Letter 3042: Under a benevolent ruler, subjects do not even need to ask for relief, because the ruler's humanity anticipates...
Under a benevolent ruler, subjects do not even need to ask for relief, because the ruler's humanity anticipates their petitions, and in a wonderful reversal, the benefits come before the requests. Recently, moved by justice, we had ordered that the untouched portion of the province should provide sustenance for our Goths. But since a ruler may always decree more humane measures -- and it is no inconsistency when a change is made as a kindness -- and so that landowners would not be burdened with even the smallest contribution, we have sent military supplies from Italy. The army sent for your defense will be fed by our generosity, and the only thing the province will feel from so large a force is their protection.
We have also sent the commanders and officers a sufficient amount of money, so that provisions that could not be transported might be purchased locally without anyone's loss. We do not wish to impose on your generosity even what you could, we believe, have willingly offered.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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