Letter 3017: You should gladly obey Roman custom, to which you have been restored after so long -- for the return is welcome to a...

XVII. KING THEODERIC TO ALL THE PROVINCIALS OF THE GAULS. [1] Gladly should obedience be rendered to Roman custom, to which you have been restored after long ages, since a return is welcome there where it is established that your forefathers had their advancement. And therefore, recalled by God's favor into your ancient liberty, clothe yourselves in the manners of the toga, put off barbarism, cast away cruelty of mind, for under the equity of our age it does not befit you to live by foreign customs. [2] Accordingly, taking thought for your needs with that gentleness inborn in us, we have resolved—may it be said with good fortune—that the respectable man Gemellus, vicar of the prefects, approved to us by his loyalty and diligence, should be sent to set the province in order: hoping that he can in no way transgress, since he understands that those who sin gravely displease us. [3] Wherefore obey his ordinances in accordance with our commands, for we believe that he will decree things to your profit. Take up little by little the ways of law. Let there be no novelty that is troublesome, since it is honest. For what can be more fortunate than that men should rely on the laws alone and not fear the other chances of life? Public laws are the most certain solaces of human life, the helps of the weak, the bridles of the powerful. [4] Love that from which security comes and conscience profits. For heathen society lives according to its pleasure: where rather a man finds his own death, who is able to have what is pleasing to him. You now, secure, display your riches: let the goods of your forebears, long hidden away in neglect, be brought forth into the light: for each one will be the more noble in proportion as he shines forth both in upright morals and in splendid means. [5] For this reason we have sent you the vicar of the prefecture, that with so great a dignity we may seem to have appointed also a civil rule. You shall enjoy what you only used to hear of. Understand that men are preferred not so much by bodily strength as by reason, and that those deservedly increase who are able to render to others what is just.

XVII. UNIVERSIS PROVINCIALIBUS GALLIARUM THEODERICUS REX. [1] Libenter parendum est Romanae consuetudini, cui estis post longa tempora restituti, quia ibi regressus est gratus, ubi provectum vestros constat habuisse maiores. atque ideo in antiquam libertatem deo praestante revocati vestimini moribus togatis, exuite barbariem, abicite mentium crudelitatem, quia sub aequitate nostri temporis non vos decet vivere moribus alienis. [2] Proinde de necessitatibus vestris innata nobis mansuetudine cogitantes, quod feliciter dictum sit, spectabilem virum Gemellum, vicarium praefectorum, fide nobis et industria comprobatum ad componendam provinciam credidimus dirigendum: sperantes in nullo eum posse delinquere, qui nobis peccantes graviter intellegit displicere. [3] Quapropter ordinationibus eius ex nostris iussionibus oboedite, quia eum credimus vobis profutura decernere. recipite paulatim iuridicos mores. non sit novitas molesta, quae proba est. quid enim potest esse felicius quam homines de solis legibus confidere et casus reliquos non timere? iura publica certissima sunt humanae vitae solacia, infirmorum auxilia, potentum frena. [4] Amate unde et securitas venit et conscientia proficit. gentilitas enim vivit ad libitum: ubi magis mortem reperit propriam, qui potest habere quod placeat. vos iam securi ostentate divitias: parentum bona longo situ recondita prodantur in lucem: quia tantum quis nobilior erit quantum et moribus probis et luculenta facultate reluxerit. [5] Ideo enim vobis vicarium praefecturae direximus, ut cum tanta dignitate et civilem videamur regulam destinasse. fruemini quod tantum audiebatis. intellegite homines non tam corporea vi quam ratione praeferri et illos merito crescere qui possunt aliis iusta praestare.