Letter 8009: VARIAE, BOOK 8, LETTER 9

9. King Athalaric to Tuluin, illustrious man, patrician. [1] Although those whom the divine power has raised to the august summit are thereby made fit to govern peoples - since age is no impediment where the heavenly might pours itself in - nevertheless, for the relief of the cares of our most flourishing youth, it has seemed fitting to us to employ you, a most prudent man, you who are known to have adhered constantly and laudably to the deliberations of our lord grandfather as well. And if it was worthy that so great a man as he should make this appointment, how much more does it befit us to seek support, of which, on account of the flower of our adolescence, we may still becomingly stand in need! [2] For great and boundless is prudence, which no one so attains that he does not seem of necessity to seek it also through others. Old men themselves learn wisdom from counsels, and from mature men there is sought in common that which is handled for the advantage of all. Mature kings frequently bring to themselves a support for their cares, and from this they are reckoned the better, if they do not presume to do everything alone. But if long-lived lords are aided by the talents of their subjects, then prudently do we relax the brief holidays of our age, so that, increased by its own growth, it may rise up more prosperously and more robustly to bear the burdens of empire. [3] And therefore, with divine favor, we elevate you by present pronouncement to the rank of patrician, so that the lofty seat may exalt you as you deliberate on behalf of our commonwealth, lest the salutary judgment, which it is fitting should be humbly obeyed, should seem to have come from a common station. This is an honor which both befits arms and shines forth in peace: this is the honor which that wealthy Greece, which owed much to our most glorious lord grandfather, gratefully paid him in return: the garment of the chlamys [a Greek cloak] veiled his strong shoulders, that Roman boot adorned his calves, and he was seen to accept with dignity what he knew he was receiving as an honor. The eager longing to behold our hero grew among the eastern peoples, while - by some means I know not - in him who is believed to be warlike, the civil virtues are loved the more. [4] Content, therefore, with this recompense of honor, he labored with untiring devotion on behalf of foreign regions, and he, who had been begotten of the stock of so many kings, deigned to render obedience to the prince [emperor] together with his kinsmen. Thus do the benefactions of great men ever exalt themselves, so that they impose the dues of veneration even upon those whom they cannot command. Those advanced by their own increase always love its author, and they who are not bound by benefactions know nothing of the laws of morality. [5] But it is a long matter to speak sufficiently of his glory, whom the fruitful ages bore unique among the nations. His toil it was that trained you, so that we should have to toil the less. With you he conferred upon the certainties of peace, with you upon the uncertainties of war and - which is a singular gift among wise kings - he, anxious about all things, securely laid open to you the secrets of his breast. You, however, deceived none with ambiguous replies. [6] You loved patience in hearing, truth in counsel: often you corrected, out of zeal for the right, the things that had reached him falsely, and - which is a rare kind of confidence - sometimes you resisted against the wishes of the prince, yet on behalf of the ruler's good name. For that man, unconquered in battles, suffered himself to be overcome for the sake of his own fame, and to a just prince the reasonable opposition of an obedient man was sweet. [7] Now, raised higher, love justice, which you cherished while serving. Show yourself to be the disciple of him who never labored in vain: joined now to the Amal line, you have made the noblest deeds your companions. For kinship ought to counsel every good of a king. You will act with your accustomed prudence, so that you may be seen to have reached the lofty summit through the praise of your character. [8] There stands forth, of this Gothic people, an example of probity: that Gensimund, celebrated throughout the whole world, though made a son only by arms, joined himself to the Amals with such devotion that he displayed a scrupulous service to their heirs. Although he himself was sought for the kingship, he bestowed his merit upon others, and, the most moderate of all men, that which could have been conferred upon himself he displayed to little children. And therefore the report of our people celebrates him: he lives ever in narrations, who once despised the things that were to die. Thus, as long as the name of the Goths survives, his praise is borne abroad by the testimony of all. Whence it is right to believe better things of you, who are known to rejoice in kinship with our race.

