Letter 10026: I understand that your Serenity's favor is richer than any gift, since you urge me to do things that can only...

XXVI. KING THEODAHAD TO THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN. [1] We understand that the favor of your serenity is richer than all gifts, since you exhort us to do those things that can in every way pertain to our reward. For such indeed is always the prayer of one who loves, that you should wish us to undertake works of mercy, which can commend us to the divine power. [2] And therefore we make known to your glory that, concerning the monastery of the handmaids of God, which has been brought to your notice as laboring under a heavy burden of tributes, because its land, flooded by excessive inundation, has contracted the defects of barrenness from that hostile soaking, we have nonetheless given an order to the most eminent man Senator, praetorian prefect, that by his provident arrangement a diligent inspector should go to the estate about which there is the complaint and, the matters having been weighed by a measured inquiry, whatever burden the property may bear should be reasonably annulled, in such a way that a fitting and sufficient profit may remain to its owners; for we judge it truly a most precious gain to us, that which we grant in accordance with the wish of your clemency. [3] Concerning also the case of Ranilda, about which your serenity has deigned to admonish me, although it occurred a long time ago under the reign of our forebears, nevertheless it was necessary for us to settle the matter out of our own bounty, so that, by such an act, the change of her religion should bring her no regret. [4] For we do not presume to pass judgment on those matters in which we have no specific mandate. For since the divinity allows there to be diverse religions, we do not dare to impose a single one. For we hold that we have read that sacrifice must be offered to the Lord willingly, not by the command of anyone compelling: he who shall attempt to do otherwise has evidently opposed the heavenly commands. Deservedly, therefore, your piety invites us to such things as the divine mandates enjoin upon us.

XXVI. IUSTINIANO IMPERATORI THEODAHADUS REX. [1] Intellegimus serenitatis vestrae gratiam muneribus omnibus ditiorem, quando illa nos hortamini facere, quae ad mercedem nostram possint omnimodis pertinere. tale siquidem votum semper amantis est, ut causas nos misericordiae velitis agere, quae nos divinae possint commendare potentiae. [2] Et ideo significamus gloriae vestrae monasterium famularum dei, quod vobis insinuatum est tributorum gravi sorte laborare, eo quod ager eius nimia inundatione perfusus sterilitatis vitia de inimica humectatione contraxerit: ad virum eminentissimum Senatorem praefectum praetorio dedisse nos nihilominus iussionem, ut eius ordinatione provida ad praedium, de quo querella est, diligens inspector accedat et, rebus moderata inquisitione trutinatis, quicquid gravaminis potest habere possessio, rationabiliter abrogetur, ita ut competens atque sufficiens dominis remanere possit utilitas, quia vere nobis lucrum pretiosissimum iudicamus, quod pro mansuetudinis vestrae voluntate concedimus. [3] De Ranildae quoque causa, unde vestra serenitas me commonere dignata est, quamvis ante longum tempus sub parentum nostrorum regno contigerit, tamen necesse nobis fuit negotium de propria largitate componere, ut tali facto eam non paeniteret mutata religio. [4] Earum siquidem rerum iudicium non praesumimus, unde mandatum specialiter non habemus. nam cum divinitas patiatur diversas religiones esse, nos unam non audemus imponere. retinemus enim legisse nos voluntarie sacrificandum esse domino, non cuiusquam cogentis imperio: quod qui aliter facere temptaverit, evidenter caelestibus iussionibus obviavit. merito ergo pietas vestra invitat nos ad talia quae nobis praecipiunt divina mandata.