CHAPTER VI.

CHRONOLOGY.

In the following chronological table of the life of Cassiodorus I have, for convenience sake, assumed 480 as the year of his birth, and 575 as that of his death. It is now, I think, sufficiently proved that if these dates are not absolutely correct, they cannot be more than a year or two wrong in one direction or the other.

[Sidenote: Consular Fasti.]

As dates were still reckoned by Consulships, at any rate through the greater part of the life of Cassiodorus, I have inserted the Consular Fasti for the period in question. It will be seen that several names of correspondents of Cassiodorus figure in this list. As a general though not universal practice, one of the two Consuls at this time was chosen from out of the Senate of Rome and the other from that of Constantinople. We can almost always tell whether a chronicler belongs to the Eastern or Western Empire by observing whether he puts the Eastern or Western Consul first. Thus, for A.D. 501, Marcellinus Comes, who was an official of the Eastern Empire, gives us 'Pompeius et Avienus, Coss.;' while Cassiodorus, in his 'Chronicon,' assigns the year to 'Avienus et Pompeius.' Pompeius was a nobleman of Constantinople, nephew of the Emperor Anastasius; while Avienus was a Roman Senator[186]. Again, in A.D. 490, Marcellinus gives the names of Longinus and Faustus, which Cassiodorus quotes as Faustus and Longinus. Longinus was a brother of the Emperor Zeno, and Faustus was for many years Praetorian Praefect under Theodoric, and was the receiver of many letters in the following collection.

[Footnote 186: See Usener, p. 32.]

I have endeavoured to give the priority always to the _Western_ Consul in the list before us, except in those cases where an Emperor (who was of course an Eastern) condescended to assume the Consular _trabea_.

[Sidenote: Indictions.]

Another mode of reckoning the dates which the reader will continually meet with in the following pages is by _Indictions_. The Indiction, as is well known, was a cycle of fifteen years, during which, as we have reason to believe, the assessment for the taxes remained undisturbed, a fresh valuation being made all round when the cycle was ended. Traces of this quindecennial period may be found in the third century, but the formal adoption of the Indiction is generally assigned to the Emperor Constantine, and to the year 312[187]. The Indiction itself, and every one of the years composing it, began on the 1st of September of the calendar year. The reason for this period being chosen probably was that the harvests of the year being then gathered in, the collection of the tithes of the produce, which formed an important part of the Imperial revenue, could be at once proceeded with. What gives an especial importance to this method of dating by Indictions, for the reader of the following letters is, that most of the great offices of State changed hands at the beginning of the year of the Indiction (Sept. 1), not at the beginning of the Calendar year.

[Footnote 187: Compare Marquardt (Römische Staatsverwaltung ii. 237). He remarks that the Indiction seems to have been first adopted in Egypt, and did not come into universal use all over the Empire till the end of the Fourth Century.]

To make such a mode of dating the year at all satisfactory, it would seem to us necessary that the number of the cycle itself, as well as of the year in the cycle, should be given; for instance, that A.D. 313 should be called the first year of the first Indiction, and A.D. 351 the ninth year of the third Indiction. This practice, however, was not adopted till far on into the Middle Ages[188]. At the time we are speaking of, the word Indiction seems generally to have been given not to the cycle itself, but to the year in the cycle. Thus, 313 was the first Indiction, 314 the second Indiction, 315 the third Indiction, and so on. And thus we find a year, which from other sources we know to be 313, called the first Indiction, 351 the ninth Indiction, 537 the fifteenth Indiction, without any clue being given to guide us to the important point in what cycles these years held respectively the first, the ninth, and the fifteenth places.

[Footnote 188: The Twelfth Century, according to Marquardt.]

As the Indiction began on the 1st of September a question arises whether the calendar year is to be named after the number of the Indiction which belongs to its beginning or its end; whether, to go back to the beginning, A.D. 312 or A.D. 313 is to be accounted the first Indiction. The practice of the chroniclers and of most writers on chronology appears to be in favour of the latter method, which is natural, inasmuch as nine months of the Indiction belong to the later date and only three to the earlier. Thus, for instance, Marcellinus Comes calls the year of the Consulship of Belisarius, which was undoubtedly 535, 'Indictio XIII:' the thirteenth Indiction of that cycle having begun Sept. 1, 534, and ended August 31, 535. But it is well that the student should be warned that our greatest English authority, Mr. Fynes Clinton, adopts the other method. In the very useful table of comparative chronology which he gives in his Fasti Romani[189] he assigns the Indiction to that year of the Christian era in which it had its beginning, and accordingly 534, not 535, is identified with the thirteenth Indiction.

