Variae & Works 12 part 1/4

The help of a preface most often springs from adversity—from one's actions—when that aids the writer which could have hindered him as he thought. And this matter, although it takes away praise, yet when handled mercifully grants pardon; because no one can exact from the busy what is agreed to be owed by the idle. Wherefore, if a most distinguished administrator should be believed to have had leisure, it is a reproach—he whose very privacy is said to be one buffeted by tumultuous business. But hardly will the proof, carried through to effect, profit us anything, since we are both believed to have been busy and judged to have least been allowed to write badly. For it is far better to hide faulty things in darkness than to publish blameworthy ones with presumptuous importunity.

But this an idle man will be able to object to me: if I have hurled out a word with improvident haste, if I have not adorned with the comeliness of speech a thought taken from the common stock, if I have not, according to the precept of the ancients, rendered to persons their own propriety. But a busy man, who is snatched away by the diversity of cases, upon whom it constantly presses to render a reply and to dictate to another what must be expedited—he will not be able to condemn me, who knows himself to have been imperilled in such matters. For one who is conscious of his own is an easy absolver of another's; for we are not always strong in those things in which we are sometimes judged able. A glad genius pours forth a witty invention; an occupied mind conceives tepid sayings.

Sometimes it befits the keen to be perpetually polished, since the art of speaking is recognized to lie within our own power, but alacrity of mind is applied only to divine gifts. There remains therefore, as an excuse, the unhoped-for brevity of the books, which no one purges at length save him who is well believed to be about to speak well. But lest perhaps anyone may be offended that, set upon the praetorian summit, I have thus, while so utterly busy, dictated few things, let him receive it as done by the boldness of that most prudent man Felix, in whose counsel I shared in every case. For he is a man first of all purified by sincerity of character, eminent in knowledge of the law, distinguished by propriety of words, an old man in youth, a gentle disputant, measured and eloquent;

who, by elegantly fulfilling public necessities, brought them rather by his own labour to favourable repute. Otherwise, burdened by such masses of cases, I could either have proved unequal, or perhaps been found arrogant. But it is better that, refreshed by his toil, I attended to the royal cares in such a way that I could not, failing in arduous matters, be approved. And so I have appended two little books of my own dictations concerning the prefecture's administration, that I, who in ten books have spoken with the royal mouth, might not be held unknown in my own person; because it is too absurd that one fall silent in dignity attained, who seemed to have said much on behalf of others.

But after I had concluded our little work in twelve books with the desired ending, friends compelled me to discourse on the substance of the soul and on its virtues, so that, through one about whom we have said many things, we might be seen to speak also concerning the soul itself. Only spare me, you eloquent ones; rather favour those who are beginning. For if I merit nothing by the gift of eloquence, I am rather to be considered for my most dutiful labour—I who, occupied with such great necessities of the commonwealth, could thus find leisure amid burning cares, even were it my lot to glory in the Tullian streams. For even the very fount of eloquence himself, when he was begged to speak, is reported to have excused himself, because the day before he had not read. What now can befall others, if so great a glory of eloquence seemed to require the benefits of its authors?

The genius assuredly sickens, unless it be repaired by continual reading. Granaries are quickly spent which have not been propped up by constant addition. The treasure itself, how easily it is poured out, if it be not again replenished with monies. So the human understanding, when it is not stuffed with another's invention, can quickly be thinned out from its own. But if anything in us is fragrant, it is the flower of studies, which nonetheless is rendered withered if it be plucked from its mother, reading. For there it can be most flourishing, whence it is taught also to be born, since all things live most fully in their own origin, which are not yet carried off from their natural bosoms. Accordingly a great part of pardon lies in this: if we write without leisure, if we are read without our reading.

But let us now be removed from the wish to excuse ourselves, lest an overly affected defence give the greater offence. You commend to me, Conscript Fathers, my advancement, if I understand it to have been your wish: for I believe that to have turned out most prosperously which so many happy men are agreed to have desired. Indeed the desires of all good men are proved to be the auspices of good things, since no one can be received with the favour of such men save him whom the Godhead has commanded to be increased. Lend then mutual grace, that you may exact obedience. It is the nature of things to love a colleague. Nay rather you exalt your own praises, if you raise up the honour that has been given to Senator. May the solicitude of the Fathers urgently impel me to public benefits, so that it may rather be ascribed to your heralding, when I shall have deserved to please with such consolation.

