Cassiodorus→Senate of City of Rome|c. 522 AD|Cassiodorus
education booksimperial politics
VARIAE, BOOK 10, LETTER 7
From: King Theodahad, writing through Cassiodorus
To: The Senate of the City of Rome
Date: ~534 AD
Context: Theodahad announces the appointment of Patricius as quaestor, praising his eloquence and Roman education.
[1] After the happy news of the beginning of our reign was conveyed to you, a fitting occasion has arisen for us to speak, Senators — so that you may know we have chosen a judge whose eloquence does us credit. A quaestor who speaks well is an ornament to the state: he gives proper voice to our wishes and upholds ancient law with sound judgment.
[2] This man is Patricius, already honored by his very name. He enjoys lasting praise, for honor is built into the word itself. His abundant eloquence was nurtured by Roman learning, and he rightly demonstrates the skill that comes from the dignity of his birthplace. Whoever could be educated there deserves to be praised everywhere — that is where refined Latin lives, where words are learned in their full brilliance. Let other regions send living balsam and fragrant incense: Rome bestows eloquence, and nothing is sweeter to hear. Educated in these fine arts, he was soon fitted for the duties of the courts, displaying in his own speeches the same skill he had absorbed from long study of the great orators.
[3] It is also well known how temperately he competed with his colleagues. Modesty always accompanied his contests. Carried along by the heat of argument, he pursued praiseworthy ideas rather than — as so many do — indulging in insults. He argued cases with such calm that he always maintained his own character. He was found to have contended, not quarreled. He made another's case his own glory. He was known to win in such a way that he never wounded his opponent's spirit.
[4] Such a man deserved not to seek justice any longer, but to teach it — for the virtue of a judge lies in commanding good language and maintaining mental balance. Know, Senators, what we intend when we choose character first in our judges, especially in a position that traditionally proclaims the law. Under our rule, the quaestorship is not armed with royal power; it is grounded in law.
[5] Our will is the will of the ancient emperors, whom we desire to imitate to the same degree that they pursued justice. The authority of our predecessors deserves reverence when it does not stray from the right path. Whoever mingles justice with his decrees leaves posterity no choice but to follow. And so, Senators, for the thirteenth indiction, we have conferred the dignity of the quaestorship on the distinguished Patricius, so that he who is illustrious by name may also be magnificent in rank. Support our judgment in his case, so that what we have granted may meet with your approval as well.
VII.
SENATUI URBIS ROMAE THEODAHADUS REX.
[1] Post primordia nostri imperii vobis feliciter nuntiata congrua nobis contigit, patres conscripti, causa sermonis ut iudicem nos cognoscatis elegisse, cuius nos lingua possit ornare. quaestor enim eloquens rei publicae decus est, qui et vota nostra optime videatur edicere et antiquorum iura firmo consilio custodire. [2] Hic est enim Patricius suis iam vocabulis honoratus: nam perpetua fruitur laude, cui est honor in nomine: cuius affluentem facundiam studia Romana genuerunt: ostentans merito de loci dignitate peritiam. nam qui illic potuit imbui, meruit ubique laudari: ibi defaecatus sermo Latinus est: ibi discuntur verba toto nitore lucentia. aliae regiones viva balsama et olentia tura transmittant: Roma tradit eloquium, quo suavius nil sit auditum. sic bonis artibus eruditus mox est forensibus aptatus excubiis, ut oratores, quos longa meditatione perceperat, consimili declamatione monstraret. [3] Notum est etiam quanta cum collegis suis moderatione contendit. certaminibus eius modestia semper affuit: dicendi calore raptatus studuit laudabilibus inventis, non, quod plerique faciunt, vacavit iniuriis: qui sic peroravit causas sub tranquillitate, ut mores proprios semper assereret. contendisse siquidem, non litigasse repertus est. alienam enim causam faciebat suam gloriam. nam sic cognitus est vincere, ut probaretur contrarii animum non laesisse. [4] Talem itaque virum non decuit diutius iustitiam petere, sed docere: quia iudiciaria virtus est linguae bonis abundare et mentis temperantiam custodire. cognoscite, patres conscripti, quid fieri velimus, quando in iudicibus primum mores elegimus, in ea praesertim dignitate quae iura consuevit edicere. non enim temporibus nostris potestate regia est armata quaestura, sed legibus probatur esse composita. [5] Velle nostrum antiquorum principum est voluntas, quos in tantum desideramus imitari, quantum illi iustitiam sunt secuti. illa est enim reverenda priorum auctoritas, quae a recto tramite non declinat. sequendi enim necessitatem relinquit posteris, qui iustitiam suis miscuerit constitutis. et ideo, patres conscripti, per tertiam decimam indictionem illustri Patricio quaesturae contulimus dignitatem, ut qui est clarus nomine, magnificus etiam sit honore. fovete in eum nostra iudicia: ut quod nos praestitimus, vobis placitum nihilominus sentiatur.
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VARIAE, BOOK 10, LETTER 7
From: King Theodahad, writing through Cassiodorus To: The Senate of the City of Rome Date: ~534 AD Context: Theodahad announces the appointment of Patricius as quaestor, praising his eloquence and Roman education.
[1] After the happy news of the beginning of our reign was conveyed to you, a fitting occasion has arisen for us to speak, Senators — so that you may know we have chosen a judge whose eloquence does us credit. A quaestor who speaks well is an ornament to the state: he gives proper voice to our wishes and upholds ancient law with sound judgment.
[2] This man is Patricius, already honored by his very name. He enjoys lasting praise, for honor is built into the word itself. His abundant eloquence was nurtured by Roman learning, and he rightly demonstrates the skill that comes from the dignity of his birthplace. Whoever could be educated there deserves to be praised everywhere — that is where refined Latin lives, where words are learned in their full brilliance. Let other regions send living balsam and fragrant incense: Rome bestows eloquence, and nothing is sweeter to hear. Educated in these fine arts, he was soon fitted for the duties of the courts, displaying in his own speeches the same skill he had absorbed from long study of the great orators.
[3] It is also well known how temperately he competed with his colleagues. Modesty always accompanied his contests. Carried along by the heat of argument, he pursued praiseworthy ideas rather than — as so many do — indulging in insults. He argued cases with such calm that he always maintained his own character. He was found to have contended, not quarreled. He made another's case his own glory. He was known to win in such a way that he never wounded his opponent's spirit.
[4] Such a man deserved not to seek justice any longer, but to teach it — for the virtue of a judge lies in commanding good language and maintaining mental balance. Know, Senators, what we intend when we choose character first in our judges, especially in a position that traditionally proclaims the law. Under our rule, the quaestorship is not armed with royal power; it is grounded in law.
[5] Our will is the will of the ancient emperors, whom we desire to imitate to the same degree that they pursued justice. The authority of our predecessors deserves reverence when it does not stray from the right path. Whoever mingles justice with his decrees leaves posterity no choice but to follow. And so, Senators, for the thirteenth indiction, we have conferred the dignity of the quaestorship on the distinguished Patricius, so that he who is illustrious by name may also be magnificent in rank. Support our judgment in his case, so that what we have granted may meet with your approval as well.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.