Letter 8023: Although a king's munificence should shine daily like the sun and he should constantly do something to display...

XXIII. KING ATHALARIC TO BERGANTINUS, MOST ILLUSTRIOUS MAN, COUNT OF THE PATRIMONY [administrator of the royal estates]. [1] Although it befits the munificence of a king to shine forth daily with the sun and continually to do something whereby the bounty of the prince may be displayed, yet a debt of conscience is discharged whenever something is bestowed upon kinsmen under the rule of equity. Princes gain by their own gifts, and we truly lay up in our treasuries that which we apply to the advantages of our renown. For far be it from us to deny to a kinsman what we are accustomed to safeguard for our subjects: since he who is joined to us by blood deserves more, and he cannot be cheated of his own desire who serves as a soldier under a gracious judge. [2] And therefore we command your illustrious greatness that the estates [massae] annexed below, yielding so many solidi, from the patrimony of the once magnificent woman, his own mother, be restored to the most exalted and most distinguished man Theodahad, to be most fully claimed by his ownership in good fortune, granting to him in that portion which we direct the entire right of her succession. [3] Concerning his fidelity and sincerity we presume that in time to come he may deserve the remainder of the aforesaid patrimony with an added amount. For what could we deny to such a man, who could obtain even better things by his services, even if he were not proved to be a kinsman? A man whom no haughtiness of his nobility puffs up, humble in modesty, ever even in prudence -- consider what he deserves from us, since we draw it to our own glory that we acknowledge him as our near kinsman. [4] Wherefore devote your effort diligently to this most equitable order, and through the chosen registrars [chartarii, keepers of the records] of your office hand over the designated estates to his agents without any delay, so that, the favor of the present gift being rendered more welcome, he may be bound to us with the highest affection.

XXIII. BERGANTINO V. I. COMITI PATRIMONII ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Licet munificentiam regis cotidie deceat cum sole relucere et iugiter aliquid facere, quo possit largitas principis apparere, hinc tamen conscientiae debitum solvitur, quotiens parentibus sub aequitate praestatur. lucrantur principes dona sua et hoc vere thesauris reponimus, quod famae commodis applicamus. absit enim, ut negemus affini, quod solemus custodire subiectis: quando qui nobis sanguine coniungitur, plus meretur nec fraudari potest proprio desiderio, qui militat sub iudice gratioso. [2] Atque ideo illustrem magnitudinem tuam praecelso atque amplissimo viro Theodahado massas subter annexas tot solidos pensitantes ex patrimonio quondam magnificae feminae matris ipsius praecipimus reformari, eius feliciter dominio plenissime vindicandas, cuius successionis integrum ius in ea qua praecipimus parte largimur. [3] De cuius fide ac sinceritate praesumimus, ut sequenti tempore reliqua supra memorati patrimonii cum adiecta quantitate mereatur. quid enim tali viro negare possimus, qui etiam meliora suis obtinere possit obsequiis, vel si non probaretur affinis? vir quem nobilitatis suae nulla inflat elatio, modestia humilis, prudentia semper aequalis quid a nobis mereatur, intendite, quando ad gloriam nostram trahimus, quod eum proximum confitemur. [4] Quapropter aequissimae iussioni operam navanter impendite delectisque sedis vestrae chartariis designatas massas actoribus eius sine aliqua dilatione contradite, ut summa nobis caritate sociato gratia praesentis muneris reddatur acceptior.