Book XII

Book XII

CONTAINING TWENTY-EIGHT LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN HIS OWN NAME AS PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT.

1. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE VARIOUS CANCELLARII OF THE SEVERAL PROVINCES.

[Sidenote: General instructions to the Cancellarii.]

'It is generally supposed that long attendance at the Courts of Law increases the love of justice. The character of the Judge also is in some degree estimated by that of his officers[798], as that of a philosophical teacher by his disciples. Thus your bad actions might endanger our reputation, while, on the other hand, with no effort on our part, we earn glory from all that you do well. Beware, therefore, lest by any misconduct of yours, which is sure to be exaggerated by popular rumour, you rouse anger in us, who as your Judge will be sure to exact stern recompence for all the wrong you have done to our reputation. Study this rather, that you may receive praise and promotion at our hands, and go forth, with Divine help, on this Indiction, to such and such a Province, adorned with the pomp of the Cancelli, and girt about with a certain proud gravity. Remember the honour of the fasces which are borne before you, of the Praetorian seat whose commands you execute.

[Footnote 798: 'Per milites suos judex intelligitur.']

'Fly Avarice, the Queen of all the vices, who never enters the human heart alone, but always brings a flattering and deceiving train along with her. Show yourself zealous for the public good; do more by reason than by terror. Let your person be a refuge for the oppressed, a defence of the weak, a stronghold for him who is stricken down by any calamity. Never do you more truly discharge the functions of the Cancelli than when you open the prison doors to those who have been unjustly confined.'

2. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ALL THE JUDGES OF THE PROVINCES (A.D. 534-535).

[Sidenote: General instructions to the Provincial Governors.]

'God be thanked, the Provincials have attended to all my admonitions, and I have kept all my promises to them. You, as Judges, have admirably copied my own freedom from corruption, and I can only desire that you will go on as you have begun.

'Let the peasant pay cheerfully his share of the public taxes, and I on my part will guarantee him the administration of justice in the courts[799].

[Footnote 799: 'Possessor mihi publicas pecunias libens inferat: ego illi in conventus justitiae tributa persolvam.']

'It was evidently the intention of the legislators that you should be imitators of our dignity, since they have given you almost the same jurisdiction in the Provinces as ourselves.

'What avails the reputation of being a rich man? It confers no glory. But to be known as a just man wins the praise of all. Nothing mean or avaricious is becoming in a Judge. All his faults are made more conspicuous by his elevation. Better were it to be absolutely unknown, than to be marked out for the scorn of all men. Let us keep our own brews clear from shame; then can we rebuke the sins of others. A terrible leveller is iniquity: it makes the Judge himself feel like the culprit who is tried before him. All these considerations, according to my custom, I bring before you in this my yearly address, since it is impossible ever to have too much of a good thing[800].

[Footnote 800:'Haec nos annuo sermone convenit loqui: quia bonarum rerum nulla satietas est.']

'Now, to proceed to business. Do you and your official staff impress upon all the cultivators of the soil the absolute necessity of their paying their land-tax[801] for this thirteenth Indiction[802] at the appointed time. Let there be no pressing them to pay before the time, and no venal connivance at their postponement of payment after the time. What kindness is there in delay? The money must be paid, sooner or later.

[Footnote 801: 'Trina Illatio.']

[Footnote 802: Sept. 1, 534, to Sept. 1, 535.]

'Prepare also a full and faithful statement of the expenditure for every four months[803], and address it to our bureaux[804], that there may be perfect clearness in the public accounts.

[Footnote 803: 'Expensarum fidelem notitiam quaternis mensibus comprehensam.' As the receipts of the Trina Illatio had to be gathered in every four months, the account of Provincial expenditure covered the same period.]

[Footnote 804: 'Ad scrinia nostra dirigere maturabis.']

'In order to help you, we send A and B, members of our official staff, to examine your accounts. See that you come up to the standard of duty here prescribed for you.'

3. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ALL THE SAJONES WHO HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE CANCELLARII.

[Sidenote: General instructions to the Sajones.]

'There must be fear of the magistrate in the heart of the citizen, else the laws would never be obeyed. But as in medicine various remedies are required by various constitutions, so in the administration of the laws sometimes force and sometimes gentleness has to be used. Wisdom is required to decide which is the best mode of dealing with each particular case.

'Therefore we despatch your Devotion[805] to attend upon A B, Clarissimus Cancellarius. Be terrible to the lawless, but to them alone. Above all things see to the punctual collection of the taxes. Do not study popularity. Attend only to those cases which are entrusted to your care, and work them thoroughly. No greater disgrace can attach to an officer of Court than that a Judge's sentence should be left unexecuted[806]. Do not swagger through the streets exulting in the fact that nobody dares meet you. Brave men are ever gentle in time of peace, and there is no greater lover of justice than he who has seen many battles. When you return to your parents and friends let it not be brawls that you have to boast of, but good conduct. We also shall in that case welcome you back with pleasure, and not leave you long without another commission. And the King too, the lord of all[807], will entrust higher duties to him who returns from the lower with credit and the reward of a good conscience.'

[Footnote 805: 'Devotio tua' was the technical way of addressing the fortis Sajo.]

[Footnote 806: 'In executore illud est pessimum, si judicis relinquat arbitrium.']

[Footnote 807: 'Rerum Dominus.']

4. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE CANONICARIUS[808] OF THE VENETIAE.

[Footnote 808: Revenue-officer.]

[Sidenote: Praise of Acinaticium, a red wine of Verona.]

'A well furnished royal table is a credit to the State. A private person may eat only the produce of his own district; but it is the glory of a King to collect at his table the delicacies of all lands. Let the Danube send us her carp, let the anchorago (?) come from the Rhine, let the labour of Sicily furnish the exormiston[809], let the sea of Bruttii send its sweet acerniae (?); in short, let well-flavoured dishes be gathered from all coasts. It becomes a King so to regale himself that he may seem to foreign ambassadors to possess almost everything.

[Footnote 809: 'Perhaps a kind of lamprey' (White and Riddle's Latin-English Dictionary).]

'And therefore, not to neglect home-produce also, as our fertile Italy is especially rich in wines, we must have these also provided for the King's table. Now the report of the Count of the Patrimony informs us that the stock of Acinaticium[810] has fallen very low in the royal cellars. We therefore order you to visit the cultivators of Verona, and offer them a sufficient price for this product of theirs, which they ought to offer without price to their Sovereign.

[Footnote 810: Apparently a kind of raisin wine; from acina, a grape or berry.]

'It is in truth a noble wine and one that Italy may be proud of. Inglorious Greece may doctor her wines with foreign admixtures, or disguise them with perfumes. There is no need of any such process with this liquor. It is purple, as becomes the wine of kings. Sweet and strong[811], it grows more dense in tasting it, so that you might doubt whether it was a liquid food or an edible drink[812].

[Footnote 811: What are we to make of 'Stipsis nescio quâ firmitate roboratur?']

[Footnote 812: 'Tactus ejus densitate pinguescit: ut dicas esse aut carneum liquorem aut edibilem potionem.' Questionable praise, according to the ideas of a modern wine-grower.]

'I have a mind to describe the singular mode of manufacturing this wine. The grape cluster, gathered in autumn, is hung up under the roof of the house to dry till December. Thus exuding its insipid humours it becomes much sweeter. Then in December, when everything else is bound by the frost of winter, the chilly blood of these grapes is allowed to flow forth. It is not insultingly trodden down by the feet, nor is any foul admixture suffered to pollute it; its stream of gem-like clearness is drawn forth from it by a noble provocation. It seems to shed tears of joy, and delights the eye by its beauty as much as the palate by its flavour. Collect this wine as speedily as possible, pay a sufficient price for it, and hand it over to the Cartarii who are charged with this business.

'And this point is not to be forgotten, that it is to be served up in goblets of a milky whiteness. Lilies and roses thus unite their charms, and a pleasure is ministered to the eye, far beyond the mere commonplace facts that the wine has a pleasant taste, and that it restores the strength of the drinker.

'We rely on you to provide both the wine and the drinking vessels[813] with all despatch.'

[Footnote 813: We might have expected to find wine-bottles rather than wine-glasses thus requisitioned; but I think the words of Cassiodorus, 'quod lacteo poculo relucescit,' oblige us to adopt the latter translation.]

5. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO VALERIAN, VIR SUBLIMIS.

[Written probably in the autumn or winter of 535, when Belisarius was in Sicily threatening the Southern Provinces of Italy.]

[Sidenote: Measures for relief of Lucania and Bruttii.]

'The ruler's anxiety for the common good of all over whom he is placed, may allowably show itself in an especial manner towards the dwellers in his own home, and that pre-eminently at a time when they need his succour from peril.

'The numerous army which was destined for the defence of the Republic is said to have laid waste the cultivated parts of Lucania and Bruttii, and to have diminished the abundance of those regions by its love of rapine.

'Now since they must take and you must give, and since the cultivator must not be robbed nor the army starved, know that the prices of provisions are fixed by the order of the Lord of the State at a much lower figure than you have been wont to sell at[814].

[Footnote 814: 'Pretia quae antiquus ordo constituit ex jussione rerum Domini cognoscite temperata, ut multo arctius quam vendere solebatis in assem publicum praebita debeant imputari.']

'Be not therefore anxious. You have escaped the hands of the tax-collector. The present instrument takes away from you the liability to tribute. In order that your knowledge may be made more complete, we have thought it better that the amounts of the provisions for which you are held responsible should be expressed in the below-written letters[815], that no one may sell you a benefit which you know to be conferred by the public generosity.

[Footnote 815: 'Sed quo facilius instrueretur vestra notitia, imputationum summas infra scriptis brevibus credidimus exprimendas.' Apparently the ordinary taxes for the two Provinces are remitted, but a certain quantity of provisions has to be furnished to the army, perhaps by each township; and besides this, the commissariat officers have a right of pre-emption at prices considerably below the market rate.]

'Repress, therefore, the unruly movements of the cultivators[816]. While the Gothic army is fighting, let the Roman peasant enjoy in quiet the peace for which he sighs. According to the King's command, admonish the several tenants on the farms, and the better sort of peasants, not to mingle in the barbarism of the strife, lest the danger to public tranquillity be greater than any service they can render in the wars[817]. Let them lay hands to the iron, but only to cultivate their fields; let them grasp the pointed steel, but only to goad their oxen.

[Footnote 816: 'Continete ergo possessorum intemperantes motus.']

[Footnote 817: 'Ex Regiâ jussione singulos conductores massarum et possessores validos admonete, ut nullam contrahant in concertatione barbariem: ne non tantum festinent bellis prodesse quantum quiete confundere.' Evidently the rustics are dissuaded from taking up arms lest they should use them on the side of Belisarius.]

'Let the Judges be active: let the tribunals echo with their denunciations of crime. Let the robber, the adulterer, the forger, the thief, find that the arm of the State is still strong to punish their crimes. True freedom rejoices when these men are made sad. Here, in this civil battle, is full scope for your energies: attend to this, and enjoy the thought that others are fighting the battle with the foreign foe for you.

'Exercise great care in calculating the rations of the soldiers, that no trickery may succeed in defrauding the soldier of his due.

'The officers of the army are by the rulers of the State placed under my authority, and you are therefore to admonish them if they go wrong, while redressing all their real grievances. They, in their turn, must uphold discipline, which is the most powerful weapon of an army. Rise to the dignity of the occasion, and show that you are able to govern a Province in a disturbed condition of public affairs, since anyone can govern it while all things are quiet.

'The royal household is specially ordered to pay the same obedience to this rescript as all the rest of the Province; and as for my own dependants, I say expressly that, though I wish them well, I ask for no favour for them which I would not grant to all the other inhabitants of the Province.'

6. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ALL THE SUBORDINATE GOVERNORS OF THE PRAEFECTURE[818].

[Footnote 818: 'Universis Praefecturae titulos administrantibus.']

[Sidenote: General instructions to subordinate Governors.]

'The exhortations addressed to you by the inborn piety of our Lords ought to suffice; but nevertheless, that we may be doubly assured, we will address to you our threats against all who shall wield their power unrighteously. Cease from avarice, from arrogance, from venality. What will your money avail you when the day of inquisition comes? We shall not be tempted by it. Let it be clearly understood that we shall not sell pardons to unjust Judges, but shall hunt them to their ruin.

'But all you, good and honest rulers, continue to serve the State without fear. No rival will buy your offices over your heads; you are secure in your seats so long as you do well, until the time fixed by our Lords expires. Be earnest, therefore, that my good deeds may be imitated and receive their due meed of praise in your persons.'

7. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE TAX-COLLECTOR OF THE VENETIAN PROVINCE[819].

[Footnote 819: 'Canonicario Venetiarum.']

[Sidenote: Remission of taxes on account of invasion by the Suevi.]

'A good Sovereign will always exert himself to repair fortuitous disasters, and will allow those who have paid their taxes punctually in prosperity, considerable liberty in times of barbaric invasion. On this ground, and on account of the incursions of the Suevi, the King grants for this year, the fifteenth Indiction[820], a discharge of all claims by the Fiscus preferred against A and B. And in all similar cases where you shall be satisfied that the property has really been laid waste by those Barbarians, you are at liberty to remit the taxes for this Indiction. Afterwards you will use all the ordinary methods, in order that you may be able to pay over the stipulated sum to the Royal Treasurer. But meanwhile the poor cultivator has the best of all arguments against paying you, namely, that he has nothing left him wherewith to pay. Thus is his calamity his best voucher for payment[821]; and we do not wish that he who has been already alarmed by the arms of the robber should further tremble at the official robe of the civil servant[822].

[Footnote 820: Sept. 1, 536, to Sept. 1, 537.]

[Footnote 821: 'Validas contra te apochas invenerunt.']

[Footnote 822: 'Chlamydes non pavescant, qui arma timuerunt.']

8. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE CONSULARIS OF THE PROVINCE OF LIGURIA.

[Sidenote: Permission to pay taxes direct to Royal Treasury.]

'It is a new and delightful kind of profit to be able to grant the request of a petitioner without feeling any loss oneself. The present suitor, complaining that he is vexed by the exactions of the tax-gatherer on account of certain farms mentioned in the subjoined letter, offers to bring the amount due from them himself to our Treasurers[823]. We are willing to grant this request, on condition that the Fiscus does not suffer thereby; and therefore desire your Respectability to warn all Curiales, Compulsores, and all other persons concerned, to remove for this Indiction every kind of legal process from the before-mentioned properties; the condition of this immunity being that he shall, before the kalends of such and such a month produce the receipts[824] of the Arcarius, showing that he has discharged his debt to the State. Otherwise the debt must be exacted by ordinary process. But it is delightful to us whenever the tax is paid without calling in the aid of the Compulsor. Would that the peasant would always thus freely anticipate the needs of the Treasury!'

[Footnote 823: 'Arcarii.']

[Footnote 824: 'Apochae.']

9. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO PASCHASIUS, PRAEFECT OF THE CORN-DISTRIBUTIONS[825].

[Footnote 825: 'Praefectus Annonae.']

[Sidenote: African claims to succeed to estate of an intestate countryman.]

[To make this letter intelligible we must presuppose a custom, certainly a very extraordinary one, by which on the death of an African without heirs, any other African in Italy was allowed to claim the inheritance. By 'African,' no doubt, we must understand one of the indigenous inhabitants of Africa, perhaps a man of Negro race. The custom certainly cannot have applied to African Provincials of Roman descent. It was perhaps based on some old tribal notions of joint possession and mutual inheritance.]

'It is a work of wondrous kindness to oblige a foreign race with public benefits, and not only to invite blood relations to enjoy the advantages of property, but to permit even strangers to share them. This kind of heirship is independent of the ties of kindred, independent of succession from parents, and requires nothing else save only power to utter the speech of the fatherland.

'This is the privilege which, as the African asserts, was of old bestowed on his race. By virtue thereof they lawfully demand the inheritance of others, and thus obtain a right which the Roman in a similar case could never claim. Nor have they this benefit in their own land; but here they are for this purpose looked upon as all related to one another.

'The whole nation, in what relates to the advantages of succession, is regarded as one family.

'Your Experience is therefore to submit the subject of this man's petition to a diligent examination, and if it shall turn out, as he alleges, that the deceased has left no sons nor other persons who might reasonably claim to succeed him, your official staff is to induct him into the aforesaid property according to the established usage.

'He will thus cease to be a foreigner, and will acquire the status of a native possessor, and therewith the usual liability to pay tribute. He is inferior to other owners only in this one point, that he lacks the power of alienating his property. Let him who has derived so much benefit from our commiseration now relieve others. Fortunate and enviable has turned out his captivity[826], which enables him at one and the same time to enjoy the citizenship of Rome and the privileges of the African.'

[Footnote 826: 'Felix illi contigit et praedicanda captivitas.' A little before, we read, 'Resumat facultatem quam se suspiraverat amississe.' These sentences suggest the idea that the petitioner had been brought over in the train of the lately deceased person as a slave. This a little lessens the difficulty of his being admitted to the inheritance. Compare Gen. xv. 3, where Abraham, before the birth of a son, says, 'And one born in my house' (i.e. a slave) 'is mine heir.']

10. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO DIVERS CANCELLARII IN THE PROVINCES.

[Sidenote: Taxes to be punctually enforced.]

'Arrears of tribute are like bodily diseases, serious and enfeebling when they become chronic. A man who is under a load of debt cannot be called free: he has abandoned the power of controlling his actions to another. Your supposed indulgence to the taxpayer is no real kindness. There comes a time when the whole arrear of debt has to be claimed, and then these venal delays of yours make the demand seem twice as heavy in the eyes of the unfortunate taxpayer. Cease then to trade upon the peasants' losses. Exact the whole amount of taxes for the coming Indiction, and pay them in on the appointed day to the Treasurer[827] of the Province; or else it will be the worse for you, and you will have to return, stripped of all official rank[828], into the Province which you are conscious of having badly administered.

[Footnote 827: 'Arcarius.']

[Footnote 828: 'Degeniatus.']

'I shall not speak again on this subject, but shall, if necessary, extract the sums from you by an irrevocable act of distraint.'

11. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO PETER, VIR CLARISSIMUS, DISTRIBUTOR OF RELISHES[829].

[Footnote 829: 'Erogatori obsoniorum.']

[Sidenote: Distribution of relishes to Roman citizens.]

'The liberality of a good Sovereign must not be discredited by fraud and carelessness in the person charged with its distribution. Even molten gold contracts a stain if not poured into an absolutely clean vessel. How sweet is it to see a stream flowing clear and unpolluted over a snow-white channel! Even so must you see that the gifts of the Sovereign of the State reach the Roman people as pure and as copious as they issue forth from him.

'All fraud is hateful; but fraud exercised upon the people of Romulus is absolutely unbearable. That quiet and easily satisfied people, whose existence you might forget except when they testify their happiness by their shouts; noisy without a thought of sedition; whose only care is to shun poverty without amassing wealth; lowly in fortune but rich in temper--it is a kind of profanation to rob such people as these.

'We therefore entrust to you the task of distributing the relishes[830] to the Roman people from this Indiction. Be true to the citizens, else you will become as an alien unto us. Do not be bribed into allowing anyone to pass as a Latin who was not born in Latium.

[Footnote 830: 'Obsonia.']

'These privileges belong to the Quirites alone: no slave must be admitted to share them. That man sins against the majesty of the Roman people, who defiles the pure river of their blood by thrusting upon them the fellowship of slaves.'

12. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ANASTASIUS, CANCELLARIUS OF LUCANIA AND BRUTTII.

[Sidenote: Praise of the cheese and wine of Bruttii.]

'When we were dining, according to our wonted custom, with the Sovereign of the State[831], the conversation happened to turn upon the delicacies of various Provinces, and we praised the wines of Bruttii and the cheese of the district around Mount Sila[832].

[Footnote 831: 'Cum apud rerum Dominum solemni more pranderemus.']

[Footnote 832: 'Silanum.' Mount Sila is a range of hills in Calabria immediately to the north of Squillace, forty miles from north to south, and twenty miles from east to west, and occupying the whole of the projecting portion of the south-east side of Italy between the Gulf of Squillace and the Bay of Taranto. The highest peaks, which are about 5,700 feet high, are covered with snow during half the year. It is said that from the beginning of June till far on into October, 15,000 head of cattle and 150,000 sheep, besides horses and mules, graze in these uplands. (See Gael-Fells: Unter Italien, p. 721.)]

'The cheese, which retains in its pores the milk which has been collected there, recalls by its taste the fragrant herbs upon which the cattle have fed; by its texture it reminds us of the softness of oil, from which it differs in colour by its snowy whiteness. Having been carefully pressed into a wide cask and hardened therein, it retains permanently the beautiful round shape which has thus been given to it[833].

[Footnote 833: From the description of Cassiodorus, it seems to have been a kind of cream cheese.]

'The wine, to which Antiquity gave the name of praise, Palmatiana, must be selected not of a rough but sweet kind[834]. Though last [in geographical position] among the wines of Bruttii, it is by general opinion accounted the best, equal to that of Gaza, similar to the Sabine, moderately thick, strong, brisk, of conspicuous whiteness, distinguished by the fine aroma, of which a pleasant after-taste is perceived by the drinker[835]. It constrains loosened bowels, dries up moist wounds, and refreshes the weary breast.

[Footnote 834: 'Non stipsi asperum sed gratum suavitate perquire.' The same peculiar word, stipsis, which we had in Letter xii. 4. What meaning are we to assign to the word?]

[Footnote 835: 'Magnis odoribus singulare:--quod ita redolet ore ructatum ut merito illi a palma nomen videatur impositum.']

'Let it be your care to provide as speedily as possible a stock of both these products of our country, and send them in ships to the Royal residence. For a temporary supply we have drawn on our own cellars, but we look to you to choose specimens of the genuine quality for the King. We cannot be deceived, who retain the true taste in our patriotic memory; and at your peril will you provide any inferior article to that which our cellars will have supplied[836].'

[Footnote 836: Baronius (Ad Ann. 591) quotes this letter of Cassiodorus to explain an allusion in the life of Pope Gregory the Great, who refused to receive a present of 'Palmatiana' from the Bishop of Messina, and insisted on paying for it.]

13. AN EDICT.

[Sidenote: Frauds committed by the revenue officers on the Churches of Bruttii and Lucania.]

'The generous gifts of Kings ought to be respected by their subjects.

'Long ago the constitutions of the Emperors enriched the holy Churches of Bruttii and Lucania with certain gifts. But since the sacrilegious mind is not afraid of sinning against the Divine reverence, the Canonicarii (officers of the Exchequer) have robbed these ecclesiastical positions of a certain portion of their revenue in the name of the Numerarii of the Praetorian Praefect's staff; but these latter, with righteous indignation, declare that they have received no part of the spoils thus impiously collected in their name.

'Thus have the Canonicarii turned the property of the clergy into a douceur for the laity[837]. Oh, audacity of man! what barriers can be erected against thee? Thou mightest have hoped to escape human observation, but why commit crimes which the Divinity cannot but notice?

[Footnote 837: 'Facientes laicum commodum substantiam clericorum.']

'Therefore we ordain by this edict that anyone who shall hereafter commit this kind of fraud shall lose his own private gains, and shall forfeit his place in the public service[838].

[Footnote 838: 'Edictali programmate definimus, ut qui in hac fuerit ulterius fraude versatus et militiâ careat et compendium propriae facultatis amittat.' The last clause is perhaps purposely vague. We should have expected to hear something about restitution, but the words will not bear that meaning.]

'Let the poor keep the gifts which God has put it into the heart of Kings to bestow upon them. It is cruel above all other cruelty to wish to become rich by means of the scanty possessions of the mendicant.'

14. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO ANASTASIUS, CANCELLARIUS OF LUCANIA AND BRUTTII.

[Sidenote: Plea for gentle treatment for citizens of Rhegium.]

'The citizens of Rhegium (so called from the Greek word [Greek: rhêgnumi], to break, because their island has been broken off from Sicily by the violence of the waves) complain that they are being unfairly harassed by the tax-gatherers. I, as an eyewitness, can confirm the truth of their statement that their territory does not bring forth the produce which is claimed at their hands. It is a rocky and mountainous country, too dry for pasture, though sufficiently undulating for vineyards; bad for grain-crops, though well suited for olives. The shade has to be all provided by the industry of man, who has planted there the tree of Pallas [the olive], which prospers in even the driest soil, because it sends its roots down into the very depths of the earth.

