From: Theoderic (through Cassiodorus), King of the Ostrogoths
To: Decius, Patrician
Date: ~522 AD
Context: Theoderic formally grants Decius ownership of whatever land he reclaims from the Decemnovium marshes.
Justice demands that a praiseworthy ambition be rewarded, and that what is undertaken with good will be supported by royal encouragement. Since you have asked, we grant you that once the pools and marshes of the Decemnovium have been drained, you may possess the land restored to solid ground without any claim from the treasury. You need fear no obstacle to cultivating the freed land, which we release with the whole community as witness.
We have also sent instructions to the most distinguished Senate to define the area, so that what has been rescued from the waters may rightfully pass to your ownership. It is only fair that each person should profit from his own labor. We have also considered that if anyone wishes to join you as a partner, he should receive an ownership share proportional to the work he undertakes. This way you will not be overwhelmed alone by the enormous costs, and the work will proceed more energetically with collaborative support. Envy -- the great enemy of great enterprises -- will be avoided.
Therefore, press on vigorously toward your glorious goal, lest it become a stain on your reputation to have faltered in what you have begun. Consider that all eyes are upon you. Look to the eager expectation of our court, awaiting the completion of the work. Hurry with all the energy you can muster, so that you may be judged worthy of having risen to so great a task -- you who are already praised in the admiration of all.
XXXIII. DECIO V. I. PATRICIO THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Iustitiae ratio est, ut laudabile desiderium sequatur prosperitas iussionum et quod bona voluntate suscipitur, regalibus quoque hortationibus impleatur. vobis itaque desideria iusta poscentibus praesenti auctoritate concedimus, ut stagnis Decemnovii paludibusque siccatis sine fisco possideas in solum rura revocata nec ullam metuas liberatis rebus exhibere culturam, quas sub testimonio generalitatis absolvimus. [2] Hinc etiam ad amplissimum senatum praecepta transmisimus, ut definito nunc spatio ad tuum pulchre transeat dominium, quod est a foedis gurgitibus vindicatum. aequum est enim, ut unicuique proficiat labor suus et sicut expendendo cognoscit incommoda, ita rebus perfectis consequatur augmenta. illud etiam, qui studio rei publicae semper invigilamus, aspeximus, ut, si quis hunc laborem iuncta tecum societate subire delegerit, habita operis aestimatione habeat iuris proprii spatia pro parte quam suscipit, ut nec solus immensis oneribus praegraveris et animosius peragatur, quod sub collegii adiuvatione suscipitur. ita fiet ut et, quae rebus maximis est amica, molesta careatur invidia. [3] Quapropter gloriosis desideriis navanter insiste, ne opinioni tuae grave sit in assumptis conatibus marcuisse. intuere quippe omnium ora atque oculos in te esse conversos: respice serenitatis nostrae suspensa iudicia ad effectum operis instituti. quanta vales animositate festina, ut dignus tanta re emersisse iudiceris, qui iam nunc omnium admiratione laudaris. XXXIIII.
ARTEMIDORO PRAEFECTO URBIS THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Gaudemus in te floruisse nostra iudicia: laetamur dignum praesulem Romanis arcibus extitisse, qui generosis animis amicum fraudibus non passus es velare secretum, ne vos aut delicta complices facerent aut securitas ad maiora potius incitaret. atquo ideo universa pecunia, quae fuerat fabricis deputata Romanis et nunc magnitudinis tuae discussione constitit abiuratam, cum nec reddita suo tempore nec docetur expensa, resumatur sine aliqua dilatione vobisque ordinantibus iterum Romanis moenibus applicetur. nefas est enim, ut in alios usus transeant quae sibi subtracta non inmerito Roma suspirat. [2] Deberemus itaque celatores deputatae pecuniae inmodica poena percellere, qui in tali causa nostram munificentiam fraudaverunt. sed affuit moderatrix, semper quae nobis est iuncta, clementia, ne indecore facta plecteremus graviter incitante iustitia. sufficiat nobis cupiditatem non implesse quod voluit. nec maior potest provenire vindicta, quando velut propria videtur perdere, quae suppressa turpiter iudicaverat possidere.
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From:Theoderic (through Cassiodorus), King of the Ostrogoths
To:Decius, Patrician
Date:~522 AD
Context:Theoderic formally grants Decius ownership of whatever land he reclaims from the Decemnovium marshes.
Justice demands that a praiseworthy ambition be rewarded, and that what is undertaken with good will be supported by royal encouragement. Since you have asked, we grant you that once the pools and marshes of the Decemnovium have been drained, you may possess the land restored to solid ground without any claim from the treasury. You need fear no obstacle to cultivating the freed land, which we release with the whole community as witness.
We have also sent instructions to the most distinguished Senate to define the area, so that what has been rescued from the waters may rightfully pass to your ownership. It is only fair that each person should profit from his own labor. We have also considered that if anyone wishes to join you as a partner, he should receive an ownership share proportional to the work he undertakes. This way you will not be overwhelmed alone by the enormous costs, and the work will proceed more energetically with collaborative support. Envy -- the great enemy of great enterprises -- will be avoided.
Therefore, press on vigorously toward your glorious goal, lest it become a stain on your reputation to have faltered in what you have begun. Consider that all eyes are upon you. Look to the eager expectation of our court, awaiting the completion of the work. Hurry with all the energy you can muster, so that you may be judged worthy of having risen to so great a task -- you who are already praised in the admiration of all.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.