Resultados25 letters/passages
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.02
… office, then, equals his in power. He judges everywhere in place of the sacred [imperial] authority. No soldier may claim jurisdiction over him, except the staff of the Master of Soldiers -- a concession, I believe, because antiquity chose to yield something to those who were seen to conduct wars for the state. He even …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.02
It is the purpose of royal compassion to cut off the ground for unjust hatreds and to restrain the arrogance of armed power with the reverence of royal commands. The hostility of a superior is a fearsome thing for the humble, since it is considered praiseworthy when vengeance is extracted from the lowly. Therefore, aft …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.02
How dangerous it is to face a judge who is reasonably angry, and to have the man whose wrath you have gravely provoked decide your fate! Strive, therefore, to be praised by our voice instead, for just as an unfavorable word from the judge can bring you down, so a favorable sentence can raise you up. Go forth, then, wit …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.02
Formula of the Praetorian Prefecture. [The Variae include official formulae -- template documents describing the powers and dignities of major offices, used when appointing new holders.] If the origin of any office deserves praise, if a noble beginning can lend glory to what follows, then the Praetorian Prefecture boas …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.02
This is why in the Hall of Liberty [the Atrium Libertatis, a famous public building in Rome] you hold a seat of honor, and merely to have entered there is a distinction. Even senators who outrank you in precedence are seen to need certain things from you. You have something to offer those above you, and not without rea …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.02
How dangerous it is to face a judge who is justifiably angry, to have your fate decided by someone you have grievously provoked! Strive instead to earn our praise, because just as an adverse word from the judge can ruin you, a favorable verdict can raise you up. Go forth, then, for this indiction, God willing, to your …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
It might seem unnecessary to specifically request protection from a ruler whose very purpose is to defend everyone. But since the execrable recklessness of certain violent men disturbs your security, we are not reluctant to extend our compassion to the complaints of the suffering, granting to a petitioner in particular …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
It is useful always to choose one person for the rest to obey, because if the will of many is left undirected, a confusion friendly to wrongdoing is bred. Therefore, know that we have granted the countship of your city for the designated indiction to the named individual. Offer him your wholesome obedience, so that he …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
Among the glorious concerns of the state that we continually review in our thoughts with God's help, close to our heart is the relief of the humble -- so that we may raise the shield of our devotion against the arrogance of the powerful, and no brazenness whose purpose is to trample the proud may have any standing with …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
Through him, the hospitality shown to foreign nations is arranged for the credit of our state, and ambassadors depart unwillingly whom he received in their sorrow [i.e., they are treated so well they do not wish to leave]. Through him the arrival of ambassadors, however hurried, is announced to us. Through him the disp …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
… assigned staff] and Beatus shall be primicerius of the Augustales [chief of the imperial household unit] — so that those who are seen to have advanced to greater responsibilities may follow the praiseworthy examples of their predecessors.
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
… nk, approach among the tribunes and notaries to pay reverence before the sacred imperial purple — so that through the hallowed sight of your sovereign, the firmness of your dignity may be established.
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
… he most powerful officials in the late Roman/Ostrogothic state: controlling the imperial postal service, the palace guard (scholae), court ceremonies, and the reception of foreign ambassadors.] Whoever receives the title of Master assumes a revered honor, for this name always derives from expertise, and from the title …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
The sight of those who have impressed themselves on our hearts through glorious actions is always pleasing to us. Those who have proven their devotion to virtue have given us a permanent pledge of their loyalty. Therefore, we summon your greatness -- proven to us by your glorious service -- to our court by this present …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
It is the custom of deputies to obey the will of the judges they represent so completely that they seem to have no standing of their own. They shine with borrowed light, lean on another's authority, and appear to be mere images of the real thing -- men who possess no independent brilliance. But you bear the title of Vi …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
Bear it with the strength of your intellect and strive to manage it with the utmost loyalty. The more this office is pressed by diverse responsibilities, the more ample is the glory it brings. Let your actions shine so brightly that your light illuminates both our palace and the farthest provinces. Let your wisdom matc …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
… rocity is rendered to them, the body of the state is kept whole. Some time ago, imperial decrees provided certain devout contributions to the sacred churches throughout Bruttium and Lucania. But as is natural to sacrilegious minds — which manage to sin even against divine reverence itself — the revenue officers, under …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
We grant our benefits to your grace especially if we find you administering your duties with good judgment. You will not go unrewarded if you receive foreign peoples wisely and manage the commerce of our own people with balanced fairness. Although prudence is needed everywhere, it is particularly suited to this role, s …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
Anyone who holds the military rank of princeps [chief of staff] is adorned with a great prerogative among his colleagues. He is recognized as holding the primary position, since in human affairs a large part of a title's significance asserts the excellence of the office. This is proven by your own example: without you, …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
King Theodahad to Theodosius, His Agent. We wish the exercise of our authority to be marked by the moderation of our actions, so that, in proportion to the divine blessings we have received, we may love fairness all the more. Private interests have been banished from our mind, for as universal sovereign I have become, …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
It is fitting that we adorn our court with noble men, so that their wishes may be fulfilled and our retinue may be graced by the merits of distinguished persons. We therefore summon your greatness by this edict to our presence -- which we have no doubt is most welcome to you -- so that you, who have spent a long life i …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
Consider what you are undertaking, and you will understand that there is no room for error. To construct arms well is to protect everyone's safety, because the enemy is terrified at first sight by superior weaponry and begins to lose heart when he knows he cannot match it. From the current tax year, we therefore place …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
What can a horse do when it collapses under excessive weight? Anyone found carrying more than the specified limit shall be fined two ounces of gold. This sum, once collected, shall -- as already established by earlier edicts -- be paid through the office of the Master of Offices for the benefit of the postal service. I …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
The Master's deputy is also presented to us, so that by a shared turn of favor we may choose the assistance of one who provides us faithful support. We therefore commit this office to you -- distinguished by so many titles, rich in so many marks of honor -- for the coming indiction, to be governed with appropriate grav …
cassiodorus · c. 522 · score 0.01
[1] You can see from the very care we take how deep our love for you runs, since we appear so concerned for your welfare that we will not let any point of guidance be omitted. Vigilance reveals affection, and what we cherish most devotedly we guard with the greatest care. [2] This is why we have granted the illustrious …