Letter 5034: VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 34

34. KING THEODERIC TO ABUNDANTIUS, PRAETORIAN PREFECT. [1] It has been brought to our notice by frequent report that Frontosus, a witness true to his own name [Frontosus suggesting brazen-faced], has squandered no small quantity of public money. We have caused him to be investigated by various judges with a just examination, lest perchance, as commonly happens, it were not the truth but envy that defamed him. He, having confessed everything, undertook that he was able to make repayment, if generous postponements were granted to him; but when these had frequently elapsed, forgetful of his promise he always presented himself unprepared at the appointed terms, not knowing indeed how to flee, yet ignorant of his own pledge, forgetful when he is left alone, trembling when he is held fast. He changes his words, he varies the terms agreed, and not content with a single character in what he has said, he is transformed into diverse appearances. [2] He deserves to be compared with the chameleon beast, which, similar in form to the small serpents, is distinguished only by its golden head, while its remaining limbs have the color of a whitish leek-green. As often as this creature encounters human gazes, since the swiftness of fleeing is denied to it, confounded by excessive timidity it changes its colors with manifold variety, so that it can be found now sea-blue, now purple, now leek-green, now dark blue. Hence it is a marvel to behold so many different things upon a single surface. [3] Not without reason do we say that he is similar to the pandian gem, in which a single radiance cannot contain itself: it ripples before the eyes with trembling flashes, while the stone is held motionless. For what you have just seen, presently you observe to be something else there, if you gaze longer: thus you believe that to have changed which you know has snatched itself away from no one. [4] When these transformations are weighed, the mind of Frontosus is found most similar to them, having no fidelity in what it says, containing as many varieties as it has uttered words: rightly to be associated with the fables of Proteus, who, suddenly seized, in no way retained the form of his own substance. For, in order to conceal the man, he either gnashed as a lion, or hissed as a serpent, or dissolved into flowing waters. [5] And because he is thus known, when you come to render your judgment, take care first of all that he make no promise, beware lest he agree to terms, because it is the way of a most fickle mind to promise easily what it does not arrange to fulfill. But whatever, with equity considered, he shall have been able to pay, let him now, held under constraint, repay without any delay, because after so many falsehoods he will be able to reckon up his own cunning, in which he recognizes that he has frequently deluded himself.

XXXIIII. ABUNDANTIO PPO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Frontosum sui nominis testem frequenti nobis insinuatione suggestum est pecuniae publicae decoxisse non minimam quantitatem. quem a diversis iudicibus fecimus iusta examinatione perquiri, ne forsitan, ut assolet, eum non veritas, sed infamaret invidia. ille omnia confessus reddere se posse constituit. si ei largae praeberentur indutiae: quibus frequenter emensis immemor prommisionis suae ad constituta semper imparatus occurrit, fugere quidem nescius, sed suae sponsionis ignarus, obliviosus cum relinquitur, trepidus cum tenetur. mutat verba, variat constituta nec in una dicti sui qualitate contentus diversis imaginibus immutatur. [2] Merito chamaeleonti bestiae conferendus, quae parvorum serpentium formae consimilis aureo tantum capite et reliquis membris subalbentis prasini colore distinguitur. haec quotiens humanos aspectus incurrerit, dum ei fugiendi velocitas denegatur, nimia timiditate confusa colores suos multifaria qualitate commutat, ut modo veneta, modo blattea, modo prasina, modo possit cyanea reperiri. unde mirum est in una superficie tot diversa conspicere. [3] Quam non immerito pandiae gemmae dicimus esse consimilem, in qua unus se fulgor non potest continere: fluctuat aspectibus tremulis, dum lapis teneatur immobilis. nam quod modo videris, mox aliud ibi, si amplius intuearis, advertis: sic mutatum credis, quod neminem eripuisse cognoscis. [4] His permutationibus aestimatis mens Frontosi simillima reperitur, quae dicti sui non habet fidem, quae tot varietates continet quot verba protulerit: Protei fabulis iure sociandus, qui subito comprehensus substantiae suae formam omnimodis non habebat. nam ut celaret hominem, aut leo frendebat aut sibilabat anguis aut in undas liquidas solvebatur. [5] Et quia sic notus est, cum facies ad tuum venire iudicium, primum agito, ne promittat, caveto ne constituat, quia levissimi animi mos est polliceri facile quae non disponit implere. quicquid autem persolvere considerata aequitate potuerit, constrictus sine aliqua dilatione iam reddat, quia post tot falsitates argutiae suae reputare poterit, quod se frequenter illusisse cognoscit.