Letter 1015: KING THEODERIC TO FESTUS, A MAN OF ILLUSTRIOUS RANK AND A PATRICIAN.

King Theoderic to Festus, a Man of Illustrious Rank and a Patrician. [1] It is pleasing to us as often as such an estimation proceeds from the merits of your greatness, that you are believed to be both a help to the weak and a protection to the absent. For this reason you deserved to be foremost in the Senate, so that, out of regard for justice, you might set an example to those who follow. Hence it comes about that a good opinion of you grows by the example of your glorious conduct. For no one entrusts his own property to one who is departing, unless that man is judged to be of good conscience. [2] Therefore by the present command we decree that the house of the Patrician Agnellus, who is departing for Africa, and who, in seeking out another's kingdom, is going to serve our interests, shall be fortified by your protection, with the laws kept inviolate, lest, the defense of its master being withdrawn, it suffer the violent assaults of anyone. For the possessions of the absent always lie open to injuries, and in a certain manner the opportunity itself seems to draw men into wrongdoing, since it cannot frighten the mind of the trespasser by any resistance. [3] And therefore let your Highness, whom it is our wish to have near at hand, raise up the humble, rescue those who are being oppressed, and -- what is rare among the powerful -- be of benefit to all, seeing that you are found loftier than all.

XV. FESTO V. I. ATQUE PATRICIO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Gratum nobis est, quotiens de magnitudinis tuae meritis aestimatio talis procedit, ut et infirmorum auxilium et absentium credaris esse tuitio. nam ideo senatus prior esse meruisti, ut sequentibus pro iustitiae contemplatione praestares. unde fit, ut bona vobis crescat opinio gloriosae actionis exemplo. nulli enim propria res a discedente committitur, nisi de cuius bene conscientia iudicatur. [2] Idcirco praesenti iussione decernimus, ut domus patricii Agnelli ad Africam discedentis, qui regnum petens alterius nostris est utilitatibus serviturus, salvis legibus tua tuitione valletur, ne violentos cuiusquam impetus subtracta domini defensione patiatur. perviae sunt enim semper iniuriis facultates absentium et quodam mode videtur occasio in delictum trahere, quae non potest animum pervadentis de resultatione terrere. [3] Ideoque celsitudo vestra, quam votum est habere vicinam, erigat humiles, eripiat opprimendos et, quod potestatibus rarum est, proficiat cunctis, quad universis celsior inveniris.