Letter 10019: We give thanks to God, to whom the peace of kings is always welcome, that you have declared our accession most...

19. KING THEODAHAD TO JUSTINIAN AUGUSTUS [emperor]. [1] We render thanks to the divine power, to whom the tranquillity of kings is always acceptable, because you have declared that our advancement is most pleasing to your clemency. For it is established that you are able to love the man whom you rejoice to have reached the summit of kingship. Thus it was fitting that he should be received who presumed to be exalted through you. Grant therefore to the world an example of your kindness, so that it may be given to understand how greatly that man advances who commends himself to you with pure affection. [2] For you do not seek out base quarrels throughout the kingdoms: unjust contests, which are hostile to good morals, do not delight you, because it is established that you desire nothing else than what can adorn your reputation. For how, when entreated, could you cast away the peace which, by your inborn devotion, you have been accustomed to impose even upon wrathful peoples? Indeed we do not keep silent about the blessings of your concord. The whole is believed to be excellent, whatever has been joined to you by praiseworthy love. [3] But to you also, glorious princes, though you are absolutely admirable, something is nevertheless added when all kingdoms venerate you. For it is common to all to be praised within their own dominions, but it is in every way singular to find one's own praises among a foreign people, because there are true judgments where no timidity restrains anyone. You are indeed cherished, most pious emperor, within your own kingdoms: but how much more excellent it is that you should be loved more in the regions of Italy, from which it is established that the Roman name has been spread throughout the world! It is fitting therefore that your peace be preserved, which conferred upon you the glorious beginnings of the name. [4] But that we may seem to respond in order to your sacred words, having run through a most reverent greeting, with pious sentiments we declare that the most blessed pope of the city of Rome and the most distinguished senate have been admonished by our command, so that the most eloquent man Peter, the envoy of your serenity, supreme in learning and outstanding in the clarity of his conscience, may receive without any delay the appropriate replies, and may not endure unfitting postponements contrary to your will, because we desire to accomplish all that which cannot be displeasing to your judgment: since we also recognize that your piety strives after this, which we perceive to be in every way to our benefit. [5] To him we have believed that man, our venerable envoy, ought to be joined, so that you may be able to learn our wishes not by the occasion of your own embassy, but rather by our own dispatch.

XVIIII. IUSTINIANO AUGUSTO THEODAHADUS REX. [1] Gratias divinitati referimus, cui est regum semper accepta tranquillitas, quod provectum nostrum clementiae vestrae gratissimum esse declarastis. constat enim amare vos posse, quem gaudetis ad regni culmina pervenisse. sic decuit suscipi qui se per vos praesumpsit augeri. praestate igitur mundo vestrae benignitatis exemplum, ut detur intellegi quantum promoveat, qui se pura vobis affectione commendat. [2] Non enim rixas viles per regna requiritis: non vos iniusta certamina, quae sunt bonis moribus inimica, delectant, quia nihil aliud vos constat appetere, nisi quod opinionem vestram possit ornare. quemadmodum enim pacem exorati poteritis abicere, quam pro ingenita pietate et iracundis gentibus consuestis inponere? bona quidem vestrae concordiae non tacemus. totum creditur eximium, quicquid vobis fuerit praedicabili caritate sociatum. [3] Sed et vobis, gloriosi principes, cum sitis absolute mirabiles, aliquid tamen additur, cum vos omnia regna venerantur. nam commune est cunctis in suis imperiis praedicari, sed illud est omnimodis singulare in extranea gente laudes proprias invenire, quia ibi sunt vera iudicia, ubi neminem comprimit ulla timiditas. diligeris quidem, piissime imperator, in propriis regnis: sed quanto praestantius est, ut in Italiae partibus plus ameris, unde nomen Romanum per orbem terrarum constat esse diffusum! oportet ergo vestram pacem servari, quae vobis contulit exordia gloriosa vocabuli. [4] Sed ut sacris affatibus ordine respondere videamur, reverentissima salutatione decursa piis sensibus indicamus beatissimum papam urbis Romae vel amplissimum senatum nostra praeceptione commonitos, ut vir eloquentissimus Petrus legatus serenitatis vestrae et doctrina summus et conscientiae claritate praecipuus sine aliqua dilatione competentia responsa reciperet nec contra vestram voluntatem moras incongruas sustineret, quia totum illud desideramus efficere, quod vestro nequeat iudicio displicere: quando et pietatem vestram hoc studere cognoscimus, quod nobis per omnia prodesse sentimus. [5] Cui virum venerabilem illum legatum nostrum adiungendum esse credidimus, ut non per occasionem legationis vestrae, sed propria potius destinatione nostra possitis vota cognoscere.