'The corn has to be watered by hand, like pot-herbs in a garden. You seldom see the husbandman bending beneath his load as he returns from the threshing-floor. A few bushels full are all that he can boast of, even in an abundant harvest[839].

[Footnote 839: I do not understand the following sentences: 'In hortis autem rusticorum agmen habetur operosum: quia olus illic omne saporum est marinâ irroratione respersum. Quod humanâ industriâ fieri consuevit, hoc cum nutriretur accepit.' Can they have watered any herbs with salt water?]

'Contrary to the opinion of Virgil [who speaks of the bitter roots of the endive[840]], the fibres of endive are here extremely sweet, and encircled by their twisting leaves are caked together with a certain callous tenderness[841].

[Footnote 840:

'Nec tamen, haec quum sint hominumque boumque labores Versando terram experti, nihil improbus anser, Strymoniaeque grues, et amaris intuba fibris Officiunt.'--Georgic i. 118-121.]

[Footnote 841: I must renounce the attempt to translate the rest of the sentence: 'Unde in morem nitri aliquid decerptum frangitur, dum a fecundo cespite segregatur.' There is an alternative reading, vitri for nitri; but I am still unable to understand the author's meaning.]

'In the treasures of the deep that region is certainly rich; for the Upper and Lower Sea meet there. The exormiston[842], a sort of king among fishes, with bristly nostrils and a milky delicacy of flavour, is found in these waters. In stormy weather it is tossed about on the top of the waves, and seems to be too tired or too indolent to seek a refuge in the deeper water[843]. No other fish can be compared to it in sweetness[844].

[Footnote 842: Apparently a kind of lamprey. See the fourth letter of this book.]

[Footnote 843: Perhaps Cassiodorus means to say this makes it more easy of capture, but he does not say so.]

[Footnote 844: The praises of the exormiston are not only foreign to the main subject of the letter, but to a certain extent weaken the writer's argument on behalf of his countrymen; but, as a good Bruttian, he cannot help vaunting the products of his country.]

'These are the products--I speak from my own knowledge--of the Rhegian shore. Therefore you must not seek to levy a tribute of wheat or lard from the inhabitants under the name of "coemptio."

'I may add that they are so troubled by the constant passage of travellers entering Italy or leaving it, that it would have been right to excuse them even if those products had been found there in abundance[845].'

[Footnote 845: The passage to and fro of travellers no doubt brought with it burdensome duties for the inhabitants in connection with the Cursus Publicus. It was therefore a reason for mitigating other taxes.]

15. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO MAXIMUS, VIR CLARISSIMUS, CANCELLARIUS OF LUCANIA AND BRUTTII[846].

[Footnote 846: This letter, being the description by Cassiodorus of his native place, is translated entire.]

[Sidenote: Praises of the author's birthplace, Scyllacium.]

'Scyllacium, the first city of Bruttii, which Ulysses the destroyer of Troy is believed to have founded, is said to be unreasonably vexed by the exorbitant demands of purveyors[847]. These injuries grieve us all the more on account of our patriotic love for the place.

[Footnote 847: 'Irrationabiliter dicitur praesumentium nimietate vexari.']

'The city of Scyllacium, which is so placed as to look down upon the Hadriatic Gulf, hangs upon the hills like a cluster of grapes: not that it may pride itself upon their difficult ascent, but that it may voluptuously gaze on verdant plains and the blue back of the sea. The city beholds the rising sun from its very cradle, when the day that is about to be born sends forward no heralding Aurora; but as soon as it begins to rise, the quivering brightness displays its torch. It beholds Phoebus in his joy; it is bathed in the brightness of that luminary, so that it might be thought to be itself the native land of the sun, the claims of Rhodes to that honour being outdone.

'It enjoys a translucent air, but withal so temperate that its winters are sunny, and its summers cool; and life passes there without sorrow, since hostile seasons are feared by none. Hence, too, man himself is here freer of soul than elsewhere, for this temperateness of the climate prevails in all things.

'In sooth, a hot fatherland makes its children sharp and fickle, a cold one slow and sly; it is only a temperate climate which composes the characters of men by its own moderation. Hence was it that the ancients pronounced Athens to be the seat of sages, because, enriched with an air of the greatest purity, it prepared with glad liberality the lucid intellects of its sons for the contemplative part of life. Assuredly for the body to imbibe muddy waters is a different thing from sucking in the transparency of a sweet fountain. Even so the vigour of the mind is repressed when it is clogged by a heavy atmosphere. Nature herself hath made us subject to these influences. Clouds make us feel sad; and again a bright sky fills us with joy, because the heavenly substance of the soul delights in everything that is unstained and pure.

'Scyllacium has also an abundant share of the delicacies of the sea, possessing near it those gates of Neptune which we ourselves constructed. At the foot of the Moscian Mount we hollowed out the bowels of the rock, and tastefully[848] introduced therein the eddying waves of Nereus. Here a troop of fishes, sporting in free captivity, refreshes all minds with delight, and charms all eyes with admiration. They run greedily to the hand of man, and before they become his food seek dainties from him. Man feeds his own dainty morsels, and while he has that which can bring them into his power, it often happens that being already replete he lets them all go again.

[Footnote 848: 'Decenter.']

'The spectacle moreover of men engaged in honourable labour is not denied to those who are sitting tranquilly in the city. Plenteous vineyards are beheld in abundance. The fruitful toil of the threshing-floor is seen. The face of the green olive is disclosed. No one need sigh for the pleasures of the country, when it is given him to see them all from the town.

'And inasmuch as it has now no walls, you believe Scyllacium to be a rural city, though you might judge it to be an urban villa; and thus placed between the two worlds of town and country, it is lavishly praised by both.

'This place wayfarers desire frequently to visit, and as they object to the toil of walking, the citizens, called upon to provide them with post-horses, and rations for their servants, have to pay heavily in purse for the pleasantness of their city. Therefore to prevent this, for the future we decide that all charges for providing post-horses and rations shall be debited to the public account. We cut up, root and branch, the system of paying Pulveratica[849] to the Judge; and we decide, according to ancient custom, that rations for three days only shall be given on their arrival to the great Dignitaries of the State, and that any more prolonged delay in their locomotion be provided for by themselves.

[Footnote 849: Dust-money.]

'To relieve your city of its heaviest burdens will be, according to our injunctions, an act of judicial impartiality, not of laxity. Live, by God's help, a mirror of the justice of the age, delighting in the security of all. Some people call the Isles of the Atlantic 'Fortunate:' I would rather give that name to the place where you do now dwell.'

16. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO A REVENUE OFFICER[850].

[Footnote 850: 'Canonicario.']

[This interesting letter is one of the few written by Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect which we can date with certainty. It is written apparently at the beginning of the first Indiction, i.e. Sept. 1, 537. Witigis and the Goths have been for nearly six months besieging Rome, and are beginning to be discouraged as to its capture. Cassiodorus is probably at Ravenna, directing the machine of government from that capital.]

[Sidenote: Payment of Trina Illatio.]

'Time, which adapts itself incessantly to the course of human affairs, and reconciles us even to adversity[851], has brought round again the period for collecting the Trina Illatio from the taxpayer. Let the peasant (possessor) pay in your Diocese, for this first Indiction, his instalment of the tax freely, not being urged too soon nor allowed to postpone it too late, so that he may plead that he has been let off from payment[852]. Let none exceed the fair weight, but let him use a just pound: if once the true weight is allowed to be exceeded, there is no limit to extortion[853].

[Footnote 851: 'Dum res nobis etiam asperas captatâ semper opinione conciliat.' Apparently a veiled allusion to the disasters of the Goths.]

[Footnote 852: 'Nec iterum remissione lentatâ quisquam se dicat esse praeteritum.']

[Footnote 853: This mention of the just weight of course suits a tax paid in kind, not in money.]

'Let a faithful account of the expenses of collection be rendered every four months to our office[854], that, all error and obscurity being removed, truth may be manifest in the public accounts.

[Footnote 854: 'Expensarum quoque fidelem notitiam per quaternos menses ad scrinia nostra solemniter destinabis.']

'That you may, with God's help, be the better able to fulfil our instructions, I have ordered A and B, servants of our tribunal, who are mindful of their own past responsibilities, to assist you and your staff[855]. Beware therefore, lest you incur the blame of corruptly discharging the taxpayer, or of sluggish idleness in the discharge of your duties, in which case your own fortunes will suffer from your neglect.'

[Footnote 855: 'Illum atque illum sedis nostrae milites, tibi officioque tuo periculorum suorum memores praecipimus imminere.']

17. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO JOHN, SILIQUATARIUS[856] OF RAVENNA.

[Footnote 856: Collector of the Siliquaticum, or tax of one twenty-fourth on sales. See ii. 30, iii. 35, iv. 19.]

[Sidenote: Defence of Ravenna.]

'In times of peace, by contact with foreigners who swarm in our cities, we learn what will be our best defence in war. Who can tell with what nation we may be next at war? Therefore, to be on the safe side, make such preparations as our future enemies, whosoever they may be, will dislike to hear of. Accordingly you are to order the peasants to dig a series of pits with wide mouths near the mountains of Caprarius and the parts round about the walls[857]; and let such a chasm yawn there that there shall be no possibility of entrance that way.

[Footnote 857: No doubt the walls of Ravenna. I cannot identify the Mons Caprarius. The name Caprera is a common one in Italy.]

'If strangers want to enter the city, why do they not enter it in the right way--by the gates--instead of going skulking about these bye-paths? Henceforth, anyone trying to take any such short cut to our city will probably find that he loses his life in consequence[858].'

[Footnote 858: One may conjecture that this letter was written in 535, when war with the Empire was imminent, but before it was actually declared.]

18. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO CONSTANTIAN, VIR EXPERIENTISSIMUS.

[Sidenote: Repair of Flaminian Way.]

'Great is the reward of those who serve Kings efficiently; as severe is the punishment of those who neglect their duties towards them.

'How delightful is it to journey without obstacles over a well-made road[859], to pass doubtful places without fear, to ascend mountainous steeps by a gentle incline, to have no fear of the planking of a bridge when one crosses it[860], and in short to accomplish one's journey so that everything happens to one's liking!

[Footnote 859: 'Videre judicia diligentia.' I leave this clause untranslated, as I cannot understand it.]

[Footnote 860: 'In pontibus contrabium non tremere.']

'This is the pleasure which you can now prepare for your Sovereign. Therefore, as the Flaminian Way is furrowed by the action of torrents, join the yawning chasms by the broadest of bridges; clear away the rough woods which choke the sides of the highway; procure the stipulated number of post-horses, and see that they have all the points which are required in a good steed; collect the designated quantities of provisions without plundering the peasants. A failure in any one of these particulars will ruin your whole service.

[Sidenote: Supply of delicacies for the King's table.]

'Collect, too, with the utmost diligence the spices which are needed for the King's table. What avails it to have satisfied the army, if the King's own board lack proper care. Let all the Provincials attend to your admonitions: let the cities furnish the stores set forth in the accompanying letters. Then, when they have put the Sovereign in a good humour, they may ask him for benefits to some purpose.

'Think of me as present and as judging of all your deeds. I shall have to bear the blame of your failures at Court; so act rather as to set my mind at rest, to cover me and yourselves with glory, and to entitle me to receive on your behalf the thanks of the whole army.'

[This letter was probably written in the autumn of 535, when Theodahad was preparing to march to Rome. The mention of the delicacies for the royal table suggests that that King, in addition to the other excellencies of his character, was probably an epicure.]

19. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO MAXIMUS, VICARIUS OF THE CITY OF ROME.

[Sidenote: Bridge of boats across the Tiber.]

'As all great events in Nature have their heralding signs, so is the approaching visit of the King announced to you even by the concourse of wayfarers to your City. We, however, have to order you to clothe the waves of Tiber with a bridge [of boats]. The boat, thus used, is no longer moved by slowly hauled ropes, as it is wont to be. Fixed itself, it affords a means of transit to others. The joining of its planks gives the desired appearance of solidity; all the terror of the waves is removed by its likeness to the land, and the traveller passing over it unharmed only wishes that the bridge were longer.

'Let a safe bulwark of lattice-work shield the bridge on the right side and on the left. See that you give no cause for misadventure of any kind. You have a noble opportunity of distinguishing yourself in the presence of so many Senators and of the King himself, the rewarder of every well-done work. On the other hand, if you do it badly and put him out of humour, woe be unto you!

'We send A B, a servant of our Praefecture[861], to assist you and your staff and bring us report of the accomplishment of the work; for so heavy is our responsibility in this matter that we dare not leave anything to chance.'

[Footnote 861: 'Illum sedis nostrae militem.']

[The King whose advent to Rome is here announced may be Witigis, after his election in the plains of Regeta (August, 536). But the fact that he is apparently approaching Rome by the northern bank of the Tiber, coupled with the directions in the preceding letter for the repair of the Flaminian Way, makes it more probable that some visit of Theodahad (probably in the year 535), when he would come from Ravenna to Rome, is here in prospect.]

20. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THOMAS AND PETER, VIRI CLARISSIMI AND ARCARII.

[Sidenote: Sacred vessels mortgaged by Pope Agapetus to be restored to the stewards of the Papal See.]

'You will remember, most faithful Sirs, that when the holy Agapetus, Pope of the City of Rome, was sent as ambassador to the Sovereign of the East[862], he received so many pounds of gold from you for the expenses of the journey, for which he gave his bond[863] and deposited some of the Church plate as security[864]. The provident ruler thus lent him money in his necessity, and now, far more gloriously, returns as a free gift those pledges which the Pope might well have thanked him for taking.

[Footnote 862: He was sent by Theodahad; entered Constantinople February 20, 536, and died there 21st April of the same year.]

[Footnote 863: 'Facto pictacio.']

[Footnote 864: 'Vasa sanctorum.' One would think this must refer to the vessels used in celebrating mass; but I do not quite see how the meaning is to be got out of the words.]

'Therefore, in obedience to these instructions of ours, and fortified by the Royal order, do you return without any delay to the stewards[865] of the holy Apostle Peter the vessels of the saints together with the written obligation, that these things may be felt to be profitably restored and speedily granted, that the longed-for means of performing their world-famous ministrations may be replaced in the hands of the Levites. Let that be given back which was their own, since that is justly received back by way of largesse which the Priest had legally mortgaged.

[Footnote 865: 'Actoribus.']

'Herein is the great example of King Alaric surpassed. He, when glutted with the spoil of Rome, having received the vessels of the Apostle Peter from his men, when he heard the story of their seizure, ordered them to be carried back across the sacred threshold, that so the remembrance of the cupidity of their capture might be effaced by the generosity of their restoration.

'But our King, with religious purpose, has restored the vessels which had become his own by the law of mortgage. In recompense for such deeds frequent prayer ought to ascend, and Heaven will surely gladly grant the required return for such good actions[866].'

[Footnote 866: Baronius not unfairly argues that if the Roman See was so poor that the Church plate had to be pawned to provide for the Pope's journey to Constantinople, the wealth of the Pope cannot have largely contributed to that great increase of his influence which marked the early years of the Sixth Century.]

[There are in this letter several extremely obscure sentences as to the generosity of Theodahad. As the Papal journey was undertaken by Theodahad's orders, it was a piece of meanness, quite in keeping with that King's character, to treat the advance of money for the journey as a loan, and to insist on a bond and the deposit of the Church plate as a security for repayment. Cassiodorus evidently feels this; and very probably the restoration of the vessels and the quittance of the debt had been insisted on by him. But the more he despises his master's shabbiness, the more he struggles through a maze of almost nonsensical sentences, to prove that he has committed some very glorious action in lending the money and then forgiving the debt.]

21. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO DEUSDEDIT, A SCRIBE OF RAVENNA.

[Sidenote: Duties of a Scribe.]

'The Scribe's office is the great safeguard of the rights of all men. The evidence of ownership may be destroyed by fire or purloined by dishonest men, but the State by making use of the Scribe's labours is able to make good the loss so sustained. The Scribe is more diligent in other men's business than they are in their own. His muniment-chest is the refuge of all the oppressed, and the repository of the fortunes of all men[867].

[Footnote 867: 'Armarium ipsius fortuna cunctorum est.']

'In testimony of your past integrity, and in the hope that no change will mar this fair picture, we appoint you to this honourable office. Remember that ancient Truth is committed to your keeping, and that it often really rests with you, rather than with the Judge, to decide the disputes of litigants. When your indisputable testimony is given, and when the ancient voice of charters proceeds from your sanctum, Advocates receive it with reverence, and suitors, even evil-intentioned men, are constrained into obedience.

'Banish, therefore, all thoughts of venality from your mind. The worst moth that gets into papers and destroys them is the gold of the dishonest litigant, who bribes the Scribes to make away with evidence which he knows to be hostile. Thus, then, be ready always to produce to suitors genuine old documents; and, on the other hand, transcribe only, do not compose ancient proceedings[868]. Let the copy correspond to the original as the wax to the signet-ring, that as the face is the index of the emotions[869] so your handwriting may not err from the authentic original in anything.

[Footnote 868: 'Translator esto, non conditor antiquorum gestorum.']

[Footnote 869: Compare Cassiodorus' treatise De Animâ, chapters x. and xi., in which he enumerates the various points in which the faces of good men and bad men differ from one another.]

'If a claimant succeed in enticing you even once from the paths of honesty, vainly will you in any subsequent case seek to obtain his credence for any document that you may produce; for he will always believe that the trick which has been played once may be played again. Keep to the line of justice, and even his angry exclamations at the impossibility of inducing you to deviate therefrom, will be your highest testimonial. Your whole career is public, and the favour or disgrace which awaits you must be public also.'

22. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE PROVINCIALS OF ISTRIA.

[This letter was written Sept. 1, 537, probably in consequence of the scarcity which the operations of Belisarius were already causing at Ravenna. Apparently the whole taxes levied from a Province at an Indiction were divided into two heads: so much for the central authority, and so much for the Province. Cassiodorus in this and the following letter says in effect: 'All the State's share of the taxes we will take not in money, but in your staple products, corn, wine, and oil. The rest goes as usual to the Province; but owing to the scarcity at Ravenna we shall be glad to buy all that can be spared either by the authorities of the Province or by individuals, whether farmers or merchants.']

'The true way to prevent the requirements of the public revenue from becoming oppressive, is to order each Province to supply those products in which it is naturally most fertile.

[Sidenote: Requisition from Province of Istria.]

'Now I have learned by conversation with travellers that the Province of Istria is this year especially blessed in three of its crops--wine, oil, and corn. Therefore let her give of these products the equivalent of ... solidi, which are due from you in payment of tribute for this first Indiction[870]: while the remainder we leave to that loyal Province for her own regular expenses. But since we require a larger quantity of the above-mentioned products, we send ... solidi from our state chest for the purchase of them, that these necessaries may be collected for us with as little delay as possible. Often when you are desirous to sell you cannot find a purchaser, and suffer loss accordingly. How much better is it to obey the requirements of your Lords than to supply foreigners; and to pay your debts in the fruits of the soil, rather than to wait on the caprices of a buyer!

[Footnote 870: The first Indiction was from September 1, 537, to September 1, 538.]

'We will ourselves out of our love of justice state a fact of which you might otherwise remind us, that we can afford to be liberal in price because we are not burdened by the payment of freights [on account of your nearness to the seat of government]. For what Campania is to Rome, Istria is to Ravenna--a fruitful Province abounding in corn, wine, and oil; so to speak, the cupboard of the capital. I might carry the comparison further, and say that Istria can show her own Baiae in the lagunes with which her shores are indented[871], her own Averni in the pools abounding in oysters and fish. The palaces, strung like pearls along the shores of Istria, show how highly our ancestors appreciated its delights[872]. The beautiful chain of islands with which it is begirt, shelter the sailor from danger and enrich the cultivator. The residence of the Court in this district delights the nobles and enriches the lower orders; and it may be said that all its products find their way to the Royal city. Now let the loyal Province, which has often tendered her services when they were less required, send forward her stores freely.

[Footnote 871: Here follows this sentence: 'Haec loca garismatia plura nutriunt.' Garum seems to have been a sauce something like our anchovy-sauce. Garismatium is evidently a garum-supplying place.]

[Footnote 872: We have a special allusion in Martial (iv. 25) to the villas of Altinum, and he too compares them to those of Baiae.]

'To guard against any misunderstanding of our orders, we send Laurentius, a man of great experience, whose instructions are contained in the annexed letter.

'We will publish a tariff of moderate prices when we next address you, and when we have ascertained what is the yield of the present crops; for we should be deciding quite at random before we have received that information.'

23. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO LAURENTIUS, VIR EXPERIENTISSIMUS[873].

[Footnote 873: Evidently 'the annexed letter' referred to in No. 22.]

[Sidenote: The same subject.]

'Anyone can discharge the duties of the Commissariat in a time of abundance. It is a mark of our high appreciation of your experience and efficiency, that we select you for this service in a time of scarcity. We therefore direct you to repair to the Province of Istria, there to collect stores of wine, oil, and corn, equivalent to ... solidi, due from the Province for land-tax[874], and with ... solidi which you have received from our Treasurer to buy these products either from the merchants or from the peasants directly, according to the information prepared for you by the Cashiers[875]. Raise your spirits for this duty, and discharge it in a manner worthy of your past reputation. Make to us a faithful report of the yield of the coming harvest, under these three heads[876], that we may fix a tariff of prices which shall be neither burdensome to the Provincials nor injurious to the public service.'

[Footnote 874: 'Ut in tot solidos vini, olei, vel tritici species de tributario solido debeas procurare.']

[Footnote 875: 'Sicut te a Numerariis instruxit porrecta Notitia.' Note this use of the word 'Notitia,' as illustrating the title of the celebrated document bearing that name.]

[Footnote 876: Corn, wine, and oil.]

24. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO THE TRIBUNES OF THE MARITIME POPULATION[877].

[Footnote 877: Written shortly after Sept. 1, 537. This is the celebrated letter to which Venetian historians point as evidence of the existence of their city (or at least of the group of settlements out of which their city sprang) in the Sixth Century. We may set side by side with it the words of the Anonymous Geographer of Ravenna (in the Seventh Century), 'In patria vero Venetiae sunt aliquantae insulae, quae hominibus habitantur.'

The address, Tribunis Maritimorum, looks as if there were something like a municipal government established in these islands. Tribunus was at this time generally, but not exclusively, a military title. Compare the Tribunus Fori Suarii and Tribunus Rerum Nitentium of the Notitia (Occidens iv. 10 and iv. 17). But there can be no doubt, from the tone of this letter, that the islanders were subjects of the Ostrogothic King.]

[Sidenote: First historical notice of Venice.]

'We have previously given orders that Istria should send wine and oil, of which there are abundant crops this year, to the Royal residence at Ravenna. Do you, who possess numerous ships on the borders of the Province, show the same devotion in forwarding the stores which they do in supplying them.

'Be therefore active in fulfilling this commission in your own neighbourhood, you who often cross boundless distances. It may be said that [in visiting Ravenna] you are going through your own guest-chambers, you who in your voyages traverse your own home[878]. This is also added to your other advantages, that to you another route is open, marked by perpetual safety and tranquillity. For when by raging winds the sea is closed, a way is opened to you through the most charming river scenery[879]. Your keels fear no rough blasts; they touch the earth with the greatest pleasure, and cannot perish however frequently they may come in contact with it. Beholders from a distance, not seeing the channel of the stream, might fancy them moving through the meadows. Cables have been used to keep them at rest: now drawn by ropes they move, and by a changed order of things men help their ships with their feet. They draw their drawers without labour, and instead of the capricious favour of sails they use the more satisfactory steps of the sailor.

[Footnote 878: An obscure sentence: 'Per hospitia quodammodo vestra discurritis qui per patriam navigatis.' The idea seems to be: 'You have to sail about from one room to another of your own house, and therefore Ravenna will seem like a neighbouring inn.']

[Footnote 879: The next four sentences describe the movement of the ships when towed along the channels of the streams (Brenta, Piave, Tagliamento, &c.) the deposits from which have made the lagunes.]

