I feel utterly unequal to the task of thanking you properly for what you've done for my son Flavianus. Words come easier than deeds, and yet I cannot make my words match the scale of your kindness. The joy isn't mine alone — with Flavianus, lost honor has returned to favor, and the senate and all good men share this happiness among themselves. It's a tall order, then, for one man's words to repay what the affection of so many has contracted as a debt. You'll forgive me for saying too little about so great a matter.
Restoring an honor is a greater thing than conferring one in the first place. The one can happen when fortune consents; the other, human decency achieves against fortune herself. The emperor's late father — now received into heaven — had already set precedents for clemency and restored much that misfortune had taken from my Flavianus. But one supreme act of kindness was reserved for his heir: our most gentle and august emperor Honorius, prompted by your counsel, added to his father's generosity — understanding, clearly, that the late emperor had lacked only time, not the will.
Now a worthy successor has completed the work of mercy that death interrupted. He has placed the capstone on what his father began, and for this I pray that men like you continue to advise him. For those who counsel what is right and honorable to the supreme rulers of the empire are the instruments of a good age. Our ruler already possesses a nature rich in divine inspiration and swift in every virtue — but, if I may use an analogy, even the best helmsmen benefit considerably from the work of their oarsmen. And you, above all, are a true friend to his reputation: your loyalty in service and your personal affection both attest to it. That is why you keep finding new ways to earn his love, reminding him amid his greater concerns to attend to private fortunes as well.
The sufferings of our household have been put to flight; nothing sorrowful remains in the senate. Some have had honors restored, others newly conferred. What each of us has received, the whole family owes. But I'll keep within the bounds of a letter. I'm afraid that even this much may weary your admirable modesty, since my words can't possibly repay your kindness. Let the joys that come from a clear conscience reward you instead. I wouldn't have you expect repayment for so great a benefit from anyone's words. Above all others, you know that only the reward of a good conscience can satisfy those who do great things. I'll add just one immoderate request: please continue to look after my Flavianus with the same care. Farewell.
Agendis tibi gratiis pro Flaviano filio meo usquequaqne me inparem sentio, et
cum sint verba rebus faciliora, beneficii tui magnitudinem dictis aequare non possum.
neque enim mea tantum gratulatio est, quod cum illo honor amissns revertit in gra- 30
2 tuae meDtis F
11 c8 ci P, fortassc: q(ui) s(upra) c(ui) 8(upra)
27 om, F
LIBER im. 99
tiam : senatns boniqae orones inter se hanc laetitiam partiuntur. qaocirca ardaum est, PF
at nnms sermo conpenset, qaod tantoram contraxit adfectio. dabis igitar veniam pro
re paaca dicenti. maias qaiddam est honorem restitaere qaam dedisse; illad enim 2
fieri fortana consentit, hoc contra ipsam praestat hamanitas. praemiserat alia exempla
5 clementiae receptas caelo principaro parens et Flaviano meo malta casibas detracta
reddiderat; resenratas est anas et potissimas bonitatis titalas heredi, qaem magnita-
dinis tuae monita patemis beneficiis d. n. Honorius adiecit interpretatus scilicet, divo
principi tempas non animam defuisse. nanc perfecta sunt a successore consimili inter-
rupta fato opera clementiae. fastigium quoddam lenissimas et augastissimus princeps
10 coeptis genitoris inposait, cai ad vicem gratiae te ac tui similes opto monitores. nam 3
sammis imperii moderatoribus pia et decora suadentes instrumenta sunt boni saeculi.
est qoidem rectori nostro divini fontis ingenium et omniam virtutum cursu prompta
natara; sed ut imagine uti mihi liceat, optimos gubematores haut mediocriter etiam
manus remigum iuvat. te vero famae eius amiciorem cum fides militiae tum necessi-
15 tudinis reddit adfectio. hinc est, quod illi promerendi undique amoris vias invenis et
maioribas occupatum mones privata fata respicere. humani casus in fugam versi sunt 4 '
nihilque in senatu maestum resedit. aliis tributus, aliis integratus est honor. ani
familiae debetur, quidquid singuli sumus. sed iam servabo epistulae terminos. vereor
enim ne haec ipsa adferant fastidium praeclarae verecundiae tuae, cum aequare non
20 possint vicem gratiae. illa te potius gaudia munerentur, quae meritorum securitas
parit. nolo ex verbis cuiusqaam speres tanti beneficii solutionem. prae ceteris nosti,
solum conscientiae bonae praemiam satisfacere posse magna praestantibus. unum
tamen tamquam inmoderatus adicio, ut iugiter in Flaviano meo beneficia taa diligas.
V (IIII) a. 397.
◆
I feel utterly unequal to the task of thanking you properly for what you've done for my son Flavianus. Words come easier than deeds, and yet I cannot make my words match the scale of your kindness. The joy isn't mine alone — with Flavianus, lost honor has returned to favor, and the senate and all good men share this happiness among themselves. It's a tall order, then, for one man's words to repay what the affection of so many has contracted as a debt. You'll forgive me for saying too little about so great a matter.
Restoring an honor is a greater thing than conferring one in the first place. The one can happen when fortune consents; the other, human decency achieves against fortune herself. The emperor's late father — now received into heaven — had already set precedents for clemency and restored much that misfortune had taken from my Flavianus. But one supreme act of kindness was reserved for his heir: our most gentle and august emperor Honorius, prompted by your counsel, added to his father's generosity — understanding, clearly, that the late emperor had lacked only time, not the will.
Now a worthy successor has completed the work of mercy that death interrupted. He has placed the capstone on what his father began, and for this I pray that men like you continue to advise him. For those who counsel what is right and honorable to the supreme rulers of the empire are the instruments of a good age. Our ruler already possesses a nature rich in divine inspiration and swift in every virtue — but, if I may use an analogy, even the best helmsmen benefit considerably from the work of their oarsmen. And you, above all, are a true friend to his reputation: your loyalty in service and your personal affection both attest to it. That is why you keep finding new ways to earn his love, reminding him amid his greater concerns to attend to private fortunes as well.
The sufferings of our household have been put to flight; nothing sorrowful remains in the senate. Some have had honors restored, others newly conferred. What each of us has received, the whole family owes. But I'll keep within the bounds of a letter. I'm afraid that even this much may weary your admirable modesty, since my words can't possibly repay your kindness. Let the joys that come from a clear conscience reward you instead. I wouldn't have you expect repayment for so great a benefit from anyone's words. Above all others, you know that only the reward of a good conscience can satisfy those who do great things. I'll add just one immoderate request: please continue to look after my Flavianus with the same care. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.