class="fnanchor">[860]</a>, and in short to accomplish one's +journey so that everything happens to one's liking!</p> + +<p>'This is the pleasure which you can now prepare for your Sovereign. +Therefore, as the Flaminian Way is furrowed by the action of torrents, +join the yawning chasms by the broadest of bridges; clear away the +rough woods which choke the sides of the highway; procure the +stipulated number of post-horses, and see that they have all the +points which are required in a good steed; collect the designated +quantities of provisions without plundering the peasants. A failure in +any one of these particulars will ruin your whole service.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Supply of delicacies for the King's table.</div> + +<p>'Collect, too, with the utmost diligence the spices which are needed +for the King's table. What avails it to have satisfied the army, if +the King's own board lack proper care. Let all the Provincials attend +to your admonitions: let the cities furnish the stores set forth in +the accompanying letters. Then, when they have put the Sovereign in a +good humour, they may ask him for benefits to some purpose.</p> + +<p>'Think of me as present and as judging of all your deeds. I shall have +to bear the blame of your failures at Court; so act rather as to set +my mind at rest, to cover me and yourselves with glory, and to entitle +me to receive on your behalf the thanks of the whole army.'</p> + +<p>[This letter was probably written in the autumn of 535, when Theodahad +was preparing to march to Rome.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_509" id="Page_509">[Pg 509]</a></span> The mention of the delicacies for the +royal table suggests that that King, in addition to the other +excellencies of his character, was probably an epicure.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii19">19.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Maximus, Vicarius of the City of +Rome</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Bridge of boats across the Tiber.</div> + +<p>'As all great events in Nature have their heralding signs, so is the +approaching visit of the King announced to you even by the concourse +of wayfarers to your City. We, however, have to order you to clothe +the waves of Tiber with a bridge [of boats]. The boat, thus used, is +no longer moved by slowly hauled ropes, as it is wont to be. Fixed +itself, it affords a means of transit to others. The joining of its +planks gives the desired appearance of solidity; all the terror of the +waves is removed by its likeness to the land, and the traveller +passing over it unharmed only wishes that the bridge were longer.</p> + +<p>'Let a safe bulwark of lattice-work shield the bridge on the right +side and on the left. See that you give no cause for misadventure of +any kind. You have a noble opportunity of distinguishing yourself in +the presence of so many Senators and of the King himself, the rewarder +of every well-done work. On the other hand, if you do it badly and put +him out of humour, woe be unto you!</p> + +<p>'We send A B, a servant of our Praefecture<a name="FNanchor_861_861" id="FNanchor_861_861"></a><a href="#Footnote_861_861" class="fnanchor">[861]</a>, to assist you and +your staff and bring us report of the accomplishment of the work; for +so heavy is our responsibility in this matter that we dare not leave +anything to chance.'</p> + +<p>[The King whose advent to Rome is here announced may be Witigis, after +his election in the plains of Regeta (August, 536). But the fact that +he is apparently approaching Rome by the northern bank of the Tiber,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_510" id="Page_510">[Pg 510]</a></span> +coupled with the directions in the preceding letter for the repair of +the Flaminian Way, makes it more probable that some visit of Theodahad +(probably in the year 535), when he would come from Ravenna to Rome, +is here in prospect.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii20">20.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Thomas and Peter, Viri Clarissimi +and Arcarii</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Sacred vessels mortgaged by Pope Agapetus to be restored to +the stewards of the Papal See.</div> + +<p>'You will remember, most faithful Sirs, that when the holy Agapetus, +Pope of the City of Rome, was sent as ambassador to the Sovereign of +the East<a name="FNanchor_862_862" id="FNanchor_862_862"></a><a href="#Footnote_862_862" class="fnanchor">[862]</a>, he received so many pounds of gold from you for the +expenses of the journey, for which he gave his bond<a name="FNanchor_863_863" id="FNanchor_863_863"></a><a href="#Footnote_863_863" class="fnanchor">[863]</a> and deposited +some of the Church plate as security<a name="FNanchor_864_864" id="FNanchor_864_864"></a><a href="#Footnote_864_864" class="fnanchor">[864]</a>. The provident ruler thus +lent him money in his necessity, and now, far more gloriously, returns +as a free gift those pledges which the Pope might well have thanked +him for taking.</p> + +<p>'Therefore, in obedience to these instructions of ours, and fortified +by the Royal order, do you return without any delay to the +stewards<a name="FNanchor_865_865" id="FNanchor_865_865"></a><a href="#Footnote_865_865" class="fnanchor">[865]</a> of the holy Apostle Peter the vessels of the saints +together with the written obligation, that these things may be felt to +be profitably restored and speedily granted, that the longed-for means +of performing their world-famous ministrations may be replaced in the +hands of the Levites. Let that be given back which was their own, +since that is justly received back by way of largesse which the Priest +had legally mortgaged.</p> + +<p>'Herein is the great example of King Alaric surpassed. He, when +glutted with the spoil of Rome, having received the vessels of the +Apostle Peter from his men, when he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_511" id="Page_511">[Pg 511]</a></span> heard the story of their seizure, +ordered them to be carried back across the sacred threshold, that so +the remembrance of the cupidity of their capture might be effaced by +the generosity of their restoration.</p> + +<p>'But our King, with religious purpose, has restored the vessels which +had become his own by the law of mortgage. In recompense for such +deeds frequent prayer ought to ascend, and Heaven will surely gladly +grant the required return for such good actions<a name="FNanchor_866_866" id="FNanchor_866_866"></a><a href="#Footnote_866_866" class="fnanchor">[866]</a>.'</p> + +<p>[There are in this letter several extremely obscure sentences as to +the generosity of Theodahad. As the Papal journey was undertaken by +Theodahad's orders, it was a piece of meanness, quite in keeping with +that King's character, to treat the advance of money for the journey +as a loan, and to insist on a bond and the deposit of the Church plate +as a security for repayment. Cassiodorus evidently feels this; and +very probably the restoration of the vessels and the quittance of the +debt had been insisted on by him. But the more he despises his +master's shabbiness, the more he struggles through a maze of almost +nonsensical sentences, to prove that he has committed some very +glorious action in lending the money and then forgiving the debt.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii21">21.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Deusdedit, a Scribe of Ravenna</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Duties of a Scribe.</div> + +<p>'The Scribe's office is the great safeguard of the rights of all men. +The evidence of ownership may be destroyed by fire or purloined by +dishonest men, but the State by making use of the Scribe's labours is +able to make good the loss so sustained. The Scribe is more diligent +in other men's business than they are in their own. His<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_512" id="Page_512">[Pg 512]</a></span> +muniment-chest is the refuge of all the oppressed, and the repository +of the fortunes of all men<a name="FNanchor_867_867" id="FNanchor_867_867"></a><a href="#Footnote_867_867" class="fnanchor">[867]</a>.</p> + +<p>'In testimony of your past integrity, and in the hope that no change +will mar this fair picture, we appoint you to this honourable office. +Remember that ancient Truth is committed to your keeping, and that it +often really rests with you, rather than with the Judge, to decide the +disputes of litigants. When your indisputable testimony is given, and +when the ancient voice of charters proceeds from your <i>sanctum</i>, +Advocates receive it with reverence, and suitors, even +evil-intentioned men, are constrained into obedience.</p> + +<p>'Banish, therefore, all thoughts of venality from your mind. The worst +moth that gets into papers and destroys them is the gold of the +dishonest litigant, who bribes the Scribes to make away with evidence +which he knows to be hostile. Thus, then, be ready always to produce +to suitors genuine old documents; and, on the other hand, transcribe +only, do not compose ancient proceedings<a name="FNanchor_868_868" id="FNanchor_868_868"></a><a href="#Footnote_868_868" class="fnanchor">[868]</a>. Let the copy correspond +to the original as the wax to the signet-ring, that as the face is the +index of the emotions<a name="FNanchor_869_869" id="FNanchor_869_869"></a><a href="#Footnote_869_869" class="fnanchor">[869]</a> so your handwriting may not err from the +authentic original in anything.</p> + +<p>'If a claimant succeed in enticing you even once from the paths of +honesty, vainly will you in any subsequent case seek to obtain his +credence for any document that you may produce; for he will always +believe that the trick which has been played once may be played again. +Keep to the line of justice, and even his angry exclamations at the +impossibility of inducing you to deviate therefrom, will be your +highest testimonial. Your whole career is public, and the favour or +disgrace which awaits you must be public also.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_513" id="Page_513">[Pg 513]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="xii22">22.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to the Provincials of Istria</span>.</h3> + +<p>[This letter was written Sept. 1, 537, probably in consequence of the +scarcity which the operations of Belisarius were already causing at +Ravenna. Apparently the whole taxes levied from a Province at an +Indiction were divided into two heads: so much for the central +authority, and so much for the Province. Cassiodorus in this and the +following letter says in effect: 'All the State's share of the taxes +we will take not in money, but in your staple products, corn, wine, +and oil. The rest goes as usual to the Province; but owing to the +scarcity at Ravenna we shall be glad to buy all that can be spared +either by the authorities of the Province or by individuals, whether +farmers or merchants.']</p> + +<p>'The true way to prevent the requirements of the public revenue from +becoming oppressive, is to order each Province to supply those +products in which it is naturally most fertile.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Requisition from Province of Istria.</div> + +<p>'Now I have learned by conversation with travellers that the Province +of Istria is this year especially blessed in three of its crops—wine, +oil, and corn. Therefore let her give of these products the equivalent +of ... solidi, which are due from you in payment of tribute for this +first Indiction<a name="FNanchor_870_870" id="FNanchor_870_870"></a><a href="#Footnote_870_870" class="fnanchor">[870]</a>: while the remainder we leave to that loyal +Province for her own regular expenses. But since we require a larger +quantity of the above-mentioned products, we send ... solidi from our +state chest for the purchase of them, that these necessaries may be +collected for us with as little delay as possible. Often when you are +desirous to sell you cannot find a purchaser, and suffer loss +accordingly. How much better is it to obey the requirements of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_514" id="Page_514">[Pg 514]</a></span> your +Lords than to supply foreigners; and to pay your debts in the fruits +of the soil, rather than to wait on the caprices of a buyer!</p> + +<p>'We will ourselves out of our love of justice state a fact of which +you might otherwise remind us, that we can afford to be liberal in +price because we are not burdened by the payment of freights [on +account of your nearness to the seat of government]. For what Campania +is to Rome, Istria is to Ravenna—a fruitful Province abounding in +corn, wine, and oil; so to speak, the cupboard of the capital. I might +carry the comparison further, and say that Istria can show her own +Baiae in the lagunes with which her shores are indented<a name="FNanchor_871_871" id="FNanchor_871_871"></a><a href="#Footnote_871_871" class="fnanchor">[871]</a>, her own +Averni in the pools abounding in oysters and fish. The palaces, strung +like pearls along the shores of Istria, show how highly our ancestors +appreciated its delights<a name="FNanchor_872_872" id="FNanchor_872_872"></a><a href="#Footnote_872_872" class="fnanchor">[872]</a>. The beautiful chain of islands with +which it is begirt, shelter the sailor from danger and enrich the +cultivator. The residence of the Court in this district delights the +nobles and enriches the lower orders; and it may be said that all its +products find their way to the Royal city. Now let the loyal Province, +which has often tendered her services when they were less required, +send forward her stores freely.</p> + +<p>'To guard against any misunderstanding of our orders, we send +Laurentius, a man of great experience, whose instructions are +contained in the annexed letter.</p> + +<p>'We will publish a tariff of moderate prices when we next address you, +and when we have ascertained what is the yield of the present crops; +for we should be deciding quite at random before we have received that +information.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_515" id="Page_515">[Pg 515]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="xii23">23.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Laurentius, Vir +Experientissimus</span><a name="FNanchor_873_873" id="FNanchor_873_873"></a><a href="#Footnote_873_873" class="fnanchor">[873]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">The same subject.</div> + +<p>'Anyone can discharge the duties of the Commissariat in a time of +abundance. It is a mark of our high appreciation of your experience +and efficiency, that we select you for this service in a time of +scarcity. We therefore direct you to repair to the Province of Istria, +there to collect stores of wine, oil, and corn, equivalent to ... +solidi, due from the Province for land-tax<a name="FNanchor_874_874" id="FNanchor_874_874"></a><a href="#Footnote_874_874" class="fnanchor">[874]</a>, and with ... solidi +which you have received from our Treasurer to buy these products +either from the merchants or from the peasants directly, according to +the information prepared for you by the Cashiers<a name="FNanchor_875_875" id="FNanchor_875_875"></a><a href="#Footnote_875_875" class="fnanchor">[875]</a>. Raise your +spirits for this duty, and discharge it in a manner worthy of your +past reputation. Make to us a faithful report of the yield of the +coming harvest, under these three heads<a name="FNanchor_876_876" id="FNanchor_876_876"></a><a href="#Footnote_876_876" class="fnanchor">[876]</a>, that we may fix a tariff +of prices which shall be neither burdensome to the Provincials nor +injurious to the public service.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii24">24.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to the Tribunes of the Maritime +Population</span><a name="FNanchor_877_877" id="FNanchor_877_877"></a><a href="#Footnote_877_877" class="fnanchor">[877]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">First historical notice of Venice.</div> + +<p>'We have previously given orders that Istria should send wine and oil, +of which there are abundant crops<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_516" id="Page_516">[Pg 516]</a></span> this year, to the Royal residence +at Ravenna. Do you, who possess numerous ships on the borders of the +Province, show the same devotion in forwarding the stores which they +do in supplying them.</p> + +<p>'Be therefore active in fulfilling this commission in your own +neighbourhood, you who often cross boundless distances. It may be said +that [in visiting Ravenna] you are going through your own +guest-chambers, you who in your voyages traverse your own home<a name="FNanchor_878_878" id="FNanchor_878_878"></a><a href="#Footnote_878_878" class="fnanchor">[878]</a>. +This is also added to your other advantages, that to you another route +is open, marked by perpetual safety and tranquillity. For when by +raging winds the sea is closed, a way is opened to you through the +most charming river scenery<a name="FNanchor_879_879" id="FNanchor_879_879"></a><a href="#Footnote_879_879" class="fnanchor">[879]</a>. Your keels fear no rough blasts; +they touch the earth with the greatest pleasure, and cannot perish +however frequently they may come in contact with it. Beholders from a +distance, not seeing the channel of the stream, might fancy them +moving through the meadows. Cables have been used to keep them at +rest: now drawn by ropes they move, and by a changed order of things +men help their ships with their feet. They draw their drawers without +labour, and instead of the capricious favour of sails they use the +more satisfactory steps of the sailor.</p> + +<p>'It is a pleasure to recall the situation of your dwellings as I +myself have seen them. Venetia the praiseworthy<a name="FNanchor_880_880" id="FNanchor_880_880"></a><a href="#Footnote_880_880" class="fnanchor">[880]</a>, formerly full of +the dwellings of the nobility,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_517" id="Page_517">[Pg 517]</a></span> touches on the south Ravenna and the +Po, while on the east it enjoys the delightsomeness of the Ionian +shore, where the alternating tide now discovers and now conceals the +face of the fields by the ebb and flow of its inundation. Here after +the manner of water-fowl have you fixed your home. He who was just now +on the mainland finds himself on an island, so that you might fancy +yourself in the Cyclades<a name="FNanchor_881_881" id="FNanchor_881_881"></a><a href="#Footnote_881_881" class="fnanchor">[881]</a>, from the sudden alterations in the +appearance of the shore.</p> + +<p>'Like them<a name="FNanchor_882_882" id="FNanchor_882_882"></a><a href="#Footnote_882_882" class="fnanchor">[882]</a> there are seen amid the wide expanse of the waters +your scattered homes, not the product of Nature, but cemented by the +care of man into a firm foundation<a name="FNanchor_883_883" id="FNanchor_883_883"></a><a href="#Footnote_883_883" class="fnanchor">[883]</a>. For by a twisted and knotted +osier-work the earth there collected is turned into a solid mass, and +you oppose without fear to the waves of the sea so fragile a bulwark, +since forsooth the mass of waters is unable to sweep away the shallow +shore, the deficiency in depth depriving the waves of the necessary +power.</p> + +<p>'The inhabitants have one notion of plenty, that of gorging themselves +with fish. Poverty therefore may associate itself with wealth on equal +terms. One kind of food refreshes all; the same sort of dwelling +shelters all; no one can envy his neighbour's home; and living in this +moderate style they escape that vice [of envy] to which all the rest +of the world is liable.</p> + +<p>'Your whole attention is concentrated on your salt-works. Instead of +driving the plough or wielding the sickle, you roll your cylinders. +Thence arises your whole crop, when you find in them that product +which you have not manufactured<a name="FNanchor_884_884" id="FNanchor_884_884"></a><a href="#Footnote_884_884" class="fnanchor">[884]</a>. There it may be said is your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_518" id="Page_518">[Pg 518]</a></span> +subsistence-money coined<a name="FNanchor_885_885" id="FNanchor_885_885"></a><a href="#Footnote_885_885" class="fnanchor">[885]</a>. Of this art of yours every wave is a +bondservant. In the quest for gold a man may be lukewarm: but salt +every one desires to find; and deservedly so, since to it every kind +of meat owes its savour.</p> + +<p>'Therefore let your ships, which you have tethered, like so many +beasts of burden, to your walls, be repaired with diligent care: so +that when the most experienced Laurentius attempts to bring you his +instructions, you may hasten forth to greet him. Do not by any +hindrance on your part delay the necessary purchases which he has to +make; since you, on account of the character of your winds, are able +to choose the shortest sea-track<a name="FNanchor_886_886" id="FNanchor_886_886"></a><a href="#Footnote_886_886" class="fnanchor">[886]</a>.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii25">25.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, To His Deputy<a name="FNanchor_887_887" id="FNanchor_887_887"></a><a href="#Footnote_887_887" class="fnanchor">[887]</a> Ambrosius, an +Illustris</span>.</h3> + +<p>[This letter appears to have been written in the early autumn of 538, +about a year after the three last letters, and also after Letters +<a href="#xii27">27</a> +and <a href="#xii28">28</a>, which precede it in order of date, though they follow it in +this collection. For an account of the terrible famine in Italy, the +beginning of which is here described, see Procopius, De Bello Gotthico +ii. 20.]</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Famine in Italy.</div> + +<p>'Since the world is not governed by chance, but by a Divine Ruler who +does not change His purposes at random, men are alarmed, and naturally +alarmed, at the extraordinary signs in the heavens, and ask with +anxious hearts what events these may portend. The Sun, first of stars, +seems to have lost his wonted light, and appears of a bluish colour. +We marvel to see no shadows of our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_519" id="Page_519">[Pg 519]</a></span> bodies at noon, to feel the mighty +vigour of his heat wasted into feebleness, and the phenomena which +accompany a transitory eclipse prolonged through a whole year.</p> + +<p>'The Moon too, even when her orb is full, is empty of her natural +splendour. Strange has been the course of the year thus far. We have +had a winter without storms, a spring without mildness, and a summer +without heat. Whence can we look for harvest, since the months which +should have been maturing the corn have been chilled by Boreas? How +can the blade open if rain, the mother of all fertility, is denied to +it? These two influences, prolonged frost and unseasonable drought, +must be adverse to all things that grow. The seasons seem to be all +jumbled up together, and the fruits, which were wont to be formed by +gentle showers, cannot be looked for from the parched earth. But as +last year was one that boasted of an exceptionally abundant harvest, +you are to collect all of its fruits that you can, and store them up +for the coming months of scarcity, for which it is well able to +provide. And that you may not be too much distressed by the signs in +the heavens of which I have spoken, return to the consideration of +Nature, and apprehend the reason of that which makes the vulgar gape +with wonder.</p> + +<p>'The middle air is thickened by the rigour of snow and rarefied by the +beams of the Sun. This is the great Inane, roaming between the heavens +and the earth. When it happens to be pure and lighted up by the rays +of the sun it opens out its true aspect<a name="FNanchor_888_888" id="FNanchor_888_888"></a><a href="#Footnote_888_888" class="fnanchor">[888]</a>; but when alien elements +are blended with it, it is stretched like a hide across the sky, and +suffers neither the true colours of the heavenly bodies to appear nor +their proper warmth to penetrate. This often happens in cloudy weather +for a time; it is only its extraordinary prolongation which has +produced these disastrous effects,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_520" id="Page_520">[Pg 520]</a></span> causing the reaper to fear a new +frost in harvest, making the apples to harden when they should grow +ripe, souring the old age of the grape-cluster.</p> + +<p>'All this, however, though it would be wrong to construe it as an omen +of Divine wrath, cannot but have an injurious effect on the fruits of +the earth. Let it be your care to see that the scarcity of this one +year does not bring ruin on us all. Even thus was it ordained by the +first occupant of our present dignity<a name="FNanchor_889_889" id="FNanchor_889_889"></a><a href="#Footnote_889_889" class="fnanchor">[889]</a>, that the preceding plenty +should avail to mitigate the present penury.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii26">26.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Paulus, Vir Strenuus</span><a name="FNanchor_890_890" id="FNanchor_890_890"></a><a href="#Footnote_890_890" class="fnanchor">[890]</a>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Remission of taxes for Province of Venetia in consequence +of the famine.</div> + +<p>'We are glad when we can reconcile the claims of the public service +with the suggestions of pity. The Venerable Augustin, a man +illustrious by his life and name, has brought under our notice the +lamentable petition of the Venetians, to the effect that there have +been in their Province no crops of wine, wheat, or millet, and that +they must be ruined unless the Royal pity succours them.</p> + +<p>'In these circumstances it would be cruel to exact the customary +supplies from them, and we therefore remit the contributions of wine +and wheat for the use of the army which we had ordered from the cities +of Concordia, Aquileia, and Forojulii<a name="FNanchor_891_891" id="FNanchor_891_891"></a><a href="#Footnote_891_891" class="fnanchor">[891]</a>, exacting only the meat, as +shown by the accompanying letter<a name="FNanchor_892_892" id="FNanchor_892_892"></a><a href="#Footnote_892_892" class="fnanchor">[892]</a>.</p> + +<p>'We shall send from hence a sufficient supply of wheat when the time +comes; and as we are told that there is a plentiful crop of wine in +Istria, you can buy there the wine that would have been furnished by +the three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_521" id="Page_521">[Pg 521]</a></span> cities. Be sure that you ask for no fee in this matter. +This remission of taxes is absolutely gratuitous on our part.'</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii27">27.</a> <span class="smcap">Senator, Praetorian Praefect, to Datius<a name="FNanchor_893_893" id="FNanchor_893_893"></a><a href="#Footnote_893_893" class="fnanchor">[893]</a>, Bishop of Milan</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Relief of famine-stricken citizens of Ticinum and Dertona.</div> + +<p>'It is most fitting that good and holy men should be made the stewards +of the Royal bounty. We therefore request your Holiness, in accordance +with the King's commands, to open the granaries at Ticinum<a name="FNanchor_894_894" id="FNanchor_894_894"></a><a href="#Footnote_894_894" class="fnanchor">[894]</a>, and +Dertona<a name="FNanchor_895_895" id="FNanchor_895_895"></a><a href="#Footnote_895_895" class="fnanchor">[895]</a>, and sell millet thereat to the starving people at the +rate of 20 modii per solidum<a name="FNanchor_896_896" id="FNanchor_896_896"></a><a href="#Footnote_896_896" class="fnanchor">[896]</a>. We are anxious that you should do +this, lest the work should fall into venal hands which would sell the +King's bounty to those who are able to provide for themselves. It is +the poor, not the rich, that we wish to help: we would pour our bounty +into empty vessels. Let not then your Holiness think this work of +compassion, unworthy of your sacred office. In order to assist you we +have sent A and B, who will simply obey the orders of your Holiness, +doing nothing of their own motion.</p> + +<p>'Send us an account of the solidi received in payment for the said +millet, that they may be stored up with our Treasurer<a name="FNanchor_897_897" id="FNanchor_897_897"></a><a href="#Footnote_897_897" class="fnanchor">[897]</a>, in order +to replace the before-mentioned grain, and thus provide a reserve for +future times of scarcity; like a garment taken to pieces that it may +be made up again as good as new.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_522" id="Page_522">[Pg 522]</a></span></p> +<p>[It is not very easy to assign a date to this letter. The mention of +the famine would incline us to assign it to 538, as that seems to have +been the year when the full force of the famine was felt in Italy (see +Procopius, De Bello Gotthico ii. 20, where 538 and 539 seem to be +marked as the two great famine years). But very early in 538 the +Bishop of Milan, the same Datius to whom this letter is addressed, +visited Rome to entreat Belisarius to send a small garrison to occupy +Milan, which had already revolted, or was on the verge of revolting, +from the Gothic King. As soon as the siege of Rome was raised +Belisarius complied with this request, and sent 1,000 men, under +Mundilas, to escort Datius back to Milan. This expedition set forth +probably in April 538, and as soon as it arrived at Milan that city +openly proclaimed its defection from Witigis and its allegiance to the +Emperor. It was soon besieged by Uraias, nephew of Witigis, by whom in +the following year (539) it was taken. The city, we are informed, was +rased to the ground, and Bishop Datius escaped to Constantinople. +Evidently we have here a continuous chain of events, which makes it +impossible for us to date this letter in 538 or any subsequent year.</p> + +<p>We ought probably therefore to assign it to the autumn of 537, and to +look upon it as an attempt (unsuccessful, as it proved) to retain +Datius and the citizens of Milan on the side of the Goths. We know +from the <a href="#xii22">Twenty-second Letter</a> of this book that signs of scarcity had +already shown themselves in Italy by the 1st September, 537; and in an +interesting passage of the 'Historia Miscella' (Book xvi.), famine in +Liguria, the year 537, and the name of Datius are all combined. +'Praeter belli instantiam angebatur insuper Roma famis penuriâ: tanta +siquidem per universum mundum eo anno [the year of the siege of Rome], +<i>maxime apud Liguriam</i> fames excreverat, ut <i>sicut vir sanctissimus +Datius Me</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_523" id="Page_523">[Pg 523]</a></span><i>diolanensis antistes retulit</i>, pleraeque matres infelicium +natorum membra comederent.' I owe this reference to Baronius.]</p> + + +<h3><a name="xii28">28.</a> <span class="smcap">An Edict [addressed to the Ligurians]</span>.</h3> + +<div class="sidenote">Relief of inhabitants of Liguria.</div> + +<p>'Divine Providence uses adversity as a means of testing our +characters. Famine has afflicted the Provinces, but the result of it +has been that they have proved more fully than before the bounty of +their King. Rejoice herein, oh ye Ligurians! For when, as you will +remember, on a previous occasion the savage temper of your neighbours +was aroused, and Aemilia and your Liguria were shaken by an incursion +of the Burgundians, who waged a sneaking campaign by reason of their +nearness to your territory, suddenly the renown of the insulted +Empire<a name="FNanchor_898_898" id="FNanchor_898_898"></a><a href="#Footnote_898_898" class="fnanchor">[898]</a> arose like the sun in his strength. The enemy mourned the +ruin which was caused by his own presumption, when he learned that +that man was Ruler of the Gothic race whose rare valour he had +experienced when he was still a private soldier<a name="FNanchor_899_899" id="FNanchor_899_899"></a><a href="#Footnote_899_899" class="fnanchor">[899]</a>. How often did +the Burgundian wish that he had never left his own frontiers to be +compelled to fight with such an adversary as our Sovereign; for though +he found with relief that he escaped his actual presence in the field, +none the less did his rashness bring him in contact with the good +fortune of his arms. For when with redoubled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_524" id="Page_524">[Pg 524]</a></span> fortitude<a name="FNanchor_900_900" id="FNanchor_900_900"></a><a href="#Footnote_900_900" class="fnanchor">[900]</a> the Goths +turned to the prosecution of the war, with such successfully combined +operations did they strike the bands of the rebels, that you would +have thought those were all armed men, these were all +defenceless<a name="FNanchor_901_901" id="FNanchor_901_901"></a><a href="#Footnote_901_901" class="fnanchor">[901]</a>. Such was the just judgment of God, that the robber +should perish in those very plains which he had presumed to desolate. +Exult now, oh Province, adorned with the carcases of thine +adversaries! rejoice, oh Liguria, at the heap of dead bodies! If the +harvest of corn is denied thee, the harvest of dead enemies shall not +be wanting. Tribute thou mayest not be able to offer to thy King, but +the triumphs which are won in thy land thou canst offer with pride.</p> + +<p>'<a name="FNanchor_902_902" id="FNanchor_902_902"></a><a href="#Footnote_902_902" class="fnanchor">[902]</a>To these triumphs must be added the lately foiled plunder-raid +of the Alamanni, so checked in its very first attempts that their +entrance and exit were almost one event, like a wound well and +opportunely cauterised. Thus were the excesses of the presumptuous +invader punished, and the subjects of our King were saved from +absolute ruin. I might indeed enumerate to you what crowds of the +enemy fell in other places, but I turn rather—such is human +nature—to more joyful themes, and revert to the point with which I at +first commenced, namely that the Sovereign who has saved you from the +hostile sword is determined now to avert from your Province the perils +of famine.</p> + +<p>'In this new war the citadels are well-stored granaries; Starvation is +the dreaded foe: if they are closed she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_525" id="Page_525">[Pg 525]</a></span> enters; by opening them wide +she is put to flight. I know not what the world in general may think +of the relative merit of these two campaigns of our King. For my part, +though I recognise it as the mark of a brave man to have fought a +winning battle, I think it is something above mere human valour to +have conquered penury.</p> + +<p>'In addition to these benefits the King has remitted one-half of the +taxes of the Province, that he might not sadden with the one hand +those whom he was gladdening with the other. Herein he compares +favourably with Joseph, who sold corn to the Egyptians, but on such +terms that they lost their personal freedom. Doubtless that holy man +was placed in a dilemma between the necessity of satisfying a covetous +King on the one hand, and that of rescuing a starving people on the +other. Still I must think that the Egyptian, whose life was preserved, +groaned over the loss of his liberty; and if I may say so, with all +respect to so great a patriarch<a name="FNanchor_903_903" id="FNanchor_903_903"></a><a href="#Footnote_903_903" class="fnanchor">[903]</a>, far nobler is it to sell corn to +freemen who remain freemen, and to lighten their taxes on account of +poverty. This is really a gratuitous distribution, when both the money +with which to buy is handed over to you [by the abatement of tribute], +and a price is fixed on purpose to please you.</p> + +<p>'The generosity of the State therefore will sell 25 modii, when the +peasant has lost his crops, at the price at which 10 are usually +sold<a name="FNanchor_904_904" id="FNanchor_904_904"></a><a href="#Footnote_904_904" class="fnanchor">[904]</a>. Humanity has altered the usual course of affairs, and by a +strange kind of chaffering, but one which truly becomes a King, just +when the famished peasant is willing to offer us an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_526" id="Page_526">[Pg 526]</a></span> enhanced price +for food, we are directed to offer it to him for a smaller one.</p> + +<p>'The King himself had seen your calamity, and thereupon bestowed on +you previously one favour. Now, on hearing of its continuance, he adds +to it a second. Happy calamity, which forced itself on the notice of +such an eye-witness!</p> + +<p>'Now, oh Ligurian, rejoice in the good fortune which has come to thee. +Compare thy lot with the Egyptian's and be happy. He was fed, but lost +his freedom; thou art fed, and at the same time defended from thy +enemies. Joseph gave back the purchase-money to his brethren in their +sacks, showing a greater kindness to his kindred than to his subjects. +Our King shows no such partiality, but bestows on all the taxpayers +larger benefits than he did on his brethren. Happy age! in which Kings +may be likened, not to Kings, but to Prophets, and yet bear away the +palm.</p> + +<p>'But that we may not longer detain you from the desired enjoyment of +the Royal benefits, know that our commands have been given to those +whose business it is to attend to this affair, that, according to the +tenour of this edict, the generosity of the Sovereign may penetrate +into your homes.'</p> + +<p>[The same considerations which were applied to the date of the +preceding letter seem to require that this also be dated in 537. After +the raising of the siege of Rome (March, 538), by the despatch of +Imperial troops into Liguria, and the enthusiastic adherence of that +Province to the Imperial cause, a new state of things was established, +and one to which the language of this letter would have been utterly +inapplicable.</p> + +<p>There are two events of which we have no other knowledge than that +furnished by this letter: the invasion of the Burgundians, and the +ravages of the Alamanni in the Province of Liguria.</p> + +<p>(1) The invasion of the Burgundians seems, as stated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_527" id="Page_527">[Pg 527]</a></span> in a previous +note, to have occurred in the spring or early summer of 536; so that +Cassiodorus could represent the invaders as surprised and disheartened +by learning of the elevation of Witigis. It no doubt formed part of +those hostile operations of the Frankish Kings described by Procopius +(De Bello Gotthico i. 13), the termination of which was purchased by +Witigis by the cession of Provence and the payment of a subsidy. It is +interesting to observe, however, that the Burgundians, notwithstanding +their subjugation in 534, and their incorporation in the Frankish +monarchy, are still spoken of as conducting an invasion on their own +account. This is just like the invasion of Italy in 553 by the +Alamannic brethren, and is quite in keeping with the loosely compacted +character of the Merovingian monarchy, in which it was copied by the +Anglian and Saxon Kingdoms.</p> + +<p>(2) For the ravages of the Alamanni consult, as before stated, von +Schubert's monograph. This passage quite confirms his view of the +events connected with the overthrow of the Alamannic Kingdom by +Clovis. A remnant of the people, settled as refugees in Raetia under +Theodoric's protection, now, in the decline of the Ostrogothic +monarchy throw off their allegiance to his successors, and press +forward over the Alps to share the spoil of Italy. Witigis, however, +notwithstanding his struggle with Belisarius, is still able promptly +to repel this incursion; but it co-operates with the Burgundian +invasion and the inclement spring and summer of 537 to bring about the +famine in Liguria in the autumn of that year.]</p> + + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_529" id="Page_529">[Pg 529]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="INDEX_OF_PERSONS" id="INDEX_OF_PERSONS"></a>INDEX OF PERSONS</h2> + +<h3>TO WHOM THE LETTERS ARE ADDRESSED.</h3> + + +<p> +<b>A.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#v16">v. 16</a>, <a href="#v17">17</a>, +<a href="#v23">23</a>, <a href="#v34">34</a>; <a href="#ix4">ix. 4</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Acretius, <i>see</i> <a href="#Eutropius">Eutropius</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Adeodatus, <a href="#iii46">iii. 46</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Adila, Vir Spectabilis, Comes, <a href="#ii29">ii. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aemilianus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, <a href="#iv31">iv. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aestunae, Possessores, Defensores, and Curiales dwelling at, <a href="#iii9">iii. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Agapitus, Praefectus Urbis, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, <a href="#i6">i. 6</a>, +<a href="#i23">23</a>, <a href="#i32">32</a>, <a href="#i33">33</a>, +<a href="#i41">41</a>; <a href="#ii6">ii. 6</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Alaric (II), King of the Visigoths (484-507), <a href="#iii1">iii. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Albienus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, <a href="#i20">i. 20</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Praefectus Praetorio, <a href="#viii20">viii. 20</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Albinus and Albienus, Viri Illustres atque Patricii, <a href="#i20">i. 20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Albinus, Vir Illustris, Patricius, <a href="#iv30">iv. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Albinus, Actores of, <a href="#iv35">iv. 35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aloisius, Architect, <a href="#ii39">ii. 39</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Amabilis, Exsecutor, <a href="#i8">i. 8</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vir Devotus (? Sajo) and Comes, <a href="#iv5">iv. 5</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Ambrosius, Quaestor, <a href="#viii13">viii. 13</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vir Illustris Agens Vices (Praefecti Praetorio), <a href="#xi4">xi. 4</a>, 5; <a href="#xii25">xii. 25</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<a name="Ampelius">Ampelius</a>, Despotius, and Theodulus, Viri Spectabiles, <a href="#ii23">ii. 23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ampelius, Count Luvirit and, <a href="#v35">v. 35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ampelius and Liveria, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Anastasius, Emperor (491-518), <a href="#i1">i. 1</a>; <a href="#ii1">ii. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Anastasius, Consularis, <a href="#v8">v. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Anastasius, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, <a href="#xii12">xii. 12</a>, +<a href="#xii14">14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Anat(h)olius, Cancellarius of Province of Samnium, <a href="#xi36">xi. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Andreas, Primiscrinius, <a href="#xi21">xi. 21</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Andreas, <i>see</i> <a href="#Maximian">Maximian</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Annas, Vir Spectabilis and Comes, <a href="#iv18">iv. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Antianus, Vir Spectabilis, ex-Cornicularius, <a href="#xi18">xi. 18</a>, +<a href="#xi34">34</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Antonius, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop of Pola, <a href="#iv44">iv. 44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Apronianus, Vir Illustris, Comes Privatarum, <a href="#iii53">iii. 53</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Arator, Vir Illustris, Comes Domesticorum, <a href="#viii12">viii. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Arelate (<i>Arles</i>), Possessores of, <a href="#iii44">iii. 44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Argolicus, Vir Illustris, Praefectas Urbis, <a href="#iii11">iii. 11</a>, +<a href="#iii29">29</a>, <a href="#iii30">30</a>, <a href="#iii33">33</a>; <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, +<a href="#iv25">25</a>, <a href="#iv29">29</a>, <a href="#iv42">42</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Arigern, Vir Illustris, Comes, <a href="#iii36">iii. 36</a>, <a href="#iii45">45</a>; <a href="#iv23">iv. 23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Artemidorus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, Praefectus Urbis, <a href="#i42">i. 42</a>; <a href="#ii34">ii. 34</a>; <a href="#iii22">iii. 22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Assuin (Assius, or Assum), Vir Illustris, Comes, <a href="#i40">i. 40</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aurigenes, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, <a href="#iii14">iii. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Avilf, Sajo, <a href="#v20">v. 20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>B.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Baion (Coion, or Goinon), Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#i38">i. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Beatus, Vir Clarissimus and Cancellarius, <a href="#xi10">xi. 10</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Primicerius Augustalium, <a href="#xi30">xi. 30</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Benenatus, Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#iv15">iv. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bergantinus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, Comes Patrimonii, <a href="#viii23">viii. 23</a>; <a href="#ix3">ix. 3</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Boetius, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, <a href="#i10">i. 10</a>, <a href="#i45">45</a>; <a href="#ii40">ii. 40</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brandila, <a href="#v32">v. 32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>C.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Cancellarii diversi Provinciarum Singularum, <a href="#xii1">xii. 1</a>, +<a href="#xii10">10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Canonicarius Venetiarum, <a href="#xii4">xii. 4</a>, <a href="#xii7">7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_530" id="Page_530">[Pg 530]</a></span>Capuanus, Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#v21">v. 21</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Carinus, Vir Illustris, <a href="#v28">v. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cart(h)erius, Regerendarius, <a href="#xi29">xi. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cassiodorus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius (father of Cassiodorus Senator), <a href="#i3">i. 3</a>; <a href="#iii28">iii. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Catana, City of, Honorati Possessores, Defensores, and Curiales of, <a href="#iii49">iii. 49</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Catellus, Scriniarius Actorum, <a href="#xi22">xi. 22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cheliodorus, Commentariensis, <a href="#xi28">xi. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Clovis, <i>see</i> <a href="#Luduin">Luduin</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Coelianus and Agapitus, Viri Illustres et Patricii, <a href="#i23">i. 23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Colossaeus, Vir Illustris, Comes, Governor of Pannonia, <a href="#iii23">iii. 23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Comes Siliquatariorum et Portus Curas Agens, <a href="#ii12">ii. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Constantian, Vir Experientissimus, <a href="#xii18">xii. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Constantinian, Cura Epistolarum Canonicarum, <a href="#xi23">xi. 23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Consularis, Vir Illustris, <a href="#iii52">iii. 52</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Consularis Liguriae, <a href="#xii8">xii. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Crispianus, <a href="#i37">i. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cunigast, Vir Illustris, <a href="#viii28">viii. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cyprian, Comes Sacrarum Largitionum and Patrician, <a href="#v40">v. 40</a>; <a href="#viii21">viii. 21</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>D.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Dalmatia and S(u)avia, all the Goths and Romans in, <a href="#ix9">ix. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Daniel, <a href="#iii19">iii. 19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Datius, Bishop of Milan, <a href="#xii27">xii. 27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Decius, Vir Illustris, Patricius, <a href="#ii33">ii. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Decoratus, Vir Devotus, <a href="#v31">v. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dertona (<i>Tortona</i>), all Goths and Romans abiding (consistentes) at, <a href="#i17">i. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Despotius, <i>see</i> <a href="#Ampelius">Ampelius</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Densdedit, Scriba Ravennas, <a href="#xii21">xii. 21</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Domitianus and Willias, <a href="#i18">i. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dromonarii, the, <a href="#ii31">ii. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Duda, Vir Spectabilis and Comes, <a href="#iv28">iv. 28</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sajo, <a href="#iv32">iv. 32</a>, +<a href="#iv34">34</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Dumerit, Sajo, <a href="#viii27">viii. 27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>E.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Ecdicius (or Benedictus), Vir Honestus, <a href="#ii4">ii. 4</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Elpidius (or Hespidius), Deacon, <a href="#iv24">iv. 24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Epiphanius, Vir Spectabilis, Consularis of Dalmatia, <a href="#v24">v. 24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Episcopi et Honorati (?), <a href="#ix5">ix. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Episcopi sui, <a href="#x34">x. 34</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">diversi, <a href="#xi3">xi. 3</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Eugenius (Eugenites, or Eugenes), Vir Illustris, Magister Officiorum, <a href="#i12">i. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Eusebius, Vir Illustris, <a href="#iv48">iv. 48</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Eustorgius, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop of Milan, <a href="#i9">i. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Eutropius">Eutropius</a> and Acretius, <a href="#v13">v. 13</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>F.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Faustus, Praefectus Praetorio (in the edition of Nivellius his title is given as Praepositus), <a href="#i14">i. 14</a>, +<a href="#i26">26</a>, <a href="#i34">34</a>, <a href="#i35">35</a>; <a href="#ii5">ii. 5</a>, +<a href="#ii9">9</a>, <a href="#ii26">26</a>, <a href="#ii30">30</a>, +<a href="#ii37">37</a>, <a href="#ii38">38</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vir Illustris, <a href="#iii21">iii. 21</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Praefectus Praetorio, <a href="#iii47">iii. 47</a>, +<a href="#iii51">51</a>; <a href="#iv36">iv. 36</a>, <a href="#iv38">38</a>, +<a href="#iv50">50</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Felix, Vir Clarissimus, <a href="#i7">i. 7</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vir Illustris, Consul (511), <a href="#ii2">ii. 2</a>; <a href="#iii39">iii. 39</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Felix, Quaestor, <a href="#viii18">viii. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Feltria (<i>Feltre</i>), Possessors of, <a href="#v9">v. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ferrocinctus, <i>see</i> <a href="#Grimoda">Grimoda</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Festus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, <a href="#i15">i. 15</a>, <a href="#i39">39</a>; <a href="#ii22">ii. 22</a>; <a href="#iii10">iii. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Florentinus (or Florentianus), Vir Devotus, Comitiacus, <a href="#viii27">viii. 27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Florianus, Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#i5">i. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Forum Livii (<i>Forli</i>), Honorati Possessores, and Curiales of, <a href="#iv8">iv. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fruinarith, Sajo, <a href="#ii13">ii. 13</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>G.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Gaudiosus, Cancellarius of Province of Liguria, <a href="#xi14">xi. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gaul, all the Provincials of, <a href="#iii17">iii. 17</a>, <a href="#iii42">42</a>; <a href="#viii7">viii. 7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Geberich, Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#iv20">iv. 20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gemellus, Vir Spectabilis, Governor of Gaul, <a href="#iii16">iii. 16</a>, +<a href="#iii18">18</a>, <a href="#iii32">32</a>; <a href="#iv12">iv. 12</a>, +<a href="#iv19">19</a>, <a href="#iv21">21</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Genesius, Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#viii30">viii. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gepidae, ad Gallias destinati, <a href="#v11">v. 11</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gesila, Sajo, <a href="#iv14">iv. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gildias, Vir Spectabilis, Count of Syracuse, <a href="#ix11">ix. 11</a>, +<a href="#ix14">14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Goths, all the, <a href="#i24">i. 24</a>; <a href="#x31">x. 31</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">settled in Italy, <a href="#viii5">viii. 5</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Goths, all the, and Romans, <a href="#i28">i. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Goths, all the, and Romans, and those who hold the harbours and mountain-passes, <a href="#ii19">ii. 19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Grimoda">Grimoda</a>, Sajo, and Ferrocinctus, Apparitor, <a href="#iii20">iii. 20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gudila, Bishop, <a href="#ii18">ii. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gudinand, Sajo, <a href="#v19">v. 19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gudisal, Sajo, <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Guduim, Sajo, <a href="#v27">v. 27</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vir Sublimis and Dux, <a href="#v30">v. 30</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_531" id="Page_531">[Pg 531]</a></span>Gundibad, King of the Burgundians (473-516), <a href="#i46">i. 46</a>; <a href="#iii2">iii. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>H.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Haesti, the, <a href="#v2">v. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Herminafrid, King of the Thuringians, <a href="#iv1">iv. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Heruli, King of the, <a href="#iv2">iv. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Heruli">Heruli</a>, Warni, and Thoringi, Kings of the, <a href="#iii3">iii. 3</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hilderic, King of the Vandals (523-531), <a href="#ix1">ix. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Honoratus, Vir Illustris, Quaestor, <a href="#v3">v. 3</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Honorius, Praefectus Urbis, <a href="#x30">x. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>I.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Ida (perhaps Ibbas), Vir Sublimis and Dux, <a href="#iv17">iv. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Importunus, Vir Illustris, Patricius, <a href="#iii5">iii. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Istria, Provincials of, <a href="#xii22">xii. 22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>J.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Januarius, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop of Salona, <a href="#iii7">iii. 7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jews, all the, residing in Genoa, <a href="#ii27">ii. 27</a>; <a href="#iv33">iv. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Consularis Campaniae, <a href="#iii27">iii. 27</a>; <a href="#iv10">iv. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Referendarius, <a href="#viii25">viii. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Joannes, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius, <a href="#v7">v. 7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Joannes, Canonicarius of Thuscia, <a href="#xi38">xi. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Joannes, Cancellarius, <a href="#xi6">xi. 6</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Praerogativarius, <a href="#xi27">xi. 27</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Joannes, Siliquatarius of Ravenna, <a href="#xii17">xii. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Joannes, Apparitor, <a href="#ii21">ii. 21</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Arch-Physician, <a href="#iv41">iv. 41</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +John II, Pope (533-535), <a href="#ix15">ix. 15</a>; <a href="#xi2">xi. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Judges, all the, of the Provinces, <a href="#ix20">ix. 20</a>; <a href="#xi7">xi. 7</a>, +<a href="#xi9">9</a>; <a href="#xii2">xii. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Julianus, Comes Patrimonii, <a href="#i16">i. 16</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Justin, Emperor (518-527), <a href="#viii1">viii. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Justinian, Emperor (527-566), <a href="#x1">x. 1</a>, <a href="#x2">2</a>, +<a href="#x8">8</a>, <a href="#x9">9</a>, <a href="#x15">15</a>, <a href="#x19">19</a>, +<a href="#x22">22</a>, <a href="#x24">24</a>, <a href="#x25">25</a>, +<a href="#x26">26</a>, <a href="#x32">32</a>; <a href="#xi13">xi. 13</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Justus, Sextus Scholaris, <a href="#xi26">xi. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>L.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Laurentius, Vir Experientissimus, <a href="#xii23">xii. 23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Liberius, Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls, <a href="#viii6">viii. 6</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ligurians, the, <a href="#xi15">xi. 15</a>, <a href="#xi16">16</a>; <a href="#xii28">xii. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Liveria, <i>see</i> <a href="#Ampelius">Ampelius</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lucillus, Scriniarius Curae Militaris, <a href="#xi24">xi. 24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lucinus, Vir Clarissimus, Cancellarius of Campania, <a href="#xi37">xi. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lucristani (Lustriani?), the, settled (constituti) on the river Sontius (<i>Isonzo</i>), <a href="#i29">i. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Luduin">Luduin</a> (Clovis), King of the Franks (481-511), <a href="#ii41">ii. 41</a>; <a href="#iii4">iii. 4</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Luvirit, Count, and Ampelius, <a href="#v35">v. 35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>M.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Magister Officiorum (at Constantinople), <a href="#x33">x. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mannila, Sajo, <a href="#v5">v. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Marabad, Vir Illustris and Comes, <a href="#iv12">iv. 12</a>, <a href="#iv46">46</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Marcellus, Vir Spectabilis, Advocatus Fisci, <a href="#i22">i. 22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Massilia (<i>Marseilles</i>), citizens of, <a href="#iii34">iii. 34</a>; <a href="#iv26">iv. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Maximian">Maximian</a>, Vir Illustris, and Andreas, Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#i21">i. 21</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Maximus, Vir lllustris, Consul, <a href="#v42">v. 42</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vir Illustris and Domesticus, <a href="#x11">x. 11</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Maximus, Vir Clarissimus, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Maximus, Vicarius Urbis Romae, <a href="#xii19">xii. 19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Milan, the Jews of, <a href="#v37">v. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>N.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Neudes, Vir Illustris, <a href="#v29">v. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Noricum, Provincials of, <a href="#iii50">iii. 50</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Nursia, <i>see</i> <a href="#Reate">Reate</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>O.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Opilio, Comes Sacrarum Largitionum, <a href="#viii16">viii. 16</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Osun (Osuin, or Osum), Vir Illustris, Comes, <a href="#iii26">iii. 26</a>; <a href="#iv9">iv. 9</a>; <a href="#ix8">ix. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>P.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Pannonia, all the Barbarians and Romans settled in, <a href="#iii24">iii. 24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Parma, Honorati Possessores, and Curiales of, <a href="#viii29">viii. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Paschasius, Praefectus Annonae, <a href="#xii9">xii. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Patricius, Vir Illustris and Quaestor, <a href="#x6">x. 6</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_532" id="Page_532">[Pg 532]</a></span>Patricius, Primicerius Exceptorum, <a href="#xi25">xi. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Paulinas, Vir Clarissimus and Consul, <a href="#ix22">ix. 22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Paulus, Vir Strenuus, <a href="#xii26">xii. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Peter, Bishop, <a href="#iii37">iii. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Peter, Vir Clarissimus, Erogator Obsoniorum, <a href="#xii11">xii. 11</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Arcarius, <a href="#xii20">xii. 20</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<a name="Picenum">Picenum</a> and Samnium, all the Goths settled in, <a href="#v26">v. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pierius, Primicerius Singulariorum, <a href="#xi32">xi. 32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Possessores, universi, <a href="#v38">v. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Provinus (Probinus), Vir Illustris, Patricius, <a href="#ii11">ii. 11</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Actores of, <a href="#iv40">iv. 40</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>R.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +<a name="Reate">Reate</a> and Nursia, all the inhabitants of, <a href="#viii26">viii. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Reparatus, Praefectus Urbis, <a href="#ix7">ix. 7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Roman Church, Clergy of, <a href="#viii24">viii. 24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Romans, all the, <a href="#i28">i. 28</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in Italy and the Dalmatias, <a href="#viii4">viii. 4</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Roman people, the, <a href="#i31">i. 31</a>; <a href="#viii3">viii. 3</a>; <a href="#x14">x. 14</a>, +<a href="#x17">17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rome, people of the City of, <a href="#i44">i. 44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Romulus (? ex-Emperor), <a href="#iii35">iii. 35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>S.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Sabinianus, Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#i25">i. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sajones, universi, qui sunt Cancellariis deputati, <a href="#xii3">xii. 3</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Salvantius, Vir Illustris, Praefectus Urbis, <a href="#ix16">ix. 16</a>, +<a href="#ix17">17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Samnium, <i>see</i> <a href="#Picenum">Picenum</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Saturninus">Saturninus</a> and Verbusius, Viri Illustres, Senatores, <a href="#i19">i. 19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Senarius, Vir Illustris, Comes Patrimonii, <a href="#iv3">iv. 3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Comes Privatarum, <a href="#iv7">iv. 7</a>, +<a href="#iv11">11</a>, <a href="#iv13">13</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Senate of the City of Rome, <a href="#i4">i. 4</a>, <a href="#i13">13</a>, +<a href="#i30">30</a>, <a href="#i43">43</a>; <a href="#ii3">ii. 3</a>, +<a href="#ii16">16</a>, <a href="#ii24">24</a>, <a href="#ii32">32</a>; <a href="#iii6">iii. 6</a>, +<a href="#iii12">12</a>, <a href="#iii31">31</a>; <a href="#iv4">iv. 4</a>, +<a href="#iv16">16</a>, <a href="#iv43">43</a>; <a href="#v4">v. 4</a>, +<a href="#v22">22</a>, <a href="#v41">41</a>; <a href="#viii2">viii. 2</a>, +<a href="#viii10">10</a>, <a href="#viii11">11</a>, <a href="#viii14">14</a>, +<a href="#viii15">15</a>, <a href="#viii17">17</a>, <a href="#viii19">19</a>, +<a href="#viii22">22</a>; <a href="#ix19">ix. 19</a>, <a href="#ix21">21</a>, +<a href="#ix23">23</a>, <a href="#ix25">25</a>; <a href="#x3">x. 3</a>, +<a href="#x4">4</a>, <a href="#x7">7</a>, <a href="#x12">12</a>, <a href="#x13">13</a>, +<a href="#x16">16</a>, <a href="#x18">18</a>; <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Senator (Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus)</span>, Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#ix24">ix. 24</a>; <a href="#x27">x. 27</a>, +<a href="#x28">28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Servatus, Dux Raetiarum, <a href="#i11">i. 11</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Severianus (or Severinus), Vir Illustris, <a href="#v14">v. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Severus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, <a href="#ii8">ii. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Severus, Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#viii31">viii. 31</a>, <a href="#viii32">32</a>, +<a href="#viii33">33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Simeon, Vir Illustris, Comes, <a href="#iii25">iii. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Speciosus, <a href="#i27">i. 27</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vir Devotus, Comitiacus, <a href="#ii10">ii. 10</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Stabularius, Comitiacus, <a href="#v6">v. 6</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Starcedius, Vir Sublimis, <a href="#v36">v. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stephanus, Vir Spectabilis, Comes Primi Ordinis et ex-Princeps nostri Ordinis, <a href="#ii28">ii. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +S(u)avia, all the Provincials and Capillati, Defensores and Curiales, residing in, <a href="#iv49">iv. 49</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">all the Possessores in, <a href="#v15">v. 15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">all the Goths and Romans in, <a href="#ix9">ix. 9</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Sunhivad, Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#iii13">iii. 13</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sura (or Suna), Vir Illustris, Comes, <a href="#ii7">ii. 7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Symmachus, Vir Illustris and Patricius, <a href="#ii14">ii. 14</a>; <a href="#iv6">iv. 6</a>, +<a href="#iv51">51</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Syracuse, all the Provincials of the City of, <a href="#ix10">ix. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>T.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Tancila, Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#ii35">ii. 35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tezutzat, Sajo, <a href="#iv27">iv. 27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Theodagunda, Illustris Femina, <a href="#iv37">iv. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Theodahad, Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#iii15">iii. 15</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vir Illustris, <a href="#iv39">iv. 39</a>; <a href="#v12">v. 12</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Theodora, Augusta, <a href="#x10">x. 10</a>, <a href="#x20">20</a>, +<a href="#x21">21</a>, <a href="#x23">23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Theodosius, Homo Theodahadi (?), <a href="#x5">x. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Theodulus, <i>see</i> <a href="#Ampelius">Ampelius</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Theon (or Theonius), Vir Sublimis, <a href="#i2">i. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Theriolus, Vir Spectabilis, <a href="#i36">i. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thessalonica, Praefect of, <a href="#x35">x. 35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thomas, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius, <a href="#xii20">xii. 20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thoringi (Thuringians). <i>see</i> <a href="#Heruli">Heruli</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ticinum (<i>Pavia</i>), Comites, Defensores, and Curiales of, <a href="#iv45">iv. 45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Transmund (or Thrasamund), King of the Vandals, <a href="#v43">v. 43</a>, +<a href="#v44">44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tribuni Maritimorum, <a href="#xii24">xii. 24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tridentinae Civitatis, Honorati Possessores, Defensores, et Curiales, <a href="#ii17">ii. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tulum, Patrician, <a href="#viii9">viii. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>U.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Unigis, Spatarius, <a href="#iii43">iii. 43</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Uniligis (or Wiligis), Sajo, <a href="#ii20">ii. 20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Urbicus, ex-Primicerius Singulariorum, <a href="#xi31">xi. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ursus, Primicerius Deputatorum, <a href="#xi30">xi. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>V.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Valerian, Vir Sublimis, <a href="#xii5">xii. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Vandals, King of the, <a href="#v1">v. 1</a>, <a href="#v43">43</a>, +<a href="#v44">44</a>; <a href="#ix1">ix. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Venantius, Vir Illustris, <a href="#ii15">ii. 15</a>;<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_533" id="Page_533">[Pg 533]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Spectabilis, Corrector of Lucania and Bruttii, <a href="#iii8">iii. 8</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Veranus, Sajo, <a href="#v10">v. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Verbusius, <i>see</i> <a href="#Saturninus">Saturninus</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Verruca, fort of, all Goths and Romans living near, <a href="#iii48">iii. 48</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Victor, Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, <a href="#ix12">ix. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Victorinus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, <a href="#viii8">viii. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Vitalian, Vir Clarissimus, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, <a href="#xi39">xi. 39</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>W.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Wandil (Vuandil), <a href="#iii38">iii. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Warni (Guarni), <i>see</i> <a href="#Heruli">Heruli</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wilitanch, Duke, <a href="#v33">v. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Willias, <a href="#i18">i. 18</a>; <a href="#v18">v. 18</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vir Illustris, Comes Patrimonii, <a href="#ix13">ix. 13</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Winusiad, Count, <a href="#x29">x. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Witigisclus (or Wigisicla), Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, <a href="#ix12">ix. 12</a>.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_534" id="Page_534">[Pg 534]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="GENERAL_INDEX" id="GENERAL_INDEX"></a>GENERAL INDEX.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>[<span class="smcap">Note</span>.—<i>The references to the Introduction and to the Notes are by +the page (thus, 106-108); references to the 'Variae' are by the +numbers of the Book and Letter (thus, v. 16, 17). The <span class="smcap">Formulae</span> are +printed in small capitals.</i>]</p></div> + + +<p> +<b>A.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Ab Actis (Registrar), officer in Court of Praetorian Praefect, +<a href="#Page_106">106</a>-108;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">origin of the name, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">compared to Referendarius, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect, instructions to, as to forming a navy, <a href="#v16">v. 16</a>, +<a href="#v17">17</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to provide ships, and rations for young recruits, <a href="#v23">v. 23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">instructions to, in the case of Frontosus, <a href="#v34">v. 34</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to allow a family of Curials to degrade into Possessores, <a href="#ix4">ix. 4</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Acinaticium, red wine of Verona, praises of, and account of its manufacture, <a href="#xii4">xii. 4</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Actores (Representatives, Attorneys), of Albinus, <a href="#iv35">iv. 35</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of the holy Apostle Peter, <a href="#xii20">xii. 20</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Probinus, <a href="#iv40">iv. 40</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Spes, <a href="#ii21">ii. 21</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Theodahad, <a href="#viii23">viii. 23</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Addua, River (<i>Adda</i>), derivation of the name, <a href="#xi14">xi. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Adeodatus, forced by torture to confess himself guilty of rape, <a href="#iii46">iii. 46</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the sentence against him partially cancelled, <a href="#iii46">iii. 46</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Adjutores, general word for assistants, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, +<a href="#Page_102">102</a>-104;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">is Adjutor equivalent to Primiscrinius? +<a href="#Page_103">103</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">a lower class of Exceptores seem to have been called Adjutores, +<a href="#Page_111">111</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Magister Officiorum, <a href="#vi6">vi. 6</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Admissionales, Ushers of the Praefectoral Court, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Adriana, petition of Curiales of, as to taxation, <a href="#i19">i. 19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Adulterer slain by the injured husband, case of, <a href="#i37">i. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Adultery, punishment of (Edictum Athalarici), <a href="#ix18">ix. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aemilia, Province of, invaded by Burgundians, <a href="#xii28">xii. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aemilianus, Bishop, ordered to finish the aqueduct which he has begun, <a href="#iv31">iv. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aestii, <i>see</i> <a href="#Haesti">Haesti</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aestunae (?), inhabitants of, ordered to send marbles to Ravenna, <a href="#iii9">iii. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Aetatis Venia, Formula granting</span>, <a href="#vii41">vii. 41</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter relating to, <a href="#i38">i. 38</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Aetheria, a widow, re-married, accused of wasting her children's property, <a href="#iv12">iv. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +African. Singular custom by which an African was allowed to claim estate of a fellow-countryman dying without heirs, <a href="#xii9">xii. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Agapetus">Agapetus</a>, Pope (June 3, 535—April 21, 536), Cassiodorus seeks to persuade him to found a School of Theology at Rome, +<a href="#Page_56">56</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered by Theodahad and Gudelina to give his answer to Justinian's ambassador promptly, <a href="#x19">x. 19</a>, +<a href="#x20">20</a>, <a href="#x25">25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">mortgaged the Church plate to defray expenses of his journey to Constantinople, <a href="#xii20">xii. 20</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Agapita (or Agapeta), Foemina Spectabilis, wife of Basilius, and a person of feeble intellect <a href="#ii11">ii. 11</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">affair of her abduction, <a href="#ii10">ii. 10</a>, +<a href="#ii11">11</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">further light on this affair, <a href="#iv40">iv. 40</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Agapitus, with Coelianus, seems to have had special jurisdiction in cases affecting Patricians, <a href="#i23">i. 23</a>, +<a href="#i27">27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Agathias on Theodoric's protection of the Alamanni, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Agenantia, widow of Campanianus, <a href="#ix4">ix. 4</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<i>Agens Vices</i> (Deputy), functions of, <a href="#Footnote_733_733">460 <i>n</i></a>; <a href="#xii25">xii. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Agentes in Rebus, Schola of, emissaries of the Magister Officiorum, +<a href="#Page_36">36</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Princeps of, <a href="#xi35">xi. 35</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_535" id="Page_535">[Pg 535]</a></span>Agnellus, Patrician, chooses Festus to defend his interests in his absence, <a href="#i15">i. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Agnellus, fidei-jussor of Crispianus, <a href="#i37">i. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Agnellus, house of, in Castrum Lucullanum given to Joannes, <a href="#viii25">viii. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Agrimensor, a Roman, description of, <a href="#iii52">iii. 52</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Alamanni, date of Clovis' victory over, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, +<a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Theodoric congratulates Clovis on his victory over, <a href="#ii41">ii. 41</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">directed to exchange their cattle with Noricans, <a href="#iii50">iii. 50</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">plundering incursion of, into Liguria, <a href="#xii28">xii. 28</a>; +<a href="#Page_527">527</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Alaric I, clemency of, at siege of Rome, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>; <a href="#xii20">xii. 20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Alaric II, letters intended to avert war between Alaric and Clovis, <a href="#iii1">iii. 1</a>-4;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">possessions granted by, to Church of Narbonne, <a href="#iv17">iv. 17</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">taxation in the time of, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">reception of his son Gesalic by Thrasamund, <a href="#v43">v. 43</a>, +<a href="#v44">44</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Albienus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, deputed to select a Pantomimist, <a href="#i20">i. 20</a>, +<a href="#i33">33</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">appointed Praetorian Praefect (527), <a href="#viii20">viii. 20</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Albinus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, deputed to select a Pantomimist, <a href="#i20">i. 20</a>, +<a href="#i33">33</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">allowed to erect 'fabricae' overlooking the Forum, <a href="#iv30">iv. 30</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">accused by Cyprian of treason, +<a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Albinus, an extravagant minor, case of, <a href="#iv35">iv. 35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Allecticii, Symmachus' oration on behalf of, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">probable explanation of the term, +<a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Alpes Cottiae, Provincials of, to be relieved from taxation, <a href="#iv36">iv. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Alsuanum (?), transport of timber to, <a href="#iv8">iv. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Altinum, villas of, <a href="#Footnote_872_872">514 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Amal race, glorified by Cassiodorus in his Gothic History, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, +<a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Amali sanguinis purpurea dignitas,' <a href="#ix1">ix. 1</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Amal race, glory of, <a href="#viii2">viii. 2</a>, <a href="#viii5">5</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'consuetudinis est lex, cum imperio [Romano] amicitiam Amalos semper habuisse,' <a href="#x11">x. 11</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Amalus (according to Jordanes, Amala), ancestor of Theodoric, 'felicitate enituit,' <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Amalabirga, niece of Theodoric, married to Herminafrid, King of the Thuringians, <a href="#iv1">iv. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Amalafrida, Queen of the Vandals, sister of Theodoric, wife of King Thrasamund, put to death by his successor Hilderic, <a href="#ix1">ix. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Amalasuentha, daughter of Theodoric, mother of Athalaric, her regency, +<a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>-43;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">associates Theodahad in the kingship on the death of her son, +<a href="#Page_44">44</a>; <a href="#x1">x. 1</a>-4;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">dethroned and put to death by Theodahad, +<a href="#Page_45">45</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">praises of her character, <a href="#x4">x. 4</a>; <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sends present of marbles to Justinian, <a href="#x8">x. 8</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">writes warmly to Theodora, <a href="#x10">x. 10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">a doubtful allusion to her death, <a href="#x20">x. 20</a> (<i>see</i> +<a href="#Footnote_668_668">note</a> on <a href="#Page_433">p. 433</a>).</span><br /> +<br /> +Amandianus, Clarissimus, heirs of, defrauded by Theodahad, <a href="#v12">v. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Ambassadors, Formula respecting</span>, <a href="#vii33">vii. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Amber, nature of, described, <a href="#v2">v. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ambrosius, son of Faustinus, addressed by Ennodius in 'Paraenesis Didascalica,' +<a href="#Page_358">358</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Count of the Sacred Largesses, <a href="#viii13">viii. 13</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">appointed Quaestor, <a href="#viii13">viii. 13</a>, +<a href="#viii14">14</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Ambrosius, Illustris (probably the same as preceding), appointed 'Vices Agens' to Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#xi4">xi. 4</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">instructions to, <a href="#xii25">xii. 25</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Amphitheatre, sports of, described and condemned, <a href="#v42">v. 42</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Anastasius, Emperor, date of letter to, in the 'Variae,' +<a href="#Page_23">23</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his wrath against Apion and Macedonius, +<a href="#Page_105">105</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">relations between him and Theodoric, <a href="#i1">i. 1</a> <i> +<a href="#Footnote_209_209">n</a></i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">informed of elevation of Felix to Consulship, <a href="#ii1">ii. 1</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to introduction of Heruli into Italy, +<a href="#Footnote_359_359">258 <i>n</i></a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Anchorago, a fish caught in the Rhine, <a href="#xii4">xii. 4</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Andreas, intestacy of widow of, <a href="#v24">v. 24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Andreas, defaulting taxpayer in Apulia, <a href="#v31">v. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +'Anecdoton Holderi,' MS. containing information as to Cassiodorus and his friends, +<a href="#Page_73">73</a>-84.<br /> +<br /> +Anicii, dignity of the family of, <a href="#x11">x. 11</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Annonae, of soldiers stationed in passes near Aosta, <a href="#ii5">ii. 5</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of garrisons on the Durance, <a href="#iii41">iii. 41</a>, +<a href="#iii43">43</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">is <i>praebendae</i> equivalent to? +<a href="#Page_219">219</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to be regularly supplied, <a href="#v13">v. 13</a> (<i>see</i> +<a href="#Praefectus_Annonae">Praefectus Annonae</a>).</span><br /> +<br /> +Anonymus Valesii (an unknown chronicler of the Sixth Century, whose fragments are generally edited along with the history of Ammianus Marcellinus), quoted, +<a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_536" id="Page_536">[Pg 536]</a></span>Anthimus, Patriarch of Constantinople (535-536), deposition of, by Pope Agapetus, +<a href="#Footnote_677_677">436 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Antianus, ex-Cornicularius, made a Spectabilis, <a href="#xi18">xi. 18</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">evasive reply to, <a href="#xi19">xi. 19</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Antiochus, apparently a tax-collector, <a href="#ii4">ii. 4</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Antiquarius, transcriber of manuscripts, Cassiodorus on the functions of, +<a href="#Page_60">60</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Apion, anger of Anastasius against, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Apocha, a voucher for payment of taxes, <a href="#xii7">xii. 7</a>, +<a href="#xii8">8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aponus (<i>Abano</i>, six miles from Padua), marvellous qualities of hot-springs at, <a href="#ii39">ii. 39</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Apparitores, attendants on the great Ministers of War, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Joannes, Apparitor, <a href="#ii21">ii. 21</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ferrocinctus, Apparitor, <a href="#iii20">iii. 20</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Applicitarii, officers of arrest, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">under orders of Commentariensis, +<a href="#Page_104">104</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Apulia, Conductores of, despoiled by hostile invaders, <a href="#i16">i. 16</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">merchants similarly despoiled, <a href="#ii38">ii. 38</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">crops from, not forwarded expeditiously, <a href="#i35">i. 35</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">corn-merchants of, <a href="#ii26">ii. 26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">farms of Thomas in, transferred to his son-in-law Joannes, <a href="#v6">v. 6</a>, +<a href="#v7">7</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">arrears of Siliquaticum in, <a href="#v31">v. 31</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +'Apuli idonei,' <a href="#viii33">viii. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aqua Claudia, Roman aqueduct, description of, <a href="#vii6">vii. 6</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aqua Virgo, Roman aqueduct, description of, <a href="#vii6">vii. 6</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aqueducts of Rome, abuses connected with, <a href="#iii31">iii. 31</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">glory of, <a href="#vii6">vii. 6</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Aqueduct begun by Bishop Aemilianus must be finished by him, <a href="#iv31">iv. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aqueduct of Ravenna protected, <a href="#v38">v. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aqueduct constructed by Theodoric for City of Parma, <a href="#viii30">viii. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aquileia, contributions of wine and wheat from, remitted, <a href="#xii26">xii. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Arator, Vir Illustris, sent by Provincials of Dalmatia to Theodoric, <a href="#viii12">viii. 12</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">made Comes Domesticorum, <a href="#viii12">viii. 12</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Arcadius, Emperor (395-408), change effected by him in relation of Praetorian Praefect to Master of the Offices, +<a href="#Page_99">99</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Arcarius, Treasurer or Steward, <a href="#v7">v. 7</a>; <a href="#x28">x. 28</a> (<i>see</i> <a href="#Page_440">p. 440</a>); <a href="#xii8">xii. 8</a>, +<a href="#xii11">11</a>, <a href="#xii27">27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Archery, practice in, for young soldiers, <a href="#v23">v. 23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Archiatrus, Arch-Physician, <a href="#iv41">iv. 41</a> (<i>see</i> +<a href="#Comes_Archiatrorum">Comes Archiatrorum</a>).<br /> +<br /> +Architect, duties of, <a href="#vii5">vii. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Architect, Public, Formula for the Appointment of</span>, <a href="#vii15">vii. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Archotamia, 'Illustris Femina,' accuses her grandson's widow of wasting her children's property, <a href="#iv12">iv. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Arelate (<i>Arles</i>), remission of taxation to inhabitants of, <a href="#iii32">iii. 32</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'glorious defence of,' <a href="#iii32">iii. 32</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">its walls to be repaired and its citizens fed, <a href="#iii44">iii. 44</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">fight for possession of covered bridge at, <a href="#viii10">viii. 10</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Arethusa, Fountain of, site of, near Squillace, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">qualities of, described, <a href="#viii32">viii. 32</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Argolicus, Vir Illustris, made Praefect of the City of Rome, <a href="#iii11">iii. 11</a>, +<a href="#iii12">12</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his ancestry and character, <a href="#ii11">ii. 11</a>, +<a href="#ii12">12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered to repair Cloacae of Rome, <a href="#iii30">iii. 30</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">other references to, <a href="#iii29">iii. 29</a>, +<a href="#iii30">30</a>; <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, <a href="#iv25">25</a>; <a href="#iv42">iv. 42</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his tardiness rebuked, <a href="#iv29">iv. 29</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">heirs of, defrauded by Theodahad, <a href="#v12">v. 12</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Arigern, Vir Illustris and Comes, Governor of the new Gaulish Provinces, <a href="#iv16">iv. 16</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">appointed Comes Urbis Romae (?), <a href="#iv16">iv. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">instructions to, <a href="#iii45">iii. 45</a>; <a href="#iv23">iv. 23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">report by, <a href="#iv43">iv. 43</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Armentarius, Clarissimus, appointed Referendus Curiae, <a href="#iii33">iii. 33</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">informs against Argolicus, Praefect of the City, <a href="#iv29">iv. 29</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Armourers (<span class="smcap">Armorum Factores</span>), Formulae of, <a href="#vii18">vii. 18</a>, +<a href="#vii19">19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Arsenals of Italy, under the Magister Officiorum, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Artemidorus, Illustris and Patrician, a relation of Emperor Zeno, and friend of Theodoric, <a href="#i43">i. 43</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tribunus Voluptatum (?), <a href="#i43">i. 43</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Praefectus Urbis, <a href="#i42">i. 42</a>, +<a href="#i44">44</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">detects embezzlement by persons employed for repair of walls of Rome, <a href="#ii34">ii. 34</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">invited to Theodoric's Court, <a href="#iii22">iii. 22</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Assertor Libertatis (of the Theodosian Code, iv. 8), a possible allusion to, <a href="#iii43">iii. 43</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Astensis Civitas (<i>Asti</i>), to be especially helped in relief of necessities of Liguria, <a href="#xi15">xi. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Astronomy, reasons derived from, for pensioning off civil servants, <a href="#xi36">xi. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Athala, ancestor of Theodoric, 'mansuetudine enituit,' <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Athalaric, grandson of Theodoric, date of birth of, <a href="#Footnote_39_39">29 <i>n</i></a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">accession of (Aug. 30, 526), <a href="#Page_37">37</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">manner of his education, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his death (Oct. 2, 534), <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_537" id="Page_537">[Pg 537]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters announcing his accession, <a href="#viii1">viii. 1</a>-7;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">edict of, <a href="#ix2">ix. 2</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his death announced to Justinian, <a href="#x1">x. 1</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">praises of, by Cassiodorus, <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Athens (<i>Adige</i>), flows past fort of Verruca, <a href="#iii48">iii. 48</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Attila, defeat of, in Catalaunian plains, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>; <a href="#iii1">iii. 1</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">embassy of Cassiodorus (grandfather of Senator) to, <a href="#i4">i. 4</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Augiensis, Codex, of 'Anecdoton Holderi,' <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Augmentum, super-assessment, remitted by Athalaric for Dalmatia and Suavia, <a href="#ix9">ix. 9</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">for Syracuse, <a href="#ix10">ix. 10</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Augusta (<i>Turin</i>, or <i>Aosta</i>), Bishop of, falsely accused of treason, <a href="#i9">i. 9</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">fastnesses (clusurae) of, soldiers stationed at, <a href="#ii5">ii. 5</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<a name="Augustales">Augustales</a>, highest class of Exceptores (shorthand writers), +<a href="#Footnote_145_145">104 <i>n</i></a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>; <a href="#xi30">xi. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Augustin, Vir Venerabilis (probably a bishop), brings the scarcity in Venetia<br /> +under the notice of the King, <a href="#xii26">xii. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Augustus, builder of the Circus Maximus, <a href="#iii51">iii. 51</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his survey of the 'Orbis Romanus,' <a href="#iii52">iii. 52</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Aurarii, persons liable to payment of 'lustralis auri collatio,' <a href="#ii26">ii. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Auraria Pensio = probably 'lustralis auri collatio,' <a href="#ii30">ii. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Avenio (<i>Avignon</i>), Gothic troops not to molest citizens of, <a href="#iii38">iii. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>B.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Bacauda, Vir Sublimis, Tribunes Voluptatum, <a href="#v25">v. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bacaudae, insurgent peasantry of Gaul, <a href="#v25">v. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Baiae, baths of, praises of, <a href="#ix6">ix. 6</a>; <a href="#xii22">xii. 22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Balthae, royal house of the Visigoths, was Athalaric descended from? <a href="#viii5">viii. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Balzani, Ugo, on Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Barbarians, checked by fear, not honour, <a href="#ii5">ii. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Barbaria, probably the name of the mother of Romulus Augustulus, +<a href="#Page_216">216</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Barbarian Kings, intellects of, subdued by diplomacy, <a href="#iv3">iv. 3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">do not use the grammatical art, <a href="#ix21">ix. 21</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Baronius, Cardinal, author of 'Annales Ecclesiae,' quoted, +<a href="#Footnote_836_836">500 <i>n</i></a>, <a href="#Footnote_866_866">511 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Basilius (No. 1), Vir Spectabilis, claims restoration of his wife's property<br /> +from Probinus, <a href="#ii10">ii. 10</a>, <a href="#ii11">11</a>; <a href="#iv40">iv. 40</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Basilius (No. 2), accused of magical practices, <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, +<a href="#iv23">23</a> (<i>see</i> <a href="#Footnote_343_343">note on p. 246</a>).<br /> +<br /> +Basilius (No. 3, possibly same as No. 2), Opilio connected with him by marriage, <a href="#viii17">viii. 17</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">concerned in accusation of Boethius (?), +<a href="#Footnote_533_533">364 <i>n</i></a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Baths, gratuitous admission to, at Spoletium, <a href="#ii37">ii. 37</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Turasius, at Spoletium, <a href="#iv24">iv. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Baiae, <a href="#ix6">ix. 6</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Baudi de Vesme, fragments of oration of Cassiodorus (?), published by, +<a href="#Page_117">117</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Beatus, Vir Clarissimus and Cancellarius, ordered to supply rations to invalided officer, <a href="#xi10">xi. 10</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">made Primicerius Augustalium, <a href="#xi30">xi. 30</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Belisarius, Imperial general, his capture of Neapolis, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his campaign in Southern Italy, +<a href="#Page_492">492</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his recovery and loss of Milan, +<a href="#Page_522">522</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his entry into Ravenna, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Bellum (war), derived from King Belus, <a href="#i30">i. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Benedict, St., not alluded to by Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">relation of his rule to that of Cassiodorus, +<a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Benedictus, a civil officer of some kind in the City of Pedon, guardianship of his children assigned to Theriolus, <a href="#i36">i. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bethmann Hollweig, his 'Gerichtsverfassung des sinkenden römischen Reichs,' +<a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, +<a href="#Footnote_163_163">109 <i>n</i></a><i>.</i><br /> +<br /> +Bigamy, punishment of, according to Edictum Athalarici, <a href="#ix18">ix. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bina, a kind of tax, <a href="#iii8">iii. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bina et Terna, Formulae for the Collection of</span>, <a href="#vii20">vii. 20</a>, +<a href="#vii21">21</a>, <a href="#vii22">22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Birds, habits of, <a href="#i21">i. 21</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the hawk's way of teaching her young to fly, <a href="#i24">i. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the eagle and her young, <a href="#i38">i. 38</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">filial piety of the stork, <a href="#ii14">ii. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">instinct of young partridges towards their mother, <a href="#ii14">ii. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the vulture protects little birds from attacks of the hawk, <a href="#ii19">ii. 19</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">gulls fly inland when they foresee a storm, <a href="#iii48">iii. 48</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">cranes when about to cross the sea clasp pebbles with their claws, <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the turtle-dove once widowed never takes another mate, <a href="#v33">v. 33</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">flight of cranes suggested to Mercury shapes of letters, <a href="#viii12">viii. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">thrushes, storks, and doves gregarious, the greedy hawk loves solitude, <a href="#viii31">viii. 31</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orderly evolutions of cranes, <a href="#ix2">ix. 2</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Bishops, King Witigis' exhortations to, <a href="#x34">x. 34</a>;<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_538" id="Page_538">[Pg 538]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cassiodorus' exhortations to, <a href="#xi4">xi. 4</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Blue party in the Circus, rivalry of, with the Greens, <a href="#iii51">iii. 51</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bodily signs by which character may be discerned, <a href="#vi9">vi. 9</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(<i>compare</i> also Cassiodorus, 'De Animâ,' capp. 10 and 11, referred to <a href="#Page_53">p. 53</a>).</span><br /> +<br /> +Boethius (or Boetius), Illustris and Patrician, receives orders to choose a harper to be sent to Clovis, +<a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>; <a href="#ii40">ii. 40</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">information as to his life in the 'Anecdoton Holderi,' +<a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>-84;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">really author of the theological treatises which have passed current with his name, +<a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>-83;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">and of a 'Bucolic Poem,' <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, +<a href="#Page_83">83</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">difficulty caused by the non-Christian character of his 'Consolations of Philosophy,' +<a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">consulted as to depreciation of currency, <a href="#i10">i. 10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered to prepare water-clock and sundial for King of Burgundians, <a href="#i45">i. 45</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Boethius, as to character of Basilius, <a href="#Footnote_343_343">246 <i>n</i></a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to character of Decoratus, +<a href="#Footnote_379_379">267 <i>n</i></a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">character of his accuser Cyprian, <a href="#v40">v. 40</a>, +<a href="#v41">41</a>; <a href="#viii21">viii. 21</a>, <a href="#viii22">22</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">character of Opilio, <a href="#viii17">viii. 17</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Boethus, Bishop of Byzacene Province in Africa, author, according to M. Jourdain, of the theological treatises attributed to Boethius, +<a href="#Page_82">82</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bormiae Aquae (<i>Baths of Bormio</i>), Count Winusiad recommended to visit, <a href="#x29">x. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brandila, husband of Procula, story of his intrigue with Regina, wife of Patzenes, <a href="#v32">v. 32</a>, +<a href="#v33">33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Breones, a Raetian freebooting tribe living near the Brenner pass, <a href="#i11">i. 11</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bribery repressed, <a href="#xii2">xii. 2</a>, <a href="#xii6">6</a>, +<a href="#xii21">21</a>, <a href="#xii26">26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bridge of boats ordered to be built across the Tiber, <a href="#xii19">xii. 19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brosse, Pierre, notes of, on Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Bruttii">Bruttii </a>and Lucania, Venantius Corrector of, <a href="#iii8">iii. 8</a>, +<a href="#iii46">46</a>, <a href="#iii47">47</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his misgovernment of, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the praises of, <a href="#viii31">viii. 31</a>; <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'opulenti Bruttii,' <a href="#viii33">viii. 33</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">gold-mining to be commenced in, <a href="#ix3">ix. 3</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">abundance of cattle in, <a href="#ii39">ii. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">measures for relief of, during presence of Gothic army, <a href="#xii5">xii. 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">praise of the wine of, <a href="#xii12">xii. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Canonicarii of, rebuked for despoiling the churches, <a href="#xii13">xii. 13</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Buat, Count, on the life and ancestry of Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to Theodora's share in the murder of Amalasuentha, +<a href="#Footnote_668_668">433 <i>n</i></a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Burgundians, King of (<i>see</i> <a href="#Gundibad">Gundibad</a>);<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">cease to be 'Gentiles' under Gundibad, <a href="#i46">i. 46</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">boundary of, with Ostrogothic kingdom, <a href="#iii41">iii. 41</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">dispute with Franks, <a href="#viii10">viii. 10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">league with Amalasuentha, <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a> (<i>see</i> +<a href="#Footnote_721_721">456 <i>n</i></a>);</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">invasion of Liguria and Aemilia, <a href="#xii28">xii. 28</a>; +<a href="#Page_527">527</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Butilianus, Presbyter, land allotment given by Theodoric to, in neighbourhood of Trient, <a href="#ii17">ii. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>C.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Caduca bona, property to which no heir is forthcoming, and which is therefore claimed by the State, <a href="#v24">v. 24</a>; <a href="#vi8">vi. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Caelianus, one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and Praetextatus, <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, +<a href="#iv23">23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Calabria, crops from, not forwarded expeditiously, <a href="#i35">i. 35</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regulations for corn-traffic in, <a href="#ii26">ii. 26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">arrears of Siliquaticum in, <a href="#v31">v. 31</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +'Calabri peculiosi,' <a href="#viii33">viii. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Calogenitus, sent by Amalasuentha to Justinian with a present of marbles, <a href="#x8">x. 8</a>, +<a href="#x9">9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Campania, practice of <i>pignoratio</i> prevalent in, <a href="#iv10">iv. 10</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">suffers from eruption of Vesuvius, <a href="#iv50">iv. 50</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'industriosa Campania,' <a href="#viii33">viii. 33</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cancellarius of, to pay pension to retiring Primiscrinius, <a href="#xi37">xi. 37</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the cupboard of Rome ('urbis regiae cella penaria'), <a href="#xii22">xii. 22</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Campanianus, of Lucania, widow and family of, permitted to step down from rank of Curiales, <a href="#ix4">ix. 4</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cancellarius, an officer of humble rank in the Court of the Praetorian Praefect, +<a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">origin of the name, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his functions described, <a href="#xi6">xi. 6</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Faustus, desired to forward corn from Apulia, <a href="#i35">i. 35</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Beatus (Vir Clarissimus) ordered to supply rations to invalided officer, <a href="#xi10">xi. 10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gaudiosus, Cancellarius of Province of Inguria, <a href="#xi14">xi. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Anatholius, Cancellarius of Samnium, <a href="#xi36">xi. 36</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lucinus, Cancellarius of Campania, <a href="#xi37">xi. 37</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vitalian, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, <a href="#xi39">xi. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">admonition to various Cancellarii, <a href="#xii1">xii. 1</a>, +<a href="#xii10">10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sajones ordered to wait upon Cancellarii, <a href="#xii3">xii. 3</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Anastasius, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, ordered to send cheese and wine for royal table, <a href="#xii12">xii. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the same, ordered to be gentle with the citizens of Rhegium, <a href="#xii14">xii. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_539" id="Page_539">[Pg 539]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Maximus, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Canonicarii, tribute-collectors under Comes Rerum Privatarum, <a href="#vi8">vi. 8</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to collect the Trina Illatio, <a href="#xii16">xii. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Thuscia, <a href="#xi38">xi. 38</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Venetia, <a href="#xii4">xii. 4</a>, +<a href="#xii6">6</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Bruttii, rebuked for robbing the churches, <a href="#xii13">xii. 13</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Candac, King of Alani, mentioned by Jordanes, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Candax, apparently next of kin to a man slain by Crispianus, <a href="#i37">i. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Capillati (?) of Suavia, <a href="#iv49">iv. 49</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Capitularii horreariorum et tabernariorum, farmers of revenue derived from granaries and taverns, <a href="#x28">x. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Caprarius, Mons (situation of doubtful, but near Ravenna), <a href="#xii17">xii. 17</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">works of defence to be constructed near, <a href="#xii17">xii. 17</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Capuanus, Senator, appointed Rector Decuriarum, <a href="#v21">v. 21</a>, +<a href="#v22">22</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his character, <a href="#v22">v. 22</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Cardinalis = chief officer of Court, <a href="#vii31">vii. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Carpentum, official chariot of Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#vi3">vi. 3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Praefect of the City, <a href="#vi4">vi. 4</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Consularis of a Province, <a href="#vi20">vi. 20</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cartarius</span> (or Cartularius), Clerk in the Record Office, <span class="smcap">Formula approving Appointment of</span>, <a href="#vii43">vii. 43</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cartarii ordered to prepare transfers of property to Theodahad, <a href="#viii23">viii. 23</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to receive the wine collected for the royal table, <a href="#xii4">xii. 4</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Casa Arbitana taken from heirs of Argolicus and Amandianus, <a href="#v12">v. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Casa Areciretina, deed of gift of, from Agapita to Probinus, annulled, <a href="#ii11">ii. 11</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">this decree revoked, <a href="#iv40">iv. 40</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Cassian, one of the founders of Western Monachism, Cassiodorus' qualified praises of, +<a href="#Page_55">55</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cassiodorus (1), an Illustris, great-grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator, +<a href="#Page_3">3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">history of, <a href="#i4">i. 4</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Cassiodorus (2), grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator, Tribunus and Notarius under Valentinian III, his embassy to Attila, +<a href="#Page_3">3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">history of, <a href="#i4">i. 4</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Cassiodorus (3), father of Cassiodorus Senator, Comes Privatarum Rerum and Comes Sacrarum Largitionum under Odovacar, +<a href="#Page_3">3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Consularis of Sicily, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Corrector of Bruttii and Lucania, +<a href="#Page_4">4</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Praetorian Praefect (cir. 500), +<a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Patrician (cir. 504), <a href="#Page_4">4</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">frequently confused with his son, +<a href="#Page_11">11</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his praises, <a href="#i3">i. 3</a>, +<a href="#i4">4</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">a man of tried integrity and pure fidelity, <a href="#i26">i. 26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">invited to visit Court of Theodoric, <a href="#iii28">iii. 28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cassiodorus, Magnus Aurelius Senator</span>, his position in history, +<a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his name, Cassiodorus or Cassiodorius (?), +<a href="#Page_5">5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Senator not a title, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his birthplace, Scyllacium, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">date of his birth (cir. 480), <a href="#Page_9">9</a>-12;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his love of Natural History, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>; <a href="#ix24">ix. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">appointed Consiliarius under his father, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his panegyric on Theodoric, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">appointed Quaestor, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>; <a href="#ix24">ix. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his special utility, as Quaestor, to Theodoric, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his official correspondence, the '<span class="smcap">Variae</span>,' <a href="#Page_16">16</a>-19, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>-24;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">statesmanlike insight which led him to second Theodoric's policy, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his religious tolerance, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">duration of his Quaestorship, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his Consulship (514), <a href="#Page_25">25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">restores harmony between clergy and people of Rome, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Patrician, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his 'Chronicon,' its defective character, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>-29;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his Gothic History, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>-35; <a href="#ix25">ix. 25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">appointed Magister Officiorum, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>; <a href="#ix24">ix. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his services to the regent Amalasuentha, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">provides ships and soldiers for the state, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">appointed Praefectus Praetorio, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>; <a href="#ix24">ix. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters during his Praefecture, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">continues in office after murder of Amalasuentha, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">announces the elevation of Witigis, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his position during the first five years of the Gothic War, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">he retires from office (538 or 539?), <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">probably did not meet Procopius, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">edits the 'Variae,' <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">writes the treatise 'De Animâ,' <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>, <a href="#Page_512">512</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his reasons for publishing the 'Variae,' <a href="#Page_133">133</a>-140;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter written by himself to himself on receiving the Praetorian Praefecture, describing his many virtues, <a href="#ix24">ix. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters to the Senate on the same subject, <a href="#ix25">ix. 25</a>; <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his account of his occupations as Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">issues his Edict, <a href="#xi8">xi. 8</a>, 9;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his own and his ancestors' services to Bruttii and Lucania, <a href="#xi39">xi. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his praises of Scyllacium, <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">resides at Ravenna (?) during the war, <a href="#Page_506">506</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retires to Scyllacium and founds two monasteries there, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">probably never Abbot, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">devotes the leisure of his monks to literature, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_540" id="Page_540">[Pg 540]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">his relation to the Benedictines, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his merits as a transcriber of the Scriptures, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his Commentary on the Psalms, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on the Epistles, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his Tripartite History, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his 'Institutiones Divinarum et Humanarum Lectionum,' <a href="#Page_62">62</a>-65;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his 'De Orthographiâ, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his death, (575?), <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his knowledge of Greek probably slight, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">information derived from the 'Anecdoton Holderi' as to his life, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">editions of his works, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>-121;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">chronology of the life of, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>-130.</span><br /> +<br /> +Castellius, Mons, near Scyllacium, monastery founded by Cassiodorus at, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Castorius unjustly deprived of his property by Faustus, <a href="#iii20">iii. 20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Castrensis, Butler or Seneschal, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Catabulenses, freighters, transport masters, <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered to transport marbles from Pincian Hill to Ravenna, <a href="#iii10">iii. 10</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Catana, walls of, to be repaired with stones of amphitheatre, <a href="#iii49">iii. 49</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cathalia (?), petition of inhabitants of, as to collection of Tertiae, <a href="#i14">i. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Catos, the mob of the circus is not precisely a congregation of, <a href="#i27">i. 27</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'the father of Felix was the Cato of our times,' <a href="#ii3">ii. 3</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Cellaritae, provision dealers (?), <a href="#x28">x. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Celsina, <i>see</i> <a href="#Curritana">Curritana</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Censitores, tax-collectors, <a href="#ix12">ix. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Cethegus">Cethegus</a>, Rufus Petronius Nicomachus, Consul (504), Magister Officiorum, Patrician, probably the person to whom the 'Anecdoton Holderi' was addressed, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Chameleon, appearance and habits of, <a href="#v34">v. 34</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Chance, the world not governed by, <a href="#xii25">xii. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Chariot-race, effect of, on spectators, <a href="#iii51">iii. 51</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">picture of, from Cilurnum gem, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Cheese of Mount Sila described, <a href="#xii12">xii. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Chorda, the lyre so called 'quia facile corda moveat,' <a href="#ii40">ii. 40</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Christmas Day (Natale Domini), promotions of Praefect's staff upon, <a href="#xi17">xi. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +'Chronicon' of Cassiodorus, faulty character of the work, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Chrysargyron, tax on traders = 'lustralis auri collatio,' +<a href="#Footnote_262_262">ii. 26 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Church, Dean, author of article on Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cilurnum (<i>Chesters</i> in Northumberland), gem found at, representing chariot-race, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Circus, factions of the, <a href="#i20">i. 20</a>, <a href="#i27">27</a>, +<a href="#i30">30</a>, <a href="#i31">31</a>; <a href="#iii51">iii. 51</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Circus Maximus, description of, <a href="#iii51">iii. 51</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">plan of, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +City and country life contrasted, <a href="#viii31">viii. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Civilitas, Theodoric's anxious care for, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">description of, <a href="#iv33">iv. 33</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Theodahad exhorted to observe, <a href="#iv39">iv. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">for the sake of it even Jews are to be protected, <a href="#v37">v. 37</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">references to, <a href="#iv41">iv. 41</a>, +<a href="#iv44">44</a>; <a href="#v31">v. 31</a>; <a href="#vi5">vi. 5</a>; <a href="#ix14">ix. 14</a>, +<a href="#ix18">18</a>, <a href="#ix19">19</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Clarissimus, Formula conferring Rank of</span>, <a href="#vii38">vii. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Clarissimus, title of ministers of the third rank, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">epithet of Clarissimus conferred on all Senators, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Clavicularii, gaolers, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">under orders of Commentariensis, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Climate, influence of, on character, <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cloacae of Rome, description of, <a href="#iii30">iii. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Clovis (Luduin), King of the Franks, date of letters to, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Theodoric marches his troops against (508), <a href="#i24">i. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">a harper sent to, chosen by Boethius, <a href="#ii40">ii. 40</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">congratulated on victory over Alamanni, <a href="#ii41">ii. 41</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter dissuading from war with Alaric II, <a href="#iii3">iii. 3</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">called 'regius juvenis' by Theodoric, <a href="#iii2">iii. 2</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his overthrow of the Alamannic kingdom, <a href="#Page_527">527</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Clusurae, mountain fastnesses, <a href="#ii5">ii. 5</a>, <a href="#ii19">19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Codicilli Vacantes, <a href="#vi10">vi. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Coelianus, with Agapitus, seems to have had special jurisdiction in cases affecting Patricians, <a href="#i23">i. 23</a>, +<a href="#i27">27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Coemptio (purveyance) of wheat or lard not to be claimed from the citizens of Rhegium, <a href="#xii14">xii. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cognitor, trier of causes, <a href="#viii12">viii. 12</a>; <a href="#ix14">ix. 14</a>, +<a href="#ix18">18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cohortes, used of civil servants of Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#xi36">xi. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Coloni, apparent case of, reduced to slavery, <a href="#viii28">viii. 28</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'coloni sunt qui agros jugiter colunt,' <a href="#viii31">viii. 31</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Colossaeus, Illustris and Comes, appointed Governor of Pannonia Sirmiensis, <a href="#iii23">iii. 23</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pun on his name, <a href="#iii24">iii. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">rations ordered for him and his suite, <a href="#iv13">iv. 13</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_541" id="Page_541">[Pg 541]</a></span>Colosseum described, <a href="#v42">v. 42</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap"><a name="Comes_Archiatrorum">Comes Archiatrorum</a>, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi19">vi. 19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Comes, a Spectabilis, nature of his office (military), +<a href="#Footnote_115_115">90 <i>n</i></a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">relation of Comes to his Principes, <a href="#vii25">vii. 25</a>, +<a href="#vii28">28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Domesticorum (Vacans), Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi11">vi. 11</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Arator receives the rank of, <a href="#viii12">viii. 12</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Comes Domorum, his functions, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Formarum, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii6">vii. 6</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Gothorum, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii3">vii. 3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">servants of, have oppressed Provincials of Suavia, <a href="#v14">v. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his dignity almost the only one peculiar to the Gothic state, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Neapolitanus, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi23">vi. 23</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">reference to, <a href="#vi24">vi. 24</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Patrimonii, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi9">vi. 9</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">references to, <a href="#iv3">iv. 3</a>, +<a href="#iv15">15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bergantinus as, ordered to transfer property to Theodahad, <a href="#viii23">viii. 23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered to commence gold-mining in Bruttii, <a href="#ix3">ix. 3</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Willias (Comes Patrimonii) ordered to increase the pay of the Domestici, <a href="#ix13">ix. 13</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Portus Urbis Romae, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii9">vii. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Primi Ordinis, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi12">vi. 12</a>, +<a href="#vi13">13</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter addressed to, <a href="#ii28">ii. 28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Principis Militum (?), Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi25">vi. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Provinciae, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii1">vii. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Ravennas, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii14">vii. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Rerum Privatarum, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi8">vi. 8</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">an Illustris, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>; <a href="#iv7">iv. 7</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his functions, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">office of, held by father of Argolicus, <a href="#iii12">iii. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">held by Senarius (510), <a href="#iv13">iv. 13</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Romanus, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii13">vii. 13</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Comes Sacrae Vestis, Keeper of the Wardrobe, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Sacrarum Largitionum, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi7">vi. 7</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">an Illustris, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his functions, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders given to, <a href="#ii31">ii. 31</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">reports remissness of Venantius, <a href="#iii8">iii. 8</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">office of, held by grandfather of Argolicus, <a href="#iii12">iii. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bina and Terna to be collected under his superintendence, <a href="#vii21">vii. 21</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ambrosius held office of, <a href="#viii13">viii. 13</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Opilio, father and son, held office of, <a href="#viii16">viii. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cyprian held office of, <a href="#v40">v. 40</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Secundi Ordinis, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii26">vii. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comes Syracusanus, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi22">vi. 22</a> (<i>see</i> also <a href="#ix11">ix. 11</a>, +<a href="#ix14">14</a>).<br /> +<br /> +Comitatus of the King, litigants summoned to, <a href="#i7">i. 7</a>; <a href="#iv44">iv. 44</a>, +<a href="#iv45">45</a>; <a href="#v12">v. 12</a>, <a href="#v32">32</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">presence of in Liguria requires extraordinary supply of provisions, <a href="#ii20">ii. 20</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the place 'ubi et innocentia perfugium et calumniatores jus possunt invenire districtum,' <a href="#iv9">iv. 9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">meant to be a blessing to his subjects, <a href="#iv40">iv. 40</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">recourse to it by a distant suitor not compulsory, <a href="#iv40">iv. 40</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">journey of the Heruli to, <a href="#iv45">iv. 45</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">always ready for redress of grievances, <a href="#v15">v. 15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nimfadius journeying to, <a href="#viii32">viii. 32</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Comites of Pavia, <a href="#iv45">iv. 45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Comitiacus</span> (officer of the law courts), <span class="smcap">Formula bestowing honorary rank on</span>, <a href="#vi13">vi. 13</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stabularius, Comitiacus, <a href="#v6">v. 6</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Florentinus, Vir Devotus, Comitiacus, <a href="#viii7">viii. 7</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Commentariensis (or Commentarisius), officer in Court of Praetorian Praefect, nature of his functions, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>-106;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cheliodorus appointed, <a href="#xi28">xi. 28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Commonitorium, <a href="#iii19">iii. 19</a>; <a href="#vii22">vii. 22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Como, City and Lake of, the praises of, <a href="#xi14">xi. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Competitores, Formula concerning</span>, <a href="#vii44">vii. 44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Compulsor, officer employed to compel payment of taxes, <a href="#xii8">xii. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Compurgation, evidences of a practice similar to, <a href="#ix14">ix. 14</a> (p. +<a href="#Page_397">397</a>).<br /> +<br /> +Computus Paschalis, tract on determination of Easter, attributed to Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Comum (<i>Como</i>), theft of brazen statue at, <a href="#ii35">ii. 35</a>, +<a href="#ii36">36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Concordia (<i>Caorle</i>), contributions of wine and wheat from, remitted, <a href="#xii26">xii. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Conductores, farmers of royal domain, losses of, in Apulia, <a href="#i16">i. 16</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in Spain, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Confiscated property, manner of asserting claims of Crown to, <a href="#iv32">iv. 32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Consiliarius (Assessor), nature of the office, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cassiodorus appointed to office of, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Constantinople, character of diplomatists of, <a href="#ii6">ii. 6</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cyprian's mission to, <a href="#v41">v. 41</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Constantius, Bishop, his petition as to spoliation of the Church, <a href="#iv20">iv. 20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Constantius, a farmer, unjustly reduced to slavery by Tanca, <a href="#viii28">viii. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Consularis, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi20">vi. 20</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Liguria, <a href="#xii8">xii. 8</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Consulship, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi1">vi. 1</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Cassiodorus (514), <a href="#Page_25">25</a>-26;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of reigning Emperors, <a href="#Footnote_35_35">28 <i>n</i></a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_542" id="Page_542">[Pg 542]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Felix, <a href="#ii1">ii. 1</a>, +<a href="#ii2">2</a>, <a href="#ii3">3</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Maximus, not to prevent his filling lower offices afterwards, <a href="#x12">x. 12</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Consuls, Eastern and Western, order of precedence of, in the Fasti, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Consumption cured by milk of the cows on Mons Lactarius, <a href="#xi10">xi. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Corn, restraints on exportation of, <a href="#i34">i. 34</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">traffic in, for Southern Italy, regulated, <a href="#ii26">ii. 26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">traffic in, from western coast of Italy to Gaul, <a href="#iv5">iv. 5</a>, +<a href="#iv7">7</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">traffic in, from Spain to Rome, <a href="#v35">v. 35</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">forestalling and regrating of, prohibited, <a href="#ix5">ix. 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sale of, at reduced price, in Liguria and Venetia, <a href="#x27">x. 27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">distribution of, in Rome, <a href="#xi5">xi. 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sale of, at reduced price, to citizens of Milan, <a href="#xii27">xii. 27</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Cornicularius, his position on the official staff of the Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">nature of his functions, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>-102;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">must be chosen from the Augustales, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Antianus vacates office of, <a href="#xi18">xi. 18</a>, +<a href="#xi19">19</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retired, to be pensioned, <a href="#xi36">xi. 36</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Corrector (lowest grade of Provincial Governor) of Bruttii and Lucania, <a href="#iii8">iii. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cosilinum (? <i>Padula</i>), a city of Lucania, <a href="#viii33">viii. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Costula, a free Goth, complains that servile tasks are imposed on him by Guduim, <a href="#v30">v. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cubiculum = royal treasury, <a href="#v44">v. 44</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'libra cubiculi nostri' = the standard pound, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Cunigast (or Conigast), Vir Illustris, evil character of, according to Boethius, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered to administer justice between Tanca and his poorer neighbours, <a href="#viii28">viii. 28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Cura Epistolarum, officer charged with copying letters on fiscal matters, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cura Epistolarum Canonicarum, Constantinian appointed, <a href="#xi23">xi. 23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cura Palatii, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii5">vii. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Curator of a City, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii12">vii. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Curia, called by Antiquity Minor Senatus, <a href="#ii18">ii. 18</a>; <a href="#vi3">vi. 3</a>; <a href="#ix2">ix. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Curialis, Formula directing Sale of Property of</span>, <a href="#vii47">vii. 47</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Curiales, condition of, <a href="#ii18">ii. 18</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">conflict between Curial and Ecclesiastical obligations, <a href="#ii18">ii. 18</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">have to make good the Senators' deficiencies in payment of taxes, <a href="#ii24">ii. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'sordid burdens' = Curial obligations (?), <a href="#ii28">ii. 28</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Aestunae, <a href="#iii9">iii. 9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">penalty on Jovinus for killing a fellow-curial, <a href="#iii47">iii. 47</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">might be punished with stripes by Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#vi3">vi. 3</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">oppression of, forbidden by Edictum Athalarici, <a href="#ix2">ix. 2</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Adriana, <a href="#i19">i. 19</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Catana, <a href="#iii49">iii. 49</a>; of Forum Livii, <a href="#iv8">iv. 8</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Velia (?), <a href="#iv11">iv. 11</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Ticinum, <a href="#iv45">iv. 45</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Suavia, <a href="#iv49">iv. 49</a>; <a href="#v14">v. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Neapolis, <a href="#vi24">vi. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Liguria, <a href="#xii8">xii. 8</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Formula addressed to</span>, <a href="#vii27">vii. 27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">family of, permitted to descend from the Curia, <a href="#ix4">ix. 4</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Currency, wickedness of depreciating, <a href="#i10">i. 10</a>; <a href="#vii32">vii. 32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap"><a name="Curritana">Curritana</a> Insula et Celsina</span> (two of the Lipari Islands), <span class="smcap">Formula for the Comes of</span>, <a href="#vii16">vii. 16</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cursus Publicus, Postal-service, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">transferred from Praetorian Praefect to Magister Officiorum, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, +<a href="#Page_302">302</a>; <a href="#vi3">vi. 3</a>, <a href="#vi6">6</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">under Regerendarius, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter as to, <a href="#i29">i. 29</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">abuses of, to be reformed by the Sajo Gudisal, <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">by Sajo Mannila, <a href="#v5">v. 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">abuses of, in Spain, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">citizens of Scyllacium not to be harassed by, <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Cyprian, Vir Illustris, Count of the Sacred Largesses (524-525), his character and appointment to above office, <a href="#v40">v. 40</a>, +<a href="#v41">41</a>; <a href="#viii16">viii. 16</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his services as Referendarius, <a href="#v40">v. 40</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his mission to Constantinople, <a href="#v40">v. 40</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his accusation of Albinus and Boethius, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, +<a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">raised to honour of Patricate, <a href="#viii21">viii. 21</a>, +<a href="#viii22">22</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>D.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Dahn, Felix (author of 'Könige der Germanen'), quoted, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, +<a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, +<a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, +<a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, +<a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, +<a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, +<a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>, +<a href="#Page_341">341</a>, <a href="#Footnote_505_505">350 <i>n</i></a>, +<a href="#Footnote_510_510">353 <i>n</i></a>, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>, +<a href="#Footnote_545_545">370 <i>n</i></a>, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_435">435</a>, +<a href="#Footnote_679_679">437 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Daila, a free Goth, complains that servile tasks are imposed on him by Duke Guduim, <a href="#v30">v. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dalmatia, Simeon appointed to collect arrears of taxation from, <a href="#iii25">iii. 25</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">iron mining in, <a href="#iii25">iii. 25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Epiphanius Consularis of, <a href="#v24">v. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">address of Athalario to Goths settled in, <a href="#viii4">viii. 4</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Arator sent on an embassy from Provincials of, to Theodoric, <a href="#viii12">viii. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Osuin appointed Governor of, <a href="#ix8">ix. 8</a>, +<a href="#ix9">9</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_543" id="Page_543">[Pg 543]</a></span>Danube, River, 'made a Roman stream by Amalasuentha, <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Datius, Bishop of Milan, made steward of the King's bounty to the citizens, <a href="#xii27">xii. 27</a>.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(For his history, <i>see</i> <a href="#Page_522">522</a>.)</span><br /> +<br /> +Davus receives sick-leave to visit Mons Lactarius, <a href="#xi10">xi. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Death, the inconvenience of, 'comperimus dromonarios viginti et unum de constituto numero <i>mortis incommodo</i> fuisse subtractos,' <a href="#iv15">iv. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Decennonium, Marsh of, drained by Decius, <a href="#ii32">ii. 32</a>, +<a href="#ii33">33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Decennovial Canal mentioned by Procopius, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Decii, Lay of the, recited at school, <a href="#iii6">iii. 6</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">family of Liberius and Paulinas descended from, <a href="#ix22">ix. 22</a>, +<a href="#ix23">23</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Decius, Caecina Maurus Basilius, Illustris, ex-Praefect of the City, and ex-Praetorian Praefect, undertakes to drain the Marsh of Decennonium, <a href="#ii32">ii. 32</a>, +<a href="#ii33">33</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and Praetextatus (?), <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, +<a href="#iv23">23</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Decoratus (Vir Devotus), brother of Honoratus, appointed Quaestor, his character and early death, <a href="#v3">v. 3</a>, +<a href="#v4">4</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">conflicting testimony of Boethius and Ennodius as to, +<a href="#Footnote_379_379">267 <i>n</i></a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">instructions to, as to arrears of Siliquaticum, <a href="#v31">v. 31</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Decuriae, guilds of copying-clerks, &c., connected with administration of justice, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Defensor, Gothic soldier of a Roman noble, <a href="#iv27">iv. 27</a>, +<a href="#iv28">28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Defensor of a City, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii11">vii. 11</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Defensores of Church of Milan, <a href="#ii30">ii. 30</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Aestunae, <a href="#iii9">iii. 9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of the sacrosanct Roman Church, <a href="#iii45">iii. 45</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Catena, <a href="#iii49">iii. 49</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Ticinum, <a href="#iv45">iv. 45</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Suavia, <a href="#iv49">iv. 49</a>; <a href="#v14">v. 14</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +'Defloratis prosperitatibus,' meaning of this phrase, used by Cassiodorus of his Gothic History, +<a href="#Footnote_202_202">137 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Degeniatus = (apparently) stripped of official rank, <a href="#xii10">xii. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Delegatoria, warrant for increased rations consequent on promotion, <a href="#xi33">xi. 33</a>, +<a href="#xi35">35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Denarius, puzzling passage as to relation of to solidus, <a href="#i10">i. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Deputati">Deputati</a>, fifteen shorthand writers of the highest class, appropriated to the Emperor's service, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>; <a href="#xi30">xi. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dertona (<i>Tortona</i>), fortification of, <a href="#i17">i. 17</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">corn warehouse at, to be opened, <a href="#x27">x. 27</a>; <a href="#xii27">xii. 27</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Diceneus, philosopher-king of Dacia, perhaps Cassiodorus' ideal of a king, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dionysius 'Exiguus,' author of our present chronology, a colleague of Cassiodorus in his literary enterprises, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dionysius of Halicarnassus, chief authority on the Roman chariot-races, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Discussores, assessors of taxes, <a href="#iv38">iv. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Documents not to be tampered with by the Scribe, <a href="#xii21">xii. 21</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Domestici, life-guardsmen attached to the Provincial Governors, to receive larger pay, <a href="#ix13">ix. 13</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Domitian, office of Master of the Horse abolished by, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Domitius, Spectabilis, has received a concession for drainage of land which he is too parsimonious to take full advantage of, <a href="#ii21">ii. 21</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">complains of seizure of his estates by Theodahad, <a href="#iv39">iv. 39</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Domus Palmata, near the Forum, <a href="#iv30">iv. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Donativum, <i>see</i> <a href="#Largesse">Largesse</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Drainage concession to Spes and Domitius, <a href="#ii21">ii. 21</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Drill, need of, exemplified, <a href="#i40">i. 40</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dromonarii, rowers in express boats, <a href="#ii31">ii. 31</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">twenty-one dead, <a href="#iv15">iv. 15</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Dromones, express boats, one thousand to be built, <a href="#v16">v. 16</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Druentia (<i>Durance</i>), River, frontier of Ostrogothic and Burgundian Monarchies, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">provisions for garrisons upon, <a href="#iii41">iii. 41</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Dux, a military officer of the rank of Spectabilis, his relation to the Comes, +<a href="#Footnote_115_115">90 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Dux Raetiarum, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii4">vii. 4</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>E.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Eastern Empire, Amalasuentha's relations with, <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ecclesiastical privileges and immunities, <a href="#i9">i. 9</a>, <a href="#i26">26</a>; <a href="#ii29">ii. 29</a>, +<a href="#ii30">30</a>; <a href="#iii14">iii. 14</a>, <a href="#iii37">37</a>, +<a href="#iii45">45</a>; <a href="#iv17">iv. 17</a>, <a href="#iv20">20</a>; <a href="#viii24">viii. 24</a>; <a href="#ix15">ix. 15</a>, +<a href="#ix16">16</a>; <a href="#x26">x. 26</a>, <a href="#x34">34</a>; <a href="#xii13">xii. 13</a>, +<a href="#xii20">20</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">conflict between Ecclesiastical and Curial obligations, <a href="#ii18">ii. 18</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Ecdicius, sons of, allowed to leave Rome to bury their father, <a href="#ii22">ii. 22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Edictum Athalarici, <a href="#ix2">ix. 2</a>, <a href="#ix18">18</a>, +<a href="#ix19">19</a>, <a href="#ix20">20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Edictum Theodorici, published by Nivellius, from a MS. belonging to Pithou, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">punishment for adulterers according to, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">permission to parents to sell their children, +<a href="#Footnote_572_572">382 <i>n</i></a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Egregii, fifth rank in Imperial service, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>;<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_544" id="Page_544">[Pg 544]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">not mentioned by Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Elephant, natural history of the, <a href="#x30">x. 30</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brazen images of, in Via Sacra, <a href="#x30">x. 30</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Eloquence the special product of Rome—'Aliae regiones vina, balsama et olentia thura transmittant: Roma tradit eloquium, quo suavius nil sit auditum,' <a href="#x7">x. 7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Endive of Bruttii has not the bitter fibres spoken of by Virgil, <a href="#xii14">xii. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ennodius, Magnus Felix, Bishop of Ticinum (died 516), information given by, as to Boethius, +<a href="#Footnote_105_105">79 <i>n</i></a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">information as to Alamannic refugees, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his testimony to character of Decoratus, +<a href="#Footnote_379_379">267 <i>n</i></a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">addressed his 'Paraenesis' to Ambrosius, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Epiphanius employed by Cassiodorus to assist him in the compilation of 'Historia Tripartita,' +<a href="#Page_61">61</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Eufrasius the Acolyte sold a house at Rome to Pope Simplicius, <a href="#iii45">iii. 45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Eugenius, Vir Illustris, receives the dignity of Master of the Offices, <a href="#i12">i. 12</a>, +<a href="#i13">13</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">possibly alluded to, <a href="#viii19">viii. 19</a> (<i>see</i> +<a href="#Footnote_537_537">note</a>).</span><br /> +<br /> +Euric, King of the Visigoths (466-485), father of Alaric II, taxation in his time, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Eustorgius, Bishop of Milan, his petition for protection to Milanese Church granted, <a href="#ii29">ii. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Eutharic, husband of Amalasuentha, Consulship of (519), <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">adopted as son in arms by Justin, <a href="#viii1">viii. 1</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Evans, Arthur J., on the topography of Squillace, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>-72.<br /> +<br /> +Exceptores, shorthand writers, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>; <a href="#xi25">xi. 25</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">charged a fee for the bad paper which they supplied to suitors, +<a href="#Footnote_792_792">483 <i>n</i></a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Exormiston, a kind of lamprey (?), <a href="#xii4">xii. 4</a>, <a href="#xii14">14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Expeditio, derivation of, <a href="#i17">i. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>F.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Famine, provisions for relief of, <a href="#x27">x. 27</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">unusual appearances foreboding the famine of 538, <a href="#xii25">xii. 25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in Liguria to be relieved, <a href="#xii28">xii. 28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Faustus, Praetorian Praefect, Illustris, rebuked for his delay in sending corn from south of Italy to Rome, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>-19; <a href="#i35">i. 35</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">embassy of, to Constantinople (493), <a href="#Page_23">23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Consulship of, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">severely censured for his oppression of Castorius, <a href="#iii20">iii. 20</a>, +<a href="#iii28">28</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sent into the country for change of air, <a href="#iii21">iii. 21</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">oppression of Joannes (?), <a href="#iii27">iii. 27</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Faustus the younger, son of the above, <a href="#i41">i. 41</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">enquiry into character of, on his admission to the Senate, <a href="#i41">i. 41</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Faventia (<i>Faenza</i>), blocks of marble to be forwarded to Ravenna from, <a href="#v8">v. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Felix_III">Felix III</a>, Pope (526-530), election of, in deference to recommendation of Theodoric, <a href="#viii15">viii. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Felix (apparently a native of Milan), appointed Quaestor (527), <a href="#viii18">viii. 18</a>, +<a href="#viii19">19</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his pedigree, <a href="#viii19">viii. 19</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Felix, Vir Clarissimus, accused by Venantius of defrauding the minor Plutianus, <a href="#i7">i. 7</a>, +<a href="#i8">8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Felix, Consul with Secundinus (511), his character and elevation to the Consulship, <a href="#ii1">ii. 1</a>, +<a href="#ii2">2</a>, <a href="#ii3">3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered to give largesse to charioteers of Milan, <a href="#iii39">iii. 39</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Felix, Consul with Taurus (428), <a href="#Page_173">173</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Felix, an assistant (probably Vices Agens), to Cassiodorus in the discharge of his duties as Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Feltria (<i>Feltre</i>), inhabitants of, to assist in erection of new city in district of Tridentum, <a href="#v9">v. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Festus, embassy of, to Constantinople (497), <a href="#Page_23">23</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">chosen by Agnellus to defend his interests in his absence, <a href="#i15">i. 15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his claims against Paulinus, <a href="#i23">i. 23</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Fidei-jussor, guarantor, <a href="#i37">i. 37</a>; <a href="#ii13">ii. 13</a>; <a href="#xi4">xi. 4</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Filagrius, Vir Spectabilis, petition of, as to his nephew's detention in Rome, <a href="#i39">i. 39</a>.<br /> +<br /> +'Filius per arma,' adoption of, <a href="#iv2">iv. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Firminus, complaints of, against Venantius, <a href="#iii36">iii. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fiscus Gothorum, rights of, <a href="#i19">i. 19</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">its claims not to be pressed unduly, <a href="#i22">i. 22</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Fiscus, rights of, as to Castrum Lucullanum, <a href="#viii25">viii. 25</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">rights of, to estates of deceased persons (Fiscus Caducus), <a href="#ix14">ix. 14</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Fishermen, not to be enlisted for the navy, <a href="#v16">v. 16</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">their nets not to be allowed to hinder navigation of rivers, <a href="#v17">v. 17</a>, +<a href="#v20">20</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Fishes, natural history of:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the echeneis or sucking-fish, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>; <a href="#i35">i. 35</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">shell-fish of Indian Ocean, their power of arresting vessels, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>; <a href="#i35">i. 35</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_545" id="Page_545">[Pg 545]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">torpedo, its numbing touch, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>; <a href="#i35">i. 35</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">dolphins, habits of, <a href="#iii48">iii. 48</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">echinus, 'that honey of flesh, that dainty of the deep,' <a href="#iii48">iii. 48</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the strange habits of the pike and the wrasse, <a href="#xi40">xi. 40</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in the fishponds (vivaria) of Scyllacium, <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the anchorage, exormiston, &c., <a href="#xii4">xii. 4</a>, +<a href="#xii14">14</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Flaminian Way, edict regulating prices upon the, <a href="#xi12">xi. 12</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to be put in order for the King's passage, <a href="#xii18">xii. 18</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Flavianus, Virius Nicomachus, Consul Suffectus (394), ancestor of Symmachus, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">a leader of the heathen party in the Senate, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">author of a Roman History, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Formulae, reasons given by Cassiodorus for composing, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fornerius, notes of, on Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Forojulii (<i>Cividale</i>), contributions of wine and wheat from, remitted, <a href="#xii26">xii. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Forum Livii (<i>Forli</i>), inhabitants of, to transport timber to Alsuanum, <a href="#iv8">iv. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Franks, the, dispute of with Burgundians (533), <a href="#viii10">viii. 10</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">war between Amalasuentha and, <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Franz, Adolph, author of 'M. Aurel. Cassiodorius Senator,' +<a href="#Page_119">119</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fraudulent shipowners punished, <a href="#v35">v. 35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Frontinus (cir. <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 97), author of 'Strategematicon' and 'De Aquaeductibus,' quoted by Lydus, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Frontosus has embezzled a large sum of public money, <a href="#v34">v. 34</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his evasions and slippery character, <a href="#v34">v. 34</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +'Furtivae actiones,' those concerned in, to be punished, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fuscus, appointed Praetorian Praefect by Domitian, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>G.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Garet, F.J., his edition of Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his ecclesiastical bias, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Garismatium, a place supplying garum, <a href="#Footnote_871_871">514 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Garum, a kind of sauce, <a href="#Footnote_871_871">514 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gaul, summons to the Goths to take up arms for invasion of, <a href="#i24">i. 24</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gemellus appointed Governor of, <a href="#iii16">iii. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">address to Theodoric's subjects in, <a href="#iii17">iii. 17</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">remission of taxation in, <a href="#iii32">iii. 32</a>, +<a href="#iii40">40</a>; <a href="#iv19">iv. 19</a>, <a href="#iv36">36</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">especial desire of Theodoric for good government of, <a href="#iii38">iii. 38</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">famine in, to be relieved from Italy, <a href="#iv5">iv. 5</a>, +<a href="#iv7">7</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">placed under government of Arigern (probably before Gemellus), <a href="#iv16">iv. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gepid troops ordered for defence of, <a href="#v10">v. 10</a>, +<a href="#v11">11</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">peace of, disturbed by Gesalic, <a href="#v43">v. 43</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Athalaric's accession announced to his subjects in, <a href="#viii6">viii. 6</a>, +<a href="#viii7">7</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Gemellus, Senator, appointed Governor of Gaul, <a href="#iii16">iii. 16</a>, +<a href="#iii17">17</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">instructions to, <a href="#iii32">iii. 32</a>, +<a href="#iii41">41</a>; <a href="#iv12">iv. 12</a>, <a href="#iv19">19</a>, +<a href="#iv21">21</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Genesius, Vir Spectabilis, directed to reform the sanitary condition of Parma, <a href="#viii30">viii. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Genoa, Jews living at, <a href="#ii27">ii. 27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gensemund, an example of fidelity to the Amal race, <a href="#viii9">viii. 9</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his history mysterious, +<a href="#Footnote_511_511">354 <i>n</i>.</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Gentilis, barbarian, <a href="#i46">i. 46</a>; <a href="#ii16">ii. 16</a>; <a href="#viii22">viii. 22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gentilitas, barbarism, misery of, <a href="#iii17">iii. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Geometry, origin of, <a href="#iii52">iii. 52</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gepidae, ordered for defence of Gaul, to march peaceably through Northern Italy, <a href="#v10">v. 10</a>, +<a href="#v11">11</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">extraordinarily high rate of pay of (?), <a href="#v11">v. 11</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Germanus, his complaint against Bishop Peter, <a href="#iii37">iii. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gesalic, natural son of Alaric II, sheltered by Thrasamund, King of the Vandals, <a href="#v43">v. 43</a>, +<a href="#v44">44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Getae, confusion of, with Goths, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gibbon, on the 'Variae,' <a href="#Page_120">120</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to character of accusers of Boethius, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to Theodoric's participation in murder of Amalasuentha, +<a href="#Footnote_668_668">433 <i>n</i></a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Gildias, Vir Spectabilis, Count of Syracuse, rebuked for oppression of the Sicilians, <a href="#ix14">ix. 14</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(<i>see</i> also <a href="#ix11">ix. 11</a>).</span><br /> +<br /> +Godomar, King of the Burgundians (524-534), <a href="#Footnote_721_721">456 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gold-mining in Bruttii, <a href="#ix3">ix. 3</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gothic History of Cassiodorus, estimate of, by its author, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>; <a href="#ix25">ix. 25</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">purpose of, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Jordanes' abstract of, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Gothic law for Gothic men (?), <a href="#vii3">vii. 3</a>; <a href="#viii3">viii. 3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">not for Romans, <a href="#ix14">ix. 14</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Goths, delight of in war, <a href="#i24">i. 24</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">manner of training young, <a href="#i38">i. 38</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">disputes between, and Romans, in Samnium, to be settled by Sunhivad, <a href="#iii13">iii. 13</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pannonia of old the dwelling of, <a href="#iii23">iii. 23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in Picenum and Tuscia evading payment of taxes, <a href="#iv14">iv. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ancestors of (Guttones), dealers in amber, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in Picenum and Samnium summoned to royal presence, <a href="#v26">v. 26</a>, +<a href="#v27">27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">free Gothic warriors enslaved, <a href="#v29">v. 29</a>, +<a href="#v30">30</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_546" id="Page_546">[Pg 546]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">degrading services not to be claimed from, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">disputes with Romans, how to be decided, <a href="#vii3">vii. 3</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">relation of Gothic Comes to his Roman staff, <a href="#vii25">vii. 25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">oath between, and Romans on Athalaric's accession, <a href="#viii7">viii. 7</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">settled at Reate and Nursia, <a href="#viii26">viii. 26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">indignant at the murder of Amalafrida, <a href="#ix1">ix. 1</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Gothorum laus est civilitas custodita,' <a href="#ix14">ix. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">dissensions between Gothic soldiers and Roman populace, <a href="#x14">x. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">raise Witigis on the shield as King, 'indicamus parentes nostros Gothos inter procinctuales gladios, more majorum, scuto supposito, regalem nobis contulisse, +praestante Deo, dignitatem,' <a href="#x31">x. 31</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Gout, a living death, <a href="#x29">x. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Graius (?), Senatorial rank conferred on, <a href="#vi14">vi. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Grammarians, twelve eminent, quoted by Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">salaries of, to be increased, <a href="#ix21">ix. 21</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Granaries in Rome, repair of, <a href="#iii29">iii. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gravasiani (?), <a href="#iv38">iv. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Green party in the Circus, complaint made by, <a href="#i20">i. 20</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">complaint against Theodoric (the Patrician) and Importunus, <a href="#i27">i. 27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">mentioned, <a href="#i32">i. 32</a>, +<a href="#i33">33</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">rivalry of with the Blues, <a href="#iii51">iii. 51</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Gregory of Tours, incompleteness of his history of Clovis, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Gregory">Gregory</a> the Great, Pope (590-604), as to wine called Palmatiana, +<a href="#Footnote_836_836">500 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Griffins dig for gold, and delight in contemplation of that metal, <a href="#ix3">ix. 3</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Guard at the Gates of a City, Formula respecting</span>, <a href="#vii29">vii. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Guardianship of orphans delegated by Theodoric, <a href="#i36">i. 36</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of the young Hilarius not to be protracted, <a href="#i38">i. 38</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Gudelina, wife of Theodahad, letters of, to Theodora, <a href="#x20">x. 20</a>, +<a href="#x21">21</a>, <a href="#x23">23</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter of, to Justinian, <a href="#x24">x. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">doubtful allusion of, to murder of Amalasuentha, <a href="#x20">x. 20</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Gudila accused of enslaving Ocer, a blind Goth, <a href="#v29">v. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Guduim, Sajo, <a href="#v27">v. 27</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vir Sublimis and Dux, <a href="#v30">v. 30</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">accused of imposing servile tasks on Costula and Daila, <a href="#v30">v. 30</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<a name="Gundibad">Gundibad</a> (Gundobad), King of the Burgundians (473-516), Theodoric sends him a water-clock and sundial, <a href="#i45">i. 45</a>, +<a href="#i46">46</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Theodoric asks him to assist in reconciling Clovis and Alaric, <a href="#iii2">iii. 2</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">called 'senex' by Theodoric, <a href="#iii2">iii. 2</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>H.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +<a name="Haesti">Haesti</a>, or Aestii, inhabitants of Esthonia, send present of amber to Theodoric, <a href="#v2">v. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hannibal, death of, <a href="#iii47">iii. 47</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hasdingi (Hasdirigi?), or Asdingi, royal family of the Vandals, honoured by alliance with the Amals, <a href="#ix1">ix. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Heliodorus, a relative of Cassiodorus, Praefect in the Eastern Empire, <a href="#i4">i. 4</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Helladius, candidate for office of Pantomimist, <a href="#i20">i. 20</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered to come forth and amuse the people, <a href="#i32">i. 32</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Heracleanus, Presbyter, messenger from Justinian to Theodahad, <a href="#x25">x. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Herminafrid, King of the Thuringians, married to Amalabirga, niece of Theodoric, <a href="#iv1">iv. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Heruli, King of, appealed to by Theodoric to prevent war between Clovis and Alaric, <a href="#iii3">iii. 3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">King of, adopted as Theodoric's son by right of arms, <a href="#iv2">iv. 2</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to receive provisions at Ticinum on their journey to Ravenna, <a href="#iv45">iv. 45</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Hilarius, a young Goth, grandson of Baion, <a href="#i38">i. 38</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to be allowed to enter on enjoyment of his property, <a href="#i38">i. 38</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<a name="Hilderic">Hilderic</a>, King of the Vandals (523-531), murders Amalafrida, widow of his predecessor, <a href="#ix1">ix. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Histrius (or Historius), <a href="#ii9">ii. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Homer quoted, as to travels of Ulysses, <a href="#i39">i. 39</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to Priam's request for the body of Hector, <a href="#ii22">ii. 22</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Homo; Theodosius is addressed by Theodahad as <i>Homo suus</i>; meaning of the term (?), <a href="#x5">x. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +'Honesta missio' of the Theodosian Code illustrated by, <a href="#v36">v. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Honoratus, Vir Illustris, brother of Decoratus, appointed Quaestor; his character, <a href="#v3">v. 3</a>, +<a href="#v4">4</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hormisdas, Pope (514-523), election of during Consulship of Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Horses, description of, sent as a present by the King of the Thuringians, <a href="#iv1">iv. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hostilia, on the Po, place of rendezvous for the dromonarii, <a href="#ii31">ii. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hot-springs of Abano described, <a href="#ii39">ii. 39</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_547" id="Page_547">[Pg 547]</a></span>Hydruntum, or Hydron (<i>Otranto</i>), chief seat of the purple manufacture, <a href="#i2">i. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>I.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Ibbas, General of Theodoric in Gaul (perhaps the person to whom <a href="#iv17">iv. 17</a> is addressed), <a href="#Page_253">253</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ides of June (June 13th), sailors and ships to meet at Ravenna on, <a href="#v19">v. 19</a>, +<a href="#v20">20</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">eighth day before (June 6th), Goths to come to Ravenna for their largesse upon, <a href="#v26">v. 26</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Illustratus Vacans, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi11">vi. 11</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Illustres, highest class of Ministers; who belonged to it? <a href="#Page_86">86</a>-90;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">was an Illustris once, always an Illustris? +<a href="#Page_89">89</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">were the Consuls Illustres? <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Illyricum, alleged loss of, under Placidia, <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Imperium, used of the Gothic kingdom, <a href="#xii28">xii. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Importunus, Illustris and Consul (509), accused of assaulting the Green party at the Circus, <a href="#i27">i. 27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Importunus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, Consul (509), descended from the Decii, <a href="#iii5">iii. 5</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">incident of the recitation of Lay of the Decii, <a href="#iii5">iii. 5</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Indictions, mode of reckoning by, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>-125;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">remission of taxes at, <a href="#i16">i. 16</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Indulgentia, an amnesty to prisoners, <a href="#xi40">xi. 40</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Inquilina persists in harassing Benatus with litigation, <a href="#iv37">iv. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Interpretium not to be exacted from Apulian corn-merchants, <a href="#ii26">ii. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Intestate property of widow claimed by the State, <a href="#v24">v. 24</a> (<i>see</i> also <a href="#vi8">vi. 8</a>);<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">property of an African claimed by a fellow-countryman, <a href="#xii9">xii. 9</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Iron, mines of, in Dalmatia, <a href="#iii25">iii. 25</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">praises of, <a href="#iii25">iii. 25</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Istria, Province of, large harvests of wine, oil, and corn in, <a href="#xii22">xii. 22</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">extraordinary requisition from, <a href="#xii22">xii. 22</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">plentiful yield of wine in, <a href="#xii26">xii. 26</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Italy, ought to enjoy her own products, <a href="#ii12">ii. 12</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">western coast of, exports corn to Gaul, <a href="#iv5">iv. 5</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>J.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Januarius, Secretary of Joannes, <a href="#iv32">iv. 32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Januarius, Assessor of taxes, <a href="#iv38">iv. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jews, of Genoa, permitted to rebuild but not enlarge their synagogue, <a href="#ii27">ii. 27</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">their privileges confirmed, <a href="#iv33">iv. 33</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">synagogue of, at Rome, burned by the mob, <a href="#iv43">iv. 43</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Christian servants of, punished for murdering their masters, <a href="#iv43">iv. 43</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Milan, protected from molestation, <a href="#v37">v. 37</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Joanna, widow of Andreas, intestacy of, <a href="#v24">v. 24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Referendarius, receives gift of property at Castrum Lucullanum from Tulum, confirmed by Athalaric, <a href="#viii25">viii. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Joannes, Cancellarius (533-534), <a href="#xi6">xi. 6</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">appointed Praerogativarius, <a href="#xi27">xi. 27</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Joannes, mortgagee of property of Tupha, <a href="#iv32">iv. 32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Joannes, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius (perhaps same as preceding), pays off the debt of his father-in-law Thomas, and takes his property in Apulia, <a href="#v6">v. 6</a>, +<a href="#v7">7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Joannes, Arch-Physician, unjust judgment against, reversed, <a href="#iv41">iv. 41</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="John_II">John II</a>, Pope (Jan. 1, 533—May 27, 535), letter to, against simony at Papal elections, <a href="#ix15">ix. 15</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">report from, as to imprisonment of Roman citizens, <a href="#ix17">ix. 17</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cassiodorus sends greeting to, on his promotion, <a href="#xi2">xi. 2</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +John complains that the Bishop of Salona has taken 60 tuns of oil from him, <a href="#iii7">iii. 7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +John, Spectabilis, ordered to enquire into abuses connected with aqueducts of Rome, <a href="#iii31">iii. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jordanes, relation of his book 'De Rebus Geticis' to the Gothic History of Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his quotations from Symmachus' History, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to 'Capillati' among the Getae, +<a href="#Footnote_364_364">260 <i>n</i></a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to Goths by the Baltic Sea, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to threatened war between Goths and Franks, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Joseph, the Patriarch, office of Praetorian Praefect derived from, <a href="#vi3">vi. 3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">alluded to, <a href="#x27">x. 27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">precautions of, against Egyptian famine, <a href="#xii25">xii. 25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his bargain with the starving Egyptians criticised, <a href="#xii28">xii. 28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Jovinus banished to the Lipari Islands for murder of a fellow-curial, <a href="#iii47">iii. 47</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Judges to visit each town once in the year, and not to claim more than three days' maintenance, <a href="#v14">v. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Julianus complains of injuries received from the servants of Bishop Aurigenes, <a href="#iii14">iii. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_548" id="Page_548">[Pg 548]</a></span>Julian, Count and Illustris, Tata is ordered to conduct recruits to, <a href="#v23">v. 23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Justin, Emperor (518-527), Athalaric announces his accession to, <a href="#viii1">viii. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Justinian, Emperor (527-566), his negotiations with Amalasuentha, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">with Theodahad, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Amalasuentha announces her son's death and the association of Theodahad to, <a href="#x1">x. 1</a>, +<a href="#x2">2</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">present of marbles from Amalasuentha to, <a href="#x8">x. 8</a>, +<a href="#x9">9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters of Theodahad to, <a href="#x15">x. 15</a>, +<a href="#x19">19</a>, <a href="#x22">22</a>, <a href="#x25">25</a>, +<a href="#x26">26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter of Gudelina to, <a href="#x24">x. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter of Witigis to, <a href="#x32">x. 32</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his interference on bt half of a heavily taxed monastery, <a href="#x26">x. 26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on behalf of Veranilda, a Catholic convert, <a href="#x26">x. 26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">petition of Senate to, <a href="#xi13">xi. 13</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>L.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Lactarius, Mons (<i>Monte Lettere</i>), description of, <a href="#xi10">xi. 10</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">health-resort for consumptive patients, <a href="#xi10">xi. 10</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Land surveying among the Romans, <a href="#iii52">iii. 52</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lard not to be exported from Italy, <a href="#ii12">ii. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Largesse">Largesse</a> (Regalia Dona, Donativum), Goths summoned to Court to receive, on the Ides of June, <a href="#v26">v. 26</a>, +<a href="#v27">27</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Starcedius' donative stopped on his retirement from service, <a href="#v36">v. 36</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Laurentius, Presbyter, accused of rifling graves, <a href="#iv18">iv. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Laurentius, Vir Experientissimus, ordered to collect in Istria stores of wine, oil, and corn for Ravenna, <a href="#xii22">xii. 22</a>, +<a href="#xii23">23</a>, <a href="#xii24">24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lawsuits not to be interminable, <a href="#i5">i. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Leave of Absence, temporary, Formula Commeatalis ad Tempus</span>, <a href="#vii36">vii. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lenormant, his work 'La Grande Grèce' quoted, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Leodifrid, <i>see</i> under <a href="#Sajo">Sajo</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Leontius, Vir Spectabilis, his dispute about boundaries with Paschasius, <a href="#iii52">iii. 52</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Leontius, Praefecture of, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Letters, origin of, from imitation of flight of cranes, <a href="#viii12">viii. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Leucothea, Fountain of, its marvellous qualities, <a href="#viii33">viii. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Liber, derivation of, <a href="#xi38">xi. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Liberius (1), Praetorian Praefect under Theodoric (493-500), <a href="#Page_16">16</a>; <a href="#ii15">ii. 15</a>, +<a href="#ii16">16</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his fidelity to Odovacar, <a href="#ii16">ii. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">conduct in assignment of 'Tertiae,' <a href="#ii16">ii. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">father of Venantius, <a href="#ii15">ii. 15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">arranged gift from Theodoric to ex-Emperor (?) Romulus, <a href="#iii35">iii. 35</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Liberius (2), Spectabilis (possibly son of preceding), complains of unjust judgment by Marabad, <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Liberius (3), Senator, sent as ambassador by Theodahad to Justinian, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Liberius (4, probably same as No. 3), Patrician, Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls (526), <a href="#viii6">viii. 6</a>; <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Liberius (5), second husband of Aetheria, <a href="#iv12">iv. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lictor, apostrophised by Cassiodorus in his 'Indulgentia,' <a href="#xi40">xi. 40</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Liguria, Province of, ships ordered from Ravenna to, <a href="#ii20">ii. 20</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the Gepidae on their way to Gaul to march peaceably through, <a href="#v10">v. 10</a>, +<a href="#v11">11</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">obscure allusion to troubles in, <a href="#viii16">viii. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">famine in 'Liguria industriosa' to be relieved by corn-distribution, <a href="#x27">x. 27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">relief of 'devota Liguria,' <a href="#xi15">xi. 15</a>, +<a href="#xi16">16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Consularis of, addressed, <a href="#xii8">xii. 8</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">invaded by the Burgundians, <a href="#xii28">xii. 28</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">plunder-raid of Alamanni into, <a href="#xii28">xii. 28</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">famine in, relieved, <a href="#xii28">xii. 28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Lime, the praises of, <a href="#vii17">vii. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lime-kilns, President of, <span class="smcap">Praepositus Calcis, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii17">vii. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lucania, Province of, Eusebius is recommended to take holiday in, <a href="#iv48">iv. 48</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">rustics of, at Feast of St. Cyprian, <a href="#viii33">viii. 33</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Campanianus, inhabitant of, <a href="#ix4">ix. 4</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Montuosa Lucania' abounded in swine, <a href="#xi39">xi. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">measures for relief of, during presence of Gothic army, <a href="#xii5">xii. 5</a>. (<i>See</i> also +<a href="#Bruttii">Bruttii</a>.)</span><br /> +<br /> +Lucrine Port (?) to furnish tiles for repair of walls of Rome, <a href="#i25">i. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lucullanum, Castrum (<i>Castel dell Ovo</i>, at Naples), property at, given by Theodoric to Tulum, and by Athalaric to Joannes, <a href="#viii25">viii. 25</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(<i>see</i> note, <a href="#Page_374">p. 374</a>).</span><br /> +<br /> +Lydus, Joannes, civil servant in Constantinople under Justinian, author of 'De Dignitatibus;' his account of the dignity of the Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on the official staff of the Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#Page_95">94</a>-114;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his disappointment with the emoluments of the Cornicularius, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to salutation of Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to Scholares, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">jealousy of Magistriani, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_549" id="Page_549">[Pg 549]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to supply of paper for law courts, <a href="#xi38">xi. 38</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>M.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Maffei, Scipione, author of 'Verona Illustrate,' on situation of Verruca, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Magic, trial of Roman Senators on accusation of practising, <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, +<a href="#iv23">23</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">punishment of, according to Edictum Athalarici, <a href="#ix18">ix. 18</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Magister Officiorum, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi6">vi. 6</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">nature of his office, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">jealousy between his subordinates and those of the Praefectus Praetorio, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Eugenius promoted to office of, <a href="#i12">i. 12</a>, +<a href="#i13">13</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">office of, held by grandfather of Argolicus, <a href="#iii12">iii. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to Cursus Publicus, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>; <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a>; <a href="#vi6">vi. 6</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter of Witigis to M.O. at Constantinople, <a href="#x33">x. 33</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Magister Scrinii, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi13">vi. 13</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Magistriani, officers under Magister Officiorum, jealousy of, felt by members of Praefectoral staff, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Magistri Scriniorum, Spectabiles, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Magnus, a Spectabilis, of Gaul (?), to be reimbursed for losses sustained from the Franks, <a href="#iii18">iii. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Major Domus, Steward of the Royal House; Theodahad calls Vacco 'majorem domus nostrae,' and orders him to superintend the purchase of provisions for Gothic garrison of Rome, <a href="#x18">x. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mancipes mutationum, servants at posting-stations, <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Maniarius, complaint of, as to abstraction of his slaves by the Breones, <a href="#i11">i. 11</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Manso, author of 'Geschichte des Ostgothischen Reiches,' quoted, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mappa, why used to denote the signal for the races, <a href="#iii51">iii. 51</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Marabad, Vir Illustris and Comes, appointed Governor of Marseilles, <a href="#iii34">iii. 34</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">instructions to, <a href="#iv12">iv. 12</a>, +<a href="#iv46">46</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Marcellinus Comes, chronicler in the reign of Justinian, as to introduction of Heruli into Italy, +<a href="#Footnote_359_359">258 <i>n</i></a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to eruption of Vesuvius, +<a href="#Footnote_366_366">261 <i>n</i></a>, <a href="#Footnote_367_367">262 <i>n</i></a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Marcellus on water-finding, <a href="#iii53">iii. 53</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Marcian, Vir Spectabilis, employed to collect grain for Italy in Spain, <a href="#v35">v. 35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Marcilianum (<i>Sala</i>, in Lucania), <a href="#viii33">viii. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Marinus, his petition about the property of Tupha, <a href="#iv32">iv. 32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mark the Presbyter summoned for arrears of Siliquaticum, <a href="#v31">v. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Marriage, Confirmation of, and Legitimation of Offspring, Formula for</span>, <a href="#vii40">vii. 40</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Marriage, Formula legitimating with First Cousin</span>, <a href="#vii46">vii. 46</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Marriage law (Edictum Athalarici), <a href="#ix18">ix. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Martinus, his son Romulus accused of parricide, <a href="#ii14">ii. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Massa Palentiana, wrested from rightful owners by Theodahad, <a href="#v12">v. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Massa, a farm, <a href="#viii23">viii. 23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Massilia (<i>Marseilles</i>), inhabitants of, to welcome Count Marabad, <a href="#iii34">iii. 34</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">privileges confirmed to, and exemption from taxation granted to for one year, <a href="#iv26">iv. 26</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Master of the Horse, office of, abolished by Domitian, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Matasuentha, granddaughter of Theodoric, married to Witigis, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Maurentius, an orphan, taken under the King's guardianship, <a href="#iv9">iv. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Maximian, Vir Illustris, one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and Praetextatus, <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, +<a href="#iv23">23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Maximus, Flavius Anicius, Vir Illustris, Consul (523), encouraged to reward handsomely the <i>Venator</i> in the amphitheatre, <a href="#v42">v. 42</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">appointed Primicerius Domesticorum (535), <a href="#x11">x. 11</a>, +<a href="#x12">12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">married a wife of the Amal race, <a href="#x11">x. 11</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">discussion as to his subsequent history, +<a href="#Footnote_645_645">424 <i>n</i></a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Mercury, inventor of letters, <a href="#viii12">viii. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Milan, Church of, immunities granted to, <a href="#ii29">ii. 29</a>, +<a href="#ii30">30</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">charioteers of, to receive largesse from Felix, <a href="#iii39">iii. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bacauda, Tribunus Voluptatum at, <a href="#v25">v. 25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Jews of, protected from molestation, <a href="#v37">v. 37</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">famine in, to be relieved by Datius, <a href="#xii27">xii. 27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sieges and demolition of, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Militia, used of the purely civil service of the staff of the Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>; <a href="#ii28">ii. 28</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">obligations of the title, <a href="#ii31">ii. 31</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">used of service of Tribunus Voluptatum, <a href="#v25">v. 25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of functions of Count of Sacred Largesses, <a href="#vi7">vi. 7</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of functions of Comitiacus, <a href="#vi13">vi. 13</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Militia Litterata, the learned staff, <a href="#Page_479">479</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Millenarius (in Gothic, <i>thusundifaths</i>), captain of a thousand, <a href="#v27">v. 27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_550" id="Page_550">[Pg 550]</a></span>Millet (panicum), to be sold to citizens of Milan at 20 modii per solidum, <a href="#xii27">xii. 27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Minors, protection of, from fraud, <a href="#iv35">iv. 35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Mint (Moneta) Master of, Formula appointing</span>, <a href="#vii32">vii. 32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mommsen, Theodor, severe judgment of, on 'Chronicon' of Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Monopoly, letters relating to, <a href="#ii26">ii. 26</a>, <a href="#ii30">30</a>; <a href="#iii19">iii. 19</a>; <a href="#x28">x. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Montanarius, bearer of money to Bishop Severus, <a href="#ii8">ii. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mosaic, discription of, <a href="#i6">i. 6</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Moscius, Mons, near Scyllacium, <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mundus, General of Justinian, in Dalmatia, <a href="#Footnote_704_704">446 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Munitarius">Munitarius</a> (Winithar), ancestor of Theodoric, 'aequitate enituit,' <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Music, dissertation on, <a href="#ii40">ii. 40</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>N.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Narbonne, Church of, possessions granted by Alaric, wrested from, <a href="#iv17">iv. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Navy, Theodoric's directions as to raising, <a href="#v16">v. 16</a>, +<a href="#v17">17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Neapolis (<i>Naples</i>), territory of, suffers from eruption of Vesuvius, <a href="#iv50">iv. 50</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Formula of Count of Naples</span>, <a href="#vi23">vi. 23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Formula</span> addressed <span class="smcap">Honoratis Possessoribus, et Curialibus Civitatis Neapolitanae</span>, <a href="#vi24">vi. 24</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Neotherius, a spendthrift, and brother of Plutianus, <a href="#i7">i. 7</a>, +<a href="#i8">8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Nero, anecdote of, giving the signal for the chariot-race, <a href="#iii51">iii. 51</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Nicephorus Phocas, Emperor of the East (963-969), his work of restoration at Squillace, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Nicomachus, <i>see</i> <a href="#Cethegus">Cethegus</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Nimfadius, Vir Sublimis, his adventure at the Fountain of Arethusa, <a href="#viii32">viii. 32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Nivellius, Sebastianus, his edition of Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Nobilissimus, title given to nearest relatives of the Emperor, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Nola, territory of, suffers from eruption of Vesuvius, <a href="#iv50">iv. 50</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Noricum, Provincials of, to exchange their cattle with the Alamanni, <a href="#iii50">iii. 50</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Notarii, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi16">vi. 16</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Notitia Utriusque Imperii, general correspondence of, with the 'Variae,' +<a href="#Page_85">85</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on the official staff of the Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#Page_95">94</a>-114;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">illustration of the name, <a href="#xii23">xii. 23</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Numerarii, cashiers in the Court of Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">spoliation of churches of Bruttii alleged to be committed in their name, <a href="#xii13">xii. 13</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">referred to, <a href="#xii23">xii. 23</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Nursia, the birthplace of St. Benedict, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">colony of Goths settled at, <a href="#viii26">viii. 26</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>O.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Oath, mutual, between Athalaric and his subjects on his accession, <a href="#viii3">viii. 3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">between Goths and Romans, <a href="#viii7">viii. 7</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Obsonia (= relishes, anything eaten with bread, especially fish), to be distributed to the Roman people, <a href="#xii11">xii. 11</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ocer, a blind Gothic warrior, reduced to slavery by Gudila and Oppas, <a href="#v29">v. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Odovacar (Odoacer), King (476-493), faithful service of Liberius to, <a href="#ii16">ii. 16</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">possible allusion to times of, <a href="#iii12">iii. