Letter 9017: If ancient emperors adorned Rome's walls for the joy of its people -- so that those uniquely distinguished citizens...

XVII. KING ATHALARIC TO SALVENTIUS, MAN OF ILLUSTRIOUS RANK, PREFECT OF THE CITY. [1] If the princes of old built up the walls of Rome for the gladness of the peoples, lest those citizens, deservedly singular, should possess nothing in common with the rest, it is a sin that, amid so many delightful things, they should endure a long sadness, because the exultation of that city is a universal wish, since it is necessary that the rest rejoice if it comes to pass that the head of the world is glad. [2] For from the report of the apostolic Pope John and of our nobles we have learned that such-and-such Romans, on mere suspicion of sedition, were worn down by the penalty of so long an imprisonment that the whole city has drawn grief from their continuous misfortune, so that neither the festivity of the days nor any honor of its own name, which among us is most welcome, came to their aid. This has displeased us by reason of the harshness of the deed, that men who are not reported to have been at all convicted in court should have suffered the torments and tortures due to the wicked. [3] And therefore by these present orders we admonish your greatness that, in whatever place you are able to find them, you do not delay to set them free; and even if it has become clear that they were entangled in some charge, by the intercessions mentioned above we decree that they are now free from fear. But if they are confident that, being innocent, they have endured torments, we give a free voice to their complaints, so that by just laws they may avenge what they have suffered through wicked acts of daring, since we do not wish the innocent to be oppressed by judges, who, it is agreed, are raised up for their protection. [4] Let the Romans now recall their spirits to their former gladness, and let them not believe that any can please us except those who choose to treat them with restrained equality. Let them understand that our ancestors, for the sake of their tranquillity, undergo laborious dangers, and that we ourselves act with many expenditures, so that they may be bound to rejoice with talkative exultation. [5] For even if up to now they have suffered anything unjustly or harshly, let them not believe that it is to be neglected by our clemency, who do not even grant ourselves leisure, in order that they may fully enjoy untroubled peace and tranquil gladness: they quickly perceive that we cannot love those whom they have shuddered at for their own excesses. For from whom can they obtain favor, who have deserved to displease their own fellow citizens and, while they had the time for public affection, acted so that they justly deserve to be cursed?

XVII. SALVENTIO V. I. PRAEFECTO URBIS ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Si principes antiqui moenia Romana in populorum exquisivere laetitiam, ne cives illi merito singulares aliquid commune cum ceteris possiderent, nefas est inter tot rerum iucunda eos longam sustinere tristitiam, quia exultatio civitatis illius generale votum est, dum necesse est laetari reliqua, si mundi caput gaudere proveniat. [2] Apostolici siquidem papae Iohannis et procerum nostrorum relatione cognovimus illum atque illum Romanos pro sola suspicione seditionis tam longae custodiae poena maceratos, ut cuncta civitas maerorem de illorum continua calamitate contraxerit, ut eis nec dierum festivitas, nec ulla, quae apud nos est gratissima, nominis sui dignitas subveniret. quod nobis pro sui facti acerbitate displicuit, ut qui in iudicio convicti minime feruntur, debita malis tormenta cruciatusque pertulerint. [3] Et ideo magnitudinem tuam iussis praesentibus ammonemus, ut quocumque loci reperire potueris, eos absolvere non moreris. quos etiamsi aliquo reatu involutos esse claruit, intercessionibus supra dictis eos iam a metu liberos esse censemus. si vero innocentes se tormenta sustinuisse confidunt, damus querellis eorum liberam vocem, ut iustis legibus vindicent quod iniquis ausibus pertulerunt, quia nolumus innocentes a iudicibus deprimi, quos ad eorum praesidia constat elevari. [4] Revocent nunc ad laetitiam pristinam animos Romani nec nobis credant placere posse nisi qui eos eligunt modesta aequalitate tractare. intellegant parentes nostros pro sua quiete laboriosa subire pericula, nos autem multis expensis agere, ut illi debeant garrula exultatione gaudere. [5] Nam et si quid inique vel acerbe hactenus pertulerunt, non credant a nostra mansuetudine neglegendum, qui nec nobis otia damus, ut illi secura pace ac tranquilla laetitia perfruantur: cito sentiunt quia nos amare non possumus, quos illi pro suis excessibus horruerunt. nam quorum gratiam impetrare possunt, qui suis civibus displicere meruerunt et, dum tempus habuissent amoris publici, egerunt unde iuste debeant execrari?