Letter 4016: King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome.

King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome. In the public interest -- which is always before our mind -- we some time ago dispatched the illustrious Count Arigernus, practically one of your own citizens, to Gaul, so that by his mature counsel the wavering hearts there might be steadied. Anxious times call for wise governors, so that the order of civic life may run as smoothly as the conduct of its leaders. Having brought those affairs to a satisfactory conclusion, he brought back both the glory of civilized governance and -- demonstrating abroad what he had learned among you -- the distinction of military achievement. We now return him to your assembly, where we trust he is missed, and where he should be all the more welcome now that fresh honors commend him. Let the Roman order submit itself to this man's authority, and let what is commanded for the sake of peace be carried out with willing hearts -- so that lawlessness loses its opportunity and, as we especially desire, punishment need find no occasion. If any offenses occurred during his absence, correct them among yourselves with due regard for justice, as befits your nobility, for whom uprightness is always the standard. Know that we have given him a particular charge: any wrongdoing that its authors have failed to amend shall be cut away by the severity of the law. Obey, then, Conscript Fathers, a man proven over many years, a man who must inevitably be spoken of with praise, who has conducted himself all this time to universal approval, and who among so many has never earned an adverse judgment.

XVI. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE THEODERICUS REX. [1] Utilitatis publicae causa, quam noster animus semper aspectat, virum illustrem comitem Arigernum civem paene vestrum dudum ad Gallias aestimavimus dirigendum, ut eius maturitate consilii titubantium potuissent corda firmari. novitatem quippe sollicitam prudentes convenit habere rectores, ut quemadmodum fuerit vitae formatus ordo, sic currat instituta devotio. his rebus ad nostra vota compositis et gloriam civilitatis retulit et quod inter vos didicit diligenter ostendens et bellorum insignia reportavit. [2] Quem desideratum, sicut putamus, coetui vestro reddidimus, ut qui vobis longa aetate placuit, nunc gratior fiat, cum eum adiecta bona commendant. quapropter disciplinae se praefati viri Romanus ordo restituat et quod quietis amore praecipitur, devotis animis impleatur: quatenus et excessibus tollatur licentia et quod optamus maxime, locum nequeat invenire vindicta. [3] Si qua etiam per eius absentiam culpa provenit, inter vos iustitiae consideratione corrigite, sicut nobilitati vestrae convenit agere, cui semper probitas placet: quoniam nos specialiter iniunxisse cognoscite, ut error, qui ab auctoribus suis minime fuerit emendatus, legum districtione resecetur. pareatur ergo, patres conscripti viro multis temporibus iam probato, cui necesse est praedicanda sequi, qui se hactenus sub vestra omnium laude tractavit et in tanta frequentia nullius repperit adversa iudicia.