Letter 3003: KING THEODERIC TO THE KING OF THE HERULS, TO THE KING OF THE WARNI, TO THE KING OF THE THURINGIANS

III. A CIRCULAR LETTER OF THIS KIND TO THE KING OF THE HERULI, TO THE KING OF THE WARNI, TO THE KING OF THE THURINGIANS, FROM KING THEODERIC. [1] The assent of all should pursue pride, ever hateful to the Godhead. For he who wishes to overthrow a renowned people by willful injustice does not intend to keep justice toward the rest. It is a most wicked habit to despise the truth. He believes that all things yield to him, if it should fall to his lot, in some detestable contest, to overcome the haughty. [2] And therefore do you, whom a conscious valor uplifts and whom consideration of a detestable presumption inflames, send your envoys together with mine and with those of our brother King Gundobad to Lyon [Luduin = Clovis, king of the Franks], that he either, having weighed equity, hold himself back from conflict with the Visigoths and seek the laws of the nations, or that he endure the assault of all who judge the arbitration of so many to deserve contempt. What more does he seek, to whom unconditional justice is offered? I shall say plainly what I feel: he who wishes to act without law intends to shatter the kingdoms of all. [3] But it is better that a destructive undertaking be checked at the outset, so that what could have been the struggle of individuals may be brought to completion without toil for all. For call to mind the affection of Euric the elder, with how many gifts he often aided you, how often he warded off from you the imminent wars of neighboring peoples. Render to his son the gratitude which nevertheless you acknowledge to have been bestowed upon your own advantage. For if anything shall have prevailed against so great a kingdom, he will without doubt presume to attack you. [4] Wherefore, greeting your excellency with this epistolary discourse, we have entrusted to our envoys, this man and that man, the bearers of the present letter, certain things to be said to you by word of mouth, so that you, who by God's help follow our purpose, may be embraced by a single assent, and may carry this on abroad, lest you should have to fight within your own provinces.

III. EPISTULA UNIFORMIS TALIS AD ERULORUM REGEM: AD GUARNORUM REGEM: AD THORINGORUM REGEM THEODERICUS REX. [1] Superbiam divinitati semper exosam persequi debet generalitatis assensus. nam qui vult opinabilem gentem voluntaria iniquitate subvertere, non disponit ceteris iusta servare. pessima consuetudo est despicere veritatem. credit sibi omnia cedere, si elatum contigerit in abominabili certamine superare. [2] Et ideo vos, quos conscia virtus erigit et consideratio detestabilis praesumptionis accendit, legatos vestros una cum meis et fratris nostri Gundibadi regis ad Francorum regem Luduin destinate, ut aut se de VVisigotharum conflictu considerata aequitate suspendat et leges gentium quaerat aut omnium patiatur incursum, qui tantorum arbitrium iudicat esse temnendum. quid quaerit ultra, cui offertur absoluta iustitia? dicam plane quod sentio: qui sine lege vult agere, cunctorum disponit regna quassare. [3] Sed melius inter initia perniciosa reprimatur assumptio, ut sine labore perficiatur omnium, quod certamen esse poterat singulorum. recolite namque Eurici senioris affectum, quantis vos iuvit saepe muneribus, quotiens a vobis proximarum gentium imminentia bella suspendit. reddite filio eius gratiam, quam tamen agnoscitis vestris utilitatibus attributam. nam si tanto regno aliquid praevaluerit, vos aggredi sine dubitatione praesumit. [4] Quapropter excellentiam vestram epistulari sermone salutantes per legatos nostros illum et illum praesentium portitores verbo vobis aliqua dicenda commisimus, ut vos, qui nostrum sequimini deo iuvante dispositum, unus complectatur assensus et foris hoc agatis, ne in vestris provinciis dimicare possitis.