Letter 2015: It is our policy to assess future merit even in youth and to judge a child's prospects by the virtues of the parents...

XV. KING THEODERIC TO VENANTIUS, MAN OF SPECTABLE RANK. [1] It is the part of our foresight to weigh future merits in tender years, and to judge the fortunes of offspring from the virtues of their parents; for those goods are certain which draw confidence from their very beginning, since an origin does not know how to fail which has been accustomed to sprout up from the root. The life-giving vein of springs is likewise borne along in an unbroken course, and all flowing things uphold this condition: that the savor which has been granted to the source, unless perhaps it has been corrupted by some chance occurrence, knows not how to be denied to the streams. [2] Hence it is that, esteeming you by the merits of your magnificent father, we advance you to the honor of the now vacant office of Count of the Domestics, so that you who are illustrious in lineage may shine in dignity. For who would not hold qualities in you which, though they are still to come, are nevertheless certain, while he calls to mind the dutiful labors of your glorious father? He, kindled by the principle of prudence, was so attentive to sudden emergencies that he might be believed to have been prepared by long delay. [3] For the prefecture, the most noble burden of all cares, which it would have been praiseworthy even by itself to manage, he discharged together with the charge of our army, so that neither did good order fail the provinces nor did provident care withdraw itself from the army. His tireless and ready prudence surmounted everything: he drew barbarian customs toward peace; he so regulated all things to our wish that he gave satisfaction to those receiving in such a way that the givers should find no occasion for complaints. But, that a few things out of many may suffice, he proved such things concerning himself that his unexplored posterity was chosen on his account. [4] Yet among these ornaments of family, which is the greatest glory of fairest nobility, you do not lack the support of your own merits. For the studies of letters, which are worthy by their own endorsement of all honors, you attain as a diligent investigator, adding to the brilliance of your family the talent of a man who speaks agreeably. Apply yourself, therefore, to such studies; love the things which you recognize to be rewarded in you, so that you may direct our judgments also along with your own advancements. For you demand of us only as much as you recognize yourself to be reaching toward by good deeds.

XV. VENANTIO V. I. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Providentiae nostrae ratio est in tenera aetate merita futura tractare et ex parentum virtutibus prolis iudicare successus: quia bona certa sunt, quae fidem ab exordio trahunt, dum origo nescit deficere, quae consuevit radicitus pullulare. fertur etiam cursu perenni fontium vena vitalis et hanc condicionem sustinent cuncta manantia, ut sapor, qui concessus est origini, nisi per accidentia fuerit fortasse vitiatus, nesciat rivulis abnegari. [2] Hinc est, quod te magnifici patris meritis aestimatum comitivae domesticorum vacantis honore provehimus, ut qui es clarus stemmate, splendeas dignitate. quis enim in te quamvis futura, tamen certa non teneat, dum gloriosi patris recolat officiosos labores? qui prudentiae ratione flammatus sic fuit ad repentina sollicitus, quasi per moram crederetur instructus. [3] Praefecturam enim, sollicitudinum omnium nobilissimum pondus, quod vel solum fuisset expedire laudabile, iuncta exercitus nostri cura disposuit, ut nec provinciis ordinatio deesset nec exercitui se provida sollicitudo subtraheret. superavit cuncta infatigabilis et expedita prudentia: traxit mores barbaros ad quietem: in votum nostrum cuncta moderatus est, ut sic accipientibus satisfaceret, ne dantes locum querimoniis invenirent. verum ut de plurimis pauca sufficiant, probavit de se tanta, ut eligeretur eius inexplorata posteritas. [4] Inter haec tamen generis ornamenta, quod maximum pulcherrimae nobilitatis decus est, nec tuorum indiges suffragia meritorum. litterarum siquidem studia, quae cunctis honoribus suo sunt digna suffragio, sedulus perscrutator assequeris, addens claritati generis ingenium suaviter eloquentis. incumbe ergo talibus studiis, ama quae in te remunerata cognoscis, ut nostra quoque iudicia cum tuis provectibus tendas. tantum enim a nobis exigis, quantum te bonis actibus imminere cognoscis.