'It is a pleasure to recall the situation of your dwellings as I myself have seen them. Venetia the praiseworthy[880], formerly full of the dwellings of the nobility, touches on the south Ravenna and the Po, while on the east it enjoys the delightsomeness of the Ionian shore, where the alternating tide now discovers and now conceals the face of the fields by the ebb and flow of its inundation. Here after the manner of water-fowl have you fixed your home. He who was just now on the mainland finds himself on an island, so that you might fancy yourself in the Cyclades[881], from the sudden alterations in the appearance of the shore.

[Footnote 880: 'Venetiae praedicabiles.' An allusion, no doubt, as other commentators have suggested, to the reputed derivation of Venetia from [Greek: Ainetoi], 'the laudable.']

[Footnote 881: Alluding probably to the story of the floating island of Delos.]

'Like them[882] there are seen amid the wide expanse of the waters your scattered homes, not the product of Nature, but cemented by the care of man into a firm foundation[883]. For by a twisted and knotted osier-work the earth there collected is turned into a solid mass, and you oppose without fear to the waves of the sea so fragile a bulwark, since forsooth the mass of waters is unable to sweep away the shallow shore, the deficiency in depth depriving the waves of the necessary power.

[Footnote 882: 'Earum similitudine.' Does Cassiodorus mean 'like the water-fowl,' or 'like the Cyclades?']

[Footnote 883: The reading of Nivellius (followed by Migne), 'Domicilia videntur sparsa, quae Natura non protulit sed hominum cura fundavit,' seems to give a better sense than that of Garet, who omits the 'non.']

'The inhabitants have one notion of plenty, that of gorging themselves with fish. Poverty therefore may associate itself with wealth on equal terms. One kind of food refreshes all; the same sort of dwelling shelters all; no one can envy his neighbour's home; and living in this moderate style they escape that vice [of envy] to which all the rest of the world is liable.

'Your whole attention is concentrated on your salt-works. Instead of driving the plough or wielding the sickle, you roll your cylinders. Thence arises your whole crop, when you find in them that product which you have not manufactured[884]. There it may be said is your subsistence-money coined[885]. Of this art of yours every wave is a bondservant. In the quest for gold a man may be lukewarm: but salt every one desires to find; and deservedly so, since to it every kind of meat owes its savour.

[Footnote 884: 'Inde vobis fructus omnis enascitur, quando in ipsis, et quae non facitis possidetis.']

[Footnote 885: 'Moneta illic quodammodo percutitur victualis.' Some have supposed that these words point to a currency in salt; but I think they are only a Cassiodorian way of saying 'By this craft ye have your wealth.']

'Therefore let your ships, which you have tethered, like so many beasts of burden, to your walls, be repaired with diligent care: so that when the most experienced Laurentius attempts to bring you his instructions, you may hasten forth to greet him. Do not by any hindrance on your part delay the necessary purchases which he has to make; since you, on account of the character of your winds, are able to choose the shortest sea-track[886].'

[Footnote 886: This is the only translation I can suggest of 'quatenus expensas necessarias nulla difficultate tardetis, qui pro qualitate aeris compendium vobis eligere potestis itineris.']

25. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO HIS DEPUTY[887] AMBROSIUS, AN ILLUSTRIS.

[Footnote 887: 'Agenti vices.' See note on xi. 4.]

[This letter appears to have been written in the early autumn of 538, about a year after the three last letters, and also after Letters 27 and 28, which precede it in order of date, though they follow it in this collection. For an account of the terrible famine in Italy, the beginning of which is here described, see Procopius, De Bello Gotthico ii. 20.]

[Sidenote: Famine in Italy.]

'Since the world is not governed by chance, but by a Divine Ruler who does not change His purposes at random, men are alarmed, and naturally alarmed, at the extraordinary signs in the heavens, and ask with anxious hearts what events these may portend. The Sun, first of stars, seems to have lost his wonted light, and appears of a bluish colour. We marvel to see no shadows of our bodies at noon, to feel the mighty vigour of his heat wasted into feebleness, and the phenomena which accompany a transitory eclipse prolonged through a whole year.

'The Moon too, even when her orb is full, is empty of her natural splendour. Strange has been the course of the year thus far. We have had a winter without storms, a spring without mildness, and a summer without heat. Whence can we look for harvest, since the months which should have been maturing the corn have been chilled by Boreas? How can the blade open if rain, the mother of all fertility, is denied to it? These two influences, prolonged frost and unseasonable drought, must be adverse to all things that grow. The seasons seem to be all jumbled up together, and the fruits, which were wont to be formed by gentle showers, cannot be looked for from the parched earth. But as last year was one that boasted of an exceptionally abundant harvest, you are to collect all of its fruits that you can, and store them up for the coming months of scarcity, for which it is well able to provide. And that you may not be too much distressed by the signs in the heavens of which I have spoken, return to the consideration of Nature, and apprehend the reason of that which makes the vulgar gape with wonder.

'The middle air is thickened by the rigour of snow and rarefied by the beams of the Sun. This is the great Inane, roaming between the heavens and the earth. When it happens to be pure and lighted up by the rays of the sun it opens out its true aspect[888]; but when alien elements are blended with it, it is stretched like a hide across the sky, and suffers neither the true colours of the heavenly bodies to appear nor their proper warmth to penetrate. This often happens in cloudy weather for a time; it is only its extraordinary prolongation which has produced these disastrous effects, causing the reaper to fear a new frost in harvest, making the apples to harden when they should grow ripe, souring the old age of the grape-cluster.

[Footnote 888: 'Vestros (?) veraciter pandit aspectus.']

'All this, however, though it would be wrong to construe it as an omen of Divine wrath, cannot but have an injurious effect on the fruits of the earth. Let it be your care to see that the scarcity of this one year does not bring ruin on us all. Even thus was it ordained by the first occupant of our present dignity[889], that the preceding plenty should avail to mitigate the present penury.'

[Footnote 889: Joseph, Praetorian Praefect of Egypt under Pharaoh.]

26. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO PAULUS, VIR STRENUUS[890].

[Footnote 890: Paulas was probably a Sajo.]

[Sidenote: Remission of taxes for Province of Venetia in consequence of the famine.]

'We are glad when we can reconcile the claims of the public service with the suggestions of pity. The Venerable Augustin, a man illustrious by his life and name, has brought under our notice the lamentable petition of the Venetians, to the effect that there have been in their Province no crops of wine, wheat, or millet, and that they must be ruined unless the Royal pity succours them.

'In these circumstances it would be cruel to exact the customary supplies from them, and we therefore remit the contributions of wine and wheat for the use of the army which we had ordered from the cities of Concordia, Aquileia, and Forojulii[891], exacting only the meat, as shown by the accompanying letter[892].

[Footnote 891: Now Cividale in Friuli. Notice the terminations of these names: 'ex Concordiense, Aquileiense, et Forojuliense civitatibus' ('e,' not 'i').]

[Footnote 892: The letter here alluded to does not appear to be preserved.]

'We shall send from hence a sufficient supply of wheat when the time comes; and as we are told that there is a plentiful crop of wine in Istria, you can buy there the wine that would have been furnished by the three cities. Be sure that you ask for no fee in this matter. This remission of taxes is absolutely gratuitous on our part.'

27. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO DATIUS[893], BISHOP OF MILAN.

[Footnote 893: Cassiodorus, like Procopius, spells this name with a 't.' Some of the ecclesiastical writers spell it with a 'c.']

[Sidenote: Relief of famine-stricken citizens of Ticinum and Dertona.]

'It is most fitting that good and holy men should be made the stewards of the Royal bounty. We therefore request your Holiness, in accordance with the King's commands, to open the granaries at Ticinum[894], and Dertona[895], and sell millet thereat to the starving people at the rate of 20 modii per solidum[896]. We are anxious that you should do this, lest the work should fall into venal hands which would sell the King's bounty to those who are able to provide for themselves. It is the poor, not the rich, that we wish to help: we would pour our bounty into empty vessels. Let not then your Holiness think this work of compassion, unworthy of your sacred office. In order to assist you we have sent A and B, who will simply obey the orders of your Holiness, doing nothing of their own motion.

[Footnote 894: Pavia.]

[Footnote 895: Tortona.]

[Footnote 896: Twelve shillings for twenty pecks, or about nineteen shillings and twopence a quarter; not a very low price, one would think, for such a grain as millet.

Datius is ordered to sell tertiam portionem of this millet. Probably this expression has the same meaning as the 'tertia illatio' of xi. 37.

In the similar letter, x. 27, 'tertia portio' (whether of wheat or millet is not stated) is to be sold at 25 modii per solidum.]

'Send us an account of the solidi received in payment for the said millet, that they may be stored up with our Treasurer[897], in order to replace the before-mentioned grain, and thus provide a reserve for future times of scarcity; like a garment taken to pieces that it may be made up again as good as new.'

[Footnote 897: 'Arcarius.']

[It is not very easy to assign a date to this letter. The mention of the famine would incline us to assign it to 538, as that seems to have been the year when the full force of the famine was felt in Italy (see Procopius, De Bello Gotthico ii. 20, where 538 and 539 seem to be marked as the two great famine years). But very early in 538 the Bishop of Milan, the same Datius to whom this letter is addressed, visited Rome to entreat Belisarius to send a small garrison to occupy Milan, which had already revolted, or was on the verge of revolting, from the Gothic King. As soon as the siege of Rome was raised Belisarius complied with this request, and sent 1,000 men, under Mundilas, to escort Datius back to Milan. This expedition set forth probably in April 538, and as soon as it arrived at Milan that city openly proclaimed its defection from Witigis and its allegiance to the Emperor. It was soon besieged by Uraias, nephew of Witigis, by whom in the following year (539) it was taken. The city, we are informed, was rased to the ground, and Bishop Datius escaped to Constantinople. Evidently we have here a continuous chain of events, which makes it impossible for us to date this letter in 538 or any subsequent year.

We ought probably therefore to assign it to the autumn of 537, and to look upon it as an attempt (unsuccessful, as it proved) to retain Datius and the citizens of Milan on the side of the Goths. We know from the Twenty-second Letter of this book that signs of scarcity had already shown themselves in Italy by the 1st September, 537; and in an interesting passage of the 'Historia Miscella' (Book xvi.), famine in Liguria, the year 537, and the name of Datius are all combined. 'Praeter belli instantiam angebatur insuper Roma famis penuriâ: tanta siquidem per universum mundum eo anno [the year of the siege of Rome], maxime apud Liguriam fames excreverat, ut sicut vir sanctissimus Datius Mediolanensis antistes retulit, pleraeque matres infelicium natorum membra comederent.' I owe this reference to Baronius.]

28. AN EDICT [ADDRESSED TO THE LIGURIANS].

[Sidenote: Relief of inhabitants of Liguria.]

'Divine Providence uses adversity as a means of testing our characters. Famine has afflicted the Provinces, but the result of it has been that they have proved more fully than before the bounty of their King. Rejoice herein, oh ye Ligurians! For when, as you will remember, on a previous occasion the savage temper of your neighbours was aroused, and Aemilia and your Liguria were shaken by an incursion of the Burgundians, who waged a sneaking campaign by reason of their nearness to your territory, suddenly the renown of the insulted Empire[898] arose like the sun in his strength. The enemy mourned the ruin which was caused by his own presumption, when he learned that that man was Ruler of the Gothic race whose rare valour he had experienced when he was still a private soldier[899]. How often did the Burgundian wish that he had never left his own frontiers to be compelled to fight with such an adversary as our Sovereign; for though he found with relief that he escaped his actual presence in the field, none the less did his rashness bring him in contact with the good fortune of his arms. For when with redoubled fortitude[900] the Goths turned to the prosecution of the war, with such successfully combined operations did they strike the bands of the rebels, that you would have thought those were all armed men, these were all defenceless[901]. Such was the just judgment of God, that the robber should perish in those very plains which he had presumed to desolate. Exult now, oh Province, adorned with the carcases of thine adversaries! rejoice, oh Liguria, at the heap of dead bodies! If the harvest of corn is denied thee, the harvest of dead enemies shall not be wanting. Tribute thou mayest not be able to offer to thy King, but the triumphs which are won in thy land thou canst offer with pride.

[Footnote 898: Literally, 'of the present Empire:' 'subito praesentis Imperii tanquam solis ortus fama radiavit.' I avoid the word 'present,' because of its ambiguity. Observe the use of 'Imperii' applied to the Gothic Kingdom.]

[Footnote 899: 'Quando illum cognovit nominatae (?) gentis esse Rectorem, quem sub militis nomine probaverat esse singularem.' This evident allusion to Witigis obliges us to place the date of this Burgundian invasion not much earlier than the summer of 536, when Witigis was raised to the throne. Apparently the Burgundians were already in Italy when they heard the news of that event.]

[Footnote 900: 'Ut Gothi ad belli studium geminâ se fortitudine contulerunt.' These words perhaps allude to the necessity of fighting two enemies at once, Belisarius and the Burgundians; or perhaps to the existence of two Gothic armies, whose combined operations are indicated by the following words, 'prospera concertatione.']

[Footnote 901: 'Quasi inde nudos hinc stare contigisset armatos.' 'Hinc' and 'inde' refer to geographical position, not to the order of the words in the sentence.]

'[902]To these triumphs must be added the lately foiled plunder-raid of the Alamanni, so checked in its very first attempts that their entrance and exit were almost one event, like a wound well and opportunely cauterised. Thus were the excesses of the presumptuous invader punished, and the subjects of our King were saved from absolute ruin. I might indeed enumerate to you what crowds of the enemy fell in other places, but I turn rather--such is human nature--to more joyful themes, and revert to the point with which I at first commenced, namely that the Sovereign who has saved you from the hostile sword is determined now to avert from your Province the perils of famine.

[Footnote 902: See von Schubert's 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen,' pp. 57-59, for a careful analysis of the following paragraph.]

'In this new war the citadels are well-stored granaries; Starvation is the dreaded foe: if they are closed she enters; by opening them wide she is put to flight. I know not what the world in general may think of the relative merit of these two campaigns of our King. For my part, though I recognise it as the mark of a brave man to have fought a winning battle, I think it is something above mere human valour to have conquered penury.

'In addition to these benefits the King has remitted one-half of the taxes of the Province, that he might not sadden with the one hand those whom he was gladdening with the other. Herein he compares favourably with Joseph, who sold corn to the Egyptians, but on such terms that they lost their personal freedom. Doubtless that holy man was placed in a dilemma between the necessity of satisfying a covetous King on the one hand, and that of rescuing a starving people on the other. Still I must think that the Egyptian, whose life was preserved, groaned over the loss of his liberty; and if I may say so, with all respect to so great a patriarch[903], far nobler is it to sell corn to freemen who remain freemen, and to lighten their taxes on account of poverty. This is really a gratuitous distribution, when both the money with which to buy is handed over to you [by the abatement of tribute], and a price is fixed on purpose to please you.

[Footnote 903: 'Pace tanti patris dixerim.']

'The generosity of the State therefore will sell 25 modii, when the peasant has lost his crops, at the price at which 10 are usually sold[904]. Humanity has altered the usual course of affairs, and by a strange kind of chaffering, but one which truly becomes a King, just when the famished peasant is willing to offer us an enhanced price for food, we are directed to offer it to him for a smaller one.

[Footnote 904: Probably one solidus: making the largesse price 15s. 4d. a quarter (about four shillings less than the price named in the preceding letter for millet); while the market price was 38s. 4d. a quarter. I read these sentences thus: 'Vendit itaque largitas publica vicenos quinque modios, dum possessor invenire non possit, ad denos. Ordinem rerum saeculi mutavit humanitas.' The construction is harsh and elliptical, but this makes sense, which the ordinary punctuation, throwing 'ad denos' into the following sentence, does not.]

'The King himself had seen your calamity, and thereupon bestowed on you previously one favour. Now, on hearing of its continuance, he adds to it a second. Happy calamity, which forced itself on the notice of such an eye-witness!

'Now, oh Ligurian, rejoice in the good fortune which has come to thee. Compare thy lot with the Egyptian's and be happy. He was fed, but lost his freedom; thou art fed, and at the same time defended from thy enemies. Joseph gave back the purchase-money to his brethren in their sacks, showing a greater kindness to his kindred than to his subjects. Our King shows no such partiality, but bestows on all the taxpayers larger benefits than he did on his brethren. Happy age! in which Kings may be likened, not to Kings, but to Prophets, and yet bear away the palm.

'But that we may not longer detain you from the desired enjoyment of the Royal benefits, know that our commands have been given to those whose business it is to attend to this affair, that, according to the tenour of this edict, the generosity of the Sovereign may penetrate into your homes.'

[The same considerations which were applied to the date of the preceding letter seem to require that this also be dated in 537. After the raising of the siege of Rome (March, 538), by the despatch of Imperial troops into Liguria, and the enthusiastic adherence of that Province to the Imperial cause, a new state of things was established, and one to which the language of this letter would have been utterly inapplicable.

There are two events of which we have no other knowledge than that furnished by this letter: the invasion of the Burgundians, and the ravages of the Alamanni in the Province of Liguria.

(1) The invasion of the Burgundians seems, as stated in a previous note, to have occurred in the spring or early summer of 536; so that Cassiodorus could represent the invaders as surprised and disheartened by learning of the elevation of Witigis. It no doubt formed part of those hostile operations of the Frankish Kings described by Procopius (De Bello Gotthico i. 13), the termination of which was purchased by Witigis by the cession of Provence and the payment of a subsidy. It is interesting to observe, however, that the Burgundians, notwithstanding their subjugation in 534, and their incorporation in the Frankish monarchy, are still spoken of as conducting an invasion on their own account. This is just like the invasion of Italy in 553 by the Alamannic brethren, and is quite in keeping with the loosely compacted character of the Merovingian monarchy, in which it was copied by the Anglian and Saxon Kingdoms.

(2) For the ravages of the Alamanni consult, as before stated, von Schubert's monograph. This passage quite confirms his view of the events connected with the overthrow of the Alamannic Kingdom by Clovis. A remnant of the people, settled as refugees in Raetia under Theodoric's protection, now, in the decline of the Ostrogothic monarchy throw off their allegiance to his successors, and press forward over the Alps to share the spoil of Italy. Witigis, however, notwithstanding his struggle with Belisarius, is still able promptly to repel this incursion; but it co-operates with the Burgundian invasion and the inclement spring and summer of 537 to bring about the famine in Liguria in the autumn of that year.]

THE END.

INDEX OF PERSONS

TO WHOM THE LETTERS ARE ADDRESSED.

A.

Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect, v. 16, 17, 23, 34; ix. 4.

Acretius, see Eutropius.

Adeodatus, iii. 46.

Adila, Vir Spectabilis, Comes, ii. 29.

Aemilianus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, iv. 31.

Aestunae, Possessores, Defensores, and Curiales dwelling at, iii. 9.

Agapitus, Praefectus Urbis, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, i. 6, 23, 32, 33, 41; ii. 6.

Alaric (II), King of the Visigoths (484-507), iii. 1.

Albienus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, i. 20; Praefectus Praetorio, viii. 20.

Albinus and Albienus, Viri Illustres atque Patricii, i. 20.

Albinus, Vir Illustris, Patricius, iv. 30.

Albinus, Actores of, iv. 35.

Aloisius, Architect, ii. 39.

Amabilis, Exsecutor, i. 8; Vir Devotus (? Sajo) and Comes, iv. 5.

Ambrosius, Quaestor, viii. 13; Vir Illustris Agens Vices (Praefecti Praetorio), xi. 4, 5; xii. 25.

Ampelius, Despotius, and Theodulus, Viri Spectabiles, ii. 23.

Ampelius, Count Luvirit and, v. 35.

Ampelius and Liveria, v. 39.

Anastasius, Emperor (491-518), i. 1; ii. 1.

Anastasius, Consularis, v. 8.

Anastasius, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xii. 12, 14.

Anat(h)olius, Cancellarius of Province of Samnium, xi. 36.

Andreas, Primiscrinius, xi. 21.

Andreas, see Maximian.

Annas, Vir Spectabilis and Comes, iv. 18.

Antianus, Vir Spectabilis, ex-Cornicularius, xi. 18, 34.

Antonius, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop of Pola, iv. 44.

Apronianus, Vir Illustris, Comes Privatarum, iii. 53.

Arator, Vir Illustris, Comes Domesticorum, viii. 12.

Arelate (Arles), Possessores of, iii. 44.

Argolicus, Vir Illustris, Praefectas Urbis, iii. 11, 29, 30, 33; iv. 22, 25, 29, 42.

Arigern, Vir Illustris, Comes, iii. 36, 45; iv. 23.

Artemidorus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, Praefectus Urbis, i. 42; ii. 34; iii. 22.

Assuin (Assius, or Assum), Vir Illustris, Comes, i. 40.

Aurigenes, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, iii. 14.

Avilf, Sajo, v. 20.

B.

Baion (Coion, or Goinon), Vir Spectabilis, i. 38.

Beatus, Vir Clarissimus and Cancellarius, xi. 10; Primicerius Augustalium, xi. 30.

Benenatus, Vir Spectabilis, iv. 15.

Bergantinus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, Comes Patrimonii, viii. 23; ix. 3.

Boetius, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, i. 10, 45; ii. 40.

Brandila, v. 32.

C.

Cancellarii diversi Provinciarum Singularum, xii. 1, 10.

Canonicarius Venetiarum, xii. 4, 7.

Capuanus, Vir Spectabilis, v. 21.

Carinus, Vir Illustris, v. 28.

Cart(h)erius, Regerendarius, xi. 29.

Cassiodorus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius (father of Cassiodorus Senator), i. 3; iii. 28.

Catana, City of, Honorati Possessores, Defensores, and Curiales of, iii. 49.

Catellus, Scriniarius Actorum, xi. 22.

Cheliodorus, Commentariensis, xi. 28.

Clovis, see Luduin.

Coelianus and Agapitus, Viri Illustres et Patricii, i. 23.

Colossaeus, Vir Illustris, Comes, Governor of Pannonia, iii. 23.

Comes Siliquatariorum et Portus Curas Agens, ii. 12.

Constantian, Vir Experientissimus, xii. 18.

Constantinian, Cura Epistolarum Canonicarum, xi. 23.

Consularis, Vir Illustris, iii. 52.

Consularis Liguriae, xii. 8.

Crispianus, i. 37.

Cunigast, Vir Illustris, viii. 28.

Cyprian, Comes Sacrarum Largitionum and Patrician, v. 40; viii. 21.

D.

Dalmatia and S(u)avia, all the Goths and Romans in, ix. 9.

Daniel, iii. 19.

Datius, Bishop of Milan, xii. 27.

Decius, Vir Illustris, Patricius, ii. 33.

Decoratus, Vir Devotus, v. 31.

Dertona (Tortona), all Goths and Romans abiding (consistentes) at, i. 17.

Despotius, see Ampelius.

Densdedit, Scriba Ravennas, xii. 21.

Domitianus and Willias, i. 18.

Dromonarii, the, ii. 31.

Duda, Vir Spectabilis and Comes, iv. 28; Sajo, iv. 32, 34.

Dumerit, Sajo, viii. 27.

E.

Ecdicius (or Benedictus), Vir Honestus, ii. 4.

Elpidius (or Hespidius), Deacon, iv. 24.

Epiphanius, Vir Spectabilis, Consularis of Dalmatia, v. 24.

Episcopi et Honorati (?), ix. 5.

Episcopi sui, x. 34; diversi, xi. 3.

Eugenius (Eugenites, or Eugenes), Vir Illustris, Magister Officiorum, i. 12.

Eusebius, Vir Illustris, iv. 48.

Eustorgius, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop of Milan, i. 9.

Eutropius and Acretius, v. 13.

F.

Faustus, Praefectus Praetorio (in the edition of Nivellius his title is given as Praepositus), i. 14, 26, 34, 35; ii. 5, 9, 26, 30, 37, 38; Vir Illustris, iii. 21; Praefectus Praetorio, iii. 47, 51; iv. 36, 38, 50.

Felix, Vir Clarissimus, i. 7; Vir Illustris, Consul (511), ii. 2; iii. 39.

