The Letters of Cassiodorus
perennitatem praestat: haec jucunditates accumulat; et sicut praeter
ipsam creatura non extat, ita sine ipsa incommutabilem laetitiam
habere non praevalet.']
'We have indulged ourselves in a pleasant digression, because it is
always agreeable to talk of learning with the learned; but be sure to
get us that _Citharoedus_, who will go forth like another Orpheus to
charm the beast-like hearts of the Barbarians. You will thus both obey
us and render yourself famous.'
41. KING THEODORIC TO LUDUIN [CLOVIS], KING OF THE FRANKS.
[Sidenote: Victories of Clovis over the Alamanni.]
Congratulates him on his recent victories over the Alamanni. Refers to
the ties of affinity between them (Theodoric having married the sister
of Clovis). Clovis has stirred up the nation of the Franks, 'prisca
aetate residem,' to new and successful encounters. 'It is a memorable
triumph that the impetuous Alaman should be struck with such terror as
even to beg for his life. Let it suffice that that King with all the
pride of his race should have fallen: let it suffice that an
innumerable people should have been doomed either to the sword or to
slavery.'
He recommends (almost orders) Clovis not to touch the panic-stricken
refugees who have fled to the territory of Theodoric. Theodoric
himself has always found that those wars were prosperously waged which
were ended moderately.
Theodoric sends 'illum et illum' as ambassadors, to take certain
verbal counsels from himself, to bring this letter and carry back the
reply, and also to introduce the Citharoedus of whom we heard in the
preceding letter[274].
[Footnote 274: There are two allusions to the relationship between the
Kings: 'vestrae virtutis affinitate' (line 1), and 'ad parentum
vestrorum defensionem confugisse' (line 10).]
[The campaign of Clovis against the Alamanni, referred to in this
letter, is not mentioned by Gregory of Tours. Ennodius, however, in
his Panegyric on Theodoric, and Agathias in his History, make distinct
allusions to this event, and to Theodoric's reception of the
vanquished Alamanni in his own dominions, probably in the valleys of
Raetia.
This letter is very fully discussed by Von Schubert, at pp. 32-43 of
his 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen' (Strassburg, 1884). I may also refer
to 'Italy and her Invaders' iii. 390-91.
The date of the letter is probably about 504.]
BOOK III.
CONTAINING FIFTY-THREE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF
THEODORIC.
1. KING THEODORIC TO ALARIC, KING OF THE VISIGOTHS.
[Sidenote: Dissuades Alaric the Visigoth from war with the Franks.]
'Surrounded as you are by an innumerable multitude of subjects, and
strong in the remembrance of their having turned back Attila[275],
still do not fight with Clovis. War is a terrible thing, and a
terrible risk. The long peace may have softened the hearts of your
people, and your soldiers from want of practice may have lost the
habit of working together on the battlefield. Ere yet blood is shed,
draw back if possible. We are sending ambassadors to the King of the
Franks to try to prevent this war between our relatives; and the
ambassadors whom we are sending to you will go on to Gundibad, King of
the Burgundians, to get him to interpose on behalf of peace. Your
enemy will be mine also.'
[Footnote 275: 'Quamvis Attilam potentem reminiscamini Visigothorum
viribus inclinatum.']
[The battle of Vougle in which Alaric was overthrown by Clovis, was
fought in 507; but the date of this letter is probably 506 (Dahn's
date) rather than 507, as there were no doubt some premonitory
symptoms before the war broke out.
Binding i. 181 (_n._ 608), and Pallmann ii. 55 _n._ 1, and 135 _n._ 2,
incline to a date somewhat earlier even than 506, thinking that there
may have been earlier threatenings of war, which Theodoric succeeded
for the time in averting.
The earlier the date the better will it suit the allusion to Clovis
(and Alaric) as 'Regii _Juvenes_' in the following letter. Clovis was
born in 466, and was therefore 41 years of age at the battle of
Vougle.]
2. KING THEODORIC TO GUNDIBAD, KING OF THE BURGUNDIANS.
[Sidenote: Dissuades Gundibad from war.]
Repeats the arguments in iii. 1 about the ill effects of war on the
fortunes of all, and says that it is Theodoric's part to moderate the
angry impulses of 'regii juvenes.' It becomes them to reverence
'senes,' such as Theodoric and Gundibad, although they are themselves
in the balmy vigour of the flower of their age.
Sends two ambassadors ('illum atque illum') with letters and a verbal
message, hoping that the wisdom of Gundibad may reflect upon what they
say to him [perhaps too delicate a matter to be committed to writing],
and find some way of preserving peace.
[It is remarkable that in this letter Theodoric, who was probably only
52, if the date of it be 506, and who may have been a year or two
younger, speaks of himself along with Gundibad as a _senex_, and of
Clovis, who could hardly be more than twelve years his junior, as
_regius juvenis_. Perhaps this is partly due to the fact that
Cassiodorus speaks from his own point of view. To him, now about 26
years of age, Theodoric might seem to be fitly described as 'senex.'
See Binding i. 181-183 on this letter and the reasons why it produced
no effect on Gundibad. See also Dahn ii. 144.]
3. KING THEODORIC TO THE KINGS OF THE HERULI, WARNI (GUARNI), AND
THURINGIANS.
[Sidenote: Attempt to form a Teutonic coalition on behalf of Alaric.]
[On the same subject.] If Clovis succeeds in his unprovoked aggression
on Alaric, none of his neighbours will be safe. 'I will tell you just
what I think: he who inclines to act without law is prepared to shake
the kingdoms of all of us[276].'
