Letter 4014: King Theodoric to Gesila, Saio [royal agent/enforcer].

14. King Theoderic to Gesila, Saio [a royal agent of Gothic rank]. [1] It is a grievous kind of wrongdoing to burden one man with the debts of others, so that he who can be made to pay does not deserve to be heard. Let each man attend to his own losses, and let him pay the tax who is known to enjoy the profit of the property. And therefore by the present authority we commission you, that the Goths residing throughout Picenum or both the Tuscanies be compelled, under your pressure, to discharge the dues they owe. [2] For the excess must be checked at its very beginning, lest a foul imitation, like a shameful scab, gradually take hold of the rest. If anyone, therefore, lolling back with a boorish spirit, casts aside our commands, you shall claim his huts for the resources of our treasury, with notices of confiscation affixed, so that he who unjustly refused to pay small sums may reasonably be seen to have lost the greatest. For who ought to be more promptly devoted in their dues to the treasury than those who receive the benefits of the donative, since they receive more from our generosity than is granted by the law of their stipend? For if the matter be considered in the light of our liberality, it is rather we who pay voluntary tributes, we who relieve the fortunes of all.

XIIII. GESILAE SAIONI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Magni peccati genus est alienis debitis alterum praegravare, ut qui potest exigi non mereatur audiri. sua quemque damna respiciant et is solvat tributum, qui possessionis noscitur habere compendium. atque ideo praesenti tibi auctoritate delegamus, ut Gothi per Picenum sive Tuscias utrasque residentes te imminente cogantur exsolvere debitas functiones. [2] In ipsis enim initiis comprimendus excessus est, ne foeda imitatio quasi turpis scabies paulatim reliquos comprehendat. si quis ergo iussa nostra agresti spiritu resupinatus abiecerit, casas eius appositis titulis fisci nostri viribus vindicabis, ut qui iuste noluit parva solvere, rationabiliter videatur maxima perdidisse. qui enim debent ad fiscum celerius esse devoti, nisi qui capiunt commoda donativi, quando amplius de nostra humanitate recipiunt quam stipendii iure praestetur? nam si liberalitatis nostrae causa tractetur, nos potius voluntaria tributa solvimus, qui fortunas omnium sublevamus.