The Letters of Cassiodorus
of the work, now as always, being increased by the minute labour which
has to be expended on the production of the Beautiful.'
[Footnote 220: 'Et venis colludentibus illigata naturalem faciem
laudabiliter mentiantur.']
7. KING THEODORIC TO FELIX, VIR CLARISSIMUS.
This letter will be best understood by a reference to the following
pedigree:
N.
|
__________________________________________
| | |
FELIX = A daughter. NEOTHERIUS PLUTIANUS
[a spendthrift]. [a minor, whose
guardian is
Venantius].
[Sidenote: The inheritance of Plutianus.]
Apparently Felix is accused by Venantius, the guardian of his young
brother-in-law Plutianus, of having, on behalf of his wife, made an
unfair division of the family property (which had been originally
given to the father of these lads by Theodoric, as a reward for his
services). In doing this he has availed himself of the spendthrift
character of Neotherius, the elder brother, who was probably already
of age.
Felix is severely blamed, and ordered to hand over what he has
fraudulently appropriated to the official, who is charged with the
execution of this mandate.
Both are summoned to the 'Comitatus' of the King, that a fair division
may there be made between them.
8. KING THEODORIC TO AMABILIS, THE COLLECTOR (EXSECUTOR).
[Sidenote: The prodigality of Neotherius.]
In reference to this same matter of the wasted property of Plutianus.
It appears from this letter that Neotherius has been not merely a
spendthrift, but has been actuated by motives of passionate hatred to
his younger brother[221]. The King enlarges on his obligation to
protect the weak, and orders the officer to see that justice is done
according to the representations of Venantius, unless the other side
have any counter plea to allege, in which case 'ad nostrum venire
deproperet comitatum.'
[Footnote 221: 'Neotherium fratrem suum, affectum germanitatis
oblitum, _bona parvuli hostili furore lacerasse_.']
9. KING THEODORIC TO EUSTORGIUS, BISHOP OF MILAN.
[Sidenote: Offences charged against Ecclesiastics.]
'You will be glad to hear that we are satisfied that the Bishop of
Augusta [Turin or Aosta] has been falsely accused of betrayal of his
country. He is therefore to be restored to his previous rank. His
accusers, as they are themselves of the clerical order, are not
punished by us, but sent to your Holiness to be dealt with according
to the ecclesiastical tradition.'
[The reflections in this letter about the impropriety of believing
readily accusations against a Bishop[222], and the course adopted of
handing over the clerical false accusers to be dealt with by their
Bishop, have an obvious bearing on the great Hildebrandic
controversy. But as Dahn ('Koenige der Germanen' iii. 191) points out,
there is no abandonment by the King of the ultimate right to punish an
ecclesiastic.]
[Footnote 222: 'Nihil enim in tali honore temeraria cogitatione
praesumendum est, ubi si proposito creditur, etiam tacitus ab
excessibus excusatur. Manifesta proinde crimina in talibus vix capiunt
fidem. Quidquid autem ex invidia dicitur, veritas non putatur.']
10. KING THEODORIC TO BOETIUS[223], VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN.
[Footnote 223: If the MSS. are correctly represented in the printed
editions, the name of the author of the Consolation of Philosophy was
spelt Boetius in the Variae. There can be little doubt however that
Boethius is the more correct form, and this is the form given us in
the Anecdoton Holderi.]
[Sidenote: Frauds of the moneyers.]
The Horse and Foot Guards[224] seem to have complained that after
their severe labours they were not paid in solidi of full weight by
the 'Arcarius Praefectorum.'
[Footnote 224: Why are these called 'Domestici patres equitum et
peditum?']
Cassiodorus gives--
(1) Some sublime reflections in the true Cassiodorian vein on the
nature of Arithmetic, by which earth and the heavens are ruled.
(2) Some excellent practical remarks on the wickedness of clipping and
depreciating the currency.
The most interesting but most puzzling sentence in this letter is that
in which he says that 'the ancients wished that the _solidus_ should
consist of 6,000 _denarii_, in order that the golden coin like a
golden sun might represent the 6,000 years which are the appointed age
of the world.' But how can we reconcile this with any known solidus or
any known denarius? The solidus of Constantine (72 to the lb.) was
worth about twelve shillings. The reduced denarius of Diocletian was
probably worth one penny. At the very lowest (and most improbable)
computation it was worth at least a farthing, and even thus one would
only get 576 to a solidus. The earlier denarius, worth about
eightpence, clearly will not do; and the matter is made more difficult
by the fact that Cassiodorus is talking about the ancients (veteres),
whereas the solidus was a comparatively modern coin. It seems that
either Cassiodorus has some entirely wrong information as to the early
currency of Rome, or else that we have not yet got the clue to his
meaning.
This passage is quoted by Finlay ('Greece under the Romans,' p. 536,
ed. 1857), but the difficulty is not removed by his remarks.
11. KING THEODORIC TO SERVATUS, DUKE OF THE RAETIAS.
[Sidenote: Violence of the Breones.]
'It is your duty to repress all violence and injustice in the
Provinces over which you preside. Maniarius complains that his slaves
(mancipia) have been without any cause taken away from him by the
_Breones_ [a Raetian tribe dwelling near the pass of the Brenner], who
are continuing in peace the habits and maxims of war.
