Letter 5012: King Theodoric to Theodahad, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious].

King Theodoric to Theodahad, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious]. [This is another letter rebuking Theodahad -- Theodoric's nephew -- for seizing other people's land. The repetition across multiple letters shows this was a persistent problem that the king found deeply embarrassing.] If we command everyone to cultivate and love justice, how much more do we require it of those who glory in their closeness to us? Those who wish to display the brilliance of royal kinship should conduct all their affairs with credit. True nobility is that which is proved by the ornament of good character, for it is a fine thing to have rejected the shameful gains of greed in favor of an honest reputation. The heirs of the illustrious Argolicus and the distinguished Amandianus have come before us with a petition, complaining that the Pallentiana estate -- which our generosity had transferred to them in compensation, to console them for the loss of the Casa Arbitana -- has been improperly invaded by your men without any cause. Where an example of noble restraint should have been set, instead the vice of reprehensible encroachment has taken root. If their claims are not undermined by any falsehood, Your Greatness is to restore what was taken. If you believe you have any legitimate claim, send an authorized representative to our court by all means, so that a case planted in civilized soil may find its resolution in law. When you act in this way locally, the blame falls on you -- and the damage to your reputation is greater than any gain you might seek. Here at court, however, cases contend on their own merits, and even the humblest man is absolved without dishonor when justice is the witness by which he prevails.

XII. THEODAHADO V. I. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Si iustitiam colere universos et amare praecipimus, quanto magis eos qui nostra proximitate gloriantur, quos omnia decet sub laude gerere, ut regiae possint fulgorem consanguinitatis ostendere. haec est enim indubitata nobilitas, quae moribus probatur ornata: quia pulchrum est commodum famae foeda neglexisse lucra pecuniae. [2] Argolici itaque viri illustris et Amandiani viri clarissimi heredes supplici nobis aditione conquesti sunt Pallentianam massam, quam eis pro compensatione largitas nostra transfuderat, ut casae Arbitanae amissionem hac commoditate solarentur, ab hominibus vestris nullis causis extantibus indecenter invasam et inde crevisse culpandae surreptionis vitium, unde dari debuit gloriosae moderationis exemplum. [3] Quapropter si nullo mendacio asserta vitiantur, magnitudo vestra quae sunt ablata restituat: et, si quid vobis creditis posse competere, ad comitatum nostrum instructam iure personam modis omnibus destinate, ut civiliter plantata causatio finem de legibus sortiatur. ibi enim quicquid geritur, invidiae tuae potius applicatur et maiora detrimenta famae suscipis, dum talia non vitare contendis: hic autem confligunt causae viribus suis et sine derogatione quilibet mediocris addicitur, quando iustitia teste superatur.