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">buried in a stone chest, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tupha an officer of, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">moderate taxation under, <a href="#iv38">iv. 38</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Opilio filled a place under (?), <a href="#v41">v. 41</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Officium (official staff) of Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>-114;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">otherwise called Praetoriani, <a href="#xi37">xi. 37</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to be fined if they disobey the King's orders, <a href="#ii26">ii. 26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">duties of in collection of Bina and Terna, <a href="#vii21">vii. 21</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">promotion of, on Christmas Day, <a href="#xi17">xi. 17</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">their duties and rightful claims, <a href="#xi37">xi. 37</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Opilio, Count of Sacred Largesses, father of Cyprian, <a href="#viii16">viii. 16</a>, +<a href="#viii17">17</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">chosen for a place in household of Odovacar (?), <a href="#v41">v. 41</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Opilio, son of above, Count of Sacred Largesses, <a href="#viii16">viii. 16</a>, +<a href="#viii17">17</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ambassador from Theodahad to Justinian (535), <a href="#Page_45">45</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">evil character of, given by Boethius, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Oppas, accused of enslaving Ocer, a blind Goth, <a href="#v29">v. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Orthography, difficulties of Latin, in Sixth Century, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ostrogotha, ancestor of Theodoric, 'patientiâ enituit,' <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Osuin (or Osum), Vir Illustris and Comes, made Governor of Dalmatia and Suavitt, <a href="#ix8">ix. 8</a>, +<a href="#ix9">9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>P.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Padus (<i>Po</i>), timber for navy to be collected upon the banks of, <a href="#v17">v. 17</a>, +<a href="#v20">20</a>;<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_551" id="Page_551">[Pg 551]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">stake-nets to be removed from mouth of, <a href="#v17">v. 17</a>, +<a href="#v20">20</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Palamediaci calculi = draughts, citizens fond of playing at, <a href="#viii31">viii. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Palmatiana, wine of Bruttii, described, <a href="#xii12">xii. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Panis, derivation of, from Pan, <a href="#vi18">vi. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pannonia Sirmiensis, Colossaeus appointed Governor of, <a href="#iii23">iii. 23</a>, +<a href="#iii24">24</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">an old habitation of the Goths, <a href="#iii23">iii. 23</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Pantomimist, dispute as to choice of, <a href="#i20">i. 20</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his menstruum (monthly allowance), <a href="#i32">i. 32</a>, +<a href="#i33">33</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Papal election, contested between Symmachus and Laurentius (498), <a href="#Page_26">26</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Felix III (526), <a href="#viii15">viii. 15</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Paper, praises of, <a href="#xi38">xi. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Paraveredi, extra horses, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>. (<i>See +<a href="#ADDITIONS_AND_CORRECTIONS">Errata</a>.</i>)<br /> +<br /> +Parhippi, extra horses, <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Parma, sanitary measures in, <a href="#viii29">viii. 29</a>, <a href="#viii30">30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Parricide, the horror of, <a href="#ii14">ii. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Paschasius, Vir Spectabilas, his dispute about boundaries with Leontius, <a href="#iii52">iii. 52</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Patriciate, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi2">vi. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Patricius, Vir Illustris, appointed Quaestor by Theodahad, <a href="#x6">x. 6</a>, +<a href="#x7">7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Patzenes, husband of Regina, story of his wife's intrigue with Brandila during his absence on Gaulish campaign, <a href="#v32">v. 32</a>, +<a href="#v33">33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Paula, an orphan, taken under the King's guardianship, <a href="#iv9">iv. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Paulinus, Illustris and Patrician, claims of Festus and Symmachus against, <a href="#i23">i. 23</a> [N.B. Compare the +following passage from Boethius' 'Philosophiae Consolatio' i. 4: 'Paulinum consularem +virum cujus opes palatini canes jam spe atque ambitione devorassent, ab +ipsis hiantium faucibus traxi.' Considering the relationship between +Boethius and Symmachus, it is impossible that Symmachus could be one +of these 'palatini canes,' but perhaps not impossible that Festus may be here aimed at. Paulinus was Consul 498];<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Felix is praised for cultivating the friendship of, <a href="#ii3">ii. 3</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">allowed to repair and appropriate public granaries, <a href="#iii29">iii. 29</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Paulinas (Flavius Theodoras Paulinus Junior), Vir Clarissimus, son of Venantius, grandson of Liberius, chosen Consul for 534, <a href="#ix22">ix. 22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Peace, praises of, <a href="#i1">i. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pedatura, length of wall assigned to be built by soldiers, <a href="#v9">v. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pedonensis Civitas (situation unknown), Benedictus a citizen of, <a href="#i36">i. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Peraequatores, regulators of prices of provisions (?), <a href="#vi6">vi. 6</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Perfectissimi, fourth grade in the Imperial service, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">not mentioned by Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Pervasio, forcible appropriation of landed property, condemned by Edict of Athalaric, <a href="#ix18">ix. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Peter, Consul (516) and rhetorician, ambassador from Justinian to Theodahad, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>; <a href="#x19">x. 19</a>, +<a href="#x22">22</a>, <a href="#x23">23</a>, <a href="#x24">24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Petrus, Vir Spectabilis, illustrious by descent, allowed to enter the Senate, <a href="#iv25">iv. 25</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his troubles with the Sajo assigned to him as his Defensor, <a href="#iv27">iv. 27</a>, +<a href="#iv28">28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Physician, duty of a good, <a href="#vi19">vi. 19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Picenum, Province of, Goths resident in, <a href="#iv14">iv. 14</a>; <a href="#v26">v. 26</a>, +<a href="#v27">27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pietas = pity (very nearly), <a href="#iv26">iv. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pignoratio, lawless practice of, described and repressed, <a href="#iv10">iv. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pincian Hill, <i>see</i> <a href="#Rome">Rome</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pithoeus (Pierre Pithou), editor of Cassiodorus, attributes to him the 'Computus Paschalis,' +<a href="#Page_11">11</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Placentia, provision dealers at, <a href="#x28">x. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Placidia, unfavourable comparison of with Amalasuentha, <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Planets, periods of, <a href="#xi36">xi. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pliny, on amber, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on the elephant, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Plutianus, a minor, Felix accused of defrauding, <a href="#i7">i. 7</a>, +<a href="#i8">8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pola, Antonius, Bishop of, <a href="#iv44">iv. 44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pollentia, battle of, represented as Gothic victory by Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Polyptycha, official registers, <a href="#v14">v. 14</a>, <a href="#v39">39</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pompeius Magnus, theatre of, the origin of his epithet, <a href="#iv51">iv. 51</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pontonates (?), <a href="#iv38">iv. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Popes, <i>see</i> <a href="#Agapetus">Agapetus</a>, <a href="#Felix_III">Felix III</a>, +<a href="#Gregory">Gregory the Great</a>, <a href="#John_II">John II</a>, +<a href="#Symmachus_Pope">Symmachus</a>, <a href="#Vigilus">Vigilius</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Porticus Curba (or Curiae), near the Forum, 'fabricae' to be erected above, <a href="#iv30">iv. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Portus (<i>Porto</i>), quays and warehouses of, under the Praefectus Urbis Romae, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Portus Curas Agens,' <a href="#ii12">ii. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Comes Portus, <a href="#vii9">vii. 9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vicarius Portus, <a href="#vii23">vii. 23</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Possessores, <a href="#ii25">ii. 25</a>; <a href="#vi8">vi. 8</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Aestunae, <a href="#iii9">iii. 9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Arles, <a href="#iii44">iii. 44</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_552" id="Page_552">[Pg 552]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Velia, <a href="#iv11">iv. 11</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Possessores Honorati, of Catena, <a href="#iii49">iii. 49</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Forum Livii, <a href="#iv8">iv. 8</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Feltria, <a href="#v9">v. 9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Suavia, <a href="#v14">v. 14</a>, +<a href="#v15">15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of neighbourhood of Ravenna (?), <a href="#v38">v. 38</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Sicily, <a href="#vi22">vi. 22</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Neapolis, <a href="#vi24">vi. 24</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Possessores Honorati, et Curiales, Formula addressed to</span>, <a href="#vii27">vii. 27</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Parma, <a href="#viii29">viii. 29</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Bruttii, exhorted to return to their cities, <a href="#viii31">viii. 31</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Possessores, Curiales permitted to become, <a href="#ix4">ix. 4</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">complain of abuses in corn-traffic, <a href="#ix5">ix. 5</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Potteries (figulinae), owners of, safeguarded, <a href="#ii23">ii. 23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Praebendae, apparently = stipendia or annonae, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">claimed both in money and kind, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap"><a name="Praefectus_Annonae">Praefectus Annonae</a>, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi18">vi. 18</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">office of, held by Paschasius, <a href="#xii9">xii. 9</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Praefectus Praetorio, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi3">vi. 3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Formula as to Superintendence of Armourers</span>, <a href="#vii19">vii. 19</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">dignity of the office, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>-41, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">quotation from Lydus as to, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his functions described by Bethmann-Hollweg, +<a href="#Footnote_59_59">41 <i>n</i></a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">gradations of rank in his official staff, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>-114;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">fine on, for disobeying King's orders, <a href="#ii26">ii. 26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">not to be allowed to oppress men in humbler station, <a href="#iii20">iii. 20</a>, +<a href="#iii27">27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to Cursus Publicus, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>; <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a>; <a href="#vi3">vi. 3</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Albienus appointed (527), <a href="#viii20">viii. 20</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">was Trigguilla his predecessor? +<a href="#Page_368">368</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Praefectus Urbis Romae, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi4">vi. 4</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">an Illustris, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his functions described, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to punish insults against the Senate, <a href="#i30">i. 30</a>, +<a href="#i31">31</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Artemidorus raised to dignity of, <a href="#i42">i. 42</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Argolicus raised to dignity of (510), <a href="#iii11">iii. 11</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Quinque-viri associated with him for trial of Senators, <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, +<a href="#iv23">23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his close companionship with the Praefectus Annonae, <a href="#vi18">vi. 18</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Honorius ordered to see to preservation of brazen elephants at Rome, <a href="#x30">x. 30</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Praefectus Vigilum Urbis Romae, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii7">vii. 7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Praefectus Vigilum Urbis Ravennatis, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii8">vii. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi, an Illustris, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his functions, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to refund to Symmachus expense of restoration of Pompey's Theatre, <a href="#iv51">iv. 51</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Praepositi (?) have special rights as to the Cursus Publicus, <a href="#v5">v. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Praerogativarius (?), Joannes appointed, <a href="#xi27">xi. 27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Praeses Provinciae, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii2">vii. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Praetextatus, a Roman Senator, accused of magical practices, <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, +<a href="#iv23">23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Prescription, title by, <a href="#i18">i. 18</a>; <a href="#ii27">ii. 27</a>; <a href="#v37">v. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Prices, to be fixed by the Defensor of a city, <a href="#vii11">vii. 11</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">by the Curator, <a href="#vii12">vii. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">tariff of, to be charged at Ravenna, <a href="#xi11">xi. 11</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regulated along the Flaminian Way, <a href="#xi12">xi. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">fixed in, Bruttii and Lucania, <a href="#xii5">xii. 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">tariff of, for Istria, <a href="#xii22">xii. 22</a>, +<a href="#xii23">23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of corn sold for relief of Ligurians in time of famine, <a href="#x27">x. 27</a>; <a href="#xii27">xii. 27</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Primicerius Augustalium, Beatus appointed, <a href="#xi30">xi. 30</a> (<i>see</i> +<a href="#Augustales">Augustales</a>).<br /> +<br /> +Primicerius Cubiculariorum, a Spectabilis, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his functions, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Primicerius Deputatorum, Ursua appointed, <a href="#xi30">xi. 30</a>; (<i>see</i> +<a href="#Deputati">Deputati</a>).<br /> +<br /> +Primicerius Domesticorum, Maximus appointed, <a href="#x11">x. 11</a>, +<a href="#x12">12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Primicerius Exceptorum, chief of shorthand writers, Patricius appointed, <a href="#xi25">xi. 25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Primicerius Notariorum, <a href="#vi16">vi. 16</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">a Spectabilis, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his office (apparently) joined to that of Count of Sacred Largesses, <a href="#vi7">vi. 7</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Primicerius Singulariorum, Pierius appointed, in the room of Urbicus, <a href="#xi31">xi. 31</a>, +<a href="#xi32">32</a> (<i>see</i> <a href="#Singularii">Singularii</a>).<br /> +<br /> +Primiscrinii, officers of Court of Praetorian Praefect, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">perhaps equivalent to Adjutores, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">might be chosen from the ordinary Exceptores, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retiring Primiscrinius receives rank of Spectabilis, <a href="#xi20">xi. 20</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Andreas obtains rank of, <a href="#xi21">xi. 21</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retiring Primiscrinius to receive pension, <a href="#xi37">xi. 37</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Princeps, head of the Officium of the Praefectus Praetorio, nature of his office, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, +<a href="#Footnote_770_770">477 <i>n</i></a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ex-Princeps, <a href="#ii28">ii. 28</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">title of, given to Magistriani, <a href="#vi6">vi. 6</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Formula recommending Principes to Comes</span>, <a href="#vii25">vii. 25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Formula announcing Appointment of Comes to Princeps</span>, <a href="#vii28">vii. 28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Princeps Augustorum, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>; <a href="#xi35">xi. 35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Princeps Magistrianorum, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Princeps Dalmatiae, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii24">vii. 24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Princeps Urbis Romae, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii31">vii. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Prior, a military officer among the Goths, <a href="#viii26">viii. 26</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">perhaps equivalent to 'Hundafath,' +<a href="#Page_375">375</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_553" id="Page_553">[Pg 553]</a></span>Probinus (or Provinus), Illustris and Patrician (perhaps same as Consul 489), obtains property by undue influence from Agapita, <a href="#ii11">ii. 11</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the transfer declared to be bonâ fide, <a href="#iv40">iv. 40</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Probus, Assessor of taxes, <a href="#iv38">iv. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Proceres per Codicillos Vacantes, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi10">vi. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Proceres Chartarum (?), subordinate to Count of Sacred Largesses, <a href="#vi7">vi. 7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Procopius, his narrative of events in Italy in 534 and 535, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>-48;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">makes no mention of the name of Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his statement of Justinian's argument as to the position of Theodoric, +<a href="#Footnote_209_209">143 <i>n</i></a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his account of family of Venantius, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">attributes the death of Amalasuentha to Theodora, +<a href="#Footnote_668_668">433 <i>n</i></a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">quoted, <a href="#Footnote_545_545">370 <i>n</i></a>, +<a href="#Footnote_574_574">384 <i>n</i></a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>, <a href="#Page_431">431</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>, <a href="#Page_518">518</a>, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>, <a href="#Page_527">527</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Procula, wife of Brandila, her assault on Regina, <a href="#v32">v. 32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Prorogatores, purveyors (?), <a href="#x28">x. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Prosecutores frumentorum, petition of, as to loss of cargoes, <a href="#iv7">iv. 7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Provincials, compensation to, for damage done by troops on march, <a href="#ii8">ii. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Publianus, Vir Illustris, messenger from the Senate to Court at Ravenna as to election of Pope (526), <a href="#viii15">viii. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Public property assigned on condition of improvement, <a href="#vii44">vii. 44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pulveratica (dust-money) not to be paid to a Judge on his journeys, <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Purple dye, history of the discovery of, <a href="#i2">i. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pyctacium (pictacium or pittacium), delegatoris, bond or document of title, <a href="#i18">i. 18</a>; <a href="#iii35">iii. 35</a>; <a href="#xii20">xii. 20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pythias, Count, pronounces decree in favour of liberty of Ocer, a blind Goth, <a href="#v29">v. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>Q.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Quaestor, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi5">vi. 5</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">duties of the office of, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>; <a href="#v4">v. 4</a>; <a href="#vi5">vi. 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">other Quaestors besides Cassiodorus between 501 and 510, +<a href="#Footnote_34_34">25 <i>n</i></a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ambrosius appointed (526), <a href="#viii13">viii. 13</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Felix appointed (527), <a href="#viii18">viii. 18</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Patricius appointed (534), <a href="#x6">x. 6</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Quidila, son of Sibia, made 'Prior' of the Goths in Reate and Nursia, <a href="#viii26">viii. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Quinque-viri associated with Praefectus Urbis to try two Senators accused of magical arts, <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, +<a href="#iv23">23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>R.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Raetia (Grisons and Tyrol), Servatus, Duke of, <a href="#i11">i. 11</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Alamannic refugees received in, <a href="#ii41">ii. 41</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">guarded by fortress of Verruca, <a href="#iii48">iii. 48</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">duties of the Duke of, <a href="#vii4">vii. 4</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">derivation of the name from <i>rete</i>, <a href="#vii4">vii. 4</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Rationales, bailiffs superintending the royal estates under the Comes Rerum Privatarum, <a href="#vi8">vi. 8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rationalii, persons charged with distribution of the annona, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rations for three days only, to be given to Provincial Governors and others journeying to Scyllacium, <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ravenna, Basilica of Hercules (?) at, <a href="#i6">i. 6</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">mosaic ordered for, <a href="#i6">i. 6</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ships ordered round from, to Liguria, <a href="#ii20">ii. 20</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">favour bestowed on Church of, <a href="#ii30">ii. 30</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">marbles to be transported to, <a href="#iii9">iii. 9</a>, +<a href="#iii10">10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">marble chests in which the citizens of Ravenna buried their dead, <a href="#iii19">iii. 19</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">blocks of marble to be forwarded from Faventia to, <a href="#v8">v. 8</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">fleet to be mustered at, <a href="#v17">v. 17</a>, +<a href="#v19">19</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">aqueduct of, to be kept clean, <a href="#v38">v. 38</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">drinking water of, de-appetising, <a href="#v38">v. 38</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">police of, <a href="#vii8">vii. 8</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">elevation of Athalaric at, <a href="#viii2">viii. 2</a>, +<a href="#viii5">5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">provision dealers at, <a href="#x28">x. 28</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">tariff of prices at, <a href="#xi11">xi. 11</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">siliquatarius of, <a href="#xii17">xii. 17</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">defences of, to be strengthened, <a href="#xii17">xii. 17</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Deusdedit, a Scribe of, <a href="#xii21">xii. 21</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">wine, oil, and corn to be furnished by Provincials of Istria to, <a href="#xii22">xii. 22</a>, +<a href="#xii23">23</a>, <a href="#xii24">24</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Reate (<i>Rieti</i>, in the Sabine territory), Goths settled at, <a href="#viii26">viii. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rector Decuriarum, Governor of Guilds, <a href="#v21">v. 21</a>, <a href="#v22">22</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">same as Judex Decuriarum of Theodosian Code, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rector Provinciae, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi21">vi. 21</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Referendi Curiae, Armentarius and his son Superbus appointed, <a href="#iii33">iii. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Referendarius, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi17">vi. 17</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cyprian's services as, <a href="#v40">v. 40</a>, +<a href="#v41">41</a>; <a href="#viii22">viii. 22</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, holds the post of, <a href="#viii25">viii. 25</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Regerendarius (or Regendarius), officer charged with regulation of the postal-service, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cartherius appointed, <a href="#xi29">xi. 29</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Regina, wife of Patzenes, her intrigue with Brandila, <a href="#v33">v. 33</a>;<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_554" id="Page_554">[Pg 554]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">assaulted by Brandila's wife, <a href="#v32">v. 32</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Religious toleration practised by Theodoric, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">principle of, stated, <a href="#ii27">ii. 27</a>; <a href="#v37">v. 37</a>; <a href="#x26">x. 26</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Remission of taxes, <a href="#i16">i. 16</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Renatus complains that he is harassed by litigation of Inquilina, <a href="#iv37">iv. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Reparatus, brother of Pope Vigilius, appointed Praefect of the City, <a href="#ix7">ix. 7</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his subsequent history, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Restitutio in integrum, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Retentator, a wrongful detainer, <a href="#ii10">ii. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rhegium (<i>Reggio</i>) derivation of the name, <a href="#xii14">xii. 14</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the citizens of, to be exempt from 'coemptio' of wheat and lard, <a href="#xii14">xii. 14</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Roccella, near Squillace, probable site of Scyllacium, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Roman law only to be administered between Romans, <a href="#ix14">ix. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Roman citizens, release of, imprisoned on suspicion of sedition, <a href="#ix17">ix. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Rome">Rome</a>, Theodoric's measures for embellishment of, <a href="#i21">i. 21</a>; <a href="#ii7">ii. 7</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">walls of, to be repaired, <a href="#i25">i. 25</a>, +<a href="#i28">28</a>; <a href="#ii34">ii. 34</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the nephews of Filagrius detained at, for their education, <a href="#i39">i. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'everyone's country,' <a href="#i39">i. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">blocks of marble lying about in, to be used, <a href="#ii7">ii. 7</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sons of Ecdicius detained at, <a href="#ii22">ii. 22</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">marbles on the Pincian Hill to be transported to Ravenna, <a href="#iii10">iii. 10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">repair of granaries in, <a href="#iii29">iii. 29</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cloacae of, <a href="#iii30">iii. 30</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">repair of aqueducts and temples in, <a href="#iii31">iii. 31</a>; <a href="#vii6">vii. 6</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sons of Valerian detained at, <a href="#iv6">iv. 6</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">new buildings overlooking Forum of, <a href="#iv30">iv. 30</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'turris circi et locus amphitheatri' wrested from sons of Volusianus, <a href="#iv42">iv. 42</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">burning of Jewish synagogue at, <a href="#iv43">iv. 43</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">theatre of Pompey restored by Symmachus, <a href="#iv51">iv. 51</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to receive supplies of corn from Spain, <a href="#v35">v. 35</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brazen elephants in Via Sacra, <a href="#x30">x. 30</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">police of, <a href="#vii7">vii. 7</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">statues of, <a href="#vii13">vii. 13</a>, +<a href="#vii15">15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">dissensions between citizens of, and Gothic troops (535), <a href="#x14">x. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">a Gothic garrison for, <a href="#x18">x. 18</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">owns the shrines of the Apostles, <a href="#xi2">xi. 2</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">scarcity in, relieved by corn-distributions, <a href="#xi5">xi. 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Roman citizens, and they only, to receive <i>obsonia</i>, <a href="#xii11">xii. 11</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">high character given to the Roman populace, <a href="#xii11">xii. 11</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Romulus, assured that Theodoric's gift to him through the Patrician Liberius shall not be revoked, <a href="#iii35">iii. 35</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">probably this is the ex-Emperor Romulus Augustulus, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">subsequent disposal of his palace, the Lucullanum, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Romulus accused of murder of his father, <a href="#ii14">ii. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rufinus, Praetorian Praefect under Arcadius, his usurpation caused some of Praetorian Praefect's powers to be transferred to the Magister, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rusticiana, farm of, in Bruttii, gold discovered at, <a href="#ix3">ix. 3</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rusticus, a priest and a friend of Theodahad, sent on return embassy with Peter to Justinian, +<a href="#Footnote_662_662">431 <i>n</i></a>; <a href="#x20">x. 20</a>, +<a href="#x24">24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>S.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Sabinus, ex-Charioteer, his pension increased, <a href="#ii9">ii. 9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sacrilege, the folly of, <a href="#xii13">xii. 13</a>.<br /> +<br /> +St. Cyprian's fair (in Lucania) described, <a href="#viii33">viii. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Sajo">Sajo</a>, Saio, or Sajus (henchman), description of his office, +<a href="#Footnote_253_253">177 <i>n</i></a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to go straight to object of his mission, and not to make pleasure tours at the public expense, <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nandius, sent to summon Goths to war, <a href="#i24">i. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to support Ecdicius in levying Siliquaticum, <a href="#ii4">ii. 4</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fruinarith to enquire into conduct of Venantius, <a href="#ii13">ii. 13</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Grimoda ordered to redress the oppression of Faustus, <a href="#iii20">iii. 20</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leodifrid ordered to superintend building of houses near fort Verruca, <a href="#iii48">iii. 48</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Amabilis (?) ordered to superintend grain traffic from Italy to Gaul, <a href="#iv5">iv. 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gesila ordered to make Gothic defaulters in Picenum and Tuscia pay their taxes, <a href="#iv14">iv. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tezutzat assigned as Defensor to Petrus, <a href="#iv27">iv. 27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Amara has wounded Petrus, whose Defensor he nominally was, <a href="#iv27">iv. 27</a>, +<a href="#iv28">28</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Duda (Vir Spectabilis and Comes), instructions to, <a href="#iv28">iv. 28</a>, +<a href="#iv32">32</a>, <a href="#iv34">34</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gudisal ordered to reform abuses of <i>Cursus Publicus</i>, <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mannila receives like instructions, <a href="#v5">v. 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Veranus to see that the Gepidae march peaceably through Liguria, <a href="#v10">v. 10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gudinand and Avilf ordered to muster sailors and collect timber for navy, <a href="#v19">v. 19</a>, +<a href="#v20">20</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tata ordered to conduct recruits to Count Julian, <a href="#v23">v. 23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Guduim ordered to summon Gothic captains to Court, <a href="#v27">v. 27</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_555" id="Page_555">[Pg 555]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Catellus and Servandus (?), 'Viri Strenui,' to collect fines from fraudulent shipowners, <a href="#v35">v. 35</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">a Sajo (unnamed) accused of rough treatment of a deacon, <a href="#viii24">viii. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dumerit sent to repress robbery at Faventia, <a href="#viii27">viii. 27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Quidila sent with Athalaric's orders to Sicily, <a href="#ix10">ix. 10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to execute vengeance on Pervasores, <a href="#ix18">ix. 18</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Bond for proper Use of Sajo's Services, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii42">vii. 42</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">was he necessarily the instrument by which 'tuitio regii nominis' was given? +<a href="#Page_341">341</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sajones assigned to various Cancellarii, <a href="#xii3">xii. 3</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">their duties and temptations, <a href="#xii3">xii. 3</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Paulus, Vir Strenuus, perhaps a Sajo, <a href="#xii26">xii. 26</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Salamander, nature of, <a href="#iii47">iii. 47</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Salona (in Dalmatia), inhabitants of, to be armed and drilled, <a href="#i40">i. 40</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bishop of, takes 60 tuns of oil from one John, <a href="#iii7">iii. 7</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Salt-works at Venice, <a href="#xii24">xii. 24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Samaritans contest possession of a house in Rome with the Roman Church, <a href="#iii45">iii. 45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Samnium, Province of, Sunhivad appointed Governor of, <a href="#iii13">iii. 13</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">practice of <i>pignoratio</i> prevalent in, <a href="#iv10">iv. 10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Goths resident in, <a href="#v26">v. 26</a>, +<a href="#v27">27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Anatholius, Cancellarius of, <a href="#xi36">xi. 36</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retiring allowance of Cornicularius charged on revenues of, <a href="#xi36">xi. 36</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Sarsena (?), Curia of, <a href="#ii18">ii. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scholares, household troops, under Magister Officiorum, <a href="#v6">v. 6</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scholaris, Sextus (?), Justus appointed, <a href="#xi26">xi. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Schubert, von, author of 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen,' +<a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_524">524</a>, <a href="#Page_527">527</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Science, list of Greek men of, whose works were translated by Boetius, <a href="#i45">i. 45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scribe, importance of the office of, <a href="#xii21">xii. 21</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scrinia, the four, under the Magister Officiorum, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to provide themselves with paper, <a href="#xi38">xi. 38</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Scriniarii, <a href="#vii21">vii. 21</a>, <a href="#vii22">22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scriniarius, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scriniarius Curae Militaris, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lucillus appointed, <a href="#xi24">xi. 24</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Scrinium Memoriae, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scriniarius Actorum, Catellus obtains rank of, <a href="#xi22">xi. 22</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scyllacium (<i>Squillace</i>), birthplace of Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the Greek colony, Scylletion, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Roman colony, Minerva Scolacium, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">appearance of, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>; <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">modern remains at, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cassiodorus founds his monasteries at, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">topography of, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>-73;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">citizens of, not to be called on to contribute to the <i>Cursus Publicus</i>, <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Scythian, vagueness of the term, which was often applied to the Goths, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Senarius, Vir Illustris, appointed Comes Patrimonii, <a href="#iv3">iv. 3</a>, +<a href="#iv4">4</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">instructions to, as Comes Privatarum Rerum, <a href="#iv7">iv. 7</a>, +<a href="#iv11">11</a>, <a href="#iv13">13</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Senate of Rome, attitude of Theodoric and Cassiodorus towards, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">flattery of, <a href="#i13">i. 13</a>, +<a href="#i42">42</a>; <a href="#iii12">iii. 12</a>; <a href="#v41">v. 41</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">not to degrade themselves by altercations with the mob in the Circus, <a href="#i27">i. 27</a>, +<a href="#i30">30</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">enquiry into character of candidates for admission to, <a href="#i41">i. 41</a>; <a href="#iv25">iv. 25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Senators' taxes in arrear, <a href="#ii24">ii. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Senators with Gothic names, <a href="#ii29">ii. 29</a>, +<a href="#ii35">35</a>; <a href="#iii13">iii. 13</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">proceedings on trial of Senators, <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, +<a href="#iv23">23</a>; <a href="#vi21">vi. 21</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">addressed on election of Pope Felix III, <a href="#viii15">viii. 15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Theodahad's elevation announced to, <a href="#x4">x. 4</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">chidden by Theodahad for not accepting his invitation to Ravenna, <a href="#x13">x. 13</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Theodahad announces arrival of Gothic garrison to, <a href="#x18">x. 18</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered by Theodahad to communicate with Justinian, <a href="#x19">x. 19</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cassiodorus writes to, on his elevation to the Praetorian Praefecture, <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">petition of, to Justinian for peace, <a href="#xi13">xi. 13</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Senator, Formula conferring the Rank of</span>, <a href="#vi14">vi. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Severinus (or Severianus), Vir Illustris, appointed a Commissioner for Province of Suavia, to remedy financial abuses, <a href="#v14">v. 14</a>, +<a href="#v15">15</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">again sent to Suavia and Dalmatia with Osuin, <a href="#ix9">ix. 9</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Severus, Vir Spectabilis, apparently Governor of Bruttii and Lucania, <a href="#vii31">vii. 31</a>-33.<br /> +<br /> +Sextarius, corn measure, <a href="#ii26">ii. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sicily, inhabitants of, suspicious, and with difficulty won over to the rule of Theodoric, <a href="#i3">i. 3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Filagrius, a citizen of Syracuse, asks leave to return to, <a href="#i39">i. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">possessions of Milanese Church in, <a href="#ii29">ii. 29</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Valerian, a citizen of Syracuse, allowed to return thither, <a href="#iv6">iv. 6</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Formula of Count of Syracuse</span>, <a href="#vi22">vi. 22</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">augmentum imposed by Theodoric remitted by Athalaric, <a href="#ix10">ix. 10</a>, +<a href="#ix11">11</a>, <a href="#ix12">12</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_556" id="Page_556">[Pg 556]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">oppressive acts of Censitores and Count of Syracuse rebuked, <a href="#ix11">ix. 11</a>, +<a href="#ix14">14</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Sidonius, Apollinaris, possible quotation from, <a href="#iii16">iii. 16</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sigismer, Illustris and Count, sent to administer to the Senate the oath of fidelity to Athalaric, <a href="#viii2">viii. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Signine Channel, near Ravenna (?), shrubs growing in, to be rooted up, <a href="#v38">v. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sila, Mount, in Bruttii, celebrated for its cheese, <a href="#xii12">xii. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Silentiarii, thirty life-guards, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Siliqua, one-twenty-fourth of solidus, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Siliquaticum, a tax of one-twenty-fourth on sales in open market, collection of, <a href="#ii4">ii. 4</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">exemption from, <a href="#ii30">ii. 30</a>; <a href="#iv19">iv. 19</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">collection of arrears of, in Dalmatia, <a href="#iii25">iii. 25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">collection of arrears of, in Apulia and Calabria, <a href="#v31">v. 31</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Siliquatarii, <a href="#ii12">ii. 12</a>, <a href="#ii26">26</a>; <a href="#xii17">xii. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Simeon, Vir Illustris and Comes, appointed to collect arrears of taxation in Dalmatia, <a href="#iii25">iii. 25</a>, +<a href="#iii26">26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Simeonius (an Apulian or Calabrian), summoned for arrears of Siliquaticum, <a href="#v31">v. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Simony practised at Papal elections, edict against, <a href="#ix15">ix. 15</a>, +<a href="#ix16">16</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Simplicius, Pope (468-483), bought a house at Rome claimed by the Samaritans, <a href="#iii45">iii. 45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Singularii">Singularii</a>, servants charged with conveying the orders of the Praetorian Praefect into the Provinces, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">origin of their name, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>. (<i>See</i> also, <a href="#xi31">xi. 31</a>, +<a href="#xi32">32</a>.)</span><br /> +<br /> +Sipontum in Apulia, merchants of, despoiled by Byzantine fleet (?), <a href="#ii38">ii. 38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sirmium, war of (504), Tulum's services in, <a href="#viii10">viii. 10</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cyprian's services in, <a href="#viii22">viii. 22</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Slave of a Senator, murderer of a freeborn citizen, to be surrendered, <a href="#i30">i. 30</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to levy of slaves for the navy, <a href="#v16">v. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gothic soldier made a slave wrongfully, <a href="#v29">v. 29</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">degrading services (servitia famulatus) not to be claimed of freeborn Goths, <a href="#v30">v. 30</a>, <a href="#v39">39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tanca is accused of unjustly enslaving two rustic neighbours, <a href="#viii28">viii. 28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Slaves, runaway, to be restored to their owners, <a href="#iii43">iii. 43</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">did free Italians sell their children as? +<a href="#Footnote_572_572">viii. 33 <i>n</i></a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Solidus, 'the ancients wished that it should consist of 6,000 denarii' (?), <a href="#i10">i. 10</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sona, Illustris, <a href="#iii15">iii. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sontius (<i>Isonzo</i>), River of, Theodoric's crossing of, made an era in lawsuits as to landed property, <a href="#i18">i. 18</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the Lucristani (?) on, ordered to attend to the Cursus Publicus, <a href="#i29">i. 29</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Sors, land-allotment, <a href="#ii17">ii. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sors nascendi of the Curialis, <a href="#ii18">ii. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Spain, to send corn-supplies to Rome, <a href="#v35">v. 35</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">abuses in administration of, to be repressed, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Spatarius, sword-bearer, an officer in the royal household, <a href="#iii43">iii. 43</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Spectabiles, second class of Ministers, who belonged to it? <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">honour of, conferred on Stephanus, <a href="#ii28">ii. 28</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Comes Primi Ordinis, highest of, <a href="#vi12">vi. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Formula conferring Rank of</span>, <a href="#vii37">vii. 37</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Antianus, ex-Cornicularius, receives rank of, <a href="#xi18">xi. 18</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retiring Primiscrinius receives rank of, <a href="#xi20">xi. 20</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Spes, Spectabilis, has a concession for draining land, <a href="#ii21">ii. 21</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Spoletium (<i>Spoleto</i>), gratuitous admission to baths at, <a href="#ii37">ii. 37</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">rebuilding behind the Baths of Turasius at, <a href="#iv24">iv. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Honoratus, advocate at, <a href="#v4">v. 4</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<i>Staletti</i>, near Squillace, near the site of Vivarian Monastery, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Starcedius, Vir Sublimis, allowed to retire from military service, but without a pension, <a href="#v36">v. 36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Statue, theft of brazen, at Comum, <a href="#ii35">ii. 35</a>, <a href="#ii36">36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Statues, care of, at Como, <a href="#ii35">ii. 35</a>, <a href="#ii36">36</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Rome, <a href="#vii13">vii. 13</a>, +<a href="#vii15">15</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Ste. Marthe, Denys de, author of 'Vie de Cassiodore,' +<a href="#Page_118">118</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stephanus, killed by his servants and left unburied, <a href="#ii19">ii. 19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stephanus, petition of, against Bishop of Pola, <a href="#iv44">iv. 44</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stratonicea, Edict of, by Diocletian, 'de pretiis venalium rerum,' +<a href="#Page_470">470</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Style, Cassiodorus on the different kinds of, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Suarii, pork-butchers, subject to Praefectus Annonae, <a href="#vi18">vi. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +S(u)avia (<i>Sclavonia</i>), Fridibad appointed Governor of, <a href="#iv49">iv. 49</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">order to be maintained in, <a href="#iv49">iv. 49</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">grievances of the Possossores of, to be redressed, <a href="#v14">v. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Osuin appointed Governor of, <a href="#ix8">ix. 8</a>, +<a href="#ix9">9</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_557" id="Page_557">[Pg 557]</a></span>Subadjuvae, deputy cashiers (?), <a href="#Page_109">109</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sublimis, epithet used in the 'Variae,' <a href="#Footnote_117_117">91 <i>n</i></a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">equivalent to Spectabilis (?), <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Suevi (perhaps here the same as Alamanni) invade the Venetian Province (536), <a href="#xii7">xii. 7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sulcatoriae (?), some kind of merchant ships, <a href="#ii20">ii. 20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Summons, Letters of, to the King's Court, Formulae Evocatoriae</span>, <a href="#vii34">vii. 34</a>, +<a href="#vii35">35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sundial, description of, to be made by Boetius for Gundibad, <a href="#i45">i. 45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Superbus, son of Armentarius, appointed Referendus Curiae, <a href="#iii33">iii. 33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sustineo, technically used of the King's reception of his guests, <a href="#iii22">iii. 22</a> (and +<a href="#iii28">28</a>).<br /> +<br /> +Swords, description of, sent by King of the Vandals to Theodoric, <a href="#v1">v. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Symmachus_Pope">Symmachus, Pope</a> (498-514), contested election with Laurentius, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Symmachus the Elder, orator and leader of the Pagan party in the Senate, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">was he also a historian? <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Symmachus, Q. Aurelius Memmius, Consul (485), Patrician, father-in-law of Boethius, information as to, in the 'Anecdoton Holderi,' +<a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>-79;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his speech for the 'Allecticii,' +<a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his Roman History, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his claims against Paulinus, <a href="#i23">i. 23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Barilius and Praetextatus, <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, +<a href="#iv23">23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">commended for his restoration of buildings in Rome, <a href="#iv51">iv. 51</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">a saying of, <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>T.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Table of the King, provision of delicacies for, <a href="#vi9">vi. 9</a>; <a href="#xii4">xii. 4</a>, +<a href="#xii18">18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tabularii, Cashiers of a municipality, a lower class of Numerarii, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tacitus, on amber, quoted, <a href="#v2">v. 2</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tanca, a Goth (?), accused of unjustly enslaving free rustics, <a href="#viii28">viii. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tarvisium (<i>Treviso</i>), corn-warehouse at, to be opened, <a href="#x27">x. 27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Taxation, arrears of, <a href="#ii24">ii. 24</a>, <a href="#ii25">25</a>; <a href="#iv14">iv. 14</a>; <a href="#v31">v. 31</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">immunity from, <a href="#ii30">ii. 30</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">remissness in tax-collectors condemned, <a href="#iii8">iii. 8</a>; <a href="#xii10">xii. 10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">remission of, for citizens of Aries, <a href="#iii32">iii. 32</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">remission of, for all Provincials of Gaul, <a href="#iii40">iii. 40</a>; <a href="#iv19">iv. 19</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">remission of, for one year, for citizens of Marseilles, <a href="#iv26">iv. 26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">weight of, to be lessened, <a href="#iv38">iv. 38</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regulation of, for Province of Suavia, <a href="#v14">v. 14</a>, +<a href="#v15">15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">abuses of, in Spain, corrected, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">collection of <i>Bina</i> and <i>Terna</i>, <a href="#vii20">vii. 20</a>-22;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">remission of super-assessment for Dalmatia, <a href="#ix9">ix. 9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">similar remission for Sicily, <a href="#ix10">ix. 10</a>, +<a href="#ix11">11</a>, <a href="#ix12">12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">remission of, for a monastery, <a href="#x26">x. 26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">proper manner of collecting, <a href="#xi7">xi. 7</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">correction of abuses of, in Liguria, <a href="#xi16">xi. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">commutation of cattle-tax for Lucania and Bruttii, <a href="#xi39">xi. 39</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">taxes to be paid punctually, <a href="#xii2">xii. 2</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in Lucania and Bruttii in time of war, <a href="#xii5">xii. 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">remission of, for Venetia, on account of invasion of the Suevi, <a href="#xii7">xii. 7</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">tax-gatherer allowed to make prepayment of his taxes, <a href="#xii8">xii. 8</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Trina Illatio</i> to be collected regularly, <a href="#xii16">xii. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">special requisition from Istria, <a href="#xii22">xii. 22</a>, +<a href="#xii23">23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">contributions from Venetia remitted, <a href="#xii26">xii. 26</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">remission of half of, for Liguria, <a href="#xii28">xii. 28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Taxes, Formula for Remission of, where the Taxpayer is too heavily Assessed</span>, <a href="#vii45">vii. 45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Teias, King of the Goths (552-663), his battle with Narses on Monte Lettere, +<a href="#Footnote_758_758">468 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tenues = the poor, <a href="#ii24">ii. 24</a>, <a href="#ii25">25</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Terna, a kind of tax (not to be confounded with the Tertiae or the Trina Illatio), <a href="#iii8">iii. 8</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">collection of, <a href="#vii20">vii. 20</a>, +<a href="#vii21">21</a>, <a href="#vii22">22</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Terracina, inscription at, as to draining Marsh of Decennonium, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tertiae, probably either the land assigned to the Goths in Italy or the pecuniary equivalent paid by the Roman possessor for an undivided 'Sors Barbarica,' +<a href="#Page_152">152</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(tax), to be collected at same time as ordinary tribute, <a href="#i14">i. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(land), demarcation of, by Liberius, <a href="#ii16">ii. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(tax), immunity from, <a href="#ii17">ii. 17</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Theodagunda, Illustris Foemina, apparently a Gothic princess, ordered to do justice to Renatus, <a href="#iv37">iv. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Theodahad, nephew of Theodoric, associated in the sovereignty by Amalasuentha, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>; <a href="#x1">x. 1</a>-4;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his character, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">he dethrones Amalasuentha (April 30, 535), and puts her to death, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his negotiations with Justinian, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his deposition and death, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">style of address in the 'Variae,' +<a href="#Page_86">86</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_558" id="Page_558">[Pg 558]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered to undertake a case of contumacy, <a href="#iii15">iii. 15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his avarice condemned, <a href="#iv39">iv. 39</a>; <a href="#v12">v. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to receive farms which had belonged to his mother, <a href="#viii23">viii. 23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">declares that his character has changed with his accession, <a href="#x5">x. 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">chides the Senate for their suspicions of him, <a href="#x13">x. 13</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">thinks himself much superior to Theodoric, <a href="#x22">x. 22</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">intended journey of, to Rome, <a href="#xii18">xii. 18</a>, +<a href="#xii19">19</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his questionable generosity in releasing his mortgage on the Church plate to the Pope, <a href="#xii20">xii. 20</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Theodora, Augusta (married to Justinian 525, died 548), letter of Amalasuentha to, <a href="#x10">x. 10</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters of Gudelina to, <a href="#x20">x. 20</a>, +<a href="#x21">21</a>, <a href="#x22">23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">alleged complicity of, in murder of Amalasuentha, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <a href="#Page_435">435</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Theodoric, King of the Goths and Romans (493-525), his position in Italy, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">story of his inability to write, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">relation of Cassiodorus to, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his religious tolerance, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his persecution of the Orthodox, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">condemnation of Boethius and Symmachus, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">death of (Aug. 30, 526), <a href="#Page_37">37</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">may <i>possibly</i> have called himself King of Italy, +<a href="#Footnote_86_86">62 <i>n</i></a>; <a href="#Footnote_718_718">455 <i>n</i></a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">confusion between him and Theodoric II the Visigoth, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters written in the name of, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>-293;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">learned in the Roman Republic the art of governing Romans with equity, <a href="#i1">i. 1</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">relations between him and Anastasius, <a href="#i1">i. 1</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">allusion to his adoption by Zeno (?), <a href="#i20">i. 20</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his intervention in Gaul (508), <a href="#i24">i. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his friendship for Artemidoras, <a href="#i43">i. 43</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">motto for his reign, <a href="#ii21">ii. 21</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">inscription recording his drainage of Decennonial Marsh, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his attempts to prevent war between Alaric and Clovis, <a href="#iii1">iii. 1</a>-4;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">calls himself 'Romanus Princeps,' <a href="#iii16">iii. 16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his high purpose in ruling, <a href="#iii43">iii. 43</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his alliance with the Thuringians, <a href="#iv1">iv. 1</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his alliance with the Heruli, <a href="#iv2">iv. 2</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his rides after the hours of business with Cyprian his <i>Referendarius</i>, <a href="#v40">v. 40</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cassiodorus speaks of his 'oculus imperialis,' <a href="#viii18">viii. 18</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">praises of, by Witigis, <a href="#x31">x. 31</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his especial characteristic was patience, <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Theodoric I, King of the Franks (511-534), death of, <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>; +<a href="#Footnote_712_712">452 <i>n</i></a>; <a href="#Footnote_719_719">455 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Theodoric, or more probably Theodorus, Patrician, accused of assaulting the Green party in the Circus, <a href="#i27">i. 27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Theodorus, candidate for office of Pantomimist, <a href="#i20">i. 20</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Theodoras, report of, as to gold in Bruttii, <a href="#ix3">ix. 3</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Theodosian Code, perhaps referred to in the words 'Statuta Divalium sanctionum,' <a href="#iv12">iv. 12</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to Decuriae Librariorum, &c. +<a href="#Page_277">277</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to Delegatio, <a href="#Footnote_778_778">479 <i>n</i></a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Theodosius, man of Theodahad (?), exhorted to abstain from violence, <a href="#x5">x. 5</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thessalonica, Praefect of, entreated by Witigis to speed his ambassadors on their way to Justinian, <a href="#x35">x. 35</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Theudimer, father of Theodoric, 'pietate enituit,' <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thomas, father of Germanus, <a href="#iii37">iii. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thomas, Vir Clarissimus, complains that he cannot collect arrears of taxes in Apulia, <a href="#v31">v. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thomas, Vir Honestus, hopelessly in debt for taxes on Apulian farms, <a href="#v6">v. 6</a>, +<a href="#v7">7</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thomas the Charioteer to receive a monthly allowance, <a href="#iii51">iii. 51</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thorbecke, August, author of 'Cassiodorus Senator,' +<a href="#Page_119">119</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thorismuth, predecessor of Theodoric, 'castitate enituit,' <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thuringians, King of, appealed to by Theodoric to prevent war between Clovis and Alaric, <a href="#iii3">iii. 3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Herminafrid, King of, married to Amalabirga, niece of Theodoric, <a href="#iv1">iv. 1</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Tiber to be crossed by a bridge of boats, <a href="#xii19">xii. 19</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ticinum (<i>Pavia</i>), inhabitants of, ordered to provision the Heruli on their journey to King's Comitatus, <a href="#iv45">iv. 45</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">corn warehouse at, to be opened, <a href="#x27">x. 27</a>; <a href="#xii27">xii. 27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">provision dealers at, <a href="#x28">x. 28</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Count Winusiad, Governor of, <a href="#x29">x. 29</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Tituli, practice of affixing to property, condemned, <a href="#ix18">ix. 18</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Totila, words of, as to exceptional favour accorded to Sicily, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Trajan, oath taken by, to the Roman people, <a href="#viii3">viii. 3</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">noble saying of, to an orator, <a href="#viii13">viii. 13</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<a name="Transmund">Transmund</a> (Thrasamund), King of the Vandals (496-523), complained of for sheltering Gesalic, Theodoric's enemy, <a href="#v43">v. 43</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the reconciliation, <a href="#v44">v. 44</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Transmutation of metals (?), <a href="#viii3">viii. 3</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Treasure, buried, search for, <a href="#iv34">iv. 34</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_559" id="Page_559">[Pg 559]</a></span><span class="smcap">Tribunatus Provinciarum, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii30">vii. 30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tribuni Maritimorum (in islands of Venetia), <a href="#xii24">xii. 24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Tribunus Voluptatum, Minister of Public Amusement, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii10">vii. 10</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bacauda appointed, at Milan, <a href="#v25">v. 25</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">referred to, <a href="#vi19">vi. 19</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Tridentum (<i>Trient</i>), proprietors in district of, <a href="#ii17">ii. 17</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">new city to be erected in district of, <a href="#v9">v. 9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">corn warehouse at, to be opened, <a href="#x27">x. 27</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Trigguilla, 'Regiae Praepositus Domus,' was he the Praetorian Praefect whose misgovernment is denounced, <a href="#viii20">viii. 20</a>?<br /> +<br /> +Trina Illatio, three instalments for payment of taxes, <a href="#ii24">ii. 24</a>; <a href="#x27">x. 27</a> (?); <a href="#xi7">xi. 7</a>, +<a href="#xi35">35</a>, <a href="#xi36">36</a>, <a href="#xi37">37</a>; <a href="#xii2">xii. 2</a>, +<a href="#xii16">16</a>, <a href="#xii27">27</a> (?).<br /> +<br /> +Trittheim, John (Trithemius), Abbot of Spanheim, his notice of date of Cassiodorus' birth, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as to office of Abbot held by Cassiodorus, +<a href="#Footnote_77_77">56 <i>n</i></a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Tuitio Regii Nominis, Formula bestowing</span>, <a href="#vii39">vii. 39</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">promised to owner of potteries, <a href="#ii23">ii. 23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to Milanese Church, <a href="#ii29">ii. 29</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to Maurentius and Paula, <a href="#iv9">iv. 9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">alluded to in Edictum Athalarici, <a href="#ix18">ix. 18</a> (p. +<a href="#Page_404">404</a>).</span><br /> +<br /> +Tullianus, son of Venantius, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Tulum, Patrician, his early history and character, <a href="#viii9">viii. 9</a>, +<a href="#viii10">10</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">embassy to Constantinople (?), <a href="#viii9">viii. 9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">share in the war of Sirmium, <a href="#viii10">viii. 10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in the Gaulish wars (508 and 523), <a href="#viii10">viii. 10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his escape from shipwreck, <a href="#viii10">viii. 10</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">marriage with an Amal princess, <a href="#viii9">viii. 9</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter written on his behalf to the Senate, <a href="#viii11">viii. 11</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">declared Patrician, <a href="#viii9">viii. 9</a>, +<a href="#viii10">10</a>, <a href="#viii11">11</a>, <a href="#viii12">12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">receives Castrum Lucullanum from Theodoric and hands it over to Joannes, <a href="#viii25">viii. 25</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Tupha (Tufa), an officer of Odovacar, who deserted to Theodoric and then betrayed him, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">lawsuit about his property, confiscated to the Treasury, <a href="#iv32">iv. 32</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Tusciae (Thusciae) utraeque, <a href="#iv14">iv. 14</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Goths resident in, <a href="#iv14">iv. 14</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Canonicarius of, to buy a fitting quantity of paper, <a href="#xi38">xi. 38</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>U.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Ulpianus, guarantor for Venantius, has lost 400 solidi by his default, <a href="#ii13">ii. 13</a>.<br /> +(As this occurred 'administrationis suae tempore,' Ulpianus must have held some kind of public office.)<br /> +<br /> +Ulysses, reputed founder of Scyllacium, <a href="#xii15">xii. 15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Unalamer">Unalamer</a> (Walamir), uncle of Theodoric, 'fide enituit,' <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Unimundus (Hunimund), collateral ancestor of Theodoric, 'forma enituit,' <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Uraias, nephew of King Witigis, his capture of Milan (539), <a href="#xii27">xii. 27</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Usener, Hermann, editor of 'Anecdoton Holderi,' <a href="#Page_73">73</a>-84, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>V.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Vacco, Major Domus to Theodahad, <a href="#x18">x. 18</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to superintend purchase of provisions for Gothic garrison, <a href="#x18">x. 18</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Valentinian III, Emperor (425-455), quotation from Novellae of, <a href="#ix18">ix. 18</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Placidia's guardianship of, <a href="#xi1">xi. 1</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Valerian, a Spectabilis, citizen of Syracuse, sons of, to be detained in Rome, <a href="#iv6">iv. 6</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Valeriana, Adeodatus condemned for rape of, <a href="#iii46">iii. 46</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Vandals, King of (Thrasamund), sends presents to Theodoric, <a href="#v1">v. 1</a>. (<i>See</i> also <i> +<a href="#Transmund">Transmund</a></i> and <i><a href="#Hilderic">Hilderic</a></i>.)<br /> +<br /> +Vandals, allusion to, <a href="#v17">v. 17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +'<span class="smcap">Variae</span>' of Cassiodorus, their style described, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>-19;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">not arranged in chronological order, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">time and manner of their editing, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">reason of the name, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Velia (or Volia), dispute between Possessores and Curiales of, <a href="#iv11">iv. 11</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Venantius (1), guardian of Plutianus, his accusation of Felix, <a href="#i7">i. 7</a>, +<a href="#i8">8</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Venantius (2), by his dishonesty has caused his guarantor Ulpianus to forfeit 400 solidi, <a href="#ii13">ii. 13</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Venantius (3), son of Liberius, Vir Illustris, praises of, <a href="#ii15">ii. 15</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">made Comes Domesticorum, <a href="#ii15">ii. 15</a>, +<a href="#ii16">16</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">rebuked for remissness in collection of taxes when Corrector of Bruttii and Lucania, <a href="#iii8">iii. 8</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">complaints of Firminus against, <a href="#iii36">iii. 36</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his alleged unjust judgment of Adeodatus, <a href="#iii46">iii. 46</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">descended from the ancient Decii, <a href="#ix23">ix. 23</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">congratulated on Consulship of his son Paulinus (534), <a href="#ix23">ix. 23</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Venerius, a farmer, unjustly reduced to slavery by Tanca, <a href="#viii28">viii. 28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Venetia, Province of, Gepidae on their way to Gaul to march peaceably through, <a href="#v10">v. 10</a>, +<a href="#v11">11</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">famine in 'devotae Venetiae' to be relieved by corn distribution, <a href="#x27">x. 27</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_560" id="Page_560">[Pg 560]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Canonicarius of, ordered to collect wine for the King's table, <a href="#xii4">xii. 4</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">taxes of, remitted, on account of invasion of the Suevi, <a href="#xii7">xii. 7</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Venetiae praedicabiles,' <a href="#xii24">xii. 24</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">scarcity of crops in, <a href="#xii26">xii. 26</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Venice, letter containing first historical notice of (537), <a href="#xii24">xii. 24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Veranilda, convert from Arianism to Catholic faith, interceded for by Justinian, <a href="#x26">x. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Vercelli, grant of freedom from taxation made to Church of, <a href="#i26">i. 26</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Veredarii, drivers of the royal mail, <a href="#ii31">ii. 31</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Veredi, post-horses, not to be overworked, <a href="#iv47">iv. 47</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Verruca (perhaps <i>Dos Trento</i>), near Trient, description of the fort of, <a href="#iii48">iii. 48</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">meaning of the word, <a href="#Footnote_305_305">223, <i>n</i> 1</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Vesuvius, eruption of, <a href="#iv50">iv. 50</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Vicarius, a Spectabilis and Governor of a Diocese, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>; <a href="#i37">i. 37</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Vicarius Praefectorum (?), title borne by Gemellus as Governor of Gaul, <a href="#iii16">iii. 16</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Vicarius Portus, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vii23">vii. 23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Vicarius Urbis Romae, Formula of</span>, <a href="#vi15">vi. 15</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">limits of his jurisdiction, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Vice-dominus (?), servants of, have oppressed Provincials of Suavia, <a href="#v14">v. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Victor Tunnunensis, chronicler (died in 569), as to the death of Amalafrida, +<a href="#Footnote_574_574">384 <i>n</i></a>.<br /> +<br /> +Victor, Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, severely rebuked for acts of oppression, <a href="#ix12">ix. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Vigilus">Vigilus</a>, Pope (537-555), allusion to by Cassiodorus, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brother of Reparatus, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">perhaps alluded to by Gudelina, <a href="#x20">x. 20</a> (<i>see</i> p. +<a href="#Footnote_668_668">433 <i>n</i></a>).</span><br /> +<br /> +Villiciorum Tuitio (?), removed in Spain, as being costly and unpopular, <a href="#v39">v. 39</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Virgil quoted, <a href="#Footnote_87_87">63 <i>n</i></a>; <a href="#xii14">xii. 14</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Vivarian Monastery, founded by Cassiodorus, near Scyllacium, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">site of, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Vivianus, Spectabilis, renouncing the world, foregoes the benefit of an unjust decree which he has obtained against Joannes, <a href="#iv41">iv. 41</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Volcanoes, nature of, <a href="#iii47">iii. 47</a>; <a href="#iv50">iv. 50</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Volusianus, one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and Praetextatus, <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, +<a href="#iv23">23</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">died at Easter, <a href="#iv42">iv. 42</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his sons robbed of their possessions by a heartless intriguer, <a href="#iv42">iv. 42</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Vulcanian Islands (<i>Lipari</i>), a murderer banished to, <a href="#iii47">iii. 47</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>W.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Walamir (<i>see</i> <a href="#Unalamer">Unalamer</a>).<br /> +<br /> +Warni (or Guarni), King of, appealed to by Theodoric to prevent war between Clovis and Alaric, <a href="#iii3">iii. 3</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Water-clock, description of, to be made by Boetius for Gundibad, <a href="#i45">i. 45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Water-finder has come from Africa to Rome, <a href="#iii53">iii. 53</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">description of his art, <a href="#iii53">iii. 53</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Wine, Acinaticium, <a href="#xii4">xii. 4</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Palmatiana, <a href="#xii12">xii. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Gaza, <a href="#xii12">xii. 12</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sabine, <a href="#xii12">xii. 12</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Winithar (<i>see</i> <a href="#Munitarius">Munitarius</a>).<br /> +<br /> +Winusiad, Comes, Governor of Ticinum, recommended to visit baths of Bormio, <a href="#x29">x. 29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Witigis (or Vitigis), King of the Goths (536-540), proclamation announcing his accession, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>; <a href="#x31">x. 31</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters written in the name of, <a href="#x32">x. 32</a>-35;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his vengeance on Theodahad, <a href="#x32">x. 32</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his marriage with Matasuentha, <a href="#x32">x. 32</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">his siege of Rome, <a href="#Page_506">506</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">possibly alluded to in <a href="#xii19">xii. 19</a>; +<a href="#Page_509">509</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">the Burgundians' fear of him, <a href="#xii28">xii. 28</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Witigisclus (or Wigisicla), Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, severely rebuked for acts of oppression, <a href="#ix12">ix. 12</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>Z.<br /> +</b> +<br /> +Zeno, Emperor (474-491), his concessions to Theodoric, <a href="#x22">x. 22</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Printed at the University Press, Oxford</i></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>By</i> <span class="smcap">Horace Hart</span>, <i>Printer to the University</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h3><a name="FOOTNOTES">FOOTNOTES</a></h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> We get these titles from the Notitia Occidentis I.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> [See + <a href="#Footnote_1_1">previous footnote</a>.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> On the authority of a letter of Pope Gelasius, 'Philippo +et Cassiodoro,' Usener fixes this governorship of Bruttii between the +years 493 and 496 (p. 76).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> De Pontificibus et Sanctis Ecclesiae Eboracensis, p. 843 +of Migne's Second Volume of Alcuin's Works. I owe this quotation to +Adolph Franz.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Preface to Getica (Mommsen's Edition, p. 53).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Epist. XIV. ad Rusticum et Sebastianum (Migne, p. 49).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Nearly all the letters in the + <a href="#BOOK_XI">XIth</a> and <a href="#BOOK_XII">XIIth</a> Books of the +Variae are headed 'Senator Praefectus Praetorio.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">'Adtollit se diva Lacinia contra,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Caulonisque arces, et navifragum Scylaceum.'<br /></span> +<span class="i16">(iii. 552-3.)<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> p. 375: ed. Oxon. 1807.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Pliny (Hist. Nat. iii. 10) says: 'Dein sinus Scylacius +et Scyllacium, Scylletium Atheniensibus, cum conderent, dictum: quem +locum occurrens Terinaeus sinus peninsulam efficit: et in eâ portus +qui vocatur Castra Annibalis, nusquam angustiore Italia XX millia +passuum latitudo est.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> I take the two following paragraphs from Lenormant's La +Grande Grèce, pp. 342-3.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> The reference is given by Köpke (Die Anfänge des +Königthums, p. 88) as 'De scr. ecc. 212 Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica, ed. +Fabricius, p. 58;' by Thorbecke (p. 8) as 'Catalogus seu liber +scriptorum ecclesiasticorum, Coloniae 1546, p. 94.' Franz (p. 4) +quotes from the same edition as Köpke, 'De script. eccl. c. 212 in +Fabricii biblioth. eccl., Hamburgi 1728, iii. p. 58.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> The Anecdoton Holderi.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> Cassiodorus the First, born about 390; the Second, about +420; the Third, about 450.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Or possibly 501.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> This fact, and also the cause of Senator's promotion to +the Quaestorship, we learn from the Anecdoton Holderi described in a +following <a href="#CHAPTER_II">chapter</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> The terms Adsessor, Consiliarius, <span lang="el" title="Greek: Paredros">Παρεδρος</span>, +<span lang="el" title="Greek: Symboulos">Συμβουλος</span>, seem all to indicate the same office.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Cod. Theod. i. 12. 1.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> This seems to be the meaning of Cod. Theod. i. 12. 2. +The gains of the 'filii familias Assessores' were to be protected as +if they were 'castrense peculium.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Some points in this description are taken from Bethmann +Hollweg, Gerichtsverfassung der sinkenden Römischen Reichs, pp. +153-158.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> 'Cassiodorus Senator ... juvenis adeo, dum patris +Cassiodori patricii et praefecti praetorii consiliarius fieret et +laudes Theodorichi regis Gothorum facundissime recitasset, ab eo +quaestor est factus' (Anecdoton Holderi, ap. Usener, p. 4).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> He himself says, or rather makes Theodoric's grandson +say to him, 'Quem <i>primaevum</i> recipiens ad quaestoris officium, mox +reperit [Theodoricus] conscientiâ praeditum, et legum eruditione +maturum' (Var. <a href="#ix24">ix. 24</a>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> At this time the Illustres actually in office would +probably be the Praefectus Praetorio Italiae (Cassiodorus the father), +the Praefectus Urbis Romae, the two Magistri Militum in Praesenti, the +Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi, the Magister Officiorum, the Quaestor, the +Comes Sacrarum Largitionum, the Comes Rerum Privatarum, and the two +Comites Domesticorum Equitum et Peditum.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> 'Sub dispositione viri illustris Quaestoris +</p> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +Leges dictandae<br /> +Preces.<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p> +Officium non habet sed adjutores de scriniis quos voluerit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Officium non habet.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#i35">i. 35</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> Echeneis.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> Jordanes, De Rebus Geticis, lvii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> Theodorus Lector (circa 550), Eccl. Hist. ii. 18. Both +he and some later writers who borrow from him call the King +<span lang="el" title="Greek: Theoderichos ho Aphros">Θεοδεριχος 'ο Αφρος</span>; +why, it is impossible to say.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#ii27">ii. 27</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Die + <b><a href="#err2">Uterwerfung</a></b> der Alamannen: Strassburg, 1884.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> Especially Binding, Geschichte des +Burgundisch-Romanischen Königreichs, p. 181.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> + <a href="#ix24">ix. 24</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> Thorbecke has pointed out (pp. 40-41) that we possess +letters written by Cassiodorus to four Quaestors before the year 510, +and that therefore the fact of others holding the nominal office of +Quaestor did not circumscribe his activity as Secretary to Theodoric.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> It need hardly be explained that, as a matter of +compliment to the reigning Emperor, the first Consulship that fell +vacant after his accession to the throne was (I believe invariably) +filled by him, and that though he might sometimes have held the office +of Consul before his assumption of the diadem, this was not often the +case. Certainly, in the instances given above, Probus, Carus, and +Diocletian held no Consulships till after they had been saluted as +Emperors.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> Clinton's date for this battle, 403, differs from that +assigned by Cassiodorus, and is, in my judgment, erroneous.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> Abhandlungen der philologisch-historischen Klasse der +Königlich Sächsischen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften, iii. 547-696.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> 'Dass die ganze Procedur von der übelsten Art ist und +den viel gefeierten gothischen Historiker in jeder weise +compromittirt, bedarf keiner Ausaneindersetzung' (l.c. 564).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> It could not have been written, at any rate in its +present shape, before 516, because Athalaric's birth is mentioned in +it. I prefer Jordanes' date for this event, 516 or 517, to that given +by Procopius, 518. On the other hand, Usener proves (p. 74), from the +reference to it in the Anecdoton Holderi, that it could not have been +written after 521.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#ix25">ix. 25</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> 'Iste Amalos cum generis <i>sui</i> claritate restituit.' +Perhaps it is better to take 'sui' as equivalent to 'illorum,' and +translate 'their lineage.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> 'Ut sicut fuistis a majoribus vestris semper nobiles +aestimati, ita vobis rerum antiqua progenies imperaret.' For 'rerum' +we must surely read 'regum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> My meaning would be better expressed by the useful +German word 'voraussetzungslosigkeit,' freedom from a foregone +conclusion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> Jordanes, De Reb. Get. xiii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> 'De Rebus Geticis,' or 'De Gothorum Origine,' is the +name by which this little treatise is usually known. It seems to be +doubtful, however, what title, if any, Jordanes himself prefixed to +it. Mommsen calls it simply 'Getica.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> Especially Schirren, 'De Ratione quae inter Jordanem et +Cassiodorum intercedat' (Dorpat, 1858); Sybel, 'De Fontibus Libri +Jordanis' (Berlin, 1838); and Köpke, 'Die Anfänge des Königthums bei +den Gothen' (Berlin, 1859).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> <i>Possibly</i> in the end Bishop of Crotona, or a Defensor +of the Roman Church, since we find a Jordanes in each of these +positions; but this is mere guesswork, and to me neither theory seems +probable.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> 'Sed ut non mentiar, ad triduanam lectionem +dispensatoris ejus beneficio libros ipsos antehac relegi.' +Notwithstanding the 'ut non mentiar,' most of those who have enquired +into the subject have come to the opinion which is bluntly expressed +by Usener (p. 73), 'Die dreitägige Frist die Jordanes zur Benutzung +der 12 Bücher gehabt haben will, <i>ist natürlich Schwindel</i>.' Even by +an expert précis-writer a loan of three months would be much more +probably needed for the purpose indicated by Jordanes than one of +three days.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> This was probably 521 at latest.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> The language of Cassiodorus in Var. + <a href="#ix24">ix. 24</a> implies that +he had held this office for a considerable time before the death of +Theodoric. Usener thinks that he was made Magister Officiorum for the +first time about the year 518.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> They are 'Scutariorum prima, secunda et tertia, +armaturarum seniorum et gentilium seniorum' (Notitia Occidentis, cap. +ix.).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> This is the account of the matter given by Lydus (De +Magistratibus ii. 10); but as the Notitia (Or. xi.) puts the 'Curiosus +Cursus Publici Praesentalis' under the disposition of the Magister +Officiorum, the retransfer had probably not then taken place. It would +seem also from the Formula of Cassiodorus (Var. <a href="#vi6">vi. 6</a>) that in his +time the Magister Officiorum still had the charge of the Cursus +Publicus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> Variarum + <a href="#ix25">ix. 25</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> The meaning apparently is: 'The experience which he had +gained in Theodoric's service was employed for the advantage of his +grandson.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#ix24">ix. 24</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> 'Diutius quidem differendo pro te cunctorum vota +lassavimus, ut benevolentiam in te probaremus generalitatis, et +cunctis desiderabilior advenires.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#vi3">vi. 3</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> Joannes Lydus, De Dignitatibus ii. 7, 8, 9, 13, 14.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> Bethmann Hollweg (pp. 75, 76) enumerates the functions +of the Praetorian Praefect thus: '(1) <i>Legislative.</i> He promulgated +the Imperial laws, and issued edicts which had almost the force of +laws. (2) <i>Financial.</i> The general tax (indictio, delegatio) ordered +by the Emperor for the year, was proclaimed by each Praefect for his +own Praefecture. Through his officials he took part in the levy of the +tax, and had a special State-chest (arca praetoria) for the proceeds. +(3) <i>Administrative.</i> The Praefect proposed the names of provincial +governors, handed to them their salaries, had a general oversight of +them, issued rescripts on the information furnished by them, and could +as their ordinary Judge inflict punishments upon them, even depose +them from their offices, and temporarily nominate substitutes to act +in their places. (4) <i>Judicial</i>, as the highest Judge of Appeal.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> See authorities quoted by Bethmann Hollweg, pp. 79, 80.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: horkois deinotatois">'ορκοις δεινοτατοις</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> Variarum + <a href="#iv39">iv. 39</a> and <a href="#v12">v. 12</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> The dates of the death of Athalaric and deposition of +Amalasuentha are given by Agnellus in his Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae +Ravennatis, p. 322 (in the edition comprised in the Monumenta +Germaniae Historica).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> We do not seem to have the precise date of the death of +Amalasuentha, but apparently it happened about the month of May, 535.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> De Bello Gotthico, i. 6.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> The situation of this plain is unknown.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#x31">x. 31</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> We get this date only from Agnellus (loc. cit. p. 522).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#xii20">xii. 20</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#xii22">xii. 22</a>, <a href="#xii23">23</a>, <a href="#xii24">24</a>, + <a href="#xii27">27</a>, <a href="#xii28">28</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#xii25">xii. 25</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> 'Cum jam suscepti operis optato fine gauderem, meque +duodecim voluminibus jactatum quietis portus exciperet, ubi etsi non +laudatus, certe liberatus adveneram, amicorum me suave collegium in +salum rursus cogitationis expressit, postulans ut aliqua quae tam in +libris sacris, quam in saecularibus abstrusa compereram de animae +substantiâ, vel de ejus virtutibus aperirem, cui datum est tam +ingentium rerum secreta reserare: addens nimis ineptum esse si eam per +quam plura cognoscimus, quasi a nobis alienam ignorare patiamur, dum +ad anima sit utile nosse qua sapimus' (De Animâ, Praefatio).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> Fifty-eight, if the retirement was in 538.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> 'Nam si vos in monasterio Vivariensi divinâ gratia +suffragante coenobiorum consuetudo competenter erudiat, et aliquid +sublimius defaecatis animis optare contingat, habetis mentis Castelli +secreta suavia, ubi velut anachoritae (praestante Domino) feliciter +esse possitis' (De Inst. Div. Litt. xxix.).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> 'Invitat vos locus Vivariensis monasterii ... quando +habetis hortos irriguos, et piscosi amnis Pellenae fluenta vicina, qui +nec magnitudine undarum suspectus habetur, nec exiguitate temnibilis. +Influit vobis arte moderatus, ubicunque necessarius judicatur et +hortis vestris sufficiens et molendinis.... Maria quoque vobis ita +subjacent, ut piscationibus variis pateant; et captus piscis, cum +libuerit, vivariis possit includi. Fecimus enim illic (juvante Deo) +grata receptacula ubi sub claustro fideli vagetur piscium multitudo; +ita consentanea montium speluncis, ut nullatenus se sentiat captum, +cui libertas eat escas sumere, et per solitas se cavernas +abscondere.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> 'Balnea quoque congruenter aegris praeparata corporibus +jussimus aedificari, ubi fontium perspicuitas decenter illabitur, quae +et potui gratissima cognoscitur et lavacris.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> But the words of Trithemius (quoted by Migne, Patrologia +lxix. 498), 'Hic post aliquot conversionis suae annos abbas electus +est, et monasterio multo tempore utiliter praefuit,' <i>may</i> preserve a +genuine and accurate tradition. Cassiodorus' mention of the two +Abbots, Chalcedonius and Geruntius (De Inst. Div. Litt. cap. xxxii.) +shows that at any rate in the infancy of his monasteries he was not +Abbot of either of them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> Agapetus was Pope in 535 and 536.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> 'Nisus sum ergo cum beatissimo Agapeto papa urbis Romae, +ut sicut apud Alexandriam multo tempore fuisse traditur institutum, +nunc etiam in Nisibi civitate Syrorum ab Hebraeis sedulo fertur +exponi, collatis expensis in urbe Romana professos doctores scholae +potius acciperent Christianae, unde et anima susciperet aeternam +salutem, et casto atque purissimo eloquio fidelium lingua comeretur' +(De Inst. Praefatio).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> The 30th of the De Institutione Div. Litt.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> For instance, in cap. xv., after cautioning his copyists +against rash corrections of apparent faults in the sacred MSS., he +says: 'Ubicunque paragrammata in disertis hominibus [i.e. in classical +authors] reperta fuerint, intrepidus vitiosa recorrigat.' And the +greater part of cap. xxviii. is an argument against 'respuere +saecularium litterarum studia.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> Paravimus etiam nocturnis vigiliis mechanicas lucernas, +conservatrices illuminantium flammarum, ipsas sibi nutrientes +incendium, quae humano ministerio cessante, prolixe custodiant +uberrimi luminis abundantissimam claritatem; ubi olei pinguedo non +deficit, quamvis flammis ardentibus jugitor torreatur.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> 'In Psalterio et Prophetis et Epistolis apostolorum +studium maximum laboris impendi.... Quos ego cunctos novem codices +auctoritatis divinae (ut senex potui) sub collatione priscorum codicum +amicis ante me legentibus, sedula lectione transivi' (De Inst. +Praefatio). We should have expected 'tres' rather than 'novem,' as the +Psalter, the Prophets, and the Epistles each formed one codex.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> I take my account of this treatise chiefly from Franz +(pp. 93-100).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> Printed hitherto as two works, De Institutione Divinarum +Litterarum, and De Artibus ac Disciplinis Liberalium Litterarum. But, +as Ebert has shown (i. 477), the Preface to the Orthographiâ makes it +probable that these two really formed one book, with a title like that +given above.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> 'In Italico regno.' These words seem to favour the +conjecture that Theodoric may have called himself King of Italy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> As a specimen of this better style of Cassiodorus, I may +refer to his praises of the life of the literary monk, and his +exhortation to him who is of duller brain to practise gardening: +'Quapropter toto nisu, toto labore, totis desideriis exquiramus ut ad +tale tantumque munus, Domino largiente, pervenire mereamur. Hoc enim +nobis est salutare, proficuum, gloriosum, perpetuum, quod nulla mors, +nulla mobilitas, nulla possit separare oblivio; sed in illa suavitate +patriae, cum Domino faciet aeterna exsultatione gaudere. Quod si +alicui fratrum, ut meminit Virgilius, +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Frigidus obstiterit circum praecordia sanguis,"<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +ut nec humanis nec divinis litteris perfecte possit erudiri, aliqua +tamen scientiae mediocritate suffultus, eligat certe quod sequitur, +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Rura mihi et rigui placeant in vallibus amnes."<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +Quia nec ipsum est a monachis alienum hortos colere, agros exercere, +et pomorum fecunditate gratulari; legitur enim in Psalmo centesimo +vigesimo septimo, "Labores manuum tuarum manducabis; beatus es et bene +tibi erit."'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a>1. Octateuchus (Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, Ruth). +</p><p> +2. Kings (Samuel and Kings, Chronicles). +</p><p> +3. Prophets (Four Major, including Daniel, and Twelve Minor). +</p><p> +4. Psalms. +</p><p> +5. Solomon (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles, Wisdom, +Ecclesiasticus). +</p><p> +6. Hagiographa (Tobias, Esther, Judith, Maccabees, Esdras). +</p><p> +7. Gospels. +</p><p> +8. Epistles of the Apostles (including that to the Hebrews). +</p><p> +9. Acts of the Apostles and Apocalypse.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> The remarks on Marcellinus Comes and Prosper are worth +transcribing: 'Hunc [Eusebium] subsecutus est suprascriptus +Marcellinus Illyricianus, qui adhuc patricii Justiniani fertur egisse +cancellos; sed meliore conditione devotus, a tempore Theodosii +principis usque ad finem imperii triumphalis Augusti Justiniani opus +suum, Domino juvante, perduxit; ut qui ante fuit in obsequio suscepto +gratus, postea ipsius imperio copiose amantissimus appareret.' [The +allusion to 'finem imperii Justiniani' was probably added in a later +revision of the Institutiones.] 'Sanctus quoque Prosper Chronica ab +Adam ad Genserici tempora et urbis Romae depraedationem usque +perduxit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> They were a compilation from the 'Artes' of Donatus, +from a book on Etymologies (perhaps also by Donatus), and from a +treatise by Sacerdos on Schemata; and a short Table of Contents of the +Books of Scripture, prepared in such a form as to be easily committed +to memory.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> Ad amantissimos orthographos discutiendos anno aetatis +meae nonagesimo tertio (Domino adjuvante) perveni.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> They were Donatus, Cn. Cornutus, Velius Longus, Curtius +Valerianus, Papirianus, Adamantius Martyrius, Eutiches, Caesellius, +Lucius Caecilius, and 'Priscianus grammaticus, qui nostro tempore +Constantinopoli doctor fuit.' Two names seem to be omitted by +Cassiodorus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> As stated by Ebert (p. 481).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> Cap. xv.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> In assigning the death of Cassiodorus to the +ninety-sixth year of his age I rest upon the authority of Trittheim +(as quoted in the earlier part of this chapter), who appears to me to +have preserved the chronology which was generally accepted, before the +question became entangled by the confusion between Cassiodorus and his +father.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> See Scrivener, Plain Introduction to the Criticism of +the New Testament, pp. 133-4.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> I have adopted the emendations—most of them the +corrections of obvious mistakes—which are suggested by Usener.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> In the original, 'Casiodorū.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> In the original, 'ex quibus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> De Bello Gotthico iii. 13 (p. 328, ed. Bonn).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> If Usener be right (and he has worked up this point +with great care), we can trace the following links in the pedigree of +Cethegus (see pp. 6 and 11): +</p> +<p style="text-align: center">Rufius Petronius <i>Placidus</i>, Consul 481.<br /> +|<br /> +Rufius Petronius Anicius <i>Probinus</i>, Consul 489.<br /> +|<br /> +Rufius Petronius Nicomachus <i>Cethegus</i>, Consul 504, correspondent of Cassiodorus.<br /> +</p> +<p> +Probinus and Cethegus are referred to by Ennodius in his letter to +Ambrosius and Beatus, otherwise called his Paraenesis (p. 409, ed. +Hartel).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> Caput Senati. This, not Caput Senatus, is the form +which we find in Anon. Valesii. Usener suggests (p. 32) that Symmachus +probably became Caput Senati on the death of Festus, who had held that +position from 501 to 506.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> See Usener, p. 29. The Consules Ordinarii for that year +were Arcadius and Honorius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> Jordanes, Getica xv.: 'Nam, ut dicit Symmachus in +quinto suae historiae libro, Maximinus ... ab exercitus effectus est +imperator.' 'Occisus Aquileia a Puppione regnum reliquit Philippo; +quod nos huic nostro opusculo de Symmachi hystoria [sic] mutuavimus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> Chiefly derived from the Paraenesis of Ennodius (Opusc. +vi.).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> In the Paraenesis.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> Usener's suggestion (pp. 38, 39) that he obtained this +honour in consequence of having filled the place of <i>Comes Sacrarum +Largitionum</i> seems to me only to land us in the further difficulty +caused by the entire omission of all allusion to this fact both in the +Paraenesis and in the Anecdoton Holderi.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_108_108" id="Footnote_108_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> See Var. + <a href="#i10">i. 10</a> and <a href="#i45">45</a>; <a href="#ii40">ii. 40</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_109_109" id="Footnote_109_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> De l'Origine des Traditions sur le Christianisme de +Boèce (Paris, 1861.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_110_110" id="Footnote_110_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> The existence of this title is proved not only by the +language of Arcadius in the Theodosian Code x. 25. 1, concerning +'Nobilissimae puellae, filiae meae,' but also by Zosimus (ii. 39), who +says that Constantine bestowed the dignity of Nobilissimus on his +brother Constantius and his nephew Hannibalianus (<span lang="el" title="Greek: tês tou +legomenou nôbelissimou par' autou Kônstantinou tuchontes axias aidoi +tês syngeneias">της του λεγομενου +νωβελισσιμου +παρ' αυτου +Κωνσταντινου +τυχοντες αξιας +αιδοι της συγγενειας</span>); and by Marcellinus Comes, s. a. 527, who says: +'Justinus Imperator Justinianum ex sorore suâ nepotem, jamdudum a se +Nobilissimum designatum, participem quoque regni ani, successoremque +creavit.' It is evident that the title did not come by right of birth, +but that some sort of declaration of it was necessary.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_111_111" id="Footnote_111_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111_111"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#iii15">iii. 15</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_112_112" id="Footnote_112_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112_112"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#viii23">viii. 23</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_113_113" id="Footnote_113_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113_113"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#vi4">vi. 4</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_114_114" id="Footnote_114_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114_114"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#vi8">vi. 8</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_115_115" id="Footnote_115_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115_115"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> I think the usual account of the matter is that which I +have given elsewhere (Italy and her Invaders, i. 227), that the Comes +had military command in the Diocese and the Dux in the Province. But +on closer examination I cannot find that the Notitia altogether bears +out this view. It gives us for the Western Empire eight Comites and +twelve Duces. The former pretty nearly correspond to the Dioceses, but +the latter are far too few for the Provinces, which number forty-two, +excluding all the Provinces of Italy. Besides, in some cases the +jurisdiction appears to be the same. Thus we have both a Dux and a +Comes Britanniarum, and the Dux Mauritaniae Caesariensis must, one +would think, have held command in a region as large or larger than the +Comes Tingitaniae. Again, we have a Comes Argentoratensis and a Dux +Moguntiacensis, two officers whose power, one would think, was pretty +nearly equal. The same may perhaps be said of the Comes Litoris +Saxonici in Britain and the Dux Tractus Armoricani et Nervicani in +Gaul. While recognising a <i>general</i> inferiority of the Dux to the +Comes, I do not think we can, with the Notitia before us, assert that +the Provincial Duces were regularly subordinated to the Diocesan +Comes, as the Provincial Consulares were to the Diocesan Vicarius. And +the fact that both Comes and Dux were addressed as Spectabilis rather +confirms this view.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_116_116" id="Footnote_116_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116_116"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> Probably, from the order in which they are mentioned by +the Notitia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_117_117" id="Footnote_117_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117_117"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> Sublimis occurs in the superscription of the following +letters: <a href="#i2">i. 2</a>; <a href="#iv17">iv. 17</a>; <a href="#v25">v. 25</a>, + <a href="#v30">30</a>, and <a href="#v36">36</a>; <a href="#ix11">ix. 11</a> and + <a href="#ix14">14</a>; <a href="#xii5">xii. 5</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_118_118" id="Footnote_118_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118_118"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> See Emil Kühn's Verfassung des Römischen Reichs i. 182, +and the passages quoted there.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_119_119" id="Footnote_119_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119_119"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> p. 31.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_120_120" id="Footnote_120_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120_120"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> To illustrate the + <a href="#BOOK_XI">Eleventh Book</a> of the Variae, Letters +<a href="#xi18">18</a> to <a href="#xi35">35</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_121_121" id="Footnote_121_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121_121"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> See + <a href="#Page_95">Table, p. 94</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_122_122" id="Footnote_122_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122_122"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> To use a modern illustration, we might perhaps say that +the Notitia Dignitatum = Whitaker's Almanac + the Army List.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_123_123" id="Footnote_123_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123_123"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> See also Var. + <a href="#vii24">vii. 24</a> and <a href="#vii28">28</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_124_124" id="Footnote_124_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124_124"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> De Mag. iii. 3, 4.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_125_125" id="Footnote_125_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125_125"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> Lydus here gives the Formula for the admission of +assistants, 'et colloca eum in legione primâ adjutrice nostrâ,' which +he proceeds to translate into Greek for the benefit of his readers +(<span lang="el" title="Greek: kai taxeias auton en tô prôtô tagmati tô boêthounti hêmin">και ταξειας αυτον εν τω πρωτω ταγματι τω βοηθουντι 'ημιν</span>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_126_126" id="Footnote_126_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126_126"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> I have slightly expanded a sentence here, but this is +evidently the author's meaning.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_127_127" id="Footnote_127_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127_127"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> Condensed from Lydus, De Mag. iii. 4-7.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_128_128" id="Footnote_128_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128_128"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> Ib. iii. 22-24.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_129_129" id="Footnote_129_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129_129"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> This seems to be the meaning of Lydus, but it is not +clearly expressed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_130_130" id="Footnote_130_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130_130"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> There is something wanting in the text here.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_131_131" id="Footnote_131_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131_131"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> See Cod. Theod. vi. 29. 8, which looks rather like the +law alluded to by Lydus, notwithstanding his remark about its +omission.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_132_132" id="Footnote_132_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132_132"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: tô kreittoni">τω κρειττονι</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_133_133" id="Footnote_133_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133_133"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: ek tou bathmou">εκ του βαθμου</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_134_134" id="Footnote_134_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134_134"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> De Mag. iii. 25.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_135_135" id="Footnote_135_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135_135"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: apo tôn legomenôn kompleusimôn">απο +των λεγομενων +κομπλευσιμων</span>, apparently the +same source of revenue as the promotion-money (<span lang="el" title="Greek: tên ek tou bathmou pronomian">την εκ του +βαθμου προνομιαν</span>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_136_136" id="Footnote_136_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136_136"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> De Mag. iii. 4.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_137_137" id="Footnote_137_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137_137"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: meta de ton kornikoularion primiskrinioi duo, ous Hellênes prôtous tês taxeôs kalousi">μετα +δε τον κορνικουλαριον +πριμισκρινιοι +δυο, ους 'Ηλληνες +πρωτους της +ταξεως καλουσι</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_138_138" id="Footnote_138_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138_138"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> De Mag. iii. 11.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_139_139" id="Footnote_139_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139_139"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: parêei pros tous primiskrinious taxantas ekbibastên tois apopephasmenois">παρηει +προς τους πριμισκρινιους +ταξαντας εκβιβαστην τοις +αποπεφασμενοις</span>. +Probably we should read <span lang="el" title="Greek: taxontas">ταξοντας</span> +for <span lang="el" title="Greek: taxantas">ταξαντας</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_140_140" id="Footnote_140_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140_140"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: eplêroun dia tôn boêthein autois tetagmenôn">επληρουν +δια των βοηθειν +αυτοις τεταγμενων</span> +(? Adjutores).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_141_141" id="Footnote_141_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141_141"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: epi tou nôtou tês entuchias grammasin aidous autothen apasês kai exousias onkô sesobêmenois">επι +του νωτου της +εντυχιας γραμμασιν +αιδους αυτοθεν +απασης και εξουσιας +ογκω σεσοβημενοις</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_142_142" id="Footnote_142_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142_142"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: kommentarisioi duo (houtô de tous epi tôn hypomnêmatôn graphê tattomenous ho nomos kalei">κομμενταρισιοι +δυο ('ουτω δε τους +επι των 'υπομνηματων +γραφη ταττομενους +'ο νομος καλει</span>) (iii. 4). I accept +the necessary emendation of the text proposed in the Bonn edition.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_143_143" id="Footnote_143_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143_143"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> To avoid confusion I will use the term +'Commentariensis' throughout.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_144_144" id="Footnote_144_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144_144"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> So Bethmann Hollweg (p. 179), 'Diess ist der Gehülfe +des Magistrats bei Verwaltung der Criminaljustiz.' I compare him in +the following translation of Cassiodorus to a 'magistrate's clerk.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_145_145" id="Footnote_145_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145_145"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> See iii. 9 (p. 203, ed. Bonn), and combine with iii. +16. The <i>Augustales</i> referred to in the latter passage were a higher +class of Exceptores.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_146_146" id="Footnote_146_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146_146"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> Applicitarii, Clavicularii, Lictores.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_147_147" id="Footnote_147_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147_147"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: sidêreois desmois kai poinaiôn organôn kai plêktrôn poikilia saleuontôn tô phobô to dikastêrion">σιδηρεοις +δεσμοις και ποιναιων +οργανων και πληκτρων +ποικιλια σαλευοντων +τω φοβω το δικαστηριον</span> +(iii. 16).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_148_148" id="Footnote_148_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148_148"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: kai koinônêsantos autô tês basileias">και +κοινωνησαντος +αυτω της βασιλειας</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_149_149" id="Footnote_149_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149_149"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: hote Kôadês ho Persês ephlegmaine">'οτε +Κωαδης 'ο Περσης +εφλεγμαινε</span>. The whole +passage is mysterious, but we seem to have here an allusion to the +outbreak of the Persian War (<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 502).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_150_150" id="Footnote_150_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150_150"><span class="label">[150]</span></a> iii. 17 (p. 210).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_151_151" id="Footnote_151_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_151_151"><span class="label">[151]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#xi22">xi. 22</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_152_152" id="Footnote_152_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_152_152"><span class="label">[152]</span></a> This seems to be Bethmann Hollweg's view (p. 181).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_153_153" id="Footnote_153_153"></a><a href="#FNanchor_153_153"><span class="label">[153]</span></a> This we learn from iii. 20. They are not mentioned in +iii. 4, where we should have expected to find them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_154_154" id="Footnote_154_154"></a><a href="#FNanchor_154_154"><span class="label">[154]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: hex andres erastoi kai nounechestatoi kai sphrigôntes eti">'εξ +ανδρες εραστοι +και νουνεχεστατοι +και σφριγωντες +ετι</span> (Lydus iii. 20).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_155_155" id="Footnote_155_155"></a><a href="#FNanchor_155_155"><span class="label">[155]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: rhegestôn ê kottidianôn (anti tou ephêmerôn)">'ρεγεστων +η κοττιδιανων +(αντι του εφημερων)</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_156_156" id="Footnote_156_156"></a><a href="#FNanchor_156_156"><span class="label">[156]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: Italisti">Ιταλιστι</span>. +Of course the emphasis laid on this +point proceeds from the Greek nationality of our present authority.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_157_157" id="Footnote_157_157"></a><a href="#FNanchor_157_157"><span class="label">[157]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: sabanon">σαβανον</span> += a towel.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_158_158" id="Footnote_158_158"></a><a href="#FNanchor_158_158"><span class="label">[158]</span></a> Except, as before stated, those in the office of the +Praetorian Praefect for Illyricum. These were four in number, and one +of them had charge of 'gold,' another of '[public] works.' Further +information is requisite to enable us to explain these entries.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_159_159" id="Footnote_159_159"></a><a href="#FNanchor_159_159"><span class="label">[159]</span></a> They are alluded to in Var. + <a href="#xii13">xii. 13</a>. The Canonicarii +(Tax-collectors) had plundered the Churches of Bruttii and Lucania in +the name of 'sedis nostrae Numerarii;' but the Numerarii with holy +horror declared that they had received no part of the spoils.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_160_160" id="Footnote_160_160"></a><a href="#FNanchor_160_160"><span class="label">[160]</span></a> See Bethmann Hollweg, 184.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_161_161" id="Footnote_161_161"></a><a href="#FNanchor_161_161"><span class="label">[161]</span></a> Illustres and Spectabiles.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_162_162" id="Footnote_162_162"></a><a href="#FNanchor_162_162"><span class="label">[162]</span></a> + <a href="#xi24">xi. 24</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_163_163" id="Footnote_163_163"></a><a href="#FNanchor_163_163"><span class="label">[163]</span></a> This is Bethmann Hollweg's interpretation of the words +of Lydus, +<span lang="el" title="Greek: hoi tas men epi tois dêmosiois phoitôsas psêphous graphousi monon, to loipon kataphronoumenoi">'οι +τας μεν επι τοις +δημοσιοις φοιτωσας +ψηφους γραφουσι +μονον, το λοιπον +καταφρονουμενοι</span> +(iii. 21). In another +passage (iii. 4, 5) Lydus appears to assign a reason for the fact that +the Praefectus Urbis Constantinopolitanae, the Magister Militum, and +the Magister Officiorum had no <i>Cura Epistolarum</i> on their staff; but +the paragraph is to me hopelessly obscure. Curiously enough, too, +while he avers that every department of the State (perhaps every +diocese) had, as a rule, its own Curae Epistolarum, he limits the two +in the Praetorian Praefect's office to the diocese of Pontica +(<span lang="el" title="Greek: koura epistolaroum Pontikês duo">κουρα +επιστολαρουμ +Ποντικης δυο</span>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_164_164" id="Footnote_164_164"></a><a href="#FNanchor_164_164"><span class="label">[164]</span></a> The first form of the name is found in the Notitia, the +second in Lydus and Cassiodorus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_165_165" id="Footnote_165_165"></a><a href="#FNanchor_165_165"><span class="label">[165]</span></a> It is not easy to make out exactly what Lydus wishes us +to understand about the Cursus Publicus; but I think his statements +amount to this, that it was taken by Arcadius from the Praetorian +Praefect and given to the Magister Officiorum, was afterwards restored +to the Praefect, and finally was in effect destroyed by the corrupt +administration of John of Cappadocia. (See ii. 10; iii. 21, 61.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_166_166" id="Footnote_166_166"></a><a href="#FNanchor_166_166"><span class="label">[166]</span></a> The +<span lang="el" title="Greek: tachygraphoi">ταχυγραφοι</span> +of Lydus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_167_167" id="Footnote_167_167"></a><a href="#FNanchor_167_167"><span class="label">[167]</span></a> In making this statement I consider the Adjutores to be +virtually another class of Exceptores, and I purposely omit the +Singularii as not belonging to the <i>Militia Litterata</i>, which alone I +am now considering.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_168_168" id="Footnote_168_168"></a><a href="#FNanchor_168_168"><span class="label">[168]</span></a> iii. 6, 9.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_169_169" id="Footnote_169_169"></a><a href="#FNanchor_169_169"><span class="label">[169]</span></a> I think this is a fair summary of Lydus iii. 9 and 10, +but these paragraphs are very difficult and obscure.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_170_170" id="Footnote_170_170"></a><a href="#FNanchor_170_170"><span class="label">[170]</span></a> We should certainly have expected that the Augustales +would be those writers who were specially appropriated to the +Emperor's service, but the other conclusion necessarily follows from +the language of Lydus (iii. 10): <span lang="el" title="Greek: hôste kai pentekaideka ex +autôn tôn pepanôterôn peira te kai tô chronô kreittonôn pros +hypographên tois basileusin aphoristhênai, ous eti kai nun dêpoutatous +kalousin, hoi tou tagmatos tôn Augoustaliôn prôteuousin">'ωστε +και πεντεκαιδεκα +εξ αυτων των πεπανωτερων +πειρα τε και τω +χρονω κρειττονων +προς 'υπογραφην +τοις βασιλευσιν +αφορισθηναι, ους +ετι και νυν δηπουτατους +καλουσιν, 'οι του +ταγματος των Αυγουσταλιων +πρωτευουσιν</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_171_171" id="Footnote_171_171"></a><a href="#FNanchor_171_171"><span class="label">[171]</span></a> The form of the word must I think prevent us from +applying the Princeps <i>Augustorum</i> of <a href="#xi35">xi. 35</a> to the same class of +officers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_172_172" id="Footnote_172_172"></a><a href="#FNanchor_172_172"><span class="label">[172]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: tous epi tais logikais tetagmenous leitourgiais">τους +επι ταις λογικαις +τεταγμενους +λειτουργιαις</span> +(Lydus iii. 7). +<span lang="el" title="Greek: Peras men hode tôn logikôn tês taxeôs systêmatôn">Περας +μεν 'οδε των λογικων +της ταξεως συστηματων</span> +(iii. 21). The 'Learned Service' may be taken as +corresponding to 'a post fit for a gentleman,' in modern phraseology. +In our present Official Directories the members of the +<span lang="el" title="Greek: logikê taxis">λογικη +ταξις</span> appear to be all dignified with the +title 'Esq.;' the others have only 'Mr.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_173_173" id="Footnote_173_173"></a><a href="#FNanchor_173_173"><span class="label">[173]</span></a> Occidentis ix. 15.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_174_174" id="Footnote_174_174"></a><a href="#FNanchor_174_174"><span class="label">[174]</span></a> In Var. + <a href="#xi6">xi. 6</a>, which see.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_175_175" id="Footnote_175_175"></a><a href="#FNanchor_175_175"><span class="label">[175]</span></a> iii. 36, 37.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_176_176" id="Footnote_176_176"></a><a href="#FNanchor_176_176"><span class="label">[176]</span></a> About twelve shillings.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_177_177" id="Footnote_177_177"></a><a href="#FNanchor_177_177"><span class="label">[177]</span></a> This derivation from casses is, of course, absurd.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_178_178" id="Footnote_178_178"></a><a href="#FNanchor_178_178"><span class="label">[178]</span></a> Can this be the meaning of +<span lang="el" title="Greek: eis plêthos">εις πληθος</span>?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_179_179" id="Footnote_179_179"></a><a href="#FNanchor_179_179"><span class="label">[179]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: Kompophakellorrêmosynê">Κομποφακελλορρημοσυνη</span> += Pomp-bundle-wordiness, an Aristophanic word.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_180_180" id="Footnote_180_180"></a><a href="#FNanchor_180_180"><span class="label">[180]</span></a> De Dignitatibus iii. 7.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_181_181" id="Footnote_181_181"></a><a href="#FNanchor_181_181"><span class="label">[181]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#xi31">xi. 31</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_182_182" id="Footnote_182_182"></a><a href="#FNanchor_182_182"><span class="label">[182]</span></a> This seems a probable explanation of a rather obscure +passage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_183_183" id="Footnote_183_183"></a><a href="#FNanchor_183_183"><span class="label">[183]</span></a> See the following sections of the Notitia: Magister +Militum Praesentatis (Oriens v. 74, vi. 77; Occidens v. 281, vi. 93); +M.M. per Orientem (Or. vii. 67); M.M. per Thracias (Or. viii. 61); +M.M. per Illyricum (Or. ix. 56); Magister Equitum per Gallias (Occ. +vii. 117). The only civil officer who has Apparitores is the Proconsul +Achaiae (Oriens xxi. 14).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_184_184" id="Footnote_184_184"></a><a href="#FNanchor_184_184"><span class="label">[184]</span></a> This edition is described by Dibdin (Bibliotheca +Spenceriana iii. 244-5).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_185_185" id="Footnote_185_185"></a><a href="#FNanchor_185_185"><span class="label">[185]</span></a> p. 492.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_186_186" id="Footnote_186_186"></a><a href="#FNanchor_186_186"><span class="label">[186]</span></a> See Usener, p. 32.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_187_187" id="Footnote_187_187"></a><a href="#FNanchor_187_187"><span class="label">[187]</span></a> Compare Marquardt (Römische Staatsverwaltung ii. 237). +He remarks that the Indiction seems to have been first adopted in +Egypt, and did not come into universal use all over the Empire till +the end of the Fourth Century.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_188_188" id="Footnote_188_188"></a><a href="#FNanchor_188_188"><span class="label">[188]</span></a> The Twelfth Century, according to Marquardt.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_189_189" id="Footnote_189_189"></a><a href="#FNanchor_189_189"><span class="label">[189]</span></a> Vol. ii. pp. 214-216. See his remarks, p. 210: 'The +Indictions in Marcellinus and in the Tables of Du Fresnoy are compared +with the Consulship and the Julian year in which they end. In the +following Table they are compared with the year in which they begin, +because the years of the Christian era are here made the measure of +the rest, and contain the beginnings of all the other epochs.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_190_190" id="Footnote_190_190"></a><a href="#FNanchor_190_190"><span class="label">[190]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#xi6">xi. 6</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_191_191" id="Footnote_191_191"></a><a href="#FNanchor_191_191"><span class="label">[191]</span></a> Var. + <a href="#xii22">xii. 22</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_192_192" id="Footnote_192_192"></a><a href="#FNanchor_192_192"><span class="label">[192]</span></a> Translated in full.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_193_193" id="Footnote_193_193"></a><a href="#FNanchor_193_193"><span class="label">[193]</span></a> 'Alii furiosa contentionum seditione circumdant.' This +is probably meant to describe turbulent Goths.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_194_194" id="Footnote_194_194"></a><a href="#FNanchor_194_194"><span class="label">[194]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: ou chrê pannuchion eudein boulêphoron andra">ου +χρη παννυχιον +ευδειν βουληφορον +ανδρα</span> (Il. ii. 24).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_195_195" id="Footnote_195_195"></a><a href="#FNanchor_195_195"><span class="label">[195]</span></a> 'Quia non sufficit agenda militibus imperare, nisi haec +Judicis assiduitas videatur exigere.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_196_196" id="Footnote_196_196"></a><a href="#FNanchor_196_196"><span class="label">[196]</span></a> 'Addimus etiam quod frequenter Quaesturae vicibus +ingravato otii tempus adimit crebra cogitatio, et velut mediocribus +fascibus insudanti, illa tibi de aliis honoribus principes videntur +imponere, quae proprii Judices nequeunt explicare.' This is probably +the clearest account that is anywhere given of the peculiar and +somewhat undefined position held by Cassiodorus during the greater +part of the reign of Theodoric.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_197_197" id="Footnote_197_197"></a><a href="#FNanchor_197_197"><span class="label">[197]</span></a> 'Regum quinetiam gloriosa colloquia pro magnâ diei +parte in bonum publicum te occupare noverunt.' It is difficult to +translate the expressive term, 'gloriosa colloquia.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_198_198" id="Footnote_198_198"></a><a href="#FNanchor_198_198"><span class="label">[198]</span></a> 'Ut fastidium sit otiosis exspectare quae tu continuo +labore cognosceris sustinere.' I cannot translate this literally.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_199_199" id="Footnote_199_199"></a><a href="#FNanchor_199_199"><span class="label">[199]</span></a> 'Rudes viros et ad Rempublicam consciâ facundiâ +praeparatos.' Surely some negative has dropped out of the latter +clause.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_200_200" id="Footnote_200_200"></a><a href="#FNanchor_200_200"><span class="label">[200]</span></a> 'Tu enim illos assumpsisti verâ laude describere, et +quodammodo historico colore depingere.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_201_201" id="Footnote_201_201"></a><a href="#FNanchor_201_201"><span class="label">[201]</span></a> 'Contingit enim dissimilem filium plerumque generari, +oratio dispar moribus vix potest inveniri.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_202_202" id="Footnote_202_202"></a><a href="#FNanchor_202_202"><span class="label">[202]</span></a> 'Duodecim libris Gothorum historiam <i>defloratis +prosperitatibus</i> condidisti.' By an extraordinary error this sentence +has been interpreted to mean that Cassiodorus wrote his history of the +Goths after their prosperity had faded; and some writers have +accordingly laboured, quite hopelessly, to bring down the composition +of the Gothic History to a late period in the reign of Athalaric. It +is perfectly clear from many passages that Cassiodorus uses +'deflorare' in the sense of 'picking flowers,' 'culling a nosegay.' +See Historia Tripartita, Preface (twice); De Instit. Divin. +Litterarum, cap. xxx; and De Orthographiâ, cap. ii (title). I doubt +not that careful search would discover many more instances. It is only +strange to me that Cassiodorus should, by the words 'defloratis +<i>prosperitatibus</i>,' so naïvely confess the one-sided character of his +history.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_203_203" id="Footnote_203_203"></a><a href="#FNanchor_203_203"><span class="label">[203]</span></a> The editors waver between 'quod est in edicto' and +'quod est in edito (constitutum).'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_204_204" id="Footnote_204_204"></a><a href="#FNanchor_204_204"><span class="label">[204]</span></a> 'Vos totius orbis salutare praesidium, quod caeteri +dominantes jure suspiciunt quia in vobis singulare aliquid inesse +cognoscunt.' 'Suspiciunt' seems to give a better sense than the other +reading, 'suscipiunt.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_205_205" id="Footnote_205_205"></a><a href="#FNanchor_205_205"><span class="label">[205]</span></a> 'Quia in vobis singulare aliquid inesse cognoscunt.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_206_206" id="Footnote_206_206"></a><a href="#FNanchor_206_206"><span class="label">[206]</span></a> 'Illum atque illum.' I shall always render this phrase +(which shows that Cassiodorus had not preserved the names of the +ambassadors) as above.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_207_207" id="Footnote_207_207"></a><a href="#FNanchor_207_207"><span class="label">[207]</span></a> 'Quia pati vos non credimus, inter utrasque +Respublicas, quarum semper unum corpus sub antiquis principibus fuisse +declaratur, aliquid discordiae permanere.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_208_208" id="Footnote_208_208"></a><a href="#FNanchor_208_208"><span class="label">[208]</span></a> 'Pomâ meute deposcimus ne suspendatis a nobis +mansuetudinis vestrae gloriosissimam caritatem.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_209_209" id="Footnote_209_209"></a><a href="#FNanchor_209_209"><span class="label">[209]</span></a> For some remarks on the date of this letter, see +Introduction, <a href="#Page_23">p. 23</a>. The mention of interrupted peace, which evidently +requires not mere estrangement but an actual state of war, points to +the year 505, when Sabinian, the general of Anastasius, was defeated +by the Ostrogoths and their allies at Horrea Margi; or to 508, when +the Imperial fleet made a raid on the coast of Apulia, as probable +dates for the composition of the letter. Its place at the beginning of +the Variae does not at all imply priority in date to the letters which +follow it. It was evidently Cassiodorus' method to put in the +forefront of every book in his collection a letter to an Emperor or +King, or other great personage. +</p><p> +As for the tone of the letter, and the exact character of the relation +between the Courts of Ravenna and Constantinople which is indicated by +it, there is room for a wide divergence of opinion. To me it does not +seem to bear out Justinian's contention (recorded by Procopius, De +Bello Gotthico ii. 6) that Theodoric ruled Italy as the Emperor's +lieutenant. Under all the apparent deference and affectation of +humility the language seems to me to be substantially that of one +equal addressing another, older and with a somewhat more assured +position, but still an equal.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_210_210" id="Footnote_210_210"></a><a href="#FNanchor_210_210"><span class="label">[210]</span></a> Otranto.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_211_211" id="Footnote_211_211"></a><a href="#FNanchor_211_211"><span class="label">[211]</span></a> Vernans.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_212_212" id="Footnote_212_212"></a><a href="#FNanchor_212_212"><span class="label">[212]</span></a> Blatta.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_213_213" id="Footnote_213_213"></a><a href="#FNanchor_213_213"><span class="label">[213]</span></a> I presume the same as Hydruntum (Otranto).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_214_214" id="Footnote_214_214"></a><a href="#FNanchor_214_214"><span class="label">[214]</span></a> Father of the Author.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_215_215" id="Footnote_215_215"></a><a href="#FNanchor_215_215"><span class="label">[215]</span></a> 'In ipso quippe imperii nostri devotus exordio, cum +adhuc fluctuantibus rebus provinciarum corda vagarentur, et negligi +rudem dominum novitas ipsa pateretur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_216_216" id="Footnote_216_216"></a><a href="#FNanchor_216_216"><span class="label">[216]</span></a> Father of Cassiodorus Senator.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_217_217" id="Footnote_217_217"></a><a href="#FNanchor_217_217"><span class="label">[217]</span></a> Grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_218_218" id="Footnote_218_218"></a><a href="#FNanchor_218_218"><span class="label">[218]</span></a> Great-grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_219_219" id="Footnote_219_219"></a><a href="#FNanchor_219_219"><span class="label">[219]</span></a> 'Nec aliqua probatur appellatione suspensa.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_220_220" id="Footnote_220_220"></a><a href="#FNanchor_220_220"><span class="label">[220]</span></a> 'Et venis colludentibus illigata naturalem faciem +laudabiliter mentiantur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_221_221" id="Footnote_221_221"></a><a href="#FNanchor_221_221"><span class="label">[221]</span></a> 'Neotherium fratrem suum, affectum germanitatis +oblitum, <i>bona parvuli hostili furore lacerasse</i>.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_222_222" id="Footnote_222_222"></a><a href="#FNanchor_222_222"><span class="label">[222]</span></a> '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.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_223_223" id="Footnote_223_223"></a><a href="#FNanchor_223_223"><span class="label">[223]</span></a> 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.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_224_224" id="Footnote_224_224"></a><a href="#FNanchor_224_224"><span class="label">[224]</span></a> Why are these called 'Domestici patres equitum et +peditum?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_225_225" id="Footnote_225_225"></a><a href="#FNanchor_225_225"><span class="label">[225]</span></a> Perhaps the name really was Eugenes, -etis. See Var. + <a href="#viii19">viii. 19</a>, and Ennodii, Epist. iv. 26.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_226_226" id="Footnote_226_226"></a><a href="#FNanchor_226_226"><span class="label">[226]</span></a> 'Pio principi sub quodam sacerdotio serviatur.' Cf. +Claudian, 'Nunquam libertas gratior exstat quam <i>sub rege pio</i>.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_227_227" id="Footnote_227_227"></a><a href="#FNanchor_227_227"><span class="label">[227]</span></a> 'Ut quantum eos minus vendidisse constiterit, de +reliquis primae indictionis habita moderatione detrahatis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_228_228" id="Footnote_228_228"></a><a href="#FNanchor_228_228"><span class="label">[228]</span></a> 'Durissimae mansiones.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_229_229" id="Footnote_229_229"></a><a href="#FNanchor_229_229"><span class="label">[229]</span></a> 'Ex quo, Deo propitio, Sonti fluenta transmisimus ubi +primum Italiae nos suscepit imperium.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_230_230" id="Footnote_230_230"></a><a href="#FNanchor_230_230"><span class="label">[230]</span></a> 'Illud enim, propitiante Deo, labores nostros asserit +quod se <i>otiosam</i> generalitas esse cognoscit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_231_231" id="Footnote_231_231"></a><a href="#FNanchor_231_231"><span class="label">[231]</span></a> 'Quapropter illustris magnitudo vestra praesenti +jussione commonita, patrocinium partis Prasini, quod gloriosae +recordationis pater noster impendit, dignanter assumat.' This passage +probably alludes to Theodoric's adoption by Zeno. But one reading is +'pater <i>vester</i>.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_232_232" id="Footnote_232_232"></a><a href="#FNanchor_232_232"><span class="label">[232]</span></a> See for the office of the Sajo, + <a href="#Footnote_253_253">note</a> on <a href="#ii13">ii. 13</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_233_233" id="Footnote_233_233"></a><a href="#FNanchor_233_233"><span class="label">[233]</span></a> I presume that 'portum Lucini' is an error for the +Lucrine harbour; but there is an allusion which I do not understand in +the following passage: 'Simul etiam portubus junctis, qui ad illa loca +antiquitus pertinebant, et nunc diversorum usurpatione suggeruntur +invasi?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_234_234" id="Footnote_234_234"></a><a href="#FNanchor_234_234"><span class="label">[234]</span></a> This is evidently the writer's father.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_235_235" id="Footnote_235_235"></a><a href="#FNanchor_235_235"><span class="label">[235]</span></a> 'Onera indictorum titulorum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_236_236" id="Footnote_236_236"></a><a href="#FNanchor_236_236"><span class="label">[236]</span></a> 'Tributa sunt purpurae, non lacernae.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_237_237" id="Footnote_237_237"></a><a href="#FNanchor_237_237"><span class="label">[237]</span></a> See + <a href="#i23">i. 23</a>, from which it appears that these two men had +special jurisdiction in cases affecting Patricians.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_238_238" id="Footnote_238_238"></a><a href="#FNanchor_238_238"><span class="label">[238]</span></a> See + <a href="#i20">Letter i. 20</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_239_239" id="Footnote_239_239"></a><a href="#FNanchor_239_239"><span class="label">[239]</span></a> + <a href="#i20">Ibid.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_240_240" id="Footnote_240_240"></a><a href="#FNanchor_240_240"><span class="label">[240]</span></a> 'Expensae publicae' perhaps = curatores annonae.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_241_241" id="Footnote_241_241"></a><a href="#FNanchor_241_241"><span class="label">[241]</span></a> For a fuller translation of this marvellous letter, see +Introd. <a href="#Page_18">p. 18</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_242_242" id="Footnote_242_242"></a><a href="#FNanchor_242_242"><span class="label">[242]</span></a> See remarks on this letter in Dahn, Könige der Germanen +iv. 147-8. Some MSS. read Coion or Goinon, as the name of the Senator +to whom it is addressed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_243_243" id="Footnote_243_243"></a><a href="#FNanchor_243_243"><span class="label">[243]</span></a> 'Quae circa referendos curiae priscus ordo +designavit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_244_244" id="Footnote_244_244"></a><a href="#FNanchor_244_244"><span class="label">[244]</span></a> Either 509-510 or 524-525; more probably the former.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_245_245" id="Footnote_245_245"></a><a href="#FNanchor_245_245"><span class="label">[245]</span></a> An unintelligible translation doubtless, but is the +original clearer? 'Burgundionum dominus a nobis magnopere postulavit +ut horologium quod aquis sub modulo fluentibus temperatur et quod +solis immensi comprehensa illuminatione distinguitur ... ei +transmittere deberemus.' It is pretty clear that the first request of +the Burgundian King was for a clepsydra of some kind. The second must +be for some kind of sundial, but the description is very obscure.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_246_246" id="Footnote_246_246"></a><a href="#FNanchor_246_246"><span class="label">[246]</span></a> Evidently 'sic enim Atheniensium scholas longe positus +introisti' does not mean that Boethius actually visited Athens, but +that he became thoroughly at home in the works of Athenian +philosophers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_247_247" id="Footnote_247_247"></a><a href="#FNanchor_247_247"><span class="label">[247]</span></a> 'Portamque dierum tali nomine dicatus annus, tempos +introeat.' The figure here used seems borrowed from Claudian, In +Primum Cons. Stilichonis ii. 425-476.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_248_248" id="Footnote_248_248"></a><a href="#FNanchor_248_248"><span class="label">[248]</span></a> 'Cum soli genitalis fortunâ relictâ, velut quodam +postliminio in antiquam patriam commeasses.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_249_249" id="Footnote_249_249"></a><a href="#FNanchor_249_249"><span class="label">[249]</span></a> 'Ubi praeconium meretur effusio.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_250_250" id="Footnote_250_250"></a><a href="#FNanchor_250_250"><span class="label">[250]</span></a> 'Illud Humani generis procreabile Sacramentum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_251_251" id="Footnote_251_251"></a><a href="#FNanchor_251_251"><span class="label">[251]</span></a> 'Foemina spectabilis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_252_252" id="Footnote_252_252"></a><a href="#FNanchor_252_252"><span class="label">[252]</span></a> 'Retentatores.' So the Gepid Prince is called the +Retentator of Sirmium (Ennodius, Panegyric. Theod. 178. Ed. Migne).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_253_253" id="Footnote_253_253"></a><a href="#FNanchor_253_253"><span class="label">[253]</span></a> The Sajo was an officer, not of very high rank, +apparently always of Gothic nationality, who was charged with +executing the King's mandates. Perhaps our word 'henchman' would be +the best translation of his title. His conventional attribute was +'devotio.' See Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 181-186, and my 'Italy +and her Invaders' iii. 282-284.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_254_254" id="Footnote_254_254"></a><a href="#FNanchor_254_254"><span class="label">[254]</span></a> Quaere if named from the last Emperor.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_255_255" id="Footnote_255_255"></a><a href="#FNanchor_255_255"><span class="label">[255]</span></a> 'Quam etiam ferocitas gentilis expavit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_256_256" id="Footnote_256_256"></a><a href="#FNanchor_256_256"><span class="label">[256]</span></a> Cf. + <a href="#iii9">iii. 9</a> for a similar heading.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_257_257" id="Footnote_257_257"></a><a href="#FNanchor_257_257"><span class="label">[257]</span></a> 'Quod si eos vel ad honores transire jura vetuerunt, +quam videtur esse contrarium, Curialem Reipublicae, amissâ turpiter +libertate, servire? et usque ad conditionem pervenisse postremam quem +vocavit antiquitas <i>Minorem Senatum</i>.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_258_258" id="Footnote_258_258"></a><a href="#FNanchor_258_258"><span class="label">[258]</span></a> 'Cum jam in soli faciem paulatim mollities siccata +duresceret, celatamque longâ voracitate tellurem sol insuetus +afflaret.' I cannot understand these words. I suppose there was a hard +cake of clay left when the water was drained off, which was baked by +the sun, and that there should have been further digging to work +through this stratum and get at the good soil beneath; but the wording +is not very clear.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_259_259" id="Footnote_259_259"></a><a href="#FNanchor_259_259"><span class="label">[259]</span></a> 'Primae transmissionis tempus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_260_260" id="Footnote_260_260"></a><a href="#FNanchor_260_260"><span class="label">[260]</span></a> See Dahn, 'Könige der Germanen' iii. 153 and 112, n. +5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_261_261" id="Footnote_261_261"></a><a href="#FNanchor_261_261"><span class="label">[261]</span></a> Here follows a sentence which I am unable to translate: +'Superbia deinde conductorum canonicos solidos non ordine traditos, +sed sub iniquo pondere imminentibus fuisse projectos nec universam +siliquam quam reddere consueverant solemniter intulisse.' I think the +meaning is, that the stewards of the Senators (conductores) arrogantly +refused to allow the money paid to the tax-collectors (canonici +solidi) to be tested, as in ordinary course it should have been, to +see if it was of full weight. The 'imminentes' are, I think, the +tax-collectors. I cannot at all understand the clause about 'universam +siliquam.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_262_262" id="Footnote_262_262"></a><a href="#FNanchor_262_262"><span class="label">[262]</span></a> This appears to have been a tax levied on all traders, +otherwise known as the Chrysargyron. See Cod. Theod. xiii. 1. Aurarii +is therefore equivalent to Licensed Traders.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_263_263" id="Footnote_263_263"></a><a href="#FNanchor_263_263"><span class="label">[263]</span></a> Are we to understand by this expression the Officium of +the Praetorian Praefect?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_264_264" id="Footnote_264_264"></a><a href="#FNanchor_264_264"><span class="label">[264]</span></a> Curial obligations.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_265_265" id="Footnote_265_265"></a><a href="#FNanchor_265_265"><span class="label">[265]</span></a> 'Fixum tenuisti <i>militiae probatae</i> vestigium. +Spectabilitatis honorem, quem <i>militiae sudore</i> detersis justa +deputavit antiquitas praesenti tibi auctoritate conferimus ut laboris +tui tandem finitas <i>excubias</i> ... intelligas ... Tibique utpote +<i>militiae</i> munere persoluto.' The term 'militia' is employed here, as +in the Codes, of 'service in a bureau.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_266_266" id="Footnote_266_266"></a><a href="#FNanchor_266_266"><span class="label">[266]</span></a> 'Quia Regnantes est gloria, subjectorum otiosa +tranquillitas.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_267_267" id="Footnote_267_267"></a><a href="#FNanchor_267_267"><span class="label">[267]</span></a> For Eustorgius, cf. + <a href="#i9">Letter i. 9</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_268_268" id="Footnote_268_268"></a><a href="#FNanchor_268_268"><span class="label">[268]</span></a> Auraria pensio. See + <a href="#Footnote_262_262">note</a> on <a href="#ii26">ii. 26</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_269_269" id="Footnote_269_269"></a><a href="#FNanchor_269_269"><span class="label">[269]</span></a> 'Ad exhibitionem thermarum supra consuetudinem.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_270_270" id="Footnote_270_270"></a><a href="#FNanchor_270_270"><span class="label">[270]</span></a> <span lang="el" title="Greek: aponos">απονος</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_271_271" id="Footnote_271_271"></a><a href="#FNanchor_271_271"><span class="label">[271]</span></a> I think this is Cassiodorus' meaning, but his language +is obscure.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_272_272" id="Footnote_272_272"></a><a href="#FNanchor_272_272"><span class="label">[272]</span></a> Cf. Milton: +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i8">'To the Dorian mood<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of flutes and soft recorders; such as rais'd<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To highth of noblest temper heroes old<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Arming to battle, and instead of rage<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With dread of death to flight or foul retreat.'<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_273_273" id="Footnote_273_273"></a><a href="#FNanchor_273_273"><span class="label">[273]</span></a> 'Bene quidem arbitrati, si causam celestis beatitudinis +non in sonis sed in Creatore possuissent; ubi veraciter sine fine +gaudium est, sine aliquo taedio manens semper aeternitas: et inspectio +sola Divinitatis efficit, ut beatius esse nil possit. Haec veraciter +perennitatem praestat: haec jucunditates accumulat; et sicut praeter +ipsam creatura non extat, ita sine ipsâ incommutabilem laetitiam +habere non praevalet.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_274_274" id="Footnote_274_274"></a><a href="#FNanchor_274_274"><span class="label">[274]</span></a> There are two allusions to the relationship between the +Kings: 'vestrae virtutis affinitate' (line 1), and 'ad parentum +vestrorum defensionem confugisse' (line 10).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_275_275" id="Footnote_275_275"></a><a href="#FNanchor_275_275"><span class="label">[275]</span></a> 'Quamvis Attilam potentem reminiscamini Visigothorum +viribus inclinatum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_276_276" id="Footnote_276_276"></a><a href="#FNanchor_276_276"><span class="label">[276]</span></a> Compare the state of Europe during the wars of the +French Revolution, as expressed by Tennyson: +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Again their ravening eagle rose,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In anger, wheel'd on Europe-shadowing wings,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And barking for the thrones of kings.'<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_277_277" id="Footnote_277_277"></a><a href="#FNanchor_277_277"><span class="label">[277]</span></a> 'Et leges gentium quaerat.' But how was the law of +nations to be enforced?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_278_278" id="Footnote_278_278"></a><a href="#FNanchor_278_278"><span class="label">[278]</span></a> Notice the use of the word <i>modernus</i> here, a +post-classical word, which apparently occurs first in Cassiodorus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_279_279" id="Footnote_279_279"></a><a href="#FNanchor_279_279"><span class="label">[279]</span></a> 'Origo ipsa jam gloria est: laus nobilitati +connascitur. Idem vobis est dignitatis, quod vitae principium. Senatus +enim honor amplissimus vobiscum gignitur, ad quem vix maturis +aetatibus pervenitur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_280_280" id="Footnote_280_280"></a><a href="#FNanchor_280_280"><span class="label">[280]</span></a> 'Et quot edidit familiae juvenes, tot reddidit curiae +consulares.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_281_281" id="Footnote_281_281"></a><a href="#FNanchor_281_281"><span class="label">[281]</span></a> iii. 145, <i>n.</i> 4.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_282_282" id="Footnote_282_282"></a><a href="#FNanchor_282_282"><span class="label">[282]</span></a> Note these three classes; as also in + <a href="#ii17">ii. 17</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_283_283" id="Footnote_283_283"></a><a href="#FNanchor_283_283"><span class="label">[283]</span></a> I have not been able to identify this place.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_284_284" id="Footnote_284_284"></a><a href="#FNanchor_284_284"><span class="label">[284]</span></a> 'Moderna sine priorum imminutione desideramus +erigere.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_285_285" id="Footnote_285_285"></a><a href="#FNanchor_285_285"><span class="label">[285]</span></a> 'Platonias.' This, which is the spelling found in +Nivellius' edition, seems to be a more correct form than the +'platomas' of Garet. Ducange, who has a long article on the subject, +refers the word to the Greek <span lang="el" title="Greek: platunion">πλατυνιον</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_286_286" id="Footnote_286_286"></a><a href="#FNanchor_286_286"><span class="label">[286]</span></a> Possibly the columns in S. Apollinare Deutro may have +been some of those here mentioned.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_287_287" id="Footnote_287_287"></a><a href="#FNanchor_287_287"><span class="label">[287]</span></a> 'Catabulenses,' or 'Catabolenses'—freighters, +contractors, who effected the transport of heavy goods by means of +draught-horses and mules.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_288_288" id="Footnote_288_288"></a><a href="#FNanchor_288_288"><span class="label">[288]</span></a> Tillemont understands this of the times of Odovacar, +vi. 438.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_289_289" id="Footnote_289_289"></a><a href="#FNanchor_289_289"><span class="label">[289]</span></a> This is no doubt the nephew of Theodoric.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_290_290" id="Footnote_290_290"></a><a href="#FNanchor_290_290"><span class="label">[290]</span></a> 'Vicarius Praefectorum.' Vicar of what Praefects? Why +the plural number? Had Theodoric a titular Praefect <i>of the Gauls</i>, to +whom this Vicarius was theoretically subject while practically obeying +the Praefect of Italy? Or, to prevent bickerings, did he give the +'Praefectus Italiae' and the 'Praefectus Urbis' conjoint authority +over the new conquests? There is some mystery here which would be +worth explaining.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_291_291" id="Footnote_291_291"></a><a href="#FNanchor_291_291"><span class="label">[291]</span></a> 'Consuetudines abominanter inolitas.' Fornerius thinks +this means 'all extortionate taxes.' Compare the English use of the +word 'customs.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_292_292" id="Footnote_292_292"></a><a href="#FNanchor_292_292"><span class="label">[292]</span></a> 'Cur ad monomachiam recurritis, qui venalem judicem non +habetis?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_293_293" id="Footnote_293_293"></a><a href="#FNanchor_293_293"><span class="label">[293]</span></a> 'Aut unde pax quaeritur si sub civilitate pugnetur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_294_294" id="Footnote_294_294"></a><a href="#FNanchor_294_294"><span class="label">[294]</span></a> Father of the writer.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_295_295" id="Footnote_295_295"></a><a href="#FNanchor_295_295"><span class="label">[295]</span></a> There is an obscure sentence in this letter: 'Hinc +omnibus factus notior, quia multi te positum in potestate nesciunt.' +Possibly the meaning is that the elder Cassiodorus used his power so +little for his own private aggrandisement, that many people did not +even know that he possessed it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_296_296" id="Footnote_296_296"></a><a href="#FNanchor_296_296"><span class="label">[296]</span></a> This letter is well illustrated by an inscription of +the time of Severus Alexander, found at Great Chesters in +Northumberland, and recording the repair of 'horreum vetustate +conlabsum.' The words of Cassiodorus are 'horrea longi temporis +vetustate destructa.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_297_297" id="Footnote_297_297"></a><a href="#FNanchor_297_297"><span class="label">[297]</span></a> 'Per ingentia ligna decurrere.' Fornerius proposes to +read 'stagna.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_298_298" id="Footnote_298_298"></a><a href="#FNanchor_298_298"><span class="label">[298]</span></a> 'Si vero aliquid modernâ praesumptione tentatum est.' +(Again 'modernus.')</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_299_299" id="Footnote_299_299"></a><a href="#FNanchor_299_299"><span class="label">[299]</span></a> Possibly Referendi is the same as Referendarii. See +Var. <a href="#vi17">vi. 17</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_300_300" id="Footnote_300_300"></a><a href="#FNanchor_300_300"><span class="label">[300]</span></a> 'Causae sacerdotum a sacerdotibus debent terminari.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_301_301" id="Footnote_301_301"></a><a href="#FNanchor_301_301"><span class="label">[301]</span></a> Probably a Gothic officer.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_302_302" id="Footnote_302_302"></a><a href="#FNanchor_302_302"><span class="label">[302]</span></a> See Letters + <a href="#iii16">iii. 16</a> and <a href="#iii32">32</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_303_303" id="Footnote_303_303"></a><a href="#FNanchor_303_303"><span class="label">[303]</span></a> 'In sacratissimâ urbe.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_304_304" id="Footnote_304_304"></a><a href="#FNanchor_304_304"><span class="label">[304]</span></a> The double 'r' seems to be the correct spelling, though +the MSS. of the Variarum apparently have the single 'r.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_305_305" id="Footnote_305_305"></a><a href="#FNanchor_305_305"><span class="label">[305]</span></a> 'Milites ad Verrucam illum—<i>sic enim M. Cato locum +editum asperumque appellat</i>—ire jubeas' (Gell. 3. 7. 6). Verruca +therefore means primarily a steep cliff, and only secondarily a wart. +See White and Biddell, s.v.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_306_306" id="Footnote_306_306"></a><a href="#FNanchor_306_306"><span class="label">[306]</span></a> 'Agger sine pugna.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_307_307" id="Footnote_307_307"></a><a href="#FNanchor_307_307"><span class="label">[307]</span></a> 'Obsessio secura.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_308_308" id="Footnote_308_308"></a><a href="#FNanchor_308_308"><span class="label">[308]</span></a> 'Tenens claustra provinciae.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_309_309" id="Footnote_309_309"></a><a href="#FNanchor_309_309"><span class="label">[309]</span></a> 'Nostri sedes delegit fovere <i>Imperii</i>.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_310_310" id="Footnote_310_310"></a><a href="#FNanchor_310_310"><span class="label">[310]</span></a> The Ostia are denoted by A and the Hermulae by H in +the accompanying plan. (See <a href="#Page_230">page 230</a>.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_311_311" id="Footnote_311_311"></a><a href="#FNanchor_311_311"><span class="label">[311]</span></a> 'Ut quadrigis progredientibus, inde certamen oriretur: +ne dum semper propere conantur elidere, spectandi voluptatem +viderentur populis abrogare.' In fact, to compel the charioteers to +start fair.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_312_312" id="Footnote_312_312"></a><a href="#FNanchor_312_312"><span class="label">[312]</span></a> Each sign of the Zodiac was considered to have three +decani, occurring at intervals of ten days.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_313_313" id="Footnote_313_313"></a><a href="#FNanchor_313_313"><span class="label">[313]</span></a> 'Unde illuc delphini aequorei aquas interfluunt.' The +sentence is very obscure, but the allusion must be to the dolphins, +the figures of which were placed upon the spina.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_314_314" id="Footnote_314_314"></a><a href="#FNanchor_314_314"><span class="label">[314]</span></a> 'Obeliscorum quoque prolixitates ad coeli altitudinem +sublevantur: sed potior soli, inferior lunae dicatus est: ubi sacra +priscorum Chaldaicis signis, quasi litteris indicantur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_315_315" id="Footnote_315_315"></a><a href="#FNanchor_315_315"><span class="label">[315]</span></a> I can extract no other meaning than the above from this +extraordinary sentence: 'Circenses, quasi circu-enses: propterea quod +apud antiquitatem rudem, quae necdum spectacula in ornatum deduxerat +fabricarum, inter <i>enses</i> et flumina locis virentibus agerentur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_316_316" id="Footnote_316_316"></a><a href="#FNanchor_316_316"><span class="label">[316]</span></a> <i>Missibus.</i> In a previous sentence Cassiodorus makes +the acc. plural <i>missos</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_317_317" id="Footnote_317_317"></a><a href="#FNanchor_317_317"><span class="label">[317]</span></a> The number of times that the charioteers had rounded +the goal was indicated by large wooden <i>eggs</i>, which were posted up in +a conspicuous place on the spina. It seems that in a corresponding +place near the other end of the spina figures of <i>dolphins</i> were used +for the same purpose. Upon the Cilurnum gem (figured on <a href="#Page_231">page 231</a>) we +can perceive four eggs near one end of the spina, and four creatures +which may be dolphins near the other, indicating that four circuits +out of the seven which constitute a missus have been accomplished by +the quadrigae.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_318_318" id="Footnote_318_318"></a><a href="#FNanchor_318_318"><span class="label">[318]</span></a> Alluding probably to the story of Castor and Pollux.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_319_319" id="Footnote_319_319"></a><a href="#FNanchor_319_319"><span class="label">[319]</span></a> 'Et ideo datur intelligi, volitantes atque +inconstantissimos inde mores nasci, quos avium matribus aptaverunt.' +<i>Ovium</i> would seem to give a better sense than <i>avium</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_320_320" id="Footnote_320_320"></a><a href="#FNanchor_320_320"><span class="label">[320]</span></a> 'Casarum.' Casa is evidently no longer a cottage; +perhaps the estate attached to a villa. There is probably still a +flavour of rusticity about it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_321_321" id="Footnote_321_321"></a><a href="#FNanchor_321_321"><span class="label">[321]</span></a> 'Votiva inundatione.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_322_322" id="Footnote_322_322"></a><a href="#FNanchor_322_322"><span class="label">[322]</span></a> An excellent description of an antiquary walking along +a Roman 'Limes Imperii.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_323_323" id="Footnote_323_323"></a><a href="#FNanchor_323_323"><span class="label">[323]</span></a> 'Apud Graecos <i>ille</i>.' Cassiodorus has left the name +blank, and has either forgotten or been unable to fill it up; like the +'ille et ille' in his State documents.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_324_324" id="Footnote_324_324"></a><a href="#FNanchor_324_324"><span class="label">[324]</span></a> 'Nunc etiam longius claritate Imperialis sanguinis +fulgeatis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_325_325" id="Footnote_325_325"></a><a href="#FNanchor_325_325"><span class="label">[325]</span></a> Notice the strong expression, 'Et ideo more gentium et +conditione virili filium te praesenti munere <i>procreamus</i>.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_326_326" id="Footnote_326_326"></a><a href="#FNanchor_326_326"><span class="label">[326]</span></a> 'Damus quidem tibi equos, enses clypeos, et reliqua +instrumenta bellorum, sed quae sunt omnimodis fortiora, largimur tibi +nostra judicia.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_327_327" id="Footnote_327_327"></a><a href="#FNanchor_327_327"><span class="label">[327]</span></a> 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, Könige der +Germanen ii. 8, <i>n.</i> 2.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_328_328" id="Footnote_328_328"></a><a href="#FNanchor_328_328"><span class="label">[328]</span></a> Same expression as in + <a href="#iv2">preceding letter</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_329_329" id="Footnote_329_329"></a><a href="#FNanchor_329_329"><span class="label">[329]</span></a> 'Subiisti saepe arduae legationis officium. Restitisti +regibus non impar assertor, coactus justitiam nostram et illis +ostendere, qui rationem vix poterant cruda obstinatione sentire. Non +te terruit contentionibus inflammata regalis auctoritas,' etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_330_330" id="Footnote_330_330"></a><a href="#FNanchor_330_330"><span class="label">[330]</span></a> '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?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_331_331" id="Footnote_331_331"></a><a href="#FNanchor_331_331"><span class="label">[331]</span></a> Again we have 'exceptiones' mentioned (see + <a href="#iv3">preceding +letter</a>). 'Nunc ad colloquia dignus, <i>nunc ad exceptiones aptissimus</i>, +frequenter etiam in legationis honorem electus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_332_332" id="Footnote_332_332"></a><a href="#FNanchor_332_332"><span class="label">[332]</span></a> Probably this epithet means that Amabilis was a Sajo.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_333_333" id="Footnote_333_333"></a><a href="#FNanchor_333_333"><span class="label">[333]</span></a> '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.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_334_334" id="Footnote_334_334"></a><a href="#FNanchor_334_334"><span class="label">[334]</span></a> Cf. the very similar letter, + <a href="#i39">i. 39</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_335_335" id="Footnote_335_335"></a><a href="#FNanchor_335_335"><span class="label">[335]</span></a> 'Prosecutores frumentorum.' It would seem that these +are not merchants supplying the famine-stricken Provinces of Gaul as a +private speculation (according to <a href="#iv5">iv. 5</a>), but public officers who have +had certain cargoes of corn entrusted to them from the State +magazines, and who, but for this letter, would be bound to make good +the loss suffered under their management.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_336_336" id="Footnote_336_336"></a><a href="#FNanchor_336_336"><span class="label">[336]</span></a> Where is this?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_337_337" id="Footnote_337_337"></a><a href="#FNanchor_337_337"><span class="label">[337]</span></a> 'Omni incivilitate submotâ.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_338_338" id="Footnote_338_338"></a><a href="#FNanchor_338_338"><span class="label">[338]</span></a> 'Necessitas moderamen non diligit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_339_339" id="Footnote_339_339"></a><a href="#FNanchor_339_339"><span class="label">[339]</span></a> 'Gothi per Picenum sive Thuscias utrasque residentes.' +What are the two Thusciae?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_340_340" id="Footnote_340_340"></a><a href="#FNanchor_340_340"><span class="label">[340]</span></a> 'Debitas functiones.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_341_341" id="Footnote_341_341"></a><a href="#FNanchor_341_341"><span class="label">[341]</span></a> 'Si quis ergo jussa nostra agresti spiritu resupinatus +abjecerit, casas ejus appositis titulis fisci nostri juribus +vindicabis; ut qui juste noluit parva solvere, rationabiliter videatur +maxima perdidisse.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_342_342" id="Footnote_342_342"></a><a href="#FNanchor_342_342"><span class="label">[342]</span></a> 'Scelus enim, quod nos pro sacerdotali honore +relinquimus impunitum, majori pondere credimus vindicandum.' The words +seem to be purposely vague, but I think they allude to the judgment of +Heaven on the offender.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_343_343" id="Footnote_343_343"></a><a href="#FNanchor_343_343"><span class="label">[343]</span></a> Basilius, the patron of Sidonius, was Consul in 463, +and another Basilius, perhaps the father of the accused, was Consul in +480. The person here spoken of <i>may</i> be the same as the Basilius, +'olim regio ministerio depulsus,' whom Boethius (Phil. Cons. i. 4) +mentions as one of his accusers; but it seems more likely that in that +case this imputation of magical practices would also have been +referred to by him. The name Basilius was a somewhat common one at +this time.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_344_344" id="Footnote_344_344"></a><a href="#FNanchor_344_344"><span class="label">[344]</span></a> At the beginning of the first letter occurs the +remarkable expression 'Abscedat ritus de medio jam profanus; +conticescat <i>poenale murmur animarum</i>,' which the commentator +interprets of the ventriloquistic sounds produced by soothsayers. Cf. +Milton's Christmas Hymn: +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'No voice or hideous hum<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving.'<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_345_345" id="Footnote_345_345"></a><a href="#FNanchor_345_345"><span class="label">[345]</span></a> 'Universis Massiliae constitutis.' A curious +expression.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_346_346" id="Footnote_346_346"></a><a href="#FNanchor_346_346"><span class="label">[346]</span></a> The story of this assault is a typical specimen of the +style of Cassiodorus, high-flown yet not really pictorial: 'Ita ut +ictum gladii in se demersum, aliquatenus postium retardaret objectio: +subjecta est vulneri manus, quae ut in totum truncata non caderet, +januarum percussa robora praestiterunt: ubi lassato impetu corusca +ferri acies corporis extrema perstrinxit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_347_347" id="Footnote_347_347"></a><a href="#FNanchor_347_347"><span class="label">[347]</span></a> Fabricae.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_348_348" id="Footnote_348_348"></a><a href="#FNanchor_348_348"><span class="label">[348]</span></a> 'Marini relatione comperimus res Tuphae apud Joannem +quondam sub emissione chirographi fuisse depositas.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_349_349" id="Footnote_349_349"></a><a href="#FNanchor_349_349"><span class="label">[349]</span></a> 'Privilegia debere servari quae Judaicis institutis +legum provida decrevit antiquitas.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_350_350" id="Footnote_350_350"></a><a href="#FNanchor_350_350"><span class="label">[350]</span></a> 'Quod nos libenter annuimus qui jura veterum ad nostram +cupimus reverentiam custodiri.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_351_351" id="Footnote_351_351"></a><a href="#FNanchor_351_351"><span class="label">[351]</span></a> How this was to be done is not quite clear, since it is +plain that this letter is really and chiefly an order for rifling +<i>sepulchres</i> in search of buried treasure.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_352_352" id="Footnote_352_352"></a><a href="#FNanchor_352_352"><span class="label">[352]</span></a> 'Amali sanguinis virum nos decet vulgare desiderium: +quia genus suum conspicit esse purpuratum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_353_353" id="Footnote_353_353"></a><a href="#FNanchor_353_353"><span class="label">[353]</span></a> 'Si momenti tempora suffragantur.' What is the meaning +of this limitation?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_354_354" id="Footnote_354_354"></a><a href="#FNanchor_354_354"><span class="label">[354]</span></a> Can this be the Amphitheatrum Castrense?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_355_355" id="Footnote_355_355"></a><a href="#FNanchor_355_355"><span class="label">[355]</span></a> 'Levitates quippe seditionum et ambire propriae +civitatis incendium, non est velle Romanum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_356_356" id="Footnote_356_356"></a><a href="#FNanchor_356_356"><span class="label">[356]</span></a> It happens that one of the letters addressed to Count +Arigern also refers to a Jewish synagogue. See <a href="#iii45">iii. 45</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_357_357" id="Footnote_357_357"></a><a href="#FNanchor_357_357"><span class="label">[357]</span></a> 'Quod in dominorum caede proruperit servilis audacia: +in quibus cum fuisset pro districtione publicâ resecatum, statim +plebis inflammata contentio synagogam temerario duxerunt incendio +concremandam.' The above is Gregorovius' explanation of the somewhat +enigmatical language of Cassiodorus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_358_358" id="Footnote_358_358"></a><a href="#FNanchor_358_358"><span class="label">[358]</span></a> There are some technical terms in this letter the +meaning of which is not clear to me: 'Eam justitiae consideratione +<i>momenti</i> jure restituite supplicanti.... Veruntamen si partibus +vestris in <i>causa</i> possessionis <i>momentaria</i> vel <i>principali</i> +justitiam adesse cognoscitis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_359_359" id="Footnote_359_359"></a><a href="#FNanchor_359_359"><span class="label">[359]</span></a> It is probably to the same transaction that Marcellinus +Comes refers when he says, s.a. 512: 'Gens Erulorum in terras atque +civitates Romanorum jussu Anastasii Caesaris introducta.' The words +'jussu Anastasii Caesaris' represent this chronicler's tendency to +refer everything that is done in Italy to the initiation of +Byzantium.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_360_360" id="Footnote_360_360"></a><a href="#FNanchor_360_360"><span class="label">[360]</span></a> Possibly a son of the Praefect Liberius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_361_361" id="Footnote_361_361"></a><a href="#FNanchor_361_361"><span class="label">[361]</span></a> 'Mittendarii.' A 'Scrinium Mittendariorum' formed part +of the staff of the Count of Sacred Largesses. See Theodosian Code vi. +30. 7.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_362_362" id="Footnote_362_362"></a><a href="#FNanchor_362_362"><span class="label">[362]</span></a> 'Catabulensis.' See + <a href="#iii10">iii. 10</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_363_363" id="Footnote_363_363"></a><a href="#FNanchor_363_363"><span class="label">[363]</span></a> 'Mancipes mutationum.' The 'mutationes' were the places +for changing horses; there are generally two of them between each +'mansio' (hostelry). Probably the horses were found by the 'Mancipes +mutationum.' It was therefore a sort of <i>corvée</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_364_364" id="Footnote_364_364"></a><a href="#FNanchor_364_364"><span class="label">[364]</span></a> <i>Capillatis.</i> The only passage which throws a light on +this name—and that is a doubtful one—is Jordanes, De Rebus Geticis +xi. After describing the <i>pileati</i>, the tiara-wearing priests of the +Getae, he says: 'Reliquam vero gentem capillatos dicere jussit +[Diceneus] quod nomen Gothi pro magno suscipientes adhuc hodie suis +cantionibus reminiscuntur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_365_365" id="Footnote_365_365"></a><a href="#FNanchor_365_365"><span class="label">[365]</span></a> <i>Suavia</i> is nearly equivalent to the modern Sclavonia, +between the rivers Drave and Save.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_366_366" id="Footnote_366_366"></a><a href="#FNanchor_366_366"><span class="label">[366]</span></a> The passage in Marcellinus Comes, s.a. 512, which at +first sight seems to describe an eruption taking place in that year, +really describes the <i>commemoration</i> of the eruption of 472. See + <a href="#Footnote_367_367">following note</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_367_367" id="Footnote_367_367"></a><a href="#FNanchor_367_367"><span class="label">[367]</span></a> In the eruption of 472 (apparently the last great +eruption previous to 512), the ashes were carried as far as Byzantium, +the inhabitants of which city instituted a yearly religious service in +memory of the event: 'Vesuvius mons Campaniae torridus intestinis +ignibus aestuans exusta evomuit viscera, nocturnisque in die tenebris +incumbentibus, <i>omnem Europae faciem minuto contexit pulvere</i>. Hujus +metuendi memoriam cineris Byzantii annue celebrant VIII Idus +Novembris.' The eruption was accompanied by widespread earthquake: 'In +Asia aliquantae civitates vel oppida terrae motu collapsa sunt' +(Marcellinus Comes, sub anno).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_368_368" id="Footnote_368_368"></a><a href="#FNanchor_368_368"><span class="label">[368]</span></a> The father-in-law of Boethius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_369_369" id="Footnote_369_369"></a><a href="#FNanchor_369_369"><span class="label">[369]</span></a> We have here a striking description of the massive +strength of the public buildings of Rome: '[Videmus] caveas illas +saxis pendentibus apsidatas ita juncturis absconditis in formas +pulcherrimas convenisse, ut cryptas magis excelsi montis crederes quam +aliquid fabricatum esse judicares.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_370_370" id="Footnote_370_370"></a><a href="#FNanchor_370_370"><span class="label">[370]</span></a> No doubt Thrasamund, who married Theodoric's sister. He +reigned from 496 to 523.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_371_371" id="Footnote_371_371"></a><a href="#FNanchor_371_371"><span class="label">[371]</span></a> 'Ut speculum quoddam virorum faciat ferream lucem.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_372_372" id="Footnote_372_372"></a><a href="#FNanchor_372_372"><span class="label">[372]</span></a> 'Quarum margines in acutum tali aequalitate descendunt, +ut non limis compositae, sed igneis fornacibus credantur effusae.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_373_373" id="Footnote_373_373"></a><a href="#FNanchor_373_373"><span class="label">[373]</span></a> 'Harum media pulchris alveis excavata, quibusdam +videntur crispari posse vermiculis, ubi tanta varietatis umbra +concludit, ut intextum magis credas variis coloribus lucidum +metallum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_374_374" id="Footnote_374_374"></a><a href="#FNanchor_374_374"><span class="label">[374]</span></a> Germ. 45: 'Ergo jam dextro Suevici maris litore +Aestiorum gentes alluuntur, quibus ritus habitusque Suevorum, lingua +Britannicae propior.... Sed et mare scrutantur ac soli omnium sucinum +quod ipsi glesum vocant, inter vada atque in ipso littore legunt.' +Then follows an account of the nature of amber, and a history of its +supposed origin, from which Cassiodorus has borrowed in this letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_375_375" id="Footnote_375_375"></a><a href="#FNanchor_375_375"><span class="label">[375]</span></a> Cassiodorus apparently spells this word with two c's. +The more usual spelling is with one.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_376_376" id="Footnote_376_376"></a><a href="#FNanchor_376_376"><span class="label">[376]</span></a> 'Modo croceo colore rubens, modo flammea claritate +pinguescens.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_377_377" id="Footnote_377_377"></a><a href="#FNanchor_377_377"><span class="label">[377]</span></a> We have here a remark on unconscious prophecies: 'Loqui +datur quod nos sensisse nescimus: sed post casum reminiscimur, quod +ignorantes veraciter dixeramus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_378_378" id="Footnote_378_378"></a><a href="#FNanchor_378_378"><span class="label">[378]</span></a> 'Inferior gradu praestabat viris consularibus se +patronum et cum honoribus vestris impar haberetur, Patricius ei dictus +est in celeberrima cognitione susceptus.' The last part of this +sentence is very obscure.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_379_379" id="Footnote_379_379"></a><a href="#FNanchor_379_379"><span class="label">[379]</span></a> Decoratus is called by Boethius, who was his colleague +in some office, 'a wretched buffoon and informer' (nequissimus scurra +et delator. Cons. Phil. iii. 4). But Ennodius addresses him in +friendly and cordial language (Epist. iv. 17). His epitaph, which +mentions his Spoletan origin, is of course laudatory: +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Nam fessis tribuit requiem, miseros que levavit,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Justitiae cultor, largus et hospes erat.'<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +(Quoted in the notes to Ennodius in Migne's Patrologia.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_380_380" id="Footnote_380_380"></a><a href="#FNanchor_380_380"><span class="label">[380]</span></a> 'Primo avulso non deficit alter' (Aen. vi. 143).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_381_381" id="Footnote_381_381"></a><a href="#FNanchor_381_381"><span class="label">[381]</span></a> Officer of the Court. See + <a href="#vi13">vi. 13</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_382_382" id="Footnote_382_382"></a><a href="#FNanchor_382_382"><span class="label">[382]</span></a> 'Thomatem domus nostrae certa praedia suscepisse sed +eum male administrando suscepta usque ad decem millia solidorum de +Indictionibus illa atque illa reliquatorem publicis rationibus +extitisse.' It is not quite clear whether the debt is due as what we +should call rent or as land-tax. Perhaps the debt had accumulated +under both heads.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_383_383" id="Footnote_383_383"></a><a href="#FNanchor_383_383"><span class="label">[383]</span></a> 'Ut multitudinem Gepidarum quam fecimus ad Gallias +custodiae causâ properare, per Venetiam atque Liguriam sub omni facias +moderatione transire.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_384_384" id="Footnote_384_384"></a><a href="#FNanchor_384_384"><span class="label">[384]</span></a> 'Massa;' cf. the American 'block.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_385_385" id="Footnote_385_385"></a><a href="#FNanchor_385_385"><span class="label">[385]</span></a> In the next letter the same official is called +Severinus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_386_386" id="Footnote_386_386"></a><a href="#FNanchor_386_386"><span class="label">[386]</span></a> Cassiodorus uses the rare nominative form 'assis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_387_387" id="Footnote_387_387"></a><a href="#FNanchor_387_387"><span class="label">[387]</span></a> 'Tabularius a cubiculo nostro.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_388_388" id="Footnote_388_388"></a><a href="#FNanchor_388_388"><span class="label">[388]</span></a> 'Antiqui Barbari qui Romanis mulieribus elegerint +nuptiali foedere sociari, quolibet titulo praedia quaesiverint, fiscum +possessi cespitis persolvere, ac super indictitiis oneribus parere +cogantur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_389_389" id="Footnote_389_389"></a><a href="#FNanchor_389_389"><span class="label">[389]</span></a> 'Quando libertatis genus est servire Rectori.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_390_390" id="Footnote_390_390"></a><a href="#FNanchor_390_390"><span class="label">[390]</span></a> 'Arrharum nomine.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_391_391" id="Footnote_391_391"></a><a href="#FNanchor_391_391"><span class="label">[391]</span></a> 'Linum volatile.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_392_392" id="Footnote_392_392"></a><a href="#FNanchor_392_392"><span class="label">[392]</span></a> 'Non habet quod nobis Graecus imputet aut Afer +insultet.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_393_393" id="Footnote_393_393"></a><a href="#FNanchor_393_393"><span class="label">[393]</span></a> 'Locum primi ordinis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_394_394" id="Footnote_394_394"></a><a href="#FNanchor_394_394"><span class="label">[394]</span></a> 'Quia caduca bona fisco nostro competere legum cauta +decreverunt.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_395_395" id="Footnote_395_395"></a><a href="#FNanchor_395_395"><span class="label">[395]</span></a> The name is a peculiar one, reminding us of the +Bacaudae, who for more than a century waged a sort of servile war in +Gaul against the officers of the Empire. It is not probable, however, +that there is any real connection between them and the receiver of +this letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_396_396" id="Footnote_396_396"></a><a href="#FNanchor_396_396"><span class="label">[396]</span></a> 'Quod est in Reipublicae <i>militiâ</i> novum.' Observe the +use of militia for civil service.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_397_397" id="Footnote_397_397"></a><a href="#FNanchor_397_397"><span class="label">[397]</span></a> 'Nam pene similis est mortuo qui a suo Dominante +nescitur.' A motto more suited to the presence-chamber of Byzantium +than the camp-fires of a Gothic King.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_398_398" id="Footnote_398_398"></a><a href="#FNanchor_398_398"><span class="label">[398]</span></a> 'Millenarii.' Cf. the +<span lang="el" title="Greek: chiliarchoi">χιλιαρχοι</span>, +who, as Procopius tells us, were appointed by Gaiseric over the Vandals; +also the <i>thusundifaths</i> of Ulfilas.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_399_399" id="Footnote_399_399"></a><a href="#FNanchor_399_399"><span class="label">[399]</span></a> 'Servata in omnibus civilitate.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_400_400" id="Footnote_400_400"></a><a href="#FNanchor_400_400"><span class="label">[400]</span></a> Into Gaul; see + <a href="#v33">next letter</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_401_401" id="Footnote_401_401"></a><a href="#FNanchor_401_401"><span class="label">[401]</span></a> 'Atque ideo decretis te praesentibus admonemus, ut si +factum evidenter agnoscis, delatam querimoniam, pudori tuo consulens, +<i>maritali districtione redarguas</i>; quatenus ex eâdem causâ ad nos +querela justa non redeat.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_402_402" id="Footnote_402_402"></a><a href="#FNanchor_402_402"><span class="label">[402]</span></a> 'Et rerum veritate discussâ <i>sicut jura nostra +praecipiunt</i>, in adulteros maritorum favore resecetur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_403_403" id="Footnote_403_403"></a><a href="#FNanchor_403_403"><span class="label">[403]</span></a> This is perhaps a specimen of the 'honesta missio' of +which we read in the Theodosian Code xii. 1. 43, 45.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_404_404" id="Footnote_404_404"></a><a href="#FNanchor_404_404"><span class="label">[404]</span></a> 'Nonnullorum vos frequenter causamini praesumptione +laceratos et quae ad synagogam vestram pertinent perhibetis jura +rescindi.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_405_405" id="Footnote_405_405"></a><a href="#FNanchor_405_405"><span class="label">[405]</span></a> 'Tricennalis humano generi patrona praescriptio vobis +jure servabitur; nec conventionalia vos irrationabiliter praecipimus +sustinere dispendia.' I do not know what is meant by 'conventionalia +dispendia.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_406_406" id="Footnote_406_406"></a><a href="#FNanchor_406_406"><span class="label">[406]</span></a> 'Sed quid, Judaeo, supplicans temporalem quietem +quaeris si aeternam requiem invenire non possis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_407_407" id="Footnote_407_407"></a><a href="#FNanchor_407_407"><span class="label">[407]</span></a> 'Universis Possessoribus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_408_408" id="Footnote_408_408"></a><a href="#FNanchor_408_408"><span class="label">[408]</span></a> Where was this? Signia in Latium is, of course, not to +be thought of.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_409_409" id="Footnote_409_409"></a><a href="#FNanchor_409_409"><span class="label">[409]</span></a> The scarcity of water at Ravenna was proverbial.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_410_410" id="Footnote_410_410"></a><a href="#FNanchor_410_410"><span class="label">[410]</span></a> Cf. the somewhat similar letter to Severinus, Special +Commissioner for Suavia (<a href="#v14">v. 14</a>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_411_411" id="Footnote_411_411"></a><a href="#FNanchor_411_411"><span class="label">[411]</span></a> 'Homicidii scelus legum jubemus auctoritate resecari: +sed quantum vehementior poena est tanto ejus rei debet inquisitio plus +haberi: ne amore vindictae innocentes videantur vitae pericula +sustinere.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_412_412" id="Footnote_412_412"></a><a href="#FNanchor_412_412"><span class="label">[412]</span></a> 'Libra cubiculi nostri.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_413_413" id="Footnote_413_413"></a><a href="#FNanchor_413_413"><span class="label">[413]</span></a> 'Conductores domus Regiae.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_414_414" id="Footnote_414_414"></a><a href="#FNanchor_414_414"><span class="label">[414]</span></a> 'Et ne cuiquam labor suus videatur ingratus, salaria +eis pro qualitate locatae rei, vestrâ volumus aequitate constitui.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_415_415" id="Footnote_415_415"></a><a href="#FNanchor_415_415"><span class="label">[415]</span></a> 'Transmarinorum canon.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_416_416" id="Footnote_416_416"></a><a href="#FNanchor_416_416"><span class="label">[416]</span></a> Cf. the + <a href="#v30">30th letter</a> of this book.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_417_417" id="Footnote_417_417"></a><a href="#FNanchor_417_417"><span class="label">[417]</span></a> 'Vir quidem abjectis temporibus ad excubias tamen +Palatinas electus.' The time of Odovacar's government is here alluded +to (see <a href="#viii17">viii. 17</a>). An Opilio, probably father of the one here +mentioned, was Consul under Valentinian III in 453.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_418_418" id="Footnote_418_418"></a><a href="#FNanchor_418_418"><span class="label">[418]</span></a> Anonymus Valesii says: 'Cyprianus, qui tunc +Referendarius erat postea Comes Sacrarum et Magister,' § 85.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_419_419" id="Footnote_419_419"></a><a href="#FNanchor_419_419"><span class="label">[419]</span></a> 'Nam cum oratoribus sit propositum diu tractata unius +partis vota dicere, tibi semper necesse fuit repentinum negotium +utroque latere declarare.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_420_420" id="Footnote_420_420"></a><a href="#FNanchor_420_420"><span class="label">[420]</span></a> 'Talibus igitur institutis edoctus, Eoae sumpsisti +legationis officium, missus ad summae quidem peritiae viros: sed nulla +inter eos confusus es trepidatione <i>quia nihil tibi post nos potuit +esse mirabile</i>. Instructus enim trifariis linguis, non tibi Graecia +quod novum ostentaret invenit; nec ipsâ quâ nimium praevalet, te +transcendit argutiâ.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_421_421" id="Footnote_421_421"></a><a href="#FNanchor_421_421"><span class="label">[421]</span></a> 'Fecimus utrique regalia.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_422_422" id="Footnote_422_422"></a><a href="#FNanchor_422_422"><span class="label">[422]</span></a> For the reasons which induced Cassiodorus to compile +the two books of Formulae, see his <a href="#PREFACE2">Preface</a> (translated, + <a href="#Page_133">p. 133</a>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_423_423" id="Footnote_423_423"></a><a href="#FNanchor_423_423"><span class="label">[423]</span></a> 'Palmata vestis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_424_424" id="Footnote_424_424"></a><a href="#FNanchor_424_424"><span class="label">[424]</span></a> 'Pinge vastos humeros vario colore palmatae.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_425_425" id="Footnote_425_425"></a><a href="#FNanchor_425_425"><span class="label">[425]</span></a> 'Validam manum victoriali scipione nobilita.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_426_426" id="Footnote_426_426"></a><a href="#FNanchor_426_426"><span class="label">[426]</span></a> 'Hic est ambitus qui probatur;' or, 'allowable +bribery.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_427_427" id="Footnote_427_427"></a><a href="#FNanchor_427_427"><span class="label">[427]</span></a> 'Ipse carpentum reverendus ascendit.' The <i>carpentum</i> +was one great mark of the dignity of the Praetorian Praefect, as of +his inferior, the Praefectus Urbis.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_428_428" id="Footnote_428_428"></a><a href="#FNanchor_428_428"><span class="label">[428]</span></a> 'Exhibet enim sine prescriptione longinquos.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_429_429" id="Footnote_429_429"></a><a href="#FNanchor_429_429"><span class="label">[429]</span></a> 'Evectiones,' free passes by the <i>Cursus Publicus</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_430_430" id="Footnote_430_430"></a><a href="#FNanchor_430_430"><span class="label">[430]</span></a> 'Ingressus palatium nostra consuetudine frequenter +adoratur.' We know from Lydus (De Mag. ii. 9) that the highest +officers of the army <i>knelt</i> at the entrance of the Praetorian +Praefect. Perhaps we need not infer from this passage that Oriental +<i>prostration</i> was used either towards Theodoric or his Praefect.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_431_431" id="Footnote_431_431"></a><a href="#FNanchor_431_431"><span class="label">[431]</span></a> 'Et tale officium morem videtur solvere, quod alios +potuit accusare.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_432_432" id="Footnote_432_432"></a><a href="#FNanchor_432_432"><span class="label">[432]</span></a> 'Vice sacrâ ubique judicat.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_433_433" id="Footnote_433_433"></a><a href="#FNanchor_433_433"><span class="label">[433]</span></a> 'Officium plane geniatum, efficax, instructum et totâ +animi firmitate praevalidum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_434_434" id="Footnote_434_434"></a><a href="#FNanchor_434_434"><span class="label">[434]</span></a> 'Humanitates quoque judicibus ipsis facit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_435_435" id="Footnote_435_435"></a><a href="#FNanchor_435_435"><span class="label">[435]</span></a> 'Legatos gentium voraces explet ordinationibus suis.' +<i>Voraces</i> seems to give a better sense than the other reading, +<i>veraces</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_436_436" id="Footnote_436_436"></a><a href="#FNanchor_436_436"><span class="label">[436]</span></a> 'Quamvis in illa contineantur universa.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_437_437" id="Footnote_437_437"></a><a href="#FNanchor_437_437"><span class="label">[437]</span></a> 'Carpento veheris per nobilem plebem.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_438_438" id="Footnote_438_438"></a><a href="#FNanchor_438_438"><span class="label">[438]</span></a> i.e. probably, 'that you are not bribed by +monopolists.' Perhaps there is a reference to the <i>Annona Publica</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_439_439" id="Footnote_439_439"></a><a href="#FNanchor_439_439"><span class="label">[439]</span></a> 'Tanta est enim vis gloriosae veritatis, ut etiam in +rebus scenicis aequitas desideretur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_440_440" id="Footnote_440_440"></a><a href="#FNanchor_440_440"><span class="label">[440]</span></a> According to Lydus (ii. 10), the Cursus Publicus was +transferred from the Praefect to the Master, and afterwards, in part, +retransferred to the Praefect.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_441_441" id="Footnote_441_441"></a><a href="#FNanchor_441_441"><span class="label">[441]</span></a> 'Per eum nominis nostri destinatur evectio.' The above +is a conjectural translation.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_442_442" id="Footnote_442_442"></a><a href="#FNanchor_442_442"><span class="label">[442]</span></a> Are these Superintendents of the Markets, charged with +the regulation of prices?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_443_443" id="Footnote_443_443"></a><a href="#FNanchor_443_443"><span class="label">[443]</span></a> 'Miroque modo inter Praetorianas cohortes et Urbanae +Praefecturae milites videantur invenisse primatum, a quibus tibi +humile solvebatur obsequium. Sic in favore magni honoris injustitia +quaedam a legibus venit, dum alienis excubiis praeponitur, qui alibi +militasse declaratur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_444_444" id="Footnote_444_444"></a><a href="#FNanchor_444_444"><span class="label">[444]</span></a> 'Regalibus magna profecti felicitas <i>militare</i> +donis.... Laetitia publica <i>militia</i> tua est.' Observe the continued +use of military terms for what we call the Civil Service.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_445_445" id="Footnote_445_445"></a><a href="#FNanchor_445_445"><span class="label">[445]</span></a> 'Caduca bona non sinis esse vacantia.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_446_446" id="Footnote_446_446"></a><a href="#FNanchor_446_446"><span class="label">[446]</span></a> 'Alioqui omnes ad quietas possunt currere dignitates, +si laborantes minime praeferantur ociosis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_447_447" id="Footnote_447_447"></a><a href="#FNanchor_447_447"><span class="label">[447]</span></a> 'Noblesse oblige.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_448_448" id="Footnote_448_448"></a><a href="#FNanchor_448_448"><span class="label">[448]</span></a> 'Cape igitur ... Comitivae Domesticorum Illustratum +Vacantem.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_449_449" id="Footnote_449_449"></a><a href="#FNanchor_449_449"><span class="label">[449]</span></a> Betokened by the expression 'Ociosum cingulum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_450_450" id="Footnote_450_450"></a><a href="#FNanchor_450_450"><span class="label">[450]</span></a> A conjectural translation of 'Sic nos virtutum +jucundissimas laudes incinctum Graium desideramus includere.' Perhaps +'incinctum' means, 'though <i>not</i> girded with the belt of office.' +Graium must surely be a proper name, and this document is therefore, +strictly speaking, not a 'Formula.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_451_451" id="Footnote_451_451"></a><a href="#FNanchor_451_451"><span class="label">[451]</span></a> 'Partes apud te sub Praetorianâ advocatione confligunt' +(?).