Letter 9023: Consider, Senators, what we think of you -- that we choose for the highest dignities men of your own stock whom we...

23. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. [1] Consider, conscript fathers [senators], what we are to judge concerning you, when to the summits of the highest dignities we elevate men of your stock whom we have never seen, not out of any disdain born of negligence, but out of an honorable presumption in their nature. Let those matters come to examination which are thought to be uncertain: surely no one supposes that deliberation is needed where nothing ambiguous is found? [2] Our kindness indeed embraces all, but such men as these we proclaim upon the testimony of truth. Favor goes before, but an uncorrupted judgment follows after. For just as the body of the curia is one and the same to you, so you assemble into one with a praiseworthy purpose. That you have therefore loved good judgment is itself the proof, whence the increase of liberty and the adornment of our rule grows. The causes of things are always in their seed: the fruit, once brought forth, reveals its authors, and whatever we deserve from the divine power is gathered from a happy progeny. [3] Hence it is that we weigh with admiration the patrician Venantius, both rejoicing in his fruitful offspring and a father to so many consulars. For he reared children to be praised with no distinction among them, equal in the weight of their moderation, alike in the liveliness of their genius, and truly brothers in the fellowship of their character; whose infancy, nourished upon good arts, exercised their youth also in arms, forming their mind with letters and their limbs in the gymnasia: teaching them to show constancy to friends and faith to their lords; and whatever the divine favor granted to that man, you may discern transmitted to his descendants in entire perfection. Let others boast of a wealthy estate and think that riches alone are the highest good. But in this house the inheritance that is approached consists not only in patrimonies, but also in virtues. [4] This indeed is what truly makes men rich, since there can be no better profit than to have succeeded to the praises of one's elders. It has also been proved in him that nothing is wanting to good stewards. Restrained as to what is another's, distributing his own under moderation, and admirable with an unwonted praise, burdensome to no one, he has brought forth so many consulars. Let him, hearing these things, receive the fruit of his good deeds: let him recognize that he has as a herald one whom he has as a lord, and that among so many luminaries of the nobility he has been singularly praised. For if it adorns men to have received the palm-embroidered robe once, what is to be esteemed of him who deserves so many consulships in his sons? [5] And therefore, conscript fathers, we clothe your foster-son Paulinus in golden dignity, so that his youth, which shines with merits, may also be resplendent in the triumphal robe. This honor the family of the Decii does not wonder at, because their halls are full of laurelled fasces. To others this dignity falls but rarely: in this course of descent a consular is almost born. [6] Be favorable, therefore, conscript fathers, to our gifts and no less to your own candidate. For although you are all generally called fathers, to him you are also parents in a special way. Your name, derived from a likeness to care, confirms it by a most faithful designation of things, not by the transmitted use of a mere word, but by an honorable lot of birth. May the divine powers grant you this happiness in perpetuity, so that, although you bestow your favor upon strangers, you may rejoice more vigorously in your own progeny.

XXIII. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Quid, patres conscripti, de vobis iudicemus, expendite, ut ad summarum culmina dignitatum germinis vestri viros quos numquam vidimus eligamus, non fastidio neglegentiae, sed honorabili praesumptione naturae. ad examen veniant quae putantur incerta: num quis de illa re aestimet deliberandum, ubi nihil reperitur ambiguum? [2] Omnes quidem benignitas nostra complectitur, sed tales veritatis testimonio praedicamus. praecedit quidem gratia, sed sequitur incorrupta sententia. nam sicut idem curiae corpus est vobis, ita in unum laudabili proposito convenitis. vos ergo dilexisse iudicium est, unde libertatis augmentum et nostri imperii crescit ornatus. rerum causae semper in semine sunt: fructus editus prodit auctores et quicquid a divinitate meremur, de felici prole colligitur. [3] Hinc est quod patricium Venantium sub admiratione pensamus et fecunda prole gaudentem et tot consularibus patrem. educavit enim liberos nulla discretione laudandos, pondere moderationis aequales, ingenii vivacitate consimiles et morum societate vere germanos, quorum infantia bonis artibus enutrita iuventutem quoque armis exercuit, formans animum litteris, membra gymnasiis: tradens amicis exhibere constantiam, dominis fidem: et quicquid in illo viro gratia divina concessit, integra perfectione transmissum cernas in posteris. iactent se alii possessione locupleti summumque bonum solas putent esse divitias. in hac autem domo non tantum patrimoniis, sed et virtutibus aditur hereditas. [4] Hoc est profecto quod vere divites facit, quando nullum melius potest esse compendium quam laudibus successisse maiorum. probatum est etiam in eo bonis dispensatoribus nil deesse. alieni continens, propria sub moderatione distribuens et inusitata laude mirabilis, nulli gravis tot protulit consulares. recipiat haec audiens fructum bonorum: agnoscat se praeconem habere quem dominum et inter tot lumina procerum singulariter fuisse laudatum. nam si homines ornat semel accepisse palmatam, quid ille censendus est, qui tot meretur in filiis consulatus? [5] Et ideo, patres conscripti, alumnum vestrum Paulinum aurea dignitate vestimus, ut iuventus eius, quae fulget meritis, trabea quoque resplendeat triumphali. hunc honorem Deciorum familia non miratur, quia eorum plena sunt atria fascibus laureatis. aliis rara dignitas ista contingit: in hoc decursu generis paene nascitur consularis. [6] Favete ergo, patres conscripti, nostris muneribus et vestro nihilominus candidato. nam licet nuncupemini omnibus generaliter patres, huic etiam estis specialiter et parentes. nomen vestrum a curae similitudine derivatum fidelissima rerum appellatione confirmat, non translaticia usitatione vocabuli, sed honora sorte nascendi. cedant vobis hanc felicitatem divina perpetuam, ut licet gratiam praestetis exoticis, prole vestra vivacius gaudeatis.