XV. KING THEODERIC TO FESTUS, A MAN OF ILLUSTRIOUS RANK AND A PATRICIAN.
[1] It is pleasing to us whenever such an estimation proceeds from your great merits that you are believed to be both the helper of the infirm and the protector of the absent. For you have rightly earned the first place in the Senate so that you may render service to those who follow, out of regard for justice. Hence it comes about that a good reputation grows for you by the example of glorious action. For no one entrusts his property to another upon departure unless he judges well of that person's conscience. [2] We therefore decree by the present order that the house of the Patrician Agnellus -- who is departing for Africa, and who in seeking the realm of another will be serving our interests -- shall be protected under your guardianship, with all legal rights preserved, lest it suffer the violent assaults of any man once the defense of its master has been removed. For the possessions of the absent are always exposed to injuries, and the absence of anyone able to resist seems in a manner to invite wrongdoing. [3] Let Your Eminence therefore -- whom it is our wish to have near at hand -- raise up the humble, rescue those about to be oppressed, and, what is rare among the powerful, let your preeminence benefit all, since you are found to be more exalted than everyone.
XV. FESTO V. I. ATQUE PATRICIO THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Gratum nobis est, quotiens de magnitudinis tuae meritis aestimatio talis procedit, ut et infirmorum auxilium et absentium credaris esse tuitio. nam ideo senatus prior esse meruisti, ut sequentibus pro iustitiae contemplatione praestares. unde fit, ut bona vobis crescat opinio gloriosae actionis exemplo. nulli enim propria res a discedente committitur, nisi de cuius bene conscientia iudicatur. [2] Idcirco praesenti iussione decernimus, ut domus patricii Agnelli ad Africam discedentis, qui regnum petens alterius nostris est utilitatibus serviturus, salvis legibus tua tuitione valletur, ne violentos cuiusquam impetus subtracta domini defensione patiatur. perviae sunt enim semper iniuriis facultates absentium et quodam mode videtur occasio in delictum trahere, quae non potest animum pervadentis de resultatione terrere. [3] Ideoque celsitudo vestra, quam votum est habere vicinam, erigat humiles, eripiat opprimendos et, quod potestatibus rarum est, proficiat cunctis, quad universis celsior inveniris.
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XV. KING THEODERIC TO FESTUS, A MAN OF ILLUSTRIOUS RANK AND A PATRICIAN.
[1] It is pleasing to us whenever such an estimation proceeds from your great merits that you are believed to be both the helper of the infirm and the protector of the absent. For you have rightly earned the first place in the Senate so that you may render service to those who follow, out of regard for justice. Hence it comes about that a good reputation grows for you by the example of glorious action. For no one entrusts his property to another upon departure unless he judges well of that person's conscience. [2] We therefore decree by the present order that the house of the Patrician Agnellus -- who is departing for Africa, and who in seeking the realm of another will be serving our interests -- shall be protected under your guardianship, with all legal rights preserved, lest it suffer the violent assaults of any man once the defense of its master has been removed. For the possessions of the absent are always exposed to injuries, and the absence of anyone able to resist seems in a manner to invite wrongdoing. [3] Let Your Eminence therefore -- whom it is our wish to have near at hand -- raise up the humble, rescue those about to be oppressed, and, what is rare among the powerful, let your preeminence benefit all, since you are found to be more exalted than everyone.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.