King Theodoric to Theodahad, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious].
[Theodahad was Theodoric's nephew through his sister Amalafrida, and later became king of the Ostrogoths (534-536). He was notorious for his insatiable greed for land, which Theodoric repeatedly tried to curb. His eventual seizure of the throne and misrule helped trigger Justinian's reconquest of Italy.]
Among the various temptations that trouble the human race, the shameful desire for other people's property must be especially avoided -- for once unleashed, it grows beyond all bounds unless it is restrained by the weight of justice. Divine scripture itself testifies that greed is the root of all evil, and its punishment is this: however much it seizes, it always wants more. Because of our close family bond, we do not wish this vice to take root in your heart -- we refuse to grant it even a foothold.
What place do the stains of greed have amid the splendor of noble birth? You should choose what brings honor to us. A man of Amal blood [the ruling dynasty of the Goths] should be above common desires, for he can see that his own lineage wears the purple. Let us correct you, then, through the encouragement of praise, since we need not yet resort to severity.
The respectable Domitius has petitioned us, complaining that properties rightfully his -- namely, such-and-such estates -- have been seized by your men in defiance of the law, when any claim should have been pursued through proper legal channels.
Since we will not allow dark rumors to circulate any longer about a man who shines with the brilliance of his lineage, we decree by this present authority that, with the saio Duda overseeing the matter, if the time limits for possessory claims support the case, you are to restore without delay what was recently seized, together with everything that was plundered.
If you believe your side has any legitimate legal claim, you should send an authorized representative to our court, so that both parties' arguments may be examined in fairness and a verdict rendered in accordance with law. Men of noble birth should conduct all their affairs with civilized restraint, because the resentment against the powerful grows in exact proportion to the degree the weaker party is believed to have been crushed.
XXXVIIII. THEODAHADO V. I. THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Inter ceteras, quibus humanum genus sollicitatur, inlecebras praecipue vitanda est alienarum rerum turpis ambitio, quia in immensum iactata rapitur, si iustitiae ponderibus non prematur. avaritiam siquidem radicem esse omnium malorum et lectio divina testatur, quae tali sorte punita est, ut cum multa rapiat, semper egeat, quam propter vicinitatem generis nostri sic in animis vestris coalescere nolumus, ut illi nec initia concedamus. [2] Quid enim faciunt sordes animorum in splendore natalium? illud te potius decet eligere, quod nos possit ornare. Hamali sanguinis virum non decet vulgare desiderium, quia genus suum conspicit esse purpuratum. corrigamus itaque te per incitamenta praeconii, in quo adhuc non debemus esse districti. [3] Domitius itaque vir spectabilis data nobis supplicatione conquestus est, possessiones iuris sui, id est illam atque illam, ab hominibus vestris neglectis legibus fuisse pervasas, dum civiliter oportuit recipi, si iure videbatur exposci. [4] Sed quia de vobis non patimur diutius obscura iactari, qui generis claritate fulgetis, praesenti auctoritate censemus, ut imminente Duda saione nostro, si momenti tempora suffragantur, occupata nuper cum omnibus, quae direpta sunt, supplicanti faciatis sine aliqua dilatione restitui. [5] Et si quid partibus vestris de legibus creditis posse competere, instructam personam ad nostrum comitatum destinare vos convenit, ut intentionibus partium sub aequitate discussis feratur sententia, quam iuris dictat auctoritas. generosos quippe viros omnia convenit sub moderata civilitate peragere, quia tantum potentibus laesionis crescit invidia, quantum premi posse creditur, qui fortuna inferior comprobatur.
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King Theodoric to Theodahad, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious].
[Theodahad was Theodoric's nephew through his sister Amalafrida, and later became king of the Ostrogoths (534-536). He was notorious for his insatiable greed for land, which Theodoric repeatedly tried to curb. His eventual seizure of the throne and misrule helped trigger Justinian's reconquest of Italy.]
Among the various temptations that trouble the human race, the shameful desire for other people's property must be especially avoided -- for once unleashed, it grows beyond all bounds unless it is restrained by the weight of justice. Divine scripture itself testifies that greed is the root of all evil, and its punishment is this: however much it seizes, it always wants more. Because of our close family bond, we do not wish this vice to take root in your heart -- we refuse to grant it even a foothold.
What place do the stains of greed have amid the splendor of noble birth? You should choose what brings honor to us. A man of Amal blood [the ruling dynasty of the Goths] should be above common desires, for he can see that his own lineage wears the purple. Let us correct you, then, through the encouragement of praise, since we need not yet resort to severity.
The respectable Domitius has petitioned us, complaining that properties rightfully his -- namely, such-and-such estates -- have been seized by your men in defiance of the law, when any claim should have been pursued through proper legal channels.
Since we will not allow dark rumors to circulate any longer about a man who shines with the brilliance of his lineage, we decree by this present authority that, with the saio Duda overseeing the matter, if the time limits for possessory claims support the case, you are to restore without delay what was recently seized, together with everything that was plundered.
If you believe your side has any legitimate legal claim, you should send an authorized representative to our court, so that both parties' arguments may be examined in fairness and a verdict rendered in accordance with law. Men of noble birth should conduct all their affairs with civilized restraint, because the resentment against the powerful grows in exact proportion to the degree the weaker party is believed to have been crushed.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.