King Theodoric to Luduin [Clovis], King of the Franks.
The divine will has ordained that the bonds of kinship among kings should strengthen, so that through their peaceable dispositions the longed-for tranquility of peoples may be achieved. This bond is sacred — it must not be violated by any upheaval. For what hostages can secure trust, if we do not trust in the bonds of affection? Rulers are joined by proximity of blood so that divided nations may take pride in a shared purpose, and the wishes of separate peoples may converge, as it were, through certain channels of concord.
This being so, we are amazed that your temper has been provoked by such trivial causes that you are prepared to enter into the most brutal conflict with our son, King Alaric [of the Visigoths] — so that the many who fear you both may take pleasure in your mutual destruction. You are both kings of the greatest nations, both in the flower of your age. You do not lightly shake your kingdoms when you give free rein to hostility. Your valor should not become an unexpected catastrophe for your homeland, because there is great shame when the ruin of peoples follows from a king's petty quarrel.
I will speak freely; I will speak with affection. It is the mark of an impatient mind to reach for weapons at the first embassy. What is sought from kinsmen should be pursued through chosen arbiters. Between men of your stature, even those you select as mediators will be glad to serve. What will you think of us if you discover that we have abandoned your disputes? Let that clash never come where one of you may grieve in defeat. Put down the sword, you who would fight to my disgrace.
I warn you with a father's authority and a lover's concern: whoever dismisses such counsel as contemptible — which we trust will not happen — will find us and our allies ranged against him. We have therefore taken care to send our envoys to Your Excellency, through whom we have also directed letters to your brother, our son King Alaric — so that no foreign malice may sow discord between you. Rather, persevering in peace, you should settle your differences amicably through the mediation of friends. We have also entrusted certain matters to our envoys to communicate verbally, so that the nations that have prospered under your fathers...
IIII. LUDUIN REGI FRANCORUM THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Ideo inter reges affinitatis iura divina coalescere voluerunt, ut per eorum placabilem animum proveniat quies optata populorum. hoc enim sacrum est, quod nulla permittitur commotione violari. nam quibus obsidibus habeatur fides, si non credatur affectibus? sociantur proximitate domini, ut nationes divisae simili debeant voluntate gloriari et quasi per alveos quosdam concordiae adunata se possint gentium vota coniungere? [2] Quae cum ita sint, miramur animos vestros sic causis mediocribus excitatos, ut cum filio nostro rege Alarico durissimum velitis subire conflictum, ut multi, qui vos metuunt, de vestra concertatione laetentur. ambo estis summarum gentium reges, ambo aetate florentes. non leviter regna vestra quassatis, si data partibus libertate confligitis. virtus vestra patriae non fiat inopinata calamitas, quia grandis invidia est regum in causis levibus gravis ruina populorum. [3] Dicam libere, dicam affectuose quod sentio: impatiens sensus est ad primam legationem arma protinus commovere. a parentibus quod quaeritur, electis iudicibus expetatur. nam inter tales viros et illis gratum est dare, quos medios volueritis efficere. quid de nobis vos ipsi aestimare poteritis, si nos intentiones vestras reliquisse cognoscitis? absit ille conflictus, ubi unus ex vobis dolere poterit inclinatus. abicite ferrum, qui in meum pugnare vultis opprobrium. [4] Iure patris vobis interminor et amantis. ille nos et amicos nostros patietur adversos, qui talia monita, quod non opinamur, crediderit esse temnenda. quapropter ad excellentiam vestram illum et illum legatos nostros magnopere credidimus dirigendos, per quos etiam ad fratrem vestrum, filium nostrum regem Alaricum scripta nostra direximus, ut nullatenus inter vos scandala seminet aliena malignitas: sed in pace perseverantes, quae sunt mediis amicis placabiliter finire debeatis. [5] Per eos etiam et verbo vobis aliqua dicenda mandamus, ut gentes, quae sub parentibus vestris longa pace floruerunt, subita non debeant concussione vastari. illi enim credere debetis, quem vestris utilitatibus arridere cognoscitis, quoniam qui vult alterum in praecipites casus mittere, eum certum est fideliter non monere.
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King Theodoric to Luduin [Clovis], King of the Franks.
The divine will has ordained that the bonds of kinship among kings should strengthen, so that through their peaceable dispositions the longed-for tranquility of peoples may be achieved. This bond is sacred — it must not be violated by any upheaval. For what hostages can secure trust, if we do not trust in the bonds of affection? Rulers are joined by proximity of blood so that divided nations may take pride in a shared purpose, and the wishes of separate peoples may converge, as it were, through certain channels of concord.
This being so, we are amazed that your temper has been provoked by such trivial causes that you are prepared to enter into the most brutal conflict with our son, King Alaric [of the Visigoths] — so that the many who fear you both may take pleasure in your mutual destruction. You are both kings of the greatest nations, both in the flower of your age. You do not lightly shake your kingdoms when you give free rein to hostility. Your valor should not become an unexpected catastrophe for your homeland, because there is great shame when the ruin of peoples follows from a king's petty quarrel.
I will speak freely; I will speak with affection. It is the mark of an impatient mind to reach for weapons at the first embassy. What is sought from kinsmen should be pursued through chosen arbiters. Between men of your stature, even those you select as mediators will be glad to serve. What will you think of us if you discover that we have abandoned your disputes? Let that clash never come where one of you may grieve in defeat. Put down the sword, you who would fight to my disgrace.
I warn you with a father's authority and a lover's concern: whoever dismisses such counsel as contemptible — which we trust will not happen — will find us and our allies ranged against him. We have therefore taken care to send our envoys to Your Excellency, through whom we have also directed letters to your brother, our son King Alaric — so that no foreign malice may sow discord between you. Rather, persevering in peace, you should settle your differences amicably through the mediation of friends. We have also entrusted certain matters to our envoys to communicate verbally, so that the nations that have prospered under your fathers...
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.