Letter 2001: KING THEODERIC TO THE EMPEROR

KING THEODERIC TO THE EMPEROR. [1] The solemn custom admonishes us to give a name to the calendar [the fasti, the annual register that named the year after its consuls], an ornament proper to Rome, the earthly glory of the senate-house, so that through the count of the years the grace of high offices may run its course, and that the memory of the ages may be consecrated by the benefactions of princes. Let the year, made happy, take its auspice from a consul, and let the season, dedicated by such a name, enter through the gate of the days, and may the fortune of the beginning favor the remaining part as well. [2] For what could be believed more desired by you than that Rome should gather her own foster-children back to her breasts, and number a Gallic senator in the assembly of that venerable name? The senate-house recognizes the distinction of Transalpine blood, which more than once has clothed its crown with the flower of that man's nobility. It knows how to take consular men from among the rest of its magistrates from that quarter. He, drawn from a long lineage through the consular robes, is by the law of the times native-born to honors. For who would not know the natural disposition of the good man to be Felix, who from his first auspices made his merit known on this account, that he was seen to hasten toward the homeland of the virtues? Prosperity followed upon a good judgment: he grew in advancement together with liberty; nor have we suffered him to be left without glory, who has deserved to attain the honor of the commonwealth. [3] Plainly worthy of our largesses is he who, in the very flower of boyhood, bridled his slippery age with ripe morals and, what is a rare good of self-restraint, having been deprived of his father, became the son of seriousness: he subjugated desire, the enemy of wisdom, despised the alluring things of the vices, and trampled down the empty things of pride. Thus, having overcome excesses, he seemed to give a consulship of his own, drawn from his morals, beforehand. [4] But we, who are bound by good institutions, whom proven integrity wins over, have furnished the curule fillets [the insignia of the consular office] to the candidate, so that through gifts we may be able to provoke the longings for virtues: because the zeal for a thing does not fail when it has a more bountiful reward. And therefore you, who are able to take delight with undivided grace in the goods of both commonwealths, join your favor, unite your judgment: by the verdict of both he is worthy to be chosen, who deserves to be exalted with such great consular robes.

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.