[Footnote 189: Vol. ii. pp. 214-216. See his remarks, p. 210: 'The Indictions in Marcellinus and in the Tables of Du Fresnoy are compared with the Consulship and the Julian year in which they end. In the following Table they are compared with the year in which they begin, because the years of the Christian era are here made the measure of the rest, and contain the beginnings of all the other epochs.']

In order to translate years of Indiction into years of the Christian era it is necessary first to add some multiple of 15 (_what_ multiple our knowledge of history must inform us) to 312. On the 1st of September of the year so obtained the Indiction cycle began; and for any other year of the same cycle we must of course add its own number minus one. Thus, when we find Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect writing a letter[190] informing Joannes of his appointment to the office of Cancellarius 'for the _twelfth_ Indiction,' as we know within a little what date is wanted, we first of all add 14 x 15 (= 210) to 312, and so obtain 522. The first Indiction in that cycle ran from September 1, 522, to August 31, 523. The twelfth Indiction was therefore from September 1, 533, to August 31, 534, and that is the date we require.

[Footnote 190: Var. xi. 6.]

On the other hand, when we find a letter written by Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect to the Provincials of Istria[191] as to the payment of tribute for the _first_ Indiction, we know that we must now have entered upon a new cycle. We therefore add 15 x 15 (= 225) to 312, and get 537. As it happens to be the _first_ Indiction that we require, our calculation ends here: September 1, 537, to August 31, 538, is the answer required.

[Footnote 191: Var. xii. 22.]

If anyone objects that such a system of chronology is cumbrous, uncertain, and utterly unscientific, I can only say that I entirely agree with him, and that the system is worthy of the perverted ingenuity which produced the Nones and Ides of the Roman Calendar.

In the following tables I have not attempted to mark the years of the Indiction, on account of the confusion caused by the fact that two calendar years require the same number. But I have denoted by the abbreviation 'Ind.' the years in which each cycle of the Indictions _began_. These years are 492, 507, 522, 537, 552, and 567.

_Chronological Tables._

Private Public Rulers of A.D. Consuls. Events. Events. Italy. Popes. Emperors. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 480 Basilius Magnus Assassination ODOVACAR SIMPLICIUS ZENO Junior. Aurelius of Nepos, (from 476). (from 468). (from 474). Cassiodorus formerly Senator, Emperor of born at the West. Scyllacium (?). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 481 Placidus. Odovacar avenges the murder of Nepos. Death of Theodoricus Triarii. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 482 Trocondus Accession of and Clovis. Severinus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 483 Faustus. Zeno issues FELIX II the Henoticon. (or III). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 484 Theodoricus Illus revolts and against Zeno. Venantius. Schism between Eastern and Western Churches. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 485 Q. Aurelius Memmius Symmachus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 486 Decius and Longinus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 487 Boethius War between (_Father of Odovacar and the great the Rugians. Boethius_). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 488 Dyanamius Theodoric and starts for Sifidius. Italy. Death of Illus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 489 Anicius Theodoric Probinus descends into and Italy. Battles Eusebius. of the Isonzo and Verona. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 490 Flavius Battle of the Faustus Adda. Junior and Longinus (II). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 491 Olybrius Battle of ANASTASIUS. Junior. Ravenna. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 492 Flavius GELASIUS. (Ind.) ANASTASIUS Augustus and Rufus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 493 Eusebius Surrender of THEODORIC. (II) and Ravenna. Albinus. Death of Odovacar. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 494 Turcius Rufus Apronianus Asterius and Praesidius. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 495 Flavius Viator. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 496 Paulus. Clovis ANASTASIUS. defeats the Alamanni. His conversion. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 497 Flavius SYMMACHUS ANASTASIUS (Antipope Aug. (II). Laurentius). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 498 Paulinus and Joannes Scytha. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 499 Joannes Gibbus.

