Letter 1025: VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 25

XXV. KING THEODERIC TO SABINIANUS, MAN OF SPECTABLE RANK. [1] It is of no use to make firm the beginnings of an undertaking, if ordered presumption shall prevail to destroy them: for those things are sturdy, those things long-lasting, which prudence begins and care guards. And therefore greater caution is to be applied in conserving things than in devising them, because for beginnings the praise is owed to the discoverer, but from things kept watch over a praised perfection is acquired. [2] Some time ago, indeed, on account of the walls of the Roman city, upon which it will be our tireless ambition always to expend our zeal, our command appointed that the harbor of Licinius be restored from revenues assigned to it, so that it might supply thousands of roof-tiles by an annual delivery: at the same time also together with the adjoining harbors, which from of old belonged to those places, which now are reported to have been seized by the usurpation of various persons. [3] You shall therefore cause all these things to be recalled, without delay, to the established rendering of dues: for although our commands, on account of the reverence due to them, are in no respect to be violated, we nonetheless wish those especially to be kept which seem to adorn the face of the city. For who would doubt that the marvels of buildings are preserved by this provision, and that vaults turned upon overhanging stone are protected by a covering of tiles? So that the ancient princes ought deservedly to owe their praises to us, to whose buildings we have given the longest youth, so that they may shine through with their pristine newness, those which had already been darkened by torpid old age.

XXV. SABINIANO V. S. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Nil prodest initia rei solidare, si valebit praesumptio ordinata destruere: illa sunt enim robusta, illa diuturna quae prudentia incipit et cura custodit. atque ideo maior in conservandis rebus quam in inveniendis adhibenda cautela est, quia de initiis praedicatio debetur invento, de custoditis adquiritur laudata perfectio. [2] Dudum siquidem propter Romanae moenia civitatis, ubi studium nobis semper impendere infatigabilis ambitus erit, portum Licini deputatis reditibus reparari iussio nostra constituit, ut milia tegularum annua illatione praestaret: simul etiam portubus iunctis, qui ad illa loca antiquitus pertinebant, qui nunc diversorum usurpatione suggeruntur invasi. [3] Cuncta ergo ad statutam praestationem facies sine dilatione revocari: quia licet nostra iussa pro sua reverentia in nullo violanda sunt, ea tamen custodiri volumus maxime, quae urbis faciem videntur ornare. quis enim dubitet fabricarum miracula hac provisione servata et pendenti saxo tornatas camaras tegularum tegmine custoditas? ut antiqui principes nobis merito debeant laudes suas, quorum fabricis dedimus longissimam iuventutem, ut pristina novitate transluceant, quae iam fuerant veternosa senectute fuscata.