Felix, Quaestor, viii. 18.

Feltria (Feltre), Possessors of, v. 9.

Ferrocinctus, see Grimoda.

Festus, Vir Illustris atque Patricius, i. 15, 39; ii. 22; iii. 10.

Florentinus (or Florentianus), Vir Devotus, Comitiacus, viii. 27.

Florianus, Vir Spectabilis, i. 5.

Forum Livii (Forli), Honorati Possessores, and Curiales of, iv. 8.

Fruinarith, Sajo, ii. 13.

G.

Gaudiosus, Cancellarius of Province of Liguria, xi. 14.

Gaul, all the Provincials of, iii. 17, 42; viii. 7.

Geberich, Vir Spectabilis, iv. 20.

Gemellus, Vir Spectabilis, Governor of Gaul, iii. 16, 18, 32; iv. 12, 19, 21.

Genesius, Vir Spectabilis, viii. 30.

Gepidae, ad Gallias destinati, v. 11.

Gesila, Sajo, iv. 14.

Gildias, Vir Spectabilis, Count of Syracuse, ix. 11, 14.

Goths, all the, i. 24; x. 31; settled in Italy, viii. 5.

Goths, all the, and Romans, i. 28.

Goths, all the, and Romans, and those who hold the harbours and mountain-passes, ii. 19.

Grimoda, Sajo, and Ferrocinctus, Apparitor, iii. 20.

Gudila, Bishop, ii. 18.

Gudinand, Sajo, v. 19.

Gudisal, Sajo, iv. 47.

Guduim, Sajo, v. 27; Vir Sublimis and Dux, v. 30.

Gundibad, King of the Burgundians (473-516), i. 46; iii. 2.

H.

Haesti, the, v. 2.

Herminafrid, King of the Thuringians, iv. 1.

Heruli, King of the, iv. 2.

Heruli, Warni, and Thoringi, Kings of the, iii. 3.

Hilderic, King of the Vandals (523-531), ix. 1.

Honoratus, Vir Illustris, Quaestor, v. 3.

Honorius, Praefectus Urbis, x. 30.

I.

Ida (perhaps Ibbas), Vir Sublimis and Dux, iv. 17.

Importunus, Vir Illustris, Patricius, iii. 5.

Istria, Provincials of, xii. 22.

J.

Januarius, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop of Salona, iii. 7.

Jews, all the, residing in Genoa, ii. 27; iv. 33.

Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Consularis Campaniae, iii. 27; iv. 10.

Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Referendarius, viii. 25.

Joannes, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius, v. 7.

Joannes, Canonicarius of Thuscia, xi. 38.

Joannes, Cancellarius, xi. 6; Praerogativarius, xi. 27.

Joannes, Siliquatarius of Ravenna, xii. 17.

Joannes, Apparitor, ii. 21; Arch-Physician, iv. 41.

John II, Pope (533-535), ix. 15; xi. 2.

Judges, all the, of the Provinces, ix. 20; xi. 7, 9; xii. 2.

Julianus, Comes Patrimonii, i. 16.

Justin, Emperor (518-527), viii. 1.

Justinian, Emperor (527-566), x. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 19, 22, 24, 25, 26, 32; xi. 13.

Justus, Sextus Scholaris, xi. 26.

L.

Laurentius, Vir Experientissimus, xii. 23.

Liberius, Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls, viii. 6.

Ligurians, the, xi. 15, 16; xii. 28.

Liveria, see Ampelius.

Lucillus, Scriniarius Curae Militaris, xi. 24.

Lucinus, Vir Clarissimus, Cancellarius of Campania, xi. 37.

Lucristani (Lustriani?), the, settled (constituti) on the river Sontius (Isonzo), i. 29.

Luduin (Clovis), King of the Franks (481-511), ii. 41; iii. 4.

Luvirit, Count, and Ampelius, v. 35.

M.

Magister Officiorum (at Constantinople), x. 33.

Mannila, Sajo, v. 5.

Marabad, Vir Illustris and Comes, iv. 12, 46.

Marcellus, Vir Spectabilis, Advocatus Fisci, i. 22.

Massilia (Marseilles), citizens of, iii. 34; iv. 26.

Maximian, Vir Illustris, and Andreas, Vir Spectabilis, i. 21.

Maximus, Vir lllustris, Consul, v. 42; Vir Illustris and Domesticus, x. 11.

Maximus, Vir Clarissimus, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xii. 15.

Maximus, Vicarius Urbis Romae, xii. 19.

Milan, the Jews of, v. 37.

N.

Neudes, Vir Illustris, v. 29.

Noricum, Provincials of, iii. 50.

Nursia, see Reate.

O.

Opilio, Comes Sacrarum Largitionum, viii. 16.

Osun (Osuin, or Osum), Vir Illustris, Comes, iii. 26; iv. 9; ix. 8.

P.

Pannonia, all the Barbarians and Romans settled in, iii. 24.

Parma, Honorati Possessores, and Curiales of, viii. 29.

Paschasius, Praefectus Annonae, xii. 9.

Patricius, Vir Illustris and Quaestor, x. 6.

Patricius, Primicerius Exceptorum, xi. 25.

Paulinas, Vir Clarissimus and Consul, ix. 22.

Paulus, Vir Strenuus, xii. 26.

Peter, Bishop, iii. 37.

Peter, Vir Clarissimus, Erogator Obsoniorum, xii. 11; Arcarius, xii. 20.

Picenum and Samnium, all the Goths settled in, v. 26.

Pierius, Primicerius Singulariorum, xi. 32.

Possessores, universi, v. 38.

Provinus (Probinus), Vir Illustris, Patricius, ii. 11; Actores of, iv. 40.

R.

Reate and Nursia, all the inhabitants of, viii. 26.

Reparatus, Praefectus Urbis, ix. 7.

Roman Church, Clergy of, viii. 24.

Romans, all the, i. 28; in Italy and the Dalmatias, viii. 4.

Roman people, the, i. 31; viii. 3; x. 14, 17.

Rome, people of the City of, i. 44.

Romulus (? ex-Emperor), iii. 35.

S.

Sabinianus, Vir Spectabilis, i. 25.

Sajones, universi, qui sunt Cancellariis deputati, xii. 3.

Salvantius, Vir Illustris, Praefectus Urbis, ix. 16, 17.

Samnium, see Picenum.

Saturninus and Verbusius, Viri Illustres, Senatores, i. 19.

Senarius, Vir Illustris, Comes Patrimonii, iv. 3; Comes Privatarum, iv. 7, 11, 13.

Senate of the City of Rome, i. 4, 13, 30, 43; ii. 3, 16, 24, 32; iii. 6, 12, 31; iv. 4, 16, 43; v. 4, 22, 41; viii. 2, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22; ix. 19, 21, 23, 25; x. 3, 4, 7, 12, 13, 16, 18; xi. 1.

SENATOR (MAGNUS AURELIUS CASSIODORUS), Praetorian Praefect, ix. 24; x. 27, 28.

Servatus, Dux Raetiarum, i. 11.

Severianus (or Severinus), Vir Illustris, v. 14.

Severus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, ii. 8.

Severus, Vir Spectabilis, viii. 31, 32, 33.

Simeon, Vir Illustris, Comes, iii. 25.

Speciosus, i. 27; Vir Devotus, Comitiacus, ii. 10.

Stabularius, Comitiacus, v. 6.

Starcedius, Vir Sublimis, v. 36.

Stephanus, Vir Spectabilis, Comes Primi Ordinis et ex-Princeps nostri Ordinis, ii. 28.

S(u)avia, all the Provincials and Capillati, Defensores and Curiales, residing in, iv. 49; all the Possessores in, v. 15; all the Goths and Romans in, ix. 9.

Sunhivad, Vir Spectabilis, iii. 13.

Sura (or Suna), Vir Illustris, Comes, ii. 7.

Symmachus, Vir Illustris and Patricius, ii. 14; iv. 6, 51.

Syracuse, all the Provincials of the City of, ix. 10.

T.

Tancila, Vir Spectabilis, ii. 35.

Tezutzat, Sajo, iv. 27.

Theodagunda, Illustris Femina, iv. 37.

Theodahad, Vir Spectabilis, iii. 15; Vir Illustris, iv. 39; v. 12.

Theodora, Augusta, x. 10, 20, 21, 23.

Theodosius, Homo Theodahadi (?), x. 5.

Theodulus, see Ampelius.

Theon (or Theonius), Vir Sublimis, i. 2.

Theriolus, Vir Spectabilis, i. 36.

Thessalonica, Praefect of, x. 35.

Thomas, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius, xii. 20.

Thoringi (Thuringians). see Heruli.

Ticinum (Pavia), Comites, Defensores, and Curiales of, iv. 45.

Transmund (or Thrasamund), King of the Vandals, v. 43, 44.

Tribuni Maritimorum, xii. 24.

Tridentinae Civitatis, Honorati Possessores, Defensores, et Curiales, ii. 17.

Tulum, Patrician, viii. 9.

U.

Unigis, Spatarius, iii. 43.

Uniligis (or Wiligis), Sajo, ii. 20.

Urbicus, ex-Primicerius Singulariorum, xi. 31.

Ursus, Primicerius Deputatorum, xi. 30.

V.

Valerian, Vir Sublimis, xii. 5.

Vandals, King of the, v. 1, 43, 44; ix. 1.

Venantius, Vir Illustris, ii. 15; Spectabilis, Corrector of Lucania and Bruttii, iii. 8.

Veranus, Sajo, v. 10.

Verbusius, see Saturninus.

Verruca, fort of, all Goths and Romans living near, iii. 48.

Victor, Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, ix. 12.

Victorinus, Vir Venerabilis, Bishop, viii. 8.

Vitalian, Vir Clarissimus, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xi. 39.

W.

Wandil (Vuandil), iii. 38.

Warni (Guarni), see Heruli.

Wilitanch, Duke, v. 33.

Willias, i. 18; v. 18; Vir Illustris, Comes Patrimonii, ix. 13.

Winusiad, Count, x. 29.

Witigisclus (or Wigisicla), Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, ix. 12.

GENERAL INDEX.

[NOTE.--The references to the Introduction and to the Notes are by the page (thus, 106-108); references to the 'Variae' are by the numbers of the Book and Letter (thus, v. 16, 17). The FORMULAE are printed in small capitals.]

A.

Ab Actis (Registrar), officer in Court of Praetorian Praefect, 106-108; origin of the name, 107; compared to Referendarius, 312.

Abundantius, Praetorian Praefect, instructions to, as to forming a navy, v. 16, 17; to provide ships, and rations for young recruits, v. 23; instructions to, in the case of Frontosus, v. 34; to allow a family of Curials to degrade into Possessores, ix. 4.

Acinaticium, red wine of Verona, praises of, and account of its manufacture, xii. 4.

Actores (Representatives, Attorneys), of Albinus, iv. 35; of the holy Apostle Peter, xii. 20; of Probinus, iv. 40; of Spes, ii. 21; of Theodahad, viii. 23.

Addua, River (Adda), derivation of the name, xi. 14.

Adeodatus, forced by torture to confess himself guilty of rape, iii. 46; the sentence against him partially cancelled, iii. 46.

Adjutores, general word for assistants, 97, 102-104; is Adjutor equivalent to Primiscrinius? 103; a lower class of Exceptores seem to have been called Adjutores, 111; of Magister Officiorum, vi. 6.

Admissionales, Ushers of the Praefectoral Court, 112.

Adriana, petition of Curiales of, as to taxation, i. 19.

Adulterer slain by the injured husband, case of, i. 37.

Adultery, punishment of (Edictum Athalarici), ix. 18.

Aemilia, Province of, invaded by Burgundians, xii. 28.

Aemilianus, Bishop, ordered to finish the aqueduct which he has begun, iv. 31.

Aestii, see Haesti.

Aestunae (?), inhabitants of, ordered to send marbles to Ravenna, iii. 9.

AETATIS VENIA, FORMULA GRANTING, vii. 41; letter relating to, i. 38.

Aetheria, a widow, re-married, accused of wasting her children's property, iv. 12.

African. Singular custom by which an African was allowed to claim estate of a fellow-countryman dying without heirs, xii. 9.

Agapetus, Pope (June 3, 535--April 21, 536), Cassiodorus seeks to persuade him to found a School of Theology at Rome, 56; ordered by Theodahad and Gudelina to give his answer to Justinian's ambassador promptly, x. 19, 20, 25; mortgaged the Church plate to defray expenses of his journey to Constantinople, xii. 20.

Agapita (or Agapeta), Foemina Spectabilis, wife of Basilius, and a person of feeble intellect ii. 11; affair of her abduction, ii. 10, 11; further light on this affair, iv. 40.

Agapitus, with Coelianus, seems to have had special jurisdiction in cases affecting Patricians, i. 23, 27.

Agathias on Theodoric's protection of the Alamanni, 195.

Agenantia, widow of Campanianus, ix. 4.

Agens Vices (Deputy), functions of, 460 n; xii. 25.

Agentes in Rebus, Schola of, emissaries of the Magister Officiorum, 36; Princeps of, xi. 35.

Agnellus, Patrician, chooses Festus to defend his interests in his absence, i. 15.

Agnellus, fidei-jussor of Crispianus, i. 37.

Agnellus, house of, in Castrum Lucullanum given to Joannes, viii. 25.

Agrimensor, a Roman, description of, iii. 52.

Alamanni, date of Clovis' victory over, 23, 24, 195; Theodoric congratulates Clovis on his victory over, ii. 41; directed to exchange their cattle with Noricans, iii. 50; plundering incursion of, into Liguria, xii. 28; 527.

Alaric I, clemency of, at siege of Rome, 28; xii. 20.

Alaric II, letters intended to avert war between Alaric and Clovis, iii. 1-4; possessions granted by, to Church of Narbonne, iv. 17; taxation in the time of, v. 39; reception of his son Gesalic by Thrasamund, v. 43, 44.

Albienus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, deputed to select a Pantomimist, i. 20, 33; appointed Praetorian Praefect (527), viii. 20.

Albinus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, deputed to select a Pantomimist, i. 20, 33; allowed to erect 'fabricae' overlooking the Forum, iv. 30; accused by Cyprian of treason, 289, 291.

Albinus, an extravagant minor, case of, iv. 35.

Allecticii, Symmachus' oration on behalf of, 74; probable explanation of the term, 78.

Alpes Cottiae, Provincials of, to be relieved from taxation, iv. 36.

Alsuanum (?), transport of timber to, iv. 8.

Altinum, villas of, 514 n.

Amal race, glorified by Cassiodorus in his Gothic History, 29, 30, 33; 'Amali sanguinis purpurea dignitas,' ix. 1.

Amal race, glory of, viii. 2, 5; 'consuetudinis est lex, cum imperio [Romano] amicitiam Amalos semper habuisse,' x. 11.

Amalus (according to Jordanes, Amala), ancestor of Theodoric, 'felicitate enituit,' xi. 1.

Amalabirga, niece of Theodoric, married to Herminafrid, King of the Thuringians, iv. 1.

Amalafrida, Queen of the Vandals, sister of Theodoric, wife of King Thrasamund, put to death by his successor Hilderic, ix. 1.

Amalasuentha, daughter of Theodoric, mother of Athalaric, her regency, 38, 42-43; associates Theodahad in the kingship on the death of her son, 44; x. 1-4; dethroned and put to death by Theodahad, 45; praises of her character, x. 4; xi. 1; sends present of marbles to Justinian, x. 8; writes warmly to Theodora, x. 10; a doubtful allusion to her death, x. 20 (see note on p. 433).

Amandianus, Clarissimus, heirs of, defrauded by Theodahad, v. 12.

AMBASSADORS, FORMULA RESPECTING, vii. 33.

Amber, nature of, described, v. 2.

Ambrosius, son of Faustinus, addressed by Ennodius in 'Paraenesis Didascalica,' 358; Count of the Sacred Largesses, viii. 13; appointed Quaestor, viii. 13, 14.

Ambrosius, Illustris (probably the same as preceding), appointed 'Vices Agens' to Cassiodorus as Praetorian Praefect, xi. 4; instructions to, xii. 25.

Amphitheatre, sports of, described and condemned, v. 42.

Anastasius, Emperor, date of letter to, in the 'Variae,' 23; his wrath against Apion and Macedonius, 105; relations between him and Theodoric, i. 1 n; informed of elevation of Felix to Consulship, ii. 1; as to introduction of Heruli into Italy, 258 n.

Anchorago, a fish caught in the Rhine, xii. 4.

Andreas, intestacy of widow of, v. 24.

Andreas, defaulting taxpayer in Apulia, v. 31.

'Anecdoton Holderi,' MS. containing information as to Cassiodorus and his friends, 73-84.

Anicii, dignity of the family of, x. 11.

Annonae, of soldiers stationed in passes near Aosta, ii. 5; of garrisons on the Durance, iii. 41, 43; is praebendae equivalent to? 219; to be regularly supplied, v. 13 (see Praefectus Annonae).

Anonymus Valesii (an unknown chronicler of the Sixth Century, whose fragments are generally edited along with the history of Ammianus Marcellinus), quoted, 291, 363, 369.

Anthimus, Patriarch of Constantinople (535-536), deposition of, by Pope Agapetus, 436 n.

Antianus, ex-Cornicularius, made a Spectabilis, xi. 18; evasive reply to, xi. 19.

Antiochus, apparently a tax-collector, ii. 4.

Antiquarius, transcriber of manuscripts, Cassiodorus on the functions of, 60.

Apion, anger of Anastasius against, 105.

Apocha, a voucher for payment of taxes, xii. 7, 8.

Aponus (Abano, six miles from Padua), marvellous qualities of hot-springs at, ii. 39.

Apparitores, attendants on the great Ministers of War, 114; Joannes, Apparitor, ii. 21; Ferrocinctus, Apparitor, iii. 20.

Applicitarii, officers of arrest, 114; under orders of Commentariensis, 104.

Apulia, Conductores of, despoiled by hostile invaders, i. 16; merchants similarly despoiled, ii. 38; crops from, not forwarded expeditiously, i. 35; corn-merchants of, ii. 26; farms of Thomas in, transferred to his son-in-law Joannes, v. 6, 7; arrears of Siliquaticum in, v. 31.

'Apuli idonei,' viii. 33.

Aqua Claudia, Roman aqueduct, description of, vii. 6.

Aqua Virgo, Roman aqueduct, description of, vii. 6.

Aqueducts of Rome, abuses connected with, iii. 31; glory of, vii. 6.

Aqueduct begun by Bishop Aemilianus must be finished by him, iv. 31.

Aqueduct of Ravenna protected, v. 38.

Aqueduct constructed by Theodoric for City of Parma, viii. 30.

Aquileia, contributions of wine and wheat from, remitted, xii. 26.

Arator, Vir Illustris, sent by Provincials of Dalmatia to Theodoric, viii. 12; made Comes Domesticorum, viii. 12.

Arcadius, Emperor (395-408), change effected by him in relation of Praetorian Praefect to Master of the Offices, 99.

Arcarius, Treasurer or Steward, v. 7; x. 28 (see p. 440); xii. 8, 11, 27.

Archery, practice in, for young soldiers, v. 23.

Archiatrus, Arch-Physician, iv. 41 (see Comes Archiatrorum).

Architect, duties of, vii. 5.

ARCHITECT, PUBLIC, FORMULA FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF, vii. 15.

Archotamia, 'Illustris Femina,' accuses her grandson's widow of wasting her children's property, iv. 12.

Arelate (Arles), remission of taxation to inhabitants of, iii. 32; 'glorious defence of,' iii. 32; its walls to be repaired and its citizens fed, iii. 44; fight for possession of covered bridge at, viii. 10.

Arethusa, Fountain of, site of, near Squillace, 72; qualities of, described, viii. 32.

Argolicus, Vir Illustris, made Praefect of the City of Rome, iii. 11, 12; his ancestry and character, ii. 11, 12; ordered to repair Cloacae of Rome, iii. 30; other references to, iii. 29, 30; iv. 22, 25; iv. 42; his tardiness rebuked, iv. 29; heirs of, defrauded by Theodahad, v. 12.

Arigern, Vir Illustris and Comes, Governor of the new Gaulish Provinces, iv. 16; appointed Comes Urbis Romae (?), iv. 16; instructions to, iii. 45; iv. 23; report by, iv. 43.

Armentarius, Clarissimus, appointed Referendus Curiae, iii. 33; informs against Argolicus, Praefect of the City, iv. 29.

Armourers (ARMORUM FACTORES), Formulae of, vii. 18, 19.

Arsenals of Italy, under the Magister Officiorum, 37.

Artemidorus, Illustris and Patrician, a relation of Emperor Zeno, and friend of Theodoric, i. 43; Tribunus Voluptatum (?), i. 43; Praefectus Urbis, i. 42, 44; detects embezzlement by persons employed for repair of walls of Rome, ii. 34; invited to Theodoric's Court, iii. 22.

Assertor Libertatis (of the Theodosian Code, iv. 8), a possible allusion to, iii. 43.

Astensis Civitas (Asti), to be especially helped in relief of necessities of Liguria, xi. 15.

Astronomy, reasons derived from, for pensioning off civil servants, xi. 36.

Athala, ancestor of Theodoric, 'mansuetudine enituit,' xi. 1.

Athalaric, grandson of Theodoric, date of birth of, 29 n; accession of (Aug. 30, 526), 37; manner of his education, 42; his death (Oct. 2, 534), 43; letters announcing his accession, viii. 1-7; edict of, ix. 2; his death announced to Justinian, x. 1; praises of, by Cassiodorus, xi. 1.

Athens (Adige), flows past fort of Verruca, iii. 48.

Attila, defeat of, in Catalaunian plains, 28; iii. 1; embassy of Cassiodorus (grandfather of Senator) to, i. 4.

Augiensis, Codex, of 'Anecdoton Holderi,' 73.

Augmentum, super-assessment, remitted by Athalaric for Dalmatia and Suavia, ix. 9; for Syracuse, ix. 10.

Augusta (Turin, or Aosta), Bishop of, falsely accused of treason, i. 9; fastnesses (clusurae) of, soldiers stationed at, ii. 5.

Augustales, highest class of Exceptores (shorthand writers), 104 n, 110; xi. 30.

Augustin, Vir Venerabilis (probably a bishop), brings the scarcity in Venetia under the notice of the King, xii. 26.

Augustus, builder of the Circus Maximus, iii. 51; his survey of the 'Orbis Romanus,' iii. 52.

Aurarii, persons liable to payment of 'lustralis auri collatio,' ii. 26.

Auraria Pensio = probably 'lustralis auri collatio,' ii. 30.

Avenio (Avignon), Gothic troops not to molest citizens of, iii. 38.

B.

Bacauda, Vir Sublimis, Tribunes Voluptatum, v. 25.

Bacaudae, insurgent peasantry of Gaul, v. 25.

Baiae, baths of, praises of, ix. 6; xii. 22.

Balthae, royal house of the Visigoths, was Athalaric descended from? viii. 5.

Balzani, Ugo, on Cassiodorus, 121.

Barbarians, checked by fear, not honour, ii. 5.

Barbaria, probably the name of the mother of Romulus Augustulus, 216.

Barbarian Kings, intellects of, subdued by diplomacy, iv. 3; do not use the grammatical art, ix. 21.

Baronius, Cardinal, author of 'Annales Ecclesiae,' quoted, 500 n, 511 n.

Basilius (No. 1), Vir Spectabilis, claims restoration of his wife's property from Probinus, ii. 10, 11; iv. 40.

Basilius (No. 2), accused of magical practices, iv. 22, 23 (see note on p. 246).

Basilius (No. 3, possibly same as No. 2), Opilio connected with him by marriage, viii. 17; concerned in accusation of Boethius (?), 364 n.

Baths, gratuitous admission to, at Spoletium, ii. 37; of Turasius, at Spoletium, iv. 24; at Baiae, ix. 6.

Baudi de Vesme, fragments of oration of Cassiodorus (?), published by, 117.

Beatus, Vir Clarissimus and Cancellarius, ordered to supply rations to invalided officer, xi. 10; made Primicerius Augustalium, xi. 30.

Belisarius, Imperial general, his capture of Neapolis, 48; his campaign in Southern Italy, 492; his recovery and loss of Milan, 522; his entry into Ravenna, 51.

