Chapter 37

[358]There are some technical terms in this letter the meaning of which is not clear to me: 'Eam justitiae considerationemomentijure restituite supplicanti.... Veruntamen si partibus vestris incausapossessionismomentariavelprincipalijustitiam adesse cognoscitis.'

[359]It is probably to the same transaction that Marcellinus Comes refers when he says, s.a. 512: 'Gens Erulorum in terras atque civitates Romanorum jussu Anastasii Caesaris introducta.' The words 'jussu Anastasii Caesaris' represent this chronicler's tendency to refer everything that is done in Italy to the initiation of Byzantium.

[360]Possibly a son of the Praefect Liberius.

[361]'Mittendarii.' A 'Scrinium Mittendariorum' formed part of the staff of the Count of Sacred Largesses. See Theodosian Code vi. 30. 7.

[362]'Catabulensis.' Seeiii. 10.

[363]'Mancipes mutationum.' The 'mutationes' were the places for changing horses; there are generally two of them between each 'mansio' (hostelry). Probably the horses were found by the 'Mancipes mutationum.' It was therefore a sort ofcorvée.

[364]Capillatis.The only passage which throws a light on this name—and that is a doubtful one—is Jordanes, De Rebus Geticis xi. After describing thepileati, the tiara-wearing priests of the Getae, he says: 'Reliquam vero gentem capillatos dicere jussit [Diceneus] quod nomen Gothi pro magno suscipientes adhuc hodie suis cantionibus reminiscuntur.'

[365]Suaviais nearly equivalent to the modern Sclavonia, between the rivers Drave and Save.

[366]The passage in Marcellinus Comes, s.a. 512, which at first sight seems to describe an eruption taking place in that year, really describes thecommemorationof the eruption of 472. Seefollowing note.

[367]In the eruption of 472 (apparently the last great eruption previous to 512), the ashes were carried as far as Byzantium, the inhabitants of which city instituted a yearly religious service in memory of the event: 'Vesuvius mons Campaniae torridus intestinis ignibus aestuans exusta evomuit viscera, nocturnisque in die tenebris incumbentibus,omnem Europae faciem minuto contexit pulvere. Hujus metuendi memoriam cineris Byzantii annue celebrant VIII Idus Novembris.' The eruption was accompanied by widespread earthquake: 'In Asia aliquantae civitates vel oppida terrae motu collapsa sunt' (Marcellinus Comes, sub anno).

[368]The father-in-law of Boethius.

[369]We have here a striking description of the massive strength of the public buildings of Rome: '[Videmus] caveas illas saxis pendentibus apsidatas ita juncturis absconditis in formas pulcherrimas convenisse, ut cryptas magis excelsi montis crederes quam aliquid fabricatum esse judicares.'

[370]No doubt Thrasamund, who married Theodoric's sister. He reigned from 496 to 523.

[371]'Ut speculum quoddam virorum faciat ferream lucem.'

[372]'Quarum margines in acutum tali aequalitate descendunt, ut non limis compositae, sed igneis fornacibus credantur effusae.'

[373]'Harum media pulchris alveis excavata, quibusdam videntur crispari posse vermiculis, ubi tanta varietatis umbra concludit, ut intextum magis credas variis coloribus lucidum metallum.'

[374]Germ. 45: 'Ergo jam dextro Suevici maris litore Aestiorum gentes alluuntur, quibus ritus habitusque Suevorum, lingua Britannicae propior.... Sed et mare scrutantur ac soli omnium sucinum quod ipsi glesum vocant, inter vada atque in ipso littore legunt.' Then follows an account of the nature of amber, and a history of its supposed origin, from which Cassiodorus has borrowed in this letter.

[375]Cassiodorus apparently spells this word with two c's. The more usual spelling is with one.

[376]'Modo croceo colore rubens, modo flammea claritate pinguescens.'

[377]We have here a remark on unconscious prophecies: 'Loqui datur quod nos sensisse nescimus: sed post casum reminiscimur, quod ignorantes veraciter dixeramus.'

[378]'Inferior gradu praestabat viris consularibus se patronum et cum honoribus vestris impar haberetur, Patricius ei dictus est in celeberrima cognitione susceptus.' The last part of this sentence is very obscure.

