Letter 10022: You will recall, wisest of Emperors, that both through our ambassadors and through the very eloquent Peter, whom...

XXII. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. [1] You remember, wisest of princes, both through our envoys and through that most eloquent man Peter [Patricius], whom your Piety recently dispatched to us, with what zeal we desire concord with the serenity of the Augustus. And now once again, through that most holy man, we have thought that these same things ought to be repeated, so that you may judge as true and heartfelt those things which you recognize as frequently sought. For we seek peace in all sincerity, who have no grounds for strife. Let such a peace, then, come to us, so composed, so seemly, that we may be seen rightly to have sought it with such great prayers. But far be it that what is entrusted to us should prove a burden. [2] Rather, on our behalf, arrange what is fitting. For he is drawn toward benevolence to whom a cause is entrusted to be reasonably ordered, nor can he set his own advantage first to whom it is more becoming to furnish what will profit the one who trusts him. Consider also, learned princes, and recall the historical records of your Ablabius, how much your predecessors strove to relinquish of their own right, so that treaties with our forebears might come to them. Reckon with what gratitude those things ought to be received which had been accustomed to be requested. We do not speak arrogantly, who confess the truth. It tends rather to your glory, what we strive to demonstrate, since now those men of their own accord seek your favor who know themselves to be better than their own forebears. Let those be joined in freely given friendship to your hearts whom formerly you were binding to yourselves by your zeal for generosity, lest only the good things of those times be thought to have existed, which you both surpass in abundant kindness and overcome in lavish bounty. [3] And therefore, having first set forth the honor of our greeting, we have made that venerable man, distinguished by his priesthood, conspicuous for the praise of his learning, convey the vows of our embassy to your Piety. For we trust in the divine power that he may both abundantly please you by his own merits and obtain the desires of an upright petition, hoping that we ought to receive him back the more swiftly with the accomplishment of these matters. But because the sequence of a letter could not contain everything, we have entrusted certain things to be conveyed by word to your sacred understanding, lest the lengthy reading of papers should breed weariness in you.

XXII. IUSTINIANO IMPERATORI THEODAHADUS REX. [1] Retinetis, sapientissimi principum, et per legatos nostros et per virum disertissimum Petrum, quem nuper ad nos vestra pietas destinavit, quo studio concordiam Augustae serenitatis optemus. et nunc iterum per illum virum sanctissimum eadem credidimus esse repetenda, ut vera atque affectuosa iudicetis quae frequenter expetita cognoscitis. pacem siquidem sub omni sinceritate petimus, qui causas certaminis non habemus. talis ergo ad nos veniat, sic composita, sic decora, ut eam tantis votis merito quaesisse videamur. absit autem ut quod nobis committitur debeat ingravare. [2] Pro nobis potius tractate quod convenit. trahitur enim ad benivola, cui causa creditur rationabiliter ordinanda, nec potest utilitatem propriam anteferre, cui magis decorum est credenti profutura praestare. considerate etiam, principes docti, et Ablabi vestri historica monimenta recolite, quantum decessores vestri studuerint de suo iure relinquere, ut eis parentum nostrorum foedera provenirent. aestimate, qua gratia debent oblata suscipi, quae consuerant postulari. non arroganter loquimur, qui veritatem fatemur. gloriae vestrae potius proficit quod demonstrare contendimus, quando nunc illi vestram gratiam ultro quaerunt, qui suis parentibus meliores se esse cognoscunt. associentur amicitia gratuita vestris animis quos prius vobis largitatis studio iungebatis, ne bona tantum illorum temporum fuisse credantur, quae vos et copiosa benignitate vincitis et affluenti munere superatis. [3] Atque ideo salutationis honorificentiam praelocuti illum virum venerabilem sacerdotio clarum, doctrinae laude conspicuum legationis nostrae ad pietatem vestram fecimus vota deferre. confidimus enim in virtute divina, quod et suis meritis vobis abunde placeat et desideria probae petitionis optineat, sperantes ut eum cum effectu rerum celerius recipere debeamus. sed quia epistularis series continere non poterat universa, aliqua sacris sensibus verbo insinuanda commisimus, ne fastidium vobis faceret lectio prolixa chartarum.