King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome.
Senators, it is certain that your council flourishes with wise men. But it is also a distinguished fact that among you the honor of letters is woven in. Whenever we elevate someone to the high office of Quaestor [the chief legal officer who drafted royal decrees], we judge them to be most learned -- the kind of men fit to interpret the laws and participate in our deliberations. This is an office that cannot be obtained through wealth alone, nor by birth alone, but only through learning joined with wisdom. For although we confer benefits through other appointments, from this one we always receive.
The Quaestor is indeed the fortunate portion of our cares. He enters the door of our thoughts. He understands the heart where the concerns of the whole realm are turned. Consider, then, how we must judge the man who is made a partner in so great a secret. Legal expertise is demanded of him. The hopes of petitioners converge on him. And -- more precious than any treasure -- the reputation of our civilization is entrusted to his keeping. Under a just Quaestor, the conscience of the innocent is secure; only the hopes of the wicked are made anxious. When the possibility of corrupt dealing is removed from bad men, good conduct is encouraged in all.
He guards each person's rightful property. He is restrained with money and generous with justice. He does not know how to deceive and is always ready to help. He serves the genius of the prince -- which surpasses all things -- and is compelled to speak with the voice of one who has no equal. A man who could discharge this office, free from vice and full of virtue, in our very presence -- is he not worthy to be your colleague? You know the distinguished lineage from which this man has advanced.
You will remember Decoratus, who labored in the work of advocacy and proved his integrity to every good man. He served as a faithful pleader in your causes. Pressing important matters, he carried the mind of the judge to the bench of the court. He rightly won frequent victories, because he handled his arguments wisely. Those who first correct themselves in the judge's eyes never suffer the humiliation of defeat. Though lower in rank, he served as patron to men of consular standing, and though unequal to your honors, the title "patrician" was bestowed on him when he was retained in the most celebrated cases.
It is exceedingly rare, senators, to speak with substance and -- when one must say a great deal -- to say nothing that falters. This quality was unmistakable in Decoratus, and you yourselves confirmed it before our judgment did. Who in his time could have been ignorant of the man who served as helmsman through the shoals of litigation? Anyone who did not seek his help surely had less need of the law. But we no longer mourn his untimely death: from his fertile stock a brother has sprouted. The one who was formerly overshadowed by his brother now, with nature having called that brother away, spreads the foliage of his own reputation in the open.
The earlier growth of this noble stock was rightly precocious, since he was the first to thrive in the order of birth. But the noble planting, having lost its fruit in the predecessor, preserved it in the successor. The branch of this family matches that richest bough which, in Virgil's verse, always grows anew -- for when one is torn away, another golden one appears, and the branch puts forth leaves of the same metal. This second brother also nourished his eloquence through advocacy. Yielding to his brother the fame of the city of Rome, he chose instead to immerse himself in the affairs of Spoletium [Spoleto] -- a task as difficult as it was far removed from your sophistication. Among well-mannered men, it was easy to uphold justice; but among provincials, accustomed to unruly freedom, it was extremely hard.
He appears to have persuaded even the lawless to accept moderation -- a setting where the judges themselves are often swept away by shameless greed, and where those who consider themselves important among their peers refuse to have their wishes overruled. To defend the law in such circumstances is difficult indeed, and it requires great powers of persuasion to recall a venal judge to the path of righteousness. Receive, therefore, senators, our judgment with pleasure, and let your body gratefully welcome Honoratus, now elevated to the office of Quaestor. He deserves your affection, for he has been found worthy of such great honors.
IIII.
SENATUI URBIS ROMAE THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Certum est, patres conscripti, prudentibus viris vestrum florere consilium: sed et hoc probatur egregium, quod vobis permiscetur dignitas litterarum. omnes enim, quos ad quaesturae culmen evehimus, doctissimos aestimamus, quales legum interpretes et consilii nostri decet esse participes: dignitas, quae nec divitiis nec solis natalibus invenitur, sed tantum eam doctrina cum coniuncta potest impetrare prudentia. nam licet in aliis honoribus beneficia conferamus, hinc semper accipimus. est nimirum curarum nostrarum felix portio: ianuam nostrae cogitationis ingreditur: pectus, quo generales curae volvuntur, agnoscit. [2] Aestimate, quid de illi debeat iudicari, qui tanti particeps fit secreti. ab ipso legum peritia postulatur: illuc vota confluunt supplicantum et, quod est omni thesauro pretiosius, penes ipsum civilitatis nostrae fama reponitur. quaestore iusto innocentium conscientia fit secura, improborum tantum vota redduntur anxia, et cum malis subripiendi spes tollitur, studium bonis moribus adhibetur. [3] Unicuique propria iura custodit, pecuniae continens, aequitatis profusus, nescius decipere, promptissimus subvenire. ingenio principis servit, quod universa superat: illius ore loqui cogitur, cui nullus similis invenitur. hunc locum vitiis vacuum, virtutibus plenum qui sub nostra potuit expedire praesentia, nonne vobis dignus est esse collega? scitis enim qua glorietur stirpe provectus. [4] Meministis igitur Decoratum advocationis laboribus insudantem, qua se unicuique bonorum probitate coniunxerit. causis vestris fidelis orator affuit: necessariis rebus insistens iudicantis portavit animum ad subsellia cognitorum: cui merito frequens palma contigit, quia sapienter alleganda tractavit. pudoris enim sustinere iacturam nesciunt, qui se prius iudice corriguntur. inferior gradu praestabat viris consularibus se patronum et cum