d a sense.]

25. FORMULA RECOMMENDING THE PRINCIPES[480] TO THE COMES.

[Footnote 480: Plural. Apparently, therefore, each Count had more than
one Princeps, perhaps one for each large city in his Province.]

[Sidenote: Ad Commendandos Comiti Principes.]

'It is our glory to see you [a Goth, one of our own nation]
accompanied by a Roman official staff. Acting through such Ministers,
your power seems to be hallowed by the sanction of Antiquity.

'For to this point, by God's help, have we brought our Goths, that
they should be both well-trained in arms and attuned to justice. It is
this which the other races cannot accomplish; this that makes you
unique among the nations, namely, that you, who are accustomed to war,
are seen to live obedient to the laws side by side with the Romans.
Therefore from out of our _Officium_, we have decided to send A and B
to you, that according to ancient custom, while forwarding the
execution of your commands they may bring those commands into
conformity with the mind of past ages[481].'

[Footnote 481: 'Rationabili debeant antiquitate moderari.' Perhaps we
might translate, 'with the Common Law.']

26. FORMULA OF THE COUNTSHIP OF THE SECOND RANK IN DIVERS CITIES[482].

[Footnote 482: The title runs thus (in Nivellius' Edition): 'Formula
Comitivae Honorum Scientiae Ordinis diversarum Civitatum.' I do not
know what is meant by 'Honorum Scientiae.' Can 'Scientiae' be a
transcriber's blunder for 'secundi?']

[Sidenote: Comitiva diversarum civitatum.]

For the sentences, more than usually devoid of meaning, in which
Cassiodorus dilates on Free-will, Justice, and the mind of man, it may
be well to substitute Manso's description of this dignity (p. 379):

'By the title of a Count of the Second Order the Judges in little
towns appear chiefly to have been rewarded and encouraged. Those named
for it, however, can hardly have received any great distinction or
especial privileges, for Cassiodorus not only enumerates no civic
advantages thus secured to them, but expressly says, "We intend to
bestow better things than this upon you, if you earn our approbation
in your present office." He does not use this language to those
adorned with the _Comitiva Primi Ordinis_.'

27. FORMULA ADDRESSED TO THE DIGNIFIED CULTIVATORS AND CURIALES[483].

[Footnote 483: Cf. vi. 24.]

[Sidenote: Honorati Possessores et Curiales.]

'As one must rule and the rest obey, we have for this Indiction
conferre