Letter 10031: Although every advancement must be attributed to the gifts of God, and nothing good exists unless it is recognized...

31. KING WITIGIS TO ALL THE GOTHS. [1] Although every advancement must be referred to the gifts of the Divinity, and nothing is established as good except what is recognized to have been bestowed by Him, nevertheless the cause of royal dignity above all must be applied to the judgments of heaven, since He no less ordained the one to whom He granted that His peoples should obey. Therefore, rendering thanks to our Author with most humble acknowledgment, we make known that our forebears the Goths, amid the swords drawn for battle, after the manner of our ancestors, with a shield placed beneath, have, by the Lord's favor, conferred upon us the royal dignity, so that arms gave the honor whose reputation wars had brought forth. [2] For you should know that I was chosen not in the narrow confines of a bedchamber, but in fields stretching far and wide; nor was I sought out amid the dainty conversations of flatterers, but with trumpets sounding together, so that, roused by such a din, the Getic people, through its desire for inborn valor, might find for itself a warlike king. For how long could brave men, nurtured amid the heat of wars, endure a prince who was not proven, so as to suffer for his reputation, however much it might presume upon its own valor? For it is necessary that such an opinion run concerning all as the nation has deserved to have its ruler. [3] For, as you have been able to hear, summoned by the perils of our kinsmen, I had come to undergo the common fortune together with all: but those who seemed to be seeking a practiced king would not suffer me to be merely their leader. Wherefore favor first the divine grace, and then the judgments of the Goths, since you all make me king, you who with one accord bring together your votes. Lay aside now the fear of losses: cast away suspicions of damages: dread nothing harsh under our rule. [4] We have learned to love brave men, we who have so often carried wars through to the end. There is added the fact that to each one of your men I stand as a witness. For there is no need that your deeds be recounted to me by another, who, joined with you in your labors, have come to know all things. The arms of the Goths must not be broken by any inconstancy of our promises: to the advantage of the nation will look back everything that we do: privately we will not even love ourselves: this we promise to pursue, which adorns the royal name. [5] Finally, we pledge through all things our rule to be such as it befits the Goths to have after the renowned Theodoric: a man singularly and beautifully composed for the cares of the kingdom, so that deservedly each of the princes is understood to be illustrious only to the extent that he is recognized to love that man's counsels. Therefore he ought to be believed his kinsman who shall have been able to imitate his deeds. And so be solicitous for the advantage of our kingdom, and, with the Lord's help, secure concerning your inner conduct.

XXXI. UNIVERSIS GOTHIS VVITIGIS REX. [1] Quamvis omnis provectus ad divinitatis est munera referendus nec aliquid constat bonum, nisi quod ab ipso dinoscitur esse collatum, tamen quam maxime causa regiae dignitatis supernis est applicanda iudiciis, quia ipse nihilominus ordinavit, cui suos populos parere concessit. unde auctori nostro gratias humillima satisfactione referentes indicamus parentes nostros Gothos inter procinctuales gladios more maiorum scuto subposito regalem nobis contulisse praestante domino dignitatem, ut honorem arma darent, cuius opinionem bella pepererant. [2] Non enim in cubilis angustiis, sed in campis late patentibus electum me esse noveritis, nec inter blandientium delicata colloquia, sed tubis concrepantibus sum quaesitus, ut tali fremitu concitatus desiderio virtutis ingenitae regem sibi Martium Geticus populus inveniret. quamdiu enim fortes viri inter bella ferventia nutriti principem ferre poterant non probatum, ut de eius fama laboraret, quamvis de propria virtute praesumeret? necesse est enim talem de cunctis opinionem currere, qualem gens meruerit habere rectorem. [3] Nam sicut audire potuistis, parentum periculis evocatus adveneram communem cum omnibus subire fortunam: sed illi ducem me sibi esse non passi sunt, qui exercitatum regem quaerere videbantur. quapropter primum divinae gratiae, deinde Gothorum favete iudiciis, quia me regem omnes facitis, qui unanimiter vota confertis. deponite nunc damnorum metum: dispendiorum suspiciones abicite: nihil sub nobis asperum formidetis. [4] Amare novimus viros fortes, qui saepius bella peregimus. additur, quod unicuique virorum vestrorum testis adsisto. ab alio enim mihi non est opus facta vestra narrari, qui omnia vobiscum laboribus sociatus agnovi. arma Gothorum nulla promissionum mearum varietate frangenda sunt: ad gentis utilitatem respiciet omne quod agimus: privatim nec nos amabimus: hoc sequi promittimus quod ornet regium nomen. [5] Postremo nostrum per omnia pollicemur imperium, quale Gothos habere deceat post inclitum Theodericum: vir ad regni curas singulariter et pulchre compositus, ut merito unusquisque principum tantum praeclarus intellegatur, quantum consilia illius amare dinoscitur. idcirco parens illius debet credi, qui eius facta potuerit imitari. et ideo pro regni nostri utilitate estote solliciti, de interna conversatione domino iuvante securi.