honoribus vestris impar haberetur, patricius ei dictus est in celeberrima cognitione susceptus. [5] Nimis rarum est, patres conscripti, solidum loqui et, cui multa necesse est dicere, titubantia non proferre. hoc in Decorato certissimum fuit, hoc et ante nostra iudicia vos probastis. quis enim tempore suo eum quasi gubernatorem litium ignorare potuit, qui causarum scopulos transire contendit? legibus profecto minus indiguit, qui eius solacia non quaesivit. iam non de morte festinata conquerimur: ex huius fecunda pullulavit stirpe germanus. nam qui prius fratris umbra tegebatur, illo naturae lege subducto famae suae comas per aperta distendit. [6] Bona siquidem germinis iuste praecox intulit, qui nascendi ordine primus evaluit: sed fetura nobilis fructum, quem in decessore perdidit, in successore servavit. concordat huic familiae ramus ille ditissimus qui Vergiliano carmine semper enascitur: hoc enim avulso non deficit alter aureus et simili frondescit virga metallo. nutrivit quippe et hic advocatione facundiam: opinionem Romanae urbis cedens fratri Spoletinorum se maluit miscere negotiis: res tantum dura, quantum a vestra prudentia cognoscitur segregata. inter bene moratos enim asseruisse iusta facillimum fuit: provincialibus autem se vaga libertate tractantibus nimis arduum. [7] Videtur iuris suasisse modestiam, ubi ipsi quoque iudices improba plerumque cupiditate rapiuntur et quantum sibi inter mediocritatem videntur esse praecipui, tantum non sinunt suis voluntatibus obviari. inter talia leges vindicare difficile est et magnae persuasionis vis ad propositum recti venalitatem revocare iudicantis. sumite ergo, patres conscripti, libenter nostra iudicia et Honoratum quaesturae culmine provectum gremium vestrum gratanter excipiat. dignus est enim a vobis diligi qui par tantis honoribus meruit reperiri.
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King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome.
Senators, it is certain that your council flourishes with wise men. But it is also a distinguished fact that among you the honor of letters is woven in. Whenever we elevate someone to the high office of Quaestor [the chief legal officer who drafted royal decrees], we judge them to be most learned -- the kind of men fit to interpret the laws and participate in our deliberations. This is an office that cannot be obtained through wealth alone, nor by birth alone, but only through learning joined with wisdom. For although we confer benefits through other appointments, from this one we always receive.
The Quaestor is indeed the fortunate portion of our cares. He enters the door of our thoughts. He understands the heart where the concerns of the whole realm are turned. Consider, then, how we must judge the man who is made a partner in so great a secret. Legal expertise is demanded of him. The hopes of petitioners converge on him. And -- more precious than any treasure -- the reputation of our civilization is entrusted to his keeping. Under a just Quaestor, the conscience of the innocent is secure; only the hopes of the wicked are made anxious. When the possibility of corrupt dealing is removed from bad men, good conduct is encouraged in all.
He guards each person's rightful property. He is restrained with money and generous with justice. He does not know how to deceive and is always ready to help. He serves the genius of the prince -- which surpasses all things -- and is compelled to speak with the voice of one who has no equal. A man who could discharge this office, free from vice and full of virtue, in our very presence -- is he not worthy to be your colleague? You know the distinguished lineage from which this man has advanced.
You will remember Decoratus, who labored in the work of advocacy and proved his integrity to every good man. He served as a faithful pleader in your causes. Pressing important matters, he carried the mind of the judge to the bench of the court. He rightly won frequent victories, because he handled his arguments wisely. Those who first correct themselves in the judge's eyes never suffer the humiliation of defeat. Though lower in rank, he served as patron to men of consular standing, and though unequal to your honors, the title "patrician" was bestowed on him when he was retained in the most celebrated cases.
It is exceedingly rare, senators, to speak with substance and -- when one must say a great deal -- to say nothing that falters. This quality was unmistakable in Decoratus, and you yourselves confirmed it before our judgment did. Who in his time could have been ignorant of the man who served as helmsman through the shoals of litigation? Anyone who did not seek his help surely had less need of the law. But we no longer mourn his untimely death: from his fertile stock a brother has sprouted. The one who was formerly overshadowed by his brother now, with nature having called that brother away, spreads the foliage of his own reputation in the open.
The earlier growth of this noble stock was rightly precocious, since he was the first to thrive in the order of birth. But the noble planting, having lost its fruit in the predecessor, preserved it in the successor. The branch of this family matches that richest bough which, in Virgil's verse, always grows anew -- for when one is torn away, another golden one appears, and the branch puts forth leaves of the same metal. This second brother also nourished his eloquence through advocacy. Yielding to his brother the fame of the city of Rome, he chose instead to immerse himself in the affairs of Spoletium [Spoleto] -- a task as difficult as it was far removed from your sophistication. Among well-mannered men, it was easy to uphold justice; but among provincials, accustomed to unruly freedom, it was extremely hard.
He appears to have persuaded even the lawless to accept moderation -- a setting where the judges themselves are often swept away by shameless greed, and where those who consider themselves important among their peers refuse to have their wishes overruled. To defend the law in such circumstances is difficult indeed, and it requires great powers of persuasion to recall a venal judge to the path of righteousness. Receive, therefore, senators, our judgment with pleasure, and let your body gratefully welcome Honoratus, now elevated to the office of Quaestor. He deserves your affection, for he has been found worthy of such great honors.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.