Letter 2038: We wish our wealth to be enriched by the treasury of compassion, and we despise profits acquired through the...

XXXVIII. KING THEODERIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PREFECT. [1] We desire our wealth to be increased by the treasury of piety, abhorring those gains which have been acquired for us through the calamities of the afflicted. The revenue brought to our clemency is burdensome when it is lamented over, since whatever is paid amid gladness is added to the praises of him who receives it. [2] The merchants of the city of Sipontum therefore declare that they have been laid waste by the ravaging of enemies; and because we reckon the relief of the needy to be rather our own riches, let your illustrious magnificence see to it that for this whole span of two years the said men are vexed by no compulsory purchase. [3] But since to have relieved the fallen profits nothing if another burden of payment is added, let your highness cause those who are known to have lent money to the aforementioned merchants to be admonished that during this two-year period they should consider nothing of the credited sum to be demandable, so that under the aforesaid respite they may both be able to recover the money they have advanced and the means of the debtors may in some measure be allowed to recover its breath. For what does it profit the creditor to press himself forward, when he strives in vain to exact payment from men stripped bare? For whom we provide the better, if we bring it about that, by enduring, they may attain to what was lent.

XXXVIII. FAUSTO PPO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Opes nostras cupimus thesauro pietatis augeri, execrantes commoda, quae nobis vexatorum fuerint calamitatibus adquisita. molesta est illatio nostrae clementiae quae defletur, quia quicquid sub laetitia penditur, accipientis laudibus applicatur. [2] Urbis itaque Sipontinae negotiatores hostium se asserunt depopulatione vastatos: et quia egentium levamina nostras potius divitias aestimamus, illustris magnificentia vestra per hoc iuge biennium nuncupatos nulla faciat coemptione vexari. [3] Sed quoniam lapsos relevasse nihil proficit, si onus aliud solutionis accedit, qui memoratis negotiatoribus noscuntur mutuasse pecuniam, celsitudo tua faciat ammoneri, ne in hoc biennii spatio quicquam de credita summa existiment postulandum, quatenus sub induciis supradictis et datam possint reparare pecuniam et aliquatenus debitorum valeat respirare substantia. quid enim proficit creditorem se urgere, quando in cassum nititur nudatos exigere? quibus magis prospicimus, si ad mutuata sustinendo pervenire faciamus.