Letter 2025: The voice of pain is always a complaint -- the injured cannot keep silent, and a wounded spirit feeds on outcry.

From: Theoderic (through Cassiodorus), King of the Ostrogoths To: The People (Public Edict) Date: ~522 AD Context: A public edict encouraging oppressed taxpayers to bring their complaints directly to the king. The voice of pain is always a complaint -- the injured cannot keep silent, and a wounded spirit feeds on outcry. But a freer speech is one that our own authority has authorized. We despise the oppression of the unfortunate; we are moved even by the suffering of those who do not complain, and what a patient sufferer tries to hide reaches us all the faster. Rightly so, since all injuries concern us -- we consider it a personal loss when the humble are harmed. We have recently learned from provincial judges' reports that certain powerful households have not been meeting their tax obligations in proper order. The result is that when the full amount must be collected, the greater sum is demanded from the poor. The arrogance of tax contractors has meant that the standard gold coins were not delivered properly but were flung at collectors at unfair weight, and they have not even paid the full siliqua [a small denomination] they customarily owed. The consequence is that the curiales -- whom we want to see prosper -- have been forced by aggressive collectors to suffer heavy losses. They have been pressured with other people's debts by brutal enforcers, and have even been stripped of their own properties. To put an end to this outrage, we have sent instructions to the most reverend Senate, and now by this edict we decree: let any landowner or curialis who feels burdened by another's tax assessment hasten to our court for a hearing. He will learn that past abuses have deeply displeased us when he sees better times ahead. The judgment of a just ruler is now open to you, though it has always been shown by many signs. Either endure your suffering in silence, or open the path of your voice under the protection of justice. The decision is now yours -- choose what you see is best for you.

XXV. EDICTUM. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Quamvis sit querula vox doloris nec se contineant imminuti et laesus animus vociferatione pascatur, tamen liberior sermo promitur, qui nostra auctoritate laxatur. detestamur enim miseros premi, commovemur et non querentium malis velociusque ad nos pervenit quod dissimulatio patientis abscondit: merito, quando cunctorum nos respiciunt laesiones, dum illud pietati nostrae perire credimus, quod per mediocrium damna sentimus. [2] Nuper itaque provincialium iudicum relatione cognovimus domos aliquas praepotentum suas non implere per ordinem functiones. hinc fieri, ut, dum illationis quantitas procurari quaeritur, a tenuibus summa potior exigatur. superbia deinde conductorum canonicos solidos non ordine traditos, sed sub iniquo pondere imminentibus fuisse proiectos, nec universam siliquam, quam reddere consueverant, sollemniter intulisse. proinde factum ut curiales, quibus nos volumus esse prospectum, imminentum sollicitudine coacti gravia damna sentirent: et, si dici fas est, cum alienis debitis sub truculentis compulsoribus urgerentur, possessionum quoque suarum amissione privati sunt. [3] Quod scelus ut debeat amputari, ad reverentissimum quoque senatum praecepta transmisimus et nunc edictali programmate definimus, ut quisque possessorum sive curialium gravatum se sentit in aliena calculi functione, ad nostrae serenitatis audientiam venire deproperet, sciturus nobis priores excessus omnino displicuisse, cum viderit profutura succedere. patuit ergo vobis arbitrium iusti principis, quamvis multis semper declaretur indiciis. nunc aut sub silentio patientiam doloris obducite aut sub iustitia iter vocis aperite. iam in vobis erit huius summa consilii, quibus adiacet eligere, quod vobis perspicitis expedire.