Letter 5012: King Theodoric to Theodahad, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious].

12. King Theoderic to Theodahad, a man of illustrious rank. [1] If we command all men to cultivate and to love justice, how much more do we command those who take pride in their kinship to us, men whom it befits to conduct all their affairs so as to win praise, that they may be able to display the splendor of their royal blood-relationship. For this is the nobility beyond doubt, which is proven to be adorned by good character: since it is a fine thing, for the advantage of one's reputation, to have despised the base profits of money. [2] And so the heirs of Argolicus, a man of illustrious rank, and of Amandianus, a man of most distinguished rank, have complained to us by a suppliant petition that the Pallentian estate, which our liberality had transferred to them by way of compensation, so that they might console themselves with this benefit for the loss of the Arbitan dwelling, has been improperly seized by your men, no lawful grounds existing for it, and that from this source there has grown the fault of a blameworthy usurpation, from which there ought rather to have been given an example of glorious moderation. [3] Wherefore, if the things asserted are not vitiated by any falsehood, let your greatness restore what has been taken away: and, if you believe that anything can rightfully belong to you, by all means send to our court a person duly instructed in the law, so that the suit, civilly initiated, may obtain its conclusion in accordance with the laws. For there, whatever is done is rather charged to your ill repute, and you incur greater damage to your reputation, while you strive not to avoid such things: but here cases contend by their own strength, and any person of middling station is condemned without disparagement, when he is overcome with justice as the witness.

XII. THEODAHADO V. I. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Si iustitiam colere universos et amare praecipimus, quanto magis eos qui nostra proximitate gloriantur, quos omnia decet sub laude gerere, ut regiae possint fulgorem consanguinitatis ostendere. haec est enim indubitata nobilitas, quae moribus probatur ornata: quia pulchrum est commodum famae foeda neglexisse lucra pecuniae. [2] Argolici itaque viri illustris et Amandiani viri clarissimi heredes supplici nobis aditione conquesti sunt Pallentianam massam, quam eis pro compensatione largitas nostra transfuderat, ut casae Arbitanae amissionem hac commoditate solarentur, ab hominibus vestris nullis causis extantibus indecenter invasam et inde crevisse culpandae surreptionis vitium, unde dari debuit gloriosae moderationis exemplum. [3] Quapropter si nullo mendacio asserta vitiantur, magnitudo vestra quae sunt ablata restituat: et, si quid vobis creditis posse competere, ad comitatum nostrum instructam iure personam modis omnibus destinate, ut civiliter plantata causatio finem de legibus sortiatur. ibi enim quicquid geritur, invidiae tuae potius applicatur et maiora detrimenta famae suscipis, dum talia non vitare contendis: hic autem confligunt causae viribus suis et sine derogatione quilibet mediocris addicitur, quando iustitia teste superatur.