Letter 10020: I received Your Piety's letter with the gratitude that always accompanies something long desired, and I was honored...

20. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPRESS THEODORA. [1] I have received the letter of your Piety with that gratitude wherewith things long desired are always welcomed, and I have earned, by most reverent thanksgiving, the converse of your lips, loftier than all gifts, since you promise me everything out of so serene a disposition, inasmuch as I have received in so kindly a conversation whatever I could have wished for. [2] For you exhort me to lay before your perception beforehand whatever we believe ought to be sought from the triumphal prince, your husband and lord. Who now would doubt that what such a power deigns to commend will come to fulfillment? Indeed we presumed beforehand upon the justice of our causes, but now we rejoice the more over your promise. For our prayers cannot be deferred, when she who deserves to be heard takes an interest. Now fulfill your promises, that you may make him hold the thing in hand to whom you have granted the most certain hope. [3] It has been added to my joy as well, that your Serenity has appointed such a man as so great a glory was bound to send and as it befits your service to retain. For there is no doubt that she chooses good character to whom attendance is given assiduously, since it is established that a mind trained by good precepts is purified. Hence it is that, admonished by your reverence, we have thought it should be ordained that either the most blessed pope or the most ample senate should answer without any delay what you have judged ought to be sought from them, lest your glory be thought less worthy of reverence, against which a zeal for delay is set, but rather that, through the swiftness of the deed, the gratitude you long for may be increased. [4] For concerning that person also, about whom something reached us by a titillating word, know that this has been ordained which we believed to accord with your feelings. For our desire is such that, with your favor intervening, you may give commands no less in our kingdom than in your empire. We signify therefore that we caused the aforesaid man to set out from before us, from the venerable man the pope, before your envoy, the bearer of this letter, could have departed from the city of Rome, lest anything should arise that might run counter to your feelings. [5] Wherefore, saluting with the veneration which is owed to such great merits the venerable man, mighty both in character and in learning and revered also with the honor of holiness, we have taken particular care to appoint him to be sent to your Clemency in the office of an embassy, because we believe those persons to be pleasing to you whom we judge to be acceptable in the divine mysteries.

XX. THEODORAE AUGUSTAE THEODAHADUS REX. [1] Litteras pietatis vestrae gratia, qua desiderata semper sumuntur, accepi et colloquia oris vestri muneribus omnibus celsiora reverentissima gratulatione promerui, cuncta mihi de tam sereno animo promittens, quando quicquid optare potui, in tam benigna collocutione suscepi. [2] Hortamini enim ut quicquid expetendum a triumphali principe domno iugali vestro credimus, vestris ante sensibus ingeramus. quis iam dubitet ad effectum pervenire, quod talis potestas dignabitur allegare? ante quidem de causarum nostrarum aequitate praesumpsimus, sed nunc amplius de vestra promissione laetamur. non enim poterunt vota nostra differri, quando interest, quae meretur audiri. nunc implete promissa, ut rem tenere faciatis, cui spem certissimam contulistis. [3] Additum est etiam gaudio meo, quod talem virum vestra serenitas destinavit, qualem et tanta gloria debuit mittere et vestra decet obsequia retinere. dubium enim non est illam mores deligere, cui observatur assidue, dum constat defaecari animum bonis praeceptionibus institutum. hinc est quod vestra reverentia commoniti duximus ordinandum, ut sive beatissimus papa sive senatus amplissimus sine aliqua dilatione respondeant, quod ab eis expetendum esse iudicastis, ne gloria vestra minus reverenda putetur, cui studium dilationis opponitur, sed potius de celeritate facti votiva gratia possit augeri. [4] Nam et de illa persona, de qua ad nos aliquid verbo titillante pervenit, hoc ordinatum esse cognoscite, quod vestris credidimus animis convenire. desiderium enim nostrum tale est, ut interveniente gratia non minus in regno nostro quam in vestro iubeatis imperio. significamus itaque supra dictum ante nos a venerabili viro papa egredi fecisse, quam vester legatus harum portitor de urbe Roma potuisset exire, ne aliquid accederet quod vestris animis obviaret. [5] Quapropter salutans veneratione, quae tantis debet meritis exhiberi, virum venerabilem illum et moribus et doctrina pollentem sanctitatis etiam honore reverendum ad vestram clementiam legationis officio peculiariter curavimus destinandum, quia gratas vobis illas credimus esse personas, quas divinis mysteriis iudicamus acceptas.