Letter 2038: We wish our wealth to be enriched by the treasury of compassion, and we despise profits acquired through the...

We wish our wealth to be enriched by the treasury of compassion, and we despise profits acquired through the miseries of the afflicted. A tax payment that draws tears offends our mercy, because whatever is paid gladly redounds to the praise of the recipient. The merchants of the city of Siponto claim to have been devastated by enemy raids. Since we consider the relief of the destitute our truest wealth, your illustrious magnificence shall ensure that the named merchants are not troubled by any forced grain purchases for the next two years. But since it does no good to lift up the fallen if another burden of payment follows, those who are known to have lent money to these merchants should be warned by your authority not to demand anything from the debt during this two-year period. This way, under this respite, they may both recover the money they lent and the debtors' resources may have some room to breathe. What good does it do a creditor to press his claim when it is futile to try to collect from men who have been stripped bare? We serve them better by patience, letting them reach a point where they can repay.

XXXVIII. FAUSTO PPO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Opes nostras cupimus thesauro pietatis augeri, execrantes commoda, quae nobis vexatorum fuerint calamitatibus adquisita. molesta est illatio nostrae clementiae quae defletur, quia quicquid sub laetitia penditur, accipientis laudibus applicatur. [2] Urbis itaque Sipontinae negotiatores hostium se asserunt depopulatione vastatos: et quia egentium levamina nostras potius divitias aestimamus, illustris magnificentia vestra per hoc iuge biennium nuncupatos nulla faciat coemptione vexari. [3] Sed quoniam lapsos relevasse nihil proficit, si onus aliud solutionis accedit, qui memoratis negotiatoribus noscuntur mutuasse pecuniam, celsitudo tua faciat ammoneri, ne in hoc biennii spatio quicquam de credita summa existiment postulandum, quatenus sub induciis supradictis et datam possint reparare pecuniam et aliquatenus debitorum valeat respirare substantia. quid enim proficit creditorem se urgere, quando in cassum nititur nudatos exigere? quibus magis prospicimus, si ad mutuata sustinendo pervenire faciamus.