Letter 10012: VARIAE, BOOK 10, LETTER 12

XII. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. [1] Lest anyone, conscript fathers, should suppose that we have exercised no consideration in the granting of honors, because after the distinctions of the consulship we now confer lesser ones afterward, the merits of the candidate have rather persuaded us that one already mature should not seem to receive nothing, who in his earliest youth is known to have received honors duly earned. For it would have been the mark of a grasping prince to enclose so great a span of life within a single honor, and for that very reason to bestow nothing further, because the man is known to have earned the highest already. Rather, let us grant all things mingled together: no rank is lesser, when it is well administered, since for the most part an office is seen to receive its reverence from the distinction of the person. These things, moreover, are then distinguished by degrees, when they have been assigned to different men. For whatever a man of consular rank has duly administered always retains its honor equally. So a greater river absorbs the names of lesser streams, and although your Tiber receives very many flowing waters, nevertheless it does not turn aside from its own name. [2] And therefore, may it be spoken with good fortune, we have granted to the illustrious and magnificent man, the patrician Maximus, the dignity of the office of primicerius, which is also called the office of domesticus, to be held from the fourteenth indiction, so that the moderate scale of the honor might grow by the merit of him who presides over it. For it is not right that what an Anicius holds should be called humble: a family proclaimed throughout the whole world, which is truly called noble, since uprightness of conduct does not depart from it. [3] But to these good things we add, conscript fathers, that the renowned favor of your family may be mingled with our most exalted kinship. Yet one man cannot claim this glory for himself alone, which we are shown to have conferred upon the Roman name. Render to my affection the fullest love. He is the more to be loved by his lord, who has deigned to bestow the name of parent upon his subject. [4] But it is just, conscript fathers, that he should stand dear, through whom such happy things have befallen you. Rejoice all together, and celebrate these nuptials with abundant gladness. Whence the name of all has profited, there the prayers of all ought to be. What entreaties could have demanded of me that which my own mind has granted by its own spontaneous deliberation, namely that we may truly be able to call men of your order parents, who are to be joined to us by the distinction of kinship?

XII. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE THEODAHADUS REX. [1] Ne quis nos, patres conscripti, in honoribus dandis non aestimet habuisse rationem, quod post insignia consulatus minora magis posterius conferamus. quin immo suaserunt nobis merita candidati, ne iam maturus nulla videretur sumere, qui primaevus emerita cognoscitur accepisse. avari quippe principis erat in uno honore spatia vitae tam magna concludere et ideo magis nihil praestare, quia prius cognoscitur summa meruisse. quin potius omnia miscue concedamus: nulla dignitas minor est, cum bene geritur, quando reverentiam plerumque actio videtur accipere de claritate personae. haec autem tunc sunt gradibus distincta, cum diversis fuerint attributa. nam honorem suum semper aequaliter retinet quicquid probe gesserit consularis. sic minorum fluminum vocabula maior amnis absorbet et quamvis plurima fluenta Tiberis vester excipiat, tamen a proprio nomine non declinat. [2] Et ideo, quod feliciter dictum sit, illustri viro atque magnifico patricio Maximo primiceriatus, qui et domesticatus nominatur, a quarta decima indictione gerendam tribuimus dignitatem, ut mediocritas honoris merito cresceret praesidentis. neque enim fas est humile dici quod gerit Anicius: familia toto orbe praedicata, quae vere dicitur nobilis, quando ab ea actionis probitas non recedit. [3] Sed his bonis addimus, patres conscripti, ut nostrae affinitati praecelsae clara familiae vestrae gratia misceatur. verum hanc gloriam non sibi tantum potest unus assumere, quam nos probamur Romano nomini contulisse. reddite affectui meo plenissimam caritatem. plus est amandus a domino, qui parentis nomen dignatus est praestare subiecto. [4] Sed aequum est, patres conscripti, ut carus existat, per quem vobis tam felicia contigerunt. exultate generaliter et has nuptias laetitia profusa celebrate. unde profecit nomen omnium, vota debent esse cunctorum. quae preces a me exigere potuerunt, quod meus animus spontanea deliberatione concessit, ut vestri ordinis viros parentes vere appellare possimus, qui nobis affinitatis claritate iungendi sunt?