Letter 4003: KING THEODERIC TO SENARIUS, ILLUSTRIOUS COUNT OF THE PRIVATE ESTATES
Cassiodorus→Senarius, an man (a Roman official at Burgundian court)|c. 522 AD|Cassiodorus
barbarian invasiondiplomaticeducation books
KING THEODERIC TO SENARIUS, ILLUSTRIOUS COUNT OF THE PRIVATE ESTATES
[1] We believe it belongs to the adornment of the palace to choose persons suited to their dignities, for the fame of lords grows from the distinction of those who serve them. It befits a prince to advance such men that whenever he deigns to look upon one of his great officers, he recognizes that he has made right judgments. For the man who is to be given as an example must be conspicuous in character. It is easy for anyone to live for himself; but one chosen to live for many must live accordingly. [2] Receive therefore, with the beginning of the third indiction, the dignity of the Illustrious Countship of our Private Estates, which royal authority bestows upon you with good reason. For long you have rendered us service of a twofold kind in our councils: you were party to our deliberations and fulfilled our plans with praiseworthy execution. You have often undertaken the arduous duty of embassies; you have stood before kings as an advocate not unequal to them, compelled to set our justice before those who could scarcely recognize reason amid their crude obstinacy. The royal authority, inflamed with arguments, did not frighten you; indeed, you brought their arrogance under the discipline of truth and, following our orders, struck the barbarians in their own conscience. [3] Why should I rehearse your scholarship, intent with long nightly labor, and your service of unbroken and blameless toil? You used in the office of the secretariat a gifted eloquence — even the listener was pleased with himself when he heard you, and delighted in your reading, since you made the text finer than when you began to recite it. Your delivery charmed our judgment, for you refreshed the spirit of those who dictated as much as careful thought could exhaust itself. There was in you another praiseworthy aspect of life: that you sealed our confidences with integrity of character, a witness to many things, yet not puffed up for knowing more. You pleased your colleagues with affability, your superiors with humility. [4] In this way the spirit of all has been made one on your behalf, united from great diversity. You will certainly enjoy the most welcome fruit of your well-tested worth, since your advancement has been able to make all so glad that all judge their own desires to have prospered in you. Guard therefore this lovable and outstanding constancy of virtues, and resting on the authority of our house, seek goodwill all the more earnestly the more you find yourself to have reached your position through benefits. Extend now your steps to still greater attainments through good deeds, knowing that our favor is always increased in the one who desires to be found worthy of the eminence he has attained.
III. SENARIO V. I. COMITI PRIVATARUM THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Ad ornatum palatii credimus pertinere aptas dignitatibus personae eligere, quia de claritate servientium crescit fama dominorum. tales enim provehere principem decet, ut quotiens procerem suum fuerit dignatus aspicere, totiens se recta iudicia cognoscat habuisse. moribus enim debet esse conspicuus, qui datur imitandus. facile est quemque sibi degere: multis autem electum vivere decet. [2] Cape igitur per indictionem tertiam illustris comitivae nostri patrimonii dignitatem, quam tibi non inmerito tribuit regalis auctoritas. diu namque nostris ordinationibus geminum mutuatus obsequium et consilii particeps eras et disposita laudabili assumptione complebas. subisti saepe arduae legationis officium: restitisti regibus non impar assertor, coactus iustitiam nostram et illis ostendere, qui rationem vix poterant cruda obstinatione sentire. non te terruit contentionibus inflammata regalis auctoritas, subiugasti quin immo audaciam veritati et obsecutus ordinationibus nostris in conscientiam suam barbaros perculisti. [3] Quid studium tuum longa lucubratione sollicitum et laboris continui inculpabile referamus obsequium? usus es sub exceptionis officio eloquentis ingenio: favebat ipse sui delectatus auditor, dum meliora faceres, cum recitare coepisses. pronuntiatio tua nostrum delectabat arbitrium, quia tantum dictantium reficiebas animum, quantum se lassare poterat cura cogitantum. fuit quoque in te pars altera vitae laudabilis, quod arcana nostra morum probitate claudebas, multorum conscius, nec tamen, cum plura nosses, elatus. collegis gratia, superioribus humilitate placuisti. [4] Sic omnium pro te factus est unus animus ex magna diversitate sociatus. carpes certe probatae institutionis gratissimum fructum, quando provecus tuus ita potuit omnes laetos efficere, ut universi in te iudicent sua desideria profecisse. tuere igitur hanc virtutum amabilem praeclaramque constantiam nostraeque domus auctoritate subnixus tanto studiosius gratiam quaere, quantum te locum beneficiis respicis invenisse. tende itaque adhuc bonis actibus tuos ad potiora successus, sciens gratiam nostram in illo semper augeri, qui se dignum adepto culmini desiderat inveniri.
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KING THEODERIC TO SENARIUS, ILLUSTRIOUS COUNT OF THE PRIVATE ESTATES
[1] We believe it belongs to the adornment of the palace to choose persons suited to their dignities, for the fame of lords grows from the distinction of those who serve them. It befits a prince to advance such men that whenever he deigns to look upon one of his great officers, he recognizes that he has made right judgments. For the man who is to be given as an example must be conspicuous in character. It is easy for anyone to live for himself; but one chosen to live for many must live accordingly. [2] Receive therefore, with the beginning of the third indiction, the dignity of the Illustrious Countship of our Private Estates, which royal authority bestows upon you with good reason. For long you have rendered us service of a twofold kind in our councils: you were party to our deliberations and fulfilled our plans with praiseworthy execution. You have often undertaken the arduous duty of embassies; you have stood before kings as an advocate not unequal to them, compelled to set our justice before those who could scarcely recognize reason amid their crude obstinacy. The royal authority, inflamed with arguments, did not frighten you; indeed, you brought their arrogance under the discipline of truth and, following our orders, struck the barbarians in their own conscience. [3] Why should I rehearse your scholarship, intent with long nightly labor, and your service of unbroken and blameless toil? You used in the office of the secretariat a gifted eloquence — even the listener was pleased with himself when he heard you, and delighted in your reading, since you made the text finer than when you began to recite it. Your delivery charmed our judgment, for you refreshed the spirit of those who dictated as much as careful thought could exhaust itself. There was in you another praiseworthy aspect of life: that you sealed our confidences with integrity of character, a witness to many things, yet not puffed up for knowing more. You pleased your colleagues with affability, your superiors with humility. [4] In this way the spirit of all has been made one on your behalf, united from great diversity. You will certainly enjoy the most welcome fruit of your well-tested worth, since your advancement has been able to make all so glad that all judge their own desires to have prospered in you. Guard therefore this lovable and outstanding constancy of virtues, and resting on the authority of our house, seek goodwill all the more earnestly the more you find yourself to have reached your position through benefits. Extend now your steps to still greater attainments through good deeds, knowing that our favor is always increased in the one who desires to be found worthy of the eminence he has attained.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.