Page 184 - Envoys and Political Communication in the Late Antique West 411 - 533

Envoys and Political Communication,411–533

of direct dialogue, especially substantial speeches. 180 These formulaic
set-pieces, used to heighten the drama of the narrative, assimilate the
Vita to the genres of epic or historia, of no small importance to the high
regard for Vita Epiphani in modern times. 181 Perhaps significantly, the
speeches compensate in length for the omission of miracle accounts.
The speeches reflect a third general difference between Vita Epiphani
and notonly Vita Germani butalso Vita Orientii and Vita Viviani.The
Gallic works exploit the narrative possibilities of presenting their heroes
as envoys, but baulk at actually portraying the bishops in the humbling
act of supplication. Ennodius, by contrast, not only dramatises the act
of supplication through his speeches, but freely uses the term legatus,
legatio, and supplicatio in regard to Epiphanius. Indeed, he explicitly com-
pares Epiphanius with other servants of principes, though emphasising the
bishop’s unselfish superiority in declining rewards for his services; and
Ennodius portrays Epiphanius in the act of bowing to a ruler. 182 En-
nodius’ proximity to the milieux of both an important metropolitan see
and the royal court, where the dispatch and reception of legations were
common and their undertaking brought prestige and reward, shaped his
attitude towards the activity in which he portrayed the saint engaged.
Ennodius, like Constantius, crafts a persona for Epiphanius which re-
inforces his role as an envoy. His characteristic function is forecast in his
years before assuming the episcopate. The lengthy account of the young
Epiphanius’ physiognomy, including praise of his physical comeliness, his
sermo, and his vox sonora, mention that he was, among other things, ‘then
already adept at intercessions’ (the importance of his attractive features to
his success as an intercessor is underscored by the testimonial paid him by
the Ligurian nobles who later recommend Epiphanius to Ricimer as an
envoy to Anthemius). 183 His tenure as deacon was a period of prepara-
tory training in ‘the struggles of intercession’. 184 The sole eventrelated
from his twenty years in the junior clergy is his first embassy, as repre-
sentative of his bishop Crispinus, to dispute ownership of property along
the Po. He was chosen because ‘he would both bravely sustain assertions

180
Ennodius, Vita Epiphani §§ iii (dialogue: Ricimer and the collectio Ligurum nobilitatis; speeches:
Epiphanius and Anthemius), v (Epiphanius and Euric), viii (Theoderic), x (Epiphanius and
Theoderic), xi (Theoderic and Epiphanius; Epiphanius and Gundobad), xiii (Epiphanius and
Theoderic). Reydellet, La Royaut´ e, 148.
181
Drama: almost every speech of Epiphanius’ interlocutors is bipartite: the first half listing reasons
why the bishop’s requests should be rejected; the second half suddenly capitulating (e.g. Ennodius,
Vita Epiphani, 60–1, 67–9/70–1; 131–3/4; 165–6/7; 188 init.), thus emphasising, rather stiffly,
Epiphanius’ overwhelming persuasiveness.
182
Other servants: Ennodius, Vita Epiphani, 179; bowing: 164.
183
Speech: Ennodius, Vita Epiphani, 17: ad intercessiones iam tunc artifex. Comeliness: 13–16: in quo
lucem membrorum animae fulgor exuperat. Testimony of Ligurian nobles: 54: cui est vultus vitae similis.
184
Ennodius, Vita Epiphani, 32: intercessionum etiam tunc certamina proludebat.
158