'If this proves to be a true complaint, see that justice is done, and
speedily.'
12. KING THEODORIC TO EUGENIUS (OR EUGENITES)[225], VIR ILLUSTRIS,
MAGISTER OFFICIORUM.
[Footnote 225: Perhaps the name really was Eugenes, -etis. See Var.
viii. 19, and Ennodii, Epist. iv. 26.]
[Sidenote: Bestowal of dignity of Magister Officiorum.]
'It is the glory of our reign to confer office on those who deserve
it.
'You are a learned man, and arrived long ago at the dignity of the
Quaestorship as a reward for your creditable exertions as an Advocate.
'One office leads to another: the tree of the fasces puts forth fresh
fasces; and we therefore have great pleasure in calling you now to the
dignity of Magister, bestowing upon you all the privileges which have
belonged to your predecessors in that office. Justify our choice by
your actions. You know, as one of our counsellors, what our standard
of righteousness is. A sort of religious holiness is required from
those who hold office under a righteous king[226].'
[Footnote 226: 'Pio principi sub quodam sacerdotio serviatur.' Cf.
Claudian, 'Nunquam libertas gratior exstat quam _sub rege pio_.']
13. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME.
[Sidenote: On the same subject.]
Announces the elevation of Eugenius (or Eugenites) to the post of
Master of the Offices, and recapitulates his past services and
character in nearly the same terms as the preceding letter. He is to
go from one office to another, 'even as the sun having shone one day,
rises in order to shine again on another. Even horses are stimulated
to greater speed by the shouts of men. But man is an animal peculiarly
fond of approbation. Do you therefore stimulate the new Master to all
noble deeds.'
[Notice this sentence about the Senate: 'Whatever is the flower of the
human race, the Senate ought to possess it: and as the citadel is the
crown of the city, so should your order be the ornament of all other
ranks.']
14. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS.
[Sidenote: Collection of 'Tertiae.']
'We have no objection to grant the petition of the inhabitants of
Cathalia (?), that their "Tertiae" shall be collected at the same time
as the ordinary tribute. What does it matter under what name the
"possessor" pays his contribution, so long as he pays it without
deduction? Thus they will get rid of the suspected name of "Tertiae,"
and our mildness will not be worried by their importunity.'
[See Dahn ('Koenige der Germanen' iii. 143), who decides that the
'Tertiae' was the pecuniary equivalent paid by the Roman possessor for
that portion of the _Sors Barbarica_ (the Gothic third of the lands
of Italy) which, for convenience sake, was left in the actual
occupation of Romans.]
15. KING THEODORIC TO FESTUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN.
[Sidenote: Looking after the interests of the absent.]
'We are glad to see that our good opinion of you is shared by your
neighbours, and that the Patrician Agnellus, going to Africa on our
business, has chosen you to defend his interests in his absence. No
one can give a higher proof of confidence than this. Look well after
the trust committed to you. There seems to be a peculiar temptation to
neglect the interests of the absent.'
16. KING THEODORIC TO JULIANUS, COMES PATRIMONII [probably 508].
[Sidenote: Remission of taxes. Hostile incursions.]
'It is an excellent investment to do a generous thing to our subjects.
The Apulian "Conductores" [farmers of the Royal domain] have
represented to us with tears that their crops have been burned by
hostile invaders [Byzantines?]. We therefore authorise you to deduct
at the next Indiction what shall seem the right proportion for these
losses from the amount due to us[227]. See, however, that our revenue
sustains no unnecessary loss. We are touched by the losses of the
suppliants, but we ought on the other hand to share their profits.'
[Footnote 227: 'Ut quantum eos minus vendidisse constiterit, de
reliquis primae indictionis habita moderatione detrahatis.']
17. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHIC AND ROMAN INHABITANTS OF DERTONA
(TORTONA).
[Sidenote: Fortification of camp near Dertona.]
'We have decided that the camp near you shall at once be fortified. It
is expedient to execute works of this kind in peace rather than in
war.
'The true meaning of _expeditio_ shows that the leader of a military
expedition should have an unencumbered mind.
'Do you therefore second our efforts by building good private houses,
in which you will be sheltered, while the enemy (whenever he comes)
will be in the worst possible quarters[228], and exposed to all the
severity of the weather.'
[Footnote 228: 'Durissimae mansiones.']
18. KING THEODORIC TO DOMITIANUS AND WILIAS.
[Sidenote: Statute of Limitations.]
'It is right that you, who are administering justice to the nations,
should learn and practise it yourselves. We therefore hasten to reply
to the question which you have asked [concerning the length of time
that is required to bestow a title by prescription]. If any Barbarian
usurper have taken possession of a Roman farm since the time when we,
through God's grace, crossed the streams of the Isonzo, when first the
Empire of Italy received us[229], and if he have no documents of title
[sine delegatoris cujusquam pyctacio] to show that he is the rightful
holder, then let him without delay restore the property to its former
owner. But if he shall be found to have entered upon the property
before the aforesaid time, since the principle of the thirty years'
prescription comes in, we order that the petition of the plaintiff
shall be dropped.
[Footnote 229: 'Ex quo, Deo propitio, Sonti fluenta transmisimus ubi
primum Italiae nos suscepit imperium.']
[Sidenote: Crimes of violence.]
'The assailant, as well as the murderer, of his brother, is to be