Letter 5041: VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 41

41. KING THEODERIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. [1] Although our princely munificence has frequently engendered candidates for you, and our fruitful indulgence has become for you a second nature, you now assuredly have a man whom it befits us to have chosen and whom it is fitting for you to have received. Just as it was a piece of good fortune for him to be raised up by us, so it will be praiseworthy for him to be joined to your assembly by the law of honors. Yet this turns out more happily for the curia, in that with us even an unpolished recruit performs his service, whereas she admits none save him who could already be found worthy of honors. [2] Fittingly, therefore, is your order judged distinguished, since it is always gathered from the most thoroughly tested. For there an entrance is not unbarred to the profane, but such men are permitted to draw near thither as are also seen to depart from thence. Receive, then, a colleague whom our palace has approved through long examination: one who served amid royal discourses so undaunted that he would set forth our commands, often while we ourselves looked on and praised. [3] Surely you recognize of whom we speak. For which of you has been kept apart from devotion to Cyprianus? For he who sought his assistance soon received our benefits. He frequently obtained, during our travels, what used to be transacted in the councils of old. For whenever it pleased us to relieve a mind wearied by care for the commonwealth, we would seek out the exercises of horsemanship, so that by that very variety of activity the soundness and vigor of the body might be refreshed. Then this delightful narrator would press upon us our manifold cases, and his presentation was unwearying beneath the mind of a judge inclined to tedium. [4] Thus, while this kindly craftsman pressed upon us the cases that called for our bounty, our spirit was renewed, kindled with eagerness for conferring benefits. To these duties, therefore, the candidate attached himself, who so served our spirit that no offense ever burdened him. We were often angered at dishonest causes, yet the tongue of the narrator could not displease us; we sometimes condemned the business, yet its advocate pleased us; and he who possessed the moments of our favor frequently bore the onset of our spirit. [5] He glories, moreover, in no mean light of birth. For his father, as you remember, was Opilio, a man indeed of debased times, yet chosen for the palace watches. He could have risen much higher, had not his fidelity lain beneath the barren ground of a most grasping rewarder. For what could a meager bestower confer? Yet, even if he did not enrich, he became known, for there is an abundance of great praise in having earned even modest gifts amid the poverty of the commonwealth. [6] This man has surpassed his forebears by the felicity of the age, and the fact that he has been advanced further must be credited to our times. For such, indeed, is the measure of advancements among subjects as has been the distance between masters. Wherefore, conscript fathers, we have raised the aforesaid Cyprianus, resplendent in his own merits and in the splendor of his birth, to the summit of the sacred largesses [the office of Count of the Sacred Largesses, the treasury minister], so that both your number may be increased and the devotion of those who serve may be incited. Estimate, most reverend fathers, what we have felt concerning your order, when those whom we believe ought to be added to you, we proclaim with manifold commendation.

XLI. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE THEODERICUS REX. [1] Licet candidatos vobis frequenter genuerit munificentia principalis et fecunda indulgentia nostra vobis altera sit natura, habetis nunc profecto virum, quem et nos elegisse deceat et vos suscepisse conveniat. cui sicut fortunatum fuit a nobis erigi, ita laudabile erit vestro coetui honorum lege sociari. hoc tamen curiae felicius provenit, quod nobis et impolitus tiro militat, illa vero non recipit nisi qui iam dignus honoribus potuerit inveniri. [2] Convenienter ergo ordo vester aestimatur eximius, qui semper est de probatissimis congregatus. non enim illic profanis reseratur introitus, sed tales illuc permittuntur accedere, quales inde etiam cernuntur exire. suscipite itaque collegam, quem palatia nostra longa examinatione probaverunt: qui regiis ita intrepidus militavit affatibus, ut iussa nostra saepe nobis spectantibus atque laudantibus explicaret. [3] Cognoscitis profecto quae loquimur. quis enim vestrorum a Cypriani devotione summotus est? nam qui solacia eius petiit, mox beneficia nostra suscepit. obtinuit ille saepius in vectationibus nostris, quod in consistoriis agi solebat antiquis. si quando enim relevare libuit animum rei publicae cura fatigatum, equina exercitia petebamus, ut ipsa varietate rerum soliditas se corporis vigorque recrearet. tunc nobis causas multiplices relator delectabilis ingerebat eratque eius infastidita suggestio sub iudicis animo taedioso. [4] Ita dum causas praestandi benignus artifex ingerebat, reficiebatur animus beneficiorum aviditate succensus. his igitur adhaesit obsequiis candidatus, qui sic militavit animo nostro, ut nulla eum gravaret offensio. irascebamur saepe causis improbis, nec tamen displicere poterat lingua relatoris: damnabamus interdum negotium, cuius placebat assertor: et impetum nostri animi frequenter sustinuit, qui gratiae momenta possedit. [5] Gloriatur etiam non extrema luce natalium. nam pater huic, sicut meministis, Opilio fuit, vir abiectis quidem temporibus, ad excubias tamen palatinas electus. qui multo amplius crescere potuit, nisi fides eius sub avidissima remuneratoris sterilitate iacuisset. quid enim conferre poterat tenuis donator? qui si tamen non ditavit, innotuit, quia magnae abundantia laudis est in penuria rei publicae vel mediocria munera meruisse. [6] Vicit iste maiores suos felicitate saeculorum et, quod amplius evectus est, nostris est temporibus applicandum. talis quippe est in subiectis mensura provectuum, qualis fuerit et distantia dominorum. quapropter, patres conscripti, praedictum Cyprianum suis meritis et natalium splendore fulgentem ad sacrarum largitionum culmen eveximus, ut et vester augeatur numerus et incitetur devotio servientum. aestimate, reverentissimi patres, quid de vestro ordine senserimus, quando eos, quos vobis aggregandos credimus, multiplici allegatione praedicamus.