Letter 2011: VARIAE, BOOK 2, LETTER 11

King Theoderic to Probinus, vir illustris [man of illustrious rank], patrician. [1] Among the other burdens that weigh upon the human race, marital affection has claimed for itself a particular concern: not undeservedly, since that deserves to be held in honor from which the renewal of posterity is obtained. Every crime pursues only its perpetrators, but a mother's transgression passes over to her children, and by a strange outcome of misfortune another's wickedness becomes one's own disgrace. For this reason, then, the laws, whether divine or public, command the bond of marriage to be guarded with such great care, that it is a grave offense against conscience not to hold another's affections in reverence. [2] For Basilius, vir spectabilis [man of respectable rank], by petition submitted has made known that Agapita, his wife, was lured away from her own household by certain persons through the vice of seduction, since that female sex lies open to the vices of inconstancy: which he has confirmed also by the petition of his aforementioned wife laid before us; adding that she, when she had taken refuge within the precincts of the most sacred church, with her husband unaware and without due consideration of the matter, conferred upon Your Greatness the estate called Arcinatina. Wherefore now, coming to her senses, she laments the most grievous destitution she has brought upon herself, condemning her own deed, inasmuch as she, a poor woman, gave to a rich man, an unchaste woman to a chaste, a foolish woman to a prudent man. [3] Now cast aside gains that do not appear to commend an honorable person, since it rather befits you to acquire that which can also increase your reputation. On this matter we had earlier given instructions, and now with a repeated command we renew them, that you restore the above-written property without any hesitation. For the alienation of property requires that one possess sound judgment, and surely she who was engaged in these matters is shown to have lost firm counsel. For what upright thing could she do, who, with no faults existing, abandoned her husband?

XI. PROBINO V. I. PATRICIO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Inter cetera humani generis pondera coniugalis affectus curam sibi praecipuam vindicavit: non inmerito, quia in honore esse meretur, unde reparatio posteritatis adquiritur. omne facinus auctores solos insequitur: error matris transit ad filios et novo infelicitatis eventu fit dedecus proprium scelus alienum. ideo enim iura vel divina vel publica nexum coniugii tanta cautela praecipiunt custodiri, ut crimen sit magnum conscientiae alienos affectus in reverentiam non habere. [2] Basilius siquidem vir spectabilis datis precibus intimavit Agapitam coniugem suam de propriis penatibus a quibusdam vitio sollicitationis abductam, dum sexus ille femineus ad mutabilitatis vitia patet: quod etiam oblata nobis supra memoratae coniugis suae petitione firmavit: adiciens eam, cum in sacrosanctae ecclesiae saepta refugisset, ignorante marito magnitudini tuae casam Arcinatinam ratione postposita contulisse. unde nunc resipiens deplorat ingestam sibimet gravissimam nuditatem, factum suum ipsa condemnans, quippe ut pauper diviti, casto lubrica, prudenti viro donaret insipiens. [3] Nunc abicite lucra, quae honestam non videntur commendare personam, quia illud vos potius decet adquirere, quod et famam vestram possit augere. hinc etiam prius praecepta dederamus et nunc iterata iussione repetimus, ut supra scriptam rem sine aliqua dubitatione reddatis. alienatio enim rerum solidum desiderat habere iudicium, et certe in his versata rebus, firmum docetur perdidisse consilium. quid enim facere potuit probum, quae nullis culpis extantibus reliquit maritum?