[Footnote 276: Compare the state of Europe during the wars of the
French Revolution, as expressed by Tennyson:
'Again their ravening eagle rose,
In anger, wheel'd on Europe-shadowing wings,
And barking for the thrones of kings.']
'Remember how often Alaric's father Euric gave you presents and staved
off war from your borders. Repay to the son the kindness of the
father. I send you two ambassadors, and I want you to join your
representations to mine and Gundibad's, calling on Clovis to desist
from his attacks on Alaric and seek redress from the law of
nations[277], or else expect the combined attack of all of us, for
this quarrel is really the quarrel of us all.'
[Footnote 277: 'Et leges gentium quaerat.' But how was the law of
nations to be enforced?]
[The turn of the Thuringians to be swallowed up by the Frankish
Monarchy came in 531.
See on this letter Dahn, 'Koenige der Germanen' ii. 144 and 8 _n._ 2;
Pallmann ii. 55.]
4. KING THEODORIC TO LUDUIN (LUDWIG, OR CLOVIS), KING OF THE FRANKS.
[Sidenote: Desires Clovis to desist from war on Alaric.]
[On the same subject.] 'The affinities of kings ought to keep their
subjects from the plague of war. We are grieved to hear of the paltry
causes which are giving rise to rumours of war between you and our son
Alaric, rumours which gladden the hearts of the enemies of both of
you. Let me say with all frankness, but with all affection, just what
I think: "It is the act of a passionate man to get his troops ready
for action at the first embassy which he sends." Instead of that refer
the matter to our arbitration. It would be a delight to me to choose
men capable of mediating between you. What would you yourselves think
of me if I could hear unmoved of your murderous intentions towards one
another? Away with this conflict, in which one of you will probably be
utterly destroyed. Throw away the sword which you wield for _my_
humiliation. By what right do I thus threaten you? By the right of a
father and a friend. He who shall despise this advice of ours will
have to reckon us and our friends as his adversaries.
'I send two ambassadors to you, as I have to my son Alaric, and hope
that they may be able so to arrange matters that no alien malignity
may sow the seeds of dissension between you, and that your nations,
which under your fathers have long enjoyed the blessings of peace, may
not now be laid waste by sudden collision. You ought to believe him
who, as you know, has rejoiced in your prosperity. No true friend is
he who launches his associates, unwarned, into the headlong dangers of
war.'
5. KING THEODORIC TO IMPORTUNUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS AND PATRICIAN.
[Sidenote: Importunus promoted to the Patriciate.]
[Importunus was Consul in 509. This letter therefore probably belongs
to the early part of 510.]
'Noble birth and noble deeds meet in you, and we are therefore
bestowing on you an honour to which by age you are scarcely yet
entitled. Your father and uncle were especially noteworthy, the glory
of the Senate, men who adorned modern ages[278] with the antique
virtues, men who were prosperous without being hated. The Senate felt
their courage, the multitude their wisdom.
[Footnote 278: Notice the use of the word _modernus_ here, a
post-classical word, which apparently occurs first in Cassiodorus.]
'Therefore, being descended from such ancestors, and yourself
possessing such virtues, on laying down the Consular fasces, assume
the insignia of the Patriciate. Bind those fillets, which are
generally reserved for the hoary head, round your young locks, and by
your future actions justify my choice of you.'
6. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE ON IMPORTUNUS' ACCESSION TO THE
PATRICIATE.
[See preceding letter.]
[Sidenote: The same subject.]
'We delight to introduce new men to the Senate, but we delight still
more when we can bring back to that venerable body, crowned with fresh
honours, her own offspring[279]. And such is now my fortune in
presenting to you Importunus, crowned with the honours of the
Patriciate; Importunus, who is descended from the great stock of the
Decii, a stock illustrated by noble names in every generation, by the
favour of the Senate and the choice of the people. Even as a boy he
had a countenance of serene beauty, and to the gifts of Nature he
added the endowments of the mind. From his parents in household lays
he learned the great deeds of the old Decii. Once, at a great
spectacle, the whole school at the recitation of the Lay of the Decii
turned their eyes on Importunus, discerning that he would one day
rival his ancestors. Thus his widowed mother brought him up, him and
all his troop of brothers, and gave to the Curia as many Consulars as
she had sons[280]. All these private virtues I have discerned in him,
and now seal them with promotion to the Patriciate. At this act I call
on you specially to rejoice.'
[Footnote 279: 'Origo ipsa jam gloria est: laus nobilitati
connascitur. Idem vobis est dignitatis, quod vitae principium. Senatus
enim honor amplissimus vobiscum gignitur, ad quem vix maturis
aetatibus pervenitur.']
[Footnote 280: 'Et quot edidit familiae juvenes, tot reddidit curiae
consulares.']
7. KING THEODORIC TO THE VENERABLE JANUARIUS, BISHOP OF SALONA.
[Sidenote: Extortion by the Bishop of Salona.]
'The lamentable petition of John says that you have taken sixty tuns
of oil from him, and never paid him for them. It is especially
important that preachers of righteousness should be righteous
themselves. We cannot suppose that God is ignorant whence come the
offerings which we make before Him [and He must therefore hate robbery
for a burnt offering]. Pray enquire into this matter, and if the
complaint be well founded remedy it promptly. You who preach to us our
duty in great things should not be caught tripping in little ones.'
8. KING THEODORIC TO VENANTIUS, SENATOR, CORRECTOR OF LUCANIA AND
BRUTTII.
[Sidenote: Remissness of Venantius in collection of public revenue.]