KING THEODERIC TO THE EMPEROR
[1] The solemn custom admonishes us to give a name to the calendar — the proper adornment of Rome, the earthly glory of the Senate — so that through the succession of the years the honor of dignities may run its course and the memory of the ages may be consecrated by the benefactions of princes. Let the year take its auspice from the consul Felix, let the gateway of the days be hallowed by such a name, and may the fortune of the beginning favor the remainder. [2] For what could be believed more desirable for you than for Rome to gather its own children back to her breast, and to number a Gallic senator among the assembly of a venerable name? The Senate House recognizes the distinction of a lineage from across the Alps, which has more than once clothed her crown with the flower of that nobility. She knows how to draw consular men thence among the rest of the fasces. His is a lineage that, through a long line drawn through the robes of the trabea in the succession of generations, is the hereditary occupant of honors. For who does not know the noble character of Felix? — who from the very first auspices revealed his merit in this: that he was seen to hasten toward the homeland of virtues. Good fortune followed upon good judgment; he grew in advancement together with his liberty; and we did not permit him who had deserved to attain to the honor of the state to remain without glory. [3] He is plainly worthy of our generosity — who in the very flower of boyhood with mature character bridled a slippery youth, and who, what is a rare virtue of self-restraint, was bereaved of his father and yet became the son of gravity. He brought under the yoke desire, the enemy of wisdom; he despised the allurements of vices; he trampled the vanities of pride. Having thus overcome excess, he seemed beforehand to grant the consulship from his character. [4] We, who are redeemed by right institutions and are drawn toward those whom tested integrity commends, have bestowed on the candidate the insignia of the curule chair, so that we may provoke the desire for virtues through rewards — for the pursuit of something that has the richer prize does not languish. And therefore you, who can be gladdened by the goods of both commonwealths with an equal grace, unite your approval and bring your verdict into accord: he is worthy to be chosen by the judgment of both, who deserves to be elevated by such great offices.
I. PERATORI THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Ammonet nos consuetudo sollemnis dare fastis nomen, ornatum proprium Romae, terrenam curiae claritatem, ut per annorum numerum decurrat gratia dignitatum et beneficiis principum sacretur memoria saeculorum. Felix a consule sumat annus auspicium portamque dierum tali nomine dicatum tempus introeat faveatque reliquae parti fortuna principii. [2] Quid enim vobis credi possit optatius quam ut alumnos proprios ad ubera sua Roma recolligat et in venerandi nominis coetu senatum numeret Gallicanum? agnoscit curia Transalpini sanguinis decus, quae non semel coronam suam nobilitatis eius flore vestivit. novit inter reliquos fasces viros inde sumere consulares. qui longo stemmate ducto per trabeas lege temporum originarius est honorum. nam quis bonorum indolem nesciat esse Felicem, qui primis auspiciis hinc prodidit meritum, quod ad patriam visus est festinare virtutum. bonum iudicium est secuta prosperitas: crevit cum libertate provectibus: nec passi sumus eum inglorium relinquere, qui ad honorem rei publicae meruit pervenire. [3] Dignus plane largitatibus nostris, qui in ipso pueritiae flore maturis moribus lubricam frenavit aetatem et, quod rarum continentiae bonum est, patre privatus gravitatis factus est filius: cupiditatem inimicam sapientiae subiugavit, vitiorum blanda contempsit, superbiae vana calcavit. ita superatis excessibus ante dare visus est de moribus consulatum. [4] Nos autem, qui bonis redimimur institutis, quos probitas inspecta conciliat, curules infulas praestitimus candidato, ut virtutum desideria possimus provocare per munera: quia non deficit rei studium, quae praemium largius habet. atque ideo vos, qui utriusque rei publicae bonis indiscreta potestis gratia delectari, iungite favorem, adunate sententiam: amborum iudicio dignus est eligi, qui tantis fascibus meretur augeri.
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KING THEODERIC TO THE EMPEROR
[1] The solemn custom admonishes us to give a name to the calendar — the proper adornment of Rome, the earthly glory of the Senate — so that through the succession of the years the honor of dignities may run its course and the memory of the ages may be consecrated by the benefactions of princes. Let the year take its auspice from the consul Felix, let the gateway of the days be hallowed by such a name, and may the fortune of the beginning favor the remainder. [2] For what could be believed more desirable for you than for Rome to gather its own children back to her breast, and to number a Gallic senator among the assembly of a venerable name? The Senate House recognizes the distinction of a lineage from across the Alps, which has more than once clothed her crown with the flower of that nobility. She knows how to draw consular men thence among the rest of the fasces. His is a lineage that, through a long line drawn through the robes of the trabea in the succession of generations, is the hereditary occupant of honors. For who does not know the noble character of Felix? — who from the very first auspices revealed his merit in this: that he was seen to hasten toward the homeland of virtues. Good fortune followed upon good judgment; he grew in advancement together with his liberty; and we did not permit him who had deserved to attain to the honor of the state to remain without glory. [3] He is plainly worthy of our generosity — who in the very flower of boyhood with mature character bridled a slippery youth, and who, what is a rare virtue of self-restraint, was bereaved of his father and yet became the son of gravity. He brought under the yoke desire, the enemy of wisdom; he despised the allurements of vices; he trampled the vanities of pride. Having thus overcome excess, he seemed beforehand to grant the consulship from his character. [4] We, who are redeemed by right institutions and are drawn toward those whom tested integrity commends, have bestowed on the candidate the insignia of the curule chair, so that we may provoke the desire for virtues through rewards — for the pursuit of something that has the richer prize does not languish. And therefore you, who can be gladdened by the goods of both commonwealths with an equal grace, unite your approval and bring your verdict into accord: he is worthy to be chosen by the judgment of both, who deserves to be elevated by such great offices.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.