Letter 5023: VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 23

VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 23 From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus To: Abundantius, Praetorian Prefect Date: ~522 AD Context: Theoderic orders provisions and ships for his agent Tatanes and a contingent of archers being sent to reinforce Count Wiliarius. [1] We have decided to send our agent Tatanes with a company of archers to join the illustrious Count Wiliarius, so that the reinforced army may gain greater strength. Let our young men display in battle what they learned in the school of valor. Let the training grounds of Mars send forth their tested recruits: a man fights in war as he has practiced in peace. Accordingly, we direct your illustrious magnitude to furnish them with provisions and transport ships as customary, so that with God's help they may reach their assigned destination. We entrust the execution of our orders to your diligence, since nothing undertaken under your management, with God's aid, can possibly fail.

XXIII. ABUNDANTIO PPO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Tatanem saionem nostrum cum sagittariis ad illustrem virum comitem VViliarium aestimavimus esse dirigendum, ut maius sumeret robur duplicatus exercitus. ostentent invenes nostri bellis, quod in gymnasio didicere virtutis. Schola Martia mittat examina: pugnaturus ludo, qui se exercere consuevit in otio. atque ideo illustrem magnitudinem vestram eis annonas et navigia secundum consuetudinem praebere censemus, quatenus iuvante deo quo directi sunt debeant pervenire. vestrae enim sollicitudini damus nostrarum efficaciam iussionum, quia nullatenus destitui posse creditur, quod ordinationibus tuis iuvante deo incohatur.