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The Letters of Cassiodorus

Senator Cassiodorus

16. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE LIGURIANS. [Sidenote: Oppressions practised on the Ligurians to be remedied.] 'In thanking me so earnestly for a recent benefit [probably the present mentioned in the preceding letter] you invited me to further favours, and the implied promise which I then gave you I now fulfil. 'You complain that you are burdened with unjust weights and measures, and I therefore declare that this iniquity shall cease, and that no tax-collector or tithe-collector[769], shall dare to use too long a measure or too heavy a weight [in the collection of the King's revenue]. [Footnote 769: 'Exactores atque susceptores.' For the latter office, see Cod. Theod. xii. 6.] 'Also that their accounts shall be promptly balanced, and that any overcharge that may be detected shall be at once repaid. 'Now then, your minds being freed from anxiety on this score, turn your attention to the supply of the wants of our most flourishing army, and show your zeal for the public good, since we have satisfied you that it is not for private and fraudulent gains that you are to pay your contributions.' 17. ON THE PROMOTIONS IN THE OFFICIAL STAFF OF THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, MADE ON CHRISTMAS DAY[770]. [Footnote 770: This letter was probably addressed to the Princeps, the highest person in the whole Officium, as it contains the words '_unus_ quisque ... _tua designatione vulgetur_.'] [Sidenote: Promotions in Officium of Praefectus Praetorio.] 'On this day of general rejoicing, when by the kindness of Heaven the way of salvation was opened to all mankind, we wish that the members of our staff should also be glad. For to rejoice, ourselves, when those around us are mourning, is a kind of sacrilege. Hence some philosophers have held that the whole human race is one being, the various members of which are constrained to share one another's feelings of joy or sadness. Therefore let every official in our staff according to his grade[771] get promotion on this day, not only rising himself, but creating a vacancy which enables those below him to rise also.' [Footnote 771: 'Juxta matriculae seriem.'] [All the Letters from 18 to 35 are documents, for the most part very short ones, relating to these promotions. For an explanation of the terms used in these letters, and of the whole subject of the staff of the Praetorian Praefect, see chapter iv. of the Introduction.] In Letter 18, Antianus, who is vacating the office of CORNICULARIUS, receives the rank of _Spectabilis_, and has a place assigned him among the Tribuni and Notarii, where he may 'adore the presence of his Sovereign[772]'. [Footnote 772: 'Inter Tribunos et Notarios ad adorandos aspectus properet Principales.'] In Letter 19 the successor of Antianus in the office of CORNICULARIUS receives his appointment. In Letter 20 the retiring PRIMISCRINIUS also receives the rank of _Spectabilis_, and takes his place among the Tribuni and Notarii, 'to adore the Purple of Royalty.' In Letter 21 Andreas is rewarded for his faithful service on the Praetorian staff[773], by being promoted to the office of PRIMISCRINIUS. [Footnote 773: 'Qui Praetorianis fascibus inculpabiliter noscitur obsecutus.'] In Letter 22 Catellus, who stands next in grade for this promotion[774], obtains the post of SCRINIARIUS ACTORUM. [Footnote 774: 'Quem matriculae series fecit accedere.'] In Letter 23 Constantinian, to whose virtues Cassiodorus himself bears witness, receives the charge of letters relating to the collection of Land-Tax (CURA EPISTOLARUM CANONICARUM). In Letter 24 Lucillus is appointed a clerk in the War-Office (SCRINIARIUS CURAE MILITARIS). In Letter 25 Patricius is appointed chief of the shorthand writers (PRIMICERIUS EXCEPTORUM). In Letter 26 Justus obtains a place as member of the Sixth Schola (SEXTUS SCHOLARIS[775]). [Footnote 775: I am unable to suggest any explanation of this title.] In Letter 27 Joannes, whom we saw in the Sixth Letter of this Book entrusted with the duties of Cancellarius, is rewarded for his faithful discharge of those duties by receiving the place of PRAEROGATIVARIUS[776]. [Footnote 776: I have not found any explanation of this title, which is apparently unknown to the Notitia, to Lydus, and to the Theodosian Code.] In Letter 28 Cheliodorus[777] is appointed to the place of COMMENTARIENSIS (Magistrates' clerk). [Footnote 777: Note the corrupt form of the name Heliodorus.] In Letter 29 Cart(h)erius is promoted to the office of REGERENDARIUS (Secretary of the Post-Office), in the hope that this promotion will render him yet more earnest in the discharge of his Praetorian labours. In Letter 30 Ursus is appointed PRIMICERIUS DEPUTATORUM, and Beatus (probably the Cancellarius addressed in Letter 10) is made PRIMICERIUS AUGUSTALIUM. In Letter 31 Urbicus, on vacating the post of PRIMICERIUS SINGULARIORUM (Chief of the King's Messengers), is placed among the Body-guards (Domestici et Protectores), where he may adore the Royal Purple, that, being made illustrious by gazing on the Sovereign, he may rejoice in his liberation from official harassment. [As the Singularii did not form part of the learned staff (Militia Litterata), their chief on retiring receives a guardsman's place, but still one which gives him access to royalty.] In Letter 32 Pierius receives the post of PRIMICERIUS SINGULARIORUM which is thus vacated. [Sidenote: Delegatoria.] In Letter 33 Cassiodorus, expanding the proverb 'Bis dat qui cito dat,' agrees that the _Delegatoria_[778] (or Delegatiorius), the letter conferring on the receiver the right to receive the increase of rations due to his promotion, should not be long delayed. [Footnote 778: We get this sense of Delegatio in Cod. Theod. vii. 4. 