500 Patricius Cassiodorus War between and Senior, Gundobad and Hypatius. Patrician, Clovis. Praefect. Theodoric's His son visit to becomes his Rome. _Consili- Conspiracy of arius_. Odoin. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 501 Rufius About this Synodus Magnus time Palmaris at Faustus Cassiodorus Rome. Avienus pronounces Symmachus and his confirmed in Flavius panegyric the Pompeius. on Pontificate. Theodoric, and is rewarded by being appointed Quaestor. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 502 Flavius Avienus Junior and Probus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 503 Dexicrates and Volusianus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 504 Cethegus. War of Sirmium. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 505 Theodorus War between and Theodoric and Sabinianus. Anastasius (affair of Mundo). Battle of Horrea Margi. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 506 Messala and Areobinda. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 507 Flavius Clovis (Ind.) ANASTASIUS defeats Aug. (III) Alaric II at and Campus Venantius. Vogladensis. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 508 Venantius Tulum and Celer. endeavours to raise siege of Arles. Byzantine raid on Apulia. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 509 Importunus. Mammo invades Burgundy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 510 Anicius Ibbus defeats Manlius Franks and Severinus Burgundians. Boethius (_Author of the 'Consolation'_). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 511 Felix and Death of Secundinus. Clovis. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 512 Paulus and Muschianus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 513 Probus and Clementinus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 514 Senator, Cassiodorus HORMISDAS. _solus as Consul Consul_ restores (Cassio- harmony dorus). between clergy and people of Rome. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 515 Florentius Cassiodorus Marriage of and receives Eutharic and Anthemius. the Amalasuentha. Patriciate (?). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 516 Petrus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 517 Agapitus and Flavius Anastasius (_nephew of the Emperor_).

518 Magnus. JUSTIN I. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 519 JUSTINUS Composition End of schism Augustus of the between and 'Chroni- Eastern and Eutharicus con,' Western Cillica. dedicated Churches. to Eutharic. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 520 Rusticus Composition and of the Vitalianus. Gothic History (?). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 521 Valerius and Flavius Justinianus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 522 Symmachus (Ind.) and Boethius (_sons of the great Boethius_). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 523 Flavius Franks invade JOHN I. Anicius Burgundy. Maximus. Imprisonment of Boethius. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 524 Flavius Death of JUSTINUS Boethius. Aug. (II) and Opilio. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 525 Anicius Death of Probus Symmachus. Junior and Pope John's Flavius Mission to Theodorus Constantinople. Philoxenus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 526 Olybrius. Cassiodorus Pope John ATHALARIC. FELIX III Master of dies in (or IV). the prison (May Offices. 25). Death of Theodoric (Aug. 30). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 527 Vettius Death of JUSTINIAN. Agorius Amalafrida, Basilius Queen-dowager Mavortius. of the Vandals. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 528 Flavius JUSTINIANUS Aug. (II). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 529 Decius BONIFACE II. Junior. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 530 Flavius Lampadius and Orestes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 531 _Post Consulatum Lampadii et Orestis._ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 532 _Post Final invasion Consulatum of Burgundy by Lampadii et the Franks. Orestis. Anno II._ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 533 Flavius Cassiodorus The Vandal War JOHN III. JUSTINIANUS Praetorian of Justinian Aug. (III). Praefect (June, 533- (Sept. 1), March, 534). which office he holds till he retires from public life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 534 Flavius Death of AMALASUENTHA. JUSTINIANUS Athalaric THEODAHAD. Aug. (IV) (Oct. 2). and Flavius Association of Theodorus Theodahad with Paulinus Amalasuentha. Junior. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 535 Flavius Death of AGAPETUS. Belisarius. Amalasuentha. The Gothic War begins.

