Cassiodorus→Apronianus, of Private Estates|c. 522 AD|cassiodorus
From: Theoderic (through Cassiodorus), King of the Ostrogoths
To: Apronianus, Count of the Private Estates
Date: ~522 AD
Context: Theoderic reports that a water diviner has arrived in Rome from North Africa and orders that he be supported, with a fascinating digression on the ancient art of finding underground water.
Your greatness's report has informed us that a water diviner has come to Rome from the regions of Africa, where this art is always cultivated with great zeal because of the dryness of the land. He is one who can provide water to arid places, making habitable through his skill areas desiccated by extreme barrenness. Know that this pleases us greatly, since the ancient skill described in the books of our predecessors has come in our times to be tested.
By the signs of green plants and the height of trees, he skillfully deduces the proximity of underground water. For lands where sweet moisture lies not far below, a luxuriance of certain plants always smiles -- the aquatic rush, the light reed, the sturdy bramble, the flourishing willow, the green poplar, and other kinds of trees that grow with a blessed height beyond their usual nature.
There are other indications of this art as well. When night falls, dry wool is placed upon ground already surveyed and covered with a crude clay pot. If water is near, the wool is found damp in the morning. When the sun has risen, the masters carefully observe the site, and where they see a cloud of the tiniest flies hovering above the ground, they confidently promise that the longed-for water will be found. They also say that a certain very fine smoke can be seen rising like a column, and however high it extends, that is how deep the water lies below -- making it remarkable that through these and other diverse signs, the exact depth at which the water will be found is predicted. They even predict the taste of the water, so that neither bitter water is sought at fruitless expense nor sweet, essential water scorned and neglected.
This science was beautifully passed down by its practitioners -- among the Greeks by one authority, among the Latins by Marcellus -- who treated not only underground streams but also the very mouths of springs with careful attention. They say that waters springing toward the east and south are sweet, clear, and healthiest for their lightness, while any that flow toward the north and west prove extremely cold but unwholesome due to the heaviness of their density.
Therefore, if your wisdom determines that the said man possesses both bookish learning and practical experience in these matters, support his journey and need with appropriate rations from the public treasury. He shall receive his pay when he has delivered the gifts of his art. For although the city of Rome abounds in flowing waters and rejoices in its springs and is richest in the flood of its aqueducts, there are nevertheless many suburban areas that appear to need this expertise. A man who proves useful even in part deserves to be retained. He should also be paired with a mechanic [hydraulic engineer], so that the waters he discovers can be raised by the other man's art, making climb by skill what nature cannot lift on its own. Let this man therefore be maintained among the masters of the other arts, so that nothing desirable may be said to have been lacking from the city of Rome under our rule.
LIII. APRONIANO ILLUSTRI VIRO COMITI PRIVATARUM THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Magnitudinis vestrae relatione comperimus aquilegum Romam venisse de partibus Africanis, ubi ars ipsa pro locorum siccitate magno studio semper excolitur, qui aridis locis aquas dare possit imatiles, ut beneficio suo habitari faciat loca nimia sterilitate siccata. [2] Hoc nobis gratum fuisse cognosce, quatenus industria illa maiorum libris exposita nostris temporibus venerit approbanda. signis quippe virentium herbarum ac proceritate arborum vicinitatem colligit decenter undarum. terris enim, quibus dulcis umor non longe subest, ubertas quorundam germinum semper arridet, ut est iuncus aquatilis, canna levis, validus rubus, salix laeta, populus virens et reliqua arborum genera, quae tamen ultra naturam suam felici proceritate luxuriant. [3] Sunt et alia huius artis indicia: cum nocte adveniente lana sicca in terram ponitur iam provisam et rudi caccabo tecta relinquitur, tunc, si aquae proximitas arriserit, mane umida reperitur. sole autem declarato intuentur etiam magistri loca solliciti et ubi supra terram volitare spissitudinem minutissimarum conspexerint omnino muscarum, tunc promittunt laetificale quod quaeritur inveniri. addunt etiam in columnae speciem conspici quendam tenuissimum fumum, qui quanta fuerit altitudine porrectus ad summum, tantum in imum latices latere cognoscunt, ut hoc sit mirabile, quod per haec aliaque signa diversa mensura definita