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Until now, most merciful of princes, we have put off announcing to you the passing of our son of glorious memory, lest we wound a loving heart with the sorrow of such tidings; but now, with the help of God, who is wont to turn harsh misfortunes into prosperity, we have rather chosen to bring to your knowledge those things in which you may rejoice with us in shared exultation; for it is a delight to confess the divine gifts to those who love them. We have raised to the sceptre a man joined to us by fraternal kinship, who might sustain the royal dignity with the strength of counsel shared in common with us, that he might both shine with the purple splendour of his ancestors and lift up our spirit with the comfort of a prudent man.
Now join your auspicious prayers, so that, just as we eagerly desire all things to prosper in the empire of your piety, so we may prove your goodwill to favour us. Therefore, the announcement being made which we believe to be welcome to you by your innate clemency, we add also the office of a most agreeable embassy, that the peace which you ever hold in mind and which you now in a special way maintain has been bestowed upon me, you may prolong further by the addition of my own friendship. For although concord among princes is always becoming, yours nonetheless ennobles me absolutely, since he is rendered the more exalted who has been joined in unanimity to your glory.
But since all matters cannot be sufficiently set forth within the brevity of letters, greeting you with fitting reverence, we have entrusted to our envoys certain things to be conveyed to you by word of mouth, which receive gladly according to the custom of your serenity, that it may be plainly recognized by all that we justly prove ourselves to promise concerning your mildness. For it is fitting that we presume without doubt concerning you, since we too, for your desire, do for those whom you have commended such things as we have learned you hoped for. It is the custom of new kings to announce the joys of their advancement through diverse nations, that they may win the affection of a foreign prince from this very fellowship of reigning.
And in doing this, most pious emperor, the divine powers have granted me far better things, since I securely seek your favour, which I know that my most excellent lady and sister has covenanted with you. For it is most certain that I shall in no way depart from her judgment, who shines with so great a light of wisdom that she both orders her own realms with marvellous arrangement and guards with robust firmness the favour promised to all. For she has made me a partner in her cares to this end, that I too might desire to hold in reverence those whom she herself has made peaceful toward her, judging after the manner of her own prudence, so that she might choose the friendships of such men as would have nothing like them in all the world. Nor is this affection new:
for if you recall the deeds of your predecessors, you will recognize that there is a kind of customary law that the Amals have ever maintained friendship with that empire; a friendship the more sure as it is the more ancient, since what is preserved through long ages cannot easily be changed. Receive, therefore, with affectionate minds both our beginnings and, favour with your judgment the lady our sister, to whom you devote yourselves in a singular way. For if you love me likewise, you in a manner make me a king together with yourselves.
But since the desires of our new state demand that we speak at greater length, and a written discourse does not allow more things to be related, therefore, the honour of salutation being fulfilled toward such great merits as is fitting, we have delegated certain things to be intimated to your piety by the bearers of this letter, our envoys, since no one handles them more usefully than he who deliberately resolves to entrust his prayers to your mildness. After the lamentable passing of our son of divine memory, the affection of pious motherhood for the commonweal overcame her spirit, so that she pondered not the causes of her own grief, but rather your increase. We sought by what comfort we might support the cares of the kingdom.
But that author of chastity and of singular mercy, who was about to take from us our youthful son, reserved for us the affection of a mature brother. With God as our sponsor, we have chosen as the most fortunate partner of our kingdom Theodahad, so that the burdens of the commonwealth which we have hitherto borne in solitary thought, we may now carry out with united counsels for the benefit of all, so that in deliberations we may appear two, but in resolutions one. The very stars of heaven are governed by mutual aid, and by alternating labour they share in administering the world with their lights. To man himself too the divine powers have granted two hands, paired ears, and twin eyes, that the office might be performed the more robustly which was to be fulfilled by the fellowship of two.
Rejoice, conscript fathers, and commend our deed to the heavenly powers. We have desired to do nothing blameworthy, who have chosen to arrange all things by the counsel of another. For the sharing of the kingdom asserts good character, since he is justly believed to be tractable who is shown to have a partner in his power. We have, therefore, with God's help, opened the palaces to a man conspicuous for the renown of our own race, who, sprung from the stock of the Amals, holds royal dignity in his deeds: patient in adversity, moderate in prosperity, and—what is the most difficult kind of power—long since master of himself. To these good qualities was added a desirable learning in letters, which renders a praiseworthy nature exceedingly adorned.