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_452_452" id="Footnote_452_452"></a><a href="#FNanchor_452_452"><span class="label">[452]</span></a> 'Vice sacrâ sententiam dicis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_453_453" id="Footnote_453_453"></a><a href="#FNanchor_453_453"><span class="label">[453]</span></a> 'Carpentum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_454_454" id="Footnote_454_454"></a><a href="#FNanchor_454_454"><span class="label">[454]</span></a> 'Aula libertatis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_455_455" id="Footnote_455_455"></a><a href="#FNanchor_455_455"><span class="label">[455]</span></a> I think this must be the meaning of the sentence: +'Additur etiam perfuncti laboris aliud munus, ut si quo modo ad +Illustratum vel Vacantem meruerit pervenire, omnibus debeat anteponi, +qui Codicillis Illustratibus probantur ornari.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_456_456" id="Footnote_456_456"></a><a href="#FNanchor_456_456"><span class="label">[456]</span></a> 'Sub nobis enim non licet esse imperitos; quando in +vicem cotis ingenia splendida reddimus, quae causarum assiduitate +polimus.' Strange words to put into the mouth of a monarch who could +not write.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_457_457" id="Footnote_457_457"></a><a href="#FNanchor_457_457"><span class="label">[457]</span></a> 'Quando in quavis abundantia querela non tollitur, si +panis elegantia nulla servetur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_458_458" id="Footnote_458_458"></a><a href="#FNanchor_458_458"><span class="label">[458]</span></a> An attempt to translate 'Honoratis possessoribus et +curialibus civitatis Neapolitanae.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_459_459" id="Footnote_459_459"></a><a href="#FNanchor_459_459"><span class="label">[459]</span></a> 'Erit nostrum gaudium vestra quies.... Degite moribus +compositis, ut vivatis legibus feriatis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_460_460" id="Footnote_460_460"></a><a href="#FNanchor_460_460"><span class="label">[460]</span></a> 'Omnes apparitiones decet habere judices suos. Nam cui +praesul adimitur et militia denegatur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_461_461" id="Footnote_461_461"></a><a href="#FNanchor_461_461"><span class="label">[461]</span></a> 'Ut judicibus annuâ successione reparatis, vobis +solemnitas non pereat actionis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_462_462" id="Footnote_462_462"></a><a href="#FNanchor_462_462"><span class="label">[462]</span></a> 'Vos non patimur emolumentorum commoda perdere.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_463_463" id="Footnote_463_463"></a><a href="#FNanchor_463_463"><span class="label">[463]</span></a> See + <a href="#Page_92">p. 92</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_464_464" id="Footnote_464_464"></a><a href="#FNanchor_464_464"><span class="label">[464]</span></a> 'Nostrum est merentibus tempus augere.' The limit of +one year might therefore be exceeded by favour of the Sovereign.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_465_465" id="Footnote_465_465"></a><a href="#FNanchor_465_465"><span class="label">[465]</span></a> 'Adhibito sibi prudente Romano.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_466_466" id="Footnote_466_466"></a><a href="#FNanchor_466_466"><span class="label">[466]</span></a> 'Aequabili ratione.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_467_467" id="Footnote_467_467"></a><a href="#FNanchor_467_467"><span class="label">[467]</span></a> 'Qui leges moderatâ voluntate dilexerit.' To translate +this literally might give a wrong idea, because with us 'to love the +law' means to be litigious.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_468_468" id="Footnote_468_468"></a><a href="#FNanchor_468_468"><span class="label">[468]</span></a> 'Non amamus aliquid incivile.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_469_469" id="Footnote_469_469"></a><a href="#FNanchor_469_469"><span class="label">[469]</span></a> 'Violentos nostra pietas execratur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_470_470" id="Footnote_470_470"></a><a href="#FNanchor_470_470"><span class="label">[470]</span></a> 'Vos autem, Romani, magno studio Gothos diligere +debetis, qui et in pace numerosos vobis populos faciunt, et universam +Rempublicam per bella defendunt.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_471_471" id="Footnote_471_471"></a><a href="#FNanchor_471_471"><span class="label">[471]</span></a> Raetia, from <i>rete</i>, a net.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_472_472" id="Footnote_472_472"></a><a href="#FNanchor_472_472"><span class="label">[472]</span></a> 'Camerarum rotator.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_473_473" id="Footnote_473_473"></a><a href="#FNanchor_473_473"><span class="label">[473]</span></a> 'Trajani Forum vel sub assiduitate videre miraculum +est.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_474_474" id="Footnote_474_474"></a><a href="#FNanchor_474_474"><span class="label">[474]</span></a> 'Opulentissima siquidem et hinc gratia civium +colligitur, si pretia sub moderatione serventur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_475_475" id="Footnote_475_475"></a><a href="#FNanchor_475_475"><span class="label">[475]</span></a> 'Si esset humanis rebus ulla consideratio Romanam +pulchritudinem non vigiliae sed sola deberet reverentia custodire.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_476_476" id="Footnote_476_476"></a><a href="#FNanchor_476_476"><span class="label">[476]</span></a> 'Quia juste tales persequitur publicus dolor.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_477_477" id="Footnote_477_477"></a><a href="#FNanchor_477_477"><span class="label">[477]</span></a> 'Negociatorum operas consuetas nec nimias exigas, nec +venalitate derelinquas.' Apparently then a certain amount of forced +labour could be claimed from the owners of merchant-vessels by the +Count of Ravenna.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_478_478" id="Footnote_478_478"></a><a href="#FNanchor_478_478"><span class="label">[478]</span></a> 'Pompa osculationis.' Another reading is 'Pompa +postulationis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_479_479" id="Footnote_479_479"></a><a href="#FNanchor_479_479"><span class="label">[479]</span></a> 'Tu vitem tenes improbis minantem.' The allusion is to +the vine-bough, which was used in scourging. The alternative reading, +<i>vitam</i>, does not seem to give so good a sense.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_480_480" id="Footnote_480_480"></a><a href="#FNanchor_480_480"><span class="label">[480]</span></a> Plural. Apparently, therefore, each Count had more than +one Princeps, perhaps one for each large city in his Province.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_481_481" id="Footnote_481_481"></a><a href="#FNanchor_481_481"><span class="label">[481]</span></a> 'Rationabili debeant antiquitate moderari.' Perhaps we +might translate, 'with the Common Law.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_482_482" id="Footnote_482_482"></a><a href="#FNanchor_482_482"><span class="label">[482]</span></a> The title runs thus (in Nivellius' Edition): 'Formula +Comitivae Honorum Scientiae Ordinis diversarum Civitatum.' I do not +know what is meant by 'Honorum Scientiae.' Can 'Scientiae' be a +transcriber's blunder for 'secundi?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_483_483" id="Footnote_483_483"></a><a href="#FNanchor_483_483"><span class="label">[483]</span></a> Cf. + <a href="#vi24">vi. 24</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_484_484" id="Footnote_484_484"></a><a href="#FNanchor_484_484"><span class="label">[484]</span></a> This must, I think, be the meaning; but it is hard to +extract it from the words 'Formula Principis Militum Comitivae.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_485_485" id="Footnote_485_485"></a><a href="#FNanchor_485_485"><span class="label">[485]</span></a> 'Comitem Militiae Vestrae.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_486_486" id="Footnote_486_486"></a><a href="#FNanchor_486_486"><span class="label">[486]</span></a> 'Nec istud leve credatis beneficium, ut cum vos scitis +obsequium, vobis occurrat electio cognitorum.' For Cognitores, see + <a href="#vii3">vii. 3</a>. These Cognitores had virtually the decision of all 'issues of +fact,' and consequently their nomination was a very important matter. +I think the meaning of this passage is: 'I, the King, appoint the +<i>Comes</i> (= Judex), and graciously inform you of my decision. But you +(the Officium) have the privilege—and it is no small one—of electing +the <i>Cognitores</i>.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_487_487" id="Footnote_487_487"></a><a href="#FNanchor_487_487"><span class="label">[487]</span></a> 'Principem nostrum <i>cardinalem</i>' (observe this use of +the word).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_488_488" id="Footnote_488_488"></a><a href="#FNanchor_488_488"><span class="label">[488]</span></a> 'Compendium et dispendium' (from <i>pendere</i>, to weigh).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_489_489" id="Footnote_489_489"></a><a href="#FNanchor_489_489"><span class="label">[489]</span></a> 'Spectandam,' an allusion to the derivation of +<i>spectabilis</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_490_490" id="Footnote_490_490"></a><a href="#FNanchor_490_490"><span class="label">[490]</span></a> 'Tuitio nostri nominis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_491_491" id="Footnote_491_491"></a><a href="#FNanchor_491_491"><span class="label">[491]</span></a> 'Validissimam turrem contra inciviles impetus et +conventionalia detrimenta.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_492_492" id="Footnote_492_492"></a><a href="#FNanchor_492_492"><span class="label">[492]</span></a> 'Praesentis beneficii jussione adversus Gothis illa, +adversus Romanos illa, facile te fides et diligentia custodiet' +('custodivit' is surely an error).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_493_493" id="Footnote_493_493"></a><a href="#FNanchor_493_493"><span class="label">[493]</span></a> 'Ut in foro competenti ea quae in his causis reverenda +legum dictat Antiquitas solenniter actitentur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_494_494" id="Footnote_494_494"></a><a href="#FNanchor_494_494"><span class="label">[494]</span></a> 'Ita ut in alienandis rusticis vel urbanis praediis +constitutionum servitus auctoritas.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_495_495" id="Footnote_495_495"></a><a href="#FNanchor_495_495"><span class="label">[495]</span></a> 'Sajus' in the original, and so in the next place where +it occurs.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_496_496" id="Footnote_496_496"></a><a href="#FNanchor_496_496"><span class="label">[496]</span></a> Formula de Competitoribus is the somewhat obscure title +of this document, which might perhaps be compared to our Commons' +Enclosure Acts.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_497_497" id="Footnote_497_497"></a><a href="#FNanchor_497_497"><span class="label">[497]</span></a> 'Securus etiam ad posteros transmissurus, quod proprio +fuerit labore compositum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_498_498" id="Footnote_498_498"></a><a href="#FNanchor_498_498"><span class="label">[498]</span></a> 'Decernimus ut, si ita est, tot solidos tributario +supradictae possessionis ... ita faciatis de vasariis publicis +diligenter abradi ut hujus rei duplarum vestigium non debeat +inveniri.' Cf. what is said by Evagrius (iii. 39) of the proceedings +of Anastasius at the time of the abolition of the Chrysargyron.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_499_499" id="Footnote_499_499"></a><a href="#FNanchor_499_499"><span class="label">[499]</span></a> 'Ne dilationem providam in genus extraneum non +haberent.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_500_500" id="Footnote_500_500"></a><a href="#FNanchor_500_500"><span class="label">[500]</span></a> 'Quapropter provide vobis permisit antiquitas de illâ +causa decernere, cui est utile Curiam custodire. A quibus enim munia +petuerunt sustineri, si civitatum nervi passim videantur abscidi.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_501_501" id="Footnote_501_501"></a><a href="#FNanchor_501_501"><span class="label">[501]</span></a> The text is evidently corrupt here: 'Genitor meus +desiderio quoque concordiae factus est per arma filius, quia unis +nobis pene videbatur aequaevus.' The suggested reading, 'quamvis +vobis,' does not entirely remove the difficulty.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_502_502" id="Footnote_502_502"></a><a href="#FNanchor_502_502"><span class="label">[502]</span></a> That is, of course, not from Justin himself but from +his predecessors.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_503_503" id="Footnote_503_503"></a><a href="#FNanchor_503_503"><span class="label">[503]</span></a> 'Ut amicitiam nobis illis pactis, illis conditionibus +concedatis, quas cum divae memoriae domino avo nostro inclytos +decessores vestros constat habuisse.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_504_504" id="Footnote_504_504"></a><a href="#FNanchor_504_504"><span class="label">[504]</span></a> 'Quoniam quaevis claritas generis Amalis cedit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_505_505" id="Footnote_505_505"></a><a href="#FNanchor_505_505"><span class="label">[505]</span></a> 'Justitiam nos et aequabilem clementiam, quae populos +nutrit, juvante domino, custodire et <i>Gothis Romanisque apud nos jus +esse commune</i>, nec aliud inter vos esse divisum, nisi quod illi +labores bellicos pro communi utilitate subeunt, vos autem civitatis +Romanae habitatio quieta multiplicat.' I do not consider that the +words in Italics, taken with the context, are irreconcilable with +Dahn's view that the Goths were still, to a certain extent, under +Gothic law.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_506_506" id="Footnote_506_506"></a><a href="#FNanchor_506_506"><span class="label">[506]</span></a> 'Amalorum regalem prosapiem, Baltheum germen.' I know +not how Athalaric had any blood of the Balths in his veins. The other +reading, 'blatteum,' gives the same idea as the following clause, +'infantiam purpuratam.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_507_507" id="Footnote_507_507"></a><a href="#FNanchor_507_507"><span class="label">[507]</span></a> 'Inter tam prolixum ordinem Regum susceperunt semper +augmenta.' Perhaps we should translate 'by such a long line of (Amal) +kings obtained advancement for their nation;' but the meaning is not +very clear.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_508_508" id="Footnote_508_508"></a><a href="#FNanchor_508_508"><span class="label">[508]</span></a> Baronius says (vii. 121): 'Cujusnam Ecclesiae Antistes +fuerit Victorinus ignoratur.' From the tone of the letter one may +conjecture that Victorinus was a Bishop in Gaul.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_509_509" id="Footnote_509_509"></a><a href="#FNanchor_509_509"><span class="label">[509]</span></a> Probably Tulum had gone on some embassy to +Constantinople.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_510_510" id="Footnote_510_510"></a><a href="#FNanchor_510_510"><span class="label">[510]</span></a> 'Hac igitur honoris remuneratione contentus, pro +exteris partibus indefessa devotione laboravit: et praestare com suis +parentibus principi dignabatur obsequium, qui tantorum regum fuerat +stirpe procreatus.' This sentence is full of difficulties. What can he +mean by the labour 'pro exteris partibus?' Who is the 'Princeps' whom +Tulum deigns to serve: the Eastern Emperor or Theodoric? Above all, +who is 'tantorum regum stirpe procreatus?' I think the turn of the +sentence requires that it should be Tulum; but Dahn has evidently not +so understood it, for in his Könige der Germanen (iii. 29, 30) he +makes Tulum a conspicuous example of a man not of noble birth raised +to high dignity, and says that the two long letters about him in the +Variae contain no allusion to illustrious descent.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_511_511" id="Footnote_511_511"></a><a href="#FNanchor_511_511"><span class="label">[511]</span></a> 'Exstat gentis Gothicae hujus probitatis exemplum: +Gensemundus ille toto orbe cantabilis, solum armis filius factus, +tanta se Amalis devotione conjunxit ut haeredibus eorum curiosum +exhibuerit famulatum, quamvis ipse peteretur ad regnum.' Dahn (ii. 61 +and iii. 309) and Köpke (p. 142) refer this mysterious affair of +Gensemund's renunciation to the interval after the death of Thorismund +(<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 416). But this is mere conjecture. See Italy and her Invaders +iii. 8-10.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_512_512" id="Footnote_512_512"></a><a href="#FNanchor_512_512"><span class="label">[512]</span></a> 'Primum, quod inter nationes eximium est, Gothorum +nobilissima stirpe gloriatur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_513_513" id="Footnote_513_513"></a><a href="#FNanchor_513_513"><span class="label">[513]</span></a> 'Statim rudes annos ad sacri cubiculi secreta +portavit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_514_514" id="Footnote_514_514"></a><a href="#FNanchor_514_514"><span class="label">[514]</span></a> We do not hear from the other authorities of Huns being +engaged in this war. In 505 Mundo the Hun was in alliance with +Theodoric against the Empire.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_515_515" id="Footnote_515_515"></a><a href="#FNanchor_515_515"><span class="label">[515]</span></a> 'Tales mittunt nostra cunabula bellatores: sic paratae +sunt manus, ubi exercetur animus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_516_516" id="Footnote_516_516"></a><a href="#FNanchor_516_516"><span class="label">[516]</span></a> 'Et ministrando consilium regebat ipse Rectorem.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_517_517" id="Footnote_517_517"></a><a href="#FNanchor_517_517"><span class="label">[517]</span></a> 'Arelate est civitas supra undas Rhodani constituta, +quae in Orientis prospectum tabulatum pontem per nuncupati fluminis +dorsa transmittit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_518_518" id="Footnote_518_518"></a><a href="#FNanchor_518_518"><span class="label">[518]</span></a> 'Discrimina dum feliciter cedunt, suavissimae memoriae +sensum relinquunt.' Compare Claudian (De Bella Getico 207-8): +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'An potius meminisse juvat semperque vicissim<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gaudia praemissi cumulant inopina dolores.'<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_519_519" id="Footnote_519_519"></a><a href="#FNanchor_519_519"><span class="label">[519]</span></a> 'Favete nunc auspiciis candidati, et viris nostris +libertatis atria reserate.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_520_520" id="Footnote_520_520"></a><a href="#FNanchor_520_520"><span class="label">[520]</span></a> 'Ut aliquid studiose exquisitum dicere videamur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_521_521" id="Footnote_521_521"></a><a href="#FNanchor_521_521"><span class="label">[521]</span></a> 'Juvat repetere pomposam legationem.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_522_522" id="Footnote_522_522"></a><a href="#FNanchor_522_522"><span class="label">[522]</span></a> 'Gratiam quoque loci alterius invenisti. Dictationibus +enim probaris adhibitus, cum sit offensionibus alter expulsus: et ita +suspensum honorem tuum sustinebat ingenium, ut Palatio non sineres +decesse Judicem, cujus ad tempus abrogatam cognovimus dignitatem.' I +do not think we can say from this what the office temporarily filled +by Arator was.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_523_523" id="Footnote_523_523"></a><a href="#FNanchor_523_523"><span class="label">[523]</span></a> 'Sume dicationem, si bonus fuero, pro Republica et me: +si malus, pro Republica in me.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_524_524" id="Footnote_524_524"></a><a href="#FNanchor_524_524"><span class="label">[524]</span></a> 'Quando et moderna quae loquimur.' (Notice again +<i>moderna</i>.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_525_525" id="Footnote_525_525"></a><a href="#FNanchor_525_525"><span class="label">[525]</span></a> So the contemporary poet Maximian, speaking of his own +past successes as an orator, and a good-looking one, says: +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Nec minor his aderat sublimis gratia formae<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Quae vel si decent cetera, muta placet.'<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Elegiae i. 17-18.<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_526_526" id="Footnote_526_526"></a><a href="#FNanchor_526_526"><span class="label">[526]</span></a> 'Qui sapienti deliberatione pertractans quamvis in +aliena religione.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_527_527" id="Footnote_527_527"></a><a href="#FNanchor_527_527"><span class="label">[527]</span></a> The words of Cassiodorus are, 'crinea sunt ista +certamina.' No one seems able to suggest a meaning for <i>crinea</i>. The +editors propose to read <i>civica</i>, which however is very flat, and not +exactly in Cassiodorus' manner. I suspect some recondite classical +allusion, which has been missed by the transcribers, has led to the +corruption of the text.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_528_528" id="Footnote_528_528"></a><a href="#FNanchor_528_528"><span class="label">[528]</span></a> 'Pater his fascibus praefuit sed et frater eadem +resplenduit claritate.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_529_529" id="Footnote_529_529"></a><a href="#FNanchor_529_529"><span class="label">[529]</span></a> 'Nam cum ... auspicia nostra Liguribus felix portitor +nuntiasti, et sapientiae tuae allocutione firmasti, in errorem <i>quem +de occasu conceperant</i>, ortum nostri imperii in gaudia commutabant.' +Does this obscure passage indicate some revolutionary movements in +Liguria after the death of Theodoric, perhaps fomented by the Frankish +neighbours of Italy?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_530_530" id="Footnote_530_530"></a><a href="#FNanchor_530_530"><span class="label">[530]</span></a> 'Quando sub ingrato successore palatinum officium +praeconia ejus tacere non potuit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_531_531" id="Footnote_531_531"></a><a href="#FNanchor_531_531"><span class="label">[531]</span></a> 'Adjectis saeculi vitiis, ditatus claris honoribus.' +The text is evidently corrupt. 'Abjectis' seems to be required; but +some MSS. instead of 'vitiis' read 'Odovacris.' In any case Odovacar's +government is evidently alluded to. Cf. the words used of the same man +in the letter announcing the elevation of his other son, Cyprian (<a href="#v41">v. +41</a>): 'Nam pater huic, sicut meministis, Opilio fuit, vir quidem +<i>abjectis temporibus</i> ad excubias tamen Palatinas electus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_532_532" id="Footnote_532_532"></a><a href="#FNanchor_532_532"><span class="label">[532]</span></a> 'His temporibus habitus est eximius, cum princeps non +esset erectus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_533_533" id="Footnote_533_533"></a><a href="#FNanchor_533_533"><span class="label">[533]</span></a> This is probably the Basilius who was concerned in the +accusation of Boethius (Phil. Cons. I. iv.); possibly the Consul of +541, who fled to Constantinople when Totila took Rome in 546 (Procop. +De Bello Gotthico iii. 20, and Anastasius Lib. Pontif. apud Murator. +iii. 132); and perhaps the Basilius whom we find in trouble in +Variarum <a href="#iv22">iv. 22</a>, <a href="#iv23">23</a>: scarcely the Basilius of Variarum + <a href="#ii10">ii. 10</a>, <a href="#ii11">11</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_534_534" id="Footnote_534_534"></a><a href="#FNanchor_534_534"><span class="label">[534]</span></a> 'Gentiles victu (?), Romanos sibi judiciis obligabat.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_535_535" id="Footnote_535_535"></a><a href="#FNanchor_535_535"><span class="label">[535]</span></a> 'Dudum te forensibus negociis insudantem, <i>oculus +imperialis</i> aspexit'—an expression which goes very near to styling +Theodoric Imperator.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_536_536" id="Footnote_536_536"></a><a href="#FNanchor_536_536"><span class="label">[536]</span></a> 'Pater ita in Mediolanensi foro resplenduit, ut aeterno +fructu e Tulliano cespite pullularet.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_537_537" id="Footnote_537_537"></a><a href="#FNanchor_537_537"><span class="label">[537]</span></a> 'Is palmarum Eugenetis linguae ubertate suffecit.' +Possibly this is the Magister Officiorum of Var. <a href="#i12">i. 12</a>, and the person +to whom is addressed a letter of Ennodius (iv. 26). The form +Eugenetis, instead of Eugenii, belongs to the debased Latinity of the +age.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_538_538" id="Footnote_538_538"></a><a href="#FNanchor_538_538"><span class="label">[538]</span></a> In Nivellius' edition the title of this office is given +as <i>Praepositus</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_539_539" id="Footnote_539_539"></a><a href="#FNanchor_539_539"><span class="label">[539]</span></a> 'Redeat ad nomen antiquum Praefectura illa Praetorii, +toto orbe laudabilis.' Is it possible that there had been some attempt +to change the <i>title</i> of the Praefect, which accounts for the +<i>Praepositus</i> which in some MSS. we find in the heading of this +letter?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_540_540" id="Footnote_540_540"></a><a href="#FNanchor_540_540"><span class="label">[540]</span></a> 'Vidit te adhuc gentilis' (still under the dominion of +the Gepidae) 'Danubius bellatorem: non te terruit Bulgarorum globus, +qui etiam nostris erat praesumptione certaminis obstaturus. Peculiare +tibi fuit et renitentes Barbaros aggredi, et conversos terrore +sectari. Sic victoriam Gothorum non tam numero quam labore juvisti.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_541_541" id="Footnote_541_541"></a><a href="#FNanchor_541_541"><span class="label">[541]</span></a> For a description of his services in this function, see +Var. <a href="#v40">v. 40</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_542_542" id="Footnote_542_542"></a><a href="#FNanchor_542_542"><span class="label">[542]</span></a> This is evidently the meaning; but something seems to +have dropped out of the text.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_543_543" id="Footnote_543_543"></a><a href="#FNanchor_543_543"><span class="label">[543]</span></a> 'Hoc est laborum tuorum aptissimum munus: quam sic +castâ sic moderatâ mente peregisti ut majora tibi deberi faceres, +quamvis eam in magna praemia suscepisses.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_544_544" id="Footnote_544_544"></a><a href="#FNanchor_544_544"><span class="label">[544]</span></a> 'Relucent etiam gratia gentili, nec cessant armorum +imbui fortibus institutis. <i>Pueri stirpis Romanae nostra linguâ +loquuntur; eximie indicantes exhibere se nobis futuram fidem, quorum +jam videntur affectasse sermonem.... Variis linguis loquuntur +egregie</i>, maturis viris communione miscentur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_545_545" id="Footnote_545_545"></a><a href="#FNanchor_545_545"><span class="label">[545]</span></a> 'Atque ideo illustrem magnitudinem tuam praecelso atque +amplissimo viro Theodahado massas subter annexas, tot solidos +pensitantes, ex patrimonio quondam magnificae foeminae matris ipsius, +praecipimus reformari, ejus feliciter dominio plenissime vendicandas, +cujus successionis integrum jus in ea qua praecipimus parte largimur.' +According to Dahn (Könige der Germanen iv. 60-61), these lands had +been given in her lifetime by Theodahad's mother to the King, and are +now begged for by Theodahad. But why 'tot solidos pensitantes?' Why +should Theodahad receive both land and money? There seems no authority +for translating 'pensitantes' receiving. Probably the solidi thus paid +to him are mesne rents received by the King and accounted for to +Theodahad. On the whole affair cf. Procopius, De Bello Gotthico i. 4.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_546_546" id="Footnote_546_546"></a><a href="#FNanchor_546_546"><span class="label">[546]</span></a> 'De cujus fide ac synceritate praesumimus, ut sequenti +tempore reliqua supra memorati patrimonii cum omni adjecta quantitate +mereatur.' This sentence is to me quite unintelligible.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_547_547" id="Footnote_547_547"></a><a href="#FNanchor_547_547"><span class="label">[547]</span></a> Cf. the formalities connected with Odovacar's deed of +gift to Pierius (Marini, Pap. Diplom. 82, 83), quoted in Italy and her +Invaders iii. 165.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_548_548" id="Footnote_548_548"></a><a href="#FNanchor_548_548"><span class="label">[548]</span></a> In the text, 'Sajus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_549_549" id="Footnote_549_549"></a><a href="#FNanchor_549_549"><span class="label">[549]</span></a> 'Praesenti auctoritate moderato ordine definimus.' Dahn +interprets 'moderato ordine,' 'not so absolutely as the Roman clergy +desires.' Is not this to attribute rather too much force to the +conventional language of Cassiodorus?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_550_550" id="Footnote_550_550"></a><a href="#FNanchor_550_550"><span class="label">[550]</span></a> 'Definimus, ut si quispiam ad Romanum Clerum aliquem +pertinentem, in quâlibet causâ probabili crediderit actione pulsandum, +ad beatissimi Papae judicium prius conveniat audiendus. Ut aut ipse +inter utrosque more suae sanctitatis agnoscat, aut causam deleget +aequitatis studio terminandam: et si forte, quod credi nefas est, +competens desiderium fuerit petitoris elusum, tuno ad saecularia fora +jurgaturus occurrat, quando suas petitiones probaverit a supradictae +sedis praesule fuisse contemptas.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_551_551" id="Footnote_551_551"></a><a href="#FNanchor_551_551"><span class="label">[551]</span></a> 'Profitemur itaque alterius quidem donum, sed nostrum +esse judicium, et modernam principis mentem praevenisse tantum +velocissimam largitatem.' Observe again the use of Cassiodorus' +favourite word <i>modernam</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_552_552" id="Footnote_552_552"></a><a href="#FNanchor_552_552"><span class="label">[552]</span></a> Tholuit, or Tholum, in some MSS., but no doubt the same +as the Tulum of Letters <a href="#viii9">9</a> and <a href="#viii10">10</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_553_553" id="Footnote_553_553"></a><a href="#FNanchor_553_553"><span class="label">[553]</span></a> 'Ubi et si quid esset quolibet casu, qualibet +inquisitione fortassis ambiguum, hujus auctoritatis nostrae judicio +constat explosum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_554_554" id="Footnote_554_554"></a><a href="#FNanchor_554_554"><span class="label">[554]</span></a> 'Florentino viro devoto Comitiaco.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_555_555" id="Footnote_555_555"></a><a href="#FNanchor_555_555"><span class="label">[555]</span></a> 'Quoticus ego Conigastum in inbecillis cujusque +fortunas impetum facientem obvius excepi!'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_556_556" id="Footnote_556_556"></a><a href="#FNanchor_556_556"><span class="label">[556]</span></a> 'Cum suo peculio.' If they were not slaves they could +not have <i>peculium</i> in the technical sense. I therefore understand +'peculio' to be simply equivalent to <i>cattle</i>, a sense which is +confirmed by 'Calabri peculiosi' in <a href="#viii33">Letter 33</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_557_557" id="Footnote_557_557"></a><a href="#FNanchor_557_557"><span class="label">[557]</span></a> 'Adjicientes ne rerum suarum repetitionibus imminerent +[? imminuerent] liberis sibi conditionem ultimae servitutis imponi.' +Cf. Salvian, De Gubernatione Dei v. 8, 9, for a description of similar +occurrences in Gaul.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_558_558" id="Footnote_558_558"></a><a href="#FNanchor_558_558"><span class="label">[558]</span></a> 'Honoratis Possessoribus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_559_559" id="Footnote_559_559"></a><a href="#FNanchor_559_559"><span class="label">[559]</span></a> 'Antiqui operis formam.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_560_560" id="Footnote_560_560"></a><a href="#FNanchor_560_560"><span class="label">[560]</span></a> 'Quatenus antiquos cuniculos, sive subterraneos, sive +qui junguntur marginibus platearum diligenter emendent.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_561_561" id="Footnote_561_561"></a><a href="#FNanchor_561_561"><span class="label">[561]</span></a> 'Coloni sunt qui agros jugiter colunt.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_562_562" id="Footnote_562_562"></a><a href="#FNanchor_562_562"><span class="label">[562]</span></a> Cf. what is said (<a href="#i4">i. 4</a>) as to the large present of +horses made by the father of Cassiodorus to Theodoric for the use of +the Gothic army.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_563_563" id="Footnote_563_563"></a><a href="#FNanchor_563_563"><span class="label">[563]</span></a> 'Vivunt illic rustici epulis urbanorum, mediocres autem +abundantia praepotentium.' 'Mediocres' and 'tenues' are technical +words with Cassiodorus for the poor.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_564_564" id="Footnote_564_564"></a><a href="#FNanchor_564_564"><span class="label">[564]</span></a> Cassiodorus must have felt the weakness of his logic +here. He patriotically praises the rural beauty of Bruttii, yet the +conclusion which by main force he arrives at is, 'Leave the country +and live in towns.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_565_565" id="Footnote_565_565"></a><a href="#FNanchor_565_565"><span class="label">[565]</span></a> 'Cui enim minus grata nobilium videatur occursio. Cui +non affectuosum sit cum paribus miscere sermonem, forum petere, +honestas artes invisere, causas proprias legibus expedire, interdum +Palamediacis calculis occupari, ad balneas ire cum sociis, prandia +mutuis apparatibus exhibere? Caret profecto omnibus his, qui vitam +suam vult semper habere cum famulis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_566_566" id="Footnote_566_566"></a><a href="#FNanchor_566_566"><span class="label">[566]</span></a> 'Datis fidejussoribus jam Possessores quam Curiales, +sub aestimatione virium, poenâ interpositâ, promittant anni parte +majore se in civitatibus manere, quas habitare delegerint.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_567_567" id="Footnote_567_567"></a><a href="#FNanchor_567_567"><span class="label">[567]</span></a> 'In Scyllatino territoris.' Transcribers, thinking of +the Arethusa at Syracuse, have tried to alter this into <i>Siciliano</i>; +but there can be little doubt that the above reading is right. As to +the situation of the Fountain of Arethusa, see Introduction, <a href="#Page_72">p. 72</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_568_568" id="Footnote_568_568"></a><a href="#FNanchor_568_568"><span class="label">[568]</span></a> 'Spectabilitas vestra praedicto tempore, unâ cum +Possessoribus atque Conductoribus diversarum massarum ad quietem +convenientium ... reos inveniat,' &c.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_569_569" id="Footnote_569_569"></a><a href="#FNanchor_569_569"><span class="label">[569]</span></a> 'Inter ipsa initia comprehensus fustuariae subdatur +ultioni.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_570_570" id="Footnote_570_570"></a><a href="#FNanchor_570_570"><span class="label">[570]</span></a> 'Pompatus mala nota.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_571_571" id="Footnote_571_571"></a><a href="#FNanchor_571_571"><span class="label">[571]</span></a> 'Calabri peculiosi.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_572_572" id="Footnote_572_572"></a><a href="#FNanchor_572_572"><span class="label">[572]</span></a> 'Praesto sunt pueri ac puellae, diverso sexu atque +aetate conspicuo, quos non facit captivitas esse sub pretio sed +libertas: hos merito parentes vendunt, quoniam de ipsa famulatione +proficiunt. Dubium quippe non est servos posse meliorari qui de labore +agrorum ad urbana servitia transferuntur.' With almost any writer but +Cassiodorus this would prove that in the Sixth Century free Italians +were selling their children into actual slavery. But I doubt whether +he really means more than that the children of the country people were +for hire as domestic servants in the cities. If so, the scene is not +unlike our own 'statute fairs' or 'hirings' in the north of England. +It appears from § 94 of the Edictum Theodorici that parents could sell +their children, but that the latter did not lose their <i>status +ingenuus</i>. Must they then claim it on coming of age? 'Parentes qui +cogente necessitate filios suos alimentorum gratia vendiderint +ingenuitati eorum non praejudicant. <i>Homo enim liber pretio nullo +aestimatur.</i>' Cf. also § 95: 'Operas enim tantum parentes filiorum +quos in potestate habuerint, locare possunt.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_573_573" id="Footnote_573_573"></a><a href="#FNanchor_573_573"><span class="label">[573]</span></a> Marcilianum is now Sala, in the valley of the Calore +(Tanager). Padula is thought by some to mark the site of Cosilinum. +The Island of Leucosia, now Licosa, a few miles from Paestum, +evidently does not represent the Leucothea of this letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_574_574" id="Footnote_574_574"></a><a href="#FNanchor_574_574"><span class="label">[574]</span></a> With reference to this event Victor Tunnunensis writes: +'Cujus (Trasamundi) uxor Amalafrida fugiens ad barbaros congressione +facta Capsae juxta Heremum capitur, et in custodia privata moritur.' +Procopius (De B. Vandalico i. 9) says: <span lang="el" title="Greek: Kai sphisi (tois +Bandilois) xynênechthê Theuderichô te kai Gotthois en Italia ek te +symmachôn kai philôn polemioi genesthai tên te gar Amalaphridan en +phylakê eschon kai tous Gotthous diephtheiran hapantas epenenkontes +autois neôterizein es te Bandilous kai Hilderichon">Και +σφισι (τοις Βανδιλοις) +ξυνηνεχθη Θευδεριχω +τε και Γοτθοις +εν Ιταλια εκ τε +συμμαχων και φιλων +πολεμιοι γενεσθαι +την τε γαρ Αμαλαφριδαν +εν φυλακη εσχον +και τους Γοτθους +διεφθειραν 'απαντας +επενεγκοντες +αυτοις νεωτεριζειν +ες τε Βανδιλους +και 'Ιλδεριχον</span>. +Both Victor and Procopius seem to place the conflict before the death of Theodoric; +Victor says <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 523. Probably therefore the fighting, the capture of +Amalafrida, and the death of her countrymen, took place in that year, +the year of her husband's death and Hilderic's accession. Three or +four years later (526 or 527), when her brother Theodoric was dead, +the imprisoned princess was murdered—a grievous insult to the young +Sovereign of the Goths, her great-nephew.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_575_575" id="Footnote_575_575"></a><a href="#FNanchor_575_575"><span class="label">[575]</span></a> 'Praedia Curialium, unde maximae mediocribus parantur +insidiae, nullus illicita emptione pervadat. Quia contractus dici non +potest nisi qui de legibus venit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_576_576" id="Footnote_576_576"></a><a href="#FNanchor_576_576"><span class="label">[576]</span></a> 'Non enim incassum vobis Curiam concessit Antiquitas, +non inaniter appellavit Minorem Senatum, nervos quoque vocitans ac +viscera civitatum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_577_577" id="Footnote_577_577"></a><a href="#FNanchor_577_577"><span class="label">[577]</span></a> Cf. + <a href="#viii23">viii. 23</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_578_578" id="Footnote_578_578"></a><a href="#FNanchor_578_578"><span class="label">[578]</span></a> Have we any clue to the geographical position of this +farm? The only Rusticiana known to the Itineraries is in Spain.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_579_579" id="Footnote_579_579"></a><a href="#FNanchor_579_579"><span class="label">[579]</span></a> 'Origo quidem nobilis, sed de flamma suscipit vim +coloris, ut magis credas inde nasci, cujus similitudine videtur +ornari. Sed cum auro tribuat splendidum ruborem, argento confert +albissimam lucem. Ut mirum sit, unam substantiam tradere, quod rebus +dissimilibus possit aptari.' Have we here a hint of 'the transmutation +of metals?' Cassiodorus seems to think that it is only the furnace +that makes the difference between the colours of gold and of silver.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_580_580" id="Footnote_580_580"></a><a href="#FNanchor_580_580"><span class="label">[580]</span></a> 'Neque enim ob aliud Curiales leges sacratissimae +ligaverunt, nisi ut cum illos soli principes absolverent, indulgentiae +praeconia reperirent.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_581_581" id="Footnote_581_581"></a><a href="#FNanchor_581_581"><span class="label">[581]</span></a> 'Formidare delegata incipient, per quae antea +timebantur.' To translate by an analogy, 'And will tremble at the +rate-summonses, their signatures to which used to make other men +tremble.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_582_582" id="Footnote_582_582"></a><a href="#FNanchor_582_582"><span class="label">[582]</span></a> 'Episcopis et Honoratis.' Perhaps it is from motives of +delicacy that Cassiodorus has not added the name of the Province.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_583_583" id="Footnote_583_583"></a><a href="#FNanchor_583_583"><span class="label">[583]</span></a> 'In necessitate siquidem penuriae pretii nulla +contentio est: dum patitur quis induci ne possit aliquâ tarditate +percelli.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_584_584" id="Footnote_584_584"></a><a href="#FNanchor_584_584"><span class="label">[584]</span></a> 'Sive in gradu [panis gradilis?] sive in aliis locis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_585_585" id="Footnote_585_585"></a><a href="#FNanchor_585_585"><span class="label">[585]</span></a> A paraphrase, confessedly anachronistic, of 'Ne quis +ergo venditionem sibi impositam conqueratur, sciat libertatem in +crimine non requiri.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_586_586" id="Footnote_586_586"></a><a href="#FNanchor_586_586"><span class="label">[586]</span></a> 'Curiam reparans, pauperibus ablata restituens.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_587_587" id="Footnote_587_587"></a><a href="#FNanchor_587_587"><span class="label">[587]</span></a> 'Licet primaevus venias ad honorem.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_588_588" id="Footnote_588_588"></a><a href="#FNanchor_588_588"><span class="label">[588]</span></a> Cf. + <a href="#iii26">iii. 26</a> and <a href="#iv9">iv. 9</a>. In the former letter he is +called Osun.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_589_589" id="Footnote_589_589"></a><a href="#FNanchor_589_589"><span class="label">[589]</span></a> We are not told in what capacity Severinus came. +Probably it was on account of Osuin's age that Severinus was +associated with him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_590_590" id="Footnote_590_590"></a><a href="#FNanchor_590_590"><span class="label">[590]</span></a> 'Per quartam Indictionem quod a nobis augmenti nomine +quaerebatur illustrem virum Comitem Patrimonii nostri nunc jussimus +removere.' As the fourth Indiction began Sept. 525, in the lifetime of +Theodoric, it is clear that that date belongs to the imposition, not +to the removal of the 'augmentum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_591_591" id="Footnote_591_591"></a><a href="#FNanchor_591_591"><span class="label">[591]</span></a> 'Avus noster de suis beneficiis magna praesumens (quia +longa quies et culturam agris praestitit et populos ampliavit) intra +Siciliam provinciam sub consueta prudentiae suae moderatione censum +statuit subflagitari ut vobis cresceret devotio, quibus se facultas +extenderat.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_592_592" id="Footnote_592_592"></a><a href="#FNanchor_592_592"><span class="label">[592]</span></a> This most be the meaning of 'quicquid a discursoribus +novi census per quintam Indictionem probatur affixum, ad vestram eos +fecimus deferre notitiam.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_593_593" id="Footnote_593_593"></a><a href="#FNanchor_593_593"><span class="label">[593]</span></a> Tax-collectors. The word is unknown to the Notitia, but +Censuales occurs once in it (Not. Occ. iv.).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_594_594" id="Footnote_594_594"></a><a href="#FNanchor_594_594"><span class="label">[594]</span></a> 'Quos etiam seris praeceptionibus credidit esse +admonendos, ut <i>relicto tandem provincialium gravamine</i> ad ejus +deberetis justitiam festinare.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_595_595" id="Footnote_595_595"></a><a href="#FNanchor_595_595"><span class="label">[595]</span></a> 'Nimis enim absurdum est, spondere munitiones et dare +civibus excecrabiles vastitates.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_596_596" id="Footnote_596_596"></a><a href="#FNanchor_596_596"><span class="label">[596]</span></a> 'Conventiones.' I think the complaint here is of the +expenses of 'executing process.' It is not as Judge but as the +functionary who carries the Judge's orders into effect that Gildias is +here blamed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_597_597" id="Footnote_597_597"></a><a href="#FNanchor_597_597"><span class="label">[597]</span></a> 'Nostra' (the reading of Nivellius) seems evidently a +better reading than 'vestra' (which Migne has adopted).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_598_598" id="Footnote_598_598"></a><a href="#FNanchor_598_598"><span class="label">[598]</span></a> 'Commodum debet esse <i>cum modo</i>.' A derivation or a +pun.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_599_599" id="Footnote_599_599"></a><a href="#FNanchor_599_599"><span class="label">[599]</span></a> 'Duntaxat in illis causis atque personis, ubi te +misceri edicta voluerunt.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_600_600" id="Footnote_600_600"></a><a href="#FNanchor_600_600"><span class="label">[600]</span></a> 'Quisquis belluinis moribus excitatus munimen +tentaverit irrumpere jussionum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_601_601" id="Footnote_601_601"></a><a href="#FNanchor_601_601"><span class="label">[601]</span></a> 'Gothorum laus est civilitas custodita.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_602_602" id="Footnote_602_602"></a><a href="#FNanchor_602_602"><span class="label">[602]</span></a> This seems a possible interpretation of a dark +sentence: 'Navigiis vecta commercia te suggerunt occupare, et ambitu +cupiditatis exosae solum antiqua pretia definire, quod non creditur a +suspicione longinquum etiam si non sit actione vicinum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_603_603" id="Footnote_603_603"></a><a href="#FNanchor_603_603"><span class="label">[603]</span></a> Is this a kind of compurgation which is here proposed?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_604_604" id="Footnote_604_604"></a><a href="#FNanchor_604_604"><span class="label">[604]</span></a> 'Quosdam nefariâ machinatione necessitatem temporis +aucupatos, ita facultates pauperum extortis promissionibus ingravasse, +ut quod dictu nefas est, etiam sacra vasa emptioni publicae viderentur +exposita.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_605_605" id="Footnote_605_605"></a><a href="#FNanchor_605_605"><span class="label">[605]</span></a> 'Et quia omnia decet sub ratione moderari, nec possunt +dici justa quae nimia sunt, cum de Apostolici consecratione Pontificis +intentio fortasse pervenerit, et ad Palatium nostrum producta fuerit +altercatio populorum, suggerentes (?) nobis intra tria millia +solidorum, cum collectione cartarum censemus accipere.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_606_606" id="Footnote_606_606"></a><a href="#FNanchor_606_606"><span class="label">[606]</span></a> 'Nec ulla—quae apud nos est gratissima—nominis sui +dignitas subveniret.' I think <i>sui</i> must refer to the +recently-mentioned <i>Papa Johannes</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_607_607" id="Footnote_607_607"></a><a href="#FNanchor_607_607"><span class="label">[607]</span></a> 'Affectare vivere belluinâ saevitiâ.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_608_608" id="Footnote_608_608"></a><a href="#FNanchor_608_608"><span class="label">[608]</span></a> 'Praedia urbana vel rustica.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_609_609" id="Footnote_609_609"></a><a href="#FNanchor_609_609"><span class="label">[609]</span></a> The punishment consisted in loss of all claim to the +property—which was generally seized by someone who had some kind of +ostensible claim to it—and a penalty of equal value with that of the +property wrongfully seized.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_610_610" id="Footnote_610_610"></a><a href="#FNanchor_610_610"><span class="label">[610]</span></a> 'Illis quos spes non habet praesentis conjugii vel +futuri.' It is not easy to see how the Judge could ascertain whether a +man belonged to this claim or not.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_611_611" id="Footnote_611_611"></a><a href="#FNanchor_611_611"><span class="label">[611]</span></a> 'Quod si ad tale flagitium ancilla pervenerit, excepta +poena sanguinis, matronali subjaceat ultioni: ut illam patiatur +judicem, quam formidare debuisset absentem.' These provisions are +probably of Germanic origin.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_612_612" id="Footnote_612_612"></a><a href="#FNanchor_612_612"><span class="label">[612]</span></a> 'Quae sunt venerabili deliberatione firmata.' Is it +possible that we have here a reference to a theoretical right of the +<i>Senate</i> to concur in legislation?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_613_613" id="Footnote_613_613"></a><a href="#FNanchor_613_613"><span class="label">[613]</span></a> 'Et usualia jura publica.' Dahn expands: 'All other +juristic material, all sources of law—Roman <i>leges</i> and <i>jus</i>, and +Gothic customary law—the whole inheritance of the State in public and +private law.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_614_614" id="Footnote_614_614"></a><a href="#FNanchor_614_614"><span class="label">[614]</span></a> 'Necessaria quaedam Romanae quieti edictali programmate +duodecim capitibus sicut jus civile legitur institutum in aevum +servanda conscripsimus, quae custodita residuum jus non debilitare, +sed potius corroborare videantur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_615_615" id="Footnote_615_615"></a><a href="#FNanchor_615_615"><span class="label">[615]</span></a> Evidently aimed at the Goths.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_616_616" id="Footnote_616_616"></a><a href="#FNanchor_616_616"><span class="label">[616]</span></a> 'Hac non utuntur barbari reges: apud legales dominos +manere cognoscitur singularis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_617_617" id="Footnote_617_617"></a><a href="#FNanchor_617_617"><span class="label">[617]</span></a> 'Et, ut reliqua taceamus, hoc quod loquimur inde est.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_618_618" id="Footnote_618_618"></a><a href="#FNanchor_618_618"><span class="label">[618]</span></a> 'Et semel Primi Ordinis vestri ac reliqui Senatus +amplissimi auctoritate firmatus.' What is the meaning of 'Primi +Ordinis vestri?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_619_619" id="Footnote_619_619"></a><a href="#FNanchor_619_619"><span class="label">[619]</span></a> The twelfth Indiction began Sept. 1, 533. The Consul +would enter office Jan. 1, 534. Was he <i>designated</i> when the great +Imperial officers were <i>appointed</i> at the beginning of the Indiction?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_620_620" id="Footnote_620_620"></a><a href="#FNanchor_620_620"><span class="label">[620]</span></a> <i>Curia</i>, from <i>cura</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_621_621" id="Footnote_621_621"></a><a href="#FNanchor_621_621"><span class="label">[621]</span></a> 'Primaevum recipiens ad Quaestoris Officium, mox +reperit conscientia praeditum, et legum eruditione maturum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_622_622" id="Footnote_622_622"></a><a href="#FNanchor_622_622"><span class="label">[622]</span></a> 'Et quadam gratia praejudiciali vacabat alios laborare, +ut te sententiae suae copiosa laude compleret.' One would have +expected Cassiodorus to say, 'You had the special privilege of doing +other people's work and being praised for it, while they enjoyed their +leisure;' but I hardly see how we can get this meaning out of 'vacabat +alios laborare.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_623_623" id="Footnote_623_623"></a><a href="#FNanchor_623_623"><span class="label">[623]</span></a> 'Egisti rerum domino judicem familiarem et internum +procerem.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_624_624" id="Footnote_624_624"></a><a href="#FNanchor_624_624"><span class="label">[624]</span></a> 'Nam cum esset publica cura vacuatus, sententias +prudentum a tuis fabulis exigebat; ut factis propriis se aequaret +antiquis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_625_625" id="Footnote_625_625"></a><a href="#FNanchor_625_625"><span class="label">[625]</span></a> 'Quamvis habeas paternam Praefecturam, Italico orbe +praedicatam.' This is one of the many proofs that Senator (now first +advanced to the office of Praefectus Praetorio) is the <i>son</i> of the +Cassiodorus to whom the letter (<a href="#i3">i. 3</a>) is addressed on his retirement +from that office.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_626_626" id="Footnote_626_626"></a><a href="#FNanchor_626_626"><span class="label">[626]</span></a> 'Tetendit se etiam in antiquam prosapiem nostram, +lectione discens, quod vix majorum notitia cana retinebat. Iste Reges +Gothorum longa oblivione celatos, latibulo vetustatis eduxit. Iste +Amalos cum generis sui claritate restituit, evidenter ostendens in +decimam septimam progeniem stirpem nos habere regalem. Originem +Gothicam historiam fecit esse Romanam, colligens quasi in unam coronam +germen floridum quod per librorum campos passim fuerat ante +dispersum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_627_627" id="Footnote_627_627"></a><a href="#FNanchor_627_627"><span class="label">[627]</span></a> Probably from some expected descent of the Vandals, in +connection with the affair of Amalafrida.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_628_628" id="Footnote_628_628"></a><a href="#FNanchor_628_628"><span class="label">[628]</span></a> 'Par suis majoribus ducatum sumpsit intrepidus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_629_629" id="Footnote_629_629"></a><a href="#FNanchor_629_629"><span class="label">[629]</span></a> 'Deputatos.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_630_630" id="Footnote_630_630"></a><a href="#FNanchor_630_630"><span class="label">[630]</span></a> A conjectural translation of a difficult sentence: 'Mox +autem ut tempus clausit navium commeatum, bellique cura resoluta est, +ingenium suum legum potius ductor exercuit: sanans sine damno +litigantium quod ante sub pretio comstabat esse laceratum.' I +conjecture that by the sudden stoppage of the warlike preparations +several of the contractors were in danger of being ruined, and there +was a general disposition to repudiate all purchases.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_631_631" id="Footnote_631_631"></a><a href="#FNanchor_631_631"><span class="label">[631]</span></a> 'Nam licet concordia Principum semper deceat, vestra +tamen absolute me nobilitat; quoniam ille redditur amplius excelsus, +qui vestrae gloriae fuerit unanimiter conjunctus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_632_632" id="Footnote_632_632"></a><a href="#FNanchor_632_632"><span class="label">[632]</span></a> 'Divae recordationis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_633_633" id="Footnote_633_633"></a><a href="#FNanchor_633_633"><span class="label">[633]</span></a> Is there any authority for the reading of Nivellius, +'Theo<i>baldum</i>?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_634_634" id="Footnote_634_634"></a><a href="#FNanchor_634_634"><span class="label">[634]</span></a> 'Veniamus ad illam privatae Ecclesiae (?) largissimam +frugalitatem.' 'Ecclesiae,' if it means here 'the Church,' seems to +spoil the sense. Can Cassiodorus mean to compare the household of +Theodahad to a 'private Ecclesia?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_635_635" id="Footnote_635_635"></a><a href="#FNanchor_635_635"><span class="label">[635]</span></a> 'Talem universitas debuit optare, qualem nos probamur +elegisse, qui rationabiliter disponens propria, non appetat aliena.' +And this of Theodahad!</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_636_636" id="Footnote_636_636"></a><a href="#FNanchor_636_636"><span class="label">[636]</span></a> 'Dominam rerum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_637_637" id="Footnote_637_637"></a><a href="#FNanchor_637_637"><span class="label">[637]</span></a> 'Cujus prius ideo justitiam pertuli ut prius +[posterius?] ad ejus provectionis gratiam pervenirem. Causas enim, ut +scitis, jure communi nos fecit dicere cum privatis.' We have here, no +doubt, an allusion to the punishment which, as we learn from +Procopius, Amalasuentha inflicted on her cousin for his various acts +of injustice towards his Tuscan neighbours.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_638_638" id="Footnote_638_638"></a><a href="#FNanchor_638_638"><span class="label">[638]</span></a> 'Et summâ felicitate componitur quod ab aliis sub longâ +deliberatione componitur.' 'Ab aliis' probably refers to Cassiodorus +himself. The contrast between his elaborate and diffuse rhetoric, and +the few, terse, soon-moulded sentences of his mistress is very fairly +drawn.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_639_639" id="Footnote_639_639"></a><a href="#FNanchor_639_639"><span class="label">[639]</span></a> 'Minus fuit ut generalitas sub libertate serviret.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_640_640" id="Footnote_640_640"></a><a href="#FNanchor_640_640"><span class="label">[640]</span></a> 'Theodosio homini suo Theodahadus rex.' Does 'homo +suus' mean a member of his Comitatus? We seem to have here an +anticipation of the 'homagium' of later times.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_641_641" id="Footnote_641_641"></a><a href="#FNanchor_641_641"><span class="label">[641]</span></a> 'Mutavimus cum dignitate propositum, et si ante justa +districte defendimus, nunc clementer omnia mitigamus.' A pretty plain +confession of Theodahad's past wrong-doing, and one which was probably +insisted upon by Amalasuentha in admitting him to a share in the +kingship.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_642_642" id="Footnote_642_642"></a><a href="#FNanchor_642_642"><span class="label">[642]</span></a> 534-535. As Athalaric died Oct. 2, 534, the appointment +of Patricius cannot have taken place on the usual day, Sept. 1.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_643_643" id="Footnote_643_643"></a><a href="#FNanchor_643_643"><span class="label">[643]</span></a> 'Velle nostrum antiquorum principum est voluntas, quos +in tantum desideramus imitari quantum illi justitiam sunt secuti.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_644_644" id="Footnote_644_644"></a><a href="#FNanchor_644_644"><span class="label">[644]</span></a> There is something in the tone of this letter which +suggests that Theodora was known to be pregnant when it was written.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_645_645" id="Footnote_645_645"></a><a href="#FNanchor_645_645"><span class="label">[645]</span></a> This Maximus does not appear to be mentioned by +Procopius. He may be the same Maximus who took refuge in one of the +churches after Totila's capture of Rome in 546 (De Bello Gotthico iii. +20), and who was slain by order of Teias in 552 (Ibid. iv. 34); but +that person was grandson of an Emperor, and it seems hardly probable +that Cassiodorus would have spared us such a detail in the pedigree of +Theodahad's kinsman. We seem also to be entirely without information +as to the Amal princess who was the bride of Maximus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_646_646" id="Footnote_646_646"></a><a href="#FNanchor_646_646"><span class="label">[646]</span></a> 'Anicios quidem pene principibus pares aetas prisca +genuit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_647_647" id="Footnote_647_647"></a><a href="#FNanchor_647_647"><span class="label">[647]</span></a> 535 to 536.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_648_648" id="Footnote_648_648"></a><a href="#FNanchor_648_648"><span class="label">[648]</span></a> 'Laudati sunt hactenus parentes tui, sed tantâ non sunt +conjunctione decorati. Nobilitas tua non est ultra quod crescat. +Quicquid praeconialiter egeris, proprio matrimonio dignissimus +aestimaris.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_649_649" id="Footnote_649_649"></a><a href="#FNanchor_649_649"><span class="label">[649]</span></a> Flavius Anicius Maximus was Consul in 523.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_650_650" id="Footnote_650_650"></a><a href="#FNanchor_650_650"><span class="label">[650]</span></a> 'Nihil debemus et solvimus.' Have we here an echo of +St. Augustine's thought, 'Reddis debita nulli debens?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_651_651" id="Footnote_651_651"></a><a href="#FNanchor_651_651"><span class="label">[651]</span></a> 'Qui maximo labore defenditur, cujus per dies singulos +civilitas custoditur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_652_652" id="Footnote_652_652"></a><a href="#FNanchor_652_652"><span class="label">[652]</span></a> 'Ut illos diligat super omnia, per quos habere probatur +universa.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_653_653" id="Footnote_653_653"></a><a href="#FNanchor_653_653"><span class="label">[653]</span></a> 'Salutiferos apices.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_654_654" id="Footnote_654_654"></a><a href="#FNanchor_654_654"><span class="label">[654]</span></a> 'Ecce nec sollicitos patimur, quibus infensi esse +putabamur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_655_655" id="Footnote_655_655"></a><a href="#FNanchor_655_655"><span class="label">[655]</span></a> 'Postulata siquidem sacramenta vobis, ab Illo atque +Illo praestari nostra decrevit auctoritas.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_656_656" id="Footnote_656_656"></a><a href="#FNanchor_656_656"><span class="label">[656]</span></a> 'Quâ nos convenit cautelâ Romam defendere, quam constat +in mundo simile nihil habere?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_657_657" id="Footnote_657_657"></a><a href="#FNanchor_657_657"><span class="label">[657]</span></a> 'Quos tamen locis aptis praecipimus immorari, ut foris +sit armata defensio, intus vobis tranquilla civilitas.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_658_658" id="Footnote_658_658"></a><a href="#FNanchor_658_658"><span class="label">[658]</span></a> 'Absit enim ut nostris temporibus Urbs illa muris +videatur protegi, quam constat gentibus vel sola opinione fuisse +terrori.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_659_659" id="Footnote_659_659"></a><a href="#FNanchor_659_659"><span class="label">[659]</span></a> 'Ut quae semper fuit libera, nullius inclusionis +decoloretur injuria.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_660_660" id="Footnote_660_660"></a><a href="#FNanchor_660_660"><span class="label">[660]</span></a> 'Non enim rixas viles per regna requiritis: non vos +injusta certamina quae sunt bonis moribus inimica, delectant.' No +doubt this was meant to be taken as a hint of the censure which it +professes to deny.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_661_661" id="Footnote_661_661"></a><a href="#FNanchor_661_661"><span class="label">[661]</span></a> 'Pacem quam et iracundis gentibus consuevistis +imponere.' An allusion, perhaps, to the peace concluded with Persia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_662_662" id="Footnote_662_662"></a><a href="#FNanchor_662_662"><span class="label">[662]</span></a> The name of 'virum illum venerabilem' is not given, but +we learn from Procopius (De Bello Gotthico i. 6) that it was Rusticus, +a priest, a Roman, and an intimate friend of Theodahad.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_663_663" id="Footnote_663_663"></a><a href="#FNanchor_663_663"><span class="label">[663]</span></a> Wife of Theodahad.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_664_664" id="Footnote_664_664"></a><a href="#FNanchor_664_664"><span class="label">[664]</span></a> 'Hortamini enim ut quidquid expetendum a triumphali +principe domino jugali nostro (?) credimus vestris ante sensibus +ingeramus.' It seems to me that the sense requires <i>vestro</i> instead of +<i>nostro</i>, and I have translated accordingly. (Dahn also makes this +correction.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_665_665" id="Footnote_665_665"></a><a href="#FNanchor_665_665"><span class="label">[665]</span></a> 'Et vestra decet obsequia retinere.' Here 'nostra' +seems to give a better sense than 'vestra.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_666_666" id="Footnote_666_666"></a><a href="#FNanchor_666_666"><span class="label">[666]</span></a> 'Dubium enim non est illam mores dare cui observatur +assidue, dum constat defaecari animum bonis praeceptionibus +institutum.' Rather hazardous praise to address to a Theodora.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_667_667" id="Footnote_667_667"></a><a href="#FNanchor_667_667"><span class="label">[667]</span></a> 'Nam et de illâ personâ, de quâ ad nos aliquid verbo +titillante pervenit, hoc ordinatum esse cognoscite, quod vestris +credidimus animis convenire.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_668_668" id="Footnote_668_668"></a><a href="#FNanchor_668_668"><span class="label">[668]</span></a> These mysterious sentences, according to Gibbon, cap. +xli. <i>n.</i> 56 (following Buat), refer to Amalasuentha, and thus lend +probability to the story in the Anecdote of Procopius that Theodora, +out of jealousy, intrigued with Theodahad to have Amalasuentha put to +death. But whatever may be the truth of that story, this sentence can +hardly by any possibility refer to it. For (1) it is clear that this +letter was written at the same time as Theodahad's, which precedes it, +therefore after the arrival of Peter in Italy. But Procopius is clear +that Amalasuentha was put to death before Peter had crossed the +Hadriatic, whereas this event, whatever it be, is evidently a piece of +news which Gudelina has to communicate to Theodora. (2) This letter, +though purporting to be from Gudelina, is confessedly written by +Cassiodorus, and published by him at the end of his official career. +It is hardly conceivable that he would deliberately publish to the +world his connection with the murder of Theodoric's daughter and his +own friend and benefactress. It is remarkable, on the contrary, how +complete (but for this passage) is the silence of the Variae as to +Amalasuentha's deposition and death: as if Cassiodorus had said, 'If +you do anything to harm <i>her</i>, you may get other apologists for your +deeds; I will be no champion of such wickedness.' It is scarcely +necessary to remark that there is nothing in the wording of the +sentence 'de illa persona,' &c. which makes it more applicable to a +woman than to a man. As Peter's embassy was ostensibly connected with +ecclesiastical affairs, there is perhaps an allusion in this sentence +to some scheme of Theodora's with reference to the Papacy. It is +possible that she may have been already working for the election of +Vigilius to the chair of St. Peter, and therefore that <i>he</i> is meant +by 'illa persona.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_669_669" id="Footnote_669_669"></a><a href="#FNanchor_669_669"><span class="label">[669]</span></a> 'Nullam inter Romana regna decet esse discordiam.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_670_670" id="Footnote_670_670"></a><a href="#FNanchor_670_670"><span class="label">[670]</span></a> This letter seems as if it was written on precisely the +same occasion as <a href="#x19">x. 19</a>. Again Peter is sent back, and with him a +'venerable man' to represent Theodahad. We learn from Procopius (i. 6) +that Theodahad, in his fear of war, recalled Peter when he had already +got as far as Albano, and gave him another set of propositions for +Justinian. It seems possible that these fresh letters (<a href="#x22">22</a> and + <a href="#x23">23</a>) from +Theodahad and his Queen were given him when he set out the <i>second</i> +time.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_671_671" id="Footnote_671_671"></a><a href="#FNanchor_671_671"><span class="label">[671]</span></a> Zeno (not of course an ancestor in natural +relationship, but predecessor in the third degree).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_672_672" id="Footnote_672_672"></a><a href="#FNanchor_672_672"><span class="label">[672]</span></a> 'Considerate etiam, principes docti, et abavi vestri +historica monumenta recolite, quantum decessores vestri studuerint de +suo jure relinquere ut eis parentum nostrorum foedera provenirent.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_673_673" id="Footnote_673_673"></a><a href="#FNanchor_673_673"><span class="label">[673]</span></a> 'Nunc illi vestram gratiam ultro quaerunt, qui suis +parentibus meliores se esse cognoscunt.' Dahn remarks that Theodahad's +asserted superiority to Theodoric probably consisted in his +philosophical culture.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_674_674" id="Footnote_674_674"></a><a href="#FNanchor_674_674"><span class="label">[674]</span></a> See + <a href="#Footnote_670_670">note</a> on the <a href="#x22">preceding letter</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_675_675" id="Footnote_675_675"></a><a href="#FNanchor_675_675"><span class="label">[675]</span></a> 'Ut per eum disceremus acceptum vobis esse quod in hac +republicâ constat evenisse.' At first sight this seems to refer to the +death of Amalasuentha or to the accession of Theodahad. Dahn thinks +that those events have been disposed of in previous letters. Perhaps +it is a general expression for 'the whole course of recent events in +Italy.' Though upon the whole rejecting the story of Theodora's +complicity in the death of Amalasuentha, I am bound to admit that this +passage lends a certain amount of probability to the charge. At the +same time, the words in the next sentence, 'per divinam providentiam +omni suspicione detersâ,' are susceptible of an honourable meaning, +even if the death of Amalasuentha be alluded to. 'You and your husband +accused us of that crime. Now by God's providence we have been able to +show that we were guiltless of it [that it was done without our +privity by the relations of the three Gothic nobles whom she had put +to death]. Nothing therefore remains to hinder peace between us.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_676_676" id="Footnote_676_676"></a><a href="#FNanchor_676_676"><span class="label">[676]</span></a> Apparently sent at the same time as the two preceding +letters.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_677_677" id="Footnote_677_677"></a><a href="#FNanchor_677_677"><span class="label">[677]</span></a> Negotiations were evidently still going on between the +Emperor and the Pope, probably with reference to the election of +Anthimus, who, though accused of Monophysitism, had been made +Patriarch of Constantinople in 535 by Theodora's influence, and whom +the Pope apparently refused to recognise. He was afterwards deposed by +Pope Agapetus when he visited Constantinople.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_678_678" id="Footnote_678_678"></a><a href="#FNanchor_678_678"><span class="label">[678]</span></a> Cassiodorus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_679_679" id="Footnote_679_679"></a><a href="#FNanchor_679_679"><span class="label">[679]</span></a> Apparently Veranilda had in the reign of Theodoric +become a convert from Arianism to Orthodoxy, and had suffered some +pecuniary losses in consequence, which Theodahad now proposes to make +up to her. See Dahn, Könige der Germanen iii. 199, <i>n.</i> 4.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_680_680" id="Footnote_680_680"></a><a href="#FNanchor_680_680"><span class="label">[680]</span></a> Cassiodorus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_681_681" id="Footnote_681_681"></a><a href="#FNanchor_681_681"><span class="label">[681]</span></a> 'Quorum dignitas ad hoc legitur instituta, ut de +repositis copiis populum saturare possetis.' Probably an allusion to +Joseph, whom Cassiodorus celebrates as the first Praefectus +Praetorio.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_682_682" id="Footnote_682_682"></a><a href="#FNanchor_682_682"><span class="label">[682]</span></a> Six bushels for twelve shillings, or sixteen shillings +a quarter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_683_683" id="Footnote_683_683"></a><a href="#FNanchor_683_683"><span class="label">[683]</span></a> Cassiodorus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_684_684" id="Footnote_684_684"></a><a href="#FNanchor_684_684"><span class="label">[684]</span></a> The sentence is so long that Cassiodorus seems to have +forgotten its construction, and these important words are in fact +omitted.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_685_685" id="Footnote_685_685"></a><a href="#FNanchor_685_685"><span class="label">[685]</span></a> 'Arcarios.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_686_686" id="Footnote_686_686"></a><a href="#FNanchor_686_686"><span class="label">[686]</span></a> 'Prorogatores.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_687_687" id="Footnote_687_687"></a><a href="#FNanchor_687_687"><span class="label">[687]</span></a> 'Capitularios horreariorum et tabernariorum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_688_688" id="Footnote_688_688"></a><a href="#FNanchor_688_688"><span class="label">[688]</span></a> 'Cellaritas.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_689_689" id="Footnote_689_689"></a><a href="#FNanchor_689_689"><span class="label">[689]</span></a> 'Mansionem Ravennatem.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_690_690" id="Footnote_690_690"></a><a href="#FNanchor_690_690"><span class="label">[690]</span></a> 'Ripam Ticinensem vel Placentinam.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_691_691" id="Footnote_691_691"></a><a href="#FNanchor_691_691"><span class="label">[691]</span></a> Here follows, 'Ut hi quibus commissum est exercere +singulos apparatus de injusto gravamine non querantur,' which I do not +venture to translate, as I am not sure whether it relates to buyers or +sellers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_692_692" id="Footnote_692_692"></a><a href="#FNanchor_692_692"><span class="label">[692]</span></a> £1,200.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_693_693" id="Footnote_693_693"></a><a href="#FNanchor_693_693"><span class="label">[693]</span></a> 'Limosae podagrae subitâ inundatione complutus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_694_694" id="Footnote_694_694"></a><a href="#FNanchor_694_694"><span class="label">[694]</span></a> The nature-heated springs of Bormio are still resorted +to; and some pedestrian travellers, who have crossed the Stelvio from +Trafoi, have a grateful remembrance of their soothing waters.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_695_695" id="Footnote_695_695"></a><a href="#FNanchor_695_695"><span class="label">[695]</span></a> I have not found any other mention of these brazen +elephants. Nardini (Roma Antica i. 295) cites this passage, and +illustrates it by quotations from Suetonius, Pliny, and the Historia +Augusta, showing that it was the custom to erect to Emperors and +Empresses statues of elephants drawing triumphal chariots.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_696_696" id="Footnote_696_696"></a><a href="#FNanchor_696_696"><span class="label">[696]</span></a> Cassiodorus calls it 'promuscis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_697_697" id="Footnote_697_697"></a><a href="#FNanchor_697_697"><span class="label">[697]</span></a> 'A quâ transportaneorum (?) nefanda passio nomen +accepit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_698_698" id="Footnote_698_698"></a><a href="#FNanchor_698_698"><span class="label">[698]</span></a> Hist. Nat. xxviii. 8.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_699_699" id="Footnote_699_699"></a><a href="#FNanchor_699_699"><span class="label">[699]</span></a> Spelt 'Vitigis' by Cassiodorus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_700_700" id="Footnote_700_700"></a><a href="#FNanchor_700_700"><span class="label">[700]</span></a> 'Parentes nostros Gothos.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_701_701" id="Footnote_701_701"></a><a href="#FNanchor_701_701"><span class="label">[701]</span></a> 'Ut de ejus fama laboraret quamvis de propria virtute +praesumeret.' I have translated as if 'laboraret' and 'praesumeret' +were in the plural, and even so, find it difficult to get a +satisfactory meaning out of these words.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_702_702" id="Footnote_702_702"></a><a href="#FNanchor_702_702"><span class="label">[702]</span></a> 'Arma Gothorum nullâ promissionum mearum varietate +frangenda sunt.' An evident allusion to the treacherous and +unpatriotic diplomacy of Theodahad, as described by Procopius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_703_703" id="Footnote_703_703"></a><a href="#FNanchor_703_703"><span class="label">[703]</span></a> 'Non in provinciis tantum sed in ipso rerum capite +probatur inflictum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_704_704" id="Footnote_704_704"></a><a href="#FNanchor_704_704"><span class="label">[704]</span></a> 'Talis res effecta est quam mundus loquatur.' The +commentator Fornerius absurdly understands this of Mundus, the general +of Justinian in Dalmatia, who had already fallen in battle before the +accession of Witigis.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_705_705" id="Footnote_705_705"></a><a href="#FNanchor_705_705"><span class="label">[705]</span></a> Matasuentha, now wife of Witigis.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_706_706" id="Footnote_706_706"></a><a href="#FNanchor_706_706"><span class="label">[706]</span></a> 'Quando non est difficile illum in affectu retinere, +qui gratiam constat desideranter expetere.' Very nearly, but not +quite, the modern proverb which says that gratitude is 'a lively sense +of favours to come.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_707_707" id="Footnote_707_707"></a><a href="#FNanchor_707_707"><span class="label">[707]</span></a> 'Salutiferos apices.' See + <a href="#x15">x. 15</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_708_708" id="Footnote_708_708"></a><a href="#FNanchor_708_708"><span class="label">[708]</span></a> 'Secretum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_709_709" id="Footnote_709_709"></a><a href="#FNanchor_709_709"><span class="label">[709]</span></a> Here follows a sentence which I do not understand: +'Remanet itaque ad excusandum brevitas insperata librorum, quam nemo +purgat diutius, nisi qui bene creditur esse dicturus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_710_710" id="Footnote_710_710"></a><a href="#FNanchor_710_710"><span class="label">[710]</span></a> This can hardly be the Consul of <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 511, since he is +called in the next sentence 'senilis juvenis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_711_711" id="Footnote_711_711"></a><a href="#FNanchor_711_711"><span class="label">[711]</span></a> 'De Animae substantiâ vel de virtutibus ejus amici me +disserere coëgerunt: ut per quam multa diximus, de ipsa quoque dicere +videremur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_712_712" id="Footnote_712_712"></a><a href="#FNanchor_712_712"><span class="label">[712]</span></a> This letter, which was not composed immediately after +Cassiodorus' accession to office, most have been written after the +death of the Frankish King Theodoric, which occurred, according to +Clinton, early in 534, and before October 2 of the same year, the date +of the death of Athalaric. Notwithstanding the obscurity of many of +the allusions in it, this document is one of our best authorities for +the history of Amalasuentha's regency, and is therefore translated +almost verbatim.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_713_713" id="Footnote_713_713"></a><a href="#FNanchor_713_713"><span class="label">[713]</span></a> Partly a pun on his name, partly an allusion to his +rank.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_714_714" id="Footnote_714_714"></a><a href="#FNanchor_714_714"><span class="label">[714]</span></a> The letter written by Cassiodorus himself, in the name +of Athalaric, to announce his elevation to the Praefecture (Var. <a href="#ix25">ix. +25</a>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_715_715" id="Footnote_715_715"></a><a href="#FNanchor_715_715"><span class="label">[715]</span></a> 'Et temperamento mirabili dissimulando peragit quod +accelerandum esse cognoscit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_716_716" id="Footnote_716_716"></a><a href="#FNanchor_716_716"><span class="label">[716]</span></a> 'Eudoxia.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_717_717" id="Footnote_717_717"></a><a href="#FNanchor_717_717"><span class="label">[717]</span></a> 'Nurum denique sibi amissione Illyrici comparavit: +factaque est conjunctio Regnantis, divisio dolenda provinciis.' On +this alleged loss of Illyricum by the Western Empire, see Gibbon, cap. +xxxiii. note 6. One may doubt, however, whether Cassiodorus has been +correctly informed concerning it. Noricum and Pannonia at the time of +Valentinian's marriage must have been entirely in the possession of +the Huns; and on the dissolution of their monarchy Noricum at any rate +seems to be connected with the Western rather than the Eastern Empire. +As for Dalmatia, or the <i>Province</i> (as distinct from the +<i>Praefecture</i>) of Illyricum, the retirement thither of the Emperor +Nepos in 475, and the previous history of his uncle Marcellinus, point +towards the conclusion that this Province was then considered as +belonging <i>de jure</i> to the Caesar of Rome rather than to him of +Constantinople.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_718_718" id="Footnote_718_718"></a><a href="#FNanchor_718_718"><span class="label">[718]</span></a> 'Et singularis illa potentia, ut <i>Italicos Dominos</i>, +erigeret, reverentiam Eoi culminis ordinavit.' This somewhat favours +the notion that Theodoric and his successors called themselves Kings +of Italy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_719_719" id="Footnote_719_719"></a><a href="#FNanchor_719_719"><span class="label">[719]</span></a> Theodoric I, son of Clovis, King of the Franks, +reigning at Metz, died, as before stated, in 534.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_720_720" id="Footnote_720_720"></a><a href="#FNanchor_720_720"><span class="label">[720]</span></a> 'Et nobis nec unius ultimi facta subducis (?).'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_721_721" id="Footnote_721_721"></a><a href="#FNanchor_721_721"><span class="label">[721]</span></a> 'Burgundio quinetiam, ut sua reciperet, devotus +effectus est: reddens se totum dum accepisset exiguum. Elegit quippe +integer obedire, quam imminutus obsistere: tutius tunc defendit regnum +quando arma deposuit. Recuperavit enim prece, quod amisit in acie.' +The meaning of these mysterious words, as interpreted by Binding +(268-270) and Jahn (ii. 252), is that Godomar, King of the +Burgundians, received back from Amalasuentha (probably about 530, or a +little later) the territory between the Durance and the Isere, which +Theodoric had wrested from his brother in 523. The occasion of this +cession was probably some league of mutual defence against the Franks, +which Cassiodorus could without dishonesty represent as a kind of +vassalage of Burgundy to Ostrogothia. If so, it availed Godomar +little, as his territories were overrun by the Frankish Kings in 532, +and the conquest of them was apparently completed by 534 (Jahn ii. +68-78).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_722_722" id="Footnote_722_722"></a><a href="#FNanchor_722_722"><span class="label">[722]</span></a> 'Afflictos statu meliore restituit.' An allusion, +probably, to her kindness to the families of Boethius and Symmachus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_723_723" id="Footnote_723_723"></a><a href="#FNanchor_723_723"><span class="label">[723]</span></a> No doubt the same Liberius who nobly defended the +character of Amalasuentha at the Court of Justinian (Procopius, De +Bello Gotthico i. 4). Apparently he was made Consul, but his name does +not appear in the Fasti at this time.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_724_724" id="Footnote_724_724"></a><a href="#FNanchor_724_724"><span class="label">[724]</span></a> Probably to prevent his obtaining the Praefecture.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_725_725" id="Footnote_725_725"></a><a href="#FNanchor_725_725"><span class="label">[725]</span></a> This and the following names belong to the ancestors of +Amalasuentha, and are found with slight variations in the treatise of +Jordanes on the History of the Goths, which was founded on a similar +treatise by Cassiodorus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_726_726" id="Footnote_726_726"></a><a href="#FNanchor_726_726"><span class="label">[726]</span></a> 'Pietate Theudimer.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_727_727" id="Footnote_727_727"></a><a href="#FNanchor_727_727"><span class="label">[727]</span></a> 'Specto feliciter virtutis ejus augmenta, qui differo +laudare principia.' The annotator says that these words are not to be +found in the extant writings of Symmachus [the orator]. It was +probably the younger Symmachus, the father-in-law of Boethius, who +uttered them. At this time Athalaric was killing himself by his +debaucheries.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_728_728" id="Footnote_728_728"></a><a href="#FNanchor_728_728"><span class="label">[728]</span></a> Pope John II (a Roman, son of Projectus, and originally +named Mercurius) succeeded Boniface II Jan. 1, 533. His pontificate +lasted till May 26, 535. His successor was Agapetus. This letter +appears to have been written at a time of scarcity in Rome.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_729_729" id="Footnote_729_729"></a><a href="#FNanchor_729_729"><span class="label">[729]</span></a> 'Sum quidem Judex Palatinus, sed vester non desinam +esse discipulus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_730_730" id="Footnote_730_730"></a><a href="#FNanchor_730_730"><span class="label">[730]</span></a> 'Confessiones.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_731_731" id="Footnote_731_731"></a><a href="#FNanchor_731_731"><span class="label">[731]</span></a> This was written, no doubt, when Athalaric was on his +deathbed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_732_732" id="Footnote_732_732"></a><a href="#FNanchor_732_732"><span class="label">[732]</span></a> 'Episcopus doceat, ne judex possit invenire quod +puniat.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_733_733" id="Footnote_733_733"></a><a href="#FNanchor_733_733"><span class="label">[733]</span></a> 'Agenti vices.' Bethmann Hollweg (Gerichtsverfassung +des sinkenden römischen Reichs, pp. 49-50) remarks: 'The relation of +the <i>Vices Magistratuum agentes</i> does not belong to the <i>Jurisdictio +mandata</i>. They are lieutenants (Stellvertreter) who are substituted +provisionally in the room of an ordinary official of the Empire or of +a Province, on account of his being temporarily disqualified or +suspended from office by the Emperor or Praetorian Praefect. The +municipal magistrates were also represented by <i>vices agentes</i>. But +the extant authorities give us no very clear information as to their +position.' Unfortunately this letter, relating to a <i>vices agens</i> of +the Praetorian Praefect himself, does not add much to our +information.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_734_734" id="Footnote_734_734"></a><a href="#FNanchor_734_734"><span class="label">[734]</span></a> I suggest this with hesitation as the translation of a +difficult sentence: 'Si quos etiam fidejussoribus committere +necessarium aestimaveris, confidenter assume: quia illud magis +relevare potest animum nostrum, si aliquid per vos cognoscimus +impletum.' Cassiodorus seems to be urging his deputy not to shrink +from the exercise of even the most stringent rights inherent in his +office, in order that causes may be terminated without reference to +him. But is there authority for such a translation of the words +'fidejussoribus committere?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_735_735" id="Footnote_735_735"></a><a href="#FNanchor_735_735"><span class="label">[735]</span></a> 'Curiositas.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_736_736" id="Footnote_736_736"></a><a href="#FNanchor_736_736"><span class="label">[736]</span></a> Athalaric and Amalasuentha.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_737_737" id="Footnote_737_737"></a><a href="#FNanchor_737_737"><span class="label">[737]</span></a> In the last sentence but one, 'Fidem meam promitto: sed +cum ipsis Divinitatis dona sustineo, cautelam offero,' I would suggest +<i>ipsius</i> for 'ipsis,' making <i>cum</i> = 'when,' not 'with.' There does +not seem to be any antecedent plural to which 'ipsis' can refer.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_738_738" id="Footnote_738_738"></a><a href="#FNanchor_738_738"><span class="label">[738]</span></a> 'Transgressio matriculae actio tua est.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_739_739" id="Footnote_739_739"></a><a href="#FNanchor_739_739"><span class="label">[739]</span></a> September 1, 533.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_740_740" id="Footnote_740_740"></a><a href="#FNanchor_740_740"><span class="label">[740]</span></a> 'Hoc igitur laudabili praejudicium a duodecima +Indictione cancellorum tibi decus attribuit.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_741_741" id="Footnote_741_741"></a><a href="#FNanchor_741_741"><span class="label">[741]</span></a> 'Respice quo nomine nuncuperis. Latere non potest quod +inter cancellos egeris. Tenes quippe lucidas fores, claustra patentia, +fenestratas januas; et quamvis studiose claudas, necesse est ut te +cunctis aperias.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_742_742" id="Footnote_742_742"></a><a href="#FNanchor_742_742"><span class="label">[742]</span></a> 'Dicationis tuae.' A peculiar and untranslatable form +of respect.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_743_743" id="Footnote_743_743"></a><a href="#FNanchor_743_743"><span class="label">[743]</span></a> September 1, 533.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_744_744" id="Footnote_744_744"></a><a href="#FNanchor_744_744"><span class="label">[744]</span></a> 'Trina illatio' (See Var. + <a href="#ii24">ii. 24</a>). So called because it +was collected three times in the year. See Dahn, Könige der Germanen +iii. 140; and Sartorius, Regierung der Ostg. 200. The latter seems +however to confuse it with the 'tertiae,' from which Dahn very +properly distinguishes it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_745_745" id="Footnote_745_745"></a><a href="#FNanchor_745_745"><span class="label">[745]</span></a> 'Nundinationes.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_746_746" id="Footnote_746_746"></a><a href="#FNanchor_746_746"><span class="label">[746]</span></a> 'Breves.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_747_747" id="Footnote_747_747"></a><a href="#FNanchor_747_747"><span class="label">[747]</span></a> 'Scrinia.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_748_748" id="Footnote_748_748"></a><a href="#FNanchor_748_748"><span class="label">[748]</span></a> 'Juvante Deo, rerumque Dominis regnantibus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_749_749" id="Footnote_749_749"></a><a href="#FNanchor_749_749"><span class="label">[749]</span></a> 'Sperari a vobis aliquid sola specierum indigentia +faciet, non malitiosa venalitas ... nec ad taxationem trahimus quae +necessaria non habentur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_750_750" id="Footnote_750_750"></a><a href="#FNanchor_750_750"><span class="label">[750]</span></a> 'Quemadmodum a rerum Dominis mandata suscepimus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_751_751" id="Footnote_751_751"></a><a href="#FNanchor_751_751"><span class="label">[751]</span></a> 'Dicatio tua.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_752_752" id="Footnote_752_752"></a><a href="#FNanchor_752_752"><span class="label">[752]</span></a> 'Circa Dominos felices.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_753_753" id="Footnote_753_753"></a><a href="#FNanchor_753_753"><span class="label">[753]</span></a> 'Ita se et illi devotos debent <i>pie regnantibus</i> +exhibere.' Compare again Claudian's words: +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Nunquam libertas gratior exstat,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Quam sum <i>rege pio</i>.'<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_754_754" id="Footnote_754_754"></a><a href="#FNanchor_754_754"><span class="label">[754]</span></a> 'Sic agite ut cum justitia probata quaeritur, annus +vester brevis esse videatur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_755_755" id="Footnote_755_755"></a><a href="#FNanchor_755_755"><span class="label">[755]</span></a> 'Quando et evectiones publicas accepistis et nobis +gratum sit audire de talibus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_756_756" id="Footnote_756_756"></a><a href="#FNanchor_756_756"><span class="label">[756]</span></a> 'Rerum Domini clementia.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_757_757" id="Footnote_757_757"></a><a href="#FNanchor_757_757"><span class="label">[757]</span></a> Or David, according to some MSS.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_758_758" id="Footnote_758_758"></a><a href="#FNanchor_758_758"><span class="label">[758]</span></a> This is no doubt the mountain on whose skirts was +fought the decisive battle between Narses and Teias in 553, now known +as Monte Lettere. It is a spur of the range reaching from Sorrento to +Salerno, which attains its highest elevation in Monte San Angelo +(4,690 feet high). It rises opposite to Mount Vesuvius on the +south-east, the ruins of Pompeii and the valley of the Sarno (formerly +the Draco) lying between the two.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_759_759" id="Footnote_759_759"></a><a href="#FNanchor_759_759"><span class="label">[759]</span></a> 'Per singulos excessus sex solidorum mulctam a se +noverit exigendam et fustuario posse subjacere supplicio.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_760_760" id="Footnote_760_760"></a><a href="#FNanchor_760_760"><span class="label">[760]</span></a> This is, I believe, the expression used in some of the +Australian colonies for what Cassiodorus calls <i>commoda vestra</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_761_761" id="Footnote_761_761"></a><a href="#FNanchor_761_761"><span class="label">[761]</span></a> 'Pio Principi.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_762_762" id="Footnote_762_762"></a><a href="#FNanchor_762_762"><span class="label">[762]</span></a> Thus called by Cassiodorus; not Comum.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_763_763" id="Footnote_763_763"></a><a href="#FNanchor_763_763"><span class="label">[763]</span></a> 'Se possessores paraveredorum assiduitate suggerunt +esse fatigatos.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_764_764" id="Footnote_764_764"></a><a href="#FNanchor_764_764"><span class="label">[764]</span></a> 'Quibus indultu Regali beneficium praecipimus jugiter +custodiri.' These words do not make it clear how the inhabitants were +relieved by the Royal decree; but it was probably by some gift of +money like that which is announced in the next letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_765_765" id="Footnote_765_765"></a><a href="#FNanchor_765_765"><span class="label">[765]</span></a> 'Praetoriorum luminibus decenter ornata.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_766_766" id="Footnote_766_766"></a><a href="#FNanchor_766_766"><span class="label">[766]</span></a> So Claudian (De VI Consolata Honorii 196), 'et Addua +visu caerulus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_767_767" id="Footnote_767_767"></a><a href="#FNanchor_767_767"><span class="label">[767]</span></a> 'Ut nomen retinens et colorem in Septentrionem obesiore +alvei ventre generetur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_768_768" id="Footnote_768_768"></a><a href="#FNanchor_768_768"><span class="label">[768]</span></a> 'Sed ut beneficia Dominorum <i>subtractis exactionum, +incommodis</i> augeantur, celerius relatio vestra nos instruat, quid +unicuique de hac summâ relaxandum esse judicetis, ut tantum de <i>primâ +illatione</i> faciamus <i>suspendi</i> quantum ad nos notitia directa +vulgaverit.' The meaning of Cassiodorus seems quite clear, though it +is not easy to understand how far the actual gift of money was +supplemented by, or independent of, remission of land-tax.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_769_769" id="Footnote_769_769"></a><a href="#FNanchor_769_769"><span class="label">[769]</span></a> 'Exactores atque susceptores.' For the latter office, +see Cod. Theod. xii. 6.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_770_770" id="Footnote_770_770"></a><a href="#FNanchor_770_770"><span class="label">[770]</span></a> This letter was probably addressed to the Princeps, the +highest person in the whole Officium, as it contains the words '<i>unus</i> +quisque ... <i>tuâ designatione vulgetur</i>.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_771_771" id="Footnote_771_771"></a><a href="#FNanchor_771_771"><span class="label">[771]</span></a> 'Juxta matriculae seriem.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_772_772" id="Footnote_772_772"></a><a href="#FNanchor_772_772"><span class="label">[772]</span></a> 'Inter Tribunos et Notarios ad adorandos aspectus +properet Principales.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_773_773" id="Footnote_773_773"></a><a href="#FNanchor_773_773"><span class="label">[773]</span></a> 'Qui Praetorianis fascibus inculpabiliter noscitur +obsecutus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_774_774" id="Footnote_774_774"></a><a href="#FNanchor_774_774"><span class="label">[774]</span></a> 'Quem matriculae series fecit accedere.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_775_775" id="Footnote_775_775"></a><a href="#FNanchor_775_775"><span class="label">[775]</span></a> I am unable to suggest any explanation of this title.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_776_776" id="Footnote_776_776"></a><a href="#FNanchor_776_776"><span class="label">[776]</span></a> I have not found any explanation of this title, which +is apparently unknown to the Notitia, to Lydus, and to the Theodosian +Code.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_777_777" id="Footnote_777_777"></a><a href="#FNanchor_777_777"><span class="label">[777]</span></a> Note the corrupt form of the name Heliodorus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_778_778" id="Footnote_778_778"></a><a href="#FNanchor_778_778"><span class="label">[778]</span></a> We get this sense of Delegatio in Cod. Theod. vii. 4. +35: '<i>Annonas omnes</i>, quae universis officiis atque Sacri Palatii +Ministeriis et Sacris Scriniis ceterisque cunctarum adminiculis +dignitatum adsolent <i>delegari</i>.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_779_779" id="Footnote_779_779"></a><a href="#FNanchor_779_779"><span class="label">[779]</span></a> In this letter occurs a sentence of tantalising +obscurity: 'Sola nos Alpha complectitur ubi ea littera non timetur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_780_780" id="Footnote_780_780"></a><a href="#FNanchor_780_780"><span class="label">[780]</span></a> It is not clear to whom the letter is addressed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_781_781" id="Footnote_781_781"></a><a href="#FNanchor_781_781"><span class="label">[781]</span></a> 'Ex illatione tertiâ.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_782_782" id="Footnote_782_782"></a><a href="#FNanchor_782_782"><span class="label">[782]</span></a> The marginal note says: 'i.e. Agentium in Rebus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_783_783" id="Footnote_783_783"></a><a href="#FNanchor_783_783"><span class="label">[783]</span></a> As might be expected from an observer who did not +understand the earth's motion in its orbit, the periods assigned to +the <i>inferior</i> planets in this paragraph are all wrong, while those +assigned to the <i>superior</i> planets are pretty nearly right. +</p> + +<p> </p> + +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="planets"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td style="text-align: center;" colspan="5"><b><i>Periods according to Cassiodorus.</i></b></td> +<td style="text-align: center; border-left: 3px solid black;" colspan="4"><b><i>True Periods.</i></b></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="text-align: left;">Saturn</td> +<td style="text-align: right;">30</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">years</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td style="text-align: right; border-left: 3px solid black;">29</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">years</td> +<td style="text-align: right;">174</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">days.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="text-align: left;">Jupiter</td> +<td style="text-align: right;">12</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td style="text-align: right; border-left: 3px solid black;">11</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: right;">317</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="text-align: left;">Mars</td> +<td style="text-align: right;">1</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">year</td> +<td style="text-align: right;">182</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">days</td> +<td style="text-align: right; border-left: 3px solid black;">1</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">year</td> +<td style="text-align: right;">321</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="text-align: left;">Venus</td> +<td style="text-align: right;">1</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: right;">91</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="border-left: 3px solid black;"> </td> +<td> </td> +<td style="text-align: right;">224</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="text-align: left;">Mercury</td> +<td style="text-align: right;">1</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="text-align: right;">30</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +<td style="border-left: 3px solid black;"> </td> +<td> </td> +<td style="text-align: right;">88</td> +<td style="text-align: center;">"</td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> +<p> </p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_784_784" id="Footnote_784_784"></a><a href="#FNanchor_784_784"><span class="label">[784]</span></a> 'Per illam Indictionem de Samnii provinciâ ex illatione +tertiâ sine ambiguitate contrade.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_785_785" id="Footnote_785_785"></a><a href="#FNanchor_785_785"><span class="label">[785]</span></a> 'Praefuit enim Cornibus Secretarii Praetoriani, unde ei +nomen est derivatum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_786_786" id="Footnote_786_786"></a><a href="#FNanchor_786_786"><span class="label">[786]</span></a> 'Eo ministrante caliculum scripsimus inempti quod +magnis pretiis optabatur impleri.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_787_787" id="Footnote_787_787"></a><a href="#FNanchor_787_787"><span class="label">[787]</span></a> 'Quod egimus cohortes noverunt.' Observe the military +character of the service, 'cohortes.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_788_788" id="Footnote_788_788"></a><a href="#FNanchor_788_788"><span class="label">[788]</span></a> 'Eorum est etiam sudoribus applicandum, quod victuales +expensae longe quidem positae, <i>sed tamquam in urbe Regiâ natae</i> [I do +not quite understand this antithesis] sine querelâ Provincialium +congregantur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_789_789" id="Footnote_789_789"></a><a href="#FNanchor_789_789"><span class="label">[789]</span></a> 'Labores, violenti magistri, solliciti paedagogi, per +quos cautior quis efficitur dum incurri pericula formidantur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_790_790" id="Footnote_790_790"></a><a href="#FNanchor_790_790"><span class="label">[790]</span></a> 'Ex canone provinciae Campaniae tertiae illationis tot +solidos solenniter te dare censemus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_791_791" id="Footnote_791_791"></a><a href="#FNanchor_791_791"><span class="label">[791]</span></a> Tax-collector.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_792_792" id="Footnote_792_792"></a><a href="#FNanchor_792_792"><span class="label">[792]</span></a> Lydus (De Magistratibus iii. 14) makes a similar +remark, but says that in his time the copying clerks (Exceptarii, or +Exceptores) supplied disgracefully bad paper made of grass, and +charged a fee for doing so.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_793_793" id="Footnote_793_793"></a><a href="#FNanchor_793_793"><span class="label">[793]</span></a> Sept. 1, 534. The reading 'de tertiae decimae +Indictionis rationibus' seems required by the sense, instead of +'tertiam de decimae Indictionis rationibus.' It is quite clear that +Cassiodorus was not Praetorian Praefect at the tenth Indiction.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_794_794" id="Footnote_794_794"></a><a href="#FNanchor_794_794"><span class="label">[794]</span></a> 'Ambos titulos.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_795_795" id="Footnote_795_795"></a><a href="#FNanchor_795_795"><span class="label">[795]</span></a> This sum seems ridiculously small for the Province of +Bruttii. Can it be the sum assessed on each district?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_796_796" id="Footnote_796_796"></a><a href="#FNanchor_796_796"><span class="label">[796]</span></a> 'Indulgentia.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_797_797" id="Footnote_797_797"></a><a href="#FNanchor_797_797"><span class="label">[797]</span></a> 'Scarus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_798_798" id="Footnote_798_798"></a><a href="#FNanchor_798_798"><span class="label">[798]</span></a> 'Per milites suos judex intelligitur.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_799_799" id="Footnote_799_799"></a><a href="#FNanchor_799_799"><span class="label">[799]</span></a> 'Possessor mihi publicas pecunias libens inferat: ego +illi in conventus justitiae tributa persolvam.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_800_800" id="Footnote_800_800"></a><a href="#FNanchor_800_800"><span class="label">[800]</span></a>'Haec nos annuo sermone convenit loqui: quia bonarum +rerum nulla satietas est.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_801_801" id="Footnote_801_801"></a><a href="#FNanchor_801_801"><span class="label">[801]</span></a> 'Trina Illatio.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_802_802" id="Footnote_802_802"></a><a href="#FNanchor_802_802"><span class="label">[802]</span></a> Sept. 1, 534, to Sept. 1, 535.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_803_803" id="Footnote_803_803"></a><a href="#FNanchor_803_803"><span class="label">[803]</span></a> 'Expensarum fidelem notitiam quaternis mensibus +comprehensam.' As the receipts of the <i>Trina Illatio</i> had to be +gathered in every four months, the account of Provincial expenditure +covered the same period.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_804_804" id="Footnote_804_804"></a><a href="#FNanchor_804_804"><span class="label">[804]</span></a> 'Ad scrinia nostra dirigere maturabis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_805_805" id="Footnote_805_805"></a><a href="#FNanchor_805_805"><span class="label">[805]</span></a> 'Devotio tua' was the technical way of addressing the +<i>fortis Sajo</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_806_806" id="Footnote_806_806"></a><a href="#FNanchor_806_806"><span class="label">[806]</span></a> 'In executore illud est pessimum, si judicis relinquat +arbitrium.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_807_807" id="Footnote_807_807"></a><a href="#FNanchor_807_807"><span class="label">[807]</span></a> 'Rerum Dominus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_808_808" id="Footnote_808_808"></a><a href="#FNanchor_808_808"><span class="label">[808]</span></a> Revenue-officer.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_809_809" id="Footnote_809_809"></a><a href="#FNanchor_809_809"><span class="label">[809]</span></a> 'Perhaps a kind of lamprey' (White and Riddle's +Latin-English Dictionary).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_810_810" id="Footnote_810_810"></a><a href="#FNanchor_810_810"><span class="label">[810]</span></a> Apparently a kind of raisin wine; from <i>acina</i>, a grape +or berry.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_811_811" id="Footnote_811_811"></a><a href="#FNanchor_811_811"><span class="label">[811]</span></a> What are we to make of 'Stipsis nescio quâ firmitate +roboratur?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_812_812" id="Footnote_812_812"></a><a href="#FNanchor_812_812"><span class="label">[812]</span></a> 'Tactus ejus densitate pinguescit: ut dicas esse aut +carneum liquorem aut edibilem potionem.' Questionable praise, +according to the ideas of a modern wine-grower.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_813_813" id="Footnote_813_813"></a><a href="#FNanchor_813_813"><span class="label">[813]</span></a> We might have expected to find wine-bottles rather than +wine-glasses thus requisitioned; but I think the words of Cassiodorus, +'quod lacteo poculo relucescit,' oblige us to adopt the latter +translation.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_814_814" id="Footnote_814_814"></a><a href="#FNanchor_814_814"><span class="label">[814]</span></a> 'Pretia quae antiquus ordo constituit ex jussione rerum +Domini cognoscite temperata, ut multo arctius quam vendere solebatis +in assem publicum praebita debeant imputari.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_815_815" id="Footnote_815_815"></a><a href="#FNanchor_815_815"><span class="label">[815]</span></a> 'Sed quo facilius instrueretur vestra notitia, +<i>imputationum summas infra scriptis brevibus credidimus exprimendas.</i>' +Apparently the ordinary taxes for the two Provinces are remitted, but +a certain quantity of provisions has to be furnished to the army, +perhaps by each township; and besides this, the commissariat officers +have a right of pre-emption at prices considerably below the market +rate.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_816_816" id="Footnote_816_816"></a><a href="#FNanchor_816_816"><span class="label">[816]</span></a> 'Continete ergo possessorum intemperantes motus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_817_817" id="Footnote_817_817"></a><a href="#FNanchor_817_817"><span class="label">[817]</span></a> 'Ex Regiâ jussione singulos conductores massarum et +possessores validos admonete, ut nullam contrahant in concertatione +barbariem: ne non tantum festinent bellis prodesse quantum quiete +confundere.' Evidently the rustics are dissuaded from taking up arms +lest they should use them on the side of Belisarius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_818_818" id="Footnote_818_818"></a><a href="#FNanchor_818_818"><span class="label">[818]</span></a> 'Universis Praefecturae titulos administrantibus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_819_819" id="Footnote_819_819"></a><a href="#FNanchor_819_819"><span class="label">[819]</span></a> 'Canonicario Venetiarum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_820_820" id="Footnote_820_820"></a><a href="#FNanchor_820_820"><span class="label">[820]</span></a> Sept. 1, 536, to Sept. 1, 537.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_821_821" id="Footnote_821_821"></a><a href="#FNanchor_821_821"><span class="label">[821]</span></a> 'Validas contra te apochas invenerunt.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_822_822" id="Footnote_822_822"></a><a href="#FNanchor_822_822"><span class="label">[822]</span></a> 'Chlamydes non pavescant, qui arma timuerunt.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_823_823" id="Footnote_823_823"></a><a href="#FNanchor_823_823"><span class="label">[823]</span></a> 'Arcarii.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_824_824" id="Footnote_824_824"></a><a href="#FNanchor_824_824"><span class="label">[824]</span></a> 'Apochae.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_825_825" id="Footnote_825_825"></a><a href="#FNanchor_825_825"><span class="label">[825]</span></a> 'Praefectus Annonae.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_826_826" id="Footnote_826_826"></a><a href="#FNanchor_826_826"><span class="label">[826]</span></a> 'Felix illi contigit et praedicanda captivitas.' A +little before, we read, 'Resumat facultatem quam se suspiraverat +amississe.' These sentences suggest the idea that the petitioner had +been brought over in the train of the lately deceased person as a +slave. This a little lessens the difficulty of his being admitted to +the inheritance. Compare Gen. xv. 3, where Abraham, before the birth +of a son, says, 'And one born in my house' (i.e. a slave) 'is mine +heir.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_827_827" id="Footnote_827_827"></a><a href="#FNanchor_827_827"><span class="label">[827]</span></a> 'Arcarius.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_828_828" id="Footnote_828_828"></a><a href="#FNanchor_828_828"><span class="label">[828]</span></a> 'Degeniatus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_829_829" id="Footnote_829_829"></a><a href="#FNanchor_829_829"><span class="label">[829]</span></a> 'Erogatori obsoniorum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_830_830" id="Footnote_830_830"></a><a href="#FNanchor_830_830"><span class="label">[830]</span></a> 'Obsonia.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_831_831" id="Footnote_831_831"></a><a href="#FNanchor_831_831"><span class="label">[831]</span></a> 'Cum apud rerum Dominum solemni more pranderemus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_832_832" id="Footnote_832_832"></a><a href="#FNanchor_832_832"><span class="label">[832]</span></a> 'Silanum.' Mount Sila is a range of hills in Calabria +immediately to the north of Squillace, forty miles from north to +south, and twenty miles from east to west, and occupying the whole of +the projecting portion of the south-east side of Italy between the +Gulf of Squillace and the Bay of Taranto. The highest peaks, which are +about 5,700 feet high, are covered with snow during half the year. It +is said that from the beginning of June till far on into October, +15,000 head of cattle and 150,000 sheep, besides horses and mules, +graze in these uplands. (See Gael-Fells: Unter Italien, p. 721.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_833_833" id="Footnote_833_833"></a><a href="#FNanchor_833_833"><span class="label">[833]</span></a> From the description of Cassiodorus, it seems to have +been a kind of cream cheese.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_834_834" id="Footnote_834_834"></a><a href="#FNanchor_834_834"><span class="label">[834]</span></a> 'Non stipsi asperum sed gratum suavitate perquire.' The +same peculiar word, <i>stipsis</i>, which we had in Letter <a href="#xii4">xii. 4</a>. What +meaning are we to assign to the word?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_835_835" id="Footnote_835_835"></a><a href="#FNanchor_835_835"><span class="label">[835]</span></a> 'Magnis odoribus singulare:—quod ita redolet ore +ructatum ut merito illi a palma nomen videatur impositum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_836_836" id="Footnote_836_836"></a><a href="#FNanchor_836_836"><span class="label">[836]</span></a> Baronius (Ad Ann. 591) quotes this letter of +Cassiodorus to explain an allusion in the life of Pope Gregory the +Great, who refused to receive a present of 'Palmatiana' from the +Bishop of Messina, and insisted on paying for it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_837_837" id="Footnote_837_837"></a><a href="#FNanchor_837_837"><span class="label">[837]</span></a> 'Facientes laicum commodum substantiam clericorum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_838_838" id="Footnote_838_838"></a><a href="#FNanchor_838_838"><span class="label">[838]</span></a> 'Edictali programmate definimus, ut qui in hac fuerit +ulterius fraude versatus et militiâ careat et compendium propriae +facultatis amittat.' The last clause is perhaps purposely vague. We +should have expected to hear something about restitution, but the +words will not bear that meaning.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_839_839" id="Footnote_839_839"></a><a href="#FNanchor_839_839"><span class="label">[839]</span></a> I do not understand the following sentences: 'In hortis +autem rusticorum agmen habetur operosum: quia olus illic omne saporum +est marinâ irroratione respersum. Quod humanâ industriâ fieri +consuevit, hoc cum nutriretur accepit.' Can they have watered any +herbs with salt water?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_840_840" id="Footnote_840_840"></a><a href="#FNanchor_840_840"><span class="label">[840]</span></a> +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Nec tamen, haec quum sint hominumque boumque labores<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Versando terram experti, nihil improbus anser,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Strymoniaeque grues, et <i>amaris intuba fibris</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Officiunt.'—Georgic i. 118-121.<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_841_841" id="Footnote_841_841"></a><a href="#FNanchor_841_841"><span class="label">[841]</span></a> I must renounce the attempt to translate the rest of +the sentence: 'Unde in morem nitri aliquid decerptum frangitur, dum a +fecundo cespite segregatur.' There is an alternative reading, <i>vitri</i> +for <i>nitri</i>; but I am still unable to understand the author's +meaning.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_842_842" id="Footnote_842_842"></a><a href="#FNanchor_842_842"><span class="label">[842]</span></a> Apparently a kind of lamprey. See the fourth letter of +this book.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_843_843" id="Footnote_843_843"></a><a href="#FNanchor_843_843"><span class="label">[843]</span></a> Perhaps Cassiodorus means to say this makes it more +easy of capture, but he does not say so.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_844_844" id="Footnote_844_844"></a><a href="#FNanchor_844_844"><span class="label">[844]</span></a> The praises of the exormiston are not only foreign to +the main subject of the letter, but to a certain extent weaken the +writer's argument on behalf of his countrymen; but, as a good +Bruttian, he cannot help vaunting the products of his country.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_845_845" id="Footnote_845_845"></a><a href="#FNanchor_845_845"><span class="label">[845]</span></a> The passage to and fro of travellers no doubt brought +with it burdensome duties for the inhabitants in connection with the +<i>Cursus Publicus</i>. It was therefore a reason for mitigating other +taxes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_846_846" id="Footnote_846_846"></a><a href="#FNanchor_846_846"><span class="label">[846]</span></a> This letter, being the description by Cassiodorus of +his native place, is translated entire.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_847_847" id="Footnote_847_847"></a><a href="#FNanchor_847_847"><span class="label">[847]</span></a> 'Irrationabiliter dicitur praesumentium nimietate +vexari.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_848_848" id="Footnote_848_848"></a><a href="#FNanchor_848_848"><span class="label">[848]</span></a> 'Decenter.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_849_849" id="Footnote_849_849"></a><a href="#FNanchor_849_849"><span class="label">[849]</span></a> Dust-money.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_850_850" id="Footnote_850_850"></a><a href="#FNanchor_850_850"><span class="label">[850]</span></a> 'Canonicario.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_851_851" id="Footnote_851_851"></a><a href="#FNanchor_851_851"><span class="label">[851]</span></a> 'Dum res nobis etiam asperas captatâ semper opinione +conciliat.' Apparently a veiled allusion to the disasters of the +Goths.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_852_852" id="Footnote_852_852"></a><a href="#FNanchor_852_852"><span class="label">[852]</span></a> 'Nec iterum remissione lentatâ quisquam se dicat esse +praeteritum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_853_853" id="Footnote_853_853"></a><a href="#FNanchor_853_853"><span class="label">[853]</span></a> This mention of the just weight of course suits a tax +paid in kind, not in money.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_854_854" id="Footnote_854_854"></a><a href="#FNanchor_854_854"><span class="label">[854]</span></a> 'Expensarum quoque fidelem notitiam per quaternos +menses ad scrinia nostra solemniter destinabis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_855_855" id="Footnote_855_855"></a><a href="#FNanchor_855_855"><span class="label">[855]</span></a> 'Illum atque illum sedis nostrae milites, tibi +officioque tuo periculorum suorum memores praecipimus imminere.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_856_856" id="Footnote_856_856"></a><a href="#FNanchor_856_856"><span class="label">[856]</span></a> Collector of the Siliquaticum, or tax of one +twenty-fourth on sales. See <a href="#ii30">ii. 30</a>, <a href="#iii35">iii. 35</a>, + <a href="#iv19">iv. 19</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_857_857" id="Footnote_857_857"></a><a href="#FNanchor_857_857"><span class="label">[857]</span></a> No doubt the walls of Ravenna. I cannot identify the +Mons Caprarius. The name Caprera is a common one in Italy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_858_858" id="Footnote_858_858"></a><a href="#FNanchor_858_858"><span class="label">[858]</span></a> One may conjecture that this letter was written in 535, +when war with the Empire was imminent, but before it was actually +declared.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_859_859" id="Footnote_859_859"></a><a href="#FNanchor_859_859"><span class="label">[859]</span></a> 'Videre judicia diligentia.' I leave this clause +untranslated, as I cannot understand it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_860_860" id="Footnote_860_860"></a><a href="#FNanchor_860_860"><span class="label">[860]</span></a> 'In pontibus contrabium non tremere.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_861_861" id="Footnote_861_861"></a><a href="#FNanchor_861_861"><span class="label">[861]</span></a> 'Illum sedis nostrae militem.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_862_862" id="Footnote_862_862"></a><a href="#FNanchor_862_862"><span class="label">[862]</span></a> He was sent by Theodahad; entered Constantinople +February 20, 536, and died there 21st April of the same year.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_863_863" id="Footnote_863_863"></a><a href="#FNanchor_863_863"><span class="label">[863]</span></a> 'Facto pictacio.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_864_864" id="Footnote_864_864"></a><a href="#FNanchor_864_864"><span class="label">[864]</span></a> 'Vasa sanctorum.' One would think this must refer to +the vessels used in celebrating mass; but I do not quite see how the +meaning is to be got out of the words.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_865_865" id="Footnote_865_865"></a><a href="#FNanchor_865_865"><span class="label">[865]</span></a> 'Actoribus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_866_866" id="Footnote_866_866"></a><a href="#FNanchor_866_866"><span class="label">[866]</span></a> Baronius not unfairly argues that if the Roman See was +so poor that the Church plate had to be pawned to provide for the +Pope's journey to Constantinople, the <i>wealth</i> of the Pope cannot have +largely contributed to that great increase of his influence which +marked the early years of the Sixth Century.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_867_867" id="Footnote_867_867"></a><a href="#FNanchor_867_867"><span class="label">[867]</span></a> 'Armarium ipsius fortuna cunctorum est.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_868_868" id="Footnote_868_868"></a><a href="#FNanchor_868_868"><span class="label">[868]</span></a> 'Translator esto, non conditor antiquorum gestorum.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_869_869" id="Footnote_869_869"></a><a href="#FNanchor_869_869"><span class="label">[869]</span></a> Compare Cassiodorus' treatise De Animâ, chapters x. and +xi., in which he enumerates the various points in which the faces of +good men and bad men differ from one another.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_870_870" id="Footnote_870_870"></a><a href="#FNanchor_870_870"><span class="label">[870]</span></a> The first Indiction was from September 1, 537, to +September 1, 538.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_871_871" id="Footnote_871_871"></a><a href="#FNanchor_871_871"><span class="label">[871]</span></a> Here follows this sentence: 'Haec loca garismatia plura +nutriunt.' Garum seems to have been a sauce something like our +anchovy-sauce. Garismatium is evidently a garum-supplying place.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_872_872" id="Footnote_872_872"></a><a href="#FNanchor_872_872"><span class="label">[872]</span></a> We have a special allusion in Martial (iv. 25) to the +villas of Altinum, and he too compares them to those of Baiae.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_873_873" id="Footnote_873_873"></a><a href="#FNanchor_873_873"><span class="label">[873]</span></a> Evidently 'the annexed letter' referred to in + <a href="#xii22">No. 22</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_874_874" id="Footnote_874_874"></a><a href="#FNanchor_874_874"><span class="label">[874]</span></a> 'Ut in tot solidos vini, olei, vel tritici species de +tributario solido debeas procurare.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_875_875" id="Footnote_875_875"></a><a href="#FNanchor_875_875"><span class="label">[875]</span></a> 'Sicut te a Numerariis instruxit porrecta Notitia.' +Note this use of the word 'Notitia,' as illustrating the title of the +celebrated document bearing that name.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_876_876" id="Footnote_876_876"></a><a href="#FNanchor_876_876"><span class="label">[876]</span></a> Corn, wine, and oil.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_877_877" id="Footnote_877_877"></a><a href="#FNanchor_877_877"><span class="label">[877]</span></a> Written shortly after Sept. 1, 537. This is the +celebrated letter to which Venetian historians point as evidence of +the existence of their city (or at least of the group of settlements +out of which their city sprang) in the Sixth Century. We may set side +by side with it the words of the Anonymous Geographer of Ravenna (in +the Seventh Century), 'In patria vero Venetiae sunt aliquantae +insulae, quae hominibus habitantur.' +</p><p> +The address, <i>Tribunis Maritimorum</i>, looks as if there were something +like a municipal government established in these islands. Tribunus was +at this time generally, but not exclusively, a military title. Compare +the Tribunus Fori Suarii and Tribunus Rerum Nitentium of the Notitia +(Occidens iv. 10 and iv. 17). But there can be no doubt, from the tone +of this letter, that the islanders were subjects of the Ostrogothic +King.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_878_878" id="Footnote_878_878"></a><a href="#FNanchor_878_878"><span class="label">[878]</span></a> An obscure sentence: 'Per hospitia quodammodo vestra +discurritis qui per patriam navigatis.' The idea seems to be: 'You +have to sail about from one room to another of your own house, and +therefore Ravenna will seem like a neighbouring inn.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_879_879" id="Footnote_879_879"></a><a href="#FNanchor_879_879"><span class="label">[879]</span></a> The next four sentences describe the movement of the +ships when towed along the channels of the streams (Brenta, Piave, +Tagliamento, &c.) the deposits from which have made the lagunes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_880_880" id="Footnote_880_880"></a><a href="#FNanchor_880_880"><span class="label">[880]</span></a> 'Venetiae praedicabiles.' An allusion, no doubt, as +other commentators have suggested, to the reputed derivation of +Venetia from <span lang="el" title="Greek: Ainetoi">Αινετοι</span>, +'the laudable.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_881_881" id="Footnote_881_881"></a><a href="#FNanchor_881_881"><span class="label">[881]</span></a> Alluding probably to the story of the floating island +of Delos.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_882_882" id="Footnote_882_882"></a><a href="#FNanchor_882_882"><span class="label">[882]</span></a> 'Earum similitudine.' Does Cassiodorus mean 'like the +water-fowl,' or 'like the Cyclades?'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_883_883" id="Footnote_883_883"></a><a href="#FNanchor_883_883"><span class="label">[883]</span></a> The reading of Nivellius (followed by Migne), +'Domicilia videntur sparsa, quae Natura non protulit sed hominum cura +fundavit,' seems to give a better sense than that of Garet, who omits +the 'non.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_884_884" id="Footnote_884_884"></a><a href="#FNanchor_884_884"><span class="label">[884]</span></a> 'Inde vobis fructus omnis enascitur, quando in ipsis, +et quae non facitis possidetis.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_885_885" id="Footnote_885_885"></a><a href="#FNanchor_885_885"><span class="label">[885]</span></a> 'Moneta illic quodammodo percutitur victualis.' Some +have supposed that these words point to a currency in salt; but I +think they are only a Cassiodorian way of saying 'By this craft ye +have your wealth.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_886_886" id="Footnote_886_886"></a><a href="#FNanchor_886_886"><span class="label">[886]</span></a> This is the only translation I can suggest of 'quatenus +expensas necessarias nulla difficultate tardetis, qui pro qualitate +aeris compendium vobis eligere potestis itineris.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_887_887" id="Footnote_887_887"></a><a href="#FNanchor_887_887"><span class="label">[887]</span></a> 'Agenti vices.' See + <a href="#Footnote_734_734">note</a> on <a href="#xi4">xi. 4</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_888_888" id="Footnote_888_888"></a><a href="#FNanchor_888_888"><span class="label">[888]</span></a> 'Vestros (?) veraciter pandit aspectus.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_889_889" id="Footnote_889_889"></a><a href="#FNanchor_889_889"><span class="label">[889]</span></a> Joseph, Praetorian Praefect of Egypt under Pharaoh.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_890_890" id="Footnote_890_890"></a><a href="#FNanchor_890_890"><span class="label">[890]</span></a> Paulas was probably a Sajo.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_891_891" id="Footnote_891_891"></a><a href="#FNanchor_891_891"><span class="label">[891]</span></a> Now Cividale in Friuli. Notice the terminations of +these names: 'ex Concordiense, Aquileiense, et Forojuliense +civitatibus' ('e,' not 'i').</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_892_892" id="Footnote_892_892"></a><a href="#FNanchor_892_892"><span class="label">[892]</span></a> The letter here alluded to does not appear to be +preserved.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_893_893" id="Footnote_893_893"></a><a href="#FNanchor_893_893"><span class="label">[893]</span></a> Cassiodorus, like Procopius, spells this name with a +'t.' Some of the ecclesiastical writers spell it with a 'c.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_894_894" id="Footnote_894_894"></a><a href="#FNanchor_894_894"><span class="label">[894]</span></a> Pavia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_895_895" id="Footnote_895_895"></a><a href="#FNanchor_895_895"><span class="label">[895]</span></a> Tortona.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_896_896" id="Footnote_896_896"></a><a href="#FNanchor_896_896"><span class="label">[896]</span></a> Twelve shillings for twenty pecks, or about nineteen +shillings and twopence a quarter; not a very low price, one would +think, for such a grain as millet. +</p><p> +Datius is ordered to sell <i>tertiam portionem</i> of this millet. Probably +this expression has the same meaning as the 'tertia illatio' of +<a href="#xi37">xi. +37</a>. +</p><p> +In the similar letter, <a href="#x27">x. 27</a>, 'tertia portio' (whether of wheat or +millet is not stated) is to be sold at 25 modii per solidum.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_897_897" id="Footnote_897_897"></a><a href="#FNanchor_897_897"><span class="label">[897]</span></a> 'Arcarius.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_898_898" id="Footnote_898_898"></a><a href="#FNanchor_898_898"><span class="label">[898]</span></a> Literally, 'of the present Empire:' 'subito praesentis +Imperii tanquam solis ortus fama radiavit.' I avoid the word +'present,' because of its ambiguity. Observe the use of 'Imperii' +applied to the Gothic Kingdom.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_899_899" id="Footnote_899_899"></a><a href="#FNanchor_899_899"><span class="label">[899]</span></a> 'Quando illum cognovit nominatae (?) gentis esse +Rectorem, quem sub militis nomine probaverat esse singularem.' This +evident allusion to Witigis obliges us to place the date of this +Burgundian invasion not much earlier than the summer of 536, when +Witigis was raised to the throne. Apparently the Burgundians were +already in Italy when they heard the news of that event.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_900_900" id="Footnote_900_900"></a><a href="#FNanchor_900_900"><span class="label">[900]</span></a> 'Ut Gothi ad belli studium geminâ se fortitudine +contulerunt.' These words perhaps allude to the necessity of fighting +two enemies at once, Belisarius and the Burgundians; or perhaps to the +existence of two Gothic armies, whose combined operations are +indicated by the following words, 'prospera concertatione.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_901_901" id="Footnote_901_901"></a><a href="#FNanchor_901_901"><span class="label">[901]</span></a> 'Quasi inde nudos hinc stare contigisset armatos.' +'Hinc' and 'inde' refer to geographical position, not to the order of +the words in the sentence.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_902_902" id="Footnote_902_902"></a><a href="#FNanchor_902_902"><span class="label">[902]</span></a> See von Schubert's 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen,' pp. +57-59, for a careful analysis of the following paragraph.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_903_903" id="Footnote_903_903"></a><a href="#FNanchor_903_903"><span class="label">[903]</span></a> 'Pace tanti patris dixerim.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_904_904" id="Footnote_904_904"></a><a href="#FNanchor_904_904"><span class="label">[904]</span></a> Probably one solidus: making the largesse price 15s. +4d. a quarter (about four shillings less than the price named in the +preceding letter for millet); while the market price was 38s. 4d. a +quarter. I read these sentences thus: 'Vendit itaque largitas publica +vicenos quinque modios, dum possessor invenire non possit, ad denos. +Ordinem rerum saeculi mutavit humanitas.' The construction is harsh +and elliptical, but this makes sense, which the ordinary punctuation, +throwing 'ad denos' into the following sentence, does not.</p></div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Letters of Cassiodorus, by +Cassiodorus (AKA Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS *** + +***** This file should be named 18590-h.htm or 18590-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/5/9/18590/ + +Produced by Robert Connal, Linda Cantoni, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at +http://gallica.bnf.fr) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Letters of Cassiodorus + Being A Condensed Translation Of The Variae Epistolae Of + Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator + +Author: Cassiodorus (AKA Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator) + +Translator: Thomas Hodgkin + +Release Date: June 15, 2006 [EBook #18590] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Connal, Linda Cantoni, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by the Bibliotheque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at +http://gallica.bnf.fr) + + + + + + + + + +THE LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS + +_HODGKIN_ + +Oxford + +PRINTED BY HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY + + + + +THE + +LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS + +BEING + +A CONDENSED TRANSLATION OF THE VARIAE EPISTOLAE +OF MAGNUS AURELIUS CASSIODORUS SENATOR + +With an Introduction + +BY + +THOMAS HODGKIN + +FELLOW OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON; HON. D.C.L. OF DURHAM UNIVERSITY +AUTHOR OF 'ITALY AND HER INVADERS' + +LONDON: HENRY FROWDE +AMEN CORNER, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. + +1886. + +[_All rights reserved_] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The abstract of the 'Variae' of Cassiodorus which I now offer to the +notice of historical students, belongs to that class of work which +Professor Max Mueller happily characterised when he entitled two of his +volumes 'Chips from a German Workshop.' In the course of my +preparatory reading, before beginning the composition of the third and +fourth volumes of my book on 'Italy and Her Invaders,' I found it +necessary to study very attentively the 'Various Letters' of +Cassiodorus, our best and often our only source of information, for +the character and the policy of the great Theodoric. The notes which +in this process were accumulated upon my hands might, I hoped, be +woven into one long chapter on the Ostrogothic government of Italy. +When the materials were collected, however, they were so manifold, so +perplexing, so full of curious and unexpected detail, that I quite +despaired of ever succeeding in the attempt to group them into one +harmonious and artistic picture. Frankly, therefore, renouncing a task +which is beyond my powers, I offer my notes for the perusal of the few +readers who may care to study the mutual reactions of the Roman and +the Teutonic mind upon one another in the Sixth Century, and I ask +these to accept the artist's assurance, 'The curtain is the picture.' + +It will be seen that I only profess to give an abstract, not a full +translation of the letters. There is so much repetition and such a +lavish expenditure of words in the writings of Cassiodorus, that they +lend themselves very readily to the work of the abbreviator. Of course +the longer letters generally admit of greater relative reduction in +quantity than the shorter ones, but I think it may be said that on an +average the letters have lost at least half their bulk in my hands. On +any important point the real student will of course refuse to accept +my condensed rendering, and will go straight to the fountain-head. I +hope, however, that even students may occasionally derive the same +kind of assistance from my labours which an astronomer derives from +the humble instrument called the 'finder' in a great observatory. + +A few important letters have been translated, to the best of my +ability, verbatim. In the not infrequent instances where I have been +unable to extract any intelligible meaning, on grammatical principles, +from the words of my author, I have put in the text the nearest +approximation that I could discover to his meaning, and placed the +unintelligible words in a note, hoping that my readers may be more +fortunate in their interpretation than I have been. + +With the usual ill-fortune of authors, just as my last sheet was +passing through the press I received from Italy a number of the 'Atti +e Memorie della R. Deputazione di Storia Patria per le Provincie di +Romagna' (to which I am a subscriber), containing an elaborate and +scholarlike article by S. Augusto Gaudenzi, entitled 'L'Opera di +Cassiodorio a Ravenna.' It is a satisfaction to me to see that in +several instances S. Gaudenzi and I have reached practically the same +conclusions; but I cannot but regret that his paper reached me too +late to prevent my benefiting from it more fully. A few of the more +important points in which I think S. Gaudenzi throws useful light on +our common subject are noticed in the 'Additions and Corrections,' to +which I beg to draw my readers' attention. + +I may perhaps be allowed to add that the Index, the preparation of +which has cost me no small amount of labour, ought (if I have not +altogether failed in my endeavour) to be of considerable assistance to +the historical enquirer. For instance, if he will refer to the heading +_Sajo_, and consult the passages there referred to, he will find, I +believe, all that Cassiodorus has to tell us concerning these +interesting personages, the Sajones, who were almost the only +representatives of the intrusive Gothic element in the fabric of Roman +administration. + +From textual criticism and the discussion of the authority of +different MSS. I have felt myself entirely relieved by the +announcement of the forthcoming critical edition of the 'Variae,' +under the superintendence of Professor Meyer. The task to which an +eminent German scholar has devoted the labour of several years, it +would be quite useless for me, without appliances and without special +training, to approach as an amateur; and I therefore simply help +myself to the best reading that I can get from the printed texts, +leaving to Professor Meyer to say which reading possesses the highest +diplomatic authority. Simply as a a matter of curiosity I have spent +some days in examining the MSS. of Cassiodorus in the British Museum. +If they are at all fair representatives (which probably they are not) +of the MSS. which Professor Meyer has consulted, I should say that +though the titles of the letters have often got into great confusion +through careless and unintelligent copying, the main text is not +likely to show any very important variations from the editions of +Nivellius and Garet. + +I now commend this volume with all its imperfections to the indulgent +criticism of the small class of historical students who alone will +care to peruse it. The man of affairs and the practical politician +will of course not condescend to turn over its pages; yet the anxious +and for a time successful efforts of Theodoric and his Minister to +preserve to Italy the blessings of _Civilitas_ might perhaps teach +useful lessons even to a modern statesman. + +THOS. HODGKIN. + + + + +NOTE. + + +The following Note as to the MSS. at the British Museum may save a +future enquirer a little trouble. + +(1) 10 B. XV. is a MS. about 11 inches by 8, written in a fine bold +hand, and fills 157 folios, of which 134 belong to the 'Variae' and 23 +to the 'Institutiones Divinarum Litterarum.' There are also two folios +at the end which I have not deciphered. The MS. is assigned to the +Thirteenth Century. The title of the First Book is interesting, +because it contains the description of Cassiodorus' official rank, 'Ex +Magistri Officii,' which Mommsen seems to have looked for in the MSS. +in vain. The MS. contains the first Three Books complete, but only 39 +letters of the Fourth. Letters 40-51 of the Fourth Book, and the whole +of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Books, are missing. It then goes on +to the Eighth Book (which it calls the Fifth), but omits the first +five letters. The remaining 28 appear to be copied satisfactorily. The +Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Books, which the transcriber calls +the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth, seem to be on the whole +correctly copied. + +There seems to be a certain degree of correspondence between the +readings of this MS. and those of the Leyden MS. of the Twelfth +Century (formerly at Fulda) which are described by Ludwig Tross in his +'Symbolae Criticae' (Hammone, 1853). + +(2) 8 B. XIX. is a MS. also of the Thirteenth Century, in a smaller +hand than the foregoing. The margins are very large, but the Codex +measures only 6-3/4 inches by 4-1/4. The rubricated titles are of +somewhat later date than the body of the text. The initial letters are +elaborately illuminated. This MS. contains, in a mutilated state and +in a peculiar order, the books from the Eighth to the Twelfth. The +following is the order in which the books are placed: + + IX. 8-25, folios 1-14. + X. " 14-33. + XI. " 33-63. + XII. " 63-83. + VIII. " 83-126. + IX. 1-7, " 126-134. + +The amanuensis, who has evidently been a thoroughly dishonest worker, +constantly omits whole letters, from which however he sometimes +extracts a sentence or two, which he tacks on to the end of some +preceding letter without regard to the sense. This process makes it +exceedingly difficult to collate the MS. with the printed text. Owing +to the Eighth Book being inserted after the Twelfth, it is erroneously +labelled on the back, 'Cassiodori Senatoris Epistolae, Lib. X-XIII.' + +(3) 10 B. IV. (also of the Thirteenth Century, and measuring 11 inches +by 8) contains, in a tolerably complete state, the first Three Books +of the 'Variae,' Book IV. 5-39, Book VIII. 1-12, and Books X-XII. The +order, however, is transposed, Books IV. and VIII. coming after Book +XII. These excerpts from Cassiodorus, which occupy folios 66 to 134 of +the MS., are preceded by some collections relative to the Civil and +Canon Law. The letters which are copied seem to be carefully and +conscientiously done. + +These three MSS. are all in the King's Library. + +Besides these MSS. I have also glanced at No. 1,919 in the Bodleian +Library at Oxford. Like those previously described it is, I believe, +of the Thirteenth Century, and professes to contain the whole of the +'Variae;' but the letters are in an exceedingly mutilated form. On an +average it seems to me that not more than one-third of each letter is +copied. In this manner the 'Variae' are compressed into the otherwise +impossible number of 33 folios (149-182). + +All these MSS., even the best of them, give me the impression of being +copied by very unintelligent scribes, who had but little idea of the +meaning of the words which they were transcribing. In all, the +superscription V.S. is expanded (wrongly, as I believe) into 'Viro +Senatori;' for 'Praefecto Praetorio' we have the meaningless +'Praeposito;' and the Agapitus who is addressed in the 6th, 32nd, and +33rd letters of the First Book is turned, in defiance of chronology, +into a Pope. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +INTRODUCTION. + +CHAPTER I. + +LIFE OF CASSIODORUS. + + PAGE +Historical position of Cassiodorus 1 +His ancestry 3-4 +His name 5-6 +His birthplace 6-9 +Date of his birth 9-12 +His education 12 +Consiliarius to his father 12 +Quaestor 14-16 +Composition of the 'Variae' 16 +Their style 17-19 +Policy of Theodoric 20 +Date of composition of the 'Variae' 23 +Consulship 25 +Patriciate 27 +Composition of the 'Chronicon' 27 + " " Gothic History 29-35 +Relation of the work of Jordanes to this History 34 +Master of the Offices 36 +Praetorian Praefect 39 +Sketch of history during his Praefecture 42-50 +End of official career 50 +Edits the 'Variae' 51 +His treatise 'De Anima' 53 +He retires to the cloister 54 +His theological works 60-63 +His literary works 64-66 +His death 67 +NOTE ON THE TOPOGRAPHY OF SQUILLACE 68-72 + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE 'ANECDOTON HOLDERI.' + +Content of the MS. 74-75 +To whom addressed 76 +Information as to life of Symmachus 77 + " " " Boethius 79 +Religious position of Boethius 81 +Information as to life of Cassiodorus 84 + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE GRADATIONS OF OFFICIAL RANK IN THE LOWER EMPIRE. + +Nobilissimi 85 +Illustres 86-90 +Spectabiles 90-91 +Clarissimi 91 +Perfectissimi 92 +Egregii 92 + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ON THE OFFICIUM OF THE PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO. + +Military character of the Roman Civil Service 93 +Sources of information 95 +Princeps 96 +Cornicularius 97-102 +Adjutor 103 +Commentariensis 104 +Ab Actis 106 +Numerarii 108 +Inferior Officers 109-114 + + +CHAPTER V. + +BIBLIOGRAPHY. + +Editions of the 'Variae' 115-118 +Literature concerning the 'Variae' 118-121 + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CHRONOLOGY. + +Consular Fasti 122 +Indictions 123 +Chronological Tables 126-130 + + +ABSTRACT OF THE 'VARIAE.' + +PREFACE 133-140 + + +BOOK I. + +CONTAINING FORTY-SIX LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + 1. TO EMPEROR ANASTASIUS. Persuasives to peace 141 + 2. " THEON. Manufacture of purple dye 143 + 3. " CASSIODORUS, father of the author. His praises 144 + 4. " SENATE. Great deeds of ancestors of Cassiodorus 145 + 5. " FLORIANUS. End of litigation 147 + 6. " AGAPITUS. Mosaics for Ravenna 147 + 7. " FELIX. Inheritance of Plutianus 148 + 8. " AMABILIS. Prodigality of Neotherius 149 + 9. " BISHOP EUSTORGIUS. Offences of Ecclesiastics 149 +10. " BOETIUS. Frauds of moneyers 150 +11. " SERVATUS. Violence of Breones 151 +12. " EUGENIUS. Appointment as Magister Officium 151 +13. " SENATE. On the same 152 +14. " FAUSTUS. Collection of 'Tertiae' 152 +15. " FESTUS. Interests of the absent 153 +16. " JULIANUS. Remission of taxes 153 +17. " GOTHIC AND ROMAN INHABITANTS OF DERTONA. Fortification + of Camp 153 +18. " DOMITIANUS AND WILIAS. Statute of Limitations, &c. 154 +19. " SATURNINUS AND VERBUSIUS. Rights of the Fiscus 155 +20. " ALBINUS AND ALBIENUS. Circus quarrels 155 +21. " MAXIMIAN AND ANDREAS. Embellishment of Rome 156 +22. " MARCELLUS. His promotion to rank of Advocatus Fisci 156 +23. " COELIANUS AND AGAPITUS. Litigation between Senators 157 +24. " ALL THE GOTHS. Call to arms 157 +25. " SABINIANUS. Repair of the walls of Rome 158 +26. " FAUSTUS. Immunity of certain Church property 159 +27. " SPECIOSUS. Circus quarrels 159 +28. " GOTHS AND ROMANS. Building of walls of Rome 160 +29. " THE LUCRISTANI ON RIVER SONTIUS. Postal Service 160 +30. " SENATE. Injury to public peace from Circus rivalries 161 +31. " THE ROMAN PEOPLE. Same subject 161 +32. " AGAPITUS. Same subject 162 +33. " " Arrangements for Pantomime 162 +34. " FAUSTUS. Exportation of corn 163 +35. " " Unreasonable delays in transmission of corn 163 +36. " THERIOLUS. Guardianship of sons of Benedictus 164 +37. " CRISPIANUS. Justifiable homicide 164 +38. " BAION. Hilarius to have possession of his property 165 +39. " FESTUS. Nephews of Filagrius to be detained in Rome 165 +40. " ASSUIN (or ASSIUS). Inhabitants of Salona to be drilled 166 +41. " AGAPITUS. Enquiries into character of younger Faustus 166 +42. " ARTEMIDORUS. Appointment as Praefect of the City 167 +43. " SENATE. Promotion of Artemidorus 167 +44. " THE PEOPLE OF ROME. Same subject 168 +45. " BOETIUS. Water-clock and sundial for Burgundian King 168 +46. " GUNDIBAD. Same subject 170 + + +BOOK II. + +CONTAINING FORTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + 1. TO EMPEROR ANASTASIUS. Consulship of Felix 171 + 2. " FELIX. Same subject 172 + 3. " SENATE. Same subject 173 + 4. " ECDICIUS (or BENEDICTUS). Collection of _Siliquaticum_ 173 + 5. " FAUSTUS. Soldiers' arrears 173 + 6. " AGAPITUS. Embassy to Constantinople 174 + 7. " SURA (or SUNA). Embellishment of City 174 + 8. " BISHOP SEVERUS. Compensation for damage by troops 175 + 9. " FAUSTUS. Allowance to retired charioteer 175 +10. " SPECIOSUS. Abduction of Agapita 175 +11. " PROVINUS (PROBINUS?). Gift unduly obtained from Agapita 176 +12. " THE COUNT OF THE SILIQUATARII, AND THE HARBOUR MASTER + (OF PORTUS?). Prohibition of export of lard 177 +13. " FRUINARITH. Dishonest conduct of Venantius 177 +14. " SYMMACHUS. Romulus the parricide 178 +15. " VENANTIUS. Appointment as Comes Domesticorum 178 +16. " SENATE. Same subject. Panegyric on Liberius, father of + Venantius 179 +17. " POSSESSORS, DEFENSORS, AND CURIALS OF TRIDENTUM (TRIENT). + Immunity from Tertiae enjoyed by lands granted by the King 180 +18. " BISHOP GUDILA. Ecclesiastics as Curiales 181 +19. " GOTHS AND ROMANS, AND KEEPERS OF HARBOURS AND MOUNTAIN + FORTRESSES. Domestic treachery and murder 181 +20. " UNILIGIS (or WILIGIS). Order for provision ships 182 +21. " JOANNES. Drainage-concession too timidly acted upon 182 +22. " FESTUS. Ecdicius to be buried by his sons 183 +23. " AMPELIUS, DESPOTIUS, AND THEODULUS. Protection for owners + of potteries 183 +24. " SENATE. Arrears of taxation due from Senators 183 +25. " SENATE. AN EDICT. Evasion of taxes by the rich 184 +26. " FAUSTUS. Regulations for corn-traffic 185 +27. " JEWS LIVING IN GENOA. Rebuilding of Synagogue 185 +28. " STEPHANUS. Honours bestowed on retirement 186 +29. " ADILA. Protection to dependents of the Church 186 +30. " FAUSTUS. Privileges granted to Church of Milan 187 +31. " THE DROMONARII [ROWERS IN EXPRESS-BOATS]. State Galleys + on the Po 187 +32. " SENATE. Drainage of marshes of Decennonium 188 +33. " DECIUS. Same subject 189 +34. " ARTEMIDORUS. Embezzlement of City building funds 189 +35. " TANCILA. Theft of statue at Como 190 +36. EDICT. Same subject 190 +37. TO FAUSTUS. Largesse to citizens of Spoleto 190 +38. " " Immunity from taxation 191 +39. " ALOISIUS. Hot springs of Aponum 191 +40. " BOETIUS. Harper for King of the Franks 193 +41. " LUDUIN [CLOVIS]. Victories over the Alamanni 194 + + +BOOK III. + +CONTAINING FIFTY-THREE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + 1. TO ALARIC. Dissuades from war with the Franks 196 + 2. " GUNDIBAD. Dissuades from war 197 + 3. " THE KINGS OF THE HERULI, WARNI (GUARNI), AND THURINGIANS. + Attempt to form a Teutonic coalition 198 + 4. " LUDUIN (LUDWIG, or CLOVIS). To desist from war on Alaric. 198 + 5. " IMPORTUNUS. Promotion to the Patriciate 199 + 6. " SENATE. Same subject 200 + 7. " JANUARIUS. Reproof for alleged extortion 201 + 8. " VENANTIUS. Remissness in collection of public revenue 201 + 9. " POSSESSORES, DEFENSORES, AND CURIALES OF AESTUNAE. + Marbles for Ravenna 202 +10. " FESTUS. Same subject 202 +11. " ARGOLICUS. Appointment to Praefecture of the City 203 +12. " SENATE. Same subject 203 +13. " SUNHIVAD. Appointment as Governor of Samnium 204 +14. " BISHOP AURIGENES. Accusations against servants of a Bishop 204 +15. " THEODAHAD. Disposal of contumacious person 205 +16. " GEMELLUS. Appointment as Governor of Gaulish Provinces 205 +17. " GAULISH PROVINCIALS. Proclamation 206 +18. " GEMELLUS. Re-patriation of Magnus 206 +19. " DANIEL. Supply of marble sarcophagi 207 +20. " GRIMODA AND FERROCINCTUS. Oppression of Castorius by + Faustus 207 +21. " FAUSTUS. Disgrace and temporary exile 208 +22. " ARTEMIDORUS. Invitation to King's presence 209 +23. " COLOSSAEUS. Appointment as Governor of Pannonia 209 +24. " BARBARIANS AND ROMANS SETTLED IN PANNONIA. Same subject 210 +25. " SIMEON. Tax-collecting and iron-mining in Dalmatia 210 +26. " OSUN. Simeon's journey to Dalmatia 211 +27. " JOANNES. Protection against Praetorian Praefect 211 +28. " CASSIODORUS (SENIOR). Invitation to Court 211 +29. " ARGOLICUS. Repair of granaries in Rome 212 +30. " " Repair of Cloacae " " 212 +31. " SENATE. Conservation of aqueducts and temples in Rome 213 +32. " GEMELLUS. Remission of taxes to citizens of Arles 214 +33. " ARGOLICUS. Promotion of Armentarius and Superbus 214 +34. " INHABITANTS OF MASSILIA. Appointment of Governor 215 +35. " ROMULUS. Gifts not to be revoked 215 +36. " ARIGERN. Complaints against Venantius 216 +37. " BISHOP PETER. Alleged injustice 216 +38. " WANDIL [VUANDIL]. Gothic troops not to molest citizens 217 +39. " FELIX. Largesse to charioteers of Milan 217 +40. " PROVINCIALS SETTLED IN GAUL. Exemption from taxation 218 +41. " GEMELLUS. Corn for garrisons on the Durance 218 +42. " PROVINCIALS IN GAUL. Exemption from military contributions 219 +43. " UNIGIS. Fugitive slaves to be restored to owners 219 +44. " LANDOWNERS (POSSESSORES) OF ARLES. Repair of walls, &c. 220 +45. " ARIGERN. Dispute between Roman Church and Samaritans 220 +46. " ADEODATUS. Further charges against Venantius 220 +47. " FAUSTUS. Banishment of Jovinus to Vulcanian Islands 222 +48. " GOTHS AND ROMANS LIVING NEAR FORT VERRUCA. Fortification 222 +49. " POSSESSORES, DEFENSORES, AND CURIALES OF CATANA. Repair + of walls 224 +50. " PROVINCIALS OF NORICUM. Alamanni and Noricans to exchange + cattle 225 +51. " FAUSTUS. Stipend of charioteer. Description of Circus 226 +52. " CONSULARIS. Roman land surveying 231 +53. " APRONIANUS. Water-finders 233 + + +BOOK IV. + +CONTAINING FIFTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + 1. TO KING OF THE THURINGIANS. Marriage with Theodoric's niece 235 + 2. " KING OF THE HERULI. Adoption as son 236 + 3. " SENARIUS. Appointment as Comes Patrimonii 237 + 4. " SENATE. Same subject 237 + 5. " AMABILIS. Supply of provisions to Gaulish Provinces 238 + 6. " SYMMACHUS. Sons of Valerian to be detained in Rome 238 + 7. " SENARIUS. Losses by shipwreck to be refunded 239 + 8. " POSSESSORES AND CURIALES OF FORUM LIVII (FORLI). Transport + of timber to Alsuanum 240 + 9. " OSUIN. '_Tuitio regii nominis_' 240 +10. " JOANNES. Repression of lawless custom of Pignoratio 240 +11. " SENARIUS. Dispute between Possessores and Curiales 241 +12. " MARABAD AND GEMELLUS. Complaint of Archotamia 241 +13. " SENARIUS. Supplies for Colossaeus and suite 242 +14. " GESILA. Evasion of land-tax by Goths 242 +15. " BENENATUS. New rowers, and their qualifications 243 +16. " SENATE. Arigern entrusted with charge of City of Rome 243 +17. " IDA. Church possessions to be restored 244 +18. " ANNAS. Enquiry concerning a priestly Ghoul 244 +19. " GEMELLUS. Corn, wine, and oil to be exempt from the + Siliquaticum 245 +20. " GEBERICH. Church land to be restored 245 +21. " GEMELLUS. Promptness and integrity required 245 +22. " ARGOLICUS. } +23. " ARIGERN. } Accusation of magic against Roman Senators 246 +24. " ELPIDIUS. Architectural restoration at Spoleto 247 +25. " ARGOLICUS. Petrus to become Senator 247 +26. " CITIZENS OF MARSEILLES. Remission of taxes 248 +27. " TEZUTZAT. } +28. " DUDA. } Petrus assaulted by his Defensor 248 +29. " ARGOLICUS. Official tardiness rebuked 249 +30. " ALBINUS. Erection of workshops near Roman Forum 249 +31. " AEMILIANUS. Aqueduct to be promptly finished 250 +32. " DUDA. Crown rights to be asserted with moderation 250 +33. " JEWS OF GENOA. Their privileges confirmed 251 +34. " DUDA. Reclamation of buried treasure 252 +35. " REPRESENTATIVES (ACTORES) OF ALBINUS. Extravagant minor 252 +36. " FAUSTUS. Remission of taxes for Provincials 253 +37. " THEODAGUNDA. To do justice to Renatus 253 +38. " FAUSTUS. Taxes to be reduced 254 +39. " THEODAHAD. His encroachments 254 +40. " REPRESENTATIVES (ACTORES) OF PROBINUS. The affair of + Agapita 255 +41. " JOANNES. Unjust judgment reversed 255 +42. " ARGOLICUS. Property to be restored to sons of Volusian 256 +43. " SENATE. Punishment of incendiaries of Jewish Synagogue 256 +44. " ANTONIUS. To do justice to Stephanus 257 +45. " COMITES, DEFENSORES, AND CURIALES OF TICINUM (PAVIA). + Heruli to be forwarded on their way to Ravenna 258 +46. " MARABAD. Case of Liberius' wife to be reheard 258 +47. " GUDISAL. Abuses of the Cursus Publicus 259 +48. " EUSEBIUS. His honourable retirement 260 +49. " PROVINCIALS AND THE LONG-HAIRED MEN, THE DEFENSORES AND + CURIALES RESIDING IN SUAVIA. Appointment of Governor, &c. 260 +50. " FAUSTUS. Campanian taxes remitted. Eruption of Vesuvius 261 +51. " SYMMACHUS. Restoration of Theatre of Pompey 263 + + +BOOK V. + +CONTAINING FORTY-FOUR LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + 1. TO KING OF THE VANDALS. Thanking for presents 264 + 2. " THE HAESTI. Their present of amber 265 + 3. " HONORATUS. } + 4. " SENATE. } Promotion to Quaestorship, &c. 266 + 5. " MANNILA. Abuses of the Cursus Publicus 268 + 6. " STABULARIUS. } + 7. " JOANNES. } Default in payments to Treasury 269 + 8. " ANASTASIUS. Transport of marbles to Ravenna 270 + 9. " POSSESSORES OF FELTRIA. New city to be built 270 +10. " VERANUS. } +11. " THE GEPIDAE. } Payment on march to Gaul 271 +12. " THEODAHAD. His avarice and injustice 272 +13. " EUTROPIUS AND ACRETIUS. Commissariat 272 +14. " SEVERI(A)NUS. Financial abuses in Suavia 273 +15. " POSSESSORES IN SUAVIA. Same subject 274 +16. " ABUNDANTIUS. Formation of navy 274 +17. " " Same subject 275 +18. " UVILIAS [WILLIAS?]. } +19. " GUDINAND. } Same subject 276 +20. " AVILF. } +21. " CAPUANUS. } +22. " SENATE. } Appointment as Rector Decuriarum 277 +23. " ABUNDANTIUS. Archery drill 279 +24. " EPIPHANIUS. Property of intestate claimed for the State 279 +25. " BACAUDA. Appointment as Tribunus Voluptatum 280 +26. " GOTHS SETTLED IN PICENUM AND SAMNIUM. Summons to the + royal presence 280 +27. " GUDUIM. The same 280 +28. " CARINUS. Invitation to Court 281 +29. " NEUDES. Blind Gothic warrior enslaved 281 +30. " GUDUI[M]. Servile tasks imposed on free Goths 281 +31. " DECORATUS. Arrears of Siliquaticum to be enforced 282 +32. " BRANDILA. Assault of his wife on Regina 282 +33. " WILITANCH. Adulterous connection between Brandila and + Regina 283 +34. " ABUNDANTIUS. Frontosus compared to chameleon 284 +35. " LUVIRIT AND AMPELIUS. Punishment of fraudulent shipowners 285 +36. " STARCEDIUS. Honourable discharge 285 +37. " JEWS OF MILAN. Rights of Synagogue not to be invaded 286 +38. " ALL CULTIVATORS. Shrubs obstructing aqueduct of Ravenna 286 +39. " AMPELIUS AND LIVERIA. Abuses in administration of Spanish + government 287 +40. " CYPRIAN. } +41. " SENATE. } Promotion to the Comitiva Sacrarum Largitionum 289 +42. " MAXIMUS. Rewards to performers in Amphitheatre 291 +43. " TRANSMUND [THRASAMUND]. Complains of protection given to + Gesalic 292 +44. " TRANSMUND [THRASAMUND]. Reconciliation 293 + + +BOOK VI. + +CONTAINING TWENTY-FIVE FORMULAE. + + 1. OF THE CONSULSHIP 294 + 2. " " PATRICIATE 296 + 3. " " PRAETORIAN PRAEFECTURE 296 + 4. " " PRAEFECTURE OF THE CITY 299 + 5. " " QUAESTORSHIP 300 + 6. " " MAGISTERIAL DIGNITY, AND ITS EXCELLENCY (MAGISTRATUS + OFFICIORUM) 302 + 7. " " OFFICE OF COMES SACRARUM LARGITIONUM. 303 + 8. " " " " " PRIVATARUM, AND ITS EXCELLENCY 304 + 9. " " " " COUNT OF THE PATRIMONY, AND ITS EXCELLENCY 305 +10. FOR PROMOTION AS PROCERES PER CODICILLOS VACANTES 306 +11. CONFERRING THE RANK OF AN ILLUSTRIS AND TITLE OF COMES + DOMESTICORUM, WITHOUT OFFICE 307 +12. BESTOWAL OF COUNTSHIP OF FIRST ORDER, WITHOUT OFFICE 307 +13. BESTOWING THE HONORARY RANK OF MASTER OF THE BUREAU AND + COUNT OF THE FIRST ORDER ON AN OFFICER OF THE COURTS IN + ACTIVE SERVICE 308 +14. BESTOWING RANK AS A SENATOR 309 +15. OF THE VICARIUS OF THE CITY OF ROME 310 +16. " " NOTARIES 311 +17. " " REFERENDARII 311 +18. " " PRAEFECTUS ANNONAE, AND HIS EXCELLENCY 312 +19. " " COUNT OF THE CHIEF PHYSICIANS 313 +20. " " OFFICE OF A CONSULAR, AND ITS EXCELLENCY 314 +21. " " GOVERNOR (RECTOR) OF A PROVINCE 315 +22. " " COUNT OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE 316 +23. " " COUNT OF NAPLES 316 +24. TO THE GENTLEMEN-FARMERS AND COMMON COUNCILMEN OF THE + CITY OF NAPLES 317 +25. 'DE COMITIVA PRINCIPIS MILITUM'(?) 317 + + +BOOK VII. + +CONTAINING FORTY-SEVEN FORMULAE. + + 1. OF THE COUNT OF A PROVINCE 319 + 2. OF A PRAESES 319 + 3. OF COUNT OF THE GOTHS IN THE SEVERAL PROVINCES 320 + 4. OF THE DUKE OF RAETIA 322 + 5. " " PALACE ARCHITECT 323 + 6. " " COUNT OF THE AQUEDUCTS 324 + 7. " " PRAEFECT OF THE WATCH OF CITY OF ROME 326 + 8. " " " " " " RAVENNA 327 + 9. " " COUNT OF PORTUS 327 +10. " " TRIBUNUS VOLUPTATUM 327 +11. " " DEFENSOR OF ANY CITY 328 +12. " " CURATOR OF A CITY 329 +13. " " COUNT OF ROME 329 +14. " " " RAVENNA 330 +15. ADDRESSED TO THE PRAEFECT OF THE CITY ON APPOINTMENT OF + AN ARCHITECT 331 +16. OF THE COUNT OF THE ISLANDS OF CURRITANA AND CELSINA 331 +17. CONCERNING THE PRESIDENT OF THE LIME-KILNS 332 +18. CONCERNING ARMOURERS 332 +19. TO THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT CONCERNING ARMOURERS 333 +20. } +21. } RELATING TO COLLECTION OF BINA AND TERNA 333 +22. EXHORTATION ADDRESSED TO TWO SCRINIARII 333 +23. OF THE VICARIUS OF PORTUS 334 +24. " " PRINCEPS OF DALMATIA 334 +25. RECOMMENDING THE PRINCIPES TO THE COMES 335 +26. OF THE COUNTSHIP OF SECOND RANK IN DIVERS CITIES 336 +27. ADDRESSED TO THE DIGNIFIED CULTIVATORS AND CURIALES 336 +28. ANNOUNCING APPOINTMENT OF A COMES TO THE CHIEF OF HIS + STAFF 336 +29. CONCERNING THE GUARD AT THE GATES OF A CITY 337 +30. OF THE TRIBUNATE IN THE PROVINCES 337 +31. " " PRINCEPS OF THE CITY OF ROME 338 +32. " " MASTER OF THE MINT 338 +33. RESPECTING THE AMBASSADORS OF VARIOUS NATIONS 339 +34. OF SUMMONS TO THE KING'S COURT (UNSOLICITED) 339 +35. OF SUMMONS TO THE COURT (SOLICITED) 339 +36. GRANTING TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE 339 +37. CONFERRING THE RANK OF A SPECTABILIS 340 +38. " " CLARISSIMUS 340 +39. BESTOWING 'POLICE PROTECTION' 340 +40. FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF MARRIAGE AND THE LEGITIMATION OF + OFFSPRING 341 +41. CONFERRING THE RIGHTS OF FULL AGE 342 +42. EDICT TO QUAESTOR, ORDERING PERSON WHO ASKS FOR PROTECTION + OF SAJO TO GIVE BAIL 342 +43. APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF A CLERK IN RECORD-OFFICE 343 +44. GRANT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY ON CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENT 343 +45. REMISSION OF TAXES WHERE TAXPAYER HAS ONLY ONE HOUSE, TOO + HEAVILY ASSESSED 344 +46. LEGITIMATING MARRIAGE WITH A FIRST COUSIN 345 +47. TO PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, DIRECTING SALE OF THE PROPERTY OF + A CURIALIS 345 + + +BOOK VIII. + +CONTAINING THIRTY-THREE LETTERS, ALL WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF ATHALARIC +THE KING, EXCEPT THE ELEVENTH, WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF TULUM. + + 1. TO THE EMPEROR JUSTIN. Announcement of Athalaric's accession 347 + 2. " " SENATE. Same subject 348 + 3. " " ROMAN PEOPLE. Same subject 349 + 4. " " ROMANS SETTLED IN ITALY AND THE DALMATIAS. Same + subject 350 + 5. " " GOTHS SETTLED IN ITALY. Same subject 350 + 6. " LIBERIUS, GOVERNOR OF GAUL. " " 351 + 7. " THE PROVINCIALS SETTLED IN GAUL. Same subject 351 + 8. " BISHOP VICTORINUS. Same subject 352 + 9. " TULUM. Raised to the Patriciate. His praises 352 +10. " SENATE. Same subject 354 +11. TULUM'S ADDRESS TO SENATE. Elevation to the Patriciate 356 +12. TO ARATOR. Promotion to Count of the Domestics 357 +13. " AMBROSIUS. Appointment to Quaestorship 358 +14. " SENATE. Same subject 359 +15. " " Election of Pope Felix III (or IV) 360 +16. " OPILIO. Appointment as Count of the Sacred Largesses 361 +17. " SENATE. Same subject 363 +18. " FELIX. Promotion to Quaestorship 365 +19. " SENATE. Same subject 366 +20. " ALBIENUS. Appointment as Praetorian Praefect 367 +21. " CYPRIAN. } +22. " SENATE. } Elevation to the Patriciate 368 +23. " BERGANTINUS. Gifts to Theodahad 370 +24. " CLERGY OF THE ROMAN CHURCH. Ecclesiastical immunities 371 +25. " JOANNES. Confirmation of Tulum's gift of property 373 +26. " INHABITANTS OF REATE AND NURSIA. To obey their Prior 374 +27. " DUMERIT AND FLORENTINUS. To suppress robbery at Faventia 375 +28. " CUNIGAST. Enforced slavery of Possessores (or Coloni?) 376 +29. " THE DIGNIFIED CULTIVATORS AND CURIALS OF PARMA. Necessity + for sanitary measures 377 +30. " GENESIUS. Same subject 377 +31. " SEVERUS. Dissuasions from a country life, and praises of Bruttii 378 +32. " " Fountain of Arethusa 380 +33. " " Feast of St. Cyprian 381 + + +BOOK IX. + +CONTAINING TWENTY-FIVE LETTERS, WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF ATHALARIC THE +KING. + + 1. TO HILDERIC. Murder of Amalafrida 384 + 2. EDICT. Oppression of the Curiales 385 + 3. TO BERGANTINUS. Gold-mining in Italy 387 + 4. " ABUNDANTIUS. Curiales to become Possessores 388 + 5. " CERTAIN BISHOPS AND FUNCTIONARIES. Forestalling and regrating + prohibited 389 + 6. " A CERTAIN PRIMISCRINIUS. Leave to visit Baiae 389 + 7. " REPARATUS. Appointment to Praefecture of City 390 + 8. " OSUIN (or OSUM). Promotion to Governorship of Dalmatia + and Savia 391 + 9. " GOTHS AND ROMANS IN DALMATIA AND SAVIA. Same subject 392 +10. " PROVINCIALS OF SYRACUSE. Remission of Augmentum 393 +11. " GILDIAS. {Oppression by King's} +12. " VICTOR AND WITIGISCLUS (or WIGISICLA). { officers rebuked } 394 +13. " WILLIAS. Increase of emoluments of Domestici 394 +14. " GILDIAS. Charge of oppression 395 +15. " POPE JOHN II. Against Simony at Papal elections 398 +16. " SALVANTIUS. Same subject 400 +17. " " Release of two Roman citizens 400 +18. EDICT. Offences against Civilitas 401 +19. TO SENATE. Promulgation of Edict 405 +20. " JUDGES OF PROVINCES. Same subject 405 +21. " SENATE. Increase of Grammarians' salaries 406 +22. " PAULINUS. Appointment as Consul 407 +23. " SENATE. Same subject 408 +24. " SENATOR [CASSIODORUS HIMSELF]. Appointment as Praetorian + Praefect, &c. 408 +25. " SENATE. Eulogy of Cassiodorus on his appointment. His + Gothic History. His official career. His military services. + His religious character 412-413 + + +BOOK X. + +CONTAINING THIRTY-FIVE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS: + +FOUR IN THE NAME OF QUEEN AMALASUENTHA; +TWENTY-TWO IN THAT OF KING THEODAHAD; +FOUR IN THAT OF HIS WIFE GUDELINA; +FIVE IN THAT OF KING WITIGIS. + + 1. QUEEN AMALASUENTHA TO EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. Association of + Theodahad in the Sovereignty 415 + 2. KING THEODAHAD TO EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. Same subject 416 + 3. AMALASUENTHA TO SENATE. Same. Praises of Theodahad 416 + 4. THEODAHAD TO SENATE. Same. Praises of Amalasuentha 418 + 5. " " HIS MAN THEODOSIUS. Followers of new King to + live justly 421 + 6. " " PATRICIUS. Appointment to Quaestorship 422 + 7. " " SENATE. Same subject 422 + 8. AMALASUENTHA TO JUSTINIAN. Acknowledging present of marbles 423 + 9. THEODAHAD TO JUSTINIAN. Same subject 423 +10. AMALASUENTHA TO THEODORA. Salutation 424 +11. THEODAHAD TO MAXIMUS. Appointment to office of Primicerius 424 +12. " " SENATE. Same subject 425 +13. " " " Summons to Ravenna. Suspicions of + Senators 426 +14. " " THE ROMAN PEOPLE. Dissensions between citizens + of Rome and Gothic troops 427 +15. " " EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. Letter of introduction for + Ecclesiastic 428 +16. " " SENATE. Assurances of good-will 428 +17. " " THE ROMAN PEOPLE. Same subject 429 +18. " " SENATE. Gothic garrison for Rome 430 +19. " " JUSTINIAN. Embassy of Peter 431 +20. QUEEN GUDELINA TO THEODORA, AUGUSTA. Embassy of Rusticus 432 +21. " " " " " Soliciting friendship 433 +22. THEODAHAD TO JUSTINIAN. Entreaties for peace 434 +23. GUDELINA TO THEODORA. Same subject 435 +24. " " JUSTINIAN. Same subject 436 +25. THEODAHAD TO JUSTINIAN. Same subject 436 +26. " " " Monastery too heavily taxed 437 +27. " " SENATOR. Corn distributions in Liguria and Venetia 438 +28. " " " Grant of monopolies 438 +29. " " WINUSIAD. Old soldier gets leave to visit baths + of Bormio 440 +30. " " HONORIUS. Brazen elephants in the Via Sacra. + Natural history of elephant 442 +31. KING WITIGIS TO ALL THE GOTHS. On his elevation 444 +32. " " " JUSTINIAN. Overtures for peace 445 +33. " " " THE MASTER OF THE OFFICES (at Constantinople). + Sending of embassy 447 +34. " " " HIS BISHOPS. Same subject 448 +35. " " " THE PRAEFECT OF THESSALONICA. Same subject 448 + + +BOOK XI. + +CONTAINING THIRTY-NINE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME +AS PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO, AND ONE ON BEHALF OF THE ROMAN SENATE. + +PREFACE 449 + + 1. TO SENATE. On his promotion to the Praefecture. Praises of + Amalasuentha. Comparison to Placidia. Relations with + the East. Expedition against Franks. League with + Burgundians. Virtues of Amal Kings 452-457 + 2. " POPE JOHN. Salutations 458 + 3. " DIVERS BISHOPS. The same 459 + 4. " AMBROSIUS (HIS DEPUTY). Functions of Praefect's Deputy 460 + 5. " THE SAME. Grain distributions for Rome 461 + 6. " JOANNES. Functions of the Cancellarius 462 + 7. " JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES. Duties of tax-collectors 464 + 8. EDICT PUBLISHED THROUGH THE PROVINCES. Announcement of + Cassiodorus' principles of administration 465 + 9. TO JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES. Exhortation to govern in conformity + with Edict 467 +10. " BEATUS. Davus invalided to Mons Lactarius. The milk-cure + for consumption 468-469 +11. EDICT. Concerning prices to be maintained at Ravenna 469 +12. " Concerning prices along the Flaminian Way 470 +13. THE SENATE TO EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. Supplications of the + Senate 471 +14. TO GAUDIOSUS. Praises of Como. Relief of its inhabitants 474 +15. " THE LIGURIANS. Relief of their necessities 475 +16. " THE SAME. Oppressions practised on them to be remedied 476 +17. " THE PRINCEPS(?). Promotions in Official Staff of Praetorian + Praefect 477 +18-35. VARIOUSLY ADDRESSED. [Documents, for the most part very + short ones, relating to these promotions.] 477-480 +36. TO ANAT(H)OLIUS. Retirement of a Cornicularius on superannuation + allowance justified on astronomical grounds 480 +37. " LUCINUS. Payment of retiring Primiscrinius 482 +38. " JOANNES. Praises of paper 483 +39. " VITALIAN. Payment of commuted cattle-tax 484 +40. INDULGENCE [TO PRISONERS ON SOME GREAT FESTIVAL OF THE + CHURCH, PROBABLY EASTER]. General Amnesty 485 + + +BOOK XII. + +CONTAINING TWENTY-EIGHT LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME +AS PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + + 1. TO THE VARIOUS CANCELLARII OF THE PROVINCES. General + instructions 487 + 2. " ALL JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES. General instructions to + Provincial Governors 488 + 3. " SAJONES ASSIGNED TO THE CANCELLARII. General instructions 489 + 4. " THE CANONICARIUS OF THE VENETIAE. Praise of _Acinaticium_ 490 + 5. " VALERIAN. Measures for relief of Lucania and Bruttii 492 + 6. " ALL SUBORDINATE GOVERNORS OF THE PRAEFECTURE. General + instructions 494 + 7. " THE TAX-COLLECTOR OF THE VENETIAN PROVINCE. Remission + of taxes on account of invasion by Suevi 495 + 8. " THE CONSULARIS OF THE PROVINCE OF LIGURIA. Permission + to pay taxes direct to Royal Treasury 495 + 9. " PASCHASIUS. Claim of an African to succeed to estate of + intestate countryman 496 +10. " DIVERS CANCELLARII. Taxes to be punctually enforced 497 +11. " PETER, DISTRIBUTOR OF RELISHES. Their due distribution 498 +12. " ANASTASIUS. Praise of the cheese and wine of Bruttii 499 +13. EDICT. Frauds committed by revenue-officers on Churches 500 +14. TO ANASTASIUS. Plea for gentle treatment of citizens of + Rhegium 501 +15. " MAXIMUS. Praises of author's birthplace, Scyllacium 503 +16. " A REVENUE OFFICER. Payment of Trina Illatio 506 +17. " JOHN, SILIQUATARIUS OF RAVENNA. Defence of city 507 +18. " CONSTANTIAN. Repair of Flaminian Way 507 +19. " MAXIMUS. Bridge of boats across the Tiber 509 +20. " THOMAS AND PETER. Sacred vessels mortgaged by Pope + Agapetus to be restored to Papal See 510 +21. " DEUSDEDIT. Duties of a Scribe 511 +22. " PROVINCIALS OF ISTRIA. Requisition from Province of Istria 513 +23. " LAURENTIUS. Same subject 515 +24. " TRIBUNES OF THE MARITIME POPULATION. First historical + notice of Venice 515 +25. " AMBROSIUS, HIS DEPUTY. Famine in Italy 518 +26. " PAULUS. Remission of taxes in consequence of famine 520 +27. " DATIUS. Relief of famine-stricken citizens of Ticinum, &c. 521 +28. EDICT [ADDRESSED TO LIGURIANS]. Relief of inhabitants 523 + + + + +ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. + + +P. 6, l. 30, for 'Scylletium' read 'Scylletion.' + +P. 24, _n._ 1, for 'Uterwerfung' read 'Unterwerfung.' + +In the 'Note on the Topography of Squillace' (pp. 68-72), and the map +illustrating it, for 'Scylacium' read 'Scyllacium.' (The line of +Virgil, however, quoted on p. 6, shows that the name was sometimes +spelt with only one 'l.') + +Pp. 94 and 96, head line, dele 'the.' + +P. 128 (Chronological Table, under heading 'Popes') for 'John III.' +read 'John II.' + +P. 146 (last line of text). S. Gaudenzi remarks that the addresses of +the laws in the Code of Justinian forbid us to suppose that Heliodorus +was Praetorian Praefect for eighteen years. He thinks that most likely +the meaning of the words 'in illa republica nobis videntibus +praefecturam bis novenis annis gessit eximie' is that twice in the +space of nine years Heliodorus filled the office of Praefect. + +P. 159, Letter 27 of Book I. The date of this letter is probably 509, +as Importunus, who is therein mentioned as Consul, was Consul in that +year. + +P. 160, Letter 29 of Book I. S. Gaudenzi points out that a letter has +probably dropped out here, as the title does not fit the contents of +the letter, which seems to have been addressed to a Sajo. + +In the titles of I. 14, 26, 34, 35, and II. 5 and 9, for 'Praepositus' +read 'Praetorian Praefect.' The contraction used by the early +amanuenses for Praefecto Praetorio has been misunderstood by their +successors, and consequently many MSS. read 'Praeposito,' and this +reading has been followed by Nivellius. There can be no doubt, +however, that Garet is right in restoring 'Praefecto Praetorio.' + +On the other hand, I have been misled by Garet's edition into quoting +the following letters as addressed _Viro Senatori_; I. 38; II. 23, 28, +29, 35; III. 8, 13, 15, 16, 27, 32, 41; IV. 10, 12, 15, 18, 19, 20, +21, 28; V. 21, 24. Here, too, the only MSS. that I have examined read +'Viro Senatori;' but Nivellius preserves what is no doubt the earlier +reading, 'V.S.,' which assuredly stands for 'Viro Spectabili.' +Practically there is no great difference between the two readings, and +the remarks made by me on II. 29, 35, &c., as to Senators with Gothic +names may still stand; for as every Senator was (at least) a +Clarissimus, it is not likely that any person who reached the higher +dignity of a Spectabilis was not also a Senator. (See pp. 90 and 91.) + +P. 181, Letter 19 of Book II. Here again, on account of the want of +correspondence between the title and contents of the letter, S. +Gaudenzi suggests that a letter has dropped out. + +P. 182, title of Letter 20, for 'Unigilis' read 'Uniligis.' + +P. 205, l. 6 from bottom, for 'Praefectum' read 'Praefectorum.' + +P. 206, l. 1, for 'Provinces' read 'Provincials.' + +P. 224 (marginal note), for 'amphitheatre' read 'walls.' Last line +(text), for 'its' read 'their.' + +P. 244, title of Letter 17, for 'Idae' some MSS. read 'Ibbae,' which +is probably the right reading, Ibbas having commanded the Ostrogothic +army in Gaul in 510. + +P. 247, dele the last two lines. (The Peter who was Consul in 516 was +an official of the Eastern Empire, the same who came on an embassy to +Theodahad in 535.) + +P. 253. l. 9, for '408' read '508.' + +P. 255, ll. 9, 14, and in margin, for 'Agapeta' read 'Agapita.' + +P. 256, ll. 16, 26, and in margin, for 'Velusian' read 'Volusian.' + +P. 256, title of Letter 43. S. Gaudenzi thinks this letter was really +addressed to Argolicus, Praefectus Urbis. + +P. 269, l. 20, dele 'possibly Stabularius.' + +P. 282, Letter 31 of Book V. (to Decoratus). As Decoratus is described +in V. 3 and 4 as already dead, it is clear that the letters are not +arranged in chronological order. + +P. 282, l. 27, for 'upon' read 'before.' + +P. 288, l. 25, for 'extortions' read 'extra horses.' + +P. 291, l. 6, for 'Anomymus' read 'Anonymus.' + +P. 308, l. 7. This is an important passage, as illustrating the nature +of the office which Cassiodorus held as Consiliarius to his father. + +P. 333, second marginal note, for 'aguntur' read 'agantur' (twice). + +P. 398, title of Letter 15, for '532' read '533-535.' + +P. 400, title of Letter 17, for 'between 532 and 534' read 'between +533 and 535.' + +P. 450, l. 8. Probably, as suggested by S. Gaudenzi, Felix was +Consiliarius to Cassiodorus. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +CHAPTER I. + +LIFE OF CASSIODORUS. + + +The interest of the life of Cassiodorus is derived from his position +rather than from his character. He was a statesman of considerable +sagacity and of unblemished honour, a well-read scholar, and a devout +Christian; but he was apt to crouch before the possessors of power +however unworthy, and in the whole of his long and eventful life we +never find him playing a part which can be called heroic. + +[Sidenote: Position of Cassiodorus on the confines of the Ancient and +the Modern.] + +His position, however, which was in more senses than one that of a +borderer between two worlds, gives to the study of his writings an +exceptional value. Born a few years after the overthrow of the Western +Empire, a Roman noble by his ancestry, a rhetorician-philosopher by +his training, he became what we should call the Prime Minister of the +Ostrogothic King Theodoric; he toiled with his master at the +construction of the new state, which was to unite the vigour of +Germany and the culture of Rome; for a generation he saw this edifice +stand, and when it fell beneath the blows of Belisarius he retired, +perhaps well-nigh broken-hearted, from the political arena. The +writings of such a man could hardly fail, at any rate they do not +fail, to give us many interesting glimpses into the political life +both of the Romans and the Barbarians. It is true that they throw more +light backwards than forwards, that they teach us far more about the +constitution of the Roman Empire than they do about the Teutonic +customs from whence in due time Feudalism was to be born. Still, they +do often illustrate these Teutonic usages; and when we remember that +the writer to whom after Tacitus we are most deeply indebted for our +knowledge of Teutonic antiquity, Jordanes, professedly compiled his +ill-written pamphlet from the Twelve Books of the Gothic History of +Cassiodorus, we see that indirectly his contribution to the history of +the German factor in European civilisation is a most important one. + +Thus then, as has been already said, Cassiodorus stood on the confines +of two worlds, the Ancient and the Modern; indeed it is a noteworthy +fact that the very word _modernus_ occurs for the first time with any +frequency in his writings. Or, if the ever-shifting boundary between +Ancient and Modern be drawn elsewhere than in the fifth and sixth +centuries, at any rate it is safe to say, that he stood on the +boundary of two worlds, the Roman and the Teutonic. + +[Sidenote: Also on the confines of Politics and Religion.] + +But the statesman who, after spending thirty years at the Court of +Theodoric and his daughter, spent thirty-three years more in the +monastery which he had himself erected at Squillace, was a borderer in +another sense than that already mentioned--a borderer between the two +worlds of Politics and Religion; and in this capacity also, as the +contemporary, perhaps the friend, certainly the imitator, of St. +Benedict, and in some respects the improver upon his method, +Cassiodorus largely helped to mould the destinies of mediaeval and +therefore of modern Europe. + +I shall now proceed to indicate the chief points in the life and +career of Cassiodorus. Where, as is generally the case, our +information comes from his own correspondence, I shall, to avoid +repetition, not do much more than refer the reader to the passage in +the following collection, where he will find the information given as +nearly as may be in the words of the great Minister himself. + +[Sidenote: His ancestors.] + +The ancestors of Cassiodorus for three generations, and their public +employments, are enumerated for us in the letters (Var. i. 3-4) which +in the name of Theodoric he wrote on his father's elevation to the +Patriciate. From these letters we learn that-- + +[Sidenote: Great grandfather.] + +(1) Cassiodorus, the writer's great grandfather, who held the rank of +an Illustris, defended the shores of Sicily and Bruttii from the +incursions of the Vandals. This was probably between 430 and 440, and, +as we may suppose, towards the end of the life of this statesman, to +whom we may conjecturally assign a date from 390 to 460. + +[Sidenote: Grandfather.] + +(2) His son and namesake, the grandfather of our Cassiodorus, was a +Tribune (a military rank nearly corresponding to our 'Colonel') and +Notarius under Valentinian III. He enjoyed the friendship of the great +Aetius, and was sent with Carpilio the son of that statesman on an +embassy to Attila, probably between the years 440 and 450. In this +embassy, according to his grandson, he exerted an extraordinary +influence over the mind of the Hunnish King. Soon after this he +retired to his native Province of Bruttii, where he passed the +remainder of his days. We may probably fix the limits of his life from +about 420 to 490. + +[Sidenote: Father.] + +(3) His son, the third Cassiodorus, our author's father, served under +Odovacar (therefore between 476 and 492), as Comes Privatarum Rerum +and Comes Sacrarum Largitionum. These two offices, one of which +nominally involved the care of the domains of the Sovereign and the +other the regulation of his private charities, were in fact the two +great financial offices of the Empire and of the barbarian royalties +which modelled their system upon it. Upon the fall of the throne of +Odovacar, Cassiodorus transferred his services to Theodoric, at the +beginning of whose reign he acted as Governor (Consularis[1]) of +Sicily. In this capacity he showed much tact and skill, and thereby +succeeded in reconciling the somewhat suspicious and intractable +Sicilians to the rule of their Ostrogothic master. He next +administered (as Corrector[2]) his own native Province of 'Bruttii et +Lucania[3].' Either in the year 500 or soon after, he received from +Theodoric the highest mark of his confidence that the Sovereign could +bestow, being raised to the great place of Praetorian Praefect, which +still conferred a semi-regal splendour upon its holder, and which +possibly under a Barbarian King may have involved yet more +participation in the actual work of reigning than it had done under a +Roman Emperor. + +[Footnote 1: We get these titles from the Notitia Occidentis I.] + +[Footnote 2: [See previous footnote.]] + +[Footnote 3: On the authority of a letter of Pope Gelasius, 'Philippo +et Cassiodoro,' Usener fixes this governorship of Bruttii between the +years 493 and 496 (p. 76).] + +The Praefecture of this Cassiodorus probably lasted three or four +years, and at its close he received the high honour of the Patriciate. +We are not able to name the exact date of his retirement from office; +but the important point for us is, that while he still held this +splendid position his son was first introduced to public life. To that +son's history we may now proceed, for we have no further information +of importance as to the father's old age or death beyond the +intimation (contained in Var. iii. 28) that Theodoric invited him, +apparently in vain, to leave his beloved Bruttii and return to the +Court of Ravenna. + +MAGNUS AURELIUS CASSIODORUS SENATOR was born at Scyllacium +(_Squillace_) about the year 480. His name, his birthplace, and his +year of birth will each require a short notice. + +[Sidenote: Name.] + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus, or Cassiodorius.] + +(1) _Name._ Magnus (not Marcus, as it has been sometimes incorrectly +printed) is the author's praenomen. Aurelius, the gentile name, +connects him with a large gens, of which Q. Aurelius Memmius Symmachus +was one of the most distinguished ornaments. As to the form of the +cognomen there is a good deal of diversity of opinion, the majority of +German scholars preferring Cassiodor_i_us to Cassiodorus. The argument +in favour of the former spelling is derived from the fact that some of +the MSS. of his works (not apparently the majority) write the name +with the termination _rius_, and that while it is easy to understand +how from the genitive form _ri_ a nominative _rus_ might be wrongly +inferred instead of the real nominative _rius_, it is not easy to see +why the opposite mistake should be made, and _rius_ substituted for +the genuine _rus_. + +The question will probably be decided one way or the other by the +critical edition of the 'Variae' which is to be published among the +'Monumenta Germaniae Historica;' but in the meantime it may be +remarked that the correct Greek form of the name as shown by +inscriptions appears to be Cassiodo_rus_, and that in a poem of +Alcuin's[4] occurs the line + + 'Cassiodorus item Chrysostomus atque Johannes,' + +showing that the termination _rus_ was generally accepted as early as +the eighth century. It is therefore to be hoped that this is the form +which may finally prevail. + +[Footnote 4: De Pontificibus et Sanctis Ecclesiae Eboracensis, p. 843 +of Migne's Second Volume of Alcuin's Works. I owe this quotation to +Adolph Franz.] + +[Sidenote: Senator.] + +Senator, it is clear, was part of the original name of Cassiodorus, +and not a title acquired by sitting in the Roman Senate. It seems a +curious custom to give a title of this kind to an infant as part of +his name, but the well-known instance of Patricius (St. Patrick) shows +that this was sometimes done, and there are other instances +(collected by Thorbecke, p. 34) of this very title Senator being used +as a proper name. + +It is clear from Jordanes (who calls the Gothic History of Cassiodorus +'duodecem Senatoris volumina de origine actibusque Getarum[5]'), from +Pope Vigilius (who speaks of 'religiosum virum filium nostrum +Senatorem[6]'), from the titles of the letters written by +Cassiodorus[7], and from his punning allusions to his own name and the +love to the Senate which it had prophetically expressed, that Senator +was a real name and not a title of honour. + +[Footnote 5: Preface to Getica (Mommsen's Edition, p. 53).] + +[Footnote 6: Epist. XIV. ad Rusticum et Sebastianum (Migne, p. 49).] + +[Footnote 7: Nearly all the letters in the XIth and XIIth Books of the +Variae are headed 'Senator Praefectus Praetorio.'] + +[Sidenote: Birthplace, Scyllacium.] + +(2) Scyllacium, the modern Squillace, was, according to Cassiodorus, +the first, either in age or in importance, of the cities of Bruttii, a +Province which corresponds pretty closely with the modern Calabria. It +is situated at the head of the gulf to which it gives its name, on the +eastern side of Italy, and at the point where the peninsula is pinched +in by the Tyrrhene and Ionian Seas to a width of only fifteen miles, +the narrowest dimensions to which it is anywhere reduced. The Apennine +chain comes here within a distance of about five miles of the sea, and +upon one of its lower dependencies Scyllacium was placed. The slight +promontory in front of the town earned for it from the author of the +Aeneid the ominous name of 'Navifragum Scylaceum[8].' In the +description which Cassiodorus himself gives of his birthplace (Var. +xii. 15) we hear nothing of the danger to mariners which had attracted +the attention of Virgil, possibly a somewhat timid sailor. The name, +however, given to the place by the Greek colonists who founded it, +_Scylletium_, is thought by some to contain an allusion to dangers of +the coast similar to those which were typified by the barking dogs of +the not far distant Scylla. + +[Footnote 8: + + 'Adtollit se diva Lacinia contra, + Caulonisque arces, et navifragum Scylaceum.' + + (iii. 552-3.)] + +[Sidenote: The Greek city.] + +According to Cassiodorus, this Greek city was founded by Ulysses after +the destruction of Troy. Strabo[9] attributes the foundation of it to +the almost equally widespread energy of Menestheus. The form of the +name makes it probable that the colonists were in any case of Ionian +descent; but in historic times we find Scylletion subject to the +domineering Achaian city of Crotona, from whose grasp it was wrested +(B.C. 389) by the elder Dionysius. It no doubt shared in the general +decay of the towns of this part of Magna Graecia consequent on the +wars of Dionysius and Agathocles, and may very probably, like Crotona, +have been taken and laid waste by the Bruttian banditti in the Second +Punic War. During the latter part of this war Hannibal seems to have +occupied a position near to, but not in, the already ruined city, and +its port was known long after as Castra Hannibalis[10]. + +[Footnote 9: p. 375: ed. Oxon. 1807.] + +[Footnote 10: Pliny (Hist. Nat. iii. 10) says: 'Dein sinus Scylacius +et Scyllacium, Scylletium Atheniensibus, cum conderent, dictum: quem +locum occurrens Terinaeus sinus peninsulam efficit: et in ea portus +qui vocatur Castra Annibalis, nusquam angustiore Italia XX millia +passuum latitudo est.'] + +[Sidenote: The Roman colony.] + +[11]'A century before the end of the Republic, a city much more +considerable than that which had existed in the past was again +established near the point where the Greek Scylletion had existed. +Among the colonies of Roman citizens founded B.C. 123 on the rogation +of Caius Gracchus, was one sent to this part of Bruttii, under the +name of Colonia Minervia Scolacium, a name parallel to those of +Colonia Neptunia Tarentum and Colonia Junonia Karthago, decided on at +the same time. _Scolacium_ is the form that we meet with in Velleius +Paterculus, and that is found in an extant Latin inscription of the +time of Antoninus Pius. This is the old Latin form of the name of the +town. _Scylacium_, which first appears as used by the writers of the +first century of our era, is a purely literary form springing from the +desire to get nearer to the Greek type _Scylletion_. + +[Footnote 11: I take the two following paragraphs from Lenormant's La +Grande Grece, pp. 342-3.] + +'Scolacium, or Scylacium, a town purely Roman by reason of the origin +of its first colonists, was from its earliest days an important city, +and remained such till the end of the Empire. Pomponius Mela, Strabo, +Pliny, and Ptolemy speak of it as one of the principal cities of +Bruttii. It had for its port Castra Hannibalis. Under Nero its +population was strengthened by a new settlement of veterans as +colonists. The city then took the names of Colonia Minervia Nervia +Augusta Scolacium. We read these names in an inscription discovered in +1762 at 1,800 metres from the modern Squillace, between that city and +the sea--an inscription which mentions the construction of an aqueduct +bringing water to Scolacium, executed 143 A.D. at the cost of the +Emperor Antoninus.' + +[Sidenote: Appearance of the city at the time of Cassiodorus.] + +For the appearance of this Roman colony in the seventh century of its +existence the reader is referred to the letter of Cassiodorus before +quoted (Var. xii. 15). The picture of the city, 'hanging like a +cluster of grapes upon the hills, basking in the brightness of the sun +all day long, yet cooled by the breezes from the sea, and looking at +her leisure on the labours of the husbandman in the corn-fields, the +vineyards, and the olive-groves around her,' is an attractive one, and +shows that kind of appreciation of the gentler beauties of Nature +which befits a countryman of Virgil. + +This picture, however, is not distinctive enough to enable us from it +alone to fix the exact site of the Roman city. Lenormant (pp. +360-370), while carefully distinguishing between the sites of the +Greek Scylletion and the Latin Scolacium, and assigning the former +with much apparent probability to the neighbourhood of the promontory +and the Grotte di Stalletti, has been probably too hasty in his +assertion that the modern city of Squillace incontestably covers the +ground of the Latin Scolacium. Mr. Arthur J. Evans, after making a +much more careful survey of the place and its neighbourhood than the +French archaeologist had leisure for, has come to the conclusion that +in this identification M. Lenormant is entirely wrong, and that the +Roman city was not at Squillace, where there are no remains of earlier +than mediaeval times, but at Roccella del Vescovo, five or six miles +from Squillace in a north-easterly direction, where there are such +remains as can only have belonged to a Roman provincial city of the +first rank. For a further discussion of the question the reader is +referred to the Note (and accompanying Map) at the end of this +chapter. + +We pass on from considering the place of Cassiodorus' birth to +investigate the date of that event. + +[Sidenote: Date of birth.] + +(3) The only positive statement that we possess as to the birth-year +of Cassiodorus comes from a very late and somewhat unsatisfactory +source. John Trittheim (or Trithemius), Abbot of the Benedictine +Monastery of Spanheim, who died in 1516, was one of the ecclesiastical +scholars of the Renaissance period, and composed, besides a multitude +of other books, a treatise 'De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis,' in which +is found this notice of Cassiodorus[12]:-- + +'Claruit temporibus Justini senioris usque ad imperii Justini junioris +paene finem, annos habens aetatis plus quam 95, Anno Domini 575.' + +[Footnote 12: The reference is given by Koepke (Die Anfaenge des +Koenigthums, p. 88) as 'De scr. ecc. 212 Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica, ed. +Fabricius, p. 58;' by Thorbecke (p. 8) as 'Catalogus seu liber +scriptorum ecclesiasticorum, Coloniae 1546, p. 94.' Franz (p. 4) +quotes from the same edition as Koepke, 'De script. eccl. c. 212 in +Fabricii biblioth. eccl., Hamburgi 1728, iii. p. 58.'] + +This notice is certainly not one to which we should attach much +importance if it contradicted earlier and trustworthy authorities, or +if there were any internal evidence against it. But if this cannot be +asserted, it is not desirable entirely to discard the assertion of a +scholar who, in the age of the Renaissance and before the havoc +wrought among the monasteries of Germany by the Thirty Years' War, may +easily have had access to some sources which are now no longer +available. + +When we examine the information which is thus given us, we find it +certainly somewhat vague. 'Cassiodorus was illustrious' (no doubt as a +writer, since it is 'ecclesiastici scriptores' of whom Trittheim is +speaking) 'in the time of Justin the Elder [518-527] down nearly to +the end of the reign of Justin the Younger [565-578], attaining to +more than 95 years of age in the year of our Lord 575.' But on +reflection we see that the meaning must be that Cassiodorus died in +575 (which agrees well with the words 'paene finem imperii Justini +junioris'), and that when he died he was some way on in his 96th year, +or as we say colloquially 'ninety-five off.' The marvel of his +attaining such an age is no doubt the reason for inserting the 'plus +quam,' to show that he did not die immediately after his 95th +birthday. If this notice be trustworthy, therefore, we may place the +birth of Cassiodorus in 479 or 480. + +Now upon examining all the facts in our possession as to his career as +a statesman and an author, and especially our latest acquired +information[13], we find that they do in a remarkable manner agree +with Trittheim's date, while we have no positive statement by any +author early or late which really conflicts with it. + +[Footnote 13: The Anecdoton Holderi.] + +The only shadow of an argument that has been advanced for a different +and earlier date is so thin that it is difficult to state without +confuting it. In some editions of the works of Cassiodorus there +appears a very short anonymous tract on the method of determining +Easter, called 'Computus Paschalis,' and composed in 562. In the +'Orthographia,' which was undoubtedly written by Cassiodorus at the +age of 93, and which contains a list of his previously published +works, no mention is made of this 'Computus.' It must therefore, say +the supporters of the theory, have been written after he was 93. He +must have been at least 94 in 562, and the year of his birth must be +put back at least to 468. In this argument there are two absolutely +worthless links. There is no evidence to show that the 'Computus +Paschalis' came from the pen of Cassiodorus at all, but much reason to +think that Pithoeus, the editor who first published it under his name, +was mistaken in doing so. And if it were his, a little memorandum like +this--only two pages long, and with no literary pretension +whatever--we may almost say with certainty would _not_ be included by +the veteran author in the enumeration of his theological works +prefixed to his 'Orthographia.' + +The reason why a theory founded on such an absurdly weak basis has +held its ground at all, has probably been that it buttressed up +another obvious fallacy. A whole school of biographers of Cassiodorus +and commentators on his works has persisted, in spite of the plainest +evidence of his letters, in identifying him with his father, who bore +office under Odovacar (476-493). To do this it was necessary to get +rid of the date 480 for the birth of Cassiodorus Senator, and to throw +back that event as far as possible. And yet, not even by pushing it +back to 468, do they make it reasonably probable that a person, who +was only a child of eight years old at Odovacar's accession, could in +the course of his short reign (the last four years of which were +filled by his struggle with Theodoric) have held the various high +offices which were really held during that reign by the father of +Senator. + +We assume therefore with some confidence the year 480 as the +approximate date of the birth of our author; and while we observe that +this date fits well with those which the course of history induces us +to assign to his ancestors in the three preceding generations[14], we +also note with interest that it was, as nearly as we can ascertain, +the year of the birth of two of the most distinguished contemporaries +of Cassiodorus--Boethius and Benedict. + +[Footnote 14: Cassiodorus the First, born about 390; the Second, about +420; the Third, about 450.] + +[Sidenote: Education of Cassiodorus.] + +Of the training and education of the young Senator we can only speak +from their evident results as displayed in the 'Variae,' to which the +reader is accordingly referred. It may be remarked, however, that +though he evidently received the usual instruction in philosophy and +rhetoric which was given to a young Roman noble aspiring to employment +in the Civil Service, there are some indications that the bent of his +own genius was towards Natural History, strange and often laughable as +are the facts or fictions which this taste of his has caused him to +accumulate. + +[Sidenote: Consiliarius to his father.] + +In the year 500[15], when Senator had just attained the age of twenty, +his father, as we have already seen, received from Theodoric the high +office of Praetorian Praefect. As a General might make an +_Aide-de-camp_ of his son, so the Praefect conferred upon the young +Senator the post of _Consiliarius_, or Assessor in his Court[16]. The +Consiliarius[17] had been in the time of the Republic an experienced +jurist who sat beside the Praetor or the Consul (who might be a man +quite unversed in the law) and advised him as to his judgments. From +the time of Severus onwards he became a paid functionary of the Court, +receiving a salary which varied from 12 to 72 solidi (L7 to L43). At +the time which we are now describing it was customary for the Judge to +choose his Consiliarius from among the ranks of young jurists who had +just completed their studies. The great legal school of Berytus +especially furnished a large number of Consiliarii to the Roman +Governors. In order to prevent an officer in this position from +obtaining an undue influence over the mind of his principal, the +latter was forbidden by law to keep a Consiliarius, who was a native +of the Province in which he was administering justice, more than four +months in his employ[18]. This provision, of course, would not apply +when the young Assessor, as in the case of Cassiodorus, came with his +father from a distant Province: and in such a case, if the Magistrate +died during his year of office, by a special enactment the +fairly-earned pay of the Assessor was protected from unjust demands on +the part of the Exchequer[19]. The functions thus exercised by Senator +in his father's court at Rome, and the title which he bore, were +somewhat similar to those which Procopius held in the camp of +Belisarius, but doubtless required a more thorough legal training. In +our own system, if we could imagine the Judge's Marshal invested with +the responsibilities of a Registrar of the Court, we should perhaps +get a pretty fair idea of the position and duties of a Roman +Consiliarius[20]. + +[Footnote 15: Or possibly 501.] + +[Footnote 16: This fact, and also the cause of Senator's promotion to +the Quaestorship, we learn from the Anecdoton Holderi described in a +following chapter.] + +[Footnote 17: The terms Adsessor, Consiliarius, [Greek: Paredros], +[Greek: Symboulos], seem all to indicate the same office.] + +[Footnote 18: Cod. Theod. i. 12. 1.] + +[Footnote 19: This seems to be the meaning of Cod. Theod. i. 12. 