Letter 9010: VARIAE, BOOK 9, LETTER 10

10. KING ATHALARIC TO THE HONORED LANDOWNERS, DEFENDERS [defensores, municipal magistrates] OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, AND TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS. [1] Some while ago, indeed, we judged that the inception of our reign ought to be announced to you: now it is fitting that a benefit should follow, for the increasing of the gladness of all, so that for those to whom our coming forth was most welcome, the royal disposition may be in some measure munificent. We desire that all things should grow along with us, by God's granting, because that is truly our revenue which a glad possessor pays out. [2] Therefore we subtract from money what may be added to glory, and we strive lavishly to relieve the cultivators for the sake of praises rather than greed. Some time ago the lord our grandfather of divine memory, presuming much upon his own benefits, since long peace had both afforded cultivation to the fields and enlarged the peoples, established within the province of Sicily, under the accustomed moderation of his prudence, that a tax should be demanded, so that devotion might grow in you, for whom the means had been extended. But his justice, worthy to be proclaimed, prepared a place for our benignity, so that what could justly be offered to him, we with a clement spirit might bestow as if they were stipends already brought in: and by a certain presaging of the divine mind he made even dutiful the one for whom he was preparing the realm. [3] And therefore, throughout the fourth indiction, whatever was either demanded of you above the customary payment under the name of increase, or is established to have been exacted, our liberality grants away. And although you could have justly paid it, we command you rather to render glory to our largess. [4] But that our clemency may be extended more widely, and that you may feel us a sweet lord through benefits bestowed, whatever is proven to have been imposed by the assessors of the new census throughout the fifth indiction, we have caused them to bring to our notice, so that what shall have been reckoned reasonable you may endure with willing minds, since justice observed harms no one. [5] But lest you believe that you are burdened merely at the discretion of the officials, if there is anyone who reckons that he has cause to complain about their action, let him have recourse to the remedies of our piety, so that, sitting in judgment, we may correct those who, even unasked, have clemently granted benefits. For the lord our grandfather of glorious memory had also been moved by their slowness, being, as he was, a searcher of deep prudence, judging that those whom by repeated command he had already decreed should return were lingering so long in the province, not without burden to you. [6] But we, to whom it befits to fulfill whatever he disposed under equity, now with God's help complete in you the things he had begun. Render now to our largess your most prosperous vow and faithful service. You have a prince who is shown to have come forth to you with benefits, and, what is sweeter to subjects, increases in benevolent disposition with the increase of his age. For this matter we have judged that our saio [royal officer/enforcer] Quidila should be directed to you, through whom most prosperous commands may be laid open to you, by God's bestowing.

X. HONORATIS POSSESSORIBUS DEFENSORIBUS SYRACUSANAE CIVITATIS VEL UNIVERSIS PROVINCIALIBUS ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Dudum quidem vobis ortum nostri imperii aestimavimus nuntiandum: nunc decet subsequi beneficium pro laetitia augenda cunctorum, ut, quibus fuit gratissimus noster exortus, sit illis regalis animus in aliqua parte munificus. crescere nobiscum deo praestante cuncta desideramus, quia ille vere noster est census, quem laetus possessor exsolvit. [2] Proinde subtrahimus pecuniae quod augmentetur gloriae et avari ad laudes profuse nitimur sublevare cultores. pridem divae memoriae domnus avus noster de suis beneficiis magna praesumens, quia longa quies et culturam agris praestitit et populos ampliavit, intra Siciliam provinciam sub consueta prudentiae suae moderatione censum statuit flagitari, ut vobis cresceret devotio, quibus se facultas extenderat. sed illius praedicanda iustitia locum nostrae benignitati praeparavit, ut, quod ei offerri iuste potuit, nos clementi animo quasi illata stipendia donaremus: et quodam praesagio mentis divinae fecit etiam pium, cui parabat imperium. [3] Atque ideo per quartam feliciter indictionem quicquid a vobis supra consuetudinariam functionem augmenti nomine vel petebatur vel constat exactum, liberalitas nostra concedit. quod etsi iuste potuistis pendere, gloriam vos potius nostrae largitati iubemus inferre. [4] Sed ut latius extendatur nostra clementia suavemque dominum impensis beneficiis sentiatis, quicquid a discussoribus novi census per quintam indictionem probatur affixum, ad nostram eos fecimus deferre notitiam, ut, quod rationabile fuerit aestimatum, libentibus animis perferatis, quia nullum laedit observata iustitia. [5] Sed ne credatis pro ordinatorum tantum arbitrio vos gravari, si quis est qui de eorum facto aestimat conquerendum, ad remedia nostrae pietatis occurrat, ut iudicantes corrigamus, qui etiam non rogati beneficia clementer indulsimus. nam et gloriosae recordationis domnus avus noster de eorum commotus fuerat tarditate, ut erat altae prudentiae perscrutator, aestimans eos tamdiu in provincia non sine vestro gravamine residere, quos repetita iussione censuerat iam redire. [6] Sed nos, quos decet implere quicquid ille sub aequitate disposuit, deo auxiliante eius nunc in vobis inchoata perficimus. reddite modo largitati nostrae prosperrimum votum et fidele servitium. habetis principem, qui vobis cum beneficiis probatur exortus et quod subiectis dulcius est, augetur ingenio benivolo cum aetatis augmento. in quam rem Quidilanem saionem nostrum credidimus dirigendum, per quem vobis iussa prosperrima deo largiente pandantur.