Letter 1039: VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 39

[1] We gladly embrace the reasonable petitions of our subjects, since we think of just measures even unasked. What could be more worthy of our day-and-night deliberation than ensuring that our state is guarded by justice as securely as by arms? The distinguished Philagrius, residing in the city of Syracuse and long delayed by his attendance at our palace, has petitioned to return to his own home, since he brought his brother's sons to Rome for the sake of their studies. [2] Your illustrious magnitude, acting on our orders, is to keep them in the aforementioned city, and they are not to be permitted to leave until we decree it by a second order. In this way both their intellectual advancement is secured and the interests of our administration are preserved. A delay can be profitable for them, since it sometimes pays to neglect one's homeland in order to gain wisdom. The Ithacan Odysseus might well have remained hidden in his own home, but Homer's noble poem celebrated his wisdom precisely because he traveled to many cities and peoples. Those are always considered wiser who are proven to have been educated by contact with many kinds of men. For human nature, just as it is sharpened by hard work, is made dull by idle leisure.

XXXVIIII. FESTO V. I. PATRICIO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Rationabiles petitiones supplicum libenter amplectimur, qui etiam non rogati iusta cogitamus. quid est enim dignius quod die noctuque assidua deliberatione volvamus, nisi ut rem publicam nostram sicut arma protegunt, aequitas quoque inviolata custodiat? spectabilis itaque Philagrius in Syracusana civitate consistens, palatii nostri longa observatione dilatus, reverti se ad lares proprios supplicavit, qui studiorum causa fratris filios ad Romanam exhibuit civitatem. [2] Quos illustris magnificentia tua ex nostra continens iussione in supra dicta urbe constituat: nec illis liceat ante discedere, nisi hoc secunda iterum decernamus iussione. ita enim et illis ingenii provectus adquiritur et nostrae utilitatis ratio custoditur: quibus mora potest esse proficus, dum interdum expedit patriam neglegere, ut sapientiam quis possit adquirere. Ulixes Ithacus in laribus propriis forte latuisset, cuius sapientiam hinc maxime Homeri nobile carmen asseruit, quod multas civitates et populos circumivit, dum illi prudentiores sunt semper habiti, qui multorum hominum conversationibus probantur eruditi. nature siquidem humana sicut duris laboribus instruitur, ita per otia torpentia fatuatur.