The Letters of Cassiodorus
31. KING THEODORIC TO THE DROMONARII [ROWERS IN EXPRESS-BOATS].
[Sidenote: State Galleys on the Po.]
'Those who claim the title of "militia" ought to serve the public
advantage. We have therefore told the Count of Sacred Largesses that
you are to assemble at Hostilia [on the Padus, about fifteen miles
east of Mantua], there to receive pay from our Treasury, and then to
relieve the land postal-service (veredarii) by excursions up and down
the channel of the Padus. There is no fear of _your_ limping; you walk
with your hands. No fear of _your_ carriages wearing out; they travel
over liquid roads, and suffer no wear and tear because they are borne
along upon the wave which itself runs with them.'
32. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME.
[Sidenote: Drainage of marshes of Decennonium.]
'We always enjoy rewarding public spirit. Decius, Magnificus and
Patrician, has most nobly volunteered to drain the marsh of
Decennonium, where the sea-like swamp, accustomed to impunity through
long licence, rushes in and spoils all the surrounding lands.
'We, in consideration of so great an undertaking, determine to secure
to him the fruits of his labour, and we therefore wish that you,
Conscript Fathers, should appoint a commission of two to visit the
spot and mark out the ground, which is at present wasted by the
inundations, that this land may be secured to Decius as a permanent
possession when he has drained it.'
[The Palus Decennonii is undoubtedly connected with the Decennovial
Canal mentioned by Procopius ('De Bello Gotth.' i. 11), and so called
because it flowed for nineteen miles alongside the Appian Way. In the
Piazza at Terracina there is a very interesting inscription, recording
the fact that Theodoric had ordered that nineteen miles of the Appian
Way should be cleared of the waters which had accumulated round it,
and had committed the work to Caecina Maurus Basilius Decius, 'Vir
Clarissimus et Illustris, Ex-Praefectus Urbi, Ex-Praefectus Praetori,
Ex-Consul Ordinarius et Patricius.' See 'Italy and her Invaders' iii.
348.]
33. KING THEODORIC TO DECIUS, ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN.
[Sidenote: The same subject.]
The complement of the foregoing letter, about the drainage of the
marshes of Decennonium, which are hereby granted to him, apparently
'sine fisco,' tax-free.
[But the meaning may be, 'the marshes which you drain _sine
fisco_'--without help from the Treasury.]
The chief point of difference between this and the previous letter is
that here Decius is allowed and encouraged to associate partners with
him in the drainage-scheme, whom he is to reward according to their
share of the work. Thus will he be less likely to sink under the
enterprise, and he will also lessen men's envy of his success.
34. KING THEODORIC TO ARTEMIDORUS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY.
[Sidenote: Embezzlement of City building funds.]
'The persons to whom money was entrusted for the rebuilding of the
walls of Rome have been embezzling it, as was proved by your
examination of their accounts (discussio). We are very glad that you
have not hidden their misconduct from us (inclined as a generous mind
is to cover up offences), since you would thereby have made yourself
partaker of their evil deeds. They must restore that which they have
dishonestly appropriated, but we shall not (as we might fairly do)
inflict upon them any further fine. We are naturally inclined to
clemency, and they will groan at having to give up plunder which they
had already calculated upon as their own.'
35. KING THEODORIC TO TANCILA, SENATOR.
[We have here another Senator with a Gothic name].
[Sidenote: Theft of brazen statue at Como.]
'We are much displeased at hearing that a brazen statue has been
stolen from the City of Como. It is vexatious that while we are
labouring to increase the ornaments of our cities, those which
Antiquity has bequeathed to us should by such deeds be diminished.
Offer a reward of 100 aurei (L60) to anyone who will reveal the author
of this crime; promise pardon [to an accomplice], and if this does not
suffice, call all the workmen together "post diem venerabilem" [Does
this mean on the day after Sunday?], and enquire of them "sub terrore"
[by torture?] by whose help this has been done. For such a piece of
work as moving this statue could only have been undertaken by some
handicraftsman.'
36. EDICT ABOUT THE STATUE AT COMO.
[Refers to previous letter.]
[Sidenote: The same subject.]
'Though impunity for the crime should be sufficient reward, we promise
100 aurei, as well as forgiveness for his share in the offence, to
anyone who will reveal the author of the theft of the statue at Como.
A golden reward for a brazen theft. Anyone not accepting this offer
and afterwards convicted will suffer the extreme penalty of the law.'
37. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT.
[Sidenote: Largesse to citizens of Spoleto.]
'As our Kingdom and revenues prosper, we wish to increase our
liberality. Let your Magnificence therefore give to the citizens of
Spoletium another "millena" for extraordinary gratuitous admissions to
the baths[269]. We wish to pay freely for anything that tends to the
health of our citizens, because the praise of our times is the
celebration of the joys of the people.'
[Footnote 269: 'Ad exhibitionem thermarum supra consuetudinem.']
[The 'millena' probably means 1,000 solidi, or L600.]
38. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT.
[Sidenote: Immunity from taxation. Hostile ravages.]
'We have no pleasure in gains which are acquired by the misery of our
subjects. We are informed that the merchants of the city of Sipontum
[in Apulia] have been grievously despoiled by hostile incursions
[probably by the Byzantine fleet in 508]. Let your Magnificence
therefore see to it that they are for two years not vexed by any
claims for purveyance (coemptio) on the part of our Treasury. But
their other creditors must give them the same indulgence.'
