Letter 5044: VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 44

King Theoderic to Transimund [Thrasamund], King of the Vandals. [1] You have shown, most prudent of kings, that after the outcome of an error sound counsel can come to the aid of the wise, and that you do not love the vice of obstinacy, which seems to befall brutish men. You have bound my heart by changing yourselves toward the better with such great swiftness. For when a king gives satisfaction, he dissolves whatever is harsh, since humility is as glorious in princes as boastfulness can be hateful in men of middling rank. [2] Recently we reproached you with the departure of Gesalec, once a king, brought about by deceitful scheming; but you, mindful of your nobility and your honor, declared to us the conduct of the affair according to the truth. Whence it was not so blameworthy that a man should have given place to wicked suspicions, as it is glorious that one who rules should have been able to clear himself so very swiftly. For he who could less be compelled did not suffer the secrets of his soul to be violated. [3] Rendering to this praise its due return, in the part where we are able, we have received the sincere exculpation with a pure mind. But we do not keep the gifts of the gold that was sent over, so that you yourselves may also understand that the matter was set in motion through justice, which no venality could bring to an end. We have both acted royally: thus we have overcome tyrannical greed, just as it is established that you too have conquered error. Let the gifts return to your chamber, of which only the offering seems most pleasing. Let the gold be disregarded, where the reward of conscience has been chosen: let that which always held sway over greedy kings suffer a rebuff for once. Let the deed now go forth among the nations, that a dear kinsman did not excuse his fault, and that wounded spirits spurned the money. [4] Thus what used to be sought through wars has, by the zeal of love, been shown capable of being despised. Let kinsmen understand that there were such men who could not, through eagerness for avarice, stir up causes for themselves. For affection overcame all things: the petition then began rather to cease, when, being pressed, it did not suffer the objections set before it to be denied. Receive therefore the gifts, taken up by the senses, not by the hands. It was sweeter for us to give these back than to have received things far grander. Be now wary toward similar matters, watchful toward what is to come: because the mind is rendered instructed in future affairs when it is admonished by the examples of the past. Wherefore, on the return of your envoys, such-and-such and such-and-such, we render most fully the affection of our greeting, wishing that the divine powers may grant your safety, whose hearts we know to be most firmly allied to us. Cassiodorus

XLIIII. TRANSIMUNDO REGI VVANDALORUM THEODERICUS REX. [1] Ostendisti, prudentissime regum, post erroris eventum sapientibus subvenire posse consilium nec pertinaciae vitium vos amare, quod brutis hominibus videtur accidere. obligastis animum meum tanta vos in melius celeritate mutando. nam cum rex satisfacit, quaelibet dura dissolvit, quia sic est in principibus humilitas gloriosa, quemadmodum in mediocribus odiosa potest esse iactantia. [2] Nuper vobis obiecimus Gesaleci quondam regis dolosa meditatione discessum: sed vos nobilitatis vestrae memores et honoris actum rei nobis sub veritate declarastis. unde non fuit sic vituperabile hominem pravis suspicionibus locum dedisse, quantum gloriosum est dominantem tam celerrime se potuisse purgare. ille enim, qui minus poterat cogi, animae non passus est arcana violare. [3] Cui laudi vicissitudinem, in qua possumus parte, reddentes sincerem purgationem pura mente suscepimus. sed auri transmissi munera non tenemus, ut et ipsi intellegatis causam per iustitiam fuisse motam, quam nulla potuit finire venalitas. fecimus utrique regalia: sic nos superavimus tyrannicam cupiditatem, sicut et vos vicisse constat errorem. redeant ad cubiculum vestrum munera, quorum tantum oblatio videtur esse gratissima. neglegatur aurum, ubi electum est conscientiae praemium: patiatur aliquando repulsam, quod semper avaris regibus imperabat. eat nunc actus isto per gentes carum parentem non excusasse culpam et laesos animos respuisse pecuniam. [4] Ita, quod per bella solebat quaeri, amoris studio declaratum est potuisse contemni. intellegant parentes tales fuisse qui studio avaritiae causas sibi nequiverint excitare. omnia siquidem superavit affectus: tunc coepit petitio magis desinere, quando pulsatus obiecta non passus est abnegare. recipite igitur munera sensibus suscepta, non manibus. suavius nobis fuit ista reddere quam multo grandia suscepisse. estote nunc ad similia cauti, ad ventura solliciti: quia instructus redditur animus in futuris, quando praeteritorum commonetur exemplis. quapropter illo et illo legatis vestris redeuntibus plenissime reddimus salutationis affectum, optantes ut sospitatem vestram divina concedant, cuius nobis animos validissime cognoscimus esse sociatos. Cassiodorus