Surviving Works, Vol. I

3. And regarding this abbreviation of writing, which is found in almost all codices of the Commentaries on the Dream of Scipio and the Saturnalia, those who interpret it as viri consularis et inlustris of a man of consular and illustrious rank judge correctly 15. Casp. Barthius (l. c.) from one of his codices cites Macrobii Theodosii viri consularis et illustris, and from another: Macrobii Ambrosii Theodosii viri clari et illustris. From my codices, I found in P6 in the subscription of Book II of the Commentaries: viri illustris et clarissimi, and in P1 in the inscription of Book I of the Saturnalia: viri clarissimi et illustris. That senators were called viri clarissimi most distinguished men out of honor in that age is evident both from other places and from what is read in Ael. Lampridius, Alex. Sever. c. 21: "He added senatorial dignity to his praetorian prefects, so that they both were and were called viri clarissimi." 16 But senators of the third rank were called clarissimi, and those of the first rank were called illustres 17, so that one and the same person could not be called vir clarissimus and inlustris, but could be called vir consularis and inlustris. Nor does the fact that we know from the consular lists that he was not a consul prevent us from establishing that Macrobius was called a vir consularis; for it was so far from being the case in that age that only those who had been consuls were called consulares, that Lampridius reports (Elagabal. c. 4) that women were called by this title out of honor.

4. This title of honor sufficiently demonstrates that Macrobius had ascended almost to the highest peak 18. But to prove what office he had held, Isaac Pontanus, prompted by Jos. Scaliger, brought forth 19 these words from the edict concerning those in charge of the sacred bedchamber, which is read in the Theodosian Code, Book VI, title 8:

"But, just as the merits of the illustrious man Macrobius have prompted us to this promulgation, so we wish to take the beginning of the observance of the law from his advancement, so that those who were before him may rejoice in the honor established under this condition, that they do not turn the times of their own promotion toward the usurpation of the law, nor demand to be preferred to those who have obtained the praetorian or urban prefecture or the military mastership after their advancement; but let them be held as if they had just received it, and remaining in the same order in which our liberality has now placed them, let them measure the times of the advancement of the illustrious man Macrobius, so that from the beginning of this administration, just as each has been advanced or will be advanced, he may claim the place of his dignity."

I. Gronovius added: