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] Great offices demand great men, and the man who takes on a high position takes on a great responsibility. It is not enough to have the title — one must show by one's actions that the honor was deservedly bestowed.
[2] We therefore address you, who have served the state with distinction for many years, by the present command: see to it that the affairs entrusted to your administration are conducted with the diligence and integrity that we know you are capable of. The eyes of the state are upon you, and we are confident that you will not disappoint either our trust or your own reputation.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
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.
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