'

[Footnote 246: Evidently 'sic enim Atheniensium scholas longe positus
introisti' does not mean that Boethius actually visited Athens, but
that he became thoroughly at home in the works of Athenian
philosophers.]

46. KING THEODORIC TO GUNDIBAD [SIC], KING OF THE BURGUNDIANS.

[Sidenote: On the same subject.]

Sends the two clocks, or rather perhaps the celestial globe and the
water-clock.

'Have therefore in your country what you have often seen in Rome. It
is right that we should send you presents, because you are connected
with us by affinity. It is said that under you "Burgundia" looks into
the most subtle things, and praises the discoveries of the ancients.
Through you she lays aside her "Gentile" (barbarous) nature, and
imitating the prudence of her King, rightly desires to possess the
inventions of sages. Let her arrange her daily actions by the
movements of God's great lights; let her nicely adjust the moments of
each hour. In mere confusion passes the order of life when this
accurate division of time is unknown. Men are like the beasts, if they
only know the passage of the hours by the pangs of hunger, and have no
greater certainty as to the flight of time than such as is afforded
them by their bellies. For certainty is undoubtedly meant to be
entwined in human actions.'

BOOK II.

CONTAINING FORTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF
THEODORIC.

I. KING THEODORIC TO ANASTASIUS, MOST PIOUS EMPEROR. A.D. 511.

[Sidenote: Consulship of Felix.]

'By excellent ordinance of the ancients the year is named from the
Consul. Let the happy year take its title from our new Consul, _Felix_
[Consul with Secundinus, A.D. 511[247]].

[Footnote 247: 'Portamque dierum tali nomine dicatus annus, tempos
introeat.' The figure here used seems borrowed from Claudian, In
Primum Cons. Stilichonis ii. 425-476.]

'It is most suitable that Rome should gather back her children to her
bosom, and in her venerable Senate should enrol a son of Gaul.

'Felix showed his excellent disposition first in this, that while
still a young man he hastened to "the native land of all the virtues"
[Rome]. Success followed his choice; we promoted him as he deserved.
While still a young man, deprived of his father's care, he showed the
rare gift of continence; he subdued avarice, the enemy of wisdom; he
despised the blandishments of vice; he trampled under foot the
vanities of pride.

'We have now determined to re