Letter 8012: VARIAE, BOOK 8, LETTER 12

[1] We consider the arrangement of essential matters complete when, just as we provided for the military side of the state by choosing a magnificent patrician, we now attend to pairing him with a man most skilled in letters. Those entrusted with supreme power ought to have the most learned advisors, so that the public good may be served without any shortfall of merit. Some honors arrange themselves through ordinary appointment — but for one responsible for the general security, we needed to assign a man without equal in his field. [2] Nor are you untested, even though you came to high office young. The field of advocacy trained you; the summit of our judgment chose you. Your mastery of letters was so great within you that we could not allow your talent to grow old there. You began as a soldier of the court when you could already have served as judge, and although eloquence drew you to speak in defense, justice itself urged you to pronounce verdicts. It has been proven what benefit comes from eloquence armed with good character — for just as it is dangerous when the learned persuade toward evil, so it is a saving gift when skill in speaking refuses to exceed the boundaries of truth. [3] To commend your merits through notable examples: it is worth recalling the splendid embassy you performed — not with ordinary words, but with a torrent of eloquence. Sent from Dalmatia to our lord and grandfather of blessed memory, you presented the needs of the provincials and the interests of the state so well that before that man of great discernment, you were both copious and never tedious. Your words flowed with the most pleasant charm, and when you finished, people still wanted to hear more — by delighting and persuading, you fulfilled the role of a true orator, even as you had left behind the office of a mere advocate. [4] You are also aided by your father's eloquence and character, whose speech could have instructed you even if you had never studied the ancient books. He was, as we know, outstandingly learned in letters. [5] And so, since another was removed from the office for his failings, you have been proven fit for the work of drafting official documents. Your talent sustained a position left in suspense, so that you did not allow the court to lack a judge whose office we had temporarily revoked. Our times are not inferior to those that came before — we have followers and rivals of the ancients. Here again, eminence of talent has brought you to the quaestorship. Restore Pliny and take up Trajan. You have great things to say, if you too shine with similar eloquence.

XII. ARATORI V. I. ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Perfectionem necessariarum rerum completam esse iudicamus, si, quemammodum eligendo virum magnificum patricium armatae rei publicae parti providimus, ita et de sociando ei litterarum peritissimo consulamus. decet enim tractatores habere doctissimos, quibus potestas summa committitur, ut, nullo defectu impediente meritorum, provisa rei publicae utilitas explicetur. alii sunt honores qui se ordinaria provisione componunt: de generali autem securitate sollicito talis associandus fuit, qui parem in suis studiis non haberet. [2] Neque enim adhuc minus probatus agnosceris, licet primaevus veneris ad honores. advocationis te campus exercuit: te iudicii nostri culmen elegit. nam ita intra te fuit quamvis ampla professio litterarum, ut tuum ibi consenescere non pateremur ingenium. auspicatus es militem, cum implere potueris cognitorem, et quamvis traheret te eloquentia pro defensione dicere, suadebat tamen aequitas iudicanda proferre. probatum est, quid utilitatis habeat moribus armata facundia. nam sicut perniciosum est doctos prava suadere, sic salutare munus est, cum veritatis terminos disertitudo nescit excedere. [3] Sed ut merita tua exemplis potius laudabilibus asseramus, iuvat repetere pomposam legationem, quam non communibus verbis, sed torrenti eloquentiae flumine peregisti. directus enim de partibus Dalmatiarum ad domnum avum nostrum sic necessitates provincialium, sic utilitates publicas allegabas, ut apud illum magna cautela sollicitum et copiosus esses et fastidia non moveres. abundantia siquidem verba cum suavissimo lepore defluebant et cum finem faceres, adhuc dicere quaerebaris: delectando movendo implebas magis veri oratoris nisum, cum iam causidici deseruisses officium. [4] Genitoris quin etiam tui facundia et moribus adiuvaris, cuius te eloquium instruere potuit, etiamsi libris veterum non vacasses. erat enim, ut scimus, egregie litteris eruditus. et ut aliquid studioso exquisitum dicere videamur, has primum, ut frequentior tradit opinio, Mercurius repertor artium multarum volatu Strymoniarum avium collegisse memoratur. [5] Nam et hodie grues, qui classe consociant, alphabeti formas natura inbuente describunt: quem in ordinem decorum redigens, vocalibus consonantibusque congruenter ammixtis, viam sensualem reperit, per quam alta petens ad penetralia prudentiae mens possit velocissima pervenire. hinc Helenus auctor Graecorum plura dixit eximie virtutem eius compositionemque subtilissima narratione describens, ut in ipso initio possit agnosci magnarum copia litterarum. [6] Sed ut ad propositum redeamus, paterno igitur exemplo ingenium extendisse credendus es, qui in Romano foro eloquentiam non nutristi. o beatum magistrum felicissimumque discipulum, qui affectuose didicit, quod aliis doctorum terror extorsit! [7] Romanum denique eloquium non suis regionibus invenisti et ibi te Tulliana lectio disertum reddidit, ubi quondam Gallica lingua resonavit. ubi sunt, qui Latinas litteras Romae, non etiam alibi asserunt esse discendas? evaserat Caecilius pondus verecundiae, si hunc provectum saecula priora genuissent. soluta est quippe vis illa sententiae: mittit et Liguria Tullios suos. [8] Cognosce quid ex meritis tuis aestimavimus, quando te illius consilio vides esse sociatum, qui nostri inperii tractat arcanum. hinc est quod te comitiis domesticorum illustratum isto honore decoramus, ut merito maiora de nostris debeas sperare iudiciis, qui in te adhuc meliora credimus inveniri. grande tibi negotium vides esse commissum: quidquid egeris, generalitas sentit. nam qui potest in universitate peccare, gloriosus nimis est, si nescit excedere.