Letter 5025: VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 25

King Theoderic to Bacauda, vir spectabilis. Our munificence strengthens wearied years, so that a declining age need not feel the hardships of want. For the vigor of young men is animated by the presumption of labor, but the sole life of the elderly is to find remedies in rest. Therefore, moved by your petition, we decree that the care of the designated tribunate in the city of Milan shall pertain to you, to be carried out most diligently — and, what is novel in the service of the state, no one's presumptuous action shall ever give you a successor as long as you live. Thus in the presentation of public entertainments, you shall perpetually enjoy the duty of this office by the gift of our clemency, having in both respects what may console your old age: the advantage of the position and the joy of the spectacles.

XXV. BACAUDAE V. S. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Fessos annos munificentia nostra corroborat, dum aetatem occiduam penuriae non facit detrimenta sentire. iuvenum siquidem virtus praesumptione laboris animatur: sola senum vita est quietis invenisse remedia. atque ideo tua supplicatione permoti designati tribunatus curam in Mediolanensi urbe diligentissime peragendam ad te decernimus pertinere ita, ut, quod est in rei publicae militia novum, donec vixeris, numquam tibi successorem tribuat cuiusquam plectenda praesumptio, quatenus in exhibendis voluptatibus officii huius cura, mansuetudinis nostrae beneficio, iugiter perfruaris, habens in utroque, quod tuam consoletur aetatem, loci commodum et laetitiam voluptatum.