26. KING THEODORIC TO ALL THE GOTHS SETTLED IN PICENUM AND SAMNIUM. [Sidenote: The Goths summoned to the royal presence.] 'The presence of the Sovereign doubles the sweetness of his gifts, and that man is like one dead whose face is not known to his lord[397]. Come therefore by God's assistance, come all into our presence on the eighth day before the Ides of June (June 6th), there solemnly to receive our royal largesse. But let there be no excesses by the way, no plundering the harvest of the cultivators nor trampling down their meadows, since for this cause do we gladly defray the expense of our armies that _civilitas_ may be kept intact by armed men.' [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 ILLUSTRIS. [Sidenote: Invitation to Court.] 'Granting your request, and also satisfying our own desire for your companionship, we invite you to our Court.' 29. KING THEODORIC TO NEUDES, VIR ILLUSTRIS. [Sidenote: A blind Gothic warrior enslaved.] 'Our pity is greatly moved by the petition 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 asserts 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 assuredly trembled had he possessed his eyesight! He pleads that Count Pythias has already pronounced 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.]