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

Although a relaxed penalty is quite enough to encourage the betrayal of a crime -- and it is no small gift of boldness to have escaped the terror of punishment -- we add a reward as well, the kind that innocence usually enjoys. Not because the crime pleased us, but because we delight in being generous in the cause of justice. Therefore, let everyone know by this edict that they will earn one hundred gold pieces from our generosity if they reveal who stole the statue from the city of Como. Even a guilty party will receive a full pardon for his own involvement. We offer a golden reward for a bronze loss, and we give away a more precious metal than the one we seek to recover. What we are really buying with this generosity is assurance that what is forbidden does not become customary. Who could be condemned to such blindness of folly as to hesitate to come forward, when he finds both safety and a reward for confession? But if anyone thinks he can keep silent, and our authority uncovers him through some proof of the truth, let him know he will be seized for the ultimate penalty. It is unfair that those who reject our mercy should later benefit from our humanity once they are exposed.

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.