Letter 5036: VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 36

36. King Theoderic to Starcedius, Most Distinguished Man [vir spectabilis]. [1] You plead that your body, worn out by continual labors, has brought upon you a weakness of the limbs, so that you, who were previously fit for the insignia of war, are now scarcely judged suited even for a life of leisure; and you request that you not be compelled to take part in the most fortunate campaigns, from which you withdraw not by choice but by necessity. And therefore, your allegations having been long examined and verified as to the truth of the matter, we grant you by the present command a leisure that is not without honor, because there is no blame of cowardice in one whom a pitiable misfortune excuses. [2] But just as we concede to you a life of repose, so by the present authority we deprive you of the donative [the soldier's allowance], because it is not just that, while you are acknowledged to be self-sufficient from your own means, you, being at leisure, should receive what belongs to those who labor. Enjoy, therefore, a secure life, freed by our protection from the snares of various persons. Nor shall anyone charge against you the reproach of a deserter, since those who happen to be released from military service on account of illness must, by right, be held in reverence on the basis of their former deeds. For he is not worthy to be censured by anyone who deserves to be acquitted by our judgment.

XXXVI. STARCEDIO V. S. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Continuatis laboribus attritum corpus debilitatem tibi causaris attulisse membrorum, ut, qui ante bellicis fueras aptus insignibus, nunc vel ad otiosam vitam vix idoneus approberis: expetens, ut ad expeditiones felicissimas non cogaris, a quibus non voto, sed necessitate subduceris. atque ideo allegationibus tuis diutius perquisitis et ad rerum fidem deductis otium tibi non ignobile praesenti iussione largimur, quia non est ignaviae culpa, quem excusat miseranda calamitas. [2] Sed sicut tibi remissam vitam concedimus, ita te donativo praesenti auctoritate privamus, quia non est aequum, ut, cum de tuo cognoscaris idoneus, rem laborantium accipere debeas otiosus. fruere igitur secura vita a diversorum insidiis nostro munimine liberatus. nec aliquis tibi imputabit desertoris opprobrium, quando illi, quos contigerit a militia morbi causa suspendi, ex prioribus factis habendi sunt iure reverendi. nec enim dignus est a quoquam redargui, qui nostro iudicio meretur absolvi.