Letter 8017: The candidate before you, conscript fathers, possesses such an abundance of merits that we fear he will be thought...

XVII. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. [1] So great, conscript fathers, is the abundance of merits in the candidate, that we fear he may be thought to have been chosen too late rather than not approved by our judgment. For when our grandfather of divine memory was seeking out the best men, a more favorable fortune preserved this man unrewarded for us. He obeyed that ruler, he served him with much dutifulness, and it is established that he was left behind by a lord most lavish with benefits without any recompense. I believe the repayment of his merit was deferred, so that the occasion for granting it might become more fitting for us: for our affection by the law of nature joins itself together with his. It is fitting that what is established to have been bestowed upon the founder be paid by the heir. For why should our generosity put him off, when the custom of his own nobility was pressing him to advance? [2] His father was distinguished by his hand [in arms] and conspicuous for the highest nobility of character, a man whom neither the heat of wars rejected nor would tranquil leisure proclaim; strong in body, robust in friendship, he bore the antiquity of his age, and, the ages of Odovacar being cast off, he was enriched with illustrious honors. In those times he was held to be exceptional, even though no [worthy] prince had been raised up. [3] But why do we recall the ancient nobility of his forebears, when he shines with the neighboring light of his own brother? To have been joined to him not, I would say, by close kinship, but even by friendship, can be praiseworthy. He has so allied and bound himself to that man's virtues that it is rather uncertain which of the two is the more to be praised on account of the other. [4] That one excels in fidelity to friendships: but this one owes great constancy to his promises. That one likewise is empty of avarice: and this one is proved a stranger to greed. From this it comes that they know how to keep faith with kings, because they do not know how to practice treachery even among their equals. For there one's character is more easily proved, where nature is shown under [the condition of] liberty. How then should they not serve their lords in purity, who do not know how to have mocked their colleagues? [5] Chosen for these praises by his wife, he is reported to have been allied to the Basilian family, which for the most part comes about from merits, that one is able to be joined to the nobility. Examine in him, if you please, also his domestic life, because more often these signs have revealed industrious men to your ancestors. His private estate was managed with such moderation that it neither grew sordid through any stinginess nor again slipped away through excessive lavishness. [6] He bound the gentiles [Goths] to himself by his table and the Romans by his judgments, and where ingratitude for the most part comes from high offices, this man by arbitrating gathered friendships to himself. See what noble nature accomplishes. Born of judges, he acted as an arbiter, which can come about by no means except from uprightness of character. For the necessity of power generally compels men to obey the fasces [magistrates' authority]: only the integrity of one's verdicts makes men obey a private judge. Hence a voluntary judge seems to us to have more praise, since no one is chosen for the hearing except one who is reckoned to be just in his character. [7] Wherefore, conscript fathers, favor your own foster-sons and favor our judgments. For the second time he comes to your senate-house, one who both is born of a senator and is proved to have been honored with palace dignities.

XVII. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Tanta est, patres conscripti, in candidato copia meritorum, ut vereamur, ne tardius putetur electus quam non sit iudicio comprobatus. nam cum divae memoriae avus noster optimos viros exquireret, nobis eum inremuneratum prosperior fortuna servavit. illi paruit, illi multa officiositate servivit et a domino largissimo beneficiorum sine aliqua retributione constat esse derelictum. credo dilata est compensatio meriti, ut nobis aptior fieret causa praestandi: congenimat enim se pietas nostra lege naturae. condignum est ab herede solvi, quod collatum constat auctori. cur enim munificentia nostra eum differret, cum eum proficere consuetudo suae nobilitatis urgeret? [2] Pater huic manu clarus ac summa fuit morum nobilitate conspicuus, quem nec ferventia bella respuerunt et tranquilla otia praedicarent, corpore validus, amicitia robustus aevi antiquitatem gestabat, abiectis saeculis Odovacris ditatus claris honoribus. his temporibus habitus est eximius, cum princeps non esset erectus. [3] Sed quid antiquam parentum eius repetimus nobilitatem, cum vicina resplendeat luce germani? cuius non dicam proximitati, sed vel amicitiae coniunctum fuisse potest esse laudabile. huius virtutibus ita se sociavit atque conexuit, ut hoc potius sit incertum, qui magis praedicetur ex altero. [4] Amicitiis ille praestat fidem: sed magnam promissis debet iste constantiam. ille quoque avaritia vacuus: et iste a cupiditate probatur alienus. hinc est quod norunt regibus servare fidem, quia nesciunt vel inter aequales exercere perfidiam. ibi enim mores facilius probantur, ubi natura sub libertate monstratur. quomodo ergo sub puritate non serviant dominis, qui nesciunt illusisse collegis? [5] His laudibus electus a coniuge Basilianae sociatus fertur esse familiae, quod plerumque venit a meritis coniungi posse nobilibus. inspicite in eo, si placet, etiam familiarem vitam, quia saepius maioribus vestris viros industrios haec signa prodiderunt. res huic privata tanta fuit moderatione disposita, ut nec aliqua tenacitate sorderet nec iterum nimia effusione laberetur. [6] Gentiles victu, Romanos sibi iudiciis obligabat et unde ingratitudo dignitatibus plerumque venit, iste disceptando sibi amicitias colligebat. videte quid faciat nobilis natura. ex iudicibus natus arbitrum agebat, quod nisi ex morum probitate nulla potest contingere ratione. nam fascibus oboedire plerumque potestatis necessitas cogit: privato iudici parere sola sententiarum probitas facit. unde nobis plus laudis videtur habere voluntarius iudex, quando ad audientiam non eligitur nisi qui iustus esse moribus aestimatur. [7] Quapropter, patres conscripti, favete vestris alumnis et nostris favete iudiciis. secundo ad vestram curiam venit, qui et ex senatore natus est et aulicis dignitatibus probatur honoratus.