The Letters of Cassiodorus
'In old days the supreme reward of the Consulship was given to him
who, by his strong right hand, had delivered the Republic. The mantle
embroidered with palms of victory[423], the privilege of giving his
name to the year and of enfranchising the slave, even power over the
lives of his fellow-citizens, were rightly given to a man to whom the
Republic owed so much. He received the axe--the power of life and
death--but bound up in the bundle of rods, in order that the necessary
delay in undoing these might prevent him from striking the irrevocable
stroke without due consideration. Whence also he received the name of
Consul, because it was his duty to _consult_ for the good of his
country. He was bound to spend money freely; and thus he who had shed
the blood of the enemies of Rome made the lives of her children happy
by his generosity.
[Footnote 423: 'Palmata vestis.']
'But now take this office under happier circumstances, since we have
the labours of the Consul, you the joys of his dignity. Your
palm-embroidered robes therefore are justified by our victories, and
you, in the prosperous hour of peace, confer freedom on the slave,
because we by our wars are giving security to the Romans. Therefore,
for this Indiction, we decorate you with the ensigns of the
Consulship.
'Adorn your broad shoulders[424] with the variegated colours of the
palm-robe; ennoble your strong hand with the sceptre of victory[425].
Enter your private dwelling having even your sandals gilded; ascend
the curule chair by the many steps which its dignity requires: that
thus you, a subject and at your ease, may enjoy the dignity which we,
the Ruler, assumed only after mightiest labours. You enjoy the fruit
of victory who are ignorant of war; we, God helping us, will reign; we
will consult for the safety of the State, while your name marks the
year. You overtop Sovereigns in your good fortune, since you wear the
highest honours, and yet have not the annoyances of ruling. Wherefore
pluck up spirit and confidence. It becometh Consuls to be generous. Do
not be anxious about your private fortune, you who have elected to win
the public favour by your gifts. It is for this cause [because the
Consul has to spend lavishly during his year of office] that we make a
difference between your dignity and all others. Other magistrates we
appoint, even though they do not ask for the office. To the Consulship
we promote only those who are candidates for the dignity, those who
know that their fortunes are equal to its demands; otherwise we might
be imposing a burden rather than a favour. Enjoy therefore, in a
becoming manner, the honour which you wished for. This mode of
spending money is a legitimate form of canvassing[426]. Be illustrious
in the world, be prosperous in your own life, leave an example for the
happy imitation of your posterity.'
[Footnote 424: 'Pinge vastos humeros vario colore palmatae.']
[Footnote 425: 'Validam manum victoriali scipione nobilita.']
[Footnote 426: 'Hic est ambitus qui probatur;' or, 'allowable
bribery.']
2. FORMULA OF THE PATRICIATE.
[Sidenote: Patriciate.]
'In olden times the Patricians were said to derive their origin from
Jupiter, whose priests they were. Mythology apart, they derived their
name from _Patres_, the dignity of priest having blended itself with
that of Senator.
'The great distinction of the Patriciate is that it is a rank held
_for life_, like that of the priesthood, from which it sprang. The
Patrician takes precedence of Praefects and all other dignities save
one (the Consulship), and that is one which we ourselves sometimes
assume.
'Ascend then the pinnacle of the Patriciate. You may have yet further
honours to receive from us, if you bear yourself worthily in this
station.'
3. FORMULA OF THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECTURE.
[On account of the importance of the office a translation of the whole
formula is here attempted, though with some hesitation on account of
its obscure allusions.]
[Sidenote: Praetorian Praefecture.]
'If the origin of any dignity can confer upon it special renown and
promise of future usefulness, the Praetorian Praefecture may claim
this distinction, illustrated as its establishment was by the wisdom
of this world, and also stamped by the Divine approval. For when
Pharaoh, King of Egypt, was oppressed by strange visions of future
famine, there was found a blessed man, even Joseph, able to foretell
the future with truth, and to suggest the wisest precautions for the
people's danger. He first consecrated the insignia of this dignity; he
in majesty entered the official chariot[427], raised to this height of
honour, in order that his wisdom might confer blessings on the people
which they could not receive from the mere power of the Ruler.
[Footnote 427: 'Ipse carpentum reverendus ascendit.' The _carpentum_
was one great mark of the dignity of the Praetorian Praefect, as of
his inferior, the Praefectus Urbis.]
'From that Patriarch is this officer now called _Father of the
Empire_; his name is even to-day celebrated by the voice of the crier,
who calls upon the Judge to show himself not unworthy of his example.
Rightly was it felt that he to whom such power was committed should
always be thus delicately reminded of his duty.
'For some prerogatives are shared in common between ourselves and the
holder of this dignity. [The next sentence[428] I leave untranslated,
as I am not sure of the meaning. Manso (p. 343) translates it, 'He
forces fugitives from justice, without regard to the lapse of time, to
come before his tribunal.'] He inflicts heavy fines on offenders, he
distributes the public revenue as he thinks fit, he has a like power
in bestowing rights of free conveyance[429], he appropriates unclaimed
property, he punishes the offences of Provincial Judges, he pronounces
sentence by word of mouth [whereas all other Judges had to read their
decisions from their tablets].
