Letter 1020: KING THEODERIC TO ALBINUS AND AVIENUS, MEN OF ILLUSTRIOUS RANK AND PATRICIANS.

King Theoderic to Albinus and Avienus, both Most Honorable Men [vir illustris] and Patricians. [1] Although, amid the glorious cares of the commonwealth and the salutary surges of royal anxieties, it may seem a very small matter for a prince to speak about the spectacles, nevertheless, out of love for the Roman commonwealth, it will not irk us to enter into these thoughts as well, because from whatever quarter we are able to render service, we judge it worthy of our concerns, especially since the happiness of the times is the gladness of the peoples. For this, by God's favor, vouches for our labors: that the general populace recognizes itself to be at ease. [2] And so, upon the petition presented by the Green faction-since this has been introduced, that the peoples are named after a color-we have learned that turbulent seditions are being incited by certain most wicked men, and that a cause of public gladness has burst out into struggles of frenzy. This surely cannot possess the becoming quality of joy, if it has not deserved to possess the peace shared in common. And therefore it is fitting for our clemency to look upon these matters too, so that everywhere uprightness of conduct may shine forth. For we are not concerned with the empty noise of the people's words, but we are shutting out the seed of pernicious sedition. [3] Wherefore let your illustrious greatness, admonished by the present command, worthily take up the patronage of the Green faction which your father, of glorious memory, bestowed upon it. For it ought not to be reckoned an injury to rule and govern the Roman peoples. For if the reason for all honors be weighed, those who have deserved to receive the most glorious honors have been chosen for their benefit. [4] Therefore, with the spectators convened, when it has been judged which of the two, Helladius or Thorodon, is the more suitable for the public gladness, and the people's confusion having been removed, let the pantomime of the Greens be appointed by you, so that we may be seen to have conferred upon chosen men the expense which we lay out for the spectacle of the city. [5] Our forefathers named this branch of the discipline of music the "mute" one, namely the one which, with the mouth closed, speaks with the hands and by certain gesticulations makes understood what could scarcely be recognized by the tongue narrating it or by the text of writing.

XX. ALBINO ET AVIENO VV. II. ATQUE PATRICIIS THEODERICUS REX. [1] Licet inter gloriosas rei publicae curas et regalium sollicitudinum salutiferos fluctus pars minima videatur principem de spectaculis loqui, tamen pro amore rei publicae Romanae non pigebit has quoque cogitationes intrare, quia undecumque praestare possumus, dignum nostris sensibus aestimamus, praesertim cum beatitudo sit temporum laetitia populorum. illud enim propitiante deo labores nostros asserit, quod se otiosam generalitas esse cognoscit. [2] Partis itaque prasini insinuata petitione comperimus—quoniam hoc introductum est, ut populi de colore vocitentur—seditiones turbulentas a quibusdam scelestissimis incitari et causam laetitiae publicae ad furoris certamina prorupisse. quod utique gaudii decoram non potest habere qualitatem, si pacem non meruerit possidere communem. et ideo dignum est clementiam nostram has quoque partes aspicere, ut ubique possit morum probitas elucere. non enim inania verborum popularium cogitamus, sed perniciosae semen seditionis excludimus. [3] Quapropter illustris magnitudo vestra praesenti iussione commonita patrocinium partis prasini, quod gloriosae recordationis pater vester impendit, dignanter assumat. putari enim non debet iniuria populos regere ac gubernare Romanos. nam si honorum omnium causa pensetur, pro illorum utilitate delecti sunt, qui honores gloriosissimos accipere meruerunt. [4] Convocatis ergo spectatoribus, de Helladio et Thorodon qui laetitiae publicae aptior fuerit aestimatus, populi confusione sublata constituatur a vobis prasini pantomimus, quatenus sumptum, quem pro spectaculo civitatis impendimus, electis contulisse videamur. [5] Hanc partem musicae disciplinae mutam nominavere maiores, scilicet quae ore clauso manibus loquitur et quibusdam gesticulationibus facit intellegi, quod vix narrante lingua aut scripturae textu possit agnosci.