[379]Decoratus is called by Boethius, who was his colleague in some office, 'a wretched buffoon and informer' (nequissimus scurra et delator. Cons. Phil. iii. 4). But Ennodius addresses him in friendly and cordial language (Epist. iv. 17). His epitaph, which mentions his Spoletan origin, is of course laudatory:'Nam fessis tribuit requiem, miseros que levavit,Justitiae cultor, largus et hospes erat.'(Quoted in the notes to Ennodius in Migne's Patrologia.)

'Nam fessis tribuit requiem, miseros que levavit,Justitiae cultor, largus et hospes erat.'

(Quoted in the notes to Ennodius in Migne's Patrologia.)

[380]'Primo avulso non deficit alter' (Aen. vi. 143).

[381]Officer of the Court. Seevi. 13.

[382]'Thomatem domus nostrae certa praedia suscepisse sed eum male administrando suscepta usque ad decem millia solidorum de Indictionibus illa atque illa reliquatorem publicis rationibus extitisse.' It is not quite clear whether the debt is due as what we should call rent or as land-tax. Perhaps the debt had accumulated under both heads.

[383]'Ut multitudinem Gepidarum quam fecimus ad Gallias custodiae causâ properare, per Venetiam atque Liguriam sub omni facias moderatione transire.'

[384]'Massa;' cf. the American 'block.'

[385]In the next letter the same official is called Severinus.

[386]Cassiodorus uses the rare nominative form 'assis.'

[387]'Tabularius a cubiculo nostro.'

[388]'Antiqui Barbari qui Romanis mulieribus elegerint nuptiali foedere sociari, quolibet titulo praedia quaesiverint, fiscum possessi cespitis persolvere, ac super indictitiis oneribus parere cogantur.'

[389]'Quando libertatis genus est servire Rectori.'

[390]'Arrharum nomine.'

[391]'Linum volatile.'

[392]'Non habet quod nobis Graecus imputet aut Afer insultet.'

[393]'Locum primi ordinis.'

[394]'Quia caduca bona fisco nostro competere legum cauta decreverunt.'

[395]The name is a peculiar one, reminding us of the Bacaudae, who for more than a century waged a sort of servile war in Gaul against the officers of the Empire. It is not probable, however, that there is any real connection between them and the receiver of this letter.

[396]'Quod est in Reipublicaemilitiânovum.' Observe the use of militia for civil service.

[397]'Nam pene similis est mortuo qui a suo Dominante nescitur.' A motto more suited to the presence-chamber of Byzantium than the camp-fires of a Gothic King.

[398]'Millenarii.' Cf. theχιλιαρχοι, who, as Procopius tells us, were appointed by Gaiseric over the Vandals; also thethusundifathsof Ulfilas.

[399]'Servata in omnibus civilitate.'

[400]Into Gaul; seenext letter.

[401]'Atque ideo decretis te praesentibus admonemus, ut si factum evidenter agnoscis, delatam querimoniam, pudori tuo consulens,maritali districtione redarguas; quatenus ex eâdem causâ ad nos querela justa non redeat.'

[402]'Et rerum veritate discussâsicut jura nostra praecipiunt, in adulteros maritorum favore resecetur.'

[403]This is perhaps a specimen of the 'honesta missio' of which we read in the Theodosian Code xii. 1. 43, 45.

[404]'Nonnullorum vos frequenter causamini praesumptione laceratos et quae ad synagogam vestram pertinent perhibetis jura rescindi.'

[405]'Tricennalis humano generi patrona praescriptio vobis jure servabitur; nec conventionalia vos irrationabiliter praecipimus sustinere dispendia.' I do not know what is meant by 'conventionalia dispendia.'

[406]'Sed quid, Judaeo, supplicans temporalem quietem quaeris si aeternam requiem invenire non possis.'

[407]'Universis Possessoribus.'

[408]Where was this? Signia in Latium is, of course, not to be thought of.

[409]The scarcity of water at Ravenna was proverbial.

[410]Cf. the somewhat similar letter to Severinus, Special Commissioner for Suavia (v. 14).

[411]'Homicidii scelus legum jubemus auctoritate resecari: sed quantum vehementior poena est tanto ejus rei debet inquisitio plus haberi: ne amore vindictae innocentes videantur vitae pericula sustinere.'

[412]'Libra cubiculi nostri.'

[413]'Conductores domus Regiae.'

[414]'Et ne cuiquam labor suus videatur ingratus, salaria eis pro qualitate locatae rei, vestrâ volumus aequitate constitui.'

[415]'Transmarinorum canon.'