[Footnote 428: 'Exhibet enim sine prescriptione longinquos.']
[Footnote 429: 'Evectiones,' free passes by the _Cursus Publicus_.]
'What is there that he has not entrusted to him whose very speech is
Judgment? He may almost be said to have the power of making laws,
since the reverence due to him enables him to finish law-suits without
appeal.
'On his entrance into the palace he, like ourselves, is adored by the
assembled throng[430], and an office of such high rank appears to
excuse a practice which in other cases would be considered matter for
accusation[431].
[Footnote 430: 'Ingressus palatium nostra consuetudine frequenter
adoratur.' We know from Lydus (De Mag. ii. 9) that the highest
officers of the army _knelt_ at the entrance of the Praetorian
Praefect. Perhaps we need not infer from this passage that Oriental
_prostration_ was used either towards Theodoric or his Praefect.]
[Footnote 431: 'Et tale officium morem videtur solvere, quod alios
potuit accusare.']
'In power, no dignity is his equal. He judges everywhere as the
representative of the Sovereign[432]. No soldier marks out to him the
limits of his jurisdiction, except the official of the Master of the
Soldiery. I suppose that the ancients wished [even the Praefect] to
yield something to those who were to engage in war on behalf of the
Republic.
[Footnote 432: 'Vice sacra ubique judicat.']
'He punishes with stripes even the Curials, who are called in the laws
a Lesser Senate.
'In his own official staff (officium) he is invested with peculiar
privileges; since all men can see that he lays his commands on men of
such high quality that not even the Judges of Provinces may presume to
look down upon them. The staff is therefore composed of men of the
highest education, energetic, strong-minded[433], intent on prompt
obedience to the orders of their head, and not tolerating obstruction
from others. To those who have served their time in his office, he
grants the rank of Tribunes and Notaries, thus making his attendants
equal to those who, mingled with the chiefs of the State, wait upon
our own presence.
[Footnote 433: 'Officium plane geniatum, efficax, instructum et tota
animi firmitate praevalidum.']
'We joyfully accomplish that which he arranges, since our reverence
for his office constrains us to give immediate effect to his decrees.
He deserves this at our hands, since his forethought nourishes the
Palace, procures the daily rations of our servants, provides the
salaries even of the Judges themselves[434]. By his arrangements he
satiates the hungry appetites of the ambassadors of the [barbarous]
nations[435]. And though other dignities have their specially defined
prerogatives, by him everything that comes within the scope of our
wisely-tempered sway is governed.
[Footnote 434: 'Humanitates quoque judicibus ipsis facit.']
[Footnote 435: 'Legatos gentium voraces explet ordinationibus suis.'
_Voraces_ seems to give a better sense than the other reading,
_veraces_.]
'Take therefore, from this Indiction, on your shoulders the noble
burden of all these cares. Administer it with vigour and with utmost
loyalty, that your rule may be prosperous to us and useful to the
Republic. The more various the anxieties, the greater your glory. Let
that glory beam forth, not in our Palace only, but be reflected in far
distant Provinces. Let your prudence be equal to your power; yea, let
the fourfold virtue [of the Platonic philosophy] be seated in your
conscience. Remember that your tribunal is placed so high that, when
seated there, you should think of nothing sordid, nothing mean. Weigh
well what you ought to say, seeing that it is listened to by so many.
Let the public records contain nothing [of your saying] which any need
blush to read. The good governor not only has no part nor lot in
injustice; unless he is ever diligently doing some noble work he
incurs blame even for his inactivity. For if that most holy author
[Moses?] be consulted, it will be seen that it is a kind of priesthood
to fill the office of the Praetorian Praefecture in a becoming
manner.'
4. FORMULA OF THE PRAEFECTURE OF THE CITY.
[Sidenote: Praefecture of the City.]
'You, to whose care Rome is committed, are exalted by that charge to a
position of the highest dignity. The Senate also is presided over by
you; and the Senators, who wield full power in that assembly, tremble
when they have to plead their own cause at your tribunal. But this is
because they, who are the makers of laws, are subject to the laws; and
so are we too, though not to a Judge.
'Behave in a manner worthy of your high office. Treat the Consulars
with deference. Put away every base thought when you cross the
threshold of every virtue. If you wish to avoid unpopularity, avoid
receiving bribes. It is a grand thing when it can be said that Judges
will not accept that which thousands are eager to offer them.
'To your care is committed not only Rome herself (though Rome
includes the world[436]), but, by ancient law, all within the
hundredth milestone.
[Footnote 436: 'Quamvis in illa contineantur universa.']
'You judge, on appeal, causes brought from certain Provinces defined
by law. Your staff is composed of learned men; eloquent they can
hardly help being, since they are always hearing the masters of
eloquence. You ride in your _Carpentum_ through a populace of
nobles[437]; oh, act so as to deserve their shouts of welcome! How
will you deserve their favour? By seeing that merchandise is sold
without venality[438]; that the fires kindled to heat the wholesome
baths are not chilled by corruption; that the games, which are meant
for the pleasure of the people, are not by partisanship made a cause
of strife. For so great is the power of glorious truth, that even in
the affairs of the stage justice is desired[439]. Take then the robe