'In your family Rome recognises the descendants of her ancient heroes the Decii, who, in a great crisis, alone saved their country. 'Take then for the twelfth Indiction the ensigns of the Consulship[619]. It is an arduous honour, but one which your family is well used to. The Fasti are studded with its names, and nearly all the Senate is of kin to you. Still, presume not too much on the merits of your ancestors, but rather seek to emulate their noble deeds.' [Footnote 619: The twelfth Indiction began Sept. 1, 533. The Consul would enter office Jan. 1, 534. Was he _designated_ when the great Imperial officers were _appointed_ at the beginning of the Indiction?] 23. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. [Sidenote: On the Consulship of Paulinus.] 'Judge of our esteem for your honourable body, Conscript Fathers, when, without any hesitation, we appoint your sons whom we have never seen to high office, because they are your sons. 'We admire the Patrician Venantius, blessed as he has been with such an abundant progeny, and found equal to the weight of so many Consulships. His sons have been all temperate and lively; worthy members of the same distinguished family. They have been trained in arms, their minds have been formed by letters, their bodies by the exercises of the gymnasium. They have learned to show constancy to their friends, loyalty to their lords; and they have succeeded to the virtues of their ancestors, as they will to their patrimony. Wisely husbanding his own fortune, Venantius has been able to support the honour--gratifying, but burdensome--of seeing so many of his sons made Consuls. But this is an honour not strange to his family, sprung from the ancient Decii. His hall is full of laurelled Fasces, and in his line one might almost say that each one is born a Consular. 'Favour our candidate then, Conscript Fathers, and cherish him with that care which the name of your body[620] signifies.' [Footnote 620: _Curia_, from _cura_.] 24. KING ATHALARIC TO SENATOR [CASSIODORUS HIMSELF], PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT (SEPT. 1, 533). [Sidenote: Cassiodorus appointed Praetorian Praefect.] 'If you had been hitherto an obscure person we might feel some doubt how you would bear yourself in your new office, but your long and glorious career under our grandfather relieves us from any such anxieties. _His_ choice of you is a thing to be not discussed but reverently accepted. It was by him that we ourselves were chosen; and the Divine favour so conspicuously followed him that no General whom he selected was other than victorious, no Judge whom he appointed was other than just. In short, one might almost deem him to have been endowed with the gift of prophecy. [Sidenote: His Quaestorship.]