Letter 10016: Our devotion, conscript fathers, is a most imperious thing -- since we are conquered by our own will, we who are...

XVI. KING THEODAHAD TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME. [1] Our sense of duty is a thing all too commanding, conscript fathers, since we are conquered by our own will, we who are not bound by another's conditions. For although by God's favor we are able to do all things, we believe that for us alone the things worthy of praise are permitted. You recognize, prudent men, the words which we speak: even now acknowledge that clemency which you ought to have promised to us beforehand. Behold, we do not even allow those to be anxious to whom we were supposed to be hostile. Thus must a grave suspicion be conquered by a prince: thus ought he to have taken care who did not wish to be harmful. For our authority has decreed that the demanded oaths be furnished to you by this man and that man, a thing which is not difficult to persuade one who is going to rule well, since we have given you such security that we appear to add nothing to our purpose. [2] For such as we promise, so were we going to act, since we owe these things to God, not to man. For we who through sacred readings have traversed the ancient kingdoms, what else can we wish for, except that which we perceive to have pleased the Divinity in others? For God himself is the rewarder of all good things: for whatever of devotion we accomplish toward our subjects, we judge without doubt that He repays it to us. Wherefore, having obtained security, display a faithful conscience, since after such things affection is returned to our clemency rather than offered to it.

XVI. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE THEODAHADUS REX. [1] Imperiosa nimium res est, patres conscripti, pietas nostra, quando propria voluntate vincimur, qui alienis condicionibus non tenemur. nam cum deo praestante possimus omnia, sola nobis credimus licere laudanda. cognoscitis, prudentes viri, verba quae loquimur: vel nunc clementiam, quam nobis ante promittere debuistis, agnoscite. ecce nec sollicitos patimur, quibus infensi esse putabamur. sic est a principe gravis vincenda suspicio: sic curare debuit, qui noxius esse non voluit. postulata siquidem sacramenta vobis ab illo atque illo praestari nostra decrevit auctoritas, quod bene imperaturo non est difficile persuasum, quia sic vobis securitatem dedimus, ut nihil nostro proposito addere videremur. [2] Talia siquidem qualia promittimus eramus acturi, quia deo debemus ista, non homini. nam qui per lectiones sacras antiqua regna cucurrimus, quid aliud optare possumus, nisi quod divinitati in aliis placuisse sentimus? ipse enim remunerator est bonorum omnium deus: nam quicquid in subiectos pietatis efficimus, illum nobis repensare sine dubio iudicamus. quapropter conscientiam fidelem adepta securitate monstrate, quia post talia redditur clementiae nostrae potius quam offertur affectus.