Letter 30

VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 30 From: King Theoderic, writing through Cassiodorus To: The Senate of the City of Rome Date: ~507-511 AD Context: Theoderic addresses a violent circus riot in which senators' slaves attacked free citizens; he imposes penalties while also ordering entertainers to perform at designated venues to prevent future clashes. [1] Senators, our mind -- burning with the cares of state and studying the policies of different peoples -- has been repeatedly struck by the complaints of the populace, arising indeed from trivial causes but erupting into grave violence. They lament that on account of the pleasures of the spectacles, they have been brought to the very edge of danger: the rule of law was trampled, and armed slaves of desperate fury pursued innocent people -- turning what our generosity had provided as a source of joy into sorrow through their punishable audacity. We suppress this with the customary foresight of our mercy, so that by tolerating it gradually we are not compelled to avenge a graver offense. For it is the mark of a good sovereign not so much to wish to punish crimes as to remove them -- lest by punishing harshly he be thought excessive, or by acting mildly he be considered careless. [2] Therefore we decree by this present ruling that if any senator's slave is found to have been involved in the murder of a free citizen, the master must hand him over for trial, so that after examining the nature of the act, a legally valid sentence may be pronounced. If the master in bad faith refuses to present the accused to the courts, let him know that he faces a fine of ten pounds of gold and the danger of our displeasure, which is far worse. [3] But so that a fair balance may settle the affairs of all and the grace of civility may return through the restoration of good morals, we have also directed orders to the people, which we are happy to have disclosed to you, so that by weighing both instructions together, the broken harmony of the citizens may be repaired.

XXX. SENATUI URBIS ROMAE THEODERICUS REX. [1] Animum nostrum, patres conscripti, rei publicae curis calentem et diversarum gentium consilia perscrutantem pulsavit saepius querela populorum, orta quidem ex causis levibus, sed graves eructavit excessus. deplorat enim pro spectaculorum voluptate ad discriminis se ultima pervenisse, ut legum ratione calcata desperate persequeretur innoxios servilis furor armatus, et quod illis humanitas nostra laetitiae causa praestitit, in tristitiam audacia plectenda convertit. quod nos elementiae nostrae solita provisione comprimimus, ne paulatim sinendo graviorem vindicare cogamur offensam. benigni quippe principis est non tam delicta velle punire quam tollere, ne aut acriter vindicando aestimetur nimius aut leniter agendo putetur improvidus. [2] Atque ideo praesenti definitione sancimus, ut, si cuiuspiam senatoris famulus in ingenui caede fuerit fortasse versatus, eum tradat legibus impetitum, ut facti qualitate discussa proferatur iure valitura sententia. si vero tanti facinoris reum mala fide dominus iudiciis praesentare distulerit, noverit se decem librarum auri dispendio vulnerandum et nostrae ingratitudinis, quod multo gravius est, pericula subiturum. [3] Sed ut honestatum omnium par libra componeret et civilitatis gratia reductis moribus conveniret, ad populum quoque praecepta nostra direximus, quae vobis reserari libenter amplectimur, ut alterutra iussione pensata resarciatur civibus scissa concordia. proinde nullos ab spectaculorum gaudio removemus, sed seditionis semina radicitus amputamus. [4] Intersit igitur inter splendorem vestrum moresque mediocres: refugite tales familiares, qui sint iniuriarum ministri, qui amori vestro nitantur ascribere quod delinquunt et dum levitates suas exerere cupiunt, vestram reverentiam implicare contendunt. vos enim, quos semper gravitas decet, nolite truculenter insequi inania verba populorum. si quod est forte, quod poenam mereatur, admissum, in praefecti urbis notitiam deferatur, ut culpa legibus, non per praesumptam coerceatur iniuriam. quid enim discrepat a peccante, qui se per excessum nititur vindicare? impaenitenda est ultio de cive, quae legibus venit: et excellenter videtur de pulsato triumphasse, qui victor pronuntiatur a iudice. [5] Inter ipsos quoque adversarios, ut scitis, non erant prius armata certamina, sed pugnis se quamlibet fervida lacessebat intentio, unde et pugna nomen accepit. postea Belus ferreum gladium primus produxit, a quo et bellum placuit nominari. consilium atrox, crudele praesidium, ferina concertatio. nam et si datum est prius illi inermem facile vincere, tamen crimini applicandum est, quod inde posteritas potuit interire. non permittatis ergo a famulis vestris in civibus fieri quod adhuc debet et in hostibus accusari.