King Theodoric to Felix, Distinguished Man, Ordinary Consul.
We love to double our favors. A gift once given does not exhaust our generosity — on the contrary, those who first received the beginnings of our grace only spur us to reward them more often. Judgment is exercised toward newcomers, but favor is shown to proven men. It becomes a ruler not to hesitate in his decisions, since earlier honors are validated by later ones, and every verdict is confirmed beyond doubt when it is repeated. We gave you rank among the honors before; now we grant you the summit of all dignities — so that we may be seen to have conferred the earlier distinctions justly, and our benevolence may be judged consistent in what follows.
We do not allow those who are distinguished by the brilliance of their birth to remain without glory. Let honor flow through the generations, and under the rule of a good prince let every man's fortune advance. Who would despair of advancement where gifts are given out of love, where generosity is a settled principle? You yourself have experienced this clemency: when you left behind the fortunes of your native land and returned, as if by a kind of right of restoration, to your ancestral homeland [Italy], our affection received you, filled you with honors, and made it a blessing that you had sought our kingdom. For it was fitting that a man who chose the better part should rise. Fortune changes with one's rulers, and what a subject gains redounds to the glory of the king.
And you have shown yourself equal to this generosity. Enriched with the rank of Illustris, you conducted yourself with such maturity that you bore the weight of years far beyond your own — a man whom even the strongest force of nature could not overcome in the prime of youth. Enriched by your father's estate — which always gives new heirs a sense of grandeur — you preserved those riches, though you came into them without any labor of your own. What is easily found tends to slip away easily.
You increased your patrimony through tireless energy. What clearer sign of good stewardship could be asked, when the consulship itself bears witness? With such great resources you earned an honor that others barely attain by ruining their fortunes. Private thrift nourished public generosity. You surpassed your father's glory through admirable management: what he could not achieve, you accomplished from his wealth. Only great confidence aspires to the lofty chariot of the consul, for it takes a noble spirit to aim for the highest prize.
Self-assurance makes men bold, because nature will not allow the man she commands to step forward to remain hidden. Through you the consulship has returned to your Transalpine family [Gallic nobility], and you have renewed its withered laurels with fresh green shoots. Behold the sacred city [Rome] dressed in white for your celebration. Press on, then, toward the heights of praise, so that you may surpass in virtue those ancestors whose honor you restore. Take up the insignia of the consulship for the fourth indiction, and prove yourself worthy of such great expectations by the generosity you display.
This is truly the moment when lavish spending earns renown — where it is a form of virtue not to cling to one's own wealth, because as much reputation is gained as resources are spent. Look around: you will see yourself carried above every shoulder, your name on every lip. Show yourself worthy of your lineage, worthy of the city, worthy of our judgment, worthy of the consular robes.
II. FELICI V. I. CONSULI ORDINARIO THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Amamus beneficia nostra geminare nec semel praestat largitas collata fastidium, magisque nos provocant ad frequens praemium qui initia nostrae gratiae suscipere meruerunt. novis enim iudicium impenditur, favor autem placitis exhibetur. decorum est namque principis arbitria non haerere, quia commendantur priora posterioribus donis et firmatur omnis indubitata de repetitione sententia. pridem tibi honorum tribuimus gradum, nunc fastigium concedimus dignitatum: ut et anteriora merito contulisse videamur et in sequentibus constantiam tenere nostra benignitas aestimetur. [2] Non enim relinqui inglorios patimur, qui generis claritate praedicantur. currat quin immo honorum gratia per parentes, sub imperio boni principis omnium fortuna proficiat. nam quis desperet augmentum, ubi est in amore donum et praestare propositum? huius experimenta clementiae te retines approbasse, cum soli genitalis fortuna derelicta velut quodam postliminio in antiquam patriam commeasses. excepit te noster affectus, implevit beneficiis macus fecitque esse votum, quod nostrum expetisses imperium. sic enim decebat crescere, qui meliora visus est elegisse. mutatur enim fortuna cum dominis: et in laude regnantis proficit, quod subiectus adquirit. [3] At tu parem te huic indulgentiae praestitisti. illustri enim honore ditatus tanta te maturitate tractabas, ut annos leves patereris esse sub pondere, quem non potuit in prima aetate vincere fortissima vis naturae. paterna