[416]Cf. the30th letterof this book.

[417]'Vir quidem abjectis temporibus ad excubias tamen Palatinas electus.' The time of Odovacar's government is here alluded to (seeviii. 17). An Opilio, probably father of the one here mentioned, was Consul under Valentinian III in 453.

[418]Anonymus Valesii says: 'Cyprianus, qui tunc Referendarius erat postea Comes Sacrarum et Magister,' § 85.

[419]'Nam cum oratoribus sit propositum diu tractata unius partis vota dicere, tibi semper necesse fuit repentinum negotium utroque latere declarare.'

[420]'Talibus igitur institutis edoctus, Eoae sumpsisti legationis officium, missus ad summae quidem peritiae viros: sed nulla inter eos confusus es trepidationequia nihil tibi post nos potuit esse mirabile. Instructus enim trifariis linguis, non tibi Graecia quod novum ostentaret invenit; nec ipsâ quâ nimium praevalet, te transcendit argutiâ.'

[421]'Fecimus utrique regalia.'

[422]For the reasons which induced Cassiodorus to compile the two books of Formulae, see hisPreface(translated,p. 133).

[423]'Palmata vestis.'

[424]'Pinge vastos humeros vario colore palmatae.'

[425]'Validam manum victoriali scipione nobilita.'

[426]'Hic est ambitus qui probatur;' or, 'allowable bribery.'

[427]'Ipse carpentum reverendus ascendit.' Thecarpentumwas one great mark of the dignity of the Praetorian Praefect, as of his inferior, the Praefectus Urbis.

[428]'Exhibet enim sine prescriptione longinquos.'

[429]'Evectiones,' free passes by theCursus Publicus.

[430]'Ingressus palatium nostra consuetudine frequenter adoratur.' We know from Lydus (De Mag. ii. 9) that the highest officers of the armykneltat the entrance of the Praetorian Praefect. Perhaps we need not infer from this passage that Orientalprostrationwas used either towards Theodoric or his Praefect.

[431]'Et tale officium morem videtur solvere, quod alios potuit accusare.'

[432]'Vice sacrâ ubique judicat.'

[433]'Officium plane geniatum, efficax, instructum et totâ animi firmitate praevalidum.'

[434]'Humanitates quoque judicibus ipsis facit.'

[435]'Legatos gentium voraces explet ordinationibus suis.'Voracesseems to give a better sense than the other reading,veraces.

[436]'Quamvis in illa contineantur universa.'

[437]'Carpento veheris per nobilem plebem.'

[438]i.e. probably, 'that you are not bribed by monopolists.' Perhaps there is a reference to theAnnona Publica.

[439]'Tanta est enim vis gloriosae veritatis, ut etiam in rebus scenicis aequitas desideretur.'

[440]According to Lydus (ii. 10), the Cursus Publicus was transferred from the Praefect to the Master, and afterwards, in part, retransferred to the Praefect.

[441]'Per eum nominis nostri destinatur evectio.' The above is a conjectural translation.

[442]Are these Superintendents of the Markets, charged with the regulation of prices?

[443]'Miroque modo inter Praetorianas cohortes et Urbanae Praefecturae milites videantur invenisse primatum, a quibus tibi humile solvebatur obsequium. Sic in favore magni honoris injustitia quaedam a legibus venit, dum alienis excubiis praeponitur, qui alibi militasse declaratur.'

[444]'Regalibus magna profecti felicitasmilitaredonis.... Laetitia publicamilitiatua est.' Observe the continued use of military terms for what we call the Civil Service.

[445]'Caduca bona non sinis esse vacantia.'

[446]'Alioqui omnes ad quietas possunt currere dignitates, si laborantes minime praeferantur ociosis.'

[447]'Noblesse oblige.'

[448]'Cape igitur ... Comitivae Domesticorum Illustratum Vacantem.'

[449]Betokened by the expression 'Ociosum cingulum.'

[450]A conjectural translation of 'Sic nos virtutum jucundissimas laudes incinctum Graium desideramus includere.' Perhaps 'incinctum' means, 'thoughnotgirded with the belt of office.' Graium must surely be a proper name, and this document is therefore, strictly speaking, not a 'Formula.'

[451]'Partes apud te sub Praetorianâ advocatione confligunt' (?).

[452]'Vice sacrâ sententiam dicis.'

[453]'Carpentum.'

[454]'Aula libertatis.'