Bellum (war), derived from King Belus, i. 30.

Benedict, St., not alluded to by Cassiodorus, 55; relation of his rule to that of Cassiodorus, 57, 59.

Benedictus, a civil officer of some kind in the City of Pedon, guardianship of his children assigned to Theriolus, i. 36.

Bethmann Hollweig, his 'Gerichtsverfassung des sinkenden römischen Reichs,' 41, 95, 109 n.

Bigamy, punishment of, according to Edictum Athalarici, ix. 18.

Bina, a kind of tax, iii. 8.

BINA ET TERNA, FORMULAE FOR THE COLLECTION OF, vii. 20, 21, 22.

Birds, habits of, i. 21; the hawk's way of teaching her young to fly, i. 24; the eagle and her young, i. 38; filial piety of the stork, ii. 14; instinct of young partridges towards their mother, ii. 14; the vulture protects little birds from attacks of the hawk, ii. 19; gulls fly inland when they foresee a storm, iii. 48; cranes when about to cross the sea clasp pebbles with their claws, iv. 47; the turtle-dove once widowed never takes another mate, v. 33; flight of cranes suggested to Mercury shapes of letters, viii. 12; thrushes, storks, and doves gregarious, the greedy hawk loves solitude, viii. 31; orderly evolutions of cranes, ix. 2.

Bishops, King Witigis' exhortations to, x. 34; Cassiodorus' exhortations to, xi. 4.

Blue party in the Circus, rivalry of, with the Greens, iii. 51.

Bodily signs by which character may be discerned, vi. 9 (compare also Cassiodorus, 'De Animâ,' capp. 10 and 11, referred to p. 53).

Boethius (or Boetius), Illustris and Patrician, receives orders to choose a harper to be sent to Clovis, 23, 24; ii. 40; information as to his life in the 'Anecdoton Holderi,' 74, 79-84; really author of the theological treatises which have passed current with his name, 74, 80-83; and of a 'Bucolic Poem,' 74, 83; difficulty caused by the non-Christian character of his 'Consolations of Philosophy,' 81, 83; consulted as to depreciation of currency, i. 10; ordered to prepare water-clock and sundial for King of Burgundians, i. 45.

Boethius, as to character of Basilius, 246 n; as to character of Decoratus, 267 n; character of his accuser Cyprian, v. 40, 41; viii. 21, 22; character of Opilio, viii. 17.

Boethus, Bishop of Byzacene Province in Africa, author, according to M. Jourdain, of the theological treatises attributed to Boethius, 82.

Bormiae Aquae (Baths of Bormio), Count Winusiad recommended to visit, x. 29.

Brandila, husband of Procula, story of his intrigue with Regina, wife of Patzenes, v. 32, 33.

Breones, a Raetian freebooting tribe living near the Brenner pass, i. 11.

Bribery repressed, xii. 2, 6, 21, 26.

Bridge of boats ordered to be built across the Tiber, xii. 19.

Brosse, Pierre, notes of, on Cassiodorus, 117.

Bruttii and Lucania, Venantius Corrector of, iii. 8, 46, 47; his misgovernment of, 221; the praises of, viii. 31; xii. 15; 'opulenti Bruttii,' viii. 33; gold-mining to be commenced in, ix. 3; abundance of cattle in, ii. 39; measures for relief of, during presence of Gothic army, xii. 5; praise of the wine of, xii. 12; Canonicarii of, rebuked for despoiling the churches, xii. 13.

Buat, Count, on the life and ancestry of Cassiodorus, 118; as to Theodora's share in the murder of Amalasuentha, 433 n.

Burgundians, King of (see Gundibad); cease to be 'Gentiles' under Gundibad, i. 46; boundary of, with Ostrogothic kingdom, iii. 41; dispute with Franks, viii. 10; league with Amalasuentha, xi. 1 (see 456 n); invasion of Liguria and Aemilia, xii. 28; 527.

Butilianus, Presbyter, land allotment given by Theodoric to, in neighbourhood of Trient, ii. 17.

C.

Caduca bona, property to which no heir is forthcoming, and which is therefore claimed by the State, v. 24; vi. 8.

Caelianus, one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and Praetextatus, iv. 22, 23.

Calabria, crops from, not forwarded expeditiously, i. 35; regulations for corn-traffic in, ii. 26; arrears of Siliquaticum in, v. 31.

'Calabri peculiosi,' viii. 33.

Calogenitus, sent by Amalasuentha to Justinian with a present of marbles, x. 8, 9.

Campania, practice of pignoratio prevalent in, iv. 10; suffers from eruption of Vesuvius, iv. 50; 'industriosa Campania,' viii. 33; Cancellarius of, to pay pension to retiring Primiscrinius, xi. 37; the cupboard of Rome ('urbis regiae cella penaria'), xii. 22.

Campanianus, of Lucania, widow and family of, permitted to step down from rank of Curiales, ix. 4.

Cancellarius, an officer of humble rank in the Court of the Praetorian Praefect, 111, 112; origin of the name, 112; his functions described, xi. 6; of Faustus, desired to forward corn from Apulia, i. 35; Beatus (Vir Clarissimus) ordered to supply rations to invalided officer, xi. 10; Gaudiosus, Cancellarius of Province of Inguria, xi. 14; Anatholius, Cancellarius of Samnium, xi. 36; Lucinus, Cancellarius of Campania, xi. 37; Vitalian, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xi. 39; admonition to various Cancellarii, xii. 1, 10; Sajones ordered to wait upon Cancellarii, xii. 3; Anastasius, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, ordered to send cheese and wine for royal table, xii. 12; the same, ordered to be gentle with the citizens of Rhegium, xii. 14; Maximus, Cancellarius of Lucania and Bruttii, xii. 15.

Canonicarii, tribute-collectors under Comes Rerum Privatarum, vi. 8; to collect the Trina Illatio, xii. 16; of Thuscia, xi. 38; of Venetia, xii. 4, 6; of Bruttii, rebuked for robbing the churches, xii. 13.

Candac, King of Alani, mentioned by Jordanes, 164.

Candax, apparently next of kin to a man slain by Crispianus, i. 37.

Capillati (?) of Suavia, iv. 49.

Capitularii horreariorum et tabernariorum, farmers of revenue derived from granaries and taverns, x. 28.

Caprarius, Mons (situation of doubtful, but near Ravenna), xii. 17; works of defence to be constructed near, xii. 17.

Capuanus, Senator, appointed Rector Decuriarum, v. 21, 22; his character, v. 22.

Cardinalis = chief officer of Court, vii. 31.

Carpentum, official chariot of Praetorian Praefect, vi. 3; of Praefect of the City, vi. 4; of Consularis of a Province, vi. 20.

CARTARIUS (or Cartularius), Clerk in the Record Office, FORMULA APPROVING APPOINTMENT OF, vii. 43.

Cartarii ordered to prepare transfers of property to Theodahad, viii. 23; to receive the wine collected for the royal table, xii. 4.

Casa Arbitana taken from heirs of Argolicus and Amandianus, v. 12.

Casa Areciretina, deed of gift of, from Agapita to Probinus, annulled, ii. 11; this decree revoked, iv. 40.

Cassian, one of the founders of Western Monachism, Cassiodorus' qualified praises of, 55.

Cassiodorus (1), an Illustris, great-grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator, 3; history of, i. 4.

Cassiodorus (2), grandfather of Cassiodorus Senator, Tribunus and Notarius under Valentinian III, his embassy to Attila, 3; history of, i. 4.

Cassiodorus (3), father of Cassiodorus Senator, Comes Privatarum Rerum and Comes Sacrarum Largitionum under Odovacar, 3; Consularis of Sicily, 4; Corrector of Bruttii and Lucania, 4; Praetorian Praefect (cir. 500), 4, 12; Patrician (cir. 504), 4; frequently confused with his son, 11; his praises, i. 3, 4; a man of tried integrity and pure fidelity, i. 26; invited to visit Court of Theodoric, iii. 28.

CASSIODORUS, MAGNUS AURELIUS SENATOR, his position in history, 1, 2; his name, Cassiodorus or Cassiodorius (?), 5; Senator not a title, 5; his birthplace, Scyllacium, 6; date of his birth (cir. 480), 9-12; his love of Natural History, 12; ix. 24; appointed Consiliarius under his father, 12; his panegyric on Theodoric, 13, 16; appointed Quaestor, 14; ix. 24; his special utility, as Quaestor, to Theodoric, 15; his official correspondence, the 'VARIAE,' 16-19, 22-24; statesmanlike insight which led him to second Theodoric's policy, 20, 21; his religious tolerance, 22; duration of his Quaestorship, 25; his Consulship (514), 25; restores harmony between clergy and people of Rome, 25; Patrician, 27; his 'Chronicon,' its defective character, 27-29; his Gothic History, 29-35; ix. 25; appointed Magister Officiorum, 36; ix. 24; his services to the regent Amalasuentha, 38; provides ships and soldiers for the state, 38; appointed Praefectus Praetorio, 39; ix. 24; letters during his Praefecture, 42; continues in office after murder of Amalasuentha, 46; announces the elevation of Witigis, 49; his position during the first five years of the Gothic War, 50; he retires from office (538 or 539?), 51; probably did not meet Procopius, 51; edits the 'Variae,' 51, 52; writes the treatise 'De Animâ,' 53, 450, 512; his reasons for publishing the 'Variae,' 133-140; letter written by himself to himself on receiving the Praetorian Praefecture, describing his many virtues, ix. 24; letters to the Senate on the same subject, ix. 25; xi. 1; his account of his occupations as Praetorian Praefect, 450; issues his Edict, xi. 8, 9; his own and his ancestors' services to Bruttii and Lucania, xi. 39; his praises of Scyllacium, xii. 15; resides at Ravenna (?) during the war, 506; retires to Scyllacium and founds two monasteries there, 54; probably never Abbot, 56; devotes the leisure of his monks to literature, 57; his relation to the Benedictines, 59; his merits as a transcriber of the Scriptures, 60; his Commentary on the Psalms, 60; on the Epistles, 61; his Tripartite History, 61; his 'Institutiones Divinarum et Humanarum Lectionum,' 62-65; his 'De Orthographiâ, 65, 66; his death, (575?), 66; his knowledge of Greek probably slight, 61; information derived from the 'Anecdoton Holderi' as to his life, 74, 84; editions of his works, 115-121; chronology of the life of, 122-130.

Castellius, Mons, near Scyllacium, monastery founded by Cassiodorus at, 55.

Castorius unjustly deprived of his property by Faustus, iii. 20.

Castrensis, Butler or Seneschal, 88, 91.

Catabulenses, freighters, transport masters, iv. 47; ordered to transport marbles from Pincian Hill to Ravenna, iii. 10.

Catana, walls of, to be repaired with stones of amphitheatre, iii. 49.

Cathalia (?), petition of inhabitants of, as to collection of Tertiae, i. 14.

Catos, the mob of the circus is not precisely a congregation of, i. 27; 'the father of Felix was the Cato of our times,' ii. 3.

Cellaritae, provision dealers (?), x. 28.

Celsina, see Curritana.

Censitores, tax-collectors, ix. 12.

Cethegus, Rufus Petronius Nicomachus, Consul (504), Magister Officiorum, Patrician, probably the person to whom the 'Anecdoton Holderi' was addressed, 76.

Chameleon, appearance and habits of, v. 34.

Chance, the world not governed by, xii. 25.

Chariot-race, effect of, on spectators, iii. 51; picture of, from Cilurnum gem, 231.

Cheese of Mount Sila described, xii. 12.

Chorda, the lyre so called 'quia facile corda moveat,' ii. 40.

Christmas Day (Natale Domini), promotions of Praefect's staff upon, xi. 17.

'Chronicon' of Cassiodorus, faulty character of the work, 28, 29.

Chrysargyron, tax on traders = 'lustralis auri collatio,' ii. 26 n.

Church, Dean, author of article on Cassiodorus, 121.

Cilurnum (Chesters in Northumberland), gem found at, representing chariot-race, 231.

Circus, factions of the, i. 20, 27, 30, 31; iii. 51.

Circus Maximus, description of, iii. 51; plan of, 227.

City and country life contrasted, viii. 31.

Civilitas, Theodoric's anxious care for, 20; description of, iv. 33; Theodahad exhorted to observe, iv. 39; for the sake of it even Jews are to be protected, v. 37; references to, iv. 41, 44; v. 31; vi. 5; ix. 14, 18, 19.

CLARISSIMUS, FORMULA CONFERRING RANK OF, vii. 38.

Clarissimus, title of ministers of the third rank, 91; epithet of Clarissimus conferred on all Senators, 91.

Clavicularii, gaolers, 114; under orders of Commentariensis, 104.

Climate, influence of, on character, xii. 15.

Cloacae of Rome, description of, iii. 30.

Clovis (Luduin), King of the Franks, date of letters to, 23, 24; Theodoric marches his troops against (508), i. 24; a harper sent to, chosen by Boethius, ii. 40; congratulated on victory over Alamanni, ii. 41; letter dissuading from war with Alaric II, iii. 3; called 'regius juvenis' by Theodoric, iii. 2; his overthrow of the Alamannic kingdom, 527.

Clusurae, mountain fastnesses, ii. 5, 19.

Codicilli Vacantes, vi. 10.

Coelianus, with Agapitus, seems to have had special jurisdiction in cases affecting Patricians, i. 23, 27.

Coemptio (purveyance) of wheat or lard not to be claimed from the citizens of Rhegium, xii. 14.

Cognitor, trier of causes, viii. 12; ix. 14, 18.

Cohortes, used of civil servants of Praetorian Praefect, xi. 36.

Coloni, apparent case of, reduced to slavery, viii. 28; 'coloni sunt qui agros jugiter colunt,' viii. 31.

Colossaeus, Illustris and Comes, appointed Governor of Pannonia Sirmiensis, iii. 23; pun on his name, iii. 24; rations ordered for him and his suite, iv. 13.

Colosseum described, v. 42.

COMES ARCHIATRORUM, FORMULA OF, vi. 19.

Comes, a Spectabilis, nature of his office (military), 90 n; relation of Comes to his Principes, vii. 25, 28.

COMES DOMESTICORUM (VACANS), FORMULA OF, vi. 11; Arator receives the rank of, viii. 12.

Comes Domorum, his functions, 88.

COMES FORMARUM, FORMULA OF, vii. 6.

COMES GOTHORUM, FORMULA OF, vii. 3; servants of, have oppressed Provincials of Suavia, v. 14; his dignity almost the only one peculiar to the Gothic state, 320.

COMES NEAPOLITANUS, FORMULA OF, vi. 23; reference to, vi. 24.

COMES PATRIMONII, FORMULA OF, vi. 9; references to, iv. 3, 15; Bergantinus as, ordered to transfer property to Theodahad, viii. 23; ordered to commence gold-mining in Bruttii, ix. 3; Willias (Comes Patrimonii) ordered to increase the pay of the Domestici, ix. 13.

COMES PORTUS URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 9.

COMES PRIMI ORDINIS, FORMULA OF, vi. 12, 13; letter addressed to, ii. 28.

COMES PRINCIPIS MILITUM (?), FORMULA OF, vi. 25.

COMES PROVINCIAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 1.

COMES RAVENNAS, FORMULA OF, vii. 14.

COMES RERUM PRIVATARUM, FORMULA OF, vi. 8; an Illustris, 86; iv. 7; his functions, 89; office of, held by father of Argolicus, iii. 12; held by Senarius (510), iv. 13.

COMES ROMANUS, FORMULA OF, vii. 13.

Comes Sacrae Vestis, Keeper of the Wardrobe, 88.

COMES SACRARUM LARGITIONUM, FORMULA OF, vi. 7; an Illustris, 86; his functions, 88; orders given to, ii. 31; reports remissness of Venantius, iii. 8; office of, held by grandfather of Argolicus, iii. 12; Bina and Terna to be collected under his superintendence, vii. 21; Ambrosius held office of, viii. 13; Opilio, father and son, held office of, viii. 16; Cyprian held office of, v. 40.

COMES SECUNDI ORDINIS, FORMULA OF, vii. 26.

COMES SYRACUSANUS, FORMULA OF, vi. 22 (see also ix. 11, 14).

Comitatus of the King, litigants summoned to, i. 7; iv. 44, 45; v. 12, 32; presence of in Liguria requires extraordinary supply of provisions, ii. 20; the place 'ubi et innocentia perfugium et calumniatores jus possunt invenire districtum,' iv. 9; meant to be a blessing to his subjects, iv. 40; recourse to it by a distant suitor not compulsory, iv. 40; journey of the Heruli to, iv. 45; always ready for redress of grievances, v. 15; Nimfadius journeying to, viii. 32.

Comites of Pavia, iv. 45.

COMITIACUS (officer of the law courts), FORMULA BESTOWING HONORARY RANK ON, vi. 13; Stabularius, Comitiacus, v. 6; Florentinus, Vir Devotus, Comitiacus, viii. 7.

Commentariensis (or Commentarisius), officer in Court of Praetorian Praefect, nature of his functions, 104-106; Cheliodorus appointed, xi. 28.

Commonitorium, iii. 19; vii. 22.

Como, City and Lake of, the praises of, xi. 14.

COMPETITORES, FORMULA CONCERNING, vii. 44.

Compulsor, officer employed to compel payment of taxes, xii. 8.

Compurgation, evidences of a practice similar to, ix. 14 (p. 397).

Computus Paschalis, tract on determination of Easter, attributed to Cassiodorus, 10, 11.

Comum (Como), theft of brazen statue at, ii. 35, 36.

Concordia (Caorle), contributions of wine and wheat from, remitted, xii. 26.

Conductores, farmers of royal domain, losses of, in Apulia, i. 16; in Spain, v. 39.

Confiscated property, manner of asserting claims of Crown to, iv. 32.

Consiliarius (Assessor), nature of the office, 12, 13; Cassiodorus appointed to office of, 12.

Constantinople, character of diplomatists of, ii. 6; Cyprian's mission to, v. 41.

Constantius, Bishop, his petition as to spoliation of the Church, iv. 20.

Constantius, a farmer, unjustly reduced to slavery by Tanca, viii. 28.

CONSULARIS, FORMULA OF, vi. 20; of Liguria, xii. 8.

CONSULSHIP, FORMULA OF, vi. 1; of Cassiodorus (514), 25-26; of reigning Emperors, 28 n; of Felix, ii. 1, 2, 3; of Maximus, not to prevent his filling lower offices afterwards, x. 12.

Consuls, Eastern and Western, order of precedence of, in the Fasti, 122.

Consumption cured by milk of the cows on Mons Lactarius, xi. 10.

Corn, restraints on exportation of, i. 34; traffic in, for Southern Italy, regulated, ii. 26; traffic in, from western coast of Italy to Gaul, iv. 5, 7; traffic in, from Spain to Rome, v. 35; forestalling and regrating of, prohibited, ix. 5; sale of, at reduced price, in Liguria and Venetia, x. 27; distribution of, in Rome, xi. 5; sale of, at reduced price, to citizens of Milan, xii. 27.

Cornicularius, his position on the official staff of the Praetorian Praefect, 97; nature of his functions, 97-102; must be chosen from the Augustales, 110; Antianus vacates office of, xi. 18, 19; retired, to be pensioned, xi. 36.

Corrector (lowest grade of Provincial Governor) of Bruttii and Lucania, iii. 8.

Cosilinum (? Padula), a city of Lucania, viii. 33.

Costula, a free Goth, complains that servile tasks are imposed on him by Guduim, v. 30.

Cubiculum = royal treasury, v. 44; 'libra cubiculi nostri' = the standard pound, v. 39.

Cunigast (or Conigast), Vir Illustris, evil character of, according to Boethius, 376; ordered to administer justice between Tanca and his poorer neighbours, viii. 28.

Cura Epistolarum, officer charged with copying letters on fiscal matters, 109.

Cura Epistolarum Canonicarum, Constantinian appointed, xi. 23.

CURA PALATII, FORMULA OF, vii. 5.

CURATOR OF A CITY, FORMULA OF, vii. 12.

Curia, called by Antiquity Minor Senatus, ii. 18; vi. 3; ix. 2.

CURIALIS, FORMULA DIRECTING SALE OF PROPERTY OF, vii. 47.

Curiales, condition of, ii. 18; conflict between Curial and Ecclesiastical obligations, ii. 18; have to make good the Senators' deficiencies in payment of taxes, ii. 24; 'sordid burdens' = Curial obligations (?), ii. 28; of Aestunae, iii. 9; penalty on Jovinus for killing a fellow-curial, iii. 47; might be punished with stripes by Praetorian Praefect, vi. 3; oppression of, forbidden by Edictum Athalarici, ix. 2; of Adriana, i. 19; of Catana, iii. 49; of Forum Livii, iv. 8; of Velia (?), iv. 11; of Ticinum, iv. 45; of Suavia, iv. 49; v. 14; of Neapolis, vi. 24; of Liguria, xii. 8; FORMULA ADDRESSED TO, vii. 27; family of, permitted to descend from the Curia, ix. 4.

Currency, wickedness of depreciating, i. 10; vii. 32.

CURRITANA INSULA ET CELSINA (two of the Lipari Islands), FORMULA FOR THE COMES OF, vii. 16.

Cursus Publicus, Postal-service, 37; transferred from Praetorian Praefect to Magister Officiorum, 99, 302; vi. 3, 6; under Regerendarius, 109; letter as to, i. 29; abuses of, to be reformed by the Sajo Gudisal, iv. 47; by Sajo Mannila, v. 5; abuses of, in Spain, v. 39; citizens of Scyllacium not to be harassed by, xii. 15.

Cyprian, Vir Illustris, Count of the Sacred Largesses (524-525), his character and appointment to above office, v. 40, 41; viii. 16; his services as Referendarius, v. 40; his mission to Constantinople, v. 40; his accusation of Albinus and Boethius, 289, 291, 363, 369; raised to honour of Patricate, viii. 21, 22.

D.

Dahn, Felix (author of 'Könige der Germanen'), quoted, 119, 152, 155, 165, 177, 180, 182, 183, 184, 197, 198, 202, 204, 206, 207, 209, 216, 221, 236, 240, 242, 248, 269, 282, 287, 320, 341, 350 n, 353 n, 356, 361, 370 n, 372, 375, 401, 403, 435, 437 n.

Daila, a free Goth, complains that servile tasks are imposed on him by Duke Guduim, v. 30.

Dalmatia, Simeon appointed to collect arrears of taxation from, iii. 25; iron mining in, iii. 25; Epiphanius Consularis of, v. 24; address of Athalario to Goths settled in, viii. 4; Arator sent on an embassy from Provincials of, to Theodoric, viii. 12; Osuin appointed Governor of, ix. 8, 9.

Danube, River, 'made a Roman stream by Amalasuentha, xi. 1.

Datius, Bishop of Milan, made steward of the King's bounty to the citizens, xii. 27. (For his history, see 522.)

Davus receives sick-leave to visit Mons Lactarius, xi. 10.

Death, the inconvenience of, 'comperimus dromonarios viginti et unum de constituto numero mortis incommodo fuisse subtractos,' iv. 15.

Decennonium, Marsh of, drained by Decius, ii. 32, 33.

Decennovial Canal mentioned by Procopius, 188.

Decii, Lay of the, recited at school, iii. 6; family of Liberius and Paulinas descended from, ix. 22, 23.

Decius, Caecina Maurus Basilius, Illustris, ex-Praefect of the City, and ex-Praetorian Praefect, undertakes to drain the Marsh of Decennonium, ii. 32, 33; one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and Praetextatus (?), iv. 22, 23.

Decoratus (Vir Devotus), brother of Honoratus, appointed Quaestor, his character and early death, v. 3, 4; conflicting testimony of Boethius and Ennodius as to, 267 n; instructions to, as to arrears of Siliquaticum, v. 31.

Decuriae, guilds of copying-clerks, &c., connected with administration of justice, 277.

Defensor, Gothic soldier of a Roman noble, iv. 27, 28.

DEFENSOR OF A CITY, FORMULA OF, vii. 11.

