LETTER IX
Sidonius to his dear Heronius, greetings.
1. After the wedding of the patrician Ricimer -- that is, after the resources of both empires had been squandered on the celebration -- serious public business was at last resumed, opening the door and field for the conduct of affairs. Meanwhile I was graciously received in the household of the former prefect Paulus, a man venerable for both learning and holiness, and treated with all the courtesies of a warm hospitality. Indeed, no one in our time surpasses this man in any branch of the arts. Good God, what riddles he poses in his propositions, what figures in his judgments, what neat turns in his verses, what mechanical marvels he performs with his fingers! Yet what towers above all his other accomplishments is this: his conscience is even greater than his immense learning. Through him, then, I first explored whether any avenue of access to the court's favor might open, and with him I discussed which of the leading men might best be able to assist our hopes.
2. There was no great hesitation, since few were the men over whose selection as a patron one might deliberate. There were, to be sure, many senators distinguished by wealth, eminent in birth, weighty in age, useful in counsel, exalted in rank, and approachable in manner. But, with all respect to the rest, two most distinguished ex-consuls -- Gennadius Avienus and Caecina Basilius -- stood out above all others. In that most august body, setting aside the prerogative of the military party, they were easily the first men after the purple-clad emperor himself. But between them, though both were awe-inspiring, their characters differed -- a resemblance of temperament, one might say, rather than of talent. Let me describe each briefly.
3. Avienus had reached the consulship by good fortune, Basilius by merit. Accordingly, in Avienus the rapid accumulation of honors was noted as pleasant, in Basilius their slow but steady growth as impressive. Both, to be sure, whenever they left their houses, were hemmed in by a crowd of clients going before, following behind, and pressing all around. But the hopes and ambitions of their respective followers were far different despite the men's equal rank. Avienus devoted his efforts to advancing his sons, sons-in-law, and brothers. Since he was always occupied with his own family's candidates, he was less effectively able to handle the needs of outside petitioners.
4. And in this regard the Decian family of the Corvini [i.e., the family of Basilius] was preferred: for whatever Avienus, occupied with his own circle, obtained for them, Basilius, free of such obligations, bestowed on strangers. Avienus opened his mind fully and quickly to everyone, but less productively; Basilius to few and slowly, but more usefully. Neither was difficult of access, neither expensive. But if you cultivated both, you would more easily gain familiarity from Avienus and a favor from Basilius.
5. After long deliberation on both sides, our mutual counsel settled on this plan: while preserving the respect due to the senior ex-consul, whose house we visited, though not too frequently, we should attach ourselves rather to the circle of Basilius. And so, while working through this most distinguished man on certain matters regarding the Arvernian delegation's petition, the Kalends of January arrived -- the day that was to restore to the records the name of the Augustus who was soon to be consul [Emperor Anthemius held the consulship in 468].
6. Then our patron said: "Come now, my dear Sollius [Sidonius's family name], though you are burdened with the weight of your official mission, I want you to bring out your old Muse in honor of the new consul, even if she must strum something hasty on improvised strings. I shall provide access by securing your admission, comfort by attending your recitation, and support by championing your cause. If you trust the voice of experience, much serious business will be advanced for you by this performance." I obeyed his instructions. He did not withdraw his support from the task he had imposed, and as an invincible advocate for my assigned duty, he arranged with the consul that I should be made prefect of his Senate.
7. But you, if I am not mistaken, are weary of this letter's length and would now more eagerly linger over the actual verses of the work itself. I know it, and so the next page carries the garrulous poem itself, which can chat with you for a few days in my place until I arrive. If your own critical judgment is also applied to it, I shall be just as pleased as if, while I were speaking in the assembly or from the rostra, the applause that greeted my performance came not only from men of the broad stripe [senators] but from the common people as well. But I warn and give fair notice: do not measure these trifles against the hexameters of your own Clio. For my verses, placed beside yours, would justly be compared not with the trappings of heroic poetry but with the dirges of funeral epitaphs.
8. Still, be glad that this very panegyric, though it may lack polish, has at least achieved the result of a good work. Therefore, if serious matters are to be seasoned with humor, I wish to close this page with a glorious -- that is, a quasi-Thrasonean -- finale, imitating the Pyrgopolinices of Plautus [the braggart soldier from Plautus's comedy]. Since I have attained the prefecture through the occasion of my poem, with Christ's help, you should at once command that, with the full authority of your office, acclamations of every kind of praise be gathered from all sides and I be carried to the stars. If I please, praise my eloquence; if I displease, praise my luck. I can picture you laughing, because you see that my boasting has turned fierce like that of the comic soldier. Farewell.
EPISTULA IX
Sidonius Heronio suo salutem.