536 _Post Belisarius WITIGIS. SILVERIUS. Consulatum takes Naples Fl. and enters Belisarii._ Rome. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 537 _Post Siege of Rome VIGILIUS. (Ind.) Consulatum by Witigis. Fl. Belisarii Anno II._ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 538 Flavius Collection Siege of Rome Johannes of the raised. (John of 'Variae.' Cappa- Composition docia). of the 'De Animâ.' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 539 Flavius Cassiodorus Mediolanum Appion. about this taken by the time lays Goths. down his Belisarius office and takes retires to Auximum. his birthplace (Scyllacium), where he founds the Monastery of Vivaria. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 540 Flavius Ravenna ILDIBAD. Justinus surrendered Junior. to Belisarius. Captivity of Witigis. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 541 Flavius He writes ERARIC. Basilius Commentary BADUILA Junior. on the (TOTILA). Psalms as far as Psalm 20. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 542 Years " Totila twice reckoned defeats the Post Imperial Consulatum generals, and Basilii. retrieves the fortune of the Ostrogoths. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 543 " Composition of the 'Institutiones Divinarum et Humanarum Litterarum.' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 544 " Belisarius returns to Italy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 545 " Rome taken by Totila. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 546 " Continues and completes his Commentary on the Psalms. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 547 " " Rome re-occupied by Belisarius. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 548 " " Death of Empress Theodora. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 549 " " Rome again taken by Totila. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 550 " " Death of Germanus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 551 " Narses Commander of Italian Expedition. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 552 " Writes the Narses TEIAS. (Ind.) 'Complexi- defeats ones in Totila Epistolas near Apostolo- Tadinum. rum,' and compiles the 'Historia Tripartita' (the precise date of these works unknown). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 553 " " Teias NARSES, defeated and Governor of slain near Italy under Mons the Emperor. Lactarius. The Ostrogoths leave Italy. Invasion of the Alamannic brethren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 554 " " ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 555 " " PELAGIUS. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 556 " " ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 557 " " ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 558 " " ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 559 " " Belisarius defeats the Huns under Zabergan. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 560 " " JOHN III. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 561 " ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 562 " Disgrace of Belisarius. Belisarius restored to favour. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 563 " ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 564 " ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 565 Post JUSTIN II. Consulatum Basilii XXIV. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 566 Flavius Death of JUSTINUS Belisarius Augustus. and of Justinian. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 567 Years Narses LONGINUS, (Ind.) reckoned recalled by Exarch. Post Justin. Consulatum Alleged Justini. invitation to the Lombards. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 568 " The Lombards ALBOIN, under Alboin King of the enter Italy. Lombards. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 569 " Milan taken by the Lombards. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 570 " ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 571 " Ticinum taken by the Lombards. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 572 " ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 573 " Composition Assassination CLEPH, Death of of treatise of Alboin. King of the John III. 'De Lombards. Orthographia' in 93rd year of Cassiodorus. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 574 " Death of BENEDICT I. Cleph. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 575 " Cassiodorus dies in his 95th year (?). -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE

LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS.

PREFACE[192].

[Footnote 192: Translated in full.]

[Sidenote: Reason for publication: entreaties of friends.]

Learned men, who had become my friends through conversations which we had had together, or benefits which I had bestowed upon them, sought to persuade me to draw together into one work the various utterances which it had been my duty to make, during my tenure of office, for the explanation of different affairs. They desired me to do this, in order that future generations might recognise the painful labours which I had undergone for the public good, and the workings of my own unbribed conscience. I then replied that their very kindness for me might turn out to my disadvantage, since the letters which their good-will found acceptable might to future readers seem insipid. I reminded them also of the words of Horace, warning us of the dangers of hasty publication.

[Sidenote: Difficulty of writing.]

'You see,' said I, 'that all require from me a speedy reply to their petitions; and do you think that I couch those replies in words which leave me nothing to regret hereafter? Our diction must be somewhat rude when there is no sufficient delay to enable the speaker to choose words which shall rightly express the precise shade of his meaning. Speech is the common gift of all mankind: it is embellishment (ornatus) alone which distinguishes between the learned and unlearned. The author is told to keep his writings by him for nine years for reflection; but I have not as many hours, hardly as many moments. As soon as I begin the petitioner worries me with his clamours, and hurries me too much to prevent my finishing cautiously, even if I have so begun my task. One vexes me past endurance by his interruptions and innuendoes; another torments me with the doleful tale of his miseries; others surround me with the mad shouts of their seditious contentions[193]. In such circumstances how can you expect elegance of language, when we have scarcely opportunity to put words together in any fashion? Even at night indescribable cares are flitting round our couch[194], while we are harassed with fear lest the cities should lack their supplies of food--food which the common people insist upon more than anything else, caring more for their bellies than for the gratification of their ears by eloquence. This thought obliges us to wander in imagination through all the Provinces, and ever to enquire after the execution of our orders, since it is not enough to tell our staff what has to be done, but the diligent administrator must see that it is done[195]. Therefore, I pray you, spare us your harmful love. I must decline this persuasion of yours, which will bring me more of danger than of glory.'

[Footnote 193: 'Alii furiosa contentionum seditione circumdant.' This is probably meant to describe turbulent Goths.]

[Footnote 194: [Greek: ou chrê pannuchion eudein boulêphoron andra] (Il. ii. 24).]

[Footnote 195: Quia non sufficit agenda militibus imperare, nisi haec Judicis assiduitas videatur exigere.]

