Page 313 - Envoys and Political Communication in the Late Antique West 411 - 533

Senarius’ Letters of Appointment in the Variae

relinquitur iniuriae, cum ad bonos pervenit regula disciplinae. Hoc itaque praeclaro
desiderio illustrem virum Senarium comitivae patrimonii dignitate subveximus, qui
venalitatis obscura animi claritate refugiat, qui calumnia non laetetur, nec patrimonii
auctoritate suffultus de nostro sibi faciat terrore compendium, sed ius aequabile
possittenere cum ceteris, unde nobis placere respicit servientes. Haec de illo fu-
tura promittere praeteritorum facit temporum fides. In ipso quippe adulescentiae
flore palatia nostra meritis maturus intravit et, quod robustas quoque fatigat aetates,
nullo deceptus novitatis errore ad imperantis conversus arbitrium effectum bonarum
praestitit iussionum, nunc ad colloquiia degnus, nunc ad exceptiones aptissimus,
frequenter etiam in honorem legationis electus, cuius multiplex meritum incertum
apud nos reddebatofficium. Non enim unius loci vir debetdici, a quo multa vi-
dentur impleri. Sed haec amplius commendabat humilitas, quae tam clara quam
rara est. Novum est enim sub amore principis custodire modestiam, quia gaudia
semper animos inquietant: modus enim raro laetis rebus imponitur, qui magis in
tristibus invenitur. Verum inter haec stupenda meritorum originis quoque simili
claritate resplendet, ut haereas, qua parte sit ditior, cum copiosius utraque possideat.
Habent ergo singulatim distributa praeconium, iuncta miraculum. Quapropter, pa-
tres conscripti, assurgat primaevis introeuntibus cana Libertas. Nihil de genio vestro
subtrahitur, quando venientium novitas honorabiliter invitatur. Parentes publici de
clementia nominati, duplex vos ratio benignitatis invitet: incipiens mereatur gratiam,
provectus favorem.

translation (incorporating some readings from
fridh’s edition)

iv,3: King Theoderic to Senarius, vir inlustris, comes privatarum
1 We believe that part of the ornamentation of the palace is the selection of fit
persons for official dignities, since the fame of rulers grows from the renown of
their servants. For it is proper that a prince should advance such men that, whenever
he deigns to look upon one of his foremost officers, he knows that his judgement
is sound. One granted the opportunity to be emulated should be of outstanding
1
character. It is easy for such a person to live for himself, but, once appointed to
office, itis proper thathe live for the many.
2 Take, therefore, for the course of the third indiction, the dignity of the illustrious
comitiva of our patrimony, which royal authority gives to you, not undeservedly. For,
long having derived a double service from our instructions, you have both partici-
pated in our council and fulfilled tasks set before you with praiseworthy diligence.
Often you have sustained the duty of an arduous embassy: you have withstood kings,
an advocate not unequal to the task, constrained to reveal our justice even to those
who, in their base obstinacy, were barely able to understand reason. The enraged
authority of kings did not terrify you with its contentions; rather you subjected
insolence to truth and, following our instructions, you forced the barbarians to their
senses.

1
quemque Mommsen; qualemque et sim. mss., CCSL 96; Åke Fridh, Contributions ` a la critique et ` a
l’interpr´ etation des Variae de Cassiodore (G¨ oteborg, 1968), 56–7.
287