Letter 5018: Public utility, just as it serves the preservation of all, must be accomplished by the effort and labor of all --...

XVIII. King Theoderic to Wilia, vir illustris [a man of illustrious rank], Count of the Patrimony. [1] Just as the public welfare looks to the preservation of all, so it ought to be brought to completion by the zeal and labor of all, because it is an occasion for great praise if, in a matter of common concern, something should be seen to be accomplished by an individual's particular effort. For a man wins commendation from the rest as well, when nevertheless he knows that he has also been of profit to himself. You remember, then, that we ordered some time ago that craftsmen skilled in shipbuilding be sought out throughout our household. [2] These men, with God's help having been provided, we command to present themselves without delay at the city of Ravenna on the day of the Ides of June, so that their arrival may be seen to be offered opportunely for the construction of the ships, lest the matters, being divided, should seem to generate some delay for themselves, and lest it be too little to complete the one, unless it happen that both be seen to. [3] If also along the bank of the river Po any timbers suitable for the building of warships [dromons] can be found on the royal estates, let license to cut them be granted to the craftsmen assigned to this work by the magnificent man Abundantius, praetorian prefect. For we wish to begin this precedent from our own estates, so that the command may be burdensome to no one, since it constrains even the sovereign.

XVIII. VVILIAE V. I. COMITI PATRIMONII THEODERICUS REX. [1] Utilitas publica sicut ad conservationem respicit omnium, ita debet perfici studio ac labore cunctorum, quia magnae laudis occasio est, si in causa communi aliquid singulariter videatur impleri. facit enim unde commendetur et reliquis, qui tamen et sibi se profuisse cognoscit. pridem igitur nos iussisse meministi, ut per domum nostram navigandi quaererentur artifices. [2] Quos deo auxiliante provisos ad Ravennatem urbem die iduum Iuniarum praecipimus incunctanter occurrere, ut adventus eorum constructioni navium opportune videatur offerri, ne res divisae generare sibi videantur aliquam tarditatem et parum sit unam perficere, nisi contingat utramque procurare. [3] Si qua etiam per ripam fluminis Padi ligna fabricandis apta dromonibus in praediis regalibus potuerint reperiri, artificibus huic operi a magnifico viro Abundantio praefecto praetorio deputatis abscidendi sit permissa licentia. volumus enim hoc exemplum a nostris praediis incohare, ut nulli gravis sit iussio, quae constringit et principem.