eat credit to himself, the office
of Referendarius[541]. Great was the responsibility of exercising
peaceful as well as warlike offices under such a master as Theodoric.
In fact the training for one was helpful for the other, since it
required a soldier's courage and promptness to be always ready with a
truthful and accurate reply to that keen, firm-minded ruler of
men[542].

[Footnote 540: 'Vidit te adhuc gentilis' (still under the dominion of
the Gepidae) 'Danubius bellatorem: non te terruit Bulgarorum globus,
qui etiam nostris erat praesumptione certaminis obstaturus. Peculiare
tibi fuit et renitentes Barbaros aggredi, et conversos terrore
sectari. Sic victoriam Gothorum non tam numero quam labore juvisti.']

[Footnote 541: For a description of his services in this function, see
Var. v. 40.]

[Footnote 542: This is evidently the meaning; but something seems to
have dropped out of the text.]

'Thence he was promoted to the dignity of Count of the Sacred
Largesses, a post well suited to his pure, self-restrained
character[543]. He is now growing old in body, but ever young in fame,
and the King heartily wishes him increase of years to enjoy his
renown.

[Footnote 543: 'Hoc est laborum tuorum aptissimum munus: quam sic
casta sic moderata mente peregisti ut majora tibi deberi faceres,
quamvis eam in magna praemia suscepisses.']

'Rightly, too, is there now conferred upon him the dignity of
_Patricius_, since he is the father of such noble sons, men whose
childhood was passed in the palace under the very eye of Theodoric
(thus like young eagles already learning to gaze upon the sun), and
who now cultivate the friendship of the Goths, learn from them all
martial exercises, speak their language, and thus give evident tokens
of their future fidelity to the Gothic nation[544].

[Footnote 544: 'Relucent etiam gratia gentili, nec cessant armorum
imbui fortibus institutis. _Pueri stirpis Romanae nostra lingua
loquuntur; eximie indicantes exhibere se nobis futuram fidem, quorum
jam videntur affectasse sermonem.... Variis linguis loquuntur
egregie_, maturis viris communione miscentur.']

'The Senate is therefore exhorted to welcome its thus promoted
colleague, who at each accession of rank has shown himself yet
worthier of his high place, and whom grandfather and grandson have
both delighted to honour. Thus will it renew the glories of the Decii
and the Corvini, who were its sons in the days of old.'

[The subject of