VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 43
From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus
To: The Senate of the City of Rome
Date: ~507-511 AD
Context: Theoderic commends Artemidorus to the Senate, telling the remarkable story of a man who left Constantinople and the favor of Emperor Zeno to serve Theoderic -- even sharing royal meals and managing the king's entertainments.
[1] You know, Senators, that the pinnacle of high office is your own birthright; you know that our every grant of honor benefits you. For whatever distinction any man receives, it is the Senate that reaps the reward. You can see how much we value you, since the prize we give to men tested by long labor is this: to become members of your body. [2] Here is a man who left the sweetness of his native land to attach himself to us instead, and though he was famous in his own country, he chose to embrace our fortunes. Surpassing the force of nature by the magnitude of his devotion, he enjoyed the favor of Emperor Zeno -- not merely as a benefactor but as a kinsman. And what could a parent's influence not have obtained in that empire, which so readily favors even strangers? Yet he scorned all this through the excess of his affection, so that we ourselves, for whom he is known to have done all this, may rightly marvel that so many desirable things were despised for the sake of one man's loyalty. [3] To this extraordinary faithfulness he added the consolation of his conversation, so that he might soothe with the sweetness of his speech the harsh cares of state that we take up from the pressure of events. Pleasant in discourse, a faithful patron of petitioners, incapable of accusation, bold in commendation -- he displayed such purity of spirit that, though he deserved courtly offices from us, he claimed for himself the most joyful service of all: overseeing the entertainments. Under the guise of pleasure, he seemed to serve freely, tempering his labor but never separating himself from us in any way. [4] He also graced the royal table as a delightful dinner companion, striving to join us at the very place where we are certain to enjoy ourselves. But what more need be said of his character? For a man whose perfect proof is that he has continually earned our love, no higher merit exists than to have found favor with a sovereign, since those who are free to seek out the best from all the world are seen to have always chosen the worthy.
XLIII. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Scitis, patres conscripti, vestrum esse genium culmina dignitatum: scitis vobis proficere, quod nobis contigerit in fascium honore praestare. quicquid enim ab unoquoque suscipitur, senatus est, qui meretur. quid enim de vobis aestimemus, agnoscitis, quando viris longo labore compertis hoc certe in praemium damus, ut vestri corporis mereantur esse participes. [2] Hic est enim vir, qui genitalis soli relicta dulcedine nobis maluit inhaerere, et licet esset clarus in patria, nostram tamen elegit subire fortunam. superans gratiae magnitudine vim naturae, qui principe Zenone non tam benivolo quam affine gaudebat. et quid illa re publica gratia non potuit obtinere parentis, quae sic facillime favet extraneis? sed haec omnia nimius despexit affectus, ut nos ipsi, pro quibus haec fecisse cognoscitur, merito stupere videamur in unius gratia tot desiderabilia fuisse contempta. [3] Qui super hanc eximiam fidem solacia nobis suae confabulationis adiecit, ut asperas non numquam rei publicae curas, quas emergentium rerum necessitate suscipimus, sermonis suavitate deliniret. blandus alloquio, supplicantium fidelis patronus, accusare nesciens, commendare praesumens. qui tanta se animi puritate clarificavit, ut cum apud nos mereretur aulicas dignitates, spectaculorum ordinationem laetissimam sibi militiam vindicaret, quatenus sub specie voluptatis libere videretur velle servire, a laboribus quidem temperans, sed in nulla se nobis parte dissocians. [4] Regalem quin etiam mensam conviva geniatus ornavit, ibi se nobis studens iungere, ubi nos certum est posse gaudere. sed quid ultra de eius moribus est dicendum, cui ad perfectam probationem sufficit, quod amorem nostrum iugiter habere promeruit? non est maius meritum quam gratiam invenisse regnantum: nam quibus fas est de cunctis optimos quaerere, videntur semper meritos elegisse. [5] Atque ideo labores eius remuneratione pensantes Artemidoro illustri viro urbanae praefecturae fasces indulsimus. huic ergo, patres conscripti, tot ac talibus meritis praelucenti favete linguis, favete collegiis. erit quoque vestrae benivolentiae laus, ut, cum dignis caritatem impenditis, ad exemplum ceteros incitetis.
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VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 43
From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus To: The Senate of the City of Rome Date: ~507-511 AD Context: Theoderic commends Artemidorus to the Senate, telling the remarkable story of a man who left Constantinople and the favor of Emperor Zeno to serve Theoderic -- even sharing royal meals and managing the king's entertainments.
[1] You know, Senators, that the pinnacle of high office is your own birthright; you know that our every grant of honor benefits you. For whatever distinction any man receives, it is the Senate that reaps the reward. You can see how much we value you, since the prize we give to men tested by long labor is this: to become members of your body. [2] Here is a man who left the sweetness of his native land to attach himself to us instead, and though he was famous in his own country, he chose to embrace our fortunes. Surpassing the force of nature by the magnitude of his devotion, he enjoyed the favor of Emperor Zeno -- not merely as a benefactor but as a kinsman. And what could a parent's influence not have obtained in that empire, which so readily favors even strangers? Yet he scorned all this through the excess of his affection, so that we ourselves, for whom he is known to have done all this, may rightly marvel that so many desirable things were despised for the sake of one man's loyalty. [3] To this extraordinary faithfulness he added the consolation of his conversation, so that he might soothe with the sweetness of his speech the harsh cares of state that we take up from the pressure of events. Pleasant in discourse, a faithful patron of petitioners, incapable of accusation, bold in commendation -- he displayed such purity of spirit that, though he deserved courtly offices from us, he claimed for himself the most joyful service of all: overseeing the entertainments. Under the guise of pleasure, he seemed to serve freely, tempering his labor but never separating himself from us in any way. [4] He also graced the royal table as a delightful dinner companion, striving to join us at the very place where we are certain to enjoy ourselves. But what more need be said of his character? For a man whose perfect proof is that he has continually earned our love, no higher merit exists than to have found favor with a sovereign, since those who are free to seek out the best from all the world are seen to have always chosen the worthy.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.