Letter 3024: Our providence does not abandon its purpose -- always attentive to its subjects, it arranges what will benefit them,...

24. King Theoderic to all the barbarians and Romans settled throughout Pannonia. [1] Our providence does not abandon its purpose, since, ever attentive, it arranges what will profit our subjects, so that those who recognize that we have taken care of them may be stirred up to greater devotion. [2] Hence it is that we have committed your governance and defense to Colosseus, a man of illustrious rank and most powerful in his abilities, so that he who has thus far given many proofs of his worth may be advanced still further in what is to come. And therefore show now also to him, here present, that patience of yours which has so often been approved, to the end that in those matters which he shall have ordered to be reasonably done for the advantage of our kingdom, they may be carried out with commendable devotion: for steadfastness proves fidelity, and he asserts the integrity of his own mind who persists in unbroken obedience. [3] Besides this, we believed that you ought to be admonished to desire to vent your fury not upon yourselves, but upon the enemy. Let no small matter lead you to extreme perils: yield to justice, in which the world rejoices. [4] Why do you have recourse to single combat, you who have no judge that can be bought? Lay down the sword, you who have no enemy. It is most wickedly that you raise your arm against your kinsmen, for whom it is agreed that one ought to die gloriously. What need has a man of a tongue, if an armed hand should plead his case? Or how can there be thought to be peace, if there is fighting under the rule of civil order? Imitate, surely, our Goths, who know how to wage battles abroad and to practice restraint at home. Thus do we wish you to live, even as you behold our own kinsmen to have flourished, by the favor of the Lord.

XXIIII. UNIVERSIS BARBARIS ET ROMANIS PER PANNONIAM CONSTITUTIS THEODERICUS REX. [1] Institutum suum providentia nostra non deserit, cum subiectis semper intenta profutura disponit, ut ad maiorem devotionem concitentur qui sui curam nos habuisse cognoscunt. [2] Hinc est quod Colosseo viro illustri nomine viribusque praepotenti gubernationem vestram defensionemque commisimus, ut qui suae multa dedit hactenus experimenta virtutis, augeatur potius in futuris. atque ideo parientiam vestram saepius approbatam nunc quoque eidem praesenti monstrate, quatenus in his quae pro regni nostri utilitate rationabiliter agenda praeceperit, devotione probabili compleantur: quia fidem constantia probat et ille integritatem propriae asserit mentis, qui iugibus persistit obsequiis. [3] Illud praeterea vos credidimus ammonendos, ut non in vos, sed in hostem saevire cupiatis. res parva non vos ducat ad extrema discrimina: adquiescite iustitiae, qua mundus laetatur. [4] Cur ad monomachiam recurratis, qui venalem iudicem non habetis? deponite ferrum, qui non habetis inimicum. pessime contra parentes erigitis brachium, pro quibus constat gloriose moriendum. quid opus est homini lingua, si causam manus agat armata? aut pax esse unde creditur, si sub civilitate pugnetur? imitamini certe Gothos nostros, qui foris proelia, intus norunt exercere modestiam. sic vos volumus vivere, quemadmodum parentes nostros cernitis domino praestante floruisse.