Letter 9009: VARIAE, BOOK 9, LETTER 9

King Athalaric to all Goths and Romans. [1] Throughout the provinces granted to us by God's bounty, we desire to send out such men as are equipped with arms and renowned for justice, so that you may be free both from the dread of foreign peoples and from exposure to slanderous plots; for it is no less an evil to have escaped the misfortunes of war than to evade the cruelty of a harsh inquiry. For that is the true security which fears nothing from any iniquity of a judge. And therefore, in what is spoken under God's favor, we have decreed that the illustrious Count Osuin, distinguished in our palace and very well known to the provinces through his long dealings among them, shall preside over the Dalmatians. See that you obey him as he commands for our advantage, since you have so frequently experienced the greatness of his justice that, even without a royal order, you ought to obey him, mindful of former times. For he who is just holds his own authority: for although he is in no way raised up by the terror of power, yet, with fairness pleading his cause, he is always heeded. [2] At the same time we have also judged that the illustrious man Severinus should be directed to you, so that, being joined together with one accord of will, they may be able to enjoin upon you things worthy of praise. For if it is fitting that unequal reeds sound forth a single melody, much more is it suitable for most prudent men to urge what is just with one harmonious voice. [3] But that our beginnings might commence with benefits conferred, and that you might perceive a most merciful lord at the very threshold of our reign, we have now ordered the illustrious man, the count of our patrimony, to remove that which was being demanded from you, during the fourth indiction, under the name of an increase. [4] Granting you furthermore this also: that, when by God's favor we have caused the aforesaid man to come into our service, you should send such men through whom we may clearly recognize in what manner the tax imposed for the future is to be assessed, so that, if we learn that you have been burdened, we may relieve you in part wherever it shall seem fit to us, with fairness duly considered. Thus it comes about that you may also have hope of a future benefit, you who have already in part obtained your remedies. [5] Wherefore it is fitting that you serve our interests, since those things which you could rather have hoped for by entreaties, our princely munificence has bestowed unasked. For thus we have learned, from the most merciful author who has handed down this to us, that we should not be at leisure from conferring benefits upon our subjects. For the discipline of ruling is, plainly, to love what is profitable for the many, since the commonwealth receives exceeding strength if the means of the taxpayers stands unimpaired.

VIIII. UNIVERSIS GOTHIS SIVE ROMANIS ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Per provincias nobis deo praestante concessas tales viros cupimus destinare, qui sunt armis praediti et iustitia gloriosi, ut absit a vobis et extranearum gentium metus et calumniosis non pateatis insidiis, quia non minus est malum bellicum vitasse quam saeva discussionis evadere. ipsa est enim vera securitas, quae de nulla iudicis iniquitate formidat. atque ideo, quod deo auspice dictum sit, illustrem comitem Osuin et palatio nostro clarum et provinciis longa conversatione notissimum Dalmatiis decrevimus praesidere. cui pro utilitate nostra iubenti parere procurate, quoniam tantam eius estis iustitiam frequenter experti, ut et sine regia iussione ei deberetis priorum memores oboedire. habet enim proprium ius ille qui iustus est: nam etsi terrore minime potestatis erigitur, aequitate tamen suadente semper auditur. [2] Simul etiam et virum illustrem Severinum ad vos aestimavimus dirigendum, ut compositi consona voluntate possint vobis laudanda praecipere. nam si disparibus calamis convenit unum melos edicere, multo magis viris prudentissimis aptum est iusta concordi voce suadere. [3] Verum ut primordia nostra a praestitis inchoarent clementissimumque dominum in ipso regni limine sentiretis, per quartam indictionem quod a vobis augmenti nomine quaerebatur, illustrem virum comitem patrimonii nostri nunc iussimus removere. [4] Hoc etiam insuper vobis concedentes, ut, cum deo propitio supra dictum virum ad nostra obsequia venire fecerimus, tales homines destinate, per quos possimus evidenter agnoscere, quemadmodum in futurum census doceatur impositus, ut, si gravatos vos esse cognoscimus, pro parte nobis qua visum fuerit considerata aequitate relevemus. ita fit ut habeatis spem et futuri beneficii, qui estis iam pro parte remedia consecuti. [5] Quapropter servire vos convenit utilitatibus nostris, quando ea quae magis sperare precibus potuistis, ultro contulit munificentia principalis. sic enim tradente clementissimo nobis auctore didicimus, ut a subiectorum beneficiis non vacemus. disciplina videlicet imperandi est amare quod multis expedit, quoniam res publica nimium soliditatis accipit, si tributariorum facultas inlaesa constiterit.