So I pleaded; but they plied me all the more with such arguments as these:

[Sidenote: The Praefecture.]

'All men have known you as Praefect of the Praetorian throne, a dignity which all other public employments wait upon like lacqueys. For from this high office, ways and means for the army are demanded; from this, without any regard for the difficulty of the times, the food of the people is required; on this, a weight of judicial responsibility is thrown, which would be by itself a heavy burden. Now the law, which has thrown this immense load on the Praefect's office, has, on the other hand, honoured him by putting almost all things under his control. In truth, what interval of leisure could you snatch from your public labours, when into your single breast flowed every claim which could be made on behalf of the common good of all?

[Sidenote: The Quaestorship.]

'We must add, moreover, that when you were on frequent occasions charged with the office of the Quaestorship, the leisure which you might have enjoyed was taken from you by your own constant thoughtfulness for the public good; and when you were thus bearing the weight of an honour which was not the highest, your Sovereigns used to lay upon you those duties, properly belonging to other offices, which their own holders were unable to discharge[196]. All these duties you discharged with absolute freedom from corruption, following your father's example in receiving, from those who hoped for your favour, nothing but the obligation to serve them, and bestowing on petitioners all that they had a right to ask for without traffic or reward.

[Footnote 196: 'Addimus etiam quod frequenter Quaesturae vicibus ingravato otii tempus adimit crebra cogitatio, et velut mediocribus fascibus insudanti, illa tibi de aliis honoribus principes videntur imponere, quae proprii Judices nequeunt explicare.' This is probably the clearest account that is anywhere given of the peculiar and somewhat undefined position held by Cassiodorus during the greater part of the reign of Theodoric.]

[Sidenote: Intimacy with Theodoric.]

'Moreover, men know that the conversations which you were honoured by holding with the King occupied a large portion of your days, greatly to the public welfare[197], so that men of leisure have no right to expect that their requirements shall be met by you, whose day was thus occupied with continuous toil[198]. But in truth this will redound yet more to your glory, if amid so many and such severe labours you succeed in writing that which is worthy to be read. Besides, your work can without wounding their self-love instruct unlettered persons who are not prepared by any consciousness of eloquence for the service of the Republic[199]; and the experience which you have gained by being tossed to and fro on the waves of stormy altercation, they in their more tranquil lot may more fortunately make their own. Again (and here we make an appeal which your loyalty cannot resist), if you allow posterity to be ignorant of the numerous benefits conferred by your King, it is in vain that with benevolent eagerness he so often granted your requests. Do not, we pray, draw back once more into silence and obscurity those who, while you were sounding their eulogies, seemed worthy to receive illustrious dignities. For you then professed to describe them with true praises, and to paint their characters with the colours of history[200]. Now if you leave it to posterity to write the panegyric on these men, you take away as it were from those who die an honourable death the funeral oration to which, by the customs of our ancestors, they are entitled. Besides, in these letters you correct immorality with a ruler's authority; you break the insolence of the transgressor; you restore to the laws their reverence. Do you still hesitate about publishing that which, as you know, satisfies so many needs? Will you conceal, if we may say so, the mirror of your own mind, in which all ages to come may behold your likeness? Often does it happen that a man begets a son unlike himself, but his writings are hardly ever found unequal to his character[201]. The progeny of his own will is his truest child; what is born in the secret recesses of his own heart is that by which posterity will know him best.

[Footnote 197: 'Regum quinetiam gloriosa colloquia pro magnâ diei parte in bonum publicum te occupare noverunt.' It is difficult to translate the expressive term, 'gloriosa colloquia.']

[Footnote 198: 'Ut fastidium sit otiosis exspectare quae tu continuo labore cognosceris sustinere.' I cannot translate this literally.]

[Footnote 199: 'Rudes viros et ad Rempublicam consciâ facundiâ praeparatos.' Surely some negative has dropped out of the latter clause.]

[Footnote 200: 'Tu enim illos assumpsisti verâ laude describere, et quodammodo historico colore depingere.']

[Footnote 201: 'Contingit enim dissimilem filium plerumque generari, oratio dispar moribus vix potest inveniri.']

[Sidenote: Gothic History.]

'You have often, amid universal acclamation, pronounced the praises of kings and queens. In twelve books you have compiled the History of the Goths, culling the story of their triumphs[202]. Since these works have had such favourable fortunes, and since you have thus served your first campaign in literature, why hesitate to give these productions of yours also to the public?'

