Letter 5013: King Theodoric to Eutropius and Agroecus.

13. King Theoderic to Eutropius and Agroecius. [1] You ought to devote your zeal to the commonwealth with a grateful spirit, since you have come to know that we bestow many things upon those who have served well. For out of regard for our sense of duty we promise a recompense, even though we command all things for your sake. And therefore by the present command we have judged that you should be admonished, that you ought to furnish the appointed provisions to the army, so that neither may those men be neglected against our wish, nor ought a ruinous plundering to burden the provincials. For an army is more conveniently kept under the law of allotted expenditure than if it has been permitted to lay everything waste. Presumption does not know how to observe a limit, nor can it be reduced within a measure, when license has appeared to be granted to it. Wherefore let the army obtain its allotted sustenance, lest any region should have to endure the aforesaid affliction.

XIII. EUTROPIO ET AGROECIO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Studium vestrum rei publicae grata mente debetis impendere, quia nos agnovistis bene meritis multa praestare. nam pietatis intuitu vicissitudinem pollicemur, cum tamen pro vobis omnia iubeamus. atque ideo praesenti iussione vos credidimus ammonendos, ut annonas constitutas exercitui praebere debeatis, quatenus nec illi neglegantur adverso voto nec provinciales perniciosa debeat gravare direptio. Commodius enim sub expensarum lege tenetur exercitus, quam si cuncta fuerit vastare permissus. ignorat modum servare praesumptio nec potest sub modo redigi, cui licentia fuerit visa concedi. quapropter consequatur exercitus alimoniam deputatam, ne qua pars praedictam possit sustinere molestiam.