My second care is to commend myself to you after the princes, because we trust that you love that which we perceive the lords of affairs also to command: first, that we should reckon useful what is honourable, that justice as a handmaid may ever accompany our acts, and that what we have not bought from a self-restrained prince we may basely sell to no one. You have heard, princely men, what weights of affairs I, being acclaimed, have undertaken. He is required beyond his strength who is praised for having entered the summits of dignity. These things we dare not call false, but we confess them to be greater than ourselves; for such judgments did not find merits, but made them: nor indeed do we boast on that account, who understand that our lords willed to raise up lowly things, lest they should seem to have bestowed things so vast upon the unmeriting.

The blessings of an age to be proclaimed snatch us away, and as if thirsting from long drought, they invite us to a draught of the sweetest savour. O blessed fortune of the age! Under a prince at rest, a mother's affection reigns, through which the whole is so accomplished that a general charity is felt to cover us. To her, whom all things serve, glorious obedience is rendered; and by a wondrous tempering of concord, before she could rule peoples, she had already begun to command her own character. This is assuredly the most difficult kind of reigning—for a youth to exercise sovereignty over his own senses. It is altogether a rare good that a lord should triumph over his own character, and attain this in flowering age, to which hoary modesty is scarcely believed to come.

Let us rejoice, Conscript Fathers, and render thanks with suppliant devotion to the supernal Majesty, since with the lapse of time there will be no clemency hard for our prince, who in his boyhood years learned to serve piety. But let us grant this miracle to the character of both: for so great is the maternal genius, that even by right an external prince ought to have served her. For all kingdoms most worthily venerate her, to behold whom is reverence, to hear whom speaking is a marvel. For by what tongue is she not proved most learned? She is eloquent with the brightness of Attic eloquence; she is resplendent with the pomp of Roman speech; she glories in the abundance of her native tongue; she excels all in their own languages, since she is equally everywhere marvellous.

For if to know one's vernacular tongue well belongs to a prudent person, what may be estimated of such wisdom, which guards so many kinds of eloquence with unfaltering practice? Hence comes to diverse nations a necessary and great protection, that before the ears of the most prudent lady no one needs an interpreter. For neither does an envoy suffer delay, nor does a petitioner suffer any loss from the slowness of a mediator, since each is both heard in his native words and answered with a reply in his own country's speech. To these things is joined, as it were an excellent diadem, the inestimable knowledge of letters, through which, while the prudence of the ancients is learned, the royal dignity is ever increased.

But although she rejoices in so great a perfection of tongues, in public action she is so silent that she is believed to be at leisure. With few words she dissolves knotty disputes; she settles fervent wars under quietness; the public good is conducted silently. You do not hear proclaimed what is seen to be openly undertaken, and by a wondrous tempering, through dissembling, she accomplishes what she recognizes must be hastened. What such thing did honoured antiquity merit? We have learned that Placidia, celebrated in the world's repute, glorious by the lineage of certain princes, devoted herself to her purple-clad son, whose empire, while she administered it slackly, is known to have been unbecomingly diminished. In short, by the loss of Illyricum she procured herself a daughter-in-law, and the union of a reigning house was made a grievous division for the provinces.

The soldiery too she loosened by excessive quiet. Protected by his mother, he endured what, left destitute, he could scarcely have suffered. But under this lady, who has had as many kings as kinsfolk, with God's help our army terrifies foreigners: an army which, balanced by provident disposition, is neither worn down by constant wars nor again softened by long peace. In its very beginnings too, when novelty, ever uncertain, is always being tested, against the wish of the Eastern prince she made the Danube to be Roman. It is known what the invaders endured: which things I judge ought to be passed over, lest the genius of an allied prince should bear the shame of the loser. For what he felt about our regions may be understood from this: that, though injured, he granted the peace which, though entreated, he had been unwilling to grant to others.

It is added that, though so rarely entreated, he honoured us with so many embassies, and that singular power of his, in order to exalt the lords of Italy, inclined the reverence of the Eastern summit. The Franks too, mighty by so many victories over barbarians, with what a vast expedition were they thrown into confusion! Provoked, they feared to enter into a contest with our men—they who with headlong onset have ever brought battles upon the nations. But although that haughty nation declined the conflict, it could not avoid the destruction of its own king. For that Theoderic, long glorying in a powerful name, fell in the triumph of our princes, overcome rather by a battle of sickness:

by divine ordinance, I believe, lest either the wars of kinsmen should defile us, or the army, justly led forth, should have no vengeance at all. Hail, military expedition of the Goths, more delightful than every felicity, which strikest off the head of a royal enemy and withholdest from us the fate of not even one of the meanest! The Burgundian moreover, that he might recover his own, became devoted, surrendering himself wholly when he had received a little. He chose indeed whole to obey rather than diminished to resist: more safely then did he defend his kingdom, when he had laid down his arms. For he recovered by prayer what he had lost in the battle-line.

