Letter 3006: King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome.

VI. KING THEODERIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. [1] It is indeed pleasing to us, conscript fathers, to raise new persons to the heights of honors. It delights us to set men of foreign stock into the bosom of Liberty, so that the hall of the senate may put forth foliage with diverse virtues. For such a multitude adorns the assembly and renders the public face glad by an honored throng. But it is approved by us as much more acceptable whenever we restore dignities to those who are born of that very distinction of the curia, because our scrutinies are not anxious about you, since you transmit goods already adjudged, you who bestow merits together with the light. The very origin is already glory: praise is born together with nobility. The same thing is for you the beginning of dignity as of life. For the most ample honor of the senate is begotten along with you, an honor to which one scarcely arrives at mature ages. [2] Although we judge this truly concerning all of you, so that the favor of the senators may embrace the genius of the order, most of all the blood of the Decii shines upon the lights of our Serenity, which for so many continuous years gleams with a like brightness of virtue: and although glory is rare, it is not perceived as varied in so long a lineage. In its own ages the noble vein brings forth men of the first rank: from it nothing knows how to be born mediocre; as many approved as begotten, and, what arises with difficulty, a choice abundance. Behold, from one seed there sprouts a fourfold honor, the honor of citizens, the glory of the line, the increase of the senate; and although they shine with a sharing of merits, you will nevertheless find one whom you may praise for his own qualities. [3] Look indeed upon the young man through the grace of his form, more pleasing by the beauty of his mind. He reflects in his face the distinction of his blood, the nature of his spirit is revealed through his countenance, and by the serenity of his body he wipes away even the clouds of the mind. But these goods of nature he has adorned with the insignia of letters, so that, polished as it were on the whetstone of the great arts, he might shine the more in the inner chambers of the mind. In the books of the ancients he came to know the Decii of old, and his noble progeny living by the benefit of a glorious death. [4] Most happy indeed is the labor of studies, to whom it fell to learn the song of the ancients through his own parents and to instruct the beginnings of his tender breast from ancestral praise. It is pleasing to relate with how great a spectacle then the gaze of the whole school was turned upon him: as if it were hearing the parent, it presently directed itself, seeking the heir, but it, which had known the author speak, could approve it through the likenesses of this one. [5] For just as an unworthy posterity denies the praises of an ancient line, so it confirms the excellent things excellently said about the fathers. Everything that is read about these is believed, while the present vein of virtues taught the heralding of the ancients, with the flame of talents glowing warm again in the workshop of the lecture-hall. By these examples indeed he was formed, but by domestic commands he was more happily brought forth. [6] For with the marital solace withdrawn, his glorious mother took up the burden of governing, whom neither the ample care of the patrimony nor the guardianship of so many sons could disturb. She nourished them with nourishments, increased them with patrimonies, adorned them with honors, and as many young men as she gave forth to the family, so many consulars she rendered to the curia. This therefore our sense, a searcher of characters, has inspected, which also seeks out the good of domestic virtue, so that among private things it ought to bestow praised public ornaments. [7] And therefore, conscript fathers, we have granted the summit of the patriciate to the illustrious and magnificent man Importunus, so that your company, just as it sprouts by the lot of birth, so also may be able to be increased by the fasces. Spend your favor upon the parent, unite your votes: it is your own natural quality which we approve. You have indeed something for which you may attribute to yourselves an ingenious praise, if out of love of your kinships you make the judgment public, and what is paid out for natural affection may be reckoned as conferred upon our commands.

VI. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE THEODERICUS REX. [1] Gratum quidem nobis est, patres conscripti, personae novas ad honorum celsa perducere. delectat peregrini germinis viros gremio Libertatis inserere, ut variis frondescat senatus aula virtutibus. ornat enim talis multitudo conventum et laetam reddit faciem publicam honorata frequentia. sed multo nobis probatur acceptius, quotiens dignitatibus reddimus qui de ipsa curiae claritate nascuntur, quia non sunt de vobis examina nostra sollicita, dum praeiudicata bona transfunditis qui merita cum luce praestatis. origo ipsa iam gloria est: laus nobilitati connascitur. idem vobis est dignitatis quod vitae principium. senatus enim honor amplissimus vobiscum gignitur, ad quem vix maturis aetatibus pervenitur. [2] Haec licet de vobis omnibus veraciter iudicemus, ut ordinis genium complectatur gratia senatorum, maxime serenitatis nostrae luminibus Deciorum sanguis irradiat, qui tot annis continuis similis splendet claritate virtutis: et quamvis rara sit gloria, non agnoscitur in tam longo stemmate variata. saeculis suis producit nobilis vena primarios: nescit inde aliquid nasci mediocre: tot probati quot geniti, et, quod difficile provenit, electa frequentia. en pullulat ex uno germine quadrifarium decus, honor civium, gloria generis, augmentum senatus, qui quamvis fulgeant communione meritorum, invenies tamen quem possis laudare de propriis. [3] Respicite certe iuvenem per formae gratiam, mentis pulchritudine plus placentem. refert facie sanguinis decus, proditur animi natura per vultum et serenitate corporis nubila quoque mentis abstergit. verum haec naturae bona litterarum decoravit insignibus, ut cote magnarum artium detersus mentis penetralibus plus luceret. in libris veterum Decios cognovit antiquos nobilemque progeniem gloriosae mortis beneficio viventem. [4] Felicissimus profecto studiorum labor, cui priscorum carmen contigit discere per parentes et de avita laude primordia teneri pectoris erudire. libet referre quam magno tunc spectaculo totius scholae in eum convertebatur aspectus: quasi cam audiret parentem, illa mox intendebat heredem quaerens, at quae auctorem cognoverat dicere, per huius posset similitudines approbare. [5] Nam sicut indigna posteritas laudes antiqui generis abnegat, ita praeclara de patribus egregie dicta confirmat. creditum est de his omne quod legitur, dum praeconia veterum praesens docuit vena virtutum, in auditorii officina ingeniorum flamma recalente. his quidem formabatur exemplis, sed domesticis felicius producebatur imperiis. [6] Subtracto enim solacio maritali onus regendi mater gloriosa suscepit, quam nec ampla patrimonii cura nec tot filiorum potuit turbare custodia. aluit nutrimentis, auxit patrimoniis, ornavit honoribus et quot edidit familiae iuvenes, tot reddidit curiae consulares. haec igitur rimator morum noster sensus inspexit, qui etiam bonum domesticae virtutis inquirit, ut inter privata laudatis publica debeat ornamenta largiri. [7] Atque ideo, patres conscripti, illustri et magnifico viro Importuno patriciatus culmen indulsimus, ut vester coetus, sicut pullulat sorte nascendi, ita et fascibus possit augeri. impendite parenti gratiam, adunate sententias: vestra est indoles, quam probamus. habetis certe quod vobis ingeniosa laude tribuatis, si amore necessitudinum publicum faciatis esse iudicium et quod pro naturae caritate dependitur, collatum nostris iussionibus aestimetur.