-----------------------------------------------------------------
568 " The Lombards ALBOIN,
under Alboin King of the
enter Italy. Lombards.
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569 " Milan taken
by the
Lombards.
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570 "
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571 " Ticinum
taken
by the
Lombards.
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572 "
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573 " Composition Assassination CLEPH, Death of
of treatise of Alboin. King of the John III.
'De Lombards.
Orthographia'
in 93rd
year of
Cassiodorus.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
574 " Death of BENEDICT I.
Cleph.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
575 " Cassiodorus
dies in
his 95th
year (?).
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THE

LETTERS OF CASSIODORUS.

PREFACE[192].

[Footnote 192: Translated in full.]

[Sidenote: Reason for publication: entreaties of friends.]

Learned men, who had become my friends through conversations which we
had had together, or benefits which I had bestowed upon them, sought
to persuade me to draw together into one work the various utterances
which it had been my duty to make, during my tenure of office, for the
explanation of different affairs. They desired me to do this, in order
that future generations might recognise the painful labours which I
had undergone for the public good, and the workings of my own unbribed
conscience. I then replied that their very kindness for me