Letter 3031: Although we wish to devote unflagging care to our entire state and, with God's favor, to restore all things to their...

From: Theoderic (through Cassiodorus), King of the Ostrogoths To: The Senate of the City of Rome Date: ~522 AD Context: Theoderic orders the Senate to cooperate with an investigation into the diversion of Rome's aqueducts and theft of bronze and lead from public buildings. Although we wish to devote unflagging care to our entire state and, with God's favor, to restore all things to their former condition, the city of Rome demands our most anxious attention, because every improvement there brings joy to all. It has come to our knowledge through the reports of many -- who cannot conceal wicked deeds -- that detestable usurpers are seizing much that belongs to the city of Rome, so that a city to which we wish to devote our greatest effort suffers unjust fraud. Therefore, we bring our orders to your attention, since we believe the losses to your city displease you even more than they do us. It is reported that water from the aqueducts -- which should be maintained with the utmost care -- has been diverted to power water mills and irrigate gardens, out of private greed. It is shameful and wretched that this should happen in Rome, when it would barely be acceptable in the countryside. Since we cannot correct what has gone beyond the bounds of law without destroying the law itself, if the owner of this outrageous practice is protected by the thirty-year statute of limitations, let him sell his error for a fair price, so that what damages the public works will not be presumed any further. What we now correct through payment, we will later punish most severely. But if any such thing has been attempted through recent presumption, let it be removed without question. The general good must always take precedence over one person's wish. Slaves assigned to the aqueduct service by earlier rulers have reportedly passed into private ownership. Bronze -- no small weight of it -- and lead, the easiest thing to steal, have reportedly been stripped from public monuments, the very works that consecrated their builders for the ages. Bronze was discovered by Ionos, king of Thessaly; lead by Midas, king of Phrygia. How wretched it would be if, where others gained a reputation for foresight, we should seem to have earned one for neglect! Temples and public buildings that we granted to many petitioners for restoration have instead been given over to demolition. Since the correction of wrongs delights us, and silence might seem to grant permission, we have sent the spectabilis Johannes, chosen by our justice, to investigate these matters. Let everything be examined in order and reported to us, so that we may decree what should be done about each case and each offender in the manner of our justice. Now give your effort and cooperation, so that you may appear to welcome with good will an investigation you should have requested yourselves.

XXXI. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE THEODERICUS REX. [1] Quamvis universae rei publicae nostrae infatigabilem curam desideremus impendere et deo favente ad statum studeamus pristinum cuncta revocare, tamen Romanae civitatis sollicitiora nos augmenta constringunt, ubi quicquid decoris impenditur, generalibus gaudiis exhibetur. pervenit itaque ad nostram conscientiam suggestione multorum, quae prava non potest dissimulare commissa, plura in praeiudicio urbis Romanae detestabiles praesumptores assumere, ut cui nos summum adhibere desideramus studium, dolum patiatur iniustum. [2] Quapropter ordinationes nostras ad vestram facimus notitiam pervenire, quibus amplius credimus civitatis vestrae dispendia displicere. dicitur ergo commodi cura privati aquam formarum, quam summo deceret studio communiri, ad aquae molas exercendas vel hortos rigandos fuisse derivatam: turpe et miserabile hoc in illa urbe fieri, quod per agros vix deceret assumi. [3] Et quia non possumus admissi qualitatem ultra iura corrigere, ne, dum fabricis prodesse volumus, legum culmina destruamus, si huius nefandissimae rei dominus tricennii praescriptione munitur, accepto pretio competenti suum vendat errorem, ut, quod laesionem publicis praestat fabricis, non praesumatur ulterius, ne quod nunc sub largitate corrigimus, postea severissime vindicemus. [4] Si vero tale aliquid moderna praesumptione temptatum est, sine dubitatione tollatur. unius enim desiderio prava generalis debet utilitas anteferri, cui vel in causis iustis raro poterit obviari. mancipia vero formarum servitio principum provisione deputata in privatorum cognovimus transisse dominium. aes praeterea, non minimum pondus, et quod est facillimum direptioni, mollissimum plumbum, de ornatu moenium referuntur esse sublata, quae auctores suos saeculis consecrarunt. aes enim Ionos Thessaliae rex, plumbum Mida regnator Phrygiae reppererunt. et quam miserum est, ut unde famam providentiae alii susceperunt, nos opinionem neglegentiae incurrisse videamur? templa etiam et loca publica, quae petentibus multis ad reparationem contulimus, subversioni fuisse potius mancipata. [5] Et quoniam malarum rerum emendatio nos delectat, ne concessa videatur ex taciturnitate licentia, Iohannem virum spectabilem electum nostra iustitia ad haec, quae supra memoravimus, direximus inquirenda, ut cuncta suo ordine discussa nobis relationis obsequio lucidentur, quatenus, quid de singulis rebus aut de praesumptoribus earum fieri oporteat, more nostrae iustitiae censeamus. adhibete nunc studia, praestate solacia, ut inquisitionem, quam debueratis petere, grata videamini mente complere.