Letter 4050: King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Prefect.

King Theoderic to Faustus, Praetorian Prefect. [1] The Campanians, devastated by the hostility of Mount Vesuvius, have poured out suppliant tears before our clemency, asking that, stripped bare of the fruits of their fields, they be relieved of the burden of their tax obligation. Our piety deservedly consents that this should be done. [2] But since to us the calamity of each individual, being uninvestigated, remains uncertain, we command your greatness to send a man of proven fidelity into the territory of Nola or Naples, where the very necessity rages with a kind of domestic injury, so that, with the fields there diligently inspected, relief may be granted in proportion to how far the proprietor's profit has suffered: in such a way that the measure of the benefit may be conferred with due moderation, while the full extent of the injury is ascertained. [3] For this province, despoiled of its lands, labors under this one evil; and lest it enjoy perfect happiness, it is frequently shaken by the bitterness of this fear. Yet that terrible occurrence is not wholly harsh: it sends ahead grievous signs, so that the adversities may be borne more tolerably. [4] For with nature struggling against such great masses, the chasm of that mountain murmurs, so that a certain spirit, roused up, terrifies the neighboring regions with a deep-sounding roar. For the airs of that place are darkened by a most foul exhalation, and it is known throughout almost all of Italy when that indignation is stirred up. The burnt-out ash flies through the great void, and, with earthy clouds raised up, it rains down even upon the provinces across the sea with dusty drops; and what Campania can suffer is recognized, when its evil is felt in another part of the world. [5] There you may see, as it were, certain dusty rivers flowing, and the barren mass of sands running down in a seething rush like liquid streams. You may be astonished that suddenly the backs of the fields have swollen up to the very tops of the trees, and that what had been adorned with the most joyful greenery has suddenly been laid waste by a mournful heat. That perpetual furnace vomits forth sands that are indeed pumice-like, yet fertile, which, although they have been dried by long-lasting scorching, soon bring forth seeds taken up into various offspring, and with a certain great swiftness repair the things which a little before they had laid waste. What is this singular exception, that one mountain should so roar that it is proved to terrify so many parts of the world by an alteration of the air, and so to scatter its own substance everywhere that it does not seem to feel the loss? [6] Far and wide it bedews with dust, but upon its neighbors it belches forth certain masses; and for so many ages it is held to be a mountain, though it is spent by such great disbursements. Who would believe that such enormous clods, carried down even onto the plains, have boiled up out of such deep chasms, and that, spat out by a certain spirit blowing from the mouth of the mountain, they have been cast forth like light chaff? [7] In other places great mountain peaks are seen to burn in their own locality; but it has been granted that the fires of this one can be known to almost the whole world. How then should we not believe the inhabitants concerning that which can be recognized by the testimony of the entire world? Therefore, as has been said, let your prudence choose such a man as may both confer remedies upon the injured and leave no room for fraudulent claims.

L. FAUSTO PPO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Campani Vesuvii montis hostilitate vastati clementiae nostrae supplices lacrimas profuderunt, ut agrorum fructibus enudati subleventur onere tributariae functionis. quod fieri debere nostra merito pietas adquiescit. [2] Sed quia nobis dubia est uniuscuiusque indiscussa calamitas, magnitudinem vestram ad Nolanum sive Neapolitanum territorium probatae fidei virum praecipimus destinare, ubi necessitas ipsa domestica quadam laesione grassatur, ut agris ibidem diligenter inspectis, in quantum possessoris laboravit utilitas, sublevetur: quatenus mensurate conferatur quantitas beneficii, dum modus integer cognoscitur laesionis. [3] Laborat enim hoc uno malo terris deflorata provincia, quae ne perfecta beatitudine frueretur, huius timoris frequenter acerbitate concutitur. sed non in totum durus est eventus ille terribilis: praemittit signa gravia, ut tolerabilius sustineantur adversa. [4] Tantis enim molibus natura rixante montis illius hiatus immurmurat, ut excitatus quidam spiritus grandisono fremitu vicina terrificet. fuscantur enim aera loci illius exhalatione taeterrima et per totam paene Italiam cognoscitur, quando illa indignatio commovetur. volat per inane magnum cinis decoctus et terrenis nubibus excitatis transmarinas quoque provincias pulvereis guttis compluit, et quid Campania pati possit, agnoscitur, quando malum eius in orbis alia parte sentitur. [5] Videas illic quasi quosdam fluvios ire pulvereos et harenarum sterile impetu fervente velut liquida fluenta decurrere. stupeas subito usque ad arborum cacumina dorsa intumuisse camporum et luctuoso subito calore vastata, quae laetissima fuerant viriditate depicta. vomit fornax illa perpetua pumiceas quidem, sed fertiles harenas, quae licet diuturna fuerint adustione siccatae, in varios fetus suscepta germina mox producunt et magna quadam celeritate reparant, quae paulo ante vastaverant. quae est ista singularis exceptio unum montem sic infremere, ut tot mundi partes probetur aeris permutatione terrere et sic suam substantiam ubique dispergere, ut non videatur damna sentire? [6] Longe lateque pulveres rorat, vicinis autem quasdam moles cructuat et tot saeculis mons habetur, qui erogationibus tantis expenditur. quis credat tam ingentes glebas usque in plana deductas de tam profundis hiatibus ebullisse et spiritu quodam efflante montis ore consputas quasi leves paleas fuisse proiectas? [7] Alibi cacumina magna terrarum localiter videntur ardere: huius incendia paene mundo datum est posse cognoscere. quemadmodum ergo non credamus incolis, quod testimonio potest universitatis agnosci? quapropter, ut dictum est, talem eligat vestra prudentia, qui et remedia laesis conferat et locum subreptionibus non relinquat.