35: '_Annonas omnes_, quae universis officiis atque Sacri Palatii Ministeriis et Sacris Scriniis ceterisque cunctarum adminiculis dignitatum adsolent _delegari_.'] In Letter 34 Antianus, the retired Cornicularius of Letter 18, receives a somewhat evasive answer to a petition which apparently affected the rights of those below him in the official hierarchy[779]. [Footnote 779: In this letter occurs a sentence of tantalising obscurity: 'Sola nos Alpha complectitur ubi ea littera non timetur.'] In Letter 35 we have an example of the _Delegatoria_ alluded to in Letter 33. It is concerned with a PRINCEPS, apparently the Princeps of the AGENTES IN REBUS; and, after extolling the zeal and alacrity of those officers, who are constantly intent on enforcing obedience to the Imperial decrees and reverence for the authority of the Praetorian Praefect, he observes that it would be impiety to delay the reward of such labour. 'Therefore let your Experience[780] pay, out of the third instalment of land-tax[781] from such and such a Province, those monies which the wisdom of Antiquity directed should be paid to the Princeps Augustorum[782]. Let this be done at once to those who are chargeable on the accounts of the thirteenth Indiction (Sept. 1, 534--Sept. 1, 535). Let there be no venal delays. Behave to the out-going public servant as you would wish that others should behave to you on your retirement from office. All men should honour the veteran, but especially they who are still toiling in the public service.' [Footnote 780: It is not clear to whom the letter is addressed.] [Footnote 781: 'Ex illatione tertia.'] [Footnote 782: The marginal note says: 'i.e. Agentium in Rebus.'] 36. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ANAT(H)OLIUS, CANCELLARIUS OF THE PROVINCE OF SAMNIUM. [Sidenote: The retirement of a Cornicularius on a superannuation allowance justified on astronomical grounds.] 'As all things else come to an end, so it is right that the laborious life of a civil servant should have its appointed term. 'The heavenly bodies have their prescribed time in which to complete their journeyings. Saturn in thirty years wanders over his appointed portion of space. Jupiter in twelve years finishes the survey of his kingdom. Mars, with fiery rapidity, completes his course in eighteen months. The Sun in one year goes through all the signs of the Zodiac. Venus accomplishes her circuit in fifteen months; the rapid Mercury in thirteen months. The Moon, peculiar in her nearer neighbourhood, traverses in thirty days the space which it takes the Sun a year to journey over[783]. [Footnote 783: As might be expected from an observer who did not understand the earth's motion in its orbit, the periods assigned to the _inferior_ planets in this paragraph are all wrong, while those assigned to the _superior_ planets are pretty nearly right. _Periods according to Cassiodorus_. _True Periods_. Saturn 30 years 29 years 174 days. Jupiter 12 " 11 " 317 " Mars 1 year 182 days 1 year 321 " Venus 1 " 91 " 224 " Mercury 1 " 30 " 88 "] 'All these bodies, which, as philosophers say, shall only perish with the world, have an appointed end to their journeyings. But they complete their course that they may begin it again: the human race serves that it may rest from its ended labours. Therefore, since the Cornicularius in my Court has completed his term of office, you are to pay him without any deduction this 1st September 700 solidi (L420) from the revenues of the Province of Samnium, taking them out of the third instalment of land-tax[784]. He commanded the wings of the army of the Praefect's assistants, from whence he derived his name[785]. When he handed us the inkstand, we wrote, unbribed, those decrees which men would have paid a great price to obtain[786]. We gratified him whom the laws favoured, we frowned on him who had not justice on his side. No litigant had cause to regret his success, since it came to him unbought. You know all this that we are saying to be true, for our business was all transacted in the office, not in the bedchamber. What we did, the whole troop of civil servants knew[787]. We were private persons in our power of harming, Judges in our power of doing good. Our words might be stern, our deeds were kindly. We frowned though mollified; we threatened though intending no evil; and we struck terror that we might not have to strike. You have had in me, as you were wont to say, a most clean-handed Judge: I shall leave behind in you my most uncorrupted witnesses.' [Footnote 784: 'Per illam Indictionem de Samnii provincia ex illatione tertia sine ambiguitate contrade.'] [Footnote 785: 'Praefuit enim Cornibus Secretarii Praetoriani, unde ei nomen est derivatum.'] [Footnote 786: 'Eo ministrante caliculum scripsimus inempti quod magnis pretiis optabatur impleri.'] [Footnote 787: 'Quod egimus cohortes noverunt.' Observe the military character of the service, 'cohortes.'] 37. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE CLARISSIMUS LUCINUS, CANCELLARIUS OF CAMPANIA. [Sidenote: Payment of retiring Primiscrinius.] 'It was well ordered by Antiquity that the servants of the Public should receive a due reward for their labours; and who of all these are more deserving than the officers of the Praetorian Praefect (Praetoriani). Theirs is the difficult task of waiting on the necessities of the army. They must demand accounts, often minute and intricate, from great officers whom they dare not offend. They must collect the stores of food for the Roman people from the Provincials without giving them cause for complaint[788]. Their acts constitute our true glory; and in the formation of their characters, work, hard work, that stern and anxious pedagogue[789], is better than all literary or philosophic training.