Letter 9008: VARIAE, BOOK 9, LETTER 8

VIII. KING ATHALARIC TO OSUIN, COUNT AND MAN OF ILLUSTRIOUS RANK. [1] It is our purpose to adorn honorable labors with the palm of reward, so that by that alternation in which the promoted rejoice, the slothful may be stung and may be able to charge it to themselves that, in these most merciful times, they do not earn the rewards of our judgment. And therefore, with God's help, we have resolved that your illustrious greatness must once again be sent to the provinces of the Dalmatias and of Savia, so that whatever you recognize to be for our advantage you may arrange with even-handed ordering, and may make the people, devoted to us, most pleasing through your justice, since one is associated with the praises of his lords when, being chosen, he conducts himself in a worthy manner. [2] Do not search out the examples of others: be mindful of what you have done, and you have no need to be admonished. For what is there that anyone ought to doubt concerning your conduct, when you recognize that your own benefits still give off their fragrance in those very provinces? In some manner it is already owed to him to be willing to grant favor, with whom you know you have been praiseworthy. For to those who obey, the disposition is justly indulgent, and to those whom we know to be mindful of benefits, we without hesitation offer our affection anew. [3] Your age, indeed, is advanced, but what could now snatch anything away from your conduct, which is even more mature, since not even your youth was blameworthy? But these things you did in the reign of our lord and grandfather: now display such deeds that you may seem to have reserved for our times whatever of probity you shall have added.

VIII. OSUIN V. I. COMITI ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Propositi nostri est honestos labores palma remunerationis ornare, ut vicissitudine, qua provecti gaudent, desides mordeantur sibique imputare possint quod clementissimis temporibus iudicii nostri praemia non merentur. atque ideo illustrem magnitudinem tuam deo iuvante ad Delmatiarum atque Saviae provincias iterum credidimus destinandam, ut quicquid pro utilitatibus nostris esse cognoscis, aequabili ordinatione disponas populumque nobis devotum per tuam iustitiam facias esse gratissimum, quia dominorum laudibus applicatur, cum se probabiliter tractat electus. [2] Non exempla aliena perquiras: memor esto quae feceris et non indiges ammoneri. quid est enim quod de tua quisquam debeat actione dubitare, quando ipsis provinciis adhuc propria bona redolere cognoscis? quodam modo iam debitum est illi velle praestare, apud quem te scis fuisse laudabilem. oboedientibus enim iuste indulgetur animus et quos scimus memores bonorum, indubitanter eis denuo praebemus affectum. [3] Aetas quidem tua provecta est, sed actus quoque maturior quid tibi nunc subripere valeat, in quo nec iuventus reprehensibilis fuit? sed haec in domni avi nostri regno fecisti: nunc talia demonstra, ut temporibus nostris reservasse videaris, quicquid probitatis addideris.