Letter 10011: VARIAE, BOOK 10, LETTER 11

VARIAE, BOOK 10, LETTER 11 From: King Theodahad, writing through Cassiodorus To: Maximus, Distinguished Domesticus Date: ~534-536 AD Context: Theodahad awards a high palatine office, reflecting on the principle that a good king's glory lies in discovering and promoting talent. [1] If it is the glory of good rulers to bring unknown persons to public honor through distinction — since whatever advancement their subjects achieve redounds to the praise of the sovereign — how much more glorious is it when the man promoted already comes with a reputation that his new rank merely confirms? We do not pluck men from obscurity on a whim; we recognize what was already evident to those with eyes to see. [2] Maximus, your name itself seems a prophecy of the heights you were destined to reach. Your father's record of service established the family's reputation; your own achievements have surpassed it. Under the rule of our predecessor of blessed memory, you served with distinction, and we now raise you to the honor you have earned not through flattery or connection, but through sustained and visible merit. [3] Accept this office with the gravity that befits it. The rank we confer places you in the public eye, and every action you take will be scrutinized more closely than before. Let your conduct in office validate our judgment, and let those who observe your advancement understand that in our kingdom, the path to honor runs through honest service, not through the back corridors of influence.

XI. MAXIMO V. I. DOMESTICO THEODAHADUS REX. [1] Si gloria est bonorum principum incognitas honoribus clarificare personas, dum quicquid a subiectis proficitur regnantum laudibus applicatur, quanto nobis praestantius est nobilissimae familiae reddere, quod eam cognoscimus etiam nascendi sorte meruisse! sic enim iustitiam sequimur, si bonis heredibus parentum praemia non negemus. decet enim etiam priores suos vincere, qui ad nostra meruerunt tempora pervenire. [2] Anicios quidem paene principibus pares aetas prisca progenuit: quorum nominis dignitas ad te sanguinis fonte perducta collectis viribus hilarior instaurata rutilavit. quis ergo relinqueret in posteris minus honoros, quos tamdiu constat fuisse praecipuos? accusarentur saecula, si talis potuisset latere familia. atque utinam nobis Marios vel Corvinos annosior vita servasset! vix satiaretur principis votum, si nos contingeret personas illas talium possidere meritorum. quemadmodum nunc profecto neglegamus inventa, qui desideramus habere praeterita? [3] Atque ideo, quod feliciter dictum sit, primiceriatus, qui et domesticatus nominatur, ab indictione quarta decima tibi conferimus dignitatem. usurus es omnibus titulis qui ad eius pertinent actionem. hic honor quamvis tantis natalibus videatur inferior, cunctis tamen fascibus tuis videtur esse felicior: cuius tempore meruisti coniugem regiae stirpis accipere, quam in tuis curulibus nec praesumpsisses optare. [4] Age nunc, ut sicut tibi est votivus, ita nobis reddatur acceptus. considera quid merueris et dignum te nostra affinitate tractabis. nam qui familiae regnantis adiungitur, in laudum gremio collocatur. nunc maior opera mansuetudini detur: nunc omnibus communio benigna praebeatur, ut talem probemur elegisse, quem nulla possit prosperitas immutare. humilis age rem gloriae, quia de modestia laus sumitur, de elatione odium concitatur. provectibus quidem proxima est indubitanter invidia, sed tolerantia melius vincitur, quae contentione semper augetur. [5] Supra ceteras virtutes amicam sapientibus ama patientiam: erectus ex nobis sustinendo potius quam vindicando laudaberis. iram vince: benigna dilige: cave, ne maior videatur esse felicitas moribus tuis, sed qui nostro iungeris generi, proximus gloriosis actionibus comproberis. laudati sunt quidem hactenus parentes tui, sed tanta non sunt coniunctione decorati. nobilitas tua non est ultra quo crescat. quicquid praeconialiter egeris, proprio matrimonio dignissimus aestimaris.