Letter 2005: King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Prefect.

King Theodoric to Faustus, Praetorian Prefect. Since our generosity is always looking for a worthy object, and sometimes bestows its bounty even on less essential persons out of a love for clemency — how much more does it delight in spending where the public interest is served, since every gift to the state doubles the benefit to the giver! We therefore command Your Illustrious Magnificence by this present authority to supply rations, without any hesitation — as has been decreed for others — to the sixty soldiers permanently stationed at the mountain passes of Augusta [the Aosta valley passes in the Alps]. The needs of the commonwealth are fulfilled with a willing heart when they are supported by the inducements of compensation. For it is right to think of the sustenance of soldiers who toil for the common peace in frontier posts and are known to bar the entry of barbarian peoples from what is, in effect, the gateway of the province. A man will always be ready for action if he devotes himself to holding back the barbarian, because only fear restrains those whom a sworn oath cannot hold.

V. FAUSTO PPO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Cum nostra humanitas locum munificentiae videatur exquirere et interdum personis minus necessariis amore clementiae sua desideria largiatur, quanto magis in utilitate rei publicae delectatur expendere, ubi quicquid tribuitur, donantis utilitas duplicatur! quapropter illustrem magnificentiam tuam praesenti auctoritate praecipimus sexaginta militibus in Augustanis clusuris iugiter constitutis annonas, sicut aliis quoque decretae sunt, sine aliqua dubitatione praestare, ut utilitas rei publicae grato animo compleatur, quae emolumentorum commoditatibus adiuvatur. [2] Decet enim cogitare de militis transactione, qui pro generali quiete finalibus locis noscitur insudare et quasi a quadam porta provinciae gentiles introitus probatur excludere. in procinctu semper erit, qui barbaros prohibere contendit, quia solus metus cohibet, quos fides promissa non retinet.