Letter 3043: We delight in living by Roman law among those we seek to defend by arms, and our concern for moral order is no less...

XLIII. KING THEODERIC TO UNIGIS THE SWORD-BEARER [spatharius, an armed attendant]. [1] We are pleased that those whom we desire to defend by arms should live under Roman law, nor is our care for matters of morality any less than it can be for matters of war. For what does it profit to have removed the disordered barbarians, unless men live according to the laws? [2] Wherefore, since by God's favor our army has entered the Gauls, if any slaves, shirking their servitude, have betaken themselves to others than those to whom they appeared to belong, we order them to be restored to their former masters without any hesitation, because it is not fitting that legal rights be thrown into confusion while justice commands, nor can the defender of liberty show favor to slavery cast off. [3] The battles of other kings, perhaps, seek either the plunder or the ruin of captured cities: our purpose, with God's help, is to conquer in such a way that our subjects grieve to have acquired our dominion too late.

XLIII. UNIGIS SPATHARIO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Delectamur iure Romano vivere quos armis cupimus vindicare, nec minor nobis est cura rerum moralium quam potest esse bellorum. quid enim proficit barbaros removisse confusos, nisi vivatur ex legibus? [2] Quapropter cum deo propitio Gallias exercitus noster intravit, si qua mancipia servitium declinantia ad alios se, quam quibus videbantur competere, contulerunt, prioribus dominis iubemus sine aliqua dubietate restitui, quia confundi non decent iura imperante iustitia nec potest abiecto favere servitio libertatis defensor. [3] Aliorum forte regum proelia captarum civitatum aut praedas appetunt aut ruinas: nobis propositum est deo iuvante sic vincere, ut subiecti se doleant nostrum dominium tardius adquisisse.