2. +The gains of the 'filii familias Assessores' were to be protected as +if they were 'castrense peculium.'] + +[Footnote 20: Some points in this description are taken from Bethmann +Hollweg, Gerichtsverfassung der sinkenden Roemischen Reichs, pp. +153-158.] + +[Sidenote: Panegyric on Theodoric.] + +[Sidenote: Appointed Quaestor.] + +It was while Cassiodorus was holding this agreeable but not important +position, that the opportunity came to him, by his dexterous use of +which he sprang at one bound into the foremost ranks of the official +hierarchy. On some public occasion it fell to his lot to deliver an +oration in praise of Theodoric[21], and he did this with such +admirable eloquence--admirable according to the depraved taste of the +time--that Theodoric at once bestowed upon the orator, still in the +first dawn of manhood[22], the 'Illustrious' office of Quaestor, +giving him thereby what we should call Cabinet-rank, and placing him +among the ten or eleven ministers of the highest class[23], by whom, +under the King, the fortunes of the Gothic-Roman State were absolutely +controlled. + +[Footnote 21: 'Cassiodorus Senator ... juvenis adeo, dum patris +Cassiodori patricii et praefecti praetorii consiliarius fieret et +laudes Theodorichi regis Gothorum facundissime recitasset, ab eo +quaestor est factus' (Anecdoton Holderi, ap. Usener, p. 4).] + +[Footnote 22: He himself says, or rather makes Theodoric's grandson +say to him, 'Quem _primaevum_ recipiens ad quaestoris officium, mox +reperit [Theodoricus] conscientia praeditum, et legum eruditione +maturum' (Var. ix. 24).] + +[Footnote 23: At this time the Illustres actually in office would +probably be the Praefectus Praetorio Italiae (Cassiodorus the father), +the Praefectus Urbis Romae, the two Magistri Militum in Praesenti, the +Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi, the Magister Officiorum, the Quaestor, the +Comes Sacrarum Largitionum, the Comes Rerum Privatarum, and the two +Comites Domesticorum Equitum et Peditum.] + +[Sidenote: Nature of the Quaestor's office.] + +The Quaestor's duty required him to be beyond all other Ministers the +mouthpiece of the Sovereign. In the 'Notitia[24]' the matters under +his control are concisely stated to be 'Laws which are to be dictated, +and Petitions.' + +[Footnote 24: 'Sub dispositione viri illustris Quaestoris + + Leges dictandae + Preces. + +Officium non habet sed adjutores de scriniis quos voluerit.'] + +To him therefore was assigned the duty (which the British Parliament +in its folly assigns to no one) of giving a final revision to the laws +which received the Sovereign's signature, and seeing that they were +consistent with one another and with previous enactments, and were +clothed in fitting language. He replied in the Sovereign's name to the +petitions which were presented to him. He also, as we learn from +Cassiodorus, had audience with the ambassadors of foreign powers, to +whom he addressed suitable and stately harangues, or through whom he +forwarded written replies to the letters which they had brought, but +always of course speaking or writing in the name of his master. In the +performance of these duties he had chiefly to rely on his own +intellectual resources as a trained jurist and rhetorician. The large +official staff which waited upon the nod of the other great Ministers +of State was absent from his apartments[25]; but for the mere manual +work of copying, filing correspondence, and the like, he could summon +the needful number of clerks from the four great bureaux (scrinia) +which were under the control of the Master of the Offices. + +[Footnote 25: Officium non habet.] + +We have an interesting summary of the Quaestor's duties and privileges +from the pen of Cassiodorus himself in the 'Variae' (vi. 5), under the +title 'Formula Quaesturae,' and to this document I refer the reader +who wishes to complete the picture of the occupations in which the +busiest years of the life of Cassiodorus were passed. + +[Sidenote: Special utility of a Quaestor to Theodoric.] + +To a ruler in Theodoric's position the acquisition of such a Quaestor +as Cassiodorus was a most fortunate event. He himself was doubtless +unable to speak or to write Latin with fluency. According to the +common story, which passes current on the authority of the 'Anonymus +Valesii,' he never could learn to write, and had to 'stencil' his +signature. I look upon this story with some suspicion, especially +because it is also told of his contemporary, the Emperor Justin; but I +have no doubt that such literary education as Theodoric ever received +was Greek rather than Latin, being imparted during the ten years of +his residence as a hostage at Constantinople. Years of marches and +countermarches, of battle and foray, at the head of his Ostrogothic +warriors, may well have effaced much of the knowledge thus acquired. +At any rate, when he descended the Julian Alps, close upon forty years +of age, and appeared for the first time in Italy to commence his long +and terrible duel with Odovacar, it was too late to learn the language +of her sons in such fashion that the first sentence spoken by him in +the Hall of Audience should not betray him to his new subjects as an +alien and a barbarian. + +Yet Theodoric was by no means indifferent to the power of well-spoken +words, by no means unconcerned as to the opinion which his +Latin-speaking subjects held concerning him. He was no Cambyses or +Timour, ruling by the sword alone. His proud title was 'Gothorum +Romanorumque Rex,' and the ideal of his hopes, successfully realised +during the greater part of his long and tranquil reign, was to be +equally the King of either people. He had been fortunate thus far in +his Praetorian Praefects. Liberius, a man of whom history knows too +little, had amid general applause steered the vessel of the State for +the first seven years of the new reign. The elder Cassiodorus, who had +succeeded him, seemed likely to follow the same course. But possibly +Theodoric had begun to feel the necessity laid upon all rulers of men, +not only to be, but also to seem, anxious for the welfare of their +subjects. Possibly some dull, unsympathetic Quaestor had failed to +present the generous thoughts of the King in a sufficiently attractive +shape to the minds of the people. This much at all events we know, +that when the young Consiliarius, high-born, fluent, and learned, +poured forth his stream of panegyric on 'Our Lord Theodoric'--a +panegyric which, to an extent unusual with these orations, reflected +the real feelings of the speaker, and all the finest passages of which +were the genuine outcome of his own enthusiasm--the great Ostrogoth +recognised at once the man whom he was in want of to be the exponent +of his thoughts to the people, and by one stroke of wise audacity +turned the boyish and comparatively obscure Assessor into the +Illustrious Quaestor, one of the great personages of his realm. + +[Sidenote: Composition of the VARIAE.] + +[Sidenote: Their style.] + +The monument of the official life of Cassiodorus is the correspondence +styled the 'Variae,' of which an abstract is now submitted to the +reader. There is no need to say much here, either as to the style or +the thoughts of these letters; a perusal of a few pages of the +abstract will give a better idea of both than an elaborate +description. The style is undoubtedly a bad one, whether it be +compared with the great works of Greek and Latin literature or with +our own estimate of excellence in speech. Scarcely ever do we find a +thought clothed in clear, precise, closely-fitting words, or a +metaphor which really corresponds to the abstract idea that is +represented by it. We take up sentence after sentence of verbose and +flaccid Latin, analyse them with difficulty, and when at last we come +to the central thought enshrouded in them, we too often find that it +is the merest and most obvious commonplace, a piece of tinsel wrapped +in endless folds of tissue paper. Perhaps from one point of view the +study of the style of Cassiodorus might prove useful to a writer of +English, as indicating the faults which he has in this age most +carefully to avoid. Over and over again, when reading newspaper +articles full of pompous words borrowed from Latin through French, +when wearied with 'velleities' and 'solidarities' and 'altruisms' and +'homologators,' or when vainly endeavouring to discover the real +meaning which lies hidden in a jungle of Parliamentary verbiage, I +have said to myself, remembering my similar labour upon the 'Variae,' +'How like this is to Cassiodorus.' + +[Sidenote: Lack of humour.] + +[Sidenote: The letter about the sucking-fish.] + +Intellectually one of the chief deficiencies of our author--a +deficiency in which perhaps his age and nation participated--was a +lack of humour. It is difficult to think that anyone who possessed a +keen sense of humour could have written letters so drolly unsuited to +the character of Theodoric, their supposed author, as are some which +we find in the 'Variae.' For instance, the King had reason to complain +that Faustus, the Praetorian Praefect, was dawdling over the execution +of an order which he had received for the shipment of corn from the +regions of Calabria and Apulia to Rome. We find the literary Quaestor +putting such words as these into the mouth of Theodoric, when +reprimanding the lazy official[26]: 'Why is there such great delay in +sending your swift ships to traverse the tranquil seas? Though the +south wind blows and the rowers are bending to their oars, has the +sucking-fish[27] fixed its teeth into the hulls through the liquid +waves; or have the shells of the Indian Sea, whose quiet touch is said +to hold so firmly that the angry billows cannot loosen it, with like +power fixed their lips into your keels? Idle stands the bark though +winged by swelling sails; the wind favours her but she makes no way; +she is fixed without an anchor, she is bound without a cable; and +these tiny animals hinder more than all such prospering circumstances +can help. Thus, though the loyal wave may be hastening its course, we +are informed that the ship stands fixed on the surface of the sea, and +by a strange paradox the swimmer [the ship] is made to remain +immovable while the wave is hurried along by movements numberless. Or, +to describe the nature of another kind of fish, perchance the sailors +in the aforesaid ships have grown dull and torpid by the touch of the +torpedo, by which such a deadly chill is struck into the right hand of +him who attacks it, that even through the spear by which it is itself +wounded, it gives a shock which causes the hand of the striker to +remain, though still a living substance, senseless and immovable. I +think some such misfortunes as these must have happened to men who are +unable to move their own bodies. But I know that in their case the +echeneis is corruption trading on delays; the bite of the Indian +shell-fish is insatiable cupidity; the torpedo is fraudulent pretence. +With perverted ingenuity they manufacture delays that they may seem to +have met with a run of ill-luck. Wherefore let your Greatness, whom it +specially concerns to look after such men as these, by a speedy rebuke +bring them to a better mind. Else the famine which we fear, will be +imputed not to the barrenness of the times but to official +negligence, whose true child it will manifestly appear.' + +[Footnote 26: Var. i. 35.] + +[Footnote 27: Echeneis.] + +It is not likely that Theodoric ever read a letter like this before +affixing to it his (perhaps stencilled) signature. If he did, he must +surely have smiled to see his few angry Teutonic words transmuted into +this wonderful rhapsody about sucking-fishes and torpedoes and +shell-fish in the Indian Sea. + +[Sidenote: Character of Cassiodorus.] + +The French proverb 'Le style c'est l'homme,' is not altogether true as +to the character of Cassiodorus. From his inflated and tawdry style we +might have expected to find him an untrustworthy friend and an +inefficient administrator. This, however, was not the case. As was +before said, his character was not heroic; he was, perhaps, inclined +to humble himself unduly before mere power and rank, and he had the +fault, common to most rhetoricians, of over-estimating the power of +words and thinking that a few fluent platitudes would heal inveterate +discords and hide disastrous blunders. But when we have said this we +have said the worst. He was, as far as we have any means of judging, a +loyal subject, a faithful friend, a strenuous and successful +administrator, and an exceptionally far-sighted statesman. His right +to this last designation rests upon the part which he bore in the +establishment of the Italian Kingdom 'of the Goths and Romans,' +founded by the great Theodoric. + +[Sidenote: His work in seconding the policy of Theodoric.] + +Theodoric, it must always be remembered, had entered Italy not +ostensibly as an invader but as a deliverer. He came in pursuance of a +compact with the legitimate Emperor of the New Rome, to deliver the +Elder Rome and the land of Italy from the dominion of 'the upstart +King of Rugians and Turcilingians[28],' Odovacar. The compact, it is +true, was loose and indefinite, and contained within itself the germs +of that misunderstanding which, forty-seven years later, was developed +into a terrible war. Still, for the present, Theodoric, King of the +Ostrogoths, was also in some undefined way legitimate representative +of the Old Roman Empire within the borders of Italy. This double +aspect of his rule was illustrated by that which (rather than the +doubtful Rex Italiae) seems to have been his favourite title, +'Gothorum Romanorumque Rex.' + +[Footnote 28: Jordanes, De Rebus Geticis, lvii.] + +[Sidenote: Theodoric's love of _Civilitas_.] + +The great need of Italy was peace. After a century of wars and rumours +of wars; after Alaric, Attila, and Gaiseric had wasted her fields or +sacked her capital; after she had been exhausting her strength in +hopeless efforts to preserve the dominion of Gaul, Spain, and Africa; +after she had groaned under the exactions of the insolent _foederati_, +Roman soldiers only in name, who followed the standards of Ricimer or +Odovacar, she needed peace and to be governed with a strong hand, in +order to recover some small part of her old material prosperity. These +two blessings, peace and a strong government, Theodoric's rule ensured +to her. The theory of his government was this, that the two nations +should dwell side by side, not fused into one, not subject either to +the other, but the Romans labouring at the arts of peace, the Goths +wielding for their defence the sword of war. Over all was to be the +strong hand of the King of Goths and Romans, repressing the violence +of the one nation, correcting the chicanery of the other, and from one +and all exacting the strict observance of that which was the object of +his daily and nightly cares, CIVILITAS. Of this civilitas--which we +may sometimes translate 'good order,' sometimes 'civilisation,' +sometimes 'the character of a law-abiding citizen,' but which no +English word or phrase fully expresses--the reader of the following +letters will hear, even to weariness. But though we may be tired of +the phrase, we ought none the less to remember that the thing was that +which Italy stood most in need of, that it was secured for her during +forty years by the labours of Theodoric and Cassiodorus, and that +happiness, such as she knew not again for many centuries, was the +result. + +[Sidenote: Foresight of Cassiodorus in aiding this policy.] + +But the theory of a warrior caste of Goths and a trading and labouring +caste of Romans was not flattering to the national vanity of a people +who, though they had lost all relish for fighting, could not forget +the great deeds of their forefathers. This was no doubt the weak point +of the new State-system, though one cannot say that it is a weakness +which need have been fatal if time enough had been given for the +working out of the great experiment, and for Roman and Goth to become +in Italy, as they did become in Spain, one people. The grounds upon +which the praise of far-seeing statesmanship may be claimed for +Cassiodorus are, that notwithstanding the bitter taste which it must +have had in his mouth, as in the mouth of every educated Roman, he +perceived that here was the best medicine for the ills of Italy. All +attempts to conjure with the great name of the Roman Empire could only +end in subjection to the really alien rule of Byzantium. All attempts +to rouse the religious passions of the Catholic against the heretical +intruders were likely to benefit the Catholic but savage Frank. The +cruel sufferings of the Italians at the hands of the Heruli of +Belisarius and from the ravages of the Alamannic Brethren are +sufficient justification of the soundness of Cassiodorus' view that +Theodoric's State-system was the one point of hope for Italy. + +[Sidenote: His religious tolerance.] + +Allusion has been made in the last paragraph to the religious +differences which divided the Goths from the Italians. It is well +known that Theodoric was an Arian, but an Arian of the most tolerant +type, quite unlike the bitter persecutors who reigned at Toulouse and +at Carthage. During the last few years of his reign, indeed, when his +mind was perhaps in some degree failing, he was tempted by the +persecuting policy of the Emperor Justin into retaliatory measures of +persecution towards his Catholic subjects, but as a rule his policy +was eminently fair and even-handed towards the professors of the two +hostile creeds, and even towards the generally proscribed nation of +the Jews. So conspicuous to all the world was his desire to hold the +balance perfectly even between the two communions, that it was said of +him that he beheaded an orthodox deacon who was singularly dear to +him, because he had professed the Arian faith in order to win his +favour. But this story, though told by a nearly contemporary +writer[29], is, it may be hoped, mere Saga. + +[Footnote 29: Theodorus Lector (circa 550), Eccl. Hist. ii. 18. Both +he and some later writers who borrow from him call the King [Greek: +Theoderichos ho Aphros]; why, it is impossible to say.] + +[Sidenote: This did not proceed from indifference.] + +The point which we may note is, that this policy of toleration or +rather of absolute fairness between warring creeds, though not +initiated by Cassiodorus, seems to have thoroughly commended itself to +his reason and conscience. It is from his pen that we get those golden +words which may well atone for many platitudes and some ill-judged +display of learning: _Religionem imperare non possumus, quia nemo +cogitur ut credat invitus_[30]. And this tolerant temper of mind is +the more to be commended, because it did not proceed from any +indifference on his part to the subjects of religious controversy. +Cassiodorus was evidently a devout and loyal Catholic. Much the larger +part of his writings is of a theological character, and the +thirty-five years of his life which he passed in a monastery were +evidently + + 'Bound each to each in natural piety' + +with the earlier years passed at Court and in the Council-chamber. + +[Footnote 30: Var. ii. 27.] + +[Sidenote: Date of the commencement of the Variae.] + +We cannot trace as we should like to do the precise limits of time by +which the official career of Cassiodorus was bounded. The 'Various +Letters' are evidently not arranged in strict chronological order, and +to but few of them is it possible to affix an exact date. There are +two or three, however, which require especial notice, because some +authors have assigned them to a date previous to that at which, as I +believe, the author entered the service of the Emperor. + +[Sidenote: Letter to Anastasius.] + +The first letter of the whole series is addressed to the Emperor +Anastasius. It has been sometimes connected with the embassy of +Faustus in 493, or with that of Festus in 497, to the Court of +Constantinople, the latter of which embassies resulted in the +transmission to Theodoric of 'the ornaments of the palace' (that is +probably the regal insignia) which Odovacar had surrendered to Zeno. +But the language of the letter in question, which speaks of 'causas +iracundiae,' does not harmonise well with either of these dates, since +there was then, as far as we know, no quarrel between Ravenna and +Constantinople. On the other hand, it would fit perfectly with the +state of feeling between the two Courts in 505, after Sabinian the +general of Anastasius had been defeated by the troops of Theodoric +under Pitzias at the battle of Horrea Margi; or in 508, when the +Byzantine ships had made a raid on Apulia and plundered Tarentum. To +one of these dates it should probably be referred, its place at the +beginning of the collection being due to the exalted rank of the +receiver of the letter, not to considerations of chronology. + +[Sidenote: Letters to Clovis.] + +The fortieth and forty-first letters of the Second Book relate to the +sending of a harper to Clovis, or, as Cassiodorus calls him, Luduin, +King of the Franks. In the earlier letter Boethius is directed to +procure such a harper (citharoedus), and to see that he is a +first-rate performer. In the later, Theodoric congratulates his royal +brother-in-law on his victory over the Alamanni, adjures him not to +pursue the panic-stricken fugitives who have taken refuge within the +Ostrogothic territory, and sends ambassadors to introduce the harper +whom Boethius has provided. It used to be thought that these letters +must be referred to 496, the year of the celebrated victory of Clovis +over the Alamanni, commonly, but incorrectly, called the battle of +Tulbiacum. But this was a most improbable theory, for it was difficult +to understand how a boy of sixteen (and that was the age of Boethius +in 496) should have attained such eminence as a musical connoisseur as +to be entrusted with the task of selecting the citharoedus. And in a +very recent monograph[31] Herr von Schubert has shown, I think +convincingly, that the last victory of Clovis over the Alamanni, and +their migration to Raetia within the borders of Theodoric's territory, +occurred not in 496 but a few years later, probably about 503 or 504. +It is true that Gregory of Tours (to whom the earlier battle is +all-important, as being the event which brought about the conversion +of Clovis) says nothing about this later campaign; but to those who +know the fragmentary and incomplete character of this part of his +history, such an omission will not appear an important argument. + +[Footnote 31: Die Uterwerfung der Alamannen: Strassburg, 1884.] + +[Sidenote: Letters to Gaulish princes.] + +The letters written in Theodoric's name to Clovis, to Alaric II, to +Gundobad of Burgundy, and to other princes, in order to prevent the +outbreak of a war between the Visigoths and the Franks, have been by +some authors[32] assigned to a date some years before the war actually +broke out; but though this cannot, perhaps, be disproved, it seems to +me much more probable that they were written in the early part of 507 +on the eve of the war between Clovis and Alaric, which they were +powerless to avert. + +[Footnote 32: Especially Binding, Geschichte des +Burgundisch-Romanischen Koenigreichs, p. 181.] + +[Sidenote: Duration of Cassiodorus' office.] + +More difficult than the question of the beginning of the Quaestorship +of Cassiodorus is that of its duration and its close. It was an office +which was in its nature an annual one. At the commencement of each +fresh year 'of the Indiction,' that is on the first of September of +the calendar year, a Quaestor was appointed; but there does not seem +to have been anything to prevent the previous holder of the office +from being re-appointed. In the case of Cassiodorus, the Quaestor +after Theodoric's own heart, his intimate friend and counsellor, this +may have been done for several years running, or he may have +apparently retired from office for a year and then resumed it. It is +clear, that whether in or out of office he had always, as the King's +friend, a large share in the direction of State affairs. He himself +says, in a letter supposed to be addressed to himself after the death +of Theodoric[33]: 'Non enim proprios fines sub te _ulla dignitas_ +custodivit;' and that this was the fact we cannot doubt. Whatever his +nominal dignity might be, or if for the moment he possessed no +ostensible office at all, he was still virtually what we should call +the Prime Minister of the Ostrogothic King[34]. + +[Footnote 33: ix. 24.] + +[Footnote 34: Thorbecke has pointed out (pp. 40-41) that we possess +letters written by Cassiodorus to four Quaestors before the year 510, +and that therefore the fact of others holding the nominal office of +Quaestor did not circumscribe his activity as Secretary to Theodoric.] + +[Sidenote: Consulship of Cassiodorus, 514.] + +In the year 514 he received an honour which, notwithstanding that it +was utterly divorced from all real authority, was still one of the +highest objects of the ambition of every Roman noble: he was hailed as +Consul Ordinarius, and gave his name to the year. For some reason +which is not stated, possibly because the City of Constantinople was +in that year menaced by the insurrection of Vitalian, no colleague in +the East was nominated to share his dignity; and the entry in the +Consular Calendars is therefore 'Senatore solo Consule.' + +In his own Chronicle, Cassiodorus adds the words,'Me etiam Consule in +vestrorum laude temporum, adunato clero vel [= et] populo, Romanae +Ecclesiae rediit optata concordia.' This sentence no doubt relates to +the dissensions which had agitated the Roman Church ever since the +contested Papal election of Symmachus and Laurentius in the year 498. +Victory had been assured to Symmachus by the Synod of 501, but +evidently the feelings of hatred then aroused had still smouldered on, +especially perhaps among the Senators and high nobles of Rome, who had +for the most part adopted the candidature of Laurentius. Now, on the +death of Symmachus (July 18, 514) the last embers of the controversy +were extinguished, and the genial influence of Cassiodorus, Senator by +name and Consul by office, was successfully exerted to induce nobles, +clergy, and people to unite in electing a new Pope. After eight days +Hormisdas the Campanian sat in the Chair of St. Peter, an undoubted +Pontiff. + +[Sidenote: Deference to the Roman Senate.] + +Not only in maintaining the dignity of the Consulship, but also in +treating the Roman Senate with every outward show of deference and +respect, did the Ostrogothic King follow and even improve upon the +example of the Roman Emperors. The student of the following letters +will observe the tone of deep respect which is almost always adopted +towards the Senate; how every nomination of importance to an official +post is communicated to them, almost as if their suffrages were +solicited for the new candidate; what a show is made of consulting +them in reference to peace and war; and what a reality there seems to +be in the appeals made to their loyalty to the new King after the +death of Theodoric. In all this, as in the whole relation of the +Empire to the Senate during the five centuries of their joint +existence, it is difficult to say where well-acted courtesy ended, and +where the desire to secure such legal power as yet remained to a +venerable assembly began. Perhaps when we remember that for many +glorious centuries the Senate had been the real ruler of the Roman +State, we may assert that the attitude and the language of the +successors of Augustus towards the Conscript Fathers were similar to +those used by a modern House of Commons towards the Crown, only that +in the one case the individual supplanted the assembly, in the other +the assembly supplanted the individual. But whatever the exact +relations between King and Senate may have been, and though +occasionally the former found it necessary to rebuke the latter pretty +sharply for conduct unbecoming their high position, there can be no +doubt that the general intention of Theodoric was to soothe the +wounded pride and flatter the vanity of the Roman Senators by every +means in his power: and for this purpose no one could be so well +fitted as Cassiodorus, Senator by name and by office, descendant of +many generations of Roman nobles, and master of such exuberant +rhetoric that it was difficult then, as it is often impossible now, to +extract any definite meaning from his sonorous periods. + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus Patrician.] + +It was possibly upon his laying down the Consulship, that Cassiodorus +received the dignity of Patrician--a dignity only, for in itself it +seems to have conferred neither wealth nor power. Yet a title which +had been borne by Ricimer, Odovacar, and Theodoric himself might well +excite the ambition of Theodoric's subject. If our conjecture be +correct that it was conferred upon Cassiodorus in the year 515, he +received it at an earlier age than his father, to whom only about ten +or eleven years before he had written the letter announcing his +elevation to this high dignity. + +[Sidenote: The Chronicon.] + +Five years after his Consulate, Cassiodorus undertook a little piece +of literary labour which he does not appear to have held in high +account himself (since he does not include it in the list of his +works), and which has certainly added but little to his fame. This was +his 'Chronicon,' containing an abstract of the history of the world +from the deluge down to A.D. 519, the year of the Consulship of the +Emperor Justin, and of Theodoric's son-in-law Eutharic. This +Chronicle is for the most part founded upon, or rather copied from, +the well-known works of Eusebius and Prosper, the copying being +unfortunately not correctly done. More than this, Cassiodorus has +attempted with little judgment to combine the mode of reckoning by +Consular years and by years of Emperors. As he is generally two or +three years out in his reckoning of the former, this proceeding has +the curious result of persistently throwing some Consulships of the +reigning Emperor into the reign of his predecessor.[35] Thus Probus is +Consul for two years under Aurelian, and for one year under Tacitus; +both the two Consulships of Carus and the first of Diocletian are +under Probus, while Diocletian's second Consulship is under Carinus +and Numerianus; and so forth. It is wonderful that so intelligent a +person as Cassiodorus did not see that combinations of this kind were +false upon the face of them. + +[Footnote 35: It need hardly be explained that, as a matter of +compliment to the reigning Emperor, the first Consulship that fell +vacant after his accession to the throne was (I believe invariably) +filled by him, and that though he might sometimes have held the office +of Consul before his assumption of the diadem, this was not often the +case. Certainly, in the instances given above, Probus, Carus, and +Diocletian held no Consulships till after they had been saluted as +Emperors.] + +When the Chronicle gets nearer to the compiler's own times it becomes +slightly more interesting, but also slightly less fair. Throughout the +fourth century a few little remarks are interspersed in the dry list +of names and dates, the general tendency of which is to praise up the +Gothic nation or to extenuate their faults and reverses. The battle of +Pollentia (402[36]) is unhesitatingly claimed as a Gothic victory; the +clemency of Alaric at the capture of Rome (410) is magnified; the +valour of the Goths is made the cause of the defeat of Attila in the +Catalaunian plains (451); the name of Gothic Eutharic is put before +that of Byzantine Justin in the consular list; and so forth. Upon the +whole, as has been already said, the work cannot be considered as +adding to the reputation of its author; nor can it be defended from +the terrible attack which has been made upon it by that scholar of our +own day whose opinion upon such a subject stands the highest, Theodor +Mommsen[37]. Only, when he makes this unfortunate Chronicle reflect +suspicion on the other works of Cassiodorus, and especially on the +Gothic History[38], the German scholar seems to me to chastise the +busy Minister more harshly than he deserves. + +[Footnote 36: Clinton's date for this battle, 403, differs from that +assigned by Cassiodorus, and is, in my judgment, erroneous.] + +[Footnote 37: Abhandlungen der philologisch-historischen Klasse der +Koeniglich Saechsischen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften, iii. 547-696.] + +[Footnote 38: 'Dass die ganze Procedur von der uebelsten Art ist und +den viel gefeierten gothischen Historiker in jeder weise +compromittirt, bedarf keiner Ausaneindersetzung' (l.c. 564).] + +[Sidenote: The Gothic History.] + +I have just alluded to the Gothic History of Cassiodorus. It was +apparently shortly after the composition of his Chronicle[39] that +this, in some respects his most important work, was compiled and +arranged according to his accustomed habit in twelve books. His own +estimate--and it is not a low one--of the value of this performance is +expressed in a letter which he makes his young Sovereign Athalaric +address to the Senate on his promotion to the Praefecture[40]: 'He +extended his labours even to our remote ancestry, learning by his +reading that which scarcely the hoar memories of our forefathers +retained. He drew forth from their hiding-place the Kings of the +Goths, hidden by long forgetfulness. He restored the Amals to their +proper place with the lustre of his own[41] lineage (?), evidently +proving that up to the seventeenth generation we have had kings for +our ancestors. He made the origin of the Goths a part of Roman +history, collecting as it were into one wreath all the flowery growth +which had before been scattered through the plains of many books. +Consider therefore what love he showed to you [the Senate] in praising +us, he who showed that the nation of your Sovereign had been from +antiquity a marvellous people; so that ye, who from the days of your +forefathers have ever been deemed noble, are yet ruled over by the +ancient progeny of Kings[42].' + +[Footnote 39: It could not have been written, at any rate in its +present shape, before 516, because Athalaric's birth is mentioned in +it. I prefer Jordanes' date for this event, 516 or 517, to that given +by Procopius, 518. On the other hand, Usener proves (p. 74), from the +reference to it in the Anecdoton Holderi, that it could not have been +written after 521.] + +[Footnote 40: Var. ix. 25.] + +[Footnote 41: 'Iste Amalos cum generis _sui_ claritate restituit.' +Perhaps it is better to take 'sui' as equivalent to 'illorum,' and +translate 'their lineage.'] + +[Footnote 42: 'Ut sicut fuistis a majoribus vestris semper nobiles +aestimati, ita vobis rerum antiqua progenies imperaret.' For 'rerum' +we must surely read 'regum.'] + +[Sidenote: Its purpose.] + +In reading this estimate by Cassiodorus of his own performance, we can +see at once that it lacked that first of all conditions precedent for +the attainment of absolute historic truth, complete impartiality[43]. +Like Hume and like Macaulay Cassiodorus wrote his history with a +purpose. We may describe that purpose as two-fold: + +[Footnote 43: My meaning would be better expressed by the useful +German word 'voraussetzungslosigkeit,' freedom from a foregone +conclusion.] + +(1) To vindicate the claim of the Goths to rank among the historic +nations of antiquity by bringing them into some sort of connection +with Greece and Rome ('Originem Gothicam historiam fecit esse +Romanam'); and (2) among the Goths, to exalt as highly as possible the +family of the Amals, that family from which Theodoric had sprung, and +to string as many regal names as possible upon the Amal chain +('Evidenter ostendens in decimam septimam progeniem stirpem nos habere +regalem'). + +I have said that the possession of a purpose like this is unfavourable +to the attainment of absolute historic truth; but the aim which +Cassiodorus proposed to himself was a lofty one, being in fact the +reconciliation of the past and the future of the world by showing to +the outworn Latin race that the new blood which was being poured into +it by the northern nations came, like its own, from a noble ancestry: +and, for us, the labour to which it stimulated him has been full of +profit, since to it we owe something like one half of our knowledge of +the Teutonic ancestors of Modern Europe. + +[Sidenote: Confusion between Goths and Getae.] + +The much-desired object of 'making the origin of Gothic history Roman' +was effected chiefly by attributing to the Goths all that Cassiodorus +found written in classic authors concerning the Getae or the +Scythians. The confusion between Goths and Getae, though modern +ethnologists are nearly unanimous in pronouncing it to be a confusion +between two utterly different nations, is not one for which +Cassiodorus is responsible, since it had been made at least a hundred +years before his time. When the Emperor Claudius II won his great +victories over the Goths in the middle of the Third Century, he was +hailed rightly enough by the surname of _Gothicus_; but when at the +beginning of the Fifth Century the feeble Emperors Arcadius and +Honorius wished to celebrate a victory which, as they vainly hoped, +had effectually broken the power of the Goths, the words which they +inscribed upon the Arch of Triumph were 'Quod _Getarum_ nationem in +omne aevum docuere extingui.' In the poems of Claudian, and generally +in all the contemporary literature of the time, the regular word for +the countrymen of Alaric is Getae. + +[Sidenote: The term Scythian.] + +The Greek historians, on the other hand, freely applied the general +term Scythian--as they had done at any time since the Scythian +campaign of Darius Hystaspis--to any barbarian nation living beyond +the Danube and the Cimmerian Bosporus. With these two clues, or +imaginary clues, in his hand, Cassiodorus could traverse a +considerable part of the border-land of classical antiquity. The +battles between the Scythians and the Egyptians, the story of the +Amazons, Telephus son of Hercules and nephew of Priam, the defeat of +Cyrus by Tomyris, and the unsuccessful expedition of Darius--all were +connected with Gothic history by means of that easily stretched word, +Scythia. Then comes Sitalces, King of Thrace, who makes war on +Perdiccas of Macedon; and then, 'in the time of Sylla,' a certain wise +philosopher-king of Dacia, Diceneus by name, in whose character and +history Cassiodorus perhaps outlined his own ideal of wisdom swaying +brute force. With these and similar stories culled from classical +authors Cassiodorus appears to have filled up the interval--which was +to him of absolutely uncertain duration--between the Gothic migration +from the Baltic to the Euxine and their appearance as conquerors and +ravagers in the eastern half of the Roman Empire in the middle of the +third century of the Christian era. Now, soothing as it may have been +to the pride of a Roman subject of Theodoric to be informed that his +master's ancestors had fought at the war of Troy and humbled the pride +of Perdiccas, to a scientific historian these Scytho-Getic histories +culled from Herodotus and Trogus are of little or no value, and his +first step in the process of enquiry is to eliminate them from +'Gothica historia,' thus making it, as far as he can, _not_ 'Romana.' +The question then arises whether there was another truly Gothic +element in the history of Cassiodorus, and if so, what value can be +attached to it. Thus enquiring we soon find, both before and after +this intrusive Scytho-Getic element, matter of quite a different kind, +which has often much of the ring of the true Teutonic _Saga_. It is +reasonable to believe that here Cassiodorus, whose mission it was to +reconcile Roman and Goth, and who could not have achieved this end by +altering the history of the less civilised people out of all +possibility of recognition by its own chieftains and warriors, has +really interwoven in his work some part of the songs and Sagas which +were still current among the older men who had shared the wanderings +of Theodoric. This legendary portion, which Cassiodorus himself +perhaps half despised, as being gathered not from books but from the +lips of rude minstrels, is in fact the only part of his work which has +any scientific value. + +[Sidenote: The Amal pedigree.] + +In his glorification of the Amal line, Cassiodorus follows more +closely these genuine national traditions than in his history of the +Gothic people. References to Herodotus and Trogus would have been here +obviously out of place, and he accordingly puts before us a pedigree +fashioned on the same model as those which we find in the Saxon +Chronicle, and therefore probably genuine. By genuine of course is +meant a pedigree which was really current and accepted among the +people over whom Theodoric ruled. How many of the links which form it +represent real historical personages is a matter about which we may +almost be said neither to know nor care. We see that it begins in the +approved fashion with 'Non puri homines sed semidei id est Anses[44],' +and that the first of these half-divine ancestors is named _Gaut_, +evidently the eponymous hero of the Gothic people. Some of the later +links--Amal, Ostrogotha, Athal--have the same appearance of names +coined to embody facts of the national consciousness. At the end of +the genealogy appear the undoubtedly historical names of the immediate +ancestors of Theodoric. It is noteworthy that several, in fact the +majority of the names of Kings who figure in early Gothic history, are +not included in this genealogy. While this fact permits us to doubt +whether Cassiodorus has not exaggerated the pre-eminence of the Amal +race in early days, it must be admitted to be also an evidence of the +good faith with which he preserved the national tradition on these +points. Had he been merely inventing, it would have been easy to +include every name of a distinguished Gothic King among the +progenitors of his Sovereign. + +[Footnote 44: Jordanes, De Reb. Get. xiii.] + +[Sidenote: Abstract by Jordanes.] + +Such then was the general purpose of the Gothic History of +Cassiodorus. The book itself has perished--a tantalising loss when we +consider how many treatises from the same pen have been preserved to +us which we could well have spared. But we can speak, as will be seen +from the preceding remarks, with considerable confidence as to its +plan and purpose, because we possess in the well-known treatise of +Jordanes 'On the Origin of the Goths[45]' an abbreviated copy, +executed it is true by a very inferior hand, but still manifestly +preserving some of the features of the original. It will not be +necessary here to go into the difficult question as to the personality +of this writer, which has been debated at considerable length and with +much ingenuity by several German authors[46]. It is enough to say that +Jordanes, who was, according to his own statement, 'agrammatus,' a man +of Gothic descent, a notary, and then a monk[47], on the alleged +request of his friend Castalius, 'compressed the twelve books of +Senator, _de origine actibusque Getarum_, bringing down the history +from olden times to our own days by kings and generations, into one +little pamphlet.' Still, according to his statement, which there can +be little doubt is here thoroughly false, he had the loan of the +Gothic History for only three days from the steward of Cassiodorus, +and wrote chiefly or entirely from his recollection of this hasty +perusal[48]. He says that he added some suitable passages from the +Greek and Latin historians, but his own range of historical reading +was evidently so narrow that we may fairly suspect these additions to +have been of the slenderest possible dimensions. Upon the whole, there +can be little doubt that it is a safe rule to attribute everything +that is good or passable in this little treatise to Cassiodorus, and +everything that is very bad, childish, and absurd in it to Jordanes. + +[Footnote 45: 'De Rebus Geticis,' or 'De Gothorum Origine,' is the +name by which this little treatise is usually known. It seems to be +doubtful, however, what title, if any, Jordanes himself prefixed to +it. Mommsen calls it simply 'Getica.'] + +[Footnote 46: Especially Schirren, 'De Ratione quae inter Jordanem et +Cassiodorum intercedat' (Dorpat, 1858); Sybel, 'De Fontibus Libri +Jordanis' (Berlin, 1838); and Koepke, 'Die Anfaenge des Koenigthums bei +den Gothen' (Berlin, 1859).] + +[Footnote 47: _Possibly_ in the end Bishop of Crotona, or a Defensor +of the Roman Church, since we find a Jordanes in each of these +positions; but this is mere guesswork, and to me neither theory seems +probable.] + +[Footnote 48: 'Sed ut non mentiar, ad triduanam lectionem +dispensatoris ejus beneficio libros ipsos antehac relegi.' +Notwithstanding the 'ut non mentiar,' most of those who have enquired +into the subject have come to the opinion which is bluntly expressed +by Usener (p. 73), 'Die dreitaegige Frist die Jordanes zur Benutzung +der 12 Buecher gehabt haben will, _ist natuerlich Schwindel_.' Even by +an expert precis-writer a loan of three months would be much more +probably needed for the purpose indicated by Jordanes than one of +three days.] + +[Sidenote: Temporary retirement from official life (?).] + +The literary labours of Cassiodorus, of which the Gothic History was +one of the fruits, were probably continued for two or three years +after its completion[49]. At least there is reason to believe that he +was not actively engaged in the service of the State during those +terrible years (524 and 525) in which the failing intellect of +Theodoric, goaded almost to madness by Justin's persecution of his +Arian co-religionists, condescended to ignoble measures of +retaliation, which brought him into collision with Senate and Pope, +and in the end tarnished his fame by the judicial murder of Boethius +and Symmachus. It was fortunate indeed for Cassiodorus if he was +during this time, perhaps because of his unwillingness to help the +King to his own hurt, enjoying an interval of literary retirement at +Squillace. His honour must have suffered if he had abetted the +intolerant policy of Theodoric; his life might have been forfeit if he +had openly opposed it. + +[Footnote 49: This was probably 521 at latest.] + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus as Master of the Offices, 526.] + +Whatever may have been the cause of the temporary obscuration of +Cassiodorus, he was soon again shining in all the splendour of +official dignity; for when Theodoric died, his old and trusted +minister was holding--probably not for the first time in his official +career[50]--the great place of Master of the Offices. + +[Footnote 50: The language of Cassiodorus in Var. ix. 24 implies that +he had held this office for a considerable time before the death of +Theodoric. Usener thinks that he was made Magister Officiorum for the +first time about the year 518.] + +The _Magister Officiorum_, whose relation to the other members of the +Cabinet of the Sovereign was somewhat indefinite, and who was in fact +constantly trying to enlarge the circle of his authority at their +expense, was at the head of the Civil Service of the Roman Empire, and +afterwards occupied a similar position in the Ostrogothic State. It +was said of him by the Byzantine orator Priscus (himself a man who had +been engaged in important embassies), 'Of all the counsels of the +Emperor the Magister is a partaker, inasmuch as the messengers and +interpreters and the soldiers employed on guard at the palace are +ranged under him.' Quite in harmony with this general statement are +the more precise indications of the 'Notitia.' There, 'under the +disposition of the illustrious Magister Officiorum,' we find five +_Scholae_, which seem to have been composed of household troops[51]. +Then comes the great Schola of the _Agentes in rebus_ and their +deputies--a mighty army of 'king's messengers,' who swarmed through +all the Provinces of the Empire, executing the orders of the +Sovereign, and earning gold and hatred from the helpless Provincials +among whom their errands lay. In addition to these the four great +stationary bureaux--the Scrinium Memoriae, Scrinium Dispositionum, +Scrinium Epistolarum, and Scrinium Libellorum--the offices whose duty +it was to conduct the correspondence of the Sovereign with foreign +powers, and to answer the petitions of his own subjects, all owned the +Master of the Offices as their head. Moreover, the great arsenals (of +which there were six in Italy at Concordia, Verona, Mantua, Cremona, +Ticinum, and Lucca) received their orders from the same official. An +anomalous and too widely dispersed range of functions this seems +according to our ideas, including something of the Secretaryship for +Foreign Affairs, something of the Home Secretaryship, and something of +the War Office and the Horse Guards. Yet, as if this were not enough, +there was also transferred to him from the office of the Praetorian +Praefect the superintendence of the Cursus Publicus, that excellent +institution by which facilities for intercourse were provided between +the capital and the most distant Provinces, relays of post-horses +being kept at every town, available for use by those who bore properly +signed 'letters of evection.' Thus to the multifarious duties of the +Master of the Offices was added in effect the duty of +Postmaster-General. It was found however in practice to be an +inconvenient arrangement for the Master of the Offices to have the +control of the services of the 'public horses,' while the Praetorian +Praefect remained responsible for the supply of their food; and the +charge of the _Cursus Publicus_ was accordingly retransferred--at any +rate in the Eastern Empire--to the office of the Praefect, though the +letters of evection still required the counter-signature of the +Master[52]. + +[Footnote 51: They are 'Scutariorum prima, secunda et tertia, +armaturarum seniorum et gentilium seniorum' (Notitia Occidentis, cap. +ix.).] + +[Footnote 52: This is the account of the matter given by Lydus (De +Magistratibus ii. 10); but as the Notitia (Or. xi.) puts the 'Curiosus +Cursus Publici Praesentalis' under the disposition of the Magister +Officiorum, the retransfer had probably not then taken place. It would +seem also from the Formula of Cassiodorus (Var. vi. 6) that in his +time the Magister Officiorum still had the charge of the Cursus +Publicus.] + +[Sidenote: Death of Theodoric, Aug. 30, 526.] + +Such was the position of Cassiodorus when, on the 30th of August, 526, +by the death of Theodoric, he lost the master whom he had served so +long and so faithfully. The difficulties which beset the new reign are +pretty clearly indicated in the letters which Cassiodorus published in +the name of the young King Athalaric, Theodoric's grandson, and which +are to be found in the Eighth Book of the 'Variae.' Athalaric himself +being only a boy of eight or ten years of age, supreme power was +vested in his mother Amalasuentha, with what title we are unable to +say, but apparently not with that of Queen. This Princess, a woman of +great and varied accomplishments, perhaps once a pupil, certainly a +friend, of Cassiodorus, ruled entirely in accordance with the maxims +of his statesmanship, and endeavoured with female impulsiveness to +carry into effect his darling scheme of Romanising the Goths. During +the whole of her regency we may doubtless consider Cassiodorus as +virtually her Prime Minister, and the eight years which it occupied +were without doubt that portion of his life in which he exercised the +most direct and unquestioned influence on State affairs. + +[Sidenote: Services of Cassiodorus to the Regent Amalasuentha.] + +His services at the commencement of the new reign will be best +described in his own words: 'Nostris quoque principiis[53]' (the +letter is written in Athalaric's name) 'quanto se labore concessit, +cum novitas regni multa posceret ordinari? Erat solus ad universa +sufficiens. Ipsum dictatio publica, ipsum consilia nostra poscebant; +et labore ejus actum est ne laboraret imperium. _Reperimus eum quidem +Magistrum sed implevit nobis Quaestoris officium_: et mercedes +justissima devotione persolvens, cautelam, quam ab auctore nostro +didicerat, libenter haeredis utilitatibus exhibebat[54].' + +[Footnote 53: Variarum ix. 25.] + +[Footnote 54: The meaning apparently is: 'The experience which he had +gained in Theodoric's service was employed for the advantage of his +grandson.'] + +[Sidenote: Fears of invasion.] + +Cassiodorus then goes on to describe how he laboured for his young +Sovereign with the sword as well as with the pen. Some hostile +invasion was dreaded, perhaps from the Franks, or, more probably, from +the Vandals, whose relations with the Ostrogoths at that time were +strained, owing to the murder of Theodoric's sister Amalafrida by +Hilderic the Vandal King. Cassiodorus provided ships and equipped +soldiers at his own expense, probably for the defence of his beloved +Province of Bruttii. The alarm of war passed away, but difficulties +appear to have arisen owing to the sudden cancellation of the +contracts which had been entered into when hostilities seemed +imminent; and to these difficulties Cassiodorus tells us that he +brought his trained experience as an administrator and a judge, +resolving them so as to give satisfaction to all who were concerned. + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect, 533.] + +Seven years of Amalasuentha's regency thus passed, and now at length, +at fifty-three years of age, Cassiodorus was promoted (Sept. 1, 533) +to the most distinguished place which a subject could occupy. He +received from Amalasuentha the office of Praetorian Praefect. As +thirty-three years had elapsed since his father was invested with the +same dignity, we may fairly conjecture that father and son both +climbed this eminence at the same period of their lives; yet, +considering the extraordinary credit which the younger Cassiodorus +enjoyed at Court, we might have expected that he would have been +clothed with the Praefecture before he attained the fifty-third year +of his age. And, in fact, he hints in the letter composed by him, in +which he informs himself of his own elevation[55], that that elevation +had been somewhat too long delayed, though the reason which he alleges +for the delay (namely, that the people might greet the new Praefect +the more heartily[56]) is upon the face of it not the true cause. + +[Footnote 55: Var. ix. 24.] + +[Footnote 56: 'Diutius quidem differendo pro te cunctorum vota +lassavimus, ut benevolentiam in te probaremus generalitatis, et +cunctis desiderabilior advenires.'] + +[Sidenote: Office of the Praetorian Praefect.] + +The majesty of the Praetorian Praefect's office is fully dwelt upon +and its functions described in a letter in the following +collection[57], to which the reader is referred. Originally only the +chief officer of those Praetorian troops in Rome by whom the Emperor +was guarded, until, as was so often the case, he was in some fit of +petulance by the same pampered sentinels dethroned, the Praefectus +Praetorio had gradually become more and more of a judge, less and less +of a soldier. In the great changes wrought by Constantine the +Praetorian guards disappeared--somewhat in the same fashion after +which the Janissaries were removed by Sultan Mahmoud. The Praetorian +Praefect's dignity, however, survived, and though he lost every shred +of military command he became or continued to be the first civil +servant of the Empire. Cassiodorus is fond of comparing him to Joseph +at the Court of Pharaoh, nor is the comparison an inapt one. In the +Constantinople of our own day the Grand Vizier holds a position not +altogether unlike that which the Praefect held in the Court of +Arcadius and Theodosius. 'The office of this Praefect,' said one who +had spent his life as one of his subordinates[58],' is like the Ocean, +encircling all other offices and ministering to all their needs. The +Consulate is indeed higher in rank than the Praefecture, but less in +power. The Praefect wears a _mandye_, or woollen cloak, dyed with the +purple of Cos, and differing from the Emperor's only in the fact that +it reaches not to the feet but to the knees. Girt with his sword he +takes his seat as President of the Senate. When that body has +assembled, the chiefs of the army fall prostrate before the Praefect, +who raises them and kisses each in turn, in order to express his +desire to be on good terms with the military power. Nay, even the +Emperor himself walks (or till lately used to walk) on foot from his +palace to meet the Praefect as he moves slowly towards him at the head +of the Senate. The insignia of the Praefect's office are his lofty +chariot, his golden reed-case [pen-holder], weighing one hundred +pounds, his massive silver inkstand, and silver bowl on a tripod of +the same metal to receive the petitions of suitors. Three official +yachts wait upon his orders, and convey him from the capital to the +neighbouring Provinces.' + +[Footnote 57: Var. vi. 3.] + +[Footnote 58: Joannes Lydus, De Dignitatibus ii. 7, 8, 9, 13, 14.] + +[Sidenote: The Praetorian Praefect as Judge of Appeal.] + +The personage thus highly placed had a share in the government of the +State, a share which the Master of the Offices was for ever trying to +diminish, but which, in the hands of one who like Cassiodorus was +_persona grata_ at the Court, might be made not only important but +predominant[59]. The chief employment, however, of the ordinary +Praefectus Praetorio consisted in hearing appeals from the Governors +of the Provinces. When the magical words 'Provoco ad Caesarem' had +been uttered, it was in most cases before the Praetorian Praefect that +the appeal was practically heard; and when the Praetorian Praefect had +pronounced his decision, no appeal from that was permitted, even to +the Emperor himself[60]. + +[Footnote 59: Bethmann Hollweg (pp. 75, 76) enumerates the functions +of the Praetorian Praefect thus: '(1) _Legislative._ He promulgated +the Imperial laws, and issued edicts which had almost the force of +laws. (2) _Financial._ The general tax (indictio, delegatio) ordered +by the Emperor for the year, was proclaimed by each Praefect for his +own Praefecture. Through his officials he took part in the levy of the +tax, and had a special State-chest (arca praetoria) for the proceeds. +(3) _Administrative._ The Praefect proposed the names of provincial +governors, handed to them their salaries, had a general oversight of +them, issued rescripts on the information furnished by them, and could +as their ordinary Judge inflict punishments upon them, even depose +them from their offices, and temporarily nominate substitutes to act +in their places. (4) _Judicial_, as the highest Judge of Appeal.'] + +[Footnote 60: See authorities quoted by Bethmann Hollweg, pp. 79, 80.] + +[Sidenote: Letters written during the Praefecture of Cassiodorus.] + +Cassiodorus held the post of Praetorian Praefect, amid various changes +in the fortunes of the State, from 533 to 538, or perhaps a year or +two longer. Of his activity in the domain of internal administration, +the Eleventh and Twelfth Books of the 'Variae' give a vivid and +interesting picture. Unfortunately, neither those books nor the Tenth +Book of the same collection, which contains the letters written by him +during the same time in the names of the successive Gothic Sovereigns, +give any sufficient information as to the real course of public +events. Great misfortunes, great crimes, and the movements of great +armies are covered over in these documents by a veil of unmeaning +platitudes and hypocritical compliments. In order to enable the +student to 'read between the lines,' and to pierce through the +verbiage of these letters to the facts which they were meant to hint +at or to conceal, it will be necessary briefly to describe the +political history of the period as we learn it from the narratives of +Procopius and Jordanes--narratives which may be inaccurate in a few +minor details but are doubtless correct in their main outlines. + +[Sidenote: Opposition to Romanising policy of Amalasuentha.] + +The Romanising policy of the cultivated but somewhat self-willed +Princess Amalasuentha met with considerable opposition on the part of +her Gothic subjects. Above all, they objected to the bookish education +which she was giving to her son, the young King. They declared that it +was entirely contrary to the maxims of Theodoric that a young Goth +should be trembling before the strap of a pedagogue when he ought to +be learning to look unfalteringly on spear and sword. These +representations were so vigorously made, and by speakers of such high +rank in the State, that Amalasuentha was compelled to listen to them, +to remove her son from the society of his teachers, and to allow him +to associate with companions of his own age, who, not being wisely +chosen, soon initiated him in every kind of vice and dissipation. + +[Sidenote: Amalasuentha puts three Gothic nobles to death.] + +The Princess, who had not forgiven the leaders of the Gothic party for +their presumptuously offered counsels, singled out three of the most +powerful nobles who were at the head of that party and sent them into +honourable banishment at the opposite ends of Italy. Finding, however, +that they were still holding communication with one another, she sent +to the Emperor Justinian to ask if he would give her an asylum in his +dominions if she required it, and then gave orders for the secret +assassination of the three noblemen. The _coup d'etat_ succeeded: she +had no need to flee the country; and the ship bearing the royal +treasure, which amounted to 40,000 pounds weight of gold, which she +had sent to Dyrrhachium to await her possible flight, was ordered to +return home. + +[Sidenote: Embassies between Ravenna and Constantinople.] + +Athalaric's health was now rapidly failing, owing to his licentious +excesses, and Amalasuentha, fearing that after his death her own life +might be in danger, began again secretly to negotiate with Justinian +for the entire surrender of the kingdom of Italy into his hands, on +receiving an assurance of shelter and maintenance at the Court of +Byzantium. These negotiations were masked by others of a more public +kind, in which Justinian claimed the Sicilian fortress of Lilybaeum, +which had once belonged to the Vandals; insisted on the surrender of +some Huns, deserters from the army of Africa; and demanded redress for +the sack by the Goths of the Moesian city of Gratiana. These claims +Amalasuentha met publicly with a reply as brave and uncompromising as +her most patriotic subjects could desire, but in private, as has been +already said, she was prepared, for an adequate assurance of personal +safety, to barter away all the rights and liberties of her Italian +subjects, Roman as well as Gothic, and to allow her father's +hard-earned kingdom to sink into a mere dependency of Constantinople. + +[Sidenote: Death of Athalaric, Oct. 2, 534.] + +Such was the position of affairs when on the 2nd October 534, little +more than a year after Cassiodorus had donned the purple of the +Praefect, Athalaric died, and by his death the whole attitude of the +parties to the negotiations was changed. The power to rule, and with +it the very power to make terms of any kind with the Emperor, was in +danger of slipping from the hands of Amalasuentha. The principle of +female sovereignty was barely accepted by any Teutonic tribe. +Evidently the Ostrogoths had not accepted it, or Amalasuentha would +have ruled as Queen in her own right instead of as Regent for her son. +In order to strengthen her position, and ensure her acceptance as +Sovereign by the Gothic warriors, she decided to associate with +herself, not in matrimony, for he was already married, but in regal +partnership, her cousin Theodahad, the nearest male heir of Theodoric, +and to mount the throne together with him. Previously, however, to +announcing this scheme in public, she sent for Theodahad and exacted +from him 'tremendous oaths[61]' that if he were chosen King he would +be satisfied with the mere name of royalty, leaving her as much of the +actual substance of power as she possessed at that moment. + +[Footnote 61: [Greek: horkois deinotatois].] + +[Sidenote: Amalasuentha associates Theodahad in the Sovereignty.] + +The partnership-royalty and the oath of self-abnegation were the +desperate expedients of a woman who knew herself to have mighty +enemies among her subjects, and who felt power slipping from her +grasp. With one side of her character her new partner could +sympathise; for Theodahad, though sprung from the loins of Gothic +warriors, was a man of some literary culture, who preferred poring +over the 'Republic' of Plato to heading a charge of the Gothic +cavalry. But his acquaintance with Latin and Greek literature had done +nothing to ennoble his temper or expand his heart. A cold, hard, +avaricious soul, he had been entirely bent on adding field to field +and removing his neighbour's landmark, until the vast possessions +which he had received from the generosity of Theodoric should embrace +the whole of the great Tuscan plain. It will be seen by referring to +two letters in the following collection[62] that Theodoric himself had +twice employed the pen of Cassiodorus to rebuke the rapacity of his +nephew; and at a more recent date, since the beginning of Athalaric's +illness, Amalasuentha had been compelled by the complaints of her +Tuscan subjects to issue a commission of enquiry, which had found +Theodahad guilty of the various acts of land-robbery which had been +charged against him, and had compelled him to make restitution. + +[Footnote 62: Variarum iv. 39 and v. 12.] + +[Sidenote: Amalasuentha is deposed and imprisoned by Theodahad, April +30, 535.] + +The new Queen persuaded herself, and tried to persuade her cousin, +that this ignominious sentence had in some way put the subject of it +straight with the world, and had smoothed his pathway to the throne. +She trusted to his gratitude and his tremendous oaths for her own +undisturbed position at the helm of the State, but she found before +many months of the joint reign had passed that the reed upon which she +was leaning was about to pierce her hand. Only four letters, it will +be seen, of the following collection were written by order of +Amalasuentha after the commencement of the joint reign. Soon Theodahad +felt himself strong enough to hurl from the throne the woman who had +dared to compel him to draw back the boundary of his Tuscan +_latifundium._ The relations of the three noblemen whom Amalasuentha +had put to death gathered gladly round him, eager to work out the +blood-feud; and by their help he slew many of the strongest supporters +of the Queen, and shut her up in prison in a little lonely island upon +the lake of Vulsinii. This event took place on the 30th of April, 535, +not quite seven months after the death of Athalaric[63]. + +[Footnote 63: The dates of the death of Athalaric and deposition of +Amalasuentha are given by Agnellus in his Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae +Ravennatis, p. 322 (in the edition comprised in the Monumenta +Germaniae Historica).] + +[Sidenote: Embassy of Peter.] + +[Sidenote: Death of Amalasuentha.] + +During all these later months there had been a perpetual flux and +reflux of diplomatic communications between Ravenna and +Constantinople. The different stages of the negotiations are marked, +apparently with clearness, by Procopius; but it is not always easy to +harmonise them with the letters published by Cassiodorus, who either +did not write, or shrank from republishing, some of the most important +letters to the Emperor. This remark applies to the missive which was +probably taken by the Senators Liberius and Opilio, who were now sent +by Theodahad to Justinian to apologise for the imprisonment of +Amalasuentha, and to promise that she should receive no injury. +Meanwhile Peter, a rhetorician and an ex-Consul, was travelling from +Constantinople with a commission the character of which was being +constantly changed by the rapid current of events. He started with +instructions to complete the transaction with Amalasuentha as to the +surrender of Italy, and to buy from Theodahad, who was still a private +individual, his possessions in Tuscany. Soon after his departure he +met the ambassadors, who told him of the death of Athalaric and the +accession of Theodahad. On the shores of the Hadriatic he heard of +Amalasuentha's captivity. He waited for further instructions from his +master, and on his arrival at Ravenna he found that all was over. The +letter which he was to have handed to the deposed Queen, assuring her +of Justinian's protection, was already obsolete. The kinsmen of the +three nobles had been permitted or encouraged by Theodahad to end the +blood-feud bloodily. They had repaired to the Lake of Vulsinii and +murdered Amalasuentha in her bath[64]. The Byzantine ambassador sought +the presence of the King, boldly denounced his wicked deed, and +declared on the part of his master a war which would be waged without +truce or treaty till Amalasuentha was avenged. Thus began the eighteen +years' war between Justinian and the Ostrogoths. + +[Footnote 64: We do not seem to have the precise date of the death of +Amalasuentha, but apparently it happened about the month of May, 535.] + +[Sidenote: Why did Cassiodorus continue in the service of Theodahad?] + +It might certainly have been expected that a statesman who had been +honoured with the intimate friendship of Theodoric and his daughter, +even if unable to avenge her death, would have refused to serve in the +Cabinet of her murderer. It is accordingly with a feeling of painful +surprise that we find Cassiodorus still holding the Secretary's pen, +and writing letter after letter (they form the majority of the +documents in the Tenth Book of the 'Variae') in the name of Theodahad +and his wife Gudelina. Dangers no doubt were thickening round his +beloved Italy. He may have thought that whoever wore the Gothic crown, +Duty forbade him to quit the Secretum at Ravenna just when war with +the Empire was becoming every day more imminent. On the other hand, +the Praetorian Praefecture, the object of a life's ambition, was now +his, but had been his only for two years. It was hard to lay aside the +purple _mandye_ while the first gloss was yet upon it; hard to have to +fall back into the ranks of the ordinary senators, and no longer to +receive the reverent salutations of the chiefs of the army when he +entered the hall of meeting. Whether the public good or the private +advantage swayed him most who shall say? There are times when +patriotism calls for the costliest sacrifice which a statesman can +make--the sacrifice, apparently, of his own honour. The man who has +made such a sacrifice must be content to be misjudged by his +fellow-men. Certainly, to us the one stain upon an otherwise pure +reputation seems to be found in the service, the apparently willing +service, which in the Tenth Book of his letters Cassiodorus renders to +Theodahad. + +[Sidenote: Vacillation of Theodahad.] + +Throughout the latter half of 535, Belisarius in Sicily and Mundus in +Dalmatia were warring for Justinian against Theodahad. The rhetorician +Peter, who had boldly rebuked the Gothic King for the murder of his +benefactress, and had on his master's behalf denounced a truceless war +against him, still lingered at his Court. Theodahad, who during part +of the summer and autumn of 535 seems to have been at Rome, not at +Ravenna, was more than half inclined to resume his old negotiations +with the Emperor, and either to purchase peace by sinking into the +condition of a tributary, or to sell his kingdom outright for a +revenue of L48,000 a year and a high place among the nobles of the +Empire. Procopius[65] gives us a vivid and detailed narrative of the +manner in which these negotiations were conducted by Theodahad, who +was perpetually wavering between arrogance and timidity; trembling at +the successes of Belisarius, elated by any victory which his generals +might win in Dalmatia; and who at length, upon receiving the tidings +of the defeat and death of Mundus, broke off the negotiations +altogether, and shut up Peter and his colleague Athanasius in prison. + +[Footnote 65: De Bello Gotthico, i. 6.] + +[Sidenote: Silence of the 'Variae' as to many of the negotiations +between Theodahad and Justinian.] + +Here again, while not doubting the truth of the narrative of +Procopius, I do not find it possible exactly to fit in the letters +written by Cassiodorus for Theodahad with the various stages of the +negotiation as described by him. Especially the striking letter of the +King to the Emperor--striking by reason of its very abjectness--which +is quoted by Procopius in the sixth chapter of his First Book, appears +to be entirely unrepresented in the collection of Cassiodorus. +Evidently all this part of the 'Variae' has been severely edited by +its author, who has expunged all that seemed to reflect too great +discredit on the Sovereign whom he had once served, and has preserved +only some letters written to Justinian and Theodora by Theodahad and +his wife, vaguely praising peace, and beseeching the Imperial pair to +restore it to Italy; letters which, as it seems to me, may be applied +with about equal fitness to any movement of the busy shuttle of +diplomacy backwards and forwards between Ravenna and Constantinople. + +[Sidenote: Theodahad deposed, Witigis elected, Aug. 536.] + +The onward march of Belisarius trampled all the combinations of +diplomatists into the dust. In the early part of July, 536, he had +succeeded in capturing the important city of Neapolis, and had begun +to threaten Rome. The Gothic warriors, disgusted at the incapacity of +their King, and probably suspecting his disloyalty to the nation, met +(August, 536) under arms upon the plain of Regeta[66], deposed +Theodahad, and elected a veteran named Witigis as his successor. +Witigis at once ordered Theodahad to be put to death, and being +himself of somewhat obscure lineage, endeavoured to strengthen his +title to the crown by marrying Matasuentha, the sister of Athalaric +and the only surviving descendant of Theodoric. + +[Footnote 66: The situation of this plain is unknown.] + +[Sidenote: Letter on the elevation of Witigis.] + +Whether Cassiodorus had any hand in this revolution--which was +pre-eminently a Gothic movement--we cannot tell; but certainly one of +the best specimens of his letters is that written in the name of the +new King[67], in which he makes Witigis thus speak, 'Universis +Gothis'--not as Theodoric had so often spoken, 'Universis Gothis et +Romanis:' + +[Footnote 67: Var. x. 31.] + +'Unde Auctori nostro Christo gratias humillima satisfactione +referentes, indicamus parentes nostros Gothos inter procinctuales +gladios, more majorum, scuto supposito, regalem nobis contulisse, +praestante Deo, dignitatem, ut honorem arma darent, cujus opinionem +bella pepererant. Non enim in cubilis angustis, sed in campis late +patentibus electum me esse noveritis: nec inter blandientium delicata +colloquia, sed tubis concrepantibus sum quaesitus, ut tali fremitu +concitatus desiderio virtutis ingenitae regem sibi Martium Geticus +populus inveniret.' + +[Sidenote: Letters written in name of Witigis.] + +We have only five letters written by Cassiodorus for Witigis (who +reigned from August, 536, to May[68], 540). One has been already +described. All the other four are concerned with negotiations for +peace with Justinian, and may probably be referred to the early part +of the new reign. + +[Footnote 68: We get this date only from Agnellus (loc. cit. p. 522).] + +[Sidenote: Share of Cassiodorus in the administration during the war.] + +It will be seen that the letters written by Cassiodorus for the +Sovereign during the five years following the death of Athalaric are +few and somewhat unsatisfactory. But, on the other hand, it was just +during these years that he wrote in his own name as Praetorian +Praefect the letters which are comprised in the Eleventh and Twelfth +Books of his collection, and which are in some respects the most +interesting of the whole series. There is a strong probability that he +was not present at the long siege of Rome (March, 537, to March, 538), +nor is it likely that he, an elderly civilian, would take much part in +any of the warlike operations that followed. Upon the whole, it seems +probable that during the greater part of this time Cassiodorus was, to +the best of his power, keeping the civil administration together by +virtue of his own authority as Praetorian Praefect, without that +constant reference to the wishes of the Sovereign which would have +been necessary under Theodoric and his daughter. Perhaps, in the +transitional state of things which then prevailed in Italy, with the +power of the Gothic sceptre broken but the sway of the Roman Caesar +not yet firmly established in its stead, men of all parties and both +nationalities were willing that as much as possible of the routine of +government should be carried on by a statesman who was Roman by birth +and culture, but who had been the trusted counsellor of Gothic Kings. + +[Sidenote: Dates of later letters.] + +I have endeavoured as far as possible to fix the dates of these later +letters. It will be seen that we have one[69] probably belonging to +the year 536, five[70] to 537, and one[71] (possibly) to 538. These +later letters refer chiefly to the terrible famine which followed in +the train of the war, and of which Cassiodorus strenuously laboured to +mitigate the severity. + +[Footnote 69: Var. xii. 20.] + +[Footnote 70: Var. xii. 22, 23, 24, 27, 28.] + +[Footnote 71: Var. xii. 25.] + +[Sidenote: End of Cassiodorus' official career.] + +It is possible that the Praefect may have continued to hold office +down to the capture of Ravenna in May, 540, which made Witigis a +prisoner, and seemed to bring the Ostrogothic monarchy to an end. Upon +the whole, however, it is rather more probable that in the year 538 +or 539 he finally retired from public life. The dates of his letters +will show that there is nothing in them which forbids us to accept +this conclusion; and the fact, if it be a fact, that in 540, when +Belisarius, with his Secretary Procopius in his train, made his +triumphal entry into Ravenna, the late Praefect was no longer there, +but in his native Province of Bruttii, a little lessens the difficulty +of that which still remains most difficult of comprehension, the +entire omission from Procopius' History of the Gothic War of all +mention of the name of Cassiodorus. + +[Sidenote: The Variae edited.] + +The closing years of the veteran statesman's tenure of office were +years of some literary activity. It was in them that he was +collecting, and to some extent probably revising, the letters which +appear in the following collection. His motives for publishing this +monument of his official life are sufficiently set forth in the two +prefaces, one prefixed to the First Book and the other to the +Eleventh. Much emphasis is laid on the entreaties of his friends, the +regular excuse, in the sixth century as in the nineteenth, for an +author or a politician doing the very thing which most pleases his own +vanity. A worthier reason probably existed in the author's natural +desire to vindicate his own consistency, by showing that the influence +which for more than thirty years he had wielded in the councils of the +Gothic Sovereigns had been uniformly exerted on the side of law and +order and just government, directed equally to the repression of +Teutonic barbarism and the punishment of Roman venality. + +[Sidenote: What alterations were made in the letters.] + +The question how far the letters which now appear in the 'Variae' +really reproduce the actual documents originally issued by Cassiodorus +is one which has been a good deal discussed by scholars, but with no +very definite result. It is, after all, a matter of conjecture; and +every student who peruses the following letters is entitled to form +his own conjecture--especially as to those marvellous digressions on +matters of Natural History, Moral Philosophy, and the like--whether +they were veritably included in the original letters that issued from +the Royal Secretum, and were carried over Italy by the Cursus +Publicus. My own conjecture is, that though they may have been a +little amplified and elaborated, substantially they were to be found +in those original documents. The age was pedantic and half-educated, +and had lost both its poetic inspiration and its faculty of humour; +and I fear that these marvellous letters were read by the officials to +whom they were addressed with a kind of stolid admiration, provoking +neither the smile of amusement nor the shrug of impatience which are +their rightful meed. + +[Sidenote: 'Illum atque Illum.'] + +The reader will observe that in many, in fact most of the letters, +which were meant to serve as credentials to ambassadors or commissions +to civil servants, no names are inserted, but we have instead only the +tantalising formula, 'Illum atque Illum,' which I have generally +translated, 'A and B.' This circumstance has also been much commented +upon, but without our arriving at any very definite result. All that +can be said is, that Cassiodorus must have formed his collection of +State-papers either from rough drafts in his own possession, or from +copies preserved in the public archives, and that, from whichsoever +source he drew, the names in that source had not been preserved: a +striking comment on the rhetorical unbusinesslike character of the +Royal and Imperial Chanceries of that day, in which words were deemed +of more importance than things, and the flowers of speech which were +showered upon the performer of some piece of public business were +preserved, while the name of the performer was forgotten. + +[Sidenote: Treatise 'De Anima.'] + +As soon as he had finished the collection of the 'Variae,' the +Praefect--again in obedience to the entreaties of his +friends--composed a short philosophic treatise on the Nature of the +Soul ('De Anima'). As he said, it seems an absurd thing to treat as a +stranger and an unknown quantity the very centre of our being; to seek +to understand the height of the air, the extent of the earth, the +causes of storms and earthquakes, and the nature of the wandering +winds, and yet to leave the faculty, by which we grasp all this +knowledge, itself uncomprehended[72]. He therefore sets himself to +enquire, in twelve chapters: + +[Footnote 72: 'Cum jam suscepti operis optato fine gauderem, meque +duodecim voluminibus jactatum quietis portus exciperet, ubi etsi non +laudatus, certe liberatus adveneram, amicorum me suave collegium in +salum rursus cogitationis expressit, postulans ut aliqua quae tam in +libris sacris, quam in saecularibus abstrusa compereram de animae +substantia, vel de ejus virtutibus aperirem, cui datum est tam +ingentium rerum secreta reserare: addens nimis ineptum esse si eam per +quam plura cognoscimus, quasi a nobis alienam ignorare patiamur, dum +ad anima sit utile nosse qua sapimus' (De Anima, Praefatio).] + +1. Why the Soul is called Anima? + +2. What is the definition of the Soul? + +3. What is its substantial quality? + +4. If it is to be believed to have any shape? + +5. What moral virtues it has which contribute to its glory and its +adornment? + +6. What are its natural virtues [or powers], given to enable it to +hold together the framework of the body? + +7. Concerning the origin of the Soul. + +8. What is its especial seat, since it appears to be in a certain +sense diffused over the whole body? + +9. Concerning the form and composition of the body itself. + +10. Sufficient signs by which we may discern what properties the souls +of sinners possess. + +11. Similar signs by which we may distinguish the souls of righteous +men, since we cannot see them with our bodily eyes. + +12. Concerning the Soul's state after death, and how it will be +affected by the general resurrection. + +The treatise ends with a prayer to Christ to preserve the body in good +health, that it may be in tune with the harmony of the soul; to give +reason the ascendancy over the flesh; and to keep the mind in happy +equipoise, neither so strong as to be puffed up with pride, nor so +languid as to fail of its proper powers. + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus retires to the cloister.] + +The line of thought indicated by the 'De Anima' led, in such a country +as Italy, at such a time as the Gothic War, to one inevitable end--the +cloister. It can have surprised none of the friends of Cassiodorus +when the veteran statesman announced his intention of spending the +remainder of his days in monastic retirement. He was now sixty years +of age[73]; his wife, if he had ever married, was probably by this +time dead; and we hear nothing of any children for whose sake he need +have remained longer in the world. The Emperor would probably have +received him gladly into his service, but Cassiodorus had now done +with politics. The dream of his life had been to build up an +independent Italian State, strong with the strength of the Goths, and +wise with the wisdom of the Romans. That dream was now scattered to +the winds. Providence had made it plain that not by this bridge was +civilisation to pass over from the Old World to the New. Cassiodorus +accepted the decision, and consecrated his old age to religious +meditation and to a work even more important than any of his political +labours (though one which must be lightly touched on here), the +preservation by the pens of monastic copyists of the Christian +Scriptures, and of the great works of classical antiquity. + +[Footnote 73: Fifty-eight, if the retirement was in 538.] + +[Sidenote: He founds two monasteries at Scyllacium.] + +It was to his ancestral Scyllacium that Cassiodorus retired; and here, +between the mountains of Aspromonte and the sea, he founded his +monastery, or, more accurately, his two monasteries, one for the +austere hermit, and the other for the less aspiring coenobite. The +former was situated among the 'sweet recesses of Mons Castellius[74],' +the latter among the well-watered gardens which took their name from +the Vivaria (fish-ponds) that Cassiodorus had constructed among them +in connection with the river Pellena[75]. Baths, too, especially +intended for the use of the sick, had been prepared on the banks of +the stream[76]. Here in monastic simplicity, but not without comfort, +Cassiodorus ordained that his monks should dwell. The Rule of the +order--in so far as it had a written Rule--was drawn from the writings +of Cassian, the great founder of Western Monachism, who had died about +a century before the Vivarian monastery was founded. In commending the +writings of Cassian to the study of his monks, Cassiodorus warns them +against the bias shown in them towards the Semi-Pelagian heresy, and +desires them to choose the good in those treatises and to refuse the +evil. Whatever the reason may have been, it seems clear that +Cassiodorus did not make the Rule of Benedict the law of his new +monastery; and indeed, strange as the omission may appear, there is, I +believe, no allusion to that great contemporary Saint, the 'Father of +Monks,' in the whole of his writings. + +[Footnote 74: 'Nam si vos in monasterio Vivariensi divina gratia +suffragante coenobiorum consuetudo competenter erudiat, et aliquid +sublimius defaecatis animis optare contingat, habetis mentis Castelli +secreta suavia, ubi velut anachoritae (praestante Domino) feliciter +esse possitis' (De Inst. Div. Litt. xxix.).] + +[Footnote 75: 'Invitat vos locus Vivariensis monasterii ... quando +habetis hortos irriguos, et piscosi amnis Pellenae fluenta vicina, qui +nec magnitudine undarum suspectus habetur, nec exiguitate temnibilis. +Influit vobis arte moderatus, ubicunque necessarius judicatur et +hortis vestris sufficiens et molendinis.... Maria quoque vobis ita +subjacent, ut piscationibus variis pateant; et captus piscis, cum +libuerit, vivariis possit includi. Fecimus enim illic (juvante Deo) +grata receptacula ubi sub claustro fideli vagetur piscium multitudo; +ita consentanea montium speluncis, ut nullatenus se sentiat captum, +cui libertas eat escas sumere, et per solitas se cavernas +abscondere.'] + +[Footnote 76: 'Balnea quoque congruenter aegris praeparata corporibus +jussimus aedificari, ubi fontium perspicuitas decenter illabitur, quae +et potui gratissima cognoscitur et lavacris.'] + +[Sidenote: Probably never Abbot.] + +Though the founder and patron of these two monasteries, it seems +probable that Cassiodorus never formally assumed the office of Abbot +in either of them[77]. He had probably still some duties to perform as +a large landholder in Bruttii; but besides these he had also work to +do for 'his monks' (as he affectionately called them)--work of a +literary and educational kind--which perhaps made it undesirable that +he should be burdened with the petty daily routine of an Abbot's +duties. Some years before, he had endeavoured to induce Pope +Agapetus[78] to found a School of Theology and Christian Literature at +Rome, in imitation of the schools of Alexandria and Nisibis[79]. The +clash of arms consequent on the invasion of Italy by Belisarius had +prevented the fulfilment of this scheme; but the aged statesman now +determined to devote the remainder of his days to the accomplishment +of the same purpose in connection with the Vivarian convent. + +[Footnote 77: But the words of Trithemius (quoted by Migne, Patrologia +lxix. 498), 'Hic post aliquot conversionis suae annos abbas electus +est, et monasterio multo tempore utiliter praefuit,' _may_ preserve a +genuine and accurate tradition. Cassiodorus' mention of the two +Abbots, Chalcedonius and Geruntius (De Inst. Div. Litt. cap. xxxii.) +shows that at any rate in the infancy of his monasteries he was not +Abbot of either of them.] + +[Footnote 78: Agapetus was Pope in 535 and 536.] + +[Footnote 79: 'Nisus sum ergo cum beatissimo Agapeto papa urbis Romae, +ut sicut apud Alexandriam multo tempore fuisse traditur institutum, +nunc etiam in Nisibi civitate Syrorum ab Hebraeis sedulo fertur +exponi, collatis expensis in urbe Romana professos doctores scholae +potius acciperent Christianae, unde et anima susciperet aeternam +salutem, et casto atque purissimo eloquio fidelium lingua comeretur' +(De Inst. Praefatio).] + +In the earliest days of Monasticism men like the hermits of the +Thebaid had thought of little else but mortifying the flesh by vigils +and fastings, and withdrawing from all human voices to enjoy an +ecstatic communion with their Maker. The life in common of monks like +those of Nitria and Lerinum had chastened some of the extravagances of +these lonely enthusiasts while still keeping their main ends in view. +St. Jerome, in his cell at Bethlehem, had shown what great results +might be obtained for the Church of all ages from the patient literary +toil of one religious recluse. And finally St. Benedict, in that Rule +of his which was to be the code of monastic Christendom for centuries, +had sanctified Work as one of the most effectual preservatives of the +bodily and spiritual health of the ascetic, bringing together +_Laborare_ and _Orare_ in friendly union, and proclaiming anew for the +monk as for the untonsured citizen the primal ordinance, 'In the sweat +of thy brow thou shalt eat bread.' + +[Sidenote: The father of literary Monasticism.] + +The great merit of Cassiodorus, that which shows his deep insight into +the needs of his age and entitles him to the eternal gratitude of +Europe, was his determination to utilise the vast leisure of the +convent for the preservation of Divine and human learning and for its +transmission to after ages. In the miserable circumstances of the +times Theology was in danger of becoming brutified and ignorant; the +great treasures of Pagan literature were no longer being perpetuated +by the slaves who had once acted as _librarii_ to the Greek or Roman +noble; and with every movement of the Ostrogothic armies, or of the +yet more savage hordes who served under the Imperial standard, with +every sacked city and with every ravaged villa, some Codex, it may be +such as we should now deem priceless and irreplaceable, was perishing. +This being the state of Italy, Cassiodorus resolved to make of his +monastery not merely a place for pious meditation, but a theological +school and a manufactory for the multiplication of copies, not only of +the Scriptures, not only of the Fathers and the commentators on +Scripture, but also of the great writers of pagan antiquity. In the +chapter[80] which he devotes to the description of the _scriptorium_ +of his monastery he describes, with an enthusiasm which must have been +contagious, the noble work done there by the _antiquarius_: 'He may +fill his mind with the Scriptures while copying the sayings of the +Lord. With his fingers he gives life to men and arms them against the +wiles of the devil. So many wounds does Satan receive as the +_antiquarius_ copies words of Christ. What he writes in his cell will +be scattered far and wide over distant Provinces. Man multiplies the +heavenly words, and by a striking figure--if I may dare so to +speak--the three fingers of his hand express the utterances of the +Holy Trinity. The fast-travelling reed writes down the holy words, and +thus avenges the malice of the Wicked One, who caused a reed to be +used to smite the head of the Saviour.' + +[Footnote 80: The 30th of the De Institutione Div. Litt.] + +It is true that the passage here quoted refers only to the work of the +copyist of the Christian Scriptures, but it could easily be shown from +other passages[81] that the literary activity of the monastery was not +confined to these, but was also employed on secular literature. + +[Footnote 81: For instance, in cap. xv., after cautioning his copyists +against rash corrections of apparent faults in the sacred MSS., he +says: 'Ubicunque paragrammata in disertis hominibus [i.e. in classical +authors] reperta fuerint, intrepidus vitiosa recorrigat.' And the +greater part of cap. xxviii. is an argument against 'respuere +saecularium litterarum studia.'] + +[Sidenote: Bookbinding.] + +[Sidenote: Mechanical appliances for the convent.] + +Cassiodorus then goes on to describe the care which he has taken for +the binding of the sacred Codices in covers worthy of the beauty of +their contents, following the example of the householder in the +parable, who provided wedding garments for all who came to the supper +of his son. One pattern volume had been prepared, containing samples +of various sorts of binding, that the amanuensis might choose that +which pleased him best. He had moreover provided, to help the nightly +toil of the _scriptorium_, mechanical lamps of some wonderful +construction, which appears to have made them self-trimming, and to +have ensured their having always a sufficient supply of oil[82]. +Sun-dials also for bright days, and water-clocks for cloudy days and +the night-season, regulated their labour, and admonished them when it +was time to unclose the three fingers, to lay down the reed, and to +assemble with their brethren in the chapel of the convent for psalmody +and prayer. + +[Footnote 82: Paravimus etiam nocturnis vigiliis mechanicas lucernas, +conservatrices illuminantium flammarum, ipsas sibi nutrientes +incendium, quae humano ministerio cessante, prolixe custodiant +uberrimi luminis abundantissimam claritatem; ubi olei pinguedo non +deficit, quamvis flammis ardentibus jugitor torreatur.] + +[Sidenote: Relation to the Benedictine Rule.] + +Upon the whole, though the idea of using the convent as a place of +literary toil and theological training was not absolutely new, +Cassiodorus seems certainly entitled to the praise of having first +realised it systematically and on an extensive scale. It was entirely +in harmony with the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict, if it was not +formally ordained in that document. At a very early date in the +history of their order, the Benedictines, influenced probably by the +example of the monastery of Vivaria, commenced that long series of +services to the cause of literature which they have never wholly +intermitted. Thus, instead of accepting the obsolete formula for which +some scholars in the last age contended, 'Cassiodorus was a +Benedictine,' we should perhaps be rather justified in maintaining +that Benedict, or at least his immediate followers, were +Cassiodorians. + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus as a transcriber of the Scriptures.] + +In order to set an example of literary diligence to his monks, and to +be able to sympathise with the difficulties of an amanuensis, +Cassiodorus himself transcribed the Psalter, the Prophets, and the +Epistles[83], no doubt from the translation of Jerome. This is not the +place for enlarging on the merits of Cassiodorus as a custodian and +transmitter of the sacred text. They were no doubt considerable; and +the rules which he gives to his monks, to guide them in the work of +transcription, show that he belonged to the Conservative school of +critics, and was anxious to guard against hasty emendations of the +text, however plausible. Practically, however, his MSS. of the Latin +Scriptures, showing the Itala and the Vulgate in parallel columns, +seem to have been answerable for some of that confusion between the +two versions which to some extent spoiled the text of Jerome, without +preserving to us in its purity the interesting translation of the +earlier Church. + +[Footnote 83: 'In Psalterio et Prophetis et Epistolis apostolorum +studium maximum laboris impendi.... Quos ego cunctos novem codices +auctoritatis divinae (ut senex potui) sub collatione priscorum codicum +amicis ante me legentibus, sedula lectione transivi' (De Inst. +Praefatio). We should have expected 'tres' rather than 'novem,' as the +Psalter, the Prophets, and the Epistles each formed one codex.] + +Besides his labours as a transcriber, Cassiodorus, both as an original +author and a compiler, used his pen for the instruction of his +fellow-inmates at Vivarium. + +[Sidenote: Commentary on the Psalms.] + +(1) He began and slowly completed a Commentary on the Psalms. This +very diffuse performance (which occupies more than five hundred +closely printed pages in Migne's edition) displays, in the opinion of +those who have carefully studied it[84], a large amount of +acquaintance with the writings of the Fathers, and was probably looked +upon as a marvel of the human intellect by the Vivarian monks, for +whose benefit it was composed, and to whom it revealed, in the Psalms +which they were daily and nightly intoning, refutations of all the +heresies that had ever racked the Church, and the rudiments of all the +sciences that flourished in the world. It is impossible now for this +or any future age to do aught but lament over so much wasted +ingenuity, when we find the author maintaining that the whole of the +one hundred and fifty Psalms were written by King David, and that +Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun have only a mystical meaning; that the +first seventy represent the Old Testament, and the last eighty the +New, because we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on the eighth +day of the week, and so forth. A closer study of the book might +perhaps discover in it some genuine additions to the sum of human +knowledge; but it is difficult to repress a murmur at the misdirected +industry which has preserved to us the whole of this ponderous +futility, while it has allowed the History of the Goths to perish. + +[Footnote 84: I take my account of this treatise chiefly from Franz +(pp. 93-100).] + +[Sidenote: Commentary on the Epistles.] + +(2) The 'Complexiones in Epistolas Apostolorum' (first published by +Maffei in 1721, from a MS. discovered by him at Verona) have at least +the merit of being far shorter than the Commentary on the Psalms. +Perhaps the only points of interest in them, even for theological +scholars, are that Cassiodorus evidently attributes the Epistle to the +Hebrews without hesitation to the Apostle Paul, and that he notices +the celebrated passage concerning the Three Heavenly Witnesses (1 John +v. 7) in a way which seems to imply that he found that passage in the +text of the Vulgate, though on examination his language is seen to be +consistent with the theory that these words are a gloss added by the +commentator himself. + +[Sidenote: Historia Tripartita.] + +(3) In order to supply the want of any full Church History in the +Latin tongue, a want which was probably felt not only by his own monks +but throughout the Churches of the West, Cassiodorus induced his +friend Epiphanius to translate from the Greek the ecclesiastical +histories of Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret, and then himself fused +these three narratives into one, the well-known 'Historia Tripartita,' +which contains the story of the Church's fortunes from the accession +of Constantine to the thirty-second year of the reign of Theodosius II +(306-439). The fact that the numerous mistranslations of Epiphanius +have passed uncorrected, probably indicates that Cassiodorus' own +knowledge of Greek was but slight, and that he depended on his +coadjutor entirely for this part of the work. The 'Historia +Tripartita' has probably had a larger circulation than any other of +its author's works; but Cassiodorus himself thought so little of his +share in it, that he does not include it in the list of his writings +prefixed to the treatise 'De Orthographia.' And, in fact, the +inartistic way in which the three narratives are soldered together, +rather than recast into one symmetrical and harmonious whole, obliges +us to admit that Cassiodorus' work at this book was little more than +mechanical, and entitles him to scarcely any other praise than that of +industry. + +[Sidenote: Institutiones Divinarum et Humanarum Lectionum.] + +(4) Of a different quality, though still partaking somewhat of the +nature of a compilation, was his chief educational treatise, the +'Institutiones Divinarum et Humanarum Lectionum[85].' About the year +543, some three or four years after his retirement from public life, +while he was slowly ploughing his way through the Commentary on the +Psalms, twenty of which he had already interpreted, he seems to have +laid it aside for a time in order to devote himself to this work, +which aimed more at instruction than at religious edification. In the +outset of this book he describes that unsuccessful attempt of his, to +which allusion has already been made, for the establishment of a +theological school in Rome, and continues that, 'as the rage of war +and the turbulence of strife in the Italian realm[86] had prevented +the fulfilment of this desire, he felt himself constrained by Divine +charity to write for his monks' behoof these _libri introductorii_, in +which, after the manner of a teacher, he would open to them the +series of the books of Holy Scripture, and would give them a +compendious acquaintance with secular literature.' As the book is not +written for the learned, he undertakes to abstain from 'affectata +eloquentia,' and he does in the main keep his promise. The simple, +straightforward style of the book, which occasionally rises into real +and 'unaffected eloquence' where the subject inspires him to make an +appeal to the hearts of his readers, presents a striking and +favourable contrast to the obscure and turgid phraseology in which the +perverted taste of the times caused him generally to shroud his +meaning[87]. + +[Footnote 85: Printed hitherto as two works, De Institutione Divinarum +Litterarum, and De Artibus ac Disciplinis Liberalium Litterarum. But, +as Ebert has shown (i. 477), the Preface to the Orthographia makes it +probable that these two really formed one book, with a title like that +given above.] + +[Footnote 86: 'In Italico regno.' These words seem to favour the +conjecture that Theodoric may have called himself King of Italy.] + +[Footnote 87: As a specimen of this better style of Cassiodorus, I may +refer to his praises of the life of the literary monk, and his +exhortation to him who is of duller brain to practise gardening: +'Quapropter toto nisu, toto labore, totis desideriis exquiramus ut ad +tale tantumque munus, Domino largiente, pervenire mereamur. Hoc enim +nobis est salutare, proficuum, gloriosum, perpetuum, quod nulla mors, +nulla mobilitas, nulla possit separare oblivio; sed in illa suavitate +patriae, cum Domino faciet aeterna exsultatione gaudere. Quod si +alicui fratrum, ut meminit Virgilius, + + "Frigidus obstiterit circum praecordia sanguis," + +ut nec humanis nec divinis litteris perfecte possit erudiri, aliqua +tamen scientiae mediocritate suffultus, eligat certe quod sequitur, + + "Rura mihi et rigui placeant in vallibus amnes." + +Quia nec ipsum est a monachis alienum hortos colere, agros exercere, +et pomorum fecunditate gratulari; legitur enim in Psalmo centesimo +vigesimo septimo, "Labores manuum tuarum manducabis; beatus es et bene +tibi erit."'] + +In the first part of this treatise (commonly called the 'De +Institutione Divinarum Litterarum') Cassiodorus briefly describes the +contents of the nine Codices[88] which made up the Scripture of the +Old and New Testaments, and mentions the names of the chief +commentators upon each. After some important cautions as to the +preservation of the purity of the sacred text and abstinence from +plausible emendations, the author proceeds to enumerate the Christian +historians--Eusebius, Orosius, Marcellinus, Prosper, and others[89]; +and he then slightly sketches the characters of some of the principal +Fathers--Hilary, Cyprian, Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine. This part of +the work contains an interesting allusion to 'Dionysius Monachus, +Scytha natione, sed moribus omnino Romanus,' of whom Cassiodorus +speaks as a colleague in his literary enterprises. This is the +so-called Dionysius Exiguus, who fixed (erroneously, as it now +appears) the era of the birth of Christ, and whose system of +chronology founded on this event has been accepted by all the nations +of Christendom. At the conclusion of this the first part of the +treatise we find some general remarks on the nature of the monastic +life, and some pictures of Vivarium and its neighbourhood, to which we +are indebted for some of the information contained in the preceding +pages. The book ends with a prayer, and contains thirty-three +chapters, the same number, remarks Cassiodorus (who is addicted to +this kind of moralising on numbers) that was reached by the years of +the life of Christ on earth. + +[Footnote 88: 1. Octateuchus (Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, Ruth). + +2. Kings (Samuel and Kings, Chronicles). + +3. Prophets (Four Major, including Daniel, and Twelve Minor). + +4. Psalms. + +5. Solomon (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles, Wisdom, +Ecclesiasticus). + +6. Hagiographa (Tobias, Esther, Judith, Maccabees, Esdras). + +7. Gospels. + +8. Epistles of the Apostles (including that to the Hebrews). + +9. Acts of the Apostles and Apocalypse.] + +[Footnote 89: The remarks on Marcellinus Comes and Prosper are worth +transcribing: 'Hunc [Eusebium] subsecutus est suprascriptus +Marcellinus Illyricianus, qui adhuc patricii Justiniani fertur egisse +cancellos; sed meliore conditione devotus, a tempore Theodosii +principis usque ad finem imperii triumphalis Augusti Justiniani opus +suum, Domino juvante, perduxit; ut qui ante fuit in obsequio suscepto +gratus, postea ipsius imperio copiose amantissimus appareret.' [The +allusion to 'finem imperii Justiniani' was probably added in a later +revision of the Institutiones.] 'Sanctus quoque Prosper Chronica ab +Adam ad Genserici tempora et urbis Romae depraedationem usque +perduxit.'] + +The second part of the treatise, commonly called 'De Artibus ac +Disciplinis Liberalium Litterarum,' contains so much as the author +thought that every monk should be acquainted with concerning the four +liberal arts--Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Mathematics--the last of +which is divided into the four 'disciplines' of Arithmetic, Geometry, +Music, and Astronomy. As illustrating the relative importance of these +sciences (as we call them) as apprehended by Cassiodorus, it is +curious to observe that while Geometry and Astronomy occupy only about +one page, and Arithmetic and Music two pages each, Logic takes up +eighteen pages, Grammar two, and Rhetoric six. + +[Sidenote: De Orthographia.] + +(5) Some other works, chiefly of a grammatical kind[90], which have +now perished, together with the exegetical treatises already named, +occupied the leisure hours of the old age of Cassiodorus. At length, +in the ninety-third year of his age, the veteran statesman, nobleman, +and judge crowned his life of useful service by writing for his +beloved monks his still extant treatise 'De Orthographia[91].' He +tells us that the monks suddenly exclaimed, 'What doth it profit us to +study either those works which the ancients have composed or those +which your Wisdom has caused to be added to the list, if we are +altogether ignorant how we ought to write these things, and on the +other hand cannot understand and accurately represent in speech the +words which we find written?' In other words, 'Give us a treatise on +spelling.' The venerable teacher gladly complied with the request, and +compiled from twelve grammarians[92] various rules, the observance of +which would prevent the student from committing the usual faults in +spelling. It is no doubt true[93] that this work is a mere collection +of excerpts from other authors, not arranged on any systematic +principle. Still, even as such a collection, it does great credit to +the industry of a nonagenarian; and it seems to me that there is much +in it which a person who was studying the transition of Latin into the +Lingua Volgare might peruse with profit. To an epigraphist especially +it must be interesting to see what were the mistakes which an +imperfectly educated Italian in that age was most likely to commit. +The confusion between _b_ and _v_ was evidently a great source of +error, and their nice discrimination, to which Cassiodorus devotes +four chapters, a very _crux_ of accurate scholarship. We see also from +a passage in the 'De Institutione Divinarum Litterarum[94]' that the +practice of assimilating the last letter of the prefix in compound +words, like i_l_luminatio, i_r_risio, i_m_probus, though it had been +introduced, was as yet hardly universal; and similarly that the monks +required to be instructed to write qui_c_quam for euphony, instead of +qui_d_quam. + +[Footnote 90: They were a compilation from the 'Artes' of Donatus, +from a book on Etymologies (perhaps also by Donatus), and from a +treatise by Sacerdos on Schemata; and a short Table of Contents of the +Books of Scripture, prepared in such a form as to be easily committed +to memory.] + +[Footnote 91: Ad amantissimos orthographos discutiendos anno aetatis +meae nonagesimo tertio (Domino adjuvante) perveni.] + +[Footnote 92: They were Donatus, Cn. Cornutus, Velius Longus, Curtius +Valerianus, Papirianus, Adamantius Martyrius, Eutiches, Caesellius, +Lucius Caecilius, and 'Priscianus grammaticus, qui nostro tempore +Constantinopoli doctor fuit.' Two names seem to be omitted by +Cassiodorus.] + +[Footnote 93: As stated by Ebert (p. 481).] + +[Footnote 94: Cap. xv.] + +[Sidenote: Death of Cassiodorus, 575 (?).] + +The treatise 'De Orthographia' was the last product, as far as we +know, of the industrious brain of Cassiodorus. Two years after its +composition the aged statesman and scholar, in the ninety-sixth year +of his age, entered into his well-earned rest[95]. The death of +Cassiodorus occurred (as I believe) in the year 575, three years +before the death of the Emperor Justin II, nephew and successor of +Justinian. The period covered by his life had been one of vast +changes. Born when the Kingdom of Odovacar was only four years old, +he had as a young man seen that Kingdom overthrown by the arms of +Theodoric; he had sat by the cradle of the Ostrogothic monarchy, and +mourned over its grave; had seen the eunuch Narses supreme vicegerent +of the Emperor; had heard the avalanche of the Lombard invasion +thunder over Italy, and had outlived even the Lombard invader Alboin. +Pope Leo, the tamer of Attila and the hero of Chalcedon, had not been +dead twenty years when Cassiodorus was born. Pope Gregory the Great, +the converter of England, was within fifteen years of his accession to +the Pontificate when Cassiodorus died. The first great schism between +the Eastern and Western Churches was begun in his boyhood and ended +before he had reached old age. He saw the irretrievable ruin of Rome, +such as Augustus and Trajan had known her; the extinction of the Roman +Senate; the practical abolition of the Consulate; the close of the +schools of philosophy at Athens. + +[Footnote 95: In assigning the death of Cassiodorus to the +ninety-sixth year of his age I rest upon the authority of Trittheim +(as quoted in the earlier part of this chapter), who appears to me to +have preserved the chronology which was generally accepted, before the +question became entangled by the confusion between Cassiodorus and his +father.] + +Reverting to the line of thought with which this chapter opened, if +one were asked to specify any single life which more than another was +in contact both with the Ancient World and the Modern, none could be +more suitably named than the life of Cassiodorus. + + +NOTE ON THE TOPOGRAPHY OF SQUILLACE. + +The chief conclusions which Mr. Evans came to after his two days' +study of the country about Squillace are these:-- + +[Sidenote: Position of Scylacium.] + +I. The Scylacium or Scolacium of Roman times, the city of Cassiodorus, +is not to be looked for at the modern Squillace, but at the place +called Roccella in the Italian military map, which Lenormant and Evans +know as _La Roccelletta del Vescovo di Squillace_. + +[Illustration: [map] _Oxford University Press_] + +This place, which is about ten kilometres north-east of modern +Squillace, is on a little hill immediately overhanging the sea, while +Squillace is on a spur of the Apennines three or four miles distant +from the sea. Mr. Evans' chief reasons for identifying Roccella with +Scylacium are (1) its position, 'hanging like a cluster of grapes on +hills not so high as to make the ascent of them a weariness, but high +enough to command a delightful prospect over land and sea.' This +description by Cassiodorus exactly suits Roccella, but does not suit +Squillace, which is at the top of a conical hill, and is reached only +by a very toilsome ascent. 'With its gradual southern and eastern +slope and its freedom from overlooking heights (different in this +respect from Squillace),' says Mr. Evans, 'Roccella was emphatically, +as Cassiodorus describes it, "a city of the sun."' + +(2) Its ruins. While no remains of a pre-mediaeval time have been +discovered at Squillace, there is still standing at Roccella the shell +of a splendid basilica, of which Mr. Evans has taken some plans and +sketches, but which seems to have strangely escaped the notice of most +preceding travellers. The total length of this building is 94 paces, +the width of the nave 30, the extreme width of the transept 54. It has +three fine apses at the eastern end, and is built in the form of a +Latin cross. On either side of the nave was an exterior arcade, which +apparently consisted originally of eleven window arches, six of them +not being for the transmission of light. 'Altogether,' says Mr. Evans, +'this church, even in its dilapidated state, is one of the finest +monuments of the kind anywhere existing. We should have to go to +Rome, to Ravenna, or to Thessalonica, to find its parallel; but I +doubt whether, even at any of those places, there is to be seen a +basilica with such fine exterior arcading. It is a great tribute to +the strength of the original fabric that so much should have survived +the repeated shocks of earthquake that have desolated Calabria, and +scarcely left one stone upon another of her ancient cities.' + +After a careful examination of the architectural peculiarities of this +basilica, Mr. Evans is disposed to fix its erection somewhere about +the time of the Emperor Justinian. + +In addition to this fine building there are at Roccella the ruins of +two smaller late Roman churches, mausolea, and endless foundations of +buildings which must have formed very extensive suburbs. + +More important than all, the massive walls of a considerable city can +still be traced for nearly a mile in two parallel lines, with the +transverse wall which unites them. Certainly all these indications +seem to point to the existence at this spot of a great provincial city +of the Empire, and to make Mr. Evans' conjecture more probable than +that of M. Lenormant, who identified the ruins at Roccella with those +of Castra Hannibalis, the seaport of Scylacium. It would seem +probable, if Mr. Evans' theory be correct, that the city may have been +removed to its present site in the early middle ages, in order to +guard it against the incursions of the Saracens. + +[Sidenote: The Vivarian Monastery.] + +II. As to the situation of the _Vivarian Monastery_ Mr. Evans comes to +nearly the same conclusion as M. Lenormant. Both place it on the +promontory of Squillace (eastward of Staletti), and, as Mr. Evans +observes, 'only such a position can be reconciled, on the one hand, +with the presence of an abundant stream and rich Campagna, on the +other with the neighbourhood of caves and grottoes on the sea-shore.' +But while M. Lenormant places it at a place called Coscia, almost +immediately to the north of and under Staletti, Mr. Evans pleads for +the site now occupied by the Church of S. Maria del Mare, on the cliff +top, very near the sea, and about three kilometres south of Staletti. +This church is itself of later date than Cassiodorus, and probably +formed part of the work of restoration undertaken by Nicephorus Phocas +in the Tenth Century; but there are signs of its having formerly +joined on to a monastery, and some of the work about it looks as if +materials taken from the Cassiodorian edifice had been used in the +work of reconstruction. + +[Sidenote: The Fons Arethusae.] + +III. The _Fountain of Arethusa_ may possibly, according to Mr. Evans, +be identified with the Fontana della Panaghia, a small fountain by the +sea-shore at the south end of a little bay under the promontory of S. +Gregorio. The so-called Fontana di Cassiodoro, near Coscia, has +received its name and its present appearance in modern times, and is +much too far from the sea to be the Fountain of Arethusa. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE ANECDOTON HOLDERI. + + +A few pages must be devoted to the MS. bearing the somewhat uncouth +title of 'Anecdoton Holderi,' because it is the most recently opened +source of information as to the life and works of Cassiodorus, and one +which, if genuine, settles some questions which have been long and +vigorously debated among scholars. + +My information on the subject is derived from a pamphlet of 79 pages +by Hermann Usener, printed at Bonn in 1877, and bearing the title +'Anecdoton Holderi: Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte Roms in Ostgothischer +Zeit.' I am indebted to Mr. Bywater, of Exeter College, Oxford, for my +introduction to this pamphlet, which, while strikingly confirming some +conclusions which I had come to from my own independent study of the +'Variae,' has been of the greatest possible service to me in studying +the lives of Cassiodorus and Boethius. + +[Sidenote: Description of the MS.] + +The 'Anecdoton' (which loses its right to that name by Usener's +publication of it) was discovered by Alfred Holder in a MS. known as +Codex Augiensis, No. CVL, which came from the Monastery of Reichenau +and is now in the Grand-Ducal Library at Carlsruhe. The monks of the +fertile island of Reichenau (Augia Dives), in the Lake of Constance, +were celebrated in the ninth and tenth centuries for their zeal in the +collection and transcription of manuscripts. The well-known Codex +Augiensis (an uncial MS. of the Greek text of the New Testament, with +the Vulgate version in parallel columns) is referred by +palaeographers to the ninth century[96]. The Codex Augiensis with +which we are now concerned, and which is a copy of the 'Institutiones +Humanarum Rerum' of Cassiodorus, is believed to have been written in +the next succeeding century. On the last page of this MS. Holder +discovered the fragment--not properly belonging to the +'Institutiones'--to which he has given his name, and which is as +follows[97]:-- + +[Footnote 96: See Scrivener, Plain Introduction to the Criticism of +the New Testament, pp. 133-4.] + +[Footnote 97: I have adopted the emendations--most of them the +corrections of obvious mistakes--which are suggested by Usener.] + +[Sidenote: Contents of the Anecdoton Holderi.] + + 'Excerpta ex libello Cassiodori Senatoris monachi servi Dei, + ex-Patricio, ex-Consule Ordinario Quaestore et Magistro + Officiorum, quem scripsit ad Rufum Petronium Nicomachum + ex-Consule Ordinario Patricium et Magistrum Officiorum. Ordo + generis Cassiodororum[98]: qui scriptores exstiterint ex + eorum progenie vel ex civibus[99] eruditis. + +[Footnote 98: In the original, 'Casiodoru.'] + +[Footnote 99: In the original, 'ex quibus.'] + + 'Symmachus Patricius et Consul Ordinarius, vir philosophus, + qui antiqui Catonis fuit novellus imitator, sed virtutes + veterum sanctissima religione transcendit. Dixit sententiam + pro allecticiis in Senatu, parentesque suos imitatus + historiam quoque Romanam septem libris edidit. + + 'Boethius dignitatibus summis excelluit. Utraque lingua + peritissimus orator fuit. Qui regem Theodorichum in Senatu + pro Consulatu filiorum luculenta oratione laudavit. Scripsit + librum de Sancta Trinitate et capita quaedam dogmatica et + librum contra Nestorium. Condidit et carmen bucolicum. Sed + in opere artis logicae, id est dialecticae, transferendo ac + mathematicis disciplinis talis fuit ut antiquos auctores aut + aequiperaret aut vinceret. + + 'Cassiodorus Senator, vir eruditissimus et multis + dignitatibus pollens. Juvenis adeo, dum patris Cassiodori + Patricii et Praefecti Praetorii Consiliarius fieret et + laudes Theodorichi regis Gothorum facundissime recitasset, + ab eo Quaestor est factus. Patricius et Consul Ordinarius, + postmodum dehinc Magister Officiorum [et praefuisset + formulas dictionum, quas in duodecim libris ordinavit et + Variarum titulum superposuit] scripsit praecipiente + Theodoricho rege historiam Gothicam, originem eorum et loca + moresque XII libris annuntians.' + +This memorandum, for it is hardly more, is a vestige, and the only +vestige now remaining, of a short tract by Cassiodorus on the literary +history of his family and kinsmen. The 'Excerpta' have been made by +some later hand--perhaps that of a monk in the Vivarian convent. To +him undoubtedly we owe the words 'monachi servi Dei' as a description +of Cassiodorus; probably also the 'ex-Patricio,' which is perhaps an +incorrect designation. 'Vir eruditissimus,' in the last paragraph, is +probably due to the same hand, as, with all his willingness to do +justice to his own good qualities, Cassiodorus would hardly have +spoken thus of himself in a work avowedly proceeding from his own pen. +The clause which is placed in brackets [et ... superposuit] is +probably also due to the copyist, anxious to supply what he deemed the +imperfections of his memorandum. In short, it must be admitted that +the fragment cannot consist of the very words of Cassiodorus in +however abbreviated a form. Still it contains so much that is +valuable, and that could hardly have been invented by any writer of a +post-Cassiodorian age, that it is well worthy of the careful and, so +to speak, microscopical examination to which it has been subjected by +Usener. + +[Sidenote: Date of the fragment.] + +[Sidenote: Persons to whom addressed.] + +The work from which these 'Excerpta' are taken was composed, according +to Usener, in the year 522. This is proved by the facts that the +receiver of the letter is spoken of as Magister Officiorum, a post +which he apparently held from Sept. 1, 521, to Sept. 1, 522; and that +the Consulship of the two sons of Boethius, which began on Jan. 1, +522, is also referred to. The name of the person to whom the letter is +addressed is given as Rufius Petronius Nicomachus. Usener, however, +shows good reason for thinking that his final name, the name by which +he was known in the consular lists, is omitted, and that his full +designation was Rufius Petronius Nicomachus Cethegus, Consul in 504, +Magister Officiorum (as above stated) in 521-522, and Patrician. He +was probably the same Cethegus whom Procopius mentions[100] as +Princeps Senatus, and as withdrawing from Rome to Centumcellae in the +year 545 because he was accused of treachery to the Imperial +cause[101]. + +[Footnote 100: De Bello Gotthico iii. 13 (p. 328, ed. Bonn).] + +[Footnote 101: If Usener be right (and he has worked up this point +with great care), we can trace the following links in the pedigree of +Cethegus (see pp. 6 and 11): + + Rufius Petronius _Placidus_, Consul 481. + | + Rufius Petronius Anicius _Probinus_, Consul 489. + | +Rufius Petronius Nicomachus _Cethegus_, Consul 504, correspondent of + Cassiodorus. + +Probinus and Cethegus are referred to by Ennodius in his letter to +Ambrosius and Beatus, otherwise called his Paraenesis (p. 409, ed. +Hartel).] + +[Sidenote: Its object.] + +The object of the little treatise referred to evidently was to give an +account of those members of the family to which Cassiodorus belonged +who had distinguished themselves in literature. The words 'Ex genere +Cassiodororum' are perhaps a gloss of the transcribers. At least it +does not appear that they would correctly describe the descent of +Symmachus and Boethius, though they were relations of Cassiodorus, +being descended from or allied to the great house of the Aurelii from +which he also sprang. Probably several other names may have been +noticed in the original treatise, but the only three as to which the +'Anecdoton' informs us are the three as to whom information is most +acceptable--Symmachus, Boethius, and Cassiodorus himself. + +[Sidenote: Information as to life of Symmachus.] + +I. The name of Q. Aurelius Memmius _Symmachus_ was already known to us +as that of the friend, guardian, and father-in-law of Boethius, and +his fellow-sufferer from the outburst of suspicious rage which +disgraced the last years of Theodoric. That he was Consul in 485 +(under the dominion of Odovacar), and that he had at the time of his +fall attained the honoured position of Father of the Senate[102], we +also know from the 'Consular Fasti' and the 'Anonymus Valesii.' This +extract tells us that he had attained the rank of Patricius, which may +perhaps have been bestowed upon him when he laid down the Consulship. +He was 'a philosopher, and a modern imitator of the ancient Cato; but +surpassed the virtues of the men of old by [his devotion to] our most +holy religion.' This sentence quite accords with all that we hear of +the character of Symmachus from our other authorities--the 'Anonymus +Valesii,' Procopius, and Boethius. The blending of old Roman gravity +and Christian piety in such a man's disposition is happily indicated +in the words before us. It would be an interesting commentary upon +them if we were to contrast the career of the Christian Symmachus, who +suffered in some sense as a martyr for the Nicene Creed under +Theodoric, with that of his ancestor the Pagan Symmachus, who, 143 +years before, incurred the anger of Gratian by his protests against +the removal of the Altar of Victory from the Senate House, and the +curtailment of the grant to the Vestal Virgins. + +[Footnote 102: Caput Senati. This, not Caput Senatus, is the form +which we find in Anon. Valesii. Usener suggests (p. 32) that Symmachus +probably became Caput Senati on the death of Festus, who had held that +position from 501 to 506.] + +The Symmachus with whom we are now concerned was also an orator; and +we learn from this extract that he delivered a speech, evidently of +some importance, in the Senate, 'pro allecticiis.' There seems much +probability in Usener's contention that these 'allecticii' were men +who had been 'allecti,' or admitted by co-optation into the Senate +during the reign of Odovacar, and whom, on the downfall of that ruler, +it had been proposed to strip of their recently acquired dignity--a +proposal which seems to have been successfully resisted by Symmachus +and his friends. + +Lastly, we learn that Symmachus, 'in imitation of his ancestors,' put +forth a Roman History in seven books. The expression for ancestors +(parentes) here used is thought by Usener to refer chiefly to Virius +Nicomachus Flavianus (Consul in 394[103]), whose granddaughter married +Q. Fabius Memmius Symmachus, and was the grandmother of our Symmachus. +This Flavianus, who was in his time one of the chief leaders of the +heathen party in the Senate, is spoken of in one inscription as +'historicus disertissimus;' and in another, mention is made of the +fact that he dedicated his annals to Theodosius. + +[Footnote 103: See Usener, p. 29. The Consules Ordinarii for that year +were Arcadius and Honorius.] + +Whether the elder Symmachus, the Pagan champion, was a historian as +well as an orator is a matter about which there is a good deal of +doubt. Jordanes twice quotes 'The History of Symmachus,' once as to +the elevation of the Emperor Maximin, and once as to his death[104]. +Usener thinks that the 'Anecdoton Holderi' authorises us henceforward +to assign these quotations without doubt to the younger, Christian +Symmachus, not to his Pagan ancestor. To me the allusion to +_parentes_ (in the plural), whose industry as historians the Symmachus +there spoken of imitated, seems to make it at least as probable that +the earlier, not the later member of the family composed the history +which is here quoted by Jordanes. + +[Footnote 104: Jordanes, Getica xv.: 'Nam, ut dicit Symmachus in +quinto suae historiae libro, Maximinus ... ab exercitus effectus est +imperator.' 'Occisus Aquileia a Puppione regnum reliquit Philippo; +quod nos huic nostro opusculo de Symmachi hystoria [sic] mutuavimus.'] + +[Sidenote: Information as to life of Boethius.] + +II. We now pass on to consider the information furnished by this +fragment as to the illustrious son-in-law of Symmachus, Anicius +Manlius Severinus _Boethius_. Of the facts of his life we had already +pretty full information, from the autobiographical sections of the +'Consolation of Philosophy' and other sources. He does not indeed +mention the exact year of his birth, but the allusion to 'untimely +gray hairs' which he makes in that work, written in 523 or 524, +together with other indications[105] as to his age, entitle us to fix +it at about 480, certainly not earlier than that year. The death of +his father (who was Consul in 487) occurred while he was still a +child. Symmachus, as has been already said, was the guardian of his +youth and the friend of his manhood, and gave him his daughter +Rusticiana to wife. That he received the honour of the Consulship in +510 we know from the 'Fasti Consulares;' but it is perplexing to find +him even before that year spoken of[106] as Patricius, since this +honour was generally bestowed only on those who had already sat in the +curule chair of the Consul[107]. The high consideration in which he +was held at the Court of Theodoric, and the value placed upon his +scientific attainments, are sufficiently proved by the letters in the +following collection, especially by those in which he is consulted +about the frauds committed by the officers of the Mint, about the +water-clock which is to be sent to Gundobad King of the Burgundians, +and the harper who is to be provided for the King of the Franks[108]. +In the year 522 his two sons, Symmachus and Boethius, though they had +but just attained to man's estate, received the honour of the +Consulship, upon which occasion the proud and happy father pronounced +a panegyric upon Theodoric before the assembled Senate. Some of these +facts in the life of Boethius are referred to in the extract before +us, which, as was before said, appears to be taken from a treatise +composed in this same year 522, the year of the Consulship of the +young Boethii. Of their father's investiture with the office of +_Magister Officiorum_ on September 1, 522, of his sudden fall from the +royal favour, of the charge of treason which was preferred against him +before the end of that year, of his imprisonment during 523 and +execution (probably in the early part of 524), we have of course no +trace in this extract; and the fact that we have none is a strong +argument for the genuineness and contemporary character of the +treatise from which it is taken. + +[Footnote 105: Chiefly derived from the Paraenesis of Ennodius (Opusc. +vi.).] + +[Footnote 106: In the Paraenesis.] + +[Footnote 107: Usener's suggestion (pp. 38, 39) that he obtained this +honour in consequence of having filled the place of _Comes Sacrarum +Largitionum_ seems to me only to land us in the further difficulty +caused by the entire omission of all allusion to this fact both in the +Paraenesis and in the Anecdoton Holderi.] + +[Footnote 108: See Var. i. 10 and 45; ii. 40.] + +[Sidenote: His theological treatises.] + +So far, then, we have in the 'Anecdoton Holderi' only a somewhat +meagre reiteration of facts already known to us. But when we come to +the statement of the literary labours of Boethius the case is entirely +altered. It is well known that in the Middle Ages certain treatises on +disputed points of Christian theology were attributed to him as their +author. They are:-- + +1. A treatise 'De Sancta Trinitate.' + +2. 'Ad Johannem Diaconum: Utrum Pater et Filius et Spiritus Sanctus de +Divinitate substantialiter praedicentur.' + +3. 'Ad eundem: Quomodo substantiae in eo quod sint bonae sint cum non +sint substantialia bona.' + +4. 'De Fide Catholica.' + +5. 'Contra Eutychen et Nestorium.' + +It may be said at once that in the earlier MSS. the fourth treatise is +not attributed to Boethius. It seems to have been included with the +others by some mistake, and I shall therefore in the following remarks +assume that it is not his, and shall confine my attention to the first +three and the fifth. + +[Sidenote: Difficulty as to religious position of Boethius.] + +Even as to these, notwithstanding the nearly unanimous voice of the +early Middle Ages (as represented by MSS. of the Ninth, Tenth, and +Eleventh Centuries) assigning them to Boethius as their author, +scholars, especially recent scholars, have felt the gravest possible +doubts of their being really his, doubts which have of late ripened +into an almost complete certainty that he was not their author. The +difficulty does not arise from anything in the diction or in the +theology which points to a later age as the time of their composition, +but from the startling contrast which they present to the religious +atmosphere of the 'Consolation of Philosophy.' Here, in these +theological treatises, we have the author entering cheerfully into the +most abstruse points of the controversy concerning the Nature of +Christ, without apparently one wavering thought as to the Deity of the +Son of Mary. There, in the 'Consolation,' a book written in prison and +in disgrace, with death at the executioner's hands impending over +him--a book in which above all others we should have expected a man +possessing the Christian faith to dwell upon the promises of +Christianity--the name of Christ is never once mentioned, the tone, +though religious and reverential, is that of a Theist only; and from +beginning to end, except one or two sentences in which an obscure +allusion may possibly be detected to the Christian revelation, there +is nothing which might not have been written by a Greek philosopher +ignorant of the very name of Christianity. Of the various attempts +which have been made to solve this riddle perhaps the most ingenious +is that of M. Charles Jourdain, who, in a monograph devoted to the +subject[109], seeks to prove that the author of the theological +treatises referred to was a certain Boethus, an African Bishop of the +Byzacene Province, who was banished to Sardinia about the year 504 by +the Vandal King Thrasamond. + +[Footnote 109: De l'Origine des Traditions sur le Christianisme de +Boece (Paris, 1861.)] + +Not thus, however, as it now appears, is the knot to be cut. And after +all, M. Jourdain, in arguing, as he seems disposed to argue, against +any external profession of Christianity on the part of Boethius, +introduces contradictions greater than any that his theory would +remove. To any person acquainted with the thoughts and words of the +little coterie of Roman nobles to which Boethius belonged, it will +seem absolutely impossible that the son-in-law of Symmachus, the +receiver of the praises of Ennodius and Cassiodorus, should have been +a professed votary of the old Paganism. It is not the theological +treatises coming from a man in his position which are hard to account +for; it is the apparently non-Christian tone of the 'Consolation.' + +The fragment now before us shows that the old-fashioned belief in +Boethius as a theologian was well founded. 'He wrote a book concerning +the Holy Trinity, and certain dogmatic chapters, and a book against +Nestorius.' That is a sufficiently accurate _resume_ of the four +theological treatises enumerated above. Here Usener also observes--and +I am inclined to agree with him--that there is a certain resemblance +between the style of thought of these treatises and that of the +'Consolation' itself. They are, after all, philosophical rather than +religious; one of the earliest samples of that kind of logical +discussion of theological dogmas which the Schoolmen of the Middle +Ages so delighted to indulge in. The young philosopher, hearing at his +father-in-law's table the discussions between Chalcedonian and +Monophysite with which all Rome resounded, on account of the prolonged +strife with the Church of Constantinople, set himself down to discuss +the same topics which they were wrangling over by the light--to him so +clear and precious--of the Greek philosophy. There was perhaps in this +employment neither reverence nor irreverence. He had not St. +Augustine's intense and almost passionate conviction of the truth of +Christianity; but he was quite willing to accept it and to discourse +upon it, as he discoursed on Arithmetic, Music, and Geometry. + +But when premature old age, solitude, and the loss of liberty befell +him, it was not to the highly elaborated Christian theology of the +Sixth Century that he turned for support and consolation. Probably +enough the very fact that he knew some of the pitfalls in the way +deterred him from that dangerous journey, where the slightest +deviation on either side landed him in some detested heresy, the +heresy of Nestorius or of Eutyches. 'On revient toujours a ses +premiers amours;' and even so Boethius, though undoubtedly professing +himself a Christian, and about to die in full communion with the +Catholic Church, turned for comfort in his dungeon to the +philosophical studies of his youth, especially to the ethical writings +of Plato and Aristotle. + +After all, the title of the treatise is '_Philosophiae_ Consolatio;' +and however vigorous a literature of philosophy may in the course of +centuries have grown up in the Christian domain, in the sixth century +the remembrance of the old opposition between Christianity and +Philosophy was perhaps still too strong for a writer to do anything +more than stand neutral as to the distinctive claims of Christianity, +when he had for the time donned the cloak of the philosopher. + +[Sidenote: The Bucolic Poem of Boethius.] + +We learn from the fragment before us that Boethius also wrote a +'Bucolic Poem.' This is an interesting fact, and helps to explain the +facility with which he breaks into song in the midst of the +'Consolation.' It may have been to this effort of the imagination that +he alluded when he said at the beginning of that work-- + + 'Carmina qui quondam studio florente peregi + Flebilis, heu, moestos cogor inire modos.' + +We would gladly know something more of this 'Bucolic Poem' indited by +the universal genius, Boethius. + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus.] + +III. As for _Cassiodorus_ himself, the additional information +furnished by this fragment has been already discussed in the foregoing +chapter. That he was _Consilarius_ to his father during his +Praefecture, and that in that capacity he recited an eloquent +panegyric on Theodoric, which was rewarded by his promotion to the +high office of the Quaestorship, are facts which we learn from this +fragment only; and they are of high importance, not only for the life +of Cassiodorus but for the history of Europe at the beginning of the +Sixth Century, because they make it impossible to assign to any letter +in the 'Variae' an earlier date than 500. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE GRADATIONS OF OFFICIAL RANK IN THE LATER EMPIRE. + + +[Sidenote: Official Hierarchy introduced by Diocletian.] + +It is well known that Diocletian introduced and Constantine perfected +an elaborate system of administration under which the titles, +functions, order of precedence, and number of attendants of the +various officers of the Civil Service as well as of the Imperial army +were minutely and punctiliously regulated. This system, which, as +forming the pattern upon which the nobility of mediaeval Europe was to +a great extent modelled, perhaps deserves even more careful study than +it has yet received, is admirably illustrated by the letters of +Cassiodorus. The _Notitia Utriusque Imperii_, our copies of which must +have been compiled in the early years of the Fifth Century, furnishes +us with a picture of official life which, after we have made allowance +for the fact that the Empire of the West has shrunk into the +Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy (with the addition of Dalmatia and some +other portions of Illyricum), is almost precisely reproduced in the +pages of the 'Various Letters.' In order that the student may +understand the full significance of many passages in those letters, +and especially of the superscriptions by which each letter is +prefaced, it will be well to give a brief outline of the system which +existed alike under Theodosius and Theodoric. + +[Sidenote: Nobilissimi.] + +In the first place, then, we come to what is rather a family than a +class, the persons bearing the title _Nobilissimus_[110]. These were +the nearest relatives of the reigning Emperor; his brothers, sisters, +sons, and daughters. The title therefore is not unlike that of Royal +or Imperial Highness in modern monarchies. I am not sure whether any +trace can be found of the survival of this title in the Ostrogothic +Court. Theodahad, nephew of Theodoric, is addressed simply as 'Vir +Senator[111],' and he is spoken of as 'praecelsus et amplissimus +vir[112].' It is not so, however, in respect of the three great +official classes which follow--the Illustres, Spectabiles, and +Clarissimi--whose titles were rendered as punctiliously in the Italy +of Theodoric as ever they were in the Italy of Diocletian and +Constantine. + +[Footnote 110: The existence of this title is proved not only by the +language of Arcadius in the Theodosian Code x. 25. 1, concerning +'Nobilissimae puellae, filiae meae,' but also by Zosimus (ii. 39), who +says that Constantine bestowed the dignity of Nobilissimus on his +brother Constantius and his nephew Hannibalianus ([Greek: tes tou +legomenou nobelissimou par' autou Konstantinou tuchontes axias aidoi +tes syngeneias]); and by Marcellinus Comes, s. a. 527, who says: +'Justinus Imperator Justinianum ex sorore sua nepotem, jamdudum a se +Nobilissimum designatum, participem quoque regni ani, successoremque +creavit.' It is evident that the title did not come by right of birth, +but that some sort of declaration of it was necessary.] + +[Footnote 111: Var. iii. 15.] + +[Footnote 112: Var. viii. 23.] + +[Sidenote: Illustres.] + +I. The _Illustres_ were a small and select circle of men, the chief +depositaries of power after the Sovereign, and they may with some +truth be compared to the Cabinet Ministers of our own political +system. The 'Notitia' mentions thirteen of them as bearing rule in the +Western Empire. They are: + +1. The Praetorian Praefect of Italy. + +2. The Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls. + +3. The Praefect of the City of Rome. + +4. The Master of the Foot Guards (Magister Peditum in Praesenti). + +5. The Master of the Horse Guards (Magister Equitum in Praesenti). + +6. The Master of the Horse for the Gauls (per Gallias). + +7. The Grand Chamberlain (Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi). + +8. The Master of the Offices. + +9. The Quaestor. + +10. The Count of Sacred Largesses. + +11. The Count of the Private Domains (Comes Rerum Privatarum). + +12. The Count of the Household Cavalry (Comes Domesticorum Equitum). + +13. The Count of the Household Infantry (Comes Domesticorum Peditum). + +Substantially these same titles were borne by the Illustres to whom +Cassiodorus (himself one of them) addressed his 'Various Letters.' The +second and the sixth (the Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls, and the +Master of the Horse for the Gauls) may possibly have disappeared; and +yet, in view of the fact that Theodoric was during the greater part of +his reign ruler of a portion of Gaul, it is not necessary to assume +even this change. Into the question of the military officers I will +not enter, as I confess that I do not understand the relations +(whether co-ordinate or subordinated one to another) of the two pairs +of officers, Nos. 4 and 5 and Nos. 12 and 13. + +The rank and duties of the Praetorian Praefect of Italy, the Master of +the Offices, and the Quaestor have already been described in the first +chapter. It will be well to say a few words as to the four remaining +civil dignitaries, the Praefect of the City, the Grand Chamberlain, +the Count of Sacred Largesses, and the Count of the Private Domains. + +[Sidenote: Praefect of the City.] + +(_a_) The _Praefectus Urbis Romae_ was by virtue of his office head of +the Senate. He had the care of the Annona or corn-largesses to the +people, the command of the City-watch, and the duty of keeping the +aqueducts in proper repair. The shores and channel of the Tiber, the +vast _cloacae_ which carried off the refuse of the City, the quays and +warehouses of Portus at the river's mouth were also under his +authority. The officer who was charged with taking the census, the +officers charged with levying the duties on wine, the masters of the +markets, the superintendents of the granaries, the curators of the +statues, baths, theatres, and the other public buildings with which +the City was adorned, all owned the supreme control of the Urban +Praefect. At the beginning of the Fifth Century the _Vicarius Urbis_ +(whom it is difficult not to think of as in some sort subject to the +_Praefectus Urbis_), had jurisdiction over all central and southern +Italy and Sicily. But if this was the arrangement then, it must have +been altered before the time of Cassiodorus, who certainly appears as +Praetorian Praefect to have wielded authority over the greater part of +Italy. He states, however[113], that the Urban Praefect had, by an +ancient law, jurisdiction, not only over Rome itself, but over all the +district within 100 miles of the capital. + +[Footnote 113: Var. vi. 4.] + +[Sidenote: Grand Chamberlain.] + +(_b_) The _Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi_ had under his orders the large +staff of Grooms of the Bedchamber, at whose head stood the +_Primicerius Cubiculariorum_, an officer of 'respectable' rank. The +_Castrensis_, Butler or Seneschal, with his army of lacqueys and pages +who attended to the spreading and serving of the royal table; the +_Comes Sacrae Vestis_, who with similar assistance took charge of the +royal wardrobe; the _Comes Domorum_, who perhaps superintended the +needful repairs of the royal palace, all took their orders in the last +resort from the Grand Chamberlain. So, too, did the three Decurions, +officers with a splendid career of advancement before them, who +marshalled the thirty brilliantly armed Silentiarii, that paced +backwards and forwards before the purple veil guarding the slumbers of +the Sovereign. + +[Sidenote: Count of Sacred Largesses.] + +(_c_) The _Comes Sacrarum Largitionum_, theoretically only the Grand +Almoner of the Sovereign, discharged in practice many of the duties of +Chancellor of the Exchequer. The mines, the mint, the Imperial linen +factories, the receipt of the tribute of the Provinces, and many other +departments of the public revenue were originally under the care of +this functionary, whose office however, as we are expressly told by +Cassiodorus, had lost part of its lustre, probably by a transfer of +some of these duties to the Count of the Private Domains. + +[Sidenote: Count of Private Domains.] + +(_d_) This Minister, the _Comes Rerum Privatarum_, had the +superintendence of the Imperial estates in Italy and the Provinces. +Confiscations and the absorption by the State of the properties of +defaulting tax-payers were probably always tending to increase the +extent of these estates, and to make the office of Count of the Domain +more important. The collection of the land-tax, far the most important +item of the Imperial revenue, was also made subject to his authority. +Finally, in order, as Cassiodorus quaintly observes[114], that his +jurisdiction should not be exercised only over slaves (the cultivators +of the State domains), some authority was given to him within the +City, and by a curious division of labour all charges of incestuous +crime, or of the spoliation of graves, were brought before the +tribunal of the Comes Privatarum. + +[Footnote 114: Var. vi. 8.] + +Besides the thirteen persons who, as acting Ministers of the highest +class, were entitled to the designation of Illustris, there were also +those whom we may call honorary members of the class: the persons who +had received the dignity of the Patriciate--a dignity which was +frequently bestowed on those who had filled the office of Consul, and +which, unlike the others of which we have been speaking, was held for +life. + +It is a question on which I think we need further information, whether +a person who had once filled an Illustrious office lost the right to +be so addressed on vacating it. I am not sure that we have any clear +case in the following collection of an ex-official holding this +courtesy-rank; but it seems probable that such would be the case. + +Considering also the great show of honour with which the Consulate, +though now destitute of all real power, was still greeted, it seems +probable that the Consuls for the year would rank as Illustres; but +here, too, we seem to require fuller details. + +[Sidenote: Spectabiles.] + +II. We now come to the Second Class, the _Spectabiles_, which consists +chiefly of the lieutenants and deputies of the Illustres. + +For instance, every Praetorian Praefect had immediately under him a +certain number of _Vicarii_, each of whom was a Spectabilis. The +Praefecture included an extent of territory equivalent to two or three +countries of Modern Europe (for instance, the Praefecture of the Gauls +embraced Britain, Gaul, a considerable slice of Germany, Spain, and +Morocco). This was divided into Dioceses (in the instance above +referred to Britain formed one Diocese, Gaul another, and Spain with +its attendant portion of Africa a third), and the Diocese was again +divided into Provinces. The title of the ruler of the Diocese, who in +his restricted but still ample domain wielded a similar authority to +that of the Illustrious Praefect, was _Spectabilis Vicarius_. + +But the Praefect and the Vicar controlled only the civil government of +the territories over which they respectively bore sway. The military +command of the Diocese was vested in a _Spectabilis Comes_, who was +under the orders of the Illustrious Magister Militum. Subordinate in +some way to the Comes was the _Dux_, who was also a Spectabilis, but +whose precise relation to his superior the Comes is, to me at least, +not yet clear[115]. + +[Footnote 115: I think the usual account of the matter is that which I +have given elsewhere (Italy and her Invaders, i. 227), that the Comes +had military command in the Diocese and the Dux in the Province. But +on closer examination I cannot find that the Notitia altogether bears +out this view. It gives us for the Western Empire eight Comites and +twelve Duces. The former pretty nearly correspond to the Dioceses, but +the latter are far too few for the Provinces, which number forty-two, +excluding all the Provinces of Italy. Besides, in some cases the +jurisdiction appears to be the same. Thus we have both a Dux and a +Comes Britanniarum, and the Dux Mauritaniae Caesariensis must, one +would think, have held command in a region as large or larger than the +Comes Tingitaniae. Again, we have a Comes Argentoratensis and a Dux +Moguntiacensis, two officers whose power, one would think, was pretty +nearly equal. The same may perhaps be said of the Comes Litoris +Saxonici in Britain and the Dux Tractus Armoricani et Nervicani in +Gaul. While recognising a _general_ inferiority of the Dux to the +Comes, I do not think we can, with the Notitia before us, assert that +the Provincial Duces were regularly subordinated to the Diocesan +Comes, as the Provincial Consulares were to the Diocesan Vicarius. And +the fact that both Comes and Dux were addressed as Spectabilis rather +confirms this view.] + +Besides these three classes of dignitaries, the _Castrensis_, who was +a kind of head steward in the Imperial household, and most of the +Heads of Departments in the great administrative offices, such as the +_Primicerius Notariorum_ and the _Magistri Scriniorum_[116], bore the +title of Spectabilis. We have perhaps hardly sufficient data for an +exact calculation, but I conjecture that there would be as many as +fifty or sixty Spectabiles in the Kingdom of Theodoric. + +[Footnote 116: Probably, from the order in which they are mentioned by +the Notitia.] + +It appears to me that the epithet _Sublimis_ (which is almost unknown +to the Theodosian Code), when it occurs in the 'Variae' is used as +synonymous with Spectabilis[117]. + +[Footnote 117: Sublimis occurs in the superscription of the following +letters: i. 2; iv. 17; v. 25, 30, and 36; ix. 11 and 14; xii. 5.] + +[Sidenote: Clarissimi.] + +III. The _Clarissimi_ were the third rank in the official hierarchy. +To our minds it may appear strange that the 'most renowned' should +come below 'the respectable,' but such was the Imperial pleasure. The +title 'Clarissimus' had moreover its own value, for from the time of +Constantine onwards it was conferred on all the members of the Senate, +and was in fact identical with Senator[118]; and this was doubtless, +as Usener points out[119], the reason why the letters Cl. were still +appended to a Roman nobleman's name after he had risen higher in the +official scale and was entitled to be called Spectabilis or +Illustris. The _Consulares_ or _Correctores_, who administered the +Provinces under the Vicarii, were called Clarissimi; and we shall +observe in the collection before us many other cases in which the +title is given to men in high, but not the highest, positions in the +Civil Service of the State. + +[Footnote 118: See Emil Kuehn's Verfassung des Roemischen Reichs i. 182, +and the passages quoted there.] + +[Footnote 119: p. 31.] + +Besides the three classes above enumerated there were also:-- + +[Sidenote: Perfectissimi.] + +IV. The _Perfectissimi_, to which some of the smaller provincial +governors belonged, as well as some of the clerks in the Revenue +Offices (Numerarii) who had seen long service, and even some veteran +Decurions. + +Below these again were:-- + +[Sidenote: Egregii.] + +V. The _Egregii_, who were also Decurions who had earned a right to +promotion, or even what we should call veteran non-commissioned +officers in the army (Primipilares). + +But of these two classes slight mention is made in the Theodosian +Code, and none at all (I believe) in the 'Notitia' or the 'Letters of +Cassiodorus.' + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ON THE OFFICIUM OF THE PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO[120]. + +[Footnote 120: To illustrate the Eleventh Book of the Variae, Letters +18 to 35.] + + +[Sidenote: Military character of the Roman Civil Service.] + +The official staff that served under the Roman governors of high rank +was an elaborately organised body, with a carefully arranged system of +promotion, and liberal superannuation allowances for those of its +members who had attained a certain position in the office. + +Although, in consequence of the changes introduced by Diocletian and +Constantine, the civil and military functions had been for the most +part divided from one another, and it was now unusual to see the same +magistrate riding at the head of armies and hearing causes in the +Praetorium, in theory the officers of the Courts of Justice were still +military officers. Their service was spoken of as a _militia_; the +type of their office was the _cingulum_, or military belt; and one of +the leading officers of the court, as we shall see, was styled +_Cornicularius_, or trumpeter. + +The Praetorian Praefect, whose office had been at first a purely +military one, had now for centuries been chiefly concerned in civil +administration, and as Judge over the highest court of appeal in the +Empire. His _Officium_ (or staff of subordinates) was, at any rate in +the Fifth Century, still the most complete and highly developed that +served under any great functionary; and probably the career which it +offered to its members was more brilliant than any that they could +look for elsewhere. Accordingly, in studying the composition of this +body we shall familiarise ourselves with the type to which all the +other _officia_ throughout the Empire more or less closely +approximated. + +NOTITIA. CASSIODORUS LYDUS + (xi.). (iii. 3 and ii. 18.). + +Princeps. +Cornicularius. Cornicularius. Cornicularius. +Adjutor. Primiscrinius. II Primiscrinii. +Commentariensis. Scriniarius Actorum. +Ab Actis. Cura Epistolarum. +IV Numerarii. Scriniarius Curae Militaris. +Subadjuva. Primicerius Exceptorum. +Cura Epistolarum. Sextus Scholarius. +Regerendarius. Praerogativarius. +Exceptores. Commentariensis. II Commentarisii. +Adjutores. Regendarius. II Regendarii. +Singularii. Primicerius Deputatorum. II Curae Epistolarum Ponticae. + Primicerius Augustalium. + Primicerius Singulariorum. Singularii. + +Lydus calls all the officers down to the Curae Ep. Ponticae [Greek: +Hai Logikai Leitourgiai] (Officium Litteratum). + +[Sidenote: Sources of information as to the Officium.] + +Our chief information as to this elaborate official hierarchy is +derived from three sources[121]:-- + +[Footnote 121: See Table, p. 94.] + +(1) The _Notitia Dignitatum_, the great Official Gazetteer of the +Empire[122], which in its existing shape appears to date from the +reign of Arcadius and Honorius, early in the Fifth Century. + +[Footnote 122: To use a modern illustration, we might perhaps say that +the Notitia Dignitatum = Whitaker's Almanac + the Army List.] + +(2) The _De Magistratibus_ of Joannes Lydus, composed by a civil +servant of the Eastern Empire in the middle of the Sixth Century. + +(3) The _Variae Epistolae_ of Cassiodorus, the composition of which +ranges from about 504 to 540. + +The first of these authorities relates to the Eastern and Western +Empires, the second to the Eastern alone, the third to the Western +Empire as represented by the Ostrogothic Kingdom founded by Theodoric. + +Much light is also thrown on the subject by the Codes of Theodosius +and Justinian. + +Godefroy's Commentary on the Theodosian Code, and Bethmann Hollweg's +'Gerichtsverfassung des sinkenden Roemischen Reichs,' are the chief +modern works which have treated of the subject. + +[Sidenote: The Officium as described in the Notitia.] + +We will follow the order in which the various offices are arranged by +the 'Notitia,' which is most likely to correspond with that of +official precedence. + +In the second chapter of the 'Notitia Orientis,' after an enumeration +of the five Dioceses and forty-six Provinces which are 'sub +dispositione viri illustris Praefecti Praetorio per Orientem,' we have +this list, 'Officium viri illustris Praefecti Praetorio Orientis:' + + Princeps. + Cornicularius. + Adjutor. + Commentariensis. + Ab actis. + Numerarii. + Subadjuvae. + Cura Epistolarum. + Regerendarius. + Exceptores. + Adjutores. + Singularii. + +The lists of the officia of all the other Praetorian Praefects in the +'Notitia' are exactly the same as this, except that under the head +'Praefectus Praetorio per Illyricum' we have, instead of the simple +entry 'Numerarii,' + + 'Numerarii quatuor: in his auri unus, operum alter;' + +and the 'Praefectus Urbis Romae' had under his Numerarii, a + + 'Primiscrinius,' + +and between the 'Adjutores' and 'Singularii,' + + Censuales and + Nomenculatores. + +We will go through the offices enumerated above in order: + +[Sidenote: Princeps.] + +(1) The PRINCEPS was the head of the whole official staff. In the case +of the officium of the Praetorian Praefect, however, this officer +seems, after the compilation of the 'Notitia,' to have disappeared, +and his rights and privileges became vested in the Cornicularius. It +will be observed that in the letters of Cassiodorus to the members of +his staff there is none addressed to the Princeps; and similarly there +is no mention of a Princeps as serving under the Praetorian Praefect +in the treatise of Lydus. This elimination of the Princeps, however, +was not universally applicable to all the officia. Cassiodorus (xi. +35) mentions a _Princeps Augustorum_, who was, perhaps, Princeps of +the _Agentes in Rebus_; and Lydus more distinctly ('De Mag.' iii. 24) +speaks of a bargain made between the Cornicularius of the Praetorian +Praefect and the [Greek: Prinkips ton magistrianon], who must be +supposed to be Princeps in the officium of the _Magister Officiorum_, +though no such officer appears in the 'Notitia[123].' + +[Footnote 123: See also Var. vii. 24 and 28.] + +Speaking generally, however, we may perhaps say that the greater part +of what we are about to hear concerning the rights and endowments of +the Cornicularius in the Praefect's office might be truly asserted of +the Princeps at the time when the 'Notitia' was compiled, before the +two offices had been amalgamated. + +[Sidenote: Cornicularius.] + +(2) The _Cornicularius_. As to this officer we have a good many +details in the pages of Joannes Lydus. The antiquarian and +etymological part of his information must generally be received with +caution; but as to the actual privileges of the office in the days of +Justinian we may very safely speak after him, since it was an office +which he himself held, and whose curtailed gains and privileges caused +him bitter disappointment. + +'The foremost in rank,' says he[124], 'of the Emperor's assistants +(Adjutores) is even to this day called _Cornicularius_, that is to say +_horned_ ([Greek: keraites]), or _fighting in the front rank_. For the +place of the monarch or the Caesar was in the middle of the army, +where he alone might direct the stress of battle. This being the +Emperor's place, according to Frontinus, on the left wing was posted +the Praefect or Master of the Horse, and on the right the Praetors or +Legati, the latter being the officers left in charge of the army when +their year of office was drawing to a close, to hold the command till +the new Consul should come out to take it from them. + +[Footnote 124: De Mag. iii. 3, 4.] + +'Of the whole Legion then, amounting to 6,000 men, exclusive of +cavalry and auxiliaries, as I before said, the _Cornicularius_ took +the foremost place; and for that reason he still presides over the +whole [civil] service, now that the Praefect, for reasons before +stated, no longer goes forth to battle. + +'Since, then, all the rest of the staff are called assistants +(_Adjutores_), the Praefect gives an intimation under his own hand to +him who is entering the service in what department ([Greek: +katalogos]) he is ordered to take up his station[125]. And the +following are the names of all the departments of the service. First +the _Cornicularius_, resplendent in all the dignity of a so-called +Count ([Greek: komes]; comes; companion), but having not yet laid +aside his belt of office, nor received the honour of admission to the +palace, or what they call brevet-rank (_codicilli vacantes_), which +honour at the end of his term of service is given to him, and to none +of the other chiefs of departments[126]. + +[Footnote 125: Lydus here gives the Formula for the admission of +assistants, 'et colloca eum in legione prima adjutrice nostra,' which +he proceeds to translate into Greek for the benefit of his readers +([Greek: kai taxeias auton en to proto tagmati to boethounti hemin]).] + +[Footnote 126: I have slightly expanded a sentence here, but this is +evidently the author's meaning.] + +'And after the Cornicularius follow:-- + + '2 Primiscrinii, + '2 Commentarisii, + '2 Regendarii, + '2 Curae Epistolarum, + '15 Scholae of Exceptores, + +and then the "unlearned service" of the Singularii[127].' + +[Footnote 127: Condensed from Lydus, De Mag. iii. 4-7.] + +Again, further on[128], Lydus, who delights to 'magnify his office,' +gives us this further information as to the rank and functions of the +Cornicularius: + +[Footnote 128: Ib. iii. 22-24.] + +'Now that, if I am not mistaken, we have described all the various +official grades, it is meet to set forth the history of the +Cornicularius, the venerable head of the Civil Service, the man who, +as beginning and ending, sums up in himself the complete history of +the whole official order. The mere antiquity of his office is +sufficient to establish his credit, seeing that he was the leader of +his troop for 1,300 years, and made his appearance in the world at the +same time with the sacred City of Rome itself: for the Cornicularius +was, from the first, attendant on the Master of the Horse, and the +Master of the Horse on the King, and thus the Cornicularius, if he +retained nothing of his office but the name, would still be connected +with the very beginnings of the Roman State. + +'But from the time when Domitian appointed Fuscus to the office of +Praefect of the Praetorians (an office which had been instituted by +Augustus), and abolished the rank of Master of the Horse, taking upon +himself the command of the army[129], everything was changed. +Henceforward, therefore, all affairs that were transacted in the +office of the Praefect were arranged by the Cornicularius alone, and +he received the revenues arising from them for his own refreshment. +This usage, which prevailed from the days of Domitian to our own +Theodosius, was then changed, on account of the usurpation of Rufinus. +For the Emperor Arcadius, fearing the overgrown power of the +Praefectoral office, passed a law that the Princeps of the Magister +[Officiorum]'s staff[130] ... should appear in the highest courts, and +should busy himself with part of the Praefect's duties, and especially +should enquire into the principle upon which orders for the Imperial +post-horses ([Greek: synthemata]; _evectiones_) were granted[131].... +This order of Arcadius was inscribed in the earlier editions of the +Theodosian Code, but has been omitted in the later as superfluous. + +[Footnote 129: This seems to be the meaning of Lydus, but it is not +clearly expressed.] + +[Footnote 130: There is something wanting in the text here.] + +[Footnote 131: See Cod. Theod. vi. 29. 8, which looks rather like the +law alluded to by Lydus, notwithstanding his remark about its +omission.] + +'Thus, then, the Princeps of the Magistriani, being introduced into +the highest courts, but possessing nothing there beyond his mere empty +dignity, made a bargain with the Cornicularius of the day, the object +of which was to open up to him some portion of the business; and, +having come to terms, the Princeps agreed to hand over to the +Cornicularius one pound's weight of gold [L40] monthly, and to give +instant gratuities to all his subordinates according to their rank in +the service. In consequence of this compact the Cornicularius then in +office, after receiving his 12 lbs. weight of gold without any +abatement, with every show of honour conceded to his superior[132] (?) +the preferential right of introducing "one-membered" cases ([Greek: +ten ton monomeron entuchion eisagogen]), having reserved to himself, +beside the fees paid for promotion in the office[133], and other +sources of gain, especially the sole right of subscribing the _Acta_ +of the court, and thus provided for himself a yearly revenue of not +less than 1,000 aurei [L600].' + +[Footnote 132: [Greek: to kreittoni].] + +[Footnote 133: [Greek: ek tou bathmou].] + +I have endeavoured to translate as clearly as possible the obscure +words of Lydus as to this bargain between the two court-officers. The +complaint of Lydus appears to be that the Cornicularius of the day, by +taking the money of the Princeps Magistrianorum, and conceding to him +in return the preferential claim to manage 'one-membered' cases (or +unopposed business), made a purse for himself, but prepared the way +for the ruin of his successors. The monthly payment was, I think, to +be made for twelve months only, and thus the whole amount which the +Cornicularius received from this source was only L480, but from other +sources--chiefly the sums paid for promotion by the subordinate +members of the _officium_, and the fees charged by him for affixing +his subscription to the _acta_ of the court--he still remained in +receipt of a yearly revenue of L600. + +[Sidenote: Jealousy between the Officia of the Praefect and the +Magister.] + +The jealousy between the Officia of the Praetorian Praefect and the +Magister Officiorum was intense. Almost every line in the treatise of +Lydus testifies to it, and shows that the former office, in which he +had the misfortune to serve, was being roughly shouldered out of the +way by its younger and more unscrupulous competitor. + +Lydus continues[134]: 'Now, what followed, like the Peleus of +Euripides, I can never describe without tears. For on account of all +these sources of revenue having been dried up, I myself have had to +bear my part in the general misery of our time, since, though I have +reached the highest grade of promotion in the service, I have derived +nothing from it but the bare name. I do not blush to call Justice +herself as a witness to the truth of what I say, when I affirm that I +am not conscious of having received one obol from the Princeps, nor +from the Letters Patent for promotions in the office[135]. For indeed +whence should I have derived it, since it was the ancient custom that +those who in any way appeared in the highest courts should pay to the +_officium_ seven and thirty _aurei_ [L22] for a "one-membered" suit; +but ever after this bargain was made there has been given only a very +moderate sum of copper--not gold--in a beggarly way, as if one were +buying a flask of oil, and that not regularly? Or how compel the +Princeps to pay the ancient covenanted sum to the Cornicularius of the +day, when he now scarcely remembered the bare name of that officer, as +he never condescended to be present in the court when promotions were +made from a lower grade to a higher? Bitterly do I regret that I was +so late in coming to perceive for what a paltry price I was rendering +my long services as assistant in the courts, receiving in fact nothing +therefrom as my own _solatium_. It serves me right, however, for +having chosen that line of employment, as I will explain, if the +reader will allow me to recount to him my career from its commencement +to the present time.' + +[Footnote 134: De Mag. iii. 25.] + +[Footnote 135: [Greek: apo ton legomenon kompleusimon], apparently the +same source of revenue as the promotion-money ([Greek: ten ek tou +bathmou pronomian]).] + +Lydus then goes on to describe his arrival at Constantinople (A.D. +511), his intention to enter the _Scrinium Memoriae_ (in which he +would have served under the Magister Officiorum), and his abandonment +of this intention upon the pressing entreaties of his countryman +Zoticus, who was at the time Praefectus Praetorio. This step Lydus +looks upon as the fatal mistake of his life, though the consequences +of it to him were in some degree mitigated by the marriage which +Zoticus enabled him to make with a lady possessed of a fortune of 100 +pounds' weight of gold (L4,000). Her property, her virtues (for 'she +was superior to all women who have ever been admired for their moral +excellence'), and the consolations of Philosophy and Literature, did +much to soothe the disappointment of Lydus, who nevertheless felt, +when he retired to his books after forty years of service, in which he +had reached the unrewarded post of Cornicularius, that his official +life had been a failure. + +It has seemed worth while to give this sketch of the actual career of +a Byzantine official, as it may illustrate in some points the lives of +the functionaries to whom so many of the letters of Cassiodorus are +addressed; though I know not whether we have any indications of such a +rivalry at Ravenna as that which prevailed at Constantinople between +the _officium_ of the Praefect and that of the Magister. We now pass +on to + +[Sidenote: Adjutor.] + +[Sidenote: Primiscrinius.] + +(3) The _Adjutor_. Some of the uses of this term are very perplexing. +It seems clear (from Lydus, 'De Mag.' iii. 3) that all the members of +the officium were known by the generic name _Adjutores_. Here however +we may perhaps safely assume that Adjutor means simply an assistant to +the officer next above him, as we find, lower down in the list of the +'Notitia,' the Exceptores followed by their Adjutores. We may find a +parallel to Adjutor in the word Lieutenant, which, for the same reason +is applied to officers of such different rank as the Lord Lieutenant +of Ireland, a Lieutenant-General, a Lieutenant-Colonel, and a simple +Lieutenant in the Army or Navy. In the lists of Cassiodorus and Lydus +we find no mention of an officer bearing the special name of Adjutor, +but we meet instead with a _Primiscrinius_, of whom, according to +Lydus, there were two. He says[136], 'After the Cornicularius are two +Primiscrinii, whom the Greeks call first of the service[137].' And +later on[138], when he is describing the course of business in the +_secretum_ of the Praefect, as it used to be in the good old days, he +informs us that after judgment had been given, and the Secretarii had +read to the litigant the decree prepared by the Assessors and +carefully copied by one of the Cancellarii, and after an accurate +digest of the case had been prepared in the Latin language by a +Secretarius, in order to guard against future error or +misrepresentation, the successful litigant passed on with the decree +in his hand _to the Primiscrinii, who appointed an officer to execute +the judgment of the Court_[139]. These men then put the decree into +its final shape by means of the persons appointed to assist them[140] +(men who could puzzle even the professors themselves in logical +discussions), and endorsed it on the litigant's petition in characters +which at once struck awe into the reader, and which seemed actually +swollen with official importance[141]. The name and titles of the +'completing' officer were then subscribed. + +[Footnote 136: De Mag. iii. 4.] + +[Footnote 137: [Greek: meta de ton kornikoularion primiskrinioi duo, +ous Hellenes protous tes taxeos kalousi].] + +[Footnote 138: De Mag. iii. 11.] + +[Footnote 139: [Greek: pareei pros tous primiskrinious taxantas +ekbibasten tois apopephasmenois]. Probably we should read [Greek: +taxontas] for [Greek: taxantas].] + +[Footnote 140: [Greek: epleroun dia ton boethein autois tetagmenon] (? +Adjutores).] + +[Footnote 141: [Greek: epi tou notou tes entuchias grammasin aidous +autothen apases kai exousias onko sesobemenois].] + +If the suggestion that the Primiscrinii were considered as in some +sense substitutes (Adjutores) for the Cornicularius be correct, we may +perhaps account for there being two of them in the days of Lydus by +the disappearance of the Princeps. The office of Cornicularius had +swallowed up that of Princeps, and accordingly the single Adjutor, who +was sufficient at the compilation of the 'Notitia,' had to be +multiplied by two. + +[Sidenote: Commentariensis, or Commentarisius.] + +(4) The _Commentariensis_. Here we come again to an officer who is +mentioned by all our three authorities, though in Cassiodorus he seems +to be degraded some steps below his proper rank (but this may only be +from an accidental transposition of the order of the letters), and +though Lydus again gives us two of the name instead of one. The +last-named authority inserts next after the Primiscrinii 'two +Commentarisii--so the law calls those who are appointed to attend to +the drawing up of indictments[142].' + +[Footnote 142: [Greek: kommentarisioi duo (houto de tous epi ton +hypomnematon graphe tattomenous ho nomos kalei)] (iii. 4). I accept +the necessary emendation of the text proposed in the Bonn edition.] + +The Commentariensis (or Commentarisius, as Lydus calls him[143]) was +evidently the chief assistant of the Judge in all matters of criminal +jurisdiction[144]. We have a remarkably full, and in the main clear +account of his functions in the pages of Lydus (iii. 16-18), from +which it appears that he was promoted from the ranks of the +_Exceptores_ (shorthand writers), and had six of his former colleagues +serving under him as Adjutores[145]. Great was the power, and high the +position in the Civil Service, of the Commentariensis. The whole tribe +of process-servers, gaolers, lictors[146]--all that we now understand +by the police force--waited subserviently on his nod. It rested with +him, says Lydus, to establish the authority of the Court of Justice +by means of the wholesome fear inspired by iron chains and scourges +and the whole apparatus of torture[147]. Nay, not only did the +subordinate magistrates execute their sentences by his agency, he had +even the honour of being chosen by the Emperor himself to be the +minister of vengeance against the persons who had incurred his anger +or his suspicion. 'I myself remember,' says Lydus, 'when I was serving +as Chartularius in the office of the Commentariensis, under the +praefecture of Leontius (a man of the highest legal eminence), and +when the wrath of Anastasius was kindled against Apion, a person of +the most exalted rank, and one who had assisted in his elevation to +the throne[148], at the same time when Kobad, King of Persia, blazed +out into fury[149], that then all the confiscations and banishments +which were ordered by the enraged Emperor were entrusted to no one +else but to the Commentarienses serving under the Praefect. In this +service they acquitted themselves so well, with such vigour, such +harmonious energy, such entire clean-handedness and absence of all +dishonest gain, as to move the admiration of the Emperor, who made use +of them on all similar occasions that presented themselves in the +remainder of his reign. They had even the honour of being employed +against Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, when that prelate had +provoked the Emperor by suspending all intercourse with him as a +heretic; and that, although Celer, one of the most intimate friends of +Anastasius, was at that very time holding the rank of Magister +Officiorum.' + +[Footnote 143: To avoid confusion I will use the term +'Commentariensis' throughout.] + +[Footnote 144: So Bethmann Hollweg (p. 179), 'Diess ist der Gehuelfe +des Magistrats bei Verwaltung der Criminaljustiz.' I compare him in +the following translation of Cassiodorus to a 'magistrate's clerk.'] + +[Footnote 145: See iii. 9 (p. 203, ed. Bonn), and combine with iii. +16. The _Augustales_ referred to in the latter passage were a higher +class of Exceptores.] + +[Footnote 146: Applicitarii, Clavicularii, Lictores.] + +[Footnote 147: [Greek: sidereois desmois kai poinaion organon kai +plektron poikilia saleuonton to phobo to dikasterion] (iii. 16).] + +[Footnote 148: [Greek: kai koinonesantos auto tes basileias].] + +[Footnote 149: [Greek: hote Koades ho Perses ephlegmaine]. The whole +passage is mysterious, but we seem to have here an allusion to the +outbreak of the Persian War (A.D. 502).] + +An officer who was thus privileged to lay hands on Patriarch and +Patrician in the name of Augustus was looked up to with awful +reverence by all the lower members of the official hierarchy; and +Lydus, with one graphic touch, brings before us the glow of gratified +self-love with which, when he was a subordinate _Scriniarius_, he +found himself honoured by the familiar conversation of so great a +person as the Commentariensis[150]: 'I too am struck with somewhat of +my old awe, recurring in memory to those who were then holders of the +office. I remember what fear of the Commentarisii fell upon all who at +all took the lead in the _Officium_, but especially on the Scriniarii; +and how greatly he who was favoured with a chat with a Commentarisius +passing by valued himself on the honour.' Lydus also describes to us +how the Commentariensis, instructed by the Praefect, or perhaps even +by the Emperor himself, would take with him one of his faithful +servants, the Chartularii, would visit the abode of the suspected +person (who might, as we have seen, be one of the very highest +officers of the State), and would then in his presence dictate in +solemn Latin words the indictment which was to be laid against him, +the mere hearing of which sometimes brought the criminal to confess +his guilt and throw himself on the mercy of the Emperor. + +[Footnote 150: iii. 17 (p. 210).] + +It was from this _commentum_, the equivalent of a French _acte +d'accusation_, that the Commentariensis derived his title. + +[Sidenote: Ab Actis (Scriniarius Actorum?).] + +(5) The _Ab Actis_. The officer who bore this title (which is perhaps +the same as the Scriniarius Actorum of Cassiodorus[151]) seems to have +been exclusively concerned with civil cases, and perhaps held the same +place in reference to them that the Commentarienses held in criminal +matters[152]. Practically, his office appears to have been very much +what we understand by that of _Chief Registrar_ of the Court. He (or +they, for in Lydus' time there were two _Ab Actis_ as well as two +Commentarienses[153]) was chosen from the select body of shorthand +writers who were known as Augustales, and was assisted by six men of +the same class, 'men of high character and intelligence and still in +the vigour of their years[154].' His chief business--and in this he +was served by the _Nomenclatores_, who shouted out in a loud voice the +names of the litigants--was to introduce the plaintiff and defendant +into the Court, or to make a brief statement of the nature of the case +to the presiding magistrate. He then had to watch the course of the +pleadings and listen to the Judge's decision, so as to be able to +prepare a full statement of the case for the Registers or +Journals[155] of the Court. These Registers--at least in the +flourishing days of Roman jurisprudence--were most fully and +accurately kept. Even the _Dies Nefasti_ were marked upon them, and +the reason for their being observed as legal holidays duly noted. +Elaborate indices, prepared by the Chartularii, made search an easy +matter to those who wished to ascertain what was the decision of the +law upon every point; and the marginal notes, or _personalia_, +prepared in Latin[156] by the Ab Actis or his assistants, were so +excellent and so full that sometimes when the original entry in the +Registers had been lost the whole case could be sufficiently +reconstructed from them alone. + +[Footnote 151: Var. xi. 22.] + +[Footnote 152: This seems to be Bethmann Hollweg's view (p. 181).] + +[Footnote 153: This we learn from iii. 20. They are not mentioned in +iii. 4, where we should have expected to find them.] + +[Footnote 154: [Greek: hex andres erastoi kai nounechestatoi kai +sphrigontes eti] (Lydus iii. 20).] + +[Footnote 155: [Greek: rhegeston e kottidianon (anti tou ephemeron)].] + +[Footnote 156: [Greek: Italisti]. Of course the emphasis laid on this +point proceeds from the Greek nationality of our present authority.] + +The question was already mooted at Constantinople in the sixth century +whence the Ab Actis derived his somewhat elliptical name; and our +archaeology-loving scribe was able to inform his readers that as the +officer of the household who was called _A Pigmentis_ had the care of +the aromatic ointments of the Court; as the _A Sabanis_[157] had +charge of the bathing towels of the baths; as the _A Secretis_ (who +was called Ad Secretis by vulgar Byzantines, ignorant of the niceties +of Latin grammar) was concerned in keeping the secret counsels of his +Sovereign: so the _Ab Actis_ derived his title from the Acts of the +Court which it was his duty to keep duly posted up and properly +indexed. + +[Footnote 157: [Greek: sabanon] = a towel.] + +[Sidenote: Numerarii.] + +(6) The _Numerarii_ (whose exact number is not stated in the +'Notitia'[158]) were the cashiers of the Praefect's office. Though +frequently mentioned in the Theodosian Code, and though persons +exercising this function must always have existed in a great Court of +Justice like the Praefect's, we hear but little of them from +Cassiodorus[159]; and Lydus' notices of the [Greek: diapsephistai], +who seem to correspond to the Numerarii[160], are scanty and +imperfect. Our German commentator has collected the passages of the +Theodosian Code which relate to this class of officers, and has shown +that on account of their rapacity and extortion their office was +subjected to a continual process of degradation. All the Numerarii, +except those of the two highest classes of judges[161], were degraded +into _Tabularii_, a name which had previously indicated the cashiers +of a municipality as distinguished from those in the Imperial service; +and the Numerarii, even of the Praetorian Praefect himself, were made +subject to examination by torture. This was not only to be dreaded on +account of the bodily suffering which it inflicted, but was also a +mark of the humble condition of those to whom it was applied. + +[Footnote 158: Except, as before stated, those in the office of the +Praetorian Praefect for Illyricum. These were four in number, and one +of them had charge of 'gold,' another of '[public] works.' Further +information is requisite to enable us to explain these entries.] + +[Footnote 159: They are alluded to in Var. xii. 13. The Canonicarii +(Tax-collectors) had plundered the Churches of Bruttii and Lucania in +the name of 'sedis nostrae Numerarii;' but the Numerarii with holy +horror declared that they had received no part of the spoils.] + +[Footnote 160: See Bethmann Hollweg, 184.] + +[Footnote 161: Illustres and Spectabiles.] + +[Sidenote: Scriniarius Curae Militaris.] + +We may perhaps see in the _Scriniarius Curae Militaris_ of +Cassiodorus[162] one of these Numerarii detailed for service as +paymaster to the soldiers who waited upon the orders of the Praefect. + +[Footnote 162: xi. 24.] + +[Sidenote: Subadjuvae.] + +(7) The _Subadjuvae_. This is probably a somewhat vague term, like +Adjutores, and indicates a second and lower class of cashiers who +acted as deputies for the regular Numerarii. + +[Sidenote: Cura Epistolarum.] + +(8) _Cura Epistolarum._ The officer who bore this title appears to +have had the duty of copying out all letters relating to fiscal +matters[163]. This theory as to his office is confirmed by the words +of Cassiodorus (Var. xi. 23): 'Let Constantinian on his promotion +receive the care of the letters relating to the land-tax' (Hic itaque +epistolarum _canonicarum_ curam provectus accipiat). + +[Footnote 163: This is Bethmann Hollweg's interpretation of the words +of Lydus, [Greek: hoi tas men epi tois demosiois phoitosas psephous +graphousi monon, to loipon kataphronoumenoi] (iii. 21). In another +passage (iii. 4, 5) Lydus appears to assign a reason for the fact that +the Praefectus Urbis Constantinopolitanae, the Magister Militum, and +the Magister Officiorum had no _Cura Epistolarum_ on their staff; but +the paragraph is to me hopelessly obscure. Curiously enough, too, +while he avers that every department of the State (perhaps every +diocese) had, as a rule, its own Curae Epistolarum, he limits the two +in the Praetorian Praefect's office to the diocese of Pontica ([Greek: +koura epistolaroum Pontikes duo]).] + +[Sidenote: Regerendarius, or Regendarius.] + +(9) _Regerendarius_, or _Regendarius_[164]. This officer had the +charge of all contracts relating to the very important department of +the _Cursus Publicus_, or Imperial Mail Service. At the time of the +compilation of the 'Notitia' only one person appears to have acted in +this capacity under each Praefect. When Lydus wrote, there were two +Regendarii in each Praefecture, but, owing to the increasing influence +of the Magister Officiorum over the Cursus Publicus[165], their office +had become apparently little more than an ill-paid sinecure. As we +hear nothing of similar changes in the West, the Cursus Publicus was +probably a part of the public service which was directly under the +control of Cassiodorus when Praetorian Praefect, and was administered +at his bidding by one or more Regendarii. + +[Footnote 164: The first form of the name is found in the Notitia, the +second in Lydus and Cassiodorus.] + +[Footnote 165: It is not easy to make out exactly what Lydus wishes us +to understand about the Cursus Publicus; but I think his statements +amount to this, that it was taken by Arcadius from the Praetorian +Praefect and given to the Magister Officiorum, was afterwards restored +to the Praefect, and finally was in effect destroyed by the corrupt +administration of John of Cappadocia. (See ii. 10; iii. 21, 61.)] + +[Sidenote: Exceptores.] + +(10) We now come to the _Exceptores_, or shorthand writers[166], a +large and fluctuating body who stood on the lowest step of the +official ladder[167] and formed the raw material out of which all its +higher functionaries were fashioned in the regular order of promotion. + +[Footnote 166: The [Greek: tachygraphoi] of Lydus.] + +[Footnote 167: In making this statement I consider the Adjutores to be +virtually another class of Exceptores, and I purposely omit the +Singularii as not belonging to the _Militia Litterata_, which alone I +am now considering.] + +[Sidenote: Augustales.] + +[Sidenote: Deputati.] + +We are informed by Lydus[168], that in his time the Exceptores in the +Eastern Empire were divided into two corps, the higher one called +_Augustales_, who were limited in number to thirty, and the lower, of +indefinite number and composing the rank and file of the profession. +The Augustales only could aspire to the rank of Cornicularius; but in +order that some prizes might still be left of possible attainment by +the larger class, the rank of Primiscrinius was tenable by those who +remained 'on the rolls of the Exceptores.' The reason for this change +was that the unchecked application of the principle of seniority to so +large a body of public servants was throwing all the more important +offices in the Courts of Justice into the hands of old men. The +principle of 'seniority tempered by selection' was therefore +introduced, and the ablest and most learned members of the class of +Exceptores were drafted off into this favoured section of Augustales, +fifteen of the most experienced of whom were appropriated to the +special service of the Emperor, while the other fifteen filled the +higher offices (with the exception of the Primiscriniate) in the +Praefectoral Courts[169]. The first fifteen were called +_Deputati_[170], the others were apparently known simply as +Augustales. + +[Footnote 168: iii. 6, 9.] + +[Footnote 169: I think this is a fair summary of Lydus iii. 9 and 10, +but these paragraphs are very difficult and obscure.] + +[Footnote 170: We should certainly have expected that the Augustales +would be those writers who were specially appropriated to the +Emperor's service, but the other conclusion necessarily follows from +the language of Lydus (iii. 10): [Greek: hoste kai pentekaideka ex +auton ton pepanoteron peira te kai to chrono kreittonon pros +hypographen tois basileusin aphoristhenai, ous eti kai nun depoutatous +kalousin, hoi tou tagmatos ton Augoustalion proteuousin].] + +The change thus described by Lydus appears to have been made in the +West as well as in the East, since we hear in the 'Variae' of +Cassiodorus (xi. 30) of the appointment of a certain Ursus to be +Primicerius of the Deputati, and of Beatus to take the same place +among the Augustales[171]. + +[Footnote 171: The form of the word must I think prevent us from +applying the Princeps _Augustorum_ of xi. 35 to the same class of +officers.] + +[Sidenote: Adjutores.] + +(11) The _Adjutores_ of the 'Notitia' were probably a lower class of +Exceptores, who may very likely have disappeared when the Augustales +were formed out of them by the process of differentiation which has +been described above. + +We have now gone through the whole of what was termed the 'Learned +Service[172]' mentioned in the 'Notitia,' with one exception--the +title of an officer, in himself humble and obscure, who has given his +name to the highest functionaries of mediaeval and modern Europe. + +[Footnote 172: [Greek: tous epi tais logikais tetagmenous +leitourgiais] (Lydus iii. 7). [Greek: Peras men hode ton logikon tes +taxeos systematon] (iii. 21). The 'Learned Service' may be taken as +corresponding to 'a post fit for a gentleman,' in modern phraseology. +In our present Official Directories the members of the [Greek: logike +taxis] appear to be all dignified with the title 'Esq.;' the others +have only 'Mr.'] + +[Sidenote: Cancellarius.] + +(12) The _Cancellarius_ appears in the 'Notitia' only once[173], and +then in connection not with the Praetorian Praefect, but with the +Master of the Offices. At the very end of the Officium of this +dignitary, after the six _Scholae_ and four _Scrinia_ of his +subordinates, and after the _Admissionales_, whom we must look upon as +the Ushers of the Court, comes the entry, + + Cancellarii: + +their very number not stated, the office being too obscure to make a +few less or more a matter of importance. + +[Footnote 173: Occidentis ix. 15.] + +After the compilation of the 'Notitia' the office of Cancellarius +apparently rose somewhat in importance, and was introduced into other +departments besides that of the Master of the Offices. + +One Cancellarius appears attached to the Court of Cassiodorus as +Praetorian Praefect, and from the admonitions addressed to him by his +master[174], we see that he had it in his power considerably to aid +the administration of justice by his integrity, or to hinder it by +showing himself accessible to bribes. + +[Footnote 174: In Var. xi. 6, which see.] + +In describing the Cancellarius, as in almost every other part of his +treatise, Lydus has to tell a dismal story of ruin and decay[175]: + +[Footnote 175: iii. 36, 37.] + +'Now the Scriniarii [subordinates of the Magister Officiorum] are made +Cancellarii and Logothetes and purveyors of the Imperial table, +whereas in old time the Cancellarius was chosen only from the ranks of +Augustales and Exceptores who had served with credit. In those days +the Judgment Hall [of the Praefect] recognised only two Cancellarii, +who received an _aureus_ apiece[176] per day from the Treasury. There +was aforetime in the Court of Justice a fence separating the +Magistrate from his subordinates, and this fence, being made of long +splinters of wood placed diagonally, was called _cancellus_, from its +likeness to network, the regular Latin word for a net being casses, +and the diminutive cancellus[177]. At this latticed barrier then stood +two _Cancellarii_, by whom, since no one was allowed to approach the +judgment-seat, paper was brought to the members of the staff and +needful messages were delivered. But now that the office owing to the +number of its holders[178] has fallen into disrepute, and that the +Treasury no longer makes a special provision for their maintenance, +almost all the hangers-on of the Courts of Law call themselves +Cancellarii; and, not only in the capital but in the Provinces, they +give themselves this title in order that they may be able more +effectually to plunder the wealthy.' + +[Footnote 176: About twelve shillings.] + +[Footnote 177: This derivation from casses is, of course, absurd.] + +[Footnote 178: Can this be the meaning of [Greek: eis plethos]?] + +This description by Lydus, while it aptly illustrates Cassiodorus' +exhortations to his Cancellarii to keep their hands clean from bribes, +shows how lowly their office was still considered; and indeed, but for +his statement that it used to be filled by veteran Augustales, we +might almost have doubted whether it is rightly classed among the +'Learned Services' at all. + +[Sidenote: End of the Militia Literata.] + +Now at any rate we leave the ranks of the gentlemen of the Civil +Service behind us, and come to the 'Militia Illiterata,' of whom the +'Notitia' enumerates only + +[Sidenote: Militia Illiterata: Singularii.] + +(13) The _Singularii_, a class of men of whose useful services Lydus +speaks in terms of high praise, contrasting their modest efficiency +with the pompous verbosity[179] of the Magistriani (servants of the +Master of the Offices) by whom they were being generally superseded in +his day. They travelled through the Provinces, carrying the Praefect's +orders, and riding in a post-chaise drawn by a single horse (veredus), +from which circumstance, according to Lydus, they derived their name +Singularii[180]. + +[Footnote 179: [Greek: Kompophakellorremosyne] = +Pomp-bundle-wordiness, an Aristophanic word.] + +[Footnote 180: De Dignitatibus iii. 7.] + +We observe that the letter of Cassiodorus[181] addressed to the +retiring chief (Primicerius) of the Singularii informs him that he is +promoted to a place among the King's Body-guard (Domestici et +Protectores), a suitable reward for one who had not been a member of +the 'Learned Services.' + +[Footnote 181: Var. xi. 31.] + +After the Singularii Lydus mentions the _Mancipes_, the men who were +either actually slaves or were at any rate engaged in servile +occupations; as, for instance, the bakers at the public bakeries, the +_Rationalii_, who distributed the rations to the receivers of the +annona[182], the _Applicitarii_ (officers of arrest), and +_Clavicularii_ (gaolers), who, as we before heard, obeyed the mandate +of the Commentariensis. The Lictors, I think, are not mentioned by +him. A corresponding class of men would probably be the _Apparitores_, +who in the 'Notitia' appear almost exclusively attached to the service +of the great Ministers of War[183]. + +[Footnote 182: This seems a probable explanation of a rather obscure +passage.] + +[Footnote 183: See the following sections of the Notitia: Magister +Militum Praesentatis (Oriens v. 74, vi. 77; Occidens v. 281, vi. 93); +M.M. per Orientem (Or. vii. 67); M.M. per Thracias (Or. viii. 61); +M.M. per Illyricum (Or. ix. 56); Magister Equitum per Gallias (Occ. +vii. 117). The only civil officer who has Apparitores is the Proconsul +Achaiae (Oriens xxi. 14).] + +Thus, it will be seen, from the well-paid and often highly-connected +Princeps, who, no doubt, discussed the business of the court with the +Praetorian Praefect on terms of friendly though respectful +familiarity, down to the gaoler and the lictor and the lowest of the +half-servile _mancipes_, there was a regular gradation of rank, which +still preserved, in the staff of the highest court of justice in the +land, all the traditions of subordination and discipline which had +once characterised the military organisation out of which it +originally sprang. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +BIBLIOGRAPHY. + + +[Sidenote: Editiones Principes.] + +The Ecclesiastical History ('Historia Tripartita') seems to have been +the first of the works of Cassiodorus to attract the notice of +printers at the revival of learning. The Editio Princeps of this book +(folio) was printed by Johann Schuszler, at Augsburg, in 1472[184]. + +[Footnote 184: This edition is described by Dibdin (Bibliotheca +Spenceriana iii. 244-5).] + +The Editio Princeps of the 'Chronicon' is contained in a collection of +Chronicles published at Basel in 1529 by Joannes Sichardus (printer, +Henricus Petrus). The contribution of Cassiodorus is prefaced by an +appropriate Epistle Dedicatory to Sir Thos. More, in which a parallel +is suggested between the lives of these two literary statesmen. + +Next followed the Editio Princeps of the 'Variae,' published at +Augsburg in 1533, by Mariangelus Accurtius. + +In 1553, Joannes Cuspinianus, a counsellor of the Emperor Maximilian, +published at Basel a series of Chronicles with which he interwove the +Chronicle of Cassiodorus, and to which he prefixed a short life of our +author. + +[Sidenote: Edition of Nivellius.] + +The Editio Princeps of the collected works of Cassiodorus was +published at Paris in 1579 by Sebastianus Nivellius; and other +editions by the same publisher followed in 1584 and 1589. This edition +does not contain the Tripartite History, the Exposition of the +Psalter, or the 'Complexiones' on the Epistles. Some notes, not +without merit, are added, which were compiled in 1578 by 'Gulielmus +Fornerius, Parisiensis, Regius apud Aurelianenses Consiliarius et +Antecessor.' The annotator says[185] that these notes had gradually +accumulated on the margin of his copy of Cassiodorus, an author who +had been a favourite of his from youth, and whom he had often quoted +in his forensic speeches. + +[Footnote 185: p. 492.] + +The edition of Nivellius, which is evidently prepared with a view to +aid the historical rather than the theological study of the writings +of Cassiodorus, contains also the Gothic history of Jordanus (sic), +the 'Edictum Theoderici,' the letter of Sidonius describing the Court +of Theodoric II _the Visigoth_ (453-466), and the Panegyric of +Ennodius on Theodoric the Great. The letter of Sidonius is evidently +inserted owing to a confusion between the two Theodorics; and this +error has led many later commentators astray. But the reprint of the +'Edictum Theoderici' is of great interest and value, because the MS. +from which it was taken has since disappeared, and none other is known +to be in existence. A letter is prefixed to the 'Edictum,' written by +Pierre Pithou to Edouard Mole, Dec. 31, 1578, and describing his +reasons for sending this document to the publisher who was printing +the works of Cassiodorus. At the same time, 'that the West might not +have cause to envy the East,' he sent a MS. of the 'Leges +Wisigothorum,' with illustrative extracts from Isidore and Procopius, +which is printed at the end of Nivellius' edition. + +I express no opinion about the text of this edition; but it possesses +the advantage of an Index to the 'Variae' only, which will be found at +the end of the Panegyric of Ennodius. Garet's Index, which is in +itself not so full, has the additional disadvantage of being muddled +up with the utterly alien matter of the Tripartite History. + +In 1588 appeared an edition in 4to. of the works of Cassiodorus (still +excluding the Tripartite History and the Biblical Commentaries), +published at Paris by Marc Orry. This was republished in 1600 in two +volumes 12mo. + +The 'Variae' and 'Chronicon' only, in 12mo. were published at Lyons by +Jacques Chouet in 1595, and again by Pierre and Jacques Chouet at +Geneva in 1609, and by their successors in 1650. These editions +contain the notes of Pierre Brosse, Jurisconsult, as well as those of +Fornerius. + +[Sidenote: Edition of Garet.] + +In 1679 appeared, in two volumes folio, the great Rouen edition by +Francois Jean Garet (of the Congregation of S. Maur), which has ever +since been the standard edition of the works of Cassiodorus. Garet +speaks of collating several MSS. of various ages for the text of this +edition, especially mentioning 'Codex S. Audoeni' (deficient for Books +5, 6, and 7 of the 'Variae'), 'et antiquissimae membranae S. Remigii +Remensis' (containing only the first four books of the same +collection). A codex which once belonged to the jurist Cujacius, and +which had been collated with Accurtius' text in 1575 by a certain +Claude Grulart, seems to have given Garet some valuable readings by +means of Grulart's notes, though the codex itself had disappeared. +Garet's edition was re-issued at Venice in 1729, and more recently in +Migne's 'Patrologia' (Paris, 1865), of which it forms vols. 69 and 70. + +[Sidenote: Forthcoming Edition by Meyer.] + +There can be little doubt, however, that all these editions will be +rendered obsolete by the new edition which is expected to appear as a +volume of the 'Auctores Antiquissimi' in the _Monumenta Germaniae +Historica_. The editor is Professor Wilhelm Meyer, of Munich. The work +has been for some years announced as near completion, but I have not +been able to ascertain how soon it may be expected to appear. + +[Sidenote: Supposed fragment of orations.] + +Finally, I must not omit to notice the fragments of an oration +published by Baudi de Vesme in the Transactions of the Royal Academy +of Sciences at Turin (1846). Those fragments, which were found in a +palimpsest MS. of the Acts of the Council of Chalcedon, were first +published in 1822 by Angelo Mai, who was then disposed to attribute +them to Symmachus (the elder), and to assign them to the early part of +the fifth century. On reflection, however, he came to the conclusion +that they were probably the work of Cassiodorus, and formed part of a +panegyric addressed to Theodoric. This theory appears now to meet with +general approval. The style is certainly very similar to that of +Cassiodorus; but, as will be inferred from the doubt as to their +origin, there is little or nothing in these scanty fragments which +adds anything to our knowledge of the history of Theodoric. + +[Sidenote: Life by Garet.] + +To the literature relating to Cassiodorus the most important +contribution till recent times was the life by Garet prefixed to his +edition of 1679. I cannot speak of this from a very minute +investigation, but it seems to be a creditable performance, the work +of one who had carefully studied the 'Variae,' but unfortunately quite +misleading as to the whole framework of the life of Cassiodorus, from +the confusion which it makes between him and his father, an error +which Garet has probably done more than any other author to +perpetuate. + +[Sidenote: Life by St. Marthe.] + +The life by Garet was paraphrased in French by Denys de _Ste. Marthe_ +('Vie de Cassiodore,' Paris, 1695), whose work has enjoyed a +reputation to which it was not entitled on the ground either of +originality or accuracy, but which was probably due to the fact that +the handy octavo volume written in French was accessible to a wider +circle of readers than Garet's unwieldy folio in Latin. A more +original performance was that of _Count Buat_ (in the 'Abhandlungen +der Kurfuerstlichen Bairischen Akademie der Wissenschaften,' Munich, +1763); but this author, though he pointed out the cardinal error of +Garet, his confusion between Senator and his father, introduced some +further gratuitous entanglements of his own into the family history of +the Cassiodori. + +[Sidenote: Modern monographs.] + +All these works, however, are rendered entirely obsolete by three +excellent monographs which have recently been published in Germany on +the life and writings of Cassiodorus. These are-- + +[Sidenote: Thorbecke.] + +August _Thorbecke's_ 'Cassiodorus Senator' (Heidelberg, 1867); + +[Sidenote: Franz.] + +Adolph _Franz's_ 'M. Aurelius Cassiodorius Senator' (Breslau, 1872); +and + +[Sidenote: Usener.] + +Hermann _Usener's_ 'Anecdoton Holderi' (Bonn, 1877), described in the +second chapter of this introduction. + +Thorbecke discusses the political, and Franz the religious and +literary aspects of the life of their common hero, and between them +they leave no point of importance in obscurity. Usener, as we have +already seen, brings an important contribution to our knowledge of the +subject in presenting us with Holder's fragment; and his Commentary +(of eighty pages) on this fragment is a model of patient and +exhaustive research. It seems probable that these three authors have +really said pretty nearly the last word about the life and writings of +Cassiodorus. In addition to these authors many writers of historical +works in Germany have of late years incidentally contributed to a more +accurate understanding of the life and times of Cassiodorus. + +_Dahn_, in the third section of his 'Koenige der Germanen' (Wuerzburg, +1866), has written a treatise on the political system of the +Ostrogoths which is almost a continuous commentary on the 'Variae,' +and from which I have derived the greatest possible assistance. + +_Koepke_, in his 'Anfaenge des Koenigthums bei den Gothen' (Berlin, +1859), has condensed into a small compass a large amount of useful +disquisition on Cassiodorus and his copyist Jordanes. The relation +between these two writers was also elaborately discussed by _von +Sybel_ in his thesis 'De Fontibus Libri Jordanis' (Berlin, 1838), and +by _Schirren_, in his monograph 'De Ratione quae inter Jordanem et +Cassiodorum intercedat' (Dorpat, 1885). The latter, though upon the +whole a creditable performance, is disfigured by one or two strange +blunders, and not improved by some displays of irrelevant learning. + +_Von Schubert_, in his 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen unter die Franken' +(Strassburg, 1884), throws some useful light on the question of the +date of the early letters in the 'Variae;' and _Binding_, in his +'Geschichte des Burgundisch-Romanischen Koenigreichs' (Leipzig, 1868), +discusses the relations between Theodoric and the Sovereigns of Gaul, +as disclosed by the same collection of letters, in a manner which I +must admit to be forcible, though I do not accept all his conclusions. + +_Mommsen_, in his paper 'Die Chronik des Cassiodorus Senator' (Vol. +viii. of the 'Abhandlungen der Koeniglich Saechsischen Gesellschaft der +Wissenschaften;' Leipzig, 1861), has said all that is to be said +concerning the unfortunate 'Chronicon' of Cassiodorus, which he +handles with merciless severity. + +To say that _Ebert_, in his 'Allgemeine Geschichte der Litteratur des +Mittelalters im Abendlande' (Leipzig, 1874), and _Wattenbach_, in his +'Deutschlands Geschichtsquellen im Mittelalter,' tell us with fullness +and accuracy just what the student ought to wish to know concerning +Cassiodorus as an author, is only to say that they are Ebert and +Wattenbach. Every one who has had occasion to refer to these two books +knows their merits. + +Passing from German literature, I regret that I am prevented by +ignorance of the Dutch language from forming an opinion as to the work +of _Thijm_ ('Iets over M.A. Cassiodorus en zijne eeuw;' Amsterdam, +1857), which is frequently quoted by my German authorities. + +_Gibbon_ of course quotes from the 'Variae,' and though he did not +know them intimately, he has with his usual sagacity apprehended the +true character of the book and of its author. But the best account of +the 'Various Letters' in English, as far as I know, is unfortunately +entombed in the pages of a periodical, being an article by Dean +_Church_, contributed in July, 1880, to the 'Church Quarterly Review.' +There is also a very good though necessarily brief notice of +Cassiodorus in _Ugo Balzani's_ little volume on the 'Early Chroniclers +of Italy,' published by the Christian Knowledge Society in 1883. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CHRONOLOGY. + + +In the following chronological table of the life of Cassiodorus I +have, for convenience sake, assumed 480 as the year of his birth, and +575 as that of his death. It is now, I think, sufficiently proved that +if these dates are not absolutely correct, they cannot be more than a +year or two wrong in one direction or the other. + +[Sidenote: Consular Fasti.] + +As dates were still reckoned by Consulships, at any rate through the +greater part of the life of Cassiodorus, I have inserted the Consular +Fasti for the period in question. It will be seen that several names +of correspondents of Cassiodorus figure in this list. As a general +though not universal practice, one of the two Consuls at this time was +chosen from out of the Senate of Rome and the other from that of +Constantinople. We can almost always tell whether a chronicler belongs +to the Eastern or Western Empire by observing whether he puts the +Eastern or Western Consul first. Thus, for A.D. 501, Marcellinus +Comes, who was an official of the Eastern Empire, gives us 'Pompeius +et Avienus, Coss.;' while Cassiodorus, in his 'Chronicon,' assigns the +year to 'Avienus et Pompeius.' Pompeius was a nobleman of +Constantinople, nephew of the Emperor Anastasius; while Avienus was a +Roman Senator[186]. Again, in A.D. 490, Marcellinus gives the names of +Longinus and Faustus, which Cassiodorus quotes as Faustus and +Longinus. Longinus was a brother of the Emperor Zeno, and Faustus was +for many years Praetorian Praefect under Theodoric, and was the +receiver of many letters in the following collection. + +[Footnote 186: See Usener, p. 32.] + +I have endeavoured to give the priority always to the _Western_ Consul +in the list before us, except in those cases where an Emperor (who was +of course an Eastern) condescended to assume the Consular _trabea_. + +[Sidenote: Indictions.] + +Another mode of reckoning the dates which the reader will continually +meet with in the following pages is by _Indictions_. The Indiction, as +is well known, was a cycle of fifteen years, during which, as we have +reason to believe, the assessment for the taxes remained undisturbed, +a fresh valuation being made all round when the cycle was ended. +Traces of this quindecennial period may be found in the third century, +but the formal adoption of the Indiction is generally assigned to the +Emperor Constantine, and to the year 312[187]. The Indiction itself, +and every one of the years composing it, began on the 1st of September +of the calendar year. The reason for this period being chosen probably +was that the harvests of the year being then gathered in, the +collection of the tithes of the produce, which formed an important +part of the Imperial revenue, could be at once proceeded with. What +gives an especial importance to this method of dating by Indictions, +for the reader of the following letters is, that most of the great +offices of State changed hands at the beginning of the year of the +Indiction (Sept. 1), not at the beginning of the Calendar year. + +[Footnote 187: Compare Marquardt (Roemische Staatsverwaltung ii. 237). +He remarks that the Indiction seems to have been first adopted in +Egypt, and did not come into universal use all over the Empire till +the end of the Fourth Century.] + +To make such a mode of dating the year at all satisfactory, it would +seem to us necessary that the number of the cycle itself, as well as +of the year in the cycle, should be given; for instance, that A.D. 313 +should be called the first year of the first Indiction, and A.D. 351 +the ninth year of the third Indiction. This practice, however, was not +adopted till far on into the Middle Ages[188]. At the time we are +speaking of, the word Indiction seems generally to have been given +not to the cycle itself, but to the year in the cycle. Thus, 313 was +the first Indiction, 314 the second Indiction, 315 the third +Indiction, and so on. And thus we find a year, which from other +sources we know to be 313, called the first Indiction, 351 the ninth +Indiction, 537 the fifteenth Indiction, without any clue being given +to guide us to the important point in what cycles these years held +respectively the first, the ninth, and the fifteenth places. + +[Footnote 188: The Twelfth Century, according to Marquardt.] + +As the Indiction began on the 1st of September a question arises +whether the calendar year is to be named after the number of the +Indiction which belongs to its beginning or its end; whether, to go +back to the beginning, A.D. 312 or A.D. 313 is to be accounted the +first Indiction. The practice of the chroniclers and of most writers +on chronology appears to be in favour of the latter method, which is +natural, inasmuch as nine months of the Indiction belong to the later +date and only three to the earlier. Thus, for instance, Marcellinus +Comes calls the year of the Consulship of Belisarius, which was +undoubtedly 535, 'Indictio XIII:' the thirteenth Indiction of that +cycle having begun Sept. 1, 534, and ended August 31, 535. But it is +well that the student should be warned that our greatest English +authority, Mr. Fynes Clinton, adopts the other method. In the very +useful table of comparative chronology which he gives in his Fasti +Romani[189] he assigns the Indiction to that year of the Christian era +in which it had its beginning, and accordingly 534, not 535, is +identified with the thirteenth Indiction. + +[Footnote 189: Vol. ii. pp. 214-216. See his remarks, p. 210: 'The +Indictions in Marcellinus and in the Tables of Du Fresnoy are compared +with the Consulship and the Julian year in which they end. In the +following Table they are compared with the year in which they begin, +because the years of the Christian era are here made the measure of +the rest, and contain the beginnings of all the other epochs.'] + +In order to translate years of Indiction into years of the Christian +era it is necessary first to add some multiple of 15 (_what_ multiple +our knowledge of history must inform us) to 312. On the 1st of +September of the year so obtained the Indiction cycle began; and for +any other year of the same cycle we must of course add its own number +minus one. Thus, when we find Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect +writing a letter[190] informing Joannes of his appointment to the +office of Cancellarius 'for the _twelfth_ Indiction,' as we know +within a little what date is wanted, we first of all add 14 x 15 (= +210) to 312, and so obtain 522. The first Indiction in that cycle ran +from September 1, 522, to August 31, 523. The twelfth Indiction was +therefore from September 1, 533, to August 31, 534, and that is the +date we require. + +[Footnote 190: Var. xi. 6.] + +On the other hand, when we find a letter written by Cassiodorus as +Praetorian Praefect to the Provincials of Istria[191] as to the +payment of tribute for the _first_ Indiction, we know that we must now +have entered upon a new cycle. We therefore add 15 x 15 (= 225) to +312, and get 537. As it happens to be the _first_ Indiction that we +require, our calculation ends here: September 1, 537, to August 31, +538, is the answer required. + +[Footnote 191: Var. xii. 22.] + +If anyone objects that such a system of chronology is cumbrous, +uncertain, and utterly unscientific, I can only say that I entirely +agree with him, and that the system is worthy of the perverted +ingenuity which produced the Nones and Ides of the Roman Calendar. + +In the following tables I have not attempted to mark the years of the +Indiction, on account of the confusion caused by the fact that two +calendar years require the same number. But I have denoted by the +abbreviation 'Ind.' the years in which each cycle of the Indictions +_began_. These years are 492, 507, 522, 537, 552, and 567. + + +_Chronological Tables._ + + Private Public Rulers of +A.D. Consuls. Events. Events. Italy. Popes. Emperors. