Letter 5037: VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 37

XXXVII. King Theoderic to the Jews of Milan. [1] We gladly grant those things which are requested without injury to the laws, and especially, for the preservation of civil order, the benefits of justice are not to be denied even to those who are known still to err in the faith. And therefore let them learn the most pleasant savor of good things, so that those who strive to seek human justice may more anxiously begin to ponder the divine judgments. [2] Accordingly, since you frequently complain that you have been torn at by the presumption of certain persons, and you assert that the rights pertaining to your synagogue are being annulled, the requested protection of our clemency shall come to your aid, to the end that no churchman shall, through intervening violence, seize upon those things which by right belong to your synagogue, nor mingle himself in your affairs with importunate harshness, but that, just as they are distinct in the worship of religion, so too they may be distinct in the conduct of their dealings; granting, however, the benefit of princely assistance with this moderation, that neither shall you attempt, in an uncivil manner, to lay hands upon whatever shall be established to pertain by the laws to the right of the aforesaid church, or indeed to religious persons. [3] But the thirty-year prescription [the legal limitation period barring claims after thirty years], that patroness of the human race, shall be preserved for you by the same right by which it is preserved for all; nor do we command you to bear unreasonably the losses incurred, so that, fortified by this defense of our piety, your petition may rejoice to have been freed from unlawful inconveniences. We grant indeed, after the custom of our clemency, the things you have asked: but why, O Jew, do you, in supplicating, seek temporal repose, if you cannot find eternal rest?

XXXVII. IUDAEIS MEDIOLANENSIBUS THEODERICUS REX. [1] Libenter annuimus quae sine legum iniuria postulantur, maxima cum pro servanda civilitate nec illis sunt neganda beneficia iustitiae, qui adhuc in fide noscuntur errare. atque ideo discant rerum bonarum suavissimum saporem, ut, qui humanam iustitiam nituntur quaerere, sollicitius incipiant divina iudicia cogitare. [2] Proinde quoniam nonnullorum vos frequenter causamini praesumptione laceratos et quae ad synagogam vestram pertinent perhibetis iura rescindi, opitulabitur vobis mansuetudinis nostrae postulata tuitio, quatenus nullus ecclesiasticus, quae synagogae vestrae iure competunt, violentia intercedente pervadat nec vestris se causis importuna acerbitate permisceat, sed ut religionis cultu, ita et actuum sint conversatione discreti: hac tamen moderatione principalis auxilii beneficium concedentes, ut nec vos quod ad praefatae ecclesiae ius vel religiosas certe personas legibus pertinere constiterit, inciviliter attrectare temptetis. [3] Tricennalis autem humano generi patrona praescriptio eo, quo cunctis, vobis iure servabitur nec commodalia vos irrationabiliter praecipimus sustinere dispendia, ut hac pietatis nostrae defensione muniti petitio vestra ab illicitis se liberatam gratuletur incommodis. concedimus quidem clementiae nostrae consuetudine quae rogastis: sed quid, Iudaee, supplicans temporalem quietem quaeris, si aeternam requiem invenire non possis?