Letter 2006: King Theodoric to Agapitus, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious], Patrician.

King Theodoric to Agapitus, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious], Patrician. Our deliberations require the service of wise men, so that the business of the public good may be accomplished through the ministry of the learned. Therefore let Your Illustrious Magnitude know, with God's help, that we have resolved to send an embassy to the East [Constantinople]. Judging you well suited for this mission, we summon you by the present order, so that you may be honored by our esteem and our commands may be carried into effect through you. Although every embassy requires a wise man -- since the welfare of the provinces and the stability of the entire kingdom are entrusted to his defense -- it is now especially necessary to choose someone of the greatest prudence, someone capable of debating against the most subtle minds and conducting himself in an assembly of the learned so that so many brilliant intellects cannot overwhelm the cause he has taken up. It is a great art to speak against master craftsmen and to achieve something among men who believe they can foresee everything. Take pride, therefore, in so great a judgment, since you receive the gift of being chosen before you could even have proved your own abilities.

VI. AGAPITO V. I. PATRICIO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Deliberationis nostrae consilium virorum prudentium requirit obsequium, ut utilitatis publicae ratio sapientum ministerio compleatur. et ideo illustris magnitudo tua deo auxiliante cognoscat legationem nos ad Orientem deliberasse transmittere: cui te idoneum iudicantes iussis praesentibus evocamus, ut et tibi de aestimatione nostra crescat ornatus et nostris iussionibus per te procuretur effectus. [2] Sed licet omnis legatio virum sapientem requirat, cui provinciarum utilitas totiusque regni status committitur vindicandus, nunc tamen necesse est prudentissimum eligere, qui possit contra subtilissimos disputare et in conventu doctorum sic agere, ne susceptam causam tot erudita possint ingenia superare. magna ars est contra artifices loqui et apud illos aliquid agere, qui se putant omnia praevidere. lactare igitur tanto iudicio, quando ante suscipis electionis donum, quam tuum probare potuisses ingenium.