1. Post nuptias patricii Ricimeris id est post imperii utriusque opes eventilatas tandem reditum est in publicam serietatem, quae rebus actitandis ianuam campumque patefecit. interea nos Pauli praefectorii tam doctrina quam sanctitate venerandis Laribus excepti comiter blandae hospitalitatis officiis excolebamur. porro non isto quisquam viro est in omni artium genere praestantior. deus bone, quae ille propositionibus aenigmata, sententiis schemata, versibus commata, digitis mechanemata facit! illud tamen in eodem studiorum omnium culmen antevenit, quod habet huic eminenti scientiae conscientiam superiorem. igitur per hunc primum, si quis quoquo modo aulam gratiae aditus, exploro; cum hoc confero, quinam potissimum procerum spebus valeret nostris opitulari.
2. nec sane multa cunctatio, quia pauci, de quorum eligendo patrocinio dubitaretur. erant quidem in senatu plerique opibus culti genere sublimes, aetate graves consilio utiles, dignitate elati dignatione communes, sed servata pace reliquorum duo fastigatissimi consulares, Gennadius Avienus et Caecina Basilius, prae ceteris conspiciebantur. hi in amplissimo ordine seposita praerogativa partis armatae facile post purpuratum principem principes erant. sed inter hos quoque quamquam stupendi tamen varii mores et genii potius quam ingenii similitudo. fabor namque super his aliqua succinctius.
3. Avienus ad consulatum felicitate, Basilius virtute pervenerat. itaque dignitatum in Avieno iucunda velocitas, in Basilio sera numerositas praedicabatur. utrumque quidem, si fors Laribus egrediebantur, artabat clientum praevia pedissequa circumfusa populositas; sed longe in paribus dispares sodalium spes et spiritus erant. Avienus, si quid poterat, in filiis generis fratribus provehendis moliebatur; cumque semper domesticis candidatis destringeretur, erga expediendas forinsecus ambientum necessitates minus valenter efficax erat.
4. et in hoc Corvinorum familiae Deciana praeferebatur, quod qualia impetrabat cinctus Avienus suis, talia conferebat Basilius discinctus alienis. Avieni animus totis et cito, sed infructuosius, Basilii paucis et sero, sed commodius aperiebatur. neuter aditu difficili, neuter sumptuoso; sed si utrumque coluisses, facilius ab Avieno familiaritatem, faccilius a Basilio beneficium consequebare.
5. quibus diu utrimque libratis id tractatus mutuus temperavit, ut reservata senioris consularis reverentia, in domum cuius nec nimis raro ventitabamus, Basilianis potius frequentatoribus applicaremur. ilicet, dum per hunc amplissimum virum aliquid de legationis Arvernae petitionibus elaboramus, ecce Kalendae Ianuariae, quae Augusti consulis mox futuri repetendum fastis nomen opperiebantur.
6. tunc patronus: 'heia', inquit, 'Solli meus, <agedum>, quamquam suscepti officii onere pressaris, exeras volo in obsequium novi consulis veterem Musam votivum quippiam vel tumultuariis fidibus carminantem. praebebo admittendo aditum recitaturoque solacium recitantique suffragium. si quid experto credis, multa tibi seria hoc ludo promovebuntur.' parui ego praeceptis; favorem ille non subtraxit iniunctis et impositae devotionis adstipulator invictus egit cum consule meo, ut me praefectum faceret senatui suo.
7. sed tu, ni fallor, epistulae perosus prolixitatem voluptuosius nunc opusculi ipsius relegendis versibus immorabere. scio, atque ob hoc carmen ipsum loquax in consequentibus charta deportat, quae pro me interim, dum venio, diebus tibi pauculis sermocinetur. cui si examinis tui quoque puncta tribuantur, aeque gratum mihi, ac si me in comitio vel inter rostra contionante ad sophos meum non modo lati clavi sed tribulium quoque fragor concitaretur. sane moneo praeque denuntio quisquilias istas Clius tuae hexametris minime exaeques. merito enim conlata vestris mea carmina non heroicorum phaleris sed epitaphistarum neniis comparabuntur.
8. attamen gaude, quod hic ipse panegyricus, etsi non iudicium, certe eventum boni operis accepit. quapropter, si tamen tetrica sunt amoenanda iocularibus, volo paginam glorioso id est quasi Thrasoniano fine concludere Plautini Pyrgopolinicis imitator. igitur cum ad praefecturam sub ope Christi stili occasione pervenerim, iubeas ilicet pro potestate cinctuti undique omnium laudum convasatis acclamationibus ad astra portare, si placeo, eloquentiam, si displiceo, felicitatem. videre mihi videor, ut rideas, quia perspicis nostram cum milite comico ferocisse iactantiam. vale.
