Letter 1006: KING THEODERIC TO AGAPITUS, A MAN OF ILLUSTRIOUS RANK AND PREFECT OF THE CITY.

King Theoderic to Agapitus, a Man of Illustrious Rank and Prefect of the City. [1] It befits a prince to show care for what concerns the public good, and it is truly worthy of a king to adorn his palace with fine buildings. Far be it from us to yield in splendor to the ancients, we who are not unequal to them in the blessings of our age. [2] Therefore, having undertaken the grand work of the Basilica of Hercules in the city of Ravenna — to whose name antiquity fittingly attributed everything admirable in distinguished buildings — we instruct your Illustrious Magnificence that whatever is needed for the completion of this work should be supplied without delay, so that the project, once begun under favorable auspices, may be brought to its worthy conclusion.

VI. AGAPITO V. I. P. U. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Decet principem cura quae ad rem publicam spectat augendam, et vere dignum est regem aedificiis palatia decorare. absit enim ut ornatui cedamus veterum, qui inpares non sumus beatitudine saeculorum. [2] Quapropter in Ravennati urbe basilicae Herculis amplum opus aggressi, cuius nomini antiquitas congrue tribuit, quicquid in aula praedicabili ammiratione fundavit, magnitudini tuae studiosissime delegamus, ut secundum brevem subter annexum de urbe nobis marmorarios peritissimos destinetis, qui eximie divisa coniungant, ut venis colludentibus illigata naturalem faciem laudabiliter mentiantur. de arte veniat quod vincat naturam: discolorea crusta marmorum gratissima picturarum varietate texantur, quia illud est semper in pretium, quod ad decorem fuerit exquisitum. [4] His sumptus subvectionesque praestabis: ne quemquam nostrum gravet imperium, quod ad utilitatem volumus respicere singulorum.