There the prudent man finds whereby he may become wiser; there the warrior discovers whereby he may be strengthened in valour of soul; thence the prince receives how he may order his peoples under equality; nor can there be in the world any fortune which the glorious knowledge of letters does not increase. Hear what greater thing the prayers of the commonwealth have merited. Your prince is also learned in ecclesiastical letters, by which we are ever admonished as to whatever pertains to a man: to judge rightly, to relish the good, to venerate divine things, to ponder the judgments to come. For it is necessary that he follow the footprint of justice who believes that he will himself plead a cause concerning his own verdict. Let me see what reading sharpens the wit: divine reading ever strives to make a man pious.
Let us come to that most bountiful frugality of his private life, which provided such abundance in gifts and such plenty in banquets that, considering his ancient practice, he seems to have nothing new in his reign. Ready in hospitality, most tender in compassion: thus, while he spent much, his wealth grew by heavenly recompense. Such a one the whole community ought to have desired, even as we are proved to have chosen, who, reasonably disposing his own, does not crave what is another's; for the necessity of overstepping is removed from princes whenever they have grown accustomed to governing their own. Praised indeed is the maxim which prescribes a measure to things, since even what is reckoned good does not please when in excess.
Rejoice now, conscript fathers, and render to the heavenly grace your vows on our behalf, since I have established with myself such a prince as may both act well from our equity and display the qualities of his own piety. For the virtue of his ancestors admonishes him, and his uncle Theoderic effectually stirs him on. We announce to you, conscript fathers, that divine benefits have happily come to us: that the lady, mistress of affairs, glorious throughout the whole world, has by her ample piety made me partner of her kingdom, so that neither should faithful comfort be lacking to her, nor the ancestral empire be fittingly bestowed upon us. Let what the community is agreed to have wished be received most gladly; let the prayers of all now be unsealed without fear: that whence I suffered peril, thence the whole community may know me to be adorned.
For you presumed to whisper, without my knowledge, what you could not openly take up. How much I owe you is given to be understood from this, that you hastened to have come to me by divine means that which my own mind dared not aspire to. This is for us rather new than to you unknown. With great gratitude, therefore, ought it to be received, that which seemed to be disclosed more swiftly than was fitting. But if I deserve anything from you—though we trust that our favour avails very greatly with you—sound forth continually the glorious praises of our lady and sister: who willed the greatness of her empire to be strengthened by our participation, that, as it were, in two luminaries there might be one aspect, and no one might believe a concordant mind to be separated.
For such indeed are those whom both grace joins and kinship reconciles together. Unequal characters might perhaps reckon this difficult for themselves. It is hard for those to live otherwise who are able to agree with each other by the likeness of good thoughts. The improvident man, indeed, declines to imitate counsel; but he seeks wisdom in another with whom rests greatness of knowledge. But among the diverse gifts which the divine powers have bestowed on us along with the royal majesty, this the more soothes our spirit, that the most wise lady chose us by the balance of great deliberation: whose justice I therefore first endured, that I might first arrive at the favour of her promotion. For, as you know, she made us plead causes by common law along with private men.
O singular nobility of soul! Behold a marvellous equity, of which the world may speak! She did not hesitate first to subject to public law a kinsman whom shortly after she willed to set even above the laws themselves. She examined the conscience of him to whom she was about to hand over the censorship of the kingdom, that both she might be recognized as mistress of all, and might deign to lead me, thus proved, to the throne. When shall we discharge to such gifts, when shall we pay what we owe to so great a grace, that she who reigned alone with her little son has now chosen to reign in fellowship with me? For in her is the glory of all kingdoms; in her is the flower of good things of our origin. Whatever we shine with, we receive from her brightness, since she has conferred praise not only on her kinsmen, but has also adorned the very race of humankind.
Who could sufficiently declare with how great a piety, with how great a weight of character she is adorned? The philosophers would surely learn new things, if they saw her, and would confess that lesser matters were laid up in their books than they would recognize attributed to her. In deliberations she is keen, but in speaking most weighty with the highest restraint. This without doubt is a royal virtue: to perceive what is needful more swiftly, and to break out into words more slowly. For he knows not how to speak things to be repented of, who first submits to his own examination what is to be uttered. Hence it is that her marvellous learning is diffused with great richness through manifold tongues, whose genius is found so ready for the sudden occasion that it is not thought to be earthly. In the Books of Kings the Queen of the South is read to have come to learn the wisdom of Solomon:
let princes here hear what they may learn with admiration. In few words an infinite meaning is enclosed, and with the highest ease that is composed which by others is not formed even after long deliberation. Blessed is the commonwealth which glories in the governance of so great a lady. It was a lesser thing that the community should serve under liberty: there has been added to such great merits, that even princely reverence should be subject to her: for by this homage we most worthily hold rule. For when I obey such great prudence, I yield to all the virtues. Under such a guide indeed we are not burdened by the weight of the kingdom, since if anything be unknown by reason of its novelty, it will be made most certain to us by her instruction. For the public good, it is no shame to confess the truth.