◆
LETTER IX
Sidonius to his dear Heronius, greetings.
1. After the wedding of the patrician Ricimer -- that is, after the resources of both empires had been squandered on the celebration -- serious public business was at last resumed, opening the door and field for the conduct of affairs. Meanwhile I was graciously received in the household of the former prefect Paulus, a man venerable for both learning and holiness, and treated with all the courtesies of a warm hospitality. Indeed, no one in our time surpasses this man in any branch of the arts. Good God, what riddles he poses in his propositions, what figures in his judgments, what neat turns in his verses, what mechanical marvels he performs with his fingers! Yet what towers above all his other accomplishments is this: his conscience is even greater than his immense learning. Through him, then, I first explored whether any avenue of access to the court's favor might open, and with him I discussed which of the leading men might best be able to assist our hopes.
2. There was no great hesitation, since few were the men over whose selection as a patron one might deliberate. There were, to be sure, many senators distinguished by wealth, eminent in birth, weighty in age, useful in counsel, exalted in rank, and approachable in manner. But, with all respect to the rest, two most distinguished ex-consuls -- Gennadius Avienus and Caecina Basilius -- stood out above all others. In that most august body, setting aside the prerogative of the military party, they were easily the first men after the purple-clad emperor himself. But between them, though both were awe-inspiring, their characters differed -- a resemblance of temperament, one might say, rather than of talent. Let me describe each briefly.
3. Avienus had reached the consulship by good fortune, Basilius by merit. Accordingly, in Avienus the rapid accumulation of honors was noted as pleasant, in Basilius their slow but steady growth as impressive. Both, to be sure, whenever they left their houses, were hemmed in by a crowd of clients going before, following behind, and pressing all around. But the hopes and ambitions of their respective followers were far different despite the men's equal rank. Avienus devoted his efforts to advancing his sons, sons-in-law, and brothers. Since he was always occupied with his own family's candidates, he was less effectively able to handle the needs of outside petitioners.
4. And in this regard the Decian family of the Corvini [i.e., the family of Basilius] was preferred: for whatever Avienus, occupied with his own circle, obtained for them, Basilius, free of such obligations, bestowed on strangers. Avienus opened his mind fully and quickly to everyone, but less productively; Basilius to few and slowly, but more usefully. Neither was difficult of access, neither expensive. But if you cultivated both, you would more easily gain familiarity from Avienus and a favor from Basilius.
5. After long deliberation on both sides, our mutual counsel settled on this plan: while preserving the respect due to the senior ex-consul, whose house we visited, though not too frequently, we should attach ourselves rather to the circle of Basilius. And so, while working through this most distinguished man on certain matters regarding the Arvernian delegation's petition, the Kalends of January arrived -- the day that was to restore to the records the name of the Augustus who was soon to be consul [Emperor Anthemius held the consulship in 468].
6. Then our patron said: "Come now, my dear Sollius [Sidonius's family name], though you are burdened with the weight of your official mission, I want you to bring out your old Muse in honor of the new consul, even if she must strum something hasty on improvised strings. I shall provide access by securing your admission, comfort by attending your recitation, and support by championing your cause. If you trust the voice of experience, much serious business will be advanced for you by this performance." I obeyed his instructions. He did not withdraw his support from the task he had imposed, and as an invincible advocate for my assigned duty, he arranged with the consul that I should be made prefect of his Senate.
7. But you, if I am not mistaken, are weary of this letter's length and would now more eagerly linger over the actual verses of the work itself. I know it, and so the next page carries the garrulous poem itself, which can chat with you for a few days in my place until I arrive. If your own critical judgment is also applied to it, I shall be just as pleased as if, while I were speaking in the assembly or from the rostra, the applause that greeted my performance came not only from men of the broad stripe [senators] but from the common people as well. But I warn and give fair notice: do not measure these trifles against the hexameters of your own Clio. For my verses, placed beside yours, would justly be compared not with the trappings of heroic poetry but with the dirges of funeral epitaphs.
8. Still, be glad that this very panegyric, though it may lack polish, has at least achieved the result of a good work. Therefore, if serious matters are to be seasoned with humor, I wish to close this page with a glorious -- that is, a quasi-Thrasonean -- finale, imitating the Pyrgopolinices of Plautus [the braggart soldier from Plautus's comedy]. Since I have attained the prefecture through the occasion of my poem, with Christ's help, you should at once command that, with the full authority of your office, acclamations of every kind of praise be gathered from all sides and I be carried to the stars. If I please, praise my eloquence; if I displease, praise my luck. I can picture you laughing, because you see that my boasting has turned fierce like that of the comic soldier. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.