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...

XXI. KING THEODERIC TO JOHN, AN APPARITOR [a subordinate officer attached to a magistrate]. [1] It is exceedingly grievous that an industrious man should be defrauded of the fruit of his labor, and that one to whom a reward ought to be granted for his diligence should suffer an unjust loss, especially in a matter that pertains to our bounty: where nothing ought to be permitted to negligence, lest we seem to have ordained things less profitable. [2] For some time ago our bounty had granted to Spes and Domitius, men of distinguished rank [spectabiles], lands in the Spoletine territory that were uselessly taken up by muddy waters, where a vast depth of water had swallowed up the favor of the soil into uses that would profit no one. The land lay shipwrecked, thrown into confusion by marshy torpor, and, cast down by a twofold loss, it had neither deserved the pure waters of clear streams nor retained the grace of solid earth. [3] This land we, whose desire it is to change all things for the better, granted to the aforementioned men on this condition: that, if by their effort or labor the foul flood should be dried up, the reclaimed fields should profit the men themselves. But, as the petition lodged by the agents of Spes declares, through the fault of Domitius, a man of distinguished rank, while heedless of the order he tenaciously spares his expenditures, the labor of the workers has been called back to its beginning, since now the dried-up softness was gradually hardening into the surface of the soil and the unaccustomed sun was breathing upon the land long hidden by the devouring waters. [4] We will by no means suffer this to be neglected, that things well begun should be destroyed by envious sloth. Accordingly let your devotion approach the aforesaid Domitius with measured enforcement, so that either he may press on as a diligent worker upon the undertaking he has begun, or, if he believes this to be too costly for himself, let him yield his own portion to the petitioners. For it is fitting that, if he himself cannot accomplish what is required, he should permit his partner in the benefit to fulfill the glory of our reign.

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.