39. KING THEODORIC TO ALOISIUS THE ARCHITECT.
[Sidenote: Hot springs of Aponum.]
'The fountain of Aponus--so called originally in the Greek language as
being the remover of pain[270]--has many marvellous and beneficial
properties, for the sake of which the buildings round it ought to be
kept in good repair. One may see it welling up from the bowels of the
earth in spherical form, under a canopy of steam. From this parent
spring the waters, glassy-clear and having lost their first
impetuosity, flow by various channels into chambers prepared for them
by nature but made longer by art. In the first, when the boiling
element dashes against the rock, it is hot enough to make a natural
sudatorium; then it cools sufficiently for the tepidarium; and at
last, quite cold, flows out into a fish-pond like that of Nero.
Marvellous provision of Nature, whereby the opposing elements, fire
and water, are joined in harmonious union and made to soothe the pain
and remove the sickness of man! Yet more wonderful is the moral purity
of this fountain. Should a woman descend into the bath when men are
using it, it suddenly grows hotter, as if with indignation that out of
its abundant supply of waters separate bathing-places should not be
constructed for the two sexes, if they wish to enjoy its bounty[271].
Moreover, those secret caves, the bowels of the mountains from whence
it springs, have power even to judge contentious business. For if any
sheep-stealer presumes to bring to it the fleece of his prey, however
often he may dip it in the seething wave, he will have to boil it
before he succeeds in cleansing it.
[Footnote 270: [Greek: aponos].]
[Footnote 271: I think this is Cassiodorus' meaning, but his language
is obscure.]
'This fountain then, as we before said, deserves a worthy habitation.
If there be anything to repair in the _thermae_ themselves or in the
passages (cuniculi), let this be done out of the money which we now
send you. Let the thorns and briers which have grown up around it be
rooted up. Let the palace, shaken with extreme old age, be
strengthened by careful restoration. Let the space which intervenes
between the public building and the source of the hot-spring be
cleared of its woodland roughness, and the turf around rejoice in the
green beauty which it derives from the heated waters.'
[The hot-springs of Abano, the ancient Aponum, are situated near the
Euganean Hills, and are about six miles from Padua. The heat of the
water varies from 77 deg. to 185 deg. (Fahr.). The chief chemical ingredients
are, as stated by Cassiodorus, salt and sulphur. Some of the minute
description of Cassiodorus (greatly condensed in the above abstract)
seems to be still applicable; but he does not mention the mud-baths
which now take a prominent place in the cure. On the other hand, the
wonderful moral qualities of the spring are not mentioned by modern
travellers.]
40. KING THEODORIC TO BOETIUS THE PATRICIAN.
[Sidenote: Boetius to choose a harper for the King of the Franks.]
'The King of the Franks [Clovis] has asked us to send him a harper. We
felt that in you lay our best chance of complying with his request,
because you, being such a lover of music yourself, will be able to
introduce us to the right man.'
Reflections on the nature of music. She is the Queen of the senses;
when she comes forth from her secret abiding place all other thoughts
are cast out. Her curative influence on the soul.
The five tones: the Dorian[272], influencing to modesty and purity;
the Phrygian to fierce combat; the Aeolian to tranquillity and
slumber; the Ionian (Jastius), which sharpens the intellect of the
dull and kindles the desire of heavenly things; the Lydian, which
soothes the soul oppressed with too many cares.
[Footnote 272: Cf. Milton:
'To the Dorian mood
Of flutes and soft recorders; such as rais'd
To highth of noblest temper heroes old
Arming to battle, and instead of rage
Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd
With dread of death to flight or foul retreat.']
We distinguish the highest, middle, and lowest in each tone, obtaining
thus in all fifteen tones of artificial music.
The diapason is collected from all, and unites all their virtues.
Classical instances of music:
Orpheus.
Amphion.
Musaeus.
The human voice as an instrument of music. Oratory and Poesy as
branches of the art.
The power of song: Ulysses and the Sirens.
David the author of the Psalter, who by his melody three (?) times
drove away the evil spirit from Saul.
The lyre is called 'chorda,' because it so easily moves the hearts
(corda) of men.
As the diadem dazzles by the variegated lustre of its gems, so the
lyre with its divers sounds.
The lyre, the loom of the Muses.
Mercury, the inventor of the lyre, is said to have derived the idea of
it from the harmony of the spheres. This astral music, apprehended by
reason alone, is said to form one of the delights of heaven. 'If
philosophers had placed that enjoyment not in sweet sounds but in the
contemplation of the Creator, they would have spoken fitly; for there
is truly joy without end, eternity abiding for ever without weariness,
and the mere contemplation of the Divinity produces such happiness
that nothing can surpass it. This Being furnishes the true
immortality; this heaps delight upon delight; and as outside of Him no
creature can exist, so without Him changeless happiness cannot
be[273].
[Footnote 273: 'Bene quidem arbitrati, si causam celestis beatitudinis
non in sonis sed in Creatore possuissent; ubi veraciter sine fine
gaudium est, sine aliquo taedio manens semper aeternitas: et inspectio
sola Divinitatis efficit, ut beatius esse nil possit. Haec veraciter