ke their function in any nation whatsoever; as fire,
wheresoever it be, always remaineth hot. But because not their own
nature, but the deceitful opinion of men attributeth that to them, they
forthwith come to nothing, being brought to them who esteem them not to
be dignities.

And this for foreign nations. But do they always last among them where
they had their beginning? The Praetorship, a great dignity in time past,
is now an idle name, and an heavy burden of the Senate's fortune. If
heretofore one had care of the people's provision, he was accounted a
great man; now what is more abject than that office? For as we said
before, that which hath no proper dignity belonging unto it sometime
receiveth and sometime loseth his value at the users' discretion.
Wherefore if dignities cannot make us respected, if they be easily
defiled with the infection of the wicked, if their worth decays by
change of times, if diversities of nations make them contemptible, what
beauty have they in themselves, or can they afford to others, worth the
desiring?

[123] Cf. Catull. lii.

[124] Decoratus was quaestor _circa_ 508; cf. Cassiod. _Ep_. v. 3 and 4.

IV.

Quamuis se Tyrio superbus ostro
Comeret et niueis lapillis,
Inuisus tamen omnibus uigebat
Luxuriae Nero saeuientis.
Sed quondam dabat improbus uerendis 5
Patribus indecores curules.
Quis illos igitur putet beatos
Quos miseri tribuunt honores?

IV.

Though fierce and lustful Nero did adorn
Himself with purple robes, which pearls did grace,
He did but gain a general hate and scorn.
Yet wickedly he officers most base
Over the reverend Senators did place.
Who would esteem of fading honours then
Which may be given thus by the wickedest men?

V.

An uero regna regumque familiaritas efficere potentem ualet? Quidni, quando
eorum felicitas perpetuo perdurat? Atqui plena est exemplorum uetustas,
plena etiam praesens aetas, qui reges felicitatem calamitate mutauerint. O
praeclara potentia quae ne ad conseruationem quidem sui satis efficax
inuenitur! Quod si haec regnorum potestas beatitudinis auctor est, nonne si
qua parte defuerit, felicitatem minuat, miseriam inportet? Sed quamuis late
humana tendantur imperia, plures necesse est gentes relinqui quibus regum
quisque non imperet. Qua uero parte beatos faciens desinit potestas, hac
inpotentia subintrat quae misero