Senator [Cassiodorus], Praetorian Prefect, to Ambrosius, Vir Illustris, Acting Prefect.
With God's help, I confidently entrust my reputation to you, whose judgment I have tested through the varied business of many years. If you shone with the brilliance of justice in your work as an advocate, what will you do now, elevated to share in our deliberations? Merit grows in the man who is given a greater charge, since one who has earned a seat beside the powers of the court must now be counted among the ranks of judges. Let the bench be graced by the man whose voice once thundered through the courts. Though absent, attach yourself to my side -- and take all the more credit, since whatever you manage well on your own will be fully counted to your name. Had you been here in person, you would share this responsibility and its glory with me. As it is, I must owe to you alone whatever praise, God willing, may come from it.
I therefore assign to you the staff that carries out my orders, and I command them to obey your directives when issued for the public good -- so that you may send instructions with confidence for the public welfare, and no one may presume to disobey. If you also judge it necessary to place certain persons under bond, do so without hesitation, since nothing relieves my mind more than learning that something has been accomplished through you. Were you present, you would offer me only words; but now that you are absent, it is deeds that are owed.
The role of counselor to so great an office is undoubtedly a great mark of distinction. But consider what is demanded of the man who bears such a title. Let your labor secure everyone's peace. You know what disgrace neglect has brought in the past. The reef on which another ran aground must be avoided. But I say this more from my own diligence than from any doubt about you. I believe you will do everything that, with God's help, we judge to be beneficial to our reputation and to the state.
IIII.
AMBROSIO V. I. AGENTI VICES SENATOR PPO.
[1] Secure vobis, deo iuvante opinionem nostram credimus, cuius conscientiam per causarum varios usus longa aetate probavimus. nam si in advocationis studio iustitiae claritate fulsistis, quid nunc provecti ad consilia nostra facietis? crescit enim in illo meritum, cui maius datur officium, quando iam habendus est in iudicum partem, qui meruit aulicis potestatibus assidere. ornentur ergo subsellia cuius ore fora tonuerunt. absens adhaere nostro lateri pleniorem laudem inde sumpturus, quia integrum tibi reputabitur quod bene ordinaveris solus. hanc coram positus mecum curam participareris et gloriam: nunc autem tibi tantum cogimur debere, quicquid inde praestante deo laudis potuerimus accipere. [2] Quapropter officium tibi observare censemus, quod nostris iussionibus obsecundat, praeceptis etiam tuis pro publicis utilitatibus iustissime designatis praecipimus oboediri, quatinus et tibi sit pro publica utilitate mittendi fiducia et nullus de contemnendi sumat audaciam. si quos etiam fideiussoribus committere necessarium aestimaveris, confidenter assume, quia illud magis relevare potest animum nostrum, si aliquid per vos cognoscamus impletum. praesenti enim sola verba praestares: nunc autem facta potius debentur absenti. [3] Consilium quippe tantae sedis ingens est procul dubio fama meritorum: sed considera quid exigatur cui tale nomen imponitur. labor vester procuret mihi omnium quietem. scitis quae turpia neglectus intulerit. scopulus vitandus est, ubi alter offendit. sed haec vos monere mea potius curiositas quam vestri diffidentia facit. nam omnia vos illa gerere credimus, quae iuvante deo famae nostrae et rei publicae utilia esse iudicamus.
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Senator [Cassiodorus], Praetorian Prefect, to Ambrosius, Vir Illustris, Acting Prefect.
With God's help, I confidently entrust my reputation to you, whose judgment I have tested through the varied business of many years. If you shone with the brilliance of justice in your work as an advocate, what will you do now, elevated to share in our deliberations? Merit grows in the man who is given a greater charge, since one who has earned a seat beside the powers of the court must now be counted among the ranks of judges. Let the bench be graced by the man whose voice once thundered through the courts. Though absent, attach yourself to my side -- and take all the more credit, since whatever you manage well on your own will be fully counted to your name. Had you been here in person, you would share this responsibility and its glory with me. As it is, I must owe to you alone whatever praise, God willing, may come from it.
I therefore assign to you the staff that carries out my orders, and I command them to obey your directives when issued for the public good -- so that you may send instructions with confidence for the public welfare, and no one may presume to disobey. If you also judge it necessary to place certain persons under bond, do so without hesitation, since nothing relieves my mind more than learning that something has been accomplished through you. Were you present, you would offer me only words; but now that you are absent, it is deeds that are owed.
The role of counselor to so great an office is undoubtedly a great mark of distinction. But consider what is demanded of the man who bears such a title. Let your labor secure everyone's peace. You know what disgrace neglect has brought in the past. The reef on which another ran aground must be avoided. But I say this more from my own diligence than from any doubt about you. I believe you will do everything that, with God's help, we judge to be beneficial to our reputation and to the state.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.