Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, John C. Rolfe (Translator), val2.14.79

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[79] Now King Theodoric was without training in letters, and of such dull comprehension that for ten years of his reign he had been wholly unable to learn the four letters necessary for endorsing his edicts. For that reason he had a golden plate with slits made, containing the four letters legi;¹ then, if he wished to endorse anything, he placed the plate over the paper and drew his pen through the slits, so that only this subscription of his was seen.²

Res Gestae. Ammianus Marcellinus. John C. Rolfe (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1935-1940.

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Current edition Perseus

History (English) (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Res Gestae Perseus (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).) — val2.14.79 focus

[79] Igitur rex Theodericus illiteratus erat et sic obtuso¹ sensu, ut in decem annos regni sui quattuor litteras subscriptionis edicti sui discere nullatenus potuisset. De qua re laminam auream iussit interrasilem² fieri, quattuor litteras legi³ habentem; unde si subscribere voluisset, posita lamina super chartam, per eam pennam ducebat,⁴ ut subscriptio eius tantum⁵ videretur.

Notes on the current edition

History

1. I have read (it). Or perhaps θεοδ; see regis, crit. note 2, and supply nominis.

2. The same story is told by Procopius, Anecdota, 6, 15, of the emperor Justinus.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae val2.14.79

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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