Letter 12003: Senator, Praetorian Prefect, to All Saiones [Gothic Royal Agents] Assigned to the Chancellors.

III. Senator, Praetorian Prefect, to all the saiones [royal enforcement agents] who are assigned to the chancellors. [1] It is fitting, indeed, that all things be carried out in tranquillity, in whatever way they can accord with good morals. But so great is the diversity of varied character in the commonwealth that no one is able to defend the laws unless terror is seen to temper something. For the sick there is not one cause of health: one is restored by food, another is reduced through the benefits of abstinence; this one seeks soft baths, that one the iron for his wounds; and the differing nature of afflictions demands a varied remedy. So he who is known to preside over peoples is not found to be furnished with one single policy. The fierce must be pressed down by severity, the gentle must be admonished courteously; the crafty must be handled with caution, the guileless under mildness. And therefore prudence is everywhere proved to be necessary, since it is seen to apply what is suitable to all matters. [2] Wherefore we assign your devotion, in the customary manner, to the support of that most distinguished man, our chancellor, so that you may rise up against no one else except him who has scorned to obey the laws. Drag to the court the man who does not accept what is just; under self-control be angry, under maturity exact strictness. We wish you to be feared rather than approved, because this above all will be reckoned to your vigor, if through no one's presumption a wrong be committed. [3] Let the faithful collection of the public money be considered before all things. Let contempt of another's property be your advantage. Let the man who has neglected to fulfill of his own accord be compelled to do it. Devote yourself only to the cases delegated to you. If you follow the orders, you do not pursue what lies off the path. He is free of fault who has carried out what was commanded. In an executor this is the worst thing, if he forsakes the judge's discretion. Do not boast on this account, that no one can resist you, nor be willing to take on arrogance, because the lowliness of many holds you in dread. Brave men are always modest in peace and love justice exceedingly, who have frequently engaged in battles. [4] How pleasing it is, if, returned among your kinsfolk, you bring back no reproach of complaints, but they recognize that you have so acted as the diligent are proved to choose! We too gladly receive with praise the man coming back, and we do not allow him to be at leisure whom we perceive to have acted in a praiseworthy manner. To these also the lord of affairs entrusts greater matters, whom a good conscience has proved to have conducted his interests well. How great are the things that the wise can carry off! No one acquires more than he who has conducted himself with good conversation [conduct].

III. UNIVERSIS SAIONIBUS QUI SUNT CANCELLARIIS DEPUTATI SENATOR PPO. [1] Oportet quidem cuncta sub tranquillitate peragi, quemadmodum pote sit bonis moribus convenire. sed tanta est in re publica de morum varietate diversitas, ut nemo valeat leges defendere, nisi terror videatur aliqua temperare. aegris non una causa salutis est: alter cibis reficitur, alter per abstinentiae beneficia tenuatur: hic lavacra mollia, ille ferrum quaerit ad vulnera: et varium poscit remedium diversa qualitas passionum. sic qui populis praeesse cognoscitur, non uno consilio praeditus invenitur. feroces districtione premendi sunt, mansueti civiliter ammonendi: dolosi caute, simplices sub lenitate tractandi sunt. et ideo ubique probatur necessaria esse prudentia, quoniam rebus omnibus adhibere videtur accommoda. [2] Quapropter devotionem tuam solaciis illius viri clarissimi cancellarii nostri sollemni more deputamus, ut contra nullum alium erigaris, nisi qui legibus parere despexerit. ad forum trahe qui iusta non recipit: sub continentia irascere, sub maturitate distringe. timeri te amplius volumus quam probari, quia maxime illud vigori tuo reputabitur, si nullius praesumptione peccetur. [3] Cogitetur prae omnibus pecuniae publicae fidelis exactio. sit tuum commodum contemptus alienus. coactus faciat, quod sponte complere neglexerit. causis tantum te delegatis impende. si praecepta sequeris, devia non requiris. caret culpa, qui imperata perfecerit. in executore illud est pessimum, si iudicis relinquat arbitrium. non inde iacteris, quod tibi non potest obviari, nec assumere superbiam velis, quia te multorum humilitas pertimescit. viri fortes semper in pace modesti sunt et iustitiam nimis diligunt, qui frequenter proelia tractaverunt. [4] Quam gratum est, si inter parentes reversus querellarum non reportes opprobrium, sed ita te cognoscant egisse, quemadmodum diligentes probantur optare! nos etiam gratanter excipimus cum laude venientem et otio vacare non sinimus, quem probabiliter egisse sentimus. his etiam et rerum dominus maiora credit, quos bona conscientia utilitates suas gessisse probaverit. quanta sunt, quae possunt tollere sapientes! nemo amplius adquirit quam qui se bona conversatione tractaverit.