VARIAE, BOOK 8, LETTER 9
From: King Athalaric, writing through Cassiodorus
To: Tuluin, Distinguished Patrician
Date: ~526-534 AD
Context: A letter defending the young king's capacity to govern despite his age, arguing that divine providence makes a ruler capable. Athalaric was only about ten years old when he became king.
[1] Although divine power makes those fit to rule whom it has raised to the highest position — since neither age hinders where heavenly power intervenes, nor inexperience impedes where God instructs — nevertheless, even kings require wise counselors to carry out what Providence has ordained. A throne without capable ministers is like a ship without experienced sailors: the destination may be divinely appointed, but the voyage still requires skill.
[2] Your long record of distinguished service, both in war and peace, has made you an indispensable support to our reign. The Gothic people know your valor; the Roman citizens know your justice. To combine both qualities in a single man is rare enough to deserve the highest recognition.
[3] We therefore confirm you in the rank of Patrician and entrust to your proven judgment the matters detailed in the accompanying instructions. Act with the confidence that comes from royal backing, and with the restraint that comes from your own character. The kingdom watches its great men not merely as servants of the crown but as examples to everyone beneath them. What you do in our name shapes what our name means.
[4] Let those who doubt the strength of our government because of our youth observe the caliber of the men who serve it. A reign is measured not by the age of its king but by the wisdom of its counsel and the quality of its justice.
VIIII.
TULUIN V. I. PATRICIO ATHALARICUS REX.
[1] Licet ad regendos populos idoneos efficiant, quos ad augustum culmen divina provexerint — quando nec aetas impedit, ubi sese potentia caelestis infundit —, tamen ad relevandam florentissimae nostrae aetatis sollicitudinem visum est te virum prudentissimum convenienter adhibere, quem constat etiam domni avi nostri tractatibus iugiter et laudabiliter adhaesisse. quod si dignum fuit hoc illum talem tantumque facere, quanto magis nobis convenit solacium quaerere, quod pro adulescentiae flore decenter adhuc possumus indigere! [2] Magna est enim infinitaque prudentia, quam nemo sic assequitur, ut eam non necessarie et per alios quaerere videatur. senes ipsi consiliis sapientiam discunt et a maturis in commune quaeritur quod pro omnium utilitate tractatur. solacium curarum frequenter sibi adhibent maturi reges et hinc meliores aestimantur, si soli omnia non praesumunt. quod si longaevi domini subiectorum ingeniis adiuvantur, consulte relaxamus aetatis nostrae breves ferias, ut suis incrementis aucta prosperius robustior ad imperii pondera sustinenda consurgat. [3] Atque ideo te cum favore divino suggestu praesentalis patriciatus evehimus, ut pro re publica nostra tractantem sedes celsa sublimet ne sententia salutaris, cui decet humiliter pareri, a loco videatur venisse communi. hic est honor, qui et armis convenit et in pace resplendet: hunc illa dives Graecia, quae multa gloriosissimo domno avo nostro debuit, gratificata persolvit: velavit fortes humeros chlamydum vestis, pinxit suras eius calceus iste Romanus et dignanter visus est accipere, quod se cognoscebat sumere per honorem. crescebat visendi studium eois populis heroam nostrum, dum nescio quo pacto in eo, qui bellicosus creditur, civilia plus amantur. [4] Hac igitur honoris remuneratione contentus pro exteris partibus indefessa devotione laboravit et praestare cum suis parentibus principi dignabatur obsequium, qui tantorum regum fuerat stirpe procreatus. sic se magnorum beneficia semper extollunt, ut et quibus imperare nequeunt, iura venerationis imponant. diligunt crementi sui provecti semper auctorem et moralitatis iura nesciunt, qui beneficiis non tenentur. [5] Sed longum est de eius gloria sufficienter loqui, quem singularem gentibus saecula fecunda genuerunt. ipsius te labor instituit, ut nos minus laborare debeamus. tecum pacis certa, tecum belli dubia conferebat et, quod apud sapientes reges singulare munus est, ille sollicitus ad omnia secure tibi pectoris pandebat arcana. tu tamen nullos responsis ludebas ambiguis. [6] Amasti in audiendo patientiam, in suggestione veritatem: saepe quae ad eum falso pervenerant, recti studio corrigebas et, quod rarum confidentiae genus est, interdum resistebas contra vota principis, sed pro opinione rectoris. patiebatur enim invictus ille proeliis pro sua fama superari et dulcis erat iusto principi rationabilis contrarietas obsequentis. [7] Ama nunc sublimior iustitiam, quam serviens diligebas. ostende te illius esse discipulum, qui numquam laboravit in cassum: iunctus Hamalo generi nobilissima tibi facta consocia. omne siquidem bonum regis suadere debet affinitas. acturus es consueta prudentia, ut laude morum fastigium contigisse videaris excelsum. [8] Extat gentis Gothicae huius probitatis exemplum: Gensimundus ille toto orbe cantabilis, solum armis filius factus, tanta se Hamalis devotione coniunxit, ut heredibus eorum curiosum exhibuerit famulatum. quamvis ipse peteretur ad regnum, impendebat aliis meritum suum et moderatissimus omnium quod ipsi conferri poterat, ille parvulis exhibebat. atque ideo eum nostrorum fama concelebrat: vivit semper relationibus, qui quandoque moritura contempsit. sic quamdiu nomen superest Gothorum, fertur eius cunctorum adtestatione praeconium. unde fas est de te meliora credere, quem nostri constat generis affinitate gaudere.
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VARIAE, BOOK 8, LETTER 9
From: King Athalaric, writing through Cassiodorus To: Tuluin, Distinguished Patrician Date: ~526-534 AD Context: A letter defending the young king's capacity to govern despite his age, arguing that divine providence makes a ruler capable. Athalaric was only about ten years old when he became king.
[1] Although divine power makes those fit to rule whom it has raised to the highest position — since neither age hinders where heavenly power intervenes, nor inexperience impedes where God instructs — nevertheless, even kings require wise counselors to carry out what Providence has ordained. A throne without capable ministers is like a ship without experienced sailors: the destination may be divinely appointed, but the voyage still requires skill.
[2] Your long record of distinguished service, both in war and peace, has made you an indispensable support to our reign. The Gothic people know your valor; the Roman citizens know your justice. To combine both qualities in a single man is rare enough to deserve the highest recognition.
[3] We therefore confirm you in the rank of Patrician and entrust to your proven judgment the matters detailed in the accompanying instructions. Act with the confidence that comes from royal backing, and with the restraint that comes from your own character. The kingdom watches its great men not merely as servants of the crown but as examples to everyone beneath them. What you do in our name shapes what our name means.
[4] Let those who doubt the strength of our government because of our youth observe the caliber of the men who serve it. A reign is measured not by the age of its king but by the wisdom of its counsel and the quality of its justice.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.