Letter 3016: A judgment backed by precedent is solid, and there is no room for doubt where proven experience speaks in one's favor.

King Theoderic to Gemellus, Most Distinguished Man [a senatorial honorific]. [1] Firm is the judgment whose precedent is held fast, nor is any room left for doubt where convincing proofs lend their support. We have tested your effectiveness through various grades of diligence, but you have earned an equal favor for each, being approved in equal measure across your different undertakings. [2] For this reason, at the present time our authority sends you as deputy of the prefects into Gaul, which has been made subject to us with God's help. Weigh therefore what sort of judgments we appear to hold concerning you, when you are sent to set in order those peoples whom we believe to have been won especially through our praises. Glory is dear to a prince, and he must be the more anxious about those from whom he perceives an increase of his triumphs to have come. [3] Carry out, then, our commands, if you wish our judgments of you to bear fruit in you. Do not love disorderly things; turn aside from greedy ways, so that the weary province may receive you as such a judge as it recognizes a Roman prince to have sent. Constrained by its own disasters, it longs for excellent men. Bring it about that it may take pleasure in having been conquered. Let it feel nothing of the kind it was suffering when it sought Rome. Let all sadness over calamity depart; let its clouded face at last grow serene. Now it is fitting for it to rejoice, since it has attained its own desires.

XVI. GEMELLO V. S. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Firmum est iudicium cuius tenetur exemplum, nec locus ambiguitati relinquitur ubi experimenta probabilia suffragantur. exploravimus efficaciam tuam per diversos industriae gradus, sed uni parem meruisti gratiam, variis actionibus aequaliter approbatus. [2] Hinc est quod praesenti tempore in Gallias nobis deo auxiliante subiectas vicarium te praefectorum nostra mittit auctoritas. unde perpende qualia de te videamur habere iudicia, quando ad illos populos mitteris corrigendos, quos nostris laudibus specialiter credimus adquisitos. cara est principi gloria et necesse est de illis amplius esse sollicitum, unde sibi triumphorum venisse sentit augmentum. [3] Age igitur mandata, si cupis in te proficere nostra iudicia. turbulenta non ames: avara declina, ut talem te iudicem provincia fessa suscipiat, qualem Romanum principem transmisisse cognoscat. desiderat viros egregios coacta cladibus suis. effice ut victam fuisse delectet. nihil tale sentiat, quale patiebatur, cum Romam quaereret. abscedat omnis de calamitate tristitia: serenetur tandem nubilus vultus. nunc illam gaudere convenit, cum ad sua vota pervenit.