Part 46 (2/2)

[Footnote 397: 'Nam pene similis est mortuo qui a suo Dominante nescitur.' A motto more suited to the presence-chamber of Byzantium than the camp-fires of a Gothic King.]

27. KING THEODORIC TO GUDUIM, SAJO.

[Sidenote: The same.]

'Order all the captains of thousands[398] of Picenum and Samnium to come to our Court, that we may bestow the wonted largesse on our Goths. We enquire diligently into the deeds of each of our soldiers, that none may lose the credit of any exploit which he has performed in the field. On the other hand, let the coward tremble at the thought of coming into our presence. Even this fear may hereafter make him brave against the enemy.'

[Footnote 398: 'Millenarii.' Cf. the [Greek: chiliarchoi], who, as Procopius tells us, were appointed by Gaiseric over the Vandals; also the _thusundifaths_ of Ulfilas.]

28. KING THEODORIC TO CARINUS, VIR ILl.u.s.tRIS.

[Sidenote: Invitation to Court.]

'Granting your request, and also satisfying our own desire for your companions.h.i.+p, we invite you to our Court.'

29. KING THEODORIC TO NEUDES, VIR ILl.u.s.tRIS.

[Sidenote: A blind Gothic warrior enslaved.]

'Our pity is greatly moved by the pet.i.tion of Ocer, a blind Goth, who has come by the help of borrowed sight to _feel_ the sweetness of our clemency, though he cannot see our presence.

'He a.s.serts that he, a free Goth, who once followed our armies, has, owing to his misfortune, been reduced to slavery by Gudila and Oppas.

Strange excess of impudence to make that man their servant, before whose sword they had a.s.suredly trembled had he possessed his eyesight!

He pleads that Count Pythias has already p.r.o.nounced against the claims of his pretended masters. If you find that this is so, restore him at once to freedom, and warn those men not to dare to repeat their oppression of the unfortunate.'

30. KING THEODORIC TO GUDUI[M], VIR SUBLIMIS [AND DUX].

[Sidenote: Servile tasks imposed on free Goths by a Duke.]

'We expect those whom we choose as Dukes to work righteousness.

Costula and Daila, men who by the blessing of G.o.d rejoice in the freedom of our Goths, complain that servile tasks are imposed upon them by you. We do not do this ourselves, nor will we allow anyone else to do it. If you find that the grievance is correctly stated rectify it at once, or our anger will turn against the Duke who thus abuses his power.'

31. KING THEODORIC TO DECORATUS, VIR DEVOTUS (?).

[For the career of Decoratus see v. 3 and 4.]

[Sidenote: Arrears of Siliquatic.u.m to be enforced.]

'Thomas, Vir Clarissimus, complains that he cannot collect the arrears of Siliquatic.u.m from certain persons in Apulia and Calabria.

'Do you therefore summon Mark the Presbyter, Andreas, Simeonius, and the others whose names are set forth in the accompanying schedule, to come into your presence, using no unnecessary force[399] in your summons. If they cannot clear themselves of this debt to the public Treasury, they must be forced to pay.'

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