Letter 2036: Although a relaxed penalty is quite enough to encourage the betrayal of a crime -- and it is no small gift of...

36. EDICT. KING THEODERIC. [1] Although the penalty, much relaxed, suffices for the betrayal of a crime, and it is no small reward to audacity to have escaped the terror of punishment, we nevertheless add a prize, such as innocence is wont to have: not because the deeds have pleased us, but because it delights us to be generous in our love of vengeance. [2] Wherefore let everyone learn, by the authority of the present edict, that he will earn from our bounty one hundred gold pieces, if he betrays those who carried off the statue from the city of Comum, and let him know that he will obtain pardon for his own deed, which, being most harmful, requires it. We give a golden reward for a bronze trinket; and we bestow more precious metals than we are able to find, redeeming by this generosity that which is established to be forbidden, so that it may not pass into use. [3] Who then would be condemned to such blindness of folly as to hesitate to come forward, when he both finds safety and gains the reward of confession? But if anyone should perhaps think the matter should be concealed, and our Serenity should uncover him by some token of the truth, let him know that he will be seized for the ultimate punishment. For it is unworthy that those who spurn our indulgence should afterward, once detected, be supported by our humanity.

XXXVI. EDICTUM. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Quamvis ad proditionem sceleris relaxata nimis poena sufficiat nec parum sit munus audaciae supplicii declinasse terrorem, addimus tamen praemium, quod habere innocentia solet: non quia commissa placuerint, sed delectat nos munificos esse in amore vindictae. [2] Quapropter praesentis edicti unusquisque auctoritate cognoscat centum se aureos largitate nostra promereri, si prodat qui statuam de Comensi civitate rapuerunt, et de suo facto, quod maxime nocens requirit, indulgentiam se noverit habiturum. damus in aeneo compendio aureum munus: et metalla quam invenire possumus pretiosiora largimur: illud potius hac liberalitate redimentes, ne transeat in usum, quod constat esse prohibitum. [3] Quis ergo tanta stultitiae caecitate damnetur, ut dubitet erumpere, quando et securitatem repperit et praemium confessionis adquirit? si quis autem dissimulandurn forte crediderit eumque aliquo veritatis indicio serenitas nostra detexerit, ultimo se noverit discrimine rapiendum. indignum est enim ut qui respuunt indulgentiam nostram, detectis postea suffragetur humanitas.