Defensores of Church of Milan, ii. 30; of Aestunae, iii. 9; of the sacrosanct Roman Church, iii. 45; of Catena, iii. 49; of Ticinum, iv. 45; of Suavia, iv. 49; v. 14.

'Defloratis prosperitatibus,' meaning of this phrase, used by Cassiodorus of his Gothic History, 137 n.

Degeniatus = (apparently) stripped of official rank, xii. 10.

Delegatoria, warrant for increased rations consequent on promotion, xi. 33, 35.

Denarius, puzzling passage as to relation of to solidus, i. 10.

Deputati, fifteen shorthand writers of the highest class, appropriated to the Emperor's service, 111; xi. 30.

Dertona (Tortona), fortification of, i. 17; corn warehouse at, to be opened, x. 27; xii. 27.

Diceneus, philosopher-king of Dacia, perhaps Cassiodorus' ideal of a king, 32.

Dionysius 'Exiguus,' author of our present chronology, a colleague of Cassiodorus in his literary enterprises, 64.

Dionysius of Halicarnassus, chief authority on the Roman chariot-races, 230.

Discussores, assessors of taxes, iv. 38.

Documents not to be tampered with by the Scribe, xii. 21.

Domestici, life-guardsmen attached to the Provincial Governors, to receive larger pay, ix. 13.

Domitian, office of Master of the Horse abolished by, 99.

Domitius, Spectabilis, has received a concession for drainage of land which he is too parsimonious to take full advantage of, ii. 21; complains of seizure of his estates by Theodahad, iv. 39.

Domus Palmata, near the Forum, iv. 30.

Donativum, see Largesse.

Drainage concession to Spes and Domitius, ii. 21.

Drill, need of, exemplified, i. 40.

Dromonarii, rowers in express boats, ii. 31; twenty-one dead, iv. 15.

Dromones, express boats, one thousand to be built, v. 16.

Druentia (Durance), River, frontier of Ostrogothic and Burgundian Monarchies, 218; provisions for garrisons upon, iii. 41.

Dux, a military officer of the rank of Spectabilis, his relation to the Comes, 90 n.

DUX RAETIARUM, FORMULA OF, vii. 4.

E.

Eastern Empire, Amalasuentha's relations with, xi. 1.

Ecclesiastical privileges and immunities, i. 9, 26; ii. 29, 30; iii. 14, 37, 45; iv. 17, 20; viii. 24; ix. 15, 16; x. 26, 34; xii. 13, 20; conflict between Ecclesiastical and Curial obligations, ii. 18.

Ecdicius, sons of, allowed to leave Rome to bury their father, ii. 22.

Edictum Athalarici, ix. 2, 18, 19, 20.

Edictum Theodorici, published by Nivellius, from a MS. belonging to Pithou, 116; punishment for adulterers according to, 283, 403; permission to parents to sell their children, 382 n.

Egregii, fifth rank in Imperial service, 92; not mentioned by Cassiodorus, 92.

Elephant, natural history of the, x. 30; brazen images of, in Via Sacra, x. 30.

Eloquence the special product of Rome--'Aliae regiones vina, balsama et olentia thura transmittant: Roma tradit eloquium, quo suavius nil sit auditum,' x. 7.

Endive of Bruttii has not the bitter fibres spoken of by Virgil, xii. 14.

Ennodius, Magnus Felix, Bishop of Ticinum (died 516), information given by, as to Boethius, 79 n; information as to Alamannic refugees, 195; his testimony to character of Decoratus, 267 n; addressed his 'Paraenesis' to Ambrosius, 358.

Epiphanius employed by Cassiodorus to assist him in the compilation of 'Historia Tripartita,' 61.

Eufrasius the Acolyte sold a house at Rome to Pope Simplicius, iii. 45.

Eugenius, Vir Illustris, receives the dignity of Master of the Offices, i. 12, 13; possibly alluded to, viii. 19 (see note).

Euric, King of the Visigoths (466-485), father of Alaric II, taxation in his time, v. 39.

Eustorgius, Bishop of Milan, his petition for protection to Milanese Church granted, ii. 29.

Eutharic, husband of Amalasuentha, Consulship of (519), 27, 28; adopted as son in arms by Justin, viii. 1.

Evans, Arthur J., on the topography of Squillace, 9, 68-72.

Exceptores, shorthand writers, 104, 110, 111; xi. 25; charged a fee for the bad paper which they supplied to suitors, 483 n.

Exormiston, a kind of lamprey (?), xii. 4, 14.

Expeditio, derivation of, i. 17.

F.

Famine, provisions for relief of, x. 27; unusual appearances foreboding the famine of 538, xii. 25; in Liguria to be relieved, xii. 28.

Faustus, Praetorian Praefect, Illustris, rebuked for his delay in sending corn from south of Italy to Rome, 17-19; i. 35; embassy of, to Constantinople (493), 23; Consulship of, 122; severely censured for his oppression of Castorius, iii. 20, 28; sent into the country for change of air, iii. 21; oppression of Joannes (?), iii. 27.

Faustus the younger, son of the above, i. 41; enquiry into character of, on his admission to the Senate, i. 41.

Faventia (Faenza), blocks of marble to be forwarded to Ravenna from, v. 8.

Felix III, Pope (526-530), election of, in deference to recommendation of Theodoric, viii. 15.

Felix (apparently a native of Milan), appointed Quaestor (527), viii. 18, 19; his pedigree, viii. 19.

Felix, Vir Clarissimus, accused by Venantius of defrauding the minor Plutianus, i. 7, 8.

Felix, Consul with Secundinus (511), his character and elevation to the Consulship, ii. 1, 2, 3; ordered to give largesse to charioteers of Milan, iii. 39.

Felix, Consul with Taurus (428), 173.

Felix, an assistant (probably Vices Agens), to Cassiodorus in the discharge of his duties as Praetorian Praefect, 450.

Feltria (Feltre), inhabitants of, to assist in erection of new city in district of Tridentum, v. 9.

Festus, embassy of, to Constantinople (497), 23; chosen by Agnellus to defend his interests in his absence, i. 15; his claims against Paulinus, i. 23.

Fidei-jussor, guarantor, i. 37; ii. 13; xi. 4.

Filagrius, Vir Spectabilis, petition of, as to his nephew's detention in Rome, i. 39.

'Filius per arma,' adoption of, iv. 2.

Firminus, complaints of, against Venantius, iii. 36.

Fiscus Gothorum, rights of, i. 19; its claims not to be pressed unduly, i. 22.

Fiscus, rights of, as to Castrum Lucullanum, viii. 25; rights of, to estates of deceased persons (Fiscus Caducus), ix. 14.

Fishermen, not to be enlisted for the navy, v. 16; their nets not to be allowed to hinder navigation of rivers, v. 17, 20.

Fishes, natural history of: the echeneis or sucking-fish, 18; i. 35; shell-fish of Indian Ocean, their power of arresting vessels, 18; i. 35; torpedo, its numbing touch, 18; i. 35; dolphins, habits of, iii. 48; echinus, 'that honey of flesh, that dainty of the deep,' iii. 48; the strange habits of the pike and the wrasse, xi. 40; in the fishponds (vivaria) of Scyllacium, xii. 15; the anchorage, exormiston, &c., xii. 4, 14.

Flaminian Way, edict regulating prices upon the, xi. 12; to be put in order for the King's passage, xii. 18.

Flavianus, Virius Nicomachus, Consul Suffectus (394), ancestor of Symmachus, 78; a leader of the heathen party in the Senate, 78; author of a Roman History, 78.

Formulae, reasons given by Cassiodorus for composing, 138.

Fornerius, notes of, on Cassiodorus, 116.

Forojulii (Cividale), contributions of wine and wheat from, remitted, xii. 26.

Forum Livii (Forli), inhabitants of, to transport timber to Alsuanum, iv. 8.

Franks, the, dispute of with Burgundians (533), viii. 10; war between Amalasuentha and, xi. 1.

Franz, Adolph, author of 'M. Aurel. Cassiodorius Senator,' 119.

Fraudulent shipowners punished, v. 35.

Frontinus (cir. A.D. 97), author of 'Strategematicon' and 'De Aquaeductibus,' quoted by Lydus, 97.

Frontosus has embezzled a large sum of public money, v. 34; his evasions and slippery character, v. 34.

'Furtivae actiones,' those concerned in, to be punished, v. 39.

Fuscus, appointed Praetorian Praefect by Domitian, 99.

G.

Garet, F.J., his edition of Cassiodorus, 117; his ecclesiastical bias, 217.

Garismatium, a place supplying garum, 514 n.

Garum, a kind of sauce, 514 n.

Gaul, summons to the Goths to take up arms for invasion of, i. 24; Gemellus appointed Governor of, iii. 16; address to Theodoric's subjects in, iii. 17; remission of taxation in, iii. 32, 40; iv. 19, 36; especial desire of Theodoric for good government of, iii. 38; famine in, to be relieved from Italy, iv. 5, 7; placed under government of Arigern (probably before Gemellus), iv. 16; Gepid troops ordered for defence of, v. 10, 11; peace of, disturbed by Gesalic, v. 43; Athalaric's accession announced to his subjects in, viii. 6, 7.

Gemellus, Senator, appointed Governor of Gaul, iii. 16, 17; instructions to, iii. 32, 41; iv. 12, 19, 21.

Genesius, Vir Spectabilis, directed to reform the sanitary condition of Parma, viii. 30.

Genoa, Jews living at, ii. 27.

Gensemund, an example of fidelity to the Amal race, viii. 9; his history mysterious, 354 n.

Gentilis, barbarian, i. 46; ii. 16; viii. 22.

Gentilitas, barbarism, misery of, iii. 17.

Geometry, origin of, iii. 52.

Gepidae, ordered for defence of Gaul, to march peaceably through Northern Italy, v. 10, 11; extraordinarily high rate of pay of (?), v. 11.

Germanus, his complaint against Bishop Peter, iii. 37.

Gesalic, natural son of Alaric II, sheltered by Thrasamund, King of the Vandals, v. 43, 44.

Getae, confusion of, with Goths, 31, 32.

Gibbon, on the 'Variae,' 120; as to character of accusers of Boethius, 365; as to Theodoric's participation in murder of Amalasuentha, 433 n.

Gildias, Vir Spectabilis, Count of Syracuse, rebuked for oppression of the Sicilians, ix. 14 (see also ix. 11).

Godomar, King of the Burgundians (524-534), 456 n.

Gold-mining in Bruttii, ix. 3.

Gothic History of Cassiodorus, estimate of, by its author, 29, 30, 137; ix. 25; purpose of, 30; Jordanes' abstract of, 34.

Gothic law for Gothic men (?), vii. 3; viii. 3; not for Romans, ix. 14.

Goths, delight of in war, i. 24; manner of training young, i. 38; disputes between, and Romans, in Samnium, to be settled by Sunhivad, iii. 13; Pannonia of old the dwelling of, iii. 23; in Picenum and Tuscia evading payment of taxes, iv. 14; ancestors of (Guttones), dealers in amber, 266; in Picenum and Samnium summoned to royal presence, v. 26, 27; free Gothic warriors enslaved, v. 29, 30; degrading services not to be claimed from, v. 39; disputes with Romans, how to be decided, vii. 3; relation of Gothic Comes to his Roman staff, vii. 25; oath between, and Romans on Athalaric's accession, viii. 7; settled at Reate and Nursia, viii. 26; indignant at the murder of Amalafrida, ix. 1; 'Gothorum laus est civilitas custodita,' ix. 14; dissensions between Gothic soldiers and Roman populace, x. 14; raise Witigis on the shield as King, 'indicamus parentes nostros Gothos inter procinctuales gladios, more majorum, scuto supposito, regalem nobis contulisse, praestante Deo, dignitatem,' x. 31.

Gout, a living death, x. 29.

Graius (?), Senatorial rank conferred on, vi. 14.

Grammarians, twelve eminent, quoted by Cassiodorus, 65; salaries of, to be increased, ix. 21.

Granaries in Rome, repair of, iii. 29.

Gravasiani (?), iv. 38.

Green party in the Circus, complaint made by, i. 20; complaint against Theodoric (the Patrician) and Importunus, i. 27; mentioned, i. 32, 33; rivalry of with the Blues, iii. 51.

Gregory of Tours, incompleteness of his history of Clovis, 24.

Gregory the Great, Pope (590-604), as to wine called Palmatiana, 500 n.

Griffins dig for gold, and delight in contemplation of that metal, ix. 3.

GUARD AT THE GATES OF A CITY, FORMULA RESPECTING, vii. 29.

Guardianship of orphans delegated by Theodoric, i. 36; of the young Hilarius not to be protracted, i. 38.

Gudelina, wife of Theodahad, letters of, to Theodora, x. 20, 21, 23; letter of, to Justinian, x. 24; doubtful allusion of, to murder of Amalasuentha, x. 20.

Gudila accused of enslaving Ocer, a blind Goth, v. 29.

Guduim, Sajo, v. 27; Vir Sublimis and Dux, v. 30; accused of imposing servile tasks on Costula and Daila, v. 30.

Gundibad (Gundobad), King of the Burgundians (473-516), Theodoric sends him a water-clock and sundial, i. 45, 46; Theodoric asks him to assist in reconciling Clovis and Alaric, iii. 2; called 'senex' by Theodoric, iii. 2.

H.

Haesti, or Aestii, inhabitants of Esthonia, send present of amber to Theodoric, v. 2.

Hannibal, death of, iii. 47.

Hasdingi (Hasdirigi?), or Asdingi, royal family of the Vandals, honoured by alliance with the Amals, ix. 1.

Heliodorus, a relative of Cassiodorus, Praefect in the Eastern Empire, i. 4.

Helladius, candidate for office of Pantomimist, i. 20; ordered to come forth and amuse the people, i. 32.

Heracleanus, Presbyter, messenger from Justinian to Theodahad, x. 25.

Herminafrid, King of the Thuringians, married to Amalabirga, niece of Theodoric, iv. 1.

Heruli, King of, appealed to by Theodoric to prevent war between Clovis and Alaric, iii. 3; King of, adopted as Theodoric's son by right of arms, iv. 2; to receive provisions at Ticinum on their journey to Ravenna, iv. 45.

Hilarius, a young Goth, grandson of Baion, i. 38; to be allowed to enter on enjoyment of his property, i. 38.

Hilderic, King of the Vandals (523-531), murders Amalafrida, widow of his predecessor, ix. 1.

Histrius (or Historius), ii. 9.

Homer quoted, as to travels of Ulysses, i. 39; as to Priam's request for the body of Hector, ii. 22.

Homo; Theodosius is addressed by Theodahad as Homo suus; meaning of the term (?), x. 5.

'Honesta missio' of the Theodosian Code illustrated by, v. 36.

Honoratus, Vir Illustris, brother of Decoratus, appointed Quaestor; his character, v. 3, 4.

Hormisdas, Pope (514-523), election of during Consulship of Cassiodorus, 26.

Horses, description of, sent as a present by the King of the Thuringians, iv. 1.

Hostilia, on the Po, place of rendezvous for the dromonarii, ii. 31.

Hot-springs of Abano described, ii. 39.

Hydruntum, or Hydron (Otranto), chief seat of the purple manufacture, i. 2.

I.

Ibbas, General of Theodoric in Gaul (perhaps the person to whom iv. 17 is addressed), 253.

Ides of June (June 13th), sailors and ships to meet at Ravenna on, v. 19, 20; eighth day before (June 6th), Goths to come to Ravenna for their largesse upon, v. 26.

ILLUSTRATUS VACANS, FORMULA OF, vi. 11.

Illustres, highest class of Ministers; who belonged to it? 86-90; was an Illustris once, always an Illustris? 89; were the Consuls Illustres? 90.

Illyricum, alleged loss of, under Placidia, xi. 1.

Imperium, used of the Gothic kingdom, xii. 28.

Importunus, Illustris and Consul (509), accused of assaulting the Green party at the Circus, i. 27.

Importunus, Vir Illustris and Patrician, Consul (509), descended from the Decii, iii. 5; incident of the recitation of Lay of the Decii, iii. 5.

Indictions, mode of reckoning by, 123-125; remission of taxes at, i. 16.

Indulgentia, an amnesty to prisoners, xi. 40.

Inquilina persists in harassing Benatus with litigation, iv. 37.

Interpretium not to be exacted from Apulian corn-merchants, ii. 26.

Intestate property of widow claimed by the State, v. 24 (see also vi. 8); property of an African claimed by a fellow-countryman, xii. 9.

Iron, mines of, in Dalmatia, iii. 25; praises of, iii. 25.

Istria, Province of, large harvests of wine, oil, and corn in, xii. 22; extraordinary requisition from, xii. 22; plentiful yield of wine in, xii. 26.

Italy, ought to enjoy her own products, ii. 12; western coast of, exports corn to Gaul, iv. 5.

J.

Januarius, Secretary of Joannes, iv. 32.

Januarius, Assessor of taxes, iv. 38.

Jews, of Genoa, permitted to rebuild but not enlarge their synagogue, ii. 27; their privileges confirmed, iv. 33; synagogue of, at Rome, burned by the mob, iv. 43; Christian servants of, punished for murdering their masters, iv. 43; of Milan, protected from molestation, v. 37.

Joanna, widow of Andreas, intestacy of, v. 24.

Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, Referendarius, receives gift of property at Castrum Lucullanum from Tulum, confirmed by Athalaric, viii. 25.

Joannes, Cancellarius (533-534), xi. 6; appointed Praerogativarius, xi. 27.

Joannes, mortgagee of property of Tupha, iv. 32.

Joannes, Vir Clarissimus, Arcarius (perhaps same as preceding), pays off the debt of his father-in-law Thomas, and takes his property in Apulia, v. 6, 7.

Joannes, Arch-Physician, unjust judgment against, reversed, iv. 41.

John II, Pope (Jan. 1, 533--May 27, 535), letter to, against simony at Papal elections, ix. 15; report from, as to imprisonment of Roman citizens, ix. 17; Cassiodorus sends greeting to, on his promotion, xi. 2.

John complains that the Bishop of Salona has taken 60 tuns of oil from him, iii. 7.

John, Spectabilis, ordered to enquire into abuses connected with aqueducts of Rome, iii. 31.

Jordanes, relation of his book 'De Rebus Geticis' to the Gothic History of Cassiodorus, 34; his quotations from Symmachus' History, 78; as to 'Capillati' among the Getae, 260 n; as to Goths by the Baltic Sea, 266; as to threatened war between Goths and Franks, 402.

Joseph, the Patriarch, office of Praetorian Praefect derived from, vi. 3; alluded to, x. 27; precautions of, against Egyptian famine, xii. 25; his bargain with the starving Egyptians criticised, xii. 28.

Jovinus banished to the Lipari Islands for murder of a fellow-curial, iii. 47.

Judges to visit each town once in the year, and not to claim more than three days' maintenance, v. 14.

Julianus complains of injuries received from the servants of Bishop Aurigenes, iii. 14.

Julian, Count and Illustris, Tata is ordered to conduct recruits to, v. 23.

Justin, Emperor (518-527), Athalaric announces his accession to, viii. 1.

Justinian, Emperor (527-566), his negotiations with Amalasuentha, 43; with Theodahad, 46, 47; Amalasuentha announces her son's death and the association of Theodahad to, x. 1, 2; present of marbles from Amalasuentha to, x. 8, 9; letters of Theodahad to, x. 15, 19, 22, 25, 26; letter of Gudelina to, x. 24; letter of Witigis to, x. 32; his interference on bt half of a heavily taxed monastery, x. 26; on behalf of Veranilda, a Catholic convert, x. 26; petition of Senate to, xi. 13.

L.

Lactarius, Mons (Monte Lettere), description of, xi. 10; health-resort for consumptive patients, xi. 10.

Land surveying among the Romans, iii. 52.

Lard not to be exported from Italy, ii. 12.

Largesse (Regalia Dona, Donativum), Goths summoned to Court to receive, on the Ides of June, v. 26, 27; Starcedius' donative stopped on his retirement from service, v. 36.

Laurentius, Presbyter, accused of rifling graves, iv. 18.

Laurentius, Vir Experientissimus, ordered to collect in Istria stores of wine, oil, and corn for Ravenna, xii. 22, 23, 24.

Lawsuits not to be interminable, i. 5.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE, TEMPORARY, FORMULA COMMEATALIS AD TEMPUS, vii. 36.

Lenormant, his work 'La Grande Grèce' quoted, 7, 8, 71.

Leodifrid, see under Sajo.

Leontius, Vir Spectabilis, his dispute about boundaries with Paschasius, iii. 52.

Leontius, Praefecture of, 105.

Letters, origin of, from imitation of flight of cranes, viii. 12.

Leucothea, Fountain of, its marvellous qualities, viii. 33.

Liber, derivation of, xi. 38.

Liberius (1), Praetorian Praefect under Theodoric (493-500), 16; ii. 15, 16; his fidelity to Odovacar, ii. 16; conduct in assignment of 'Tertiae,' ii. 16; father of Venantius, ii. 15; arranged gift from Theodoric to ex-Emperor (?) Romulus, iii. 35.

Liberius (2), Spectabilis (possibly son of preceding), complains of unjust judgment by Marabad, iv. 47.

Liberius (3), Senator, sent as ambassador by Theodahad to Justinian, 45.

Liberius (4, probably same as No. 3), Patrician, Praetorian Praefect of the Gauls (526), viii. 6; xi. 1.

Liberius (5), second husband of Aetheria, iv. 12.

Lictor, apostrophised by Cassiodorus in his 'Indulgentia,' xi. 40.

Liguria, Province of, ships ordered from Ravenna to, ii. 20; the Gepidae on their way to Gaul to march peaceably through, v. 10, 11; obscure allusion to troubles in, viii. 16; famine in 'Liguria industriosa' to be relieved by corn-distribution, x. 27; relief of 'devota Liguria,' xi. 15, 16; Consularis of, addressed, xii. 8; invaded by the Burgundians, xii. 28; plunder-raid of Alamanni into, xii. 28; famine in, relieved, xii. 28.

Lime, the praises of, vii. 17.

Lime-kilns, President of, PRAEPOSITUS CALCIS, FORMULA OF, vii. 17.

Lucania, Province of, Eusebius is recommended to take holiday in, iv. 48; rustics of, at Feast of St. Cyprian, viii. 33; Campanianus, inhabitant of, ix. 4; 'Montuosa Lucania' abounded in swine, xi. 39; measures for relief of, during presence of Gothic army, xii. 5. (See also Bruttii.)

Lucrine Port (?) to furnish tiles for repair of walls of Rome, i. 25.

Lucullanum, Castrum (Castel dell Ovo, at Naples), property at, given by Theodoric to Tulum, and by Athalaric to Joannes, viii. 25 (see note, p. 374).

Lydus, Joannes, civil servant in Constantinople under Justinian, author of 'De Dignitatibus;' his account of the dignity of the Praetorian Praefect, 40; on the official staff of the Praetorian Praefect, 94-114; his disappointment with the emoluments of the Cornicularius, 101; as to salutation of Praetorian Praefect, 297; as to Scholares, 302; jealousy of Magistriani, 303; as to supply of paper for law courts, xi. 38.

M.

Maffei, Scipione, author of 'Verona Illustrate,' on situation of Verruca, 224.

Magic, trial of Roman Senators on accusation of practising, iv. 22, 23; punishment of, according to Edictum Athalarici, ix. 18.

MAGISTER OFFICIORUM, FORMULA OF, vi. 6; nature of his office, 36, 37; jealousy between his subordinates and those of the Praefectus Praetorio, 100, 302; Eugenius promoted to office of, i. 12, 13; office of, held by grandfather of Argolicus, iii. 12; as to Cursus Publicus, 99; iv. 47; vi. 6; letter of Witigis to M.O. at Constantinople, x. 33.

MAGISTER SCRINII, FORMULA OF, vi. 13.

Magistriani, officers under Magister Officiorum, jealousy of, felt by members of Praefectoral staff, 303.

Magistri Scriniorum, Spectabiles, 91.

Magnus, a Spectabilis, of Gaul (?), to be reimbursed for losses sustained from the Franks, iii. 18.

Major Domus, Steward of the Royal House; Theodahad calls Vacco 'majorem domus nostrae,' and orders him to superintend the purchase of provisions for Gothic garrison of Rome, x. 18.

