Letter 2021: It is deeply unjust for a hardworking man to be cheated of the fruit of his labor, and for one who deserves a reward...

It is deeply unjust for a hardworking man to be cheated of the fruit of his labor, and for one who deserves a reward for his diligence to suffer an unfair loss -- especially in a matter that concerns our own generosity, where negligence must not be tolerated lest we seem to have decreed things of little use. Some time ago, our generosity granted to the distinguished Spes and Domitius certain tracts of land in the territory of Spoletium [modern Spoleto] that were uselessly occupied by marshy streams. There the vast depth of water had swallowed up the land's charm, rendering it useless. The earth lay shipwrecked, confused by swamp-like torpor, suffering a double loss: it had neither earned the pure waters of clear streams nor kept the honor of solid ground. We, whose heart is set on changing everything for the better, granted this land to the aforementioned men on the following condition...

XXI. IOHANNI APPARITORI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Grave nimis est, ut fructu laboris sui fraudetur industrius et cui debet pro sedulitate conferri praemium, dispendium patiatur iniustum, in ea praesertim re, quae ad nostram respicit largitatem: ubi nihil debet licere neglegentiae, ne videamur minus profutura sanxisse. [2] Dudum siquidem Spei et Domitio spectabilibus viris loca in Spoletino territorio caenosis fluentibus inutiliter occupata largitas nostra concesserat, ubi aquarum vasta profunditas terrenam gratiam in nullos usus profuturos absorbuerat. iacebat tellus naufraga palustri torpore confusa et sub utroque iactata dispendio nec aquarum puros liquores meruerat et decus terrenae soliditatis amiserat. [3] Hoc nos, quibus cordi est in melius cuncta mutare, supra memoratis tali condicione concessimus, ut, si eorum opera vel labore turpis desiccaretur illuvies, ipsis liberata rura proficerent. sed quantum actorum Spei loquitur ingesta petitio, Domitii viri spectabilis vitio, dum inmemor iussionis tenaciter parcit expensis, ad initium revocatus est labor operantium, cum iam in soli faciem paulatim mollities siccata duresceret celatamque longa voracitate tellurem sol insuetus afflaret. [4] Quod nos nequaquam neglegi posse patiemur, ut bene coepta invida destruantur ignavia. proinde devotio tua praefatum Domitium moderata executione conveniat, ut aut coeptae rei sedulus operator immineat aut, si hoc sibi sumptuosum esse crediderit, propriam cedat supplicantibus portionem. oportet enim, ut, si ipse postulata nequit efficere, consortem beneficii gloriam nostri temporis permittat implere.