praedicitur, quanta profunditate quaesita monstretur. praedicunt etiam sapores aquarum, ut nec aspera dispendioso labore debeat quaeri, nec dulcis necessariaque inhonora contemni. [4] Hanc scientiam sequentibus pulchre tradiderunt apud Graecos ille, apud Latinos Marcellus: qui son solum de subterraneis fluentis, sed de ipso quoque ore fontium sollicite tractaverunt. dicunt enim aquas, quae ad orientem austrumque prorumpunt, dulces atque perspicuas esse et pro sua levitate saluberrimas inveniri, in septentrionem vero atque occidentem quaecumque manant, probari quidem nimis frigidas, sed crassitudine suae gravitatis incommodas. [5] Atque ideo, si memorato illi viderit sapientia vestra et lectione codicum et usu rerum quae sunt praedicta constare, conpetentibus annonis de publico deputatis peregrinationem eius inopiamque relevabis: accepturus mercedes, ubi artis suae dona praestiterit. [6] Nam quamvis Romana civitas aquis abundet irriguis sitque fontibus gaudens et formarum inundatione ditissima, reperiuntur tamen plurima suburbana quae hanc videantur desiderare peritiam, et merito continetur, qui vel pro parte necessarius esse cognoscitur. huic tamen mechanicus omnino iungendus est, ut undas, quas iste repperit, ille levet et arte subire faciat, quod ascendere non praevalet per naturam. habeatur ergo et iste inter reliquarum artium magistros, ne quid desiderabile putetur fuisse, quod sub nobis non potuit Romana civitas continere.
Cassiodorus
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From:Theoderic (through Cassiodorus), King of the Ostrogoths
To:Apronianus, Count of the Private Estates
Date:~522 AD
Context:Theoderic reports that a water diviner has arrived in Rome from North Africa and orders that he be supported, with a fascinating digression on the ancient art of finding underground water.
Your greatness's report has informed us that a water diviner has come to Rome from the regions of Africa, where this art is always cultivated with great zeal because of the dryness of the land. He is one who can provide water to arid places, making habitable through his skill areas desiccated by extreme barrenness. Know that this pleases us greatly, since the ancient skill described in the books of our predecessors has come in our times to be tested.
By the signs of green plants and the height of trees, he skillfully deduces the proximity of underground water. For lands where sweet moisture lies not far below, a luxuriance of certain plants always smiles -- the aquatic rush, the light reed, the sturdy bramble, the flourishing willow, the green poplar, and other kinds of trees that grow with a blessed height beyond their usual nature.
There are other indications of this art as well. When night falls, dry wool is placed upon ground already surveyed and covered with a crude clay pot. If water is near, the wool is found damp in the morning. When the sun has risen, the masters carefully observe the site, and where they see a cloud of the tiniest flies hovering above the ground, they confidently promise that the longed-for water will be found. They also say that a certain very fine smoke can be seen rising like a column, and however high it extends, that is how deep the water lies below -- making it remarkable that through these and other diverse signs, the exact depth at which the water will be found is predicted. They even predict the taste of the water, so that neither bitter water is sought at fruitless expense nor sweet, essential water scorned and neglected.
This science was beautifully passed down by its practitioners -- among the Greeks by one authority, among the Latins by Marcellus -- who treated not only underground streams but also the very mouths of springs with careful attention. They say that waters springing toward the east and south are sweet, clear, and healthiest for their lightness, while any that flow toward the north and west prove extremely cold but unwholesome due to the heaviness of their density.
Therefore, if your wisdom determines that the said man possesses both bookish learning and practical experience in these matters, support his journey and need with appropriate rations from the public treasury. He shall receive his pay when he has delivered the gifts of his art. For although the city of Rome abounds in flowing waters and rejoices in its springs and is richest in the flood of its aqueducts, there are nevertheless many suburban areas that appear to need this expertise. A man who proves useful even in part deserves to be retained. He should also be paired with a mechanic [hydraulic engineer], so that the waters he discovers can be raised by the other man's art, making climb by skill what nature cannot lift on its own. Let this man therefore be maintained among the masters of the other arts, so that nothing desirable may be said to have been lacking from the city of Rome under our rule.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.