Letter 8019: Although your assembly always radiates with its native splendor, conscript fathers, it is made brighter whenever it...

Although your assembly always radiates with its native splendor, conscript fathers, it is made brighter whenever it is augmented by the light of new offices. The sky itself shines more brilliantly with its countless stars, and from the abundance of its beauty it offers a marvelous sight to those who gaze upon it. It is simply in the nature of things that a wealth of good things gives greater pleasure. Meadows are painted with innumerable flowers; the thicker crop of a fertile field is praised. Antiquity made you noble; we wish the Senate also to be celebrated for its numbers. This is why we are eager to add to your ranks anyone we find outstanding, wherever they may be. For although the Senate is its own nursery, men are also born from our generosity who may be added to your assembly. Every court office produces candidates for your body, but the quaestorship is truly the mother of a senator, since it springs from wisdom. What is more fitting than for a man who has been close to the prince's counsel to become a member of the Senate? But since a man of prudence is never satisfied with praise given in general terms, his specific qualities should be noted...

XVIIII. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Licet coetus vester genuino splendore semper irradietur, clarior tamen redditur quotiens augetur lumine dignitatum. nam caelum ipsum stellis copiosissimis plus refulget et de numerosa pulchritudine mirabilem intuentibus reddit decorem. naturae siquidem insitum est, ut bonorum copia plus delectet. prata denique floribus pinguntur innumeris: laudatur pinguis arvi densior seges. antiquitas vos fecerit nobiles haberi: nos senatum volumus etiam de numerositate praedicari. [2] Hinc est quod vobis aggregare cupimus quem repererimus ubicumque praecipuum. nam licet apud vos seminarium sit senatus, tamen et de nostra indulgentia nascitur, qui vestris coetibus applicetur. alumnos cunctae vobis pariunt aulicae dignitates, quaestura autem vere mater senatoris est, quoniam ex prudentia venit. quid enim dignius, quam curiae participem fieri qui adhaesit consilio principali? sed quia prudenti viro generaliter non sufficit conclusa laudatio, eius nota propriaque tangamus. [3] Quaestorem nostrum, patres conscripti, cognoscite eloquentia prius exercitata placuisse et sic advocationis suae crebras egisse victorias, ut merito sibi eum electio triumphalis asciverit, quatenus palmis felicibus inauguratus nobis daret omina laurearum. ad forense gymnasium prima aetate deductus studuit semper integritati mentis et nobilissimo pudore castitatem corporis sub nimio labore transegit. [4] Orator facundus, gravissimus patronus susceptas causas suis praeconiis adiuvabat, quando credi non poterat negotium inprobabile, cui talis videbatur assistere. nonne praetermittere hunc virum esset publicum damnum? quid enim aut nobis aut vobis esse debet acceptius quam nostro coniungi lateri, qui inter leges meruit approbari? amare namque eas potest, per quas doctus enituit, dum affectat unusquisque gloriam suam nec oblivisci potest animus, ex qua nobis fuerit parte sociatus. [5] Creditis forte, principes viri, novam in hunc imparatamque apparuisse prudentiam? origo eius hereditarias sibi litteras vindicavit, cuius pater ita in Mediolanensi foro resplenduit, ut et trino fratrum et Tulliano cespite pullularet. proinde quamvis sit vel inter mediocres difficillimum placendi genus, tamen advocationis laudem inter primarios eloquentiae frequenter meruit invenire. is contra magnum Olybrium stetit, is palmarii Eugenetis linguae ubertate suffecit, et illis par extitit, quos singulares Roma cognovit. [6] Quid enim generosius quam tot litterarum proceres habuisse maiores? nam si inveteratae et per genus ductae divitiae nobiles faciunt, multo magis praestantior est, cuius origo thesauris prudentiae locuples invenitur. quapropter, patres conscripti, favete nostro iudicio ac suis meritis candidato: quando si collegae manum clementiae porrigitis, vos potius sublevatis.