2 153. CASSIODORUS. 653
seven books, but only five have been published complete, and thai only in the Latin translation of Peter Morel, made from the original MS. brought to Paris from Mt. Athos.1 Cardinal Mai has, however, given fragments of Books vi. viii. ix. x. xii. xv. xvii. xx. xxiii. xxiv. xxv., and these Migue has reprinted with a Latin translation. The work is, like the Panoply of Euthymius, a learned text-book of theology and a refutation of heresy, but it has more original matter in it, and being written by a layman and a statesman is more popular.
Book 1st is a statement of Gentile philosophy and of the errors of the Jews. Book 2d treats of the Holy Trinity, and of angels and men. Book 3d of the Incarnate Word. From Book 4th to the end the several heresies are described and combated. Nicetas begins with Simon Magus and goes down to his own day.
But his fame really rests upon his History? which tells the story of Byzantine affairs from 1117 to 1205; and is an able and reliable book. The closing portions interestingly describe the destruction or mutilation of the monuments in Constanti nople by the Latins.
§ 153. Cassiodorus.
I. MAGNUS AURELIUS CASSIODORUS SENATOR : Opera omnia, in Migne,
"Patrol. Lat." Tom. LXIX. col. 421-LXX. Keprint of ed. of the Benedictine Jean Garet, Rouen, 1679, 2 vols. 2d ed., Venice, 1729. The Chronicon was edited from MSS. by Theodor Mommsen, Leip zig, 1861, separately published from Abhandlungen der koniylich- »dchsisc/icn Gesellschaft derWissenschaften. Historische Klasse. Bd. III. The Liber dc rhetorica, a part of his Institutiones, was edited by C. Halm, Leipzig, 1863.
II. Vita, by JEAN GARET, in Migne, LXIX., col. 437-484. and De vita monasfica disnertatio, by the same, col. 483-498. DENIS DE SAINTE- MARTHE: Vie de Cassiodore. Paris, 1694. OLLERIS: Cassiodore conscrvateur dcs livres de Vaittiquitt latine. Paris, 1841. A. THOR- BECKE: Cassiodorus Senator. Heidelberg, 1867. A. FRANZ: Mag-
1 So Morel believed. See the interesting story in Migne, CXXXIX. col. 295. s llcropia. Ibid. col. 309-1057.
654 FOURTH PERIOD. A.D. 590-1049.
nus Aurelius Cassiodorius Senator. Breslau, 1872. IGNAZIO CIAMPI : /. Cassiodori nel V. e nel VI. secolo. Imola, 1876. Of. Du PIN, V. 43-44. CEILLIER, XI. 207-254. TEUFFEL, 1098-1104. A. EBERT, I. 473-490.
MAGNUS AURELIUS CASSIODORUS SENATOR/ whose* services to classical literature can not be over-estimated, was descended from an old Roman family, famous for its efficiency in state affairs. He was born about 477, at Scyllacium in Bruttium, the present Squillace in Calabria, the extreme southwest division of Italy. His father, whose name was Cassiodorus also, was pretorian prefect to Theodoric, and senator. The son, in recognition of his extraordinary abilities, was made qua?stor when about twenty years of age, and continued in the service of Theodoric, as private secretary and indeed prime minis ter, being also with him on terms of friendship, until the latter's death, Aug. 30, 526. He directed the administration of Amalasontha, the daughter of Theodoric, during the minority of her son Athalaric, and witnessed her downfall (535), but retained his position near the throne under Theodatus and Vitiges. He was also consul and three times pretorian prefect. He labored earnestly to reconcile the Romans to their conquerors.
But about 540 he withdrew from the cares and dangers of office, and found in the seclusion of his charming pater nal domains in Bruttium abundant scope for his activities in the pursuit of knowledge and the preservation of learning. He voluntarily closed one chapter of his life, one, too, full of honor and fame, and opened another which, little as he expected it, was destined to be of world-wide importance. Cassiodorus the statesman became Cassiodorus the monk, and unwittingly ex changed the service of the Goths for the service of humanity. The place of his retirement was the monastery of Viviers (Monasterium Vivariense), at the foot of Mt. Moscius,2 in southwestern
1 Senator was a part of his proper name. Cassiodorius is a variant of Cas siodorus.
2 Var. xii. 15 (Migne, LXIX. col. 867).