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 480 Basilius Magnus Assassination ODOVACAR SIMPLICIUS ZENO + Junior. Aurelius of Nepos, (from 476). (from 468). (from 474). + Cassiodorus formerly + Senator, Emperor of + born at the West. + Scyllacium + (?). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 481 Placidus. Odovacar + avenges the + murder of + Nepos. Death + of + Theodoricus + Triarii. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 482 Trocondus Accession of + and Clovis. + Severinus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 483 Faustus. Zeno issues FELIX II + the Henoticon. (or III). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 484 Theodoricus Illus revolts + and against Zeno. + Venantius. Schism between + Eastern and + Western + Churches. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 485 Q. Aurelius + Memmius + Symmachus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 486 Decius and + Longinus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 487 Boethius War between + (_Father of Odovacar and + the great the Rugians. + Boethius_). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 488 Dyanamius Theodoric + and starts for + Sifidius. Italy. Death + of Illus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 489 Anicius Theodoric + Probinus descends into + and Italy. Battles + Eusebius. of the Isonzo + and Verona. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 490 Flavius Battle of the + Faustus Adda. + Junior and + Longinus (II). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 491 Olybrius Battle of ANASTASIUS. + Junior. Ravenna. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 492 Flavius GELASIUS. +(Ind.) ANASTASIUS + Augustus and + Rufus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 493 Eusebius Surrender of THEODORIC. + (II) and Ravenna. + Albinus. Death of + Odovacar. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 494 Turcius + Rufus + Apronianus + Asterius and + Praesidius. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 495 Flavius + Viator. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 496 Paulus. Clovis ANASTASIUS. + defeats the + Alamanni. His + conversion. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 497 Flavius SYMMACHUS + ANASTASIUS (Antipope + Aug. (II). Laurentius). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 498 Paulinus + and Joannes + Scytha. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 499 Joannes + Gibbus. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 500 Patricius Cassiodorus War between + and Senior, Gundobad and + Hypatius. Patrician, Clovis. + Praefect. Theodoric's + His son visit to + becomes his Rome. + _Consili- Conspiracy of + arius_. Odoin. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 501 Rufius About this Synodus + Magnus time Palmaris at + Faustus Cassiodorus Rome. + Avienus pronounces Symmachus + and his confirmed in + Flavius panegyric the + Pompeius. on Pontificate. + Theodoric, + and is + rewarded by + being + appointed + Quaestor. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 502 Flavius + Avienus + Junior and + Probus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 503 Dexicrates + and + Volusianus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 504 Cethegus. War of Sirmium. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 505 Theodorus War between + and Theodoric and + Sabinianus. Anastasius + (affair of + Mundo). + Battle of + Horrea Margi. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 506 Messala and + Areobinda. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 507 Flavius Clovis +(Ind.) ANASTASIUS defeats + Aug. (III) Alaric II at + and Campus + Venantius. Vogladensis. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 508 Venantius Tulum + and Celer. endeavours to + raise siege + of Arles. + Byzantine + raid on + Apulia. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 509 Importunus. Mammo invades + Burgundy. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 510 Anicius Ibbus defeats + Manlius Franks and + Severinus Burgundians. + Boethius + (_Author + of the + 'Consolation'_). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 511 Felix and Death of + Secundinus. Clovis. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 512 Paulus and + Muschianus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 513 Probus and + Clementinus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 514 Senator, Cassiodorus HORMISDAS. + _solus as Consul + Consul_ restores + (Cassio- harmony + dorus). between + clergy and + people of + Rome. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 515 Florentius Cassiodorus Marriage of + and receives Eutharic and + Anthemius. the Amalasuentha. + Patriciate + (?). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 516 Petrus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 517 Agapitus + and Flavius + Anastasius + (_nephew + of the + Emperor_). + +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 518 Magnus. JUSTIN I. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 519 JUSTINUS Composition End of schism + Augustus of the between + and 'Chroni- Eastern and + Eutharicus con,' Western + Cillica. dedicated Churches. + to + Eutharic. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 520 Rusticus Composition + and of the + Vitalianus. Gothic + History + (?). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 521 Valerius + and Flavius + Justinianus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 522 Symmachus +(Ind.) and Boethius + (_sons of + the great + Boethius_). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 523 Flavius Franks invade JOHN I. + Anicius Burgundy. + Maximus. Imprisonment + of Boethius. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 524 Flavius Death of + JUSTINUS Boethius. + Aug. (II) + and Opilio. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 525 Anicius Death of + Probus Symmachus. + Junior and Pope John's + Flavius Mission to + Theodorus Constantinople. + Philoxenus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 526 Olybrius. Cassiodorus Pope John ATHALARIC. FELIX III + Master of dies in (or IV). + the prison (May + Offices. 25). Death of + Theodoric + (Aug. 30). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 527 Vettius Death of JUSTINIAN. + Agorius Amalafrida, + Basilius Queen-dowager + Mavortius. of the Vandals. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 528 Flavius + JUSTINIANUS + Aug. (II). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 529 Decius BONIFACE II. + Junior. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 530 Flavius + Lampadius + and + Orestes. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 531 _Post + Consulatum + Lampadii et + Orestis._ +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 532 _Post Final invasion + Consulatum of Burgundy by + Lampadii et the Franks. + Orestis. + Anno II._ +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 533 Flavius Cassiodorus The Vandal War JOHN III. + JUSTINIANUS Praetorian of Justinian + Aug. (III). Praefect (June, 533- + (Sept. 1), March, 534). + which + office he + holds till + he retires + from public + life. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 534 Flavius Death of AMALASUENTHA. + JUSTINIANUS Athalaric THEODAHAD. + Aug. (IV) (Oct. 2). + and Flavius Association of + Theodorus Theodahad with + Paulinus Amalasuentha. + Junior. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 535 Flavius Death of AGAPETUS. + Belisarius. Amalasuentha. + The Gothic War + begins. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 536 _Post Belisarius WITIGIS. SILVERIUS. + Consulatum takes Naples + Fl. and enters + Belisarii._ Rome. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 537 _Post Siege of Rome VIGILIUS. +(Ind.) Consulatum by Witigis. + Fl. + Belisarii + Anno II._ +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 538 Flavius Collection Siege of Rome + Johannes of the raised. + (John of 'Variae.' + Cappa- Composition + docia). of the 'De + Anima.' +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 539 Flavius Cassiodorus Mediolanum + Appion. about this taken by the + time lays Goths. + down his Belisarius + office and takes + retires to Auximum. + his + birthplace + (Scyllacium), + where he + founds the + Monastery + of + Vivaria. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 540 Flavius Ravenna ILDIBAD. + Justinus surrendered + Junior. to + Belisarius. + Captivity of + Witigis. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 541 Flavius He writes ERARIC. + Basilius Commentary BADUILA + Junior. on the (TOTILA). + Psalms as + far as + Psalm 20. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 542 Years " Totila twice + reckoned defeats the + Post Imperial + Consulatum generals, and + Basilii. retrieves the + fortune of the + Ostrogoths. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 543 " Composition + of the + 'Institutiones + Divinarum et + Humanarum + Litterarum.' +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 544 " Belisarius + returns to + Italy. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 545 " Rome taken by + Totila. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 546 " Continues + and + completes + his + Commentary + on the + Psalms. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 547 " " Rome + re-occupied by + Belisarius. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 548 " " Death of + Empress + Theodora. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 549 " " Rome again + taken by + Totila. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 550 " " Death of + Germanus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 551 " Narses + Commander of + Italian + Expedition. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 552 " Writes the Narses TEIAS. +(Ind.) 'Complexi- defeats + ones in Totila + Epistolas near + Apostolo- Tadinum. + rum,' and + compiles + the + 'Historia + Tripartita' + (the + precise + date of + these + works + unknown). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 553 " " Teias NARSES, + defeated and Governor of + slain near Italy under + Mons the Emperor. + Lactarius. + The Ostrogoths + leave Italy. + Invasion of + the Alamannic + brethren. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 554 " " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 555 " " PELAGIUS. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 556 " " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 557 " " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 558 " " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 559 " " Belisarius + defeats the + Huns under + Zabergan. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 560 " " JOHN III. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 561 " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 562 " Disgrace of + Belisarius. + Belisarius + restored to + favour. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 563 " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 564 " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 565 Post JUSTIN II. + Consulatum + Basilii + XXIV. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 566 Flavius Death of + JUSTINUS Belisarius + Augustus. and of + Justinian. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 567 Years Narses LONGINUS, +(Ind.) reckoned recalled by Exarch. + Post Justin. + Consulatum Alleged + Justini. invitation to + the Lombards. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 568 " The Lombards ALBOIN, + under Alboin King of the + enter Italy. Lombards. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 569 " Milan taken + by the + Lombards. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 570 " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 571 " Ticinum + taken + by the + Lombards. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 572 " +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 573 " Composition Assassination CLEPH, Death of + of treatise of Alboin. King of the John III. + 'De Lombards. + Orthographia' + in 93rd + year of + Cassiodorus. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 574 " Death of BENEDICT I. + Cleph. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 575 " Cassiodorus + dies in + his 95th + year (?). +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +THE + +LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS. + + + + +PREFACE[192]. + +[Footnote 192: Translated in full.] + + +[Sidenote: Reason for publication: entreaties of friends.] + +Learned men, who had become my friends through conversations which we +had had together, or benefits which I had bestowed upon them, sought +to persuade me to draw together into one work the various utterances +which it had been my duty to make, during my tenure of office, for the +explanation of different affairs. They desired me to do this, in order +that future generations might recognise the painful labours which I +had undergone for the public good, and the workings of my own unbribed +conscience. I then replied that their very kindness for me might turn +out to my disadvantage, since the letters which their good-will found +acceptable might to future readers seem insipid. I reminded them also +of the words of Horace, warning us of the dangers of hasty +publication. + +[Sidenote: Difficulty of writing.] + +'You see,' said I, 'that all require from me a speedy reply to their +petitions; and do you think that I couch those replies in words which +leave me nothing to regret hereafter? Our diction must be somewhat +rude when there is no sufficient delay to enable the speaker to choose +words which shall rightly express the precise shade of his meaning. +Speech is the common gift of all mankind: it is embellishment +(ornatus) alone which distinguishes between the learned and unlearned. +The author is told to keep his writings by him for nine years for +reflection; but I have not as many hours, hardly as many moments. As +soon as I begin the petitioner worries me with his clamours, and +hurries me too much to prevent my finishing cautiously, even if I have +so begun my task. One vexes me past endurance by his interruptions and +innuendoes; another torments me with the doleful tale of his miseries; +others surround me with the mad shouts of their seditious +contentions[193]. In such circumstances how can you expect elegance of +language, when we have scarcely opportunity to put words together in +any fashion? Even at night indescribable cares are flitting round our +couch[194], while we are harassed with fear lest the cities should +lack their supplies of food--food which the common people insist upon +more than anything else, caring more for their bellies than for the +gratification of their ears by eloquence. This thought obliges us to +wander in imagination through all the Provinces, and ever to enquire +after the execution of our orders, since it is not enough to tell our +staff what has to be done, but the diligent administrator must see +that it is done[195]. Therefore, I pray you, spare us your harmful +love. I must decline this persuasion of yours, which will bring me +more of danger than of glory.' + +[Footnote 193: 'Alii furiosa contentionum seditione circumdant.' This +is probably meant to describe turbulent Goths.] + +[Footnote 194: [Greek: ou chre pannuchion eudein boulephoron andra] +(Il. ii. 24).] + +[Footnote 195: Quia non sufficit agenda militibus imperare, nisi haec +Judicis assiduitas videatur exigere.] + +So I pleaded; but they plied me all the more with such arguments as +these: + +[Sidenote: The Praefecture.] + +'All men have known you as Praefect of the Praetorian throne, a +dignity which all other public employments wait upon like lacqueys. +For from this high office, ways and means for the army are demanded; +from this, without any regard for the difficulty of the times, the +food of the people is required; on this, a weight of judicial +responsibility is thrown, which would be by itself a heavy burden. Now +the law, which has thrown this immense load on the Praefect's office, +has, on the other hand, honoured him by putting almost all things +under his control. In truth, what interval of leisure could you snatch +from your public labours, when into your single breast flowed every +claim which could be made on behalf of the common good of all? + +[Sidenote: The Quaestorship.] + +'We must add, moreover, that when you were on frequent occasions +charged with the office of the Quaestorship, the leisure which you +might have enjoyed was taken from you by your own constant +thoughtfulness for the public good; and when you were thus bearing the +weight of an honour which was not the highest, your Sovereigns used to +lay upon you those duties, properly belonging to other offices, which +their own holders were unable to discharge[196]. All these duties you +discharged with absolute freedom from corruption, following your +father's example in receiving, from those who hoped for your favour, +nothing but the obligation to serve them, and bestowing on petitioners +all that they had a right to ask for without traffic or reward. + +[Footnote 196: 'Addimus etiam quod frequenter Quaesturae vicibus +ingravato otii tempus adimit crebra cogitatio, et velut mediocribus +fascibus insudanti, illa tibi de aliis honoribus principes videntur +imponere, quae proprii Judices nequeunt explicare.' This is probably +the clearest account that is anywhere given of the peculiar and +somewhat undefined position held by Cassiodorus during the greater +part of the reign of Theodoric.] + +[Sidenote: Intimacy with Theodoric.] + +'Moreover, men know that the conversations which you were honoured by +holding with the King occupied a large portion of your days, greatly +to the public welfare[197], so that men of leisure have no right to +expect that their requirements shall be met by you, whose day was thus +occupied with continuous toil[198]. But in truth this will redound yet +more to your glory, if amid so many and such severe labours you +succeed in writing that which is worthy to be read. Besides, your work +can without wounding their self-love instruct unlettered persons who +are not prepared by any consciousness of eloquence for the service of +the Republic[199]; and the experience which you have gained by being +tossed to and fro on the waves of stormy altercation, they in their +more tranquil lot may more fortunately make their own. Again (and here +we make an appeal which your loyalty cannot resist), if you allow +posterity to be ignorant of the numerous benefits conferred by your +King, it is in vain that with benevolent eagerness he so often granted +your requests. Do not, we pray, draw back once more into silence and +obscurity those who, while you were sounding their eulogies, seemed +worthy to receive illustrious dignities. For you then professed to +describe them with true praises, and to paint their characters with +the colours of history[200]. Now if you leave it to posterity to write +the panegyric on these men, you take away as it were from those who +die an honourable death the funeral oration to which, by the customs +of our ancestors, they are entitled. Besides, in these letters you +correct immorality with a ruler's authority; you break the insolence +of the transgressor; you restore to the laws their reverence. Do you +still hesitate about publishing that which, as you know, satisfies so +many needs? Will you conceal, if we may say so, the mirror of your own +mind, in which all ages to come may behold your likeness? Often does +it happen that a man begets a son unlike himself, but his writings are +hardly ever found unequal to his character[201]. The progeny of his +own will is his truest child; what is born in the secret recesses of +his own heart is that by which posterity will know him best. + +[Footnote 197: 'Regum quinetiam gloriosa colloquia pro magna diei +parte in bonum publicum te occupare noverunt.' It is difficult to +translate the expressive term, 'gloriosa colloquia.'] + +[Footnote 198: 'Ut fastidium sit otiosis exspectare quae tu continuo +labore cognosceris sustinere.' I cannot translate this literally.] + +[Footnote 199: 'Rudes viros et ad Rempublicam conscia facundia +praeparatos.' Surely some negative has dropped out of the latter +clause.] + +[Footnote 200: 'Tu enim illos assumpsisti vera laude describere, et +quodammodo historico colore depingere.'] + +[Footnote 201: 'Contingit enim dissimilem filium plerumque generari, +oratio dispar moribus vix potest inveniri.'] + +[Sidenote: Gothic History.] + +'You have often, amid universal acclamation, pronounced the praises of +kings and queens. In twelve books you have compiled the History of the +Goths, culling the story of their triumphs[202]. Since these works +have had such favourable fortunes, and since you have thus served your +first campaign in literature, why hesitate to give these productions +of yours also to the public?' + +[Footnote 202: 'Duodecim libris Gothorum historiam _defloratis +prosperitatibus_ condidisti.' By an extraordinary error this sentence +has been interpreted to mean that Cassiodorus wrote his history of the +Goths after their prosperity had faded; and some writers have +accordingly laboured, quite hopelessly, to bring down the composition +of the Gothic History to a late period in the reign of Athalaric. It +is perfectly clear from many passages that Cassiodorus uses +'deflorare' in the sense of 'picking flowers,' 'culling a nosegay.' +See Historia Tripartita, Preface (twice); De Instit. Divin. +Litterarum, cap. xxx; and De Orthographia, cap. ii (title). I doubt +not that careful search would discover many more instances. It is only +strange to me that Cassiodorus should, by the words 'defloratis +_prosperitatibus_,' so naively confess the one-sided character of his +history.] + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus consents to publish.] + +So pleaded my friends, and to my shame I must own that I was +conquered, and could no longer resist so many prayers; especially when +I saw myself accused of want of affection. I have now only to crave my +readers' pardon; and if they find rashness and presumption in my +attempt, to blame my advisers rather than me, since my own judgment +agrees with that of my severest critic. + +All the letters, therefore, which I have been able to find in various +public archives that had been dictated by me as Quaestor, as Magister +[Officiorum], or as Praefect, are here collected and arranged in +twelve books. By the variety of subjects touched upon, the attention +of the reader will be aroused, and it will be maintained by the +feeling that he is rapidly approaching the conclusion of the letter. + +I have also wished to preserve others from those unpolished and hasty +forms of speech into which I am conscious that I have often fallen in +announcing the bestowal of dignities, a kind of document which is +often asked for in such haste that there seems scarce time for the +mere manual labour of writing it. I have therefore included in my +Sixth and Seventh Books _Formulae_ for the granting of all the +dignities of the State, hoping thus to be of some service to myself, +though at a late period of my career, and to help my successors who +may be hard pressed for time. What I have thus written concerning the +past will serve equally well for the future, since I have said nothing +about the qualities of the individual office-holder, but have made +such explanations as seemed suitable concerning the office. + +[Sidenote: Reason of the title Variarum.] + +As for the title of all twelve books, the index of the work, the +herald of its meaning, the expression in briefest compass of the whole +performance, I have for this chosen the name VARIAE. And this, because +it was necessary for me not always to use the same style, since I had +undertaken to address various kinds of persons. One must speak in one +way to men jaded with much reading; in another to those who skim +lightly over the surface, tasting here and there; in another (if one +would persuade them), to persons who are devoid of a taste for +letters, since it is sometimes a proof of skill to avoid the very +things which please the learned. In short, the definition given by our +ancestors is a good one: 'To speak fitly is to persuade the hearers to +accept your wishes for their own.' Nor was it at random that the +prudence of Antiquity thus defined the three modes of speaking:-- + +[Sidenote: The three styles of composition.] + +(1) The _humble_ style, which seems to creep along the ground in the +very expression of its thought. + +(2) The _middle_ style, which is neither swollen with self-importance +nor shrunk into littleness; but being placed between the two, and +enriched by a peculiar elegance, is contained within its own true +boundaries. + +(3) The _supreme_ style, which by exquisite phraseology is raised to +the very highest pitch of oratory. + +The object of this distinction is that the various sorts and +conditions of men may each receive their appropriate address, and that +the thoughts which proceed from the same breast may nevertheless flow +in divers channels. No man is entitled to the name of eloquent who is +not prepared to do his duty manfully with the triple strength of these +three styles, as one cause after another may arise. It must be added +hereto that we have sometimes to speak to Kings, sometimes to the +Officers of the Court, sometimes to the very humblest of the people. +To the last we may allowably pour out our words with some degree of +haste, but the other addresses should be deeply pondered before they +are delivered. Deservedly therefore is a work entitled VARIAE, which +is subject to so much diversity in its composition. + +Would that, as we have received these maxims from those who have gone +before us, so our own compositions could claim the praise of having +reduced them into practice. In sooth we do with shamefacedness +promise that the Humble style shall be found in us; we think we may +without dishonesty covenant for the Middle style; but the Supreme +style, which on account of its nobility is the fitting language of a +royal Edict[203], we cannot hope that we have attained unto. + +[Footnote 203: The editors waver between 'quod est in edicto' and +'quod est in edito (constitutum).'] + +But since we are to be read, let us abstain from further unlawful +canvassing for the votes of our readers. It is an incongruous thing +for us to be thus piling up our own discourses about ourselves: we +ought rather to wait for your judgment on our work. + + + + +BOOK I. + +CONTAINING FORTY-SIX LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + +1. KING THEODORIC TO EMPEROR ANASTASIUS. + +[Sidenote: Persuasives to peace between Italy and Constantinople.] + +'It behoves us, most clement Emperor, to seek for peace, since there +are no causes for anger between us. + +'Peace by which the nations profit; Peace the fair mother of all +liberal arts, the softener of manners, the replenisher of the +generations of mankind. Peace ought certainly to be an object of +desire to every kingdom. + +'Therefore, most pious of princes, it accords with your power and your +glory that we who have already profited by your affection [personally] +should seek concord with your Empire. You are the fairest ornament of +all realms; you are the healthful defence of the whole world, to which +all other rulers rightfully look up with reverence[204], because they +know that there is in you something which is unlike all others[205]: +we above all, who by Divine help learned in your Republic the art of +governing Romans with equity. Our royalty is an imitation of yours, +modelled on your good purpose, a copy of the only Empire; and in so +far as we follow you do we excel all other nations. + +[Footnote 204: 'Vos totius orbis salutare praesidium, quod caeteri +dominantes jure suspiciunt quia in vobis singulare aliquid inesse +cognoscunt.' 'Suspiciunt' seems to give a better sense than the other +reading, 'suscipiunt.'] + +[Footnote 205: 'Quia in vobis singulare aliquid inesse cognoscunt.'] + +'Often have you exhorted me to love the Senate, to accept cordially +the laws of past Emperors, to join together in one all the members of +Italy. How can you separate from your august alliance one whose +character you thus try to make conformable to your own? There is +moreover that noble sentiment, love for the City of Rome, from which +two princes, both of whom govern in her name, should never be +disjoined. + +'We have thought fit therefore to send A and B[206] as ambassadors to +your most serene Piety, that Peace, which has been broken, through a +variety of causes, may, by the removal of all matters of dispute, be +firmly restored between us. For we think you will not suffer that any +discord should remain between two Republics, which are declared to +have ever formed one body under their ancient princes[207], and which +ought not to be joined by a mere sentiment of love, but actively to +aid one another with all their powers. Let there be always one will, +one purpose in the Roman Kingdom. Therefore, while greeting you with +our respectful salutations, we humbly beg that you will not remove +from us the high honour of your Mildness's affection[208], which we +have a right to hope for if it were never granted to any others. + +[Footnote 206: 'Illum atque illum.' I shall always render this phrase +(which shows that Cassiodorus had not preserved the names of the +ambassadors) as above.] + +[Footnote 207: 'Quia pati vos non credimus, inter utrasque +Respublicas, quarum semper unum corpus sub antiquis principibus fuisse +declaratur, aliquid discordiae permanere.'] + +[Footnote 208: 'Poma meute deposcimus ne suspendatis a nobis +mansuetudinis vestrae gloriosissimam caritatem.'] + +'The rest of their commission will be verbally conveyed to your Piety +by the bearers of these letters[209].' + +[Footnote 209: For some remarks on the date of this letter, see +Introduction, p. 23. The mention of interrupted peace, which evidently +requires not mere estrangement but an actual state of war, points to +the year 505, when Sabinian, the general of Anastasius, was defeated +by the Ostrogoths and their allies at Horrea Margi; or to 508, when +the Imperial fleet made a raid on the coast of Apulia, as probable +dates for the composition of the letter. Its place at the beginning of +the Variae does not at all imply priority in date to the letters which +follow it. It was evidently Cassiodorus' method to put in the +forefront of every book in his collection a letter to an Emperor or +King, or other great personage. + +As for the tone of the letter, and the exact character of the relation +between the Courts of Ravenna and Constantinople which is indicated by +it, there is room for a wide divergence of opinion. To me it does not +seem to bear out Justinian's contention (recorded by Procopius, De +Bello Gotthico ii. 6) that Theodoric ruled Italy as the Emperor's +lieutenant. Under all the apparent deference and affectation of +humility the language seems to me to be substantially that of one +equal addressing another, older and with a somewhat more assured +position, but still an equal.] + + +2. KING THEODORIC TO THEON, VIR SUBLIMIS. + +[Sidenote: Manufacture of purple dye.] + +'We are informed by Count Stephen that the work of preparing the +purple for the sacred (_i.e._ royal) robes, which was put under your +charge, has been interrupted through reprehensible negligence on your +part. There must be neglect somewhere, or else the wool with its +milk-white hairs would long before now have imbibed the precious +quality of the adorable _murex_. If the diver in the waters of +Hydruntum[210] had sought for these murex-shells at the proper season, +that Neptunian harvest, mixed with an abundant supply of water, would +already have generated the flame-bright liquid which dyes the robes +that adorn the throne. The colour of that dye is gay[211] with too +great beauty; 'tis a blushing obscurity, an ensanguined blackness, +which distinguishes the wearer from all others, and makes it +impossible for the human race not to know who is the king. It is +marvellous that that substance after death should for so long a time +exude an amount of gore which one would hardly find flowing from the +wounds of a living creature. For even six months after they have been +separated from the delights of the sea, these shell-fish are not +offensive to the keenest nostrils, as if on purpose that that noble +blood might inspire no disgust. Once this dye is imparted to the +cloth, it remains there for ever; the tissue may be destroyed sooner +than part with it. If the murex has not changed its quality, if the +press (torcular) is still there to receive its one vintage, it must be +the fault of the labourers that the dye is not forthcoming. What are +they doing, all those crowds of sailors, those families of rustics? +And you who bear the name of Count, and were exalted high over your +fellow-citizens on purpose that you might attend to this very thing, +what sacrilegious negligence is this which you are manifesting in +reference to the sacred vesture? If you have any care for your own +safety come at once with the purple[212], which you have hitherto been +accustomed to render up every year. If not, if you think to mock us by +delay, we shall send you not a constrainer but an avenger. + +[Footnote 210: Otranto.] + +[Footnote 211: Vernans.] + +[Footnote 212: Blatta.] + +'How easy was the discovery of this great branch of manufacture! A +dog, keen with hunger, bounding along the Tyrian shore, crunched the +shells which were cast up there. The purple gore dyed his jaws with a +marvellous colour; and the men who saw it, after the sudden fashion of +inventors, conceived the idea of making therewith a noble adornment +for their kings. What Tyre is for the East, Hydron[213] is for +Italy--the great cloth-factory of Courts, not keeping its old art +(merely), but ever transmitting new improvements.' + +[Footnote 213: I presume the same as Hydruntum (Otranto).] + + +3. KING THEODORIC TO CASSIODORUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN[214]. + +[Footnote 214: Father of the Author.] + +[Sidenote: Praises of the father of Cassiodorus.] + +Extols in high-flown language the merits of the minister who in the +early and troublous days of Theodoric's reign conciliated the wavering +affections of the suspicious Sicilians[215], governed them so justly +that not even they (addicted as they are, according to Cicero, to +grumbling) could complain; then displayed equal rectitude in the +government of his own native Province of Bruttii and Lucania (hard as +it is to be perfectly just in the government of one's own native +place); then administered the Praefecture in such a way as to earn the +thanks of all Italy, even the taxes not being felt to be burdensome +under his rule, because so justly levied; and now, finally, as a +reward for all these services, is raised to the distinguished honour +of the Patriciate. + +[Footnote 215: 'In ipso quippe imperii nostri devotus exordio, cum +adhuc fluctuantibus rebus provinciarum corda vagarentur, et negligi +rudem dominum novitas ipsa pateretur.'] + + +4. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Introducing Cassiodorus (Senior) on his accession to the honours of +the Patriciate.] + +[Sidenote: Great deeds of the ancestors of Cassiodorus for three +generations.] + +Compliments to the Senate, of which Theodoric wishes to increase the +dignity by bestowing honours on its most eminent members. + +Recital of the services and good qualities of Cassiodorus[216]: + +[Footnote 216: Father of Cassiodorus Senator.] + +(_a_) as 'Comes Privatarum;' + +(_b_) as 'Comes Sacrarum Largitionum;' + +(_c_) as Governor of Provinces. + +(General reflections on the importance of a governor being himself a +virtuous man). + +'Having been trained thus to official life under the preceding King +[Odovacar] he came with well-earned praises to our palace.' + +(_d_) His eminent career as Praetorian Praefect and modest demeanour +therein. + +Services of previous members of his family. Fame seems to be always at +home among the Cassiodori. They are of noble birth, equally celebrated +among orators and warriors, healthy of body, and very tall. + +His father, _Cassiodorus_[217], was 'Tribunus et Notarius' under +Valentinian III. This last was a great honour, for only men of +spotless life were associated with the Imperial 'Secretum.' A +friendship, founded on likeness, drew him to the side of Aetius, whose +labours for the State he shared. + +[Footnote 217: Grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator.] + +_Embassy to Attila._ 'With the son of this Aetius, named Carpilio, he +was sent on no vain embassy to Attila, the mighty in arms. He looked +undaunted on the man before whom the Empire quailed. Calm in conscious +strength, he despised all those terrible wrathful faces that scowled +around him. He did not hesitate to meet the full force of the +invectives of the madman who fancied himself about to grasp the Empire +of the world. He found the King insolent; he left him pacified; and so +ably did he argue down all his slanderous pretexts for dispute that +though the Hun's interest was to quarrel with the richest Empire in +the world, he nevertheless condescended to seek its favour. The +firmness of the orator roused the fainting courage of his countrymen, +and men felt that Rome could not be pronounced defenceless while she +was armed with such ambassadors. Thus did he bring back the peace +which men had despaired of; and as earnestly as they had prayed for +his success, so thankfully did they welcome his return.' + +He was offered honours and revenues, but preferred to seek the +pleasant retirement of Bruttii in the land which his exertions had +freed from the terror of the stranger. + +His father, Cassiodorus[218], an 'Illustris,' defended the coasts of +Sicily and Bruttii from the Vandals, thus averting from those regions +the ruin which afterwards fell upon Rome from the same quarter. + +[Footnote 218: Great-grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator.] + +In the East, Heliodorus, a cousin of the Cassiodori, has brilliantly +discharged the office of Praefect for eighteen years, as Theodoric +himself can testify. Thus the family, conspicuous both in the Eastern +and Western World, has two eyes with which it shines with equal +brilliancy in each Senate. + +Cassiodorus is so wealthy that his herds of horses surpass those of +the King, to whom he makes presents of some of them in order to avoid +envy. 'Hence it arises that our present candidate [for patrician +honours] mounts the armies of the Goths; and having even improved upon +his education, generously administers the wealth which he received +from his parents. + +'Now, Conscript Fathers, welcome and honour the new Patrician, who is +so well worthy of a high place among you.' + + +5. KING THEODORIC TO FLORIANUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium.] + +'Lawsuits must not be dragged on for ever. There must be some +possibility of reaching a quiet haven. Wherefore, if the petitioners +have rightly informed us that the controversy as to the farm at +Mazenes has been decided in due course of law by Count Annas, and +there is no reasonable ground for appeal[219], let that sentence be +held final and irreversible. We must sometimes save a litigious man +from himself, as a good doctor will not allow a patient to take that +which is injurious to him.' + +[Footnote 219: 'Nec aliqua probatur appellatione suspensa.'] + + +6. KING THEODORIC TO AGAPITUS, PRAEFECTUS URBIS. + +[One of the MSS. reads _Pontifici_, but this is clearly wrong. The +language is not at all suitable to be addressed to a Pope, and there +was no Pope Agapetus till 535, nine years after the death of +Theodoric.] + +[Sidenote: Mosaics ordered for Ravenna.] + +'I am going to build a great Basilica of Hercules at Ravenna, for I +wish my age to match preceding ones in the beauty of its buildings, +as it does in the happiness of the lives of my subjects. + +'Send me therefore skilful workers in Mosaic' [of which kind of work +we have a very good description as follows]. + +_(Cassiodorus on Mosaic)._ + +'Send us from your city some of your most skilful marble-workers, who +may join together those pieces which have been exquisitely divided, +and, connecting together their different veins of colour, may +admirably represent the natural appearance[220]. From Art proceeds +this gift, which conquers Nature. And thus the discoloured surface of +the marble is woven into the loveliest variety of pictures; the value +of the work, now as always, being increased by the minute labour which +has to be expended on the production of the Beautiful.' + +[Footnote 220: 'Et venis colludentibus illigata naturalem faciem +laudabiliter mentiantur.'] + + +7. KING THEODORIC TO FELIX, VIR CLARISSIMUS. + +This letter will be best understood by a reference to the following +pedigree: + + N. + | + __________________________________________ + | | | +FELIX = A daughter. NEOTHERIUS PLUTIANUS + [a spendthrift]. [a minor, whose + guardian is + Venantius]. + +[Sidenote: The inheritance of Plutianus.] + +Apparently Felix is accused by Venantius, the guardian of his young +brother-in-law Plutianus, of having, on behalf of his wife, made an +unfair division of the family property (which had been originally +given to the father of these lads by Theodoric, as a reward for his +services). In doing this he has availed himself of the spendthrift +character of Neotherius, the elder brother, who was probably already +of age. + +Felix is severely blamed, and ordered to hand over what he has +fraudulently appropriated to the official, who is charged with the +execution of this mandate. + +Both are summoned to the 'Comitatus' of the King, that a fair division +may there be made between them. + + +8. KING THEODORIC TO AMABILIS, THE COLLECTOR (EXSECUTOR). + +[Sidenote: The prodigality of Neotherius.] + +In reference to this same matter of the wasted property of Plutianus. +It appears from this letter that Neotherius has been not merely a +spendthrift, but has been actuated by motives of passionate 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 lacerasse_.'] + + +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 ('Koenige 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 ILLUSTRIS 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?'] + +Cassiodorus gives-- + +(1) Some sublime reflections in the true Cassiodorian 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 shillings. 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 Cassiodorus is talking about the ancients (veteres), +whereas the solidus was a comparatively modern coin. It seems that +either Cassiodorus 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 passage 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 pass 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 ILLUSTRIS, +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 +Quaestorship 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 shine 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 +noble 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 petition 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 ('Koenige 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 ILLUSTRIS 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 JULIANUS, 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 constiterit, de +reliquis primae indictionis habita moderatione detrahatis.'] + + +17. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHIC AND ROMAN INHABITANTS OF DERTONA +(TORTONA). + +[Sidenote: Fortification of camp near Dertona.] + +'We have decided that the camp near you shall at once be fortified. It +is expedient to execute works of this kind in peace rather than in +war. + +'The true meaning of _expeditio_ shows that the leader of a military +expedition should have an unencumbered mind. + +'Do you therefore second our efforts by building good private houses, +in which you will be sheltered, while the enemy (whenever he comes) +will be in the worst possible quarters[228], and exposed to all the +severity of the weather.' + +[Footnote 228: 'Durissimae mansiones.'] + + +18. KING THEODORIC TO DOMITIANUS AND WILIAS. + +[Sidenote: Statute of Limitations.] + +'It is right that you, who are administering justice to the nations, +should learn and practise it yourselves. We therefore hasten to reply +to the question which you have asked [concerning the length of time +that is required to bestow a title by prescription]. If any Barbarian +usurper have taken possession of a Roman farm since the time when we, +through God's grace, crossed the streams of the Isonzo, when first the +Empire of Italy received us[229], and if he have no documents of title +[sine delegatoris cujusquam pyctacio] to show that he is the rightful +holder, then let him without delay restore the property to its former +owner. But if he shall be found to have entered upon the property +before the aforesaid time, since the principle of the thirty years' +prescription comes in, we order that the petition of the plaintiff +shall be dropped. + +[Footnote 229: 'Ex quo, Deo propitio, Sonti fluenta transmisimus ubi +primum Italiae nos suscepit imperium.'] + +[Sidenote: Crimes of violence.] + +'The assailant, as well as the murderer, of his brother, is to be +driven forth from the kingdom, that the serenity of our Commonwealth +may not be troubled with any such dark spots.' + +[Theodoric crossed the Isonzo, August, 489, and as I understand this +letter, it was written somewhere about 518, and he therefore lays down +a convenient practical rule: 'No dispossession which occurred before +I crossed the Isonzo shall be enquired into; any which have happened +since, may.' But the letter is a very difficult one, and I am bound to +say that Dahn's interpretation ('Koenige der Germanen' iii. 11, 12) +does not agree with mine.] + + +19. KING THEODORIC TO SATURNINUS AND VERBUSIUS, VIRI SUBLIMES. + +[Sidenote: The rights of the Fiscus.] + +'The _Fiscus_ is to have its rights, but we do not wish to oppress our +people. Let moderation be observed in all things. + +'When you receive the petition of the Curiales of Adriana, if anyone +who is able to pay, stubbornly and impudently refuses to contribute to +the _Fiscus Gothorum_, you are to compel him to do so. But let off the +really poor man who is unable to contribute.' + + +20. KING THEODORIC TO ALBINUS AND ALBIENUS, VIRI ILLUSTRES AND +PATRICIANS. + +[Sidenote: Circus quarrels. Patronage of the Greens. Rivalry between +Helladius and Theodorus.] + +'Notwithstanding our greater cares for the Republic, we are willing to +provide also for the amusement of our subjects. For it is the +strongest possible proof of the success of our labours that the +multitude knows itself to be again at leisure[230]. + +[Footnote 230: 'Illud enim, propitiante Deo, labores nostros asserit +quod se _otiosam_ generalitas esse cognoscit.'] + +'The petition of the Green party in the circus informs us that they +are oppressed, and that the factions of the circus are fatal to public +tranquillity. We therefore order you to assume the patronage of the +Green party, which our father of glorious memory paid for[231]. So +let the spectators be assembled, and let them choose between Helladius +and Theodorus which is fittest to be Pantomimist of the Greens, whose +salary we will pay.' + +[Footnote 231: 'Quapropter illustris magnitudo vestra praesenti +jussione commonita, patrocinium partis Prasini, quod gloriosae +recordationis pater noster impendit, dignanter assumat.' This passage +probably alludes to Theodoric's adoption by Zeno. But one reading is +'pater _vester_.'] + +Then follows a digression on pantomimes. + + +21. KING THEODORIC TO MAXIMIAN, VIR ILLUSTRIS; AND ANDREAS, VIR +SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: Embellishment of Rome.] + +'If the people of Rome will beautify their City we will help them. + +'Institute a strict audit (of which no one need be ashamed) of the +money given by us to the different workmen for the beautification of +the City. See that we are receiving money's worth for the money spent. +If there is embezzlement anywhere, cause the funds so embezzled to be +disgorged. We expect the Romans to help from their own resources in +this patriotic work, and certainly not to intercept our contributions +for the purpose. + +'The wandering birds love their own nests; the beasts haste to their +own lodgings in the brake; the voluptuous fish, roaming the fields of +ocean, returns to its own well-known cavern. How much more should Rome +be loved by her children!' + + +22. KING THEODORIC TO MARCELLUS, VIR SPECTABILIS, ADVOCATUS FISCI. + +[Sidenote: Promotion of Marcellus.] + +After some rather vapid praise of the eloquence and good qualities of +Marcellus, Theodoric promotes him from the rank of a Private Advocate +to that of an _Advocatus Fisci_, and gives him some excellent counsels +about not pressing the claims of the Crown too far. 'We shall not +enquire how many causes you have gained, but how you have gained them. +Let there sometimes be a bad cause for the Fiscus, that the Sovereign +may be seen to be good.' + + +23. KING THEODORIC TO COELIANUS AND AGAPITUS, VIRI ILLUSTRES AND +PATRICIANS. + +[Sidenote: Litigation between Senators.] + +'The concord and harmony of subjects redound to the praise of their +prince. + +'We desire that Festus and Symmachus (Patricians and Magnifici) should +prosecute the causes for action which they say they have against +Paulinus (Illustris and Patrician) in your Court. Let Paulinus bring +before you any counter-claim which he may assert himself to possess. +Let justice be rendered speedily. Show yourselves worthy of this high +trust. It is a matter of great moment to end lawsuits between men of +such eminence in the State as these.' + + +24. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHS. + +[Sidenote: A call to arms for the invasion of Gaul.] + +'To the Goths a hint of war rather than persuasion to the strife is +needed, since a warlike race such as ours delights to prove its +courage. In truth, he shuns no labour who hungers for the renown of +valour. Therefore with the help of God, whose blessing alone brings +prosperity, we design to send our army to the Gauls for the common +benefit of all, that you may have an opportunity of promotion, and we +the power of testing your merits; for in time of peace the courage +which we admire lies hidden, and when men have no chance of showing +what is in them, their relative merits are concealed. We have +therefore given our Sajo[232], Nandius, instructions to warn you that, +on the eighth day before the kalends of next July, you move forward to +the campaign in the name of God, sufficiently equipped, according to +your old custom, with horses, arms, and every requisite for war. Thus +will ye at the same time show that the old valour of your sires yet +dwells in your hearts, and also successfully perform your King's +command. Bring forth your young men for the discipline of Mars. Let +them see you do deeds which they may love to tell of to their +children. For an art not learned in youth is an art missing in our +riper years. The very hawk, whose food is plunder, thrusts her still +weak and tender young ones out of the nest, that they may not become +accustomed to soft repose. She strikes the lingerers with her wings; +she forces her callow young to fly, that they may prove to be such in +the future as her maternal fondness can be proud of. Do you therefore, +lofty by nature, and stimulated yet more by the love of fame, study to +leave such sons behind you as your fathers have left in leaving you.' + +[Footnote 232: See for the office of the Sajo, note on ii. 13.] + +[We can hardly be wrong in referring this stirring proclamation to the +year 508, when Theodoric sent troops into Gaul to save the remnants of +the Visigothic Monarchy from the grasp of Clovis. The first sentence +recalls the expression 'certaminis gaudia,' which Jordanes no doubt +borrowed from Cassiodorus. For the simile at the end of the letter, +cf. Deuteronomy xxxii. 11, 'As an eagle stirreth up her nest'.] + + +25. KING THEODORIC TO SABINIANUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: Repair of the walls of Rome.] + +'It is important to preserve as well as to create. We are earnestly +anxious to keep the walls of Rome in good repair, and have therefore +ordered the Lucrine port[233] to furnish 25,000 tiles annually for +this purpose. See that this is done, that the cavities which have been +formed by the fall of stones may be roofed over with tiles, and so +preserved, and that thus we may deserve the thanks of ancient kings, +to whose works we have given immortal youth.' + +[Footnote 233: I presume that 'portum Lucini' is an error for the +Lucrine harbour; but there is an allusion which I do not understand in +the following passage: 'Simul etiam portubus junctis, qui ad illa loca +antiquitus pertinebant, et nunc diversorum usurpatione suggeruntur +invasi?'] + + +26. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS. + +[Sidenote: Immunity of Church property from taxation.] + +In the time of Cassiodorus the Patrician (a man of tried integrity and +pure fidelity[234]), a grant of freedom from taxation[235] was made to +the Church of Vercelli. Since that time other property has been +conveyed to the same Church, apparently by a soldier. An attempt is +made to represent this after-acquired property as also tax-free. 'No,' +says the King. 'It would be very wrong in us to recall our gift; but +it is equally wrong in you to try to stretch it to something which it +never included. Private persons must not make grants to the injury of +our treasury. Tribute belongs to the purple, not to the military +cloak[236]. Your newly acquired possessions must pay taxes along with +those of other owners.' + +[Footnote 234: This is evidently the writer's father.] + +[Footnote 235: 'Onera indictorum titulorum.'] + +[Footnote 236: 'Tributa sunt purpurae, non lacernae.'] + + +27. KING THEODORIC TO SPECIOSUS. + +[Sidenote: Circus quarrels.] + +'If we are moderating under our laws the character of foreign nations, +if the Roman law is supreme over all that is in alliance with Italy, +how much more doth it become the Senate of the seat of civilisation +itself to have a surpassing reverence for law, that by the example of +their moderation the beauty of their dignities may shine forth more +eminently. For where shall we look for moderation, if violence stains +Patricians? The Green party complain that they have been truculently +assaulted by the Patrician Theodoric and the "Illustris and Consul +Importunus," and that one life has been lost in the fray. We wish the +matter to be at once brought before the Illustres Coelianus and +Agapitus and examined into by them[237]. + +[Footnote 237: See i. 23, from which it appears that these two men had +special jurisdiction in cases affecting Patricians.] + +'As to their counter-complaints of rudeness against the mob, you must +distinguish between deliberate insolence and the licence of the +theatre. Who expects seriousness of character at the spectacles? It is +not exactly a congregation of Catos that comes together at the circus. +The place excuses some excesses. And besides, it is the _beaten_ party +which vents its rage in insulting cries. Do not let the Patricians +complain of clamour that is really the result of a victory for their +own side, which they greatly desired.' + +[The mention of 'the Patrician Theodoric' is a difficulty, as we know +of no namesake of the King among the Roman nobility. Perhaps we ought +to read (with the Remensian MS.) 'Theodoro,' as we know from 'Anon. +Valesii' 68 that there was a Theodorus, son of Basilius, who perhaps +succeeded Liberius, Praef. Praetorio.] + + +28. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHS AND ROMANS. + +[Sidenote: The walls of Rome.] + +'Most worthy of Royal attention is the rebuilding of ancient cities, +an adornment in time of peace, a precaution for time of war. + +'Therefore, if anyone have in his fields stones suitable for the +building of the walls, let him cheerfully and promptly produce them. +Even though he should be paid at a low rate, he will have his reward +as a member of the community, which will benefit thereby.' + + +29. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE LUCRISTANI (LUSTRIANI?) ON THE RIVER +SONTIUS (ISONZO). + +[Sidenote: The Postal Service.] + +'The post (_Cursus Publicus_) is evidently an institution of great +public utility, tending to the rapid promulgation of our decrees. + +'Care must therefore be taken that the horses are not allowed to get +out of condition, lest they break down under their work, and lest the +journey, which should be rapid, become tediously slow. + +'Also any lands formerly appropriated to the _mutationes_ [places for +changing horses] which have fallen into private hands must be +reclaimed for the public service, the owners being sufficiently +indemnified for their loss.' + + +30. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: On the injury to public peace arising from the Circus +rivalries.] + +The Senators are exhorted not to allow their menials to embroil +themselves with the populace, and thus bring their good name into +disgrace. Any slave accused of the murder of a free-born citizen is to +be at once given up, under penalty of a fine of 10 lbs. of gold +(L400), and the King's severe displeasure for the master who disobeys +this command. + +'And do not you, oh Senators, be too severe in marking every idle word +which the mob may utter amidst the general rejoicing. If there is any +insult which requires notice, bring it before the "Praefectus +Urbis"--a far better and safer course than taking the law into your +own hands.' + +[This letter, a very interesting and sensible one, is somewhat spoilt +by a characteristic Cassiodorian sentence at the end:-- + +'Men in old time used always to fight with their fists, whence the +word _pugna_, "a pugnis." Afterwards iron was introduced by King +Belus, and hence came _bellum_, "a Belo."'] + + +31. KING THEODORIC TO THE ROMAN PEOPLE. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +Gives similar good advice to that contained in the previous letter to +the Senate. + +'The Circus, in which the King spends so much money, is meant to be +for public delight, not for stirring up wrath. Instead of uttering +howls and insults like other nations [the populace of Byzantium?], +whom they have despised for doing so, let them tune their voices, so +that their applause shall sound like the notes of some vast organ, +and even the brute creation delight to hear it. + +'Anyone uttering outrageous reproaches against any Senator will be +dealt with by the Praefectus Urbis.' + + +32. KING THEODORIC TO AGAPITUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECTUS URBIS. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +'The ruler of the city ought to keep the peace, and justify my choice +of him. Your highest praise is a quiet people. + +'We have issued our "oracles" to the "amplissimus ordo" (Senate) and +to the people, that the custom of insulting persons in the Circus is +to be put under some restraint; on the other hand, any Senator who +shall be provoked to kill a free-born person shall pay a fine. The +games are meant to make people happy, not to stir them up to deadly +rage. Helladius[238] is to come forth into the midst and afford the +people pleasure [as a pantomimist], and he is to receive his monthly +allowance (menstruum) with the other actors of the Green Faction. His +partisans are to be allowed to sit where they please.' + +[Footnote 238: See Letter i. 20.] + +[Was there not some division in the Green Faction itself concerning +the merits of Helladius and his rival Theodorus?] + + +33. KING THEODORIC TO AGAPITUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECTUS URBIS. + +[Sidenote: Arrangements for the Pantomime.] + +'Our Serenity is not going to change the arrangements which we have +once made for the public good. We told Albinus and Albienus[239] to +choose the most fitting person they could find as Pantomimist of the +Greens. They have done so [choosing probably Helladius]. He shall have +his monthly allowance, and let there be peace.' + +[Footnote 239: Ibid.] + + +34. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS. + +[Sidenote: Only the surplus of corn to be exported.] + +'It should be only the surplus of the crops of any Province, beyond +what is needed for the supply of its own wants, that should be +exported. Station persons in the harbours to see that foreign ships do +not take away produce to foreign shores until the Public +Providers[240] have got all that they require.' + +[Footnote 240: 'Expensae publicae' perhaps = curatores annonae.] + + +35. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS. + +[Sidenote: Unreasonable delays. The sucking-fish and torpedo.] + +'This extraordinarily dry season having ruined the hopes of our +harvest, it is more than ever necessary that the produce should be +brought forward promptly. We are therefore exceedingly annoyed at +finding that the crops which are generally sent forward by your +Chancellor from the coasts of Calabria and Apulia in summer have not +yet arrived, though it is near autumn and the time is at hand when the +sun, entering the southern signs (which are all named from showers), +will send us storm and tempest. + +'What are you waiting for? Why are your ships not spreading their +sails to the breeze? With a favourable wind and with bending oarsmen, +are you perhaps delayed by the _echeneis_ (Remora, or sucking-fish)? +or by the shell-fish of the Indian Ocean? or by the torpedo, whose +touch paralyses the hand? No; the echeneis in this case is entangling +venality; the bites of the shell-fish, insatiable avarice; the +torpedo, fraudulent pretence. + +'The merchants are making delays in order that they may seem to have +fallen on adverse weather. + +'Let your Magnitude put all this to rights promptly, otherwise our +famine will be imputed, not to bad seasons, but to negligence[241].' + +[Footnote 241: For a fuller translation of this marvellous letter, see +Introd. p. 18.] + + +36. KING THEODORIC TO THERIOLUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: Guardianship of children of Benedictus.] + +'We wish you to take the place of the late Benedictus in the city of +Pedon. + +'As we never forget the services of the dead, we wish you to undertake +officially the guardianship of the sons of the said Benedictus. + +'We always pay back to our faithful servants more than we have +received from them, and thus we do not go on the principle "equality +is equity," because we think it just to make them _more_ than an equal +recompence.' + + +37. KING THEODORIC TO CRISPIANUS. + +[Sidenote: Justifiable homicide.] + +'Murder is abominable, but it is right to take into account the +circumstances which may have provoked to homicide. If the slain man +was trying to violate the rights of wedlock, his blood be on his own +head. For even brute beasts vindicate their conjugal rights by force: +how much more man, who is so deeply dishonoured by the adulterer! + +'Therefore, if it be true that the man whom you slew had wronged you +as a husband, we do not agree to the punishment of exile which has +been inflicted upon you. Nor will we uphold the action of the +_Vicarius_ or of his _Officium_, who, as you say, have impounded the +money paid by your _fidei-jussor_ (guarantor) Agnellus. Also, we will +protect you against the hostile assaults of Candax [next of kin to the +murdered man?] in future. But your allegation as to the provocation +must be fully established by legal process.' + +[It may be remarked that Candac, King of the Alani in Moesia, is +mentioned in the pedigree of Jordanes ('Getica,' cap. 4).] + + +38. KING THEODORIC TO BAION, A SENATOR[242]. + +[Footnote 242: See remarks on this letter in Dahn, Koenige der Germanen +iv. 147-8. Some MSS. read Coion or Goinon, as the name of the Senator +to whom it is addressed.] + +[Sidenote: The young Hilarius to be allowed to enter on possession of +his property.] + +'We are told that you are keeping in your own hands the administration +of the property of your young nephew [or grandson] Hilarius against +his will, and not for his good, but yours. Restore it at once. Let him +dispose of it as he likes. He seems to be quite able to enter upon the +lordship of his own. The eagle feeds her callow young with food which +she has procured for them, till their wings grow. Then, when their +flight is strong and their nails sharp, she trains them to strike +their own prey. So with our young Goths: when they are fit for +soldiership we cannot bear that they should be deemed incapable of +managing their own concerns. "To the Goths valour makes full age. And +he who is strong enough to stab his enemy to the heart should be +allowed to vindicate himself from every accusation of incapacity."' + +[Notwithstanding his Roman name, Hilarius is evidently a Goth.] + + +39. KING THEODORIC TO FESTUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: The nephews of Filagrius to be detained in Rome.] + +'We are always delighted to grant just requests. + +'Filagrius (Vir Spectabilis), who has been long absent from his home +on our business, seeks to return to Syracuse, but at the same time +asks that his brother's sons may be kept for their education's sake at +Rome. Do you attend to this petition, and do not let the lads go till +we send you a second order to that effect. No one ought to murmur at +being detained in Rome, which is everyone's country, the fruitful +mother of eloquence, the wide temple of all virtues. Ulysses would +very likely never have become famous if he had lingered on at home; +but Homer's noble poem most chiefly proclaims his wisdom in this fact, +that he roamed among many cities and nations.' + + +40. KING THEODORIC TO ASSUIN (OR ASSIUS), VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: The inhabitants of Salona to be drilled.] + +'War needs rehearsal and preparation. Therefore let your Illustrious +Sublimity provide the inhabitants of Salona with arms, and let them +practise themselves in the use of them; for the surest safeguard of +the Republic is an armed defender.' + +The necessity of drill and practice is shown by the early combats of +bullocks, the play-huntings of puppies, the necessity of first +kindling a fire with very little sticks, and so forth. + + +41. KING THEODORIC TO AGAPITUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECTUS URBIS. + +[Sidenote: Enquiries into character of the younger Faustus.] + +'The dignity of the Senate makes it necessary to be unusually careful +who is admitted into that body. Let other orders receive middling men: +the Senate must receive none but those who are of proved excellence. + +'Therefore let your Illustrious Magnificence cause those enquiries to +be made concerning Faustus, the grown-up son of the Illustrious +Faustus, which the Senate hath ordered to be made concerning all +persons who are to be enrolled in its council[243]. In thus confirming +and ratifying the proceedings of the Senate we are in no degree +trenching on the accustomed authority of that sacred order.' + +[Footnote 243: 'Quae circa referendos curiae priscus ordo +designavit.'] + + +42. KING THEODORIC TO ARTEMIDORUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN [509 OR +524]. + +[Sidenote: Artemidorus to be Praefect of the City.] + +'We are especially bound to reward merit. Everyone who does us a +service makes a very good investment. You have long had what was +formerly considered more precious than great dignity--near access to +our person. Much as we loved you, we somewhat retarded your advance in +order that you might be the more richly adorned with all virtues when +you came to honour. Your birthplace, your lineage, your merit, all +declare you worthy of the promotion which we now bestow upon you, +declaring you for this third Indiction[244] _Praefectus Urbis_. You +will thus have the function of presiding over the Senate, a far higher +office than that of ruling the Palace or arranging private houses. The +value of the object committed to a person's care increases the dignity +of the post. It is much more honourable to be caretaker of a diadem +than of a wine-cellar. Judge of our esteem for you by the preciousness +of the body over which we are thus calling you to preside.' + +[Footnote 244: Either 509-510 or 524-525; more probably the former.] + + +43. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Promotion of Artemidorus.] + +[Announcing the elevation of Artemidorus to the post of Praefectus +Urbis.] + +'Artemidorus, though entitled from his relationship to the Emperor +Zeno to expect great promotion at the Court of Constantinople, has +preferred to share the fortunes and attach himself to the person of +Theodoric, who has often been refreshed after the cares of State by an +hour of his charming converse. Though he might have aspired to the +highest dignities of the Court, he has hitherto been satisfied with +the comparatively humble post of Superintendent of the Public +Spectacles [as Tribunus Voluptatum?]. Now, as Praefectus Urbis, he is +to preside over and become a member of your body. Welcome him.' + + +44. KING THEODORIC TO THE PEOPLE OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +[On the same subject as 42 and 43, the elevation of Artemidorus to the +Urban Praefecture.] + +Rebukes the commonalty sharply for their recent disturbances, which +defile with illicit seditions the blessings of peace, earned under +God's blessing by their Prince. The newly-appointed Praefectus +Urbanus, Artemidorus, long devoted to the service of Theodoric, will +attest the innocence of the good, and sharply punish the errors of the +bad, both by his own inherent prerogative and by a special commission +entrusted to him for that purpose by the King. + + +45. KING THEODORIC TO BOETIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: The water-clock and sundial destined for the Burgundian +King.] + +'It is important to oblige our royal neighbours even in trifles, for +none can tell what great matters may be aided thereby. Often what arms +cannot obtain the offices of kindness bring to pass. Thus let even our +unbending be for the benefit of the Republic. For our object in +seeking pleasure is that we may thereby discharge the serious duties +of life. + +'The Lord of the Burgundians has earnestly requested that we would +send him a clock which is regulated by water flowing under a modulus, +and one which is marked by embracing the illumination of the immense +sun[245].' + +[Footnote 245: An unintelligible translation doubtless, but is the +original clearer? 'Burgundionum dominus a nobis magnopere postulavit +ut horologium quod aquis sub modulo fluentibus temperatur et quod +solis immensi comprehensa illuminatione distinguitur ... ei +transmittere deberemus.' It is pretty clear that the first request of +the Burgundian King was for a clepsydra of some kind. The second must +be for some kind of sundial, but the description is very obscure.] + +[I transcribe, and do not attempt to translate, the further +description of the two machines, the order of which is now changed.] + +'_Primum_ sit, ubi stylus diei index, per umbram exiguam horas +consuevit ostendere. Radius itaque immobilis, et parvus, peragens quod +tam miranda magnitudo solis discurrit, et fugam solis aequiparat quod +modum semper ignorat. [This must be the sundial.] Inviderent talibus, +si astra sentirent: et meatum suum fortasse deflecterent, ne tali +ludibrio subjacerent. Ubi est illud horarum de lumine venientium +singulare miraculum, si has et umbra demonstrat? Ubi praedicabilis +indefecta roratio, si hoc et metalla peragunt, quae situ perpetuo +continentur? O artis inaestimabilis virtus quae dum se dicit ludere, +naturae praevalet secreta vulgare. + +'_Secundum_ sit [the clepsydra] ubi praeter solis radios hora +dignoscitur, noctes in partes dividens: quod ut nihil deberet astris, +rationem coeli ad aquarum potius fluenta convertit, quorum motibus +ostendit, quod coelum volvitur; et audaci praesumptione concepta, ars +elementis confert quod originis conditio denegavit.' + +'It will be a great gain to us that the Burgundians should daily look +upon something sent by us which will appear to them little short of +miraculous. Exert yourself therefore, oh Boetius, to get this thing +put in hand. You have thoroughly imbued yourself with Greek +philosophy[246]. You have translated Pythagoras the musician, Ptolemy +the astronomer, Nicomachus the arithmetician, Euclid the geometer, +Plato the theologian, Aristotle the logician, and have given back the +mechanician Archimedes to his own Sicilian countrymen (who now speak +Latin). You know the whole science of Mathematics, and the marvels +wrought thereby. A machine [perhaps something like a modern orrery] +has been made to exhibit the courses of the planets and the causes of +eclipses. What a wonderful art is Mechanics! The mechanician, if we +may say so, is almost Nature's comrade, opening her secrets, changing +her manifestations, sporting with miracles, feigning so beautifully, +that what we know to be an illusion is accepted by us as truth.' + +[Footnote 246: Evidently 'sic enim Atheniensium scholas longe positus +introisti' does not mean that Boethius actually visited Athens, but +that he became thoroughly at home in the works of Athenian +philosophers.] + + +46. KING THEODORIC TO GUNDIBAD [SIC], KING OF THE BURGUNDIANS. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +Sends the two clocks, or rather perhaps the celestial globe and the +water-clock. + +'Have therefore in your country what you have often seen in Rome. It +is right that we should send you presents, because you are connected +with us by affinity. It is said that under you "Burgundia" looks into +the most subtle things, and praises the discoveries of the ancients. +Through you she lays aside her "Gentile" (barbarous) nature, and +imitating the prudence of her King, rightly desires to possess the +inventions of sages. Let her arrange her daily actions by the +movements of God's great lights; let her nicely adjust the moments of +each hour. In mere confusion passes the order of life when this +accurate division of time is unknown. Men are like the beasts, if they +only know the passage of the hours by the pangs of hunger, and have no +greater certainty as to the flight of time than such as is afforded +them by their bellies. For certainty is undoubtedly meant to be +entwined in human actions.' + + + + +BOOK II. + +CONTAINING FORTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + +I. KING THEODORIC TO ANASTASIUS, MOST PIOUS EMPEROR. A.D. 511. + +[Sidenote: Consulship of Felix.] + +'By excellent ordinance of the ancients the year is named from the +Consul. Let the happy year take its title from our new Consul, _Felix_ +[Consul with Secundinus, A.D. 511[247]]. + +[Footnote 247: 'Portamque dierum tali nomine dicatus annus, tempos +introeat.' The figure here used seems borrowed from Claudian, In +Primum Cons. Stilichonis ii. 425-476.] + +'It is most suitable that Rome should gather back her children to her +bosom, and in her venerable Senate should enrol a son of Gaul. + +'Felix showed his excellent disposition first in this, that while +still a young man he hastened to "the native land of all the virtues" +[Rome]. Success followed his choice; we promoted him as he deserved. +While still a young man, deprived of his father's care, he showed the +rare gift of continence; he subdued avarice, the enemy of wisdom; he +despised the blandishments of vice; he trampled under foot the +vanities of pride. + +'We have now determined to reward him with the Consulship. Do you who +can with indiscriminate pleasure rejoice in both the blessings of the +Republic [in the Consuls of the East and West] join your favouring +vote. He who is worthy of so high an office as the Consulship may +well be chosen by the judgment of both' [Emperor and King]. + +[An important letter, as showing the extent to which concurrent choice +of Consuls was vested in Rome, or rather Ravenna, and Constantinople.] + + +2. KING THEODORIC TO FELIX, VIR ILLUSTRIS, CONSUL ORDINARIUS, A.D. 511 +(4TH OF THE INDICTION). + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +An address on his elevation to the Consulship, touching on nearly the +same topics as the preceding. + +Theodoric delights in bestowing larger favours on those whom he has +once honoured [a favourite topic with Cassiodorus]. + +Felix has come back from Gaul to the old fatherland[248]. Thus the +Consulship has returned to a Transalpine family, and green laurels are +seen on a brown stock. + +[Footnote 248: 'Cum soli genitalis fortuna relicta, velut quodam +postliminio in antiquam patriam commeasses.'] + +Felix has shown an early maturity of character. He has made a wise use +of his father's wealth. The honour which other men often acquire by +prodigality he has acquired by saving. Cassiodorus evidently has a +little fear that the new Consul may carry his parsimony too far, and +tells him that this office of the Consulship is one in which +liberality, almost extravagance, earns praise[249]; in which it is a +kind of virtue not to love one's own possessions; and in which one +gains in good opinion all that one loses in wealth. + +[Footnote 249: 'Ubi praeconium meretur effusio.'] + +'See the sacred City all white with your _vota_ (?). See yourself +borne upon the shoulders of all, and your name flitting through their +mouths, and manifest yourself such that you may be deemed worthy of +your race, worthy of the City, worthy of our choice, worthy of the +Consular _trabea_.' + +[The letter makes one suspect a certain narrowness and coldness of +heart in the subject of its praise.] + + +3. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE. A.D. 511. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +Recommends Felix for the Consulship, going over again the topics +mentioned in the two last letters. It appears that it was the father +of Felix who emerged, after a temporary eclipse of the family +fortunes, and then showed himself 'the Cato of our times, abstaining +from vice himself, and forming the characters of others; imbued also +with all Greek philosophy, he glutted himself with the honey of the +Cecropian doctrine.' + +Mention is made of the Consulship of an earlier Felix, A.D. 428, the +happy renown of which still lingered in the memories of men. + +The young Felix is praised for the qualities described in the two +previous letters, and also for his power of conciliating the +friendship of older men, especially the excellent Patrician Paulinus. + + +4. KING THEODORIC TO ECDICIUS (OR BENEDICTUS), VIR HONESTUS. + +[Sidenote: Collection of Siliquaticum.] + +'We wish always to observe long-established rules in fiscal matters, +the best guarantee against extortion. Therefore, whatever dues in the +way of _Siliquaticum_ appertained to Antiochus are now transferred to +you by the present authority, and the Sajo is charged to support your +claims herein; only the contention must not be mixed up with any +private matters of your own.' + +[The _Siliquaticum_ was a tax of one twenty-fourth--the _siliqua_ +being the twenty-fourth of a _solidus_--payable on all sales in market +overt by buyer and seller together.] + + +5. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS. + +[Sidenote: Soldiers' arrears.] + +'We are always generous, and sometimes out of clemency we bestow our +gifts on persons who have no claim upon us. How much more fitting is +it then that the servants of the State should receive our gifts +promptly! Wherefore, pray let your Magnificence see to it that the +sixty soldiers who are keeping guard in the fastnesses of Aosta +receive their _annonae_ without delay. Think what a life of hardship +the soldier leads in those frontier forts for the general peace, thus, +as at the gate of the Province, shutting out the entry of the +barbarous nations. He must be ever on the alert who seeks to keep out +the Barbarians. For fear alone checks these men, whom honour will not +keep back.' + +[A singular letter to write in the name of one who was himself a +Barbarian invader.] + + +6. KING THEODORIC TO AGAPITUS, ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Embassy to Constantinople.] + +'We have decided to send you on an embassy to the East +(Constantinople). Every embassy requires a prudent man, but here there +is need of especial prudence, because you will have to dispute against +the most subtle persons--artificers of words, who think they can +foresee every possible answer to their arguments. Do your best +therefore to justify the opinion which I formed of you before full +trial of your powers.' + + +7. KING THEODORIC TO SURA (OR SUNA), ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Embellishment of the City.] + +'Let nothing lie useless which may redound to the beauty of the City. +Let your Illustrious Magnificence therefore cause the blocks of marble +which are everywhere lying about in ruins to be wrought up into the +walls by the hands of the workmen whom I send herewith. Only take care +to use only those stones which have really fallen from public +buildings, as we do not wish to appropriate private property, even for +the glorification of the City.' + + +8. KING THEODORIC TO BISHOP SEVERUS, VIR VENERABILIS. + +[Sidenote: Compensation for damage done by troops on march.] + +'None is more suitable than a member of the Priesthood to perform acts +of justice towards his flock. + +'We therefore send your Holiness, by Montanarius, 1,500 solidi (L900), +for distribution among the Provincials, according to the amount of +damage which each one has sustained this year by the passage of our +army. See that the distribution is made systematically--not at +random--so that it may reach the right persons.' + + +9. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS. + +[Sidenote: Allowance to a retired charioteer.] + +'We always enjoy being generous. Compassion is the one virtue to which +all other virtues may honourably give way. Long ago we made the +charioteer Sabinus a monthly allowance of a solidus [twelve +shillings]. Now, as we learn from Histrius [or Historius] that this +former servant of the public pleasures is afflicted with the most +melancholy poverty, we have pleasure in adding _another_ solidus to +his monthly allowance. We are never so well pleased as when the +accounts of our expenditure show these items of charitable +disbursement.' + + +10. KING THEODORIC TO SPECIOSUS, VIR DEVOTUS, COMITIACUS [OFFICER OF +THE COURT]. + +[Sidenote: The abduction of Agapita.] + +'The laws guarding the sanctity of the marriage bed[250] must be +carefully upheld. + +[Footnote 250: 'Illud Humani generis procreabile Sacramentum.'] + +'Agapita[251] has explained to us that she was tempted away from her +husband by seducers, who promised to procure his death. From the time +of her leaving his company let all revenues which came to her under +the marriage contract (invalidated by her unfaithfulness) be given up +by her wrongful detainers[252] without any delay. It is too absurd +that men who ought to be severely punished for their wrong-doing +should even seek to make a profit out of it.' + +[Footnote 251: 'Foemina spectabilis.'] + +[Footnote 252: 'Retentatores.' So the Gepid Prince is called the +Retentator of Sirmium (Ennodius, Panegyric. Theod. 178. Ed. Migne).] + + +11. KING THEODORIC TO PROVINUS (PROBINUS?), ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Gift obtained from Agapita under undue influence.] + +[Refers to the same business of Agapita, who seems to have been a +woman of feeble intellect as well as an unfaithful wife.] The petition +of her husband Basilius (vir Spectabilis) sets forth that, influenced +by seducers, and from the levity so natural to woman, she for no good +reason quitted her own home. Her own petition confirms this; and she +states that, while taking refuge within the precincts of the Church, +she by deed of gift bestowed on Provinus the 'Casa Areciretina,' a +most preposterous gift from a poor woman to a rich man; from one whose +reputation was gone to a chaste man; from a half-crazy creature to one +who knew fully what he was about. This gift Agapita [and Basilius] now +seek to annul. Provinus is exhorted at once to throw up a possession +which cannot possibly bring him any credit, and the loss of which has +brought the poor woman to destitution. Alienation of property should +be the act of a person having 'solidum judicium,' which this poor +creature evidently had not, or she would not have left her husband +causelessly. + +'This is the second time of writing. Let there be no further delay in +complying.' + +[Probably, therefore, Probinus really is one of the 'Retentatores' +referred to in Letter 10, though this letter does not distinctly +identify him with them.] + + +12. KING THEODORIC TO THE COUNT OF THE SILIQUATARII (CUSTOMS +OFFICERS), AND TO HIM WHO HAS THE CARE OF THE HARBOUR (OF PORTUS?). + +[Sidenote: Prohibition of export of lard.] + +'Italy ought to enjoy her own products, and it is monstrous that +anything which she produces should be wanting to her own children. + +'Therefore let no lard be exported to foreign parts, but let it by +God's grace be all kept for consumption at home. + +'Now take care not to incur the slightest blame in this matter. It is +a very serious fault even in trifles to disobey orders. Sin consists +in quality, not in quantity; and injustice cannot be measured. A +command, if it be despised in one part, is violated in the whole.' + + +13. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO[253] FRUINARITH. + +[Footnote 253: The Sajo was an officer, not of very high rank, +apparently always of Gothic nationality, who was charged with +executing the King's mandates. Perhaps our word 'henchman' would be +the best translation of his title. His conventional attribute was +'devotio.' See Dahn, 'Koenige der Germanen' iii. 181-186, and my 'Italy +and her Invaders' iii. 282-284.] + +[Sidenote: Dishonest conduct of Venantius.] + +'We are always especially touched by the prayers of petitioners who +complain that they are forced to pay unjustly. Ulpianus in his +lamentable petition informs us that on the request of Venantius he +bound himself as a guarantor (fidei jussionis vinculo) to pay over to +the public Treasury at the time of his administration 400 solidi +(L240). With the presumption of a truculent rustic Venantius despised +his own promise, and Ulpianus has therefore been burdened with payment +of the money. We therefore order that Venantius, who has been accused +of many other crimes besides this, shall be summoned before you, and +if found to be legally liable, shall be at once, and sharply, +compelled to fulfil his promise.' + + +14. KING THEODORIC TO SYMMACHUS, PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Romulus the parricide.] + +'Parricide is the most terrible and unnatural of crimes. Even the cubs +of wild beasts follow their sires; the offshoot of the vine serves the +parent stem: shall man war against him who gave him being? It is for +our little ones that we lay up wealth. Shall we not earn the love of +those for whom we would willingly incur death itself? The young stork, +that harbinger of spring, gives a signal example of filial piety, +warming and feeding its aged parents in the moulting season till they +have recovered their strength, and thus repaying the good offices +received in its earlier years. So too, when the partridge, which is +wont to hatch the young of other birds, takes her adopted brood forth +into the fields, if these hear the cry of their genuine mother they +run to her, leaving the partridge forsaken. + +'Wherefore, if Romulus[254] have fouled the Roman name by laying +violent hands on his father Martinus, we look to your justice (we +chose you because we knew you would not spare the cruel) to inflict on +him legitimate revenge.' + +[Footnote 254: Quaere if named from the last Emperor.] + + +15. KING THEODORIC TO VENANTIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: Promotion of Venantius to Comitiva Domesticorum Vacans.] + +'We always like to promote to office the sons of distinguished +fathers. We therefore bestow on you the honour of Comes Domesticorum +(Comitiva Vacans), in memory of your glorious father. He held at the +same time the Praefecture [of Italy] and the command of the army, so +that neither the Provinces lacked his ordering, nor did his wise care +for the army fail. All was mastered by his skilled and indefatigable +prudence; he inclined the manners of the Barbarians to peace, and +governed so that all were satisfied with our rule. + +'You are a zealous student of literature, illustrious by birth and +eloquent by education. Go on as you have begun, and show yourself +worthy of our choice.' + + +16. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +This letter adds a little to the information contained in the +preceding one, as to the career of Liberius, father of Venantius. + +[Sidenote: Praises of Liberius.] + +Liberius was a faithful servant of Odovacar, who adhered to his master +to the last. 'He awaited incorruptly the Divine judgments, nor did he +allow himself to seek a new King till he had first lost his old one. +On the overthrow of his lord he was bowed by no terror; he bore +unmoved the ruin of his Prince; nor did the revolution, at which even +the proud hearts of the Barbarians trembled[255], avail to move him +from his calm. + +[Footnote 255: 'Quam etiam ferocitas gentilis expavit.'] + +'Prudently did he follow the common fortunes, in order that while +fixedly bearing the Divine judgments he might with the more +approbation find the Divine favour. We approved the faith of the man; +he came over in sadness to our allegiance as one who being overcome +changes his mind, not like one who has contrived [treacherously] that +he should be conquered. We made him Praefectus Praetorio. He +administered the finances admirably. By his economical management we +felt the increased returns, while you knew nothing of added tributes. + +[Sidenote: Apportionment of Tertiae.] + +'We especially like to remember how in the assignment of the [Gothic] +Thirds (in Tertiarum deputatione) he joined both the possessions and +the hearts of Goths and Romans alike. For whereas men are wont to come +into collision on account of their being neighbours, with these men +the common holding of their farms proved in practice a reason for +concord. Thus it has happened that while the two nations have been +living in common they have concurred in the same desires. Lo! a new +fact, and one wholly laudable. The friendship of the lords has been +joined with the division of the soil; amity has grown out of the loss +of the Provincials, and by the land a defender has been gained whose +occupation of part guarantees the quiet enjoyment of the whole. One +law includes them: one equal administration rules them: for it is +necessary that sweet affection should grow between those who always +keep the boundaries which have been allotted them. + +'All this the Roman Republic owes to Liberius, who to two such +illustrious nations has imparted sentiments of mutual affection. See +to it, Conscript Fathers, that his offspring does not go unrewarded.' + + +17. TO THE POSSESSORS, DEFENSORS, AND CURIALS[256] OF THE CITY OF +TRIDENTUM (TRIENT). + +[Footnote 256: Cf. iii. 9 for a similar heading.] + +[Sidenote: Immunity from Tertiae enjoyed by lands granted by the +King.] + +'We do not wish to be generous at the expense of others, and we +therefore declare that the _Sors_ which in our generosity we have +bestowed on Butilianus the Presbyter, is not to be reckoned in to the +tax calculations; but as many solidi as are comprehended in that gift, +so many are you to be relieved from, in the contribution of +"Tertiae."' + +[That is to say, the land given by the Gothic King to Butilian was to +be itself, as a matter of course, free from Tertiae; but, in order +that this might not throw a heavier burden on the other owners in the +district, they were to be allowed to deduct the solidi of that portion +from the gross amount payable by them on behalf of the whole district. +Butilian's own immunity from Tertiae seems to be taken for granted as +a result of the King's gift to him. (See Dahn, 'Koenige der Germanen' +iii. 145.)] + + +18. KING THEODORIC TO BISHOP GUDILA. + +[Sidenote: Ecclesiastics as Curiales.] + +An interesting but rather obscure letter on the condition of +_Curiales_. + +Apparently some ecclesiastics were claiming as slaves some men whom +the Curia of Sarsena (?) asserted to be fellow-curials of their own, +whom they therefore wanted to assist them in performing curial +obligations. + +Cassiodorus argues that as the 'Sors nascendi' prevented the Curialis +from rising to the higher honours of the State, it certainly ought +also to prevent him from sinking into slavery[257]. 'Therefore we +advise you to look well to your facts, and see whether these men are +not justly claimed as Curials, in which case the Church should give +them up before the matter comes to trial. It does not look well for +the Bishop, who should be known as a lover of justice, to be publicly +vanquished in a suit of this kind.' + +[Footnote 257: 'Quod si eos vel ad honores transire jura vetuerunt, +quam videtur esse contrarium, Curialem Reipublicae, amissa turpiter +libertate, servire? et usque ad conditionem pervenisse postremam quem +vocavit antiquitas _Minorem Senatum_.'] + +[Did the alleged Curials, in such a case, wish to have their curiality +or their quasi-ecclesiastical character established? Who can say?] + + +19. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHS AND ROMANS, AND THOSE WHO KEEP THE +HARBOURS AND MOUNTAIN-FORTRESSES (CLUSURAS). + +[Sidenote: Domestic treachery and murder.] + +'We hate all crime, but domestic bloodshed and treachery most of all. +Therefore we command you to act with the utmost severity of the law +against the servants of Stephanus, who have killed their master and +left him unburied. They might have learned pity even from birds. Even +the vulture, who lives on the corpses of other creatures, protects +little birds from the attacks of the hawk. Yet men are found cruel +enough to slay him who has fed them. To the gallows with them! Let +_him_ become the food of the pious vulture, who has cruelly contrived +the death of his provider. That is the fitting sepulchre for the man +who has left his lord unburied.' + + +20. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO UNIGILIS (OR WILIGIS). + +[Sidenote: Provision-ships to follow movements of Theodoric's Court.] + +'Let any provision-ships [_sulcatoriae?_] which may be now lying at +Ravenna be ordered round to Liguria (which in ordinary times supplies +the needs of Ravenna herself). + +'Our presence and that of our Court (Comitatus) attracts many +spectators and petitioners to those parts, for whose maintenance an +extra effort must be made.' [See Dahn, 'Koenige der Germanen' iii. +282.] + + +21. KING THEODORIC TO JOANNES THE APPARITOR. + +[Sidenote: A concession too timidly acted upon.] + +'The King has conceded to the Spectabiles Spes and Domitius a certain +tract of land which was laid waste by wide and muddy streams, and +which neither showed a pure expanse of water nor had preserved the +comeliness of solid earth, for them to reclaim and cultivate. + +'The petition of the _Actores_ of Spes sets forth that the operation +is put in jeopardy by the ill-timed parsimony of Domitius, which +throws back the labourers to the point from which they set out at +first[258]. Therefore let Domitius be stirred up to finish his part of +the work, or if he thinks that too expensive, let him throw up his +share of the concession and allow his partner to work it out.' + +[Footnote 258: 'Cum jam in soli faciem paulatim mollities siccata +duresceret, celatamque longa voracitate tellurem sol insuetus +afflaret.' I cannot understand these words. I suppose there was a hard +cake of clay left when the water was drained off, which was baked by +the sun, and that there should have been further digging to work +through this stratum and get at the good soil beneath; but the wording +is not very clear.] + +[We find in this letter a good motto for Theodoric's reign: 'Nos +quibus cordi est in melius cuncta mutare.'] + + +22. KING THEODORIC TO FESTUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Ecdicius to be buried by his sons.] + +'The sons of Ecdicius, whom at first we had ordered to reside in the +city, are to be allowed to return to their own country in order to +bury their father. That grief is insatiable which feels that it has +been debarred from rendering the last offices to the dead. Think at +what risk of his life Priam implored the raging Achilles to give him +back the body of his son.' + +[Apparently the sons of Ecdicius, not Ecdicius himself, had fallen +into disgrace with Theodoric, or incurred some suspicion of +disloyalty, which led to the rigorous order for their detention in +Rome. See Dahn iii. 279-280.] + + +23. KING THEODORIC TO AMPELIUS, DESPOTIUS, AND THEODULUS, SENATORS. + +[Sidenote: Protection for owners of potteries.] + +'It befits the discipline of our time that those who are serving the +public interests shall not be loaded with superfluous burdens. Labour +therefore diligently at the potteries (figulinae) which our Royal +authority has conceded to you. Protection is hereby promised against +the wiles of wicked men.' [What was the nature of the artifices to +which they were exposed is not very clear.] + + +24. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Arrears of taxation due from Senators.] + +'We hear with sorrow, by the report of the Provincial Judges, that you +the Fathers of the State, who ought to set an example to your sons +(the ordinary citizens), have been so remiss in the payment of taxes +that on this first collection[259] nothing, or next to nothing, has +been brought in from any Senatorial house. Thus a crushing weight has +fallen on the lower orders (_tenues_, _curiales_), who have had to +make good your deficiencies and have been distraught by the violence +of the tax-gatherers. + +[Footnote 259: 'Primae transmissionis tempus.'] + +'Now then, oh Conscript Fathers, who owe as much duty to the Republic +as we do, pay the taxes for which each one of you is liable, to the +Procurators appointed in each Province, by three instalments (trina +illatione). Or, if you prefer to do so--and it used to be accounted a +privilege--pay all at once into the chest of the Vicarius. And let +this following edict be published, that all the Provincials may know +that they are not to be imposed upon and that they are invited to +state their grievances[260].' + +[Footnote 260: See Dahn, 'Koenige der Germanen' iii. 153 and 112, n. +5.] + + +25. AN EDICT OF KING THEODORIC. + +[Referred to in the preceding letter.] + +[Sidenote: Evasion of taxes by the rich.] + +The King detests the oppression of the unfortunate, and encourages +them to make their complaints to him. He has heard that the powerful +houses are failing to pay their share of the taxes, and that a larger +sum in consequence is being exacted from the _tenues_[261]. + +[Footnote 261: Here follows a sentence which I am unable to translate: +'Superbia deinde conductorum canonicos solidos non ordine traditos, +sed sub iniquo pondere imminentibus fuisse projectos nec universam +siliquam quam reddere consueverant solemniter intulisse.' I think the +meaning is, that the stewards of the Senators (conductores) arrogantly +refused to allow the money paid to the tax-collectors (canonici +solidi) to be tested, as in ordinary course it should have been, to +see if it was of full weight. The 'imminentes' are, I think, the +tax-collectors. I cannot at all understand the clause about 'universam +siliquam.'] + +To 'amputate' such wickedness for the future, the letter last +preceding has been addressed to the Senate; and the 'Possessores sive +curiales' are now invited to state their grievances fully and +frankly, or else ever after hold their peace and cultivate a habit of +patience. + + +26. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Regulations for corn-traffic of Southern Italy.] + +A difficult letter about the corn-merchants of Apulia and Calabria. + +1. The corn which they have collected by public sale is not to be +demanded over again from them under the title of 'interpretium' +[difference of price]. + +2. Similarly as to the Sextarius which the merchant of each Province +imports. No one is to dare insolently to exact the prices which have +been always condemned. + +3. Fines of L1,200 on the Praefect himself, and L400 on his _officium_ +(subordinates), are to be levied if this order is disobeyed. + +4. If the 'Siliquatarius' thinks right to withhold the monopoly (of +corn) from any merchant, he must not also exact the monopoly payment +from him. + +5. As to the Aurarii [persons liable to payment of the _lustralis auri +collatio_[262]], let the old order be observed, and those only be +classed under this function whom the authority of antiquity chose to +serve thereunder. + +[Footnote 262: This appears to have been a tax levied on all traders, +otherwise known as the Chrysargyron. See Cod. Theod. xiii. 1. Aurarii +is therefore equivalent to Licensed Traders.] + + +27. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE JEWS LIVING IN GENOA. + +[Sidenote: Rebuilding of Jewish Synagogue.] + +The Jews are permitted to roof in the old walls of their synagogue, +but they are not to enlarge it beyond its old borders, nor to add any +kind of ornament, under pain of the King's sharp displeasure; and this +leave is granted on the understanding that it does not conflict with +the thirty years' 'Statute of Limitations.' + +'Why do ye desire what ye ought to shun? In truth we give the +permission which you craved, but we suitably blame the desire of your +wandering minds. _We cannot order a religion, because no one is forced +to believe against his will._' + + +28. KING THEODORIC TO STEPHANUS, 'SENATOR, COMES PRIMI ORDINIS, AND +EX-PRINCEPS OF OUR OFFICIUM[263].' + +[Footnote 263: Are we to understand by this expression the Officium of +the Praetorian Praefect?] + +[Sidenote: Honours conferred on Stephanus on his retirement from the +Civil Service.] + +Praises him for all the good qualities which have been recognised by +successive Judges under whom he has served--his secrecy, efficiency, +and incorruptibility. + +He is therefore, on his retirement from active service, raised to the +honour of a 'Spectabilis,' and rewarded with the rank of 'Comitiva +Primi Ordinis.' As a substantial recompence he is to have all the +privileges which by 'divalia constituta' belong to the 'ex-principes' +of his Schola, and is guaranteed against all damage and 'sordid +burdens[264],' with a hope of further employment in other +capacities[265]. + +[Footnote 264: Curial obligations.] + +[Footnote 265: 'Fixum tenuisti _militiae probatae_ vestigium. +Spectabilitatis honorem, quem _militiae sudore_ detersis justa +deputavit antiquitas praesenti tibi auctoritate conferimus ut laboris +tui tandem finitas _excubias_ ... intelligas ... Tibique utpote +_militiae_ munere persoluto.' The term 'militia' is employed here, as +in the Codes, of 'service in a bureau.'] + + +29. KING THEODORIC TO ADILA, SENATOR AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Protection to dependents of the Church.] + +[Notice the Senatorial rank borne by a man with a Gothic name.] + +'We wish to protect all our subjects[266], but especially the Church, +because by so doing we earn the favour of Heaven. Therefore, in +accordance with the petition of the blessed Eustorgius[267], Bishop of +Milan, we desire you to accord all necessary protection to the men +and farms belonging to the Milanese Church in Sicily: always +understanding, however, that they are not to refuse to plead in answer +to any public or private suit that may be brought against them. They +are to be protected from wrong, but are not themselves to deviate from +the path of justice.' + +[Footnote 266: 'Quia Regnantes est gloria, subjectorum otiosa +tranquillitas.'] + +[Footnote 267: For Eustorgius, cf. Letter i. 9.] + + +30. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sequel to last letter.] + +[Sidenote: Freedom from taxation granted to Church of Milan.] + +'Our generosity to an individual does not harm the public, and there +is no reason for putting any bounds to its exercise. + +'The Defensores of the Holy Church of Milan want to be enabled to buy +as cheap as possible the things which they need for the relief of the +poor; and they say that we have bestowed this favour on the Church of +Ravenna. + +'Your Magnificence will therefore allow them to single out some one +merchant who shall buy for them in the market, without being subject +to monopoly, siliquaticum, or the payment of gold-fee[268].' + +[Footnote 268: Auraria pensio. See note on ii. 26.] + +[It is easy to see how liable to abuse such an exception was. Who was +to decide when this merchant was buying for the Church and when for +himself; when the Church was buying for the poor and when for her own +enrichment?] + + +31. KING THEODORIC TO THE DROMONARII [ROWERS IN EXPRESS-BOATS]. + +[Sidenote: State Galleys on the Po.] + +'Those who claim the title of "militia" ought to serve the public +advantage. We have therefore told the Count of Sacred Largesses that +you are to assemble at Hostilia [on the Padus, about fifteen miles +east of Mantua], there to receive pay from our Treasury, and then to +relieve the land postal-service (veredarii) by excursions up and down +the channel of the Padus. There is no fear of _your_ limping; you walk +with your hands. No fear of _your_ carriages wearing out; they travel +over liquid roads, and suffer no wear and tear because they are borne +along upon the wave which itself runs with them.' + + +32. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Drainage of marshes of Decennonium.] + +'We always enjoy rewarding public spirit. Decius, Magnificus and +Patrician, has most nobly volunteered to drain the marsh of +Decennonium, where the sea-like swamp, accustomed to impunity through +long licence, rushes in and spoils all the surrounding lands. + +'We, in consideration of so great an undertaking, determine to secure +to him the fruits of his labour, and we therefore wish that you, +Conscript Fathers, should appoint a commission of two to visit the +spot and mark out the ground, which is at present wasted by the +inundations, that this land may be secured to Decius as a permanent +possession when he has drained it.' + +[The Palus Decennonii is undoubtedly connected with the Decennovial +Canal mentioned by Procopius ('De Bello Gotth.' i. 11), and so called +because it flowed for nineteen miles alongside the Appian Way. In the +Piazza at Terracina there is a very interesting inscription, recording +the fact that Theodoric had ordered that nineteen miles of the Appian +Way should be cleared of the waters which had accumulated round it, +and had committed the work to Caecina Maurus Basilius Decius, 'Vir +Clarissimus et Illustris, Ex-Praefectus Urbi, Ex-Praefectus Praetori, +Ex-Consul Ordinarius et Patricius.' See 'Italy and her Invaders' iii. +348.] + + +33. KING THEODORIC TO DECIUS, ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +The complement of the foregoing letter, about the drainage of the +marshes of Decennonium, which are hereby granted to him, apparently +'sine fisco,' tax-free. + +[But the meaning may be, 'the marshes which you drain _sine +fisco_'--without help from the Treasury.] + +The chief point of difference between this and the previous letter is +that here Decius is allowed and encouraged to associate partners with +him in the drainage-scheme, whom he is to reward according to their +share of the work. Thus will he be less likely to sink under the +enterprise, and he will also lessen men's envy of his success. + + +34. KING THEODORIC TO ARTEMIDORUS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: Embezzlement of City building funds.] + +'The persons to whom money was entrusted for the rebuilding of the +walls of Rome have been embezzling it, as was proved by your +examination of their accounts (discussio). We are very glad that you +have not hidden their misconduct from us (inclined as a generous mind +is to cover up offences), since you would thereby have made yourself +partaker of their evil deeds. They must restore that which they have +dishonestly appropriated, but we shall not (as we might fairly do) +inflict upon them any further fine. We are naturally inclined to +clemency, and they will groan at having to give up plunder which they +had already calculated upon as their own.' + + +35. KING THEODORIC TO TANCILA, SENATOR. + +[We have here another Senator with a Gothic name]. + +[Sidenote: Theft of brazen statue at Como.] + +'We are much displeased at hearing that a brazen statue has been +stolen from the City of Como. It is vexatious that while we are +labouring to increase the ornaments of our cities, those which +Antiquity has bequeathed to us should by such deeds be diminished. +Offer a reward of 100 aurei (L60) to anyone who will reveal the author +of this crime; promise pardon [to an accomplice], and if this does not +suffice, call all the workmen together "post diem venerabilem" [Does +this mean on the day after Sunday?], and enquire of them "sub terrore" +[by torture?] by whose help this has been done. For such a piece of +work as moving this statue could only have been undertaken by some +handicraftsman.' + + +36. EDICT ABOUT THE STATUE AT COMO. + +[Refers to previous letter.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'Though impunity for the crime should be sufficient reward, we promise +100 aurei, as well as forgiveness for his share in the offence, to +anyone who will reveal the author of the theft of the statue at Como. +A golden reward for a brazen theft. Anyone not accepting this offer +and afterwards convicted will suffer the extreme penalty of the law.' + + +37. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Largesse to citizens of Spoleto.] + +'As our Kingdom and revenues prosper, we wish to increase our +liberality. Let your Magnificence therefore give to the citizens of +Spoletium another "millena" for extraordinary gratuitous admissions to +the baths[269]. We wish to pay freely for anything that tends to the +health of our citizens, because the praise of our times is the +celebration of the joys of the people.' + +[Footnote 269: 'Ad exhibitionem thermarum supra consuetudinem.'] + +[The 'millena' probably means 1,000 solidi, or L600.] + + +38. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Immunity from taxation. Hostile ravages.] + +'We have no pleasure in gains which are acquired by the misery of our +subjects. We are informed that the merchants of the city of Sipontum +[in Apulia] have been grievously despoiled by hostile incursions +[probably by the Byzantine fleet in 508]. Let your Magnificence +therefore see to it that they are for two years not vexed by any +claims for purveyance (coemptio) on the part of our Treasury. But +their other creditors must give them the same indulgence.' + + +39. KING THEODORIC TO ALOISIUS THE ARCHITECT. + +[Sidenote: Hot springs of Aponum.] + +'The fountain of Aponus--so called originally in the Greek language as +being the remover of pain[270]--has many marvellous and beneficial +properties, for the sake of which the buildings round it ought to be +kept in good repair. One may see it welling up from the bowels of the +earth in spherical form, under a canopy of steam. From this parent +spring the waters, glassy-clear and having lost their first +impetuosity, flow by various channels into chambers prepared for them +by nature but made longer by art. In the first, when the boiling +element dashes against the rock, it is hot enough to make a natural +sudatorium; then it cools sufficiently for the tepidarium; and at +last, quite cold, flows out into a fish-pond like that of Nero. +Marvellous provision of Nature, whereby the opposing elements, fire +and water, are joined in harmonious union and made to soothe the pain +and remove the sickness of man! Yet more wonderful is the moral purity +of this fountain. Should a woman descend into the bath when men are +using it, it suddenly grows hotter, as if with indignation that out of +its abundant supply of waters separate bathing-places should not be +constructed for the two sexes, if they wish to enjoy its bounty[271]. +Moreover, those secret caves, the bowels of the mountains from whence +it springs, have power even to judge contentious business. For if any +sheep-stealer presumes to bring to it the fleece of his prey, however +often he may dip it in the seething wave, he will have to boil it +before he succeeds in cleansing it. + +[Footnote 270: [Greek: aponos].] + +[Footnote 271: I think this is Cassiodorus' meaning, but his language +is obscure.] + +'This fountain then, as we before said, deserves a worthy habitation. +If there be anything to repair in the _thermae_ themselves or in the +passages (cuniculi), let this be done out of the money which we now +send you. Let the thorns and briers which have grown up around it be +rooted up. Let the palace, shaken with extreme old age, be +strengthened by careful restoration. Let the space which intervenes +between the public building and the source of the hot-spring be +cleared of its woodland roughness, and the turf around rejoice in the +green beauty which it derives from the heated waters.' + +[The hot-springs of Abano, the ancient Aponum, are situated near the +Euganean Hills, and are about six miles from Padua. The heat of the +water varies from 77 deg. to 185 deg. (Fahr.). The chief chemical ingredients +are, as stated by Cassiodorus, salt and sulphur. Some of the minute +description of Cassiodorus (greatly condensed in the above abstract) +seems to be still applicable; but he does not mention the mud-baths +which now take a prominent place in the cure. On the other hand, the +wonderful moral qualities of the spring are not mentioned by modern +travellers.] + + +40. KING THEODORIC TO BOETIUS THE PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Boetius to choose a harper for the King of the Franks.] + +'The King of the Franks [Clovis] has asked us to send him a harper. We +felt that in you lay our best chance of complying with his request, +because you, being such a lover of music yourself, will be able to +introduce us to the right man.' + +Reflections on the nature of music. She is the Queen of the senses; +when she comes forth from her secret abiding place all other thoughts +are cast out. Her curative influence on the soul. + +The five tones: the Dorian[272], influencing to modesty and purity; +the Phrygian to fierce combat; the Aeolian to tranquillity and +slumber; the Ionian (Jastius), which sharpens the intellect of the +dull and kindles the desire of heavenly things; the Lydian, which +soothes the soul oppressed with too many cares. + +[Footnote 272: Cf. Milton: + + 'To the Dorian mood + Of flutes and soft recorders; such as rais'd + To highth of noblest temper heroes old + Arming to battle, and instead of rage + Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd + With dread of death to flight or foul retreat.'] + +We distinguish the highest, middle, and lowest in each tone, obtaining +thus in all fifteen tones of artificial music. + +The diapason is collected from all, and unites all their virtues. + +Classical instances of music: + + Orpheus. + Amphion. + Musaeus. + +The human voice as an instrument of music. Oratory and Poesy as +branches of the art. + +The power of song: Ulysses and the Sirens. + +David the author of the Psalter, who by his melody three (?) times +drove away the evil spirit from Saul. + +The lyre is called 'chorda,' because it so easily moves the hearts +(corda) of men. + +As the diadem dazzles by the variegated lustre of its gems, so the +lyre with its divers sounds. + +The lyre, the loom of the Muses. + +Mercury, the inventor of the lyre, is said to have derived the idea of +it from the harmony of the spheres. This astral music, apprehended by +reason alone, is said to form one of the delights of heaven. 'If +philosophers had placed that enjoyment not in sweet sounds but in the +contemplation of the Creator, they would have spoken fitly; for there +is truly joy without end, eternity abiding for ever without weariness, +and the mere contemplation of the Divinity produces such happiness +that nothing can surpass it. This Being furnishes the true +immortality; this heaps delight upon delight; and as outside of Him no +creature can exist, so without Him changeless happiness cannot +be[273]. + +[Footnote 273: 'Bene quidem arbitrati, si causam celestis beatitudinis +non in sonis sed in Creatore possuissent; ubi veraciter sine fine +gaudium est, sine aliquo taedio manens semper aeternitas: et inspectio +sola Divinitatis efficit, ut beatius esse nil possit. Haec veraciter +perennitatem praestat: haec jucunditates accumulat; et sicut praeter +ipsam creatura non extat, ita sine ipsa incommutabilem laetitiam +habere non praevalet.'] + +'We have indulged ourselves in a pleasant digression, because it is +always agreeable to talk of learning with the learned; but be sure to +get us that _Citharoedus_, who will go forth like another Orpheus to +charm the beast-like hearts of the Barbarians. You will thus both obey +us and render yourself famous.' + + +41. KING THEODORIC TO LUDUIN [CLOVIS], KING OF THE FRANKS. + +[Sidenote: Victories of Clovis over the Alamanni.] + +Congratulates him on his recent victories over the Alamanni. Refers to +the ties of affinity between them (Theodoric having married the sister +of Clovis). Clovis has stirred up the nation of the Franks, 'prisca +aetate residem,' to new and successful encounters. 'It is a memorable +triumph that the impetuous Alaman should be struck with such terror as +even to beg for his life. Let it suffice that that King with all the +pride of his race should have fallen: let it suffice that an +innumerable people should have been doomed either to the sword or to +slavery.' + +He recommends (almost orders) Clovis not to touch the panic-stricken +refugees who have fled to the territory of Theodoric. Theodoric +himself has always found that those wars were prosperously waged which +were ended moderately. + +Theodoric sends 'illum et illum' as ambassadors, to take certain +verbal counsels from himself, to bring this letter and carry back the +reply, and also to introduce the Citharoedus of whom we heard in the +preceding letter[274]. + +[Footnote 274: There are two allusions to the relationship between the +Kings: 'vestrae virtutis affinitate' (line 1), and 'ad parentum +vestrorum defensionem confugisse' (line 10).] + +[The campaign of Clovis against the Alamanni, referred to in this +letter, is not mentioned by Gregory of Tours. Ennodius, however, in +his Panegyric on Theodoric, and Agathias in his History, make distinct +allusions to this event, and to Theodoric's reception of the +vanquished Alamanni in his own dominions, probably in the valleys of +Raetia. + +This letter is very fully discussed by Von Schubert, at pp. 32-43 of +his 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen' (Strassburg, 1884). I may also refer +to 'Italy and her Invaders' iii. 390-91. + +The date of the letter is probably about 504.] + + + + +BOOK III. + +CONTAINING FIFTY-THREE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + +1. KING THEODORIC TO ALARIC, KING OF THE VISIGOTHS. + +[Sidenote: Dissuades Alaric the Visigoth from war with the Franks.] + +'Surrounded as you are by an innumerable multitude of subjects, and +strong in the remembrance of their having turned back Attila[275], +still do not fight with Clovis. War is a terrible thing, and a +terrible risk. The long peace may have softened the hearts of your +people, and your soldiers from want of practice may have lost the +habit of working together on the battlefield. Ere yet blood is shed, +draw back if possible. We are sending ambassadors to the King of the +Franks to try to prevent this war between our relatives; and the +ambassadors whom we are sending to you will go on to Gundibad, King of +the Burgundians, to get him to interpose on behalf of peace. Your +enemy will be mine also.' + +[Footnote 275: 'Quamvis Attilam potentem reminiscamini Visigothorum +viribus inclinatum.'] + +[The battle of Vougle in which Alaric was overthrown by Clovis, was +fought in 507; but the date of this letter is probably 506 (Dahn's +date) rather than 507, as there were no doubt some premonitory +symptoms before the war broke out. + +Binding i. 181 (_n._ 608), and Pallmann ii. 55 _n._ 1, and 135 _n._ 2, +incline to a date somewhat earlier even than 506, thinking that there +may have been earlier threatenings of war, which Theodoric succeeded +for the time in averting. + +The earlier the date the better will it suit the allusion to Clovis +(and Alaric) as 'Regii _Juvenes_' in the following letter. Clovis was +born in 466, and was therefore 41 years of age at the battle of +Vougle.] + + +2. KING THEODORIC TO GUNDIBAD, KING OF THE BURGUNDIANS. + +[Sidenote: Dissuades Gundibad from war.] + +Repeats the arguments in iii. 1 about the ill effects of war on the +fortunes of all, and says that it is Theodoric's part to moderate the +angry impulses of 'regii juvenes.' It becomes them to reverence +'senes,' such as Theodoric and Gundibad, although they are themselves +in the balmy vigour of the flower of their age. + +Sends two ambassadors ('illum atque illum') with letters and a verbal +message, hoping that the wisdom of Gundibad may reflect upon what they +say to him [perhaps too delicate a matter to be committed to writing], +and find some way of preserving peace. + +[It is remarkable that in this letter Theodoric, who was probably only +52, if the date of it be 506, and who may have been a year or two +younger, speaks of himself along with Gundibad as a _senex_, and of +Clovis, who could hardly be more than twelve years his junior, as +_regius juvenis_. Perhaps this is partly due to the fact that +Cassiodorus speaks from his own point of view. To him, now about 26 +years of age, Theodoric might seem to be fitly described as 'senex.' + +See Binding i. 181-183 on this letter and the reasons why it produced +no effect on Gundibad. See also Dahn ii. 144.] + + +3. KING THEODORIC TO THE KINGS OF THE HERULI, WARNI (GUARNI), AND +THURINGIANS. + +[Sidenote: Attempt to form a Teutonic coalition on behalf of Alaric.] + +[On the same subject.] If Clovis succeeds in his unprovoked aggression +on Alaric, none of his neighbours will be safe. 'I will tell you just +what I think: he who inclines to act without law is prepared to shake +the kingdoms of all of us[276].' + +[Footnote 276: Compare the state of Europe during the wars of the +French Revolution, as expressed by Tennyson: + + 'Again their ravening eagle rose, + In anger, wheel'd on Europe-shadowing wings, + And barking for the thrones of kings.'] + +'Remember how often Alaric's father Euric gave you presents and staved +off war from your borders. Repay to the son the kindness of the +father. I send you two ambassadors, and I want you to join your +representations to mine and Gundibad's, calling on Clovis to desist +from his attacks on Alaric and seek redress from the law of +nations[277], or else expect the combined attack of all of us, for +this quarrel is really the quarrel of us all.' + +[Footnote 277: 'Et leges gentium quaerat.' But how was the law of +nations to be enforced?] + +[The turn of the Thuringians to be swallowed up by the Frankish +Monarchy came in 531. + +See on this letter Dahn, 'Koenige der Germanen' ii. 144 and 8 _n._ 2; +Pallmann ii. 55.] + + +4. KING THEODORIC TO LUDUIN (LUDWIG, OR CLOVIS), KING OF THE FRANKS. + +[Sidenote: Desires Clovis to desist from war on Alaric.] + +[On the same subject.] 'The affinities of kings ought to keep their +subjects from the plague of war. We are grieved to hear of the paltry +causes which are giving rise to rumours of war between you and our son +Alaric, rumours which gladden the hearts of the enemies of both of +you. Let me say with all frankness, but with all affection, just what +I think: "It is the act of a passionate man to get his troops ready +for action at the first embassy which he sends." Instead of that refer +the matter to our arbitration. It would be a delight to me to choose +men capable of mediating between you. What would you yourselves think +of me if I could hear unmoved of your murderous intentions towards one +another? Away with this conflict, in which one of you will probably be +utterly destroyed. Throw away the sword which you wield for _my_ +humiliation. By what right do I thus threaten you? By the right of a +father and a friend. He who shall despise this advice of ours will +have to reckon us and our friends as his adversaries. + +'I send two ambassadors to you, as I have to my son Alaric, and hope +that they may be able so to arrange matters that no alien malignity +may sow the seeds of dissension between you, and that your nations, +which under your fathers have long enjoyed the blessings of peace, may +not now be laid waste by sudden collision. You ought to believe him +who, as you know, has rejoiced in your prosperity. No true friend is +he who launches his associates, unwarned, into the headlong dangers of +war.' + + +5. KING THEODORIC TO IMPORTUNUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Importunus promoted to the Patriciate.] + +[Importunus was Consul in 509. This letter therefore probably belongs +to the early part of 510.] + +'Noble birth and noble deeds meet in you, and we are therefore +bestowing on you an honour to which by age you are scarcely yet +entitled. Your father and uncle were especially noteworthy, the glory +of the Senate, men who adorned modern ages[278] with the antique +virtues, men who were prosperous without being hated. The Senate felt +their courage, the multitude their wisdom. + +[Footnote 278: Notice the use of the word _modernus_ here, a +post-classical word, which apparently occurs first in Cassiodorus.] + +'Therefore, being descended from such ancestors, and yourself +possessing such virtues, on laying down the Consular fasces, assume +the insignia of the Patriciate. Bind those fillets, which are +generally reserved for the hoary head, round your young locks, and by +your future actions justify my choice of you.' + + +6. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE ON IMPORTUNUS' ACCESSION TO THE +PATRICIATE. + +[See preceding letter.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We delight to introduce new men to the Senate, but we delight still +more when we can bring back to that venerable body, crowned with fresh +honours, her own offspring[279]. And such is now my fortune in +presenting to you Importunus, crowned with the honours of the +Patriciate; Importunus, who is descended from the great stock of the +Decii, a stock illustrated by noble names in every generation, by the +favour of the Senate and the choice of the people. Even as a boy he +had a countenance of serene beauty, and to the gifts of Nature he +added the endowments of the mind. From his parents in household lays +he learned the great deeds of the old Decii. Once, at a great +spectacle, the whole school at the recitation of the Lay of the Decii +turned their eyes on Importunus, discerning that he would one day +rival his ancestors. Thus his widowed mother brought him up, him and +all his troop of brothers, and gave to the Curia as many Consulars as +she had sons[280]. All these private virtues I have discerned in him, +and now seal them with promotion to the Patriciate. At this act I call +on you specially to rejoice.' + +[Footnote 279: 'Origo ipsa jam gloria est: laus nobilitati +connascitur. Idem vobis est dignitatis, quod vitae principium. Senatus +enim honor amplissimus vobiscum gignitur, ad quem vix maturis +aetatibus pervenitur.'] + +[Footnote 280: 'Et quot edidit familiae juvenes, tot reddidit curiae +consulares.'] + + +7. KING THEODORIC TO THE VENERABLE JANUARIUS, BISHOP OF SALONA. + +[Sidenote: Extortion by the Bishop of Salona.] + +'The lamentable petition of John says that you have taken sixty tuns +of oil from him, and never paid him for them. It is especially +important that preachers of righteousness should be righteous +themselves. We cannot suppose that God is ignorant whence come the +offerings which we make before Him [and He must therefore hate robbery +for a burnt offering]. Pray enquire into this matter, and if the +complaint be well founded remedy it promptly. You who preach to us our +duty in great things should not be caught tripping in little ones.' + + +8. KING THEODORIC TO VENANTIUS, SENATOR, CORRECTOR OF LUCANIA AND +BRUTTII. + +[Sidenote: Remissness of Venantius in collection of public revenue.] + +[Venantius, son of Liberius, was, with many high commendations, made +Comes Domesticorum in Letters ii. 15 and 16. See further as to his +fall in iii. 36, also iii. 46.] + +'Remissness in the collection of the public taxes is a great fault, +and no kindness in the end to the taxpayer. For want of a timely +caution you probably have to end by selling him up. + +'The Count of Sacred Largesses tells us that you were long ago +commissioned to get in the _Bina_ and _Terna_ [and have not done so]. +Be quick about it, that the collection may be completed according to +the registers of the Treasury. If you are not quick, and the Treasury +suffers loss, you will have to make it good out of your private +property. You have not shown proper respect to our orders, nor a due +sense of the obligation of your own promise.' + +[These 'Bina' and 'Terna' are a mystery; but Dahn[281] thinks they are +not a specially Gothic tax, but an inheritance from the fiscal +administration of Rome, having probably nothing to do with the +Tertiae.] + +[Footnote 281: iii. 145, _n._ 4.] + + +9. KING THEODORIC TO THE POSSESSORES, DEFENSORES, AND CURIALES[282] +DWELLING AT AESTUNAE[283]. + +[Footnote 282: Note these three classes; as also in ii. 17.] + +[Footnote 283: I have not been able to identify this place.] + +[Sidenote: Marbles for Ravenna.] + +'We wish to build new edifices without despoiling the old[284]. But we +are informed that in your municipality there are blocks of masonry and +columns formerly belonging to some building now lying absolutely +useless and unhonoured. If it be so, send these slabs of marble[285] +and columns[286] by all means to Ravenna, that they may be again made +beautiful and take their place in a building there.' + +[Footnote 284: 'Moderna sine priorum imminutione desideramus +erigere.'] + +[Footnote 285: 'Platonias.' This, which is the spelling found in +Nivellius' edition, seems to be a more correct form than the +'platomas' of Garet. Ducange, who has a long article on the subject, +refers the word to the Greek [Greek: platunion].] + +[Footnote 286: Possibly the columns in S. Apollinare Deutro may have +been some of those here mentioned.] + + +10. KING THEODORIC TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS FESTUS, PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +A similar order, for the transport of marbles from the Pincian Hill to +Ravenna, by Catabulenses[287]. 'We have ordered a "subvectus" +[assistance from the public postal-service?], that the labourers may +set to work at once.' + +[Footnote 287: 'Catabulenses,' or 'Catabolenses'--freighters, +contractors, who effected the transport of heavy goods by means of +draught-horses and mules.] + + +11. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS [A.D. 510]. + +[Sidenote: Argolicus appointed Praefect of the City.] + +Announces to this young man his nomination to the Praefecture of the +City (for the 4th Indiction). Enlarges on the dignity of the office, +especially as involving the Presidency of the Senate, and calls upon +him by a righteous and sober life to show himself worthy of the +choice. + +Argolicus is a great student [perhaps a literary friend of +Cassiodorus], and he is exhorted to keep himself in the right path by +musing on the great examples of antiquity. + +[There is a sort of tone of apology for the appointment of Argolicus, +which is perhaps accounted for by the fact, which comes out in the +next letter, that his father was a comparatively poor man. + +See a sharp rebuke of Argolicus for venal procrastination, iv. 29.] + + +12. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +Rehearses the usual sentiments about the dignity of the Senate and +Theodoric's care in the choice of officials. + +'It is easier, if one may say so, for Nature herself to err, than that +a Sovereign should make a State unlike to himself.' + +Recounts the ancestry of Argolicus. The older Senators will remember +his eloquent and purely-living grandfather, a man of perfectly +orthodox reputation, who filled the offices of Comes Sacrarum +Largitionum and Magister Officiorum. His father never stained the +dignity of 'Comes Privatarum' by cruelty, and was free from ill-gotten +gains in an age when avarice was not accounted a crime[288]. + +[Footnote 288: Tillemont understands this of the times of Odovacar, +vi. 438.] + +'We may hope that the son will follow the example of such +distinguished ancestors.' + + +13. KING THEODORIC TO SUNHIVAD, SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: Sunhivad, Governor of Samnium.] + +[Notice again the Roman title and Gothic name.] + +'You who have ruled your own life in a long career so well should make +a good governor of others. I therefore send you to Samnium as +Governor, in reply to the complaints which reach me from that +Province. Settle according to the law of justice the disputes which +have arisen there between the Romans and the Goths.' + + +14. KING THEODORIC TO THE VENERABLE BISHOP AURIGENES. + +[Sidenote: Accusations against the servants of a Bishop.] + +'You as a Bishop will be especially grieved to hear of any offences +against the sanctity of the married state. Julianus complains that his +wife has been outraged and his goods wasted by some of your servants +[probably slaves]. + +'Do you enquire into the matter, and if the complaint appears to be +just, deal promptly and severely with the offenders.' + +[Cf. Dahn, 'Koenige der Germanen' iii. 193, on this letter. He shows +that it has been improperly appealed to as proving the immunity of all +ecclesiastical persons from a secular tribunal. What Theodoric really +intended was to give the Bishop a chance of settling the affair +himself, and so to prevent the scandal of its appearing in the secular +Courts, which it assuredly would do if the Bishop were apathetic. But +one sees how easily this would glide into something like immunity from +secular tribunals.] + + +15. KING THEODORIC TO THEODAHAD, SENATOR[289]. + +[Footnote 289: This is no doubt the nephew of Theodoric.] + +[Sidenote: A contumacious person handed over to Theodahad.] + +'It is the extreme of insolence in anyone not to execute our "sacred +orders." A certain person whom we commanded to attend before the +judgment-seat of the Illustrious Sona, has with inveterate cunning +withdrawn himself therefrom. We therefore hand him over to you, that +your fame may grow by your skilful management of a difficult case like +this.' + + +16. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS, SENATOR (509-510). + +[Sidenote: Appointment of Gemellus as Governor of Gaul.] + +'Having proved your worth by experience we are now going to send you +to govern the Provinces of Gaul newly wrested [from Clovis], as Vicar +of the Praefects[290]. + +[Footnote 290: 'Vicarius Praefectorum.' Vicar of what Praefects? Why +the plural number? Had Theodoric a titular Praefect _of the Gauls_, to +whom this Vicarius was theoretically subject while practically obeying +the Praefect of Italy? Or, to prevent bickerings, did he give the +'Praefectus Italiae' and the 'Praefectus Urbis' conjoint authority +over the new conquests? There is some mystery here which would be +worth explaining.] + +'Think what a high opinion we must have formed of you to delegate to +you the government of these Provinces, the conquest of which has added +so much to our glory, and the good opinion of whose inhabitants we so +particularly wish to acquire. Abhor turbulence; do not think of +avarice; show yourself in all things such a Governor as "Romanus +Princeps" ought to send, and let the Province feel such an improvement +in her lot that she may "rejoice to have been conquered."' + +[This is so like the words put by Sidonius into the mouth of Lyons, +after Majorian's conquest of her, that I believe it to be +intentionally imitated.] + + +17. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GAULISH PROVINCES (510). + +[Sidenote: Proclamation to the new Gaulish subjects.] + +'Obey the Roman customs. You are now by God's blessing restored to +your ancient freedom; put off the barbarian; clothe yourselves with +the morals of the toga; unlearn cruelty, that you may not be unworthy +to be our subjects. We are sending you Spectabilis Gemellus as +Vicarius Praefectorum, a man of tried worth, who we trust will be +guilty of no crime, because he knows he would thereby seriously +displease us. Obey his commands therefore. Do not dislike the reign of +Law because it is new to you, after the aimless seethings of Barbarism +(Gentilitas). + +'You may now bring out your long-hidden treasures; the rich and the +noble will again have a chance of suitable promotion. You may now +enjoy what till now you have only heard of--the triumph of Public +Right, the most certain solace of human life, the help of the weak, +the curb of the strong. You may now understand that men are exalted +not by their bodily strength, but by reason.' + +[Some of these reflections on the past misgovernment of _Gentilitas_ +hit the Visigoths, Theodoric's friends, harder than the Franks. If the +Gaulish nobles of the south-eastern Provinces (and these were all that +Theodoric had conquered) had _long_ been obliged to hide the treasures +of their fathers, that surely was the fault rather of Euric and Alaric +II than of Clovis. + +Cf. Dahn, 'Koenige der Germanen' iii. 261-2, on all this +correspondence.] + + +18. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS. + +[Sidenote: Magnus to be restored to his possessions.] + +[Probably during his government of Gaul]. + +'We wish that all who have elected to live under our Clemency should +be the better for it. + +'The Spectabilis Magnus, spurning the conversation of our enemies +[Franks?], and remembering his own origin, has sought re-patriation in +the Roman Empire; but during his absence his property has suffered +loss. Let him therefore be restored to, and henceforward have +unquestioned possession of, all that he can prove to be his own in the +way of lands, urban or rural slaves.' + + +19. KING THEODORIC TO DANIEL [A 'COMMONITORIUM']. + +[Sidenote: Monopoly of supply of marble sarcophagi.] + +'We wish the servants of our palace to have proper reward for their +labours, though we might call on them to render them gratuitously. +Therefore, being much pleased with your skill in preparing and +ornamenting marbles, we concede to you the [sole] right of furnishing +the marble chests in which the citizens of Ravenna bury their dead. + +'They thus keep them above ground--no small consolation to the +survivors, since the souls alone depart from this world's +conversation; but they do not altogether lose the bodies which once +were dear to them. + +'Do not, however, impose upon their sadness; do not let a relative be +forced to the alternative of wasting his substance in funeral +expenses, or else throwing the body of his dear one into some well. Be +moderate in your charges.' + +[Odovacar was buried [Greek: en lithine larnaki] (Joann. Ant. fr. +214). The great stone coffins of Honorius and Valentinian will be +remembered by every visitor to Ravenna.] + + +20. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO GRIMODA AND TO THE APPARITOR +FERROCINCTUS. + +[Sidenote: Oppression of Castorius by Faustus.] + +[Cf. Dahn, 'Koenige der Germanen' iii. 86 and 113.] + +'We are determined to assist the humble, and to repress the violence +of the proud. + +'The lamentable petition of Castorius sets forth that he has been +unjustly deprived of his property by the magnificent Praetorian +Praefect Faustus. [The same, no doubt, to whom are addressed iii. 55, +i. 35, and the immediately succeeding letter (iii. 21).] + +'If it be so, let the invader (pervasor) restore to Castorius his +property, and hand over, besides, another property of equal value. + +'If Faustus have employed any intermediate person in the act of +violence, let him be brought to us in chains; and if that well-known +author of ill [Faustus] tries any further to injure Castorius, he +shall pay L2,000, besides having the misery of seeing his would-be +victim unharmed. + +'No Powers of any kind, be they Praetorian Praefects or what they may, +shall be permitted to trample on the lowly.' + + +21. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: Disgrace and temporary exile of Faustus.] + +'As all men require change, Faustus is allowed to absent himself from +the sacred walls of Rome for four months, which he may spend at his +own Penates. The King expects, however, that he will then return to +the most famous (opinatissima) City, from which no Roman Senator can +long be absent without grief.' + +[Coupling this letter with its immediate predecessor it is difficult +not to believe that Faustus is sent away in disgrace--notwithstanding +the smooth words here used--for the act of injustice therein +mentioned. + +But why is he only addressed as Vir Illustris, and not also as +Praefectus? Perhaps his term of office was expired; perhaps he was +even dismissed from it.] + + +22. KING THEODORIC TO ARTEMIDORUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: An earnest invitation to the King's friend, Artemidorus.] + +'We hereby [by these oracles] invite your Greatness to behold us, +which we know will be most agreeable to you, in order that you who +have now spent a large portion of your life with us may be satisfied +by the sweetness of our presence. He who is permitted to share our +converse deems it a Divine boon. We believe that you will come gladly, +as we shall entertain you with alacrity.' + +[Cf. Dahn iii. 283-4. The ending of the letter (Venire te gaudentem +credimus, quem alacriter sustinemus) is the common form, and +'sustineo' is a technical word for the King's reception of his +subjects: see iii. 28, ad finem.] + + +23. KING THEODORIC TO COLOSSAEUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES (CIR. A.D. +505). + +[Sidenote: Appointment of Colossaeus as Governor of Pannonia.] + +'We delight to entrust our mandates to persons of approved character. + +'We are sending you "with the dignity of the illustrious belt" to +Pannonia Sirmiensis, an old habitation of the Goths. Let that Province +be induced to welcome her old defenders, even as she used gladly to +obey our ancestors. Show forth the justice of the Goths, a nation +happily situated for praise, since it is theirs to unite the +forethought of the Romans and the virtue of the Barbarians. Remove all +ill-planted customs[291], and impress upon all your subordinates that +we would rather that our Treasury lost a suit than that it gained one +wrongfully, rather that we lost money than the taxpayer was driven to +suicide.' + +[Footnote 291: 'Consuetudines abominanter inolitas.' Fornerius thinks +this means 'all extortionate taxes.' Compare the English use of the +word 'customs.'] + +[Cf. Muchar, 'Geschichte der Steiermark' iv. 131.] + + +24. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE BARBARIANS AND ROMANS SETTLED IN +PANNONIA. + +[Cf. Muchar, iv. 132.] + +[Sidenote: To the Pannonians, on the appointment of Colossaeus.] + +'Intent on the welfare of our subjects we are sending you Colossaeus +for Governor. His name means a mighty man; and a mighty man he is, who +has given many proofs of his virtue. Now we exhort you with patience +and constancy to submit yourselves to his authority. Do not excite +that wrath before which our enemies tremble. Acquiesce in the rule of +justice in which the whole world rejoices. Why should you, who have +now an upright Judge[292], settle your grievances by single combat? +What has man got a tongue for, if the armed hand is to settle all +differences? or where can peace be looked for, if there is fighting in +a civilised State like ours[293]? Imitate then our Goths, who have +learned to practise war abroad, to show peaceable dispositions at +home. We want you so to live as you see that our subjects (parentes) +have lived and flourished under the Divine blessing.' + +[Footnote 292: 'Cur ad monomachiam recurritis, qui venalem judicem non +habetis?'] + +[Footnote 293: 'Aut unde pax quaeritur si sub civilitate pugnetur.'] + + +25. KING THEODORIC TO SIMEON, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Tax-collecting and iron-mining in Dalmatia.] + +'We entrust to you the duty of collecting throughout the Province of +Dalmatia the arrears of Siliquaticum for the first, second, and third +Indictions [Sept. 1, 506, to Aug. 31, 509]. We do this not only for +the sake of gain to our Treasury, but to prevent the demoralisation of +our subjects. + +'Also by careful mining (cuniculo veritatis) seek out the iron veins +in Dalmatia, where the softness of earth is pregnant with the rigour +of iron, which is cooked by fire that it may become hard. + +'Iron enables us to defend our country, is serviceable for agriculture +and for countless arts of human life: yea, iron is master of gold, +compelling the rich man, weaponless, to obey the poor man who wields a +blade of steel.' + + +26. KING THEODORIC TO OSUN, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COUNT. + +[Sidenote: Simeon's journey to Dalmatia.] + +Commands him to provide all the necessaries for the journey of +'Clarissimus' Simeon, setting off for Dalmatia on the aforesaid +mission to collect Siliquaticum and develop the iron mines. + +[Why is Simeon not called Illustris, as in the previous letter? This +seems to show that the titles 'Clarissimus' and 'Illustris' were not +always used with technical exactness, as they would have been under +Diocletian.] + + +27. KING THEODORIC TO JOANNES, SENATOR, CONSULAR OF CAMPANIA. + +[Sidenote: Promises protection against the Praetorian Praefect.] + +'You have not complained to us in vain that the Praetorian Praefect +[perhaps again Faustus] is venting a private grudge against you under +colour of the discharge of his public duty. We will wall you round +with our protection. Go now and discharge the duties of Consular of +Campania with the like devotion as your predecessors, and with this +reflection: "If the King prevents my superior the Praetorian Praefect +from doing me harm, with what unfailing rigour will he visit me if I +do wrong."' + + +28. KING THEODORIC TO CASSIODORUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN[294]. + +[Footnote 294: Father of the writer.] + +[Sidenote: An invitation to Cassiodorus Senior to come to Court.] + +'For your glorious services, and your incorruptible administration, +which has given deep peace to the nation, we reward you by summoning +you to Court. + +'Having endeavoured to check _another_ [probably alluding to the +disgrace of Faustus], we have bestowed our praises on you, as all the +Palace knows. Come then, come eagerly, as he should do whom his +Sovereign is going to entertain[295].' + +[Footnote 295: There is an obscure sentence in this letter: 'Hinc +omnibus factus notior, quia multi te positum in potestate nesciunt.' +Possibly the meaning is that the elder Cassiodorus used his power so +little for his own private aggrandisement, that many people did not +even know that he possessed it.] + + +29. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, ILLUSTRIS AND PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: Permission to Paulinus to repair certain granaries at +Rome.] + +'The King should sow his gifts broadcast, as the sower his seeds--not +put them all into one hole. + +'The Patrician Paulinus represents to us that such and such granaries +are falling into ruin and are of no use to anyone, and asks to be +allowed to repair them and transmit them to his heirs. We consent to +this, if you are of opinion that they are not wanted for the public, +and if there is no corn in them belonging to our Treasury. + +'It is especially fitting that all ruined buildings should be repaired +in Rome. In Rome, praised beyond all other cities by the world's +mouth, there should be nothing sordid or mediocre[296].' + +[Footnote 296: This letter is well illustrated by an inscription of +the time of Severus Alexander, found at Great Chesters in +Northumberland, and recording the repair of 'horreum vetustate +conlabsum.' The words of Cassiodorus are 'horrea longi temporis +vetustate destructa.'] + + +30. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, ILLUSTRIS AND PRAEFECTUS URBIS. + +[Sidenote: Repair of the Cloacae of Rome.] + +'We are ever vigilant for the repair and beautification of Rome. + +'Let your Sublimity know that we have directed John to repair the +Cloacae of the City, those splendid works which strike astonishment +into the hearts of all beholders. There you see rivers as it were shut +in by concave mountains, flowing down through mighty rafters[297] (?). +There you see men steering their ships with the utmost possible care, +lest they should suffer shipwreck. Hence may the greatness of Rome be +inferred. What other city can compare with her in her heights when +even her depths are so incomparable? + +[Footnote 297: 'Per ingentia ligna decurrere.' Fornerius proposes to +read 'stagna.'] + +'See therefore, O Praefect, that John as a public officer receives his +proper salary.' + + +31. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Commission issued to John to check ruin of aqueducts and +temples in Rome.] + +'Our care is for the whole Republic, "in which, by the favour of God, +we are striving to bring back all things to their former state;" but +especially for the City of Rome. We hear that great depredations are +being committed on public property there. + +'(1) It is said that the water of the aqueducts (formae) is being +diverted to turn mills and water gardens--a thing which would not be +suffered even in the country districts. Even in redressing this wrong +we must be observant of law; and therefore if it should be found that +those who are doing this can plead thirty years' prescription, they +must be bought off, but the misuser must cease. If the diversion is of +less ancient date[298], it must of course be at once stopped without +compensation. + +[Footnote 298: 'Si vero aliquid moderna praesumptione tentatum est.' +(Again 'modernus.')] + +'(2) Slaves assigned by the forethought of previous rulers to the +service of the formae have passed under the sway of private masters. + +'(3) Great weights of brass and lead (the latter very easy to steal, +from its softness) have been stripped off from the public buildings. +Now Ionos, King of Thessaly, is said to have first discovered lead, +and Midas, King of Phrygia, brass. How grievous that we should be +handed down to posterity as neglecting two metals which they were +immortalised by discovering! + +'(4) Temples and other public buildings, which at the request of many +we have repaired, are handed over without a thought to spoliation and +ruin. + +'We have appointed the Spectabilis John to enquire into and set +straight all these matters. _You_ ought to have brought the matter +before us yourselves: at least, now, support him with the necessary +"solatia."' + +[See preceding letter as to the commission entrusted to John, +Theodoric's Clerk of the Works in Rome.] + + +32. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS, SENATOR. A.D. 511. + +[Appointed Governor of the Gaulish Province in Letter iii. 16.] + +[Sidenote: Remission of taxes to citizens of Arles.] + +'The men of Arles, who were reduced to penury in the glorious siege +which they endured on our behalf, are freed from the obligation of +taxes for the fourth Indiction [Sept. 1, 510, to Aug. 31, 511]. We ask +for these payments from men at peace, not from men besieged. How can +one claim taxes from the lord of a field when one knows he has not +been able to cultivate it? They have already rendered a most precious +tribute in their fidelity to us. After this year, however, the taxes +will be collected as usual.' + + +33. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: Promotion of Armentarius and Superbus to post of Referendi +Curiae.] + +Armentarius (Clarissimus) and his son Superbus are to receive the +privilege of _Referendi Curiae_[299]. Thus will the profession of the +law be, as is most fitting, adorned with the honours of the Senate. + +[Footnote 299: Possibly Referendi is the same as Referendarii. See +Var. vi. 17.] + +Praises of Rhetoric. The man who has swayed the judges by his +eloquence is sure to have a favouring audience in the Senate. + + +34. KING THEODORIC TO THE INHABITANTS OF MASSILIA. + +[Sidenote: Count Marabad Governor of Marseilles.] + +'In accordance with our usual policy of sending persons of tried +ability and moderation to govern the Provinces, we are sending Count +Marabad [a Gothic name?] to act as your Governor, to bring solace to +the lowly and repress the insolent, and to force all into the path of +justice, which is the secret of the prosperity of our Empire. As +befits your long-tried loyalty, welcome and obey him.' + + +35. KING THEODORIC TO ROMULUS. + +[It is surely possible that this is the dethroned Emperor. The name +Romulus, which, as we know, he derived from his maternal grandfather, +was not a very common one in Rome (it must be admitted there is +another Romulus, ii. 14). And is there not something rather peculiar +in the entire absence of all titles of honour, the superscription +being simply 'Romulo Theodoricus Rex,' as if neither King nor scribe +quite knew how to address an ex-Emperor?] + +[Sidenote: Gifts to Romulus shall not be revoked.] + +'The liberality of the Prince must be kept firm and unshaken by the +arts of malignant men. Therefore any gift which shall be proved to +have been given according to our orders by the Patrician Liberius, to +you _or to your mother_, by written instrument (pictacium or +pittacium), shall remain in full force, and you need not fear its +being questioned.' + +[For Liberius, see ii. 16. A man of that eminence, who was employed to +arrange disputes between the Goths and Romans at the first settlement +of the former in Italy, was the very man to be also employed to +arrange terms with Augustulus. There is some reason to think that the +mother of the deposed Emperor was named Barbaria, and that she is +mentioned in the history of the translation of the relics of St. +Severinus. See 'Italy and her Invaders' iii. 190.] + + +36. KING THEODORIC TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS COUNT ARIGERN. + +[Sidenote: Complaints against Venantius.] + +'Firminus alleges that he has some cause of complaint against the +Magnificent Venantius [son of Liberius, mentioned in the previous +letter, and strongly commended in ii. 15], and that Venantius treats +his claims with contempt. There is always a danger of justice being +wrested in the interests of the great. We therefore desire you with +all due reverence to address the aforesaid Magnificent person and +desire him to appoint a representative, with proper credentials, to +plead in our Court in answer to the claims of Firminus, who will be +punished for his audacity if he have brought a false charge against so +illustrious a person.' + +[This and the preceding letter look as if the fortunes of the house of +Liberius (so greatly extolled in ii. 15 and 16) were passing under a +cloud. See also iii. 8, as to the disgrace of Venantius. This may have +made the ex-Emperor anxious as to the validity of the settlement made +through him.] + + +37. KING THEODORIC TO BISHOP PETER. + +[Sidenote: Alleged injustice of a Bishop.] + +[See the full explanation of this letter in Dahn, 'Koenige der +Germanen' iii. 193-4. Cf. also Var. iii. 14. Observe how the marginal +note (in the edition of the Benedictine, Garet) strains the doctrine +of this letter in favour of the clergy[300].] + +[Footnote 300: 'Causae sacerdotum a sacerdotibus debent terminari.'] + +'Germanus, in his "flebilis allegatio," informs us that you detain +from him a part of the property of his father Thomas. As it is proper +that causes which concern you should first be remitted to you (so +often employed as judges to settle the disputes of others), we call +upon you to enquire into this claim, and if it be a just one to +satisfy it. Know that if you fail to do justice yourself to the +petitioner, his cause will be carried through to our own +audience-chamber.' + + +38. KING THEODORIC TO WANDIL [VUANDIL[301]]. + +[Footnote 301: Probably a Gothic officer.] + +[Sidenote: The Gothic troops at Avignon to abstain from molesting the +citizens.] + +'Our Piety wishes that there should be order and good government +everywhere in our dominions, but especially in Gaul, that our new +subjects there may form a good opinion of the ruler under whom they +have come. Therefore by this authority we charge you to see that no +violence happen in Avignon where you reside. Let our army live +"civiliter" with the Romans, and let the latter feel that our troops +are come for their defence, not for their annoyance.' + + +39. KING THEODORIC TO FELIX, ILLUSTRIS AND CONSUL (A.D. 511). + +[Sidenote: Largesse to charioteers of Milan.] + +'Those who minister to the pleasures of the public should be liberally +treated, and the Consul must not belie the expectations of his +generosity which have been formed when he was Senator. Therefore let +your Sublimity enquire into the petition for largesse presented by the +charioteers of Milan; and if their statements are correct, let them +have whatever it has been customary for them to receive. In matters +of this kind custom creates a kind of debt.' + + +40. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS SETTLED IN GAUL. + +[Sidenote: Immunity from taxes for districts ravaged by war.] + +'We wish promptly to relieve all the distresses of our subjects, and +we therefore at once announce to you that the districts ravaged by the +incursions of the enemy will not be called upon to pay tribute at the +fourth Indiction [Sept. 510, to Aug. 511]. For we have no pleasure in +receiving what is paid by a heavy-hearted contributor. The part of the +country, however, which has been untouched by the enemy will have to +contribute to the expense of our army. But a hungry defender is a weak +defender.' + + +41. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS, SENATOR [Governor of Gothic +Gaul[302]]. + +[Footnote 302: See Letters iii. 16 and 32.] + +[Sidenote: Corn for the garrisons on the Durance.] + +'A burden borne in common is lightened, since only the edge as it were +of the whole rests on the shoulders of each individual. We have +ordered the corn for the army to be carried from the granaries of +Marseilles to the forts upon the Durance. Let all unite in this toil. +The willing labour of many brings a speedy end to the work.' + +[This letter, as showing that at least one if not both banks of the +Durance were included in the Ostrogothic Monarchy in 511, has an +important bearing on the geographical extent of the Burgundian +Kingdom. See Exkurs vi. to Binding's 'Burgundisch-Romanische +Koenigreich.' He makes the northern bank of the Durance belong to +Burgundy, the southern to the Ostrogoths.] + + +42. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS IN GAUL. + +[Sidenote: No part of Gaul to be called on for military +contributions.] + +'Because the generosity of the Prince should even outrun the petitions +of his subjects we repeal that part of a previous letter [iii. 40] +which says that the unravaged portion of the Province of Gaul must pay +the expenses of our soldiers. We will transmit to the Duces and +Praepositi sufficient money to provide "alimonia nostris Gothis."' + +['Praebendae,' near the end of this letter, seems to be used in a +technical sense, almost equivalent to stipendia or annonae.] + + +43. KING THEODORIC TO UNIGIS, THE SWORD-BEARER [SPATARIUS]. + +[No doubt a high officer in the Royal household.] + +[Sidenote: Runaway slaves to be restored to their owners.] + +'We delight to live after the law of the Romans, whom we seek to +defend with our arms; and we are as much interested in the maintenance +of morality as we can possibly be in war. For what profit is there in +having removed the turmoil of the Barbarians, unless we live according +to law? Certain slaves, on our army's entry into Gaul, have run away +from their old masters and betaken themselves to new ones. Let them be +restored to their rightful owners. Rights must not be confounded under +the rule of justice, nor ought the defender of liberty to favour +recreant slaves. [Probably an allusion to the office of the _Assertor +Libertatis_ in the _Liberalis Causa_, as set forth in the Theodosian +Code iv. 8.] Let other kings desire the glory of battles won, of +cities taken, of ruins made; our purpose is, God helping us, so to +rule that our subjects shall grieve that they did not earlier acquire +the blessing of our dominion.' + + +44. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE LANDOWNERS [POSSESSORES] OF ARLES. + +[Sidenote: Repair of walls of Arles, and supply of corn.] + +'We wish to refresh men, but to repair cities also, that the renewed +fortune of the citizens may be displayed by the splendour of their +buildings. + +'We have therefore directed that a certain sum of money be sent for +the repair of the walls and old towers of Arles. But we are also going +to send you, as soon as the time is favourable for navigation, +provisions to supply the waste caused by the war. Be of good cheer, +therefore! Grain for which our word is pledged is as good as grain +already in your granaries.' + + +45. KING THEODORIC TO ARIGERN, ILLUSTRIS AND COUNT. + +[Sidenote: Site disputed between Roman Church and Samaritans.] + +'It is represented to us by the Defensors of the "sacrosanct" Roman +Church that Pope Simplicius, of blessed memory, bought a house at +Rome[303] of Eufrasius the Acolyte, with all proper formalities, and +that now the people of the Samaritan superstition, hardened in +effrontery, allege that a synagogue of theirs was built on that site, +and claim it accordingly; whereas the very style of building, say +their opponents, shows that this was meant as a private house and not +as a synagogue. Enquire into this matter, and do justice accordingly. +If we will not tolerate chicanery [calumniae] against men, much less +will we against the Divinity Himself.' + +[Footnote 303: 'In sacratissima urbe.'] + + +46. KING THEODORIC TO ADEODATUS. + +[Sidenote: Further charges of misgovernment against Venantius.] + +'The crimes of subjects are an occasion for manifesting the virtues of +princes. You have addressed to us your petition, alleging that you +were compelled by the Spectabilis Venantius, Governor of Lucania and +Bruttii, to confess yourself guilty of the rape of the maiden +Valeriana. + +[Sidenote: Illogical decision in the case of Adeodatus.] + +'Overcome, you say, by the severity of your imprisonment and the +tortures inflicted upon you, and longing for death as a release from +agony; being moreover refused the assistance of Advocates, while the +utmost resources of rhetoric were at the disposal of your opponents, +you confessed a crime which you had never committed. + +'Such is your statement. The Governor of Bruttii sends his _relatio_ +in opposition, saying that we must not give credence to a petitioner +who is deceitfully seeking to upset a sentence which was given in the +interests of public morality. + +'Our decision is that we will by our clemency mitigate the severity of +your punishment. From the date of this decree you shall be banished +for six months; and on your return no note of infamy of any kind shall +be attached to you; since it is competent for the Prince to wipe off +all the blots on a damaged reputation. Anyone who offends against this +decree [by casting your old offence in your teeth] shall be fined L120 +(3 lbs. of gold). And all who are accused of the same offence in any +place or time, but who offended through ignorance, are to be freed +from all fear of punishment.' + +[A most illogical and unjust conclusion, by which the judgment of +Venantius is in fact neither upheld nor reversed. And what the meaning +of the concluding sentence may be it is impossible to conjecture. See +Dahn, 'Koenige der Germanen' iii. 107, on this absurd decision. + +On the subject of the misgovernment and disgrace of Venantius, cf. +Letters ii. 15, 16; iii. 8, 36. Cf. also Procopius, 'De Bello +Gotthico' iii. 18 and 22, as to his son Tullianus. In connection with +the alleged misgovernment of Bruttii and Lucania by Venantius, +remember the close connection of Cassiodorus himself with those +Provinces.] + + +47. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Jovinus, for killing a fellow Curial, is banished to the +islands of Lipari, the volcanoes of which are described.] + +'Jovinus the Curialis, according to the report of the Corrector of +Lucania and Bruttii, had an angry altercation with a fellow Curial +(collega), and in his rage slew him. + +'He then took refuge within the precincts of a church, and refused to +surrender himself to justice. We decide that the capital punishment +shall be remitted out of reverence for his place of refuge, but he +shall be banished to the Vulcanian [Lipari] Islands, there to live +away from the paternal hearth, but ever in the midst of burning, like +a salamander, which is a small and subtile beast, of kin to the +slippery worm, clothed with a yellow colour. + +'The substance of volcanoes, which is perpetually destroyed, is by the +inextricable power of Nature perpetually renewed. + +'The Vulcanian Islands are named from Vulcan, the god of fire, and +burst into eruption on the day when Hannibal took poison at the Court +of Prusias. It is especially wonderful that a mountain kindling into +such a multitude of flames, should yet be half hidden by the waves of +the sea.' + + +48. KING THEODORIC TO ALL GOTHS AND ROMANS LIVING NEAR THE FORT OF +VERRUCA[304]. + +[Footnote 304: The double 'r' seems to be the correct spelling, though +the MSS. of the Variarum apparently have the single 'r.'] + +[Sidenote: Fortification of Verruca in the Tyrol.] + +'It is the duty and the glory of a ruler to provide with wise +forethought for the safety of his subjects. We have therefore ordered +the Sajo Leodifrid that under his superintendence you should build +yourselves houses in the fort Verruca, which from its position +receives its most suitable name[305]. + +[Footnote 305: 'Milites ad Verrucam illum--_sic enim M. Cato locum +editum asperumque appellat_--ire jubeas' (Gell. 3. 7. 6). Verruca +therefore means primarily a steep cliff, and only secondarily a wart. +See White and Biddell, s.v.] + +'For it is in the midst of the plains a hill of stone roundly arising, +which with its tall sides, being bare of woods, is all one great +mountain fortress. Its lower parts are slenderer (graciliora) than its +summit, and like some softest fungus the top broadens out, while it is +thin at bottom. It is a mound not made by soldiers[306], a stronghold +made safe by Nature[307], where the besieged can try no _coup-de-main_ +and the besieged need feel no panic. Past this fort swirls the Adige, +that prince of rivers, with the pleasant gurgle of his clear waters, +affording a defence and an adornment in one. It is a fort almost +unequalled in the whole world, "a key that unlocks a kingdom[308];" +and all the more important because it bars the invasion of wild and +savage nations. This admirable defence what inhabitant would not wish +to share, since even foreigners delight to visit it? and though by +God's blessing we trust that the Province [of Raetia] is in our times +secure, yet it is the part of prudence to guard against evils, though +we may think they will not arise.' + +[Footnote 306: 'Agger sine pugna.'] + +[Footnote 307: 'Obsessio secura.'] + +[Footnote 308: 'Tenens claustra provinciae.'] + +Examples of gulls, who fly inland when they foresee a storm; of +dolphins, which seek the shallower waters; of the edible sea-urchin, +'that honey of flesh, that dainty of the deep,' who anchors himself to +a little pebble to prevent being dashed about by the waves; of birds, +who change their dwellings when winter draws nigh; of beasts, who +adapt their lair to the time of year. And shall man alone be +improvident? Shall he not imitate that higher Providence by which the +world is governed? + +[The fortress of Verruca does not seem to be mentioned in the +'Notitia,' in the Antonine 'Itinerary,' or by the geographer of +Ravenna. + +Maffei ('Verona Illustrata,' Book ix. Vol. 2, pp. 391-2 in ed. 1825) +comments on this passage, and argues that _Verruca = Dos Trento_, a +cliff about a mile from Trient, and this identification seems to have +been accepted, for Ball ('Alpine Guide, Eastern Alps,' p. 404) says: +'In the centre of the valley, close to the city, rises a remarkable +rock known as _Dos Trento, and also called La Verruca_, formerly +frequented for the sake of the beautiful view which it commands. Since +1857 it has been strongly fortified, and permission to ascend to the +summit is not easily obtained.' + +Maffei says that the French bombarded Trient from this rock in 1703. +He speaks of another 'Verruca, or Rocca,' on the other side of +Aquileia, and thinks that the modern word 'rocca' (rock) may perhaps +have been derived herefrom (?). + +It is remarkable that there is a place called _Verrua_ near the Po in +Piedmont (about 20 miles east of Turin). 'Situated upon an abrupt and +insulated hill, in a most defensible position, it opposed an obstinate +resistance to the Emperor Frederick II. In more recent times (1704), +the Duc de Vendome attacked it without success' (Murray's 'Guide to +Northern Italy,' p. 51). No doubt this was also originally called +_Verruca_.] + + +49. KING THEODORIC TO THE HONOURED POSSESSORES, DEFENSORES, AND +CURIALES OF THE CITY OF CATANA. + +[Sidenote: Repair of amphitheatre of Catana.] + +'It is a great delight to the Ruler when his subjects of their own +accord suggest that which is for the good of the State. You have +called our attention to the ruinous state of your walls, and ask leave +to use for its repair the stones of the amphitheatre, which have +fallen down from age and are now of no ornament to your town, in fact +only show disgraceful ruins. You have not only our permission to do +this, but our hearty approval. Let the stones, which can be of no use +while they lie there, rise again into the fabric of the walls; and +your improved defence will be our boast and confidence.' + +[Some remains of the amphitheatre are still visible at Catania; not, +however, so important as those of the theatre.] + + +50. KING THEODORIC TO THE PROVINCIALS OF NORICUM. + +[Sidenote: The Alamanni and Noricans to exchange their cattle.] + +'It is an admirable arrangement when a favour can be conferred by +which giver and receiver are alike benefited. + +'We therefore decree that you should exchange your oxen for those of +the Alamanni. + +'Theirs is the finer and larger breed of cattle, but they are worn out +by the long journey. Thus will they get fresh beasts capable of doing +the work which is required of them, and you will permanently improve +your breed of cattle, and so be able to till your fields better. Thus, +what does not often happen, the same transaction will equally benefit +both parties to it.' + +[Cf. ii. 41 as to these Alamannic exiles. Possibly this letter as well +as that refers to their expulsion by Clovis (cir. 504); but it seems +more probable, as von Schubert suggests (pp. 52-54), that we have here +to do with a removal of some of the Alamannic subjects of Theodoric +from Raetia to Noricum, in order to guard the north-east frontier of +the kingdom.] + + +51. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Stipend of Thomas the Charioteer. Description of the +Circus.] + +'Constancy in actors is not a very common virtue, therefore with all +the more pleasure do we record the faithful allegiance of Thomas the +Charioteer, who came long ago from the East hither, and who, having +become champion charioteer, has chosen to attach himself to "the seat +of our Empire[309];" and we therefore decide that he shall be rewarded +by a monthly allowance. He embraced what was then the losing side in +the chariot races and carried it to victory--victory which he won so +often that envious rivals declared that he conquered by means of +witchcraft. + +[Footnote 309: 'Nostri sedes delegit fovere _Imperii_.'] + +'The sight of a chariot-race (spectaculum) drives out morality and +invites the most trifling contentions; it is the emptier of honourable +conduct, the ever-flowing spring of squabbles: a thing which Antiquity +commenced as a matter of religion, but which a quarrelsome posterity +has turned into a sport. + +'For Aenomaus is said first to have exhibited this sport at Elis, a +city of Asia (?), and afterwards Romulus, at the time of the rape of +the Sabines, displayed it in rural fashion to Italy, no buildings for +the purpose being yet founded. Long after, Augustus, the lord of the +world, raising his works to the same high level as his power, built a +fabric marvellous even to Romans, which stretched far into the Vallis +Murcia. This immense mass, firmly girt round with hills, enclosed a +space which was fitted to be the theatre of great events. + +'Twelve _Ostia_ at the entrance represent the twelve signs of the +Zodiac. These are suddenly and equally opened by ropes let down by the +_Hermulae_ (little pilasters)[310]. The four colours worn by the four +parties of charioteers denote the seasons: green for verdant spring, +blue for cloudy winter, red for flaming summer, white for frosty +autumn. Thus, throughout the spectacle we see a determination to +represent the works of Nature. The _Biga_ is made in imitation of the +moon, the _Quadriga_ of the sun. The circus horses (_Equi +desultorii_), by means of which the servants of the Circus announce +the heats (_Missos_) that are to be run, imitate the herald-swiftness +of the morning star. Thus it came to pass that while they deemed they +were worshipping the stars, they profaned their religion by parodying +it in their games. + +[Footnote 310: The Ostia are denoted by A and the Hermulae by H in +the accompanying plan. (See page 230.)] + +'A white line is drawn not far from the ostia to each _Podium_ +(balcony), that the contest may begin when the quadrigae pass it, lest +they should interrupt the view of the spectators by their attempts to +get each before the other[311]. There are always seven circuits round +the goals (_Metae_) to one heat, in analogy with the days of the week. +The goals themselves have, like the decani[312] of the Zodiac, each +three pinnacles, round which the swift quadrigae circle like the sun. +The wheels indicate the boundaries of East and West. The channel +(_Euripus_) which surrounds the Circus presents us with an image of +the glassy sea, whence come the dolphins which swim hither through the +waters[313] (?). The lofty obelisks lift their height towards heaven; +but the upper one is dedicated to the sun, the lower one to the moon: +and upon them the sacred rites of the ancients are indicated with +Chaldee signs for letters[314]. + +[Footnote 311: 'Ut quadrigis progredientibus, inde certamen oriretur: +ne dum semper propere conantur elidere, spectandi voluptatem +viderentur populis abrogare.' In fact, to compel the charioteers to +start fair.] + +[Footnote 312: Each sign of the Zodiac was considered to have three +decani, occurring at intervals of ten days.] + +[Footnote 313: 'Unde illuc delphini aequorei aquas interfluunt.' The +sentence is very obscure, but the allusion must be to the dolphins, +the figures of which were placed upon the spina.] + +[Footnote 314: 'Obeliscorum quoque prolixitates ad coeli altitudinem +sublevantur: sed potior soli, inferior lunae dicatus est: ubi sacra +priscorum Chaldaicis signis, quasi litteris indicantur.'] + +'The _Spina_ (central wall, or backbone) represents the lot of the +unhappy captives, inasmuch as the generals of the Romans, marching +over the backs of their enemies, reaped that joy which was the reward +of their labours. The _Mappa_ (napkin), which is still seen to give +the signal at the games, came into fashion on this wise. Once when +Nero was loitering over his dinner, and the populace, as usual, was +impatient for the spectacle to begin, he ordered the napkin which he +had used for wiping his fingers to be thrown out of window, as a +signal that he gave the required permission. Hence it became a custom +that the display of a napkin gave a certain promise of future +_circenses_. + +'The _Circus_ is so called from "circuitus:" _circenses_ is, as it +were, _circu-enses_, because in the rude ages of antiquity, before an +elaborate building had been prepared for the purpose, the races were +exhibited on the green grass, and the multitude were protected by the +river on one side and the swords (_enses_) of the soldiers on the +other[315]. + +[Footnote 315: I can extract no other meaning than the above from this +extraordinary sentence: 'Circenses, quasi circu-enses: propterea quod +apud antiquitatem rudem, quae necdum spectacula in ornatum deduxerat +fabricarum, inter _enses_ et flumina locis virentibus agerentur.'] + +'We observe, too, that the rule of this contest is that it be decided +in twenty-four heats[316], an equal number to that of the hours of day +and night. Nor let it be accounted meaningless that the number of +circuits round the goals is expressed by the putting up of +_eggs_[317], since that emblem, pregnant as it is with many +superstitions[318], indicates that something is about to be born from +thence. And in truth we may well understand that the most fickle and +inconstant characters, well typified by the birds who have laid those +eggs, will spring from attendance on these spectacles[319]. It were +long to describe in detail all the other points of the Roman Circus, +since each appears to arise from some special cause. This only will we +remark upon as pre-eminently strange, that in these beyond all other +spectacles men's minds are hurried into excitement without any regard +to a fitting sobriety of character. The Green charioteer flashes by: +part of the people is in despair. The Blue gets a lead: a larger part +of the City is in misery. They cheer frantically when they have gained +nothing; they are cut to the heart when they have received no loss; +and they plunge with as much eagerness into these empty contests as if +the whole welfare of the imperilled fatherland were at stake. + +[Footnote 316: _Missibus._ In a previous sentence Cassiodorus makes +the acc. plural _missos_.] + +[Footnote 317: The number of times that the charioteers had rounded +the goal was indicated by large wooden _eggs_, which were posted up in +a conspicuous place on the spina. It seems that in a corresponding +place near the other end of the spina figures of _dolphins_ were used +for the same purpose. Upon the Cilurnum gem (figured on page 231) we +can perceive four eggs near one end of the spina, and four creatures +which may be dolphins near the other, indicating that four circuits +out of the seven which constitute a missus have been accomplished by +the quadrigae.] + +[Footnote 318: Alluding probably to the story of Castor and Pollux.] + +[Footnote 319: 'Et ideo datur intelligi, volitantes atque +inconstantissimos inde mores nasci, quos avium matribus aptaverunt.' +_Ovium_ would seem to give a better sense than _avium_.] + +'No wonder that such a departure from all sensible dispositions should +be attributed to a superstitious origin. We are compelled to support +this institution by the necessity of humouring the majority of the +people, who are passionately fond of it; for it is always the few who +are led by reason, while the many crave excitement and oblivion of +their cares. Therefore, as we too must sometimes share the folly of +our people, we will freely provide for the expenses of the Circus, +however little our judgment approves of this institution.' + +[Notwithstanding some absurdities, the above description of the Circus +Maximus (which I have attempted to translate in full) is of great +value, being, after that given by Dionysius of Halicarnassus, our +chief authority on the subject. The accompanying plan (taken, with +some slight variations, from Smith's 'Dictionary of Antiquities'), +will, I trust, render it intelligible. + +[Illustration: Plan of Ancient Circus.] + +It is well illustrated by the recently excavated 'Stadium of +Augustus,' on the Palatine; but perhaps even better by a beautifully +executed gem lately found at Chesters in Northumberland, on the site +of the Roman station at Cilurnum. By the kindness of the owner, Mr. +Clayton, I am able to give an enlarged copy of this gem, which is +described in the 'Archaeologia Aeliana,' vol. x. pp. 133-137. + +[Illustration: The Circus Maximus, a magnified engraving of an +intaglio on a carnelian signet-ring found at Cilurnum (Chesters in +Northumberland) in 1882.] + +The reader will easily discern the _Spina_ with one obelisk (not two, +as described by Cassiodorus) in the centre, the high tables supported +by pillars on which the Ova and Delphini are placed, the three +spindle-shaped columns which formed the _Meta_ at each end, and the +four quadrigae (four was the regular number for each missus) careering +in front.] + + +52. KING THEODORIC TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS CONSULARIS. + +[Sidenote: On Roman land surveying.] + +'We are sorry to hear that a dispute (which is on the point of being +settled by arms instead of by the law) has arisen between the +Spectabiles Leontius and Paschasius as to the boundaries of their +properties[320]. If they are so fierce against one another here in +Italy, where there are mountains and rivers and the "arcaturae" +[square turrets of the land surveyor] to mark the boundaries, what +would they have done in Egypt, where the yearly returning waters of +the Nile wash out all landmarks, and leave a deposit of mud over all? + +[Footnote 320: 'Casarum.' Casa is evidently no longer a cottage; +perhaps the estate attached to a villa. There is probably still a +flavour of rusticity about it.] + +'Geometry was discovered by the Chaldaeans, who perceived that its +principles lay at the root of Astronomy, Music, Mechanics, +Architecture, Medicine, Logic, and every science which deals with +generals. This science was eagerly welcomed by the Egyptians, who +perceived the advantage it would be to them in recovering the +boundaries of estates obliterated by the wished-for deluge[321] of the +Nile. + +[Footnote 321: 'Votiva inundatione.'] + +'Therefore let your Greatness send an experienced land surveyor +(agrimensor) to settle this dispute by assigning fixed boundaries to +the two estates. + +'Augustus made a complete survey of the whole "Orbis Romanus," in +order that each taxpayer should know exactly his resources and +obligations. The results of this survey were tabulated by the author +Hyrummetricus. The Professors of this Science [of land surveying] are +honoured with a more earnest attention than falls to the lot of any +other philosophers. Arithmetic, Theoretical Geometry, Astronomy, and +Music are discoursed upon to listless audiences, sometimes to empty +benches. But the land surveyor is like a judge; the deserted fields +become his forum, crowded with eager spectators. You would fancy him a +madman when you see him walking along the most devious paths. But in +truth he is seeking for the traces of lost facts in rough woods and +thickets[322]. He walks not as other men walk. His path is the book +from which he reads; he _shows_ what he is saying; he proves what he +hath learned; by his steps he divides the rights of hostile claimants; +and like a mighty river he takes away the fields of one side to bestow +them on the other. + +[Footnote 322: An excellent description of an antiquary walking along +a Roman 'Limes Imperii.'] + +'Wherefore, acting on our instructions, choose such a land surveyor, +whose authority may be sufficient to settle this dispute, that the +litigants may henceforth cultivate their lands in peace.' + + +53. KING THEODORIC TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS APRONIANUS, COUNT OF THE PRIVATE +DOMAINS. + +[Sidenote: On Water-finders.] + +'Your Greatness tells us that a water-finder has come to Rome from +Africa, where, on account of the dryness of the soil, his art is +greatly in request. + +'We are glad to hear it. It is a very useful art. + +'Signs of the existence of water are the greenness of the grass, the +size of the trees, the nature of the plants, reeds, rushes, brambles, +willows, poplars, &c. Some discover water by putting out dry wool +under a bowl at night. So too, if you see at sunrise a cloud [or +gossamer, 'spissitudinem'] of very small flies. A mist rising like a +column shows water as deep below as the column rises high above. + +'The water-finder will also predict the quality of the water, and so +prevent you from wasting labour on a brackish spring. This science was +ably treated of by ----[323], and by Marcellus among the Latins. They +tell us that waters which gush forth towards the east and south are +light and wholesome; that those which emerge towards the north and +west are too cold and heavy. + +[Footnote 323: 'Apud Graecos _ille_.' Cassiodorus has left the name +blank, and has either forgotten or been unable to fill it up; like the +'ille et ille' in his State documents.] + +'So then, if the testimonials of the aforesaid water-finder and the +results of his indications shall approve themselves to your wisdom, +you may pay his travelling expenses and relieve his wants: he having +to repay you by his future services. For though Rome itself is so +abundantly supplied with aqueducts, there are many suburban places in +which his help would be very useful. Associate with him also a +mechanician who can sink for and raise the water when he has pointed +it out. Rome ought not to lack anything which is an object of +desire.' + + + + +BOOK IV. + +CONTAINING FIFTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS 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' Sec. 70], so that you, who descend from a Royal stock, +may now far more conspicuously shine by the splendour of Imperial +blood[324]'. [A remarkable passage, 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 ambassadors: 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 God 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 fashion, 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 shields, 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 shield 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, Koenige der +Germanen ii. 8, _n._ 2.] + + +3. KING THEODORIC TO SENARIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, 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 Illustrious 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. Restitisti +regibus non impar assertor, coactus justitiam 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 pronunciation. 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 shipmasters 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 ILLUSTRIS, 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 assured, 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 assign 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 ILLUSTRIS, COMES PRIVATARUM. + +[Sidenote: Losses by shipwreck to be refunded to those who were +sending provisions to Gaul.] + +'Any calamity which comes upon a man from causes beyond his control +ought not to be imputed to him as a fault. The pathetic petition of +the Superintendents of Grain[335] informs us that the cargoes which +they destined for Gaul have perished at sea. + +[Footnote 335: 'Prosecutores frumentorum.' It would seem that these +are not merchants supplying the famine-stricken Provinces of Gaul as a +private speculation (according to iv. 5), but public officers who have +had certain cargoes of corn entrusted to them from the State +magazines, and who, but for this letter, would be bound to make good +the loss suffered under their management.] + +'The framework of the timbers of the ships gaped under the violence of +the winds and waves, and from all that overabundance of water nothing +remains to them but their tears. + +'Let your Sublimity therefore promptly refund to them the proportion +(modiatio) which each of them can prove that he has thus lost. It +would be cruel to punish them for having merely suffered shipwreck.' + + +8. KING THEODORIC TO THE HONOURED POSSESSORES AND CURIALES OF FORUM +LIVII (FORLI). + +[Sidenote: Transport of timber ordered for Alsuanum.] + +'You must not think anything which we order hard; for our commands are +reasonable, and we know what you ought to do. Your Devotion is +therefore to cut timber and transport it to Alsuanum[336], where you +will be paid the proper price for it.' + +[Footnote 336: Where is this?] + + +9. KING THEODORIC TO OSUIN, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Tuitio regii nominis.] + +[This letter is quoted by Dahn ('Koenige der Germanen' iii. 117) as an +illustration of '_tuitio regii nominis_.'] + +'Maurentius and Paula, who are left orphans, inform us that their +youth and helplessness expose them to the attacks of many unscrupulous +persons. + +'Let your Sublimity therefore cause it to be known that any suits +against them must be prosecuted in our Comitatus, the place of succour +for the distressed and of sharp punishment for tricksters.' + + +10. KING THEODORIC TO JOANNES, SENATOR AND CONSULARIS OF CAMPANIA. + +[Sidenote: The lawless custom of Pignoratio is to be repressed.] + +[A custom had apparently grown up during the lawless years of the +Fifth Century, of litigants helping themselves, during the slow +progress of the suit, to a 'material guarantee' from the fields of +their opponents. This custom, unknown apparently at the time of the +Theodosian Code, was called 'Pignoratio,' and was especially rife in +the Provinces of Campania and Samnium.] + +'How does peace differ from the confusion of war, if law-suits are to +be settled by violence? We hear with displeasure from our Provincials +in Campania and Samnium that certain persons there are giving +themselves up to the practice of _pignoratio_. And so far has this +gone that neighbours club together and transfer their claims to some +one person who "pignorates" for the whole of them, thus in fact +compelling a man to pay a debt to an entire stranger--a monstrous +perversion of all the rules of law, which separates so delicately +between the rights even of near relations, and will not allow the son +to be sued for the father's debts unless he is the heir, nor the wife +for the husband's unless she has succeeded to the estate. Hitherto our +ignorance has allowed this lawless practice to exist. Now that we know +of it we are determined to suppress it. Therefore, firstly, if any man +lays violent hands on any property to secure an alleged claim, he +shall at once forfeit that claim [and restore the _pignus_]. Secondly, +where one has "pignorated" for another, he shall be compelled to +restore twofold the value of that which he has taken. Thirdly, if any +offender is so poor and squalid that restitution cannot be compelled +from him, he shall be beaten with clubs.' + + +11. KING THEODORIC TO SENARIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Dispute between Possessores and Curiales.] + +'Let your Magnitude enquire into and decide promptly the dispute +between the Possessores and Curiales of Velia.' [A conjectural +emendation for _Volienses_.] + + +12. KING THEODORIC TO MARABAD, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES; AND GEMELLUS, +SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: Archotamia's complaint against the extravagant widow of her +grandson.] + +'It is our purpose not only to defend by arms but to govern by just +laws the Provinces which God has subjected to us. + +'Archotamia, an illustrious lady who has lost her grandson by death, +complains that his widow Aetheria, having married again with a certain +Liberius, is wasting the property of her children in order to make +her new home appear more splendid. + +'Let your Sublimities enquire into this matter. After suppressing all +violent action[337], placing the holy Gospels in the midst of the +Court, and calling in three honourable persons agreed upon by the +parties, as assessors, decide with their help upon the matter +according to ancient law, due reference being had to the arrangements +of modern times.' + +[Footnote 337: 'Omni incivilitate submota.'] + +[Theodoric says that in not hearing the case himself, but referring it +to Marabad and Gemellus, he is following his usual practice, +'remittere ad statuta Divalium sanctionum;' that is, apparently, +according to the Theodosian Code. See Dahn, 'Koenige der Germanen' iv. +140, _n._ 2.] + + +13. KING THEODORIC TO SENARIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, COMES PRIVATARUM. + +[Sidenote: Supplies for Colossaeus and his suite.] + +'Let Colossaeus, who is sent as Governor to Pannonia Sirmiensis, have +rations for himself and suite, according to ancient usage. [For his +appointment, see Letters iii. 23 and 24.] + +'A hungry army cannot be expected to preserve discipline, since the +armed man will always help himself to that which he requires. Let him +have the chance of buying, that he may not be forced to think what he +can plunder. Necessity loves not a law[338], nor is it right to +command the many to observe a moderation which even the few can barely +practise.' + +[Footnote 338: 'Necessitas moderamen non diligit.'] + + +14. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO GESILA. + +[Sidenote: Evasion of land-tax by Goths in Picenum and Thuscia.] + +'It is a great offence to put off the burden of one's own debts upon +other people. That man ought to pay the "tributum" for a property who +receives the income of it. But some of the Goths in Picenum and the +two Tuscanies[339] are evading the payment of their proper taxes[340]. +This vicious practice must be suppressed at once, lest it spread by +imitation. If anyone in a spirit of clownish stubbornness shall still +refuse to obey our commands as expressed through you, affix the proper +notice to his houses and confiscate them, that he who would not pay a +small debt may suffer a great loss[341]. None ought to be more prompt +in their payments to the exchequer than those [the Goths] who are the +receivers of our donative. The sum thus given by our liberality is +much more than they could claim as soldiers' pay. In fact _we_ pay +them a voluntary tribute by the care which we have of their fortunes.' + +[Footnote 339: 'Gothi per Picenum sive Thuscias utrasque residentes.' +What are the two Thusciae?] + +[Footnote 340: 'Debitas functiones.'] + +[Footnote 341: 'Si quis ergo jussa nostra agresti spiritu resupinatus +abjecerit, casas ejus appositis titulis fisci nostri juribus +vindicabis; ut qui juste noluit parva solvere, rationabiliter videatur +maxima perdidisse.'] + + +15. KING THEODORIC TO BENENATUS, SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: New rowers to be selected. Their qualifications.] + +'Being informed by the Illustrious and Magnificent Count of the +Patrimony that twenty-one of the _Dromonarii_ [rowers in the +express-boats] have been removed by the inconvenient incident of +death, we hereby charge you to select others to fill their places. But +they must be strong men, for the toil of rowing requires powerful arms +and stout hearts to battle with the stormy waves. For what is in fact +more daring than with one's little bark to enter upon that wide and +treacherous sea, which only despair enables a man successfully to +combat?' + + +16. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Arigern entrusted with the charge of the City of Rome.] + +'Some time ago we committed the government of our new Gaulish +Provinces to Arigern, a member of your body, that he might by his +firmness and prudence bring about a settlement in that agitated +country. This he has accomplished to our entire satisfaction, and, +practising the lessons which he learned in your midst, he has also +brought back warlike trophies from thence. We now decide to bestow +upon him the charge of the Roman order. + +'He is to see that the laws are vigorously administered, and that +private revenge has no place. + +'Receive, O Conscript Fathers, your honoured and venerable member back +into your bosom.' + +[It seems probable that Arigern was not appointed 'Praefectus Urbis,' +because in Letter iv. 22 he is associated as Comes with Argolicus, +'Praefectus Urbis.' Was he 'Comes Urbis Romae?'] + + +17. KING THEODORIC TO IDA, VIR SUBLIMIS AND DUX. + +[Cf. the name of our own Northumbrian King.] + +[Sidenote: Possessions of the Church of Narbonne to be restored to +it.] + +'We do not wish to disturb anything that has been well settled by a +preceding King. Certain possessions of the Church of Narbonne, which +were secured to it by grant of the late King Alaric of exalted memory, +have been wrongfully wrested from it. Do you now restore these. As you +are illustrious in war, so be also excellent in "civilitas." The +wrong-doers will not dare to resist a man of your well-known bravery.' + + +18. KING THEODORIC TO ANNAS, SENATOR AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: A priestly Ghoul.] + +'Enquire if the story which is told us be true, namely that the +Presbyter Laurentius has been groping for fatal riches among human +corpses. An odious inversion of his functions, that he who should +preach peace to the living has been robbing the dead, and that hands +which have been touched with the oil of consecration should have been +grasping at unholy gains, instead of distributing his own honestly +acquired substance to the poor. If after diligent examination you +find that the charge is true, you must make him disgorge the gold. As +for punishment, for the sake of the honour of the priesthood we leave +that to a higher Power[342].' + +[Footnote 342: 'Scelus enim, quod nos pro sacerdotali honore +relinquimus impunitum, majori pondere credimus vindicandum.' The words +seem to be purposely vague, but I think they allude to the judgment of +Heaven on the offender.] + + +19. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS, SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: The Siliquaticum not to be levied on corn, wine, and oil.] + +'The Prince should try to remedy the afflictions of his subjects. +Therefore, for the present time [probably on account of the scarcity +in Gaul], we decree that the tax of Siliquaticum, which Antiquity +ordained should be levied on all buyings and sellings, shall not be +levied on corn, wine, and oil. We hope thus to stimulate trade, and to +benefit not only the Provincials, who are our chief care, but also the +merchants. Let the ship that traverses the seas not fear our harbours. +Often the sailor dreads the rapacity of the collector of customs more +than the danger of shipwreck. It shall not be so now.' + + +20. KING THEODORIC TO GEBERICH, SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: Land taken from the Church to be restored to it.] + +'If we are willing to enrich the Church by our own liberality, _a +fortiori_ will we not allow it to be despoiled of the gifts received +from pious princes in the past. + +'The supplication of the Venerable Bishop Constantius informs us that +a _jugum_ [= jugerum, about two-thirds of an English acre] of land so +bestowed on the "sacrosanct" Church has been taken away from her, and +is unlawfully held by the despoiler. + +'See that right is done, and that the Church has her own restored to +her without any diminution.' + + +21. KING THEODORIC TO GEMELLUS, SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: Promptness and integrity required.] + +'Be prompt in the execution of our orders. No one should think our +commands harsh, since they are excused by the necessity of the times. +[Reject the thought of all unjustly acquired gains, for] you are sure +to receive from our favour all that you seem to lose by not yielding +to temptation.' + + +22. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PRAEFECT OF THE +CITY; AND + +23. KING THEODORIC TO ARIGERN, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Roman Senators accused of magic.] + +These two letters relate to the affair of Basilius[343] and +Praetextatus, men of high rank in Rome. They are accused of practising +magical arts, and in the interval between the first and second letters +they escape from prison by taking advantage of the insanity of the +gaoler. + +[Footnote 343: Basilius, the patron of Sidonius, was Consul in 463, +and another Basilius, perhaps the father of the accused, was Consul in +480. The person here spoken of _may_ be the same as the Basilius, +'olim regio ministerio depulsus,' whom Boethius (Phil. Cons. i. 4) +mentions as one of his accusers; but it seems more likely that in that +case this imputation of magical practices would also have been +referred to by him. The name Basilius was a somewhat common one at +this time.] + +Theodoric, who says that he will not suffer any such acts of treason +against the Divine Majesty, and that it is not lawful for Christian +times to deal in magical arts, orders the recapture of the offenders, +who are to be handed over to a Quinque-viral Board, consisting of the +Patricians Symmachus, Decius, Volusianus, and Caelianus, with the +Illustrious Maximian, and by them examined; if guilty to be punished +(probably with confiscation and exile); if innocent, of course to be +discharged[344]. + +[Footnote 344: At the beginning of the first letter occurs the +remarkable expression 'Abscedat ritus de medio jam profanus; +conticescat _poenale murmur animarum_,' which the commentator +interprets of the ventriloquistic sounds produced by soothsayers. Cf. +Milton's Christmas Hymn: + + 'No voice or hideous hum + Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving.'] + +[The association of the Quinque-viri with the Praefectus Urbis is a +mark of the high rank of the accused. The Praefectus Urbis could not +adjudicate on the crimes of Senators without five Assessors chosen by +lot from that body. Arigern, who was entrusted (it is not quite clear +in what capacity) with the 'Disciplina Romanae Civitatis,' is +commissioned to bring the accused to trial. Baronius says that we do +not hear whether they were ever re-captured.] + + +24. KING THEODORIC TO ELPIDIUS, DEACON [of Spoleto]. + +[Sidenote: Architectural restoration at Spoleto.] + +Gives leave to pull down a _porticus_ behind the Baths of Turasius at +Spoleto, and to build some new edifice [perhaps a church] on its site +and on the site of a yard (areola) adjoining it, on condition only +that the building thus pulled down is of no public utility. + +Reflections on the duty of architectural restoration. + + +25. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECTUS URBIS. + +[It is to be borne in mind that the Praefectus Urbis was the Official +President of the Senate.] + +[Sidenote: Petrus to be inscribed as Senator.] + +'Ambition ennobles man, and he who has aimed when young at high +honours is often stimulated to lead a worthy life by the fact of +having obtained them. We therefore look favourably on the petition of +Petrus, illustrious by descent, and in gravity of character already a +Senator, to enter the Sacred Order (the Senate); and we authorise your +Illustrious Magnificence to inscribe his name, according to ancient +custom, in the album of that body.' + +[A Petrus, probably the same as the subject of this letter, was Consul +in 516.] + + +26. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE CITIZENS OF MARSEILLES[345]. + +[Footnote 345: 'Universis Massiliae constitutis.' A curious +expression.] + +[Sidenote: Taxes remitted for a year.] + +Confirms all privileges and immunities granted by previous Princes, +and remits the taxes (censum) for one year, a boon which they had not +dared to ask for. 'For that is perfect _pietas_, which before it is +bent by prayer, knows how to consider the weary ones.' + +[Here, as in many other passages of Cassiodorus, _pietas_ shows signs +of passing into the Italian _pieta_ (= pity).] + + +27. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO TEZUTZAT, + +AND + +28. KING THEODORIC TO DUDA, SENATOR AND COMES. + +[Sidenote: Petrus assaulted by the Sajo who was assigned for his +protection.] + +[Duda was also a Sajo, as we see from Letter 32. Dahn ('Koenige der +Germanen' iv. 142, _n._ 3) thinks he was Comes Gothorum.] + +Both letters relate to the affair of Petrus (a Vir Spectabilis, and +probably the same whose admission to the Senate is ordered by iv. 25). + +This Roman nobleman, according to a usage common under Theodoric's +government, has had the Gothic Sajo Amara assigned to him as his +Defensor. Amara, by an inversion of his functions, which the letter +bitterly laments and upbraids, has turned upon his _protege_ and even +used personal violence towards him. He has drawn a sword and wounded +him in the hand; and nothing but the fact that Petrus was sheltered by +a door saved him from losing his hand altogether. + +Yet, notwithstanding this assault, Amara has had the audacity to claim +from his victim 'commodi nomine,' the usual payment made by the +defended to the defender. + +The first letter decrees that this shall be refunded twofold, and +assigns Tezutzat instead of Amara to the office of Defender, warning +him not to follow the evil example of his predecessor. + +The second assigns to Duda the task of enquiring into the alleged +assault and punishing it with the sword[346]. + +[Footnote 346: The story of this assault is a typical specimen of the +style of Cassiodorus, high-flown yet not really pictorial: 'Ita ut +ictum gladii in se demersum, aliquatenus postium retardaret objectio: +subjecta est vulneri manus, quae ut in totum truncata non caderet, +januarum percussa robora praestiterunt: ubi lassato impetu corusca +ferri acies corporis extrema perstrinxit.'] + + +29. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: Official tardiness rebuked.] + +A sharp rebuke to him for having (if the _suggestio_ of the +Clarissimus Armentarius be correct) so long delayed, it is to be +feared with a corrupt motive, complying with the instructions of the +King to do justice in some case (not described) in which the honour of +the Senate is concerned. As head of the Senate he ought to have been +eager to examine into it, without any prompting from his master. + + +30. KING THEODORIC TO ALBINUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Workshops may be erected above the Porticus Curba, by the +Roman Forum.] + +'Those whom the Republic has honoured should in their turn bring +honour to the City. We are therefore gratified by receiving your +supplication for leave to erect workshops[347] above the Porticus +Curba, which being situated near the Domus Palmata, shuts in the Forum +in comely fashion "in modum areae." We like the plan. The range of +private dwellings will thereby be extended. A look of cheerful newness +will be given to the old walls; and the presence of residents in the +building will tend to preserve it from further decay. You have our +permission and encouragement to proceed, if the proposed erections do +not in any way interfere with public convenience or the beauty of the +City.' + +[Footnote 347: Fabricae.] + +[The MSS. of Cassiodorus waver between Curbae and Curiae in the above +letter. Jordan ('Topographie der Stadt Rom.' i. 2. 258) inclines to +the opinion that Porticus Curba denotes the Portico of the Secretarium +of the Senate, on the site of the present Church of Sta. Martina. As +the Curia immediately adjoined this building, there is practically but +little difference between the two readings. In either case the +fabricae were to be erected so as to overlook the north-west end of +the Forum. It is admitted that the Domus Palmata was near the Arch of +Septimius Severus.] + + +31. KING THEODORIC TO AEMILIANUS, VIR VENERABILIS, BISHOP. + +[Sidenote: An aqueduct to be promptly finished.] + +'Wise men should finish what they have begun, and not incur the +reproach which attends half-done work. + +'Let your Holiness therefore promptly complete what by our authority +you so well began in the matter of the aqueduct, and thus most fitly +provide water for your thirsting flock, imitating by labour the +miracle of Moses, who made water gush forth from the flinty rock.' + + +32. KING THEODORIC TO DUDA THE SAJO. + +[Sidenote: The rights of the Crown to the property of the proscribed +man, Tupha, to be asserted with moderation.] + +'We are anxious strictly to obey the laws, and to take no advantage +over our subjects in courts of justice. If a man knows that he can get +his own by legal process, even from the Sovereign, he is the less +likely to seek it by the armed hand. The memorandum of Marinus informs +us that the property of Tupha was long ago mortgaged to a certain +Joannes[348]. But since it is quite clear that the property of a +proscribed man belongs to our fiscus, we desire you to summon the +widow of this Joannes and his secretary Januarius, "moderata +executione." + +[Footnote 348: 'Marini relatione comperimus res Tuphae apud Joannem +quondam sub emissione chirographi fuisse depositas.'] + +'If they acknowledge that they have no right to the property let them +at once restore it; but if not, let them come before the _Consularis_ +of Campania and establish their right according to course of law. + +'But let all be done without loss or prejudice to the rights of +innocent persons. If any such charge be established against you, _you_ +will become the offender in our eyes.' + +[The description of Tupha as 'proscriptus' makes it probable that we +are dealing with that officer of Odovacar whose double treachery +(489-490) so nearly caused the failure of Theodoric's invasion of +Italy, and who finally fell in battle against his fellow-rebel, +Frederic the Rugian. The only difficulty is the lapse of time since +those events, as this letter was probably written not earlier than +about 511; but that is in some degree met by the word _quondam_ in the +sentence quoted (_n._ 1, p. 250).] + + +33. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE JEWS OF GENOA. + +[Sidenote: Privileges of the Jews confirmed.] + +'The true mark of _civilitas_ is the observance of law. It is this +which makes life in communities possible, and which separates man from +the brutes. We therefore gladly accede to your request that all the +privileges which the foresight of antiquity conferred upon the Jewish +customs shall be renewed to you[349], for in truth it is our great +desire that the laws of the ancients shall be kept in force to secure +the reverence due to us[350]. Everything which has been found to +conduce to _civilitas_ should be held fast with enduring devotion.' + +[Footnote 349: 'Privilegia debere servari quae Judaicis institutis +legum provida decrevit antiquitas.'] + +[Footnote 350: 'Quod nos libenter annuimus qui jura veterum ad nostram +cupimus reverentiam custodiri.'] + + +34. KING THEODORIC TO DUDA THE SAJO. + +[Sidenote: Buried treasure to be reclaimed for the State.] + +'It is the part of true prudence to recall to the uses of commerce +"the talent hidden in the earth." We therefore direct you, by this +"moderata jussio," where you hear of buried treasures to proceed to +the spot with suitable witnesses and reclaim for the public Treasury +either gold or silver, abstaining, however, from actually laying hands +on the ashes of the dead[351]. The dead can do nothing with treasure, +and it is not greedy to take away what the holder of it can never +mourn the loss of. + +[Footnote 351: How this was to be done is not quite clear, since it is +plain that this letter is really and chiefly an order for rifling +_sepulchres_ in search of buried treasure.] + +'Eacus is said to have discovered the use of gold, and Indus, King of +the Scythians, that of silver. They are extremely useful metals.' + + +35. KING THEODORIC TO THE REPRESENTATIVES (ACTORES) OF ALBINUS. + +[Sidenote: An extravagant minor. Restitutio in integrum.] + +'It has been wisely decided by Antiquity that minors cannot make a +binding contract, for they are naturally the prey of every sharper. +You allege that your _patronus_ [Albinus] is under age, that he is +heaping up expenses instead of property, and that his raw boyhood does +not know what is really for his benefit. If this be correct, and be +legally proved, he is entitled to a _restitutio in integrum_' [a suit +commenced through these Actores for the quashing of the contracts +which have been fraudulently made with the minor]. + +[For the _restitutio in integrum_, see Cod. Theod. ii. 16. 