Letter 3009: VARIAE, BOOK 3, LETTER 9

[1] It is indeed our policy to build new things, but even more to preserve the old — because no less praise comes from restoring what has been found than from inventing something new. The novelty of creation delights, but the care of preservation endures, and whatever is faithfully maintained stands as a monument not only to its original builder but to all who kept it standing. A kingdom that lets its inheritance crumble reveals a deeper poverty than one that never built at all. [2] We have therefore ordered that the ancient structures in your district be restored and maintained at public expense, so that coming generations may inherit what was handed down to us. Do not allow the neglect of a few years to destroy what centuries of care have preserved. The expense is modest compared to the disgrace of letting Roman works fall into ruin under our watch. See to it that skilled craftsmen are employed and that the work is completed with the same quality that the original builders intended.

VIIII. POSSESSORIBUS DEFENSORIBUS ET CURIALIBUS ESTUNIS CONSISTENTIBUS THEODERICUS REX. [1] Propositi quidem nostri est nova construere, sed amplius vetusta servare, quia non minorem laudem de inventis quam de rebus possumus adquirere custoditis. proinde moderna sine priorum imminutione desideramus erigere: quicquid enim per alienum venit incommodum, nostrae iustitiae non probatur acceptum. [2] In municipio itaque vestro sine usu iacere comperimus columnas et lapides vetustatis invidia demolitos: et quia indecore iacentia servare nil proficit, ad ornatum debent surgere redivivum quam dolorem monstrare ex memoria praecedentium saeculorum. [3] Atque ideo praesenti auctoritate decernimus, ut, si vera fides est suggerentium nec aliquid publico nunc ornatui probatur accommodum, supra memoratas platonias vel columnas ad Ravennatem civitatem contradat modis omnibus devehendas: ut conlapsis metallis oblitterata facies reddatur iterum de arte pulcherrima et quae situ fuerant obscura, antiqui nitoris possint recipere qualitatem.