Letter 10008: VARIAE, BOOK 10, LETTER 8

VARIAE, BOOK 10, LETTER 8 From: Queen Amalasuintha, regent for King Athalaric To: Emperor Justinian Augustus Date: ~534 AD Context: A diplomatic letter from the Ostrogothic regent to Constantinople, requesting a favor — framed in the language of mutual respect between the Gothic kingdom and the Eastern Empire. [1] The grace of Your Piety delights us so deeply that whatever might contribute to our honor, we gladly seek from your side — because such requests are more properly called marks of mutual friendship than signs of need. For the gifts exchanged between allies do not diminish the giver but enrich both parties, and what is freely offered between those joined by goodwill carries a dignity that compelled tribute never can. [2] We therefore ask that you receive this request in the spirit in which it is made. We do not impose upon your generosity — we appeal to it. Let the bond between our realms continue to be strengthened by the kind of exchange that reflects well on both, so that posterity may point to our era as one in which Gothic valor and Roman wisdom sustained each other.

VIII. IUSTINIANO AUGUSTO AMALASUINTHA REGINA. [1] Ita nos gratia vestrae pietatis oblectat, ut quicquid ad decorem nostrum potest proficere, libenter a vestris velimus partibus postulare: quia talia vobis divina tribuerunt, ut et vos eius affluenter muneribus abundetis et sperantibus benigno animo quae sunt necessaria concedatis. [2] Et ideo mansuetudinem vestram reverenter salutans harum portitorem illum ad excellentiae vestrae beneficia destinavi, ut marmora vel alia necessaria quae quondam Calogenitum comparare feceramus, per praesentium portitorem ad nos pervenire domino favente iubeatis, ut cognoscamus nos a pietate vestra re vera diligi, quorum facitis vota compleri. vestra enim gloria est noster ornatus, quando vos praestitisse cognoscitur quod nostris laudibus adplicatur. decet enim ut et orbis iste Romanus iuvamine vestro resplendeat, quem amor vestrae serenitatis illustrat.