Letter 8017: The candidate before you, conscript fathers, possesses such an abundance of merits that we fear he will be thought...

From: Cassiodorus, on behalf of King Athalaric To: The Roman Senate Date: ~522 AD Context: Athalaric announces the appointment of a new official, praising his family's illustrious service and the candidate's own distinguished brother, while delicately noting that Theoderic had somehow overlooked rewarding this man. The candidate before you, conscript fathers, possesses such an abundance of merits that we fear he will be thought promoted too late rather than not approved at all. For while our grandfather of divine memory sought out the finest men, a kinder fortune preserved this one unrewarded for us. He served that prince, devoted himself to him with great loyalty, and is known to have been left without any recompense by a most generous master. I believe the reward for his service was merely deferred, so that the opportunity for generosity might be more fitting for us -- for our devotion is linked to our grandfather's by the law of nature. It is right for an heir to pay what was owed to the benefactor of his predecessor. Why should our generosity delay when the man's own noble custom urged him forward? His father was famous in arms and conspicuous for the highest nobility of character -- a man whom fierce wars did not repel and whom peaceful times would celebrate. Strong in body, fortified by friendships, he bore the dignity of an earlier age. Even in the troubled times of Odoacer, he was enriched with distinguished honors. He was considered outstanding in an era that lacked a worthy prince. But why do we reach back to the ancient nobility of his forebears, when the nearby brilliance of his brother's reputation shines so brightly? To have been connected to that man -- I will not say by mere proximity, but even by friendship...

XVII. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Tanta est, patres conscripti, in candidato copia meritorum, ut vereamur, ne tardius putetur electus quam non sit iudicio comprobatus. nam cum divae memoriae avus noster optimos viros exquireret, nobis eum inremuneratum prosperior fortuna servavit. illi paruit, illi multa officiositate servivit et a domino largissimo beneficiorum sine aliqua retributione constat esse derelictum. credo dilata est compensatio meriti, ut nobis aptior fieret causa praestandi: congenimat enim se pietas nostra lege naturae. condignum est ab herede solvi, quod collatum constat auctori. cur enim munificentia nostra eum differret, cum eum proficere consuetudo suae nobilitatis urgeret? [2] Pater huic manu clarus ac summa fuit morum nobilitate conspicuus, quem nec ferventia bella respuerunt et tranquilla otia praedicarent, corpore validus, amicitia robustus aevi antiquitatem gestabat, abiectis saeculis Odovacris ditatus claris honoribus. his temporibus habitus est eximius, cum princeps non esset erectus. [3] Sed quid antiquam parentum eius repetimus nobilitatem, cum vicina resplendeat luce germani? cuius non dicam proximitati, sed vel amicitiae coniunctum fuisse potest esse laudabile. huius virtutibus ita se sociavit atque conexuit, ut hoc potius sit incertum, qui magis praedicetur ex altero. [4] Amicitiis ille praestat fidem: sed magnam promissis debet iste constantiam. ille quoque avaritia vacuus: et iste a cupiditate probatur alienus. hinc est quod norunt regibus servare fidem, quia nesciunt vel inter aequales exercere perfidiam. ibi enim mores facilius probantur, ubi natura sub libertate monstratur. quomodo ergo sub puritate non serviant dominis, qui nesciunt illusisse collegis? [5] His laudibus electus a coniuge Basilianae sociatus fertur esse familiae, quod plerumque venit a meritis coniungi posse nobilibus. inspicite in eo, si placet, etiam familiarem vitam, quia saepius maioribus vestris viros industrios haec signa prodiderunt. res huic privata tanta fuit moderatione disposita, ut nec aliqua tenacitate sorderet nec iterum nimia effusione laberetur. [6] Gentiles victu, Romanos sibi iudiciis obligabat et unde ingratitudo dignitatibus plerumque venit, iste disceptando sibi amicitias colligebat. videte quid faciat nobilis natura. ex iudicibus natus arbitrum agebat, quod nisi ex morum probitate nulla potest contingere ratione. nam fascibus oboedire plerumque potestatis necessitas cogit: privato iudici parere sola sententiarum probitas facit. unde nobis plus laudis videtur habere voluntarius iudex, quando ad audientiam non eligitur nisi qui iustus esse moribus aestimatur. [7] Quapropter, patres conscripti, favete vestris alumnis et nostris favete iudiciis. secundo ad vestram curiam venit, qui et ex senatore natus est et aulicis dignitatibus probatur honoratus.