Letter 3050: An arrangement should be gratefully received when it helps the giver and delights the receiver as circumstances require.

From: Theoderic (through Cassiodorus), King of the Ostrogoths To: The Provincials of Noricum Date: ~522 AD Context: Theoderic arranges an exchange of cattle between the Alamanni passing through Noricum and the local population -- larger but road-weary Alamannic cattle for smaller but healthy local ones. An arrangement should be gratefully received when it helps the giver and delights the receiver as circumstances require. Who could consider it a burden when the exchange offers a clear advantage? Therefore, by this decree we establish that the cattle of the Alamanni -- which are impressive for their large size but exhausted by the long journey -- may be exchanged with yours. Your cattle are smaller in frame but fit for work. Their journey will be aided by healthier animals, and your fields will be equipped with larger beasts. The result is that they acquire animals robust in strength, and you acquire ones conspicuous in appearance -- and what rarely happens in trade, both parties in a single transaction will feel they got the better deal.

L. PROVINCIAL1BUS NORICIS THEODERICUS REX. [1] Grate suscipienda est ordinatio, quae dantem iuvat et accipientem pro temporis necessitate laetificat. nam quis putare possit onus, ubi magis meretur in commutatione compendium? [2] Et ideo praesentibus decernimus constitutis, ut Alamannorum boves, qui videntur pretiosiores propter corporis granditatem, sed itineris longinquitate defecti sunt, commutari vobiscum liceat, minores quidem membris, sed idoneos ad laborem, ut et illorum profectio sanioribus animalibus adiuvetur et vestri agri armentis grandioribus instruantur. [3] Ita fit ut illi adquirant viribus robustos, vos forma conspicuos et, quod raro solet emergere, in una mercatione utrique videamini desiderata compendia percepisse.