From: King Theodahad of Italy
To: Emperor Justinian in Constantinople
Date: ~536 AD
Context: Theodahad makes an urgent personal appeal for peace with Constantinople on the eve of Justinian's reconquest of Italy.
You will recall, wisest of Emperors, that both through our ambassadors and through the very eloquent Peter, whom Your Piety recently sent to us, we have shown how earnestly we desire harmony with your August Serenity. Now again, through the same most holy man, I thought it right to repeat these appeals — so that you may judge as genuine and heartfelt what you recognize has been sought so many times. We ask for peace with complete sincerity, since we have no grounds for conflict. Let such a peace come to us — well-ordered, dignified — that we may feel our persistent efforts to obtain it were truly justified. Far be it that what is entrusted to us should become a burden.
Consider rather what is proper on our behalf. A person entrusted with settling a matter reasonably is drawn toward goodwill; he cannot put his own advantage first when it is more honorable to benefit the one who trusted him. Consider too, learned Emperors, and recall the historical records of your own Ablabius [a fourth-century praetorian prefect]: how much your predecessors were willing to give up from their own rights in order to secure treaties with our ancestors. Imagine with what gratitude things offered freely should be received, when formerly they had to be requested. I do not speak arrogantly — I speak the truth. What I am trying to demonstrate actually serves your glory, since those who know themselves to be greater than their ancestors now voluntarily seek your favor. Unite with bonds of free friendship those whom formerly you attached to yourselves through lavish gifts — so that such blessings are not thought to belong only to those earlier times, which you surpass in both abundant generosity and overflowing munificence.
Therefore, with formal greetings expressed, I have sent the venerable [name], a man distinguished by his priesthood and renowned for his learning, to bear our embassy's wishes to Your Piety. I am confident, through God's power, that both his personal merits will please you abundantly and that he will secure what our honorable petition requests. I hope we may receive him back quickly with results. Since a letter cannot contain everything, I have entrusted certain matters to be conveyed verbally to your sacred judgment, so that a lengthy document should not weary you.
XXII.
IUSTINIANO IMPERATORI THEODAHADUS REX.
[1] Retinetis, sapientissimi principum, et per legatos nostros et per virum disertissimum Petrum, quem nuper ad nos vestra pietas destinavit, quo studio concordiam Augustae serenitatis optemus. et nunc iterum per illum virum sanctissimum eadem credidimus esse repetenda, ut vera atque affectuosa iudicetis quae frequenter expetita cognoscitis. pacem siquidem sub omni sinceritate petimus, qui causas certaminis non habemus. talis ergo ad nos veniat, sic composita, sic decora, ut eam tantis votis merito quaesisse videamur. absit autem ut quod nobis committitur debeat ingravare. [2] Pro nobis potius tractate quod convenit. trahitur enim ad benivola, cui causa creditur rationabiliter ordinanda, nec potest utilitatem propriam anteferre, cui magis decorum est credenti profutura praestare. considerate etiam, principes docti, et Ablabi vestri historica monimenta recolite, quantum decessores vestri studuerint de suo iure relinquere, ut eis parentum nostrorum foedera provenirent. aestimate, qua gratia debent oblata suscipi, quae consuerant postulari. non arroganter loquimur, qui veritatem fatemur. gloriae vestrae potius proficit quod demonstrare contendimus, quando nunc illi vestram gratiam ultro quaerunt, qui suis parentibus meliores se esse cognoscunt. associentur amicitia gratuita vestris animis quos prius vobis largitatis studio iungebatis, ne bona tantum illorum temporum fuisse credantur, quae vos et copiosa benignitate vincitis et affluenti munere superatis. [3] Atque ideo salutationis honorificentiam praelocuti illum virum venerabilem sacerdotio clarum, doctrinae laude conspicuum legationis nostrae ad pietatem vestram fecimus vota deferre. confidimus enim in virtute divina, quod et suis meritis vobis abunde placeat et desideria probae petitionis optineat, sperantes ut eum cum effectu rerum celerius recipere debeamus. sed quia epistularis series continere non poterat universa, aliqua sacris sensibus verbo insinuanda commisimus, ne fastidium vobis faceret lectio prolixa chartarum.
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From:King Theodahad of Italy
To:Emperor Justinian in Constantinople
Date:~536 AD
Context:Theodahad makes an urgent personal appeal for peace with Constantinople on the eve of Justinian's reconquest of Italy.
You will recall, wisest of Emperors, that both through our ambassadors and through the very eloquent Peter, whom Your Piety recently sent to us, we have shown how earnestly we desire harmony with your August Serenity. Now again, through the same most holy man, I thought it right to repeat these appeals — so that you may judge as genuine and heartfelt what you recognize has been sought so many times. We ask for peace with complete sincerity, since we have no grounds for conflict. Let such a peace come to us — well-ordered, dignified — that we may feel our persistent efforts to obtain it were truly justified. Far be it that what is entrusted to us should become a burden.
Consider rather what is proper on our behalf. A person entrusted with settling a matter reasonably is drawn toward goodwill; he cannot put his own advantage first when it is more honorable to benefit the one who trusted him. Consider too, learned Emperors, and recall the historical records of your own Ablabius [a fourth-century praetorian prefect]: how much your predecessors were willing to give up from their own rights in order to secure treaties with our ancestors. Imagine with what gratitude things offered freely should be received, when formerly they had to be requested. I do not speak arrogantly — I speak the truth. What I am trying to demonstrate actually serves your glory, since those who know themselves to be greater than their ancestors now voluntarily seek your favor. Unite with bonds of free friendship those whom formerly you attached to yourselves through lavish gifts — so that such blessings are not thought to belong only to those earlier times, which you surpass in both abundant generosity and overflowing munificence.
Therefore, with formal greetings expressed, I have sent the venerable [name], a man distinguished by his priesthood and renowned for his learning, to bear our embassy's wishes to Your Piety. I am confident, through God's power, that both his personal merits will please you abundantly and that he will secure what our honorable petition requests. I hope we may receive him back quickly with results. Since a letter cannot contain everything, I have entrusted certain matters to be conveyed verbally to your sacred judgment, so that a lengthy document should not weary you.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.