Letter 1036: VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 36

XXXVI. KING THEODERIC TO FERRIOLUS, MAN OF SPECTABLE RANK. [1] The usefulness of good persons ought to be renewed by succession, lest, through the failure of those who serve, any matter left in suspense should suffer loss. And therefore we order you to take up by our authority the post once held by Benedict in the city of Pedo, so that, by managing all things with vigilant administration, you may earn increases of our favor. For you ought to observe that we are eager to render recompense to the living, we who cannot forget our faith toward the dead. [2] We are likewise admonished, by the custom of our piety, that, since the proven memory of those devoted to us does not fail, you should cause the sons of the aforesaid Benedict, who is known to have obeyed us with sincere devotion, to be surrounded with civil protection, so that, relieved by the benefit of present defense, they may rejoice that their father's services have conferred security upon them. Let it therefore profit the family, what could be granted through the devotion of one man, because it befits us to bestow more than we seem to have received from those who serve. Here equality is not equity, but our portion most justly weighs more, since in repaying it has been the more heavily burdened.

XXXVI. FERRIOLO V. S. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Utilitas personarum bonorum debet successione renovari, ne defectu servientium patiatur aliquod res suspensa dispendium. et ideo locum te iubemus quondam Benedicti in Pedonensi civitate ex nostra auctoritate suscipere, ut omnia vigilanti ordinatione procurans nostrae gratiae merearis augmenta. debes enim advertere, quia vicissitudinem reddere studeamus vivis, qui mortuorum fidem non possumus oblivisci. [2] Illud etiam pietatis nostrae consuetudine commonemur, ut, quoniam devotorum nobis memoria probata non deficit, antefati Benedicti quondam filios, qui sincera nobis cognoscitur devotione paruisse, civili facias tuitione vallari, quatenus defensionis praesentis commodo sublevati securitatem sibi gaudeant paterna servitia contulisse. prosit ergo generi, quod potuit unius devotione praestari, quia maiora nos decet tribuere, quam videmur a servientibus accepisse. hic aequalitas aequitas non est, sed pars nostra iustissime pensat, cum reddendo plus fuerit onerata.