enim substantia locupletatus, quae semper novos extollit heredes, conservasti divitias, cum ad eas praeter laboris studia pervenisses. solet enim facile labi, quod sine difficultatibus potuit inveniri. [4] Auxisti patrimonium vivacitatis instantia. nam quod signum magis bonae dispensationis quaeratur, ubi testis est consulatus? in tanta facultate meruisti, ad quod vix eversis patrimoniis pervenitur. privata parcitas liberalitates publicas enutrivit. transisti gloriam patris dispositione laudabili: et quod ille assumere non valuit, de eius opibus effecisti. celsos currus nisi confidentia magna non appetit, dum generosi est animi optare quod summum est. [5] Audentes facit homines fiducia sui, quia se non patitur occulere, quem praecipit natura prodire. rediit per te Transalpinae familiae consulatus et arentes laurus viridi germine renovasti. sacram urbem tuis votis aspice candidatam. tende igitur ad laudum celsa vestigium, ut priores tuos, quos honore reparas, virtute transcendas. sume itaque per indictionem quartam consulatus insignia dignumque te tantorum desideriis praesenti comproba largitate. [6] Hic profecto locus est, ubi praeconium meretur effusio, et virtutis genus est propriam substantiam non amare, ubi tantum opinionis adquiritur, quantum facultatibus abrogatur. respice te supra omnium umeros atque ora volitare talemque te praebe, ut dignus genere, dignus urbe, dignus nostro iudicio, dignus trabeis aestimeris.
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King Theodoric to Felix, Distinguished Man, Ordinary Consul.
We love to double our favors. A gift once given does not exhaust our generosity — on the contrary, those who first received the beginnings of our grace only spur us to reward them more often. Judgment is exercised toward newcomers, but favor is shown to proven men. It becomes a ruler not to hesitate in his decisions, since earlier honors are validated by later ones, and every verdict is confirmed beyond doubt when it is repeated. We gave you rank among the honors before; now we grant you the summit of all dignities — so that we may be seen to have conferred the earlier distinctions justly, and our benevolence may be judged consistent in what follows.
We do not allow those who are distinguished by the brilliance of their birth to remain without glory. Let honor flow through the generations, and under the rule of a good prince let every man's fortune advance. Who would despair of advancement where gifts are given out of love, where generosity is a settled principle? You yourself have experienced this clemency: when you left behind the fortunes of your native land and returned, as if by a kind of right of restoration, to your ancestral homeland [Italy], our affection received you, filled you with honors, and made it a blessing that you had sought our kingdom. For it was fitting that a man who chose the better part should rise. Fortune changes with one's rulers, and what a subject gains redounds to the glory of the king.
And you have shown yourself equal to this generosity. Enriched with the rank of Illustris, you conducted yourself with such maturity that you bore the weight of years far beyond your own — a man whom even the strongest force of nature could not overcome in the prime of youth. Enriched by your father's estate — which always gives new heirs a sense of grandeur — you preserved those riches, though you came into them without any labor of your own. What is easily found tends to slip away easily.
You increased your patrimony through tireless energy. What clearer sign of good stewardship could be asked, when the consulship itself bears witness? With such great resources you earned an honor that others barely attain by ruining their fortunes. Private thrift nourished public generosity. You surpassed your father's glory through admirable management: what he could not achieve, you accomplished from his wealth. Only great confidence aspires to the lofty chariot of the consul, for it takes a noble spirit to aim for the highest prize.
Self-assurance makes men bold, because nature will not allow the man she commands to step forward to remain hidden. Through you the consulship has returned to your Transalpine family [Gallic nobility], and you have renewed its withered laurels with fresh green shoots. Behold the sacred city [Rome] dressed in white for your celebration. Press on, then, toward the heights of praise, so that you may surpass in virtue those ancestors whose honor you restore. Take up the insignia of the consulship for the fourth indiction, and prove yourself worthy of such great expectations by the generosity you display.
This is truly the moment when lavish spending earns renown — where it is a form of virtue not to cling to one's own wealth, because as much reputation is gained as resources are spent. Look around: you will see yourself carried above every shoulder, your name on every lip. Show yourself worthy of your lineage, worthy of the city, worthy of our judgment, worthy of the consular robes.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.