Blessed art thou, O lady, with manifold praise, from whom by divine benefit all necessity of conflict is taken away, since either by heavenly felicity thou conquerest the foes of the commonwealth, or by thy commands thou joinest them to thee through their own spontaneous bounty. Exult, Goths and Romans alike: a worthy marvel, which all may speak of. Behold, by God's granting, a happy lady has fulfilled what each sex holds as excellent: for she has both brought forth a glorious king for us, and by fortitude of mind has vindicated a most widespread empire. These things, so far as they pertain to arms, are somehow told; but if we should wish to enter the halls of her piety, scarcely could a hundred tongues and a hundred mouths suffice us—she to whom equity and goodwill are indeed equal, but whose kindness is greater than her power.

Let us therefore say small things of great, few of very many. You know how great goods she has, by heavenly kindness, lavished upon our order: there is no doubt where the Senate is witness. The afflicted she has restored to a better state, the unharmed she has exalted with honours, and one by one she has bestowed goods on those whom she has guarded under a universal protection. The things we assert have already grown. For behold the patrician Liberius, prefect even of the Gauls, a military man, most welcome in fellowship, illustrious in merits, comely in form, but lovelier for his wounds, who has obtained the rewards of his labours—so that he neither lost the prefecture which he administered well, and a doubled honour adorned that excellent man: one whose merit is confessed, for whom a single reward alone does not suffice.

For he received also an immediate dignity, lest one who had served the commonwealth well should, by his long absence, be thought ungrateful. O the wondrous benevolence of our sovereigns, which exalted the aforesaid man to such a degree that, having bestowed the rods of office, she judged that his patrimony too should be augmented! And this was so gratefully received by all that, in the gift made to him, all believed themselves rather enriched; for whatever is granted to a worthy man is felt, beyond doubt, to be conferred upon many. Why then should I speak of his firmness of soul, which surpassed even philosophers most loudly praised? For from the mouth of our mistress proceeds a beneficent word, and a promise that abides under the seal of security. The things we speak, conscript fathers, are not less proven to us: he is a true witness who praises from experience.

For you have learned what wishes contended against me: neither gold nor great entreaties prevailed; all things were tried, that the glorious constancy of our most wise mistress might be proved. The order of my discourse demands that I rouse up the pomp of the ancient Augustae for a present comparison. But how shall the examples of women suffice for her, to whom all the praise of men yields? If that royal company of her ancestors were to behold her, they would soon, as in a most pure mirror, see their own renown. For Hamal shone in good fortune, Ostrogotha in patience, Athal in gentleness, Winitarius in equity, Unimund in beauty, Thorismuth in chastity, Walamer in faith, Theudimer in piety; and in wisdom, as you have now seen, her illustrious father.

Here indeed all would assuredly recognize their own qualities one by one, yet would happily confess themselves surpassed, since the renown of one cannot by right be matched with a whole throng of virtues. Consider what joy they would feel over such an heir, who was able to surpass the merits of them all. Perhaps you may seek separately the good qualities of our prince: he abundantly proclaims the offspring who praises its author. Then you retain that excellent saying of the most eloquent Symmachus: 'I joyfully look for the increase of his virtue, I who defer to praise its beginnings.' Come to my aid, conscript fathers, and by giving thanks to our common sovereigns on my behalf, discharge my debt by your own satisfaction; for just as one man is not able to satisfy the wishes of all, so many can fulfill the appointed tasks of one.

Entreaty must be made to you, most blessed father, that the gladness which by God's bounty we have received through you, we may feel to be preserved for us by your prayers. For who could doubt that our prosperity is to be ascribed to your merits, since we attain an honor while we do not deserve to be loved by the Lord, and by an exchange of office we receive good things, while we do nothing of the kind? Indeed, by ecclesiastical fasts the people's hunger has been shut out; by becoming tears foul sorrow has departed; and through holy men it was hastened that what burdened us should not drag on any longer.

And therefore, greeting you with that dutifulness which is fitting, I pray that you may pray more earnestly for the welfare of our rulers, so that the heavenly Prince may make their life long-lasting, may diminish the enemies of the Roman commonwealth, and may grant tranquil times; and then, what adorns peace, may He bestow upon us from the storehouses of His abundance the supply we need; and may He open to me, your son, the perception of understanding, that I may follow the things that are truly profitable and flee those that are to be avoided. May that rational vigor of the soul furnish us with counsel; may the face of truth grow bright, lest a bodily darkness becloud our mind; may we follow what is within, lest we be outside ourselves; may He instruct us with what savors of true wisdom; may He illumine us with what shines forth in heavenly brightness.

