Letter 31

VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 31 From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus To: The Roman People Date: ~507-511 AD Context: The companion letter to the Senate: Theoderic addresses the Roman crowd directly, urging them to enjoy spectacles without violence, and praising the extraordinary acoustics of their collective voice in the theater. [1] We wish the spectacles of entertainment to be a joy for the people, and what was invented for the refreshment of the spirit should not provoke anger. This is precisely why we bear the weight of so great an expense: so that your gatherings may be an ornament of peace, not a clamor of sedition. Cast off foreign habits: let the voice of the Roman crowd be one that is a pleasure to hear. Insults produce no joy and are not born from happiness. This was precisely what you used to criticize in foreigners -- do not now contract the turbulent vices you see others have abandoned. [2] Therefore we decree by edict that if anyone's unjust voice presumes to utter grievous insults against any senator, he shall know that he will be heard by the prefect of the city according to law, and after examining the nature of the offense, will receive a duly pronounced sentence. [3] Moreover, to root out every seed of discord, we order the pantomimes to perform their arts at designated locations -- as the instructions given to the prefect of the city will inform you. All that matters is that you conduct the happiness of the city with composed spirits. There is nothing we wish you to preserve more carefully than the discipline of your forebears, so that what you have always commendably possessed from antiquity, you may rather increase under our rule. [4] You are accustomed, after all, to filling the very air with your honeyed shouts and speaking in one voice a sound that would delight even the wild beasts to hear. You produce voices sweeter than an organ, and the hollow theater so resounds through you in a kind of harmony that one might well believe they are hearing musical tones rather than shouting. Surely amid such beauty, quarrels are out of place and heated rivalry absurd! Such spirits can be calmed by others, when your own cheering is so sweetly heard.

XXXI. POPULO ROMANO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Spectacula voluptatum laetitiam volumus esse populorum, nec erigere debet motus irarum, quod ad remissionem animi constat inventum. ideo enim tot expensarum onus subimus, ut conventus vester non sit seditionis strepitus, sed pacis ornatus. mores peregrinos abicite: Romana sit vox plebis, quam delectet audiri. convicia nec gaudium pariunt nec de laetitia procreantur. hoc fuit certe, quod culpabatis in exteros: nolite modo vitia turbulenta contrahere, quae videtis alios abiecisse. [2] Atque ideo edictali programmate definimus, ut, si atroces iniurias in quempiam senatorum vox iniusta praesumpserit, noverit se a praefecto urbis legibus audiendum, ut pro facti qualitate discussa excipiat promulgatam iure sententiam. [3] Verum ut omne semen discordiae funditus amputetur, praefinitis locis pantomimos artes suas exercere praecipimus: quod vos poterit instruere ad praefectum urbis data praeceptio. tantum est, ut animis compositis peragatis laetitiam civitatis. nihil est enim, quod studiosius servare vos cupimus quam vestrorum veterum disciplinam, ut, quod ab antiquis laudabile semper habuistis, sub nobis potius augeatis. [4] Soletis enim aera ipsa mellifluis implere clamoribus et uno sono dicere, quod ipsas quoque beluas delectet audire: profertis voces organo dulciores et ita sub quadam harmonia citharae concavum theatrum per vos resonat, ut tonos possit quilibet credere quam clamores. numquid inter ista rixae decent aut inflammata contentio? abicite furores laeti, iram gaudentes excludite. tales enim animi aliorum temperari possunt, cum vestri favores suaviter audiuntur.