Cassiodorus→Sabinianus, a Man|c. 522 AD|cassiodorus
VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 25
From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus
To: Sabinianus, a Distinguished Man
Date: ~507-511 AD
Context: Theoderic orders the protection of the port of Licinus (Porto) near Rome, insisting that revenues assigned for its repair be collected and properties improperly seized be restored.
[1] There is no point in building something soundly if presumption is allowed to destroy what has been established. What is truly durable is what prudence begins and vigilance preserves. Greater care, then, must be taken in maintaining things than in creating them, because credit for beginning belongs to the inventor, but the admired perfection comes from the guardian. [2] Some time ago, because of the walls of the city of Rome -- where our tireless ambition will always labor to invest effort -- our order established that the port of Licinus [the ancient harbor of Porto, near the mouth of the Tiber] should be repaired from designated revenues, providing a set annual contribution of roof tiles. The ports attached to that site from antiquity, which are now reported to have been seized by various usurpers, were also included. [3] You are to restore everything to the appointed contribution without delay, because although our orders are not to be violated in any respect, given their inherent authority, we wish above all to preserve those that are seen to beautify the face of the city. Who would doubt that the miracles of architecture are preserved by such provision -- vaulted ceilings carved from suspended stone, protected by a covering of tiles? So that ancient rulers may rightly owe us their praise, we who have given their buildings the longest youth, making what had grown dark with decrepit old age shine once more with pristine freshness.
XXV. SABINIANO V. S. THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Nil prodest initia rei solidare, si valebit praesumptio ordinata destruere: illa sunt enim robusta, illa diuturna quae prudentia incipit et cura custodit. atque ideo maior in conservandis rebus quam in inveniendis adhibenda cautela est, quia de initiis praedicatio debetur invento, de custoditis adquiritur laudata perfectio. [2] Dudum siquidem propter Romanae moenia civitatis, ubi studium nobis semper impendere infatigabilis ambitus erit, portum Licini deputatis reditibus reparari iussio nostra constituit, ut milia tegularum annua illatione praestaret: simul etiam portubus iunctis, qui ad illa loca antiquitus pertinebant, qui nunc diversorum usurpatione suggeruntur invasi. [3] Cuncta ergo ad statutam praestationem facies sine dilatione revocari: quia licet nostra iussa pro sua reverentia in nullo violanda sunt, ea tamen custodiri volumus maxime, quae urbis faciem videntur ornare. quis enim dubitet fabricarum miracula hac provisione servata et pendenti saxo tornatas camaras tegularum tegmine custoditas? ut antiqui principes nobis merito debeant laudes suas, quorum fabricis dedimus longissimam iuventutem, ut pristina novitate transluceant, quae iam fuerant veternosa senectute fuscata.
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VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 25
From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus To: Sabinianus, a Distinguished Man Date: ~507-511 AD Context: Theoderic orders the protection of the port of Licinus (Porto) near Rome, insisting that revenues assigned for its repair be collected and properties improperly seized be restored.
[1] There is no point in building something soundly if presumption is allowed to destroy what has been established. What is truly durable is what prudence begins and vigilance preserves. Greater care, then, must be taken in maintaining things than in creating them, because credit for beginning belongs to the inventor, but the admired perfection comes from the guardian. [2] Some time ago, because of the walls of the city of Rome -- where our tireless ambition will always labor to invest effort -- our order established that the port of Licinus [the ancient harbor of Porto, near the mouth of the Tiber] should be repaired from designated revenues, providing a set annual contribution of roof tiles. The ports attached to that site from antiquity, which are now reported to have been seized by various usurpers, were also included. [3] You are to restore everything to the appointed contribution without delay, because although our orders are not to be violated in any respect, given their inherent authority, we wish above all to preserve those that are seen to beautify the face of the city. Who would doubt that the miracles of architecture are preserved by such provision -- vaulted ceilings carved from suspended stone, protected by a covering of tiles? So that ancient rulers may rightly owe us their praise, we who have given their buildings the longest youth, making what had grown dark with decrepit old age shine once more with pristine freshness.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.