Acknowledge, princely men, that what could most please in us belongs to the most wise lady. For we either perceive better by questioning her, or profit by imitating her. Live now happily, live, with God's aid, in concord, and emulate the grace which you know holds the royal harmony. We wish the censorship of our power to be moderation in affairs, so that, as much as we have received divine benefits, so much the more we may love things equitable. For private partialities are proved to be excluded from our mind, since I have, with God's aid, been made the general lord and guardian of all.
And therefore by the present command we ordain that whoever is known to belong to our household and is proved to be committed to your care shall grow insolent through no presumptions, for he alone is to be called mine who has been able to be peaceable under the laws. Increase our fame by your patience. If anyone perchance has business with another, descend to the common courts: let the law-courts protect you, not unjust presumption. We wish to begin discipline with our own household, that the rest may be ashamed to err, since we are known to grant our own people no licence of overstepping.
We have changed our purpose with dignity, and if before we strictly defended just things, now we mercifully temper all things, because the prince does not have a household exempted, but whatever we govern by divine aid, we confess to be properly our own. Be therefore wholly solicitous concerning those who were before subject to our jurisdiction: permit no one to overstep anything against the law. Let your praise rather reach me than any complaint go forth, because a good conscience then truly rules, when it hastens to bestow upon all generally. It is proved necessary for the commonwealth to choose persons suited to dignities, so that he to whom justice is committed may not be weighed down by evil character. Otherwise it is ineffectual to demand from a man what he is recognized not to have:
on the contrary, that is confidently sought which is felt to be present. And therefore it first pleased us to inspect your character, without which any excellent qualities can displease. For the ornament of all good things is sincere kindness, which is not alone, since it is recognized to have been begotten of the virtues. Keep the order of our judgment, so that, as we have sought these things first, so we may perceive you to guard justice before all things. Our second care was to seek out the streams of your eloquence, which, though we esteem it in a singular way, we nonetheless justly place after character. For in the former life is recognized; in the latter only the tongue is praised. But in you it is very becoming, since you are known to have both joined together.
For you shine equally by the merit of action and the eloquence of speech, so that it may justly be understood that through you the will of the prince is carried out. For among the other arts we so esteem oratory that we confess it to be the ornament of all letters. For whatever is conceived in any discipline is brought forth from this with grace. Let the philosopher discover however great things: what will it profit to perceive, if he cannot praiseworthily set it forth? It is natural to invent, but it belongs to the eloquent to assert it becomingly. For how excellent it is to speak when all are eager to hear, and to express common matters so eloquently that even the prudent marvel to have heard them? In this art we have known you to be most powerful, so that you can both persuade pleasantly and know not to mingle anything malicious in your suggestions.
And therefore we grant to you the fasces of the quaestorship for the thirteenth indiction, by the favourable Godhead, that you may satisfy the wish of the community by following the judgment of the jurists. Give yourself wholly to the laws, wholly to the responses of the prudent. Thus you serve us best, if you serve the constitutions of the ancients. Consider that in your words is placed the princely praise: what you speak is our fame; what you feel, without doubt, our conscience. Understand how great it is, what is demanded of you, to whom our reputation is committed. This embraces our subjects; this ranges abroad through foreign nations; through this we are recognized where we are not seen. Our decrees deliver our discourses to cities and provinces:
even those who obey our commands can judge concerning us. With the highest zeal, therefore, it is agreed that we must guard that which can bring a judgment concerning us. After the beginnings of our reign had been happily announced to you, a fitting occasion of discourse has befallen us, conscript fathers, that you may recognize us to have chosen a judge whose tongue can adorn us. For an eloquent quaestor is the glory of the commonwealth, who may both best appear to declare our wishes and guard the laws of the ancients with firm counsel. For this is Patricius, already honoured by his very name: for he enjoys perpetual praise, who has honour in his name; whose abundant eloquence the studies of Rome have begotten: rightly displaying his skill from the dignity of the place.
