XIII. KING THEODERIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME.
[1] A dignity, Conscript Fathers, when it comes to one unknown, is a gift; when to one of proven worth, it is the recompense of merits. Of these two, the first is a debtor to our judgment, the other is beholden to our favor. For we raise some by esteem and advance others by grace, and our humanity opens every avenue of generosity to all. Yet it is the regard we bear for you that prompts us, whenever someone judged to possess glorious virtues is brought into your assembly. For whatever is the flower of the human race, the Senate ought to possess -- which, as the citadel is the ornament of cities, is itself the ornament of all other orders. [2] Accordingly, we have elevated Eugenitus, a man of illustrious rank, distinguished for his reputation in literary learning, to the honor of the Mastership -- so that he might bear in title the dignity he already possessed in merit. For who is unaware of his many faithful labors, which he performed not from baseness of mind but maintained with the honor of his patronage? We have therefore assigned a person equal to such great honors, so that, shining with mutual distinction, they might adorn each other by the grace of their respective qualities. This is the man who formerly stood at our side as quaestor and legal adviser, whom no cloud of malice darkened, nor did he devise with envious purpose the arts of doing harm with poisoned thoughts. With the sincere sanctuary of his heart he obeyed our integrity and offered his innocence to the righteousness of our commands. For a deceitful mind does not follow the will of the one who commands, but rather unfolds its own purposes. [3] You have before you the clear evidence of our judgment in this respect -- that after the pinnacle of that former office he should ascend to yet another dignity. We have not permitted him to be idle whom his merits would not allow to be a private citizen -- to be judged in the manner of the serene sun, which, although it completes the day it has taken up, nevertheless illuminates the next with the same grace of its brilliance. Receive, then, Conscript Fathers, with your favor this man who shines with such absolute merits. For you owe it to those who act rightly that the assent of your praise should accompany them. For if the racing of horses is spurred on by the shouts of men, and speed is extracted from mute animals by the clapping of hands, how much more do we believe that men can be stimulated by these things -- men whom we find to have been uniquely born with an appetite for praise!
XIII. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Dignitas, patres conscripti, dum ad incognitum venit, donum est, cum ad expertum, compensatio meritorum. quorum alter debitor iudicii, alter obnoxius est favori. hos enim aestimatione subvehimus, alios gratia promovemus et ad omnes indulgentiae vias nostra se relaxat humanitas. sed amoris vestri intuitu commonemur, quotiens in coetum vestrum ducitur, qui de gloriosis virtutibus aestimatur. quicquid enim humani generis floris est, habere curiam decet: quae sicut arx decus urbium, ita illa ornamentum est ordinum ceterorum. [2] Atque ideo Eugenitem illustrem virum litterati dogmatis opinione fulgentem magisterii honore subveximus, ut gereret nomine quam possidebat meritis dignitatem. quis enim tot eius officiosos labores ignoret, quos non vilitate mentis exercuit, sed patrocinii honore servavit? dedimus itaque personam tantis honoribus parem, ut alterutro decore fulgentes mutua se gratia qualitatis ornarent. hic est, qui pridem nostro lateri iuridicus quaestor adhaesit, quem livoris nebula nulla fuscavit, nec malivolentiae studio nocendi artes fellitis sensibus exquisivit: sincero pectoris arcano puritati nostrae paruit et ad pietatem iussionum innocentiam suam praebuit. animus enim dolosus non arbitrium sequitur imperantis, sed suas potius explicat voluntates. [3] Habetis certe evidens nostrum in hac parte iudicium, ut post illius apicis culmen ad alteram conscenderet dignitatem. nec passi sumus otiosum, quem merita non sinebant esse privatum: sereni solis consuetudinibus aestimandus, qui licet susceptum diem peragat, alterum tamen eadem gratia claritatis illuminat. hunc ergo, patres conscripti, tot meritis absolute relucentem favor vester excipiat. debetis enim bene gerentibus, ut eos laudis vestrae comitetur assensus. nam si equorum cursus hominum clamoribus incitatur et insonantium manibus agitur, ut a mutis animalibus velocitas appetatur, quantum inde homines stimulari posse credimus, quos ad laudis aviditatem natos singulariter invenimus!
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XIII. KING THEODERIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME.
[1] A dignity, Conscript Fathers, when it comes to one unknown, is a gift; when to one of proven worth, it is the recompense of merits. Of these two, the first is a debtor to our judgment, the other is beholden to our favor. For we raise some by esteem and advance others by grace, and our humanity opens every avenue of generosity to all. Yet it is the regard we bear for you that prompts us, whenever someone judged to possess glorious virtues is brought into your assembly. For whatever is the flower of the human race, the Senate ought to possess -- which, as the citadel is the ornament of cities, is itself the ornament of all other orders. [2] Accordingly, we have elevated Eugenitus, a man of illustrious rank, distinguished for his reputation in literary learning, to the honor of the Mastership -- so that he might bear in title the dignity he already possessed in merit. For who is unaware of his many faithful labors, which he performed not from baseness of mind but maintained with the honor of his patronage? We have therefore assigned a person equal to such great honors, so that, shining with mutual distinction, they might adorn each other by the grace of their respective qualities. This is the man who formerly stood at our side as quaestor and legal adviser, whom no cloud of malice darkened, nor did he devise with envious purpose the arts of doing harm with poisoned thoughts. With the sincere sanctuary of his heart he obeyed our integrity and offered his innocence to the righteousness of our commands. For a deceitful mind does not follow the will of the one who commands, but rather unfolds its own purposes. [3] You have before you the clear evidence of our judgment in this respect -- that after the pinnacle of that former office he should ascend to yet another dignity. We have not permitted him to be idle whom his merits would not allow to be a private citizen -- to be judged in the manner of the serene sun, which, although it completes the day it has taken up, nevertheless illuminates the next with the same grace of its brilliance. Receive, then, Conscript Fathers, with your favor this man who shines with such absolute merits. For you owe it to those who act rightly that the assent of your praise should accompany them. For if the racing of horses is spurred on by the shouts of men, and speed is extracted from mute animals by the clapping of hands, how much more do we believe that men can be stimulated by these things -- men whom we find to have been uniquely born with an appetite for praise!
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.