Letter 3003: KING THEODERIC TO THE KING OF THE HERULS, TO THE KING OF THE WARNI, TO THE KING OF THE THURINGIANS

KING THEODERIC TO THE KING OF THE HERULS, TO THE KING OF THE WARNI, TO THE KING OF THE THURINGIANS [A CIRCULAR LETTER IN IDENTICAL FORM] [1] The pride that is always hateful to God ought to be opposed by the agreement of all nations. For the man who wishes to destroy a worthy people by deliberate iniquity does not intend to maintain justice toward the others either. It is the worst of customs to hold truth in contempt. He believes everything will yield to him if he succeeds in overcoming the arrogant in their detestable combat. [2] Therefore you — whom a clear-eyed courage has raised up and whom consideration of this detestable presumption has inflamed — send your ambassadors together with mine and with those of our brother King Gundobad to Clovis, King of the Franks, so that he may either, having weighed the matter with just consideration, hold back from his campaign against the Visigoths and seek the law of nations, or endure the attack of all, he who judges the arbitration of so many to be worthy of contempt. What more can he seek, to whom absolute justice is offered? I will say plainly what I think: the man who wishes to act without law intends to shatter the kingdoms of all. [3] But it is better that a dangerous presumption be checked at its outset, so that what might have been the struggle of individuals may be accomplished without labor by all acting together. Remember the loyalty of the elder Euric — how often he aided you with generous gifts, how often he held back the threatening wars of neighboring peoples from you. Return to his son the gratitude that you recognize was given for your own benefit. For if anything prevails against so great a kingdom, it will without doubt presume to attack you. [4] Therefore, as we salute your Excellency by letter, we have entrusted to our ambassadors — the bearers of this letter — certain things to be said to you in person, so that you who follow our design, with God's help, may be united in a single assent, and may act abroad so that you need not fight within your own provinces.

III. EPISTULA UNIFORMIS TALIS AD ERULORUM REGEM: AD GUARNORUM REGEM: AD THORINGORUM REGEM THEODERICUS REX. [1] Superbiam divinitati semper exosam persequi debet generalitatis assensus. nam qui vult opinabilem gentem voluntaria iniquitate subvertere, non disponit ceteris iusta servare. pessima consuetudo est despicere veritatem. credit sibi omnia cedere, si elatum contigerit in abominabili certamine superare. [2] Et ideo vos, quos conscia virtus erigit et consideratio detestabilis praesumptionis accendit, legatos vestros una cum meis et fratris nostri Gundibadi regis ad Francorum regem Luduin destinate, ut aut se de VVisigotharum conflictu considerata aequitate suspendat et leges gentium quaerat aut omnium patiatur incursum, qui tantorum arbitrium iudicat esse temnendum. quid quaerit ultra, cui offertur absoluta iustitia? dicam plane quod sentio: qui sine lege vult agere, cunctorum disponit regna quassare. [3] Sed melius inter initia perniciosa reprimatur assumptio, ut sine labore perficiatur omnium, quod certamen esse poterat singulorum. recolite namque Eurici senioris affectum, quantis vos iuvit saepe muneribus, quotiens a vobis proximarum gentium imminentia bella suspendit. reddite filio eius gratiam, quam tamen agnoscitis vestris utilitatibus attributam. nam si tanto regno aliquid praevaluerit, vos aggredi sine dubitatione praesumit. [4] Quapropter excellentiam vestram epistulari sermone salutantes per legatos nostros illum et illum praesentium portitores verbo vobis aliqua dicenda commisimus, ut vos, qui nostrum sequimini deo iuvante dispositum, unus complectatur assensus et foris hoc agatis, ne in vestris provinciis dimicare possitis.