Letter 3012: VARIAE, BOOK 3, LETTER 12

XII. KING THEODERIC TO THE ROMAN SENATE. [1] We love, conscript fathers, the exceptional dignities that arise from our own benevolence. For the mother of public honor is the mind of him who governs, and whatever the judgment of the ruler has been, such is the aspect of liberty to which it gives birth. For it is easier, indeed, if it is permitted to say so, for nature to err than for a prince to be able to fashion a commonwealth unlike himself. Hence it is that we desire that you should shine with perpetual honors, because whatever report speaks concerning you is applied to our own institutions. For since you deserve all lofty things, it touches us with reproach if perhaps anything has been lacking to you. [2] Accordingly, that it may be sanctioned under happy auspices, we promote the illustrious Argolicus to the dignity of the Urban Prefecture, so that both he may be augmented with the fasces [the insignia of office] and the adornment of so great a judge may by no means be withdrawn from you. For you know that often from this family outstanding men have shone forth. Recall that the grandfather of the man now advanced was enriched with the honor of the prefecture of doctrine [the office of teaching], whose blameless eloquence the law-courts admired. Indeed, though he abounded in eloquence, he took care, knowing that a man skilled in speaking ought to be conspicuous for purity. Brought by these merits to the heights of honors, he protected the sacred largesses [the imperial treasury] with faithful guardianship, fulfilling also by his learning the dignity of the magistracy which he had undertaken, so praised in both that in each single office he was believed to be foremost. [3] There is added also the most noble father of the man advanced, who did not profane the insignia of the Count of the Private Estates with the bitterness of any false accusation, who, striving after the advantages of good repute, neglected the increase of money, and—what is a rare example of virtue—conducted himself with restraint in those times in which avarice was reckoned no crime. For the purpose of the prince makes judges either neglect or love the virtues. Sending before us, therefore, so many proofs of his origin, let us believe good things concerning the noble man: because a praiseworthy vein preserves its origin and faithfully transmits to its descendants what it has merited in itself by a glorious transmission. Show favor, therefore, conscript fathers, to one consecrated to your own dignities, so that you may incite to greater longings for the virtues those whom we summon by the example of our gifts.

XII. SENATUI ROMANO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Amamus, patres conscripti, dignitates eximias de nostra benignitate nascentes. publici enim decoris mater est mens regentis et quale fuerit dominantis arbitrium, talem parit libertatis aspectum. facilius est quippe, si dicere fas est, errare naturam quam dissimilem sui princeps possit formare rem publicam. hinc est quod cupimus, ut perpetuis honoribus fulgeatis, quia quicquid de vobis fama loquitur, nostris institutionibus applicatur. nam cum omnia celsa mereamini, nostram invidiam tangit, si quid vobis fortasse defuerit. [2] Proinde, quod felicibus sanciatur auspiciis, illustrem Argolicum praefecturae urbanae dignitate promovemus, ut et ille augeatur fascibus et vobis tanti iudicis minime subtrahatur ornatus. scitis enim saepe ex hac familia viros enituisse praecipuos. recordamini provecti avum praefecti dogmatis honore ditatum, cuius innoxiam facundiam fora mirata sunt. studuit vero, cum abundaret eloquio, sciens dicendi peritum debere esse puritate conspicuum. his meritis ad honorum celsa perductus, largitiones sacras protexit fida custodia, implens etiam doctrina quam susceperat magisterii dignitatem, ita in utroque laudatus, ut in singulis crederetur esse praecipuus. [3] Accedit etiam provecti nobilissimus pater, qui comitivae privatarum infulas nullius calumniae acerbitate profanavit, qui affectans famae commoda, pecuniae neglexit augmenta et, quod rarum virtutis exemplum est, his egit temporibus continentem, quibus crimen avaritia non habebat. principis enim propositum facit aut neglegere iudices aut amare virtutes. tot igitur originis documenta praemittens credamus bona de nobili: quia laudabilis vena servat originem et fideliter posteris tradit, quae in se gloriosa transmissione promeruit. favete ergo, patres conscripti, vestris dignitatibus consecrato, ut ad maiora virtutum desideria concitetis quos nos munerum provocamus exemplis.