1, and vi. +4. 16. Nothing seems to be expressly said in this letter about the +appointment of a _Curator_.] + + +36. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. A.D. 509-510. + +[Sidenote: Remission of taxes for Provincials of Cottian Alps.] + +'A wise ruler will always lessen the weight of taxation when his +subjects are weighed down by temporary poverty. Therefore let your +Magnificence remit to the Provincials of the Cottian Alps the _as +publicum_ for this year [the third Indiction], in consideration of +their losses by the passage of our army. [The army of Ibbas, on its +march in 408 to fight Clovis, after the fall of the Visigothic +Monarchy.] True, that army went forth with shouts of concord to +_liberate_ Gaul. But so a river bursting forth may irrigate and +fertilise a whole country, and yet destroy the increase of that +particular channel in which its waters run. + +'We have earned new subjects by that campaign: we do not wish them to +suffer loss by it. Our own heart whispers to us the request which the +subjects dare not utter to their Prince.' + + +37. KING THEODORIC TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS WOMAN THEODAGUNDA. + +[Sidenote: Theodagunda is admonished to do justice to Renatus.] + +Warns Theodagunda [apparently a member of the royal family and +governing some Province; but what place could she hold in the Roman +official hierarchy?], that she must emulate the virtue of her +ancestors and show prompt obedience to the royal commands. 'The +lamentable petition of Renatus states that, after judgment given in +his favour by the King's Court, he is still harassed by the litigation +(not in the way of regular appeal) of Inquilina, who appears to be not +so much desirous of victory as anxious to ruin his adversary.' +[Notwithstanding the form of the name I think Inquilina is male, not +female.] + +'You must see that this is put right at once.' + + +38. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Taxes must be reduced to the figure at which they stood in +the days of Odoacer.] + +'The inhabitants of Gravasi (?) and Ponto (?) complain that they have +been overloaded with taxes by the Assessors (discussores) Probus and +Januarius. They have bad land, and say that they really cannot cope +with the taxes imposed upon them [at the last Indiction?]. The former +practice is to be reverted to, and they are not to be called upon to +pay more than they did in the days of Odoacer.' [An evidence that in +one case at least the fiscal yoke of Odoacer was lighter than that of +his successor.] + + +39. KING THEODORIC TO THEODAHAD, VIR ILLUSTRIS [AND NEPHEW OF THE +KING]. + +[Sidenote: The encroachments of Theodahad repressed.] + +'Avarice, which Holy Writ declares to be "the root of all evil," is a +vulgar vice which you, our kinsman, a man of Amal blood, whose family +is known to be royal, are especially bound to avoid[352]. + +[Footnote 352: 'Amali sanguinis virum nos decet vulgare desiderium: +quia genus suum conspicit esse purpuratum.'] + +'The Spectabilis Domitius complains to us that such and such portions +of his property have been seized by you with the strong hand, without +any pretence of establishing a legal claim to them. + +'We send the Sajo Duda to you, and order you on his arrival[353], +without any delay, to restore the property which you have taken +possession of, with all the moveables of which you have despoiled it. + +[Footnote 353: 'Si momenti tempora suffragantur.' What is the meaning +of this limitation?] + +'If you have any claim to make to the lands in question, send a person +fully informed of the facts to our Comitatus, and there let the case +be fairly heard. + +'A high-born man should ever act according to well-ordered +_civilitas_. Any neglect of this principle brings upon him odium, +proportioned to the oppression which the man of humbler rank conceives +himself to have suffered at his hands.' + + +40. KING THEODORIC TO THE REPRESENTATIVES (ACTORES) OF PROBINUS. + +[Sidenote: The affair of Agapeta. Basilius, her husband, ordered to +plead.] + +Recurs to the case of the Possessio Areciretina, which Agapeta, the +wife of Basilius, had given (or sold) to Probinus, and which Probinus +was commanded to restore. (See Letters ii. 10 and 11.) + +The petition, now presented by the representatives of Probinus, puts a +somewhat different face upon the matter, and seems to show that the +sale by Agapeta (notwithstanding her melancholy condition of fatuity +and vice) was a _bona fide_ one, for sufficient consideration. + +Her husband Basilius is now ordered to reply to the pleadings of the +opposite party, either at the King's Comitatus, or in some local court +of competent jurisdiction. The King's Comitatus is meant to be a +blessing to his subjects, and recourse to it is not made compulsory +where, on account of distance, the suitor would rather be excused from +resorting to it. + + +41. KING THEODORIC TO JOANNES, ARCH-PHYSICIAN. + +[Sidenote: An unjust judgment against Joannes reversed.] + +'A King should delight to succour the oppressed. + +'You inform us that, by the devices of the Spectabilis Vivianus and +his superior knowledge of the laws, an unjust judgment was obtained +against you, in default, in the Court of the Vicarius of the City of +Rome: that Vivianus himself has now renounced the world, repents of +his injustice to you, and interposes no obstacle to the restitution of +your rights. We therefore (if your statements shall prove to be +correct) quash the sentence against you, restore you to your country +and your property, and that you may be preserved from future +molestation, founded on the old sentence against you, we assign you to +the guardianship (tuitio) of the Patrician Albinus, without prejudice +to the laws (salvis legibus). + +'We wish that nothing contrary to _civilitas_ should be done, since +our daily labour is for the repose of all.' [I presume that this +letter is in fact an edict for 'Restitutio in integrum.'] + + +42. KING THEODORIC TO ARGOLICUS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: The sons of Velusian to have their property restored to +them.] + +'Under a good King the loss even of a father should be less felt than +with a different ruler, for the King is the father of his people. + +'The petition of Marcian and Maximius, sons of Velusian (Patrician and +Magnificus), sets forth that they lost their father at Easter; that +thus the time of joy to all Christians became to them a season of +sorrow; that while they were immersed in their grief and incapable of +attending to their affairs, "the tower of the circus and the place of +the amphitheatre[354]," which had belonged to their illustrious +father, were by some heartless intriguer wrested from them, under the +authority of the Praefect. + +[Footnote 354: Can this be the Amphitheatrum Castrense?] + +'Be pleased to enquire into this matter, and if those places truly +belonged to Velusian, restore them to his sons. We wish to cherish +rather than oppress the sons of illustrious men, who are the germ of +our future Senate.' + + +43. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Punishment of incendiaries who have burned a Jewish +Synagogue.] + +[On the burning of the Jewish synagogue. This synagogue of the Jews +was in the Trastevere. See Gregorovius i. 296-298 for a description of +it. I do not know on what authority he assigns 521 for the date of +the tumult in which it was burned.] + +'The propriety of manners which is characteristic of the City of Rome +must be upheld. To fall into the follies of popular tumult, and to set +about burning their own City, is not like the Roman disposition[355]. + +[Footnote 355: 'Levitates quippe seditionum et ambire propriae +civitatis incendium, non est velle Romanum.'] + +'But we are informed by Count Arigern[356] that the populace of Rome, +enraged at the punishment inflicted on some Christian servants who had +murdered their Jewish masters, has risen in fury and burned their +synagogue to the ground[357], idly venting on innocent buildings their +anger against the men who used them. + +[Footnote 356: It happens that one of the letters addressed to Count +Arigern also refers to a Jewish synagogue. See iii. 45.] + +[Footnote 357: 'Quod in dominorum caede proruperit servilis audacia: +in quibus cum fuisset pro districtione publica resecatum, statim +plebis inflammata contentio synagogam temerario duxerunt incendio +concremandam.' The above is Gregorovius' explanation of the somewhat +enigmatical language of Cassiodorus.] + +'Be pleased to enquire into this matter, and severely punish the +authors of the tumult, who are probably few in number. + +'At the same time enquire into the complaints which are brought +against the Jews, and if you find that there is any foundation for +them, punish accordingly.' + + +44. KING THEODORIC TO THE VENERABLE ANTONIUS, BISHOP OF POLA. + +[Sidenote: Bishop Antonius called upon to do justice to Stephanus.] + +'It is an invidious task to have to listen to complaints against the +revered ministers of the Church. + +'But the petition of Stephanus sets forth that a property, which +belonged to him before the time of your predecessor, has, within the +last nine months, wrongfully, and in defiance of _civilitas_, been +seized by the officers of your church. If this be so, we desire you, +as a matter of justice, to correct what your familiars have done +amiss, and restore it to him without delay. But if you dispute his +title, send a properly instructed person to plead the cause in our +Comitatus. + +'You will be better off by having the matter enquired into and +settled, than if the complaints of Stephanus had never come to a +hearing[358].' + +[Footnote 358: There are some technical terms in this letter the +meaning of which is not clear to me: 'Eam justitiae consideratione +_momenti_ jure restituite supplicanti.... Veruntamen si partibus +vestris in _causa_ possessionis _momentaria_ vel _principali_ +justitiam adesse cognoscitis.'] + + +45. KING THEODORIC TO THE COMITES, DEFENSORES, AND CURIALES OF TICINUM +(PAVIA). + +[Sidenote: The Heruli to be forwarded on their way to Ravenna.] + +[It is not easy to see why this order should be addressed to the +inhabitants of Ticinum. Had the Heruli crossed the Alps by some pass +near the modern Simplon?] + +'We have ordered the Heruli, who are suppliants to us, to come to our +Comitatus at Ravenna. + +'Provide them promptly with ships of provisions for five days, that +they may at once see the difference between Italy and their own hungry +country[359].' + +[Footnote 359: It is probably to the same transaction that Marcellinus +Comes refers when he says, s.a. 512: 'Gens Erulorum in terras atque +civitates Romanorum jussu Anastasii Caesaris introducta.' The words +'jussu Anastasii Caesaris' represent this chronicler's tendency to +refer everything that is done in Italy to the initiation of +Byzantium.] + + +46. KING THEODORIC TO MARABAD, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: The case of the wife of Liberius to be reheard.] + +'The Spectabilis Liberius[360] complains that his wife has had an +unjust judgment given against her in your Court. Try the case over +again, associating with yourself arbitrators chosen by both parties. +If it cannot so be ended, let them appoint properly instructed +persons to represent them at our Comitatus, if they cannot come +themselves.' + +[Footnote 360: Possibly a son of the Praefect Liberius.] + + +47. KING THEODORIC TO GUDISAL THE SAJO. + +[Sidenote: Abuses of the Cursus Publicus.] + +'If the public post-horses (veredi) are not allowed proper intervals +of rest they will soon be worn out. + +'We are informed by our _legati_ that these horses are constantly +employed by persons who have no right to use them. + +'You are therefore to reside in Rome, and to put yourself in constant +communication with the officers of the Praefectus Praetorio and the +Magister Officiorum, so as not to allow any to leave the City using +the horses of the _Cursus Publicus_ except the regularly commissioned +agents of those two functionaries. Anyone transgressing is to pay a +fine of 100 solidi (L60) per horse; not that the injury to the animal +is represented by so high a figure, but in order to punish his +impertinence. Our Sajones, when sent with a commission, are to go +straight to the mark and return, not to make pleasure-tours at the +public expense; and if they disobey this order, they are to pay the +same fine as that just mentioned. + +'Moreover, the extra horses (parhippi) are not to be weighted with a +load of more than 100 lbs. For we wish our messengers[361] to travel +in light marching order, not to make of their journey a regular +domestic migration. + +[Footnote 361: 'Mittendarii.' A 'Scrinium Mittendariorum' formed part +of the staff of the Count of Sacred Largesses. See Theodosian Code vi. +30. 7.] + +'Cranes, when they are going to cross the sea, clasp little pebbles +with their claws, in order to steady without overweighting themselves. +Why cannot those who are sent on public errands follow so good an +example? Every transport master[362] who violates this rule by loading +a horse with more than 100 lbs. shall pay 50 solidi (L30). + +[Footnote 362: 'Catabulensis.' See iii. 10.] + +'All fines levied under this edict are to go to the benefit of the +postal-servants[363], and thus the evil will, as we so often see in +human affairs, furnish its own remedy.' + +[Footnote 363: 'Mancipes mutationum.' The 'mutationes' were the places +for changing horses; there are generally two of them between each +'mansio' (hostelry). Probably the horses were found by the 'Mancipes +mutationum.' It was therefore a sort of _corvee_.] + + +48. KING THEODORIC TO EUSEBIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: Honourable retirement of Eusebius.] + +'After the worries of the noisy City, and the heavy burden of your +official duties, your Greatness is longing to taste the sweetness of +country life. When therefore you have finished your present duties, we +grant you by our authority a holiday of eight months in the charming +recesses of Lucania [near Cassiodorus' own country], to be reckoned +from the time when by Divine [royal?] favour you depart from the City. +When those months are at an end, return with speed, much missed as you +will be, to your Roman habitation, to the assembly of the nobles, and +to social intercourse of a kind that is worthy of your character.' + + +49. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS AND THE LONG-HAIRED +MEN[364], THE DEFENSORES AND THE CURIALES RESIDING IN SUAVIA[365]. + +[Footnote 364: _Capillatis._ The only passage which throws a light on +this name--and that is a doubtful one--is Jordanes, De Rebus Geticis +xi. After describing the _pileati_, the tiara-wearing priests of the +Getae, he says: 'Reliquam vero gentem capillatos dicere jussit +[Diceneus] quod nomen Gothi pro magno suscipientes adhuc hodie suis +cantionibus reminiscuntur.'] + +[Footnote 365: _Suavia_ is nearly equivalent to the modern Sclavonia, +between the rivers Drave and Save.] + +[Sidenote: Fridibad to be Governor of Suavia, and to punish +freebooters.] + +'The King's orders must be vigorously executed, that terror may be +struck into the hearts of the lawless, and that those who have +suffered violence may begin to hope for better days. Often the threat +of punishment does more to quiet a country than punishment itself. +Therefore, under Divine guidance, we have appointed Fridibad to be +your Governor. + +'He will punish cattle-lifters with due severity, will cut off +murderers, condemn thieves, and render you, who are now torn by +presumptuous iniquity, safe from the daring attempts of villains. Live +like a settled people; live like men who have learned the lessons of +morality; let neither nationality nor rank be alleged as an excuse +from these duties. If any man gives himself up to wicked courses, he +must needs undergo chastisement.' + + +50. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Remission of taxes for Campanians who have suffered from an +eruption of Vesuvius.] + +'The Campanians complain that their fields have been devastated by an +eruption of Vesuvius, and ask in consequence for a remission of +tribute. [This eruption is assigned--I do not know on what +authority--to the year 512[366].] + +[Footnote 366: The passage in Marcellinus Comes, s.a. 512, which at +first sight seems to describe an eruption taking place in that year, +really describes the _commemoration_ of the eruption of 472. See +following note.] + +'Let your Greatness send men of proved integrity to the territories of +Neapolis and Nola, who may examine the ravaged lands for themselves, +and proportion the relief granted, to the amount of damage done in +each case. + +'That Province is visited at intervals by this terrible calamity, as +if to mar its otherwise perfect happiness. There is one favourable +feature in the visitation. It does not come wholly unawares. For some +time before, the mountain groans with the strife of Nature going on +inside it, and it seems as if an angry spirit within would terrify all +the neighbourhood by his mighty roar. Then the air is darkened by its +foul exhalations; hot ashes scudding along the sea, a shower of drops +of dust upon the land, tell to all Italy, to the transmarine +Provinces, to the world, from what calamity Campania is +suffering[367]. + +[Footnote 367: In the eruption of 472 (apparently the last great +eruption previous to 512), the ashes were carried as far as Byzantium, +the inhabitants of which city instituted a yearly religious service in +memory of the event: 'Vesuvius mons Campaniae torridus intestinis +ignibus aestuans exusta evomuit viscera, nocturnisque in die tenebris +incumbentibus, _omnem Europae faciem minuto contexit pulvere_. Hujus +metuendi memoriam cineris Byzantii annue celebrant VIII Idus +Novembris.' The eruption was accompanied by widespread earthquake: 'In +Asia aliquantae civitates vel oppida terrae motu collapsa sunt' +(Marcellinus Comes, sub anno).] + +'Go nearer: you will see as it were rivers of dust flowing, and +glowing streams of barren sand moving over the country. You see and +wonder: the furrows of the fields are suddenly lifted to a level with +the tops of the trees; the country, which but now was dressed in a +robe of gladsome greenness, is laid waste by sudden and mournful heat. +And yet, even those sandy tracts of pumice-stone which the mountain +vomits forth, dry and burnt up as they appear, have their promise of +fertility. There are germs within them which will one day spring to +life, and re-clothe the mountain side which they have wasted. + +'How strange that one mountain alone should thus terrify the whole +world! Other mountains may be seen with silently glowing summits; this +alone announces itself to distant lands by darkened skies and changed +air. So it still goes on, shedding its dusty dews over the land; ever +parting with its substance, yet a mountain still undiminished in +height and amplitude. Who that sees those mighty blocks in the plain +would believe that they had boiled over from the depths of that +distant hill, that they had been tossed like straws upon the wind by +the angry spirit of the mountain? + +'Therefore let your Prudence so manage the enquiry that those who have +really suffered damage shall be relieved, while no room is left for +fraud.' + + +51. KING THEODORIC TO SYMMACHUS, PATRICIAN[368]. + +[Footnote 368: The father-in-law of Boethius.] + +[Sidenote: Commends the public spirit of Symmachus, as shown in the +restoration of Pompey's theatre.] + +Commends him for the diligence and skill with which he has decorated +Rome with new buildings--especially in the suburbs, which no one would +distinguish from the City except for the occasional glimpses of +pleasant fields; and still more for his restoration of the massive +ruins of past days[369], chiefly the theatre of Pompeius. + +[Footnote 369: We have here a striking description of the massive +strength of the public buildings of Rome: '[Videmus] caveas illas +saxis pendentibus apsidatas ita juncturis absconditis in formas +pulcherrimas convenisse, ut cryptas magis excelsi montis crederes quam +aliquid fabricatum esse judicares.'] + +As the letter is addressed to a learned man, it seems a suitable +opportunity to explain why Antiquity reared this mighty pile. +Accordingly a very long digression follows on the origin, progress, +and decline of Tragedy, Comedy, and Pantomime. + +It is remarked incidentally that Pompeius seems to have derived his +appellation _Magnus_ chiefly from the building of this wonderful +theatre. + +The expense which Symmachus has been put to in these vast works is to +be refunded to him by the _Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi_, that he may +still have the glory of the work, but that the King may have done his +due part in preserving the memorials of Antiquity. + + + + +BOOK V. + +CONTAINING FORTY-FOUR LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF +THEODORIC. + + +1. KING THEODORIC TO THE KING OF THE VANDALS[370]. + +[Footnote 370: No doubt Thrasamund, who married Theodoric's sister. He +reigned from 496 to 523.] + +[Sidenote: The King of the Vandals is thanked for his presents.] + +'The swords which you have sent us are most beautiful: so sharp that +they will cut other weapons; so bright that they reflect with a sort +of iron light[371] the face of the beholder; with the two blades +descending to their edges with such absolute equality of slope, that +you would fancy them the result of the furnace rather than of the +whetstone[372]; in the middle, between the blades, channels carved +which are filled in with beautiful enamel of various colours[373]. + +[Footnote 371: 'Ut speculum quoddam virorum faciat ferream lucem.'] + +[Footnote 372: 'Quarum margines in acutum tali aequalitate descendunt, +ut non limis compositae, sed igneis fornacibus credantur effusae.'] + +[Footnote 373: 'Harum media pulchris alveis excavata, quibusdam +videntur crispari posse vermiculis, ubi tanta varietatis umbra +concludit, ut intextum magis credas variis coloribus lucidum +metallum.'] + +'Along with these arms you have also sent us musical instruments of +ebony, and slave boys of beautiful whiteness. + +'We thank you heartily, send by A and B, our ambassadors, presents of +equal value; and hope that mutual concord will always unite our +States.' + + +2. KING THEODORIC TO THE HAESTI. + +[Sidenote: The Haesti, dwellers by the Baltic. Their present of +amber.] + +[These are the Aestii of Tacitus, dwelling in or on the south border +of the country which is still called Esthonia. Tacitus also mentions +their quest of amber[374].] + +[Footnote 374: Germ. 45: 'Ergo jam dextro Suevici maris litore +Aestiorum gentes alluuntur, quibus ritus habitusque Suevorum, lingua +Britannicae propior.... Sed et mare scrutantur ac soli omnium sucinum +quod ipsi glesum vocant, inter vada atque in ipso littore legunt.' +Then follows an account of the nature of amber, and a history of its +supposed origin, from which Cassiodorus has borrowed in this letter.] + +'It is gratifying to us to know that you have heard of our fame, and +have sent ambassadors who have pressed through so many strange nations +to seek our friendship. + +'We have received the amber which you have sent us. You say that you +gather this lightest of all substances from the shores of the ocean, +but how it comes thither you know not. But, as an author named +Cornelius [Tacitus] informs us, it is gathered in the innermost +islands of the ocean, being formed originally of the juice of a tree +(whence its name _succinum_[375]), and gradually hardened by the heat +of the sun. + +[Footnote 375: Cassiodorus apparently spells this word with two c's. +The more usual spelling is with one.] + +'Thus it becomes an exuded metal, a transparent softness, sometimes +blushing with the colour of saffron, sometimes glowing with flame-like +clearness[376]. Then, gliding down to the margin of the sea, and +further purified by the rolling of the tides, it is at length +transported to your shores to be cast up upon them. We have thought it +better to point this out to you, lest you should imagine that your +supposed secrets have escaped our knowledge. + +[Footnote 376: 'Modo croceo colore rubens, modo flammea claritate +pinguescens.'] + +'We send you some presents by our ambassadors, and shall be glad to +receive further visits from you by the road which you have thus opened +up, and to show you future favours.' + +[The collection of amber is also noticed by Pliny ('Nat. Hist.' 37. +2). It is interesting to observe that he there, on the authority of +Pytheas, attributes to the Guttones dwelling on the Baltic shore the +collection of amber, and its sale to the Teutones. These Guttones +were, if we are right in accepting Jordanes' account of the Gothic +migrations, themselves ancestors of the Ostrogoths.] + + +3. KING THEODORIC TO HONORATUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, QUAESTOR. + +4. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Honoratus, brother of Decoratus, is made Quaestor.] + +The usual pair of letters on the promotion of Honoratus to the +Quaestorship. He succeeds his brother Decoratus, whose early death +Theodoric regrets. The date of the letters is the Third Indiction, +September 1, 509. + +The writer remarks on the prophetic instinct[377] of the parents, who +named these two sons, destined to future eminence, Decoratus and +Honoratus. Decoratus was originally an advocate at Rome. His services +were often sought by men of Consular rank, and before his admission to +the Senate he had had a Patrician for his client in a very celebrated +case[378]. + +[Footnote 377: We have here a remark on unconscious prophecies: 'Loqui +datur quod nos sensisse nescimus: sed post casum reminiscimur, quod +ignorantes veraciter dixeramus.'] + +[Footnote 378: 'Inferior gradu praestabat viris consularibus se +patronum et cum honoribus vestris impar haberetur, Patricius ei dictus +est in celeberrima cognitione susceptus.' The last part of this +sentence is very obscure.] + +When he became Quaestor he distinguished himself by his excellent +qualities. 'He stood beside us, under the light of our Genius, bold +but reverent; silent at the right time, fluent when there was need of +fluency. He kept our secrets as if he had forgotten them; he +remembered every detail of our orders as if he had written them down. +Thus was he ever an eminent lightener of our labours[379].' + +[Footnote 379: Decoratus is called by Boethius, who was his colleague +in some office, 'a wretched buffoon and informer' (nequissimus scurra +et delator. Cons. Phil. iii. 4). But Ennodius addresses him in +friendly and cordial language (Epist. iv. 17). His epitaph, which +mentions his Spoletan origin, is of course laudatory: + + 'Nam fessis tribuit requiem, miseros que levavit, + Justitiae cultor, largus et hospes erat.' + +(Quoted in the notes to Ennodius in Migne's Patrologia.)] + +The past career of the younger brother, Honoratus, who has been +advocate at Spoleto, and has had to contend with the corrupt +tendencies of Provincial judges, full of their little importance, and +removed from the wholesome control which the opinion of the Senate +exercised upon them at Rome, is then sketched; and the hope is +expressed that, in the words of the Virgilian quotation[380], this +bough upon the family tree will be found as goodly as that which it +has untimely lost. + +[Footnote 380: 'Primo avulso non deficit alter' (Aen. vi. 143).] + +[Sidenote: Duties of the Quaestorship.] + +The letter to the Senate has an interesting passage on the duties and +responsibilities of the Quaestor. + +'It is only men whom we consider to be of the highest learning that we +raise to the dignity of the Quaestorship, such men as are fitted to be +interpreters of the laws and sharers of our counsels. This is an +honour which neither riches nor high birth by itself can procure, only +learning joined with prudence. In granting all other dignities we +confer favours, but from the holder of this we ever receive them. He +is favoured to have a share in our anxieties; he enters in by the +door of our thoughts; he is intimately acquainted with the breast in +which the cares of the whole State are weighed. Think what judgment +you ought to form of a man who is partaker of such a confidence. From +him we require skill in the laws; to him flow together all the prayers +of all suitors, and (a thing more precious than any treasure) to him +is committed our own reputation for _civilitas_. Under a just Quaestor +the mind of an innocent man is at rest: only the wicked become anxious +as to the success of their evil designs; and thus the bad lose their +hope of plunder, while more earnestness is shown in the practice of +virtue. It is his to safeguard the just rights of all men: temperate +in expenditure, lavish in his zeal for justice, incapable of +deception, prompt in succour. He serves that Sovereign mind before +which all bow: through his lips must he speak who has not an equal in +the land.' + + +5. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO MANNILA. + +[Sidenote: Abuses of the Cursus Publicus.] + +Repeats the injunctions given in Letter iv. 47 against improper use of +the public post-horses, and overloading of the extra horses. The fines +imposed are the same as in that letter [with the addition of a fine of +two ounces of gold (about L6 10s.) for overloading]; the examples from +Natural History are similar. 'The very bird when weighted with a load +flies slowly. Ships though they cannot feel their toils, yet move +tardily when they are filled with cargo. What can the poor quadruped +do when pressed by too great burden? It succumbs.' + +But apparently this rule against overloading is not to apply to +Praepositi (Provincial Governors?), since 'reverenda antiquitas' has +given them special rights over the _Cursus Publicus_. + + +6. KING THEODORIC TO STABULARIUS, COMITIACUS[381]. + +[Footnote 381: Officer of the Court. See vi. 13.] + +7. KING THEODORIC TO JOANNES, VIR CLARISSIMUS, ARCARIUS [TREASURER]. + +[Sidenote: Default in payments to Treasury made by Thomas. His +property assigned to his son-in-law Joannes.] + +'The _Vir Honestus_, Thomas, has long been a defaulter (reliquator) in +respect of the Indictions payable for certain farms which he has held +under the King's house in Apulia[382], and this default has now +reached the sum of 10,000 solidi (L6,000). Repeatedly summoned to pay, +he always procrastinates, and we can get no satisfaction out of him. +The petition of Joannes, who is son-in-law to Thomas, informs us that +he is willing to pay the 10,000 solidi due, if we will make over to +him the said farms, and all the property of his father-in-law. This we +therefore now do, reserving to Thomas the right to pay the debt at any +time before the next Kalends of September, and thus to redeem his +property. Failing such payment, the property is to pass finally into +the hands of Joannes, on his paying the 10,000 solidi to the +Illustrious Count of the Patrimony [possibly Stabularius]. + +[Footnote 382: 'Thomatem domus nostrae certa praedia suscepisse sed +eum male administrando suscepta usque ad decem millia solidorum de +Indictionibus illa atque illa reliquatorem publicis rationibus +extitisse.' It is not quite clear whether the debt is due as what we +should call rent or as land-tax. Perhaps the debt had accumulated +under both heads.] + +'It may be some little consolation to Thomas to reflect that after all +it is his son-in-law who enters into possession of his goods.' + +[Dahn ('Koenige der Germanen' iii. 277) remarks on this letter: 'But +even the well-meaning Theodoric takes steps in the interests of +substantial justice which from a juristic point of view it would be +hard to justify.... Evidently here the King, in his consideration of +what was practically just, has decided according to caprice, not +according to right; for the Fiscus could strictly only be repaid its +debt out of the property of the defaulter, and hold the Arcarius +(Joannes) responsible for the balance' (for which Dahn thinks he had +already made himself liable). I do not quite agree with this view. It +seems to me that Thomas was hopelessly bankrupt (the debt was 10,000 +solidi, not 1,000, as stated by Dahn), and the Fiscus virtually sells +the bankrupt's estate to his son-in-law, for him to make of it what he +can.] + + +8. KING THEODORIC TO ANASTASIUS THE CONSULAR. + +[Sidenote: Transport of marble from Faenza to Ravenna.] + +'We rely upon your Sublimity's zeal and prudence to see that the +required blocks of marble are forwarded from Faventia (Faenza) to +Ravenna, without any extortion from private individuals; so that, on +the one hand, our desire for the adornment of that city may be +gratified, and on the other, there may be no cause for complaint on +the part of our subjects.' + + +9. KING THEODORIC TO THE POSSESSORES OF FELTRIA. + +[Sidenote: New city to be built in district of Trient.] + +'We have ordered the erection of a new city in the territory of +Tridentum (Trient). As the work is great and the inhabitants few, we +order you all to assist and build each your appointed length +(pedatura) of wall, for which you will receive suitable pay.' + +[This use of the word _pedatura_ is found in Vegetius, 'Epitoma Rei +Militaris' iii. 8, and is illustrated by the centurial stones on the +two great Roman walls in Britain, recording the number of feet +accomplished by each century of soldiers (See 'Archaeologia Aeliana,' +vol. ix. p. 28; paper by Mr. Clayton).] + +'None, not even the servants of the royal house (divina domus), are +excepted from this order.' + + +10. KING THEODORIC TO THE SAJO VERANUS. + +11. KING THEODORIC TO THE GEPIDAE, ON THEIR MARCH TO GAUL. + +[Sidenote: Payment to Gepidae on their march to Gaul.] + +'We desire that our soldiers should always be well paid, and that they +should never become the terror of the country which they are ordered +to defend. Do you therefore, Sajo Veranus, cause the Gepid troops whom +we have ordered to come to the defence of Gaul, to march in all peace +and quietness through Venetia and Liguria. + +'You Gepidae shall receive three solidi (L1 16s.) per week; and we +trust that thus supplied you will everywhere buy your provisions, and +not take them by force. + +'We generally give the soldiers their pay in kind, but in this case, +for obvious reasons, we think it better to pay them in money, and let +them buy for themselves. + +'If their waggons are becoming shaky with the long journey, or their +beasts of burden weary, let them exchange for sound waggons and fresh +beasts with the inhabitants of the country, but on such terms that the +latter shall not regret the transaction.' + +[Does this payment of three solidi mean per head? That would be an +enormously high rate of pay. Sartorius (p. 289) feels the difficulty +so strongly that he suggests that this was the pay given to the whole +troop, whose number was not large; but 'multitudo' seems hostile to +this hypothesis[383]. Possibly the high cost of provisions in the +Alpine mountain-country may help to explain this unheard-of rate of +pay to common soldiers.] + +[Footnote 383: 'Ut multitudinem Gepidarum quam fecimus ad Gallias +custodiae causa properare, per Venetiam atque Liguriam sub omni facias +moderatione transire.'] + + +12. KING THEODORIC TO THEODAHAD, VIR ILLUSTRIS [NEPHEW OF THE KING]. + +[Sidenote: Avarice and injustice of Theodahad.] + +'If all are bound to seek justice and to avoid ignoble gains, most +especially are they thus bound who pride themselves on their close +relationship to us. + +'The heirs of the Illustrious Argolicus [probably the Praefect of +Rome] and the Clarissimus Amandianus complain that the estate[384] of +Palentia, which we generously gave them to console them for the loss +of the Casa Arbitana, has been by your servants, for no cause, +unbecomingly invaded; and thus you, who should have shown an example +of glorious moderation, have caused the scandal of high-handed +spoliation. Wherefore, if this be true, let your Greatness at once +restore what has been taken away; and if you consider that you have +any claims on the land, come and assert them in our Comitatus. Even +success yonder is injurious to your fame; but here, after full trial +of the case and hearing of witnesses, no one will believe that any +injustice has been done if your cause should triumph.' + +[Footnote 384: 'Massa;' cf. the American 'block.'] + +[The republication of this letter at the close of his official life +shows what was Cassiodorus' opinion of Theodahad, though he had served +under him.] + + +13. KING THEODORIC TO EUTROPIUS AND ACRETIUS. + +[Sidenote: Commissariat.] + +'We rely upon you to collect the prescribed rations and deliver them +to the soldiers. It is most important that they should be regularly +supplied, and that there should be no excuse for pillage, so hard to +check when once an army has begun to practise it.' + + +14. KING THEODORIC TO SEVERI(A)NUS[385], VIR ILLUSTRIS (514-515). + +[Footnote 385: In the next letter the same official is called +Severinus.] + +[Sidenote: Financial abuses in Suavia.] + +'We send you to redress the long-standing grievances of the +Possessores of the Province of Suavia, to which we have not yet been +able to apply a remedy. + +'(1) It appears that some of the chief Possessores are actually making +a profit out of the taxes, imposing heavy burdens on their poorer +neighbours and not honestly accounting for the receipts to us. See +that this is put right, that the land-tax (assis[386] publicus) is +fairly and equitably reimposed according to the ability of each +Possessor, and that those who have been oppressing their neighbours +heal the wounds which they have made. + +[Footnote 386: Cassiodorus uses the rare nominative form 'assis.'] + +'(2) See also that a strict account is rendered by all Defensores, +Curiales, and Possessores of any receipts on behalf of the public +Treasury. If a Possessor can show that he paid his tax (tributarius +solidus) for the now expired eighth Indiction (A.D. 514-515), and the +money has not reached our Treasury, find out the defaulter and punish +his crime. + +'(3) Similarly with sums disbursed by one of the clerks of our +Treasury[387], for the relief of the Province, which have not reached +their destination. + +[Footnote 387: 'Tabularius a cubiculo nostro.'] + +'(4) Men who were formerly Barbarians[388], who have married Roman +wives and acquired property in land, are to be compelled to pay their +Indictions and other taxes to the public Treasury just like any other +Provincials. + +[Footnote 388: 'Antiqui Barbari qui Romanis mulieribus elegerint +nuptiali foedere sociari, quolibet titulo praedia quaesiverint, fiscum +possessi cespitis persolvere, ac super indictitiis oneribus parere +cogantur.'] + +'(5) Judges are to visit each town (municipium) once in the year, and +are not entitled to claim from such towns more than three days' +maintenance. Our ancestors wished that the circuits of the Judges +should be a benefit, not a burden, to the Provincials. + +'(6) It is alleged that some of the servants of the Count of the Goths +and of the Vice-dominus (?) have levied black-mail on some of the +Provincials. Property so taken must be at once restored and the +offenders punished. + +'(7) Enter all your proceedings under this commission in official +registers (polyptycha), both for your own protection and for the sake +of future reference, to prevent the recurrence of similar abuses.' + +[A long and interesting letter, but with some obscure passages.] + + +15. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE POSSESSORES IN SUAVIA. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +'Although our Comitatus is always ready to redress the grievances of +our subjects, yet, on account of the length of the journey from your +Province hither, we have thought good to send the Illustrious and +Magnificent Severinus to you to enquire into your complaints on the +spot. He is a man fully imbued with our own principles of government, +and he has seen how greatly we have at heart the administration of +justice. We therefore doubt not that he will soon put right whatever +has been done wrong in your Province; and we have published our +"oracles" [the previous letter, containing Severinus' patent of +appointment], that all may know upon what principles he is to act, and +that those who have grievances against the present functionaries may +learn their rights.' + + +16. KING THEODORIC TO ABUNDANTIUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Formation of a navy.] + +'By Divine inspiration we have determined to raise a navy which may +both ensure the arrival of the cargoes of public corn and may, if +need be, combat the ships of an enemy. For, that Italy, a country +abounding in timber, should not have a navy of her own hath often +stricken us with regret. + +'Let your Greatness therefore give directions for the construction of +1,000 _dromones_ (swift cutters). Wherever cypresses and pines are +found near to the sea-shore, let them be bought at a suitable price. + +'Then as to the levy of sailors: any fitting man, if a slave, must be +hired of his master, or bought at a reasonable price. If free, he is +to receive 5 solidi (L3) as donative, and will have his rations during +the term of service. + +'Even those who were slaves are to be treated in the same way, "since +it is a kind of freedom to serve the Ruler of the State[389];" and are +to receive, according to their condition, two or three solidi (L1 4s. +or L1 16s.) of bounty money[390]. + +[Footnote 389: 'Quando libertatis genus est servire Rectori.'] + +[Footnote 390: 'Arrharum nomine.'] + +'Fishermen, however, are not to be enlisted in this force, since we +lose with regret one whose vocation it is to provide us with luxuries; +and moreover one kind of training is required for him who has to face +the stormy wind, and another for him who need only fish close to +shore.' + + +17. KING THEODORIC TO ABUNDANTIUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +'We praise you for your prompt fulfilment of the orders contained in +the previous letter. You have built a fleet almost as quickly as +ordinary men would sail one. The model of the triremes, revealing the +number of the rowers but concealing their faces, was first furnished +by the Argonauts. So too the sail, that flying sheet[391] which wafts +idle men to their destination quicker than swiftest birds can fly, +was first invented by the lorn Isis, when she set off on her +wanderings through the world to find her lost son Apochran. + +[Footnote 391: 'Linum volatile.'] + +'Now that we have our fleet, there is no need for the Greek to fasten +a quarrel upon us, or for the African [the Vandal] to insult us[392]. +With envy they see that we have now stolen from them the secret of +their strength. + +[Footnote 392: 'Non habet quod nobis Graecus imputet aut Afer +insultet.'] + +'Let all the fleet be assembled at Ravenna on the next Ides of June. +Let our own Padus send his home-born navy to the sea, his +river-nurtured firs to battle with the winds of Ocean. + +'But there is one suggestion of yours of great importance, and which +must be diligently acted upon, namely the removal of the nets whereby +the fishermen at present impede the channels of the following rivers: +Mincius, Ollius (Oglio), Anser (Serchio), Arno, Tiber. Let the river +lie open for the transit of ships; let it suffice for the appetite of +man to seek for delicacies in the ordinary way, not by rustic artifice +to hinder the freedom of the stream.' + + +18. KING THEODORIC TO UVILIAS [WILLIAS?], VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COUNT OF +THE PATRIMONY. + +19. KING THEODORIC TO GUDINAND, A SAJO. + +20. KING THEODORIC TO AVILF, A SAJO. + +[Sidenote: On the same subject.] + +These three letters all relate to the same subject as the two +preceding ones--the formation of a navy, and the _rendezvous_ of ships +and sailors at Ravenna on the Ides of June. + +The Count of the Patrimony is courteously requested to see if there is +any timber suitable for the purposes of the navy, growing in the royal +estates along the banks of the Po. + +The Sajones are ordered in more brusque and peremptory fashion: +Gudinand to collect the sailors at Ravenna on the appointed day; and +Avilf to collect timber along the banks of the Po, with as little +injury to the Possessors as possible (not, however, apparently paying +them anything for it), to keep his hands clean from extortion and +fraud, and to pull up the stake-nets in the channels of the five +rivers mentioned in Letter 17; 'for we all know that men ought to fish +with nets, not with hedges, and the opposite practice shows detestable +greediness.' + + +21. KING THEODORIC TO CAPUANUS, SENATOR. + +22. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Capuanus appointed Rector Decuriarum.] + +[On the appointment of Capuanus to the office of Rector of the Guilds +(Rector Decuriarum). The Guilds (Decuriae) of the City of Rome--not to +be confounded with the Provincial _Curiae_, membership in which was at +this time a burden rather than an advantage--enjoyed several special +privileges. We find from the Theodosian Code, Lib. xiv. Tit. 1, that +there were Decuriae of the _Librarii_, _Fiscales_, _Censuales_. The +_Decuria Scribarum_ is perhaps the same as the _Decuria Librariorum_. +I use the word Guilds, which seems best to describe a body of this +kind; but it will be seen from their names that these Guilds are not +of a commercial character, but are rather concerned with the +administration of justice. Some of them must have discharged the +duties of attorneys, others of Inland Revenue officers, others acted +as clerks to register the proceedings of the Senate, others performed +the mere mechanical work of copying, which is now undertaken by a law +stationer. + +It was ordained by a law of Constantius and Julian (357) that no one +should enter the first class in these Decuriae[393] unless he were a +trained and practised literary man. + +[Footnote 393: 'Locum primi ordinis.'] + +The office which in the Theodosian Code is called _Judex Decuriarum_ +seems here to be called _Rector_.] + +The young Capuanus has distinguished himself as a advocate both before +the Senate and other tribunals. There has been a certain diffidence +and hesitation in his manner, especially when he was dealing with +common subjects; but he always warmed with his peroration, and the +same man who even stammered in discussing some trifling detail became +fluent, nay eloquent, when the graver interests of his client were at +stake. When he saw that the Judge was against him he did not lose +heart, but, by praising his justice and impartiality, gradually coaxed +him into a more favourable mood. On one memorable occasion, when a +certain document was produced which appeared hostile, he boldly +challenged the accuracy of the copy [made probably by one of the +_Decuria Librariorum_] and insisted on seeing the original. This young +advocate is now appointed _Rector Decuriarum_, and thus accorded the +privilege of seniority over many men who are much older than himself. +He is exhorted to treat them with all courtesy, to remember the +importance of accuracy and fidelity in the execution of his duties and +those of the _Decuriales_ under him, on whose correct transcription of +documents the property, the liberty, nay even the life of their +fellow-subjects may depend. Especially he is exhorted to remember his +own challenge of the accuracy of a copied document, that he may not +ever find that memorable oration of his brought up against himself. + +The Senate is exhorted to give the young official a kindly welcome. It +will now devolve upon him to report with praiseworthy accuracy the +proceedings of that body, the most celebrated in the whole world. He +who has often pleaded before them the cause of the humble and weak, +will now have to introduce Consulars to their assembly. It is expected +that his eloquence will grow and his stammer will disappear, now that +he is clothed with a more dignified office. 'Freedom nourishes words, +but fear frequently interrupts their plenteous flow.' + + +23. KING THEODORIC TO ABUNDANTIUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Archery drill.] + +'Tata the Sajo is ordered to proceed to the Illustrious Count Julian, +with the young archers whom he has drilled, that they may practise on +the field the lessons which they have learned in the gymnasium. Let +your Greatness provide them with rations and ships according to +custom.' [The place to which this expedition was directed does not +seem to be stated.] + + +24. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATOR EPIPHANIUS, CONSULARIS OF DALMATIA. + +[Sidenote: Property of a widow dying intestate and without heirs to be +claimed for the State.] + +'We are informed that Joanna, the wife of Andreas, having succeeded to +her husband's estate, has died intestate without heirs. Her property +ought therefore to lapse to our Treasury[394], but it is being +appropriated, so we are informed, by divers persons who have no claim +to it. + +[Footnote 394: 'Quia caduca bona fisco nostro competere legum cauta +decreverunt.'] + +'Enquire into this matter; and if it be as we are informed, reclaim +for our Treasury so legitimate a possession. We should consider +ourselves guilty of negligence if we omitted to take possession of +that which, without harming anyone, so obviously comes in to lighten +the public burdens. + +'But if you find the facts different to these, by all means leave the +present owners in quiet possession. The secure enjoyment by our +subjects of that which is lawfully theirs we hold to be our truest +patrimony.' + + +25. KING THEODORIC TO BACAUDA[395], VIR SUBLIMIS. + +[Footnote 395: The name is a peculiar one, reminding us of the +Bacaudae, who for more than a century waged a sort of servile war in +Gaul against the officers of the Empire. It is not probable, however, +that there is any real connection between them and the receiver of +this letter.] + +[Sidenote: Bacauda receives the office of Tribunus Voluptatum for +life.] + +'By way of support for your declining years we appoint you, for life, +_Tribunus Voluptatum_ [Minister of Public Amusement] at Milan. + +'It is a new principle in the public service[396] to give any man a +life-tenure of his office; but you will now not have to fear the +interference of any successor, and your mind being at ease about your +own future, you will be able to minister to the pleasures of the +people with a smiling face.' + +[Footnote 396: 'Quod est in Reipublicae _militia_ novum.' Observe the +use of militia for civil service.] + + +26. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHS SETTLED IN PICENUM AND SAMNIUM. + +[Sidenote: The Goths summoned to the royal presence.] + +'The presence of the Sovereign doubles the sweetness of his gifts, and +that man is like one dead whose face is not known to his lord[397]. +Come therefore by God's assistance, come all into our presence on the +eighth day before the Ides of June (June 6th), there solemnly to +receive our royal largesse. But let there be no excesses by the way, +no plundering the harvest of the cultivators nor trampling down their +meadows, since for this cause do we gladly defray the expense of our +armies that _civilitas_ may be kept intact by armed men.' + +[Footnote 397: 'Nam pene similis est mortuo qui a suo Dominante +nescitur.' A motto more suited to the presence-chamber of Byzantium +than the camp-fires of a Gothic King.] + + +27. KING THEODORIC TO GUDUIM, SAJO. + +[Sidenote: The same.] + +'Order all the captains of thousands[398] of Picenum and Samnium to +come to our Court, that we may bestow the wonted largesse on our +Goths. We enquire diligently into the deeds of each of our soldiers, +that none may lose the credit of any exploit which he has performed in +the field. On the other hand, let the coward tremble at the thought of +coming into our presence. Even this fear may hereafter make him brave +against the enemy.' + +[Footnote 398: 'Millenarii.' Cf. the [Greek: chiliarchoi], who, as +Procopius tells us, were appointed by Gaiseric over the Vandals; also +the _thusundifaths_ of Ulfilas.] + + +28. KING THEODORIC TO CARINUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: Invitation to Court.] + +'Granting your request, and also satisfying our own desire for your +companionship, we invite you to our Court.' + + +29. KING THEODORIC TO NEUDES, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Sidenote: A blind Gothic warrior enslaved.] + +'Our pity is greatly moved by the petition of Ocer, a blind Goth, who +has come by the help of borrowed sight to _feel_ the sweetness of our +clemency, though he cannot see our presence. + +'He asserts that he, a free Goth, who once followed our armies, has, +owing to his misfortune, been reduced to slavery by Gudila and Oppas. +Strange excess of impudence to make that man their servant, before +whose sword they had assuredly trembled had he possessed his eyesight! +He pleads that Count Pythias has already pronounced against the claims +of his pretended masters. If you find that this is so, restore him at +once to freedom, and warn those men not to dare to repeat their +oppression of the unfortunate.' + + +30. KING THEODORIC TO GUDUI[M], VIR SUBLIMIS [AND DUX]. + +[Sidenote: Servile tasks imposed on free Goths by a Duke.] + +'We expect those whom we choose as Dukes to work righteousness. +Costula and Daila, men who by the blessing of God rejoice in the +freedom of our Goths, complain that servile tasks are imposed upon +them by you. We do not do this ourselves, nor will we allow anyone +else to do it. If you find that the grievance is correctly stated +rectify it at once, or our anger will turn against the Duke who thus +abuses his power.' + + +31. KING THEODORIC TO DECORATUS, VIR DEVOTUS (?). + +[For the career of Decoratus see v. 3 and 4.] + +[Sidenote: Arrears of Siliquaticum to be enforced.] + +'Thomas, Vir Clarissimus, complains that he cannot collect the arrears +of Siliquaticum from certain persons in Apulia and Calabria. + +'Do you therefore summon Mark the Presbyter, Andreas, Simeonius, and +the others whose names are set forth in the accompanying schedule, to +come into your presence, using no unnecessary force[399] in your +summons. If they cannot clear themselves of this debt to the public +Treasury, they must be forced to pay.' + +[Footnote 399: 'Servata in omnibus civilitate.'] + +[The arrears are said to be for the 8th, 9th, 11th, 1st, 2nd, and 15th +Indictiones; i.e. probably for the years 500, 501, 503, 508, 509, 507. +I cannot account for this curious order in which the years are +arranged, which seems to suggest some corruption of the text. Probably +this letter was written about 509.] + + +32. KING THEODORIC TO BRANDILA (CIR. 508-9). + +[See remarks on this letter in Dahn ('Koenige der Germanen' iv. +149-152); he claims it as a proof that Gothic law still existed for +the Goths in Italy.] + +[Sidenote: Assault of the wife of Brandila on the wife of Patzenes.] + +'Times without number has Patzenes laid his complaint upon us, to wit +that while he was absent on the recent successful expedition[400] your +wife Procula fell upon his wife [Regina], inflicted upon her three +murderous blows, and finally left her for dead, the victim having only +escaped by the supposed impossibility of her living. Now therefore, if +you acknowledge the fact to be so, you are to consult your own honour +by inflicting summary punishment as a husband on your wife, that we +may not hear of this complaint again[401]. But if you deny the fact, +you are to bring your said wife to our Comitatus and there prove her +innocence.' + +[Footnote 400: Into Gaul; see next letter.] + +[Footnote 401: 'Atque ideo decretis te praesentibus admonemus, ut si +factum evidenter agnoscis, delatam querimoniam, pudori tuo consulens, +_maritali districtione redarguas_; quatenus ex eadem causa ad nos +querela justa non redeat.'] + + +33. KING THEODORIC TO DUKE WILITANCH. + +[Containing the explanation of Procula's violence to Regina]. + +[Sidenote: Adulterous connection between Brandila and the wife of +Patzenes.] + +'Patzenes brings before us a most serious complaint: that during his +absence in the Gaulish campaign, Brandila dared to form an adulterous +connection with his wife Regina, and to go through the form of +marriage with her. + +'Whose honour will be safe if advantage is thus to be taken with +impunity of the absense of a brave defender of his country? Alas for +the immodesty of women! They might learn virtue even from the chaste +example of the cooing turtle-dove, who when once deprived by +misfortune of her mate, never pairs again with another. + +'Let your Sublimity compel the parties accused to come before you for +examination, and if the charge be true, if these shameless ones were +speculating on the soldier of the Republic not returning from the +wars, if they were hoping, as they must have hoped, for general +collapse and ruin in order to hide their shame, then proceed against +them as our laws against adulterers dictate[402], and thus vindicate +the rights of all husbands.' + +[Footnote 402: 'Et rerum veritate discussa _sicut jura nostra +praecipiunt_, in adulteros maritorum favore resecetur.'] + +[If these laws were, as is probable, those contained in the _Edictum +Theodorici_, the punishment for both the guilty parties was death, Sec. +38, 39.] + + +34. KING THEODORIC TO ABUNDANTIUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Endless evasions of Frontosus. The nature of the +chameleon.] + +'Frontosus, acting worthily of his name [the shameless-browed one], +confessed to having embezzled a large sum of public money, but +promised that, if a sufficient interval were allowed him, he would +repay it. Times without number has this interval expired and been +renewed, and still he does not pay. When he is arrested he trembles +with fear, and will promise anything; as soon as he is liberated he +seems to forget every promise that he has made. He changes his words, +like the chameleon, that little creature which in the shape of a +serpent is distinguished by a gold-coloured head, and has all the rest +of its body of a pale green. This little beast when it meets the gaze +of men, not being gifted with speed of flight, confused with its +excess of timidity, changes its colours in marvellous variety, now +azure, now purple, now green, now dark blue. The chameleon, again, may +be compared to the Pandian gem [sapphire?], which flashes with all +sorts of lights and colours while you hold it still in your hand. + +'Such then is the mind of Frontosus. He may be rightly compared to +Proteus, who when he was laid hold of, appeared in every shape but his +own, roared as a lion, hissed as a serpent, or foamed away in watery +waves, all in order to conceal his true shape of man. + +'Since this is his character, when you arrest him, first stop his +mouth from promising, for his facile nature is ready with all sorts of +promises which he has no chance of performing. Then ascertain what he +can really pay at once, and keep him bound till he does it. He must +not be allowed to think that he can get the better of us with his +tricks.' + + +35. KING THEODORIC TO COUNT LUVIRIT, AND AMPELIUS. + +[Sidenote: Fraudulent ship-owners to be punished.] + +'When we were in doubt about the food supply of Rome, we judged it +proper that Spain should send her cargoes of wheat hither, and the Vir +Spectabilis Marcian collected supplies there for this purpose. His +industry, however, was frustrated by the greed of the shipowners, who, +disliking the necessary delay, slipped off and disposed of the grain +for their own profit. Little as we like harshness, this offence must +be punished. We have therefore directed Catellus and Servandus (Viri +Strenui) to collect from these shipmasters the sum of 1,038 solidi +(L622 16s.), inasmuch as they appear to have received: + +'From the sale of the corn 280 solidi. +'And from the fares of passengers 758 " + ------ + '1,038 " + +'Let your Sublimity assist in the execution of this order.' + + +36. KING THEODORIC TO STARCEDIUS, VIR SUBLIMIS. + +[Sidenote: Honourable discharge.] + +'You tell us that your body, wearied out with continual labour, is no +longer equal to the fatigues of our glorious campaigns, and you +therefore ask to be released from the necessity of further military +service. We grant your request, but stop your donative; because it is +not right that you should consume the labourer's bread in idleness. We +shall extend to you our protection from the snares of your +adversaries, and allow no one to call you a deserter, since you are +not one[403].' + +[Footnote 403: This is perhaps a specimen of the 'honesta missio' of +which we read in the Theodosian Code xii. 1. 43, 45.] + + +37. KING THEODORIC TO THE JEWS OF MILAN. + +[Sidenote: Rights of the Jewish Synagogue not to be invaded by +Christians.] + +'For the preservation of _civilitas_ the benefits of justice are not +to be denied even to those who are recognised as wandering from the +right way in matters of faith. + +'You complain that you are often wantonly attacked, and that the +rights pertaining to your synagogue are disregarded[404]. We therefore +give you the needed protection of our Mildness, and ordain that no +ecclesiastic shall trench on the privileges of your synagogue, nor mix +himself up in your affairs. But let the two communities keep apart, as +their faiths are different: you on your part not attempting to do +anything _incivile_ against the rights of the said Church. + +[Footnote 404: 'Nonnullorum vos frequenter causamini praesumptione +laceratos et quae ad synagogam vestram pertinent perhibetis jura +rescindi.'] + +'The law of thirty years' prescription, which is a world-wide +custom[405], shall enure for your benefit also. + +[Footnote 405: 'Tricennalis humano generi patrona praescriptio vobis +jure servabitur; nec conventionalia vos irrationabiliter praecipimus +sustinere dispendia.' I do not know what is meant by 'conventionalia +dispendia.'] + +'But why, oh Jew, dost thou petition for peace and quietness on earth +when thou canst not find that rest which is eternal[406]?' + +[Footnote 406: 'Sed quid, Judaeo, supplicans temporalem quietem +quaeris si aeternam requiem invenire non possis.'] + + +38. KING THEODORIC TO ALL CULTIVATORS[407]. + +[Footnote 407: 'Universis Possessoribus.'] + +[Sidenote: Shrubs obstructing the aqueduct of Ravenna to be rooted +up.] + +'The aqueducts are an object of our special care. We desire you at +once to root up the shrubs growing in the Signine Channel[408], which +will before long become big trees scarcely to be hewn down with the +axe, and which interfere with the purity of the water in the aqueduct +of Ravenna. Vegetation is the peaceable overturner of buildings, the +battering-ram which brings them to the ground, though the trumpets +never sound for siege. + +[Footnote 408: Where was this? Signia in Latium is, of course, not to +be thought of.] + +'We shall now again have baths that we may look upon with pleasure; +water which will cleanse, not stain; water after using which we shall +not require to wash ourselves again; drinking-water such that the mere +sight of it will not take away all our appetite for food[409].' + +[Footnote 409: The scarcity of water at Ravenna was proverbial.] + + +39. KING THEODORIC TO AMPELIUS AND LIVERIA[410]. + +[Footnote 410: Cf. the somewhat similar letter to Severinus, Special +Commissioner for Suavia (v. 14).] + +[Sidenote: Sundry abuses in the administration of the Spanish +government to be rectified.] + +'That alone is the true life of men which is controlled by the reign +of law. + +'We regret to hear that through the capricious extortions of our +revenue-officers anarchy is practically prevailing in Spain. The +public registers (polyptycha), not the whim of the collector, ought to +measure the liability of the Provincial. + +'We therefore send your Sublimity to Spain in order to remedy these +disorders. + +'(1) Murder must be put down with a strong hand; but the sharper the +punishment is made the more rigid we ought to be in requiring proof of +the crime[411]. + +[Footnote 411: 'Homicidii scelus legum jubemus auctoritate resecari: +sed quantum vehementior poena est tanto ejus rei debet inquisitio plus +haberi: ne amore vindictae innocentes videantur vitae pericula +sustinere.'] + +'(2) The collectors of the land-tax (assis publicus) are accused of +using false weights [in collecting the quotas of produce from the +Provincials]. This must cease, and they must use none but the standard +weights kept by our Chamberlain[412]. + +[Footnote 412: 'Libra cubiculi nostri.'] + +'(3) The farmers[413] of our Royal domain must pay the rent imposed on +them, otherwise they will get to look on the farms as their own +property; but certain salaries may be paid them for their trouble, as +you shall think fit[414]. [Dahn suggests that the salary was to +reimburse them for their labours as a kind of local police, but is +not himself satisfied with this explanation.] + +[Footnote 413: 'Conductores domus Regiae.'] + +[Footnote 414: 'Et ne cuiquam labor suus videatur ingratus, salaria +eis pro qualitate locatae rei, vestra volumus aequitate constitui.'] + +'(4) Import duties[415] are to be regularly collected and honestly +paid over. + +[Footnote 415: 'Transmarinorum canon.'] + +'(5) The officers of the mint are not to make their private gains out +of the coinage.' + +(6) An obscure sentence as to the 'Canon telonei' [from the Greek +[Greek: telones], a tax-gatherer. Garet reads 'Tolonei,' which is +probably an error]. + +(7) The same as to the _Actus Laeti_, whose conscience is assailed by +the grossest imputations. [Laetus is perhaps the name of an official.] + +'(8) Those concerned in _furtivae actiones_, and their accomplices, +are to disgorge the property thus acquired. + +'(9) Those who have received _praebendae_ [apparently official +allowances charged on the Province] are, with detestable injustice, +claiming them _both_ in money and in kind. This must be put a stop to: +of course the one mode of payment is meant to be alternative to the +other. + +'(10) The Exactores (Collectors) are said to be extorting from the +Provincials more than they pay into our chamber (_cubiculum_). Let +this be carefully examined into, and let the payment exacted be the +same that was fixed in the times of Alaric and Euric. + +'(11) The abuse of claiming extortions (_paraveredi_) by those who +have a right to use the public posts must be repressed. + +'(12) The defence of the Provincials by the _Villici_ is so costly, +and seems to be so unpopular, that we remove it altogether.' [For this +_tuitio villici_, see Dahn iii. 131; but he is not able to throw much +light on the nature of the office of the _Villicus_.] + +'(13) Degrading services (servitia famulatus) are not to be claimed of +our free-born Goths, although they may be residents in cities[416].' + +[Footnote 416: Cf. the 30th letter of this book.] + +[This very long letter is one of great importance, but also of great +difficulty.] + + +40. KING THEODORIC TO CYPRIAN, COUNT OF THE SACRED LARGESSES. + +[This Cyprian is the accuser of Albinus and Boethius.] + + +41. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[On Cyprian's appointment to the above office, 524.] + +[Sidenote: Promotion of Cyprian to the Comitiva Sacrarum Largitionum.] + +The usual pair of letters setting forth the merits of the new +official. The Senate is congratulated on the fact that the King never +presents to a place in that body a mere tyro in official life, but +always himself first tests the servants of the State, and rewards with +a place in the Senate only those who have shown themselves worthy of +it. + +Cyprian is the son of a man of merit, Opilio, who in the times of the +State's ill-fortune was chosen to a place in the royal household[417]. +He was not able, owing to the wretchedness of the times, to do much +for his son. The difference between the fortunes of father and son is +the measure of the happy change introduced by the rule of Theodoric. + +[Footnote 417: 'Vir quidem abjectis temporibus ad excubias tamen +Palatinas electus.' The time of Odovacar's government is here alluded +to (see viii. 17). An Opilio, probably father of the one here +mentioned, was Consul under Valentinian III in 453.] + +In some subordinate capacity in the King's final Court of Appeal +(probably as _Referendarius_[418]) Cyprian has hitherto had the duty +of stating the cases of the hostile litigants. He has shown wonderful +dexterity in suddenly stating the same case from the two opposite +points of view[419], and this so as to satisfy even the requirements +of the litigants themselves. + +[Footnote 418: Anonymus Valesii says: 'Cyprianus, qui tunc +Referendarius erat postea Comes Sacrarum et Magister,' Sec. 85.] + +[Footnote 419: 'Nam cum oratoribus sit propositum diu tractata unius +partis vota dicere, tibi semper necesse fuit repentinum negotium +utroque latere declarare.'] + +Often the King has transacted business in his rides which used of old +to be brought before a formal Consistory. He has mounted his horse, +when weary with the cares of the Republic, to renew his vigour by +exercise and change of scene. In these rides he has been accompanied +by Cyprian, who has in such a lively manner stated the cases which had +come up on appeal, that an otherwise tedious business was turned into +a pleasure. Even when the King was most moved to wrath by what seemed +to him a thoroughly bad cause, he still appreciated the charm of the +Advocate's style in setting it before him. Thus has Cyprian had that +most useful of all trainings, action, not books. + +Thus prepared he was sent on an embassy to the East, a commission +which he discharged with conspicuous ability. Versed in three +languages (Greek, Roman, Gothic?), he found that Greece had nothing to +show him that was new; and as for subtlety, he was a match for the +keenest of the Greeks. The Emperor's presence had nothing in it to +make him hesitating or confused. Why should it, since he had seen and +pleaded before Theodoric[420]? + +[Footnote 420: 'Talibus igitur institutis edoctus, Eoae sumpsisti +legationis officium, missus ad summae quidem peritiae viros: sed nulla +inter eos confusus es trepidatione _quia nihil tibi post nos potuit +esse mirabile_. Instructus enim trifariis linguis, non tibi Graecia +quod novum ostentaret invenit; nec ipsa qua nimium praevalet, te +transcendit argutia.'] + +In addition to all these other gifts he possesses _faith_, that anchor +of the soul amidst the waves of a stormy world. + +He is therefore called upon to assume at the third Indiction [524-525] +the office of Count of the Sacred Largesses, and exhorted to bear +himself therein worthily of his parentage and his past career, that +the King may afterwards promote him to yet higher honour. + +[For further remarks on this letter--a very important one, as bearing +on the trial of Boethius--see viii. 16. The third Indiction might mean +either 509-510 or 524-525; but the statement of 'Anomymus Valesii,' +that Cyprian was still only Referendarius at the time of his +accusation of Albinus, warrants us in fixing on the later date. This +makes the encomiums conferred in this letter more significant, since +they must have been bestowed _after_ the delation against Albinus and +Boethius. Probably it was during Cyprian's embassy to Constantinople +(described in this letter) that he discovered these intrigues of the +Senators with the Byzantine Court, which he denounced on his return.] + + +42. KING THEODORIC TO MAXIMUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, CONSUL. + +[Flavius Anicius Maximus was Consul A.D. 523.] + +[Sidenote: Rewards to performers in the Amphitheatre.] + +'If singers and dancers are to be rewarded by the generosity of the +Consul, _a fortiori_ should the _Venator_, the fighter with wild +beasts in the amphitheatre, be rewarded for _his_ endeavours to please +the people, who after all are secretly hoping to see him killed. And +what a horrible death he dies--denied even the rites of burial, +disappearing before he has yet become a corpse into the maw of the +hungry animal which he has failed to kill. These spectacles were first +introduced as part of the worship of the Scythian Diana, who was +feigned to gloat on human gore. The ancients called her the triple +deity, Proserpina-Luna-Diana. They were right in one point; the +goddess who invented these games certainly reigned _in hell_.' + +The Colosseum (the Amphitheatre of Titus) is described. + +The combats with wild beasts are pourtrayed in a style of pompous +obscurity. We may dimly discern the form of the _bestiarius_, who is +armed with a wooden spear; of another who leaps into the air to escape +the beast's onset; of one who protects himself with a portable wall of +reeds, 'like a sea-urchin;' of others who are fastened to a revolving +wheel, and alternately brought within the range of the animal's claws +and borne aloft beyond his grasp. 'There are as many perilous forms of +encounter as Virgil described varieties of crime and punishment in +Tartarus. Alas for the pitiable error of mankind! If they had any true +intuition of Justice, they would sacrifice as much wealth for the +preservation of human life as they now lavish on its destruction.' ['A +noble regret,' says Gregorovius ('Geschichte der Stadt Rom.' i. 286), +'in which in our own day every well-disposed Minister of a military +state will feel bound to concur with Cassiodorus.'] + + +43. KING THEODORIC TO TRANSMUND [THRASAMUND], KING OF THE VANDALS +(CIR. 511). + +[Sidenote: Complains of the protection given by Thrasamund to +Gesalic.] + +'Having given you our sister, that singular ornament of the Amal race, +in marriage, in order to knit the bonds of friendship between us, we +are amazed that you should have given protection and support to our +enemy Gesalic [natural son of Alaric II]. If it was out of mere pity +and as an outcast that you received him into your realm, you ought to +have kept him there; whereas you have sent him forth furnished with +large supplies of money to disturb the peace of our Gaulish Provinces. +This is not the conduct of a friend, much less of a relative. We are +sure that you cannot have taken counsel in this matter with your wife, +who would neither have liked to see her brother injured, nor the fair +fame of her husband tarnished by such doubtful intrigues. We send you +A and B as our ambassadors, who will speak to you further on this +matter.' + + +44. KING THEODORIC TO TRANSMUND [THRASAMUND], KING OF THE VANDALS. + +[Sidenote: Reconciliation between Theodoric and Thrasamund.] + +'You have shown, most prudent of Kings, that wise men know how to +amend their faults, instead of persisting in them with that obstinacy +which is the characteristic of brutes. In the noblest and most truly +kinglike manner you have humbled yourself to confess your fault in +reference to the reception of Gesalic, and to lay bare to us the very +secrets of your heart in this matter. We thank you and praise you, and +accept your purgation of yourself from this offence with all our +heart. As for the presents sent us by your ambassadors, we accept them +with our minds, but not with our hands. Let them return to your +Treasury (cubiculum), that it may be seen that it was simply love of +justice, not desire of gain, which prompted our complaints. We have +both acted in a truly royal manner[421]. Let your frankness and our +contempt of gold be celebrated through the nations. It is sweeter to +us to return these presents to you, than to receive much larger ones +from anyone else. Your ambassadors carry back with them the fullest +salutation of love from your friend and ally.' + +[Footnote 421: 'Fecimus utrique regalia.'] + + + + +BOOK VI. + +CONTAINING TWENTY-FIVE FORMULAE[422]. + +[Footnote 422: For the reasons which induced Cassiodorus to compile +the two books of Formulae, see his Preface (translated, p. 133).] + + +1. FORMULA OF THE CONSULSHIP. + +[Sidenote: Consulship.] + +'In old days the supreme reward of the Consulship was given to him +who, by his strong right hand, had delivered the Republic. The mantle +embroidered with palms of victory[423], the privilege of giving his +name to the year and of enfranchising the slave, even power over the +lives of his fellow-citizens, were rightly given to a man to whom the +Republic owed so much. He received the axe--the power of life and +death--but bound up in the bundle of rods, in order that the necessary +delay in undoing these might prevent him from striking the irrevocable +stroke without due consideration. Whence also he received the name of +Consul, because it was his duty to _consult_ for the good of his +country. He was bound to spend money freely; and thus he who had shed +the blood of the enemies of Rome made the lives of her children happy +by his generosity. + +[Footnote 423: 'Palmata vestis.'] + +'But now take this office under happier circumstances, since we have +the labours of the Consul, you the joys of his dignity. Your +palm-embroidered robes therefore are justified by our victories, and +you, in the prosperous hour of peace, confer freedom on the slave, +because we by our wars are giving security to the Romans. Therefore, +for this Indiction, we decorate you with the ensigns of the +Consulship. + +'Adorn your broad shoulders[424] with the variegated colours of the +palm-robe; ennoble your strong hand with the sceptre of victory[425]. +Enter your private dwelling having even your sandals gilded; ascend +the curule chair by the many steps which its dignity requires: that +thus you, a subject and at your ease, may enjoy the dignity which we, +the Ruler, assumed only after mightiest labours. You enjoy the fruit +of victory who are ignorant of war; we, God helping us, will reign; we +will consult for the safety of the State, while your name marks the +year. You overtop Sovereigns in your good fortune, since you wear the +highest honours, and yet have not the annoyances of ruling. Wherefore +pluck up spirit and confidence. It becometh Consuls to be generous. Do +not be anxious about your private fortune, you who have elected to win +the public favour by your gifts. It is for this cause [because the +Consul has to spend lavishly during his year of office] that we make a +difference between your dignity and all others. Other magistrates we +appoint, even though they do not ask for the office. To the Consulship +we promote only those who are candidates for the dignity, those who +know that their fortunes are equal to its demands; otherwise we might +be imposing a burden rather than a favour. Enjoy therefore, in a +becoming manner, the honour which you wished for. This mode of +spending money is a legitimate form of canvassing[426]. Be illustrious +in the world, be prosperous in your own life, leave an example for the +happy imitation of your posterity.' + +[Footnote 424: 'Pinge vastos humeros vario colore palmatae.'] + +[Footnote 425: 'Validam manum victoriali scipione nobilita.'] + +[Footnote 426: 'Hic est ambitus qui probatur;' or, 'allowable +bribery.'] + + +2. FORMULA OF THE PATRICIATE. + +[Sidenote: Patriciate.] + +'In olden times the Patricians were said to derive their origin from +Jupiter, whose priests they were. Mythology apart, they derived their +name from _Patres_, the dignity of priest having blended itself with +that of Senator. + +'The great distinction of the Patriciate is that it is a rank held +_for life_, like that of the priesthood, from which it sprang. The +Patrician takes precedence of Praefects and all other dignities save +one (the Consulship), and that is one which we ourselves sometimes +assume. + +'Ascend then the pinnacle of the Patriciate. You may have yet further +honours to receive from us, if you bear yourself worthily in this +station.' + + +3. FORMULA OF THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECTURE. + +[On account of the importance of the office a translation of the whole +formula is here attempted, though with some hesitation on account of +its obscure allusions.] + +[Sidenote: Praetorian Praefecture.] + +'If the origin of any dignity can confer upon it special renown and +promise of future usefulness, the Praetorian Praefecture may claim +this distinction, illustrated as its establishment was by the wisdom +of this world, and also stamped by the Divine approval. For when +Pharaoh, King of Egypt, was oppressed by strange visions of future +famine, there was found a blessed man, even Joseph, able to foretell +the future with truth, and to suggest the wisest precautions for the +people's danger. He first consecrated the insignia of this dignity; he +in majesty entered the official chariot[427], raised to this height of +honour, in order that his wisdom might confer blessings on the people +which they could not receive from the mere power of the Ruler. + +[Footnote 427: 'Ipse carpentum reverendus ascendit.' The _carpentum_ +was one great mark of the dignity of the Praetorian Praefect, as of +his inferior, the Praefectus Urbis.] + +'From that Patriarch is this officer now called _Father of the +Empire_; his name is even to-day celebrated by the voice of the crier, +who calls upon the Judge to show himself not unworthy of his example. +Rightly was it felt that he to whom such power was committed should +always be thus delicately reminded of his duty. + +'For some prerogatives are shared in common between ourselves and the +holder of this dignity. [The next sentence[428] I leave untranslated, +as I am not sure of the meaning. Manso (p. 343) translates it, 'He +forces fugitives from justice, without regard to the lapse of time, to +come before his tribunal.'] He inflicts heavy fines on offenders, he +distributes the public revenue as he thinks fit, he has a like power +in bestowing rights of free conveyance[429], he appropriates unclaimed +property, he punishes the offences of Provincial Judges, he pronounces +sentence by word of mouth [whereas all other Judges had to read their +decisions from their tablets]. + +[Footnote 428: 'Exhibet enim sine prescriptione longinquos.'] + +[Footnote 429: 'Evectiones,' free passes by the _Cursus Publicus_.] + +'What is there that he has not entrusted to him whose very speech is +Judgment? He may almost be said to have the power of making laws, +since the reverence due to him enables him to finish law-suits without +appeal. + +'On his entrance into the palace he, like ourselves, is adored by the +assembled throng[430], and an office of such high rank appears to +excuse a practice which in other cases would be considered matter for +accusation[431]. + +[Footnote 430: 'Ingressus palatium nostra consuetudine frequenter +adoratur.' We know from Lydus (De Mag. ii. 9) that the highest +officers of the army _knelt_ at the entrance of the Praetorian +Praefect. Perhaps we need not infer from this passage that Oriental +_prostration_ was used either towards Theodoric or his Praefect.] + +[Footnote 431: 'Et tale officium morem videtur solvere, quod alios +potuit accusare.'] + +'In power, no dignity is his equal. He judges everywhere as the +representative of the Sovereign[432]. No soldier marks out to him the +limits of his jurisdiction, except the official of the Master of the +Soldiery. I suppose that the ancients wished [even the Praefect] to +yield something to those who were to engage in war on behalf of the +Republic. + +[Footnote 432: 'Vice sacra ubique judicat.'] + +'He punishes with stripes even the Curials, who are called in the laws +a Lesser Senate. + +'In his own official staff (officium) he is invested with peculiar +privileges; since all men can see that he lays his commands on men of +such high quality that not even the Judges of Provinces may presume to +look down upon them. The staff is therefore composed of men of the +highest education, energetic, strong-minded[433], intent on prompt +obedience to the orders of their head, and not tolerating obstruction +from others. To those who have served their time in his office, he +grants the rank of Tribunes and Notaries, thus making his attendants +equal to those who, mingled with the chiefs of the State, wait upon +our own presence. + +[Footnote 433: 'Officium plane geniatum, efficax, instructum et tota +animi firmitate praevalidum.'] + +'We joyfully accomplish that which he arranges, since our reverence +for his office constrains us to give immediate effect to his decrees. +He deserves this at our hands, since his forethought nourishes the +Palace, procures the daily rations of our servants, provides the +salaries even of the Judges themselves[434]. By his arrangements he +satiates the hungry appetites of the ambassadors of the [barbarous] +nations[435]. And though other dignities have their specially defined +prerogatives, by him everything that comes within the scope of our +wisely-tempered sway is governed. + +[Footnote 434: 'Humanitates quoque judicibus ipsis facit.'] + +[Footnote 435: 'Legatos gentium voraces explet ordinationibus suis.' +_Voraces_ seems to give a better sense than the other reading, +_veraces_.] + +'Take therefore, from this Indiction, on your shoulders the noble +burden of all these cares. Administer it with vigour and with utmost +loyalty, that your rule may be prosperous to us and useful to the +Republic. The more various the anxieties, the greater your glory. Let +that glory beam forth, not in our Palace only, but be reflected in far +distant Provinces. Let your prudence be equal to your power; yea, let +the fourfold virtue [of the Platonic philosophy] be seated in your +conscience. Remember that your tribunal is placed so high that, when +seated there, you should think of nothing sordid, nothing mean. Weigh +well what you ought to say, seeing that it is listened to by so many. +Let the public records contain nothing [of your saying] which any need +blush to read. The good governor not only has no part nor lot in +injustice; unless he is ever diligently doing some noble work he +incurs blame even for his inactivity. For if that most holy author +[Moses?] be consulted, it will be seen that it is a kind of priesthood +to fill the office of the Praetorian Praefecture in a becoming +manner.' + + +4. FORMULA OF THE PRAEFECTURE OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: Praefecture of the City.] + +'You, to whose care Rome is committed, are exalted by that charge to a +position of the highest dignity. The Senate also is presided over by +you; and the Senators, who wield full power in that assembly, tremble +when they have to plead their own cause at your tribunal. But this is +because they, who are the makers of laws, are subject to the laws; and +so are we too, though not to a Judge. + +'Behave in a manner worthy of your high office. Treat the Consulars +with deference. Put away every base thought when you cross the +threshold of every virtue. If you wish to avoid unpopularity, avoid +receiving bribes. It is a grand thing when it can be said that Judges +will not accept that which thousands are eager to offer them. + +'To your care is committed not only Rome herself (though Rome +includes the world[436]), but, by ancient law, all within the +hundredth milestone. + +[Footnote 436: 'Quamvis in illa contineantur universa.'] + +'You judge, on appeal, causes brought from certain Provinces defined +by law. Your staff is composed of learned men; eloquent they can +hardly help being, since they are always hearing the masters of +eloquence. You ride in your _Carpentum_ through a populace of +nobles[437]; oh, act so as to deserve their shouts of welcome! How +will you deserve their favour? By seeing that merchandise is sold +without venality[438]; that the fires kindled to heat the wholesome +baths are not chilled by corruption; that the games, which are meant +for the pleasure of the people, are not by partisanship made a cause +of strife. For so great is the power of glorious truth, that even in +the affairs of the stage justice is desired[439]. Take then the robe +of Romulus, and administer the laws of Rome. Other honours await you +if you behave worthily in this office, and above all, if you win the +applause of the Senate.' + +[Footnote 437: 'Carpento veheris per nobilem plebem.'] + +[Footnote 438: i.e. probably, 'that you are not bribed by +monopolists.' Perhaps there is a reference to the _Annona Publica_.] + +[Footnote 439: 'Tanta est enim vis gloriosae veritatis, ut etiam in +rebus scenicis aequitas desideretur.'] + + +5. FORMULA OF THE QUAESTORSHIP. + +[This letter is particularly interesting, from the fact that it +describes Cassiodorus' own office, that which he filled during many +years of the reign of Theodoric, and in virtue of which he wrote the +greater part of his 'Various Letters.'] + +[Sidenote: Quaestorship.] + +'No Minister has more reason to glory in his office than the Quaestor, +since it brings him into constant and intimate communication with +Ourselves. The Quaestor has to learn our inmost thoughts, that he may +utter them to our subjects. Whenever we are in doubt as to any matter +we ask our Quaestor, who is the treasure-house of public fame, the +cupboard of laws; who has to be always ready for a sudden call, and +must exercise the wonderful powers which, as Cicero has pointed out, +are inherent in the art of an orator. He should so paint the delights +of virtue and the terrors of vice, that his eloquence should almost +make the sword of the magistrate needless. + +'What manner of man ought the Quaestor to be, who reflects the very +image of his Sovereign? If, as is often our custom, we chance to +listen to a suit, what authority must there be in his tongue who has +to speak the King's words in the King's own presence? He must have +knowledge of the law, wariness in speech, firmness of purpose, that +neither gifts nor threats may cause him to swerve from justice. For in +the interests of Equity we suffer even ourselves to be contradicted, +since we too are bound to obey her. Let your learning be such that you +may set forth every subject on which you have to treat, with suitable +embellishments. + +'Moved therefore by the fame of your wisdom and eloquence, we bestow +upon you, by God's grace, the dignity of the Quaestorship, which is +the glory of letters, the temple of _civilitas_, the mother of all the +dignities, the home of continence, the seat of all the virtues. + +'To you the Provinces transmit their prayers. From you the Senate +seeks the aid of law. You are expected to suffice for the needs of all +who seek from us the remedies of the law. But when you have done all +this, be not elated with your success, be not gnawed with envy, +rejoice not at the calamities of others; for what is hateful in the +Sovereign cannot be becoming in the Quaestor. + +'Exercise the power of the Prince in the condition of a subject; and +may you render a good account to the Judges at the end of your term of +office.' + + +6. FORMULA OF THE MAGISTERIAL DIGNITY, AND ITS EXCELLENCY (MAGISTER +OFFICIORUM). + +[The dignity and powers of the Master of the Offices were continually +rising throughout the Fourth and Fifth Centuries at the cost of the +Praetorian Praefect, many of whose functions were transferred to the +Master.] + +[Sidenote: Mastership of the Offices.] + +'The Master's is a name of dignity. To him belongs the discipline of +the Palace; he calms the stormy ranks of the insolent Scholares [the +household troops, 10,000 in number, in the palace of the Eastern +Emperor, according to Lydus (ii. 24)]. He introduces the Senators to +our presence, cheers them when they tremble, calms them when they are +speaking, sometimes inserts a word or two of his own, that all may be +laid in an orderly manner before us. It rests with him to fix a day +for the admission of a suitor to our _Aulicum Consistorium_, and to +fulfil his promise. The opportune velocity of the post-horses [the +care of the _Cursus Publicus_] is diligently watched over by him[440]. + +[Footnote 440: According to Lydus (ii. 10), the Cursus Publicus was +transferred from the Praefect to the Master, and afterwards, in part, +retransferred to the Praefect.] + +'The ambassadors of foreign powers are introduced by him, and their +_evectiones_ [free passes by the postal-service] are received from his +hands[441]. + +[Footnote 441: 'Per eum nominis nostri destinatur evectio.' The above +is a conjectural translation.] + +'To an officer with these great functions Antiquity gave great +prerogatives: that no Provincial Governor should assume office without +his consent, and that appeals should come to him from their decisions. +He has no charge of collecting money, only of spending it. It is his +to appoint _peraequatores_[442] of provisions in the capital, and a +Judge to attend to this matter. He also superintends the pleasures of +the people, and is bound to keep them from sedition by a generous +exhibition of shows. The members of his staff, when they have served +their full time, are adorned with the title of _Princeps_, and take +their places at the head of the Praetorian cohorts and those of the +Urban Praefecture [the officials serving in the bureaux of those two +Praefects]--a mark of favour which almost amounts to injustice, since +he who serves in one office (the Master's) is thereby put at the head +of all those who have been serving in another (the Praefect's)[443].' + +[Footnote 442: Are these Superintendents of the Markets, charged with +the regulation of prices?] + +[Footnote 443: 'Miroque modo inter Praetorianas cohortes et Urbanae +Praefecturae milites videantur invenisse primatum, a quibus tibi +humile solvebatur obsequium. Sic in favore magni honoris injustitia +quaedam a legibus venit, dum alienis excubiis praeponitur, qui alibi +militasse declaratur.'] + +[We learn from Lydus how intense was the jealousy of the grasping and +aspiring _Magistriani_ felt by the Praefect's subordinates; and we may +infer from this passage that Cassiodorus thought that there was some +justification for this feeling.] + +'The assistant (Adjutor) of the Magister is also present at our +audiences, a distinguished honour for his chief. + +'Take therefore this illustrious office and discharge it worthily, +that, in all which you do, you may show yourself a true Magister. If +_you_ should in anywise go astray (which God forbid), where should +morality be found upon earth?' + + +7. FORMULA OF THE OFFICE OF COMES SACRARUM LARGITIONUM. + +[Sidenote: Office of Count of Sacred Largesses.] + +'Yours is the high and pleasing office of administering the bounty of +your Sovereign[444]. Through you we dispense our favours and relieve +needy suppliants on New Year's Day. It is your business to see that +our face is imprinted on our coins, a reminder to our subjects of our +ceaseless care on their behalf, and a memorial of our reign to future +ages. + +[Footnote 444: 'Regalibus magna profecti felicitas _militare_ +donis.... Laetitia publica _militia_ tua est.' Observe the continued +use of military terms for what we call the Civil Service.] + +'To this your regular office we also add the place of _Primicerius_ +[_Primicerius Notariorum_?], so that you are the channel through which +honours as well as largesses flow. Not only the Judges of the +Provinces are subject to you, even the _Proceres Chartarum_ (?) have +not their offices assured to them till you have confirmed the +instrument. You have also the care of the royal robes. The sea-coasts +and their products, and therefore merchants, are under your sway. The +commerce of salt, that precious mineral, rightly classed with silken +robes and pearls, is placed under your superintendence. + +'Take therefore these two dignities, the Comitiva Sacrarum Largitionum +and the Primiceriatus. If some of the ancient privileges of your +office have been retrenched [some functions, probably, taken from the +Comes Sacrarum Largitionum and assigned to the Comes Patrimonii], +comfort yourself with the thought that you have two dignities instead +of one.' + + +8. FORMULA OF THE OFFICE OF COMES PRIVATARUM, AND ITS EXCELLENCY. + +[Sidenote: Office of Count of Private Domains.] + +'Your chief business, as the name of your office implies, is to govern +the royal estates by the instrumentality of the _Rationales_ under +you. + +'This work alone, however, would have given you a jurisdiction only +over slaves [those employed on the royal domains]; and as a slave is +not a person in the eye of the law, it seemed unworthy of the dignity +of Latium to confine your jurisdiction to these men. Some urban +authority has therefore been given you in addition to that which you +exercise over these boors: cases of incest, and of pollution or +spoliation of graves, come before you. Thus the chastity of the +living and the security of the dead are equally your care. In the +Provinces you superintend the tribute-collectors (Canonicarios), you +admonish the cultivators of the soil (Possessores), and you claim for +the Royal Exchequer property to which no heirs are forthcoming[445]. +Deposited monies also, the owners of which are lost by lapse of time, +are searched out by you and brought into our Exchequer, since those +who by our permission enjoy all their own property ought willingly and +without sense of loss to offer us that which belongs to other men. + +[Footnote 445: 'Caduca bona non sinis esse vacantia.'] + +'Take then the honour of _Comes Privatarum_: it also is a courtly +dignity, and you will augment it by your worthy fulfilment of its +functions.' + + +9. FORMULA OF THE OFFICE OF COUNT OF THE PATRIMONY, AND ITS +EXCELLENCY. + +[Sidenote: Office of Count of the Patrimony.] + +'To our distant servants we send long papers with instructions as to +their conduct; but you, admitted to our daily converse, do not need +these. You are to undertake the care of our royal patrimony. + +'Do not give in to all the suggestions of our servants on these +domains, who are apt to think that everything is permitted them +because they represent the King; but rather incline the scale against +them. You will have to act much in our sight; and as the rising sun +discloses the true colours of objects, so the King's constant presence +reveals the Minister's character in its true light. Avoid loud and +harsh tones in pronouncing your decisions: when we hear you using +these, we shall know that you are in the wrong. External acts and +bodily qualities show the habit of the mind. We know a proud man by +his swaggering gait, an angry one by his flashing eyes, a crafty one +by his downcast look, a fickle one by his wandering gaze, at +avaricious one by his hooked nails. + +'Take then the office of Count of the Patrimony, and discharge it +uprightly. Be expeditious in your decisions on the complaints of the +tillers of the soil. Justice speedily granted is thereby greatly +enhanced in value, and though it is really the suitor's right it +charms him as if it were a favour. + +'Attend also to the provision of suitable delicacies for our royal +table. It is a great thing that ambassadors coming from all parts of +the world should see rare dainties at our board, and such an +inexhaustible supply of provisions brought in by the crowds of our +servants that they are almost ready to think the food grows again in +the kitchen, whither they see the dishes carried with the broken +victuals. These banqueting times are, and quite deservedly, your times +for approaching us with business, when no one else is allowed to do +so.' + + +10. FORMULA BY WHICH MEN ARE MADE PROCERES PER CODICILLOS VACANTES. + +[Bestowal of Brevet-rank on persons outside the Civil Service.] + +[Sidenote: Codicilli Vacantes.] + +'There are cases in which men whom it is desirable for the Sovereign +to honour are unable, from delicate health or slender fortunes, to +enter upon an official career. For instance, a poor nobleman may dread +the expenses of the Consulship; a man illustrious by his wisdom may be +unable to bear the worries of a Praefecture; an eloquent tongue may +shun the weight of a Quaestorship. In these cases the laws have wisely +ordained that we may give such persons the rank which they merit by +_Codicilli Vacantes_. It must always be understood, however, that in +each dignity those who thus obtain it rank behind those who have +earned it by actual service. Otherwise we should have all men +flocking into these quiet posts, if the workers were not preferred to +men of leisure[446]. + +[Footnote 446: 'Alioqui omnes ad quietas possunt currere dignitates, +si laborantes minime praeferantur ociosis.'] + +'Take therefore, by these present codicils, the rank which you +deserve, though you have not earned it by your official career.' + + +11. FORMULA BY WHICH THE RANK OF AN ILLUSTRIS AND THE TITLE OF A COMES +DOMESTICORUM ARE CONFERRED, WITHOUT OFFICE. + +[Sidenote: Illustratus Vacans.] + +'The bestowal of honour, though it does not change the nature of a +man, induces him to consider his own reputation more closely, and to +abstain from that which may stain it[447]. + +[Footnote 447: 'Noblesse oblige.'] + +'Take therefore the rank (without office) of an Illustrious Count of +the Domestics[448], and enjoy that greatest luxury of worthy +minds--power to attend to your own pursuits. + +[Footnote 448: 'Cape igitur ... Comitivae Domesticorum Illustratum +Vacantem.'] + +'For what can be sweeter than to find yourself honoured when you enter +the City, and yet to be able to cultivate your own fields; to abstain +from fraudful gains, and yet see your barns overflowing with the fruit +of your own sweet toil? + +'But even as the seed and the soil must co-operate to produce the +harvest, so do we sow in you the seed of this dignity, trusting that +your own goodness of heart will give the increase.' + + +12. FORMULA FOR THE BESTOWAL OF A COUNTSHIP OF THE FIRST ORDER, +WITHOUT OFFICE. + +[A similar honour to that which is conferred on an English statesman +who, without receiving any place in the Ministry, is 'sworn of the +Privy Council.'] + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Primi Ordinis.] + +'It is a delightful thing to enjoy the pleasures of high rank without +having to undergo the toils and annoyances of office, which often make +a man loathe the very dignity which he eagerly desired. + +'The rank of _Comes_ is one which is reached by Governors (Rectores) +of Provinces after a year's tenure of office, and by the Counsellors +of the Praefect, whose functions are so important that we look upon +them as almost Quaestors. + +'Their rank[449] gives the holder of it, though only a _Spectabilis_, +admission to our Consistory, where he sits side by side with all the +Illustres. + +[Footnote 449: Betokened by the expression 'Ociosum cingulum.'] + +'We bestow it upon you, and name you a _Comes Primi Ordinis_, thereby +indicating that you are to take your place at the head of all the +other Spectabiles and next after the Illustres. See that you imitate +the latter, and that you are not surpassed in excellence of character +by any of those below you.' + + +13. FORMULA FOR BESTOWING THE [HONORARY] RANK OF MASTER OF THE BUREAU +[MAGISTER SCRINII] AND COUNT OF THE FIRST ORDER, ON AN OFFICER OF THE +COURTS (COMITIACUS) IN ACTIVE SERVICE. + +[Sidenote: Honorary promotion for a Comitiacus.] + +'Great toils and great perils are the portion of an officer of the +Courts in giving effect to their sentences. It is easy for the Judge +to say, "Let so and so be done;" but on the unhappy officer falls all +the difficulty and all the odium of doing it. He has to track out +offenders and hunt them to their very beds, to compel the contumacious +to obey the law, to make the proud learn their equality before it. If +he lingers over the business assigned to him, the plaintiff complains; +if he is energetic, the defendant calls out. The very honesty with +which he addresses himself to the work is sure to make him enemies, +enemies perhaps among powerful persons, who next year may be his +superiors in office, and thus subjects him to all sorts of accusations +which he may find it very hard to disprove. In short, if we may say it +without offence to the higher dignitaries, it is far easier to +discharge without censure the functions of a Judge than those of the +humble officer who gives effect to his decrees. + +'Wherefore, in reward for your long and faithful service, and in +accordance with ancient usage, we bestow on you the rank of a Count of +the First Order, and ordain that if anyone shall molest you on account +of your acts done in the discharge of your duties, he shall pay a fine +of so many [perhaps ten = L400] pounds of gold.' + +[This letter will be found well worth studying in the original, as +giving a picture of the kind of opposition met with by the men who +were charged with the execution of the orders of the Rectores +Provinciarum, and whose functions were themselves partly judicial, +varying between those of a Master in Chancery and those of a Sheriff's +officer. Throughout, the Civil Service is spoken of in military +language. The officer is called _miles_, and his duty is _excubiae_.] + + +14. FORMULA BESTOWING RANK AS A SENATOR. + +[Sidenote: Senatorial rank.] + +'We desire that our Senate should grow and flourish abundantly. As a +parent sees the increase of his family, as a husbandman the growth of +his trees with joy, so we the growth of the Senate. We therefore +desire that Graius should be included in that virtuous and +praiseworthy assembly[450]. This is a new kind of grafting, in which +the less noble shoot is grafted on to the nobler stock. As a candle +shines at night, but pales in the full sunlight, so does everyone, +however illustrious by birth or character, who is introduced into your +majestic body. Open your Curia, receive our candidate. He is already +predestined to the Senate upon whom we have conferred the dignity of +the Laticlave.' + +[Footnote 450: A conjectural translation of 'Sic nos virtutum +jucundissimas laudes incinctum Graium desideramus includere.' Perhaps +'incinctum' means, 'though _not_ girded with the belt of office.' +Graium must surely be a proper name, and this document is therefore, +strictly speaking, not a 'Formula.'] + + +15. FORMULA OF THE VICARIUS OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Vicariate of the City of Rome.] + +'Though nominally only the agent of another [the Praefectus Urbi] you +have powers and privileges of your own which almost entitle you to +rank with the Praefects. Suitors plead before you in causes otherwise +heard only before Praefects[451]; you pronounce sentence in the name +of the King[452] [not of the Praefect]; and you have jurisdiction even +in capital cases. You wear the chlamys, and are not to be saluted by +passers-by except when thus arrayed, as if the law wished you to be +always seen in military garb. [The chlamys was therefore at this time +a strictly military dress.] In all these things the glory of the +Praefecture seems to be exalted in you, as if one should say, "How +great must the Praefect be, if his Vicar is thus honoured!" Like the +highest dignitaries you ride in a state carriage[453]. You have +jurisdiction everywhere within the fortieth milestone from the City. +You preside over the games at Praeneste, sitting in the Consul's seat. +You enter the Senate-house itself, that palace of liberty[454]. Even +Senators and Consulars have to make their request to you, and may be +injured by you. + +[Footnote 451: 'Partes apud te sub Praetoriana advocatione confligunt' +(?).] + +[Footnote 452: 'Vice sacra sententiam dicis.'] + +[Footnote 453: 'Carpentum.'] + +[Footnote 454: 'Aula libertatis.'] + +'Take therefore this dignity, and wield it with moderation and +courage.' + + +16. FORMULA OF THE NOTARIES. + +[Sidenote: Notaries.] + +'It is most important that the secrets of the Sovereign, which many +men so eagerly desire to discover, should be committed to persons of +tried fidelity. A good secretary should be like a well-arranged +_escritoire_, full of information when you want it, but absolutely +silent at other times. Nay, he must even be able to dissimulate his +knowledge, for keen questioners can often read in the face what the +lips utter not. [Cf. the description of the Quaestor Decoratus in v. +3.] + +'Our enquiries, keen-scented as they are for all men of good life and +conversation, have brought your excellent character before us. We +therefore ordain that you shall henceforth be a Notary. In due course +of service you will attain the rank of Primicerius, which will entitle +you to enter the Senate, "the Curia of liberty." Moreover, should you +then arrive at the dignity of Illustris or at the [Comitiva] Vacans, +you will be preferred to all who are in the same rank but who have not +acquired it by active service[455]. + +[Footnote 455: I think this must be the meaning of the sentence: +'Additur etiam perfuncti laboris aliud munus, ut si quo modo ad +Illustratum vel Vacantem meruerit pervenire, omnibus debeat anteponi, +qui Codicillis Illustratibus probantur ornari.'] + +'Enter then upon this duty, cheered by the prospect of one day +attaining to the highest honours.' + + +17. FORMULA OF THE REFERENDARII. + +[Sidenote: Referendarii.] + +[We have no word corresponding to this title. Registrar, Referee, +Solicitor, each expresses only part of the duties of the +Referendarius, whose business it was, _on behalf of the Court_, to +draw up a statement of the conflicting claims of the litigants before +it. See the interesting letters (v. 40 and 41) describing the useful +services rendered in this capacity by Cyprian in the King's Court of +Appeal. His duties seem to have been very similar to those which in +the Court of the Praetorian Praefect were discharged by the officer +called _Ab Actis_ (See p. 107).] + +'Great is the privilege of being admitted to such close converse with +the King as you will possess, but great also are the responsibilities +and the anxieties of the Referendarius. In the midst of the hubbub of +the Court he has to make out the case of the litigant, and to clothe +it in language suitable for our ears. If he softens it down ever so +little in his repetition of it, the claimant declares that he has been +bribed, that he is hostile to his suit. A man who is pleading his own +cause may soften down a word or two here and there, if he see that the +Court is against him; but the Referendarius dares not alter anything. +Then upon him rests the responsibility of drawing up our decree, +adding nothing, omitting nothing. Hard task to speak _our_ words in +our own presence. + +'Take then the office of Referendarius, and show by your exercise of +it to what learning men may attain by sharing our conversation. Under +us it is impossible for an officer of the Court to be unskilled in +speech. Like a whetstone we sharpen the intellects of our courtiers, +and polish them by practice at our bar[456].' + +[Footnote 456: 'Sub nobis enim non licet esse imperitos; quando in +vicem cotis ingenia splendida reddimus, quae causarum assiduitate +polimus.' Strange words to put into the mouth of a monarch who could +not write.] + + +18. FORMULA OF THE PRAEFECTUS ANNONAE, AND HIS EXCELLENCY. + +[Sidenote: Praefectus Annonae.] + +'If the benefit of the largest number of citizens is a test of the +dignity of an office yours is certainly a glorious one. You have to +prepare the Annona of the sacred City, and to feed the whole people as +at one board. You run up and down through the shops of the bakers, +looking after the weight and fineness of the bread, and not thinking +any office mean by which you may win the affections of the citizens. + +'You mount the chariot of the Praefect of the City, and are displayed +in closest companionship with him at the games. Should a sudden tumult +arise by reason of a scarcity of loaves, you have to still it by +promising a liberal distribution. It was from his conduct in this +office that Pompey attained the highest dignities and earned the +surname of the Great. + +'The pork-butchers also (Suarii) are subject to your control. + +'It is true that the corn is actually provided by the Praetorian +Praefect, but you see that it is worked up into elegant bread[457]. + +[Footnote 457: 'Quando in quavis abundantia querela non tollitur, si +panis elegantia nulla servetur.'] + +'Even so Ceres discovered corn, but Pan taught men how to bake it into +bread; whence its name (_Panis_, from Pan). + +'Take then this office: discharge it faithfully, and weigh, more +accurately than gold, the bread by which the Quirites live.' + + +19. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF THE CHIEF PHYSICIANS. + +[Sidenote: Comes Archiatrorum.] + +'The doctor helps us when all other helpers seem to fail. By his art +he finds out things about a man of which he himself is ignorant; and +his prognosis of a case, though founded on reason, seems to the +ignorant like prophecy. + +'It is disgraceful that there should be a president of the lascivious +pleasures of the people (Tribunus Voluptatum) and none of this healing +art. Excellent too may your office be in enabling you to control the +squabbles of the doctors. They ought not to quarrel. At the beginning +of their exercise of their art they take a sort of priestly oath to +hate wickedness and to love purity. Take then this rank of Comes +Archiatrorum, and have the distinguished honour of presiding over so +many skilled practitioners and of moderating their disputes. + +'Leave it to clumsy men to ask their patients "if they have had good +sleep; if the pain has left them." Do you rather incline the patient +to ask you about his own malady, showing him that you know more about +it than he does. The patient's pulse, the patient's water, tell to a +skilled physician the whole story of his disease. + +'Enter our palace unbidden; command us, whom all other men obey; weary +us if you will with fasting, and make us do the very opposite of that +which we desire, since all this is your prerogative.' + + +20. FORMULA OF THE OFFICE OF A CONSULAR, AND ITS EXCELLENCY. + +[Sidenote: Consularis.] + +'You bear among your trappings the axes and the rods of the Consul, as +a symbol of the nature of the jurisdiction which you exercise in the +Provinces. + +'In some Provinces you even wear the _paenula_ (military cloak) and +ride in the _carpentum_ (official chariot), as a proof of your +dignity. + +'You must not think that because your office is allied to that of +Consul any lavish expenditure by way of largesse is necessary. By no +means; but it is necessary that you should abstain from all unjust +gains. Nothing is worse than a mixture of rapacity and prodigality. + +'Respect the property of the Provincials, and your tenure of office +will be without blame. + +'Receive therefore, for this Indiction, the office of Consular in such +and such a Province, and let your moderation appear to all the +inhabitants.' + + +21. FORMULA OF THE GOVERNOR (RECTOR) OF A PROVINCE. + +[The distinction between the powers of a Rector and those of a +Consularis seems to have been very slight, if it existed at all; but +the dignity of the latter office was probably somewhat the greater.] + +[Sidenote: Rector Provinciae.] + +'It is important to repress crime on the spot. If all criminal causes +had to wait till they could be tried in the capital, robbers would +grow so bold as to be intolerable. Hence the advantage of Provincial +Governors. Receive then for this Indiction the office of Rector of +such and such a Province. Look at the broad stripe (laticlave) on your +purple robe, and remember the dignity which is betokened by that +bright garment, which poets say was first woven by Venus for her son +Priapus, that the son's beautiful robe might attest the mother's +loveliness. + +'You have to collect the public revenues, and to report to the +Sovereign all important events in your Province. You may judge even +Senators and the officers of Praefects. Your name comes before that of +even dignified Provincials, and you are called Brother by the +Sovereign. See that your character corresponds to this high vocation. +Your subjects will not fear you if they see that your own actions are +immoral. There can be no worse slavery than to sit on the +judgment-seat, knowing that the men who appear before you are +possessors of some disgraceful secret by which they can blast your +reputation. + +'Refrain from unholy gains, and we will reward you all the more +liberally.' + + +22. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Syracusana.] + +'We must provide such Governors for our distant possessions that +appeals from them shall not be frequent. Many men would rather lose a +just cause than have the expense of coming all the way from Sicily to +defend it; and as for complaints against a Governor, we should be +strongly inclined to think that a complaint presented by such distant +petitioners must be true. + +'Act therefore with all the more caution in the office which we bestow +upon you for this Indiction. You have all the pleasant pomp of an +official retinue provided for you at our expense. Do not let your +soldiers be insolent to the cultivators of the soil (possessores). Let +them receive their rations and be satisfied with them, nor mix in +matters outside their proper functions. Be satisfied with the dignity +which your predecessors held. It ought not to be lowered; but do not +seek to exalt it.' + + +23. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF NAPLES. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Neapolitana.] + +'As the sun sends forth his rays so we send out our servants to the +various cities of our dominions, to adorn them with the splendour of +their retinue, and to facilitate the untying of the knots of the law +by the multitude of jurisconsults who follow in their train. Thus we +sow a liberal crop of official salaries, and reap our harvest in the +tranquillity of our subjects. For this Indiction we send you as Count +to weigh the causes of the people of Naples. It is a populous city, +and one abounding in delights by sea and land. You may lead there a +most delicious life, if your cup be not mixed with bitterness by the +criticisms of the citizens on your judgments. You will sit on a +jewelled tribunal, and the Praetorium will be filled with your +officers; but you will also be surrounded by a multitude of fastidious +spectators, who assuredly, in their conversation, will judge the +Judge. See then that you walk warily. Your power extends for a certain +distance along the coast, and both the buyer and seller have to pay +you tribute. We give you the chance of earning the applause of a vast +audience: do you so act that your Sovereign may take pleasure in +multiplying his gifts.' + + +24. FORMULA ADDRESSED TO THE GENTLEMEN-FARMERS (OR THE TITLED +CULTIVATORS) AND COMMON COUNCILMEN[458] OF THE CITY OF NAPLES [AND +SURROUNDING DISTRICT]. + +[Footnote 458: An attempt to translate 'Honoratis possessoribus et +curialibus civitatis Neapolitanae.'] + +[Sidenote: Honorati Possessores et Curiales Civitatis Neapolitanae.] + +'You pay us tribute, but we have conferred honours upon you. We are +now sending you a Comes [the one appointed in the previous formula], +but he will be a terror only to the evil-disposed. Do you live +according to reason, since you are reasonable beings, and then the +laws may take holiday. Your quietness is our highest joy[459].' + +[Footnote 459: 'Erit nostrum gaudium vestra quies.... Degite moribus +compositis, ut vivatis legibus feriatis.'] + + +25 is entitled, 'FORMULA DE COMITIVA PRINCIPIS MILITUM;' but this is +evidently an inaccurate, or at least an insufficient title. + +[Sidenote: Doubtful.] + +The letter, though very short, is obscure. + +It starts with the maxim that every staff of officials ought to have +its own Judge[460], and then, apparently, proceeds to make an +exception to this rule by making the persons addressed--the civil or +military functionaries of Naples--subject to the Comes Neapolitanus +who was appointed by the Twenty-third Formula. No reason is given for +this exception, except an unintelligible one about preserving the +yearly succession of Judges[461]; but the persons are assured that +their salaries shall be safe[462]. + +[Footnote 460: 'Omnes apparitiones decet habere judices suos. Nam cui +praesul adimitur et militia denegatur.'] + +[Footnote 461: 'Ut judicibus annua successione reparatis, vobis +solemnitas non pereat actionis.'] + +[Footnote 462: 'Vos non patimur emolumentorum commoda perdere.'] + + + + +BOOK VII. + +CONTAINING FORTY-SEVEN FORMULAE. + + +1. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF A PROVINCE. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Provinciae.] + +'Your dignity, unlike that of most civil officers, is guarded by the +sword of war. See however that this terrible weapon is only drawn on +occasions of absolute necessity, and only wielded for the punishment +of evil-doers. Anyone who is determining a case of life and death +should decide slowly, since any other sentence is capable of +correction, but the dead man cannot be recalled to life. Let the +ensigns of your power be terrible to drivers-away of cattle, to +thieves and robbers; but let innocence rejoice when she sees the +tokens of approaching succour. Let no one pervert your will by bribes: +the sword of justice is sheathed when gold is taken. Receive then for +this Indiction the dignity of Count in such and such a Province. So +use your power that you may be able to defend your actions when +reduced to a private station, though indeed, if you serve us well in +this office, we are minded to promote you to yet higher dignities.' + + +2. FORMULA OF A PRAESES. + +[The Praeses had practically the same powers as the Consularis (v. 20) +and the Rector (v. 21), but occupied a less dignified position, being +only a 'Perfectissimus,' not a 'Clarissimus[463].'] + +[Footnote 463: See p. 92.] + +[Sidenote: Praesidatus.] + +'It has been wisely ordered by the Ancients that a Provincial +Governor's term of office should be only annual. Thus men are +prevented from growing arrogant by long tenure of power, and we are +enabled to reward a larger number of aspirants. Get through one year +of office if you can without blame: even that is not an easy matter. +It rests then with us to prolong the term of a deserving ruler[464], +since we are not keen to remove those whom we feel to be governing +justly. Receive then for this Indiction the Praesidatus of such and +such a Province, and so act that the tiller of the soil (possessor) +may bring us thanks along with his tribute. Follow the good example of +your predecessors: carefully avoid the bad. Remember how full your +Province is of nobles, whose good report you may earn but cannot +compel. You will find it a delightful reward, when you travel through +the neighbouring Provinces, to hear your praises sounded there where +your power extends not. You know our will: it is all contained in the +laws of the State. Govern in accordance with these, and you shall not +go unrewarded.' + +[Footnote 464: 'Nostrum est merentibus tempus augere.' The limit of +one year might therefore be exceeded by favour of the Sovereign.] + + +3. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF THE GOTHS IN THE SEVERAL PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Gothorum per singulas Provincias.] + +[Dahn remarks ('Koenige der Germanen' iv. 157): 'We must go thoroughly +into the question of this office. The _Comes Gothorum_ is the most +important, in fact almost the only new dignity in the Gothic State, +and the formula of his installation is the chief proof of the +coexistence of Roman and Gothic law in this kingdom.' I have therefore +translated this formula at full length.] + +'As we know that, by God's help, Goths are dwelling intermingled among +you, in order to prevent the trouble (indisciplinatio) which is wont +to arise among partners (consortes) we have thought it right to send +to you as Count, A B, a sublime person, a man already proved to be of +high character, in order that he may terminate (amputare) any contests +arising between two Goths according to our edicts; but that, if any +matter should arise between a Goth and a born Roman, he may, after +associating with himself a Roman jurisconsult[465], decide the strife +by fair reason[466]. As between two Romans, let the decision rest with +the Roman examiners (cognitores), whom we appoint in the various +Provinces; that thus each may keep his own laws, and with various +Judges one Justice may embrace the whole realm. Thus, sharing one +common peace, may both nations, if God favour us, enjoy the sweets of +tranquillity. + +[Footnote 465: 'Adhibito sibi prudente Romano.'] + +[Footnote 466: 'Aequabili ratione.'] + +'Know, however, that we view all [our subjects] with one impartial +love; but he may commend himself more abundantly to our favour who +subdues his own will into loving submission to the law[467]. We like +nothing that is disorderly[468]; we detest wicked arrogance and all +who have anything to do with it. Our principles lead us to execrate +violent men[469]. In a dispute let laws decide, not the strong arm. +Why should men seek by choice violent remedies, when they know that +the Courts of Justice are open to them? It is for this cause that we +pay the Judges their salaries, for this that we maintain such large +official staffs with all their privileges, that we may not allow +anything to grow up among you which may tend towards hatred. Since you +see that one lordship (imperium) is over you, let there be also one +desire in your hearts, to live in harmony. + +[Footnote 467: 'Qui leges moderata voluntate dilexerit.' To translate +this literally might give a wrong idea, because with us 'to love the +law' means to be litigious.] + +[Footnote 468: 'Non amamus aliquid incivile.'] + +[Footnote 469: 'Violentos nostra pietas execratur.'] + +'Let both nations hear what we have at heart. You [oh Goths!] have the +Romans as neighbours to your lands: even so let them be joined to you +in affection. You too, oh Romans! ought dearly to love the Goths, who +in peace swell the numbers of your people and in war defend the whole +Republic[470]. It is fitting therefore that you obey the Judge whom we +have appointed for you, that you may by all means accomplish all that +he may ordain for the preservation of the laws; and thus you will be +found to have promoted your own interests while obeying our command.' + +[Footnote 470: 'Vos autem, Romani, magno studio Gothos diligere +debetis, qui et in pace numerosos vobis populos faciunt, et universam +Rempublicam per bella defendunt.'] + + +4. FORMULA OF THE DUKE OF RAETIA. + +[Sidenote: Ducatus Raetiarum.] + +'Although promotion among the _Spectabiles_ goes solely by seniority, +it is impossible to deny that those who are employed in the border +Provinces have a more arduous, and therefore in a sense more +honourable, office than those who command in the peaceful districts of +Italy. The former have to deal with war, the latter only with the +repression of crime. The former hear the trumpet's clang, the latter +the voice of the crier. + +'The Provinces of Raetia are the bars and bolts of Italy. Wild and +cruel nations ramp outside of them, and they, like nets, whence their +name[471], catch the Barbarian in their toils and hold him there till +the hurled arrow can chastise his mad presumption. + +[Footnote 471: Raetia, from _rete_, a net.] + +'Receive then for this Indiction the _Ducatus Raetiarum_. Let your +soldiers live on friendly terms with the Provincials, avoiding all +lawless presumption; and at the same time let them be constantly on +their guard against the Barbarians outside. Even bloodshed is often +prevented by seasonable vigilance.' + + +5. FORMULA OF THE PALACE ARCHITECT. + +[Sidenote: Cura Palatii.] + +'Much do we delight in seeing the greatness of our Kingdom imaged +forth in the splendour of our palace. + +'Thus do the ambassadors of foreign nations admire our power, for at +first sight one naturally believes that as is the house so is the +inhabitant. + +'The Cyclopes invented the art of working in metal, which then passed +over from Sicily to Italy. + +'Take then for this Indiction the care of our palace, thus receiving +the power of transmitting your fame to a remote posterity which shall +admire your workmanship. See that your new work harmonises well with +the old. Study Euclid--get his diagrams well into your mind; study +Archimedes and Metrobius. + +'When we are thinking of rebuilding a city, or of founding a fort or a +general's quarters, we shall rely upon you to express our thoughts on +paper [in an architect's design]. The builder of walls, the carver of +marbles, the caster of brass, the vaulter of arches[472], the +plasterer, the worker in mosaic, all come to you for orders, and you +are expected to have a wise answer for each. But, then, if you direct +them rightly, while theirs is the work yours is all the glory. + +[Footnote 472: 'Camerarum rotator.'] + +'Above all things, dispense honestly what we give you for the +workmen's wages; for the labourer who is at ease about his victuals +works all the better. + +'As a mark of your high dignity you bear a golden wand, and amidst the +numerous throng of servants walk first before the royal footsteps +[i.e. last in the procession and immediately before the King], that +even by your nearness to our person it may be seen that you are the +man to whom we have entrusted the care of our palaces.' + + +6. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF THE AQUEDUCTS. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Formarum Urbis.] + +'Though all the buildings of Rome are wonderful, and one can scarce +for this reason say which are the chief among them, we think a +distinction may be drawn between those which are reared only for the +sake of ornament and those which also serve a useful purpose. Thus, +however often one sees the Forum of Trajan, it always seems a +wonder[473]. To stand on the lofty Capitol is to see all other works +of the human intellect surpassed. And yet neither of these great works +touches human life, nor ministers to health or enjoyment. But in the +Aqueducts of Rome we note both the marvel of their construction and +the rare wholesomeness of their waters. When you look at those rivers, +led as it were over piled up mountains, you would think that their +solid stony beds were natural channels, through so many ages have they +borne the rush of such mighty waters. And yet even mountains are +frequently undermined, and let out the torrents which have excavated +them; while these artificial channels, the work of the ancients, never +perish, if reasonable care be taken of their preservation. + +[Footnote 473: 'Trajani Forum vel sub assiduitate videre miraculum +est.'] + +'Let us consider how much that wealth of waters adds to the adornment +of the City of Rome. Where would be the beauty of our _Thermae_, if +those softest waters were not supplied to them? + +'Purest and most delightful of all streams glides along the _Aqua +Virgo_, so named because no defilement ever stains it. For while all +the others, after heavy rain show some contaminating mixture of +earth, this alone by its ever pure stream would cheat us into +believing that the sky was always blue above us. Ah! how express these +things in words worthy of them? The _Aqua Claudia_ is led along on the +top of such a lofty pile that, when it reaches Mount Aventine, it +falls from above upon that lofty summit as if it were watering some +lowly valley. It is true that the Egyptian Nile, rising at certain +seasons, brings its flood of waters over the land under a cloudless +sky; but how much fairer a sight is it to see the Roman Claudia +flowing with a never-failing stream over all those thirsty mountain +tops, and bringing purest water through a multitude of pipes to so +many baths and houses. When Nile retreats he leaves mud behind him; +when he comes unexpectedly he brings a deluge. Shall we not then +boldly say that our Aqueducts surpass the famous Nile, which is so +often a terror to the dwellers on his banks either by what he brings +or by what he leaves behind him? It is in no spirit of pride that we +enumerate these particulars, but in order that you may consider how +great diligence should be shown by you to whom such splendid works are +entrusted. + +'Wherefore, after careful consideration, we entrust you for this +Indiction with the _Comitiva Formarum_, that you may zealously strive +to accomplish what the maintenance of such noble structures requires. +Especially as to the hurtful trees which are the ruin of buildings, +[inserting their roots between the stones and] demolishing them with +the destructiveness of a battering-ram: we wish them to be pulled up +by the roots, since it is no use dealing with an evil of this kind +except in its origin. If any part is falling into decay through age, +let it be repaired at once: the first expense is the least. The +strengthening of the Aqueducts will constitute your best claim on our +favour, and will be the surest means of establishing your own +fortune. Act with skill and honesty, and let there be no corrupt +practices in reference to the distribution of the water.' + + +7. FORMULA OF THE PRAEFECT OF THE WATCH OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Praefectus Vigilum Urbis Romae.] + +'Your office, exercised as it is in the City itself, and under the +eyes of Patricians and Consuls, is sure to bring you renown if you +discharge its duties with diligence. You have full power to catch +thieves, though the law reserves the right of punishing them for +another official, apparently because it would remember that even these +detestable plunderers are yet Roman citizens. Take then for this +Indiction the _Praefectura Vigilum_. You will be the safety of +sleepers, the bulwark of houses, the defence of bolts and bars, an +unseen scrutineer, a silent judge, one whose right it is to entrap the +plotters and whose glory to deceive them. Your occupation is a nightly +hunting, most feared when it is not seen. You rob the robbers, and +strive to circumvent the men who make a mock at all other citizens. It +is only by a sort of sleight of hand that you can throw your nets +around robbers; for it is easier to guess the riddles of the Sphinx +than to detect the whereabouts of a flying thief. He looks round him +on all sides, ready to start off at the sound of an advancing +footstep, trembling at the thought of a possible ambush. How can one +catch him who, like the wind, tarries never in one place? Go forth, +then, under the starry skies; watch diligently with all the birds of +night, and as they seek their food in the darkness so do you therein +hunt for fame. + +'Let there be no corruption, no deeds of darkness which the day need +blush for. Do this, and you will have our support in upholding the +rightful privileges of yourself and your staff.' + + +8. FORMULA OF THE PRAEFECT OF THE WATCH OF THE CITY OF RAVENNA. + +[Sidenote: Praefectus Vigilum Urbis Ravennatis.] + +Contains the same topics as the preceding formula, rather less +forcibly urged, and with no special reference to the City of Ravenna. + +An exhortation at the end not to be too hasty, nor to shed blood +needlessly, even when dealing with thieves. + + +9. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF PORTUS. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Portus Urbis Romae.] + +'It is a service of pleasure rather than of toil to hold the dignity +of Comes in the harbour of the City of Rome, to look forth upon the +wide sail-traversed main, to see the commerce of all the Provinces +tending towards Rome, and to welcome travellers arriving with the joy +of ended peril. Excellent thought of the men of old to provide two +channels by which strangers might enter the Tiber, and to adorn them +with those two stately cities [Portus and Ostia], which shine like +lights upon the watery way! + +'Do you therefore, by your fair administration, make it easy for +strangers to enter. Do not grasp at more than the lawful dues; for the +greedy hand closes a harbour, and extortion is as much dreaded by +mariners as adverse winds. Receive then for this Indiction the +_Comitiva Portus_; enjoy the pleasures of the office, and lay it down +with increased reputation.' + + +10. FORMULA OF THE TRIBUNUS VOLUPTATUM. + +[Sidenote: Tribunus Voluptatum.] + +[Minister of public amusements, the Roman equivalent to our 'Lord +Chamberlain' in that part of his office which relates to the control +of theatres.] + +'Though the wandering life of the stage-player seems as if it might +run to any excess of licence, Antiquity has wisely provided that even +it should be under some sort of discipline. Thus respectability +governs those who are not respectable, and people who are themselves +ignorant of the path of virtue are nevertheless obliged to live under +some sort of rule. Your place, in fact, is like that of a guardian; as +he looks after the tender years of his ward, so you bridle the +passionate pleasures of your theatrical subjects. + +'Therefore, for this Indiction, we appoint you Tribune of [the +people's] Pleasures. See that order is observed at the public +spectacles: they are not really popular without this. Keep your own +high character for purity in dealing with these men and women of +damaged reputation, that men may say, "Even in promoting the pleasures +of the people he showed his virtuous disposition." + +'It is our hope that through this frivolous employment you may pass to +more serious dignities.' + + +11. FORMULA OF THE DEFENSOR OF ANY CITY. + +[Sidenote: Defensor cujuslibet Civitatis.] + +[Observe that the Defensor has power to fix prices, in addition to his +original function of protecting the commonalty from oppression.] + +'The number of his clients makes it necessary for the representative +of a whole city to be especially wary in his conduct. + +'At the request of your fellow-citizens we appoint you, for this +Indiction, Defensor of such and such a city. Take care that there be +nothing venal in your conduct. Fix the prices for the citizens +according to the goodness or badness of the seasons, and remember to +pay yourself what you have prescribed to others. A good Defensor +allows his citizens neither to be oppressed by the laws nor harassed +by the dearness of provisions.' + + +12. FORMULA OF THE CURATOR OF A CITY. + +[Sidenote: Curator Civitatis.] + +[The Defensor and Curator had evidently almost equivalent powers, but +with some slight difference of dignity. They cannot both have existed +in the same city. It would be interesting to know what decided the +question whether a city should have a Defensor or a Curator.] + +This formula differs very little from the preceding, except that the +new officer is told 'wisely to govern the ranks of the Curia.' Stress +is again laid on the regulation of prices: 'Cause moderate prices to +be adhered to by those whom it concerns. Let not merchandise be in the +sole power of the sellers, but let an agreeable equability be observed +in all things. This is the most enriching kind of popularity, which is +derived from maintaining moderation in prices[474]. You shall have the +same salary (consuetudines) which your predecessors had in the same +place.' + +[Footnote 474: 'Opulentissima siquidem et hinc gratia civium +colligitur, si pretia sub moderatione serventur.'] + + +13. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Romana.] + +'If even bolts and bars cannot secure a house from robbery, much more +do the precious things left in the streets and open spaces of Rome +require protection. I refer to that most abundant population of +statues, to that mighty herd of horses [in stone and metal] which +adorn our City. It is true that if there were any reverence in human +nature, it, and not the watchman, ought to be the sufficient guardian +of the beauty of Rome[475]. But what shall we say of the marbles, +precious both by material and workmanship, which many a hand longs, if +it has opportunity, to pick out of their settings? Who when entrusted +with such a charge can be negligent? who venal? We entrust to you +therefore for this Indiction the dignity of the Comitiva Romana, with +all its rights and just emoluments. Watch for all such evil-doers as +we have described. Rightly does the public grief[476] punish those who +mar the beauty of the ancients with amputation of limbs, inflicting on +them that which they have made our monuments to suffer. Do you and +your staff and the soldiers at your disposal watch especially by +night; in the day the City guards itself. At night the theft looks +tempting; but the rascal who tries it is easily caught if the guardian +approaches him unperceived. Nor are the statues absolutely dumb; the +ringing sound which they give forth under the blows of the thief seems +to admonish their drowsy guardian. Let us see you then diligent in +this business, that whereas we now bestow upon you a toilsome dignity, +we may hereafter confer an honour without care.' + +[Footnote 475: 'Si esset humanis rebus ulla consideratio Romanam +pulchritudinem non vigiliae sed sola deberet reverentia custodire.'] + +[Footnote 476: 'Quia juste tales persequitur publicus dolor.'] + + +14. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF RAVENNA. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Ravennatis.] + +'High is your honour, to be the means of taking away all slowness from +the execution of our orders. Who knows not what a quantity of ships +you can muster at the least hint from us! Scarcely is the ink dry on +the _evectio_ [permission to use the public post] prepared by some +palace dignitary, when already with the utmost speed it is by you +being carried into effect. Do not exact too much service from +merchants[477], nor yet from corrupt motives let them off too easily. +Be very careful in your judicial capacity, and especially when trying +the causes of the poor, to whom a small error in your judgment may be +far more disastrous than to the rich.' + +[Footnote 477: 'Negociatorum operas consuetas nec nimias exigas, nec +venalitate derelinquas.' Apparently then a certain amount of forced +labour could be claimed from the owners of merchant-vessels by the +Count of Ravenna.] + + +15. FORMULA ADDRESSED TO THE PRAEFECT OF THE CITY ON THE APPOINTMENT +OF AN ARCHITECT. + +[Sidenote: Architectus Publicorum.] + +'It is desirable that the necessary repairs to this forest of walls +and population of statues which make up Rome should be in the hands of +a learned man who will make the new work harmonise with the old. +Therefore for this Indiction we desire your Greatness to appoint A B +Architect of the City of Rome. Let him read the books of the ancients; +but he will find more in this City than in his books. Statues of men, +showing the muscles swelling with effort, the nerves in tension, the +whole man looking as if he had grown rather than been cast in metal. +Statues of horses, full of fire, with the curved nostril, with rounded +tightly-knit limbs, with ears laid back--you would think the creature +longed for the race, though you know that the metal moves not. This +art of statuary the Etruscans are said to have practised first in +Italy; posterity has embraced it, and given to the City an artificial +population almost equal to its natural one. The ancients speak of the +wonders of the world [here enumerated and described], but this one of +the City of Rome surpasses them all. It had need to be a learned man +who is charged with the care of upholding all these works; else, in +his despair, he will deem himself the man of stone, and the statues +about him the truly living men.' + + +16. FORMULA OF THE COUNT OF THE ISLANDS OF CURRITANA AND CELSINA. + +[Sidenote: Comitiva Insulae Curritanae et Celsinae.] + +[Celsina, from the place in which it is mentioned in the 'Itinerary' +of Antonine (516), was probably one of the Lipari Islands. Curritana +must have been near it but is not further identified.] + +'The presence of a ruler is necessary; and it is not desirable that +men should live without discipline, according to their own wills. We +therefore appoint you Judge of these two islands. For it is right that +someone should go to the habitations of these men, who are shut out +from converse with the rest of their kind, and settle their +differences by fair reason. + +'Oh ye inhabitants of these islands, ye now know whom our Piety has +set over you, and we shall expect you to obey him.' + + +17. FORMULA CONCERNING THE PRESIDENT OF THE LIME-KILNS. + +[Sidenote: Praepositus Calcis.] + +'It is a glorious labour to serve the City of Rome. It cannot be +doubted that lime (coctilis calx), which is snow-white and lighter +than sponge, is useful for the mightiest buildings. In proportion as +it is itself disintegrated by the application of fire does it lend +strength to walls; a dissolvable rock, a stony softness, a sandy +pebble, which burns the best when it is most abundantly watered, +without which neither stones are fixed nor the minute particles of +sand hardened. + +'Therefore we set you, well known for your industry, over the burning +and distribution of lime, that there may be plenty of it both for +public and private works, and that thereby people may be put in good +heart for building. Do this well, and you shall be promoted to greater +things.' + + +18. FORMULA CONCERNING ARMOURERS. + +[Sidenote: Armorum Factores.] + +'Good arms are of the utmost importance to a community. By means of +them man, the frailest of creatures, is made stronger than monstrous +beasts. Phoroneus is said to have first invented them, and brought +them to Juno to consecrate them by her divinity. + +'For this Indiction we set you over the soldiers and workmen in our +armouries. Do not presume in our absence to pass bad workmanship. We +shall find out by diligent search all that you do, and in such a +matter as this consider no mistake venial.' + + +19. FORMULA ADDRESSED TO THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT CONCERNING THE +ARMOURERS. + +[Sidenote: Ad Praefectum Praetorio de Armorum Factoribus.] + +Announces to the Praefects the appointment conferred in the preceding +letter, and repeats that to supply inferior arms to soldiers is an act +of treason. The workmen are to receive their just _consuetudines_ +[wages]. + + +20 and 21. FORMULA AS TO THE COLLECTION OF BINA AND TERNA: + + (1) _If collected by the Judge himself;_ + (2) _If collected by his Officium._ + +[Sidenote: Binorum et Ternorum: (xx.) si per Judicem aguntur; (xxi.) +si per Officium aguntur.] + +These _Bina_ and _Terna_, as stated in the note to iii. 8, are a +mystery. All that can be positively stated about them is that they +were a kind of land-tax, collected from the cultivators (possessores), +and that they had to be brought into the Treasury by the first of +March in each year. Under the first formula the Judex himself, under +the second two _Scriniarii_ superintend the collection, reporting to +the Count of Sacred Largesses. As in the previous letter (iii. 8), the +Judex is reminded that if there is any deficiency he will have to make +it good himself. Cf. Manso, 'Geschichte des Ostgothischen Reiches' +388; and Sartorius, 'Regierung der Ostgothen' 207 and 347. + + +22. FORMULA OF EXHORTATION ADDRESSED TO THE TWO SCRINIARII REFERRED TO +IN FORMULA 21. + +[Sidenote: Commonitorium illi et illi Scriniariis.] + +'Your day of promotion is come. Proceed to such and such a Province, +in order that you may assist the Judex and his staff in collecting the +_Bina_ and _Terna_, before the first of March, and may forward them +without delay to the Count of Sacred Largesses. Let there be no +extortion from the cultivator, no dishonest surrender of our rights.' + + +23. FORMULA OF THE VICARIUS OF PORTUS. + +[Sidenote: Vicarius Portus.] + +'Great prudence is necessary in your office, since discords easily +arise between two nationalities. Therefore you must use skill to +soothe those [the Greek merchants and sailors from the Levant] whose +characters are unstable as the winds, and who, unless you bring their +minds into a state of calm, will, with their natural quickness of +temper, fly out into the extremity of insolence.' + + +24. FORMULA OF THE PRINCEPS OF DALMATIA. + +[Sidenote: Princeps Dalmatiarum.] + +[The Princeps, as observed on p. 96, seems to have practically +disappeared from the Officium of the Praefectus Praetorio. Here, +however, we find a Provincial Princeps whose rank and functions are +not a little perplexing. It seems probable that, while still nominally +only the chief of a staff of subordinates, he may, owing to the +character of the superior under whom he served, have practically +assumed more important functions. That superior in this case was a +Comes, whose military character is indicated by the first letter of +this book. The Princeps was therefore virtually the Civil Assessor of +this officer. + +The Comes under Theodoric would generally be a Goth; the Princeps must +be a Roman and a Jurisconsult. The business of the former was war and +administration; that of the latter, judgment, though his decisions +were apparently pronounced by the mouth of the Comes, his superior in +rank.] + +'Whosoever serves while bearing the title of Princeps has high +pre-eminence among his colleagues. To the Consul of the Provinces +power is given, but to you the Judge himself is entrusted. Without you +there is no access to the Secretarium, nor is the ceremony of +salutation[478] [by subordinate officers] performed. You hold the +vine-rod[479] which menaces the wicked; you have the right, withheld +from the Governor himself, of punishing the insolence of an orator +pleading in his Court. The records of the whole suit have to be signed +by you, and for this your consent is sought after the will of the +Judge has been explained.' + +[Footnote 478: 'Pompa osculationis.' Another reading is 'Pompa +postulationis.'] + +[Footnote 479: 'Tu vitem tenes improbis minantem.' The allusion is to +the vine-bough, which was used in scourging. The alternative reading, +_vitam_, does not seem to give so good a sense.] + + +25. FORMULA RECOMMENDING THE PRINCIPES[480] TO THE COMES. + +[Footnote 480: Plural. Apparently, therefore, each Count had more than +one Princeps, perhaps one for each large city in his Province.] + +[Sidenote: Ad Commendandos Comiti Principes.] + +'It is our glory to see you [a Goth, one of our own nation] +accompanied by a Roman official staff. Acting through such Ministers, +your power seems to be hallowed by the sanction of Antiquity. + +'For to this point, by God's help, have we brought our Goths, that +they should be both well-trained in arms and attuned to justice. It is +this which the other races cannot accomplish; this that makes you +unique among the nations, namely, that you, who are accustomed to war, +are seen to live obedient to the laws side by side with the Romans. +Therefore from out of our _Officium_, we have decided to send A and B +to you, that according to ancient custom, while forwarding the +execution of your commands they may bring those commands into +conformity with the mind of past ages[481].' + +[Footnote 481: 'Rationabili debeant antiquitate moderari.' Perhaps we +might translate, 'with the Common Law.'] + + +26. FORMULA OF THE COUNTSHIP OF THE SECOND RANK IN DIVERS CITIES[482]. + +[Footnote 482: The title runs thus (in Nivellius' Edition): 'Formula +Comitivae Honorum Scientiae Ordinis diversarum Civitatum.' I do not +know what is meant by 'Honorum Scientiae.' Can 'Scientiae' be a +transcriber's blunder for 'secundi?'] + +[Sidenote: Comitiva diversarum civitatum.] + +For the sentences, more than usually devoid of meaning, in which +Cassiodorus dilates on Free-will, Justice, and the mind of man, it may +be well to substitute Manso's description of this dignity (p. 379): + +'By the title of a Count of the Second Order the Judges in little +towns appear chiefly to have been rewarded and encouraged. Those named +for it, however, can hardly have received any great distinction or +especial privileges, for Cassiodorus not only enumerates no civic +advantages thus secured to them, but expressly says, "We intend to +bestow better things than this upon you, if you earn our approbation +in your present office." He does not use this language to those +adorned with the _Comitiva Primi Ordinis_.' + + +27. FORMULA ADDRESSED TO THE DIGNIFIED CULTIVATORS AND CURIALES[483]. + +[Footnote 483: Cf. vi. 24.] + +[Sidenote: Honorati Possessores et Curiales.] + +'As one must rule and the rest obey, we have for this Indiction +conferred the Countship of your City on A B, that he may hear your +causes and give effect to our orders.' + +[Apparently this letter and the preceding relate to the same +appointment. The words 'secundi ordinis' are not added to the title of +the new Count when his fellow-citizens are informed of it.] + + +28. FORMULA ANNOUNCING THE APPOINTMENT OF A COMES TO THE CHIEF OF HIS +STAFF[484]. + +[Footnote 484: This must, I think, be the meaning; but it is hard to +extract it from the words 'Formula Principis Militum Comitivae.'] + +[Sidenote: Princeps Militum Comitivae.] + +'Judge and Court Officer (Praesul and Miles) are terms which involve +one another. The officers of the Court have no right to exist, +without the Judge; he is powerless without them to execute his +commands. We therefore think it well to inform you of our appointment +of A B as Count over your body[485]. It is no light benefit that so +long as you attend to your duty[486] you are allowed to elect the +examiners.' + +[Footnote 485: 'Comitem Militiae Vestrae.'] + +[Footnote 486: 'Nec istud leve credatis beneficium, ut cum vos scitis +obsequium, vobis occurrat electio cognitorum.' For Cognitores, see +vii. 3. These Cognitores had virtually the decision of all 'issues of +fact,' and consequently their nomination was a very important matter. +I think the meaning of this passage is: 'I, the King, appoint the +_Comes_ (= Judex), and graciously inform you of my decision. But you +(the Officium) have the privilege--and it is no small one--of electing +the _Cognitores_.'] + + +29. FORMULA CONCERNING THE GUARD AT THE GATES OF A CITY. + +[Sidenote: De Custodiendis Portis Civitatis.] + +'We entrust to you an important office, the care of the gate of such +and such a city. Do not keep it always shut--that were to turn the +city into a prison; nor let it always lie open--then the walls are +useless. Use your own judgment, but remember that the gate of a city +is like the jaws of the human body, through which provisions enter to +nourish it.' + + +30. FORMULA OF THE TRIBUNATE IN THE PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: Tribunatus Provinciarum.] + +'It is right that one who has served his time in civil employment +should receive his reward, and we therefore appoint as your Tribune +the man who has a right to the office by seniority. You are to obey +him, since officers of this kind partake of the nature of Judges +[governors], as they are called to account for any excesses committed +by you.' + +[Who this Tribune was--since the _Tribunus Voluptatum_ is apparently +out of the question--and how his jurisdiction fitted in to that of +other officers, Manso (p. 362) deems it impossible to decide, nor can +I offer any suggestion.] + + +31. FORMULA OF THE PRINCEPS OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Formula Principatus Urbis Romae.] + +'As there must be the _Officium_, of a Count in Rome, and as we want +to have our chief Princeps[487] near us [in Ravenna], we wish you to +take his place and wield power as his _Vicarius_ in Rome. + +[Footnote 487: 'Principem nostrum _cardinalem_' (observe this use of +the word).] + +'If you think that any of the _Comitiaci_ ought to be sent to attend +our Comitatus [at Ravenna], do so at your own discretion, retaining +those whom you think proper to retain at Rome. Let there be an +alternation, however, that one set of men be not worn out with +continuous labour, while the others are rusting in idleness.' + + +32. FORMULA OF THE MASTER OF THE MINT. + +[Sidenote: Formula qua Moneta Committitur.] + +'Great is the crime of tampering with the coinage; a crime against the +many--whose buying and selling is disturbed by it; and a crime and a +sacrilege against us, whose image is impressed on the coins. + +'Let everything be pure and unalloyed which bears the impress of our +Serenity. Let the flame of gold be pale and unmixed, let the colour of +silver smile with its gracious whiteness, let the ruddy copper retain +its native glow. + +'Coins are to keep their full weight. They used to pass current by +weight, not by tale, whence the words for profit and expenditure[488]. +_Pecunia_ was named from cattle (pecus). You must see that our money +does not return to this low condition. King Servius first used +stamped money. Take then the care of the mint; hold it for five years, +and be very careful how you administer it.' + +[Footnote 488: 'Compendium et dispendium' (from _pendere_, to weigh).] + + +33. FORMULA RESPECTING THE AMBASSADORS OF VARIOUS NATIONS. + +[Sidenote: Formula Legatorum Gentium Diversarum.] + +'Since it is important that when ambassadors return to their country +they should feel that they have been well treated in ours, hand the +enclosed _douceur_ (humanitas), and a certain quantity of fodder for +their horses, to the ambassadors of such and such a nation. Nothing +pleases those who have commenced their return journey better than +speeding them on their way.' + + +34. FORMULA OF SUMMONS TO THE KING'S COURT (UNSOLICITED). + +[Sidenote: Formula Evocatoria quam Princeps dirigit.] + +'We summon you by these presents to our Comitatus, that you may have +an extraordinary pleasure. Be brisk therefore, and come on such a day +to such a city. Our Palace longs for the presence of good men, and God +puts it into our hearts to give them a cordial reception.' + + +35. FORMULA OF SUMMONS TO THE COURT (SOLICITED). + +[Sidenote: Formula Evocatoria quae petenti conceditur.] + +'It is a sign of a good conscience to seek the presence of a just +ruler; it is only good deeds that crave the light of the sun. Come +then speedily. We consider our own glory augmented when we see noble +men flocking to our obedience.' + + +36. FORMULA GRANTING TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE. + +[Sidenote: Formula Commeatalis ad tempus.] + +'All men require change: even honey cloys after a time. We therefore +give you leave to visit such a Province and remain there so many +months, with the understanding that when they are over you return to +the City. If it be tedious to live always in the City, how much more +to live long in the country! But we gladly give you this holiday, not +that Rome should be deserted, but that absence from her may commend +her to you all the more.' + + +37. FORMULA CONFERRING THE RANK OF A SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: Spectabilitas.] + +'Wishing to bestow the right honours on the right man among our +subjects, we decorate you with the splendour of a _Spectabilis_, that +you may know that your opinion is duly respected[489] at all public +meeting-places, when you take your honoured seat among the nobles.' + +[Footnote 489: 'Spectandam,' an allusion to the derivation of +_spectabilis_.] + + +38. FORMULA CONFERRING THE RANK OF A CLARISSIMUS. + +[Sidenote: Clarissimatus.] + +'The desire of praise is a good thing, and leads to the increase of +virtue. Receive the honour of the _Clarissimatus_, as a testimony to +the excellence of your past life and a pledge of your future +prosperity. Observe, you are not called _Clarus_, but _Clarissimus_. +Everything that is most excellent may be believed of him who is +saluted by such a splendid superlative.' + + +39. FORMULA BESTOWING 'POLICE PROTECTION.' + +[Sidenote: Tuitio Regii nominis.] + +'Though it seems superfluous to grant special protection to any of our +subjects, since all are shielded by the laws, yet moved by your cry +for help we are willing to relieve you and to give you as a strong +tower of defence the shelter of our name[490], into which you may +retire when wounded by the assaults of your enemies. This defence will +avail you alike against the hot-headed onslaughts [of the Goths] and +the ruinous chicanery [of the Romans][491]; but you must beware that +you, who have thus had to solicit the help of the law, do not yourself +set law at defiance by refusing to appear in answer to a summons. + +[Footnote 490: 'Tuitio nostri nominis.'] + +[Footnote 491: 'Validissimam turrem contra inciviles impetus et +conventionalia detrimenta.'] + +'That our royal protection be not a mere name, we appoint A and B to +protect you by their fidelity and diligence, the former against the +Goths, and the latter against the Romans[492]. If any one hereafter +attempt any act of _incivilitas_ against you, you will see your desire +upon your enemies.' + +[Footnote 492: 'Praesentis beneficii jussione adversus Gothis illa, +adversus Romanos illa, facile te fides et diligentia custodiet' +('custodivit' is surely an error).] + +[This important letter is commented upon at some length by Dahn +('Koenige der Germanen' iii. 125-127). I am not sure that he is right +in stating that _Tuitio_ against a Goth would _necessarily_ be given +by means of a Sajo, though evidently this was often the rank of the +officer employed.] + + +40. FORMULA FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF MARRIAGE AND THE LEGITIMATION OF +OFFSPRING. + +[Sidenote: De Matrimonio confirmando et liberis legitime +constituendis.] + +'An eternal benefit is that which is bestowed on a man's offspring; +and hard is the lot of him who, born with a stain on his name, finds +his troubles prepared as soon as he comes forth to the light of day. + +'You pray that the woman whom you have loved but not married may +receive the honour of wedlock, and that your children by her may +attain the name of heirs. We grant your request, and ordain that your +mistress shall be your lawful wife, and the children whom you love +and whom Nature has given you, your successors.' + +[Some of the maxims of this letter can hardly have obtained the +approval of the author after he 'entered religion.'] + + +41. FORMULA CONFERRING THE RIGHTS OF FULL AGE. + +[Sidenote: Aetatis venia.] + +'An honourable boast is contained in the suit for "venia aetatis." In +it a young man says, "Give me those rights which my stability of +character warrants, though my age does not as yet entitle me to them." + +'Thus you refuse the protection which the law throws round the years +of weakness, and this is as bold a thing as any man can do. We grant +your request; and if you can prove that you have come to the age at +which "venia aetatis" should be asked for, we ordain that, with the +proper formalities which have been of old provided in this +matter[493], you shall be admitted to all the rights of an adult, and +that your dispositions of property, whether in city or country, shall +be held valid[494]. You must exhibit that steadfastness of character +which you claim. You say that you will not be caught by the snares of +designing men; and you must remember that now to deny the fulfilment +of your promise will become a much more serious matter than +heretofore.' + +[Footnote 493: 'Ut in foro competenti ea quae in his causis reverenda +legum dictat Antiquitas solenniter actitentur.'] + +[Footnote 494: 'Ita ut in alienandis rusticis vel urbanis praediis +constitutionum servitus auctoritas.'] + + +42. FORMULA OF AN EDICT TO THE QUAESTOR ORDERING THE PERSON WHO ASKS +FOR THE PROTECTION OF A SAJO TO GIVE BAIL. + +[Sidenote: Edictum ad Quaestorem, ut ipse spondere debeat qui Sajonem +meretur.] + +'Heavy charges are sometimes brought against the Sajones whom with the +best intentions we have granted for the protection of our wealthy +subjects. We are told that the valour of the Sajo is employed not +merely for the protection of him to whom he is assigned, but for +illegal violence and rapine against that person's enemies. Thus our +remedy becomes itself a disease. To guard against this perversion of +our beneficent designs we ordain that anyone asking for the +guardianship of a brave Sajo against violence with which he feels +himself unable to cope, shall give a penal bond to our Officium, with +this condition, that if the Sajo[495] who is assigned to him shall +exceed our orders by any improper violence, he himself shall pay by +way of fine so many pounds of gold, and shall make satisfaction for +the damage sustained by his adversary as well as for the expenses of +his journey [to obtain redress]. For our wish is to repress uncivil +dispositions, not to injure the innocent. As for the Sajo who shall +have wilfully transgressed the limit of our commands, he shall lose +his donative, and--which is the heaviest of all punishments--our +favour also. Nor will we entrust any further duty to him who has been +the violator rather than the executor of our will.' + +[Footnote 495: 'Sajus' in the original, and so in the next place where +it occurs.] + + +43. FORMULA APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF A CLERK IN THE RECORD-OFFICE. + +[Sidenote: Probatoria Cartariorum.] + +'At the suggestion of the Tribune of the Cartarii--to whom the whole +office pays fitting reverence--we bestow upon you the title of a +Cartarius. Flee avarice and avoid all unjust gains.' + +[This letter gives no information as to the duties of a Cartarius, or, +as he is called in the Codes, Cartularius.] + + +44. FORMULA FOR THE GRANT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY ON CONDITION OF +IMPROVEMENT[496]. + +[Footnote 496: Formula de Competitoribus is the somewhat obscure title +of this document, which might perhaps be compared to our Commons' +Enclosure Acts.] + +[Sidenote: De Competitoribus.] + +'He who seeks to become owner of public property can only justify his +claim by making the squalid beautiful, and by adorning the waste. +Therefore, as you desire it, we confer upon you as your full property +such and such a place, reserving all mineral rights--brass, lead, +marbles--should any such be found therein; but we do this on the +understanding that you will restore to beauty that which has become +shabby by age and neglect. It is the part of a good citizen to adorn +the face of his city, and you may securely transmit to your posterity +that which your own labour has accomplished[497].' + +[Footnote 497: 'Securus etiam ad posteros transmissurus, quod proprio +fuerit labore compositum.'] + + +45. FORMULA OF REMISSION OF TAXES WHERE THE TAXPAYER HAS ONLY ONE +HOUSE, TOO HEAVILY ASSESSED. + +[Sidenote: Formula qua census relevetur ei qui unam casam possidet +praegravatam.] + +'You complain that the land-tax (tributum) levied upon your holding +(possessio) in such a Province is so heavy that all your means are +swallowed up in the swamp of indebtedness, and that more is claimed by +the tax-collectors than can be obtained from the soil by the +husbandman. You might, by surrendering the property altogether, escape +from this miserable necessity which is making you a slave rather than, +a landowner; but since the Imperial laws (sacratissimae leges) give us +the power to relieve a man of moderate fortune in such circumstances, +our Greatness, which always hath the cause of justice at heart, +decrees by these presents that if the case be as you say, the +liability for the payment of so many solidi on behalf of the aforesaid +property shall be cancelled in the public archives, and that this +shall be done so thoroughly that there shall be no trace of it left in +any copy of the taxing-rolls by which the charge may be revived at a +future day[498].' + +[Footnote 498: 'Decernimus ut, si ita est, tot solidos tributario +supradictae possessionis ... ita faciatis de vasariis publicis +diligenter abradi ut hujus rei duplarum vestigium non debeat +inveniri.' Cf. what is said by Evagrius (iii. 39) of the proceedings +of Anastasius at the time of the abolition of the Chrysargyron.] + + +46. FORMULA LEGITIMATING MARRIAGE WITH A FIRST COUSIN. + +[Sidenote: Formula qua consobrina legitima fiat uxor.] + +'After the laws of the two tables, Moses adds the laws wherein God +forbids marriages between near kindred, to guard against incest and +provide for a wise admixture of divers strains of blood[499]. + +[Footnote 499: 'Ne dilationem providam in genus extraneum non +haberent.'] + +'These commands have been extended to remoter degrees of relationship +by the wise men of old, who have however reserved to the Prince the +power of granting dispensations from the rule in the cases (not likely +to be frequent) where first cousins (by the mother's side) seek to +intermarry. + +'Acting on this wise principle we permit you to marry C D, if she is +of no nearer kinship to you than first cousin. By God's favour may you +have legitimate heirs from this marriage, which, our consent having +been obtained, is not blameable but praiseworthy.' + + +47. FORMULA ADDRESSED TO THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT DIRECTING THE SALE OF +THE PROPERTY OF A CURIALIS. + +[Sidenote: Formula ad Praefectum, ut sub decreto Curialis praedia +vendat.] + +'It is the hard lot of human nature often to be injured by the very +things which were intended as remedies. The prohibition against the +sale of the property of a Curialis was intended for his protection, +and to enable him fearlessly to discharge his share of the public +burdens. In some cases, however, where he has contracted large debts, +this prohibition simply prevents him from saving anything out of the +gulf of indebtedness. You have the power, after making due enquiry +into the circumstances, to authorise the sale of such a property. You +have the power; but as the proceeding is an unusual one, to guard you +against any odium to which it may expose you, we fortify your Eminence +by this our present command. Let the Curialis who petitions for this +relief satisfy you as to the cause of his losses, that it may be shown +that they are really the result of circumstances beyond his own +control, not due to his own bad character. + +'Wisely has Antiquity laid upon _you_ the responsibility of deciding +cases of this kind, you whose advantage lies in the maintenance of the +Curia. For by whom could its burdens be borne, if the nerves of the +communities should everywhere be seen to be severed[500]?' + +[Footnote 500: 'Quapropter provide vobis permisit antiquitas de illa +causa decernere, cui est utile Curiam custodire. A quibus enim munia +petuerunt sustineri, si civitatum nervi passim videantur abscidi.'] + + + + +BOOK VIII. + +CONTAINING THIRTY-THREE LETTERS, ALL WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF ATHALARIC +THE KING, EXCEPT THE ELEVENTH, WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF TULUM. + + +1. KING ATHALARIC TO THE EMPEROR JUSTIN (A.D. 526). + +[Sidenote: The accession of Athalaric announced to the Emperor +Justin.] + +[Some MSS. read Justiniano, but there can be no doubt that Justino is +the right reading. Athalaric's accession took place August 30, 526; +the death of Justin, August 1, 527. Justinian was associated with his +uncle in the Empire, April 1, 527.] + +'Most earnestly do I seek your friendship, oh most clement of Princes, +who are made even more illustrious by the wide extension of your +favours than by the purple robe and the kingly throne. On this +friendship I have an hereditary claim. My father was adorned by you +with the palm-enwoven robe of the Consul [Eutharic, Consul 519] and +adopted as a son in arms, a name which I, as one of a younger +generation, could more fittingly receive[501]. My grandfather also +received curule honours from you[502] in your city. Love and +friendship should pass from parents to their offspring, while hatred +should be buried in the tomb; and therefore with confidence, as one +who by reason of my tender years cannot be an object of suspicion to +you, and as one whose ancestors you have already known and cherished, +I claim from you your friendship on the same compacts and conditions +on which your renowned predecessors granted it to my lord and +grandfather of Divine memory[503]. It will be to me something better +than dominion to have the friendship of so excellent and so mighty a +ruler. My ambassadors (A and B) will open the purport of their +commission more fully to your Serenity.' + +[Footnote 501: The text is evidently corrupt here: 'Genitor meus +desiderio quoque concordiae factus est per arma filius, quia unis +nobis pene videbatur aequaevus.' The suggested reading, 'quamvis +vobis,' does not entirely remove the difficulty.] + +[Footnote 502: That is, of course, not from Justin himself but from +his predecessors.] + +[Footnote 503: 'Ut amicitiam nobis illis pactis, illis conditionibus +concedatis, quas cum divae memoriae domino avo nostro inclytos +decessores vestros constat habuisse.'] + + +2. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME ON HIS ACCESSION +(A.D. 526). + +[Sidenote: To the Senate.] + +'Great must be the joy of all orders of the State at hearing of the +accession of a new ruler, above all of a peaceful succession, without +war, without sedition, without loss of any kind to the Republic. + +'Such has been our succession to our grandfather. On account of the +glory of the Amal race, which yields to none[504], the hope of our +youth has been preferred to the merits of all others. The chiefs, +glorious in council and in war, have flocked to recognise us as King +so gladly, so unmurmuringly, that it seems like a Divine inspiration, +and the kingdom has been changed as one changes a garment. + +[Footnote 504: 'Quoniam quaevis claritas generis Amalis cedit.'] + +'The institution of royalty is consolidated when power thus passes +from one generation to another, and when a good prince lives again, +not in statues of brass but in the lineaments and the character of his +descendants. + +'The general consent of Goths and Romans [at Ravenna] has crowned us +King, and they have confirmed their allegiance by an oath. You, though +separated from us by space, are, we know, as near to us in heart as +they; and we call upon you therefore to follow their example. We all +know that the most excellent fathers of the Senate love their King +more fervently than other ranks of the State, in proportion to the +greater benefits which they have received at his hand. + +'And since one should never enter your Curia empty-handed, we have +sent our Count, the Illustrious Sigismer, with certain persons to +administer the oath to you. If you have any requests to make to us +which shall be for the common benefit of the Republic, make them +through him, and they are granted beforehand.' + + +3. KING ATHALARIC TO THE ROMAN PEOPLE (A.D. 526). + +[Sidenote: To the citizens of Rome.] + +'If a stranger to the royal line were succeeding to the throne, you +might doubt whether the friendship between him and you would endure, +and might look for a reversal of the policy of his predecessors. But +now the person of the King only, not his policy, is changed. We are +determined to follow the revered maxims of our predecessor, and to +load with even more abundant benefits those whom he most kindly +defended. + +'Everything was so ordered by our glorious grandfather that on his +death the glad consent of Goths called us to our kingdom; and that no +doubt might remain upon the matter they pledged themselves by an oath +most cordially taken, to accept us as their ruler. We invite you to +follow their example, and like Trajan, we, the Sovereign, in whose +name all oaths are made, will also swear to you. The bearers of this +letter will receive your sworn promise, and will give you ours, "by +the Lord's help to observe justice and fair clemency, the nourisher of +the nations; that Goths and Romans shall meet with impartial +treatment at our hands; and that there shall be no other division +between the two nations, except that _they_ undergo the labours of war +for the common benefit, while _you_ are increased in numbers by your +peaceable inhabitancy of the City of Rome[505]." Raise then your +spirits, and hope for even better things and more tranquillity, under +God's blessing, from our reign than from that of our predecessor.' + +[Footnote 505: 'Justitiam nos et aequabilem clementiam, quae populos +nutrit, juvante domino, custodire et _Gothis Romanisque apud nos jus +esse commune_, nec aliud inter vos esse divisum, nisi quod illi +labores bellicos pro communi utilitate subeunt, vos autem civitatis +Romanae habitatio quieta multiplicat.' I do not consider that the +words in Italics, taken with the context, are irreconcilable with +Dahn's view that the Goths were still, to a certain extent, under +Gothic law.] + + +4. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE ROMANS SETTLED IN ITALY AND THE DALMATIAS +(A.D. 526). + +[Sidenote: To the Romans in Italy and Dalmatia.] + +'He who hears of a change in the ruler is apt to fear that it may be a +change for the worse; and a new King who makes no kind promises at his +accession is supposed to be harbouring designs of severity. We +therefore inform you that we have received the oaths of Goths and +Romans and are ready to receive yours, which we doubt not you will +willingly offer.' [The rest as in the preceding letters.] + + +5. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE GOTHS SETTLED IN ITALY (A.D. 526). + +[Sidenote: To the Goths.] + +'Gladly would we have announced to you the prolonged life of our lord +and grandfather; but inasmuch as he has been withdrawn by hard fate +from us who loved him, he has substituted us, by Divine command, as +heirs of his kingdom, that through us his successors in blood, he +might make the benefits which he has conferred on you perpetual. And +in truth we hope not only to defend but to increase the blessings +wrought by him. All the Goths in the Royal City [Ravenna] have taken +the oaths to us. Do you do the same by this Count whom we send to you. + +'Receive then a name which ever brought prosperity to your race, the +royal offshoot of the Amals, the sprout of the Balthae[506], a +childhood clad in purple. Ye are they by whom, with God's help, our +ancestors were borne to such a height of honour, and obtained an ever +higher place amid the serried ranks of kings[507].' + +[Footnote 506: 'Amalorum regalem prosapiem, Baltheum germen.' I know +not how Athalaric had any blood of the Balths in his veins. The other +reading, 'blatteum,' gives the same idea as the following clause, +'infantiam purpuratam.'] + +[Footnote 507: 'Inter tam prolixum ordinem Regum susceperunt semper +augmenta.' Perhaps we should translate 'by such a long line of (Amal) +kings obtained advancement for their nation;' but the meaning is not +very clear.] + + +6. KING ATHALARIC TO LIBERIUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT OF THE GAULS (A.D. +526). + +[Sidenote: To the Governor of Gaul.] + +'You will be grieved to hear of the death of our lord and grandfather +of glorious memory, but will be comforted in learning that he is +succeeded by his descendant. Thus, by God's command, did he arrange +matters, associating us as lords in the throne of his royalty, in +order that he might leave his kingdom at peace, and that no revolution +might trouble it after his death.' + +[Invitation to take the oath, as in previous letters.] + + +7. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS SETTLED IN GAUL (A.D. 526). + +[Sidenote: To the Gaulish subjects of Athalaric.] + +'Our grandfather of glorious memory is dead, but we have succeeded +him, and will faithfully repay, both on his account and our own, the +loyalty of our subjects. + +'So unanimous was the acclamation of our [Italian] subjects when we +succeeded to the throne, that the thing seemed to be of God rather +than of man. + +'We now invite you to follow their example, that the Goths may give +their oath to the Romans, and the Romans may confirm it by a +_Sacramentum_ to the Goths, that they are unanimously devoted to our +King.' + +'Thus will your loyalty be made manifest, and concord and justice +flourish among you.' + +[There is an appearance of mutuality about this oath of allegiance as +between Goths and Romans, not merely by both to Athalaric, which we +have not had in the previous letters.] + + +8. KING ATHALARIC TO VICTORINUS, VIR VENERABILIS AND BISHOP[508] (A.D. +526). + +[Footnote 508: Baronius says (vii. 121): 'Cujusnam Ecclesiae Antistes +fuerit Victorinus ignoratur.' From the tone of the letter one may +conjecture that Victorinus was a Bishop in Gaul.] + +[Sidenote: To Bishop Victorinus.] + +'Saluting you with all the veneration due to your character and +office, we inform you with grief of the death of our lord and +grandfather. But your sadness will be moderated when you hear that his +kingdom is continued in us. Favour us with your prayers, that the King +of Heaven may confirm to us the kingdom, subdue foreign nations before +us, forgive us our sins, and propitiously preserve all that He was +pleased to bestow on our ancestors. Let your Holiness exhort all the +Provincials to concord.' + + +9. KING ATHALARIC TO TULUM, PATRICIAN. + +[Sidenote: Praises of Tulum, who is raised to the Patriciate.] + +'As our grandfather used to refresh his mind and strengthen his +judgment by intercourse with you, so, _a fortiori_, may we in our +tender years do the same. We therefore make you, by this present +letter, Patrician, that the counsels which you give us may not seem to +proceed from any unknown and obscure source. + +'Greece adorned our hero [Tulum] with the chlamys and the painted +silken buskin; and the Eastern peoples yearned to see him, because +for some reason civic virtues are most prized in him who is believed +to be of warlike disposition[509]. Contented with this repayment of +honour he laboured with unwearied devotion for foreign countries (?), +and with his relations (or parents) he deigned to offer his obedience +to the Sovereign, who was begotten of the stock of so many Kings[510]. + +[Footnote 509: Probably Tulum had gone on some embassy to +Constantinople.] + +[Footnote 510: 'Hac igitur honoris remuneratione contentus, pro +exteris partibus indefessa devotione laboravit: et praestare com suis +parentibus principi dignabatur obsequium, qui tantorum regum fuerat +stirpe procreatus.' This sentence is full of difficulties. What can he +mean by the labour 'pro exteris partibus?' Who is the 'Princeps' whom +Tulum deigns to serve: the Eastern Emperor or Theodoric? Above all, +who is 'tantorum regum stirpe procreatus?' I think the turn of the +sentence requires that it should be Tulum; but Dahn has evidently not +so understood it, for in his Koenige der Germanen (iii. 29, 30) he +makes Tulum a conspicuous example of a man not of noble birth raised +to high dignity, and says that the two long letters about him in the +Variae contain no allusion to illustrious descent.] + +[After some very obscure sentences, in which the writer appears to be +celebrating the praises of Theodoric, he turns to Tulum, of whom he +has hitherto spoken in the third person, and addresses him as _you_.] + +'His toil so formed your character that we have the less need to +labour. With you he discussed the sure blessings of peace, the +doubtful gains of war; and--rare boon from a wise King--to you, in his +anxiety, he confidently opened all the secrets of his breast. You, +however, responded fully to his trust. You never put him off with +doubtful answers. Ever patient and truthful, you won the entire +confidence of your King, and dared even, hardest of all tasks, to +argue against him for his own good. + +'Thus did your noble deeds justify your alliance with the Amal race +[apparently he has received an Amal princess in marriage], and thus +did you become worthy to be joined in common fame with Gensemund, a +man whose praises the whole world should sing, a man only made son by +adoption in arms to the King, yet who exhibited such fidelity to the +Amals that he transferred it even to their heirs, although he was +himself sought for to be crowned[511]. Therefore will his fame live +for ever, so long as the Gothic name endures. + +[Footnote 511: 'Exstat gentis Gothicae hujus probitatis exemplum: +Gensemundus ille toto orbe cantabilis, solum armis filius factus, +tanta se Amalis devotione conjunxit ut haeredibus eorum curiosum +exhibuerit famulatum, quamvis ipse peteretur ad regnum.' Dahn (ii. 61 +and iii. 309) and Koepke (p. 142) refer this mysterious affair of +Gensemund's renunciation to the interval after the death of Thorismund +(A.D. 416). But this is mere conjecture. See Italy and her Invaders +iii. 8-10.] + +'We look for even nobler things from you, because you are allied to us +by race.' + +[A singularly obscure, vapid, and ill-written letter. The allusion to +Gensemund seems introduced on purpose to bewilder the reader.] + + +10. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[On the elevation of Tulum to the Patriciate.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We are conferring new lustre on your body by the promotion of Tulum. +A man sprung from the noblest stock[512] he early undertook the duties +of attendance in the King's bedchamber[513], a difficult post, where +the knowledge that you share the secret counsels of royalty itself +exposes you to enmity. + +[Footnote 512: 'Primum, quod inter nationes eximium est, Gothorum +nobilissima stirpe gloriatur.'] + +[Footnote 513: 'Statim rudes annos ad sacri cubiculi secreta +portavit.'] + +'In the dawn of manhood he went forth with our army to the war of +Sirmium [A.D. 504], showed what one of our young nobles bred in peace +could do in war, triumphed over the Huns[514], and gave to slaughter +the Bulgarians, terrible to the whole world. Such warriors do even our +nurseries send forth: thus does the preparation of a courageous heart +supersede the necessity for martial training[515]. + +[Footnote 514: We do not hear from the other authorities of Huns being +engaged in this war. In 505 Mundo the Hun was in alliance with +Theodoric against the Empire.] + +[Footnote 515: 'Tales mittunt nostra cunabula bellatores: sic paratae +sunt manus, ubi exercetur animus.'] + +'Returned to the Court he became the most intimate counsellor of the +King, who arranged with him all his plans for campaign, and so +admitted him to his most secret thoughts that Tulum could always +anticipate how Theodoric would act in every fresh conjuncture of +events; and it may be said "by offering him counsel he ruled the +King[516]." + +[Footnote 516: 'Et ministrando consilium regebat ipse Rectorem.'] + +'He then distinguished himself in the Gaulish campaign [A.D. 508], +where he was already enrolled among the generals, directing the +campaign by his prudence, and bravely sharing its dangers. In the +fierce fight which was waged at Arles for the possession of the +covered bridge across the Rhone[517], the bravery of our _candidatus_ +was everywhere conspicuous, and he received many honourable wounds, +those best and most eloquent champions of a soldier's courage. + +[Footnote 517: 'Arelate est civitas supra undas Rhodani constituta, +quae in Orientis prospectum tabulatum pontem per nuncupati fluminis +dorsa transmittit.'] + +'But a general ought not to be always fighting. I have pleasure in +relating his next success, which was brilliant yet achieved without +bloodshed. When the Frank and Burgundian again fell out, he was sent +to Gaul [A.D. 523] to defend our frontier from hostile incursion. He +then obtained for the Roman Republic, without any trouble, a whole +Province while others were fighting. It was a triumph without a +battle, a palm-branch without toil, a victory without slaughter. + +'So great were his services in this campaign that Theodoric considered +that he ought to be rewarded by the possession of large lands in the +district which he had added to our dominions. + +'A storm overtook him on his return to Italy: the remembrance of the +vanished danger of that storm is sweet to us now[518]. In the wide, +foaming sea his ship was swallowed up. He had to save himself by +rowing; the sailors perished; he alone with the dear pledge of his +love [one child?] escaped. Theodoric rushed to the shore, and would +have dashed into the waves to save his friend, but had the delight of +receiving him unharmed, saved manifestly by Divine protection for his +present honours. + +[Footnote 518: 'Discrimina dum feliciter cedunt, suavissimae memoriae +sensum relinquunt.' Compare Claudian (De Bella Getico 207-8): + + 'An potius meminisse juvat semperque vicissim + Gaudia praemissi cumulant inopina dolores.'] + +'Favour then, Conscript Fathers, the ambition of our _candidatus_, and +open for the man of our choice the Hall of Liberty[519]. The race of +Romulus deserves to have such martial colleagues as Tulum.' + +[Footnote 519: 'Favete nunc auspiciis candidati, et viris nostris +libertatis atria reserate.'] + + +11. TULUM, ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN, TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Note that Cassiodorus has to provide an elegant oration not only for +his master, but for this Gothic fellow-minister of State. See Dahn's +remarks on the writer of this letter, 'Koenige der Germanen' iii. 273.] + +[Sidenote: Tulum's address to the Senate.] + +'I pray you to receive favourably the order of the King which makes me +a member of your body. + +'I have ever favoured the dignity of the Senate, as if with a +prescience that I should one day hold it. When I shared the counsels +of Theodoric, that chief of Kings, of glorious memory, I often by my +intercessions obtained for members of your body Consulships, +Patriciates, Praefectures; and now, behold, I am similarly honoured +myself. Reflect, I pray, that by my accepting it, the genius of the +Patriciate is exalted, since none of my fellow-countrymen will hold +cheaply that rank in you which he sees honoured in me. Live in +security, by the blessing of God; enjoy your prosperity with your +children; and strive, now as always, to show forth the true Roman type +of character. I shall defend those with whom I am now associated.' + + +12. KING ATHALARIC TO ARATOR, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[Bestowing on him the rank of Comes Domesticorum.] + +[I have altered the order of subjects in this letter, to make it +correspond with that of time. There cannot be much doubt that Arator's +_pomposa legatio_ from Dalmatia was his first introduction to the +Court of Theodoric, and preceded his employment as Advocatus.] + +[Sidenote: Arator made Count of the Domestics.] + +'By raising Tulum to the Patriciate we have provided for the military +strength of the State. Now must we see to it that she is equally +adorned by the glory of letters, and for this purpose we raise you, +still in the prime of life, to the rank of _Comes Domesticorum_. By +your example it was seen that eloquence could be acquired elsewhere +than at Rome, since in your own Province [probably Dalmatia] your +father, who was an extremely learned man, taught you to excel in this +art: a happy lot for you, who obtained from your father's love that +accomplishment which most youths have to acquire with terror from a +master. + +'That I may say something here of a very _recherche_ character[520], I +may mention that, according to some, letters were first invented by +Mercury, who watched the flight of cranes by the Strymon, and turned +the shapes assumed by their flying squadron into forms expressive of +the various sounds of the human voice. + +[Footnote 520: 'Ut aliquid studiose exquisitum dicere videamur.'] + +'You were sent upon a stately embassy[521] by the Provincials of +Dalmatia to our grandfather; and there, not in commonplace words but +with a torrent of eloquence, you so set forth their needs and the +measures which would be for the advantage of the public, that +Theodoric, a man of cautious temperament, listened to your flow of +words without weariness, and all men desired still to listen, when you +ceased speaking. + +[Footnote 521: 'Juvat repetere pomposam legationem.'] + +'[Since then] you have filled the office of Advocate in our Court. You +might have been a trier of causes (Cognitor): you have preferred to be +a pleader, though to all your advocacy you have brought so fair and +judicial a mind that your eloquence and your zeal for your client have +never exceeded the bounds of truth.' + + +13. KING ATHALARIC TO AMBROSIUS. + +[Conferring on him the Quaestorship.] + +[This Ambrosius, son of Faustinus, is apparently the same to whom +Ennodius addressed his 'Paraenesis Didascalica,' containing some +important notices of Festus, Symmachus, Boethius, Cethegus, and their +contemporaries. (In Migne's 'Patrologia' lxiii. 250.)] + +[Sidenote: Ambrosius appointed Quaestor.] + +'A steady gradation of honours secures good servants for the State. +You have already served with credit the office of Count of the Private +Largesses. And you have also filled satisfactorily the place of a high +official who was dismissed in disgrace[522]. We now therefore promote +you to the office of Quaestor, and expect you to be the Pliny to the +new Trajan. Let your eloquent tongue adorn all that we have to say, +and be fearless in suggesting to us all that is for the welfare of the +State. A good Sovereign always allows his ministers to speak to him on +behalf of justice, while it is the sure mark of a tyrant to refuse to +listen to the voice of the ancient maxims of law. Remember that +celebrated saying of Trajan to an orator: "Plead, if I am a good +ruler, for the Republic and me; if I am a bad one, for the Republic +against me[523]." But remember, that if we are thus severe upon +ourselves we are equally strict with regard to you, and expect you to +follow the example of your noble ancestors, and to abstain from +everything like an infraction of the laws. We confer upon you the +insignia of the Quaestorship for this fifth Indiction' [Sept. 1, +526--Sept. 1, 527]. + +[Footnote 522: 'Gratiam quoque loci alterius invenisti. Dictationibus +enim probaris adhibitus, cum sit offensionibus alter expulsus: et ita +suspensum honorem tuum sustinebat ingenium, ut Palatio non sineres +decesse Judicem, cujus ad tempus abrogatam cognovimus dignitatem.' I +do not think we can say from this what the office temporarily filled +by Arator was.] + +[Footnote 523: 'Sume dicationem, si bonus fuero, pro Republica et me: +si malus, pro Republica in me.'] + + +14. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[On the elevation of Ambrosius to the Quaestorship]. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'As a kind of door to our royal favour do we appoint Ambrosius to be +our Quaestor. You know his merits of old: but, to speak only of recent +matters[524], we may remind you that when your hearts were wrung with +grief for the death of our glorious grandfather, it was by his mouth +that we assured you of our determination to continue to you the +blessings of good government. + +[Footnote 524: 'Quando et moderna quae loquimur.' (Notice again +_moderna_.)] + +'The presence of Ambrosius is full of dignity, and has a soothing +influence which the words of his speech do but confirm[525]. It is +unfortunate for an orator to have eloquence for his only gift, and to +have to obliterate by his oration the unfavourable effect produced on +the multitude by his appearance. + +[Footnote 525: So the contemporary poet Maximian, speaking of his own +past successes as an orator, and a good-looking one, says: + + 'Nec minor his aderat sublimis gratia formae + Quae vel si decent cetera, muta placet.' + + Elegiae i. 17-18.] + +'We consider it not necessary to praise his eloquence. Of course a +Quaestor is eloquent. While some have the government of a Province +committed to them, others the care of the Treasury, he receives the +ensigns of his dignity in order that by him his Sovereign's fame may +be spread abroad through the whole world.' + + +15. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[On the election of Pope Felix III, 526.] + +[As this letter has an important bearing on the royal rights in +connection with Papal elections, it is translated in full.] + +[Sidenote: Election of Pope Felix III (or IV).] + +'We profess that we hear with great satisfaction that you have +responded to the judgment of our glorious lord and grandfather in your +election of a Bishop. It was right in sooth to obey the will of a good +Sovereign, who, handling the matter with wise deliberation, although +it had reference to a form of faith alien from his own[526], thought +fit to select such a Pontiff as could rightfully be displeasing to +none. You may thus recognise that his one chief desire was that +Religion might flourish by good priests being supplied to all the +churches. + +[Footnote 526: 'Qui sapienti deliberatione pertractans quamvis in +aliena religione.'] + +'You have received then a man both admirably endowed with Divine grace +and approved by royal scrutiny. Let no one any longer be involved in +the old contention. There is no disgrace in being conquered when the +King's power has helped the winning side. That man makes him [the +successful candidate] his own, who manifests to him pure affection. +For what cause for regret can there be, when you find in this man, +those very qualities which you looked for in the other when you +embraced his party? + +'These are family quarrels[527], a battle without cold steel, a +contest without hatred: by shouts, not wounds, a matter like this is +decided. + +[Footnote 527: The words of Cassiodorus are, 'crinea sunt ista +certamina.' No one seems able to suggest a meaning for _crinea_. The +editors propose to read _civica_, which however is very flat, and not +exactly in Cassiodorus' manner. I suspect some recondite classical +allusion, which has been missed by the transcribers, has led to the +corruption of the text.] + +'For even though the person who is desired be taken from you, yet +naught is lost by the faithful, since the longed-for priesthood is +possessed by them. [They have a Pope, if not just the Pope whom they +wished for.] Wherefore on the return of your Legate, the Illustrious +Publianus, we have thought it right to send to your assembly these +letters of salutation. For we taste one of our highest pleasures when +we exchange words with our nobles; and we doubt not that this is very +sweet to you also, when you reflect that what you did by our +grandsire's order is personally agreeable to ourselves.' + +[For remarks on this important letter see Dahn's 'Koenige der Germanen' +iii. 239. He makes it a simple appointment of the Pope by the bare +will of Theodoric, afterwards confirmed by Athalaric. To me it seems +more probable that there had been a contest, threatening the election +of an antipope (as in 498 in the case of Symmachus and Laurentius), +and that the matter had been, as on that occasion, referred to the +arbitration of Theodoric.] + + +16. KING ATHALARIC TO OPILIO, COUNT OF THE SACRED LARGESSES (527). + +[Sidenote: Opilio appointed Comes Sacrarum Largitionum.] + +'It is generally necessary to weigh carefully the merits of a new +aspirant to the honours of the Court (aulicas dignitates); but in your +case the merits of your family render this examination needless. Both +your father and brother held the same office[528] which we are now +entrusting to you, and one may say that this dignity has taken up its +abode in your house. + +[Footnote 528: 'Pater his fascibus praefuit sed et frater eadem +resplenduit claritate.'] + +'You learned the duties of a subordinate in the office under your +brother; and often did he, leaning upon you as on a staff, take a +little needful repose, knowing that all things would be attended to by +you. The crowds of suppliants who resorted to him with their +grievances, shared the confidence which the people had in you, and saw +that you were already assuming the character of a good judge. + +'Most useful also were your services to the throne at the commencement +of the new reign, when men's minds were in trouble as to what should +happen next. You bore the news of our accession to the Ligurians, and +so strengthened them by your wise address that the error into which +they had been betrayed by the sun-setting was turned into joy at the +rising of our empire[529].' + +[Footnote 529: 'Nam cum ... auspicia nostra Liguribus felix portitor +nuntiasti, et sapientiae tuae allocutione firmasti, in errorem _quem +de occasu conceperant_, ortum nostri imperii in gaudia commutabant.' +Does this obscure passage indicate some revolutionary movements in +Liguria after the death of Theodoric, perhaps fomented by the Frankish +neighbours of Italy?] + +'We therefore confer upon you the dignity of Count of the Sacred +Largesses from this sixth Indiction (Sept. 1, 527). Enjoy all the +privileges and emoluments which belonged to your predecessors. God +forbid that those whose own actions are right should be shaken by any +machinations of calumny. There was a time when even Judges were +harassed by informers (delatores); but that time is over. Lay aside +then all fear, you who have no errors to reproach yourself with, and +freely enjoy the advantages of your dignity. Imitate your brother: +even though a little way behind him you will still be before most +holders of the office. He was a man of the highest authority and of +proved constancy, and the highest testimony to his merits was afforded +by the fact that even under a successor who was hostile to him the +whole official staff of the palace was loud in his praises[530].' + +[Footnote 530: 'Quando sub ingrato successore palatinum officium +praeconia ejus tacere non potuit.'] + +[This letter is of great importance, as containing indirectly the +expression of Cassiodorus' opinion on the trial of Boethius, and the +tendency of that opinion seems to be against him and in favour of his +accusers. Comparing this letter with v. 40, addressed to Cyprian, +Cornes Sacrarum Largitionum and _son of Opilio_, we may with something +like certainty construct this genealogical table: + + OPILIO, + C.S.L. (? son of the Consul of 453). + _________________|_________________ + | | + CYPRIAN, OPILIO, +C.S.L. 524. C.S.L. 527. + +Now Cyprian, whose ready wit and ingenious eloquence had rendered him +a favourite with Theodoric, is represented to us in the 'Philosophiae +Consolatio' of Boethius (I. iv.) and in the 'Anonymus Valesii' (85) as +the informer by whom Albinus and Boethius were accused of high +treason. Opilio too (no doubt the same as the receiver of this letter) +is described by Boethius (loc. cit.) as a man who on account of his +numberless frauds had been ordered by the King to go into banishment, +had taken refuge at the altar, and had been sternly bidden to leave +Ravenna before a given day, and then had purchased pardon by coming +forward as a _delator_ against Boethius. + +Against all this passionate invective it is fair to set this +remarkable letter of Cassiodorus, written it is true in the young +King's name and presenting the Court view of these transactions, but +still written after the death of Theodoric, and perhaps republished by +Cassiodorus in the 'Variarum' after the downfall of the Gothic +Monarchy. In any case the allusions to _delatores_ in this letter, +considering the history of Opilio and his brother, are extraordinary.] + + +17. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +This letter, though it does not mention the name of Opilio, is +evidently written on his promotion to the office of Comes Sacrarum +Largitionum. It enumerates his good qualities, and declares that it is +marvellous and almost fortunate for Athalaric that so suitable a +candidate should not have been promoted in the reign of his +grandfather. The father of Opilio was a man of noble character and +robust body, who distinguished himself by his abstinence from the +vices of the times and his preference for dignified repose in the +stormy period of Odovacar[531]. + +[Footnote 531: 'Adjectis saeculi vitiis, ditatus claris honoribus.' +The text is evidently corrupt. 'Abjectis' seems to be required; but +some MSS. instead of 'vitiis' read 'Odovacris.' In any case Odovacar's +government is evidently alluded to. Cf. the words used of the same man +in the letter announcing the elevation of his other son, Cyprian (v. +41): 'Nam pater huic, sicut meministis, Opilio fuit, vir quidem +_abjectis temporibus_ ad excubias tamen Palatinas electus.'] + +'He was reputed an excellent man in those times, when the Sovereign +was not a man of honour[532]. But why go back to his parentage, when +his brother has set so noble an example. The friendship, the rivalry +in virtue of these two brothers, is worthy of the good old times. Both +are true to their friends; both are devoid of avarice. Both have kept +their loyalty to their King unspotted, and no marvel, since they have +first shown themselves true to their friends and colleagues. + +[Footnote 532: 'His temporibus habitus est eximius, cum princeps non +esset erectus.'] + +'Distinguished by these virtues, our candidate has been fittingly +allied by marriage with the noble family of Basilius[533]. + +[Footnote 533: This is probably the Basilius who was concerned in the +accusation of Boethius (Phil. Cons. I. iv.); possibly the Consul of +541, who fled to Constantinople when Totila took Rome in 546 (Procop. +De Bello Gotthico iii. 20, and Anastasius Lib. Pontif. apud Murator. +iii. 132); and perhaps the Basilius whom we find in trouble in +Variarum iv. 22, 23: scarcely the Basilius of Variarum ii. 10, 11.] + +'He has managed his private affairs so as to avoid the two extremes of +parsimony and extravagance. He has become popular with the Goths by +his manner of life, and with the Romans by his righteous +judgments[534]; and has been over and over again chosen as a referee +(Judex privatus), thus showing the high opinion in which his integrity +is held. + +[Footnote 534: 'Gentiles victu (?), Romanos sibi judiciis obligabat.'] + +'The Conscript Fathers are exhorted to endorse the favourable judgment +of the King, by welcoming the new Count of Sacred Largesses into their +body.' + +[In view of these letters I do not understand what Gibbon means by +saying (cap. xxxix. _n._ 95), 'The characters of the two delators, +Basilius ('Var.' ii. 10, 11; iv. 22) and Opilio (v. 41; viii. 16), are +illustrated, not much to their honour, in the Epistles of +Cassiodorus.' This is quite true of Basilius, if the person alluded to +in the references given by Gibbon be the same as the informer against +Boethius, of which there may be a doubt; but Opilio is mentioned, as +we see, with the highest honour by Cassiodorus. So, too, is Decoratus, +whom in the same note Gibbon too hastily stigmatises as 'the worthless +colleague of Boethius.'] + + +18. KING ATHALARIC TO FELIX, QUAESTOR (527). + +[This cannot be the same as the Consul of 511, nor even his son; for +that Felix was of Gaulish extraction, and came from beyond the Alps.] + +[Sidenote: Promotion of Felix to the Quaestorship.] + +'It is desirable that those who are appointed as Judges should know +something of law, and most unfitting that he whom so many officials +(_milites_) obey should be seen to be dependent for his law on some +one of his subordinates. + +'You long ago, when engaged in civil causes as an Advocate, were +marked out by your Sovereign's eye[535]. He noted your eloquence, your +fidelity, your youthful beauty, and your maturity of mind. No client +could ask for more devotion than you showed in his cause; no Judge +found in you anything to blame. + +[Footnote 535: 'Dudum te forensibus negociis insudantem, _oculus +imperialis_ aspexit'--an expression which goes very near to styling +Theodoric Imperator.] + +'Receive then now the dignity of Quaestor for this sixth Indiction +(Sept. 1, 527), and judge in the Courts where hitherto you have +pleaded. + +'You are called Felix; act so as always to merit that name; for it is +absurd to have a name which denotes one thing and to display the +opposite in one's character. We think we have now said enough for a +man of your good conscience. Many admonitions seem to imply a doubt of +the character of him who receives them.' [A maxim often forgotten by +Cassiodorus.] + + +19. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[On the promotion of Felix.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'As the sky with stars, or the meadow with flowers, so do we wish the +Senate to be resplendent with the men of eminence whom we introduce +into it. It is itself a seminary of Senators; but our favour and the +dignities of our Court also rear them. + +'The Quaestorship is the true mother of the senatorial dignity, since +who can be fitter to take his seat in the Curia than he who has shared +the counsels of his Sovereign? + +'You know the eloquence of our candidate [Felix], his early triumphs, +his modesty, his fidelity. To leave such a man unpromoted were a +public loss; and he will always love the laws by the practice of which +he has risen to eminence. + +'Nor is he the first of his race to earn rhetorical distinction. His +father shone so brilliantly in the Forum of Milan, that he bloomed +forth with undying fruits from the soil of Cicero[536]. He stood +against Magnus Olybrius, he was found equal in fluency to +Eugenius[537] and many others whom Rome knew as foremost in their +art. If the transmission of material wealth by long descent makes men +noble, how much more should the inheritance of the treasures of the +intellect give nobility.' + +[Footnote 536: 'Pater ita in Mediolanensi foro resplenduit, ut aeterno +fructu e Tulliano cespite pullularet.'] + +[Footnote 537: 'Is palmarum Eugenetis linguae ubertate suffecit.' +Possibly this is the Magister Officiorum of Var. i. 12, and the person +to whom is addressed a letter of Ennodius (iv. 26). The form +Eugenetis, instead of Eugenii, belongs to the debased Latinity of the +age.] + + +20. KING ATHALARIC TO ALBIENUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PRAEFECTUS +PRAETORIO[538] (527). + +[Footnote 538: In Nivellius' edition the title of this office is given +as _Praepositus_.] + +[Sidenote: Albienus made Praetorian Praefect.] + +'Your predecessor has been the model of a bad governor. As the North +wind clears the face of the sky from the rain and clouds brought by +the South wind, so do we look to you to repair the evils wrought by +his misgovernment. In all things your best maxim will be to do exactly +the opposite of what he did. He made himself hateful by his unjust +prosecutions: do you become popular by your righteous deeds. He was +rapacious: be you moderate. Soothe and relieve the harassed people +entrusted to your charge. Receive for this sixth Indiction [Sept. 1, +527-528] the fasces of the Praefecture, and let the office of +Praetorian Praefect return to its ancient fame, an object of praise to +the whole world[539]. This office dates from Joseph, and rightly is he +who holds it called by our laws Father of the Provinces, Father of the +Empire. + +[Footnote 539: 'Redeat ad nomen antiquum Praefectura illa Praetorii, +toto orbe laudabilis.' Is it possible that there had been some attempt +to change the _title_ of the Praefect, which accounts for the +_Praepositus_ which in some MSS. we find in the heading of this +letter?] + +'See that you avoid all unjust exactions. We cannot bear that our +Treasury should be filled by unrighteous means. + +'Your descent from a father who has held the same high office, and +your intimate knowledge of the _Dicta prudentum_, warrant us in +believing that you will make a good judge.' + +[I have not been able to find any hint of the name of the Praefectus +Praetorio for 526-527, so bitterly condemned in this letter. As he may +have held office for some years, his misgovernment may have been +connected with the death of Boethius (524). Can we connect him with +the Trigguilla 'Regiae Praepositus Domus' whose injustice is denounced +by Boethius ('Phil. Cons.' i. 4)?] + + +21. KING ATHALARIC TO CYPRIAN, PATRICIAN. + +22. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Cyprian's elevation to the Patriciate.] + +In these two letters the high character and distinguished services of +Cyprian are commemorated. 