Letter 9016: It is a welcome thing to publicize what will benefit everyone, so that what might have been a private wish becomes a...

16. KING ATHALARIC TO SALVENTIUS, MAN OF ILLUSTRIOUS RANK, PREFECT OF THE CITY. [1] It is a welcome thing to make public matters that will benefit all, so that there may become a general joy what could have been a matter of prayerful wish; otherwise it is recognized as a cause of injury, if benefits are instead kept hidden. For some time ago the most ample Senate, desiring to scrape away from its own splendor the stain of a most foul suspicion, by foresighted deliberation established that, in the consecration of the most blessed pope, no one should defile himself with abominable greed, a penalty also being established for anyone who should have attempted to presume upon such things: not unjustly, for then the true merit of the one elected is sought, when money is not loved. [2] Praising and amplifying this discovery, we have directed to the most blessed pope the regulations which shine forth, set above these matters, so that profane ambition may be removed from the honesty of the holy Church. We wish you to bring this to the notice of the Senate and the Roman people without any delay, so that there may be fixed in the heart of all that which we desire to be guarded by the zeal of everyone. [3] But, so that the principal benefit may cling both to the present ages and to those to come, we command that our determinations as well as the decrees of the Senate be fittingly inscribed on tablets of marble and set up before the forecourt of the blessed apostle Peter as a public testimony: for it is a worthy place that should contain both our glorious reward and the praiseworthy decrees of the most ample Senate. For this matter we have directed that man, by whose return we may learn that the things we ordered have been fulfilled. For he seems to hold uncertainly what he commands, to whom the accomplishment of affairs becomes known too slowly.

XVI. SALVENTIO V. I. PRAEFECTO URBIS ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Grata res est cunctis profutura vulgare, ut generale fiat gaudium, quod potuit esse votivum. alioquin laesionis causa noscitur, si beneficia potius occulantur. dudum siquidem senatus amplissimus ab splendore suo cupiens maculam foedissimae suspicionis abradere provida deliberatione constituit, ut in beatissimi papae consecratione nullus se abominabili cupiditate pollueret, poena etiam constituta, qui talia praesumere temptavisset: non iniuria, quia tunc electi vere meritum quaeritur, cum pecunia non amatur. [2] Quod nos laudantes et augentes inventum ad beatissimum papam direximus constituta, quae his antelata praefulgent, ut ab honestate sanctae ecclesiae profanus ambitus auferatur. hoc vos ad notitiam senatus et Romani populi volumus sine aliqua dilatione perducere, quatenus cunctorum figatur cordi, quod cupimus omnium studio custodiri. [3] Verum ut principale beneficium et praesentibus haereat saeculis et futuris, tam definita nostra quam senatus consulta tabulis marmoreis praecipimus decenter incidi et ante atrium beati Petri apostoli in testimonium publicum collocari: dignus enim locus est, qui et gloriosam mercedem nostram et senatus amplissimi laudabilia decreta contineat. in quam rem illum direximus, quo redeunte noscamus impleta quae iussimus. incertum enim videtur habere quod praecipit, cui rerum effectus tardius innotescit.