Letter 5043: VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 43

[1] Although, when sought by various kings for the firm establishing of concord, we have either given them our nieces or, with God inspiring us, joined our daughters to them, yet we judge that we have bestowed upon none anything comparable to this: that we have made our own sister, the singular glory of the Amal lineage, to be your wife - a woman equal to your prudence, who can be not so much revered for her royalty as admired for her counsel. [2] But we are astonished that you, bound by these benefits, received Gesalic into your protection - the man who, while he was being supported by us, attached himself to our enemies - and received him in such a way that one who had come to you stripped of forces and deprived of his fortunes is shown, suddenly filled with an abundance of money, to have been sent on to foreign peoples: a man who, although by God's help he can do no harm, has nevertheless laid bare the disposition of your thinking. [3] What may the rights of strangers expect, if kinship by marriage earns such treatment? For if he was received in your kingdom out of a motive of mercy, he ought to have been kept there; if he was expelled on our account, it was not fitting that he be sent off with riches to foreign realms - riches which our struggles brought it about, with full finality, should not be turned against you as a threat. Where is that which you, fattened on so much reading, used to teach others concerning good conduct? If you had wished to deliberate on this matter with our sister, it surely could not have happened to you, since she would neither have permitted her brother to be harmed nor allowed her husband to be found involved in such affairs. [4] And therefore, greeting you with becoming honor through these our envoys, so-and-so and so-and-so, we ask that your deliberation may thoroughly weigh this injustice, lest the spirit of our kinsmen, roused by these manifest causes, should think to attempt something that may seem to break the peace. For an injury grieves grievously when it has befallen unexpectedly, and especially if from that quarter comes deceit from which help was believed to come. Certain matters, indeed, we have entrusted to the bearers of this letter to convey to you by word of mouth, so that, weighing all things, your providence may set in order what ought to be done in so great a cause; for it is no light thing that prudent men should transgress in matters of settled peace.