Cassiodorus→Ferriolus, a Man|c. 522 AD|cassiodorus
VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 36
From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus
To: Ferriolus, a Distinguished Man
Date: ~507-511 AD
Context: Theoderic replaces a deceased official named Benedictus in the city of Pedona, while ordering legal protection for Benedictus's orphaned children as a reward for their father's loyal service.
[1] The utility of good men must be renewed through succession, so that no public business suffers harm from the loss of those who serve. We therefore order you by our authority to take up the post of the late Benedictus in the city of Pedona, managing everything with vigilant administration, so that you may earn the increase of our favor. You should understand that we strive to repay the living, since we cannot forget the loyalty of the dead. [2] Our customary mercy also moves us -- since the proven memory of those devoted to us never fades -- to order that the children of the aforementioned late Benedictus, who is known to have served us with sincere devotion, be surrounded with civil protection, so that, supported by the benefit of this present defense, they may rejoice that their father's service has secured their safety. Let the family benefit from what one man's devotion was able to earn, since it is fitting that we give more than we are seen to have received from our servants. Here equality would not be justice; rather, our side rightly tips the scales by repaying more than was owed.
XXXVI. FERRIOLO V. S. THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Utilitas personarum bonorum debet successione renovari, ne defectu servientium patiatur aliquod res suspensa dispendium. et ideo locum te iubemus quondam Benedicti in Pedonensi civitate ex nostra auctoritate suscipere, ut omnia vigilanti ordinatione procurans nostrae gratiae merearis augmenta. debes enim advertere, quia vicissitudinem reddere studeamus vivis, qui mortuorum fidem non possumus oblivisci. [2] Illud etiam pietatis nostrae consuetudine commonemur, ut, quoniam devotorum nobis memoria probata non deficit, antefati Benedicti quondam filios, qui sincera nobis cognoscitur devotione paruisse, civili facias tuitione vallari, quatenus defensionis praesentis commodo sublevati securitatem sibi gaudeant paterna servitia contulisse. prosit ergo generi, quod potuit unius devotione praestari, quia maiora nos decet tribuere, quam videmur a servientibus accepisse. hic aequalitas aequitas non est, sed pars nostra iustissime pensat, cum reddendo plus fuerit onerata.
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VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 36
From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus To: Ferriolus, a Distinguished Man Date: ~507-511 AD Context: Theoderic replaces a deceased official named Benedictus in the city of Pedona, while ordering legal protection for Benedictus's orphaned children as a reward for their father's loyal service.
[1] The utility of good men must be renewed through succession, so that no public business suffers harm from the loss of those who serve. We therefore order you by our authority to take up the post of the late Benedictus in the city of Pedona, managing everything with vigilant administration, so that you may earn the increase of our favor. You should understand that we strive to repay the living, since we cannot forget the loyalty of the dead. [2] Our customary mercy also moves us -- since the proven memory of those devoted to us never fades -- to order that the children of the aforementioned late Benedictus, who is known to have served us with sincere devotion, be surrounded with civil protection, so that, supported by the benefit of this present defense, they may rejoice that their father's service has secured their safety. Let the family benefit from what one man's devotion was able to earn, since it is fitting that we give more than we are seen to have received from our servants. Here equality would not be justice; rather, our side rightly tips the scales by repaying more than was owed.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.