Letter 2028: Honest labor deserves its reward, because military service without recognition is military service dishonored.

XXVIII. King Theoderic to Stephanus, Most Distinguished man, Count of the First Order and former Head of Our official staff. [1] A recompense of rewards must be allotted to just labors, because that service is held to have been reproached which passes by unremunerated. The palm marks out the athlete to the peoples as victor. The civic crown bears witness to the sweat of war. Even horses await their own rewards, and so great is the force of justice that the price of their labor is not given even to those more slowly who could not feel that it had been denied them. [2] But if this is so, it is fitting to render this to a man who is recognized to have given satisfaction through honorable service. For through so many slippery hazards of public affairs you have held fixed the footstep of a proven service, and, what rarely happens in one who serves, the changing of judges never altered the regard felt toward you. Nor was there anyone in your case envious of another's judgment, since even one set against the appointments of his predecessors was rendered favorable. You deserved indeed to please all, since you always keep guard over things to be cherished: silence in confidential matters, effectiveness in your actions, regularity in the toil of your attendance; and, what the frequent vices of men have made a rare good of self-restraint, although you offered your services to many, to no one did you sell your work. [3] You stained the title of Head [of the staff] with no defilement, preserving the dignity of the name by the exercise of virtue. Hence it is that we confer upon you, by our present authority, the honor of the rank of Spectabilis, which just antiquity assigned to those who had wiped away the sweat of service, so that you may at last understand, now free from care, the watches of your labor brought to an end by the remuneration of a Countship of the First Order. [4] And because bare rank does not establish the favor of the prince, nor can that be called a benefit which is felt with no advantage, we likewise grant, with similar munificence, the privileges which the imperial decrees wished to be bestowed upon your school of former Heads. Nor ought you to fear anything in these matters which perhaps are assailed by some novel encroachment. Ancient law therefore has fortified you against all loss and against base burdens. [5] But although we pay you what is worthy with a present remuneration, nevertheless we promise the greatest hope to your future prayers. But since those benefits are meager which do not also promise something concerning the future, princely providence will be at hand, so that those whom we believe worthy of our favor we may also heap with greater honor. But because it is not fitting that a royal kindness be concealed, see that the favor you have obtained comes to the notice of the provincial judge, so that the hearts of all may know your rank of Spectabilis adorned by our testimony, and that fitting respect may be preserved for you, as one who has discharged the duty of his service, to the praise of our times.

XXVIII. STEPHANO V. S. COMITI PRIMI ORDINIS ET EX PRINCIPE OFFICII NOSTRI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Tribuenda est iustis laboribus compensatio praemiorum, quia exprobrata militia creditur quae inremunerata transitur. athletam populis palma designat esse victorem. sudores bellicos civica corona testatur. exspectant etiam equos praemia sua et tanta iustitiae vis est, ut nec illis tardius detur laboris pretium, qui sentire non poterant denegatum. [2] Quod si ita est, dignum est hoc homini reddere, qui per honesta cognoscitur obsequia placuisse. per tot enim actionum lubricos casus fixum tenuisti militiae probatae vestigium et, quod raro in serviente provenit, permutatio iudicum numquam circa te variavit affectum. nec erat alieni in te iudicii quisquam invidus, cum etiam decessorum suorum ordinationibus redderetur adversus. placere siquidem meruisti cunctis, cum semper diligenda custodis, silentium in secretis, in actionibus efficaciam, in observationis labore frequentiam: et quod rarum continentiae bonum crebra hominum vitia fecerunt, cum multis praeberes officia, nulli tuam operam venditabas. [3] Vocabulum principis nulla sorde maculasti, servans dignitatem nominis exercitatione virtutis. hinc est quod spectabilitatis honorem, quem militiae sudore detersis iusta deputavit antiquitas, praesenti tibi auctoritate conferimus, ut laboris tui tandem finitas excubias remuneratione comitivae primi ordinis iam securus intellegas. [4] Et quia gratiam principis dignitas nuda non asserit nec beneficium dici potest quod nulla utilitate sentitur, privilegia quoque, quae tribui scholae tuae exprincipibus divalia constituta voluerunt, simili munificentia condonamus. nec quicquam in his debes metuere, quae forsitan novella usurpatione temptantur. ab omni ergo damno oneribusque sordidis ius te munivit antiquum. [5] Sed quamquam tibi praesenti remuneratione digna solvamus, futuris tamen votis spem maximam pollicemur. sed quoniam angusta sunt beneficia, quae non etiam de futuris aliquid pollicentur, aderit providentia principalis, ut, quos dignos favore nostro credimus, eos quoque maiore honore cumulemus. verum quia celari non decet regium bonum, impetrata praesentia ad provincialis iudicis facito notitiam pervenire, quatenus spectabilitatem tuam decoratam nostro testimonio universitatis corda cognoscant tibique utpote militiae munere persoluto cultus competens pro nostrorum temporum laude servetur.