Letter 4027: King Theodoric to Tutizar, Saio [royal agent].

27. KING THEODERIC TO TUTIZAR, SAIO [a royal agent of the Gothic court]. [1] Every injury is indeed detestable, and whatever is committed against the laws is condemned with just execration; but the worst of all evils is judged to be that one should suffer harm from the very quarter whence aid was believed to come. For cruelty turned to its opposite aggravates the fault, and an unforeseen betrayal adds greater weight to the guilt. [2] And so the respectable gentleman Peter has lodged a complaint with us concerning a marvelous turn of fortune: that the protection of the saio Amara, which we had granted him against violent men, was rather perpetrated upon himself, so much so that the interposition of a doorpost somewhat slowed a sword-stroke driven down against him. His hand was exposed to the wound, and so that it might not, being wholly severed, fall off, the struck timbers of the doors preserved it; there, the force having spent itself, the gleaming edge of the iron only grazed the extremities of his body. [3] O execrable mishap! His own help assailed the man, and, the favorable circumstance of relief being withdrawn, his peril grew out of his very defense. Adding to these things much more bitter ones, so that as it were the injury came to bear a price, the man's own wickedness was assessed by an enormous exaction. And therefore the wrath of our piety justly rises up against those who have turned kindly commands into savage services. For what refuges will there be for suppliants, if even our benefits will wound them? [4] Accordingly, by the present command we decree that whatever the aforesaid Amara received under the name of profit from the affairs of the said suppliant, he, being constrained by you as an ungrateful assailant, shall be compelled to repay to him twofold; for it is fitting that what is established to have been extorted by wicked rashness be restored under penalty. [5] But concerning the wound which the reckless presumer inflicted with drawn sword, let the often-mentioned saio, at your summons, come to be heard at the tribunal of Count Duda, so that, according to the tenor of the edicts, he may make amends without any delay for whatever shall have been shown to have been wrongly committed. And to the one who requests it you shall, by our command, grant protection against uncivil assaults, with public order preserved-not after the example of the accused, but with the consideration of one decently chosen.

XXVII. TUTIZAR SAIONI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Detestabilis est quidem omnis iniuria et quicquid contra leges admittitur iusta execratione damnatur: sed malorum omnium probatur extremum inde detrimenta suscipere, unde credebantur auxilia provenire. exaggerat enim culpam in contrarium versa crudelitas et maius reatui pondus est inopinata deceptio. [2] Vir spectabilis itaque Petrus ammiranda nobis sorte conquestus est saionis Amarae tuitionem, quam ei contra violentos indulsimus, in se potius fuisse grassatam, ita ut ictum gladii in se demersum aliquatenus postium retardaret obiectio: subiecta est vulneri manus, quae ut in totum truncata non caderet, ianuarum percussa robora praestiterunt: ubi lassato impetu corusca ferri acies corporis extrema perstrinxit. [3] O execrabilem casum! impugnavit hominem auxilium suum et solacii prosperitate subtracta crevit ex defensione necessitas. his multo acerbiora subiungens, ut quasi laesio veniret ad pretium, ita scelus proprium enormi exactione taxatum est. atque ideo iuste in illos pietatis nostrae ira consurgit, qui benigna iussa in truculenta ministeria mutaverunt. nam quae erunt refugia supplicantibus, si et nostra beneficia vulnerabunt? [4] Proinde praesenti iussione censemus, ut quicquid suprascriptus Amara commodi nomine de causis memorati supplicantis accepit, quasi oppugnator ingratus a te constrictus in duplo ei cogatur exsolvere: quia sub poena restitui dignum est, quod improba temeritate constat extortum. [5] De plaga vero, quam educto gladio temerarius praesumptor inflixit, ad iudicium comitis Dudae saepe dictus saio te compellente veniat audiendus, ut secundum edictorum seriem quae male commissa claruerint, sine aliqua dilatione componat. tuitionem vero postulanti contra inciviles impetus ex nostra iussione salva civilitate praestabis, non exemplo accusati, sed consideratione decenter electi.