Mancipes mutationum, servants at posting-stations, iv. 47.

Maniarius, complaint of, as to abstraction of his slaves by the Breones, i. 11.

Manso, author of 'Geschichte des Ostgothischen Reiches,' quoted, 333, 336, 401.

Mappa, why used to denote the signal for the races, iii. 51.

Marabad, Vir Illustris and Comes, appointed Governor of Marseilles, iii. 34; instructions to, iv. 12, 46.

Marcellinus Comes, chronicler in the reign of Justinian, as to introduction of Heruli into Italy, 258 n; as to eruption of Vesuvius, 261 n, 262 n.

Marcellus on water-finding, iii. 53.

Marcian, Vir Spectabilis, employed to collect grain for Italy in Spain, v. 35.

Marcilianum (Sala, in Lucania), viii. 33.

Marinus, his petition about the property of Tupha, iv. 32.

Mark the Presbyter summoned for arrears of Siliquaticum, v. 31.

MARRIAGE, CONFIRMATION OF, AND LEGITIMATION OF OFFSPRING, FORMULA FOR, vii. 40.

MARRIAGE, FORMULA LEGITIMATING WITH FIRST COUSIN, vii. 46.

Marriage law (Edictum Athalarici), ix. 18.

Martinus, his son Romulus accused of parricide, ii. 14.

Massa Palentiana, wrested from rightful owners by Theodahad, v. 12.

Massa, a farm, viii. 23.

Massilia (Marseilles), inhabitants of, to welcome Count Marabad, iii. 34; privileges confirmed to, and exemption from taxation granted to for one year, iv. 26.

Master of the Horse, office of, abolished by Domitian, 99.

Matasuentha, granddaughter of Theodoric, married to Witigis, 49.

Maurentius, an orphan, taken under the King's guardianship, iv. 9.

Maximian, Vir Illustris, one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and Praetextatus, iv. 22, 23.

Maximus, Flavius Anicius, Vir Illustris, Consul (523), encouraged to reward handsomely the Venator in the amphitheatre, v. 42; appointed Primicerius Domesticorum (535), x. 11, 12; married a wife of the Amal race, x. 11; discussion as to his subsequent history, 424 n.

Mercury, inventor of letters, viii. 12.

Milan, Church of, immunities granted to, ii. 29, 30; charioteers of, to receive largesse from Felix, iii. 39; Bacauda, Tribunus Voluptatum at, v. 25; Jews of, protected from molestation, v. 37; famine in, to be relieved by Datius, xii. 27; sieges and demolition of, 522.

Militia, used of the purely civil service of the staff of the Praetorian Praefect, 92; ii. 28; obligations of the title, ii. 31; used of service of Tribunus Voluptatum, v. 25; of functions of Count of Sacred Largesses, vi. 7; of functions of Comitiacus, vi. 13.

Militia Litterata, the learned staff, 479.

Millenarius (in Gothic, thusundifaths), captain of a thousand, v. 27.

Millet (panicum), to be sold to citizens of Milan at 20 modii per solidum, xii. 27.

Minors, protection of, from fraud, iv. 35.

MINT (MONETA) MASTER OF, FORMULA APPOINTING, vii. 32.

Mommsen, Theodor, severe judgment of, on 'Chronicon' of Cassiodorus, 29, 120.

Monopoly, letters relating to, ii. 26, 30; iii. 19; x. 28.

Montanarius, bearer of money to Bishop Severus, ii. 8.

Mosaic, discription of, i. 6.

Moscius, Mons, near Scyllacium, xii. 15.

Mundus, General of Justinian, in Dalmatia, 446 n.

Munitarius (Winithar), ancestor of Theodoric, 'aequitate enituit,' xi. 1.

Music, dissertation on, ii. 40.

N.

Narbonne, Church of, possessions granted by Alaric, wrested from, iv. 17.

Navy, Theodoric's directions as to raising, v. 16, 17.

Neapolis (Naples), territory of, suffers from eruption of Vesuvius, iv. 50; FORMULA OF COUNT OF NAPLES, vi. 23; FORMULA addressed HONORATIS POSSESSORIBUS, ET CURIALIBUS CIVITATIS NEAPOLITANAE, vi. 24.

Neotherius, a spendthrift, and brother of Plutianus, i. 7, 8.

Nero, anecdote of, giving the signal for the chariot-race, iii. 51.

Nicephorus Phocas, Emperor of the East (963-969), his work of restoration at Squillace, 71.

Nicomachus, see Cethegus.

Nimfadius, Vir Sublimis, his adventure at the Fountain of Arethusa, viii. 32.

Nivellius, Sebastianus, his edition of Cassiodorus, 115, 116.

Nobilissimus, title given to nearest relatives of the Emperor, 85, 86.

Nola, territory of, suffers from eruption of Vesuvius, iv. 50.

Noricum, Provincials of, to exchange their cattle with the Alamanni, iii. 50.

NOTARII, FORMULA OF, vi. 16.

Notitia Utriusque Imperii, general correspondence of, with the 'Variae,' 85; on the official staff of the Praetorian Praefect, 94-114; illustration of the name, xii. 23.

Numerarii, cashiers in the Court of Praetorian Praefect, 96, 108; spoliation of churches of Bruttii alleged to be committed in their name, xii. 13; referred to, xii. 23.

Nursia, the birthplace of St. Benedict, 375; colony of Goths settled at, viii. 26.

O.

Oath, mutual, between Athalaric and his subjects on his accession, viii. 3; between Goths and Romans, viii. 7.

Obsonia (= relishes, anything eaten with bread, especially fish), to be distributed to the Roman people, xii. 11.

Ocer, a blind Gothic warrior, reduced to slavery by Gudila and Oppas, v. 29.

Odovacar (Odoacer), King (476-493), faithful service of Liberius to, ii. 16; possible allusion to times of, iii. 12; buried in a stone chest, 207; Tupha an officer of, 251; moderate taxation under, iv. 38; Opilio filled a place under (?), v. 41.

Officium (official staff) of Praetorian Praefect, 93-114; otherwise called Praetoriani, xi. 37; to be fined if they disobey the King's orders, ii. 26; duties of in collection of Bina and Terna, vii. 21; promotion of, on Christmas Day, xi. 17; their duties and rightful claims, xi. 37.

Opilio, Count of Sacred Largesses, father of Cyprian, viii. 16, 17; chosen for a place in household of Odovacar (?), v. 41.

Opilio, son of above, Count of Sacred Largesses, viii. 16, 17; ambassador from Theodahad to Justinian (535), 45; evil character of, given by Boethius, 363.

Oppas, accused of enslaving Ocer, a blind Goth, v. 29.

Orthography, difficulties of Latin, in Sixth Century, 66.

Ostrogotha, ancestor of Theodoric, 'patientiâ enituit,' xi. 1.

Osuin (or Osum), Vir Illustris and Comes, made Governor of Dalmatia and Suavitt, ix. 8, 9.

P.

Padus (Po), timber for navy to be collected upon the banks of, v. 17, 20; stake-nets to be removed from mouth of, v. 17, 20.

Palamediaci calculi = draughts, citizens fond of playing at, viii. 31.

Palmatiana, wine of Bruttii, described, xii. 12.

Panis, derivation of, from Pan, vi. 18.

Pannonia Sirmiensis, Colossaeus appointed Governor of, iii. 23, 24; an old habitation of the Goths, iii. 23.

Pantomimist, dispute as to choice of, i. 20; his menstruum (monthly allowance), i. 32, 33.

Papal election, contested between Symmachus and Laurentius (498), 26; of Felix III (526), viii. 15.

Paper, praises of, xi. 38.

Paraveredi, extra horses, v. 39. (See Errata.)

Parhippi, extra horses, iv. 47.

Parma, sanitary measures in, viii. 29, 30.

Parricide, the horror of, ii. 14.

Paschasius, Vir Spectabilas, his dispute about boundaries with Leontius, iii. 52.

PATRICIATE, FORMULA OF, vi. 2.

Patricius, Vir Illustris, appointed Quaestor by Theodahad, x. 6, 7.

Patzenes, husband of Regina, story of his wife's intrigue with Brandila during his absence on Gaulish campaign, v. 32, 33.

Paula, an orphan, taken under the King's guardianship, iv. 9.

Paulinus, Illustris and Patrician, claims of Festus and Symmachus against, i. 23 [N.B. Compare the following passage from Boethius' 'Philosophiae Consolatio' i. 4: 'Paulinum consularem virum cujus opes palatini canes jam spe atque ambitione devorassent, ab ipsis hiantium faucibus traxi.' Considering the relationship between Boethius and Symmachus, it is impossible that Symmachus could be one of these 'palatini canes,' but perhaps not impossible that Festus may be here aimed at. Paulinus was Consul 498]; Felix is praised for cultivating the friendship of, ii. 3; allowed to repair and appropriate public granaries, iii. 29.

Paulinas (Flavius Theodoras Paulinus Junior), Vir Clarissimus, son of Venantius, grandson of Liberius, chosen Consul for 534, ix. 22.

Peace, praises of, i. 1.

Pedatura, length of wall assigned to be built by soldiers, v. 9.

Pedonensis Civitas (situation unknown), Benedictus a citizen of, i. 36.

Peraequatores, regulators of prices of provisions (?), vi. 6.

Perfectissimi, fourth grade in the Imperial service, 92, 320; not mentioned by Cassiodorus, 92.

Pervasio, forcible appropriation of landed property, condemned by Edict of Athalaric, ix. 18.

Peter, Consul (516) and rhetorician, ambassador from Justinian to Theodahad, 46, 47; x. 19, 22, 23, 24.

Petrus, Vir Spectabilis, illustrious by descent, allowed to enter the Senate, iv. 25; his troubles with the Sajo assigned to him as his Defensor, iv. 27, 28.

Physician, duty of a good, vi. 19.

Picenum, Province of, Goths resident in, iv. 14; v. 26, 27.

Pietas = pity (very nearly), iv. 26.

Pignoratio, lawless practice of, described and repressed, iv. 10.

Pincian Hill, see Rome.

Pithoeus (Pierre Pithou), editor of Cassiodorus, attributes to him the 'Computus Paschalis,' 11.

Placentia, provision dealers at, x. 28.

Placidia, unfavourable comparison of with Amalasuentha, xi. 1.

Planets, periods of, xi. 36.

Pliny, on amber, 266; on the elephant, 443.

Plutianus, a minor, Felix accused of defrauding, i. 7, 8.

Pola, Antonius, Bishop of, iv. 44.

Pollentia, battle of, represented as Gothic victory by Cassiodorus, 28.

Polyptycha, official registers, v. 14, 39.

Pompeius Magnus, theatre of, the origin of his epithet, iv. 51.

Pontonates (?), iv. 38.

Popes, see Agapetus, Felix III, Gregory the Great, John II, Symmachus, Vigilius.

Porticus Curba (or Curiae), near the Forum, 'fabricae' to be erected above, iv. 30.

Portus (Porto), quays and warehouses of, under the Praefectus Urbis Romae, 87; 'Portus Curas Agens,' ii. 12; Comes Portus, vii. 9; Vicarius Portus, vii. 23.

Possessores, ii. 25; vi. 8; of Aestunae, iii. 9; of Arles, iii. 44; of Velia, iv. 11.

Possessores Honorati, of Catena, iii. 49; of Forum Livii, iv. 8; of Feltria, v. 9; of Suavia, v. 14, 15; of neighbourhood of Ravenna (?), v. 38; of Sicily, vi. 22; of Neapolis, vi. 24.

POSSESSORES HONORATI, ET CURIALES, FORMULA ADDRESSED TO, vii. 27; of Parma, viii. 29; of Bruttii, exhorted to return to their cities, viii. 31.

Possessores, Curiales permitted to become, ix. 4; complain of abuses in corn-traffic, ix. 5.

Potteries (figulinae), owners of, safeguarded, ii. 23.

Praebendae, apparently = stipendia or annonae, 219; claimed both in money and kind, v. 39.

PRAEFECTUS ANNONAE, FORMULA OF, vi. 18; office of, held by Paschasius, xii. 9.

PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO, FORMULA OF, vi. 3; FORMULA AS TO SUPERINTENDENCE OF ARMOURERS, vii. 19; dignity of the office, 39-41, 134; quotation from Lydus as to, 40; his functions described by Bethmann-Hollweg, 41 n; gradations of rank in his official staff, 93-114; fine on, for disobeying King's orders, ii. 26; not to be allowed to oppress men in humbler station, iii. 20, 27; as to Cursus Publicus, 99; iv. 47; vi. 3; Albienus appointed (527), viii. 20; was Trigguilla his predecessor? 368.

PRAEFECTUS URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vi. 4; an Illustris, 86; his functions described, 87, 88; to punish insults against the Senate, i. 30, 31; Artemidorus raised to dignity of, i. 42; Argolicus raised to dignity of (510), iii. 11; Quinque-viri associated with him for trial of Senators, iv. 22, 23; his close companionship with the Praefectus Annonae, vi. 18; Honorius ordered to see to preservation of brazen elephants at Rome, x. 30.

PRAEFECTUS VIGILUM URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 7.

PRAEFECTUS VIGILUM URBIS RAVENNATIS, FORMULA OF, vii. 8.

Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi, an Illustris, 86; his functions, 88; to refund to Symmachus expense of restoration of Pompey's Theatre, iv. 51.

Praepositi (?) have special rights as to the Cursus Publicus, v. 5.

Praerogativarius (?), Joannes appointed, xi. 27.

PRAESES PROVINCIAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 2.

Praetextatus, a Roman Senator, accused of magical practices, iv. 22, 23.

Prescription, title by, i. 18; ii. 27; v. 37.

Prices, to be fixed by the Defensor of a city, vii. 11; by the Curator, vii. 12; tariff of, to be charged at Ravenna, xi. 11; regulated along the Flaminian Way, xi. 12; fixed in, Bruttii and Lucania, xii. 5; tariff of, for Istria, xii. 22, 23; of corn sold for relief of Ligurians in time of famine, x. 27; xii. 27.

Primicerius Augustalium, Beatus appointed, xi. 30 (see Augustales).

Primicerius Cubiculariorum, a Spectabilis, 88; his functions, 88.

Primicerius Deputatorum, Ursua appointed, xi. 30; (see Deputati).

Primicerius Domesticorum, Maximus appointed, x. 11, 12.

Primicerius Exceptorum, chief of shorthand writers, Patricius appointed, xi. 25.

Primicerius Notariorum, vi. 16; a Spectabilis, 91; his office (apparently) joined to that of Count of Sacred Largesses, vi. 7.

Primicerius Singulariorum, Pierius appointed, in the room of Urbicus, xi. 31, 32 (see Singularii).

Primiscrinii, officers of Court of Praetorian Praefect, 96, 103; perhaps equivalent to Adjutores, 103; might be chosen from the ordinary Exceptores, 110; retiring Primiscrinius receives rank of Spectabilis, xi. 20; Andreas obtains rank of, xi. 21; retiring Primiscrinius to receive pension, xi. 37.

Princeps, head of the Officium of the Praefectus Praetorio, nature of his office, 96, 97, 477 n; ex-Princeps, ii. 28; title of, given to Magistriani, vi. 6; FORMULA RECOMMENDING PRINCIPES TO COMES, vii. 25; FORMULA ANNOUNCING APPOINTMENT OF COMES TO PRINCEPS, vii. 28.

Princeps Augustorum, 96; xi. 35.

Princeps Magistrianorum, 97, 99, 100.

PRINCEPS DALMATIAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 24.

PRINCEPS URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vii. 31.

Prior, a military officer among the Goths, viii. 26; perhaps equivalent to 'Hundafath,' 375.

Probinus (or Provinus), Illustris and Patrician (perhaps same as Consul 489), obtains property by undue influence from Agapita, ii. 11; the transfer declared to be bonâ fide, iv. 40.

Probus, Assessor of taxes, iv. 38.

PROCERES PER CODICILLOS VACANTES, FORMULA OF, vi. 10.

Proceres Chartarum (?), subordinate to Count of Sacred Largesses, vi. 7.

Procopius, his narrative of events in Italy in 534 and 535, 42-48; makes no mention of the name of Cassiodorus, 51; his statement of Justinian's argument as to the position of Theodoric, 143 n; his account of family of Venantius, 221; attributes the death of Amalasuentha to Theodora, 433 n; quoted, 370 n, 384 n, 390, 397, 431, 434, 518, 522, 527.

Procula, wife of Brandila, her assault on Regina, v. 32.

Prorogatores, purveyors (?), x. 28.

Prosecutores frumentorum, petition of, as to loss of cargoes, iv. 7.

Provincials, compensation to, for damage done by troops on march, ii. 8.

Publianus, Vir Illustris, messenger from the Senate to Court at Ravenna as to election of Pope (526), viii. 15.

Public property assigned on condition of improvement, vii. 44.

Pulveratica (dust-money) not to be paid to a Judge on his journeys, xii. 15.

Purple dye, history of the discovery of, i. 2.

Pyctacium (pictacium or pittacium), delegatoris, bond or document of title, i. 18; iii. 35; xii. 20.

Pythias, Count, pronounces decree in favour of liberty of Ocer, a blind Goth, v. 29.

Q.

QUAESTOR, FORMULA OF, vi. 5; duties of the office of, 14, 135; v. 4; vi. 5; other Quaestors besides Cassiodorus between 501 and 510, 25 n; Ambrosius appointed (526), viii. 13; Felix appointed (527), viii. 18; Patricius appointed (534), x. 6.

Quidila, son of Sibia, made 'Prior' of the Goths in Reate and Nursia, viii. 26.

Quinque-viri associated with Praefectus Urbis to try two Senators accused of magical arts, iv. 22, 23.

R.

Raetia (Grisons and Tyrol), Servatus, Duke of, i. 11; Alamannic refugees received in, ii. 41; guarded by fortress of Verruca, iii. 48; duties of the Duke of, vii. 4; derivation of the name from rete, vii. 4.

Rationales, bailiffs superintending the royal estates under the Comes Rerum Privatarum, vi. 8.

Rationalii, persons charged with distribution of the annona, 114.

Rations for three days only, to be given to Provincial Governors and others journeying to Scyllacium, xii. 15.

Ravenna, Basilica of Hercules (?) at, i. 6; mosaic ordered for, i. 6; ships ordered round from, to Liguria, ii. 20; favour bestowed on Church of, ii. 30; marbles to be transported to, iii. 9, 10; marble chests in which the citizens of Ravenna buried their dead, iii. 19; blocks of marble to be forwarded from Faventia to, v. 8; fleet to be mustered at, v. 17, 19; aqueduct of, to be kept clean, v. 38; drinking water of, de-appetising, v. 38; police of, vii. 8; elevation of Athalaric at, viii. 2, 5; provision dealers at, x. 28; tariff of prices at, xi. 11; siliquatarius of, xii. 17; defences of, to be strengthened, xii. 17; Deusdedit, a Scribe of, xii. 21; wine, oil, and corn to be furnished by Provincials of Istria to, xii. 22, 23, 24.

Reate (Rieti, in the Sabine territory), Goths settled at, viii. 26.

Rector Decuriarum, Governor of Guilds, v. 21, 22; same as Judex Decuriarum of Theodosian Code, 278.

RECTOR PROVINCIAE, FORMULA OF, vi. 21.

Referendi Curiae, Armentarius and his son Superbus appointed, iii. 33.

REFERENDARIUS, FORMULA OF, vi. 17; Cyprian's services as, v. 40, 41; viii. 22; Joannes, Vir Spectabilis, holds the post of, viii. 25.

Regerendarius (or Regendarius), officer charged with regulation of the postal-service, 109; Cartherius appointed, xi. 29.

Regina, wife of Patzenes, her intrigue with Brandila, v. 33; assaulted by Brandila's wife, v. 32.

Religious toleration practised by Theodoric, 21, 22; principle of, stated, ii. 27; v. 37; x. 26.

Remission of taxes, i. 16.

Renatus complains that he is harassed by litigation of Inquilina, iv. 37.

Reparatus, brother of Pope Vigilius, appointed Praefect of the City, ix. 7; his subsequent history, 390.

Restitutio in integrum, 252.

Retentator, a wrongful detainer, ii. 10.

Rhegium (Reggio) derivation of the name, xii. 14; the citizens of, to be exempt from 'coemptio' of wheat and lard, xii. 14.

Roccella, near Squillace, probable site of Scyllacium, 68.

Roman law only to be administered between Romans, ix. 14.

Roman citizens, release of, imprisoned on suspicion of sedition, ix. 17.

Rome, Theodoric's measures for embellishment of, i. 21; ii. 7; walls of, to be repaired, i. 25, 28; ii. 34; the nephews of Filagrius detained at, for their education, i. 39; 'everyone's country,' i. 39; blocks of marble lying about in, to be used, ii. 7; sons of Ecdicius detained at, ii. 22; marbles on the Pincian Hill to be transported to Ravenna, iii. 10; repair of granaries in, iii. 29; Cloacae of, iii. 30; repair of aqueducts and temples in, iii. 31; vii. 6; sons of Valerian detained at, iv. 6; new buildings overlooking Forum of, iv. 30; 'turris circi et locus amphitheatri' wrested from sons of Volusianus, iv. 42; burning of Jewish synagogue at, iv. 43; theatre of Pompey restored by Symmachus, iv. 51; to receive supplies of corn from Spain, v. 35; brazen elephants in Via Sacra, x. 30; police of, vii. 7; statues of, vii. 13, 15; dissensions between citizens of, and Gothic troops (535), x. 14; a Gothic garrison for, x. 18; owns the shrines of the Apostles, xi. 2; scarcity in, relieved by corn-distributions, xi. 5; Roman citizens, and they only, to receive obsonia, xii. 11; high character given to the Roman populace, xii. 11.

Romulus, assured that Theodoric's gift to him through the Patrician Liberius shall not be revoked, iii. 35; probably this is the ex-Emperor Romulus Augustulus, 216; subsequent disposal of his palace, the Lucullanum, 374.

Romulus accused of murder of his father, ii. 14.

Rufinus, Praetorian Praefect under Arcadius, his usurpation caused some of Praetorian Praefect's powers to be transferred to the Magister, 99.

Rusticiana, farm of, in Bruttii, gold discovered at, ix. 3.

Rusticus, a priest and a friend of Theodahad, sent on return embassy with Peter to Justinian, 431 n; x. 20, 24.

S.

Sabinus, ex-Charioteer, his pension increased, ii. 9.

Sacrilege, the folly of, xii. 13.

St. Cyprian's fair (in Lucania) described, viii. 33.

Sajo, Saio, or Sajus (henchman), description of his office, 177 n; to go straight to object of his mission, and not to make pleasure tours at the public expense, iv. 47; Nandius, sent to summon Goths to war, i. 24; to support Ecdicius in levying Siliquaticum, ii. 4; Fruinarith to enquire into conduct of Venantius, ii. 13; Grimoda ordered to redress the oppression of Faustus, iii. 20; Leodifrid ordered to superintend building of houses near fort Verruca, iii. 48; Amabilis (?) ordered to superintend grain traffic from Italy to Gaul, iv. 5; Gesila ordered to make Gothic defaulters in Picenum and Tuscia pay their taxes, iv. 14; Tezutzat assigned as Defensor to Petrus, iv. 27; Amara has wounded Petrus, whose Defensor he nominally was, iv. 27, 28; Duda (Vir Spectabilis and Comes), instructions to, iv. 28, 32, 34; Gudisal ordered to reform abuses of Cursus Publicus, iv. 47; Mannila receives like instructions, v. 5; Veranus to see that the Gepidae march peaceably through Liguria, v. 10; Gudinand and Avilf ordered to muster sailors and collect timber for navy, v. 19, 20; Tata ordered to conduct recruits to Count Julian, v. 23; Guduim ordered to summon Gothic captains to Court, v. 27; Catellus and Servandus (?), 'Viri Strenui,' to collect fines from fraudulent shipowners, v. 35; a Sajo (unnamed) accused of rough treatment of a deacon, viii. 24; Dumerit sent to repress robbery at Faventia, viii. 27; Quidila sent with Athalaric's orders to Sicily, ix. 10; to execute vengeance on Pervasores, ix. 18; BOND FOR PROPER USE OF SAJO'S SERVICES, FORMULA OF, vii. 42; was he necessarily the instrument by which 'tuitio regii nominis' was given? 341; Sajones assigned to various Cancellarii, xii. 3; their duties and temptations, xii. 3; Paulus, Vir Strenuus, perhaps a Sajo, xii. 26.