'Under Theodoric he distinguished himself +both in war and peace. At the time of the war of Sirmium he was +conspicuous both in his resistance to the fiery onslaught of the +Bulgarians and in his active pursuit of them when their ranks were +broken[540]. He then filled, with great credit to himself, the office +of Referendarius[541]. Great was the responsibility of exercising +peaceful as well as warlike offices under such a master as Theodoric. +In fact the training for one was helpful for the other, since it +required a soldier's courage and promptness to be always ready with a +truthful and accurate reply to that keen, firm-minded ruler of +men[542]. + +[Footnote 540: 'Vidit te adhuc gentilis' (still under the dominion of +the Gepidae) 'Danubius bellatorem: non te terruit Bulgarorum globus, +qui etiam nostris erat praesumptione certaminis obstaturus. Peculiare +tibi fuit et renitentes Barbaros aggredi, et conversos terrore +sectari. Sic victoriam Gothorum non tam numero quam labore juvisti.'] + +[Footnote 541: For a description of his services in this function, see +Var. v. 40.] + +[Footnote 542: This is evidently the meaning; but something seems to +have dropped out of the text.] + +'Thence he was promoted to the dignity of Count of the Sacred +Largesses, a post well suited to his pure, self-restrained +character[543]. He is now growing old in body, but ever young in fame, +and the King heartily wishes him increase of years to enjoy his +renown. + +[Footnote 543: 'Hoc est laborum tuorum aptissimum munus: quam sic +casta sic moderata mente peregisti ut majora tibi deberi faceres, +quamvis eam in magna praemia suscepisses.'] + +'Rightly, too, is there now conferred upon him the dignity of +_Patricius_, since he is the father of such noble sons, men whose +childhood was passed in the palace under the very eye of Theodoric +(thus like young eagles already learning to gaze upon the sun), and +who now cultivate the friendship of the Goths, learn from them all +martial exercises, speak their language, and thus give evident tokens +of their future fidelity to the Gothic nation[544]. + +[Footnote 544: 'Relucent etiam gratia gentili, nec cessant armorum +imbui fortibus institutis. _Pueri stirpis Romanae nostra lingua +loquuntur; eximie indicantes exhibere se nobis futuram fidem, quorum +jam videntur affectasse sermonem.... Variis linguis loquuntur +egregie_, maturis viris communione miscentur.'] + +'The Senate is therefore exhorted to welcome its thus promoted +colleague, who at each accession of rank has shown himself yet +worthier of his high place, and whom grandfather and grandson have +both delighted to honour. Thus will it renew the glories of the Decii +and the Corvini, who were its sons in the days of old.' + +[The subject of these letters is indisputably the same Cyprian whom +the 'Anonymus Valesii' speaks of as suborning false witnesses against +Albinus and Boethius, and of whom the latter says ('Phil. Cons.' i. +4): 'Ne Albinum, Consularem virum praejudicatae accusationis poena +corriperet, odiis me Cypriani delatoris opposui.' Compare the remarks +made on Letters 16 and 17; and remember that this letter was composed +three years after the death of Boethius, when Theodoric also was dead, +and his daughter was only too willing to retrace his steps, in all +that concerned the severities of the latter years of his reign. For +the pedigree of Cyprian see p. 363.] + + +23. KING ATHALARIC TO BERGANTINUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND COMES PATRIMONII. + +[Sidenote: Gifts to Theodahad.] + +'Kings should always be generous, but especially to those of their own +family. + +'Therefore we desire your Greatness to transfer the farms herein +described, to the exalted and most honourable Theodahad, weighing out +to him so many solidi, out of that which was formerly the patrimony of +his magnificent Mother; and we guarantee to him the absolute ownership +of such farms, free from any claims to the inheritance on our +part[545]. + +[Footnote 545: 'Atque ideo illustrem magnitudinem tuam praecelso atque +amplissimo viro Theodahado massas subter annexas, tot solidos +pensitantes, ex patrimonio quondam magnificae foeminae matris ipsius, +praecipimus reformari, ejus feliciter dominio plenissime vendicandas, +cujus successionis integrum jus in ea qua praecipimus parte largimur.' +According to Dahn (Koenige der Germanen iv. 60-61), these lands had +been given in her lifetime by Theodahad's mother to the King, and are +now begged for by Theodahad. But why 'tot solidos pensitantes?' Why +should Theodahad receive both land and money? There seems no authority +for translating 'pensitantes' receiving. Probably the solidi thus paid +to him are mesne rents received by the King and accounted for to +Theodahad. On the whole affair cf. Procopius, De Bello Gotthico i. 4.] + +'We trust to his sincerity and good faith, that in the future he will +deserve the remainder of the above-mentioned patrimony, with the +addition of the whole quantity[546]. + +[Footnote 546: 'De cujus fide ac synceritate praesumimus, ut sequenti +tempore reliqua supra memorati patrimonii cum omni adjecta quantitate +mereatur.' This sentence is to me quite unintelligible.] + +'What can we deny to such a man, whose obedience might claim a higher +reward even were he not our cousin--a man who is not puffed up by any +pride of his noble birth, humble in his modesty, always uniform in his +prudence? Therefore instruct the Cartarii of your office to make over +the aforesaid farms to his Actores without delay[547].' + +[Footnote 547: Cf. the formalities connected with Odovacar's deed of +gift to Pierius (Marini, Pap. Diplom. 82, 83), quoted in Italy and her +Invaders iii. 165.] + + +24. KING ATHALARIC TO THE CLERGY OF THE ROMAN CHURCH. + +[Sidenote: Ecclesiastical immunities.] + +'For the gift of kingly power we owe an infinite debt to God, whose +ministers ye are. + +'Ye state in your tearful memorial to us that it has been an ordinance +of long custom that anyone who has a suit of any kind against a +servant of the sacrosanct Roman Church should first address himself to +the chief Priest of that City, lest haply your clergy, being profaned +by the litigation of the Forum, should be occupied in secular rather +than religious matters. And you add that one of your Deacons has, to +the disgrace of religion, been so sharply handled by legal process +that the Sajo[548] has dared actually to take him into his own +custody. + +[Footnote 548: In the text, 'Sajus.'] + +'This dishonour to the Ministers of holy things is highly displeasing +to our inborn reverence, yet we are glad that it gives us the +opportunity of paying part of our debt to Heaven. + +'Therefore, considering the honour of the Apostolic See, and wishing +to meet the desires of the petitioners, we by the authority of this +letter decree in regular course[549]: + +[Footnote 549: 'Praesenti auctoritate moderato ordine definimus.' Dahn +interprets 'moderato ordine,' 'not so absolutely as the Roman clergy +desires.' Is not this to attribute rather too much force to the +conventional language of Cassiodorus?] + +'That if anyone shall think he has a good cause for going to law with +a person belonging to the Roman clergy, he shall first present himself +for hearing at the judgment-seat of the most blessed Pope, in order +that the latter may either decide between the two in his own holy +manner, or may delegate the cause to a Jurisconsult to be ended by +him. And if, perchance, which it is impiety to believe, the +reasonable desire of the petitioner shall have been evaded, then may +he come to the secular courts with his grievance, when he can prove +that his petitions have been spurned by the Bishop of the aforesaid +See[550]. + +[Footnote 550: 'Definimus, ut si quispiam ad Romanum Clerum aliquem +pertinentem, in qualibet causa probabili crediderit actione pulsandum, +ad beatissimi Papae judicium prius conveniat audiendus. Ut aut ipse +inter utrosque more suae sanctitatis agnoscat, aut causam deleget +aequitatis studio terminandam: et si forte, quod credi nefas est, +competens desiderium fuerit petitoris elusum, tuno ad saecularia fora +jurgaturus occurrat, quando suas petitiones probaverit a supradictae +sedis praesule fuisse contemptas.'] + +'Should any litigant be so dishonest and so irreverent, both towards +the Holy See and our authority, as to disregard this order [and +proceed first in our tribunals against one of the Roman clergy], he +shall forfeit 10 lbs. of gold [L400], to be exacted by the officers of +the Count of Sacred Largesses and distributed by the Pope to the poor; +and he shall lose his suit in addition, notwithstanding any decree +which he may have gained in the secular court. + +'Meanwhile do you, whom our judgments thus venerate, live according to +the ordinances of the Church. It is a great wickedness in you to admit +such crimes as do not become the conversation even of secular men. +Your profession is the heavenly life. Do not condescend to the +grovelling wishes and vulgar errors of ordinary mortals. Let the men +of this world be coerced by human laws; do you obey the precepts of +righteousness.' + +[See Dahn, 'Koenige der Germanen' iii. 191-2, Sartorius 145, and +Bauer's 'History of the Popes' ii. 323-4, for remarks on this +important _privilegium_. + +It is clear that it relates to civil, not criminal procedure, and that +it does leave a right of final appeal from the Papal Courts to the +dissatisfied secular litigant. At the same time, that such an appeal +would be prosecuted with immense difficulty is clear even from the +words of the decree. The appellant will have to satisfy the King's +Judges of a thing which it is almost impiety to believe, that the +occupant of the Roman See has spurned his petitions.] + + +25. KING ATHALARIC TO JOANNES, VIR SPECTABILIS, REFERENDARIUS. + +[Sidenote: Confirmation of Tulum's gift of property in the +Lucullanum.] + +'It is a very fitting thing to confirm the generosity of others +towards persons who might well have received gifts from oneself. We +therefore declare that in your case the gift is another's but the will +to give is our own, and the King has only been anticipated by the +rapid bounty of the subject[551]. + +[Footnote 551: 'Profitemur itaque alterius quidem donum, sed nostrum +esse judicium, et modernam principis mentem praevenisse tantum +velocissimam largitatem.' Observe again the use of Cassiodorus' +favourite word _modernam_.] + +'Everyone knows that our grandfather wished to give you the house of +Agnellus in the Castrum Lucullanum, but could not do so having already +given it to the Patrician Tulum[552]. Tulum, however, with his usual +generosity, seconding the wishes of his master, formally conveyed the +property to you; and that conveyance we now confirm, guaranteeing the +quiet possession of it to you and your heirs for all time to come. If +any doubt exist as to your title, by any mischance, or by reason of +any enquiry, such doubt is exploded by the authority of this letter of +ours[553]. + +[Footnote 552: Tholuit, or Tholum, in some MSS., but no doubt the same +as the Tulum of Letters 9 and 10.] + +[Footnote 553: 'Ubi et si quid esset quolibet casu, qualibet +inquisitione fortassis ambiguum, hujus auctoritatis nostrae judicio +constat explosum.'] + +'And should any envious person, in contempt of our royal will, dare to +raise any question in this matter hereafter, either on behalf of the +Fiscus or of any private individual, we declare that he shall pay to +you, or to the person to whom you may have assigned the said house, +100 lbs. of gold (L4,000) by way of penalty.' + +[Why should there be the necessity of this royal confirmation of a +transaction between two private individuals, Tulum and Joannes, and +this tremendous penalty on all future impugners of it? + +Evidently because the property had been impressed with the character +of State domain, and it was doubtful how far Tulum's alienation of it +might stand good against the claims of future Sovereigns. + +This becomes quite clear when we reflect what is the property to which +this letter refers. It is either the whole or a part of the +Lucullanum, to which the deposed Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was +banished in 476. On his death, as we may conjecture, this property, +one of the most delightful places of residence in Italy, has been +given by Theodoric to Tulum, perhaps just after he had distinguished +himself in the Gaulish campaign of 508. For some reason or other, +Tulum has alienated it (ostensibly, given it) to the Reporter Joannes, +no doubt a Roman, who is apparently nervous lest his title to it +should hereafter be impugned on the ground that the palace of the last +Roman Emperor was national property. Hence this letter. There is some +difficulty and variation between the MSS. in the words describing the +property: 'Saepe dicta domus paternae recordationis Agnelli, in +Lucullano castro posita.' For _paternae_, Migne's editor reads +_patriciae_. The forthcoming critical edition of the 'Variae' will +show whether there is any support in the MSS. for a conjecture which I +cannot help entertaining that _Agnelli_ is an error for _Augustuli_.] + + +26. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE INHABITANTS OF REATE AND NURSIA. + +[Sidenote: Gothic settlers in the Sabine territory exhorted to +obedience to their Prior, Quidila.] + +'Our glorious grandfather had arranged that, in accordance with your +desire, Quidila, son of Sibia, should be your Captain (Prior). We +confirm this appointment, and desire you to obey him in all things. +You are so far moulded by the character of our grandfather that you +willingly obey both the laws and the Judges. Our enemies are best +vanquished, and the favour both of Heaven and of other nations is best +conciliated for us, by our obeying the principles of justice. If +anyone is in need of anything, let him seek to obtain it from the +generosity of his Sovereign rather than by the strength of his own +right hand, since it is for your advantage that the Romans be at +peace, who, in filling our Treasury, at the same time multiply your +donatives.' + +[This letter is evidently addressed to Goths, and Quidila the _Prior_, +who is set over them, is also a Goth. We can only conjecture what the +office of Prior was: probably to some extent it involved civil as well +as military authority. The conjecture of Dahn ('Koenige der Germanen' +iv. 173) that it corresponds to the Gothic _Hundafath_ (Centenarius), +seems to me extremely probable. The title of the letter is curious. It +is addressed 'Universis Reatinis et Nursinis.' Are we then to suppose +that strong military colonies of Goths had been settled in these +places, the Roman inhabitants having been extruded? The fact that St. +Benedict was born in Nursia, some fifty-seven years before the writing +of this letter, gives an additional interest to this question.] + + +27. KING ATHALARIC TO DUMERIT THE SAJO, AND TO FLORENTINUS, A ZEALOUS +OFFICER OF THE COURT[554]. + +[Footnote 554: 'Florentino viro devoto Comitiaco.'] + +[Sidenote: Robbery in the district of Faenza to be suppressed.] + +'Justice must be shown upon the wicked. Different diseases require +different remedies. + +'Let your Devotion speed instantly through the territory of Faventia, +and if you find any persons, either Goths or Romans, concerned in the +plunder of the possessors, punish them severely. How much better it +would be for those misguided persons to live according to our will, +and earn the reward of pleasing us.' [The last sentence is obscure, +and perhaps the text is corrupt.] + + +28. KING ATHALARIC TO CUNIGAST, VIR ILLUSTRIS. + +[No doubt the same as the Conigast attacked by Boethius in the +'Philosophiae Consolatio' i. 4[555].] + +[Footnote 555: 'Quoticus ego Conigastum in inbecillis cujusque +fortunas impetum facientem obvius excepi!'] + +[Sidenote: Possessores (or Coloni?) forced to become slaves.] + +'Our Serenity has been moved by the grievous petition of Constantius +and Venerius, who complain that Tanca [probably a Goth] has wrested +from them the farm which is called Fabricula, which belonged to them +in their own right, together with the stock upon it[556], and has +compelled them, in order to prevent similar forcible demands upon +their property in future, to allow the worst lot of all--the condition +of slavery--to be imposed upon them, who are really free[557]. + +[Footnote 556: 'Cum suo peculio.' If they were not slaves they could +not have _peculium_ in the technical sense. I therefore understand +'peculio' to be simply equivalent to _cattle_, a sense which is +confirmed by 'Calabri peculiosi' in Letter 33.] + +[Footnote 557: 'Adjicientes ne rerum suarum repetitionibus imminerent +[? imminuerent] liberis sibi conditionem ultimae servitutis imponi.' +Cf. Salvian, De Gubernatione Dei v. 8, 9, for a description of similar +occurrences in Gaul.] + +'Let your Greatness therefore summon Tanca to your judgment-seat, and, +after hearing all parties, pronounce a just judgment and one accordant +to your character. For though it is a serious matter to oust a lord +from his right, it is contrary to the feelings of our age to press +down free necks under the yoke of slavery. + +'Let Tanca therefore either establish his right to the slaves and +their property, or, if they are proved free, let him give them up, +whole and unharmed: in which case we will inflict upon him no further +penalty.' + + +29. KING ATHALARIC TO THE DIGNIFIED CULTIVATORS[558] AND CURIALS OF +THE CITY OF PARMA. + +[Footnote 558: 'Honoratis Possessoribus.'] + +[Sidenote: Sanitary measures needed in Parma.] + +'You ought willingly to co-operate in that which is being done for the +advantage of your town. When it was suffering from a long drought, our +grandfather, with God's help, watered it with the life-giving wave. +Cleanse out then the mouths of your sewers, lest otherwise, being +checked in its flow by the accumulated filth, it should surge back +into your houses, and bring into them the pollution which it was meant +to wash away. + +'The Spectabilis Genesius is appointed to superintend this work, and +to quicken your zeal regarding it.' + + +30. KING ATHALARIC TO GENESIUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Relating to the same subject as the preceding.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'Through love of your city our grandfather, with royal generosity, +constructed an aqueduct of the ancient type[559] for you. But it is of +no use to provide a good water-supply unless your sewers are in good +order. Therefore let your Sublimity set the citizens of Parma +diligently to work at this business, that all ancient channels, +whether underground or those which run by the sides of the streets, be +diligently repaired[560], in order that when the longed-for stream +flows into your town it be not hindered by any obstacle. + +[Footnote 559: 'Antiqui operis formam.'] + +[Footnote 560: 'Quatenus antiquos cuniculos, sive subterraneos, sive +qui junguntur marginibus platearum diligenter emendent.'] + +'How fair is water in a running stream, but how ugly in puddles and +swamps; it is good then neither for man nor beast. Without water city +and country alike languish; and rightly did the ancients punish one +who was unfit for human society by forbidding all men to give him +water. Therefore you ought all heartily to combine for this most +useful work, since the man who is not touched by the comeliness of his +city has not yet the mind of a citizen.' + + +31. KING ATHALARIC TO SEVERUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Is Severus _Vicarius Urbis_? His title Spectabilis seems to require +some such rank as this, otherwise he seems more like a _Corrector_ +(Clarissimus) _Bruttiorum et Lucaniae_. Perhaps already the strict +gradation established by Diocletian and Constantine was somewhat +broken down, and governors received higher titles than strictly +belonged to them.] + +[Sidenote: Dissuasions from a country life, and praises of +Cassiodorus' native land of Bruttii.] + +'Since you, when on the staff of the Praefect, have learned the +principles of statesmanship, we are sure that you will agree with us +that cities are the chief ornament of human society. Let the wild +beasts live in fields and woods: men ought to draw together into +cities. Even among birds we see that those of gentle disposition--like +thrushes, storks, and doves--love to flock together, while the greedy +hawk, intent on its bloody pastime, seeks solitude. + +'Now we say that the man who shuns human society becomes at once an +object of suspicion. Let therefore the Possessores and Curiales of +Bruttii return to their cities. The Coloni may cultivate the +soil--that is what their name denotes[561]; but the men whom we +decorate with civic honours ought to live in cities. + +[Footnote 561: 'Coloni sunt qui agros jugiter colunt.'] + +'In truth it is a lovely land. Ceres and Pallas have crowned it with +their respective gifts (corn and oil); the plains are green with +pastures, the slopes are purple with vineyards. Above all is it rich +in its vast herds of horses[562], and no wonder, since the dense shade +of its forests protects them from the bites of flies, and provides +them with ever verdant pasture even in the height of summer. Cool +waters flow from its lofty heights; fair harbours on both its shores +woo the commerce of the world. + +[Footnote 562: Cf. what is said (i. 4) as to the large present of +horses made by the father of Cassiodorus to Theodoric for the use of +the Gothic army.] + +'There the countryman enjoys the good food of the citizen, the poor +man the abundance of the wealthy[563]. If such then be the charms even +of the country in your Province, why should you shirk living in its +cities[564]? + +[Footnote 563: 'Vivunt illic rustici epulis urbanorum, mediocres autem +abundantia praepotentium.' 'Mediocres' and 'tenues' are technical +words with Cassiodorus for the poor.] + +[Footnote 564: Cassiodorus must have felt the weakness of his logic +here. He patriotically praises the rural beauty of Bruttii, yet the +conclusion which by main force he arrives at is, 'Leave the country +and live in towns.'] + +'Why should so many men refined by literature skulk in obscurity? The +boy goes to a good school, becomes imbued with the love of letters, +and then, when he is come to man's estate and should be seeking the +Forum in order to display his talents, he suddenly changes into a +boor, unlearns all that he has learned, and in his love for the fields +forgets what is due to a reasonable love for himself. And yet even +birds love human fellowship, and the nightingale boldly rears her +brood close to the haunts of men. + +'Let the cities then return to their old splendour; let none prefer +the charms of the country to the walls reared by the men of old. Why +should not everyone be attracted by the concourse of noble persons, by +the pleasures of converse with his equals? To stroll through the +Forum, to look in at some skilful craftsman at his work, to push one's +own cause through the law courts, then between whiles to play with the +counters of Palamedes (draughts), to go to the baths with one's +acquaintances, to indulge in the friendly emulation of the +banquet--these are the proper employments of a Roman noble; yet not +one of them is tasted by the man who chooses to live always in the +country with his farm-servants[565]. + +[Footnote 565: 'Cui enim minus grata nobilium videatur occursio. Cui +non affectuosum sit cum paribus miscere sermonem, forum petere, +honestas artes invisere, causas proprias legibus expedire, interdum +Palamediacis calculis occupari, ad balneas ire cum sociis, prandia +mutuis apparatibus exhibere? Caret profecto omnibus his, qui vitam +suam vult semper habere cum famulis.'] + +'We order therefore that all Possessores and Curiales shall, according +to their relative means, find bail and give bonds, promising that they +will for the larger part of the year reside in some city, such as they +may choose[566]. And thus, while not wholly debarred from the +pleasures of the country, they will furnish to the cities their proper +adornment of citizens.' + +[Footnote 566: 'Datis fidejussoribus jam Possessores quam Curiales, +sub aestimatione virium, poena interposita, promittant anni parte +majore se in civitatibus manere, quas habitare delegerint.'] + + +32. KING ATHALARIC TO SEVERUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: The Fountain of Arethusa.] + +'Nimfadius (Vir Sublimis) was journeying to the King's Comitatus on +some affair of his own, when, wearied with his journey, he lay down to +rest, and let his beasts of burden graze round the fountain of +Arethusa. + +'This fountain, situated in the territory of Squillace[567], at the +foot of the hills and above the sand of the sea, makes a green and +pleasant place all round it, fringed with rustling reeds as with a +crown. It has certain marvellous properties: for let a man go to it in +silence and he sees it calmly flowing, more like a pond than a +fountain. But let him cough or speak with a loud voice, and it becomes +violently agitated, heaving to and fro like a pot boiling. Strange +power this of a fountain to answer a man. I have read that some +fountains can change the colours of the animals that drink at them; +that others can turn wood dropped into them to stone. The human reason +is altogether unable to understand such things as these. + +[Footnote 567: 'In Scyllatino territoris.' Transcribers, thinking of +the Arethusa at Syracuse, have tried to alter this into _Siciliano_; +but there can be little doubt that the above reading is right. As to +the situation of the Fountain of Arethusa, see Introduction, p. 72.] + +'But let us return to the complaint of our suppliant. Nimfadius +asserts that, while he was resting, the country people artfully drove +off his beasts of burden. + +'This kind of crime brings our times into disgrace, and turns the +charm of that quiet resting-place into disgust. Diligently enquire +into it, for the credit of our Comitatus is involved in our subjects +being able to journey to it in safety. At first, no doubt, the +offenders will lie close, and seem as silent as the unmoved Arethusa. +But begin your investigations, and they will soon break forth, like +that fountain, with angry exclamations, in the midst of which you will +discover the truth. Punish the offenders severely; for we should +regret that owing to the excesses of robbers that wonderful and +joy-bringing fountain should be deserted.' + + +33. KING ATHALARIC TO SEVERUS, VIR SPECTABILIS. + +[Sidenote: The Feast of St. Cyprian.] + +'We hear that the rustics are indulging in disorderly practices, and +robbing the market-people who come from all quarters to the chief fair +of Lucania on the day of St. Cyprian. This must by all means be +suppressed, and your Respectability should quietly collect a +sufficient number of the owners and tenants of the adjoining +farms[568] to overpower these freebooters and bring them to justice. +Any rustic or other person found guilty of disturbing the fair should +be at once punished with the stick[569], and then exhibited with some +mark of infamy upon him[570]. + +[Footnote 568: 'Spectabilitas vestra praedicto tempore, una cum +Possessoribus atque Conductoribus diversarum massarum ad quietem +convenientium ... reos inveniat,' &c.] + +[Footnote 569: 'Inter ipsa initia comprehensus fustuariae subdatur +ultioni.'] + +[Footnote 570: 'Pompatus mala nota.'] + +'This fair, which according to the old superstition was named +Leucothea [after the nymph], from the extreme purity of the fountain +at which it is held, is the greatest fair in all the surrounding +country. Everything that industrious Campania, or opulent Bruttii, or +cattle-breeding Calabria[571], or strong Apulia produces, is there to +be found exposed for sale, on such reasonable terms that no buyer goes +away dissatisfied. It is a charming sight to see the broad plains +filled with suddenly-reared houses formed of leafy branches +intertwined: all the beauty of the most leisurely-built city, and yet +not a wall to be seen. There stand ready boys and girls, with the +attractions which belong to their respective sexes and ages, whom not +captivity but freedom sets a price upon. These are with good reason +sold by their parents, since they themselves gain by their very +servitude. For one cannot doubt that they are benefited even as slaves +[or servants?], by being transferred from the toil of the fields to +the service of cities[572]. + +[Footnote 571: 'Calabri peculiosi.'] + +[Footnote 572: 'Praesto sunt pueri ac puellae, diverso sexu atque +aetate conspicuo, quos non facit captivitas esse sub pretio sed +libertas: hos merito parentes vendunt, quoniam de ipsa famulatione +proficiunt. Dubium quippe non est servos posse meliorari qui de labore +agrorum ad urbana servitia transferuntur.' With almost any writer but +Cassiodorus this would prove that in the Sixth Century free Italians +were selling their children into actual slavery. But I doubt whether +he really means more than that the children of the country people were +for hire as domestic servants in the cities. If so, the scene is not +unlike our own 'statute fairs' or 'hirings' in the north of England. +It appears from Sec. 94 of the Edictum Theodorici that parents could sell +their children, but that the latter did not lose their _status +ingenuus_. Must they then claim it on coming of age? 'Parentes qui +cogente necessitate filios suos alimentorum gratia vendiderint +ingenuitati eorum non praejudicant. _Homo enim liber pretio nullo +aestimatur._' Cf. also Sec. 95: 'Operas enim tantum parentes filiorum +quos in potestate habuerint, locare possunt.'] + +'What can I say of the bright and many-coloured garments? what of the +sleek and well-fed cattle offered at such a price as to tempt any +purchaser? + +'The place itself is situated in a wide and pleasant plain, a suburb +of the ancient city of Cosilinum, and has received the name of +Marcilianum from the founder of these sacred springs[573]. + +[Footnote 573: Marcilianum is now Sala, in the valley of the Calore +(Tanager). Padula is thought by some to mark the site of Cosilinum. +The Island of Leucosia, now Licosa, a few miles from Paestum, +evidently does not represent the Leucothea of this letter.] + +'And this is in truth a marvellous fountain, full and fresh, and of +such transparent clearness that when you look through it you think you +are looking through air alone. Choice fishes swim about in the pool, +perfectly tame, because if anyone presumes to capture them he soon +feels the Divine vengeance. On the morning which precedes the holy +night [of St. Cyprian], as soon as the Priest begins to utter the +baptismal prayer, the water begins to rise above its accustomed +height. Generally it covers but five steps of the well, but the brute +element, as if preparing itself for miracles, begins to swell, and at +last covers two steps more, never reached at any other time of the +year. Truly a stupendous miracle, that streams of water should thus +stand still or increase at the sound of the human voice, as if the +fountain itself desired to listen to the sermon. + +'Thus hath Lucania a river Jordan of her own. Wherefore, both for +religion's sake and for the profit of the people, it behoves that good +order should be kept among the frequenters of the fair, since in the +judgment of all, that man must be deemed a villain who would sully the +joys of such happy days.' + + + + +BOOK IX. + +CONTAINING TWENTY-FIVE LETTERS, ALL WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF ATHALARIC +THE KING. + + +1. KING ATHALARIC TO HILDERIC, KING OF THE VANDALS (A.D. 527). + +[Sidenote: Murder of Amalafrida, widow of King Thrasamund and sister +of Theodoric.] + +'Friendship and relationship are turned to bitterness by the tidings +that Amalafrida, of divine memory, the distinguished ornament of our +race, has been put to death by you[574]. If you had any cause of +offence against her, you ought to have sent her to us for judgment. +What you have done is a species of parricide. If the succession, on +the death of her husband, passed to another [yourself], that was no +reason why a woman should be embroiled in the contest. It was really +an addition to your nobility to have the purple dignity of the Amal +blood allied to the lineage of the Hasdingi. + +[Footnote 574: With reference to this event Victor Tunnunensis writes: +'Cujus (Trasamundi) uxor Amalafrida fugiens ad barbaros congressione +facta Capsae juxta Heremum capitur, et in custodia privata moritur.' +Procopius (De B. Vandalico i. 9) says: [Greek: Kai sphisi (tois +Bandilois) xynenechthe Theudericho te kai Gotthois en Italia ek te +symmachon kai philon polemioi genesthai ten te gar Amalaphridan en +phylake eschon kai tous Gotthous diephtheiran hapantas epenenkontes +autois neoterizein es te Bandilous kai Hilderichon]. Both Victor and +Procopius seem to place the conflict before the death of Theodoric; +Victor says A.D. 523. Probably therefore the fighting, the capture of +Amalafrida, and the death of her countrymen, took place in that year, +the year of her husband's death and Hilderic's accession. Three or +four years later (526 or 527), when her brother Theodoric was dead, +the imprisoned princess was murdered--a grievous insult to the young +Sovereign of the Goths, her great-nephew.] + +'Our Goths keenly feel the insults conveyed in this deed, since to +slay the royal lady of another race is to despise the valour of that +race and doubt its willingness to avenge her. + +'We send you two ambassadors to hear what your excuses are. We hear +that you pretend that her death was natural. And you also must send +ambassadors in return to us to explain the matter, without war or +bloodshed, and either pacify us or acknowledge your guilt. If you do +not do this, all ties of alliance between us are broken, and we must +leave you to the judgment of the Divine Majesty, which heard the blood +of Abel crying from the ground.' + + +2. EDICT OF KING ATHALARIC. + +[Sidenote: Oppression of the Curiales.] + +'The body of the Republic is so tempered together that if one member +suffers all the members suffer with it. The Curiales, whose name is +derived from their care (cura) and forethought, are, we are told, +molested by hostile proceedings, so that what was bestowed upon them +as an honour turns out rather to their injury. What scandalous +injustice! What an insupportable evil! that he who ought to have +benefited the Republic by his services, should often lose both fortune +and liberty. + +'Wherefore by this edict we decree that if any Curialis suffer +oppression, if anyone, without the express warrant of ourselves or the +high officers of State whose business it is, inflict upon a Curialis +any injury or loss of property, he shall pay a fine of 10 lbs. of gold +(L400), to go to the benefit of the person thus oppressed; or, if his +property be insufficient to pay this fine, he shall be beaten with +clubs. The Curialis must then give additional diligence to the +discharge of his public duties, since his debt to the State is, as it +were, increased by the protection which we are thus affording him. As +for the farms of Curiales, in connection with which the greatest +frauds are practised on poor men, let no one seek to obtain them by an +unlawful purchase; for a contract cannot be called a contract when it +is in violation of the law[575]. The Judges must help the Curiales +against the molestations of Sajones and other officials. It is a +grievous offence, when the very person to whom is entrusted the duty +of defending the weak, himself turns oppressor. + +[Footnote 575: 'Praedia Curialium, unde maximae mediocribus parantur +insidiae, nullus illicita emptione pervadat. Quia contractus dici non +potest nisi qui de legibus venit.'] + +'Raise your heads in hope, oh ye oppressed ones! lift up your hearts, +ye who are weighed down with a load of evils! To each citizen his own +city is his Republic. Administer justice in your cities in conformity +with the general will. Let your various ranks live on a footing of +justice. Do not oppress the weak, lest you in your turn be deservedly +oppressed by the strong. This is the penalty of wrong-doing, that each +one suffers in his own person what he has wantonly inflicted on +another. + +'Live then in justice and moderation. Follow the example of the +cranes, who change the order of their flight, making foremost +hindmost, and hindmost foremost, without difficulty, each willingly +obeying its fellow--a commonwealth of birds. + +'You have, according to the laws, power over your citizens. Not in +vain has Antiquity conceded to you the title of Curia: not vainly did +it call you the Lesser Senate, the nerves and vital organs of the +State[576]. What is not contained of honour and power in that title! +For that which is compared to the Senate is excluded from no kind of +glory.' + +[Footnote 576: 'Non enim incassum vobis Curiam concessit Antiquitas, +non inaniter appellavit Minorem Senatum, nervos quoque vocitans ac +viscera civitatum.'] + + +3. KING ATHALARIC TO BERGANTINUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, COMES [PATRIMONII], +AND PATRICIAN[577]. + +[Footnote 577: Cf. viii. 23.] + +[Sidenote: Gold-mining in Italy.] + +'Gold, as well as many other fair fruits of Nature which gold can buy, +is said to be produced by our generous Italy. Theodorus, who is an +expert in such matters, asserts that gold will be found on the farm +Rusticiana in Bruttii[578]. Let your Greatness therefore send a +_Cartarius_ to commence mining operations on that spot. The work of a +miner resembles that of a mole. He burrows underground, far from the +light of day. Sometimes the sides of his passages fall in and his way +is closed up behind him; but if he emerge safely with his treasure, +how happy is he! Then the gold-miner proceeds to immerse his ore in +water, that the heavy metal may be separated from the lighter earth; +then to submit it to a fervent heat, that it may thence derive its +beautiful colour[579]. + +[Footnote 578: Have we any clue to the geographical position of this +farm? The only Rusticiana known to the Itineraries is in Spain.] + +[Footnote 579: 'Origo quidem nobilis, sed de flamma suscipit vim +coloris, ut magis credas inde nasci, cujus similitudine videtur +ornari. Sed cum auro tribuat splendidum ruborem, argento confert +albissimam lucem. Ut mirum sit, unam substantiam tradere, quod rebus +dissimilibus possit aptari.' Have we here a hint of 'the transmutation +of metals?' Cassiodorus seems to think that it is only the furnace +that makes the difference between the colours of gold and of silver.] + +'Let then the land of Bruttii pay her tribute in gold, the most +desired of all treasure. To seek gold by war is wicked, by voyages +dangerous, by swindling shameful; but to seek it from Nature in its +own home is righteous. No one is hurt by this honest gain. Griffins +are said to dig for gold and to delight in the contemplation of this +metal; but no one blames them, because their proceedings are not +dictated by criminal covetousness. For it is not the act itself, but +the motive for the act, that gives it its moral quality.' + + +4. KING ATHALARIC TO ABUNDANTIUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: A family of Curiales permitted to step down into the ranks +of the Possessores.] + +'The _pietas_ of the King is happily shown in moderating the sentence +of the law, where for certain reasons it bears with especial hardness +on anyone. The Curiales have peculiar advantages in their opportunity +of being thus liberated by the Sovereign from the performance of their +duties[580]. It is reasonable to release a Curialis whose health +prevents him from fulfilling his appointed task; and a numerous Curia +will never miss a few names out of so large a number. + +[Footnote 580: 'Neque enim ob aliud Curiales leges sacratissimae +ligaverunt, nisi ut cum illos soli principes absolverent, indulgentiae +praeconia reperirent.'] + +'Therefore let your Illustrious Magnificence remove Agenantia, wife +[or widow?] of the most eloquent man Campanianus, dwelling in Lucania, +from the album of her Curia, and her sons also, so that posterity may +never know that they were formerly liable to Curial duties. + +'Remitted to the ranks of [mere] Possessores they will now be liable +to the same demands which formerly [as members of the Curia] they made +upon others. They will now dread the face of the tax-collector +(compulsor), and will begin to fear the mandates by which formerly +they made themselves feared[581]. Still this is a sign of their past +good life, that they are willing to live without office _among_ a +population whose dislike they are not conscious of having incurred, +and _under_ old colleagues whom they know that they have not incited +to an abuse of their powers.' + +[Footnote 581: 'Formidare delegata incipient, per quae antea +timebantur.' To translate by an analogy, 'And will tremble at the +rate-summonses, their signatures to which used to make other men +tremble.'] + + +5. KING ATHALARIC TO THE BISHOPS AND FUNCTIONARIES OF ----[582]. + +[Footnote 582: 'Episcopis et Honoratis.' Perhaps it is from motives of +delicacy that Cassiodorus has not added the name of the Province.] + +[Sidenote: Forestalling and regrating of corn prohibited.] + +'We learn with regret by the complaint of the Possessores of your +district that the severity of famine is being increased by the conduct +of certain persons who have bought up corn and are holding it for +higher prices. In a time of absolute famine there can be no "higgling +of the market;" the hungry man will submit to be cheated rather than +let another get the food before him[583]. + +[Footnote 583: 'In necessitate siquidem penuriae pretii nulla +contentio est: dum patitur quis induci ne possit aliqua tarditate +percelli.'] + +'To stop this practice we send to you the present messengers, whose +business it is to examine all the stores of corn collected for public +distribution[584] or otherwise, to leave to each family sufficient for +its needs, and to purchase the remainder from the owners at a fair +market price. Co-operate with these orders of ours cheerfully, and do +not grumble at them. Complain not that your freedom is interfered +with. There is no free-trade in crime[585]. If you work with us you +will earn good renown for yourselves; if against us, the King's +reputation will gain by your loss. It is the sign of a good ruler to +make men act righteously, even against their wills.' + +[Footnote 584: 'Sive in gradu [panis gradilis?] sive in aliis locis.'] + +[Footnote 585: A paraphrase, confessedly anachronistic, of 'Ne quis +ergo venditionem sibi impositam conqueratur, sciat libertatem in +crimine non requiri.'] + + +6. KING ATHALARIC TO ----, PRIMISCRINIUS. + +[Sidenote: A furlough granted for a visit to Baiae.] + +'You complain that your health is failing under the long pressure of +your work, and that you fear, if you absent yourself, you may lose the +emoluments of your office. At the same time you ask leave to visit +the Baths of Baiae. Go then with a mind perfectly at rest as to your +emoluments, which we will keep safe for you. Seek the Sun, seek the +pure air and smiling shore of that lovely bay, thickly set with +harbours and dotted with noble islands--that bay in which Nature +displays all her marvels and invites man to explore her secrets. There +is the Lake of Avernus, with its splendid supply of oysters. There are +long piers jutting out into the sea; and the most delightful fishing +in the world is to be had in the fish-ponds--open to the sky--on +either side of them. There are warm baths, heated not by brick-work +flues and smoky balls of fire, but by Nature herself. The pure air +supplies the steam and softly stimulates perspiration, and the +health-giving work is so much the better done as Nature is above Art. +Let the Coralli [in Moesia, on the shore of the Euxine] boast their +wonderful sea, let the pearl fisheries of India vaunt themselves. In +our judgment Baiae, for its powers of bestowing pleasure and health, +surpasses them all. Go then to Baiae to bathe, and have no fear about +the emoluments.' + + +7. KING ATHALARIC TO REPARATUS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[We learn from Procopius ('De Bello Gotthico' i. 26) that Reparatus +was brother of Pope Vigilius; that in 537 he escaped from the +captivity in which the other Senators were kept at Ravenna by Witigis, +and fled to Milan. In 539 Reparatus, who was then Praefectus +Praetorio, was captured at Milan by the Goths, hewn in pieces, and his +flesh given to the dogs (Ibid. ii. 21).] + +[Sidenote: Reparatus appointed Praefectus Urbis.] + +'The son of a high official naturally aspires to emulate his father's +dignities. Your father had a distinguished career, first as Comes +Largitionum, then as Praefectus Praetorio. While holding the latter +office, he repaired the Senate-house, restored to the poor the gifts +(?) of which they had been deprived[586], and though not himself a man +of liberal education, pleased all by the natural charm of his manner. + +[Footnote 586: 'Curiam reparans, pauperibus ablata restituens.'] + +'You have those advantages of mental training which were denied to +your father. Education lifts an obscure man on to a level with nobles, +but also adorns him who is of noble birth. You have moreover been +chosen as son-in-law by a man of elevated character, whose choice is +in itself a mark of your high merit. You are coming young to +office[587]; but, with such a man's approbation, you cannot be said to +be untried. + +[Footnote 587: 'Licet primaevus venias ad honorem.'] + +'We therefore confer upon you for this Indiction the dignity of +Praefect of the City. The eyes of the world are upon you. The Senate, +that illustrious and critical body, the youngest members of which are +called _Patres_, will listen to your words. See that you say nothing +which can displease those wise men, whose praise, though hard to win, +will be most sweet to your ears. Diligently help the oppressed. Hand +on to your posterity the renown which you have received from your +ancestors.' + + +8. KING ATHALARIC TO COUNT OSUIN (OR OSUM), VIR ILLUSTRIS[588]. + +[Footnote 588: Cf. iii. 26 and iv. 9. In the former letter he is +called Osun.] + +[Sidenote: Osuin made Governor of Dalmatia and Savia.] + +'We reward our faithful servants with high honours, hoping thereby to +quicken the slothful into emulation, when they ask themselves why, +under such an impartial rule, they too do not receive promotion. + +'We therefore again entrust to your Illustrious Greatness the +Provinces of Dalmatia and S(u)avia. We need not hold up to you the +examples of others. You have only to imitate yourself, and to confer +now again in your old age the same blessings on those Provinces which, +as a younger man, you bestowed on them under our grandfather.' + + +9. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE GOTHS AND ROMANS (IN DALMATIA AND SAVIA). + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We send back to you the Illustrious Count Osuin, whose valour and +justice you already know, to ward off from you the fear of foreign +nations, and to keep you from unjust demands. With him comes the +Illustrious Severinus[589], that with one heart and one mind, like the +various reeds of an organ, they may utter their praiseworthy precepts. + +[Footnote 589: We are not told in what capacity Severinus came. +Probably it was on account of Osuin's age that Severinus was +associated with him.] + +[Sidenote: Remission of Augmentum.] + +'As an act of grace on the commencement of our reign, we direct the +Count of the Patrimony to remit to you all the super-assessment +(augmentum) which was fixed for your Province at the fourth +Indiction[590]. + +[Footnote 590: 'Per quartam Indictionem quod a nobis augmenti nomine +quaerebatur illustrem virum Comitem Patrimonii nostri nunc jussimus +removere.' As the fourth Indiction began Sept. 525, in the lifetime of +Theodoric, it is clear that that date belongs to the imposition, not +to the removal of the 'augmentum.'] + +'We also grant that when the aforesaid person [Severinus] returns to +our presence, you may send suitable men with him to inform us of your +financial position, that we may, by readjustment of the taxes, lighten +your load if it be still too heavy. Nothing consolidates the Republic +so much as the uninjured powers of the taxpayer.' + + +10. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE. + +[Sidenote: Remission of Augmentum to Syracusans.] + +'Lately we announced to you our accession: now we wish to confer upon +you a benefit in the matter of taxes. For we look on that only as our +revenue which the cultivator pays cheerfully. Our grandfather, +considering the great increase in wealth and population which his long +and peaceful reign had brought with it, thought it prudent to increase +the taxes to be paid by the Province of Sicily[591]. He was quite +right in doing this, but he thereby prepared for us, his young +successor, an opportunity of conferring an unexpected favour, for we +hereby remit to you all the augmentum which was assessed upon you at +the fourth Indiction. And not only so, but all that you have already +paid under this head for the fifth Indiction (526-7) we direct the +tax-collectors to carry to your credit on account[592]. + +[Footnote 591: 'Avus noster de suis beneficiis magna praesumens (quia +longa quies et culturam agris praestitit et populos ampliavit) intra +Siciliam provinciam sub consueta prudentiae suae moderatione censum +statuit subflagitari ut vobis cresceret devotio, quibus se facultas +extenderat.'] + +[Footnote 592: This most be the meaning of 'quicquid a discursoribus +novi census per quintam Indictionem probatur affixum, ad vestram eos +fecimus deferre notitiam.'] + +'Besides this, if anyone have to complain of oppression on the part of +the Governors of the Province, let him seek at once a remedy from our +Piety. Often did our grandfather of glorious memory grieve over the +slowness of the Governors to obey their letters of recall, feeling +sure that they were lingering in the Provinces neither for his good +nor yours. + +'We however, with God's help, shall go on in the good work which we +have begun. You have a Prince who, the older he grows, the more will +love you. We send to you our Sajo Quidila, who will convey to you our +orders on this matter.' + + +11. KING ATHALARIC TO GILDIAS, VIR SPECTABILIS, COUNT OF SYRACUSE. + +12. KING ATHALARIC TO VICTOR AND WITIGISCLUS (OR WIGISICLA), VIRI +SPECTABILES, CENSITORES[593] OF SICILY. + +[Footnote 593: Tax-collectors. The word is unknown to the Notitia, but +Censuales occurs once in it (Not. Occ. iv.).] + +[Sidenote: Oppressions exercised by the King's officers in Sicily +rebuked.] + +Victor and Witigisclus are sharply rebuked for their delay in +desisting from the oppression of the Provincials and coming to the +Court of Theodoric when called for[594], a delay which is made more +suspicious by their not having presented themselves to welcome +Athalaric on his accession. Both they and Count Gildias are informed +of the King's decision to remit the increased tax imposed at the +fourth Indiction (Sept. 525); and the two Censitores are recommended, +if they are conscious of having oppressed or injured any of the +Provincials, to remedy the matter themselves, as the King has given +all the Sicilians leave to appeal to himself against their +oppressions: and the complaints of the Sicilians, though distant, will +certainly reach his ears. + +[Footnote 594: 'Quos etiam seris praeceptionibus credidit esse +admonendos, ut _relicto tandem provincialium gravamine_ ad ejus +deberetis justitiam festinare.'] + + +13. KING ATHALARIC TO WILLIAS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, COMES PATRIMONII. + +[Sidenote: Increase of emoluments of Domestici.] + +'Your Greatness informs us of cases that have come to your knowledge, +in which the Guards (Domestici) attending the Counts who are appointed +[to the government of various Provinces] have oppressed the +Provincials by their exactions. As we believe that there is some +excuse for this in the smallness of their _emolumenta_, which at +present consist of only 200 solidi (L120) and ten rations (Annonae), +we direct that you henceforth pay them, as from the fifth Indiction +(Sept. 526), 50 solidi (L30) annually, in addition to the above, +charging this further payment to our account. By taking away +Necessity, the mother of crimes, we hope that the practice of sinning +will also be removed. If, after this, anyone is found oppressing the +Provincials, let him lose his _emolumenta_ altogether. Our gifts +ennoble the receiver, and are given in order to take away from him any +pretext for begging from others.' + +[The Domestici were a very select corps of Life-guardsmen; probably +only a very small number of them would accompany a Provincial Governor +to his charge. This may explain what seems an extraordinarily high +rate of pay. Perhaps it is the Comes himself, not his Domestici, who +is to receive the emolumenta here specified; but, if so, the letter is +very obscurely expressed.] + + +14. KING ATHALARIC TO GILDIAS, VIE SPECTABILIS, COUNT OF SYRACUSE. + +[Sidenote: Oppressive acts charged against Gildias, Comes of +Syracuse.] + +'We hear great complaints of you from the Sicilians; but, as they are +willing to let bye-gones be bye-gones, we accede to their request, but +give you the following warning: + +'(1) You are said to have extorted large sums from them on pretence of +rebuilding the walls, which you have not done. Either repay them the +money or build up their walls. It is too absurd, to promise +fortifications and give instead to the citizens hideous +desolation[595]. + +[Footnote 595: 'Nimis enim absurdum est, spondere munitiones et dare +civibus excecrabiles vastitates.'] + +'(2) You are said to be claiming for the Exchequer (under the name of +"Fiscus Caducus") the estates of deceased persons, without any sort of +regard for justice, whereas that title was only intended to apply to +the case of strangers dying without heirs, natural or testamentary. + +'(3) You are said to be oppressing the suitors in the Courts with +grievous charges[596], so that you make litigation utterly ruinous to +those who undertake it. + +[Footnote 596: 'Conventiones.' I think the complaint here is of the +expenses of 'executing process.' It is not as Judge but as the +functionary who carries the Judge's orders into effect that Gildias is +here blamed.] + +'We order therefore that when _our_[597] decrees are being enforced +against a beaten litigant, the gratuity claimed by the officer shall +be the same which our glorious grandfather declared to be +payable--according to the respective ranks of the litigants--to the +Sajo who was charged with the enforcement of the decree; for +gratuities ought not to be excessive[598]. + +[Footnote 597: 'Nostra' (the reading of Nivellius) seems evidently a +better reading than 'vestra' (which Migne has adopted).] + +[Footnote 598: 'Commodum debet esse _cum modo_.' A derivation or a +pun.] + +'But if _your_ decrees are being enforced--and that must be only in +cases against persons with whom the edicts allow you to +interfere[599]--then your officer must receive half the gratuity +allowed to him who carries our decrees into execution. It is obviously +improper that the man who only performs _your_ orders should receive +as much as is paid out of reverence for _our_ command. Anyone +infringing this constitution is to restore fourfold. + +[Footnote 599: 'Duntaxat in illis causis atque personis, ubi te +misceri edicta voluerunt.'] + +'(4) The edicts of our glorious grandfather, and all the precepts +which he made for the government of Sicily, are to be so obediently +observed that he shall be held guilty of sacrilege who, spurred on by +his own beastly disposition, shall try to break down the bulwark of +our commands[600]. + +[Footnote 600: 'Quisquis belluinis moribus excitatus munimen +tentaverit irrumpere jussionum.'] + +'(5) It is said that you cite causes between two Romans, even against +their will, before your tribunal. If you are conscious that this has +been done by you, do not so presume in future, lest while seeking the +office of Judge, for which you are incompetent, you wake up to find +yourself a culprit. You, of all men, ought to be mindful of the +Edictum, since you insist on its being followed by others. If not, if +this rule is not observed by you, your whole power of decreeing shall +be taken from you. Let the administration of the laws be preserved +intact to the _Judices Ordinarii_. Let the litigants throng, as they +ought to do, to the Courts of their _Cognitores_. Do not be gnawed by +envy of their pomp. The true praise of the Goths is +_law-abidingness_[601]. The more seldom the litigant is seen in your +presence the greater is your renown. Do you defend the State with your +arms; let the Romans plead before their own law courts in peace. + +[Footnote 601: 'Gothorum laus est civilitas custodita.'] + +'(6) You are also accused of insisting on buying the cargoes of +vessels that come to the port at your own price [and selling again at +a higher]--a practice the very suspicion of which is injurious to an +official, even if it cannot be proved against him in fact[602]. +Wherefore, if you wish to avoid the rumour of this deed, let the +Bishop and people of the city come forward as witnesses on behalf of +your conscience[603]. Prices ought to be fixed by the common +deliberation [of buyer and seller]; since no one likes a commercial +transaction which is forced upon the unwilling. + +[Footnote 602: This seems a possible interpretation of a dark +sentence: 'Navigiis vecta commercia te suggerunt occupare, et ambitu +cupiditatis exosae solum antiqua pretia definire, quod non creditur a +suspicione longinquum etiam si non sit actione vicinum.'] + +[Footnote 603: Is this a kind of compurgation which is here proposed?] + +'Wherefore we have thought it proper to warn your Sublimity by these +presents, since we do not like those whom we love to be guilty of +excess, nor to hear evil reports of those who are charged with +reforming the morals of others.' + +[This is an important letter, especially when taken in connection with +the words of Totila (Procopius, 'De Bello Gotthico' iii. 16), as to +the exceptional indulgence with which the Gothic Kings had treated +Sicily, 'leaving, at the request of the inhabitants, very few soldiers +in the island, that there might be no distaste to their freedom or to +their general prosperity.' + +Gildias is evidently a Goth, and though a _Vir Spectabilis_ and +holding a Roman office--the Comitiva Syracusanae Civitatis--still it +is essentially a military office, and he has no business to divert +causes from the Judices Ordinarii to his tribunal, though probably a +Roman Comes might often do this without serious blame. But by his +doing so, the general principle, that in purely Roman causes a Goth is +not to interfere, seems to be infringed, and therefore he receives +this sharp reprimand to prevent his doing it again.] + + +15. KING ATHALARIC TO POPE JOHN II (532). + +[Sidenote: Against Simony at Papal elections.] + +'The Defensor of the Roman Church hath informed us in his tearful +petition that lately, when a President was sought for the Papal chair, +so much were the usual largesses to the poor augmented by the promises +which had been extorted from the candidate, that, shameful to say, +even the sacred vessels were exposed to sale in order to provide the +necessary money[604]. + +[Footnote 604: 'Quosdam nefaria machinatione necessitatem temporis +aucupatos, ita facultates pauperum extortis promissionibus ingravasse, +ut quod dictu nefas est, etiam sacra vasa emptioni publicae viderentur +exposita.'] + +'Therefore let your Holiness know that by this present decree, which +relates also to all the Patriarchs and Metropolitan Churches [the five +Metropolitan Churches in Rome, and such Sees as Milan, Aquileia, +Ravenna], we confirm the wise law passed by the Senate in the time of +the most holy Pope Boniface [predecessor of John II]. By it any +contract or promise made by any person in order to obtain a Bishopric +is declared void. + +'Anyone refusing to refund money so received is to be declared guilty +of sacrilege, and restitution is to be enforced by the Judge.' + +'Should a contention arise as to an election to the Apostolic See, and +the matter be brought to our Palace for decision, we direct that the +maximum fee to be paid, on the completion of the necessary documents +(?), shall be 3,000 solidi [L1,800][605]; but this is only to be +exacted from persons of sufficient ability to pay it. + +[Footnote 605: 'Et quia omnia decet sub ratione moderari, nec possunt +dici justa quae nimia sunt, cum de Apostolici consecratione Pontificis +intentio fortasse pervenerit, et ad Palatium nostrum producta fuerit +altercatio populorum, suggerentes (?) nobis intra tria millia +solidorum, cum collectione cartarum censemus accipere.'] + +'Patriarchs [Archbishops of the other great Italian Sees] under +similar circumstances are to pay not more than 2,000 solidi [L1,200]. + +'No one is to give [on his consecration] more than 500 solidi [L300] +to the poor. + +'Anyone professing to obtain for money the suffrage of any one of our +servants on behalf of a candidate for Papacy or Patriarchate, shall be +forced to refund the money. If it cannot be recovered from him, it may +be from his heirs. He himself shall be branded with infamy. + +'Should the giver of the money have been bound by such oaths, that, +without imperilling his soul, he cannot disclose the transaction, +anyone else may inform, and on establishing the truth of his +accusation, receive a third part of the money so corruptly paid, the +rest to go to the churches themselves, for the repair of the fabric or +for the daily ministry. Remember the fate of Simon Magus. We have +ordered that this decree be made known to the Senate and people by the +Praefect of the City.' + +[I think the early part of this letter gives us the clue to the +pretext under which these simoniacal practices were introduced. It was +usual for the Pope on his election to give a certain sum of money to +the poor. Then at a vehemently contested election certain of the +voters--perhaps especially the priests of the different _tituli_ of +Rome--claimed to be distributors of the Papal bounty, a large part of +which they no doubt kept for themselves.] + + +16. KING ATHALARIC TO SALVANTIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +Rehearses the motives of the previous edict, and directs that both it +and the Senatus Consulta having reference to the same subject [and +framed two years previously], be engraved on marble tablets, and fixed +up in a conspicuous place, before the Atrium of St. Peter the Apostle. + + +17. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SAME (BETWEEN 532 AND 534). + +[Sidenote: Release of two Roman citizens accused of sedition.] + +'We cannot bear that there should be sadness in Rome, the head of the +world. We hear with regret from the Apostolic Pope John, and other +nobles, that A and B, who are Romans, on a mere suspicion of sedition +are being macerated by so long imprisonment that the whole city mourns +for them; no gladness of a holyday and no respect for the Papal +name[606] (which is most dear to us) availing to mitigate their +confinement. This treatment of persons against whom no crime has been +proved distresses us much, and we admonish your Greatness, wherever +you may succeed in finding them, to set them free. If, confident in +their innocence, they think that they have been unjustly tormented, we +give them liberty to make their appeal to the laws. Judges were +raised to their high estate, not to oppress but to defend the +innocent. + +[Footnote 606: 'Nec ulla--quae apud nos est gratissima--nominis sui +dignitas subveniret.' I think _sui_ must refer to the +recently-mentioned _Papa Johannes_.] + +'Now let the Romans return to their ancient gladness; nor let them +think that any [rulers] please us but those who seek to act with +fairness and moderation. Let them understand that our forefathers +underwent labours and dangers that _they_ might have rest; and that we +are expending large sums in order that they may rejoice with garrulous +exultation. For even if they have before now suffered some rough and +unjust treatment, let them not believe that that is a thing to be +neglected by our Mildness. No; for we give ourselves no rest, that +they may enjoy secure peace and calm gladness. Let them understand at +once that _we_ cannot love the men whose excesses have made them +terrible to our subjects. Whose favour do those men expect to win who +have earned the dislike of their fellow-citizens? They might have +reaped a harvest of the public love, and instead thereof they have so +acted that their names are justly held in execration.' + + +18. THE EDICT OF ATHALARIC. + +[This edict is minutely examined by Dahn ('Koenige der Germanen' iv. +123-135). I have adopted his division of paragraphs, though rather +disposed to think that the 'De Donationibus' should be broken up into +two, to prevent counting the Epilogue as a section. See also Manso +('Geschichte der Ostrogothen' 405-415).] + +[Sidenote: Edict of Athalaric.] + +'_Prologue._ This edict is a general one. No names are mentioned in +it, and those who are conscious of innocence need take no offence at +anything contained therein. + +'For long an ominous whisper has reached our ears that certain +persons, despising _civilitas_, affect a life of beastly +barbarism[607], returning to the wild beginnings of society, and +looking with a fierce hatred on all human laws. The present seems to +us a fitting time for repressing these men, in order that we may be +hunting down vice and immorality within the Republic at the same time +that, with God's help, we are resisting her external foes. Both are +hurtful, both have to be repelled; but the internal enemy is even more +dangerous than the external. One, however, rests upon the other; and +we shall more easily sweep down the armies of our enemies if we subdue +under us the vices of the age. [This allusion to foreign enemies is +perhaps explained by the hint in Jordanes ('De Reb. Get.' 59) of +threatened war with the Franks. But he gives us no sufficient +indication of time to enable us to fix the date of the Edictum.] + +[Footnote 607: 'Affectare vivere belluina saevitia.'] + +'I. _Forcible Appropriation of Landed Property_[608] (Pervasio). This +is a crime which is quite inconsistent with _civilitas_, and we remit +those who are guilty of it to the punishment[609] provided by a law of +Divus Valentinianus [Valentinian III. Novell. xix. 'De Invasoribus'], +adding that if anyone is unable to pay the penalty therein provided he +shall suffer banishment (deportatio). He ought to have been more chary +of disobeying the laws if he had no means to pay the penalty. Judges +who shrink from obeying this law, and allow the _Pervasor_ to remain +in possession of what he has forcibly annexed, shall lose their +offices and be held liable to pay to our Treasury the same fine which +might have been exacted from him. If the _Pervasor_ sets the Judge's +official staff (officium) at defiance, on the report of the Judge our +Sajones will make _him_ feel the weight of the royal vengeance who +refused to obey the [humbler] _Cognitor_. + +[Footnote 608: 'Praedia urbana vel rustica.'] + +[Footnote 609: The punishment consisted in loss of all claim to the +property--which was generally seized by someone who had some kind of +ostensible claim to it--and a penalty of equal value with that of the +property wrongfully seized.] + +'II. _Affixing Titles to Property._ [When land had from any cause +become public property, the Emperor's officers used to affix _tituli_, +to denote the fact and to warn off all other claimants. Powerful men +who had dispossessed weaker claimants used to imitate this practice, +and are here forbidden to do so.] + +'This offence shall subject the perpetrator to the same penalties as +_pervasio_. It is really a kind of sacrilege to try to add the majesty +of the royal name to the weight of his own oppression. Costs are to be +borne by the defeated claimant. + +'III. _Suppression of Words in a Decree._ Anyone obtaining a decree +against an adversary is to be careful to suppress nothing in the copy +which he serves upon him. If he does so, he shall lose all the +benefits that he obtained. We wish to help honest men, not rogues. + +'IV. _Seduction of a Married Woman._ He who tries to interfere with +the married rights of another, shall be punished by inability to +contract a valid marriage himself. [This punishment of compulsory +celibacy is, according to Dahn, derived neither from Roman nor German +law, but is possibly due to Church influence.] The offender who has no +hope of present or future matrimony[610] shall be punished by +confiscation of half his property; or, if a poor man, by banishment. + +[Footnote 610: 'Illis quos spes non habet praesentis conjugii vel +futuri.' It is not easy to see how the Judge could ascertain whether a +man belonged to this claim or not.] + +'V. _Adultery_. All the statutes of the late King (divalis commonitio) +in this matter are to be strictly observed. [Edict. Theodorici, Sec. 38, +inflicted the penalty of death on both offenders and on the abettors +of the crime.] + +'VI. _Bigamy_ is to be punished with loss of all the offender's +property. + +'VII. _Concubinage._ If a married man forms a connection of this kind +with a free woman, she and all her children shall become the slaves +of the injured wife. If with a woman who is a slave already, she shall +be subjected to any revenge that the lawful wife likes to inflict upon +her, short of blood-shedding[611]. + +[Footnote 611: 'Quod si ad tale flagitium ancilla pervenerit, excepta +poena sanguinis, matronali subjaceat ultioni: ut illam patiatur +judicem, quam formidare debuisset absentem.' These provisions are +probably of Germanic origin.] + +'VIII. _Donations_ are not to be extorted by terror, nor acquired by +fraud, or as the price of immorality. Where a gift is _bona fide_, the +document conveying it is to be drawn up with the strictness prescribed +by Antiquity, in order to remove occasions of fraud. + +'IX. Magicians and other persons practising nefarious arts are to be +punished by the severity of the laws. What madness to leave the Giver +of life and seek to the Author of death! Let the Judges be especially +careful to avoid the contagion of these foul practices. + +'X. _Violence Exercised towards the Weak._ Let the condition of +mediocrity be safe from the arrogance of the rich. Let the madness of +bloodshed be avoided. To take the law into your own hands is to wage +private war, especially in the case of those who are fortified by the +authority of our _tuitio_. If anyone attempts with foul presumption to +act contrary to these principles, let him be considered a violator of +our orders. + +'XI. _Appeals_ are not to be made twice in the same cause. + +'XII. _Epilogue._ But lest, while touching on a few points, we should +be thought not to wish the laws to be observed in other matters, we +declare that all the edicts of ourself and of our lord and +grandfather, which were confirmed by venerable deliberation[612], and +the whole body of decided law[613], be adhered to with the utmost +rigour. + +[Footnote 612: 'Quae sunt venerabili deliberatione firmata.' Is it +possible that we have here a reference to a theoretical right of the +_Senate_ to concur in legislation?] + +[Footnote 613: 'Et usualia jura publica.' Dahn expands: 'All other +juristic material, all sources of law--Roman _leges_ and _jus_, and +Gothic customary law--the whole inheritance of the State in public and +private law.'] + +'And these laws are so scrupulously guarded that our own oath is +interposed for their defence. Why enlarge further? Let the usual rule +of law and the honest intent of our precepts be everywhere observed.' + + +19. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Promulgation of the Edict.] + +'Good laws are called forth by evil manners. If no complaints were +ever heard, the Prince might take holiday. Stirred up by many and +frequent complaints of our people, we have drawn up certain +regulations necessary for the Roman peace, in our edict which is +divided into twelve chapters, after the manner of the civil law[614]. +We do not thereby abrogate, but rather confirm, the previously +existing body of law. + +[Footnote 614: 'Necessaria quaedam Romanae quieti edictali programmate +duodecim capitibus sicut jus civile legitur institutum in aevum +servanda conscripsimus, quae custodita residuum jus non debilitare, +sed potius corroborare videantur.'] + +'Let this edict be read in your splendid assembly, and exhibited for +thirty days by the Praefect of the City in the most conspicuous +places. Thus shall our _civilitas_ be recognised, and truculent men +lose their confidence. What insolent subjects[615] can indulge in +violence when the Sovereign condemns it? Our armies fight that there +may be peace at home. Let the Judges do their duty fearlessly, and +avoid foul corruption.' + +[Footnote 615: Evidently aimed at the Goths.] + + +20. KING ATHALARIC TO ALL THE JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'It is vexatious that, though we appoint you year by year to your +duties, and leave no district without its Judge, there is yet such +tardiness in administering justice that suitors come by preference to +our distant Court. + +'To take away all excuse from you, and relieve the necessity of our +subjects, we have drawn up an edict which we desire you to exhibit for +thirty days in the wonted manner at all places of public meeting.' + + +21. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Increase of salaries of grammarians.] + +'You who are called Fathers should be interested in all that concerns +the education of your sons. We hear by certain whisperings that the +teachers of eloquence at Rome are not receiving their proper reward, +and that the sums appointed to be paid to the masters of schools are +lessened by the haggling of some persons. + +'Grammar is the noble foundation of all literature, the glorious +mother of eloquence. As a virtuous man is offended by any act of vice, +as a musician is pained by a discordant note, so does the grammarian +in a moment perceive a false concord. + +'The grammatical art is not used by barbarous kings: it abides +peculiarly with legitimate sovereigns[616]. Other nations have arms: +the lords of the Romans alone have eloquence. Hence sounds the trumpet +for the legal fray in the Forum. Hence comes the eloquence of so many +chiefs of the State. Hence, to say nothing more, even this discourse +which is now addressed to you[617]. + +[Footnote 616: 'Hac non utuntur barbari reges: apud legales dominos +manere cognoscitur singularis.'] + +[Footnote 617: 'Et, ut reliqua taceamus, hoc quod loquimur inde est.'] + +'Wherefore let the teacher of grammar and of rhetoric, if he be found +suitable for his work and obey the decrees of the Praefect of the +City, be supported by your authority, and suffer no diminution of his +salary[618]. + +[Footnote 618: 'Et semel Primi Ordinis vestri ac reliqui Senatus +amplissimi auctoritate firmatus.' What is the meaning of 'Primi +Ordinis vestri?'] + +'To prevent his being dependent in any way on the caprice of his +employer, let him receive half his salary at the end of half a year, +and his _annonae_ at the customary times. If the person whose +business it is to pay him neglects this order, he shall be charged +interest on the arrears. + +'The Grammarian is a man to whom every hour unemployed is misery, and +it is a shame that such a man should have to wait the caprice of a +public functionary before he gets his pay. We provide for the salaries +of the play-actors, who minister only to the amusement of the public; +and how much more for these men, the moulders of the style and +character of our youth! Therefore let them henceforward not have to +try the philosophical problem of thinking about two things at once, +but, with their minds at ease about their subsistence, devote +themselves with all their vigour to the teaching of liberal arts.' + + +22. KING ATHALARIC TO PAULINUS, VIR CLARISSIMUS AND CONSUL (533). + +[Flavius Theodoras Paulinus Junior was Consul with the Emperor +Justinian in 534. This letter was written in Sept. 533, about thirteen +months before the death of Athalaric. Paulinus was son of Venantius +and grandson of Liberius.] + +[Sidenote: Paulinus chosen as Consul.] + +'The absent from our Court need not fear that they will be disregarded +in the distribution of honours, especially when they are sprung from +an illustrious stock, the offspring of the Senate. + +'In your family Rome recognises the descendants of her ancient heroes +the Decii, who, in a great crisis, alone saved their country. + +'Take then for the twelfth Indiction the ensigns of the +Consulship[619]. It is an arduous honour, but one which your family is +well used to. The Fasti are studded with its names, and nearly all +the Senate is of kin to you. Still, presume not too much on the merits +of your ancestors, but rather seek to emulate their noble deeds.' + +[Footnote 619: The twelfth Indiction began Sept. 1, 533. The Consul +would enter office Jan. 1, 534. Was he _designated_ when the great +Imperial officers were _appointed_ at the beginning of the Indiction?] + + +23. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: On the Consulship of Paulinus.] + +'Judge of our esteem for your honourable body, Conscript Fathers, +when, without any hesitation, we appoint your sons whom we have never +seen to high office, because they are your sons. + +'We admire the Patrician Venantius, blessed as he has been with such +an abundant progeny, and found equal to the weight of so many +Consulships. His sons have been all temperate and lively; worthy +members of the same distinguished family. They have been trained in +arms, their minds have been formed by letters, their bodies by the +exercises of the gymnasium. They have learned to show constancy to +their friends, loyalty to their lords; and they have succeeded to the +virtues of their ancestors, as they will to their patrimony. Wisely +husbanding his own fortune, Venantius has been able to support the +honour--gratifying, but burdensome--of seeing so many of his sons made +Consuls. But this is an honour not strange to his family, sprung from +the ancient Decii. His hall is full of laurelled Fasces, and in his +line one might almost say that each one is born a Consular. + +'Favour our candidate then, Conscript Fathers, and cherish him with +that care which the name of your body[620] signifies.' + +[Footnote 620: _Curia_, from _cura_.] + + +24. KING ATHALARIC TO SENATOR [CASSIODORUS HIMSELF], PRAETORIAN +PRAEFECT (SEPT. 1, 533). + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus appointed Praetorian Praefect.] + +'If you had been hitherto an obscure person we might feel some doubt +how you would bear yourself in your new office, but your long and +glorious career under our grandfather relieves us from any such +anxieties. _His_ choice of you is a thing to be not discussed but +reverently accepted. It was by him that we ourselves were chosen; and +the Divine favour so conspicuously followed him that no General whom +he selected was other than victorious, no Judge whom he appointed was +other than just. In short, one might almost deem him to have been +endowed with the gift of prophecy. + +[Sidenote: His Quaestorship.] + +'In your early manhood he received you into the office of Quaestor, +and soon found you to be a conscientious man, learned in the law +beyond your years[621]. You were the chief ornament of your times, +inasmuch as you, by your blameless service sustaining the weight of +that royal intellect by all the force of your eloquence, enabled him, +with his keen interest in all public affairs, to await the result with +confidence. In you he possessed a counsellor pleasant in the +transaction of business, rigid in his sense of justice, free from all +taint of avarice. You never fixed a scandalous tariff for the sale of +his benefits; and thus you reaped your reward in a wealth of public +opinion, not in gold. It was because that just Prince proved you to be +averse from all these vices that he selected you for his glorious +friendship. A wise judge, he threw upon you the weight of listening to +the arguments of contending parties; and so high was his opinion of +your tried sagacity that he at once uttered your decision as the +greatest benefit that he could confer on the litigants. How often did +he rank you among the oldest chiefs of his Council! How often was it +seen that your young beginnings were more than a match for them, who +had the experience of long years behind them! What he found to praise +in you was your excellent disposition, wide open for useful work, +tight closed against the vices of avarice. Whereas, for some reason, +it is rare to find amongst men, the hand closed and justice open. + +[Footnote 621: 'Primaevum recipiens ad Quaestoris Officium, mox +reperit conscientia praeditum, et legum eruditione maturum.'] + +[Sidenote: His career as Master of the Offices.] + +'Let us pass on to the dignity of _Magister Officiorum_, which all men +knew that you obtained, not from the reputation of wealth, but as a +testimony to your character. In this place you were always ready to +help the [successive] Quaestors; for, when pure eloquence was +required, the case was always put in your hands. The benignant +Sovereign claimed from you the fulfilment of duties which he knew that +he had not formally laid upon you; and such was the favour that he had +for you, while others laboured you received the reward of his abundant +praises[622]. For under your administration no dignity kept its exact +limits; anything that was to be honestly done by all the chiefs of the +State together, you considered to be entrusted to _your_ conscience +for its performance. + +[Footnote 622: 'Et quadam gratia praejudiciali vacabat alios laborare, +ut te sententiae suae copiosa laude compleret.' One would have +expected Cassiodorus to say, 'You had the special privilege of doing +other people's work and being praised for it, while they enjoyed their +leisure;' but I hardly see how we can get this meaning out of 'vacabat +alios laborare.'] + +'No one found occasion to murmur anything to your disadvantage, though +you had to bear all the weight of unpopularity which comes from the +Sovereign's favour. The integrity of your life conquered those who +longed to detract from your reputation, and your enemies were obliged +to utter the praises which their hearts abhorred; for even malice +leaves manifest goodness unattacked, lest it be itself exposed to +general hatred. + +[Sidenote: His friendship for Theodoric.] + +'To the Monarch you showed yourself a friendly Minister and an +intimate Noble[623]. For when he had laid aside the cares of State, he +would seek in your conversation the opinions of wise men of old, that +by his own deeds he might make himself equal to the ancients[624]. +Into the courses of the stars, into the gulfs of the sea, into the +marvels of springing fountains, this most acute questioner enquired, +so that by his diligent investigations into the nature of things he +seemed to be a Philosopher wearing the purple. + +[Footnote 623: 'Egisti rerum domino judicem familiarem et internum +procerem.'] + +[Footnote 624: 'Nam cum esset publica cura vacuatus, sententias +prudentum a tuis fabulis exigebat; ut factis propriis se aequaret +antiquis.'] + +'It were long to narrate all your merits in the past. Let us rather +turn to the future, and show how the heir of Theodoric's Empire +proposes to pay the debts of Theodoric. + +'Therefore, with the Divine help, we bestow on you from the twelfth +Indiction [Sept. 1, 533] the authority and insignia of Praetorian +Praefect. Let the Provinces, which we know to have been hitherto +wearied by the administration of dishonest men, fearlessly receive a +Judge of tried integrity. + +'Though you have before you the example of your father's +Praefecture[625], renowned throughout the Italian world, we do not so +much set before you either that or any other example, as your own past +character, exhorting you to rule consistently with that. You have +always been averse from bribery; now earnestly help the victims of +injustice. We have purposely delayed your accession to this high +office that you might be the more heartily welcomed by the people, who +expected to see you clothed with it long ago. Diligently seek out +anything belonging to the titles of the Praetorian Praefecture, of +which it has been defrauded by the cupidity of others. We send you as +a light into a dark chamber, and expect that your sagacity and loyalty +will discover many hidden things. + +[Footnote 625: 'Quamvis habeas paternam Praefecturam, Italico orbe +praedicatam.' This is one of the many proofs that Senator (now first +advanced to the office of Praefectus Praetorio) is the _son_ of the +Cassiodorus to whom the letter (i. 3) is addressed on his retirement +from that office.] + +'We know that you will work not so much for the sake of honour as in +order to satisfy your conscience; and work so done knows no limit to +its excellence.' + + +25. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME (ON THE PROMOTION +OF CASSIODORUS SENATOR TO THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECTURE). + +[Sidenote: Eulogy of Cassiodorus on his appointment as Praetorian +Praefect.] + +'We have loaded Senator with our benefits, Conscript Fathers, because +he abounds in virtue, is rich in excellence of character, and is +already full of the highest honours. But, in fact, we are his debtors. +How shall we repay that eloquent tongue of his, with which he set +forth the deeds of the Prince, till he himself who had wrought them +wondered at his story? In praising the reign of the wearer of the +purple, he made it acceptable to your nation. For taxes may be paid to +a tyrant; praise, such as this, is given only to a good Prince. + +[Sidenote: His Gothic History.] + +'Not satisfied with extolling living Kings, from whom he might hope +for a reward, he drew forth the Kings of the Goths from the dust of +ages, showing that the Amal family had been royal for seventeen +generations, and proved that the origin of the Gothic people belonged +to Roman history[626], adorning the whole subject with the flowers of +his learning gathered from wide fields of literature. + +[Footnote 626: 'Tetendit se etiam in antiquam prosapiem nostram, +lectione discens, quod vix majorum notitia cana retinebat. Iste Reges +Gothorum longa oblivione celatos, latibulo vetustatis eduxit. Iste +Amalos cum generis sui claritate restituit, evidenter ostendens in +decimam septimam progeniem stirpem nos habere regalem. Originem +Gothicam historiam fecit esse Romanam, colligens quasi in unam coronam +germen floridum quod per librorum campos passim fuerat ante +dispersum.'] + +'In the early days of our reign what labour he gave to the settling of +our affairs! He was alone sufficient for all. The duty of making +public harangues, our own private counsels, required him. He laboured +that the Empire might rest. + +[Sidenote: His official career.] + +'We found him Magister; but he discharged the duties of Quaestor, and +willingly bestowed on us, the heir, the experience which he had gained +in the counsels of our grandfather. + +[Sidenote: His military services.] + +'And not only so, he helped the beginning of our reign both with his +arms and his pen. For when the care of our shores[627] occupied our +royal meditation, he suddenly emerged from the seclusion of his +cabinet, boldly, like his ancestors, assumed the office of +General[628], and triumphed by his character when there was no enemy +to overcome. For he maintained the Gothic warriors[629] at his own +charges, so that there should be no robbery of the Provincials on the +one hand, no too heavy burden on the exchequer on the other. Thus was +the soldier what he ought to be, the true defender, not the ravager of +his country. Then when the time for victualling the ships was over, +and the war was laid aside, he shone as an administrator rather than a +warrior, healing, without injury to the litigants, the various suits +which arose out of the sudden cessation of the contracts[630]. + +[Footnote 627: Probably from some expected descent of the Vandals, in +connection with the affair of Amalafrida.] + +[Footnote 628: 'Par suis majoribus ducatum sumpsit intrepidus.'] + +[Footnote 629: 'Deputatos.'] + +[Footnote 630: A conjectural translation of a difficult sentence: 'Mox +autem ut tempus clausit navium commeatum, bellique cura resoluta est, +ingenium suum legum potius ductor exercuit: sanans sine damno +litigantium quod ante sub pretio comstabat esse laceratum.' I +conjecture that by the sudden stoppage of the warlike preparations +several of the contractors were in danger of being ruined, and there +was a general disposition to repudiate all purchases.] + +'Such was the glory of the military command of a Metellus in Asia, of +a Cato in Spain--a glory far more durable than any that can be derived +from the varying shock of war. + +[Sidenote: His religious character.] + +'Yet with all these merits, how humble he has been, how modest, how +benevolent, how slow to wrath, how generous in the distribution of +that which is his own, how slow to covet the property of others! All +these virtues have been consolidated by his reading of the Divine +Book, the fear of God helping him to triumph over baser, human +motives. Thus has he been rendered humble towards all, as one imbued +with heavenly teaching. + +'Him therefore, Conscript Fathers, we make, under God's blessing, +Praetorian Praefect from the twelfth Indiction [Sept. 1, 533], that he +may repress by his own loyalty the trafficking of knaves, and may use +his power for the good of the Republic, bequeathing eternal renown to +his posterity.' + + + + +BOOK X. + +CONTAINING THIRTY-FIVE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS: + +FOUR IN THE NAME OF QUEEN AMALASUENTHA. +TWENTY-TWO IN THAT OF KING THEODAHAD. +FOUR IN THAT OF HIS WIFE GUDELINA. +FIVE IN THAT OF KING WITIGIS. + + +1. QUEEN AMALASUENTHA TO JUSTINIAN THE EMPEROR (A.D. 534). + +[Sidenote: Association of Theodahad in the Sovereignty.] + +'I have hitherto forborne to distress you with the sad tidings of the +death of my son of glorious memory, but now am able to mingle a joyful +announcement with this mournful message. We have promoted to the +sceptre a man allied to us by a fraternal tie, that he may wear the +purple robes of his ancestors, and may cheer our own soul by his +prudent counsels. We are persuaded that you will give us your good +wishes on this event, as we hope that every kind of prosperity may +befall the kingdom of your Piety. The friendship of princes is always +comely, but your friendship absolutely ennobles me, since that person +is exalted in dignity who is united by friendship to your glory[631]. + +[Footnote 631: 'Nam licet concordia Principum semper deceat, vestra +tamen absolute me nobilitat; quoniam ille redditur amplius excelsus, +qui vestrae gloriae fuerit unanimiter conjunctus.'] + +'As we cannot in the short space of a letter express all that we +desire to say on such an occasion, we have entrusted certain verbal +messages to the ambassadors who bear this epistle.' + + +2. THEODAHAD THE KING TO JUSTINIAN THE EMPEROR. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'It is usual for newly-crowned Kings to signify their accession to the +different nations round them. I, in making this communication to you, +am greatly favoured by Providence, feeling secure of your favour, +because I know that my most excellent Lady and Sister has already +attained it. I feel confident that I shall justify the choice of one +who shines in such a light of wisdom that she both governs her own +kingdom with admirable forethought and keeps firmly the vows of +friendship which she has plighted to her neighbours. Partner of her +cares, I desire also to be a partner of her wisely-formed friendships, +those especially which she has contracted with you, who have nothing +like unto you in the whole world. This alliance is no new thing: if +you will look back upon the deeds of our ancestors you will find that +there is a custom which has obtained the force of a law, that the +Amals should be friendly with the Empire. So old a friendship is +likely to endure; and if, in obedience to it and to my Sister's +choice, I have your love, I shall feel that I am indeed a King. + +'The ambassadors who have charge of this letter will further express +my sentiments.' + + +3. QUEEN AMALASUENTHA TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'After the death of our son of blessed memory[632] our love for the +common weal overcame the yearnings of a mother's heart and caused us +to seek your prosperity rather than an opportunity to indulge in our +own sorrow. We have considered by what solace we should strengthen +ourselves for the cares of royalty. The same Providence which has +deprived us of a son in the dawn of manhood, has reserved for us the +affection of a brother in mature age. Under the Divine auspices we +have chosen Theodahad[633] as the fortunate partner of our throne. We +two, with conjoined counsels, shall now labour for the common welfare, +_two_ in our meditations, _one_ in the action which results from them. +The stars give one another mutual help in ruling the heavens, and God +has bestowed on man two hands, two ears, two eyes, that each one of +these members should assist the other. + +[Footnote 632: 'Divae recordationis.'] + +[Footnote 633: Is there any authority for the reading of Nivellius, +'Theo_baldum_?'] + +[Sidenote: Praises of Theodahad.] + +'Therefore exult, Conscript Fathers, and commend our deed to the +blessing of the Almighty. Our sharing our power with another is a +pledge of its being wisely and gently exercised. By God's help we have +opened our palace to a man of our own race, conspicuous by his +illustrious position, who, born of the Amal stock, has a kingly +dignity in all his actions, being patient in adversity, moderate in +prosperity, and, most difficult of all kinds of government, long used +to the government of himself. Moreover, he possesses that desirable +quality, literary erudition, lending a grace to a nature originally +praiseworthy. It is in books that the sage counsellor finds deeper +wisdom, in books that the warrior learns how he may be strengthened by +the courage of the soul, in books that the Sovereign discovers how he +may weld nations together under his equal rule. In short, there is no +condition in life the credit whereof is not augmented by the glorious +knowledge of literature. + +'Your new Sovereign is moreover learned in ecclesiastical lore, by +which we are ever reminded of the things which make for our own true +honour, right judgment, wise discretion, reverence for God, thought +of the future judgment. For the remembrance that we shall one day +stand at the bar to answer for ourselves compels us to follow the +footprints of Justice. Thus does religious reading not only sharpen +the intellect but ever tend to make men scrupulous in the performance +of their duties. + +'Let me pass on to that most generous frugality of his private +household[634] which procured the means of such abundance in his +gifts, of such plenty at his banquets, that even the kingdom will not +call for any new expenditure in this respect greater than the old. +Generous in his hospitality, most pitiful in his compassions, while he +was thus spending much, his fortune, by a heavenly reward, was ever on +the increase. + +[Footnote 634: 'Veniamus ad illam privatae Ecclesiae (?) largissimam +frugalitatem.' 'Ecclesiae,' if it means here 'the Church,' seems to +spoil the sense. Can Cassiodorus mean to compare the household of +Theodahad to a 'private Ecclesia?'] + +'The wish of the people should coincide with our choice of such a man, +who, reasonably spending his own goods, does not desire the goods of +others[635]. For moderation in his own expenditure takes away from the +Sovereign the temptation to transgress the precepts of justice and to +abandon the golden mean. + +[Footnote 635: 'Talem universitas debuit optare, qualem nos probamur +elegisse, qui rationabiliter disponens propria, non appetat aliena.' +And this of Theodahad!] + +'Rejoice then, Conscript Fathers, and give thanks to the Most High, +that I have chosen such a ruler, who will supplement my justice by the +good deeds which spring from his own piety. For this man is both +admonished by the virtue of his ancestors and powerfully stimulated by +the example of his uncle Theodoric.' + + +4. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We announce to you, Conscript Fathers, the Divine favour which has +been manifested unto us, in that our sovereign Lady[636], who is +renowned throughout the whole world, has with generous affection made +me partaker of her throne, so that she may not lack loyal support and +I may be fittingly clothed with the purple of my ancestors. + +[Footnote 636: 'Dominam rerum.'] + +'I know that this elevation of mine was the object of the wishes of +the community. Your whispers in my favour might have been a source of +danger, but now your openly expressed acclamations are my proudest +boast. You wished that God should bestow upon me this honour, to which +I for my part should not have ventured to aspire. But if I have, as I +trust I have, any influence with you, let me prevail upon you to join +with me in perpetually hymning the glorious praises of our Lady and +Sister. She has wished to strengthen the greatness of our Empire by +associating me therein, even as the two eyes of a man harmoniously +co-operate towards a single act of vision. Divine grace joins us +together: our near relationship cements our friendship. Persons of +diverse character may find it an arduous matter thus to work in +common; but, to those who resemble one another in the goodness of +their intentions, the difficulty would rather be _not_ to work in +harmony. The man devoid of forethought may fear the changing of his +purposes; but he who is really great in wisdom eagerly seeks wisdom in +another. + +'But of all the gifts which with this regal dignity the Divine favour +has bestowed upon me, none pleases me more than the fact that I should +have been thus chosen by that wisest Lady who is herself a moral +balance of the utmost delicacy, and who made me first feel her justice +before advancing me to this high dignity. For, as you know, she +ordained that I should plead my cause against private persons in the +common judgment-hall[637]. Oh wonderful nobility of her mind! Oh +admirable justice, which the world may well tell of! She hesitated +not first to subject her own relation to the course of public justice, +even him whom, a little after, she would raise above the laws +themselves. She thoroughly searched the conscience of him to whom she +was about to hand over the dignity of kingship, that she might be +recognised as sovereign Lady of all, and that I, when tested, might be +advanced by her to the throne. + +[Footnote 637: 'Cujus prius ideo justitiam pertuli ut prius +[posterius?] ad ejus provectionis gratiam pervenirem. Causas enim, ut +scitis, jure communi nos fecit dicere cum privatis.' We have here, no +doubt, an allusion to the punishment which, as we learn from +Procopius, Amalasuentha inflicted on her cousin for his various acts +of injustice towards his Tuscan neighbours.] + +[Sidenote: Praises of Amalasuentha.] + +'When shall I be able to repay her for all these favours: her who, +having reigned alone during the minority of her son, now chooses me as +the partner of her realm? In her is the glory of all kingdoms, the +flower of all our family. All our splendour is derived from her, and +she reflects a lustre not only on our ancestors, but on the whole +human race. Her dutiful affection, her weight of character, who can +set forth? The philosophers would learn new lessons if they knew her, +and would acknowledge that their books fail to describe all her +attributes. Acute she is in her powers of reasoning; but with royal +taciturnity she knows how to veil her conclusions in secrecy. She is +mistress of many languages; and her intellect, if suddenly tested, is +found so ready for the trial that it scarcely seems like that of a +mortal. In the Books of Kings the Queen of the South is said to have +come to learn the wisdom of Solomon: but here a woman speaks, and +Sovereigns listen to her with admiration. Infinite depths of meaning +are fathomed by her in few words, and she, with utmost ease, expresses +what others can only after long deliberation embody in language[638]. + +[Footnote 638: 'Et summa felicitate componitur quod ab aliis sub longa +deliberatione componitur.' 'Ab aliis' probably refers to Cassiodorus +himself. The contrast between his elaborate and diffuse rhetoric, and +the few, terse, soon-moulded sentences of his mistress is very fairly +drawn.] + +'Happy the commonwealth which boasts the guidance of such a mistress. +It was not enough that already liberty and convenience were combined +for the multitude[639]: her merits have secured the fitting reverence +for the person of the Sovereign. In obeying _her_ we obey all the +virtues. I, too, with such a counsellor, fear not the weight of the +crown; and I know that whatever is strange to me in my new duties I +shall learn from her as the safest of teachers. + +[Footnote 639: 'Minus fuit ut generalitas sub libertate serviret.'] + +'Acknowledge, noble Sirs, that all my power of increased usefulness to +the State comes from this our most wise Lady, from whom I may either +gain wisdom by asking questions, or virtue by following her example. + +'Live happily: live in harmony by God's help, and emulate that grace +of concord which you see prevailing between your Sovereigns.' + + +5. KING THEODAHAD TO HIS MAN THEODOSIUS[640]. + +[Footnote 640: 'Theodosio homini suo Theodahadus rex.' Does 'homo +suus' mean a member of his Comitatus? We seem to have here an +anticipation of the 'homagium' of later times.] + +[Sidenote: The followers of the new King must live justly.] + +'By my accession to the throne I have become lord of the whole nation +and guardian of the general welfare. I therefore command that all who +belong to my private household shall vindicate their rights only in +the courts of law, and shall abstain from all high-handed modes of +obtaining redress. Only that man must henceforward be called mine who +can live quietly subject to the laws. My new dignity has changed my +purpose; and if before I have defended my rights with pertinacity, I +shall now temper all my acts with clemency[641]; since there is +nothing exceptional about a Sovereign's household, but wheresoever, +by the grace of God, our rule extends, there, as we fully confess, is +something which it is our duty to defend. Augment therefore my renown +by your patience, and let me hear praises rather than complaints of +the actions of my servants.' + +[Footnote 641: 'Mutavimus cum dignitate propositum, et si ante justa +districte defendimus, nunc clementer omnia mitigamus.' A pretty plain +confession of Theodahad's past wrong-doing, and one which was probably +insisted upon by Amalasuentha in admitting him to a share in the +kingship.] + + +6. KING THEODAHAD TO PATRICIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND QUAESTOR. + +[Sidenote: Patricius appointed Quaestor.] + +'In conferring upon you the office of Quaestor we look first to +character, and we find in you that love of justice which is all +important in a representative of the Prince. Then we look at the +qualities of your intellect, and we find in you that flow of eloquence +which among all mental accomplishments we value most highly. What does +it profit to be a philosopher, if one cannot worthily set forth the +results of one's investigations? To discover is natural to man; but to +set forth one's discoveries in noble language, that is indeed a +desirable gift. Therefore we bestow on you for this thirteenth +Indiction[642] the fasces of the Quaestorship, desiring you to +consecrate your time to the study of the laws and the _responsa +prudentum_, and to spread abroad our fame by the eloquent manner in +which you shall communicate our decrees to the Cities and Provinces +under our sway, and speak in our name to the representatives of +foreign nations.' + +[Footnote 642: 534-535. As Athalaric died Oct. 2, 534, the appointment +of Patricius cannot have taken place on the usual day, Sept. 1.] + + +7. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'After announcing to you our own accession, one of our first cares was +to choose a Judge whose style of speaking might dignify the State. +Such a Judge have we found in Patricius (Patrician by his name +already), whom we hereby appoint to the office of Quaestor. He +studied eloquence at Rome. Where could he have studied better? For +while other parts of the world have their wine, their balm, their +frankincense, which they can export, the peculiar product of Rome is +eloquence. + +'Having thus learned his art, he practised it at the bar with singular +moderation. No heat of strife hurried him into abuse of his +competitors. Seeking only to win his client's cause, he calmly and +courteously set forth that client's rights without sacrificing his own +dignity of demeanour. + +'Thinking that this man has pleaded long enough, we now appoint that +he shall sit as Judge, having made diligent enquiry as to his +character. In this, and in all other matters, we wish to follow the +example of the Emperors who have gone before us, in so far as they +followed the paths of justice[643].' + +[Footnote 643: 'Velle nostrum antiquorum principum est voluntas, quos +in tantum desideramus imitari quantum illi justitiam sunt secuti.'] + + +8. QUEEN AMALASUENTHA TO JUSTINIAN, AUGUSTUS. + +[Sidenote: Present of marbles from Justinian to Amalasuentha.] + +'Delighting to receive from your Piety some of those treasures of +which the heavenly bounty has made you partaker, we send the bearer of +the present letter to receive those marbles and other necessaries +which we formerly ordered Calogenitus to collect on our behalf. All +our adornments, furnished by you, redound to your glory. For it is +fitting that by your assistance should shine resplendent that Roman +world which the love of your Serenity renders illustrious.' + + +9. KING THEODAHAD TO JUSTINIAN, AUGUSTUS. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +[On the same subject as the previous letter, and in nearly the same +words. Calogenitus apparently is dead.] + +'We have directed the bearer of this letter to exhibit (?) those +things for which Calogenitus was previously destined; so that, +although that person is withdrawn from this life, your benefits, by +God's help, may still be brought unto us.' + + +10. QUEEN AMALASUENTHA TO THEODORA, AUGUSTA[644]. + +[Footnote 644: There is something in the tone of this letter which +suggests that Theodora was known to be pregnant when it was written.] + +[Sidenote: Salutation to Theodora.] + +'We approach you with the language of veneration, because it is agreed +on all hands that your virtues increase more and more. Friendship +exists not for those only who are in one another's presence, but also +for the absent. Rendering you therefore the salutation of august +reverence, I hope that our ambassadors, whom we have directed to the +most clement and most glorious Emperor, will bring me news of your +welfare. Your prosperity is as dear to me as my own; and as I +constantly pray for your safety, I cannot hear without pleasure that +my prayers have been answered.' + + +11. KING THEODAHAD TO MAXIMUS[645], VIR ILLUSTRIS AND DOMESTICUS. + +[Footnote 645: This Maximus does not appear to be mentioned by +Procopius. He may be the same Maximus who took refuge in one of the +churches after Totila's capture of Rome in 546 (De Bello Gotthico iii. +20), and who was slain by order of Teias in 552 (Ibid. iv. 34); but +that person was grandson of an Emperor, and it seems hardly probable +that Cassiodorus would have spared us such a detail in the pedigree of +Theodahad's kinsman. We seem also to be entirely without information +as to the Amal princess who was the bride of Maximus.] + +[Sidenote: Maximus appointed to office of Primicerius (Domesticorum?)] + +'It is the glory of a good Sovereign to confer office on the deserving +descendants of illustrious families. Such are the Anicii, an ancient +family, almost on an equality with princes[646], from whom you are +descended. Gladly would we decorate the descendants of the Marii and +Corvini if time had permitted their progeny to survive to our own day. +But it were inconsistent to regret the impossibility of enjoying this +privilege if we neglected the opportunity which we do possess in your +case. + +[Footnote 646: 'Anicios quidem pene principibus pares aetas prisca +genuit.'] + +'Therefore we bestow upon you from this fourteenth Indiction[647] the +office of Primicerius, which is also called Domesticatus. This office +may appear somewhat less than you are entitled to by your pedigree, +but you have received an honour which is greater than all the _fasces_ +in being permitted to marry a wife of our royal race, a distinction +which you could not have hoped for even when you sat in the curule +chair. Comport yourself now with mildness, patience, and moderation, +that you may show yourself worthy of your affinity with us. Your +ancestors have hitherto been praised, but they were never dignified +with such an alliance. Your nobility has now reached a point beyond +which it can climb no further. All that you do henceforward of a +praiseworthy kind will but have the effect of rendering you more +worthy of the matrimonial alliance which you have already +achieved[648].' + +[Footnote 647: 535 to 536.] + +[Footnote 648: 'Laudati sunt hactenus parentes tui, sed tanta non sunt +conjunctione decorati. Nobilitas tua non est ultra quod crescat. +Quicquid praeconialiter egeris, proprio matrimonio dignissimus +aestimaris.'] + + +12. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We do not think that the fact of a man's having received the +Consulship early in life should shut him out from holding office of +lower rank in his maturer years[649]. As the Tiber receives the water +of smaller rivers which merge their names in his, so a man of Consular +rank can serve the State in less conspicuous ways, yet still be +Consular. Therefore we have thought fit to bestow on the Illustrious +and Magnificent Patrician Maximus, the Primiceriatus which is also +called Domesticatus, from this fourteenth Indiction, that the +lowliness of the honour may be raised by the merit of the wearer. He +is an Anicius, sprung from a family renowned throughout the whole +world. He is also honoured with the affinity of our own illustrious +race. Receive him, welcome him, rejoice at these nuptials, which bind +me closer to you, now that you have in your ranks one whom I can truly +call a relation.' + +[Footnote 649: Flavius Anicius Maximus was Consul in 523.] + + +13. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[This letter may probably be referred to the Spring or Summer of 535. +Theodahad, soon after the deposition or death of Amalasuentha, has +apparently invited the Senate to Ravenna, an invitation which they +have respectfully declined. He chides their suspicions of him.] + +[Sidenote: Summons to Ravenna. Suspicions of the Senators.] + +'After we had dismissed the venerable Bishops who brought your +message, without taking exception to your requests, though there were +some things blameworthy among them, we received tidings that the City +of Rome was agitated by certain foolish anxieties, from which real +evil would grow unless the suspicion which caused them could be laid +to rest. + +'I fear that I cannot complain of "popular levity" if your illustrious +body, which should set an example to all others, should give way to +such fond imaginings. If Rome, which should govern the Provinces, be +so foolish, what can we expect of _them_? + +'Divine grace, however, prompts us both to pardon your faults and to +grant your requests. We owe you nothing, and yet we pay you[650]; but +we trust to be rewarded by hearing not our own praises but yours. Put +away these unworthy, these childish suspicions, and behave as becomes +the fathers of the people. + +[Footnote 650: 'Nihil debemus et solvimus.' Have we here an echo of +St. Augustine's thought, 'Reddis debita nulli debens?'] + +'In desiring your presence at our Court, we sought not your vexation +but your advantage. It is certainly a great privilege to see the face +of the Sovereign, and we thought to bestow on you, for the advantage +of the State, that which used to be counted as a reward. However, not +to deal harshly with you, we shall be satisfied with the attendance of +certain individuals from your body, as occasion may require, so that +on the one hand Rome may not be denuded of her citizens, and on the +other that we may not lack prudent counsellors in our chamber. Now +return to your old devotion, and serve us, not as a matter of fear, +but of love. The rest shall the bearer of this letter explain unto +you.' + + +14. KING THEODAHAD TO THE ROMAN PEOPLE. + +[The occasion of writing this letter, which we may perhaps refer to +the early part of 535, is apparently that some Gothic troops have been +sent to Rome, and the people have broken out into clamours against +them, or petitioned for their removal.] + +[Sidenote: Dissensions between citizens of Rome and Gothic troops.] + +'Your predecessors have always been distinguished by the loyal love +which they bore to the Chief of the State; and it is only right that +he [the Sovereign] who is defended with so much toil, he, for whom, as +the representative of public order, daily precautions are taken[651], +should in return love that people above all others whose loyalty gives +him a right to rule the world[652]. + +[Footnote 651: 'Qui maximo labore defenditur, cujus per dies singulos +civilitas custoditur.'] + +[Footnote 652: 'Ut illos diligat super omnia, per quos habere probatur +universa.'] + +'Oh! let there be nothing in you in our days which may justly move our +indignation. Still show forth your older loyalty. It is not fitting +that the Roman people should be fickle, or crafty, or full of +seditions. + +'Let no fond suspicions, no shadow of fear sway you. You have a +Sovereign who only longs to find opportunities to love you. Meet with +hostile arms your enemies, not your own defenders. + +'You ought to have invited, not to have shut out the succour which we +sent you. Evidently you have been misled by counsellors who care not +for the public weal. Return to your own better minds. + +'Was it some new and strange nation whose faces forsooth thus +terrified you? No: the very men whom hitherto you have called your +kinsmen, the men who in their anxiety for your safety have left their +homes and families in order to defend you. Strange return on your part +for their devotion! + +'As for you, you should know this, that night and day our one +ceaseless desire is to perfect, with God's help, the security which +was fostered in the times of our relations [Theodoric and +Amalasuentha]. Where, indeed, would our credit as a Sovereign be if +anything happened to your hurt? Dismiss all such thoughts from your +minds. If any have been unjustly cast down, we will raise him up +again. We have sent you some verbal messages by the bearer of this +letter, and hope that from henceforth we may rely on your constant +obedience.' + + +15. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. + +[Sidenote: Letter of introduction for an ecclesiastic.] + +'It is always a delight to us to have an opportunity of directing our +letters of salutation[653] to your Piety, since he is filled with +happy joy who converses with you with sincere heart. I therefore +recommend to your Clemency the bearer of this letter, who comes on the +affairs of the Church of Ravenna. There can be no doubt that if you +grant his request you will earn a just reward.' + +[Footnote 653: 'Salutiferos apices.'] + + +16. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: Assurances of good-will. Oath of concord.] + +'It is worthy of a ruler to do good of his own freewill, not under +compulsion. By God's favour we _can_ do anything, but we choose to do +only things that are praiseworthy. Recognise now, oh prudent +counsellors, that clemency of mine which ye might always have reckoned +upon. Ye feared that I was your enemy; far from that, I cannot even +bear that ye should be racked by the fear of evil[654]. And therefore, +though I change no purpose of mine, since I never had thoughts of evil +towards you, I have ordained that A and B, the bearers of this letter, +should take unto you the oaths which you solicited[655]. I do this +thing for God's sake, not for man's; for how could I, who have run +through the story of ancient realms in Holy Writ, wish to do anything +else but that which is well-pleasing to God, who will assuredly +recompense me according to my works. Henceforward, then, serve me +loyally, and in the full security which you have thus acquired: yea, +your love will be now the repayment of a debt rather than a freewill +offering.' + +[Footnote 654: 'Ecce nec sollicitos patimur, quibus infensi esse +putabamur.'] + +[Footnote 655: 'Postulata siquidem sacramenta vobis, ab Illo atque +Illo praestari nostra decrevit auctoritas.'] + + +17. KING THEODAHAD TO THE ROMAN PEOPLE. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'Since your security is our highest ornament, and since our love +wishes to remove every shade of anxiety from your minds, we have +ordered A and B to take oaths to you in our name, whereby you may know +the mind of your King towards you. Though this act might seem not to +consort with our dignity, we willingly perform it for your sakes, and +add the sanction of an oath, though we have learned from the Sacred +Scriptures that a mere promise ought to be kept. Now it is for you to +show your devotion, and with assiduous prayers to implore of the +Majesty on high that the tranquil times which we long that you may +enjoy may be granted by the gift of Heaven.' + + +18. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. + +[Sidenote: A Gothic garrison for Rome.] + +'Anxious that what we are devising for your safety should not be +misinterpreted by bitter suspicion, we do you to wit that the army +which is marching to Rome is intended for your defence, in order that +they who covet your possessions may by Divine help be resisted by the +arms of the Goths. If the shepherd is bound to watch over his flock, +the father of the family to see that no crafty deceiver enters +therein, with what anxious care ought not we to defend the City of +Rome, which by universal consent is unequalled in the world[656]. So +precious a possession must not be staked upon any throw. But that the +defence of the City may be in no wise burdensome to you, we have +ordered that the soldiers shall pay at the ordinary market rate for +the provisions which they require; and we have desired Vacco, the +steward of our house, to superintend these purchases. He is a man of +valour and integrity, whose character will secure him the obedience of +the troops, and enable him to prevent any excesses. + +[Footnote 656: 'Qua nos convenit cautela Romam defendere, quam constat +in mundo simile nihil habere?'] + +'As for the soldiers, we have told them to take up their quarters in +fitting places [outside the City?], that without there may be armed +defence, within for you, tranquil order[657]. + +[Footnote 657: 'Quos tamen locis aptis praecipimus immorari, ut foris +sit armata defensio, intus vobis tranquilla civilitas.'] + +'God forbid that in our days that City should seem to be protected by +walls, the very name of which hath been of old a terror to the +nations[658]. We hope for this from the aid of Heaven, that she who +hath always been free may never be stained by the insult of any +blockade[659]. + +[Footnote 658: 'Absit enim ut nostris temporibus Urbs illa muris +videatur protegi, quam constat gentibus vel sola opinione fuisse +terrori.'] + +[Footnote 659: 'Ut quae semper fuit libera, nullius inclusionis +decoloretur injuria.'] + + +19. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. + +[Sidenote: Embassy of Peter.] + +'We thank the Divine Being, who loves to see Kings at peace with one +another, that you expressed such joy at our elevation to the throne. +Continue to set to the world this example of benignity; continue to +show your interest in one who recommends himself by his pure affection +for you. For you do not seek to pick shabby quarrels with other +Sovereigns; you do not delight in unjust contests, which are contrary +to sound morality[660], since you seek for nothing but what may +increase the good opinion which men have of you. How could you throw +away that peace which it is the glory of your Piety to have imposed +even on angry nations[661]? + +[Footnote 660: 'Non enim rixas viles per regna requiritis: non vos +injusta certamina quae sunt bonis moribus inimica, delectant.' No +doubt this was meant to be taken as a hint of the censure which it +professes to deny.] + +[Footnote 661: 'Pacem quam et iracundis gentibus consuevistis +imponere.' An allusion, perhaps, to the peace concluded with Persia.] + +'Even you, glorious Sovereigns! [Justinian and Theodora] gain somewhat +when all other realms revere you. It is a common thing for the ruler +to be praised in his own land, but to receive the unforced praise of +foreign lands, that is indeed desirable. You are loved, most pious +Emperor, in your own dominions; but how much grander a thing to be yet +more loved in the regions of Italy, from whence the glory of the Roman +name was diffused over the whole world! It behoves you therefore to +continue that peaceful disposition which you showed towards us at the +commencement of our reign. + +'We have desired the most blessed Pope and the most honourable Senate +of the City of Rome to give their answers to the eloquent and worthy +Peter, your ambassador, with as little delay as possible; and we have +joined with him that venerable person our ambassador[662], that you +may know our mind from our own messenger.' + +[Footnote 662: The name of 'virum illum venerabilem' is not given, but +we learn from Procopius (De Bello Gotthico i. 6) that it was Rusticus, +a priest, a Roman, and an intimate friend of Theodahad.] + + +20. QUEEN GUDELINA[663] TO THEODORA AUGUSTA. + +[Footnote 663: Wife of Theodahad.] + +[Sidenote: Embassy of Rusticus.] + +'I have received with thanks the earnestly-desired letters of your +Piety, and reverently prize the report of your spoken words as better +than all gifts. You exhort us first of all to impart to your hearing +whatever requests we wish to make to your triumphant lord and +consort[664]. Backed by such patronage as yours, how can there be any +doubt as to the success of our petitions? It is an addition to our joy +that your Serenity has chosen such a man for your ambassador, one whom +it is equally fitting for your glory to send and for our obedience to +receive[665]. There can be no doubt that it is by constant observation +of your character that his own has become so excellent, since it is by +good maxims that the mind of man is cleansed from impurity[666]. +According to the warning of your Reverence we have given orders that +both Pope and Senate shall give their answers to your messengers +quickly, so that there may be no delay. + +[Footnote 664: 'Hortamini enim ut quidquid expetendum a triumphali +principe domino jugali nostro (?) credimus vestris ante sensibus +ingeramus.' It seems to me that the sense requires _vestro_ instead of +_nostro_, and I have translated accordingly. (Dahn also makes this +correction.)] + +[Footnote 665: 'Et vestra decet obsequia retinere.' Here 'nostra' +seems to give a better sense than 'vestra.'] + +[Footnote 666: 'Dubium enim non est illam mores dare cui observatur +assidue, dum constat defaecari animum bonis praeceptionibus +institutum.' Rather hazardous praise to address to a Theodora.] + +[Sidenote: Possible reference to death of Amalasuentha.] + +'For moreover, concerning that person about whom something came to our +ears with tickling speech, know that that has been ordained which we +believed would suit your intentions[667]; for it is our desire that by +the interposition of our good offices your will should be law as much +in our kingdom as in your empire[668]. + +[Footnote 667: 'Nam et de illa persona, de qua ad nos aliquid verbo +titillante pervenit, hoc ordinatum esse cognoscite, quod vestris +credidimus animis convenire.'] + +[Footnote 668: These mysterious sentences, according to Gibbon, cap. +xli. _n._ 56 (following Buat), refer to Amalasuentha, and thus lend +probability to the story in the Anecdote of Procopius that Theodora, +out of jealousy, intrigued with Theodahad to have Amalasuentha put to +death. But whatever may be the truth of that story, this sentence can +hardly by any possibility refer to it. For (1) it is clear that this +letter was written at the same time as Theodahad's, which precedes it, +therefore after the arrival of Peter in Italy. But Procopius is clear +that Amalasuentha was put to death before Peter had crossed the +Hadriatic, whereas this event, whatever it be, is evidently a piece of +news which Gudelina has to communicate to Theodora. (2) This letter, +though purporting to be from Gudelina, is confessedly written by +Cassiodorus, and published by him at the end of his official career. +It is hardly conceivable that he would deliberately publish to the +world his connection with the murder of Theodoric's daughter and his +own friend and benefactress. It is remarkable, on the contrary, how +complete (but for this passage) is the silence of the Variae as to +Amalasuentha's deposition and death: as if Cassiodorus had said, 'If +you do anything to harm _her_, you may get other apologists for your +deeds; I will be no champion of such wickedness.' It is scarcely +necessary to remark that there is nothing in the wording of the +sentence 'de illa persona,' &c. which makes it more applicable to a +woman than to a man. As Peter's embassy was ostensibly connected with +ecclesiastical affairs, there is perhaps an allusion in this sentence +to some scheme of Theodora's with reference to the Papacy. It is +possible that she may have been already working for the election of +Vigilius to the chair of St. Peter, and therefore that _he_ is meant +by 'illa persona.'] + +'We therefore inform you that we had caused our messenger [Rusticus +the priest] to be despatched by the Pope before your ambassador could +possibly have left Rome. So saluting you with all the veneration which +is your due, we assign the office of ambassador to a man eminent both +by his character and learning, and venerable by reason of his office; +since we believe that those persons are acceptable to you whom we have +thought suitable to be entrusted with the Divine ministry.' + + +21. QUEEN GUDELINA TO THEODORA, AUGUSTA. + +[Sidenote: Soliciting Theodora's friendship.] + +'Oh, wisest of Augustas, both I and my wedded lord earnestly desire +your friendship. The love of so great a lady seems to raise me higher +than royalty. Shed on us the lustre of your glory, for one light loses +nothing by imparting some of its brilliancy to another. With +affectionate presumption I commend myself to the favour of the Emperor +and yourself, desiring that, as is fitting, there should be no discord +between the two Roman realms[669].' + +[Footnote 669: 'Nullam inter Romana regna decet esse discordiam.'] + + +22. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN[670]. + +[Footnote 670: This letter seems as if it was written on precisely the +same occasion as x. 19. Again Peter is sent back, and with him a +'venerable man' to represent Theodahad. We learn from Procopius (i. 6) +that Theodahad, in his fear of war, recalled Peter when he had already +got as far as Albano, and gave him another set of propositions for +Justinian. It seems possible that these fresh letters (22 and 23) from +Theodahad and his Queen were given him when he set out the _second_ +time.] + +[Sidenote: Entreaties for peace.] + +'Our own ambassadors, and that most excellent person Peter, whom your +Piety despatched to us, will both have informed you how earnestly we +desire concord with your august Serenity. We now send two more +ambassadors charged with the same commission. We certainly with all +sincerity plead for peace who have no cause of quarrel with you. +Consider also, oh learned Sovereigns, and consult the archives of your +great grandfather[671], that you may see how large a part of their own +rights your predecessors were willing to relinquish for the sake of an +alliance with our ancestors[672]. Think how fortunate you are in +having that friendship willingly offered to you for which they had +humbly to sue. Yet, we may say it without arrogance, we know ourselves +to be better than those ancestors of ours with whom the treaty was +made[673]. We send you on this embassy a venerable man, made +illustrious by his priestly office, and conspicuous by the renown of +his learning. We pray the Divine goodness to bring our wishes to pass; +and as not even a series of letters can contain all that we have to +say, we have given some verbal messages to be conveyed to your sacred +ears, that you may not be wearied by the reading of too diffuse a +letter.' + +[Footnote 671: Zeno (not of course an ancestor in natural +relationship, but predecessor in the third degree).] + +[Footnote 672: 'Considerate etiam, principes docti, et abavi vestri +historica monumenta recolite, quantum decessores vestri studuerint de +suo jure relinquere ut eis parentum nostrorum foedera provenirent.'] + +[Footnote 673: 'Nunc illi vestram gratiam ultro quaerunt, qui suis +parentibus meliores se esse cognoscunt.' Dahn remarks that Theodahad's +asserted superiority to Theodoric probably consisted in his +philosophical culture.] + + +23. QUEEN GUDELINA TO THEODORA, AUGUSTA[674]. + +[Footnote 674: See note on the preceding letter.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We learn with satisfaction from that most eloquent man Peter, that +what has happened in this State is acceptable to you[675]. You show +your love of justice when, all suspicion by God's providence having +been wiped away, you desire that there should be lasting agreement +between us. Let there then be definite promises on both sides, and +lasting concord as the result. We therefore send that venerable man to +secure the peace of our most serene husband with yours in the sight of +all men. If there be anything in the Emperor's terms so hard that it +ought not to be imposed on us, we trust to your wise moderation to +mitigate the same, that the love which we have begun to feel towards +your kingdom be not chilled by harsh terms of peace. + +[Footnote 675: 'Ut per eum disceremus acceptum vobis esse quod in hac +republica constat evenisse.' At first sight this seems to refer to the +death of Amalasuentha or to the accession of Theodahad. Dahn thinks +that those events have been disposed of in previous letters. Perhaps +it is a general expression for 'the whole course of recent events in +Italy.' Though upon the whole rejecting the story of Theodora's +complicity in the death of Amalasuentha, I am bound to admit that this +passage lends a certain amount of probability to the charge. At the +same time, the words in the next sentence, 'per divinam providentiam +omni suspicione detersa,' are susceptible of an honourable meaning, +even if the death of Amalasuentha be alluded to. 'You and your husband +accused us of that crime. Now by God's providence we have been able to +show that we were guiltless of it [that it was done without our +privity by the relations of the three Gothic nobles whom she had put +to death]. Nothing therefore remains to hinder peace between us.'] + +'Claim this palm of concord between the two States as your own +especial crown, that as the Emperor is renowned for his successful +wars, so you may receive the praises of all men for this accomplished +peace. Let the bearer of these letters see you often and +confidentially. We hope for just, not onerous, conditions of peace, +although in truth nothing seems impossible to us if we know that it is +asked for by such a glorious person as yourself.' + + +24. QUEEN GUDELINA TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN[676]. + +[Footnote 676: Apparently sent at the same time as the two preceding +letters.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +A short letter of compliments to the Emperor, and earnest desire for +the preservation of peace. Peter and 'ille vir venerabilis' are still +the messengers. + + +25. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'The august page written by your Serenity, and brought to us by the +venerable presbyter Heracleanus, has gleamed upon us, bringing us the +grace of your salutation. Oh, what a great benefit for us is this +sweet converse with so mighty a prince! + +'May we ever hear of your safety, and of the increase of the happiness +of your kingdom. We have no other wish but this. According to your +desire we have addressed letters to the Pope of the City of Rome[677], +telling him to reply to the letter brought by the present messenger +with the least possible delay, since anyone who comes from you should +be attended to with utmost celerity. We hope for many future +opportunities of thus obeying your desires and earning your love in +return.' + +[Footnote 677: Negotiations were evidently still going on between the +Emperor and the Pope, probably with reference to the election of +Anthimus, who, though accused of Monophysitism, had been made +Patriarch of Constantinople in 535 by Theodora's influence, and whom +the Pope apparently refused to recognise. He was afterwards deposed by +Pope Agapetus when he visited Constantinople.] + + +26. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. + +[Sidenote: A monastery too heavily taxed.] + +'Richer than all other gifts bestowed by your Serenity is this, when +you exhort us to do that which will profit for our own salvation and +recommend us to the Divine Power. We hear that it has been brought to +the knowledge of your Glory that a monastery of God's servants is too +heavily oppressed with tribute, and we point out that this is owing to +an inundation which has smitten their land with the curse of +barrenness. However, we have given orders to the most eminent +Senator[678] to appoint a careful inspector to visit the farm in +question, weigh the matter carefully, and make such reasonable +reduction as may leave a sufficient profit to the owners of the soil. +We consider that anything which we thus concede to the desire of your +Mildness will be to us the most precious of all gains. + +[Footnote 678: Cassiodorus.] + +[Sidenote: Alleged losses of a convert from Arianism.] + +'In the matter of Veranilda, too, about which your Serenity has +deigned to admonish me, though it happened long ago under the reign of +my relations, I thought it right to make good her loss by my own +generosity, that she might not repent her change of religion[679]. For +seeing that the Deity suffers many religions, we should not seek to +impose one on all our subjects. He who tries to do otherwise flies in +the face of the Divine commands. Your Piety, therefore, fittingly +invites me to these acts of obedience to God.' + +[Footnote 679: Apparently Veranilda had in the reign of Theodoric +become a convert from Arianism to Orthodoxy, and had suffered some +pecuniary losses in consequence, which Theodahad now proposes to make +up to her. See Dahn, Koenige der Germanen iii. 199, _n._ 4.] + + +27. KING THEODAHAD TO SENATOR[680], PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO. + +[Footnote 680: Cassiodorus.] + +[Sidenote: Corn distributions in Liguria and Venetia.] + +'In succouring his subjects, the payers of tribute, the King does not +seem to give, so much as to restore what he has received. The +cultivator of the soil is abandoned to future famine, unless he is +helped in the day of his necessity. Therefore let the corn which has +been received by the government from industrious Liguria and loyal +Venetia, though it has been taken from their fields, be born again to +them in our granaries, since it is too outrageous that the cultivator +should starve while our barns are full. Therefore let your Illustrious +Greatness (whose office is said to have been instituted for the +express purpose of feeding the people from the accumulated stores of +the State[681]) sell to the impoverished Ligurians the third part of +the grain warehoused at Ticinum and Dertona, at the rate of 25 modii +to the solidus[682]. Similarly distribute the third part of the stores +in the warehouses of Tarvisium and Tridentum to the Venetians, at the +same rate, that pitying Heaven, seeing men's bounty to one another, +may give us fruitful harvests. Take care that this distribution is so +managed that our indulgence shall reach those persons chiefly, who are +least able to depend on their own resources.' + +[Footnote 681: 'Quorum dignitas ad hoc legitur instituta, ut de +repositis copiis populum saturare possetis.' Probably an allusion to +Joseph, whom Cassiodorus celebrates as the first Praefectus +Praetorio.] + +[Footnote 682: Six bushels for twelve shillings, or sixteen shillings +a quarter.] + + +28. KING THEODAHAD TO SENATOR[683], PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO. + +[Footnote 683: Cassiodorus.] + +[Sidenote: Grant of monopolies.] + +'The King ought to confirm whatever has been wisely ordered by the +Judges, especially those who are known to be above suspicion of +bribery. + +'Therefore we confirm in their offices[684] the stewards[685], +purveyors[686] of wheat, wine, and cheese, the meat sellers, vintners, +farmers of the revenue derived from granaries and taverns[687], hay +merchants, and general provision dealers[688], who belong to the City +of Rome or the royal residence of Ravenna[689]; also those who hold +public charges of this description along the river banks of Ticinum or +Placentia[690], or in any other places, whom we know to have been +appointed by you, whose judgments we willingly embrace and desire to +hold fast exactly as if they were our own; nor will we allow the +malice of any to prevail against those persons who by your choice have +assumed these public functions. If therefore they acquit themselves to +your satisfaction, they shall hold their office for five years without +fear of disturbance during that period. On account of the present +barrenness of the land you should cause them to fix such prices for +the different kinds of grain as shall seem reasonable to your +Eminence[691]. + +[Footnote 684: The sentence is so long that Cassiodorus seems to have +forgotten its construction, and these important words are in fact +omitted.] + +[Footnote 685: 'Arcarios.'] + +[Footnote 686: 'Prorogatores.'] + +[Footnote 687: 'Capitularios horreariorum et tabernariorum.'] + +[Footnote 688: 'Cellaritas.'] + +[Footnote 689: 'Mansionem Ravennatem.'] + +[Footnote 690: 'Ripam Ticinensem vel Placentinam.'] + +[Footnote 691: Here follows, 'Ut hi quibus commissum est exercere +singulos apparatus de injusto gravamine non querantur,' which I do not +venture to translate, as I am not sure whether it relates to buyers or +sellers.] + +'As human ambition requires to be checked by fear of punishment, +anyone who by petitioning or canvassing seeks to obtain the place of +one of these lawfully appointed purveyors shall be visited with a fine +of 30 lbs. of gold[692], to be exacted from him by you. If unable to +pay this fine he shall suffer corporal punishment and be noted as +infamous. Nothing can be considered safe or stable if men are to be +perpetually exposed to the snares of envious competitors like these. +Your Greatness is to bring this law to the knowledge of all men.' + +[Footnote 692: L1,200.] + +[It is clear that this letter refers to an office greatly coveted, and +one in which there was a possibility of making great gains, but also +one in which, owing to the regulation of prices by the government, +there might be temporary losses; to guard against which it was +considered reasonable that the holder should be guaranteed in his +office for five years. + +The office is the supply of the staple articles of food to the King's +household at Rome and Ravenna, and to the garrisons probably of Pavia +and Piacenza and the neighbouring country. Did this right carry with +it an absolute monopoly as far as the other inhabitants of those +places are concerned? This seems probable; but I do not know that we +can positively state it. + +The term used, 'Arcarii,' is applied in the Theodosian Code (xii. 6, +14) to the bailiffs by whom the rents on the Imperial domain were +collected. Here it has manifestly altered its meaning.] + + +29. KING THEODAHAD TO COUNT WINUSIAD. + +[Sidenote: An old soldier receives furlough for a visit to the baths +of Bormio.] + +'Your noble birth and tried fidelity induced us to commit to you the +government of the City of Ticinum, which you had defended in war: but +now, being deluged with a sudden inundation of muddy gout[693], you +ask leave to resort to the waters of Bormio, which by their drying +influences are of healing power for this malady. + +[Footnote 693: 'Limosae podagrae subita inundatione complutus.'] + +'We permit, nay earnestly encourage, you to undertake this journey; +for we cannot bear that one of our warriors should fall a victim to +the tyranny of this cruel disease, which, like the Barbarians, when it +has once claimed by force hospitality in the owner's body, ever after +defends its right thereto by cruelty. It seeks out all the hollow +places of the system, makes stones out of its moisture, and deposits +them there, destroying all the beautiful arrangements of Nature for +free and easy movement. It loosens what ought to be tight, it +contracts the nerves, and so shortens the limbs that a tall man finds +all the comeliness of his stature taken from him while he is still +unmutilated. It is in truth a living death; and when the excruciating +torment is gone, it leaves an almost worse legacy behind it--inability +to move. Even debtors in the torture chamber have the weights +sometimes removed from their feet; but this cruel malady, when it has +once taken hold of a man, seems never to relinquish possession. A +disease of this kind, bringing with it weakness and helplessness, is +especially terrible to a warrior, who after overcoming the foes that +came against him in battle, finds himself thus struck down by an enemy +within. + +'Go then, in Heaven's name, to the healing springs. We cannot bear the +thought that you the warrior should be carried on men's shoulders, +instead of bestriding your war-horse. We have painted all these evils +in somewhat exaggerated style in order to stir you up to seek an early +cure. + +'Use then these waters, soothing to the taste, and in the hot bath +able to dry up the gouty humours. God has given us this ally wherewith +to overcome that enemy of the human race; and under its double +influence, within and without, the malady, which ten years of regimen +and endless medicines cannot lessen, is put to flight by remedies +which are in themselves delightful. + +'May God grant that this far-famed place may restore your body to +health[694].' + +[Footnote 694: The nature-heated springs of Bormio are still resorted +to; and some pedestrian travellers, who have crossed the Stelvio from +Trafoi, have a grateful remembrance of their soothing waters.] + + +30. KING THEODAHAD TO HONORIUS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY. + +[Sidenote: The elephants in the Via Sacra.] + +'We regret to learn from your report that the brazen elephants placed +in the Via Sacra[695] (so called from the many superstitions to which +it was consecrated of old) are falling into ruins. + +[Footnote 695: I have not found any other mention of these brazen +elephants. Nardini (Roma Antica i. 295) cites this passage, and +illustrates it by quotations from Suetonius, Pliny, and the Historia +Augusta, showing that it was the custom to erect to Emperors and +Empresses statues of elephants drawing triumphal chariots.] + +'This is to be much regretted, that whereas these animals live in the +flesh more than a thousand years, their brazen effigies should be so +soon crumbling away. See therefore that their gaping limbs be +strengthened by iron hooks, and that their drooping bellies be +fortified by masonry placed underneath them. + +[Sidenote: Natural history of the elephant.] + +'The living elephant, when it is prostrate on the ground, as it often +is when helping men to fell trees, cannot get up again unaided. This +is because it has no joints in its feet; and accordingly you see +numbers of them lying as if dead till men come to help them up again. +Thus this creature, so terrible by its size, is really not equally +endowed by Nature with the tiny ant. + +'That the elephant surpasses all other animals in intelligence is +proved by the adoration which it renders to Him whom it understands to +be the Almighty Ruler of all. Moreover it pays to good princes a +homage which it refuses to tyrants. + +'It uses its proboscis[696], that nosed hand which Nature has given it +to compensate for its very short neck, for the benefit of its master, +accepting the presents which will be profitable to him. It always +walks cautiously, mindful of that fatal fall [into the hunter's pit] +which was the beginning of its captivity. At its master's bidding it +exhales its breath, which is said to be a remedy for the human +headache. + +[Footnote 696: Cassiodorus calls it 'promuscis.'] + +'When it comes to water it sucks up in its trunk a vast quantity, +which at the word of command it squirts forth like a shower. If anyone +have treated it with contempt, it pours forth such a stream of dirty +water over him that one would think a river had entered his house. For +this beast has a wonderfully long memory, both of injury and of +kindness. Its eyes are small, but move solemnly. There is a sort of +kingly dignity in its appearance, and while it recognises with +pleasure all that is honourable, it seems to despise scurrilous jests. +Its skin is furrowed by deep channels, like that of the victims of the +foreign disease named after it[697], _elephantiasis_. It is on account +of the impenetrability of this hide that the Persian Kings used the +elephant in war. + +[Footnote 697: 'A qua transportaneorum (?) nefanda passio nomen +accepit.'] + +'It is most desirable that we should preserve the images of these +creatures, and that our citizens should thus be familiarised with the +sight of the denizens of foreign lands. Do not therefore permit them +to perish, since it is for the glory of Rome to collect all specimens +of the process by which the art of workmen hath imitated the +productions of wealthy Nature in all parts of the world.' + +[This letter traverses the same ground as Pliny's 'Historia Naturalis' +viii. 1-11, but supplies some new facts. Pliny makes the elephant live +to the age of 200 or even 300 years. Cassiodorus boldly says 'more +than a thousand.' The curious story of the elephant's religion is +given with more detail by Pliny; but he knows nothing of the political +sagacity which enables it to discern between a good king and a tyrant. +Pliny mentions the fact that the elephant's breath is a cure for +headache, but adds, 'especially if he sneeze[698].' + +[Footnote 698: Hist. Nat. xxviii. 8.] + +Upon the whole, though Cassiodorus had probably read Pliny's +description, his own must be pronounced original. + +This marvellous letter is the last that we have, written in the name +of Theodahad.] + + +31. KING WITIGIS[699] TO ALL THE GOTHS. + +[Footnote 699: Spelt 'Vitigis' by Cassiodorus.] + +[Sidenote: Elevation of Witigis.] + +'Though every advance in station is to be accounted among the good +gifts of the Divinity, especially is the kingly dignity to be looked +upon as coming by His ordinance through Whom kings reign and subjects +obey. Wherefore, with liveliest satisfaction returning thanks to our +Maker Christ, we inform you that our kinsmen[700] the Goths, amid a +fence of circling swords, raising us in ancestral fashion upon a +shield, have by Divine guidance bestowed on us the kingly dignity, +thus making arms the emblem of honour to one who has earned all his +renown in war. For know that not in the corner of a presence-chamber, +but in wide-spreading plains I have been chosen King; and that not the +dainty discourse of flatterers, but the blare of trumpets announced my +elevation, that the Gothic people, roused by the sound to a kindling +of their inborn valour, might once more gaze upon a Soldier King. + +[Footnote 700: 'Parentes nostros Gothos.'] + +'Too long indeed have these brave men, bred up amid the shock of +battle, borne with a Sovereign who was untried in war; too long have +they laboured to uphold his dubious fame, though they might presume +upon their own well-known valour[701]. For it is inevitable that the +character of the ruler should in some degree influence the reputation +of the whole people. + +[Footnote 701: 'Ut de ejus fama laboraret quamvis de propria virtute +praesumeret.' I have translated as if 'laboraret' and 'praesumeret' +were in the plural, and even so, find it difficult to get a +satisfactory meaning out of these words.] + +'But, as ye have heard, called forth by the dangers of my kindred, I +was ready to undergo with them one common fate; but they would not +suffer me to continue a mere General, feeling that they needed a +veteran King. Wherefore now accept first the Divine decree, and then +the judgment of the Goths, since it is your unanimous wish which makes +me King. Lay aside then the fear of disaster: cast off the suspicion +of further losses: fear no rude strokes of fate under our dominion. We +who have ridden so oft to war have learned to love valiant men. +Associated in all things with your labours, I have been myself a +witness to the brave deeds of each of you, and need no other evidence +of your worth. By no fraudulent variations between my public and +private negotiations shall the might of the Gothic arms be +broken[702]. Everything that we do shall have respect to the welfare +of our whole people: in private we will not even love. We promise to +follow those courses which shall adorn the royal name. Finally, we +undertake that our rule shall in all things be such as becomes a +Gothic King, the successor of the renowned Theodoric--that man who was +so rarely and so nobly qualified by Nature for the cares of royalty; +that man of whom it may be truly said that every other Sovereign is +illustrious in so far as he loves _his_ counsels. Therefore he who +succeeds in imitating the deeds of Theodoric ought to be considered as +belonging to his line. Thus then, manifest your anxious care for the +welfare of our kingdom, while your hearts are at ease, through God's +goodness, as to our internal security.' + +[Footnote 702: 'Arma Gothorum nulla promissionum mearum varietate +frangenda sunt.' An evident allusion to the treacherous and +unpatriotic diplomacy of Theodahad, as described by Procopius.] + + +32. KING WITIGIS TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. + +[Sidenote: Overtures for peace with the Empire.] + +'How much, oh most clement Emperor, we long for the sweetness of your +favour, may be understood from this fact alone, that after such +serious injuries and such grievous bloodshed as you have inflicted on +us, we still come forward to ask for peace with you, as if none of +your servants had ever wronged us. We have suffered such things as +might move the indignation even of our enemies, who must know that +they have attacked us without our guilt, have hated us without our +fault, have despoiled us without our owing them anything. Nor can it +be said that the blow has been so slight that no account need be taken +of it, since it has been struck not in the Provinces alone but in Rome +[or Italy] herself, the Capital of the World[703]. Think how great +must be our pain at this, which nevertheless we banish from memory in +order that we may obtain justice at your hands. Such disturbance has +been made as the whole world speaks of[704] [and condemns], and it +deserves to be so composed by you that all men may admire your spirit +of equity. + +[Footnote 703: 'Non in provinciis tantum sed in ipso rerum capite +probatur inflictum.'] + +[Footnote 704: 'Talis res effecta est quam mundus loquatur.' The +commentator Fornerius absurdly understands this of Mundus, the general +of Justinian in Dalmatia, who had already fallen in battle before the +accession of Witigis.] + +'If vengeance on King Theodahad be the thing required, I [who have put +him to death] merit your love. If you desire to honour the blessed +memory of Queen Amalasuentha, think of her daughter[705], who has +reached [by our means] that royal station to which your soldiers might +well have striven to exalt her, in order that all the nations might +see how faithful you remained to the old friendship. + +[Footnote 705: Matasuentha, now wife of Witigis.] + +'This fact too ought to influence you, that by the ordering of +Providence we were permitted to make your acquaintance before our +accession to the throne, that the remembrance of our favourable +reception at your Court, and the sight of your person in that splendid +position, might move us to love and reverence. + +'Even now you can undo all that has been misdone, since the continual +expectation of favours to come, makes perseverance in affection +easy[706]. Therefore, soliciting your Clemency with all due respect, +we inform you that we have appointed A and B our ambassadors to the +Wisdom of your Serenity, that you may, according to your custom, duly +weigh all these considerations, that the two Republics may persevere +in restored harmony, and that all which hath been settled in past +times by Sovereigns of blessed memory may, by God's help, be increased +and made more prosperous under your dominion. + +[Footnote 706: 'Quando non est difficile illum in affectu retinere, +qui gratiam constat desideranter expetere.' Very nearly, but not +quite, the modern proverb which says that gratitude is 'a lively sense +of favours to come.'] + +'The rest of their commission will be more fully explained to your +Serenity by the aforesaid ambassadors.' + + +33. KING WITIGIS TO THE MASTER OF THE OFFICES [AT CONSTANTINOPLE]. + +[Sidenote: Embassy to Constantinople.] + +'In sending our two ambassadors to the most serene Emperor, it is +fitting also to send letters of salutation[707] to your Greatness. May +your prudence support our reasonable requests with the Emperor. You +can easily correct those things [the war against the Gothic people] +which you ought never to have allowed to take place; and all things +can now be arranged in the most friendly manner, since a +reconciliation between men who have fought out their quarrel is often +the surest ground of friendship. An unknown man might possibly have +been shunned by you; but I, who have seen the magnificence of your +Republic, who have known the hearts of so many of your noble +statesmen, have no desire to quarrel with your most pious Emperor, if +he will only cherish thoughts of justice towards me. If another +[Theodahad] deserved the anger of the Emperor, I ought to be looked +upon with the highest favour, who have executed vengeance on that +hateful predecessor. I have carried your intentions into effect, and +therefore I deserve reward, not punishment. Let all hatred be buried +in the grave of the sinner; and even if you think nothing of our +deservings, think of the liberty of the Romans, which is everywhere +suffering amid the clash of arms. A few words to a man of your wisdom +are sufficient.' + +[Footnote 707: 'Salutiferos apices.' See x. 15.] + + +34. KING WITIGIS TO HIS BISHOPS. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'If we owe honour to Priests even when unknown to us, how much more so +to you whom we have seen and spoken to, and with whom we have had +frequent and familiar intercourse. + +'By the ambassadors who are bearing our letters to the most serene +Emperor we send a message of reverence to your Holiness, hoping that +you will pray for us and set them forward on their journey with all +necessary assistance, since you are bound to wish well to those whom +you know to be united to you by the ties of religion.' + + +35. KING WITIGIS TO THE PRAEFECT OF THESSALONICA. + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'We are sending two ambassadors to the most serene Emperor, who will +salute your Greatness. We earnestly hope that your Excellency will +speed them on their journey.' + + + + +BOOK XI. + +PREFACE. + + +'The necessity for a Preface often arises from some contrariety in an +Author's position which prevents him from writing as he would wish to +write. It is admitted that it is not fair to expect the same degree of +excellence from a busy man which we may reasonably look for in a man +of leisure. But a man in high official position cannot be a man of +leisure. It would be the highest disgrace to him if he were, since +even his so-called privy-chamber[708] resounds with the noise of +clamorous litigants. + +[Footnote 708: 'Secretum.'] + +'I can well understand that a man of few occupations will object +against me, here that a word has been thrown out with ill-considered +haste, there that a commonplace sentiment has not been dressed up in +sufficiently ornamental language, or there that I have not complied +with the rules of the Ancients by making my persons speak "in +character." But the busy man, hurried from one cause to another, and +constantly under the necessity of dictating to one man and replying to +another, will not make these objections, because the consciousness of +his own literary perils will make him tender in his judgments. And yet +there is something even in the pressure of business which sometimes +promotes briskness of mind, since the art of speaking is one which is +placed very much in our own power[709]. + +[Footnote 709: Here follows a sentence which I do not understand: +'Remanet itaque ad excusandum brevitas insperata librorum, quam nemo +purgat diutius, nisi qui bene creditur esse dicturus.'] + +'If anyone objects that I, placed in the height of the Praetorian +dignity, should have dictated so few decisions of a legal kind, let +him know that this was the result of my associating with myself that +most prudent man Felix[710], whose advice I have followed in every +case. He is a man of absolute purity of character, of surpassing +knowledge of the law, of distinguished accuracy of speech; a young man +with the gravity of age, a sweet pleader, a measured orator; one who +by his graceful discharge of his official duties has earned the +favourable opinion of the public. + +[Footnote 710: This can hardly be the Consul of A.D. 511, since he is +called in the next sentence 'senilis juvenis.'] + +'Had it not been for his help, overwhelmed by so great a multitude of +causes, I must either have been found unequal to the burden, or else +perchance have seemed arrogant [in my disregard of previously settled +decisions]. But, what was more important still, relieved by his +labours from this duty, I was able to give such attention to the +higher affairs of the State, that I could not fail to win approbation +even in those arduous duties. + +'I have therefore subjoined two books, in which I myself speak in my +capacity as Praefect, to the ten in which I have spoken by the mouth +of the King; for it seemed absurd to me to be silent in my +newly-acquired dignity, who had so often spoken on behalf of others. + +'Then, after these twelve books had been brought to their long-desired +end, my friends compelled me to discuss the substance and the powers +of the Soul, that I might say something _about_ that faculty +_through_ which I had already said so much[711]. + +[Footnote 711: 'De Animae substantia vel de virtutibus ejus amici me +disserere coegerunt: ut per quam multa diximus, de ipsa quoque dicere +videremur.'] + +'Now then, learned men! view these letters with indulgence. If there +be no eloquence in them, attribute it to my many occupations, which +have prevented my reading as much as I would gladly have done. Cicero, +that fountain of eloquence, when he was one day asked to speak, +excused himself on the ground that he had read nothing the day before. +The barn must be constantly refilled if it is not to become empty. All +that is good in our minds is the fruit of study, and soon withers if +it be separated from reading, which is the parent stem. Great +indulgence therefore should be shown to us if we have often had to +write when we were busy, to be read by others when we had no leisure +to read, ourselves. And now enough of excuses, lest too elaborate a +defence should rather injure our cause.' + + + + +BOOK XI. + +CONTAINING THIRTY-NINE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME +AS PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO, AND ONE ON BEHALF OF THE ROMAN SENATE. + + +1. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME +(A.D. 534)[712]. + +[Footnote 712: This letter, which was not composed immediately after +Cassiodorus' accession to office, most have been written after the +death of the Frankish King Theodoric, which occurred, according to +Clinton, early in 534, and before October 2 of the same year, the date +of the death of Athalaric. Notwithstanding the obscurity of many of +the allusions in it, this document is one of our best authorities for +the history of Amalasuentha's regency, and is therefore translated +almost verbatim.] + +[Sidenote: Cassiodorus on his promotion to the Praefecture.] + +'If I can only be sure that my advancement is acceptable to you, +Conscript Fathers, I shall not doubt of its being approved by God and +popular with all good men. + +'It is in the nature of things to love a colleague, and you are in +fact exalting your own honour when you approve of a dignity given to a +_Senator_[713]. + +[Footnote 713: Partly a pun on his name, partly an allusion to his +rank.] + +'After our Sovereigns there is none to whom I so much desire to +commend myself as you. To me honour will ever be the sole test of +advantage. Justice, like a handmaid, will wait upon my actions; and +the power, which I have not myself bought from our virtuous Sovereign, +I in my turn shall sell to no man. You have heard, noble Sirs, the +panegyrics[714] passed upon me at my entrance into office. These +praises I will not dare to call false, but I will say that they lay +upon me a heavy responsibility to show that they are not unmerited. + +[Footnote 714: The letter written by Cassiodorus himself, in the name +of Athalaric, to announce his elevation to the Praefecture (Var. ix. +25).] + +'Happy fortune of our time in which, while the Sovereign himself takes +holiday, the love of his mother rules and covers us all with the robe +of her universal charity! Happy for the young Ruler, who in this +difficult position learns first to triumph over his impetuous +impulses, and attains in the springtime of his life that self-control +which hoary age with difficulty acquires! + +[Sidenote: Praises of Amalasuentha.] + +'As for the Mother whom he so dutifully obeys, her most fittingly do +all kingdoms venerate, whom to behold is to adore, to listen to is to +witness a miracle. Of what language is she not a perfect mistress? She +is skilled in the niceties of Attic eloquence; she shines in the +majesty of Roman speech; she glories in the wealth of the language of +her fathers. She is equally marvellous in all these, and in each the +orator in his own especial tongue feels himself surpassed by her. A +great safeguard and a great excellence is this in the ruler of so many +nationalities. None needs an interpreter with his accomplished +mistress. No ambassador need wait, or hear his words slowly filtered +through the mind of a go-between. Everyone feels that his own words +are listened to, and receives his answer from her lips in the language +of his forefathers. + +'To these accomplishments, as a splendid diadem, is added that +priceless knowledge of Literature, by which the treasures of ancient +learning are appropriated, and the dignity of the throne is ever +enhanced. + +'Yet, while she rejoices in such perfect mastery of language, on +public occasions she is so taciturn that she might be supposed to be +indolent. With a few words she unties the knots of entangled +litigations, she calmly arranges hot disputes, she silently promotes +the public welfare. You do not hear her announce beforehand what will +be her course of action in public; but with marvellous skill she +attains, by feigning, those points which she knows require to be +rapidly gained[715]. + +[Footnote 715: 'Et temperamento mirabili dissimulando peragit quod +accelerandum esse cognoscit.'] + +[Sidenote: Comparison to Placidia.] + +'What case like this can be produced from the annals of revered +Antiquity? Placidia's care for her purple-clad son has often been +celebrated; but by Placidia's lax administration of the Empire its +boundaries were unbecomingly retrenched. She gained for him a wife and +for herself a daughter-in-law[716] by the loss of Illyricum; and thus +the union of Sovereigns was bought by a lamentable division of the +Provinces[717]. The discipline of the soldiers was relaxed by too long +peace; and, in short, Valentinian, under the guardianship of his +mother, lost more than he could have done if he had been a helpless +orphan. + +[Footnote 716: 'Eudoxia.'] + +[Footnote 717: 'Nurum denique sibi amissione Illyrici comparavit: +factaque est conjunctio Regnantis, divisio dolenda provinciis.' On +this alleged loss of Illyricum by the Western Empire, see Gibbon, cap. +xxxiii. note 6. One may doubt, however, whether Cassiodorus has been +correctly informed concerning it. Noricum and Pannonia at the time of +Valentinian's marriage must have been entirely in the possession of +the Huns; and on the dissolution of their monarchy Noricum at any rate +seems to be connected with the Western rather than the Eastern Empire. +As for Dalmatia, or the _Province_ (as distinct from the +_Praefecture_) of Illyricum, the retirement thither of the Emperor +Nepos in 475, and the previous history of his uncle Marcellinus, point +towards the conclusion that this Province was then considered as +belonging _de jure_ to the Caesar of Rome rather than to him of +Constantinople.] + +[Sidenote: Relations with the East.] + +'But under this Lady, who can count as many Kings as ancestors in her +pedigree, our army by Divine help is a terror to foreign nations. +Being kept in a prudent equipoise it is neither worn away by continual +fighting nor enervated by unbroken peace. In the very beginnings of +the reign, when a new ruler's precarious power is apt to be most +assailed, contrary to the wish of the Eastern Emperor she made the +Danube a Roman stream. Well known is all that the invaders suffered, +of which I therefore omit further mention, that the shame of defeat +may not be too closely associated with the thought of the Emperor, our +ally. Still, what he thought of your part of the Empire is clear from +this, that he conceded to our attack that peace which he has refused +to the abject entreaties of others. Add this fact, that though we have +rarely sought him he has honoured us with so many embassies, and that +thus his unique majesty has bowed down the stately head of the Orient +to exalt the lords of Italy[718]. + +[Footnote 718: 'Et singularis illa potentia, ut _Italicos Dominos_, +erigeret, reverentiam Eoi culminis ordinavit.' This somewhat favours +the notion that Theodoric and his successors called themselves Kings +of Italy.] + +[Sidenote: Expedition against the Franks.] + +'The Franks also, overmighty by their victories over so many barbarous +tribes--by what a great expedition were they harassed! Attacked, they +dreaded a contest with our soldiers; they who had leaped unawares upon +so many nations and forced them into battle. But though that haughty +race declined the offered conflict, they could not prevent the death +of their own King. For Theodoric[719], he who had so often availed +himself of the name of our glorious King as an occasion for triumph, +now fell vanquished in the struggle with disease--a stroke of Divine +Providence surely, to prevent us from staining ourselves with the +blood of our kindred, and yet to grant some revenge to the army which +had been justly called out to war. Hail! thou Gothic array, happy +above all other happiness, who strikest at the life of a Royal foe, +yet leavest us not the poorer by the life of one of the least of our +soldiers[720]. + +[Footnote 719: Theodoric I, son of Clovis, King of the Franks, +reigning at Metz, died, as before stated, in 534.] + +[Footnote 720: 'Et nobis nec unius ultimi facta subducis (?).'] + +[Sidenote: League with the Burgundians.] + +'The Burgundian too, in order to receive his own again, crouched in +devotion, giving up his whole self that he might receive a trifle. For +he chose to obey with unimpaired territories, rather than to resist +with these cut short; and thus, by laying aside his arms, he most +effectually defended his kingdom, recovering by his prayers what he +had lost by the sword[721]. + +[Footnote 721: 'Burgundio quinetiam, ut sua reciperet, devotus +effectus est: reddens se totum dum accepisset exiguum. Elegit quippe +integer obedire, quam imminutus obsistere: tutius tunc defendit regnum +quando arma deposuit. Recuperavit enim prece, quod amisit in acie.' +The meaning of these mysterious words, as interpreted by Binding +(268-270) and Jahn (ii. 252), is that Godomar, King of the +Burgundians, received back from Amalasuentha (probably about 530, or a +little later) the territory between the Durance and the Isere, which +Theodoric had wrested from his brother in 523. The occasion of this +cession was probably some league of mutual defence against the Franks, +which Cassiodorus could without dishonesty represent as a kind of +vassalage of Burgundy to Ostrogothia. If so, it availed Godomar +little, as his territories were overrun by the Frankish Kings in 532, +and the conquest of them was apparently completed by 534 (Jahn ii. +68-78).] + +'Happy Princess, whose enemies either fall by the hand of God, or else +by your bounty are united with your Empire! Rejoice, Goths and Romans +alike, and hail this marvel, a being who unites the excellences of +both the sexes! As woman she has given birth to your illustrious King, +while with manly fortitude of mind she has maintained the bounds of +your Empire. + +'And now, if leaving the realm of war we enter the inner courts of her +moral goodness, a hundred tongues will not suffice to sound forth all +her praises. Her justice is as great as her goodwill, but even greater +is her kindness than her power. You, Senators, know the heavenly +goodness which she has shown to your order, restoring those who had +met with affliction to a higher state than that from which they had +fallen[722], and exalting to honour those who were still uninjured. + +[Footnote 722: 'Afflictos statu meliore restituit.' An allusion, +probably, to her kindness to the families of Boethius and Symmachus.] + +'Look at the case of the Patrician Liberius[723], Praefect of the +Gauls--a man of charming manners, of distinguished merit, a soldier +with honourable scars--who even while absent in his Praefecture has +received the _fasces_ and a patrimony from her. + +[Footnote 723: No doubt the same Liberius who nobly defended the +character of Amalasuentha at the Court of Justinian (Procopius, De +Bello Gotthico i. 4). Apparently he was made Consul, but his name does +not appear in the Fasti at this time.] + +'What can I say of her strength of mind and tenacity of purpose, in +which she excels even philosophers? I speak of this from my own +experience. You know, oh Conscript Fathers, what influences were +arrayed against me[724]. Neither gold nor the prayers of great men +availed: all things were tried, and tried in vain, to prove the +glorious constancy of that wisest Lady. + +[Footnote 724: Probably to prevent his obtaining the Praefecture.] + +[Sidenote: Virtues of the Amal Kings.] + +'And here the rules of rhetoric would require me to compare her with a +long line of Empresses in the past. But if men cannot vie with her +glory, what is the use of adducing female examples? If we look at the +Royal Cohort of her ancestors, we shall see that she, like a pure +mirror, reflects all their excellences. For Amal[725] was conspicuous +for his good fortune, Ostrogotha for his patience, Athal for mildness, +Munitarius [Winithar] for justice, Unimund for beauty, Thorismuth for +chastity, Unalamer [Walamir] for faith, Theudimer for warmth of +heart[726], and Theodoric, the renowned father of Amalasuentha, as ye +have all seen, for patience. Each of these would recognise in her his +own special attribute, but all would acknowledge that in these very +attributes they are excelled by her. + +[Footnote 725: This and the following names belong to the ancestors of +Amalasuentha, and are found with slight variations in the treatise of +Jordanes on the History of the Goths, which was founded on a similar +treatise by Cassiodorus.] + +[Footnote 726: 'Pietate Theudimer.'] + +'You will now perhaps expect me to praise our young King, but in +extolling the author of his being, I have abundantly extolled him, her +offspring. You will remember that excellent saying of the eloquent +Symmachus, "I hesitate to praise the beginning of his career because I +am confidently hoping for his advance in virtue[727]." Come to my +help, Conscript Fathers, and render to your Lords and mine your united +thanks for my promotion.' + +[Footnote 727: 'Specto feliciter virtutis ejus augmenta, qui differo +laudare principia.' The annotator says that these words are not to be +found in the extant writings of Symmachus [the orator]. It was +probably the younger Symmachus, the father-in-law of Boethius, who +uttered them. At this time Athalaric was killing himself by his +debaucheries.] + + +2. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO POPE JOHN[728]. + +[Footnote 728: Pope John II (a Roman, son of Projectus, and originally +named Mercurius) succeeded Boniface II Jan. 1, 533. His pontificate +lasted till May 26, 535. His successor was Agapetus. This letter +appears to have been written at a time of scarcity in Rome.] + +[Sidenote: Salutations to the Pope.] + +'Your prayers are assuredly the cause of our promotion. Your fastings +have procured plenty for the citizens. Saluting you therefore with all +due reverence, we pray you to continue your prayers for long life to +our rulers, for peace and plenty to the State, and for an increase of +heavenly wisdom to me. Let the Judge in public life be such as the +Catholic Church has trained her son to be. I am indeed a Judge of the +Palace, but I shall not cease to be your disciple[729]. Cast not off +upon me the whole care of this City, which you watch over with a +father's love, but take thought both for its bodily and spiritual +wants, and admonish me whenever you think I am erring. Your See is an +object of admiration through all lands, and your charity is +world-wide; but yet you have also an especial, local love for the +sheep of your own flock. + +[Footnote 729: 'Sum quidem Judex Palatinus, sed vester non desinam +esse discipulus.'] + +'Rome has in her own borders those shrines of martyrdom[730] of the +Apostles [Peter and Paul] which the whole world longs to behold. With +such patrons, if only your prayers ascend, we need fear no evil.' + +[Footnote 730: 'Confessiones.'] + + +3. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO DIVERS BISHOPS. + +[Sidenote: Salutations to the Bishops.] + +'Fathers after the flesh delight in the advancement of their sons. +Even so do ye, my spiritual fathers, diligently pray to the Holy +Trinity that He may make my candle to give light to all that are in +the house; yea, and that He may so purge and enlighten mine own +conscience that I may not, while an accurate Judge over other men, be +a deceiver of mine own self. + +'I beg of you to declare a fast, and supplicate the Lord that He will +prolong the life of our Sovereigns[731], for the happiness of the +realm; that He will defend our State from the assaults of its enemies, +will give us all tranquillity in our time, and will deign to make me +worthy of your love. + +[Footnote 731: This was written, no doubt, when Athalaric was on his +deathbed.] + +'Watch narrowly the acts of the subordinates whom I send among you, +and inform me of anything which they do amiss. I cannot be held +responsible for deeds of which I know nothing. And if they take bribes +they at least cannot justify themselves by saying that they have first +had to pay money for their offices. + +'Continue to afford your wonted solace to the widow and orphan; yet +beware that your pity does not lead you to seek to set aside the laws +even for these. Oh, most holy men, banish to the home of all other +unclean spirits violence, avarice, hatred, rapine; and root out from +among your people luxury, which is the depopulator of the human race. +Let the Bishop teach, that the Judge may have a maiden assize[732]. If +only your preaching he continued, the penal course of law must +necessarily come to an end. + +[Footnote 732: 'Episcopus doceat, ne judex possit invenire quod +puniat.'] + +'I therefore commend my dignity to your prayers, and end my letter +with a salutation of love and honour to your Holinesses.' + + +4. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO HIS DEPUTY[733] AMBROSIUS, AN +ILLUSTRIS. + +[Footnote 733: 'Agenti vices.' Bethmann Hollweg (Gerichtsverfassung +des sinkenden roemischen Reichs, pp. 49-50) remarks: 'The relation of +the _Vices Magistratuum agentes_ does not belong to the _Jurisdictio +mandata_. They are lieutenants (Stellvertreter) who are substituted +provisionally in the room of an ordinary official of the Empire or of +a Province, on account of his being temporarily disqualified or +suspended from office by the Emperor or Praetorian Praefect. The +municipal magistrates were also represented by _vices agentes_. But +the extant authorities give us no very clear information as to their +position.' Unfortunately this letter, relating to a _vices agens_ of +the Praetorian Praefect himself, does not add much to our +information.] + +[Sidenote: Functions of the Praefect's Deputy.] + +'We have formed a high opinion of you from long observation of your +career as an Advocate, and feel sure that you will justify that +opinion by your conduct in the office to which we are now calling you. +The Forum has long resounded to your eloquence: now your turn is come +to sit upon the magistrate's bench. Hitherto you have assisted the +officers of the court: now you are yourself called upon to play the +part of a Judge. Even when you are absent from me, you will be deemed +to be sitting by my side; but whatever credit you may earn when +hearing a case by yourself will be reckoned to you alone. + +'We therefore ordain that the official staff which waits upon our +orders shall be at your disposal, to carry your decisions into effect, +and to see that none treat them with contempt. + +'If you shall think it necessary to hand over any [insolvent] persons +to those who have become security for them, assume that right with +confidence, because that will most effectually relieve my mind when I +shall learn that this matter has been finally disposed of by you[734]. +For if I were present you might give me words only; but now in my +absence you owe me, rather, deeds. + +[Footnote 734: I suggest this with hesitation as the translation of a +difficult sentence: 'Si quos etiam fidejussoribus committere +necessarium aestimaveris, confidenter assume: quia illud magis +relevare potest animum nostrum, si aliquid per vos cognoscimus +impletum.' Cassiodorus seems to be urging his deputy not to shrink +from the exercise of even the most stringent rights inherent in his +office, in order that causes may be terminated without reference to +him. But is there authority for such a translation of the words +'fidejussoribus committere?'] + +'Think, then, of all that is involved in your high office. Let your +toil procure me rest from all men. Avoid the rocks on either side of +you. These warnings come rather from my over-particularity[735] than +from any distrust of you, for I believe that with God's help you will +order all things as shall be best for our fame and for the Republic.' + +[Footnote 735: 'Curiositas.'] + + +5. THE SAME TO THE SAME. + +[On the occasion of a scarcity in Rome, either existing or dreaded. +See the letter to Pope John II (xi. 2).] + +[Sidenote: Grain distributions for Rome.] + +'I am sure that you will rejoice with me if the needs of the Roman +people can be satisfied by our means, and thus we can testify our +gratitude for the hospitality which we have both received from that +City. To this end have we endured the discomforts of travel, for this +purpose have we racked our brains with anxious thought, that that +people, which tasted such delights of old in the happy days of its +former rulers, may now see its necessities relieved and again enjoy +its former prosperity. + +'Their poverty and hunger we make our own. Therefore, with all speed, +let stores of grain in good condition be at once collected, so that +the bread cooked therefrom may be a delight and not a horror. Let just +weight be given. Flee all thought of unholy profit from this source. +My own soul is wounded if anyone dares to transgress in this matter of +the food-supply of the people. Not favour nor popular applause is my +aim; but to be permitted, by God's help, to accomplish my own heart's +desire. + +'I love all my fellow-countrymen, but the Roman citizens deserve more +than ordinary love from me. Theirs is a City adorned with so many +illustrious Senators, blest with such a noble commonalty, a City so +well fitted to celebrate the victories of our glorious rulers. When +the question of my promotion hung in suspense, it was the good wishes +of these citizens which turned the scale in my favour with the lords +of the world[736], who complied with the universal desire of the Roman +people. Come, then; so act that this goodwill of theirs to me may +continue. Let us all beseech the mercy of the Most High to bless us +with an abundant harvest; and let us resolve that, if we are thus +favoured, no negligence of ours shall diminish, no venality divert +from its proper recipients, the bounty of Heaven[737].' + +[Footnote 736: Athalaric and Amalasuentha.] + +[Footnote 737: In the last sentence but one, 'Fidem meam promitto: sed +cum ipsis Divinitatis dona sustineo, cautelam offero,' I would suggest +_ipsius_ for 'ipsis,' making _cum_ = 'when,' not 'with.' There does +not seem to be any antecedent plural to which 'ipsis' can refer.] + + +6. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO JOANNES, CANCELLARIUS. + +[An interesting letter, as showing the lowly original of the office +from whence have sprung the mediaeval and modern Chancellors.] + +[Sidenote: Functions of the Cancellarius.] + +'Your rare merit causes you to enjoy a position beyond that which of +right belongs to you in the official hierarchy[738]. Those who are +above you cheerfully manifest to you a deference which you might be +required to show to them; and thus you, while keeping your inferiors +in their proper place, take without presumption precedence of many of +your superiors. + +[Footnote 738: 'Transgressio matriculae actio tua est.'] + +'This laudable prejudice has assigned to you, from the twelfth +Indiction[739], the dignity of Cancellarius[740]. + +[Footnote 739: September 1, 533.] + +[Footnote 740: 'Hoc igitur laudabili praejudicium a duodecima +Indictione cancellorum tibi decus attribuit.'] + +'Guard then the secrets of our Consistory with incorruptible fidelity. +Through your intervention the petitioner for justice has to approach +me. On your acts depends in great measure the opinion which men shall +form of me; for as a house is judged by its front towards the street, +and men by the trimness or shabbiness of their raiment, so are we high +officials judged by the demeanour of our subordinates who represent us +to the crowd. Therefore, if such officials do anything which redounds +to their master's dishonour, they put themselves altogether outside +the pale of his clemency. + +'Remember your title, _Cancellarius_. Ensconced behind the +lattice-work (cancelli) of your compartment, keeping guard behind +those windowed doors, however studiously you may conceal yourself, it +is inevitable that you be the observed of all observers[741]. If you +step forth, _my_ glances range all over you: if you return to your +shelter, the eyes of the litigants are upon you. This is where +Antiquity ruled that you should be placed, in order that your actions +should be visible to all. + +[Footnote 741: 'Respice quo nomine nuncuperis. Latere non potest quod +inter cancellos egeris. Tenes quippe lucidas fores, claustra patentia, +fenestratas januas; et quamvis studiose claudas, necesse est ut te +cunctis aperias.'] + +'Attend now to this advice which I have given you, and let it not +merely filter through your mind, like water through a pipe, but let it +sink down into your heart, and, safely stored up there, let it +influence the actions of your life.' + + +7. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ALL THE JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: Duties of the Collectors of Taxes.] + +'It is an excellent thing that the yearly taxes should be regularly +paid. What confidence does the consciousness of this give to the +taxpayer, who can march boldly through the Forum, feeling that he owes +nothing to anybody and need not fear the face of any official! One can +only enjoy an estate if one has no fear of the process-server making +his appearance upon it. + +'Therefore, in the Diocese of your Excellency[742], we desire you and +your staff at the beginning of this twelfth Indiction[743], with all +proper gentleness, to impress upon the cultivator of the soil that he +must pay his land-tax[744] and end those long arrears, which were +introduced not for the assistance of the taxpayer, but for the corrupt +profit of the tax-collector. For the officials who in this way +professed to relieve the burdens of the people, really imposed upon +them a heavier and more hateful weight in the shape of douceurs[745] +to themselves. + +[Footnote 742: 'Dicationis tuae.' A peculiar and untranslatable form +of respect.] + +[Footnote 743: September 1, 533.] + +[Footnote 744: 'Trina illatio' (See Var. ii. 24). So called because it +was collected three times in the year. See Dahn, Koenige der Germanen +iii. 140; and Sartorius, Regierung der Ostg. 200. The latter seems +however to confuse it with the 'tertiae,' from which Dahn very +properly distinguishes it.] + +[Footnote 745: 'Nundinationes.'] + +'Let then this hateful swindling be henceforth banished. Let the +cultivator pay nothing more than his lawful debt to the Treasury, and +let him pay it at the appointed time, thus removing the confusion in +which the slowness of collection has involved our accounts. + +'Make up, therefore, the abstracts of accounts[746] at the stated +times, and forward them to the proper bureaux[747], according to old +law and the authority of this present edict; and if you neglect any of +these injunctions, know that you do so at your peril. To quicken your +diligence we have appointed A and B, persons of tried merit in the +past, to supervise the proceedings of yourself and your staff, that +this double check may prevent the possibility of negligence. + +[Footnote 746: 'Breves.'] + +[Footnote 747: 'Scrinia.'] + +'Act then with justice if you wish to receive further promotion. Only +those gains are to be sought for which the cultivator gladly offers +and which the public servant can securely accept. If you take bribes +you will be miserable ever after, through fear of discovery; but if +you act uprightly, you will have in me a willing spectator and +rewarder of your merits. I am most anxious to be your friend; do not +force me against my will to become your enemy.' + + +8. EDICT PUBLISHED THROUGH THE PROVINCES BY SENATOR, PRAETORIAN +PRAEFECT. + +[Sidenote: Edict announcing Cassiodorus' principles of +administration.] + +'The custom of the ancients was for a new ruler to promulgate a new +set of laws to his subjects, but now it is sufficient praise to a +conscientious ruler that he adheres to the legislation of Antiquity. + +'Do you all study to perform good actions, and shrink from deeds of +lawlessness and sedition, and you will have nothing to fear from your +Governors. I know that some fear, however irrational, is felt in the +presence of the Judge; but as far as my purpose can avail, with the +help of God and the rulers of the State[748], I can promise you that +all things shall be done with justice and moderation. + +[Footnote 748: 'Juvante Deo, rerumque Dominis regnantibus.'] + +'Venality, that greatest stain upon a Judge's character, will be +unknown in me; for I should think scorn to sell the words that go out +of my lips, like clothes in the market-place. + +'In exercising the right of pre-emption we shall be solely guided by +the wants of the State, buying nothing at a forced price in order to +sell it again[749]. + +[Footnote 749: 'Sperari a vobis aliquid sola specierum indigentia +faciet, non malitiosa venalitas ... nec ad taxationem trahimus quae +necessaria non habentur.'] + +'Be cheerful and of good courage, therefore, with reference to the new +administration. No soldier or civil servant shall harass you for his +own pleasure. No tax-collector shall load you with burdens of his own +imposition. We are determined to keep not only our own hands clean, +but also those of our officials. Otherwise, vainly does a good Judge +guard himself from receiving money, if he leaves to the many under him +licence to receive it on their own account. But we, both by precept +and example, show that we aim at the public good, not at private and +fraudulent gains. + +'We know what prayers you put up for us, how anxiously you watched for +our elevation, and we are determined that you shall not be +disappointed. Our Praetorium, which no base action has ever denied, +shall be open to all. No servile throng shall lord it over you. You +shall come straight to us, making your requests known to us through no +hired interpreter, and none shall leave our presence poorer than he +entered it. With God's help we trust we shall so act as to conform to +the instructions which we have received from our Sovereign[750]; and +we trust that you, by your loyalty, will enable us to be rather the +Father of our Provinces than their Judge. You have patiently obeyed +governors who fleeced you; how much more ought you to obey one who, as +you know, loves you mightily! Pay the regular fees to the officials +who are labouring in your midst; for there is no such excuse for +high-handed oppression as the fact that a man is not receiving his +covenanted salary. Obey the rule of reason, and you will not have to +fear the armed man's wrath. + +[Footnote 750: 'Quemadmodum a rerum Dominis mandata suscepimus.'] + +'We wish that you should enjoy the privileges conceded to you by +former rulers without any encroachment by violent men. + +'And now be of good heart; I pledge myself for your righteous +government. Had I been present with you face to face, ye could not +have seen my mind; but ye can read it in this letter, which is the +mirror of my heart, the true image of my will, and ye can see that it +desires only your prosperity.' + + +9. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: Exhortation to the Judges to govern in conformity with the +Edict.] + +'Knowing that past suffering makes men anxious and timid as to the +future, we have put forth an edict [the preceding document] in order +to reassure the minds of the Provincials, and to deliver them from the +torment of ever-present fear. + +'Therefore we call upon your Excellency[751] to cause this edict to be +exposed in all the places which are most resorted to. Thus let the +love and devotion of all classes be excited towards our happy +Sovereigns[752], that as our thoughts towards the people are entirely +thoughts of goodwill, so their dispositions towards the rulers who +govern them in righteousness may be only loyal[753]. + +[Footnote 751: 'Dicatio tua.'] + +[Footnote 752: 'Circa Dominos felices.'] + +[Footnote 753: 'Ita se et illi devotos debent _pie regnantibus_ +exhibere.' Compare again Claudian's words: + + 'Nunquam libertas gratior exstat, + Quam sum _rege pio_.'] + +'It now rests with you, by your just government of the Provincials, to +carry our promises into effect. + +'Remember that the official staff standing by, is a witness of the +acts of every one of you; and so comport yourselves, that both they +and all others may see that you in your own conduct obey the laws +which you administer. + +'Be more anxious to remedy the poverty of the Provincials than to +inflict punishment upon them. So act that when you are giving an +account of your stewardship your year of office may be felt to have +been all too short[754]. If you have acted justly, and earned the +goodwill of your Provincials, you will have no need of gifts to stave +off accusations. + +[Footnote 754: 'Sic agite ut cum justitia probata quaeritur, annus +vester brevis esse videatur.'] + +'We do not appoint any spies upon your actions, and we pray you so to +act that this most humiliating expedient may not be necessary. + +'If you meet with any who pertinaciously set themselves up against the +authority of your _fasces_, send us at once a messenger with your +report; or, if you cannot spare such an one, send the report alone, as +you have authority to use the public postal-service[755]. Thus all +excuse for remissness on your part is taken away, since you can either +wield your power or explain to us the hindrances which beset you.' + +[Footnote 755: 'Quando et evectiones publicas accepistis et nobis +gratum sit audire de talibus.'] + + +10. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO BEATUS, VIR CLARISSIMUS AND +CANCELLARIUS. + +[Sidenote: Davus is invalided to the Mons Lactarius.] + +'Our lord the King[756] (whose prayer it is that he may ever rejoice +in the welfare of all his subjects), when he reflected upon the +impaired health of his servant Davus[757], ordered him to seek to the +healing properties of the Mons Lactarius[758], for the cure which +medical aid seemed powerless to bestow. A frequent cough resounded +from his panting chest, his limbs were becoming emaciated, and the +food which he took seemed to have lost all power to nourish his frame. +Persons in this state can neither feed nor endure to fast, and their +bodies seem like leaky casks, from which all strength must soon +dribble away. + +[Footnote 756: 'Rerum Domini clementia.'] + +[Footnote 757: Or David, according to some MSS.] + +[Footnote 758: This is no doubt the mountain on whose skirts was +fought the decisive battle between Narses and Teias in 553, now known +as Monte Lettere. It is a spur of the range reaching from Sorrento to +Salerno, which attains its highest elevation in Monte San Angelo +(4,690 feet high). It rises opposite to Mount Vesuvius on the +south-east, the ruins of Pompeii and the valley of the Sarno (formerly +the Draco) lying between the two.] + +[Sidenote: The milk-cure, a remedy for consumption.] + +'As an antidote to this cruel malady Heaven has given us the Mons +Lactarius, where the salubrious air working together with the fatness +of the soil has produced a herbage of extraordinary sweetness. The +cows which are fed on this herbage give a milk which seems to be the +only remedy for consumptive patients who have been quite given over by +their physicians. As sleep refreshes the weary limbs of toil, so does +this milk fill up the wasted limbs and restore the vanished strength. +Strange is it to see the herds feeding on this abundant pasture. They +look as if it did not profit them at all. Thin and scraggy, as they +wander through the thickets they look like the patients who seek their +aid; yet their milk is so thick that it sticks to the milker's +fingers. + +'Do you therefore supply the invalid when he arrives, with the +appointed rations and pecuniary allowance, that he may be suitably +maintained in that place while he is recreating his exhausted energies +with the food of infancy. + +'And, oh! all ye who are suffering under the like grievous malady, +lift up your hearts. There is hope for you. By no bitter antidote, but +by a delicious draught, you shall imbibe life--life, in itself the +sweetest of all things.' + + +11. EDICT CONCERNING PRICES TO BE MAINTAINED AT RAVENNA. + +[Sidenote: Prices at Ravenna.] + +'The price at which provisions are sold ought to follow, in a +reasonable way, the circumstances of the times, that there may be +neither cheapness in a dear season, nor dearness in a cheap one, and +that the grumblings of both buyers and sellers may be avoided, by +fairness being observed towards both. + +'Therefore, after careful consideration, we have fixed in the +subjoined schedule the prices of the various articles of produce, +which prices are to remain free from all ambiguity. + +'If any vendor does not observe the prices named in the present edict, +he will be liable to a fine of six solidi (L3 12s.) for each violation +of the law, and may be visited by corporal punishment[759].' + +[Footnote 759: 'Per singulos excessus sex solidorum mulctam a se +noverit exigendam et fustuario posse subjacere supplicio.'] + +[The schedule mentioned in this letter is unfortunately not preserved. +Few documents that Cassiodorus could have handed down to posterity +would have been more valuable. If we could have compared it with the +celebrated Edict of Stratonicea (cir. A.D. 301), we should have seen +what changes had been wrought in the value of the precious metals and +the distribution of wealth during the two centuries of disturbance and +barbaric invasion which had elapsed since the reign of Diocletian. +But, unfortunately, Cassiodorus believed that his rhetoric and his +natural history would be more interesting to us than these vulgar +facts.] + + +12. EDICT CONCERNING PRICES ALONG THE FLAMINIAN WAY. + +[Sidenote: Prices per Viam Flaminiam.] + +'If prices need to be fixed for the leisurely inhabitant of a town, +much more for the traveller, whose journey may otherwise become a +burden instead of a pleasure. Let strangers therefore find that they +are entertained by you at fixed prices. To fawn upon them with feigned +politeness and then terrify them with enormous charges is the act of +a highway robber. Do you not know how much better moderate prices +would suit your own purpose? Travellers would gladly flock to your +accommodation-houses[760] if they found that you treated them fairly. + +[Footnote 760: This is, I believe, the expression used in some of the +Australian colonies for what Cassiodorus calls _commoda vestra_.] + +'Let no one think that because he is a long way off, his extortion +will escape notice, for people are arriving here every day with tales +of your rapacity. + +'An official despatched for the purpose will, after deliberation with +the citizens and Bishops of each place, decide what prices are to be +charged there; and then whosoever dares to ask higher prices will have +to pay a fine of six solidi (L3 12s.) and will be afflicted by the +laceration of his body. + +'Honest gains at the expense of your fellow-citizens ought to suffice +for all of you. One would think that the highways were beset with +brigands.' + + +13. THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. + +[Sidenote: Supplications of the Senate to Justinian.] + +'It seems a right and proper thing that we should address our prayers +for the safety of the Roman Republic to a dutiful Sovereign[761], who +can only desire what will benefit our freedom. We therefore beseech +you, most clement Emperor, and from the bosom of the Curia we stretch +forth our two hands to you in prayer, that you will grant a most +enduring peace to our King. Spurn not us, who ever seemed certain of +your love. It is in truth the Roman name that you are commending, if +you grant gracious terms to our lords. May your league with them +assure the peace of Italy; and if our prayers be not sufficient to +accomplish this thing, imagine that you hear our country break forth +with these words of supplication: "If ever I was acceptable to thee, +love, oh most dutiful Sovereign, love my defenders! They who rule me +ought to be in harmony with thee, lest otherwise they begin to do such +deeds towards me as thou least of all men wouldest desire. Be not to +me a cause of death, thou who hast ever ministered unto me the joys of +life. Lo, while at peace with thee I have doubled the number of my +children, I have been decked with the glory of my citizens. If thou +sufferest me to be wounded, where is thy dutiful name of Son? What +couldest even thou do more for me [than these rulers], seeing that my +religion and thine thus flourish under their rule? + +[Footnote 761: 'Pio Principi.'] + +'"My Senate grows in honour and is incessantly increasing in wealth. +Do not dissipate in quarrels what thou oughtest rather to defend with +the sword. I have had many Kings; but none so trained in letters as +this one. I have had foreseeing statesmen, but none so powerful in +learning and religion. I love the Amal, bred up as he has been at my +knees, a strong man, one who has been formed by my conversation, dear +to the Romans by his prudence, venerable to the nations by his valour. +Join rather thy prayers to his; share with him thy counsels: so that +any prosperity which I may earn may redound to thy glory. Do not woo +me in the only fashion in which I may not be won. Thine am I already +in love, if thou sendest none of thy soldiers to lacerate my limbs. +For if Africa has deserved through thee to recover freedom, it were +hard that I should from the same hand lose that freedom which I have +ever possessed. Control the emotions of anger, oh illustrious +conqueror! The claims urged upon thee by the general voice of the +people ought to outweigh the offence which the ingratitude of any +private individual may have occasioned to thy heart." + +'Thus Rome speaks while, through her Senators, she makes supplications +to you. And if that be not enough, let the sacred petition of the +blessed Apostles Peter and Paul be also taken into your account. For +surely they, who are proved to have so often defended the peace of +Rome from her enemies, deserve that your Sovereignty should yield +everything to their merits. The venerable man, our most pious King's +ambassador to your Clemency, will further set forth our prayers.' + +[It is not easy to fix the exact occasion on which this petition was +likely to be sent from the Senate to the Emperor. The allusion to the +conquest of Africa shows that it was after the Vandal War, which ended +in March, 534. On the other hand, the language put into the mouth of +the Senate implies that the Imperial troops had not yet landed in +Italy or Sicily, and the petition is therefore of an earlier date than +the summer of 535. During the whole of these fourteen months the +relations between Empire and Kingdom were more or less strained, the +causes of complaint on the part of Constantinople beginning with the +occupation of Lilybaeum and ending with the murder of Amalasuentha. I +fear that the nattering portrait drawn of 'the Amal' can apply to no +one but Theodahad, the terms used being hopelessly inapplicable to a +boy like Athalaric. Who then are 'our lords' ('nostri Domini'), in +whose name peace is besought. The best that we can hope, for the sake +of the reputation of Cassiodorus, is that they are Amalasuentha and +Theodahad, the letter being written between October 2, 534 (when +Athalaric died), and April 30, 535 (when Amalasuentha was imprisoned). +Upon the whole this seems the most probable conclusion. If written +after Amalasuentha's death, in the few months or weeks which +intervened between that event and the landing of Belisarius in Sicily, +the language employed reflects deep discredit on the writer. In that +case, 'nostri Domini' must mean Theodahad and Gudelina.] + + +14. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO GAUDIOSUS, CANCELLARIUS OF THE +PROVINCE OF LIGURIA. + +[Sidenote: Praises of Como. Relief of its inhabitants.] + +'The City of Como[762] is visited by so many travellers that the +cultivators of the soil declare that they are quite worn out with +requisitions for post-horses[763]. Wherefore we direct that by Royal +indulgence they be favoured in this matter[764], that this city, so +beautifully situated, do not become a solitude for want of +inhabitants. + +[Footnote 762: Thus called by Cassiodorus; not Comum.] + +[Footnote 763: 'Se possessores paraveredorum assiduitate suggerunt +esse fatigatos.'] + +[Footnote 764: 'Quibus indultu Regali beneficium praecipimus jugiter +custodiri.' These words do not make it clear how the inhabitants were +relieved by the Royal decree; but it was probably by some gift of +money like that which is announced in the next letter.] + +'Como, with its precipitous mountains and its vast expanse of lake, +seems placed there for the defence of the Province of Liguria; and +yet, again, it is so beautiful that one would think it was created for +pleasure only. To the south lies a fertile plain with easy roads for +the transport of provisions; on the north a lake sixty miles long, +abounding in fish, soothing the mind with delicious recreation. + +'Rightly is it called _Como_, because it is adorned (compta) with such +gifts. The lake lies in a shell-like valley, with white margins. Above +rises a diadem of lofty mountains, their slopes studded with bright +villas[765], a girdle of olives below, vineyards above, while a crest +of thick chestnut-woods adorns the very summit of the hills. Streams +of snowy clearness dash from the hill-sides into the lake. On the +eastern side these unite to form the river Addua, so called because it +contains the _added_ volume of two streams. It plunges into the lake +with such force that it keeps its own colour[766] (dark among the +whiter waters) and its own name far along the northern shore[767], a +phenomenon often seen with rivers flowing into the ocean, but surely +marvellous with one flowing into an inland lake. And so swift is its +course as it moves through the alien waves, that you might fancy it a +river flowing over the solid plains. + +[Footnote 765: 'Praetoriorum luminibus decenter ornata.'] + +[Footnote 766: So Claudian (De VI Consolata Honorii 196), 'et Addua +visu caerulus.'] + +[Footnote 767: 'Ut nomen retinens et colorem in Septentrionem obesiore +alvei ventre generetur.'] + +'So delightful a region makes men delicate and averse to labour. +Therefore the inhabitants deserve especial consideration, and for this +reason we wish them to enjoy perpetually the royal bounty.' + + +15. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE LIGURIANS. + +[Announcing the despatch of money to relieve the necessities of the +Province, possibly after some incursions of the Franks. This would fit +in pretty well with the mention of _Astensis Civitas_ as having +suffered the most.] + +[Sidenote: Relief of the necessities of Liguria.] + +'It is the privilege of a King to increase the happiness of his +subjects. Not to postpone your joy by too long a preface, I will come +to the point at once, and inform you that our most glorious Lords, +taking the necessities of their loyal Liguria into account, have sent +100 lbs. of gold [L4,000] by the hands of A and B, officers of the +Royal Bedchamber. _You_ are to say how the money is to be spent, +indicating the persons who are in the greatest necessity; but as we +are informed that the city of Asti has been more heavily weighted than +others, it is our wish that it should be chiefly helped by this +disbursement. Now, do you who are tributaries, reflect upon the +clemency of your lords, who are inverting the usual order of things, +and paying out to you from the Treasury what they are accustomed to +receive. Let us know at once how much you think each taxpayer ought +to receive, that we may deduct it from his first instalment of +land-tax [768]. + +[Footnote 768: 'Sed ut beneficia Dominorum _subtractis exactionum, +incommodis_ augeantur, celerius relatio vestra nos instruat, quid +unicuique de hac summa relaxandum esse judicetis, ut tantum de _prima +illatione_ faciamus _suspendi_ quantum ad nos notitia directa +vulgaverit.' The meaning of Cassiodorus seems quite clear, though it +is not easy to understand how far the actual gift of money was +supplemented by, or independent of, remission of land-tax.] + +'And put up your prayers for your most affectionate Sovereigns, that +they may receive back again from Heaven the favour which they are +conferring on you.' + + +16. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE LIGURIANS. + +[Sidenote: Oppressions practised on the Ligurians to be remedied.] + +'In thanking me so earnestly for a recent benefit [probably the +present mentioned in the preceding letter] you invited me to further +favours, and the implied promise which I then gave you I now fulfil. + +'You complain that you are burdened with unjust weights and measures, +and I therefore declare that this iniquity shall cease, and that no +tax-collector or tithe-collector[769], shall dare to use too long a +measure or too heavy a weight [in the collection of the King's +revenue]. + +[Footnote 769: 'Exactores atque susceptores.' For the latter office, +see Cod. Theod. xii. 6.] + +'Also that their accounts shall be promptly balanced, and that any +overcharge that may be detected shall be at once repaid. + +'Now then, your minds being freed from anxiety on this score, turn +your attention to the supply of the wants of our most flourishing +army, and show your zeal for the public good, since we have satisfied +you that it is not for private and fraudulent gains that you are to +pay your contributions.' + + +17. ON THE PROMOTIONS IN THE OFFICIAL STAFF OF THE PRAETORIAN +PRAEFECT, MADE ON CHRISTMAS DAY[770]. + +[Footnote 770: This letter was probably addressed to the Princeps, the +highest person in the whole Officium, as it contains the words '_unus_ +quisque ... _tua designatione vulgetur_.'] + +[Sidenote: Promotions in Officium of Praefectus Praetorio.] + +'On this day of general rejoicing, when by the kindness of Heaven the +way of salvation was opened to all mankind, we wish that the members +of our staff should also be glad. For to rejoice, ourselves, when +those around us are mourning, is a kind of sacrilege. Hence some +philosophers have held that the whole human race is one being, the +various members of which are constrained to share one another's +feelings of joy or sadness. Therefore let every official in our staff +according to his grade[771] get promotion on this day, not only rising +himself, but creating a vacancy which enables those below him to rise +also.' + +[Footnote 771: 'Juxta matriculae seriem.'] + +[All the Letters from 18 to 35 are documents, for the most part very +short ones, relating to these promotions. + +For an explanation of the terms used in these letters, and of the +whole subject of the staff of the Praetorian Praefect, see chapter iv. +of the Introduction.] + +In Letter 18, Antianus, who is vacating the office of CORNICULARIUS, +receives the rank of _Spectabilis_, and has a place assigned him among +the Tribuni and Notarii, where he may 'adore the presence of his +Sovereign[772]'. + +[Footnote 772: 'Inter Tribunos et Notarios ad adorandos aspectus +properet Principales.'] + +In Letter 19 the successor of Antianus in the office of CORNICULARIUS +receives his appointment. + +In Letter 20 the retiring PRIMISCRINIUS also receives the rank of +_Spectabilis_, and takes his place among the Tribuni and Notarii, 'to +adore the Purple of Royalty.' + +In Letter 21 Andreas is rewarded for his faithful service on the +Praetorian staff[773], by being promoted to the office of +PRIMISCRINIUS. + +[Footnote 773: 'Qui Praetorianis fascibus inculpabiliter noscitur +obsecutus.'] + +In Letter 22 Catellus, who stands next in grade for this +promotion[774], obtains the post of SCRINIARIUS ACTORUM. + +[Footnote 774: 'Quem matriculae series fecit accedere.'] + +In Letter 23 Constantinian, to whose virtues Cassiodorus himself bears +witness, receives the charge of letters relating to the collection of +Land-Tax (CURA EPISTOLARUM CANONICARUM). + +In Letter 24 Lucillus is appointed a clerk in the War-Office +(SCRINIARIUS CURAE MILITARIS). + +In Letter 25 Patricius is appointed chief of the shorthand writers +(PRIMICERIUS EXCEPTORUM). + +In Letter 26 Justus obtains a place as member of the Sixth Schola +(SEXTUS SCHOLARIS[775]). + +[Footnote 775: I am unable to suggest any explanation of this title.] + +In Letter 27 Joannes, whom we saw in the Sixth Letter of this Book +entrusted with the duties of Cancellarius, is rewarded for his +faithful discharge of those duties by receiving the place of +PRAEROGATIVARIUS[776]. + +[Footnote 776: I have not found any explanation of this title, which +is apparently unknown to the Notitia, to Lydus, and to the Theodosian +Code.] + +In Letter 28 Cheliodorus[777] is appointed to the place of +COMMENTARIENSIS (Magistrates' clerk). + +[Footnote 777: Note the corrupt form of the name Heliodorus.] + +In Letter 29 Cart(h)erius is promoted to the office of REGERENDARIUS +(Secretary of the Post-Office), in the hope that this promotion will +render him yet more earnest in the discharge of his Praetorian +labours. + +In Letter 30 Ursus is appointed PRIMICERIUS DEPUTATORUM, and Beatus +(probably the Cancellarius addressed in Letter 10) is made PRIMICERIUS +AUGUSTALIUM. + +In Letter 31 Urbicus, on vacating the post of PRIMICERIUS +SINGULARIORUM (Chief of the King's Messengers), is placed among the +Body-guards (Domestici et Protectores), where he may adore the Royal +Purple, that, being made illustrious by gazing on the Sovereign, he +may rejoice in his liberation from official harassment. + +[As the Singularii did not form part of the learned staff (Militia +Litterata), their chief on retiring receives a guardsman's place, but +still one which gives him access to royalty.] + +In Letter 32 Pierius receives the post of PRIMICERIUS SINGULARIORUM +which is thus vacated. + +[Sidenote: Delegatoria.] + +In Letter 33 Cassiodorus, expanding the proverb 'Bis dat qui cito +dat,' agrees that the _Delegatoria_[778] (or Delegatiorius), the +letter conferring on the receiver the right to receive the increase of +rations due to his promotion, should not be long delayed. + +[Footnote 778: We get this sense of Delegatio in Cod. Theod. vii. 4. +35: '_Annonas omnes_, quae universis officiis atque Sacri Palatii +Ministeriis et Sacris Scriniis ceterisque cunctarum adminiculis +dignitatum adsolent _delegari_.'] + +In Letter 34 Antianus, the retired Cornicularius of Letter 18, +receives a somewhat evasive answer to a petition which apparently +affected the rights of those below him in the official hierarchy[779]. + +[Footnote 779: In this letter occurs a sentence of tantalising +obscurity: 'Sola nos Alpha complectitur ubi ea littera non timetur.'] + +In Letter 35 we have an example of the _Delegatoria_ alluded to in +Letter 33. It is concerned with a PRINCEPS, apparently the Princeps of +the AGENTES IN REBUS; and, after extolling the zeal and alacrity of +those officers, who are constantly intent on enforcing obedience to +the Imperial decrees and reverence for the authority of the Praetorian +Praefect, he observes that it would be impiety to delay the reward of +such labour. + +'Therefore let your Experience[780] pay, out of the third instalment +of land-tax[781] from such and such a Province, those monies which the +wisdom of Antiquity directed should be paid to the Princeps +Augustorum[782]. Let this be done at once to those who are chargeable +on the accounts of the thirteenth Indiction (Sept. 1, 534--Sept. 1, +535). Let there be no venal delays. Behave to the out-going public +servant as you would wish that others should behave to you on your +retirement from office. All men should honour the veteran, but +especially they who are still toiling in the public service.' + +[Footnote 780: It is not clear to whom the letter is addressed.] + +[Footnote 781: 'Ex illatione tertia.'] + +[Footnote 782: The marginal note says: 'i.e. Agentium in Rebus.'] + + +36. