Letter 1028: VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 28
[1] The construction of a city is a worthy project in which royal care may display itself, since the restoration of ancient cities earns the praise of the times: through it both the beauty of peace is gained and the necessities of war are anticipated. [2] Therefore by this order we establish, for the common good, that anyone who has stones lying in their fields that would be useful for city walls must willingly hand them over without any delay. You will truly possess what you have given when you devote it to the benefit of your own city. [3] What is more gratifying than to see the public splendor grow, where the utility of all is contained in the whole? And though what is contributed may seem cheap, it will return to its donors with great advantage -- for what is given is often received back with greater benefit. A man often embraces his own profit when he gives generously as the times require.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed.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
XXVIII. UNIVERSIS GOTHIS ET ROMANIS THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Digna est constructio civitatis, in qua se commendet cura regalis, quia laus est temporum reparatio urbium vetustarum: in quibus et ornatus pacis adquiritur et bellorum necessitas praecavetur. [2] Ideoque praesenti iussione profutura sancimus, ut, si quis cuiuslibet generis saxa in agris suis iacentia muris habuerit profutura, libens animo sine aliqua dilatione concedat, quod tunc magis verius possidebit, cum hoc utilitati suae civitatis indulserit. [3] Quid est enim gratius quam videre crescere publicum decus, ubi omnium utilitas in generalitate concluditur? et licet praestentur vilia, ad auctores suos magna sunt commoditate reditura: datur enim plerumque, quod maiori utilitate recipitur. et frequenter homo lucra sua complectitur, cum necessario pro temporis qualitate largitur.
Related Letters
VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 26
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