Lastly, may public office receive such a judge as the Catholic Church sends forth as a son. May holy virtue keep us safe even amid its own gifts, for we then undergo graver snares of the ancient adversary when we receive his gifts. Do not cast upon me alone the care of that city, which is rather secure through your praise. For you, as watchmen, preside over the Christian people; you, with a father's name, cherish all things. Therefore the security of the people looks to your reputation, to which the safeguarding has been divinely committed. Wherefore it befits us to consider certain things, but you all things. You indeed spiritually feed the flock entrusted to you; yet neither can you neglect those things which seem to sustain the body's substance.

For just as man consists of a duality, so it belongs to a good father to cherish both. First, to remove by holy prayers the scarcity of the season, which our offenses deserve. Yet if anything should befall—which God forbid—then necessity is well shut out when, against it, we deal under conditions of plenty. Admonish me carefully as to what must be done. Even when corrected, I long to act well, for the sheep that desires to hear its shepherd's voice goes astray with greater difficulty, nor is he easily made vicious upon whom an admonisher constantly presses. I am indeed a judge of the Palace, but I will not cease to be your disciple; for then do we rightly conduct these matters, if we in no way depart from your rules.

But since I desire both to be admonished by your counsels and to be aided by your prayers, you must now take it to yourselves if anything in me be found otherwise than was hoped. Let that See, marvelous throughout the whole world, shelter with affection its own worshipers—a See which, though granted to the world in general, is recognized as locally assigned to us as well. We hold something proper to the holy apostles, if by our dividing sins it be not rendered alien, since those confessions which the whole world desires to see, a happier Rome has earned to possess in her own bosom. We fear nothing, therefore, with such patrons, if the prayer of the bishop does not cease. It is indeed an arduous thing to satisfy the desires of many, but the Godhead knows how to bestow great things. May He Himself blunt the envious;

may He Himself make us citizens most pleasing by heavenly inspiration, and grant to your supplications such times wherein the supernal grace bestowed may be proclaimed. It is the natural custom of bodily fathers to rejoice in the advancement of their sons, since whatever of praise is granted to illustrious offspring is ascribed to their training. But you, spiritual parents, who with enlightened mind behold the Author of all things, supplicate diligently to the Holy Trinity on my behalf, that He may cause to shine joyfully the lamp set in the midst, so that neither may inner sight fail me, nor a vision of me be hidden from others. Will it profit a judge to be clear to others, if he be rather made obscure to himself? May He who deigned to grant tribunals grant also the dignity of a good conscience.

May He make me an inoffensive judge, lest I condemn one who errs. May He be present to us most favorably, so that ill-omened vices may be rendered absent. May He grant His love, that, taking pity, He may shut out the ambition of sinning. Wherefore, true parents of my soul, with affectionate and worthy petition I beseech you that, having proclaimed a fast, you supplicate the Lord, who may prolong the life of our princes for a flourishing kingdom, may as defender diminish the enemies of the commonwealth, may grant quiet times, abundant unto the praise of His name, and by the tranquility of all things may He deign to render me lovable to you. But that your prayer too may be more readily heard, be attentive toward those whom we send. What we do not know ought not to be imputed to us.

Let your testimony attend their deeds, so that either he who is praised may find favor, or he who is accused may find offense with us. For they will not be able to impute it to us if they offend, since they are not bidden to give wrongly, that they should be unjustly compelled to receive. To orphans and widows, against savage assaults, furnish such consolations as are pleasing to God—yet so that, what happens through excessive piety, while you seek to aid the wretched, you do not take away the place of the laws. For if anything perchance offends what is strict, give to all such admonitions that you may render the laws kept in good order.

Shut out, most holy ones, amid unclean spirits the implacable furies of the vices; temper violence, drive off avarice, remove thefts, separate from your people that luxury which depopulates the human race. Thus you effectively conquer the author of iniquity, if you remove his persuasions from human hearts. Let the bishop teach, so that the judge may be unable to find anything to punish. To you the administration of innocence has been given. For if your preaching does not cease, it must be that penal action comes to rest. And therefore I commend my dignity to you in every part, so that our deeds may be aided by the prayers of the holy, we who presume too little in human power. Counsel me also familiarly as to what is just.

