Letter 5004: King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome.

IV. KING THEODERIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. [1] It is certain, conscript fathers, that your counsel flourishes through prudent men; but this too is judged excellent, that the distinction of letters is mingled among you. For all whom we raise to the summit of the quaestorship we esteem most learned, such as it befits interpreters of the laws and sharers of our council to be: a distinction that is found neither by riches nor by birth alone, but which only learning, joined with prudence, can obtain. For although in other honors we confer benefits, from this one we always receive them. It is indeed a happy portion of our cares: it enters the doorway of our thought; it knows that breast in which the general cares are turned over. [2] Consider what ought to be judged of him who becomes a sharer of so great a secret. From him is demanded an expertise in the laws: thither flow together the prayers of suppliants, and, what is more precious than any treasure, the renown of our civil order is laid up in his keeping. With a just quaestor, the conscience of the innocent is made secure, only the prayers of the wicked are rendered anxious, and when the hope of pilfering is taken away from the evil, zeal for good morals is applied. [3] To each he guards his own rights, restrained as to money, lavish of equity, knowing not how to deceive, most ready to come to aid. He serves the genius of the prince, which surpasses all things: he is constrained to speak with the mouth of him to whom no one is found like. This office, empty of vices, full of virtues, which one has been able to discharge in our presence, is he not worthy to be your colleague? For you know from what stock he has been advanced in glory. [4] You remember, then, Decoratus sweating at the labors of advocacy, by what uprightness he joined himself to each of the good men. To your cases he stood by as a faithful orator: pressing upon necessary matters, he carried the mind of the judge to the benches of those who took cognizance: to him deservedly frequent victory fell, because he handled wisely the things to be alleged. For those who first correct themselves before the judge know not how to bear the loss of modesty. Lower in rank, he showed himself a patron to men of consular standing, and though he was held unequal to your honors, he was called a patrician, received in a most celebrated hearing. [5] It is exceedingly rare, conscript fathers, to speak soundly and, for one to whom it is necessary to say much, not to bring forth faltering words. This in Decoratus was most certain; this too, before our judgments, you approved. For who in his time could be ignorant of him as, so to speak, the helmsman of lawsuits, who strove to pass over the rocks of legal causes? Surely he had less need of the laws, who did not seek their consolations. Now we no longer complain of his hastened death: from this fertile stock a brother has sprouted forth. For he who was formerly covered by his brother's shadow, when that one was withdrawn by the law of nature, spread out the locks of his own renown through open spaces. [6] For he who prevailed first in the order of birth justly brought in the goods of the shoot too early: but the noble offspring preserved in the successor the fruit which it lost in the one who passed away. There accords with this family that most rich branch which in Vergil's poem is ever reborn: for when this is plucked away, another golden one fails not, and the rod grows leaves with metal of like kind. For this man too nourished his eloquence by advocacy: yielding the renown of the city of Rome to his brother, he chose rather to involve himself in the affairs of the Spoletines: a matter as hard as it is known by your prudence to be set apart. For among the well-mannered it was very easy to maintain just causes; but among provincials managing themselves with roving license, it was exceedingly arduous. [7] He is seen to have persuaded to a moderation of the law, where the judges themselves too are for the most part seized by wicked greed, and the more they seem to themselves to be eminent amid mediocrity, the more they do not allow their own wishes to be opposed. Amid such things it is difficult to vindicate the laws, and there is need of a great force of persuasion to recall the venality of the one judging to the purpose of right. Receive therefore, conscript fathers, gladly our judgments, and let your bosom welcome with thanks Honoratus, advanced to the summit of the quaestorship. For he is worthy to be esteemed by you, who has merited to be found equal to 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.