[455]I think this must be the meaning of the sentence: 'Additur etiam perfuncti laboris aliud munus, ut si quo modo ad Illustratum vel Vacantem meruerit pervenire, omnibus debeat anteponi, qui Codicillis Illustratibus probantur ornari.'

[456]'Sub nobis enim non licet esse imperitos; quando in vicem cotis ingenia splendida reddimus, quae causarum assiduitate polimus.' Strange words to put into the mouth of a monarch who could not write.

[457]'Quando in quavis abundantia querela non tollitur, si panis elegantia nulla servetur.'

[458]An attempt to translate 'Honoratis possessoribus et curialibus civitatis Neapolitanae.'

[459]'Erit nostrum gaudium vestra quies.... Degite moribus compositis, ut vivatis legibus feriatis.'

[460]'Omnes apparitiones decet habere judices suos. Nam cui praesul adimitur et militia denegatur.'

[461]'Ut judicibus annuâ successione reparatis, vobis solemnitas non pereat actionis.'

[462]'Vos non patimur emolumentorum commoda perdere.'

[463]Seep. 92.

[464]'Nostrum est merentibus tempus augere.' The limit of one year might therefore be exceeded by favour of the Sovereign.

[465]'Adhibito sibi prudente Romano.'

[466]'Aequabili ratione.'

[467]'Qui leges moderatâ voluntate dilexerit.' To translate this literally might give a wrong idea, because with us 'to love the law' means to be litigious.

[468]'Non amamus aliquid incivile.'

[469]'Violentos nostra pietas execratur.'

[470]'Vos autem, Romani, magno studio Gothos diligere debetis, qui et in pace numerosos vobis populos faciunt, et universam Rempublicam per bella defendunt.'

[471]Raetia, fromrete, a net.

[472]'Camerarum rotator.'

[473]'Trajani Forum vel sub assiduitate videre miraculum est.'

[474]'Opulentissima siquidem et hinc gratia civium colligitur, si pretia sub moderatione serventur.'

[475]'Si esset humanis rebus ulla consideratio Romanam pulchritudinem non vigiliae sed sola deberet reverentia custodire.'

[476]'Quia juste tales persequitur publicus dolor.'

[477]'Negociatorum operas consuetas nec nimias exigas, nec venalitate derelinquas.' Apparently then a certain amount of forced labour could be claimed from the owners of merchant-vessels by the Count of Ravenna.

[478]'Pompa osculationis.' Another reading is 'Pompa postulationis.'

[479]'Tu vitem tenes improbis minantem.' The allusion is to the vine-bough, which was used in scourging. The alternative reading,vitam, does not seem to give so good a sense.

[480]Plural. Apparently, therefore, each Count had more than one Princeps, perhaps one for each large city in his Province.

[481]'Rationabili debeant antiquitate moderari.' Perhaps we might translate, 'with the Common Law.'

[482]The title runs thus (in Nivellius' Edition): 'Formula Comitivae Honorum Scientiae Ordinis diversarum Civitatum.' I do not know what is meant by 'Honorum Scientiae.' Can 'Scientiae' be a transcriber's blunder for 'secundi?'

[483]Cf.vi. 24.

[484]This must, I think, be the meaning; but it is hard to extract it from the words 'Formula Principis Militum Comitivae.'

[485]'Comitem Militiae Vestrae.'

[486]'Nec istud leve credatis beneficium, ut cum vos scitis obsequium, vobis occurrat electio cognitorum.' For Cognitores, seevii. 3. These Cognitores had virtually the decision of all 'issues of fact,' and consequently their nomination was a very important matter. I think the meaning of this passage is: 'I, the King, appoint theComes(= Judex), and graciously inform you of my decision. But you (the Officium) have the privilege—and it is no small one—of electing theCognitores.'

[487]'Principem nostrumcardinalem' (observe this use of the word).

[488]'Compendium et dispendium' (frompendere, to weigh).

[489]'Spectandam,' an allusion to the derivation ofspectabilis.

[490]'Tuitio nostri nominis.'

[491]'Validissimam turrem contra inciviles impetus et conventionalia detrimenta.'

[492]'Praesentis beneficii jussione adversus Gothis illa, adversus Romanos illa, facile te fides et diligentia custodiet' ('custodivit' is surely an error).

[493]'Ut in foro competenti ea quae in his causis reverenda legum dictat Antiquitas solenniter actitentur.'

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