For he who could be steeped there has deserved to be praised everywhere: there the Latin tongue is purified; there are learned words shining with all brilliance. Let other regions transmit living balsams and fragrant incense: Rome bestows eloquence, than which nothing sweeter is heard. Thus, instructed in the good arts, he was soon fitted for forensic vigils, so that the orators whom he had grasped by long meditation he might display in like declamation. It is also known with how great moderation he contended with his colleagues. Modesty was ever present in his contests: carried away by the heat of speaking, he devoted himself to praiseworthy inventions, not, as many do, given over to insults: who so pleaded causes under tranquillity that he ever asserted his own character.
He was found indeed to have contended, not to have wrangled. For he made another's cause his own glory. For he was known to conquer in such a way that he was proved not to have wounded the spirit of his opponent. Such a man, therefore, it did not befit longer to seek justice, but to teach it; for it is a judicial virtue to abound in good things of the tongue and to keep the temperance of the mind. Recognize, conscript fathers, what we wish to be done, since in judges we first choose character, especially in that dignity which is wont to declare the laws. For in our times the quaestorship is not armed with royal power, but is proved to be composed by the laws. Our will is the will of the ancient princes, whom we desire to imitate in so far as they followed justice.
For that is the venerable authority of our forebears which does not deviate from the straight path. For he leaves to posterity the necessity of following, who has mingled justice with his own enactments. And therefore, conscript fathers, for the thirteenth indiction we have conferred upon the illustrious Patricius the dignity of the quaestorship, so that he who is renowned in name may also be magnificent in honour. Foster our judgments upon him, so that what we have bestowed may nonetheless be felt to be pleasing to you. The grace of your piety so delights us that whatever can advance our honour, we willingly wish to request from your quarter:
because the divine powers have bestowed such things upon you that you both abound abundantly in His gifts and may grant, with kindly spirit, to those who hope, the things that are needful. And therefore, reverently greeting your mildness, I have sent the bearer of this letter to the benefits of your excellence, that you may, with the Lord's favour, command the marbles or other necessaries which we once had Calogenitus procure to come to us through the bearer of the present letter, so that we may know ourselves to be truly loved by your piety, whose vows you cause to be fulfilled. For your glory is our adornment, since you are recognized to have bestowed that which is applied to our praises.
For it is fitting that this Roman world too should shine again by your assistance, which the love of your serenity illuminates. It is just, most wise emperor, that you should cause those things to be supplied to us with a willing spirit, to which, if we were slothful, we ought rather to be exhorted by your clemency. For it is not doubtful that whatever is accomplished through us for the adornment of Italy is welcome to you, because it rightly redounds to your praises, since that is seen to grow which can pertain to the glory of our commonwealth.
Wherefore, presenting to your principate a most reverent affection of salutation, we have sent the bearer of this letter to fetch those things for which Calogenitus was once destined, so that, even if the person has been withdrawn from human affairs, your benefits may nonetheless, with the Lord's help, reach us, lest the desire be frustrated which is fittingly secure from our presumption. Since it is our purpose to seek those things which are proved to pertain to the glory of a pious prince, it is worthy that we should venerate with discourse those whom it is agreed are ever increased by all good things. Concord is not of present things alone; nay rather, those regard one another better who join themselves by the love of the soul.
And therefore, rendering to the Augusta the affection of reverent salutation, I hope that, when our envoys return whom we have sent to the most clement and glorious prince, you may make us rejoice over your well-being, because your prosperity seems to us as welcome as our own, and it is necessary to receive eagerly the well-being which we are agreed to wish continually. If it is the glory of good princes to make illustrious by honours persons hitherto unknown, since whatever is achieved by subjects is applied to the praises of those who reign, how much more excellent is it for us to restore to a most noble family that which we recognize it to have merited even by the lot of birth! For thus we follow justice, if we do not deny to good heirs the rewards of their forebears.
For it is fitting that they should even surpass their predecessors, who have deserved to reach our times. The ancient age indeed begot the Anicii almost equal to princes: the dignity of whose name, brought down to you by the fount of blood, has, with united forces, shone forth the more cheerfully, restored anew. Who then would leave less honoured in posterity those who are agreed to have been so long pre-eminent? The ages would be accused if such a family could lie hidden. And would that a longer life had preserved for us the Marii or the Corvini! Scarcely would a prince's wish be satisfied, if it should befall us to possess persons of such merits. How then, indeed, should we neglect things found, who desire to possess things past?
