Cassiodorus→Guduin, Royal Agent|c. 522 AD|Cassiodorus
barbarian invasioneducation books
VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 27
From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus
To: Guduin, Royal Agent
Date: ~522 AD
Context: Theoderic orders Guduin to summon the Gothic millenarii (unit commanders of roughly a thousand men) in Picenum and Samnium to appear at court and receive their annual donative.
[1] The custom of royal generosity reminds us that we must bestow the customary gifts upon our Goths. Accordingly, your Devotion is to notify the millenarii [Gothic unit commanders, each responsible for roughly a thousand warriors] of the province of Picenum and Samnium without any delay, so that those who receive the annual bounty of our clemency may hasten to court to collect their donative. Those who have served us well may look forward to even greater generosity. [2] A man who knows he must present himself before his sovereign had better live blamelessly: praise follows the good, complaints follow the wicked. It is also fitting that we use this occasion to examine each man's record, so that no one's battlefield deeds go unrewarded. If the army merely expects its customary allowance and nothing more, neglect will kill the will to fight. Let the man who cannot recall having done anything brave tremble when he comes before his judge -- for he will face our displeasure far better if he has already proven himself boldly against the enemy.
XXVII.
GUDUIN SAIONI THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Consuetudine liberalitatis ragiae commonemur, ut Gothis nostris debeamus sollemnia dona largiri. et ideo devotio tua millenarios provinciae Piceni et Samnii sine aliqua dilatione commoneat, ut eos, qui annis singulis nostrae mansuetudinis praemia consequuntur, pro accipiendo donativo ad comitatum faciat incunctanter occurrere, quatenus, qui bene nobis meriti fuerint, maiore munificentia gratulentur. [2] Inculpabiliter enim necesse est vivat, qui suam praesentiam novit principibus offerendam: bonos enim laus, malos querela comitatur. decet etiam nos sub hac occasione singulorum facta perquirere, ut nulli possit perire quod fecit in acie. nam si semper consuetudinarias res expectet exercitus, virtutem non potest amare neglectus. trepidus discat ad iudicem venire, qui se non meminit aliquid audacter egisse: ut melius possit hostibus violentus insurgere, qui nostrae mavult imputationis vulnera declinare.
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VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 27
From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus To: Guduin, Royal Agent Date: ~522 AD Context: Theoderic orders Guduin to summon the Gothic millenarii (unit commanders of roughly a thousand men) in Picenum and Samnium to appear at court and receive their annual donative.
[1] The custom of royal generosity reminds us that we must bestow the customary gifts upon our Goths. Accordingly, your Devotion is to notify the millenarii [Gothic unit commanders, each responsible for roughly a thousand warriors] of the province of Picenum and Samnium without any delay, so that those who receive the annual bounty of our clemency may hasten to court to collect their donative. Those who have served us well may look forward to even greater generosity. [2] A man who knows he must present himself before his sovereign had better live blamelessly: praise follows the good, complaints follow the wicked. It is also fitting that we use this occasion to examine each man's record, so that no one's battlefield deeds go unrewarded. If the army merely expects its customary allowance and nothing more, neglect will kill the will to fight. Let the man who cannot recall having done anything brave tremble when he comes before his judge -- for he will face our displeasure far better if he has already proven himself boldly against the enemy.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.