(527).

[Footnote 538: In Nivellius' edition the title of this office is given
as _Praepositus_.]

[Sidenote: Albienus made Praetorian Praefect.]

'Your predecessor has been the model of a bad governor. As the North
wind clears the face of the sky from the rain and clouds brought by
the South wind, so do we look to you to repair the evils wrought by
his misgovernment. In all things your best maxim will be to do exactly
the opposite of what he did. He made himself hateful by his unjust
prosecutions: do you become popular by your righteous deeds. He was
rapacious: be you moderate. Soothe and relieve the harassed people
entrusted to your charge. Receive for this sixth Indiction [Sept. 1,
527-528] the fasces of the Praefecture, and let the office of
Praetorian Praefect return to its ancient fame, an object of praise to
the whole world[539]. This office dates from Joseph, and rightly is he
who holds it called by our laws Father of the Provinces, Father of the
Empire.

[Footnote 539: 'Redeat ad nomen antiquum Praefectura illa Praetorii,
toto orbe laudabilis.' Is it possible that there had been some attempt
to change the _title_ of the Praefect, which accounts for the
_Praepositus_ which in some MSS. we find in the heading of this
letter?]

'See that you avoid all unjust exactions. We cannot bear that our
Treasury should be filled by unrighteous means.

'Your descent from a father who has held the same high office, and
your intimate knowledge of the _Dicta prudentum_, warrant us in
believing that you will make a good judge.'

[I have not been able to find any hint of the name of the Praefectus
Praetorio for 526-527, so bitterly condemned in this letter. As he may
have held office for some years, his misgovernment may have been
connected with the death of Boethius (524). Can we connect him with
the Trigguilla 'Regiae Praepositus Domus' whose injustice is denounced
by Boethius ('Phil. Cons.' i. 4)?]

21. KING ATHALARIC TO CYPRIAN, PATRICIAN.

22. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME.

[Sidenote: Cyprian's elevation to the Patriciate.]

In these two letters the high character and distinguished services of
Cyprian are commemorated. 'Under Theodoric he distinguished himself
both in war and peace. At the time of the war of Sirmium he was
conspicuous both in his resistance to the fiery onslaught of the
Bulgarians and in his active pursuit of them when their ranks were
broken[540]. He then filled, with gr