And therefore—let it be said with good fortune—we confer upon you, from the fourteenth indiction, the dignity of the office of primicerius, which is also called that of the domesticus. You shall enjoy all the titles which pertain to its administration. This honour, although it may seem inferior to so great a birth, is nonetheless seen to be more fortunate than all your other offices: in the time of which you deserved to receive a spouse of royal stock, whom in your curule chairs you would not even have presumed to desire. Act now, that as it is welcome to you, so it may be rendered acceptable to us. Consider what you have merited, and you will conduct yourself worthy of our alliance. For he who is joined to the reigning family is set in the bosom of praises. Now let greater pains be given to mildness:
now let kindly fellowship be shown to all, that we may be proved to have chosen such a one as no prosperity can change. Humbly conduct the affair of glory, because praise is gained from modesty, hatred is stirred up from arrogance. Envy indeed is undoubtedly the nearest neighbour to advancements, but it is better conquered by endurance, which by contention is ever increased. Above the other virtues love patience, dear to the wise: raised from among us, you will be praised more for enduring than for avenging. Conquer anger: love kindly things: beware lest your good fortune seem greater than your character; but, you who are joined to our race, be proved nearest in glorious deeds. Your parents indeed have been praised hitherto, but they were not adorned with so great a union.
Your nobility has nothing further whereby it may grow. Whatever you do worthy of proclamation, you are reckoned most worthy of your own marriage. Let no one, conscript fathers, judge us to have had no reason in giving honours, in that after the insignia of the consulate we confer lesser ones afterward. Nay rather, the merits of the candidate persuaded us that one already mature should not seem to take up nothing, who as a youth is recognized to have received offices already earned. For it was the mark of a miserly prince to enclose such great spaces of life in one honour, and therefore the more to bestow nothing, because he is first recognized to have merited the highest. Nay rather, let us grant all things mingled together: no dignity is lesser, when it is well administered, since reverence is for the most part seen to be received by the action from the renown of the person.
These things, moreover, are then distinguished by degrees, when they have been attributed to different persons. For whatever a man of consular rank has uprightly performed always retains its honour equally. Thus the greater river absorbs the names of the lesser streams, and although your Tiber receives very many waters, it nonetheless does not depart from its own name. And therefore—let it be said with good fortune—to the illustrious and magnificent man, the patrician Maximus, we have granted, from the fourteenth indiction, the dignity of the office of primicerius, which is also called that of the domesticus, to be administered, so that the modesty of the honour might grow by the merit of him who presides. For it is not lawful that what an Anicius bears should be called humble: a family proclaimed throughout the whole world, which is truly called noble, since uprightness of action does not depart from it.
But to these good things we add, conscript fathers, that to our most lofty alliance the bright grace of your family is joined. Truly, this glory one man cannot assume to himself alone, which we are proved to have conferred upon the Roman name. Render to my affection the fullest love. He is the more to be loved by the lord, who has deigned to bestow the name of kinsman upon a subject. But it is just, conscript fathers, that he should be dear, through whom such happy things have befallen you. Exult generally and celebrate these nuptials with profuse joy. Whence the name of all has profited, the vows of all ought to be.
What prayers could have exacted from me that which my own mind granted by spontaneous deliberation, that we might truly call the men of your order parents, who are to be joined to us by the splendour of alliance? After we had sent back the venerable men, the bishops, their embassy being made known, and our spirit had not opposed your petitions, although there were certain things blameworthy, some who came to us reported that the city of Rome still labours under foolish anxiety and is so acting that, were it not for the intervention of our mildness, it would stir up for itself perils more certain out of doubtful suspicions. Hence judge to whom the empty fickleness of the peoples ought to be imputed, if not to your order, by whom all things ought to have been composed.
For through your wisdom all the provinces ought to have been admonished, that they should be proved to take up such things as would seem to adorn the beginnings of the prince. Truly, what city would not be excusable, if Rome has erred? The lesser thing runs to the example of the greater, and by the law of another's deed it sustains the odium, which sets an example for sins. But we render thanks to the Godhead, which has adorned its own gifts rather by your excesses. Behold, we pardon faults before we perceive any acts of devotion: we owe nothing, and yet we pay; we are first beneficent, that afterward we may be able to find men most grateful.