VIIII. TULUIN V. I. PATRICIO ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Licet ad regendos populos idoneos efficiant, quos ad augustum culmen divina provexerint — quando nec aetas impedit, ubi sese potentia caelestis infundit —, tamen ad relevandam florentissimae nostrae aetatis sollicitudinem visum est te virum prudentissimum convenienter adhibere, quem constat etiam domni avi nostri tractatibus iugiter et laudabiliter adhaesisse. quod si dignum fuit hoc illum talem tantumque facere, quanto magis nobis convenit solacium quaerere, quod pro adulescentiae flore decenter adhuc possumus indigere! [2] Magna est enim infinitaque prudentia, quam nemo sic assequitur, ut eam non necessarie et per alios quaerere videatur. senes ipsi consiliis sapientiam discunt et a maturis in commune quaeritur quod pro omnium utilitate tractatur. solacium curarum frequenter sibi adhibent maturi reges et hinc meliores aestimantur, si soli omnia non praesumunt. quod si longaevi domini subiectorum ingeniis adiuvantur, consulte relaxamus aetatis nostrae breves ferias, ut suis incrementis aucta prosperius robustior ad imperii pondera sustinenda consurgat. [3] Atque ideo te cum favore divino suggestu praesentalis patriciatus evehimus, ut pro re publica nostra tractantem sedes celsa sublimet ne sententia salutaris, cui decet humiliter pareri, a loco videatur venisse communi. hic est honor, qui et armis convenit et in pace resplendet: hunc illa dives Graecia, quae multa gloriosissimo domno avo nostro debuit, gratificata persolvit: velavit fortes humeros chlamydum vestis, pinxit suras eius calceus iste Romanus et dignanter visus est accipere, quod se cognoscebat sumere per honorem. crescebat visendi studium eois populis heroam nostrum, dum nescio quo pacto in eo, qui bellicosus creditur, civilia plus amantur. [4] Hac igitur honoris remuneratione contentus pro exteris partibus indefessa devotione laboravit et praestare cum suis parentibus principi dignabatur obsequium, qui tantorum regum fuerat stirpe procreatus. sic se magnorum beneficia semper extollunt, ut et quibus imperare nequeunt, iura venerationis imponant. diligunt crementi sui provecti semper auctorem et moralitatis iura nesciunt, qui beneficiis non tenentur. [5] Sed longum est de eius gloria sufficienter loqui, quem singularem gentibus saecula fecunda genuerunt. ipsius te labor instituit, ut nos minus laborare debeamus. tecum pacis certa, tecum belli dubia conferebat et, quod apud sapientes reges singulare munus est, ille sollicitus ad omnia secure tibi pectoris pandebat arcana. tu tamen nullos responsis ludebas ambiguis. [6] Amasti in audiendo patientiam, in suggestione veritatem: saepe quae ad eum falso pervenerant, recti studio corrigebas et, quod rarum confidentiae genus est, interdum resistebas contra vota principis, sed pro opinione rectoris. patiebatur enim invictus ille proeliis pro sua fama superari et dulcis erat iusto principi rationabilis contrarietas obsequentis. [7] Ama nunc sublimior iustitiam, quam serviens diligebas. ostende te illius esse discipulum, qui numquam laboravit in cassum: iunctus Hamalo generi nobilissima tibi facta consocia. omne siquidem bonum regis suadere debet affinitas. acturus es consueta prudentia, ut laude morum fastigium contigisse videaris excelsum. [8] Extat gentis Gothicae huius probitatis exemplum: Gensimundus ille toto orbe cantabilis, solum armis filius factus, tanta se Hamalis devotione coniunxit, ut heredibus eorum curiosum exhibuerit famulatum. quamvis ipse peteretur ad regnum, impendebat aliis meritum suum et moderatissimus omnium quod ipsi conferri poterat, ille parvulis exhibebat. atque ideo eum nostrorum fama concelebrat: vivit semper relationibus, qui quandoque moritura contempsit. sic quamdiu nomen superest Gothorum, fertur eius cunctorum adtestatione praeconium. unde fas est de te meliora credere, quem nostri constat generis affinitate gaudere.