Salamander, nature of, iii. 47.

Salona (in Dalmatia), inhabitants of, to be armed and drilled, i. 40; Bishop of, takes 60 tuns of oil from one John, iii. 7.

Salt-works at Venice, xii. 24.

Samaritans contest possession of a house in Rome with the Roman Church, iii. 45.

Samnium, Province of, Sunhivad appointed Governor of, iii. 13; practice of pignoratio prevalent in, iv. 10; Goths resident in, v. 26, 27; Anatholius, Cancellarius of, xi. 36; retiring allowance of Cornicularius charged on revenues of, xi. 36.

Sarsena (?), Curia of, ii. 18.

Scholares, household troops, under Magister Officiorum, v. 6.

Scholaris, Sextus (?), Justus appointed, xi. 26.

Schubert, von, author of 'Unterwerfung der Alamannen,' 120, 524, 527.

Science, list of Greek men of, whose works were translated by Boetius, i. 45.

Scribe, importance of the office of, xii. 21.

Scrinia, the four, under the Magister Officiorum, 36, 112; to provide themselves with paper, xi. 38.

Scriniarii, vii. 21, 22.

Scriniarius, 106.

Scriniarius Curae Militaris, 109; Lucillus appointed, xi. 24.

Scrinium Memoriae, 102.

Scriniarius Actorum, Catellus obtains rank of, xi. 22.

Scyllacium (Squillace), birthplace of Cassiodorus, 6; the Greek colony, Scylletion, 6, 7; Roman colony, Minerva Scolacium, 7, 8; appearance of, 8; xii. 15; modern remains at, 9; Cassiodorus founds his monasteries at, 55; topography of, 68-73; citizens of, not to be called on to contribute to the _Cursus Publicus_, xii. 15.

Scythian, vagueness of the term, which was often applied to the Goths, 31, 32.

Senarius, Vir Illustris, appointed Comes Patrimonii, iv. 3, 4; instructions to, as Comes Privatarum Rerum, iv. 7, 11, 13.

Senate of Rome, attitude of Theodoric and Cassiodorus towards, 26, 27; flattery of, i. 13, 42; iii. 12; v. 41; not to degrade themselves by altercations with the mob in the Circus, i. 27, 30; enquiry into character of candidates for admission to, i. 41; iv. 25; Senators' taxes in arrear, ii. 24; Senators with Gothic names, ii. 29, 35; iii. 13; proceedings on trial of Senators, iv. 22, 23; vi. 21; addressed on election of Pope Felix III, viii. 15; Theodahad's elevation announced to, x. 4; chidden by Theodahad for not accepting his invitation to Ravenna, x. 13; Theodahad announces arrival of Gothic garrison to, x. 18; ordered by Theodahad to communicate with Justinian, x. 19; Cassiodorus writes to, on his elevation to the Praetorian Praefecture, xi. 1; petition of, to Justinian for peace, xi. 13.

SENATOR, FORMULA CONFERRING THE RANK OF, vi. 14.

Severinus (or Severianus), Vir Illustris, appointed a Commissioner for Province of Suavia, to remedy financial abuses, v. 14, 15; again sent to Suavia and Dalmatia with Osuin, ix. 9.

Severus, Vir Spectabilis, apparently Governor of Bruttii and Lucania, vii. 31-33.

Sextarius, corn measure, ii. 26.

Sicily, inhabitants of, suspicious, and with difficulty won over to the rule of Theodoric, i. 3; Filagrius, a citizen of Syracuse, asks leave to return to, i. 39; possessions of Milanese Church in, ii. 29; Valerian, a citizen of Syracuse, allowed to return thither, iv. 6; FORMULA OF COUNT OF SYRACUSE, vi. 22; augmentum imposed by Theodoric remitted by Athalaric, ix. 10, 11, 12; oppressive acts of Censitores and Count of Syracuse rebuked, ix. 11, 14.

Sidonius, Apollinaris, possible quotation from, iii. 16.

Sigismer, Illustris and Count, sent to administer to the Senate the oath of fidelity to Athalaric, viii. 2.

Signine Channel, near Ravenna (?), shrubs growing in, to be rooted up, v. 38.

Sila, Mount, in Bruttii, celebrated for its cheese, xii. 12.

Silentiarii, thirty life-guards, 88.

Siliqua, one-twenty-fourth of solidus, 173.

Siliquaticum, a tax of one-twenty-fourth on sales in open market, collection of, ii. 4; exemption from, ii. 30; iv. 19; collection of arrears of, in Dalmatia, iii. 25; collection of arrears of, in Apulia and Calabria, v. 31.

Siliquatarii, ii. 12, 26; xii. 17.

Simeon, Vir Illustris and Comes, appointed to collect arrears of taxation in Dalmatia, iii. 25, 26.

Simeonius (an Apulian or Calabrian), summoned for arrears of Siliquaticum, v. 31.

Simony practised at Papal elections, edict against, ix. 15, 16.

Simplicius, Pope (468-483), bought a house at Rome claimed by the Samaritans, iii. 45.

Singularii, servants charged with conveying the orders of the Praetorian Praefect into the Provinces, 113; origin of their name, 113. (See also, xi. 31, 32.)

Sipontum in Apulia, merchants of, despoiled by Byzantine fleet (?), ii. 38.

Sirmium, war of (504), Tulum's services in, viii. 10; Cyprian's services in, viii. 22.

Slave of a Senator, murderer of a freeborn citizen, to be surrendered, i. 30; as to levy of slaves for the navy, v. 16; Gothic soldier made a slave wrongfully, v. 29; degrading services (servitia famulatus) not to be claimed of freeborn Goths, v. 30, 39; Tanca is accused of unjustly enslaving two rustic neighbours, viii. 28.

Slaves, runaway, to be restored to their owners, iii. 43; did free Italians sell their children as? viii. 33 n.

Solidus, 'the ancients wished that it should consist of 6,000 denarii' (?), i. 10.

Sona, Illustris, iii. 15.

Sontius (Isonzo), River of, Theodoric's crossing of, made an era in lawsuits as to landed property, i. 18; the Lucristani (?) on, ordered to attend to the Cursus Publicus, i. 29.

Sors, land-allotment, ii. 17.

Sors nascendi of the Curialis, ii. 18.

Spain, to send corn-supplies to Rome, v. 35; abuses in administration of, to be repressed, v. 39.

Spatarius, sword-bearer, an officer in the royal household, iii. 43.

Spectabiles, second class of Ministers, who belonged to it? 90, 91; honour of, conferred on Stephanus, ii. 28; Comes Primi Ordinis, highest of, vi. 12; FORMULA CONFERRING RANK OF, vii. 37; Antianus, ex-Cornicularius, receives rank of, xi. 18; retiring Primiscrinius receives rank of, xi. 20.

Spes, Spectabilis, has a concession for draining land, ii. 21.

Spoletium (Spoleto), gratuitous admission to baths at, ii. 37; rebuilding behind the Baths of Turasius at, iv. 24; Honoratus, advocate at, v. 4.

Staletti, near Squillace, near the site of Vivarian Monastery, 71.

Starcedius, Vir Sublimis, allowed to retire from military service, but without a pension, v. 36.

Statue, theft of brazen, at Comum, ii. 35, 36.

Statues, care of, at Como, ii. 35, 36; at Rome, vii. 13, 15.

Ste. Marthe, Denys de, author of 'Vie de Cassiodore,' 118.

Stephanus, killed by his servants and left unburied, ii. 19.

Stephanus, petition of, against Bishop of Pola, iv. 44.

Stratonicea, Edict of, by Diocletian, 'de pretiis venalium rerum,' 470.

Style, Cassiodorus on the different kinds of, 139.

Suarii, pork-butchers, subject to Praefectus Annonae, vi. 18.

S(u)avia (Sclavonia), Fridibad appointed Governor of, iv. 49; order to be maintained in, iv. 49; grievances of the Possossores of, to be redressed, v. 14; Osuin appointed Governor of, ix. 8, 9.

Subadjuvae, deputy cashiers (?), 109.

Sublimis, epithet used in the 'Variae,' 91 n; equivalent to Spectabilis (?), 91.

Suevi (perhaps here the same as Alamanni) invade the Venetian Province (536), xii. 7.

Sulcatoriae (?), some kind of merchant ships, ii. 20.

SUMMONS, LETTERS OF, TO THE KING'S COURT, FORMULAE EVOCATORIAE, vii. 34, 35.

Sundial, description of, to be made by Boetius for Gundibad, i. 45.

Superbus, son of Armentarius, appointed Referendus Curiae, iii. 33.

Sustineo, technically used of the King's reception of his guests, iii. 22 (and 28).

Swords, description of, sent by King of the Vandals to Theodoric, v. 1.

Symmachus, Pope (498-514), contested election with Laurentius, 26.

Symmachus the Elder, orator and leader of the Pagan party in the Senate, 78; was he also a historian? 78.

Symmachus, Q. Aurelius Memmius, Consul (485), Patrician, father-in-law of Boethius, information as to, in the 'Anecdoton Holderi,' 74, 77-79; his speech for the 'Allecticii,' 78; his Roman History, 78; his claims against Paulinus, i. 23; one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Barilius and Praetextatus, iv. 22, 23; commended for his restoration of buildings in Rome, iv. 51; a saying of, xi. 1.

T.

Table of the King, provision of delicacies for, vi. 9; xii. 4, 18.

Tabularii, Cashiers of a municipality, a lower class of Numerarii, 108.

Tacitus, on amber, quoted, v. 2.

Tanca, a Goth (?), accused of unjustly enslaving free rustics, viii. 28.

Tarvisium (Treviso), corn-warehouse at, to be opened, x. 27.

Taxation, arrears of, ii. 24, 25; iv. 14; v. 31; immunity from, ii. 30; remissness in tax-collectors condemned, iii. 8; xii. 10; remission of, for citizens of Aries, iii. 32; remission of, for all Provincials of Gaul, iii. 40; iv. 19; remission of, for one year, for citizens of Marseilles, iv. 26; weight of, to be lessened, iv. 38; regulation of, for Province of Suavia, v. 14, 15; abuses of, in Spain, corrected, v. 39; collection of Bina and Terna, vii. 20-22; remission of super-assessment for Dalmatia, ix. 9; similar remission for Sicily, ix. 10, 11, 12; remission of, for a monastery, x. 26; proper manner of collecting, xi. 7; correction of abuses of, in Liguria, xi. 16; commutation of cattle-tax for Lucania and Bruttii, xi. 39; taxes to be paid punctually, xii. 2; in Lucania and Bruttii in time of war, xii. 5; remission of, for Venetia, on account of invasion of the Suevi, xii. 7; tax-gatherer allowed to make prepayment of his taxes, xii. 8; Trina Illatio to be collected regularly, xii. 16; special requisition from Istria, xii. 22, 23; contributions from Venetia remitted, xii. 26; remission of half of, for Liguria, xii. 28.

TAXES, FORMULA FOR REMISSION OF, WHERE THE TAXPAYER IS TOO HEAVILY ASSESSED, vii. 45.

Teias, King of the Goths (552-663), his battle with Narses on Monte Lettere, 468 n.

Tenues = the poor, ii. 24, 25.

Terna, a kind of tax (not to be confounded with the Tertiae or the Trina Illatio), iii. 8; collection of, vii. 20, 21, 22.

Terracina, inscription at, as to draining Marsh of Decennonium, 188.

Tertiae, probably either the land assigned to the Goths in Italy or the pecuniary equivalent paid by the Roman possessor for an undivided 'Sors Barbarica,' 152; (tax), to be collected at same time as ordinary tribute, i. 14; (land), demarcation of, by Liberius, ii. 16; (tax), immunity from, ii. 17.

Theodagunda, Illustris Foemina, apparently a Gothic princess, ordered to do justice to Renatus, iv. 37.

Theodahad, nephew of Theodoric, associated in the sovereignty by Amalasuentha, 44; x. 1-4; his character, 44; he dethrones Amalasuentha (April 30, 535), and puts her to death, 45; his negotiations with Justinian, 47; his deposition and death, 49; style of address in the 'Variae,' 86; ordered to undertake a case of contumacy, iii. 15; his avarice condemned, iv. 39; v. 12; to receive farms which had belonged to his mother, viii. 23; declares that his character has changed with his accession, x. 5; chides the Senate for their suspicions of him, x. 13; thinks himself much superior to Theodoric, x. 22; intended journey of, to Rome, xii. 18, 19; his questionable generosity in releasing his mortgage on the Church plate to the Pope, xii. 20.

Theodora, Augusta (married to Justinian 525, died 548), letter of Amalasuentha to, x. 10; letters of Gudelina to, x. 20, 21, 23; alleged complicity of, in murder of Amalasuentha, 433, 435.

Theodoric, King of the Goths and Romans (493-525), his position in Italy, 16, 19; story of his inability to write, 15; relation of Cassiodorus to, 16, 19; his religious tolerance, 21, 22; his persecution of the Orthodox, 35; condemnation of Boethius and Symmachus, 35; death of (Aug. 30, 526), 37; may possibly have called himself King of Italy, 62 n; 455 n; confusion between him and Theodoric II the Visigoth, 116; letters written in the name of, 141-293; learned in the Roman Republic the art of governing Romans with equity, i. 1; relations between him and Anastasius, i. 1; allusion to his adoption by Zeno (?), i. 20; his intervention in Gaul (508), i. 24; his friendship for Artemidoras, i. 43; motto for his reign, ii. 21; inscription recording his drainage of Decennonial Marsh, 188; his attempts to prevent war between Alaric and Clovis, iii. 1-4; calls himself 'Romanus Princeps,' iii. 16; his high purpose in ruling, iii. 43; his alliance with the Thuringians, iv. 1; his alliance with the Heruli, iv. 2; his rides after the hours of business with Cyprian his Referendarius, v. 40; Cassiodorus speaks of his 'oculus imperialis,' viii. 18; praises of, by Witigis, x. 31; his especial characteristic was patience, xi. 1.

Theodoric I, King of the Franks (511-534), death of, xi. 1; 452 n; 455 n.

Theodoric, or more probably Theodorus, Patrician, accused of assaulting the Green party in the Circus, i. 27.

Theodorus, candidate for office of Pantomimist, i. 20.

Theodoras, report of, as to gold in Bruttii, ix. 3.

Theodosian Code, perhaps referred to in the words 'Statuta Divalium sanctionum,' iv. 12; as to Decuriae Librariorum, &c. 277; as to Delegatio, 479 n.

Theodosius, man of Theodahad (?), exhorted to abstain from violence, x. 5.

Thessalonica, Praefect of, entreated by Witigis to speed his ambassadors on their way to Justinian, x. 35.

Theudimer, father of Theodoric, 'pietate enituit,' xi. 1.

Thomas, father of Germanus, iii. 37.

Thomas, Vir Clarissimus, complains that he cannot collect arrears of taxes in Apulia, v. 31.

Thomas, Vir Honestus, hopelessly in debt for taxes on Apulian farms, v. 6, 7.

Thomas the Charioteer to receive a monthly allowance, iii. 51.

Thorbecke, August, author of 'Cassiodorus Senator,' 119.

Thorismuth, predecessor of Theodoric, 'castitate enituit,' xi. 1.

Thuringians, King of, appealed to by Theodoric to prevent war between Clovis and Alaric, iii. 3; Herminafrid, King of, married to Amalabirga, niece of Theodoric, iv. 1.

Tiber to be crossed by a bridge of boats, xii. 19.

Ticinum (Pavia), inhabitants of, ordered to provision the Heruli on their journey to King's Comitatus, iv. 45; corn warehouse at, to be opened, x. 27; xii. 27; provision dealers at, x. 28; Count Winusiad, Governor of, x. 29.

Tituli, practice of affixing to property, condemned, ix. 18.

Totila, words of, as to exceptional favour accorded to Sicily, 397.

Trajan, oath taken by, to the Roman people, viii. 3; noble saying of, to an orator, viii. 13.

Transmund (Thrasamund), King of the Vandals (496-523), complained of for sheltering Gesalic, Theodoric's enemy, v. 43; the reconciliation, v. 44.

Transmutation of metals (?), viii. 3.

Treasure, buried, search for, iv. 34.

TRIBUNATUS PROVINCIARUM, FORMULA OF, vii. 30.

Tribuni Maritimorum (in islands of Venetia), xii. 24.

TRIBUNUS VOLUPTATUM, MINISTER OF PUBLIC AMUSEMENT, FORMULA OF, vii. 10; Bacauda appointed, at Milan, v. 25; referred to, vi. 19.

Tridentum (Trient), proprietors in district of, ii. 17; new city to be erected in district of, v. 9; corn warehouse at, to be opened, x. 27.

Trigguilla, 'Regiae Praepositus Domus,' was he the Praetorian Praefect whose misgovernment is denounced, viii. 20?

Trina Illatio, three instalments for payment of taxes, ii. 24; x. 27 (?); xi. 7, 35, 36, 37; xii. 2, 16, 27 (?).

Trittheim, John (Trithemius), Abbot of Spanheim, his notice of date of Cassiodorus' birth, 9, 10, 66; as to office of Abbot held by Cassiodorus, 56 n.

TUITIO REGII NOMINIS, FORMULA BESTOWING, vii. 39; promised to owner of potteries, ii. 23; to Milanese Church, ii. 29; to Maurentius and Paula, iv. 9; alluded to in Edictum Athalarici, ix. 18 (p. 404).

Tullianus, son of Venantius, 221.

Tulum, Patrician, his early history and character, viii. 9, 10; embassy to Constantinople (?), viii. 9; share in the war of Sirmium, viii. 10; in the Gaulish wars (508 and 523), viii. 10; his escape from shipwreck, viii. 10; marriage with an Amal princess, viii. 9; letter written on his behalf to the Senate, viii. 11; declared Patrician, viii. 9, 10, 11, 12; receives Castrum Lucullanum from Theodoric and hands it over to Joannes, viii. 25.

Tupha (Tufa), an officer of Odovacar, who deserted to Theodoric and then betrayed him, 251; lawsuit about his property, confiscated to the Treasury, iv. 32.

Tusciae (Thusciae) utraeque, iv. 14; Goths resident in, iv. 14; Canonicarius of, to buy a fitting quantity of paper, xi. 38.

U.

Ulpianus, guarantor for Venantius, has lost 400 solidi by his default, ii. 13. (As this occurred 'administrationis suae tempore,' Ulpianus must have held some kind of public office.)

Ulysses, reputed founder of Scyllacium, xii. 15.

Unalamer (Walamir), uncle of Theodoric, 'fide enituit,' xi. 1.

Unimundus (Hunimund), collateral ancestor of Theodoric, 'forma enituit,' xi. 1.

Uraias, nephew of King Witigis, his capture of Milan (539), xii. 27.

Usener, Hermann, editor of 'Anecdoton Holderi,' 73-84, 119.

V.

Vacco, Major Domus to Theodahad, x. 18; to superintend purchase of provisions for Gothic garrison, x. 18.

Valentinian III, Emperor (425-455), quotation from Novellae of, ix. 18; Placidia's guardianship of, xi. 1.

Valerian, a Spectabilis, citizen of Syracuse, sons of, to be detained in Rome, iv. 6.

Valeriana, Adeodatus condemned for rape of, iii. 46.

Vandals, King of (Thrasamund), sends presents to Theodoric, v. 1. (See also Transmund and Hilderic.)

Vandals, allusion to, v. 17.

'VARIAE' of Cassiodorus, their style described, 16-19; not arranged in chronological order, 22; time and manner of their editing, 51, 52; reason of the name, 138, 139.

Velia (or Volia), dispute between Possessores and Curiales of, iv. 11.

Venantius (1), guardian of Plutianus, his accusation of Felix, i. 7, 8.

Venantius (2), by his dishonesty has caused his guarantor Ulpianus to forfeit 400 solidi, ii. 13.

Venantius (3), son of Liberius, Vir Illustris, praises of, ii. 15; made Comes Domesticorum, ii. 15, 16; rebuked for remissness in collection of taxes when Corrector of Bruttii and Lucania, iii. 8; complaints of Firminus against, iii. 36; his alleged unjust judgment of Adeodatus, iii. 46; descended from the ancient Decii, ix. 23; congratulated on Consulship of his son Paulinus (534), ix. 23.

Venerius, a farmer, unjustly reduced to slavery by Tanca, viii. 28.

Venetia, Province of, Gepidae on their way to Gaul to march peaceably through, v. 10, 11; famine in 'devotae Venetiae' to be relieved by corn distribution, x. 27; Canonicarius of, ordered to collect wine for the King's table, xii. 4; taxes of, remitted, on account of invasion of the Suevi, xii. 7; 'Venetiae praedicabiles,' xii. 24; scarcity of crops in, xii. 26.

Venice, letter containing first historical notice of (537), xii. 24.

Veranilda, convert from Arianism to Catholic faith, interceded for by Justinian, x. 26.

Vercelli, grant of freedom from taxation made to Church of, i. 26.

Veredarii, drivers of the royal mail, ii. 31.

Veredi, post-horses, not to be overworked, iv. 47.

Verruca (perhaps Dos Trento), near Trient, description of the fort of, iii. 48; meaning of the word, 223, n 1.

Vesuvius, eruption of, iv. 50.

Vicarius, a Spectabilis and Governor of a Diocese, 90; i. 37.

Vicarius Praefectorum (?), title borne by Gemellus as Governor of Gaul, iii. 16.

VICARIUS PORTUS, FORMULA OF, vii. 23.

VICARIUS URBIS ROMAE, FORMULA OF, vi. 15; limits of his jurisdiction, 88.

Vice-dominus (?), servants of, have oppressed Provincials of Suavia, v. 14.

Victor Tunnunensis, chronicler (died in 569), as to the death of Amalafrida, 384 n.

Victor, Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, severely rebuked for acts of oppression, ix. 12.

Vigilus, Pope (537-555), allusion to by Cassiodorus, 6; brother of Reparatus, 390; perhaps alluded to by Gudelina, x. 20 (see p. 433 n).

Villiciorum Tuitio (?), removed in Spain, as being costly and unpopular, v. 39.

Virgil quoted, 63 n; xii. 14.

Vivarian Monastery, founded by Cassiodorus, near Scyllacium, 55; site of, 71.

Vivianus, Spectabilis, renouncing the world, foregoes the benefit of an unjust decree which he has obtained against Joannes, iv. 41.

Volcanoes, nature of, iii. 47; iv. 50.

Volusianus, one of the Quinque-viri appointed to try Basilius and Praetextatus, iv. 22, 23; died at Easter, iv. 42; his sons robbed of their possessions by a heartless intriguer, iv. 42.

Vulcanian Islands (Lipari), a murderer banished to, iii. 47.

W.

Walamir (see Unalamer).

Warni (or Guarni), King of, appealed to by Theodoric to prevent war between Clovis and Alaric, iii. 3.

Water-clock, description of, to be made by Boetius for Gundibad, i. 45.

Water-finder has come from Africa to Rome, iii. 53; description of his art, iii. 53.

Wine, Acinaticium, xii. 4; Palmatiana, xii. 12; of Gaza, xii. 12; Sabine, xii. 12.

Winithar (see Munitarius).

Winusiad, Comes, Governor of Ticinum, recommended to visit baths of Bormio, x. 29.

Witigis (or Vitigis), King of the Goths (536-540), proclamation announcing his accession, 49; x. 31; letters written in the name of, x. 32-35; his vengeance on Theodahad, x. 32; his marriage with Matasuentha, x. 32; his siege of Rome, 506; possibly alluded to in xii. 19; 509; the Burgundians' fear of him, xii. 28.

Witigisclus (or Wigisicla), Vir Spectabilis, Censitor of Sicily, severely rebuked for acts of oppression, ix. 12.

Z.

Zeno, Emperor (474-491), his concessions to Theodoric, x. 22.

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By HORACE HART, Printer to the University

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