Letter 3036: It is the purpose of our compassion not to deny a hearing to pitiable pleas, especially since it is our custom to...

XXXVI. King Theoderic to Arigernus, Vir Illustris [a man of illustrious rank], Count. [1] It is the purpose of our piety not to deny a hearing to those who weep and deserve pity, especially since it is our custom to refer all matters back to the laws, so that the one who complains may obtain a result, and the one who is sued may complain that he has suffered no prejudice. Accordingly, Firminus says that he has a suit against the magnificent man, the patrician Venantius, and that his pleas have frequently been disregarded by him. [2] And because in lawsuits power is always suspect, since the will to act is believed to exist wherever the capacity to act is judged to be present, we command, with the reverence due to him preserved, that the aforesaid man be admonished by you to promise, under a lawful pledge, that he will direct a duly instructed representative to our court, one who before the judges appointed by our authority may be able to furnish a response to his charges: this plaintiff being destined to receive the penalty for his own audacity, if against the magnificent man he should have a finding of falsehood.

XXXVI. ARIGERNO V. I. COMITI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Pietatis nostrae propositum est miserandis fletibus audientiam non negare, maxime cum moris nostri sit ad leges cuncta remittere, ut et conquerens mereatur effectum et pulsatus nullum se queratur sustinuisse praeiudicium. proinde Firminus contra magnificum virum patricium Venantium se dicit habere negotium et frequenter ab eo eius propositiones fuisse contemptas. [2] Et quia in causis semper est suspecta potentia, dum velle creditur quod posse iudicatur, antefatum servata reverentia a te praecipimus ammoneri, ut sub sponsione legitima instructam personam ad comitatum nostrum dirigere se promittat, qui apud delegatos motu nostro iudices eius intentionibus valeat praebere responsum: actor hic poenam suae recepturus audaciae, si contra magnificum virum habuerit falsitatis eventum.