I am no cunning denier of debts: what I owe in a general way, I pay unforced. I render also to your Holiness the office of an honorable greeting, and I close the text of my letter with an affectionate ending, so that the sweeter things may remain in your memory, since the mind well commends to itself the things that come last. With God's help, we securely entrust our reputation to you, whose conscience we have proved over a long age through various dealings in lawsuits. For if in the pursuit of advocacy you shone with the brightness of justice, what now, advanced to our counsels, will you do? For the merit increases in him to whom a greater office is given, since he is now to be reckoned on the side of the judges who has earned to sit beside the powers of the court. Let the benches, then, be adorned by him with whose voice the forums have thundered.

Though absent, cling to our side, about to take from it a fuller praise, because whatever you shall have well arranged alone will be reckoned wholly to you. Present, you would share this care with me and the glory; but now we are constrained to owe to you alone whatever of praise, by God's grant, we shall have been able to receive from it. Wherefore we decree that the office observe toward you what complies with our commands; and we order that obedience be given to your precepts also, most justly appointed for the public good, so that both you may have confidence in dispatching for the public good, and no one may take audacity from contempt.

If you judge it necessary to entrust certain matters even to sureties, take it up confidently, for this can the more relieve our mind, if we learn that something has been accomplished by you. To one present you would furnish only words; but now deeds rather are owed to one absent. The counsel of so great a See is, beyond doubt, a vast renown of merits; but consider what is required of one on whom such a name is imposed. Let your labor procure quiet for me from all. You know what disgraces neglect has brought. The rock must be avoided where another has stumbled. But my own anxious care, rather than any distrust of you, makes me admonish you of these things. For we believe that you carry out all those matters which, with God's help, we judge to be profitable to our reputation and to the commonwealth.

I believe you indeed rejoice in those things which I judge your charity to have desired; for in a manner his own business is being conducted, whose wishes are fulfilled in another. But from this I perceive the fruit of an ancient friendship, which, happier in its charm, has flowed forth into the sweetness of a most pleasant savor, if first you offer to our guests, as a choice gift, the plentiful supply of the Roman state, through those whose concern it is. For to this end have we entered upon the discomforts of travel, to this end so many narrow straits of thought, that that people, accustomed to ancient delights, may, in the most blessed times of our rulers, enjoy itself with its necessities banished. Far be it that we should be satisfied while anyone of that city goes hungry. Their want—which God forbid—is our scarcity. What more?

We cannot be glad unless we hear that they too rejoice in common. And therefore, with all liveliness let an uncorrupted kind of grain be gathered, so that the bread baked from it may seem set forth not for horror but for delights. Let just weight be preserved. Let the supplies surpass the desires of men's minds. That is not thought to abound which is sought after. Flee wicked gains, avoid abominable profits. Whatever is there wickedly presumed rages to the wounding of my own spirit. Let no one think it venial which he shall have attempted to take in this matter. We more readily consent to be encroached upon in our own case than that we should suffer the advantages of the Romans to be diminished—not that I may capture favor and popular applause, but that, with God's help, I may fulfill in their regard my own resolve of love.

All citizens indeed are to be cherished, but the Romans merit something more. A city adorned with so many distinguished senators, blessed with peoples so noble, ought to sound forth the praises of our princes, which a man of a foreign nation may marvel to have heard. For there the joy of the people justly exalts itself, which is known to have lords who are victors. Wherefore must be expended whatever fidelity, whatever great caution can display, because that is truly our advantage which procures for me their affection. Let those rejoice in present joys who were in suspense over our action; their desires, their wishes have aided us, and this profited me with the lords of affairs, that it was heard to be universally wished by them.

Act now, that this love, with the Lord's help, may persevere, for I believe they will do still more for the rest, since they feel that they have happily begun it in my case. Let us now seek abundance with common prayers; let us humbly supplicate the supernal mercy, that first the divine clemency may grant us the safety of our lords, and as for the rest, that no negligence may diminish the yield which it shall have furnished, nor any venality withdraw it. I promise my fidelity, but I await together with it the gifts of the Godhead; I offer caution, I shut out the foul things of most fraudulent trafficking. But let them glory in the Lord over the abundance they have deserved.

Although all military service is performed by fixed grades, and those who comply with the commands of judges keep their appointed times for themselves, your honor is acknowledged not to be bound by the customary order, for it has merited to be set before its own chiefs. For to you they render their services who are known to precede you, and by a reversed condition you are looked upon as reverend by those whom you are shown to be able to follow. This unequal equity, this special decree, this singular benefit you exercise under the eye of the judge, nor can it reasonably be blamed that it seems to be assumed against the order. No one prescribes to you concerning the quality of time. The transgression of the register is your action, and you alone confidently neglect what you compel others to keep.