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ANAT(H)OLIUS, CANCELLARIUS OF THE +PROVINCE OF SAMNIUM. + +[Sidenote: The retirement of a Cornicularius on a superannuation +allowance justified on astronomical grounds.] + +'As all things else come to an end, so it is right that the laborious +life of a civil servant should have its appointed term. + +'The heavenly bodies have their prescribed time in which to complete +their journeyings. Saturn in thirty years wanders over his appointed +portion of space. Jupiter in twelve years finishes the survey of his +kingdom. Mars, with fiery rapidity, completes his course in eighteen +months. The Sun in one year goes through all the signs of the Zodiac. +Venus accomplishes her circuit in fifteen months; the rapid Mercury in +thirteen months. The Moon, peculiar in her nearer neighbourhood, +traverses in thirty days the space which it takes the Sun a year to +journey over[783]. + +[Footnote 783: As might be expected from an observer who did not +understand the earth's motion in its orbit, the periods assigned to +the _inferior_ planets in this paragraph are all wrong, while those +assigned to the _superior_ planets are pretty nearly right. + +_Periods according to Cassiodorus_. _True Periods_. + +Saturn 30 years 29 years 174 days. +Jupiter 12 " 11 " 317 " +Mars 1 year 182 days 1 year 321 " +Venus 1 " 91 " 224 " +Mercury 1 " 30 " 88 "] + +'All these bodies, which, as philosophers say, shall only perish with +the world, have an appointed end to their journeyings. But they +complete their course that they may begin it again: the human race +serves that it may rest from its ended labours. Therefore, since the +Cornicularius in my Court has completed his term of office, you are to +pay him without any deduction this 1st September 700 solidi (L420) +from the revenues of the Province of Samnium, taking them out of the +third instalment of land-tax[784]. He commanded the wings of the army +of the Praefect's assistants, from whence he derived his name[785]. +When he handed us the inkstand, we wrote, unbribed, those decrees +which men would have paid a great price to obtain[786]. We gratified +him whom the laws favoured, we frowned on him who had not justice on +his side. No litigant had cause to regret his success, since it came +to him unbought. You know all this that we are saying to be true, for +our business was all transacted in the office, not in the bedchamber. +What we did, the whole troop of civil servants knew[787]. We were +private persons in our power of harming, Judges in our power of doing +good. Our words might be stern, our deeds were kindly. We frowned +though mollified; we threatened though intending no evil; and we +struck terror that we might not have to strike. You have had in me, as +you were wont to say, a most clean-handed Judge: I shall leave behind +in you my most uncorrupted witnesses.' + +[Footnote 784: 'Per illam Indictionem de Samnii provincia ex illatione +tertia sine ambiguitate contrade.'] + +[Footnote 785: 'Praefuit enim Cornibus Secretarii Praetoriani, unde ei +nomen est derivatum.'] + +[Footnote 786: 'Eo ministrante caliculum scripsimus inempti quod +magnis pretiis optabatur impleri.'] + +[Footnote 787: 'Quod egimus cohortes noverunt.' Observe the military +character of the service, 'cohortes.'] + + +37. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE CLARISSIMUS LUCINUS, +CANCELLARIUS OF CAMPANIA. + +[Sidenote: Payment of retiring Primiscrinius.] + +'It was well ordered by Antiquity that the servants of the Public +should receive a due reward for their labours; and who of all these +are more deserving than the officers of the Praetorian Praefect +(Praetoriani). Theirs is the difficult task of waiting on the +necessities of the army. They must demand accounts, often minute and +intricate, from great officers whom they dare not offend. They must +collect the stores of food for the Roman people from the Provincials +without giving them cause for complaint[788]. Their acts constitute +our true glory; and in the formation of their characters, work, hard +work, that stern and anxious pedagogue[789], is better than all +literary or philosophic training. + +[Footnote 788: 'Eorum est etiam sudoribus applicandum, quod victuales +expensae longe quidem positae, _sed tamquam in urbe Regia natae_ [I do +not quite understand this antithesis] sine querela Provincialium +congregantur.'] + +[Footnote 789: 'Labores, violenti magistri, solliciti paedagogi, per +quos cautior quis efficitur dum incurri pericula formidantur.'] + +'Such men ought assuredly to receive their stipulated rewards; and +therefore we order you to pay regularly so many solidi of the third +instalment, from the land-tax of the Province of Campania[790], to +such and such a person, who has now just completed his term of service +as Primiscrinius.' + +[Footnote 790: 'Ex canone provinciae Campaniae tertiae illationis tot +solidos solenniter te dare censemus.'] + + +38. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO JOANNES, CANONICARIUS[791] OF +THUSCIA. + +[Footnote 791: Tax-collector.] + +[Sidenote: Praises of paper.] + +'Rightly did Antiquity ordain that a large store of paper should be +laid in by our Bureaux (Scrinia), that litigants might receive the +decision of the Judge clearly written, without delay, and without +avaricious and impudent charges for the paper which bore it[792]. + +[Footnote 792: Lydus (De Magistratibus iii. 14) makes a similar +remark, but says that in his time the copying clerks (Exceptarii, or +Exceptores) supplied disgracefully bad paper made of grass, and +charged a fee for doing so.] + +'A wonderful product in truth is this wherewith ingenious Memphis has +supplied all the offices in the world. The plants of Nile arise, a +wood without leaves or branches, a harvest of the waters, the fair +tresses of the marshes, plants full of emptiness, spongy, thirsty, +having all their strength in their outer rind, tall and light, the +fairest fruit of a foul inundation. + +'Before Paper was discovered, all the sayings of the wise, all the +thoughts of the ancients, were in danger of perishing. Who could write +fluently or pleasantly on the rough bark of trees, though it is from +that practice that we call a book _Liber_? While the scribe was +laboriously cutting his letters on the sordid material, his very +thought grew cold: a rude contrivance assuredly, and only fit for the +beginnings of the world. + +'Then was paper discovered, and therewith was eloquence made possible. +Paper, so smooth and so continuous, the snowy entrails of a green +herb; paper which can be spread out to such a vast extent, and yet be +folded up into such a little space; paper, on whose white expanse the +black characters look beautiful; paper which keeps the sweet harvest +of the mind, and restores it to the reader whenever he chooses to +consult it; paper which is the faithful witness of all human actions, +eloquent of the past, a sworn foe to oblivion. + +'Therefore for this thirteenth Indiction[793] pay so many solidi from +the land-tax of the Tuscan Province to our Bureau, that it may be able +to keep in perpetuity a faithful record of all its transactions.' + +[Footnote 793: Sept. 1, 534. The reading 'de tertiae decimae +Indictionis rationibus' seems required by the sense, instead of +'tertiam de decimae Indictionis rationibus.' It is quite clear that +Cassiodorus was not Praetorian Praefect at the tenth Indiction.] + + +39. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE CLARISSIMUS VITALIAN, +CANCELLARIUS OF LUCANIA AND BRUTTII. + +[Sidenote: Payment by Province of Bruttii of commuted cattle-tax.] + +'The vast numbers of the Roman people in old time are evidenced by the +extensive Provinces from which their food supply was drawn, as well as +by the wide circuit of their walls, the massive structure of their +amphitheatre, the marvellous bigness of their public baths, and the +enormous multitude of mills, which could only have been made for use, +not for ornament. + +'It was to feed this population, that mountainous Lucania paid her +tribute of swine, that fertile Bruttii furnished her droves of oxen. +It was a glorious privilege for them thus to feed the Roman people: +yet the length of roads over which the animals had to be driven made +the tribute unnecessarily burdensome, since every mile reduced their +weight, and the herdsman could not possibly obtain credit at the +journey's end for the same number of pounds of flesh which he +possessed at its beginning. For this reason the tribute was commuted +into a money payment, one which no journeyings can diminish and no +toil can wound. The Provinces should understand and respond to this +favourable change, and not show themselves more slack than their +ancestors were, under far more burdensome conditions. Your Diligence +has now collected both these taxes[794] at the appointed periods; and +I am glad of it, that my countrymen, who have served alien +magistrates with praiseworthy diligence, might not seem negligent +under my rule. These Provinces, which I, my grandfather, and my +great-grandfather have benefited as private persons, I have +endeavoured to help yet more earnestly while I bore the majesty of the +_fasces_, that they who have rejoiced in my exaltation might see that +I still retained my love for our common country. Let them pay the tax +then, not from fear but from love. I have prevailed on the royal +generosity to limit its amount; for whereas it used to be 1,200 solidi +[L720] annually, it is henceforward to be 1,000 [L600][795].' + +[Footnote 794: 'Ambos titulos.'] + +[Footnote 795: This sum seems ridiculously small for the Province of +Bruttii. Can it be the sum assessed on each district?] + + +40. AN INDULGENCE [OR AMNESTY TO PRISONERS ON SOME GREAT FESTIVAL OF +THE CHURCH, PROBABLY EASTER]. + +[Sidenote: General Amnesty.] + +'All the year we are bound to tread in the path of Justice, but on +this day we secure our approach to the Redeemer by the path of +Forgiveness. Therefore we forswear punishments of all kinds, we +condemn the torture, and thus feel ourselves, in forgiving, to be more +truly than ever a Judge. + +'Hail to thee, O Clemency[796], patroness of the human race! thou +reignest in the heavens and on the earth: and most fitting is it that, +at sacred seasons like this, thou shouldest be supreme. + +[Footnote 796: 'Indulgentia.'] + +'Therefore, O Lictor, thou who art allowed to do with impunity the +very thing for which other men are punished, put up thy axe; let it be +henceforth bright, not bloody. Let the chains which have been so often +wet with tears now grow rusty. The prison--that house of Pluto, in +which men suffer a living death, from its foul odours, from the sound +of groaning which assails their ears, from the long fastings which +destroy their taste, from the heavy weights which weary their hands, +from the endless darkness which makes their eyes grow dim--let the +prison now be filled with emptiness. Never is it so popular as when it +is seen to be deserted. + +'And you, its denizens, who are thus in a manner transplanted to +Heaven from Hell, avoid the evil courses which made you acquainted +with its horrors. Even animals shun the things which they have once +found harmful. Cattle which have once fallen into a pit seek not again +the same road. The bird once snared shuns bird-lime. The pike buries +himself in deep sand, that he may escape the drag-net, and when it has +scraped his back leaps nimbly into the waves and expresses by his +gambols his joy for his deliverance. When the wrasse[797] finds that +he is caught in an osier trap, he moves himself slowly backwards till +he can leave his tail protruding, that one of his fellows, perceiving +his capture, may pull him out from his prison. + +[Footnote 797: 'Scarus.'] + +'So too the Sauri (?), a clever race of fish, named from their speed, +when they have swum into a net, tie themselves together into a sort of +rope; and then, tugging backwards with all their might, seek to +liberate their fellow-prisoners. + +'Many facts of the same kind would be discovered on enquiry. But my +discourse must return to thee, O Gaoler. Thou wilt be miserable in the +general joy, because thou art wont to derive thy gladness from the +affliction of many. But as some consolation for thy groans, we leave +to thee those prisoners whom the Law, for very pity's sake, cannot set +free--the men found guilty of outrageous crimes, whose liberation +would make barbarous deeds frequent. Over these thou mayest still +exert thy power.' + + + + +BOOK XII. + +CONTAINING TWENTY-EIGHT LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME +AS PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT. + + +1. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE VARIOUS CANCELLARII OF THE +SEVERAL PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: General instructions to the Cancellarii.] + +'It is generally supposed that long attendance at the Courts of Law +increases the love of justice. The character of the Judge also is in +some degree estimated by that of his officers[798], as that of a +philosophical teacher by his disciples. Thus your bad actions might +endanger our reputation, while, on the other hand, with no effort on +our part, we earn glory from all that you do well. Beware, therefore, +lest by any misconduct of yours, which is sure to be exaggerated by +popular rumour, you rouse anger in us, who as your Judge will be sure +to exact stern recompence for all the wrong you have done to our +reputation. Study this rather, that you may receive praise and +promotion at our hands, and go forth, with Divine help, on this +Indiction, to such and such a Province, adorned with the pomp of the +Cancelli, and girt about with a certain proud gravity. Remember the +honour of the _fasces_ which are borne before you, of the Praetorian +seat whose commands you execute. + +[Footnote 798: 'Per milites suos judex intelligitur.'] + +'Fly Avarice, the Queen of all the vices, who never enters the human +heart alone, but always brings a flattering and deceiving train along +with her. Show yourself zealous for the public good; do more by reason +than by terror. Let your person be a refuge for the oppressed, a +defence of the weak, a stronghold for him who is stricken down by any +calamity. Never do you more truly discharge the functions of the +Cancelli than when you open the prison doors to those who have been +unjustly confined.' + + +2. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ALL THE JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES +(A.D. 534-535). + +[Sidenote: General instructions to the Provincial Governors.] + +'God be thanked, the Provincials have attended to all my admonitions, +and I have kept all my promises to them. You, as Judges, have +admirably copied my own freedom from corruption, and I can only desire +that you will go on as you have begun. + +'Let the peasant pay cheerfully his share of the public taxes, and I +on my part will guarantee him the administration of justice in the +courts[799]. + +[Footnote 799: 'Possessor mihi publicas pecunias libens inferat: ego +illi in conventus justitiae tributa persolvam.'] + +'It was evidently the intention of the legislators that you should be +imitators of our dignity, since they have given you almost the same +jurisdiction in the Provinces as ourselves. + +'What avails the reputation of being a rich man? It confers no glory. +But to be known as a just man wins the praise of all. Nothing mean or +avaricious is becoming in a Judge. All his faults are made more +conspicuous by his elevation. Better were it to be absolutely unknown, +than to be marked out for the scorn of all men. Let us keep our own +brews clear from shame; then can we rebuke the sins of others. A +terrible leveller is iniquity: it makes the Judge himself feel like +the culprit who is tried before him. All these considerations, +according to my custom, I bring before you in this my yearly address, +since it is impossible ever to have too much of a good thing[800]. + +[Footnote 800:'Haec nos annuo sermone convenit loqui: quia bonarum +rerum nulla satietas est.'] + +'Now, to proceed to business. Do you and your official staff impress +upon all the cultivators of the soil the absolute necessity of their +paying their land-tax[801] for this thirteenth Indiction[802] at the +appointed time. Let there be no pressing them to pay before the time, +and no venal connivance at their postponement of payment after the +time. What kindness is there in delay? The money must be paid, sooner +or later. + +[Footnote 801: 'Trina Illatio.'] + +[Footnote 802: Sept. 1, 534, to Sept. 1, 535.] + +'Prepare also a full and faithful statement of the expenditure for +every four months[803], and address it to our bureaux[804], that there +may be perfect clearness in the public accounts. + +[Footnote 803: 'Expensarum fidelem notitiam quaternis mensibus +comprehensam.' As the receipts of the _Trina Illatio_ had to be +gathered in every four months, the account of Provincial expenditure +covered the same period.] + +[Footnote 804: 'Ad scrinia nostra dirigere maturabis.'] + +'In order to help you, we send A and B, members of our official staff, +to examine your accounts. See that you come up to the standard of duty +here prescribed for you.' + + +3. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ALL THE SAJONES WHO HAVE BEEN +ASSIGNED TO THE CANCELLARII. + +[Sidenote: General instructions to the Sajones.] + +'There must be fear of the magistrate in the heart of the citizen, +else the laws would never be obeyed. But as in medicine various +remedies are required by various constitutions, so in the +administration of the laws sometimes force and sometimes gentleness +has to be used. Wisdom is required to decide which is the best mode +of dealing with each particular case. + +'Therefore we despatch your Devotion[805] to attend upon A B, +Clarissimus Cancellarius. Be terrible to the lawless, but to them +alone. Above all things see to the punctual collection of the taxes. +Do not study popularity. Attend only to those cases which are +entrusted to your care, and work them thoroughly. No greater disgrace +can attach to an officer of Court than that a Judge's sentence should +be left unexecuted[806]. Do not swagger through the streets exulting +in the fact that nobody dares meet you. Brave men are ever gentle in +time of peace, and there is no greater lover of justice than he who +has seen many battles. When you return to your parents and friends let +it not be brawls that you have to boast of, but good conduct. We also +shall in that case welcome you back with pleasure, and not leave you +long without another commission. And the King too, the lord of +all[807], will entrust higher duties to him who returns from the lower +with credit and the reward of a good conscience.' + +[Footnote 805: 'Devotio tua' was the technical way of addressing the +_fortis Sajo_.] + +[Footnote 806: 'In executore illud est pessimum, si judicis relinquat +arbitrium.'] + +[Footnote 807: 'Rerum Dominus.'] + + +4. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE CANONICARIUS[808] OF THE +VENETIAE. + +[Footnote 808: Revenue-officer.] + +[Sidenote: Praise of Acinaticium, a red wine of Verona.] + +'A well furnished royal table is a credit to the State. A private +person may eat only the produce of his own district; but it is the +glory of a King to collect at his table the delicacies of all lands. +Let the Danube send us her carp, let the _anchorago_ (?) come from the +Rhine, let the labour of Sicily furnish the _exormiston_[809], let the +sea of Bruttii send its sweet _acerniae_ (?); in short, let +well-flavoured dishes be gathered from all coasts. It becomes a King +so to regale himself that he may seem to foreign ambassadors to +possess almost everything. + +[Footnote 809: 'Perhaps a kind of lamprey' (White and Riddle's +Latin-English Dictionary).] + +'And therefore, not to neglect home-produce also, as our fertile Italy +is especially rich in wines, we must have these also provided for the +King's table. Now the report of the Count of the Patrimony informs us +that the stock of _Acinaticium_[810] has fallen very low in the royal +cellars. We therefore order you to visit the cultivators of Verona, +and offer them a sufficient price for this product of theirs, which +they ought to offer without price to their Sovereign. + +[Footnote 810: Apparently a kind of raisin wine; from _acina_, a grape +or berry.] + +'It is in truth a noble wine and one that Italy may be proud of. +Inglorious Greece may doctor her wines with foreign admixtures, or +disguise them with perfumes. There is no need of any such process with +this liquor. It is purple, as becomes the wine of kings. Sweet and +strong[811], it grows more dense in tasting it, so that you might +doubt whether it was a liquid food or an edible drink[812]. + +[Footnote 811: What are we to make of 'Stipsis nescio qua firmitate +roboratur?'] + +[Footnote 812: 'Tactus ejus densitate pinguescit: ut dicas esse aut +carneum liquorem aut edibilem potionem.' Questionable praise, +according to the ideas of a modern wine-grower.] + +'I have a mind to describe the singular mode of manufacturing this +wine. The grape cluster, gathered in autumn, is hung up under the roof +of the house to dry till December. Thus exuding its insipid humours it +becomes much sweeter. Then in December, when everything else is bound +by the frost of winter, the chilly blood of these grapes is allowed to +flow forth. It is not insultingly trodden down by the feet, nor is any +foul admixture suffered to pollute it; its stream of gem-like +clearness is drawn forth from it by a noble provocation. It seems to +shed tears of joy, and delights the eye by its beauty as much as the +palate by its flavour. Collect this wine as speedily as possible, pay +a sufficient price for it, and hand it over to the _Cartarii_ who are +charged with this business. + +'And this point is not to be forgotten, that it is to be served up in +goblets of a milky whiteness. Lilies and roses thus unite their +charms, and a pleasure is ministered to the eye, far beyond the mere +commonplace facts that the wine has a pleasant taste, and that it +restores the strength of the drinker. + +'We rely on you to provide both the wine and the drinking vessels[813] +with all despatch.' + +[Footnote 813: We might have expected to find wine-bottles rather than +wine-glasses thus requisitioned; but I think the words of Cassiodorus, +'quod lacteo poculo relucescit,' oblige us to adopt the latter +translation.] + + +5. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO VALERIAN, VIR SUBLIMIS. + +[Written probably in the autumn or winter of 535, when Belisarius was +in Sicily threatening the Southern Provinces of Italy.] + +[Sidenote: Measures for relief of Lucania and Bruttii.] + +'The ruler's anxiety for the common good of all over whom he is +placed, may allowably show itself in an especial manner towards the +dwellers in his own home, and that pre-eminently at a time when they +need his succour from peril. + +'The numerous army which was destined for the defence of the Republic +is said to have laid waste the cultivated parts of Lucania and +Bruttii, and to have diminished the abundance of those regions by its +love of rapine. + +'Now since they must take and you must give, and since the cultivator +must not be robbed nor the army starved, know that the prices of +provisions are fixed by the order of the Lord of the State at a much +lower figure than you have been wont to sell at[814]. + +[Footnote 814: 'Pretia quae antiquus ordo constituit ex jussione rerum +Domini cognoscite temperata, ut multo arctius quam vendere solebatis +in assem publicum praebita debeant imputari.'] + +'Be not therefore anxious. You have escaped the hands of the +tax-collector. The present instrument takes away from you the +liability to tribute. In order that your knowledge may be made more +complete, we have thought it better that the amounts of the provisions +for which you are held responsible should be expressed in the +below-written letters[815], that no one may sell you a benefit which +you know to be conferred by the public generosity. + +[Footnote 815: 'Sed quo facilius instrueretur vestra notitia, +_imputationum summas infra scriptis brevibus credidimus exprimendas._' +Apparently the ordinary taxes for the two Provinces are remitted, but +a certain quantity of provisions has to be furnished to the army, +perhaps by each township; and besides this, the commissariat officers +have a right of pre-emption at prices considerably below the market +rate.] + +'Repress, therefore, the unruly movements of the cultivators[816]. +While the Gothic army is fighting, let the Roman peasant enjoy in +quiet the peace for which he sighs. According to the King's command, +admonish the several tenants on the farms, and the better sort of +peasants, not to mingle in the barbarism of the strife, lest the +danger to public tranquillity be greater than any service they can +render in the wars[817]. Let them lay hands to the iron, but only to +cultivate their fields; let them grasp the pointed steel, but only to +goad their oxen. + +[Footnote 816: 'Continete ergo possessorum intemperantes motus.'] + +[Footnote 817: 'Ex Regia jussione singulos conductores massarum et +possessores validos admonete, ut nullam contrahant in concertatione +barbariem: ne non tantum festinent bellis prodesse quantum quiete +confundere.' Evidently the rustics are dissuaded from taking up arms +lest they should use them on the side of Belisarius.] + +'Let the Judges be active: let the tribunals echo with their +denunciations of crime. Let the robber, the adulterer, the forger, the +thief, find that the arm of the State is still strong to punish their +crimes. True freedom rejoices when these men are made sad. Here, in +this civil battle, is full scope for your energies: attend to this, +and enjoy the thought that others are fighting the battle with the +foreign foe for you. + +'Exercise great care in calculating the rations of the soldiers, that +no trickery may succeed in defrauding the soldier of his due. + +'The officers of the army are by the rulers of the State placed under +my authority, and you are therefore to admonish them if they go wrong, +while redressing all their real grievances. They, in their turn, must +uphold discipline, which is the most powerful weapon of an army. Rise +to the dignity of the occasion, and show that you are able to govern a +Province in a disturbed condition of public affairs, since anyone can +govern it while all things are quiet. + +'The royal household is specially ordered to pay the same obedience to +this rescript as all the rest of the Province; and as for my own +dependants, I say expressly that, though I wish them well, I ask for +no favour for them which I would not grant to all the other +inhabitants of the Province.' + + +6. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ALL THE SUBORDINATE GOVERNORS OF +THE PRAEFECTURE[818]. + +[Footnote 818: 'Universis Praefecturae titulos administrantibus.'] + +[Sidenote: General instructions to subordinate Governors.] + +'The exhortations addressed to you by the inborn piety of our Lords +ought to suffice; but nevertheless, that we may be doubly assured, we +will address to you our threats against all who shall wield their +power unrighteously. Cease from avarice, from arrogance, from +venality. What will your money avail you when the day of inquisition +comes? _We_ shall not be tempted by it. Let it be clearly understood +that we shall not sell pardons to unjust Judges, but shall hunt them +to their ruin. + +'But all you, good and honest rulers, continue to serve the State +without fear. No rival will buy your offices over your heads; you are +secure in your seats so long as you do well, until the time fixed by +our Lords expires. Be earnest, therefore, that my good deeds may be +imitated and receive their due meed of praise in your persons.' + + +7. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE TAX-COLLECTOR OF THE VENETIAN +PROVINCE[819]. + +[Footnote 819: 'Canonicario Venetiarum.'] + +[Sidenote: Remission of taxes on account of invasion by the Suevi.] + +'A good Sovereign will always exert himself to repair fortuitous +disasters, and will allow those who have paid their taxes punctually +in prosperity, considerable liberty in times of barbaric invasion. On +this ground, and on account of the incursions of the Suevi, the King +grants for this year, the fifteenth Indiction[820], a discharge of all +claims by the Fiscus preferred against A and B. And in all similar +cases where you shall be satisfied that the property has really been +laid waste by those Barbarians, you are at liberty to remit the taxes +for this Indiction. Afterwards you will use all the ordinary methods, +in order that you may be able to pay over the stipulated sum to the +Royal Treasurer. But meanwhile the poor cultivator has the best of all +arguments against paying you, namely, that he has nothing left him +wherewith to pay. Thus is his calamity his best voucher for +payment[821]; and we do not wish that he who has been already alarmed +by the arms of the robber should further tremble at the official robe +of the civil servant[822]. + +[Footnote 820: Sept. 1, 536, to Sept. 1, 537.] + +[Footnote 821: 'Validas contra te apochas invenerunt.'] + +[Footnote 822: 'Chlamydes non pavescant, qui arma timuerunt.'] + + +8. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE CONSULARIS OF THE PROVINCE OF +LIGURIA. + +[Sidenote: Permission to pay taxes direct to Royal Treasury.] + +'It is a new and delightful kind of profit to be able to grant the +request of a petitioner without feeling any loss oneself. The present +suitor, complaining that he is vexed by the exactions of the +tax-gatherer on account of certain farms mentioned in the subjoined +letter, offers to bring the amount due from them himself to our +Treasurers[823]. We are willing to grant this request, on condition +that the Fiscus does not suffer thereby; and therefore desire your +Respectability to warn all _Curiales_, _Compulsores_, and all other +persons concerned, to remove for this Indiction every kind of legal +process from the before-mentioned properties; the condition of this +immunity being that he shall, before the kalends of such and such a +month produce the receipts[824] of the _Arcarius_, showing that he has +discharged his debt to the State. Otherwise the debt must be exacted +by ordinary process. But it is delightful to us whenever the tax is +paid without calling in the aid of the _Compulsor_. Would that the +peasant would always thus freely anticipate the needs of the +Treasury!' + +[Footnote 823: 'Arcarii.'] + +[Footnote 824: 'Apochae.'] + + +9. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO PASCHASIUS, PRAEFECT OF THE +CORN-DISTRIBUTIONS[825]. + +[Footnote 825: 'Praefectus Annonae.'] + +[Sidenote: African claims to succeed to estate of an intestate +countryman.] + +[To make this letter intelligible we must presuppose a custom, +certainly a very extraordinary one, by which on the death of an +African without heirs, any other African in Italy was allowed to claim +the inheritance. By 'African,' no doubt, we must understand one of the +indigenous inhabitants of Africa, perhaps a man of Negro race. The +custom certainly cannot have applied to African Provincials of Roman +descent. It was perhaps based on some old tribal notions of joint +possession and mutual inheritance.] + +'It is a work of wondrous kindness to oblige a foreign race with +public benefits, and not only to invite blood relations to enjoy the +advantages of property, but to permit even strangers to share them. +This kind of heirship is independent of the ties of kindred, +independent of succession from parents, and requires nothing else +save only power to utter the speech of the fatherland. + +'This is the privilege which, as the African asserts, was of old +bestowed on his race. By virtue thereof they lawfully demand the +inheritance of others, and thus obtain a right which the Roman in a +similar case could never claim. Nor have they this benefit in their +own land; but here they are for this purpose looked upon as all +related to one another. + +'The whole nation, in what relates to the advantages of succession, is +regarded as one family. + +'Your Experience is therefore to submit the subject of this man's +petition to a diligent examination, and if it shall turn out, as he +alleges, that the deceased has left no sons nor other persons who +might reasonably claim to succeed him, your official staff is to +induct him into the aforesaid property according to the established +usage. + +'He will thus cease to be a foreigner, and will acquire the status of +a native possessor, and therewith the usual liability to pay tribute. +He is inferior to other owners only in this one point, that he lacks +the power of alienating his property. Let him who has derived so much +benefit from our commiseration now relieve others. Fortunate and +enviable has turned out his captivity[826], which enables him at one +and the same time to enjoy the citizenship of Rome and the privileges +of the African.' + +[Footnote 826: 'Felix illi contigit et praedicanda captivitas.' A +little before, we read, 'Resumat facultatem quam se suspiraverat +amississe.' These sentences suggest the idea that the petitioner had +been brought over in the train of the lately deceased person as a +slave. This a little lessens the difficulty of his being admitted to +the inheritance. Compare Gen. xv. 3, where Abraham, before the birth +of a son, says, 'And one born in my house' (i.e. a slave) 'is mine +heir.'] + + +10. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO DIVERS CANCELLARII IN THE +PROVINCES. + +[Sidenote: Taxes to be punctually enforced.] + +'Arrears of tribute are like bodily diseases, serious and enfeebling +when they become chronic. A man who is under a load of debt cannot be +called free: he has abandoned the power of controlling his actions to +another. Your supposed indulgence to the taxpayer is no real kindness. +There comes a time when the whole arrear of debt has to be claimed, +and then these venal delays of yours make the demand seem twice as +heavy in the eyes of the unfortunate taxpayer. Cease then to trade +upon the peasants' losses. Exact the whole amount of taxes for the +coming Indiction, and pay them in on the appointed day to the +Treasurer[827] of the Province; or else it will be the worse for you, +and you will have to return, stripped of all official rank[828], into +the Province which you are conscious of having badly administered. + +[Footnote 827: 'Arcarius.'] + +[Footnote 828: 'Degeniatus.'] + +'I shall not _speak_ again on this subject, but shall, if necessary, +extract the sums from you by an irrevocable act of distraint.' + + +11. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO PETER, VIR CLARISSIMUS, +DISTRIBUTOR OF RELISHES[829]. + +[Footnote 829: 'Erogatori obsoniorum.'] + +[Sidenote: Distribution of relishes to Roman citizens.] + +'The liberality of a good Sovereign must not be discredited by fraud +and carelessness in the person charged with its distribution. Even +molten gold contracts a stain if not poured into an absolutely clean +vessel. How sweet is it to see a stream flowing clear and unpolluted +over a snow-white channel! Even so must you see that the gifts of the +Sovereign of the State reach the Roman people as pure and as copious +as they issue forth from him. + +'All fraud is hateful; but fraud exercised upon the people of Romulus +is absolutely unbearable. That quiet and easily satisfied people, +whose existence you might forget except when they testify their +happiness by their shouts; noisy without a thought of sedition; whose +only care is to shun poverty without amassing wealth; lowly in fortune +but rich in temper--it is a kind of profanation to rob such people as +these. + +'We therefore entrust to you the task of distributing the +relishes[830] to the Roman people from this Indiction. Be true to the +citizens, else you will become as an alien unto us. Do not be bribed +into allowing anyone to pass as a Latin who was not born in Latium. + +[Footnote 830: 'Obsonia.'] + +'These privileges belong to the Quirites alone: no slave must be +admitted to share them. That man sins against the majesty of the Roman +people, who defiles the pure river of their blood by thrusting upon +them the fellowship of slaves.' + + +12. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ANASTASIUS, CANCELLARIUS OF +LUCANIA AND BRUTTII. + +[Sidenote: Praise of the cheese and wine of Bruttii.] + +'When we were dining, according to our wonted custom, with the +Sovereign of the State[831], the conversation happened to turn upon +the delicacies of various Provinces, and we praised the wines of +Bruttii and the cheese of the district around Mount Sila[832]. + +[Footnote 831: 'Cum apud rerum Dominum solemni more pranderemus.'] + +[Footnote 832: 'Silanum.' Mount Sila is a range of hills in Calabria +immediately to the north of Squillace, forty miles from north to +south, and twenty miles from east to west, and occupying the whole of +the projecting portion of the south-east side of Italy between the +Gulf of Squillace and the Bay of Taranto. The highest peaks, which are +about 5,700 feet high, are covered with snow during half the year. It +is said that from the beginning of June till far on into October, +15,000 head of cattle and 150,000 sheep, besides horses and mules, +graze in these uplands. (See Gael-Fells: Unter Italien, p. 721.)] + +'The _cheese_, which retains in its pores the milk which has been +collected there, recalls by its taste the fragrant herbs upon which +the cattle have fed; by its texture it reminds us of the softness of +oil, from which it differs in colour by its snowy whiteness. Having +been carefully pressed into a wide cask and hardened therein, it +retains permanently the beautiful round shape which has thus been +given to it[833]. + +[Footnote 833: From the description of Cassiodorus, it seems to have +been a kind of cream cheese.] + +'The _wine_, to which Antiquity gave the name of praise, Palmatiana, +must be selected not of a rough but sweet kind[834]. Though last [in +geographical position] among the wines of Bruttii, it is by general +opinion accounted the best, equal to that of Gaza, similar to the +Sabine, moderately thick, strong, brisk, of conspicuous whiteness, +distinguished by the fine aroma, of which a pleasant after-taste is +perceived by the drinker[835]. It constrains loosened bowels, dries up +moist wounds, and refreshes the weary breast. + +[Footnote 834: 'Non stipsi asperum sed gratum suavitate perquire.' The +same peculiar word, _stipsis_, which we had in Letter xii. 4. What +meaning are we to assign to the word?] + +[Footnote 835: 'Magnis odoribus singulare:--quod ita redolet ore +ructatum ut merito illi a palma nomen videatur impositum.'] + +'Let it be your care to provide as speedily as possible a stock of +both these products of our country, and send them in ships to the +Royal residence. For a temporary supply we have drawn on our own +cellars, but we look to you to choose specimens of the genuine quality +for the King. We cannot be deceived, who retain the true taste in our +patriotic memory; and at your peril will you provide any inferior +article to that which our cellars will have supplied[836].' + +[Footnote 836: Baronius (Ad Ann. 591) quotes this letter of +Cassiodorus to explain an allusion in the life of Pope Gregory the +Great, who refused to receive a present of 'Palmatiana' from the +Bishop of Messina, and insisted on paying for it.] + + +13. AN EDICT. + +[Sidenote: Frauds committed by the revenue officers on the Churches of +Bruttii and Lucania.] + +'The generous gifts of Kings ought to be respected by their subjects. + +'Long ago the constitutions of the Emperors enriched the holy +Churches of Bruttii and Lucania with certain gifts. But since the +sacrilegious mind is not afraid of sinning against the Divine +reverence, the Canonicarii (officers of the Exchequer) have robbed +these ecclesiastical positions of a certain portion of their revenue +in the name of the Numerarii of the Praetorian Praefect's staff; but +these latter, with righteous indignation, declare that they have +received no part of the spoils thus impiously collected in their name. + +'Thus have the Canonicarii turned the property of the clergy into a +_douceur_ for the laity[837]. Oh, audacity of man! what barriers can +be erected against thee? Thou mightest have hoped to escape human +observation, but why commit crimes which the Divinity cannot but +notice? + +[Footnote 837: 'Facientes laicum commodum substantiam clericorum.'] + +'Therefore we ordain by this edict that anyone who shall hereafter +commit this kind of fraud shall lose his own private gains, and shall +forfeit his place in the public service[838]. + +[Footnote 838: 'Edictali programmate definimus, ut qui in hac fuerit +ulterius fraude versatus et militia careat et compendium propriae +facultatis amittat.' The last clause is perhaps purposely vague. We +should have expected to hear something about restitution, but the +words will not bear that meaning.] + +'Let the poor keep the gifts which God has put it into the heart of +Kings to bestow upon them. It is cruel above all other cruelty to wish +to become rich by means of the scanty possessions of the mendicant.' + + +14. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ANASTASIUS, CANCELLARIUS OF +LUCANIA AND BRUTTII. + +[Sidenote: Plea for gentle treatment for citizens of Rhegium.] + +'The citizens of Rhegium (so called from the Greek word [Greek: +rhegnumi], to break, because their island has been broken off from +Sicily by the violence of the waves) complain that they are being +unfairly harassed by the tax-gatherers. I, as an eyewitness, can +confirm the truth of their statement that their territory does not +bring forth the produce which is claimed at their hands. It is a rocky +and mountainous country, too dry for pasture, though sufficiently +undulating for vineyards; bad for grain-crops, though well suited for +olives. The shade has to be all provided by the industry of man, who +has planted there the tree of Pallas [the olive], which prospers in +even the driest soil, because it sends its roots down into the very +depths of the earth. + +'The corn has to be watered by hand, like pot-herbs in a garden. You +seldom see the husbandman bending beneath his load as he returns from +the threshing-floor. A few bushels full are all that he can boast of, +even in an abundant harvest[839]. + +[Footnote 839: I do not understand the following sentences: 'In hortis +autem rusticorum agmen habetur operosum: quia olus illic omne saporum +est marina irroratione respersum. Quod humana industria fieri +consuevit, hoc cum nutriretur accepit.' Can they have watered any +herbs with salt water?] + +'Contrary to the opinion of Virgil [who speaks of the bitter roots of +the endive[840]], the fibres of endive are here extremely sweet, and +encircled by their twisting leaves are caked together with a certain +callous tenderness[841]. + +[Footnote 840: + + 'Nec tamen, haec quum sint hominumque boumque labores + Versando terram experti, nihil improbus anser, + Strymoniaeque grues, et _amaris intuba fibris_ + Officiunt.'--Georgic i. 118-121.] + +[Footnote 841: I must renounce the attempt to translate the rest of +the sentence: 'Unde in morem nitri aliquid decerptum frangitur, dum a +fecundo cespite segregatur.' There is an alternative reading, _vitri_ +for _nitri_; but I am still unable to understand the author's +meaning.] + +'In the treasures of the deep that region is certainly rich; for the +Upper and Lower Sea meet there. The _exormiston_[842], a sort of king +among fishes, with bristly nostrils and a milky delicacy of flavour, +is found in these waters. In stormy weather it is tossed about on the +top of the waves, and seems to be too tired or too indolent to seek a +refuge in the deeper water[843]. No other fish can be compared to it +in sweetness[844]. + +[Footnote 842: Apparently a kind of lamprey. See the fourth letter of +this book.] + +[Footnote 843: Perhaps Cassiodorus means to say this makes it more +easy of capture, but he does not say so.] + +[Footnote 844: The praises of the exormiston are not only foreign to +the main subject of the letter, but to a certain extent weaken the +writer's argument on behalf of his countrymen; but, as a good +Bruttian, he cannot help vaunting the products of his country.] + +'These are the products--I speak from my own knowledge--of the Rhegian +shore. Therefore you must not seek to levy a tribute of wheat or lard +from the inhabitants under the name of "coemptio." + +'I may add that they are so troubled by the constant passage of +travellers entering Italy or leaving it, that it would have been right +to excuse them even if those products had been found there in +abundance[845].' + +[Footnote 845: The passage to and fro of travellers no doubt brought +with it burdensome duties for the inhabitants in connection with the +_Cursus Publicus_. It was therefore a reason for mitigating other +taxes.] + + +15. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO MAXIMUS, VIR CLARISSIMUS, +CANCELLARIUS OF LUCANIA AND BRUTTII[846]. + +[Footnote 846: This letter, being the description by Cassiodorus of +his native place, is translated entire.] + +[Sidenote: Praises of the author's birthplace, Scyllacium.] + +'Scyllacium, the first city of Bruttii, which Ulysses the destroyer of +Troy is believed to have founded, is said to be unreasonably vexed by +the exorbitant demands of purveyors[847]. These injuries grieve us all +the more on account of our patriotic love for the place. + +[Footnote 847: 'Irrationabiliter dicitur praesumentium nimietate +vexari.'] + +'The city of Scyllacium, which is so placed as to look down upon the +Hadriatic Gulf, hangs upon the hills like a cluster of grapes: not +that it may pride itself upon their difficult ascent, but that it may +voluptuously gaze on verdant plains and the blue back of the sea. The +city beholds the rising sun from its very cradle, when the day that is +about to be born sends forward no heralding Aurora; but as soon as it +begins to rise, the quivering brightness displays its torch. It +beholds Phoebus in his joy; it is bathed in the brightness of that +luminary, so that it might be thought to be itself the native land of +the sun, the claims of Rhodes to that honour being outdone. + +'It enjoys a translucent air, but withal so temperate that its winters +are sunny, and its summers cool; and life passes there without sorrow, +since hostile seasons are feared by none. Hence, too, man himself is +here freer of soul than elsewhere, for this temperateness of the +climate prevails in all things. + +'In sooth, a hot fatherland makes its children sharp and fickle, a +cold one slow and sly; it is only a temperate climate which composes +the characters of men by its own moderation. Hence was it that the +ancients pronounced Athens to be the seat of sages, because, enriched +with an air of the greatest purity, it prepared with glad liberality +the lucid intellects of its sons for the contemplative part of life. +Assuredly for the body to imbibe muddy waters is a different thing +from sucking in the transparency of a sweet fountain. Even so the +vigour of the mind is repressed when it is clogged by a heavy +atmosphere. Nature herself hath made us subject to these influences. +Clouds make us feel sad; and again a bright sky fills us with joy, +because the heavenly substance of the soul delights in everything that +is unstained and pure. + +'Scyllacium has also an abundant share of the delicacies of the sea, +possessing near it those gates of Neptune which we ourselves +constructed. At the foot of the Moscian Mount we hollowed out the +bowels of the rock, and tastefully[848] introduced therein the eddying +waves of Nereus. Here a troop of fishes, sporting in free captivity, +refreshes all minds with delight, and charms all eyes with admiration. +They run greedily to the hand of man, and before they become his food +seek dainties from him. Man feeds his own dainty morsels, and while he +has that which can bring them into his power, it often happens that +being already replete he lets them all go again. + +[Footnote 848: 'Decenter.'] + +'The spectacle moreover of men engaged in honourable labour is not +denied to those who are sitting tranquilly in the city. Plenteous +vineyards are beheld in abundance. The fruitful toil of the +threshing-floor is seen. The face of the green olive is disclosed. No +one need sigh for the pleasures of the country, when it is given him +to see them all from the town. + +'And inasmuch as it has now no walls, you believe Scyllacium to be a +rural city, though you might judge it to be an urban villa; and thus +placed between the two worlds of town and country, it is lavishly +praised by both. + +'This place wayfarers desire frequently to visit, and as they object +to the toil of walking, the citizens, called upon to provide them with +post-horses, and rations for their servants, have to pay heavily in +purse for the pleasantness of their city. Therefore to prevent this, +for the future we decide that all charges for providing post-horses +and rations shall be debited to the public account. We cut up, root +and branch, the system of paying _Pulveratica_[849] to the Judge; and +we decide, according to ancient custom, that rations for three days +only shall be given on their arrival to the great Dignitaries of the +State, and that any more prolonged delay in their locomotion be +provided for by themselves. + +[Footnote 849: Dust-money.] + +'To relieve your city of its heaviest burdens will be, according to +our injunctions, an act of judicial impartiality, not of laxity. Live, +by God's help, a mirror of the justice of the age, delighting in the +security of all. Some people call the Isles of the Atlantic +'Fortunate:' I would rather give that name to the place where you do +now dwell.' + + +16. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO A REVENUE OFFICER[850]. + +[Footnote 850: 'Canonicario.'] + +[This interesting letter is one of the few written by Cassiodorus as +Praetorian Praefect which we can date with certainty. It is written +apparently at the beginning of the first Indiction, i.e. Sept. 1, 537. +Witigis and the Goths have been for nearly six months besieging Rome, +and are beginning to be discouraged as to its capture. Cassiodorus is +probably at Ravenna, directing the machine of government from that +capital.] + +[Sidenote: Payment of Trina Illatio.] + +'Time, which adapts itself incessantly to the course of human affairs, +and reconciles us even to adversity[851], has brought round again the +period for collecting the _Trina Illatio_ from the taxpayer. Let the +peasant (_possessor_) pay in your Diocese, for this first Indiction, +his instalment of the tax freely, not being urged too soon nor allowed +to postpone it too late, so that he may plead that he has been let off +from payment[852]. Let none exceed the fair weight, but let him use a +just pound: if once the true weight is allowed to be exceeded, there +is no limit to extortion[853]. + +[Footnote 851: 'Dum res nobis etiam asperas captata semper opinione +conciliat.' Apparently a veiled allusion to the disasters of the +Goths.] + +[Footnote 852: 'Nec iterum remissione lentata quisquam se dicat esse +praeteritum.'] + +[Footnote 853: This mention of the just weight of course suits a tax +paid in kind, not in money.] + +'Let a faithful account of the expenses of collection be rendered +every four months to our office[854], that, all error and obscurity +being removed, truth may be manifest in the public accounts. + +[Footnote 854: 'Expensarum quoque fidelem notitiam per quaternos +menses ad scrinia nostra solemniter destinabis.'] + +'That you may, with God's help, be the better able to fulfil our +instructions, I have ordered A and B, servants of our tribunal, who +are mindful of their own past responsibilities, to assist you and your +staff[855]. Beware therefore, lest you incur the blame of corruptly +discharging the taxpayer, or of sluggish idleness in the discharge of +your duties, in which case your own fortunes will suffer from your +neglect.' + +[Footnote 855: 'Illum atque illum sedis nostrae milites, tibi +officioque tuo periculorum suorum memores praecipimus imminere.'] + + +17. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO JOHN, SILIQUATARIUS[856] OF +RAVENNA. + +[Footnote 856: Collector of the Siliquaticum, or tax of one +twenty-fourth on sales. See ii. 30, iii. 35, iv. 19.] + +[Sidenote: Defence of Ravenna.] + +'In times of peace, by contact with foreigners who swarm in our +cities, we learn what will be our best defence in war. Who can tell +with what nation we may be next at war? Therefore, to be on the safe +side, make such preparations as our future enemies, whosoever they may +be, will dislike to hear of. Accordingly you are to order the peasants +to dig a series of pits with wide mouths near the mountains of +Caprarius and the parts round about the walls[857]; and let such a +chasm yawn there that there shall be no possibility of entrance that +way. + +[Footnote 857: No doubt the walls of Ravenna. I cannot identify the +Mons Caprarius. The name Caprera is a common one in Italy.] + +'If strangers want to enter the city, why do they not enter it in the +right way--by the gates--instead of going skulking about these +bye-paths? Henceforth, anyone trying to take any such short cut to our +city will probably find that he loses his life in consequence[858].' + +[Footnote 858: One may conjecture that this letter was written in 535, +when war with the Empire was imminent, but before it was actually +declared.] + + +18. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO CONSTANTIAN, VIR +EXPERIENTISSIMUS. + +[Sidenote: Repair of Flaminian Way.] + +'Great is the reward of those who serve Kings efficiently; as severe +is the punishment of those who neglect their duties towards them. + +'How delightful is it to journey without obstacles over a well-made +road[859], to pass doubtful places without fear, to ascend mountainous +steeps by a gentle incline, to have no fear of the planking of a +bridge when one crosses it[860], and in short to accomplish one's +journey so that everything happens to one's liking! + +[Footnote 859: 'Videre judicia diligentia.' I leave this clause +untranslated, as I cannot understand it.] + +[Footnote 860: 'In pontibus contrabium non tremere.'] + +'This is the pleasure which you can now prepare for your Sovereign. +Therefore, as the Flaminian Way is furrowed by the action of torrents, +join the yawning chasms by the broadest of bridges; clear away the +rough woods which choke the sides of the highway; procure the +stipulated number of post-horses, and see that they have all the +points which are required in a good steed; collect the designated +quantities of provisions without plundering the peasants. A failure in +any one of these particulars will ruin your whole service. + +[Sidenote: Supply of delicacies for the King's table.] + +'Collect, too, with the utmost diligence the spices which are needed +for the King's table. What avails it to have satisfied the army, if +the King's own board lack proper care. Let all the Provincials attend +to your admonitions: let the cities furnish the stores set forth in +the accompanying letters. Then, when they have put the Sovereign in a +good humour, they may ask him for benefits to some purpose. + +'Think of me as present and as judging of all your deeds. I shall have +to bear the blame of your failures at Court; so act rather as to set +my mind at rest, to cover me and yourselves with glory, and to entitle +me to receive on your behalf the thanks of the whole army.' + +[This letter was probably written in the autumn of 535, when Theodahad +was preparing to march to Rome. The mention of the delicacies for the +royal table suggests that that King, in addition to the other +excellencies of his character, was probably an epicure.] + + +19. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO MAXIMUS, VICARIUS OF THE CITY OF +ROME. + +[Sidenote: Bridge of boats across the Tiber.] + +'As all great events in Nature have their heralding signs, so is the +approaching visit of the King announced to you even by the concourse +of wayfarers to your City. We, however, have to order you to clothe +the waves of Tiber with a bridge [of boats]. The boat, thus used, is +no longer moved by slowly hauled ropes, as it is wont to be. Fixed +itself, it affords a means of transit to others. The joining of its +planks gives the desired appearance of solidity; all the terror of the +waves is removed by its likeness to the land, and the traveller +passing over it unharmed only wishes that the bridge were longer. + +'Let a safe bulwark of lattice-work shield the bridge on the right +side and on the left. See that you give no cause for misadventure of +any kind. You have a noble opportunity of distinguishing yourself in +the presence of so many Senators and of the King himself, the rewarder +of every well-done work. On the other hand, if you do it badly and put +him out of humour, woe be unto you! + +'We send A B, a servant of our Praefecture[861], to assist you and +your staff and bring us report of the accomplishment of the work; for +so heavy is our responsibility in this matter that we dare not leave +anything to chance.' + +[Footnote 861: 'Illum sedis nostrae militem.'] + +[The King whose advent to Rome is here announced may be Witigis, after +his election in the plains of Regeta (August, 536). But the fact that +he is apparently approaching Rome by the northern bank of the Tiber, +coupled with the directions in the preceding letter for the repair of +the Flaminian Way, makes it more probable that some visit of Theodahad +(probably in the year 535), when he would come from Ravenna to Rome, +is here in prospect.] + + +20. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THOMAS AND PETER, VIRI CLARISSIMI +AND ARCARII. + +[Sidenote: Sacred vessels mortgaged by Pope Agapetus to be restored to +the stewards of the Papal See.] + +'You will remember, most faithful Sirs, that when the holy Agapetus, +Pope of the City of Rome, was sent as ambassador to the Sovereign of +the East[862], he received so many pounds of gold from you for the +expenses of the journey, for which he gave his bond[863] and deposited +some of the Church plate as security[864]. The provident ruler thus +lent him money in his necessity, and now, far more gloriously, returns +as a free gift those pledges which the Pope might well have thanked +him for taking. + +[Footnote 862: He was sent by Theodahad; entered Constantinople +February 20, 536, and died there 21st April of the same year.] + +[Footnote 863: 'Facto pictacio.'] + +[Footnote 864: 'Vasa sanctorum.' One would think this must refer to +the vessels used in celebrating mass; but I do not quite see how the +meaning is to be got out of the words.] + +'Therefore, in obedience to these instructions of ours, and fortified +by the Royal order, do you return without any delay to the +stewards[865] of the holy Apostle Peter the vessels of the saints +together with the written obligation, that these things may be felt to +be profitably restored and speedily granted, that the longed-for means +of performing their world-famous ministrations may be replaced in the +hands of the Levites. Let that be given back which was their own, +since that is justly received back by way of largesse which the Priest +had legally mortgaged. + +[Footnote 865: 'Actoribus.'] + +'Herein is the great example of King Alaric surpassed. He, when +glutted with the spoil of Rome, having received the vessels of the +Apostle Peter from his men, when he heard the story of their seizure, +ordered them to be carried back across the sacred threshold, that so +the remembrance of the cupidity of their capture might be effaced by +the generosity of their restoration. + +'But our King, with religious purpose, has restored the vessels which +had become his own by the law of mortgage. In recompense for such +deeds frequent prayer ought to ascend, and Heaven will surely gladly +grant the required return for such good actions[866].' + +[Footnote 866: Baronius not unfairly argues that if the Roman See was +so poor that the Church plate had to be pawned to provide for the +Pope's journey to Constantinople, the _wealth_ of the Pope cannot have +largely contributed to that great increase of his influence which +marked the early years of the Sixth Century.] + +[There are in this letter several extremely obscure sentences as to +the generosity of Theodahad. As the Papal journey was undertaken by +Theodahad's orders, it was a piece of meanness, quite in keeping with +that King's character, to treat the advance of money for the journey +as a loan, and to insist on a bond and the deposit of the Church plate +as a security for repayment. Cassiodorus evidently feels this; and +very probably the restoration of the vessels and the quittance of the +debt had been insisted on by him. But the more he despises his +master's shabbiness, the more he struggles through a maze of almost +nonsensical sentences, to prove that he has committed some very +glorious action in lending the money and then forgiving the debt.] + + +21. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO DEUSDEDIT, A SCRIBE OF RAVENNA. + +[Sidenote: Duties of a Scribe.] + +'The Scribe's office is the great safeguard of the rights of all men. +The evidence of ownership may be destroyed by fire or purloined by +dishonest men, but the State by making use of the Scribe's labours is +able to make good the loss so sustained. The Scribe is more diligent +in other men's business than they are in their own. His +muniment-chest is the refuge of all the oppressed, and the repository +of the fortunes of all men[867]. + +[Footnote 867: 'Armarium ipsius fortuna cunctorum est.'] + +'In testimony of your past integrity, and in the hope that no change +will mar this fair picture, we appoint you to this honourable office. +Remember that ancient Truth is committed to your keeping, and that it +often really rests with you, rather than with the Judge, to decide the +disputes of litigants. When your indisputable testimony is given, and +when the ancient voice of charters proceeds from your _sanctum_, +Advocates receive it with reverence, and suitors, even +evil-intentioned men, are constrained into obedience. + +'Banish, therefore, all thoughts of venality from your mind. The worst +moth that gets into papers and destroys them is the gold of the +dishonest litigant, who bribes the Scribes to make away with evidence +which he knows to be hostile. Thus, then, be ready always to produce +to suitors genuine old documents; and, on the other hand, transcribe +only, do not compose ancient proceedings[868]. Let the copy correspond +to the original as the wax to the signet-ring, that as the face is the +index of the emotions[869] so your handwriting may not err from the +authentic original in anything. + +[Footnote 868: 'Translator esto, non conditor antiquorum gestorum.'] + +[Footnote 869: Compare Cassiodorus' treatise De Anima, chapters x. and +xi., in which he enumerates the various points in which the faces of +good men and bad men differ from one another.] + +'If a claimant succeed in enticing you even once from the paths of +honesty, vainly will you in any subsequent case seek to obtain his +credence for any document that you may produce; for he will always +believe that the trick which has been played once may be played again. +Keep to the line of justice, and even his angry exclamations at the +impossibility of inducing you to deviate therefrom, will be your +highest testimonial. Your whole career is public, and the favour or +disgrace which awaits you must be public also.' + + +22. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE PROVINCIALS OF ISTRIA. + +[This letter was written Sept. 1, 537, probably in consequence of the +scarcity which the operations of Belisarius were already causing at +Ravenna. Apparently the whole taxes levied from a Province at an +Indiction were divided into two heads: so much for the central +authority, and so much for the Province. Cassiodorus in this and the +following letter says in effect: 'All the State's share of the taxes +we will take not in money, but in your staple products, corn, wine, +and oil. The rest goes as usual to the Province; but owing to the +scarcity at Ravenna we shall be glad to buy all that can be spared +either by the authorities of the Province or by individuals, whether +farmers or merchants.'] + +'The true way to prevent the requirements of the public revenue from +becoming oppressive, is to order each Province to supply those +products in which it is naturally most fertile. + +[Sidenote: Requisition from Province of Istria.] + +'Now I have learned by conversation with travellers that the Province +of Istria is this year especially blessed in three of its crops--wine, +oil, and corn. Therefore let her give of these products the equivalent +of ... solidi, which are due from you in payment of tribute for this +first Indiction[870]: while the remainder we leave to that loyal +Province for her own regular expenses. But since we require a larger +quantity of the above-mentioned products, we send ... solidi from our +state chest for the purchase of them, that these necessaries may be +collected for us with as little delay as possible. Often when you are +desirous to sell you cannot find a purchaser, and suffer loss +accordingly. How much better is it to obey the requirements of your +Lords than to supply foreigners; and to pay your debts in the fruits +of the soil, rather than to wait on the caprices of a buyer! + +[Footnote 870: The first Indiction was from September 1, 537, to +September 1, 538.] + +'We will ourselves out of our love of justice state a fact of which +you might otherwise remind us, that we can afford to be liberal in +price because we are not burdened by the payment of freights [on +account of your nearness to the seat of government]. For what Campania +is to Rome, Istria is to Ravenna--a fruitful Province abounding in +corn, wine, and oil; so to speak, the cupboard of the capital. I might +carry the comparison further, and say that Istria can show her own +Baiae in the lagunes with which her shores are indented[871], her own +Averni in the pools abounding in oysters and fish. The palaces, strung +like pearls along the shores of Istria, show how highly our ancestors +appreciated its delights[872]. The beautiful chain of islands with +which it is begirt, shelter the sailor from danger and enrich the +cultivator. The residence of the Court in this district delights the +nobles and enriches the lower orders; and it may be said that all its +products find their way to the Royal city. Now let the loyal Province, +which has often tendered her services when they were less required, +send forward her stores freely. + +[Footnote 871: Here follows this sentence: 'Haec loca garismatia plura +nutriunt.' Garum seems to have been a sauce something like our +anchovy-sauce. Garismatium is evidently a garum-supplying place.] + +[Footnote 872: We have a special allusion in Martial (iv. 25) to the +villas of Altinum, and he too compares them to those of Baiae.] + +'To guard against any misunderstanding of our orders, we send +Laurentius, a man of great experience, whose instructions are +contained in the annexed letter. + +'We will publish a tariff of moderate prices when we next address you, +and when we have ascertained what is the yield of the present crops; +for we should be deciding quite at random before we have received that +information.' + + +23. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO LAURENTIUS, VIR +EXPERIENTISSIMUS[873]. + +[Footnote 873: Evidently 'the annexed letter' referred to in No. 22.] + +[Sidenote: The same subject.] + +'Anyone can discharge the duties of the Commissariat in a time of +abundance. It is a mark of our high appreciation of your experience +and efficiency, that we select you for this service in a time of +scarcity. We therefore direct you to repair to the Province of Istria, +there to collect stores of wine, oil, and corn, equivalent to ... +solidi, due from the Province for land-tax[874], and with ... solidi +which you have received from our Treasurer to buy these products +either from the merchants or from the peasants directly, according to +the information prepared for you by the Cashiers[875]. Raise your +spirits for this duty, and discharge it in a manner worthy of your +past reputation. Make to us a faithful report of the yield of the +coming harvest, under these three heads[876], that we may fix a tariff +of prices which shall be neither burdensome to the Provincials nor +injurious to the public service.' + +[Footnote 874: 'Ut in tot solidos vini, olei, vel tritici species de +tributario solido debeas procurare.'] + +[Footnote 875: 'Sicut te a Numerariis instruxit porrecta Notitia.' +Note this use of the word 'Notitia,' as illustrating the title of the +celebrated document bearing that name.] + +[Footnote 876: Corn, wine, and oil.] + + +24. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE TRIBUNES OF THE MARITIME +POPULATION[877]. + +[Footnote 877: Written shortly after Sept. 1, 537. This is the +celebrated letter to which Venetian historians point as evidence of +the existence of their city (or at least of the group of settlements +out of which their city sprang) in the Sixth Century. We may set side +by side with it the words of the Anonymous Geographer of Ravenna (in +the Seventh Century), 'In patria vero Venetiae sunt aliquantae +insulae, quae hominibus habitantur.' + +The address, _Tribunis Maritimorum_, looks as if there were something +like a municipal government established in these islands. Tribunus was +at this time generally, but not exclusively, a military title. Compare +the Tribunus Fori Suarii and Tribunus Rerum Nitentium of the Notitia +(Occidens iv. 10 and iv. 17). But there can be no doubt, from the tone +of this letter, that the islanders were subjects of the Ostrogothic +King.] + +[Sidenote: First historical notice of Venice.] + +'We have previously given orders that Istria should send wine and oil, +of which there are abundant crops this year, to the Royal residence +at Ravenna. Do you, who possess numerous ships on the borders of the +Province, show the same devotion in forwarding the stores which they +do in supplying them. + +'Be therefore active in fulfilling this commission in your own +neighbourhood, you who often cross boundless distances. It may be said +that [in visiting Ravenna] you are going through your own +guest-chambers, you who in your voyages traverse your own home[878]. +This is also added to your other advantages, that to you another route +is open, marked by perpetual safety and tranquillity. For when by +raging winds the sea is closed, a way is opened to you through the +most charming river scenery[879]. Your keels fear no rough blasts; +they touch the earth with the greatest pleasure, and cannot perish +however frequently they may come in contact with it. Beholders from a +distance, not seeing the channel of the stream, might fancy them +moving through the meadows. Cables have been used to keep them at +rest: now drawn by ropes they move, and by a changed order of things +men help their ships with their feet. They draw their drawers without +labour, and instead of the capricious favour of sails they use the +more satisfactory steps of the sailor. + +[Footnote 878: An obscure sentence: 'Per hospitia quodammodo vestra +discurritis qui per patriam navigatis.' The idea seems to be: 'You +have to sail about from one room to another of your own house, and +therefore Ravenna will seem like a neighbouring inn.'] + +[Footnote 879: The next four sentences describe the movement of the +ships when towed along the channels of the streams (Brenta, Piave, +Tagliamento, &c.) the deposits from which have made the lagunes.] + +'It is a pleasure to recall the situation of your dwellings as I +myself have seen them. Venetia the praiseworthy[880], formerly full of +the dwellings of the nobility, touches on the south Ravenna and the +Po, while on the east it enjoys the delightsomeness of the Ionian +shore, where the alternating tide now discovers and now conceals the +face of the fields by the ebb and flow of its inundation. Here after +the manner of water-fowl have you fixed your home. He who was just now +on the mainland finds himself on an island, so that you might fancy +yourself in the Cyclades[881], from the sudden alterations in the +appearance of the shore. + +[Footnote 880: 'Venetiae praedicabiles.' An allusion, no doubt, as +other commentators have suggested, to the reputed derivation of +Venetia from [Greek: Ainetoi], 'the laudable.'] + +[Footnote 881: Alluding probably to the story of the floating island +of Delos.] + +'Like them[882] there are seen amid the wide expanse of the waters +your scattered homes, not the product of Nature, but cemented by the +care of man into a firm foundation[883]. For by a twisted and knotted +osier-work the earth there collected is turned into a solid mass, and +you oppose without fear to the waves of the sea so fragile a bulwark, +since forsooth the mass of waters is unable to sweep away the shallow +shore, the deficiency in depth depriving the waves of the necessary +power. + +[Footnote 882: 'Earum similitudine.' Does Cassiodorus mean 'like the +water-fowl,' or 'like the Cyclades?'] + +[Footnote 883: The reading of Nivellius (followed by Migne), +'Domicilia videntur sparsa, quae Natura non protulit sed hominum cura +fundavit,' seems to give a better sense than that of Garet, who omits +the 'non.'] + +'The inhabitants have one notion of plenty, that of gorging themselves +with fish. Poverty therefore may associate itself with wealth on equal +terms. One kind of food refreshes all; the same sort of dwelling +shelters all; no one can envy his neighbour's home; and living in this +moderate style they escape that vice [of envy] to which all the rest +of the world is liable. + +'Your whole attention is concentrated on your salt-works. Instead of +driving the plough or wielding the sickle, you roll your cylinders. +Thence arises your whole crop, when you find in them that product +which you have not manufactured[884]. There it may be said is your +subsistence-money coined[885]. Of this art of yours every wave is a +bondservant. In the quest for gold a man may be lukewarm: but salt +every one desires to find; and deservedly so, since to it every kind +of meat owes its savour. + +[Footnote 884: 'Inde vobis fructus omnis enascitur, quando in ipsis, +et quae non facitis possidetis.'] + +[Footnote 885: 'Moneta illic quodammodo percutitur victualis.' Some +have supposed that these words point to a currency in salt; but I +think they are only a Cassiodorian way of saying 'By this craft ye +have your wealth.'] + +'Therefore let your ships, which you have tethered, like so many +beasts of burden, to your walls, be repaired with diligent care: so +that when the most experienced Laurentius attempts to bring you his +instructions, you may hasten forth to greet him. Do not by any +hindrance on your part delay the necessary purchases which he has to +make; since you, on account of the character of your winds, are able +to choose the shortest sea-track[886].' + +[Footnote 886: This is the only translation I can suggest of 'quatenus +expensas necessarias nulla difficultate tardetis, qui pro qualitate +aeris compendium vobis eligere potestis itineris.'] + + +25. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO HIS DEPUTY[887] AMBROSIUS, AN +ILLUSTRIS. + +[Footnote 887: 'Agenti vices.' See note on xi. 4.] + +[This letter appears to have been written in the early autumn of 538, +about a year after the three last letters, and also after Letters 27 +and 28, which precede it in order of date, though they follow it in +this collection. For an account of the terrible famine in Italy, the +beginning of which is here described, see Procopius, De Bello Gotthico +ii. 20.] + +[Sidenote: Famine in Italy.] + +'Since the world is not governed by chance, but by a Divine Ruler who +does not change His purposes at random, men are alarmed, and naturally +alarmed, at the extraordinary signs in the heavens, and ask with +anxious hearts what events these may portend. The Sun, first of stars, +seems to have lost his wonted light, and appears of a bluish colour. +We marvel to see no shadows of our bodies at noon, to feel the mighty +vigour of his heat wasted into feebleness, and the phenomena which +accompany a transitory eclipse prolonged through a whole year. + +'The Moon too, even when her orb is full, is empty of her natural +splendour. Strange has been the course of the year thus far. We have +had a winter without storms, a spring without mildness, and a summer +without heat. Whence can we look for harvest, since the months which +should have been maturing the corn have been chilled by Boreas? How +can the blade open if rain, the mother of all fertility, is denied to +it? These two influences, prolonged frost and unseasonable drought, +must be adverse to all things that grow. The seasons seem to be all +jumbled up together, and the fruits, which were wont to be formed by +gentle showers, cannot be looked for from the parched earth. But as +last year was one that boasted of an exceptionally abundant harvest, +you are to collect all of its fruits that you can, and store them up +for the coming months of scarcity, for which it is well able to +provide. And that you may not be too much distressed by the signs in +the heavens of which I have spoken, return to the consideration of +Nature, and apprehend the reason of that which makes the vulgar gape +with wonder. + +'The middle air is thickened by the rigour of snow and rarefied by the +beams of the Sun. This is the great Inane, roaming between the heavens +and the earth. When it happens to be pure and lighted up by the rays +of the sun it opens out its true aspect[888]; but when alien elements +are blended with it, it is stretched like a hide across the sky, and +suffers neither the true colours of the heavenly bodies to appear nor +their proper warmth to penetrate. This often happens in cloudy weather +for a time; it is only its extraordinary prolongation which has +produced these disastrous effects, causing the reaper to fear a new +frost in harvest, making the apples to harden when they should grow +ripe, souring the old age of the grape-cluster. + +[Footnote 888: 'Vestros (?) veraciter pandit aspectus.'] + +'All this, however, though it would be wrong to construe it as an omen +of Divine wrath, cannot but have an injurious effect on the fruits of +the earth. Let it be your care to see that the scarcity of this one +year does not bring ruin on us all. Even thus was it ordained by the +first occupant of our present dignity[889], that the preceding plenty +should avail to mitigate the present penury.' + +[Footnote 889: Joseph, Praetorian Praefect of Egypt under Pharaoh.] + + +26. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO PAULUS, VIR STRENUUS[890]. + +[Footnote 890: Paulas was probably a Sajo.] + +[Sidenote: Remission of taxes for Province of Venetia in consequence +of the famine.] + +'We are glad when we can reconcile the claims of the public service +with the suggestions of pity. The Venerable Augustin, a man +illustrious by his life and name, has brought under our notice the +lamentable petition of the Venetians, to the effect that there have +been in their Province no crops of wine, wheat, or millet, and that +they must be ruined unless the Royal pity succours them. + +'In these circumstances it would be cruel to exact the customary +supplies from them, and we therefore remit the contributions of wine +and wheat for the use of the army which we had ordered from the cities +of Concordia, Aquileia, and Forojulii[891], exacting only the meat, as +shown by the accompanying letter[892]. + +[Footnote 891: Now Cividale in Friuli. Notice the terminations of +these names: 'ex Concordiense, Aquileiense, et Forojuliense +civitatibus' ('e,' not 'i').] + +[Footnote 892: The letter here alluded to does not appear to be +preserved.] + +'We shall send from hence a sufficient supply of wheat when the time +comes; and as we are told that there is a plentiful crop of wine in +Istria, you can buy there the wine that would have been furnished by +the three cities. Be sure that you ask for no fee in this matter. +This remission of taxes is absolutely gratuitous on our part.' + + +27. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO DATIUS[893], BISHOP OF MILAN. + +[Footnote 893: Cassiodorus, like Procopius, spells this name with a +'t.' Some of the ecclesiastical writers spell it with a 'c.'] + +[Sidenote: Relief of famine-stricken citizens of Ticinum and Dertona.] + +'It is most fitting that good and holy men should be made the stewards +of the Royal bounty. We therefore request your Holiness, in accordance +with the King's commands, to open the granaries at Ticinum[894], and +Dertona[895], and sell millet thereat to the starving people at the +rate of 20 modii per solidum[896]. We are anxious that you should do +this, lest the work should fall into venal hands which would sell the +King's bounty to those who are able to provide for themselves. It is +the poor, not the rich, that we wish to help: we would pour our bounty +into empty vessels. Let not then your Holiness think this work of +compassion, unworthy of your sacred office. In order to assist you we +have sent A and B, who will simply obey the orders of your Holiness, +doing nothing of their own motion. + +[Footnote 894: Pavia.] + +[Footnote 895: Tortona.] + +[Footnote 896: Twelve shillings for twenty pecks, or about nineteen +shillings and twopence a quarter; not a very low price, one would +think, for such a grain as millet. + +Datius is ordered to sell _tertiam portionem_ of this millet. Probably +this expression has the same meaning as the 'tertia illatio' of xi. +37. + +In the similar letter, x. 27, 'tertia portio' (whether of wheat or +millet is not stated) is to be sold at 25 modii per solidum.] + +'Send us an account of the solidi received in payment for the said +millet, that they may be stored up with our Treasurer[897], in order +to replace the before-mentioned grain, and thus provide a reserve for +future times of scarcity; like a garment taken to pieces that it may +be made up again as good as new.' + +[Footnote 897: 'Arcarius.'] + +[It is not very easy to assign a date to this letter. The mention of +the famine would incline us to assign it to 538, as that seems to have +been the year when the full force of the famine was felt in Italy (see +Procopius, De Bello Gotthico ii. 20, where 538 and 539 seem to be +marked as the two great famine years). But very early in 538 the +Bishop of Milan, the same Datius to whom this letter is addressed, +visited Rome to entreat Belisarius to send a small garrison to occupy +Milan, which had already revolted, or was on the verge of revolting, +from the Gothic King. As soon as the siege of Rome was raised +Belisarius complied with this request, and sent 1,000 men, under +Mundilas, to escort Datius back to Milan. This expedition set forth +probably in April 538, and as soon as it arrived at Milan that city +openly proclaimed its defection from Witigis and its allegiance to the +Emperor. It was soon besieged by Uraias, nephew of Witigis, by whom in +the following year (539) it was taken. The city, we are informed, was +rased to the ground, and Bishop Datius escaped to Constantinople. +Evidently we have here a continuous chain of events, which makes it +impossible for us to date this letter in 538 or any subsequent year. + +We ought probably therefore to assign it to the autumn of 537, and to +look upon it as an attempt (unsuccessful, as it proved) to retain +Datius and the citizens of Milan on the side of the Goths. We know +from the Twenty-second Letter of this book that signs of scarcity had +already shown themselves in Italy by the 1st September, 537; and in an +interesting passage of the 'Historia Miscella' (Book xvi.), famine in +Liguria, the year 537, and the name of Datius are all combined. +'Praeter belli instantiam angebatur insuper Roma famis penuria: tanta +siquidem per universum mundum eo anno [the year of the siege of Rome], +_maxime apud Liguriam_ fames excreverat, ut _sicut vir sanctissimus +Datius Mediolanensis antistes retulit_, pleraeque matres infelicium +natorum membra comederent.' I owe this reference to Baronius.] + + +28. AN EDICT [ADDRESSED TO THE LIGURIANS]. + +[Sidenote: Relief of inhabitants of Liguria.] + +'Divine Providence uses adversity as a means of testing our +characters. Famine has afflicted the Provinces, but the result of it +has been that they have proved more fully than before the bounty of +their King. Rejoice herein, oh ye Ligurians! For when, as you will +remember, on a previous occasion the savage temper of your neighbours +was aroused, and Aemilia and your Liguria were shaken by an incursion +of the Burgundians, who waged a sneaking campaign by reason of their +nearness to your territory, suddenly the renown of the insulted +Empire[898] arose like the sun in his strength. The enemy mourned the +ruin which was caused by his own presumption, when he learned that +that man was Ruler of the Gothic race whose rare valour he had +experienced when he was still a private soldier[899]. How often did +the Burgundian wish that he had never left his own frontiers to be +compelled to fight with such an adversary as our Sovereign; for though +he found with relief that he escaped his actual presence in the field, +none the less did his rashness bring him in contact with the good +fortune of his arms. For when with redoubled fortitude[900] the Goths +turned to the prosecution of the war, with such successfully combined +operations did they strike the bands of the rebels, that you would +have thought those were all armed men, these were all +defenceless[901]. Such was the just judgment of God, that the robber +should perish in those very plains which he had presumed to desolate. +Exult now, oh Province, adorned with the carcases of thine +adversaries! rejoice, oh Liguria, at the heap of dead bodies! If the +harvest of corn is denied thee, the harvest of dead enemies shall not +be wanting. Tribute thou mayest not be able to offer to thy King, but +the triumphs which are won in thy land thou canst offer with pride. + +[Footnote 898: Literally, 'of the present Empire:' 'subito praesentis +Imperii tanquam solis ortus fama radiavit.' I avoid the word +'present,' because of its ambiguity. Observe the use of 'Imperii' +applied to the Gothic Kingdom.] + +[Footnote 899: 'Quando illum cognovit nominatae (?) gentis esse +Rectorem, quem sub militis nomine probaverat esse singularem.' This +evident allusion to Witigis obliges us to place the date of this +Burgundian invasion not much earlier than the summer of 536, when +Witigis was raised to the throne. Apparently the Burgundians were +already in Italy when they heard the news of that event.] + +[Footnote 900: 'Ut Gothi ad belli studium gemina se fortitudine +contulerunt.' These words perhaps allude to the necessity of fighting +two enemies at once, Belisarius and the Burgundians; or perhaps to the +existence of two Gothic armies, whose combined operations are +indicated by the following words, 'prospera concertatione.'] + +[Footnote 901: 'Quasi inde nudos hinc stare contigisset armatos.' +'Hinc' and 'inde' refer to geographical position, not to the order of +the words in the sentence.] + +'[902]To these triumphs must be added the lately foiled plunder-raid +of the Alamanni, so checked in its very first attempts that their +entrance and exit were almost one event, like a wound well and +opportunely cauterised. Thus were the excesses of the presumptuous +invader punished, and the subjects of our King were saved from +absolute ruin. I might indeed enumerate to you what crowds of the +enemy fell in other places, but I turn rather--such is human +nature--to more joyful themes, and revert to the point with which I at +first commenced, namely that the Sovereign who has saved you from the +hostile sword is determined now to avert from your Province the perils +of famine. + +[Footnote 902: See von Schubert's 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen,' pp. +57-59, for a careful analysis of the following paragraph.] + +'In this new war the citadels are well-stored granaries; Starvation is +the dreaded foe: if they are closed she enters; by opening them wide +she is put to flight. I know not what the world in general may think +of the relative merit of these two campaigns of our King. For my part, +though I recognise it as the mark of a brave man to have fought a +winning battle, I think it is something above mere human valour to +have conquered penury. + +'In addition to these benefits the King has remitted one-half of the +taxes of the Province, that he might not sadden with the one hand +those whom he was gladdening with the other. Herein he compares +favourably with Joseph, who sold corn to the Egyptians, but on such +terms that they lost their personal freedom. Doubtless that holy man +was placed in a dilemma between the necessity of satisfying a covetous +King on the one hand, and that of rescuing a starving people on the +other. Still I must think that the Egyptian, whose life was preserved, +groaned over the loss of his liberty; and if I may say so, with all +respect to so great a patriarch[903], far nobler is it to sell corn to +freemen who remain freemen, and to lighten their taxes on account of +poverty. This is really a gratuitous distribution, when both the money +with which to buy is handed over to you [by the abatement of tribute], +and a price is fixed on purpose to please you. + +[Footnote 903: 'Pace tanti patris dixerim.'] + +'The generosity of the State therefore will sell 25 modii, when the +peasant has lost his crops, at the price at which 10 are usually +sold[904]. Humanity has altered the usual course of affairs, and by a +strange kind of chaffering, but one which truly becomes a King, just +when the famished peasant is willing to offer us an enhanced price +for food, we are directed to offer it to him for a smaller one. + +[Footnote 904: Probably one solidus: making the largesse price 15s. +4d. a quarter (about four shillings less than the price named in the +preceding letter for millet); while the market price was 38s. 4d. a +quarter. I read these sentences thus: 'Vendit itaque largitas publica +vicenos quinque modios, dum possessor invenire non possit, ad denos. +Ordinem rerum saeculi mutavit humanitas.' The construction is harsh +and elliptical, but this makes sense, which the ordinary punctuation, +throwing 'ad denos' into the following sentence, does not.] + +'The King himself had seen your calamity, and thereupon bestowed on +you previously one favour. Now, on hearing of its continuance, he adds +to it a second. Happy calamity, which forced itself on the notice of +such an eye-witness! + +'Now, oh Ligurian, rejoice in the good fortune which has come to thee. +Compare thy lot with the Egyptian's and be happy. He was fed, but lost +his freedom; thou art fed, and at the same time defended from thy +enemies. Joseph gave back the purchase-money to his brethren in their +sacks, showing a greater kindness to his kindred than to his subjects. +Our King shows no such partiality, but bestows on all the taxpayers +larger benefits than he did on his brethren. Happy age! in which Kings +may be likened, not to Kings, but to Prophets, and yet bear away the +palm. + +'But that we may not longer detain you from the desired enjoyment of +the Royal benefits, know that our commands have been given to those +whose business it is to attend to this affair, that, according to the +tenour of this edict, the generosity of the Sovereign may penetrate +into your homes.' + +[The same considerations which were applied to the date of the +preceding letter seem to require that this also be dated in 537. After +the raising of the siege of Rome (March, 538), by the despatch of +Imperial troops into Liguria, and the enthusiastic adherence of that +Province to the Imperial cause, a new state of things was established, +and one to which the language of this letter would have been utterly +inapplicable. + +There are two events of which we have no other knowledge than that +furnished by this letter: the invasion of the Burgundians, and the +ravages of the Alamanni in the Province of Liguria. + +(1) The invasion of the Burgundians seems, as stated in a previous +note, to have occurred in the spring or early summer of 536; so that +Cassiodorus could represent the invaders as surprised and disheartened +by learning of the elevation of Witigis. It no doubt formed part of +those hostile operations of the Frankish Kings described by Procopius +(De Bello Gotthico i. 13), the termination of which was purchased by +Witigis by the cession of Provence and the payment of a subsidy. It is +interesting to observe, however, that the Burgundians, notwithstanding +their subjugation in 534, and their incorporation in the Frankish +monarchy, are still spoken of as conducting an invasion on their own +account. This is just like the invasion of Italy in 553 by the +Alamannic brethren, and is quite in keeping with the loosely compacted +character of the Merovingian monarchy, in which it was copied by the +Anglian and Saxon Kingdoms. + +(2) For the ravages of the Alamanni consult, as before stated, von +Schubert's monograph. This passage quite confirms his view of the +events connected with the overthrow of the Alamannic Kingdom by +Clovis. A remnant of the people, settled as refugees in Raetia under +Theodoric's protection, now, in the decline of the Ostrogothic +monarchy throw off their allegiance to his successors, and press +forward over the Alps to share the spoil of Italy. Witigis, however, +notwithstanding his struggle with Belisarius, is still able promptly +to repel this incursion; but it co-operates with the Burgundian +invasion and the inclement spring and summer of 537 to bring about the +famine in Liguria in the autumn of that year.] + + +THE END. + + + + +INDEX OF PERSONS + +TO WHOM THE LETTERS ARE ADDRESSED. + + +A. + +Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect, v. 16, 17, 23, 34; ix. 4. + +Acretius, _see_ Eutropius. + +Adeodatus, iii. 46. + +Adila, Vir Spectabilis, Comes, ii. 29. + +Aemilianus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, iv. 31. + +Aestunae, Possessores, Defensores, and Curiales dwelling at, iii. 9. + +Agapitus, Praefectus Urbis, + Vir Illustris atque Patricius, i. 6, 23, 32, 33, 41; ii. 6. + +Alaric (II), King of the Visigoths (484-507), iii. 1. + +Albienus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, i. 20; + Praefectus Praetorio, viii. 20. + +Albinus and Albienus, Viri Illustres atque Patricii, i. 20. + +Albinus, Vir Illustris, Patricius, iv. 30. + +Albinus, Actores of, iv. 35. + +Aloisius, Architect, ii. 39. + +Amabilis, Exsecutor, i. 8; + Vir Devotus (? Sajo) and Comes, iv. 5. + +Ambrosius, Quaestor, viii. 13; + Vir Illustris Agens Vices (Praefecti Praetorio), xi. 4, 5; xii. 25. + +Ampelius, Despotius, and Theodulus, Viri Spectabiles, ii. 23. + +Ampelius, Count Luvirit and, v. 35. + +Ampelius and Liveria, v. 39. + +Anastasius, Emperor (491-518), i. 1; ii. 1. + +Anastasius, Consularis, v. 8. + +Anastasius, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xii. 12, 14. + +Anat(h)olius, Cancellarius of Province of Samnium, xi. 36. + +Andreas, Primiscrinius, xi. 21. + +Andreas, _see_ Maximian. + +Annas, Vir Spectabilis and Comes, iv. 18. + +Antianus, Vir Spectabilis, ex-Cornicularius, xi. 18, 34. + +Antonius, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop of Pola, iv. 44. + +Apronianus, Vir Illustris, Comes Privatarum, iii. 53. + +Arator, Vir Illustris, Comes Domesticorum, viii. 12. + +Arelate (_Arles_), Possessores of, iii. 44. + +Argolicus, Vir Illustris, + Praefectas Urbis, iii. 11, 29, 30, 33; iv. 22, 25, 29, 42. + +Arigern, Vir Illustris, Comes, iii. 36, 45; iv. 23. + +Artemidorus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, + Praefectus Urbis, i. 42; ii. 34; iii. 22. + +Assuin (Assius, or Assum), Vir Illustris, Comes, i. 40. + +Aurigenes, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, iii. 14. + +Avilf, Sajo, v. 20. + + +B. + +Baion (Coion, or Goinon), Vir Spectabilis, i. 38. + +Beatus, Vir Clarissimus and Cancellarius, xi. 10; + Primicerius Augustalium, xi. 30. + +Benenatus, Vir Spectabilis, iv. 15. + +Bergantinus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, + Comes Patrimonii, viii. 23; ix. 3. + +Boetius, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, i. 10, 45; ii. 40. + +Brandila, v. 32. + + +C. + +Cancellarii diversi Provinciarum Singularum, xii. 1, 10. + +Canonicarius Venetiarum, xii. 4, 7. + +Capuanus, Vir Spectabilis, v. 21. + +Carinus, Vir Illustris, v. 28. + +Cart(h)erius, Regerendarius, xi. 29. + +Cassiodorus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius + (father of Cassiodorus Senator), i. 3; iii. 28. + +Catana, City of, + Honorati Possessores, Defensores, and Curiales of, iii. 49. + +Catellus, Scriniarius Actorum, xi. 22. + +Cheliodorus, Commentariensis, xi. 28. + +Clovis, _see_ Luduin. + +Coelianus and Agapitus, Viri Illustres et Patricii, i. 23. + +Colossaeus, Vir Illustris, Comes, Governor of Pannonia, iii. 23. + +Comes Siliquatariorum et Portus Curas Agens, ii. 12. + +Constantian, Vir Experientissimus, xii. 18. + +Constantinian, Cura Epistolarum Canonicarum, xi. 23. + +Consularis, Vir Illustris, iii. 52. + +Consularis Liguriae, xii. 8. + +Crispianus, i. 37. + +Cunigast, Vir Illustris, viii. 28. + +Cyprian, Comes Sacrarum Largitionum and Patrician, v. 40; viii. 21. + + +D. + +Dalmatia and S(u)avia, all the Goths and Romans in, ix. 9. + +Daniel, iii. 19. + +Datius, Bishop of Milan, xii. 27. + +Decius, Vir Illustris, Patricius, ii. 33. + +Decoratus, Vir Devotus, v. 31. + +Dertona (_Tortona_), all Goths and + Romans abiding (consistentes) at, i. 17. + +Despotius, _see_ Ampelius. + +Densdedit, Scriba Ravennas, xii. 21. + +Domitianus and Willias, i. 18. + +Dromonarii, the, ii. 31. + +Duda, Vir Spectabilis and Comes, iv. 28; + Sajo, iv. 32, 34. + +Dumerit, Sajo, viii. 27. + + +E. + +Ecdicius (or Benedictus), Vir Honestus, ii. 4. + +Elpidius (or Hespidius), Deacon, iv. 24. + +Epiphanius, Vir Spectabilis, Consularis of Dalmatia, v. 24. + +Episcopi et Honorati (?), ix. 5. + +Episcopi sui, x. 34; + diversi, xi. 3. + +Eugenius (Eugenites, or Eugenes), Vir Illustris, + Magister Officiorum, i. 12. + +Eusebius, Vir Illustris, iv. 48. + +Eustorgius, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop of Milan, i. 9. + +Eutropius and Acretius, v. 13. + + +F. + +Faustus, Praefectus Praetorio + (in the edition of Nivellius his title is + given as Praepositus), i. 14, 26, 34, 35; ii. 5, 9, 26, 30, 37, 38; + Vir Illustris, iii. 21; + Praefectus Praetorio, iii. 47, 51; iv. 36, 38, 50. + +Felix, Vir Clarissimus, i. 7; + Vir Illustris, Consul (511), ii. 2; iii. 39. + +Felix, Quaestor, viii. 18. + +Feltria (_Feltre_), Possessors of, v. 9. + +Ferrocinctus, _see_ Grimoda. + +Festus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, i. 15, 39; ii. 22; iii. 10. + +Florentinus (or Florentianus), Vir Devotus, Comitiacus, viii. 27. + +Florianus, Vir Spectabilis, i. 5. + +Forum Livii (_Forli_), Honorati Possessores, and Curiales of, iv. 8. + +Fruinarith, Sajo, ii. 13. + + +G. + +Gaudiosus, Cancellarius of Province of Liguria, xi. 14. + +Gaul, all the Provincials of, iii. 17, 42; viii. 7. + +Geberich, Vir Spectabilis, iv. 20. + +Gemellus, Vir Spectabilis, + Governor of Gaul, iii. 16, 18, 32; iv. 12, 19, 21. + +Genesius, Vir Spectabilis, viii. 30. + +Gepidae, ad Gallias destinati, v. 11. + +Gesila, Sajo, iv. 14. + +Gildias, Vir Spectabilis, Count of Syracuse, ix. 11, 14. + +Goths, all the, i. 24; x. 31; + settled in Italy, viii. 5. + +Goths, all the, and Romans, i. 28. + +Goths, all the, and Romans, + and those who hold the harbours and mountain-passes, ii. 19. + +Grimoda, Sajo, and Ferrocinctus, Apparitor, iii. 20. + +Gudila, Bishop, ii. 18. + +Gudinand, Sajo, v. 19. + +Gudisal, Sajo, iv. 47. + +Guduim, Sajo, v. 27; + Vir Sublimis and Dux, v. 30. + +Gundibad, King of the Burgundians (473-516), i. 46; iii. 2. + + +H. + +Haesti, the, v. 2. + +Herminafrid, King of the Thuringians, iv. 1. + +Heruli, King of the, iv. 2. + +Heruli, Warni, and Thoringi, Kings of the, iii. 3. + +Hilderic, King of the Vandals (523-531), ix. 1. + +Honoratus, Vir Illustris, Quaestor, v. 3. + +Honorius, Praefectus Urbis, x. 30. + + +I. + +Ida (perhaps Ibbas), Vir Sublimis and Dux, iv. 17. + +Importunus, Vir Illustris, Patricius, iii. 5. + +Istria, Provincials of, xii. 22. + + +J. + +Januarius, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop of Salona, iii. 7. + +Jews, all the, residing in Genoa, ii. 27; iv. 33. + +Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Consularis Campaniae, iii. 27; iv. 10. + +Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Referendarius, viii. 25. + +Joannes, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius, v. 7. + +Joannes, Canonicarius of Thuscia, xi. 38. + +Joannes, Cancellarius, xi. 6; + Praerogativarius, xi. 27. + +Joannes, Siliquatarius of Ravenna, xii. 17. + +Joannes, Apparitor, ii. 21; + Arch-Physician, iv. 41. + +John II, Pope (533-535), ix. 15; xi. 2. + +Judges, all the, of the Provinces, ix. 20; xi. 7, 9; xii. 2. + +Julianus, Comes Patrimonii, i. 16. + +Justin, Emperor (518-527), viii. 1. + +Justinian, Emperor (527-566), + x. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 19, 22, 24, 25, 26, 32; xi. 13. + +Justus, Sextus Scholaris, xi. 26. + + +L. + +Laurentius, Vir Experientissimus, xii. 23. + +Liberius, Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls, viii. 6. + +Ligurians, the, xi. 15, 16; xii. 28. + +Liveria, _see_ Ampelius. + +Lucillus, Scriniarius Curae Militaris, xi. 24. + +Lucinus, Vir Clarissimus, Cancellarius of Campania, xi. 37. + +Lucristani (Lustriani?), the, + settled (constituti) on the river Sontius (_Isonzo_), i. 29. + +Luduin (Clovis), King of the Franks (481-511), ii. 41; iii. 4. + +Luvirit, Count, and Ampelius, v. 35. + + +M. + +Magister Officiorum (at Constantinople), x. 33. + +Mannila, Sajo, v. 5. + +Marabad, Vir Illustris and Comes, iv. 12, 46. + +Marcellus, Vir Spectabilis, Advocatus Fisci, i. 22. + +Massilia (_Marseilles_), citizens of, iii. 34; iv. 26. + +Maximian, Vir Illustris, and Andreas, Vir Spectabilis, i. 21. + +Maximus, Vir lllustris, Consul, v. 42; + Vir Illustris and Domesticus, x. 11. + +Maximus, Vir Clarissimus, + Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xii. 15. + +Maximus, Vicarius Urbis Romae, xii. 19. + +Milan, the Jews of, v. 37. + + +N. + +Neudes, Vir Illustris, v. 29. + +Noricum, Provincials of, iii. 50. + +Nursia, _see_ Reate. + + +O. + +Opilio, Comes Sacrarum Largitionum, viii. 16. + +Osun (Osuin, or Osum), Vir Illustris, Comes, iii. 26; iv. 9; ix. 8. + + +P. + +Pannonia, all the Barbarians and Romans settled in, iii. 24. + +Parma, Honorati Possessores, and Curiales of, viii. 29. + +Paschasius, Praefectus Annonae, xii. 9. + +Patricius, Vir Illustris and Quaestor, x. 6. + +Patricius, Primicerius Exceptorum, xi. 25. + +Paulinas, Vir Clarissimus and Consul, ix. 22. + +Paulus, Vir Strenuus, xii. 26. + +Peter, Bishop, iii. 37. + +Peter, Vir Clarissimus, Erogator Obsoniorum, xii. 11; + Arcarius, xii. 20. + +Picenum and Samnium, all the Goths settled in, v. 26. + +Pierius, Primicerius Singulariorum, xi. 32. + +Possessores, universi, v. 38. + +Provinus (Probinus), Vir Illustris, Patricius, ii. 11; + Actores of, iv. 40. + + +R. + +Reate and Nursia, all the inhabitants of, viii. 26. + +Reparatus, Praefectus Urbis, ix. 7. + +Roman Church, Clergy of, viii. 24. + +Romans, all the, i. 28; + in Italy and the Dalmatias, viii. 4. + +Roman people, the, i. 31; viii. 3; x. 14, 17. + +Rome, people of the City of, i. 44. + +Romulus (? ex-Emperor), iii. 35. + + +S. + +Sabinianus, Vir Spectabilis, i. 25. + +Sajones, universi, qui sunt Cancellariis deputati, xii. 3. + +Salvantius, Vir Illustris, Praefectus Urbis, ix. 16, 17. + +Samnium, _see_ Picenum. + +Saturninus and Verbusius, Viri Illustres, Senatores, i. 19. + +Senarius, Vir Illustris, Comes Patrimonii, iv. 3; + Comes Privatarum, iv. 7, 11, 13. + +Senate of the City of Rome, + i. 4, 13, 30, 43; ii. 3, 16, 24, 32; iii. 6, 12, 31; + iv. 4, 16, 43; v. 4, 22, 41; viii. 2, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22; + ix. 19, 21, 23, 25; x. 3, 4, 7, 12, 13, 16, 18; xi. 1. + +SENATOR (MAGNUS AURELIUS CASSIODORUS), + Praetorian Praefect, ix. 24; x. 27, 28. + +Servatus, Dux Raetiarum, i. 11. + +Severianus (or Severinus), Vir Illustris, v. 14. + +Severus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, ii. 8. + +Severus, Vir Spectabilis, viii. 31, 32, 33. + +Simeon, Vir Illustris, Comes, iii. 25. + +Speciosus, i. 27; Vir Devotus, Comitiacus, ii. 10. + +Stabularius, Comitiacus, v. 6. + +Starcedius, Vir Sublimis, v. 36. + +Stephanus, Vir Spectabilis, + Comes Primi Ordinis et ex-Princeps nostri Ordinis, ii. 28. + +S(u)avia, all the Provincials and Capillati, Defensores and Curiales, + residing in, iv. 49; + all the Possessores in, v. 15; + all the Goths and Romans in, ix. 9. + +Sunhivad, Vir Spectabilis, iii. 13. + +Sura (or Suna), Vir Illustris, Comes, ii. 7. + +Symmachus, Vir Illustris and Patricius, ii. 14; iv. 6, 51. + +Syracuse, all the Provincials of the City of, ix. 10. + + +T. + +Tancila, Vir Spectabilis, ii. 35. + +Tezutzat, Sajo, iv. 27. + +Theodagunda, Illustris Femina, iv. 37. + +Theodahad, Vir Spectabilis, iii. 15; + Vir Illustris, iv. 39; v. 12. + +Theodora, Augusta, x. 10, 20, 21, 23. + +Theodosius, Homo Theodahadi (?), x. 5. + +Theodulus, _see_ Ampelius. + +Theon (or Theonius), Vir Sublimis, i. 2. + +Theriolus, Vir Spectabilis, i. 36. + +Thessalonica, Praefect of, x. 35. + +Thomas, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius, xii. 20. + +Thoringi (Thuringians). _see_ Heruli. + +Ticinum (_Pavia_), Comites, Defensores, and Curiales of, iv. 45. + +Transmund (or Thrasamund), King of the Vandals, v. 43, 44. + +Tribuni Maritimorum, xii. 24. + +Tridentinae Civitatis, + Honorati Possessores, Defensores, et Curiales, ii. 17. + +Tulum, Patrician, viii. 9. + + +U. + +Unigis, Spatarius, iii. 43. + +Uniligis (or Wiligis), Sajo, ii. 20. + +Urbicus, ex-Primicerius Singulariorum, xi. 31. + +Ursus, Primicerius Deputatorum, xi. 30. + + +V. + +Valerian, Vir Sublimis, xii. 5. + +Vandals, King of the, v. 1, 43, 44; ix. 1. + +Venantius, Vir Illustris, ii. 15; + Spectabilis, Corrector of Lucania and Bruttii, iii. 8. + +Veranus, Sajo, v. 10. + +Verbusius, _see_ Saturninus. + +Verruca, fort of, all Goths and Romans living near, iii. 48. + +Victor, Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, ix. 12. + +Victorinus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, viii. 8. + +Vitalian, Vir Clarissimus, + Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xi. 39. + + +W. + +Wandil (Vuandil), iii. 38. + +Warni (Guarni), _see_ Heruli. + +Wilitanch, Duke, v. 33. + +Willias, i. 18; v. 18; + Vir Illustris, Comes Patrimonii, ix. 13. + +Winusiad, Count, x. 29. + +Witigisclus (or Wigisicla), Vir Spectabilis, + Censitor of Sicily, ix. 12. + + + + +GENERAL INDEX. + +[NOTE.--_The references to the Introduction and to the Notes are by +the page (thus, 106-108); references to the 'Variae' are by the +numbers of the Book and Letter (thus, v. 16, 17). The FORMULAE are +printed in small capitals._] + + +A. + +Ab Actis (Registrar), officer in Court of Praetorian Praefect, 106-108; + origin of the name, 107; + compared to Referendarius, 312. + +Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect, + instructions to, as to forming a navy, v. 16, 17; + to provide ships, and rations for young recruits, v. 23; + instructions to, in the case of Frontosus, v. 34; + to allow a family of Curials to degrade into Possessores, ix. 4. + +Acinaticium, red wine of Verona, praises of, and account of its +manufacture, xii. 4. + +Actores (Representatives, Attorneys), of Albinus, iv. 35; + of the holy Apostle Peter, xii. 20; + of Probinus, iv. 40; + of Spes, ii. 21; + of Theodahad, viii. 23. + +Addua, River (_Adda_), derivation of the name, xi. 14. + +Adeodatus, + forced by torture to confess himself guilty of rape, iii. 46; + the sentence against him partially cancelled, iii. 46. + +Adjutores, general word for assistants, 97, 102-104; + is Adjutor equivalent to Primiscrinius? 103; + a lower class of Exceptores seem to have been called Adjutores, 111; + of Magister Officiorum, vi. 6. + +Admissionales, Ushers of the Praefectoral Court, 112. + +Adriana, petition of Curiales of, as to taxation, i. 19. + +Adulterer slain by the injured husband, case of, i. 37. + +Adultery, punishment of (Edictum Athalarici), ix. 18. + +Aemilia, Province of, invaded by Burgundians, xii. 28. + +Aemilianus, Bishop, ordered to finish the aqueduct which he has begun, +iv. 31. + +Aestii, _see_ Haesti. + +Aestunae (?), inhabitants of, ordered to send marbles to Ravenna, iii. +9. + +AETATIS VENIA, FORMULA GRANTING, vii. 41; + letter relating to, i. 38. + +Aetheria, a widow, re-married, accused of wasting her children's +property, iv. 12. + +African. Singular custom by which an African was allowed to claim +estate of a fellow-countryman dying without heirs, xii. 9. + +Agapetus, Pope (June 3, 535--April 21, 536), + Cassiodorus seeks to persuade him to found a School of Theology at + Rome, 56; + ordered by Theodahad and Gudelina to give his answer to Justinian's + ambassador promptly, x. 19, 20, 25; + mortgaged the Church plate to defray expenses of his journey to + Constantinople, xii. 20. + +Agapita (or Agapeta), Foemina Spectabilis, + wife of Basilius, and a person of feeble intellect ii. 11; + affair of her abduction, ii. 10, 11; + further light on this affair, iv. 40. + +Agapitus, with Coelianus, seems to have had special jurisdiction in +cases affecting Patricians, i. 23, 27. + +Agathias on Theodoric's protection of the Alamanni, 195. + +Agenantia, widow of Campanianus, ix. 4. + +_Agens Vices_ (Deputy), functions of, 460 _n_; xii. 25. + +Agentes in Rebus, Schola of, emissaries of the Magister Officiorum, 36; + Princeps of, xi. 35. + +Agnellus, Patrician, chooses Festus to defend his interests in his +absence, i. 15. + +Agnellus, fidei-jussor of Crispianus, i. 37. + +Agnellus, house of, in Castrum Lucullanum given to Joannes, viii. 25. + +Agrimensor, a Roman, description of, iii. 52. + +Alamanni, date of Clovis' victory over, 23, 24, 195; + Theodoric congratulates Clovis on his victory over, ii. 41; + directed to exchange their cattle with Noricans, iii. 50; + plundering incursion of, into Liguria, xii. 28; 527. + +Alaric I, clemency of, at siege of Rome, 28; xii. 20. + +Alaric II, + letters intended to avert war between Alaric and Clovis, iii. 1-4; + possessions granted by, to Church of Narbonne, iv. 17; + taxation in the time of, v. 39; + reception of his son Gesalic by Thrasamund, v. 43, 44. + +Albienus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, + deputed to select a Pantomimist, i. 20, 33; + appointed Praetorian Praefect (527), viii. 20. + +Albinus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, + deputed to select a Pantomimist, i. 20, 33; + allowed to erect 'fabricae' overlooking the Forum, iv. 30; + accused by Cyprian of treason, 289, 291. + +Albinus, an extravagant minor, case of, iv. 35. + +Allecticii, Symmachus' oration on behalf of, 74; + probable explanation of the term, 78. + +Alpes Cottiae, Provincials of, to be relieved from taxation, iv. 36. + +Alsuanum (?), transport of timber to, iv. 8. + +Altinum, villas of, 514 _n_. + +Amal race, glorified by Cassiodorus in his Gothic History, 29, 30, 33; + 'Amali sanguinis purpurea dignitas,' ix. 1. + +Amal race, glory of, viii. 2, 5; + 'consuetudinis est lex, cum imperio [Romano] amicitiam Amalos semper + habuisse,' x. 11. + +Amalus (according to Jordanes, Amala), ancestor of Theodoric, +'felicitate enituit,' xi. 1. + +Amalabirga, niece of Theodoric, married to Herminafrid, King of the +Thuringians, iv. 1. + +Amalafrida, Queen of the Vandals, sister of Theodoric, wife of King +Thrasamund, put to death by his successor Hilderic, ix. 1. + +Amalasuentha, daughter of Theodoric, mother of Athalaric, + her regency, 38, 42-43; + associates Theodahad in the kingship on the death of her son, + 44; x. 1-4; + dethroned and put to death by Theodahad, 45; + praises of her character, x. 4; xi. 1; + sends present of marbles to Justinian, x. 8; + writes warmly to Theodora, x. 10; + a doubtful allusion to her death, x. 20 (_see_ note on p. 433). + +Amandianus, Clarissimus, heirs of, defrauded by Theodahad, v. 12. + +AMBASSADORS, FORMULA RESPECTING, vii. 33. + +Amber, nature of, described, v. 2. + +Ambrosius, son of Faustinus, + addressed by Ennodius in 'Paraenesis Didascalica,' 358; + Count of the Sacred Largesses, viii. 13; + appointed Quaestor, viii. 13, 14. + +Ambrosius, Illustris (probably the same as preceding), + appointed 'Vices Agens' to Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect, xi. 4; + instructions to, xii. 25. + +Amphitheatre, sports of, described and condemned, v. 42. + +Anastasius, Emperor, date of letter to, in the 'Variae,' 23; + his wrath against Apion and Macedonius, 105; + relations between him and Theodoric, i. 1 _n_; + informed of elevation of Felix to Consulship, ii. 1; + as to introduction of Heruli into Italy, 258 _n_. + +Anchorago, a fish caught in the Rhine, xii. 4. + +Andreas, intestacy of widow of, v. 24. + +Andreas, defaulting taxpayer in Apulia, v. 31. + +'Anecdoton Holderi,' MS. containing information as to Cassiodorus and +his friends, 73-84. + +Anicii, dignity of the family of, x. 11. + +Annonae, of soldiers stationed in passes near Aosta, ii. 5; + of garrisons on the Durance, iii. 41, 43; + is _praebendae_ equivalent to? 219; + to be regularly supplied, v. 13 (_see_ Praefectus Annonae). + +Anonymus Valesii (an unknown chronicler of the Sixth Century, whose +fragments are generally edited along with the history of Ammianus +Marcellinus), quoted, 291, 363, 369. + +Anthimus, Patriarch of Constantinople (535-536), deposition of, by +Pope Agapetus, 436 _n_. + +Antianus, ex-Cornicularius, made a Spectabilis, xi. 18; + evasive reply to, xi. 19. + +Antiochus, apparently a tax-collector, ii. 4. + +Antiquarius, transcriber of manuscripts, Cassiodorus on the functions +of, 60. + +Apion, anger of Anastasius against, 105. + +Apocha, a voucher for payment of taxes, xii. 7, 8. + +Aponus (_Abano_, six miles from Padua), marvellous qualities of +hot-springs at, ii. 39. + +Apparitores, attendants on the great Ministers of War, 114; + Joannes, Apparitor, ii. 21; + Ferrocinctus, Apparitor, iii. 20. + +Applicitarii, officers of arrest, 114; + under orders of Commentariensis, 104. + +Apulia, Conductores of, despoiled by hostile invaders, i. 16; + merchants similarly despoiled, ii. 38; + crops from, not forwarded expeditiously, i. 35; + corn-merchants of, ii. 26; + farms of Thomas in, transferred to his son-in-law Joannes, v. 6, 7; + arrears of Siliquaticum in, v. 31. + +'Apuli idonei,' viii. 33. + +Aqua Claudia, Roman aqueduct, description of, vii. 6. + +Aqua Virgo, Roman aqueduct, description of, vii. 6. + +Aqueducts of Rome, abuses connected with, iii. 31; + glory of, vii. 6. + +Aqueduct begun by Bishop Aemilianus must be finished by him, iv. 31. + +Aqueduct of Ravenna protected, v. 38. + +Aqueduct constructed by Theodoric for City of Parma, viii. 30. + +Aquileia, contributions of wine and wheat from, remitted, xii. 26. + +Arator, Vir Illustris, + sent by Provincials of Dalmatia to Theodoric, viii. 12; + made Comes Domesticorum, viii. 12. + +Arcadius, Emperor (395-408), change effected by him in relation of +Praetorian Praefect to Master of the Offices, 99. + +Arcarius, Treasurer or Steward, v. 7; x. 28 (_see_ p. 440); xii. 8, +11, 27. + +Archery, practice in, for young soldiers, v. 23. + +Archiatrus, Arch-Physician, iv. 41 (_see_ Comes Archiatrorum). + +Architect, duties of, vii. 5. + +ARCHITECT, PUBLIC, FORMULA FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF, vii. 15. + +Archotamia, 'Illustris Femina,' accuses her grandson's widow of +wasting her children's property, iv. 12. + +Arelate (_Arles_), remission of taxation to inhabitants of, iii. 32; + 'glorious defence of,' iii. 32; + its walls to be repaired and its citizens fed, iii. 44; + fight for possession of covered bridge at, viii. 10. + +Arethusa, Fountain of, site of, near Squillace, 72; + qualities of, described, viii. 32. + +Argolicus, Vir Illustris, + made Praefect of the City of Rome, iii. 11, 12; + his ancestry and character, ii. 11, 12; + ordered to repair Cloacae of Rome, iii. 30; + other references to, iii. 29, 30; iv. 22, 25; iv. 42; + his tardiness rebuked, iv. 29; + heirs of, defrauded by Theodahad, v. 12. + +Arigern, Vir Illustris and Comes, + Governor of the new Gaulish Provinces, iv. 16; + appointed Comes Urbis Romae (?), iv. 16; + instructions to, iii. 45; iv. 23; + report by, iv. 43. + +Armentarius, Clarissimus, appointed Referendus Curiae, iii. 33; + informs against Argolicus, Praefect of the City, iv. 29. + +Armourers (ARMORUM FACTORES), Formulae of, vii. 18, 19. + +Arsenals of Italy, under the Magister Officiorum, 37. + +Artemidorus, Illustris and Patrician, + a relation of Emperor Zeno, and friend of Theodoric, i. 43; + Tribunus Voluptatum (?), i. 43; + Praefectus Urbis, i. 42, 44; + detects embezzlement by persons employed for repair of walls of Rome, + ii. 34; + invited to Theodoric's Court, iii. 22. + +Assertor Libertatis (of the Theodosian Code, iv. 8), a possible +allusion to, iii. 43. + +Astensis Civitas (_Asti_), to be especially helped in relief of +necessities of Liguria, xi. 15. + +Astronomy, reasons derived from, for pensioning off civil servants, +xi. 36. + +Athala, ancestor of Theodoric, 'mansuetudine enituit,' xi. 1. + +Athalaric, grandson of Theodoric, date of birth of, 29 _n_; + accession of (Aug. 30, 526), 37; + manner of his education, 42; + his death (Oct. 2, 534), 43; + letters announcing his accession, viii. 1-7; + edict of, ix. 2; + his death announced to Justinian, x. 1; + praises of, by Cassiodorus, xi. 1. + +Athens (_Adige_), flows past fort of Verruca, iii. 48. + +Attila, defeat of, in Catalaunian plains, 28; iii. 1; + embassy of Cassiodorus (grandfather of Senator) to, i. 4. + +Augiensis, Codex, of 'Anecdoton Holderi,' 73. + +Augmentum, super-assessment, + remitted by Athalaric for Dalmatia and Suavia, ix. 9; + for Syracuse, ix. 10. + +Augusta (_Turin_, or _Aosta_), Bishop of, + falsely accused of treason, i. 9; + fastnesses (clusurae) of, soldiers stationed at, ii. 5. + +Augustales, highest class of Exceptores (shorthand writers), 104 _n_, +110; xi. 30. + +Augustin, Vir Venerabilis (probably a bishop), brings the scarcity in +Venetia under the notice of the King, xii. 26. + +Augustus, builder of the Circus Maximus, iii. 51; + his survey of the 'Orbis Romanus,' iii. 52. + +Aurarii, persons liable to payment of 'lustralis auri collatio,' ii. +26. + +Auraria Pensio = probably 'lustralis auri collatio,' ii. 30. + +Avenio (_Avignon_), Gothic troops not to molest citizens of, iii. 38. + + +B. + +Bacauda, Vir Sublimis, Tribunes Voluptatum, v. 25. + +Bacaudae, insurgent peasantry of Gaul, v. 25. + +Baiae, baths of, praises of, ix. 6; xii. 22. + +Balthae, royal house of the Visigoths, was Athalaric descended from? +viii. 5. + +Balzani, Ugo, on Cassiodorus, 121. + +Barbarians, checked by fear, not honour, ii. 5. + +Barbaria, probably the name of the mother of Romulus Augustulus, 216. + +Barbarian Kings, intellects of, subdued by diplomacy, iv. 3; + do not use the grammatical art, ix. 21. + +Baronius, Cardinal, author of 'Annales Ecclesiae,' quoted, 500 _n_, +511 _n_. + +Basilius (No. 1), Vir Spectabilis, claims restoration of his wife's +property from Probinus, ii. 10, 11; iv. 40. + +Basilius (No. 2), accused of magical practices, iv. 22, 23 (_see_ note +on p. 246). + +Basilius (No. 3, possibly same as No. 2), + Opilio connected with him by marriage, viii. 17; + concerned in accusation of Boethius (?), 364 _n_. + +Baths, gratuitous admission to, at Spoletium, ii. 37; + of Turasius, at Spoletium, iv. 24; + at Baiae, ix. 6. + +Baudi de Vesme, fragments of oration of Cassiodorus (?), published by, +117. + +Beatus, Vir Clarissimus and Cancellarius, + ordered to supply rations to invalided officer, xi. 10; + made Primicerius Augustalium, xi. 30. + +Belisarius, Imperial general, his capture of Neapolis, 48; + his campaign in Southern Italy, 492; + his recovery and loss of Milan, 522; + his entry into Ravenna, 51. + +Bellum (war), derived from King Belus, i. 30. + +Benedict, St., not alluded to by Cassiodorus, 55; + relation of his rule to that of Cassiodorus, 57, 59. + +Benedictus, a civil officer of some kind in the City of Pedon, +guardianship of his children assigned to Theriolus, i. 36. + +Bethmann Hollweig, his 'Gerichtsverfassung des sinkenden roemischen +Reichs,' 41, 95, 109 _n._ + +Bigamy, punishment of, according to Edictum Athalarici, ix. 18. + +Bina, a kind of tax, iii. 8. + +BINA ET TERNA, FORMULAE FOR THE COLLECTION OF, vii. 20, 21, 22. + +Birds, habits of, i. 21; + the hawk's way of teaching her young to fly, i. 24; + the eagle and her young, i. 38; + filial piety of the stork, ii. 14; + instinct of young partridges towards their mother, ii. 14; + the vulture protects little birds from attacks of the hawk, ii. 19; + gulls fly inland when they foresee a storm, iii. 48; + cranes when about to cross the sea clasp pebbles with their claws, + iv. 47; + the turtle-dove once widowed never takes another mate, v. 33; + flight of cranes suggested to Mercury shapes of letters, viii. 12; + thrushes, storks, and doves gregarious, the greedy hawk loves + solitude, viii. 31; + orderly evolutions of cranes, ix. 2. + +Bishops, King Witigis' exhortations to, x. 34; + Cassiodorus' exhortations to, xi. 4. + +Blue party in the Circus, rivalry of, with the Greens, iii. 51. + +Bodily signs by which character may be discerned, vi. 9 (_compare_ +also Cassiodorus, 'De Anima,' capp. 10 and 11, referred to p. 53). + +Boethius (or Boetius), Illustris and Patrician, + receives orders to choose a harper to be sent to Clovis, 23, 24; + ii. 40; + information as to his life in the 'Anecdoton Holderi,' 74, 79-84; + really author of the theological treatises which have passed current + with his name, 74, 80-83; + and of a 'Bucolic Poem,' 74, 83; + difficulty caused by the non-Christian character of his 'Consolations + of Philosophy,' 81, 83; + consulted as to depreciation of currency, i. 10; + ordered to prepare water-clock and sundial for King of Burgundians, + i. 45. + +Boethius, as to character of Basilius, 246 _n_; + as to character of Decoratus, 267 _n_; + character of his accuser Cyprian, v. 40, 41; viii. 21, 22; + character of Opilio, viii. 17. + +Boethus, Bishop of Byzacene Province in Africa, author, according to +M. Jourdain, of the theological treatises attributed to Boethius, 82. + +Bormiae Aquae (_Baths of Bormio_), Count Winusiad recommended to +visit, x. 29. + +Brandila, husband of Procula, story of his intrigue with Regina, wife +of Patzenes, v. 32, 33. + +Breones, a Raetian freebooting tribe living near the Brenner pass, i. +11. + +Bribery repressed, xii. 2, 6, 21, 26. + +Bridge of boats ordered to be built across the Tiber, xii. 19. + +Brosse, Pierre, notes of, on Cassiodorus, 117. + +Bruttii and Lucania, Venantius Corrector of, iii. 8, 46, 47; + his misgovernment of, 221; + the praises of, viii. 31; xii. 15; + 'opulenti Bruttii,' viii. 33; + gold-mining to be commenced in, ix. 3; + abundance of cattle in, ii. 39; + measures for relief of, during presence of Gothic army, xii. 5; + praise of the wine of, xii. 12; + Canonicarii of, rebuked for despoiling the churches, xii. 13. + +Buat, Count, on the life and ancestry of Cassiodorus, 118; + as to Theodora's share in the murder of Amalasuentha, 433 _n_. + +Burgundians, King of (_see_ Gundibad); + cease to be 'Gentiles' under Gundibad, i. 46; + boundary of, with Ostrogothic kingdom, iii. 41; + dispute with Franks, viii. 10; + league with Amalasuentha, xi. 1 (_see_ 456 _n_); + invasion of Liguria and Aemilia, xii. 28; 527. + +Butilianus, Presbyter, land allotment given by Theodoric to, in +neighbourhood of Trient, ii. 17. + + +C. + +Caduca bona, property to which no heir is forthcoming, and which is +therefore claimed by the State, v. 24; vi. 8. + +Caelianus, one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and +Praetextatus, iv. 22, 23. + +Calabria, crops from, not forwarded expeditiously, i. 35; + regulations for corn-traffic in, ii. 26; + arrears of Siliquaticum in, v. 31. + +'Calabri peculiosi,' viii. 33. + +Calogenitus, sent by Amalasuentha to Justinian with a present of +marbles, x. 8, 9. + +Campania, practice of _pignoratio_ prevalent in, iv. 10; + suffers from eruption of Vesuvius, iv. 50; + 'industriosa Campania,' viii. 33; + Cancellarius of, to pay pension to retiring Primiscrinius, xi. 37; + the cupboard of Rome ('urbis regiae cella penaria'), xii. 22. + +Campanianus, of Lucania, widow and family of, permitted to step down +from rank of Curiales, ix. 4. + +Cancellarius, + an officer of humble rank in the Court of the Praetorian + Praefect, 111, 112; + origin of the name, 112; + his functions described, xi. 6; + of Faustus, desired to forward corn from Apulia, i. 35; + Beatus (Vir Clarissimus) ordered to supply rations to invalided + officer, xi. 10; + Gaudiosus, Cancellarius of Province of Inguria, xi. 14; + Anatholius, Cancellarius of Samnium, xi. 36; + Lucinus, Cancellarius of Campania, xi. 37; + Vitalian, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xi. 39; + admonition to various Cancellarii, xii. 1, 10; + Sajones ordered to wait upon Cancellarii, xii. 3; + Anastasius, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, ordered to send + cheese and wine for royal table, xii. 12; + the same, ordered to be gentle with the citizens of Rhegium, xii. 14; + Maximus, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xii. 15. + +Canonicarii, tribute-collectors under Comes Rerum Privatarum, vi. 8; + to collect the Trina Illatio, xii. 16; + of Thuscia, xi. 38; + of Venetia, xii. 4, 6; + of Bruttii, rebuked for robbing the churches, xii. 13. + +Candac, King of Alani, mentioned by Jordanes, 164. + +Candax, apparently next of kin to a man slain by Crispianus, i. 37. + +Capillati (?) of Suavia, iv. 49. + +Capitularii horreariorum et tabernariorum, farmers of revenue derived +from granaries and taverns, x. 28. + +Caprarius, Mons (situation of doubtful, but near Ravenna), xii. 17; + works of defence to be constructed near, xii. 17. + +Capuanus, Senator, appointed Rector Decuriarum, v. 21, 22; + his character, v. 22. + +Cardinalis = chief officer of Court, vii. 31. + +Carpentum, official chariot of Praetorian Praefect, vi. 3; + of Praefect of the City, vi. 4; + of Consularis of a Province, vi. 20. + +CARTARIUS (or Cartularius), Clerk in the Record Office, FORMULA +APPROVING APPOINTMENT OF, vii. 43. + +Cartarii ordered to prepare transfers of property to Theodahad, + viii. 23; + to receive the wine collected for the royal table, xii. 4. + +Casa Arbitana taken from heirs of Argolicus and Amandianus, v. 12. + +Casa Areciretina, deed of gift of, from Agapita to Probinus, + annulled, ii. 11; + this decree revoked, iv. 40. + +Cassian, one of the founders of Western Monachism, Cassiodorus' +qualified praises of, 55. + +Cassiodorus (1), an Illustris, + great-grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator, 3; + history of, i. 4. + +Cassiodorus (2), grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator, + Tribunus and Notarius under Valentinian III, + his embassy to Attila, 3; + history of, i. 4. + +Cassiodorus (3), father of Cassiodorus Senator, + Comes Privatarum Rerum and Comes Sacrarum Largitionum under + Odovacar, 3; + Consularis of Sicily, 4; + Corrector of Bruttii and Lucania, 4; + Praetorian Praefect (cir. 500), 4, 12; + Patrician (cir. 504), 4; + frequently confused with his son, 11; + his praises, i. 3, 4; + a man of tried integrity and pure fidelity, i. 26; + invited to visit Court of Theodoric, iii. 28. + +CASSIODORUS, MAGNUS AURELIUS SENATOR, his position in history, 1, 2; + his name, Cassiodorus or Cassiodorius (?), 5; + Senator not a title, 5; + his birthplace, Scyllacium, 6; + date of his birth (cir. 480), 9-12; + his love of Natural History, 12; ix. 24; + appointed Consiliarius under his father, 12; + his panegyric on Theodoric, 13, 16; + appointed Quaestor, 14; ix. 24; + his special utility, as Quaestor, to Theodoric, 15; + his official correspondence, the 'VARIAE,' 16-19, 22-24; + statesmanlike insight which led him to second Theodoric's policy, + 20, 21; + his religious tolerance, 22; + duration of his Quaestorship, 25; + his Consulship (514), 25; + restores harmony between clergy and people of Rome, 25; + Patrician, 27; + his 'Chronicon,' its defective character, 27-29; + his Gothic History, 29-35; ix. 25; + appointed Magister Officiorum, 36; ix. 24; + his services to the regent Amalasuentha, 38; + provides ships and soldiers for the state, 38; + appointed Praefectus Praetorio, 39; ix. 24; + letters during his Praefecture, 42; + continues in office after murder of Amalasuentha, 46; + announces the elevation of Witigis, 49; + his position during the first five years of the Gothic War, 50; + he retires from office (538 or 539?), 51; + probably did not meet Procopius, 51; + edits the 'Variae,' 51, 52; + writes the treatise 'De Anima,' 53, 450, 512; + his reasons for publishing the 'Variae,' 133-140; + letter written by himself to himself on receiving the Praetorian + Praefecture, describing his many virtues, ix. 24; + letters to the Senate on the same subject, ix. 25; xi. 1; + his account of his occupations as Praetorian Praefect, 450; + issues his Edict, xi. 8, 9; + his own and his ancestors' services to Bruttii and Lucania, xi. 39; + his praises of Scyllacium, xii. 15; + resides at Ravenna (?) during the war, 506; + retires to Scyllacium and founds two monasteries there, 54; + probably never Abbot, 56; + devotes the leisure of his monks to literature, 57; + his relation to the Benedictines, 59; + his merits as a transcriber of the Scriptures, 60; + his Commentary on the Psalms, 60; + on the Epistles, 61; + his Tripartite History, 61; + his 'Institutiones Divinarum et Humanarum Lectionum,' 62-65; + his 'De Orthographia, 65, 66; + his death, (575?), 66; + his knowledge of Greek probably slight, 61; + information derived from the 'Anecdoton Holderi' as to his life, + 74, 84; + editions of his works, 115-121; + chronology of the life of, 122-130. + +Castellius, Mons, near Scyllacium, monastery founded by Cassiodorus +at, 55. + +Castorius unjustly deprived of his property by Faustus, iii. 20. + +Castrensis, Butler or Seneschal, 88, 91. + +Catabulenses, freighters, transport masters, iv. 47; + ordered to transport marbles from Pincian Hill to Ravenna, iii. 10. + +Catana, walls of, to be repaired with stones of amphitheatre, iii. 49. + +Cathalia (?), petition of inhabitants of, as to collection of Tertiae, +i. 14. + +Catos, the mob of the circus is not precisely a congregation of, i. 27; + 'the father of Felix was the Cato of our times,' ii. 3. + +Cellaritae, provision dealers (?), x. 28. + +Celsina, _see_ Curritana. + +Censitores, tax-collectors, ix. 12. + +Cethegus, Rufus Petronius Nicomachus, Consul (504), Magister +Officiorum, Patrician, probably the person to whom the 'Anecdoton +Holderi' was addressed, 76. + +Chameleon, appearance and habits of, v. 34. + +Chance, the world not governed by, xii. 25. + +Chariot-race, effect of, on spectators, iii. 51; + picture of, from Cilurnum gem, 231. + +Cheese of Mount Sila described, xii. 12. + +Chorda, the lyre so called 'quia facile corda moveat,' ii. 40. + +Christmas Day (Natale Domini), promotions of Praefect's staff upon, +xi. 17. + +'Chronicon' of Cassiodorus, faulty character of the work, 28, 29. + +Chrysargyron, tax on traders = 'lustralis auri collatio,' ii. 26 _n_. + +Church, Dean, author of article on Cassiodorus, 121. + +Cilurnum (_Chesters_ in Northumberland), gem found at, representing +chariot-race, 231. + +Circus, factions of the, i. 20, 27, 30, 31; iii. 51. + +Circus Maximus, description of, iii. 51; + plan of, 227. + +City and country life contrasted, viii. 31. + +Civilitas, Theodoric's anxious care for, 20; + description of, iv. 33; + Theodahad exhorted to observe, iv. 39; + for the sake of it even Jews are to be protected, v. 37; + references to, iv. 41, 44; v. 31; vi. 5; ix. 14, 18, 19. + +CLARISSIMUS, FORMULA CONFERRING RANK OF, vii. 38. + +Clarissimus, title of ministers of the third rank, 91; + epithet of Clarissimus conferred on all Senators, 91. + +Clavicularii, gaolers, 114; + under orders of Commentariensis, 104. + +Climate, influence of, on character, xii. 15. + +Cloacae of Rome, description of, iii. 30. + +Clovis (Luduin), King of the Franks, date of letters to, 23, 24; + Theodoric marches his troops against (508), i. 24; + a harper sent to, chosen by Boethius, ii. 40; + congratulated on victory over Alamanni, ii. 41; + letter dissuading from war with Alaric II, iii. 3; + called 'regius juvenis' by Theodoric, iii. 2; + his overthrow of the Alamannic kingdom, 527. + +Clusurae, mountain fastnesses, ii. 5, 19. + +Codicilli Vacantes, vi. 10. + +Coelianus, with Agapitus, seems to have had special jurisdiction in +cases affecting Patricians, i. 23, 27. + +Coemptio (purveyance) of wheat or lard not to be claimed from the +citizens of Rhegium, xii. 14. + +Cognitor, trier of causes, viii. 12; ix. 14, 18. + +Cohortes, used of civil servants of Praetorian Praefect, xi. 36. + +Coloni, apparent case of, reduced to slavery, viii. 28; + 'coloni sunt qui agros jugiter colunt,' viii. 31. + +Colossaeus, Illustris and Comes, + appointed Governor of Pannonia Sirmiensis, iii. 23; + pun on his name, iii. 24; + rations ordered for him and his suite, iv. 13. + +Colosseum described, v. 42. + +COMES ARCHIATRORUM, FORMULA OF, vi. 19. + +Comes, a Spectabilis, nature of his office (military), 90 _n_; + relation of Comes to his Principes, vii. 25, 28. + +COMES DOMESTICORUM (VACANS), FORMULA OF, vi. 11; + Arator receives the rank of, viii. 12. + +Comes Domorum, his functions, 88. + +COMES FORMARUM, FORMULA OF, vii. 6. + +COMES GOTHORUM, FORMULA OF, vii. 3; + servants of, have oppressed Provincials of Suavia, v. 14; + his dignity almost the only one peculiar to the Gothic state, 320. + +COMES NEAPOLITANUS, FORMULA OF, vi. 23; + reference to, vi. 24. + +COMES PATRIMONII, FORMULA OF, vi. 9; + references to, iv. 3, 15; + Bergantinus as, ordered to transfer property to Theodahad, viii. 23; + ordered to commence gold-mining in Bruttii, ix. 3; + Willias (Comes Patrimonii) ordered to increase the pay of the + Domestici, ix. 13. + +COMES PORTUS URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 9. + +COMES PRIMI ORDINIS, FORMULA OF, vi. 12, 13; + letter addressed to, ii. 28. + +COMES PRINCIPIS MILITUM (?), FORMULA OF, vi. 25. + +COMES PROVINCIAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 1. + +COMES RAVENNAS, FORMULA OF, vii. 14. + +COMES RERUM PRIVATARUM, FORMULA OF, vi. 8; + an Illustris, 86; iv. 7; + his functions, 89; + office of, held by father of Argolicus, iii. 12; + held by Senarius (510), iv. 13. + +COMES ROMANUS, FORMULA OF, vii. 13. + +Comes Sacrae Vestis, Keeper of the Wardrobe, 88. + +COMES SACRARUM LARGITIONUM, FORMULA OF, vi. 7; + an Illustris, 86; + his functions, 88; + orders given to, ii. 31; + reports remissness of Venantius, iii. 8; + office of, held by grandfather of Argolicus, iii. 12; + Bina and Terna to be collected under his superintendence, vii. 21; + Ambrosius held office of, viii. 13; + Opilio, father and son, held office of, viii. 16; + Cyprian held office of, v. 40. + +COMES SECUNDI ORDINIS, FORMULA OF, vii. 26. + +COMES SYRACUSANUS, FORMULA OF, vi. 22 (_see_ also ix. 11, 14). + +Comitatus of the King, + litigants summoned to, i. 7; iv. 44, 45; v. 12, 32; + presence of in Liguria requires extraordinary supply of provisions, + ii. 20; + the place 'ubi et innocentia perfugium et calumniatores jus possunt + invenire districtum,' iv. 9; + meant to be a blessing to his subjects, iv. 40; + recourse to it by a distant suitor not compulsory, iv. 40; + journey of the Heruli to, iv. 45; + always ready for redress of grievances, v. 15; + Nimfadius journeying to, viii. 32. + +Comites of Pavia, iv. 45. + +COMITIACUS (officer of the law courts), + FORMULA BESTOWING HONORARY RANK ON, vi. 13; + Stabularius, Comitiacus, v. 6; + Florentinus, Vir Devotus, Comitiacus, viii. 7. + +Commentariensis (or Commentarisius), officer in Court of Praetorian + Praefect, nature of his functions, 104-106; + Cheliodorus appointed, xi. 28. + +Commonitorium, iii. 19; vii. 22. + +Como, City and Lake of, the praises of, xi. 14. + +COMPETITORES, FORMULA CONCERNING, vii. 44. + +Compulsor, officer employed to compel payment of taxes, xii. 8. + +Compurgation, evidences of a practice similar to, ix. 14 (p. 397). + +Computus Paschalis, tract on determination of Easter, attributed to +Cassiodorus, 10, 11. + +Comum (_Como_), theft of brazen statue at, ii. 35, 36. + +Concordia (_Caorle_), contributions of wine and wheat from, remitted, +xii. 26. + +Conductores, farmers of royal domain, losses of, in Apulia, i. 16; + in Spain, v. 39. + +Confiscated property, manner of asserting claims of Crown to, iv. 32. + +Consiliarius (Assessor), nature of the office, 12, 13; + Cassiodorus appointed to office of, 12. + +Constantinople, character of diplomatists of, ii. 6; + Cyprian's mission to, v. 41. + +Constantius, Bishop, his petition as to spoliation of the Church, iv. +20. + +Constantius, a farmer, unjustly reduced to slavery by Tanca, viii. 28. + +CONSULARIS, FORMULA OF, vi. 20; + of Liguria, xii. 8. + +CONSULSHIP, FORMULA OF, vi. 1; + of Cassiodorus (514), 25-26; + of reigning Emperors, 28 _n_; + of Felix, ii. 1, 2, 3; + of Maximus, not to prevent his filling lower offices afterwards, + x. 12. + +Consuls, Eastern and Western, order of precedence of, in the Fasti, +122. + +Consumption cured by milk of the cows on Mons Lactarius, xi. 10. + +Corn, restraints on exportation of, i. 34; + traffic in, for Southern Italy, regulated, ii. 26; + traffic in, from western coast of Italy to Gaul, iv. 5, 7; + traffic in, from Spain to Rome, v. 35; + forestalling and regrating of, prohibited, ix. 5; + sale of, at reduced price, in Liguria and Venetia, x. 27; + distribution of, in Rome, xi. 5; + sale of, at reduced price, to citizens of Milan, xii. 27. + +Cornicularius, + his position on the official staff of the Praetorian Praefect, 97; + nature of his functions, 97-102; + must be chosen from the Augustales, 110; + Antianus vacates office of, xi. 18, 19; + retired, to be pensioned, xi. 36. + +Corrector (lowest grade of Provincial Governor) of Bruttii and +Lucania, iii. 8. + +Cosilinum (? _Padula_), a city of Lucania, viii. 33. + +Costula, a free Goth, complains that servile tasks are imposed on him +by Guduim, v. 30. + +Cubiculum = royal treasury, v. 44; + 'libra cubiculi nostri' = the standard pound, v. 39. + +Cunigast (or Conigast), Vir Illustris, + evil character of, according to Boethius, 376; + ordered to administer justice between Tanca and his poorer + neighbours, viii. 28. + +Cura Epistolarum, officer charged with copying letters on fiscal +matters, 109. + +Cura Epistolarum Canonicarum, Constantinian appointed, xi. 23. + +CURA PALATII, FORMULA OF, vii. 5. + +CURATOR OF A CITY, FORMULA OF, vii. 12. + +Curia, called by Antiquity Minor Senatus, ii. 18; vi. 3; ix. 2. + +CURIALIS, FORMULA DIRECTING SALE OF PROPERTY OF, vii. 47. + +Curiales, condition of, ii. 18; + conflict between Curial and Ecclesiastical obligations, ii. 18; + have to make good the Senators' deficiencies in payment of taxes, + ii. 24; + 'sordid burdens' = Curial obligations (?), ii. 28; + of Aestunae, iii. 9; + penalty on Jovinus for killing a fellow-curial, iii. 47; + might be punished with stripes by Praetorian Praefect, vi. 3; + oppression of, forbidden by Edictum Athalarici, ix. 2; + of Adriana, i. 19; + of Catana, iii. 49; of Forum Livii, iv. 8; + of Velia (?), iv. 11; + of Ticinum, iv. 45; + of Suavia, iv. 49; v. 14; + of Neapolis, vi. 24; + of Liguria, xii. 8; + FORMULA ADDRESSED TO, vii. 27; + family of, permitted to descend from the Curia, ix. 4. + +Currency, wickedness of depreciating, i. 10; vii. 32. + +CURRITANA INSULA ET CELSINA (two of the Lipari Islands), FORMULA FOR +THE COMES OF, vii. 16. + +Cursus Publicus, Postal-service, 37; + transferred from Praetorian Praefect to Magister Officiorum, 99, 302; + vi. 3, 6; + under Regerendarius, 109; + letter as to, i. 29; + abuses of, to be reformed by the Sajo Gudisal, iv. 47; + by Sajo Mannila, v. 5; + abuses of, in Spain, v. 39; + citizens of Scyllacium not to be harassed by, xii. 15. + +Cyprian, Vir Illustris, Count of the Sacred Largesses (524-525), + his character and appointment to above office, v. 40, 41; viii. 16; + his services as Referendarius, v. 40; + his mission to Constantinople, v. 40; + his accusation of Albinus and Boethius, 289, 291, 363, 369; + raised to honour of Patricate, viii. 21, 22. + + +D. + +Dahn, Felix (author of 'Koenige der Germanen'), quoted, 119, 152, 155, +165, 177, 180, 182, 183, 184, 197, 198, 202, 204, 206, 207, 209, 216, +221, 236, 240, 242, 248, 269, 282, 287, 320, 341, 350 _n_, 353 _n_, +356, 361, 370 _n_, 372, 375, 401, 403, 435, 437 _n_. + +Daila, a free Goth, complains that servile tasks are imposed on him by +Duke Guduim, v. 30. + +Dalmatia, + Simeon appointed to collect arrears of taxation from, iii. 25; + iron mining in, iii. 25; + Epiphanius Consularis of, v. 24; + address of Athalario to Goths settled in, viii. 4; + Arator sent on an embassy from Provincials of, to Theodoric, viii. 12; + Osuin appointed Governor of, ix. 8, 9. + +Danube, River, 'made a Roman stream by Amalasuentha, xi. 1. + +Datius, Bishop of Milan, made steward of the King's bounty to the +citizens, xii. 27. (For his history, _see_ 522.) + +Davus receives sick-leave to visit Mons Lactarius, xi. 10. + +Death, the inconvenience of, 'comperimus dromonarios viginti et unum +de constituto numero _mortis incommodo_ fuisse subtractos,' iv. 15. + +Decennonium, Marsh of, drained by Decius, ii. 32, 33. + +Decennovial Canal mentioned by Procopius, 188. + +Decii, Lay of the, recited at school, iii. 6; + family of Liberius and Paulinas descended from, ix. 22, 23. + +Decius, Caecina Maurus Basilius, Illustris, ex-Praefect of the City, + and ex-Praetorian Praefect, + undertakes to drain the Marsh of Decennonium, ii. 32, 33; + one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and Praetextatus + (?), iv. 22, 23. + +Decoratus (Vir Devotus), brother of Honoratus, appointed Quaestor, + his character and early death, v. 3, 4; + conflicting testimony of Boethius and Ennodius as to, 267 _n_; + instructions to, as to arrears of Siliquaticum, v. 31. + +Decuriae, guilds of copying-clerks, &c., connected with administration +of justice, 277. + +Defensor, Gothic soldier of a Roman noble, iv. 27, 28. + +DEFENSOR OF A CITY, FORMULA OF, vii. 11. + +Defensores of Church of Milan, ii. 30; + of Aestunae, iii. 9; + of the sacrosanct Roman Church, iii. 45; + of Catena, iii. 49; + of Ticinum, iv. 45; + of Suavia, iv. 49; v. 14. + +'Defloratis prosperitatibus,' meaning of this phrase, used by +Cassiodorus of his Gothic History, 137 _n_. + +Degeniatus = (apparently) stripped of official rank, xii. 10. + +Delegatoria, warrant for increased rations consequent on promotion, +xi. 33, 35. + +Denarius, puzzling passage as to relation of to solidus, i. 10. + +Deputati, fifteen shorthand writers of the highest class, appropriated +to the Emperor's service, 111; xi. 30. + +Dertona (_Tortona_), fortification of, i. 17; + corn warehouse at, to be opened, x. 27; xii. 27. + +Diceneus, philosopher-king of Dacia, perhaps Cassiodorus' ideal of a +king, 32. + +Dionysius 'Exiguus,' author of our present chronology, a colleague of +Cassiodorus in his literary enterprises, 64. + +Dionysius of Halicarnassus, chief authority on the Roman +chariot-races, 230. + +Discussores, assessors of taxes, iv. 38. + +Documents not to be tampered with by the Scribe, xii. 21. + +Domestici, life-guardsmen attached to the Provincial Governors, to +receive larger pay, ix. 13. + +Domitian, office of Master of the Horse abolished by, 99. + +Domitius, Spectabilis, has received a concession for drainage of land + which he is too parsimonious to take full advantage of, ii. 21; + complains of seizure of his estates by Theodahad, iv. 39. + +Domus Palmata, near the Forum, iv. 30. + +Donativum, _see_ Largesse. + +Drainage concession to Spes and Domitius, ii. 21. + +Drill, need of, exemplified, i. 40. + +Dromonarii, rowers in express boats, ii. 31; + twenty-one dead, iv. 15. + +Dromones, express boats, one thousand to be built, v. 16. + +Druentia (_Durance_), River, + frontier of Ostrogothic and Burgundian Monarchies, 218; + provisions for garrisons upon, iii. 41. + +Dux, a military officer of the rank of Spectabilis, his relation to +the Comes, 90 _n_. + +DUX RAETIARUM, FORMULA OF, vii. 4. + + +E. + +Eastern Empire, Amalasuentha's relations with, xi. 1. + +Ecclesiastical privileges and immunities, i. 9, 26; ii. 29, 30; + iii. 14, 37, 45; iv. 17, 20; viii. 24; ix. 15, 16; x. 26, 34; + xii. 13, 20; + conflict between Ecclesiastical and Curial obligations, ii. 18. + +Ecdicius, sons of, allowed to leave Rome to bury their father, ii. 22. + +Edictum Athalarici, ix. 2, 18, 19, 20. + +Edictum Theodorici, + published by Nivellius, from a MS. belonging to Pithou, 116; + punishment for adulterers according to, 283, 403; + permission to parents to sell their children, 382 _n_. + +Egregii, fifth rank in Imperial service, 92; + not mentioned by Cassiodorus, 92. + +Elephant, natural history of the, x. 30; + brazen images of, in Via Sacra, x. 30. + +Eloquence the special product of Rome--'Aliae regiones vina, balsama +et olentia thura transmittant: Roma tradit eloquium, quo suavius nil +sit auditum,' x. 7. + +Endive of Bruttii has not the bitter fibres spoken of by Virgil, xii. +14. + +Ennodius, Magnus Felix, Bishop of Ticinum (died 516), + information given by, as to Boethius, 79 _n_; + information as to Alamannic refugees, 195; + his testimony to character of Decoratus, 267 _n_; + addressed his 'Paraenesis' to Ambrosius, 358. + +Epiphanius employed by Cassiodorus to assist him in the compilation of +'Historia Tripartita,' 61. + +Eufrasius the Acolyte sold a house at Rome to Pope Simplicius, iii. +45. + +Eugenius, Vir Illustris, + receives the dignity of Master of the Offices, i. 12, 13; + possibly alluded to, viii. 19 (_see_ note). + +Euric, King of the Visigoths (466-485), father of Alaric II, taxation +in his time, v. 39. + +Eustorgius, Bishop of Milan, his petition for protection to Milanese +Church granted, ii. 29. + +Eutharic, husband of Amalasuentha, Consulship of (519), 27, 28; + adopted as son in arms by Justin, viii. 1. + +Evans, Arthur J., on the topography of Squillace, 9, 68-72. + +Exceptores, shorthand writers, 104, 110, 111; xi. 25; + charged a fee for the bad paper which they supplied to suitors, + 483 _n_. + +Exormiston, a kind of lamprey (?), xii. 4, 14. + +Expeditio, derivation of, i. 17. + + +F. + +Famine, provisions for relief of, x. 27; + unusual appearances foreboding the famine of 538, xii. 25; + in Liguria to be relieved, xii. 28. + +Faustus, Praetorian Praefect, Illustris, + rebuked for his delay in sending corn from south of Italy to Rome, + 17-19; i. 35; + embassy of, to Constantinople (493), 23; + Consulship of, 122; + severely censured for his oppression of Castorius, iii. 20, 28; + sent into the country for change of air, iii. 21; + oppression of Joannes (?), iii. 27. + +Faustus the younger, son of the above, i. 41; + enquiry into character of, on his admission to the Senate, i. 41. + +Faventia (_Faenza_), blocks of marble to be forwarded to Ravenna from, +v. 8. + +Felix III, Pope (526-530), election of, in deference to recommendation +of Theodoric, viii. 15. + +Felix (apparently a native of Milan), + appointed Quaestor (527), viii. 18, 19; + his pedigree, viii. 19. + +Felix, Vir Clarissimus, accused by Venantius of defrauding the minor +Plutianus, i. 7, 8. + +Felix, Consul with Secundinus (511), + his character and elevation to the Consulship, ii. 1, 2, 3; + ordered to give largesse to charioteers of Milan, iii. 39. + +Felix, Consul with Taurus (428), 173. + +Felix, an assistant (probably Vices Agens), to Cassiodorus in the +discharge of his duties as Praetorian Praefect, 450. + +Feltria (_Feltre_), inhabitants of, to assist in erection of new city +in district of Tridentum, v. 9. + +Festus, embassy of, to Constantinople (497), 23; + chosen by Agnellus to defend his interests in his absence, i. 15; + his claims against Paulinus, i. 23. + +Fidei-jussor, guarantor, i. 37; ii. 13; xi. 4. + +Filagrius, Vir Spectabilis, petition of, as to his nephew's detention +in Rome, i. 39. + +'Filius per arma,' adoption of, iv. 2. + +Firminus, complaints of, against Venantius, iii. 36. + +Fiscus Gothorum, rights of, i. 19; + its claims not to be pressed unduly, i. 22. + +Fiscus, rights of, as to Castrum Lucullanum, viii. 25; + rights of, to estates of deceased persons (Fiscus Caducus), ix. 14. + +Fishermen, not to be enlisted for the navy, v. 16; + their nets not to be allowed to hinder navigation of rivers, + v. 17, 20. + +Fishes, natural history of: + the echeneis or sucking-fish, 18; i. 35; + shell-fish of Indian Ocean, their power of arresting vessels, 18; + i. 35; + torpedo, its numbing touch, 18; i. 35; + dolphins, habits of, iii. 48; + echinus, 'that honey of flesh, that dainty of the deep,' iii. 48; + the strange habits of the pike and the wrasse, xi. 40; + in the fishponds (vivaria) of Scyllacium, xii. 15; + the anchorage, exormiston, &c., xii. 4, 14. + +Flaminian Way, edict regulating prices upon the, xi. 12; + to be put in order for the King's passage, xii. 18. + +Flavianus, Virius Nicomachus, Consul Suffectus (394), + ancestor of Symmachus, 78; + a leader of the heathen party in the Senate, 78; + author of a Roman History, 78. + +Formulae, reasons given by Cassiodorus for composing, 138. + +Fornerius, notes of, on Cassiodorus, 116. + +Forojulii (_Cividale_), contributions of wine and wheat from, +remitted, xii. 26. + +Forum Livii (_Forli_), inhabitants of, to transport timber to +Alsuanum, iv. 8. + +Franks, the, dispute of with Burgundians (533), viii. 10; + war between Amalasuentha and, xi. 1. + +Franz, Adolph, author of 'M. Aurel. Cassiodorius Senator,' 119. + +Fraudulent shipowners punished, v. 35. + +Frontinus (cir. A.D. 97), author of 'Strategematicon' and 'De +Aquaeductibus,' quoted by Lydus, 97. + +Frontosus has embezzled a large sum of public money, v. 34; + his evasions and slippery character, v. 34. + +'Furtivae actiones,' those concerned in, to be punished, v. 39. + +Fuscus, appointed Praetorian Praefect by Domitian, 99. + + +G. + +Garet, F.J., his edition of Cassiodorus, 117; + his ecclesiastical bias, 217. + +Garismatium, a place supplying garum, 514 _n_. + +Garum, a kind of sauce, 514 _n_. + +Gaul, summons to the Goths to take up arms for invasion of, i. 24; + Gemellus appointed Governor of, iii. 16; + address to Theodoric's subjects in, iii. 17; + remission of taxation in, iii. 32, 40; iv. 19, 36; + especial desire of Theodoric for good government of, iii. 38; + famine in, to be relieved from Italy, iv. 5, 7; + placed under government of Arigern (probably before Gemellus), + iv. 16; + Gepid troops ordered for defence of, v. 10, 11; + peace of, disturbed by Gesalic, v. 43; + Athalaric's accession announced to his subjects in, viii. 6, 7. + +Gemellus, Senator, appointed Governor of Gaul, iii. 16, 17; + instructions to, iii. 32, 41; iv. 12, 19, 21. + +Genesius, Vir Spectabilis, directed to reform the sanitary condition +of Parma, viii. 30. + +Genoa, Jews living at, ii. 27. + +Gensemund, an example of fidelity to the Amal race, viii. 9; + his history mysterious, 354 _n_. + +Gentilis, barbarian, i. 46; ii. 16; viii. 22. + +Gentilitas, barbarism, misery of, iii. 17. + +Geometry, origin of, iii. 52. + +Gepidae, ordered for defence of Gaul, + to march peaceably through Northern Italy, v. 10, 11; + extraordinarily high rate of pay of (?), v. 11. + +Germanus, his complaint against Bishop Peter, iii. 37. + +Gesalic, natural son of Alaric II, sheltered by Thrasamund, King of +the Vandals, v. 43, 44. + +Getae, confusion of, with Goths, 31, 32. + +Gibbon, on the 'Variae,' 120; + as to character of accusers of Boethius, 365; + as to Theodoric's participation in murder of Amalasuentha, 433 _n_. + +Gildias, Vir Spectabilis, Count of Syracuse, rebuked for oppression of +the Sicilians, ix. 14 (_see_ also ix. 11). + +Godomar, King of the Burgundians (524-534), 456 _n_. + +Gold-mining in Bruttii, ix. 3. + +Gothic History of Cassiodorus, + estimate of, by its author, 29, 30, 137; ix. 25; + purpose of, 30; + Jordanes' abstract of, 34. + +Gothic law for Gothic men (?), vii. 3; viii. 3; + not for Romans, ix. 14. + +Goths, delight of in war, i. 24; + manner of training young, i. 38; + disputes between, and Romans, in Samnium, to be settled by Sunhivad, + iii. 13; + Pannonia of old the dwelling of, iii. 23; + in Picenum and Tuscia evading payment of taxes, iv. 14; + ancestors of (Guttones), dealers in amber, 266; + in Picenum and Samnium summoned to royal presence, v. 26, 27; + free Gothic warriors enslaved, v. 29, 30; + degrading services not to be claimed from, v. 39; + disputes with Romans, how to be decided, vii. 3; + relation of Gothic Comes to his Roman staff, vii. 25; + oath between, and Romans on Athalaric's accession, viii. 7; + settled at Reate and Nursia, viii. 26; + indignant at the murder of Amalafrida, ix. 1; + 'Gothorum laus est civilitas custodita,' ix. 14; + dissensions between Gothic soldiers and Roman populace, x. 14; + raise Witigis on the shield as King, 'indicamus parentes nostros + Gothos inter procinctuales gladios, more majorum, scuto supposito, + regalem nobis contulisse, praestante Deo, dignitatem,' x. 31. + +Gout, a living death, x. 29. + +Graius (?), Senatorial rank conferred on, vi. 14. + +Grammarians, twelve eminent, quoted by Cassiodorus, 65; + salaries of, to be increased, ix. 21. + +Granaries in Rome, repair of, iii. 29. + +Gravasiani (?), iv. 38. + +Green party in the Circus, complaint made by, i. 20; + complaint against Theodoric (the Patrician) and Importunus, i. 27; + mentioned, i. 32, 33; + rivalry of with the Blues, iii. 51. + +Gregory of Tours, incompleteness of his history of Clovis, 24. + +Gregory the Great, Pope (590-604), as to wine called Palmatiana, 500 +_n_. + +Griffins dig for gold, and delight in contemplation of that metal, ix. +3. + +GUARD AT THE GATES OF A CITY, FORMULA RESPECTING, vii. 29. + +Guardianship of orphans delegated by Theodoric, i. 36; + of the young Hilarius not to be protracted, i. 38. + +Gudelina, wife of Theodahad, letters of, to Theodora, x. 20, 21, 23; + letter of, to Justinian, x. 24; + doubtful allusion of, to murder of Amalasuentha, x. 20. + +Gudila accused of enslaving Ocer, a blind Goth, v. 29. + +Guduim, Sajo, v. 27; + Vir Sublimis and Dux, v. 30; + accused of imposing servile tasks on Costula and Daila, v. 30. + +Gundibad (Gundobad), King of the Burgundians (473-516), + Theodoric sends him a water-clock and sundial, i. 45, 46; + Theodoric asks him to assist in reconciling Clovis and Alaric, + iii. 2; + called 'senex' by Theodoric, iii. 2. + + +H. + +Haesti, or Aestii, inhabitants of Esthonia, send present of amber to +Theodoric, v. 2. + +Hannibal, death of, iii. 47. + +Hasdingi (Hasdirigi?), or Asdingi, royal family of the Vandals, +honoured by alliance with the Amals, ix. 1. + +Heliodorus, a relative of Cassiodorus, Praefect in the Eastern Empire, +i. 4. + +Helladius, candidate for office of Pantomimist, i. 20; + ordered to come forth and amuse the people, i. 32. + +Heracleanus, Presbyter, messenger from Justinian to Theodahad, x. 25. + +Herminafrid, King of the Thuringians, married to Amalabirga, niece of +Theodoric, iv. 1. + +Heruli, King of, + appealed to by Theodoric to prevent war between Clovis and Alaric, + iii. 3; + King of, adopted as Theodoric's son by right of arms, iv. 2; + to receive provisions at Ticinum on their journey to Ravenna, iv. 45. + +Hilarius, a young Goth, grandson of Baion, i. 38; + to be allowed to enter on enjoyment of his property, i. 38. + +Hilderic, King of the Vandals (523-531), murders Amalafrida, widow of +his predecessor, ix. 1. + +Histrius (or Historius), ii. 9. + +Homer quoted, as to travels of Ulysses, i. 39; + as to Priam's request for the body of Hector, ii. 22. + +Homo; Theodosius is addressed by Theodahad as _Homo suus_; meaning of +the term (?), x. 5. + +'Honesta missio' of the Theodosian Code illustrated by, v. 36. + +Honoratus, Vir Illustris, brother of Decoratus, appointed Quaestor; +his character, v. 3, 4. + +Hormisdas, Pope (514-523), election of during Consulship of +Cassiodorus, 26. + +Horses, description of, sent as a present by the King of the +Thuringians, iv. 1. + +Hostilia, on the Po, place of rendezvous for the dromonarii, ii. 31. + +Hot-springs of Abano described, ii. 39. + +Hydruntum, or Hydron (_Otranto_), chief seat of the purple +manufacture, i. 2. + + +I. + +Ibbas, General of Theodoric in Gaul (perhaps the person to whom iv. 17 +is addressed), 253. + +Ides of June (June 13th), + sailors and ships to meet at Ravenna on, v. 19, 20; + eighth day before (June 6th), Goths to come to Ravenna for their + largesse upon, v. 26. + +ILLUSTRATUS VACANS, FORMULA OF, vi. 11. + +Illustres, highest class of Ministers; who belonged to it? 86-90; + was an Illustris once, always an Illustris? 89; + were the Consuls Illustres? 90. + +Illyricum, alleged loss of, under Placidia, xi. 1. + +Imperium, used of the Gothic kingdom, xii. 28. + +Importunus, Illustris and Consul (509), accused of assaulting the +Green party at the Circus, i. 27. + +Importunus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, Consul (509), + descended from the Decii, iii. 5; + incident of the recitation of Lay of the Decii, iii. 5. + +Indictions, mode of reckoning by, 123-125; + remission of taxes at, i. 16. + +Indulgentia, an amnesty to prisoners, xi. 40. + +Inquilina persists in harassing Benatus with litigation, iv. 37. + +Interpretium not to be exacted from Apulian corn-merchants, ii. 26. + +Intestate property of widow claimed by the State, v. 24 + (_see_ also vi. 8); + property of an African claimed by a fellow-countryman, xii. 9. + +Iron, mines of, in Dalmatia, iii. 25; + praises of, iii. 25. + +Istria, Province of, large harvests of wine, oil, and corn in, xii. 22; + extraordinary requisition from, xii. 22; + plentiful yield of wine in, xii. 26. + +Italy, ought to enjoy her own products, ii. 12; + western coast of, exports corn to Gaul, iv. 5. + + +J. + +Januarius, Secretary of Joannes, iv. 32. + +Januarius, Assessor of taxes, iv. 38. + +Jews, of Genoa, + permitted to rebuild but not enlarge their synagogue, ii. 27; + their privileges confirmed, iv. 33; + synagogue of, at Rome, burned by the mob, iv. 43; + Christian servants of, punished for murdering their masters, iv. 43; + of Milan, protected from molestation, v. 37. + +Joanna, widow of Andreas, intestacy of, v. 24. + +Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Referendarius, receives gift of property at +Castrum Lucullanum from Tulum, confirmed by Athalaric, viii. 25. + +Joannes, Cancellarius (533-534), xi. 6; + appointed Praerogativarius, xi. 27. + +Joannes, mortgagee of property of Tupha, iv. 32. + +Joannes, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius (perhaps same as preceding), pays +off the debt of his father-in-law Thomas, and takes his property in +Apulia, v. 6, 7. + +Joannes, Arch-Physician, unjust judgment against, reversed, iv. 41. + +John II, Pope (Jan. 1, 533--May 27, 535), + letter to, against simony at Papal elections, ix. 15; + report from, as to imprisonment of Roman citizens, ix. 17; + Cassiodorus sends greeting to, on his promotion, xi. 2. + +John complains that the Bishop of Salona has taken 60 tuns of oil from +him, iii. 7. + +John, Spectabilis, ordered to enquire into abuses connected with +aqueducts of Rome, iii. 31. + +Jordanes, relation of his book 'De Rebus Geticis' to the Gothic + History of Cassiodorus, 34; + his quotations from Symmachus' History, 78; + as to 'Capillati' among the Getae, 260 _n_; + as to Goths by the Baltic Sea, 266; + as to threatened war between Goths and Franks, 402. + +Joseph, the Patriarch, + office of Praetorian Praefect derived from, vi. 3; + alluded to, x. 27; + precautions of, against Egyptian famine, xii. 25; + his bargain with the starving Egyptians criticised, xii. 28. + +Jovinus banished to the Lipari Islands for murder of a fellow-curial, +iii. 47. + +Judges to visit each town once in the year, and not to claim more than +three days' maintenance, v. 14. + +Julianus complains of injuries received from the servants of Bishop +Aurigenes, iii. 14. + +Julian, Count and Illustris, Tata is ordered to conduct recruits to, +v. 23. + +Justin, Emperor (518-527), Athalaric announces his accession to, viii. +1. + +Justinian, Emperor (527-566), his negotiations with Amalasuentha, 43; + with Theodahad, 46, 47; + Amalasuentha announces her son's death and the association of + Theodahad to, x. 1, 2; + present of marbles from Amalasuentha to, x. 8, 9; + letters of Theodahad to, x. 15, 19, 22, 25, 26; + letter of Gudelina to, x. 24; + letter of Witigis to, x. 32; + his interference on bt half of a heavily taxed monastery, x. 26; + on behalf of Veranilda, a Catholic convert, x. 26; + petition of Senate to, xi. 13. + + +L. + +Lactarius, Mons (_Monte Lettere_), description of, xi. 10; + health-resort for consumptive patients, xi. 10. + +Land surveying among the Romans, iii. 52. + +Lard not to be exported from Italy, ii. 12. + +Largesse (Regalia Dona, Donativum), + Goths summoned to Court to receive, on the Ides of June, v. 26, 27; + Starcedius' donative stopped on his retirement from service, v. 36. + +Laurentius, Presbyter, accused of rifling graves, iv. 18. + +Laurentius, Vir Experientissimus, ordered to collect in Istria stores +of wine, oil, and corn for Ravenna, xii. 22, 23, 24. + +Lawsuits not to be interminable, i. 5. + +LEAVE OF ABSENCE, TEMPORARY, FORMULA COMMEATALIS AD TEMPUS, vii. 36. + +Lenormant, his work 'La Grande Grece' quoted, 7, 8, 71. + +Leodifrid, _see_ under Sajo. + +Leontius, Vir Spectabilis, his dispute about boundaries with +Paschasius, iii. 52. + +Leontius, Praefecture of, 105. + +Letters, origin of, from imitation of flight of cranes, viii. 12. + +Leucothea, Fountain of, its marvellous qualities, viii. 33. + +Liber, derivation of, xi. 38. + +Liberius (1), + Praetorian Praefect under Theodoric (493-500), 16; ii. 15, 16; + his fidelity to Odovacar, ii. 16; + conduct in assignment of 'Tertiae,' ii. 16; + father of Venantius, ii. 15; + arranged gift from Theodoric to ex-Emperor (?) Romulus, iii. 35. + +Liberius (2), Spectabilis (possibly son of preceding), complains of +unjust judgment by Marabad, iv. 47. + +Liberius (3), Senator, sent as ambassador by Theodahad to Justinian, +45. + +Liberius (4, probably same as No. 3), Patrician, Praetorian Praefect +of the Gauls (526), viii. 6; xi. 1. + +Liberius (5), second husband of Aetheria, iv. 12. + +Lictor, apostrophised by Cassiodorus in his 'Indulgentia,' xi. 40. + +Liguria, Province of, ships ordered from Ravenna to, ii. 20; + the Gepidae on their way to Gaul to march peaceably through, + v. 10, 11; + obscure allusion to troubles in, viii. 16; + famine in 'Liguria industriosa' to be relieved by corn-distribution, + x. 27; + relief of 'devota Liguria,' xi. 15, 16; + Consularis of, addressed, xii. 8; + invaded by the Burgundians, xii. 28; + plunder-raid of Alamanni into, xii. 28; + famine in, relieved, xii. 28. + +Lime, the praises of, vii. 17. + +Lime-kilns, President of, PRAEPOSITUS CALCIS, FORMULA OF, vii. 17. + +Lucania, Province of, + Eusebius is recommended to take holiday in, iv. 48; + rustics of, at Feast of St. Cyprian, viii. 33; + Campanianus, inhabitant of, ix. 4; + 'Montuosa Lucania' abounded in swine, xi. 39; + measures for relief of, during presence of Gothic army, xii. 5. + (_See_ also Bruttii.) + +Lucrine Port (?) to furnish tiles for repair of walls of Rome, i. 25. + +Lucullanum, Castrum (_Castel dell Ovo_, at Naples), property at, given +by Theodoric to Tulum, and by Athalaric to Joannes, viii. 25 (_see_ +note, p. 374). + +Lydus, Joannes, civil servant in Constantinople under Justinian, + author of 'De Dignitatibus;' + his account of the dignity of the Praetorian Praefect, 40; + on the official staff of the Praetorian Praefect, 94-114; + his disappointment with the emoluments of the Cornicularius, 101; + as to salutation of Praetorian Praefect, 297; + as to Scholares, 302; + jealousy of Magistriani, 303; + as to supply of paper for law courts, xi. 38. + + +M. + +Maffei, Scipione, author of 'Verona Illustrate,' on situation of +Verruca, 224. + +Magic, trial of Roman Senators on accusation of practising, iv. 22, 23; + punishment of, according to Edictum Athalarici, ix. 18. + +MAGISTER OFFICIORUM, FORMULA OF, vi. 6; + nature of his office, 36, 37; + jealousy between his subordinates and those of the Praefectus + Praetorio, 100, 302; + Eugenius promoted to office of, i. 12, 13; + office of, held by grandfather of Argolicus, iii. 12; + as to Cursus Publicus, 99; iv. 47; vi. 6; + letter of Witigis to M.O. at Constantinople, x. 33. + +MAGISTER SCRINII, FORMULA OF, vi. 13. + +Magistriani, officers under Magister Officiorum, jealousy of, felt by +members of Praefectoral staff, 303. + +Magistri Scriniorum, Spectabiles, 91. + +Magnus, a Spectabilis, of Gaul (?), to be reimbursed for losses +sustained from the Franks, iii. 18. + +Major Domus, Steward of the Royal House; Theodahad calls Vacco +'majorem domus nostrae,' and orders him to superintend the purchase of +provisions for Gothic garrison of Rome, x. 18. + +Mancipes mutationum, servants at posting-stations, iv. 47. + +Maniarius, complaint of, as to abstraction of his slaves by the +Breones, i. 11. + +Manso, author of 'Geschichte des Ostgothischen Reiches,' quoted, 333, +336, 401. + +Mappa, why used to denote the signal for the races, iii. 51. + +Marabad, Vir Illustris and Comes, + appointed Governor of Marseilles, iii. 34; + instructions to, iv. 12, 46. + +Marcellinus Comes, chronicler in the reign of Justinian, + as to introduction of Heruli into Italy, 258 _n_; + as to eruption of Vesuvius, 261 _n_, 262 _n_. + +Marcellus on water-finding, iii. 53. + +Marcian, Vir Spectabilis, employed to collect grain for Italy in +Spain, v. 35. + +Marcilianum (_Sala_, in Lucania), viii. 33. + +Marinus, his petition about the property of Tupha, iv. 32. + +Mark the Presbyter summoned for arrears of Siliquaticum, v. 31. + +MARRIAGE, CONFIRMATION OF, AND LEGITIMATION OF OFFSPRING, FORMULA FOR, +vii. 40. + +MARRIAGE, FORMULA LEGITIMATING WITH FIRST COUSIN, vii. 46. + +Marriage law (Edictum Athalarici), ix. 18. + +Martinus, his son Romulus accused of parricide, ii. 14. + +Massa Palentiana, wrested from rightful owners by Theodahad, v. 12. + +Massa, a farm, viii. 23. + +Massilia (_Marseilles_), + inhabitants of, to welcome Count Marabad, iii. 34; + privileges confirmed to, and exemption from taxation granted to for + one year, iv. 26. + +Master of the Horse, office of, abolished by Domitian, 99. + +Matasuentha, granddaughter of Theodoric, married to Witigis, 49. + +Maurentius, an orphan, taken under the King's guardianship, iv. 9. + +Maximian, Vir Illustris, one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try +Basilius and Praetextatus, iv. 22, 23. + +Maximus, Flavius Anicius, Vir Illustris, Consul (523), + encouraged to reward handsomely the _Venator_ in the amphitheatre, + v. 42; + appointed Primicerius Domesticorum (535), x. 11, 12; + married a wife of the Amal race, x. 11; + discussion as to his subsequent history, 424 _n_. + +Mercury, inventor of letters, viii. 12. + +Milan, Church of, immunities granted to, ii. 29, 30; + charioteers of, to receive largesse from Felix, iii. 39; + Bacauda, Tribunus Voluptatum at, v. 25; + Jews of, protected from molestation, v. 37; + famine in, to be relieved by Datius, xii. 27; + sieges and demolition of, 522. + +Militia, used of the purely civil service of the staff of the + Praetorian Praefect, 92; ii. 28; + obligations of the title, ii. 31; + used of service of Tribunus Voluptatum, v. 25; + of functions of Count of Sacred Largesses, vi. 7; + of functions of Comitiacus, vi. 13. + +Militia Litterata, the learned staff, 479. + +Millenarius (in Gothic, _thusundifaths_), captain of a thousand, v. +27. + +Millet (panicum), to be sold to citizens of Milan at 20 modii per +solidum, xii. 27. + +Minors, protection of, from fraud, iv. 35. + +MINT (MONETA) MASTER OF, FORMULA APPOINTING, vii. 32. + +Mommsen, Theodor, severe judgment of, on 'Chronicon' of Cassiodorus, +29, 120. + +Monopoly, letters relating to, ii. 26, 30; iii. 19; x. 28. + +Montanarius, bearer of money to Bishop Severus, ii. 8. + +Mosaic, discription of, i. 6. + +Moscius, Mons, near Scyllacium, xii. 15. + +Mundus, General of Justinian, in Dalmatia, 446 _n_. + +Munitarius (Winithar), ancestor of Theodoric, 'aequitate enituit,' xi. +1. + +Music, dissertation on, ii. 40. + + +N. + +Narbonne, Church of, possessions granted by Alaric, wrested from, iv. +17. + +Navy, Theodoric's directions as to raising, v. 16, 17. + +Neapolis (_Naples_), territory of, + suffers from eruption of Vesuvius, iv. 50; + FORMULA OF COUNT OF NAPLES, vi. 23; + FORMULA addressed HONORATIS POSSESSORIBUS, ET CURIALIBUS CIVITATIS + NEAPOLITANAE, vi. 24. + +Neotherius, a spendthrift, and brother of Plutianus, i. 7, 8. + +Nero, anecdote of, giving the signal for the chariot-race, iii. 51. + +Nicephorus Phocas, Emperor of the East (963-969), his work of +restoration at Squillace, 71. + +Nicomachus, _see_ Cethegus. + +Nimfadius, Vir Sublimis, his adventure at the Fountain of Arethusa, +viii. 32. + +Nivellius, Sebastianus, his edition of Cassiodorus, 115, 116. + +Nobilissimus, title given to nearest relatives of the Emperor, 85, 86. + +Nola, territory of, suffers from eruption of Vesuvius, iv. 50. + +Noricum, Provincials of, to exchange their cattle with the Alamanni, +iii. 50. + +NOTARII, FORMULA OF, vi. 16. + +Notitia Utriusque Imperii, + general correspondence of, with the 'Variae,' 85; + on the official staff of the Praetorian Praefect, 94-114; + illustration of the name, xii. 23. + +Numerarii, cashiers in the Court of Praetorian Praefect, 96, 108; + spoliation of churches of Bruttii alleged to be committed in their + name, xii. 13; + referred to, xii. 23. + +Nursia, the birthplace of St. Benedict, 375; + colony of Goths settled at, viii. 26. + + +O. + +Oath, mutual, + between Athalaric and his subjects on his accession, viii. 3; + between Goths and Romans, viii. 7. + +Obsonia (= relishes, anything eaten with bread, especially fish), to +be distributed to the Roman people, xii. 11. + +Ocer, a blind Gothic warrior, reduced to slavery by Gudila and Oppas, +v. 29. + +Odovacar (Odoacer), King (476-493), + faithful service of Liberius to, ii. 16; + possible allusion to times of, iii. 12; + buried in a stone chest, 207; + Tupha an officer of, 251; + moderate taxation under, iv. 38; + Opilio filled a place under (?), v. 41. + +Officium (official staff) of Praetorian Praefect, 93-114; + otherwise called Praetoriani, xi. 37; + to be fined if they disobey the King's orders, ii. 26; + duties of in collection of Bina and Terna, vii. 21; + promotion of, on Christmas Day, xi. 17; + their duties and rightful claims, xi. 37. + +Opilio, Count of Sacred Largesses, father of Cyprian, viii. 16, 17; + chosen for a place in household of Odovacar (?), v. 41. + +Opilio, son of above, Count of Sacred Largesses, viii. 16, 17; + ambassador from Theodahad to Justinian (535), 45; + evil character of, given by Boethius, 363. + +Oppas, accused of enslaving Ocer, a blind Goth, v. 29. + +Orthography, difficulties of Latin, in Sixth Century, 66. + +Ostrogotha, ancestor of Theodoric, 'patientia enituit,' xi. 1. + +Osuin (or Osum), Vir Illustris and Comes, made Governor of Dalmatia +and Suavitt, ix. 8, 9. + + +P. + +Padus (_Po_), + timber for navy to be collected upon the banks of, v. 17, 20; + stake-nets to be removed from mouth of, v. 17, 20. + +Palamediaci calculi = draughts, citizens fond of playing at, viii. 31. + +Palmatiana, wine of Bruttii, described, xii. 12. + +Panis, derivation of, from Pan, vi. 18. + +Pannonia Sirmiensis, Colossaeus appointed Governor of, iii. 23, 24; + an old habitation of the Goths, iii. 23. + +Pantomimist, dispute as to choice of, i. 20; + his menstruum (monthly allowance), i. 32, 33. + +Papal election, contested between Symmachus and Laurentius (498), 26; + of Felix III (526), viii. 15. + +Paper, praises of, xi. 38. + +Paraveredi, extra horses, v. 39. (_See Errata._) + +Parhippi, extra horses, iv. 47. + +Parma, sanitary measures in, viii. 29, 30. + +Parricide, the horror of, ii. 14. + +Paschasius, Vir Spectabilas, his dispute about boundaries with +Leontius, iii. 52. + +PATRICIATE, FORMULA OF, vi. 2. + +Patricius, Vir Illustris, appointed Quaestor by Theodahad, x. 6, 7. + +Patzenes, husband of Regina, story of his wife's intrigue with +Brandila during his absence on Gaulish campaign, v. 32, 33. + +Paula, an orphan, taken under the King's guardianship, iv. 9. + +Paulinus, Illustris and Patrician, + claims of Festus and Symmachus against, i. 23 + [N.B. Compare the following passage from Boethius' + 'Philosophiae Consolatio' i. 4: 'Paulinum consularem virum + cujus opes palatini canes jam spe atque ambitione + devorassent, ab ipsis hiantium faucibus traxi.' Considering + the relationship between Boethius and Symmachus, it is + impossible that Symmachus could be one of these 'palatini + canes,' but perhaps not impossible that Festus may be here + aimed at. Paulinus was Consul 498]; + Felix is praised for cultivating the friendship of, ii. 3; + allowed to repair and appropriate public granaries, iii. 29. + +Paulinas (Flavius Theodoras Paulinus Junior), Vir Clarissimus, son of +Venantius, grandson of Liberius, chosen Consul for 534, ix. 22. + +Peace, praises of, i. 1. + +Pedatura, length of wall assigned to be built by soldiers, v. 9. + +Pedonensis Civitas (situation unknown), Benedictus a citizen of, i. +36. + +Peraequatores, regulators of prices of provisions (?), vi. 6. + +Perfectissimi, fourth grade in the Imperial service, 92, 320; + not mentioned by Cassiodorus, 92. + +Pervasio, forcible appropriation of landed property, condemned by +Edict of Athalaric, ix. 18. + +Peter, Consul (516) and rhetorician, ambassador from Justinian to +Theodahad, 46, 47; x. 19, 22, 23, 24. + +Petrus, Vir Spectabilis, illustrious by descent, + allowed to enter the Senate, iv. 25; + his troubles with the Sajo assigned to him as his Defensor, + iv. 27, 28. + +Physician, duty of a good, vi. 19. + +Picenum, Province of, Goths resident in, iv. 14; v. 26, 27. + +Pietas = pity (very nearly), iv. 26. + +Pignoratio, lawless practice of, described and repressed, iv. 10. + +Pincian Hill, _see_ Rome. + +Pithoeus (Pierre Pithou), editor of Cassiodorus, attributes to him the +'Computus Paschalis,' 11. + +Placentia, provision dealers at, x. 28. + +Placidia, unfavourable comparison of with Amalasuentha, xi. 1. + +Planets, periods of, xi. 36. + +Pliny, on amber, 266; + on the elephant, 443. + +Plutianus, a minor, Felix accused of defrauding, i. 7, 8. + +Pola, Antonius, Bishop of, iv. 44. + +Pollentia, battle of, represented as Gothic victory by Cassiodorus, +28. + +Polyptycha, official registers, v. 14, 39. + +Pompeius Magnus, theatre of, the origin of his epithet, iv. 51. + +Pontonates (?), iv. 38. + +Popes, _see_ Agapetus, Felix III, Gregory the Great, John II, +Symmachus, Vigilius. + +Porticus Curba (or Curiae), near the Forum, 'fabricae' to be erected +above, iv. 30. + +Portus (_Porto_), quays and warehouses of, + under the Praefectus Urbis Romae, 87; + 'Portus Curas Agens,' ii. 12; + Comes Portus, vii. 9; + Vicarius Portus, vii. 23. + +Possessores, ii. 25; vi. 8; + of Aestunae, iii. 9; + of Arles, iii. 44; + of Velia, iv. 11. + +Possessores Honorati, of Catena, iii. 49; + of Forum Livii, iv. 8; + of Feltria, v. 9; + of Suavia, v. 14, 15; + of neighbourhood of Ravenna (?), v. 38; + of Sicily, vi. 22; + of Neapolis, vi. 24. + +POSSESSORES HONORATI, ET CURIALES, FORMULA ADDRESSED TO, vii. 27; + of Parma, viii. 29; + of Bruttii, exhorted to return to their cities, viii. 31. + +Possessores, Curiales permitted to become, ix. 4; + complain of abuses in corn-traffic, ix. 5. + +Potteries (figulinae), owners of, safeguarded, ii. 23. + +Praebendae, apparently = stipendia or annonae, 219; + claimed both in money and kind, v. 39. + +PRAEFECTUS ANNONAE, FORMULA OF, vi. 18; + office of, held by Paschasius, xii. 9. + +PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO, FORMULA OF, vi. 3; + FORMULA AS TO SUPERINTENDENCE OF ARMOURERS, vii. 19; + dignity of the office, 39-41, 134; + quotation from Lydus as to, 40; + his functions described by Bethmann-Hollweg, 41 _n_; + gradations of rank in his official staff, 93-114; + fine on, for disobeying King's orders, ii. 26; + not to be allowed to oppress men in humbler station, iii. 20, 27; + as to Cursus Publicus, 99; iv. 47; vi. 3; + Albienus appointed (527), viii. 20; + was Trigguilla his predecessor? 368. + +PRAEFECTUS URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vi. 4; + an Illustris, 86; + his functions described, 87, 88; + to punish insults against the Senate, i. 30, 31; + Artemidorus raised to dignity of, i. 42; + Argolicus raised to dignity of (510), iii. 11; + Quinque-viri associated with him for trial of Senators, iv. 22, 23; + his close companionship with the Praefectus Annonae, vi. 18; + Honorius ordered to see to preservation of brazen elephants at Rome, + x. 30. + +PRAEFECTUS VIGILUM URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 7. + +PRAEFECTUS VIGILUM URBIS RAVENNATIS, FORMULA OF, vii. 8. + +Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi, an Illustris, 86; + his functions, 88; + to refund to Symmachus expense of restoration of Pompey's Theatre, + iv. 51. + +Praepositi (?) have special rights as to the Cursus Publicus, v. 5. + +Praerogativarius (?), Joannes appointed, xi. 27. + +PRAESES PROVINCIAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 2. + +Praetextatus, a Roman Senator, accused of magical practices, iv. 22, +23. + +Prescription, title by, i. 18; ii. 27; v. 37. + +Prices, to be fixed by the Defensor of a city, vii. 11; + by the Curator, vii. 12; + tariff of, to be charged at Ravenna, xi. 11; + regulated along the Flaminian Way, xi. 12; + fixed in, Bruttii and Lucania, xii. 5; + tariff of, for Istria, xii. 22, 23; + of corn sold for relief of Ligurians in time of famine, x. 27; + xii. 27. + +Primicerius Augustalium, Beatus appointed, xi. 30 (_see_ Augustales). + +Primicerius Cubiculariorum, a Spectabilis, 88; + his functions, 88. + +Primicerius Deputatorum, Ursua appointed, xi. 30; (_see_ Deputati). + +Primicerius Domesticorum, Maximus appointed, x. 11, 12. + +Primicerius Exceptorum, chief of shorthand writers, Patricius +appointed, xi. 25. + +Primicerius Notariorum, vi. 16; + a Spectabilis, 91; + his office (apparently) joined to that of Count of Sacred Largesses, + vi. 7. + +Primicerius Singulariorum, Pierius appointed, in the room of Urbicus, +xi. 31, 32 (_see_ Singularii). + +Primiscrinii, officers of Court of Praetorian Praefect, 96, 103; + perhaps equivalent to Adjutores, 103; + might be chosen from the ordinary Exceptores, 110; + retiring Primiscrinius receives rank of Spectabilis, xi. 20; + Andreas obtains rank of, xi. 21; + retiring Primiscrinius to receive pension, xi. 37. + +Princeps, head of the Officium of the Praefectus Praetorio, + nature of his office, 96, 97, 477 _n_; + ex-Princeps, ii. 28; + title of, given to Magistriani, vi. 6; + FORMULA RECOMMENDING PRINCIPES TO COMES, vii. 25; + FORMULA ANNOUNCING APPOINTMENT OF COMES TO PRINCEPS, vii. 28. + +Princeps Augustorum, 96; xi. 35. + +Princeps Magistrianorum, 97, 99, 100. + +PRINCEPS DALMATIAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 24. + +PRINCEPS URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 31. + +Prior, a military officer among the Goths, viii. 26; + perhaps equivalent to 'Hundafath,' 375. + +Probinus (or Provinus), Illustris and Patrician (perhaps same as Consul 489), + obtains property by undue influence from Agapita, ii. 11; + the transfer declared to be bona fide, iv. 40. + +Probus, Assessor of taxes, iv. 38. + +PROCERES PER CODICILLOS VACANTES, FORMULA OF, vi. 10. + +Proceres Chartarum (?), subordinate to Count of Sacred Largesses, vi. +7. + +Procopius, his narrative of events in Italy in 534 and 535, 42-48; + makes no mention of the name of Cassiodorus, 51; + his statement of Justinian's argument as to the position of + Theodoric, 143 _n_; + his account of family of Venantius, 221; + attributes the death of Amalasuentha to Theodora, 433 _n_; + quoted, 370 _n_, 384 _n_, 390, 397, 431, 434, 518, 522, 527. + +Procula, wife of Brandila, her assault on Regina, v. 32. + +Prorogatores, purveyors (?), x. 28. + +Prosecutores frumentorum, petition of, as to loss of cargoes, iv. 7. + +Provincials, compensation to, for damage done by troops on march, ii. +8. + +Publianus, Vir Illustris, messenger from the Senate to Court at +Ravenna as to election of Pope (526), viii. 15. + +Public property assigned on condition of improvement, vii. 44. + +Pulveratica (dust-money) not to be paid to a Judge on his journeys, +xii. 15. + +Purple dye, history of the discovery of, i. 2. + +Pyctacium (pictacium or pittacium), delegatoris, bond or document of +title, i. 18; iii. 35; xii. 20. + +Pythias, Count, pronounces decree in favour of liberty of Ocer, a +blind Goth, v. 29. + + +Q. + +QUAESTOR, FORMULA OF, vi. 5; + duties of the office of, 14, 135; v. 4; vi. 5; + other Quaestors besides Cassiodorus between 501 and 510, 25 _n_; + Ambrosius appointed (526), viii. 13; + Felix appointed (527), viii. 18; + Patricius appointed (534), x. 6. + +Quidila, son of Sibia, made 'Prior' of the Goths in Reate and Nursia, +viii. 26. + +Quinque-viri associated with Praefectus Urbis to try two Senators +accused of magical arts, iv. 22, 23. + + +R. + +Raetia (Grisons and Tyrol), Servatus, Duke of, i. 11; + Alamannic refugees received in, ii. 41; + guarded by fortress of Verruca, iii. 48; + duties of the Duke of, vii. 4; + derivation of the name from _rete_, vii. 4. + +Rationales, bailiffs superintending the royal estates under the Comes +Rerum Privatarum, vi. 8. + +Rationalii, persons charged with distribution of the annona, 114. + +Rations for three days only, to be given to Provincial Governors and +others journeying to Scyllacium, xii. 15. + +Ravenna, Basilica of Hercules (?) at, i. 6; + mosaic ordered for, i. 6; + ships ordered round from, to Liguria, ii. 20; + favour bestowed on Church of, ii. 30; + marbles to be transported to, iii. 9, 10; + marble chests in which the citizens of Ravenna buried their dead, + iii. 19; + blocks of marble to be forwarded from Faventia to, v. 8; + fleet to be mustered at, v. 17, 19; + aqueduct of, to be kept clean, v. 38; + drinking water of, de-appetising, v. 38; + police of, vii. 8; + elevation of Athalaric at, viii. 2, 5; + provision dealers at, x. 28; + tariff of prices at, xi. 11; + siliquatarius of, xii. 17; + defences of, to be strengthened, xii. 17; + Deusdedit, a Scribe of, xii. 21; + wine, oil, and corn to be furnished by Provincials of Istria to, + xii. 22, 23, 24. + +Reate (_Rieti_, in the Sabine territory), Goths settled at, viii. 26. + +Rector Decuriarum, Governor of Guilds, v. 21, 22; + same as Judex Decuriarum of Theodosian Code, 278. + +RECTOR PROVINCIAE, FORMULA OF, vi. 21. + +Referendi Curiae, Armentarius and his son Superbus appointed, iii. 33. + +REFERENDARIUS, FORMULA OF, vi. 17; + Cyprian's services as, v. 40, 41; viii. 22; + Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, holds the post of, viii. 25. + +Regerendarius (or Regendarius), + officer charged with regulation of the postal-service, 109; + Cartherius appointed, xi. 29. + +Regina, wife of Patzenes, her intrigue with Brandila, v. 33; + assaulted by Brandila's wife, v. 32. + +Religious toleration practised by Theodoric, 21, 22; + principle of, stated, ii. 27; v. 37; x. 26. + +Remission of taxes, i. 16. + +Renatus complains that he is harassed by litigation of Inquilina, iv. +37. + +Reparatus, brother of Pope Vigilius, + appointed Praefect of the City, ix. 7; + his subsequent history, 390. + +Restitutio in integrum, 252. + +Retentator, a wrongful detainer, ii. 10. + +Rhegium (_Reggio_) derivation of the name, xii. 14; + the citizens of, to be exempt from 'coemptio' of wheat and lard, + xii. 14. + +Roccella, near Squillace, probable site of Scyllacium, 68. + +Roman law only to be administered between Romans, ix. 14. + +Roman citizens, release of, imprisoned on suspicion of sedition, ix. 17. + +Rome, Theodoric's measures for embellishment of, i. 21; ii. 7; + walls of, to be repaired, i. 25, 28; ii. 34; + the nephews of Filagrius detained at, for their education, i. 39; + 'everyone's country,' i. 39; + blocks of marble lying about in, to be used, ii. 7; + sons of Ecdicius detained at, ii. 22; + marbles on the Pincian Hill to be transported to Ravenna, iii. 10; + repair of granaries in, iii. 29; + Cloacae of, iii. 30; + repair of aqueducts and temples in, iii. 31; vii. 6; + sons of Valerian detained at, iv. 6; + new buildings overlooking Forum of, iv. 30; + 'turris circi et locus amphitheatri' wrested from sons of Volusianus, + iv. 42; + burning of Jewish synagogue at, iv. 43; + theatre of Pompey restored by Symmachus, iv. 51; + to receive supplies of corn from Spain, v. 35; + brazen elephants in Via Sacra, x. 30; + police of, vii. 7; + statues of, vii. 13, 15; + dissensions between citizens of, and Gothic troops (535), x. 14; + a Gothic garrison for, x. 18; + owns the shrines of the Apostles, xi. 2; + scarcity in, relieved by corn-distributions, xi. 5; + Roman citizens, and they only, to receive _obsonia_, xii. 11; + high character given to the Roman populace, xii. 11. + +Romulus, assured that Theodoric's gift to him through the Patrician + Liberius shall not be revoked, iii. 35; + probably this is the ex-Emperor Romulus Augustulus, 216; + subsequent disposal of his palace, the Lucullanum, 374. + +Romulus accused of murder of his father, ii. 14. + +Rufinus, Praetorian Praefect under Arcadius, his usurpation caused +some of Praetorian Praefect's powers to be transferred to the +Magister, 99. + +Rusticiana, farm of, in Bruttii, gold discovered at, ix. 3. + +Rusticus, a priest and a friend of Theodahad, sent on return embassy +with Peter to Justinian, 431 _n_; x. 20, 24. + + +S. + +Sabinus, ex-Charioteer, his pension increased, ii. 9. + +Sacrilege, the folly of, xii. 13. + +St. Cyprian's fair (in Lucania) described, viii. 33. + +Sajo, Saio, or Sajus (henchman), description of his office, 177 _n_; + to go straight to object of his mission, and not to make pleasure + tours at the public expense, iv. 47; + Nandius, sent to summon Goths to war, i. 24; + to support Ecdicius in levying Siliquaticum, ii. 4; + Fruinarith to enquire into conduct of Venantius, ii. 13; + Grimoda ordered to redress the oppression of Faustus, iii. 20; + Leodifrid ordered to superintend building of houses near fort + Verruca, iii. 48; + Amabilis (?) ordered to superintend grain traffic from Italy to + Gaul, iv. 5; + Gesila ordered to make Gothic defaulters in Picenum and Tuscia pay + their taxes, iv. 14; + Tezutzat assigned as Defensor to Petrus, iv. 27; + Amara has wounded Petrus, whose Defensor he nominally was, + iv. 27, 28; + Duda (Vir Spectabilis and Comes), instructions to, iv. 28, 32, 34; + Gudisal ordered to reform abuses of _Cursus Publicus_, iv. 47; + Mannila receives like instructions, v. 5; + Veranus to see that the Gepidae march peaceably through Liguria, + v. 10; + Gudinand and Avilf ordered to muster sailors and collect timber for + navy, v. 19, 20; + Tata ordered to conduct recruits to Count Julian, v. 23; + Guduim ordered to summon Gothic captains to Court, v. 27; + Catellus and Servandus (?), 'Viri Strenui,' to collect fines from + fraudulent shipowners, v. 35; + a Sajo (unnamed) accused of rough treatment of a deacon, viii. 24; + Dumerit sent to repress robbery at Faventia, viii. 27; + Quidila sent with Athalaric's orders to Sicily, ix. 10; + to execute vengeance on Pervasores, ix. 18; + BOND FOR PROPER USE OF SAJO'S SERVICES, FORMULA OF, vii. 42; + was he necessarily the instrument by which 'tuitio regii nominis' + was given? 341; + Sajones assigned to various Cancellarii, xii. 3; + their duties and temptations, xii. 3; + Paulus, Vir Strenuus, perhaps a Sajo, xii. 26. + +Salamander, nature of, iii. 47. + +Salona (in Dalmatia), inhabitants of, to be armed and drilled, i. 40; + Bishop of, takes 60 tuns of oil from one John, iii. 7. + +Salt-works at Venice, xii. 24. + +Samaritans contest possession of a house in Rome with the Roman +Church, iii. 45. + +Samnium, Province of, Sunhivad appointed Governor of, iii. 13; + practice of _pignoratio_ prevalent in, iv. 10; + Goths resident in, v. 26, 27; + Anatholius, Cancellarius of, xi. 36; + retiring allowance of Cornicularius charged on revenues of, xi. 36. + +Sarsena (?), Curia of, ii. 18. + +Scholares, household troops, under Magister Officiorum, v. 6. + +Scholaris, Sextus (?), Justus appointed, xi. 26. + +Schubert, von, author of 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen,' 120, 524, 527. + +Science, list of Greek men of, whose works were translated by Boetius, +i. 45. + +Scribe, importance of the office of, xii. 21. + +Scrinia, the four, under the Magister Officiorum, 36, 112; + to provide themselves with paper, xi. 38. + +Scriniarii, vii. 21, 22. + +Scriniarius, 106. + +Scriniarius Curae Militaris, 109; + Lucillus appointed, xi. 24. + +Scrinium Memoriae, 102. + +Scriniarius Actorum, Catellus obtains rank of, xi. 22. + +Scyllacium (_Squillace_), birthplace of Cassiodorus, 6; + the Greek colony, Scylletion, 6, 7; + Roman colony, Minerva Scolacium, 7, 8; + appearance of, 8; xii. 15; + modern remains at, 9; + Cassiodorus founds his monasteries at, 55; + topography of, 68-73; + citizens of, not to be called on to contribute to the _Cursus + Publicus_, xii. 15. + +Scythian, vagueness of the term, which was often applied to the Goths, +31, 32. + +Senarius, Vir Illustris, appointed Comes Patrimonii, iv. 3, 4; + instructions to, as Comes Privatarum Rerum, iv. 7, 11, 13. + +Senate of Rome, attitude of Theodoric and Cassiodorus towards, 26, 27; + flattery of, i. 13, 42; iii. 12; v. 41; + not to degrade themselves by altercations with the mob in the + Circus, i. 27, 30; + enquiry into character of candidates for admission to, i. 41; + iv. 25; + Senators' taxes in arrear, ii. 24; + Senators with Gothic names, ii. 29, 35; iii. 13; + proceedings on trial of Senators, iv. 22, 23; vi. 21; + addressed on election of Pope Felix III, viii. 15; + Theodahad's elevation announced to, x. 4; + chidden by Theodahad for not accepting his invitation to Ravenna, + x. 13; + Theodahad announces arrival of Gothic garrison to, x. 18; + ordered by Theodahad to communicate with Justinian, x. 19; + Cassiodorus writes to, on his elevation to the Praetorian + Praefecture, xi. 1; + petition of, to Justinian for peace, xi. 13. + +SENATOR, FORMULA CONFERRING THE RANK OF, vi. 14. + +Severinus (or Severianus), Vir Illustris, + appointed a Commissioner for Province of Suavia, to remedy financial + abuses, v. 14, 15; + again sent to Suavia and Dalmatia with Osuin, ix. 9. + +Severus, Vir Spectabilis, apparently Governor of Bruttii and Lucania, +vii. 31-33. + +Sextarius, corn measure, ii. 26. + +Sicily, inhabitants of, suspicious, + and with difficulty won over to the rule of Theodoric, i. 3; + Filagrius, a citizen of Syracuse, asks leave to return to, i. 39; + possessions of Milanese Church in, ii. 29; + Valerian, a citizen of Syracuse, allowed to return thither, iv. 6; + FORMULA OF COUNT OF SYRACUSE, vi. 22; + _augmentum_ imposed by Theodoric remitted by Athalaric, ix. 10, 11, + 12; + oppressive acts of Censitores and Count of Syracuse rebuked, ix. 11, + 14. + +Sidonius, Apollinaris, possible quotation from, iii. 16. + +Sigismer, Illustris and Count, sent to administer to the Senate the +oath of fidelity to Athalaric, viii. 2. + +Signine Channel, near Ravenna (?), shrubs growing in, to be rooted up, +v. 38. + +Sila, Mount, in Bruttii, celebrated for its cheese, xii. 12. + +Silentiarii, thirty life-guards, 88. + +Siliqua, one-twenty-fourth of solidus, 173. + +Siliquaticum, a tax of one-twenty-fourth on sales in open market, + collection of, ii. 4; + exemption from, ii. 30; iv. 19; + collection of arrears of, in Dalmatia, iii. 25; + collection of arrears of, in Apulia and Calabria, v. 31. + +Siliquatarii, ii. 12, 26; xii. 17. + +Simeon, Vir Illustris and Comes, appointed to collect arrears of +taxation in Dalmatia, iii. 25, 26. + +Simeonius (an Apulian or Calabrian), summoned for arrears of +Siliquaticum, v. 31. + +Simony practised at Papal elections, edict against, ix. 15, 16. + +Simplicius, Pope (468-483), bought a house at Rome claimed by the +Samaritans, iii. 45. + +Singularii, servants charged with conveying the orders of the + Praetorian Praefect into the Provinces, 113; + origin of their name, 113. (_See_ also, xi. 31, 32.) + +Sipontum in Apulia, merchants of, despoiled by Byzantine fleet (?), +ii. 38. + +Sirmium, war of (504), Tulum's services in, viii. 10; + Cyprian's services in, viii. 22. + +Slave of a Senator, murderer of a freeborn citizen, + to be surrendered, i. 30; + as to levy of slaves for the navy, v. 16; + Gothic soldier made a slave wrongfully, v. 29; + degrading services (servitia famulatus) not to be claimed of + freeborn Goths, v. 30, 39; + Tanca is accused of unjustly enslaving two rustic neighbours, + viii. 28. + +Slaves, runaway, to be restored to their owners, iii. 43; + did free Italians sell their children as? viii. 33 _n_. + +Solidus, 'the ancients wished that it should consist of 6,000 denarii' +(?), i. 10. + +Sona, Illustris, iii. 15. + +Sontius (_Isonzo_), River of, Theodoric's crossing of, + made an era in lawsuits as to landed property, i. 18; + the Lucristani (?) on, ordered to attend to the Cursus Publicus, + i. 29. + +Sors, land-allotment, ii. 17. + +Sors nascendi of the Curialis, ii. 18. + +Spain, to send corn-supplies to Rome, v. 35; + abuses in administration of, to be repressed, v. 39. + +Spatarius, sword-bearer, an officer in the royal household, iii. 43. + +Spectabiles, second class of Ministers, who belonged to it? 90, 91; + honour of, conferred on Stephanus, ii. 28; + Comes Primi Ordinis, highest of, vi. 12; + FORMULA CONFERRING RANK OF, vii. 37; + Antianus, ex-Cornicularius, receives rank of, xi. 18; + retiring Primiscrinius receives rank of, xi. 20. + +Spes, Spectabilis, has a concession for draining land, ii. 21. + +Spoletium (_Spoleto_), gratuitous admission to baths at, ii. 37; + rebuilding behind the Baths of Turasius at, iv. 24; + Honoratus, advocate at, v. 4. + +_Staletti_, near Squillace, near the site of Vivarian Monastery, 71. + +Starcedius, Vir Sublimis, allowed to retire from military service, but +without a pension, v. 36. + +Statue, theft of brazen, at Comum, ii. 35, 36. + +Statues, care of, at Como, ii. 35, 36; + at Rome, vii. 13, 15. + +Ste. Marthe, Denys de, author of 'Vie de Cassiodore,' 118. + +Stephanus, killed by his servants and left unburied, ii. 19. + +Stephanus, petition of, against Bishop of Pola, iv. 44. + +Stratonicea, Edict of, by Diocletian, 'de pretiis venalium rerum,' +470. + +Style, Cassiodorus on the different kinds of, 139. + +Suarii, pork-butchers, subject to Praefectus Annonae, vi. 18. + +S(u)avia (_Sclavonia_), Fridibad appointed Governor of, iv. 49; + order to be maintained in, iv. 49; + grievances of the Possossores of, to be redressed, v. 14; + Osuin appointed Governor of, ix. 8, 9. + +Subadjuvae, deputy cashiers (?), 109. + +Sublimis, epithet used in the 'Variae,' 91 _n_; + equivalent to Spectabilis (?), 91. + +Suevi (perhaps here the same as Alamanni) invade the Venetian Province +(536), xii. 7. + +Sulcatoriae (?), some kind of merchant ships, ii. 20. + +SUMMONS, LETTERS OF, TO THE KING'S COURT, FORMULAE EVOCATORIAE, vii. +34, 35. + +Sundial, description of, to be made by Boetius for Gundibad, i. 45. + +Superbus, son of Armentarius, appointed Referendus Curiae, iii. 33. + +Sustineo, technically used of the King's reception of his guests, iii. +22 (and 28). + +Swords, description of, sent by King of the Vandals to Theodoric, v. +1. + +Symmachus, Pope (498-514), contested election with Laurentius, 26. + +Symmachus the Elder, + orator and leader of the Pagan party in the Senate, 78; + was he also a historian? 78. + +Symmachus, Q. Aurelius Memmius, Consul (485), Patrician, + father-in-law of Boethius, information as to, in the 'Anecdoton + Holderi,' 74, 77-79; + his speech for the 'Allecticii,' 78; + his Roman History, 78; + his claims against Paulinus, i. 23; + one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Barilius and Praetextatus, + iv. 22, 23; + commended for his restoration of buildings in Rome, iv. 51; + a saying of, xi. 1. + + +T. + +Table of the King, provision of delicacies for, vi. 9; xii. 4, 18. + +Tabularii, Cashiers of a municipality, a lower class of Numerarii, +108. + +Tacitus, on amber, quoted, v. 2. + +Tanca, a Goth (?), accused of unjustly enslaving free rustics, viii. +28. + +Tarvisium (_Treviso_), corn-warehouse at, to be opened, x. 27. + +Taxation, arrears of, ii. 24, 25; iv. 14; v. 31; + immunity from, ii. 30; + remissness in tax-collectors condemned, iii. 8; xii. 10; + remission of, for citizens of Aries, iii. 32; + remission of, for all Provincials of Gaul, iii. 40; iv. 19; + remission of, for one year, for citizens of Marseilles, iv. 26; + weight of, to be lessened, iv. 38; + regulation of, for Province of Suavia, v. 14, 15; + abuses of, in Spain, corrected, v. 39; + collection of _Bina_ and _Terna_, vii. 20-22; + remission of super-assessment for Dalmatia, ix. 9; + similar remission for Sicily, ix. 10, 11, 12; + remission of, for a monastery, x. 26; + proper manner of collecting, xi. 7; + correction of abuses of, in Liguria, xi. 16; + commutation of cattle-tax for Lucania and Bruttii, xi. 39; + taxes to be paid punctually, xii. 2; + in Lucania and Bruttii in time of war, xii. 5; + remission of, for Venetia, on account of invasion of the Suevi, + xii. 7; + tax-gatherer allowed to make prepayment of his taxes, xii. 8; + _Trina Illatio_ to be collected regularly, xii. 16; + special requisition from Istria, xii. 22, 23; + contributions from Venetia remitted, xii. 26; + remission of half of, for Liguria, xii. 28. + +TAXES, FORMULA FOR REMISSION OF, WHERE THE TAXPAYER IS TOO HEAVILY +ASSESSED, vii. 45. + +Teias, King of the Goths (552-663), his battle with Narses on Monte +Lettere, 468 _n_. + +Tenues = the poor, ii. 24, 25. + +Terna, a kind of tax + (not to be confounded with the Tertiae or the Trina Illatio), iii. 8; + collection of, vii. 20, 21, 22. + +Terracina, inscription at, as to draining Marsh of Decennonium, 188. + +Tertiae, probably either the land assigned to the Goths in Italy or + the pecuniary equivalent paid by the Roman possessor for an + undivided 'Sors Barbarica,' 152; + (tax), to be collected at same time as ordinary tribute, i. 14; + (land), demarcation of, by Liberius, ii. 16; + (tax), immunity from, ii. 17. + +Theodagunda, Illustris Foemina, apparently a Gothic princess, ordered +to do justice to Renatus, iv. 37. + +Theodahad, nephew of Theodoric, + associated in the sovereignty by Amalasuentha, 44; x. 1-4; + his character, 44; + he dethrones Amalasuentha (April 30, 535), and puts her to death, 45; + his negotiations with Justinian, 47; + his deposition and death, 49; + style of address in the 'Variae,' 86; + ordered to undertake a case of contumacy, iii. 15; + his avarice condemned, iv. 39; v. 12; + to receive farms which had belonged to his mother, viii. 23; + declares that his character has changed with his accession, x. 5; + chides the Senate for their suspicions of him, x. 13; + thinks himself much superior to Theodoric, x. 22; + intended journey of, to Rome, xii. 18, 19; + his questionable generosity in releasing his mortgage on the Church + plate to the Pope, xii. 20. + +Theodora, Augusta (married to Justinian 525, died 548), + letter of Amalasuentha to, x. 10; + letters of Gudelina to, x. 20, 21, 23; + alleged complicity of, in murder of Amalasuentha, 433, 435. + +Theodoric, King of the Goths and Romans (493-525), + his position in Italy, 16, 19; + story of his inability to write, 15; + relation of Cassiodorus to, 16, 19; + his religious tolerance, 21, 22; + his persecution of the Orthodox, 35; + condemnation of Boethius and Symmachus, 35; + death of (Aug. 30, 526), 37; + may _possibly_ have called himself King of Italy, 62 _n_; 455 _n_; + confusion between him and Theodoric II the Visigoth, 116; + letters written in the name of, 141-293; + learned in the Roman Republic the art of governing Romans with + equity, i. 1; + relations between him and Anastasius, i. 1; + allusion to his adoption by Zeno (?), i. 20; + his intervention in Gaul (508), i. 24; + his friendship for Artemidoras, i. 43; + motto for his reign, ii. 21; + inscription recording his drainage of Decennonial Marsh, 188; + his attempts to prevent war between Alaric and Clovis, iii. 1-4; + calls himself 'Romanus Princeps,' iii. 16; + his high purpose in ruling, iii. 43; + his alliance with the Thuringians, iv. 1; + his alliance with the Heruli, iv. 2; + his rides after the hours of business with Cyprian his + _Referendarius_, v. 40; + Cassiodorus speaks of his 'oculus imperialis,' viii. 18; + praises of, by Witigis, x. 31; + his especial characteristic was patience, xi. 1. + +Theodoric I, King of the Franks (511-534), death of, xi. 1; 452 _n_; +455 _n_. + +Theodoric, or more probably Theodorus, Patrician, accused of +assaulting the Green party in the Circus, i. 27. + +Theodorus, candidate for office of Pantomimist, i. 20. + +Theodoras, report of, as to gold in Bruttii, ix. 3. + +Theodosian Code, perhaps referred to in the words 'Statuta Divalium + sanctionum,' iv. 12; + as to Decuriae Librariorum, &c. 277; + as to Delegatio, 479 _n_. + +Theodosius, man of Theodahad (?), exhorted to abstain from violence, +x. 5. + +Thessalonica, Praefect of, entreated by Witigis to speed his +ambassadors on their way to Justinian, x. 35. + +Theudimer, father of Theodoric, 'pietate enituit,' xi. 1. + +Thomas, father of Germanus, iii. 37. + +Thomas, Vir Clarissimus, complains that he cannot collect arrears of +taxes in Apulia, v. 31. + +Thomas, Vir Honestus, hopelessly in debt for taxes on Apulian farms, +v. 6, 7. + +Thomas the Charioteer to receive a monthly allowance, iii. 51. + +Thorbecke, August, author of 'Cassiodorus Senator,' 119. + +Thorismuth, predecessor of Theodoric, 'castitate enituit,' xi. 1. + +Thuringians, King of, + appealed to by Theodoric to prevent war between Clovis and Alaric, + iii. 3; + Herminafrid, King of, married to Amalabirga, niece of Theodoric, + iv. 1. + +Tiber to be crossed by a bridge of boats, xii. 19. + +Ticinum (_Pavia_), inhabitants of, + ordered to provision the Heruli on their journey to King's Comitatus, + iv. 45; + corn warehouse at, to be opened, x. 27; xii. 27; + provision dealers at, x. 28; + Count Winusiad, Governor of, x. 29. + +Tituli, practice of affixing to property, condemned, ix. 18. + +Totila, words of, as to exceptional favour accorded to Sicily, 397. + +Trajan, oath taken by, to the Roman people, viii. 3; + noble saying of, to an orator, viii. 13. + +Transmund (Thrasamund), King of the Vandals (496-523), + complained of for sheltering Gesalic, Theodoric's enemy, v. 43; + the reconciliation, v. 44. + +Transmutation of metals (?), viii. 3. + +Treasure, buried, search for, iv. 34. + +TRIBUNATUS PROVINCIARUM, FORMULA OF, vii. 30. + +Tribuni Maritimorum (in islands of Venetia), xii. 24. + +TRIBUNUS VOLUPTATUM, MINISTER OF PUBLIC AMUSEMENT, FORMULA OF, vii. 10; + Bacauda appointed, at Milan, v. 25; + referred to, vi. 19. + +Tridentum (_Trient_), proprietors in district of, ii. 17; + new city to be erected in district of, v. 9; + corn warehouse at, to be opened, x. 27. + +Trigguilla, 'Regiae Praepositus Domus,' was he the Praetorian Praefect +whose misgovernment is denounced, viii. 20? + +Trina Illatio, three instalments for payment of taxes, ii. 24; x. 27 +(?); xi. 7, 35, 36, 37; xii. 2, 16, 27 (?). + +Trittheim, John (Trithemius), Abbot of Spanheim, + his notice of date of Cassiodorus' birth, 9, 10, 66; + as to office of Abbot held by Cassiodorus, 56 _n_. + +TUITIO REGII NOMINIS, FORMULA BESTOWING, vii. 39; + promised to owner of potteries, ii. 23; + to Milanese Church, ii. 29; + to Maurentius and Paula, iv. 9; + alluded to in Edictum Athalarici, ix. 18 (p. 404). + +Tullianus, son of Venantius, 221. + +Tulum, Patrician, his early history and character, viii. 9, 10; + embassy to Constantinople (?), viii. 9; + share in the war of Sirmium, viii. 10; + in the Gaulish wars (508 and 523), viii. 10; + his escape from shipwreck, viii. 10; + marriage with an Amal princess, viii. 9; + letter written on his behalf to the Senate, viii. 11; + declared Patrician, viii. 9, 10, 11, 12; + receives Castrum Lucullanum from Theodoric and hands it over to + Joannes, viii. 25. + +Tupha (Tufa), an officer of Odovacar, + who deserted to Theodoric and then betrayed him, 251; + lawsuit about his property, confiscated to the Treasury, iv. 32. + +Tusciae (Thusciae) utraeque, iv. 14; + Goths resident in, iv. 14; + Canonicarius of, to buy a fitting quantity of paper, xi. 38. + + +U. + +Ulpianus, guarantor for Venantius, has lost 400 solidi by his default, +ii. 13. (As this occurred 'administrationis suae tempore,' Ulpianus +must have held some kind of public office.) + +Ulysses, reputed founder of Scyllacium, xii. 15. + +Unalamer (Walamir), uncle of Theodoric, 'fide enituit,' xi. 1. + +Unimundus (Hunimund), collateral ancestor of Theodoric, 'forma +enituit,' xi. 1. + +Uraias, nephew of King Witigis, his capture of Milan (539), xii. 27. + +Usener, Hermann, editor of 'Anecdoton Holderi,' 73-84, 119. + + +V. + +Vacco, Major Domus to Theodahad, x. 18; + to superintend purchase of provisions for Gothic garrison, x. 18. + +Valentinian III, Emperor (425-455), quotation from Novellae of, ix. 18; + Placidia's guardianship of, xi. 1. + +Valerian, a Spectabilis, citizen of Syracuse, sons of, to be detained +in Rome, iv. 6. + +Valeriana, Adeodatus condemned for rape of, iii. 46. + +Vandals, King of (Thrasamund), sends presents to Theodoric, v. 1. +(_See_ also _Transmund_ and _Hilderic_.) + +Vandals, allusion to, v. 17. + +'VARIAE' of Cassiodorus, their style described, 16-19; + not arranged in chronological order, 22; + time and manner of their editing, 51, 52; + reason of the name, 138, 139. + +Velia (or Volia), dispute between Possessores and Curiales of, iv. 11. + +Venantius (1), guardian of Plutianus, his accusation of Felix, i. 7, +8. + +Venantius (2), by his dishonesty has caused his guarantor Ulpianus to +forfeit 400 solidi, ii. 13. + +Venantius (3), son of Liberius, Vir Illustris, praises of, ii. 15; + made Comes Domesticorum, ii. 15, 16; + rebuked for remissness in collection of taxes when Corrector of + Bruttii and Lucania, iii. 8; + complaints of Firminus against, iii. 36; + his alleged unjust judgment of Adeodatus, iii. 46; + descended from the ancient Decii, ix. 23; + congratulated on Consulship of his son Paulinus (534), ix. 23. + +Venerius, a farmer, unjustly reduced to slavery by Tanca, viii. 28. + +Venetia, Province of, + Gepidae on their way to Gaul to march peaceably through, v. 10, 11; + famine in 'devotae Venetiae' to be relieved by corn distribution, + x. 27; + Canonicarius of, ordered to collect wine for the King's table, + xii. 4; + taxes of, remitted, on account of invasion of the Suevi, xii. 7; + 'Venetiae praedicabiles,' xii. 24; + scarcity of crops in, xii. 26. + +Venice, letter containing first historical notice of (537), xii. 24. + +Veranilda, convert from Arianism to Catholic faith, interceded for by +Justinian, x. 26. + +Vercelli, grant of freedom from taxation made to Church of, i. 26. + +Veredarii, drivers of the royal mail, ii. 31. + +Veredi, post-horses, not to be overworked, iv. 47. + +Verruca (perhaps _Dos Trento_), near Trient, + description of the fort of, iii. 48; + meaning of the word, 223, _n_ 1. + +Vesuvius, eruption of, iv. 50. + +Vicarius, a Spectabilis and Governor of a Diocese, 90; i. 37. + +Vicarius Praefectorum (?), title borne by Gemellus as Governor of +Gaul, iii. 16. + +VICARIUS PORTUS, FORMULA OF, vii. 23. + +VICARIUS URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vi. 15; + limits of his jurisdiction, 88. + +Vice-dominus (?), servants of, have oppressed Provincials of Suavia, +v. 14. + +Victor Tunnunensis, chronicler (died in 569), as to the death of +Amalafrida, 384 _n_. + +Victor, Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, severely rebuked for acts +of oppression, ix. 12. + +Vigilus, Pope (537-555), allusion to by Cassiodorus, 6; + brother of Reparatus, 390; + perhaps alluded to by Gudelina, x. 20 (_see_ p. 433 _n_). + +Villiciorum Tuitio (?), removed in Spain, as being costly and +unpopular, v. 39. + +Virgil quoted, 63 _n_; xii. 14. + +Vivarian Monastery, founded by Cassiodorus, near Scyllacium, 55; + site of, 71. + +Vivianus, Spectabilis, renouncing the world, foregoes the benefit of +an unjust decree which he has obtained against Joannes, iv. 41. + +Volcanoes, nature of, iii. 47; iv. 50. + +Volusianus, one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and + Praetextatus, iv. 22, 23; + died at Easter, iv. 42; + his sons robbed of their possessions by a heartless intriguer, + iv. 42. + +Vulcanian Islands (_Lipari_), a murderer banished to, iii. 47. + + +W. + +Walamir (_see_ Unalamer). + +Warni (or Guarni), King of, appealed to by Theodoric to prevent war +between Clovis and Alaric, iii. 3. + +Water-clock, description of, to be made by Boetius for Gundibad, i. +45. + +Water-finder has come from Africa to Rome, iii. 53; + description of his art, iii. 53. + +Wine, Acinaticium, xii. 4; + Palmatiana, xii. 12; + of Gaza, xii. 12; + Sabine, xii. 12. + +Winithar (_see_ Munitarius). + +Winusiad, Comes, Governor of Ticinum, recommended to visit baths of +Bormio, x. 29. + +Witigis (or Vitigis), King of the Goths (536-540), + proclamation announcing his accession, 49; x. 31; + letters written in the name of, x. 32-35; + his vengeance on Theodahad, x. 32; + his marriage with Matasuentha, x. 32; + his siege of Rome, 506; + possibly alluded to in xii. 19; 509; + the Burgundians' fear of him, xii. 28. + +Witigisclus (or Wigisicla), Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, +severely rebuked for acts of oppression, ix. 12. + + +Z. + +Zeno, Emperor (474-491), his concessions to Theodoric, x. 22. + + * * * * * + +_Printed at the University Press, Oxford_ + +_By_ HORACE HART, _Printer to the University_ + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Letters of Cassiodorus, by +Cassiodorus (AKA Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS *** + +***** This file should be named 18590.txt or 18590.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/5/9/18590/ + +Produced by Robert Connal, Linda Cantoni, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by the Bibliotheque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at +http://gallica.bnf.fr) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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