Cassiodorus→Rechared, of Visigoths|c. 522 AD|Cassiodorus|AI-assisted
barbarian invasion
28. King Theoderic to all Goths and Romans.
[1] Worthy is the building up of a city, in which the care of the king commends itself, since it is the glory of the times to restore the cities of old: in which both the adornment of peace is acquired and the necessity of wars is guarded against. [2] And therefore by the present command we sanction things that will be of profit, that, if anyone has stones of any kind whatever lying in his own fields that would serve for walls, he should grant them willingly, with a ready spirit and without any delay; for he will then more truly possess that which he has yielded to the advantage of his own city. [3] For what is more pleasing than to see the public splendor increase, where the benefit of all is bound up in the common good? And although cheap things are furnished, they will return to their own givers with great advantage: for that is generally given which is received back with greater benefit. And often a man embraces his own gains, when he bestows of necessity in keeping with the character of the times.
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.
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28. King Theoderic to all Goths and Romans.
[1] Worthy is the building up of a city, in which the care of the king commends itself, since it is the glory of the times to restore the cities of old: in which both the adornment of peace is acquired and the necessity of wars is guarded against. [2] And therefore by the present command we sanction things that will be of profit, that, if anyone has stones of any kind whatever lying in his own fields that would serve for walls, he should grant them willingly, with a ready spirit and without any delay; for he will then more truly possess that which he has yielded to the advantage of his own city. [3] For what is more pleasing than to see the public splendor increase, where the benefit of all is bound up in the common good? And although cheap things are furnished, they will return to their own givers with great advantage: for that is generally given which is received back with greater benefit. And often a man embraces his own gains, when he bestows of necessity in keeping with the character of the times.
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.