[Footnote 202: 'Duodecim libris Gothorum historiam _defloratis prosperitatibus_ condidisti.' By an extraordinary error this sentence has been interpreted to mean that Cassiodorus wrote his history of the Goths after their prosperity had faded; and some writers have accordingly laboured, quite hopelessly, to bring down the composition of the Gothic History to a late period in the reign of Athalaric. It is perfectly clear from many passages that Cassiodorus uses 'deflorare' in the sense of 'picking flowers,' 'culling a nosegay.' See Historia Tripartita, Preface (twice); De Instit. Divin. Litterarum, cap. xxx; and De Orthographiâ, cap. ii (title). I doubt not that careful search would discover many more instances. It is only strange to me that Cassiodorus should, by the words 'defloratis _prosperitatibus_,' so naïvely confess the one-sided character of his history.]

[Sidenote: Cassiodorus consents to publish.]

So pleaded my friends, and to my shame I must own that I was conquered, and could no longer resist so many prayers; especially when I saw myself accused of want of affection. I have now only to crave my readers' pardon; and if they find rashness and presumption in my attempt, to blame my advisers rather than me, since my own judgment agrees with that of my severest critic.

All the letters, therefore, which I have been able to find in various public archives that had been dictated by me as Quaestor, as Magister [Officiorum], or as Praefect, are here collected and arranged in twelve books. By the variety of subjects touched upon, the attention of the reader will be aroused, and it will be maintained by the feeling that he is rapidly approaching the conclusion of the letter.

I have also wished to preserve others from those unpolished and hasty forms of speech into which I am conscious that I have often fallen in announcing the bestowal of dignities, a kind of document which is often asked for in such haste that there seems scarce time for the mere manual labour of writing it. I have therefore included in my Sixth and Seventh Books _Formulae_ for the granting of all the dignities of the State, hoping thus to be of some service to myself, though at a late period of my career, and to help my successors who may be hard pressed for time. What I have thus written concerning the past will serve equally well for the future, since I have said nothing about the qualities of the individual office-holder, but have made such explanations as seemed suitable concerning the office.

[Sidenote: Reason of the title Variarum.]

As for the title of all twelve books, the index of the work, the herald of its meaning, the expression in briefest compass of the whole performance, I have for this chosen the name VARIAE. And this, because it was necessary for me not always to use the same style, since I had undertaken to address various kinds of persons. One must speak in one way to men jaded with much reading; in another to those who skim lightly over the surface, tasting here and there; in another (if one would persuade them), to persons who are devoid of a taste for letters, since it is sometimes a proof of skill to avoid the very things which please the learned. In short, the definition given by our ancestors is a good one: 'To speak fitly is to persuade the hearers to accept your wishes for their own.' Nor was it at random that the prudence of Antiquity thus defined the three modes of speaking:--

[Sidenote: The three styles of composition.]

(1) The _humble_ style, which seems to creep along the ground in the very expression of its thought.

(2) The _middle_ style, which is neither swollen with self-importance nor shrunk into littleness; but being placed between the two, and enriched by a peculiar elegance, is contained within its own true boundaries.

(3) The _supreme_ style, which by exquisite phraseology is raised to the very highest pitch of oratory.

The object of this distinction is that the various sorts and conditions of men may each receive their appropriate address, and that the thoughts which proceed from the same breast may nevertheless flow in divers channels. No man is entitled to the name of eloquent who is not prepared to do his duty manfully with the triple strength of these three styles, as one cause after another may arise. It must be added hereto that we have sometimes to speak to Kings, sometimes to the Officers of the Court, sometimes to the very humblest of the people. To the last we may allowably pour out our words with some degree of haste, but the other addresses should be deeply pondered before they are delivered. Deservedly therefore is a work entitled VARIAE, which is subject to so much diversity in its composition.

Would that, as we have received these maxims from those who have gone before us, so our own compositions could claim the praise of having reduced them into practice. In sooth we do with shamefacedness promise that the Humble style shall be found in us; we think we may without dishonesty covenant for the Middle style; but the Supreme style, which on account of its nobility is the fitting language of a royal Edict[203], we cannot hope that we have attained unto.

[Footnote 203: The editors waver between 'quod est in edicto' and 'quod est in edito (constitutum).']

But since we are to be read, let us abstain from further unlawful canvassing for the votes of our readers. It is an incongruous thing for us to be thus piling up our own discourses about ourselves: we ought rather to wait for your judgment on our work.