Letter 4002: King Theodoric to the King of the Heruli.

King Theodoric to the King of the Heruli. It is a great distinction among nations that a man may become a son through arms, since only the bravest is deemed worthy of adoption. Blood children often disappoint us, but men born from deliberate judgment never fail to show courage. Their claim to favor rests not on birth but on merit alone — for strangers are bound by a bond of the spirit, and the force of this act is so great that such sons would sooner die than see any harm come to their fathers. And so, by the custom of the peoples and the manly rite [adoption through arms], we by this gift make you our son — so that you, who are known to be a warrior, may be fittingly born through weapons. We give you horses, swords, shields, and the other instruments of war. But what is far more powerful than all of these: we bestow upon you our judgment. You will be considered supreme among the nations, since you bear the endorsement of Theodoric. Take up these arms, then — arms that will serve us both. He who asks devotion of you is the same man who intends to defend you all the more. Prove your spirit, and you will have no need to render mere obedience. The one who adopts you is a man whose nation you would do well to fear [a hint of Gothic military power]. The Heruli know well the aid the Goths have given, with God's help. We have given you arms; our peoples, however, have long since given each other the pledges of their shared valor. We send our greetings with all due regard, and entrust the rest to our envoys to communicate to you in your own language — men who will both explain our letter clearly and add whatever further words are needed to confirm this bond of favor.

II. REGI ERULORUM THEODERICUS REX. [1] Per arma fieri posse filium grande inter gentes constat esse praeconium, quia non est dignus adoptari, nisi qui fortissimus meretur agnosci. in subole frequenter fallimur: ignavi autem esse nesciunt, quos iudicia pepererunt. hi enim gratiam non de natura, sed de solis meritis habent, quando vinculo animi obligantur extranei, et tanta in hoc actu vis est, ut prius se velint mori quam aliquid asperum patribus videatur infligi. [2] Et ideo more gentium et condicione virili filium te praesenti munere procreamus, ut competenter per arma nascaris, qui bellicosus esse dinosceris. damus tibi quidem equos enses clipeos et reliqua instrumenta bellorum: sed quae sunt omnimodis fortiora, largimur tibi nostra iudicia. summus enim inter gentes esse crederis, qui Theoderici sententia comprobaris. [3] Sume itaque arma mihi tibique profutura. ille a te devotionem petit, qui te magis defensare disponit: proba tuum animum et opus non habebis obsequium. adoptat te talis, de cuius gente tu potius formideris. nota sunt enim Erulis Gothorum deo iuvante solacia. nos arma tibi dedimus: gentes autem sibi olim virtutum pignora praestiterunt. [4] Salutantes proinde gratia competenti reliqua per illum et illum legatos nostros patrio sermone mandamus, qui vobis et litteras nostras evidenter exponant et ad confirmandam gratiam quae sunt dicenda subiungant.