Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus was a Roman statesman, who lived c. 487-583 AD. He was Latin secretary to Theodoric, and corresponded with all great personages of the day (Variae epistulae). Later he became a monk in the monastery at Vivarium in Bruttium. The copying by monks of classical texts is due to Cassiodorus above any other man.
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[507-511 AD] 1. Si desideriis nostris commercia peregrina famulantur, si prolato auro adquiritur externa devotio, quanto magis suis bonis abundare debet Italia, cum nulla in parendo probetur sentire detrimenta? Et ideo speciem laridi nullatenus iubemus ad peregrina transmitti, sed in usus nostros propitia divinitate servetur, ne, quod in nostris partibus conficitur, noxia neglegentia deesse videatur. 2. Cavete itaque, ne culpis quamvis parva praebeatur occasio, scientes periculum gravissimum fore, si studeatis vel leviter in iussa committere. In qualitate est, non in quantitate peccatum: mensuram siquidem non quaerit iniuria. Imperium, si in parvo contemnitur, in omni parte violatur. |
[507-511 AD] 1. If foreign commerce serves our needs, if foreign obedience is attained with offered gold, how much more ought Italy abound in its own goods, since it is assumed no obstacles to obedience would be tolerated? And therefore, we command that under no circumstance should any kind of cured meat be sent to foreign regions, but that it should serve higher purposes in our use, lest it be evident that criminal neglect has diminished what is produced in our realm. 2. Therefore be warned, lest the smallest opportunity should present itself for blame, knowing well the severest consequence if you should strive to support this injunction only half-heartedly. The sin is a matter of kind, not quantity. Indeed, injury requires no measure. If even some small measure of imperium is despised, then it is violated in every portion. Translation: M. Shane Bjornlie 2019. |
| [537-538 AD] 1. Deliciosa magis quam laboriosa militia est in Portu Romano comitivae gerere dignitatem. Illic enim copiosus navium prospectatur adventus: illic veligerum mare peregrinos populos cum diversa provinciarum merce transmittit et inter tot spectacula dulcium rerum commodum tuum est venientes evasisse periculum. His primum faucibus Romanae deliciae sentiuntur et undis Tiberinis quasi per alvum vadunt quae ad commercia civitatis ascendunt. 2. Bene inventa dignitas, quae copias videtur ornare Romanas. Nam quid elogantius potest agi quam unde probatur populus ille satiari? O inventa maiorum! O exquisita prudentium! Ut quia longius a litore Roma videbatur posita, inde magis esse inciperet, ubi decorum ingressum navium possideret. Duo quippe Tiberini alvei meatus ornatissimas civitates tamquam duo lumina susceperunt, ne vacaret a gratia quod tantae urbi ministrabat expensas. Eximia ergo res tibi committitur, si moderate peragatur. 3. Tu copiam facis, dum ingredientes iuste tractaveris. Avara manus portum claudit et cum digitos attrahit, navium simul vela concludit. Merito enim illa mercatores cuncti refugiunt, quae sibi dispendiosa esse cognoscunt. Quapropter adversus ibi ventus est immoderata praesumptio: nam placidum mare damnat, qui undas cupiditatis exaggerat. Unusquisque pro sollemnitate commonitus offerat voluntarium munus. Xenia sunt enim ista, non debita. A paucis accipit qui nimium quaerit: et sibi ipse nutrit vitae munera, qui moderatur oblata. Sit tibi ergo cura praocipua non solum te abstinere, verum etiam cohibere praesumentium manus. Quia non est leve in illa ubertate delinquere, quam decet cunctos indesinenter optare. Quocirca per indictionem illam comitivae Portus te honore decoramus, ut sicut tibi dignitas dulces delicias amministrat, ita et tu honori opinionem laudabilem derelinquas. |
[537-538 AD]
1. To execute the office of the comes of the port of Rome is a service more full of delights than toil. For there the burgeoning arrival of ships is awaited; there a sea full of sails sends traveling peoples with the diverse commerce of the provinces and in the midst of such a spectacle of sweet commodities it is your pleasure to greet those escaping danger. Roman delicacies are tasted by these gullets first, and as though via a throat, the goods that reach the markets of the city travel on the currents of the Tiber. 2. What a well-devised office that is seen to furnish the Roman bounty. For what could be more attractive than to manage what is known to satisfy that population? O invention of the ancients! O perfection of wisdom! In that Rome was seen positioned at a distance from the shore, more would initially be held there, where the arrival of graceful ships lay. Indeed, the flow of the Tiber’s course supports two cities, adorned like two lamps, lest what ministers to the needs of such a great city should lack from partiality. 3. You bring abundance, when you have treated travelers justly. A greedy hand closes the port, and when it draws the fingers together, simultaneously furls the sails of ships. For rightly do all merchants avoid what they know is detrimental to themselves. In which case, immoderate seizure there is an adverse wind; for one who agitates the waves of cupidity injures a fair sea. Let every merchant, thus advised concerning customary practice, bring a voluntary gift. For such commerce is a gift, not a debt. One who takes from the poor obtains too much; and one who restrains bribery nurtures for himself the rewards of life. Therefore, it would be your particular concern not only to restrain yourself, but also to hold back the hands of other presumptuous persons, since it is no slight matter to obstruct that wealth which it is fitting for all people to want incessantly. Concerning which, for the present indiction, we decorate you with distinction as comes of Portus, so that just as the office administrates sweet luxuries, thus too may you leave behind a praiseworthy reputation for honor. Translation: M. Shane Bjornlie 2019. |
| 1. Beneficia nostra gratiae tuae specialiter damus, si te agere commissa rationabiliter approbemus. Nec enim inremuneratus iaces, si et populos peregrinos prudenter excipias et nostrorum commercia moderata aequalitate componas. Nam licet ubique sit necessaria prudentia, in hac potius actione videtur accommoda, quando inter duos populos nascuntur semper certamina, nisi fuerit iustitia custodita. Quapropter arte placandi sunt qui mores afferunt simillimos ventis, quorum nisi prius animi temperentur, in contemptum maximum nativa facilitate prosiliunt. Qua de re modestiae tuae fama provocati curas illius portus per illam indictionem te habere censemus, ut omnia ad tuum titulum pertinentia sic agas, quemadmodum ad meliora pervenias. In parvis enim discitur, cui potiora praestentur. | 1. Our kindness rewards your agreeableness particularly if we ascertain that you have reasonably accomplished what was entrusted to you. Indeed, you will not remain unremunerated if you adroitly welcome foreign travelers and you arrange our commerce with measured fairness. Rightly, wisdom is necessary everywhere, and in this case it seems particularly advantageous, when disputes continually arise between two peoples, unless justice will be protected. For that reason, those whose characters are similar to the wind must be mollified skillfully, for unless their hearts are first tempered, they leap to the worst contempt according to their native disposition. Therefore, stirred by the reputation of your restraint, for the present indiction we have decided for you to have responsibility for this port, so
that you may thus arrange everything pertaining to your post, however you may accomplish it for the best. For in small affairs is learned that by means of which better things may be claimed.
Translation: M. Shane Bjornlie 2019. |