Flavius Magnus Aurelius...

[11] 'Dixisti etiam ad commendationem universitatis frequenter reginis ac regibus laudes: duodecim libris Gothorum historiam defloratis prosperitatibus condidisti. cum tibi in illis fuerit secundus eventus, quid ambigis et haec publico dare, qui iam cognosceris dicendi tirocinia posuisse?'

I. REGI VVARNORUM THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Cum piceis timbribus et pueros gentili candore relucentes, spathas nobis etiam arma desecantes vestra fraternitas destinavit, ferro magis quam auri pretio ditiores. splendet illic claritas expolita ut intuentium facies fideli puritate restituant, quarum margines in acutum tali aequalitate descendunt, ut non limis compositae, sed igneis fornacibus credantur effusae. harum media pulchris alveis excavata quibusdam videntur crispari posse vermiculis: ubi tanta varietatis umbra conludit, ut intextum magis credas variis coloribus lucidum metallum. [2] Hoc vestra cotis diligenter emundat, hoc vester splendidissimus pulvis ita industriose detergit, ut speculum quoddam virorum faciat ferream lucem, qui ideo patriae vestrae natura largiente concessus est, ut huius rei opinionem vobis faceret singularem: enses, qui pulchritudine sui putentur esse Vulcani, qui tanta elegantia fabrilia visus est excolere, ut quod eius manibus formabatur, non opus mortalium, sed crederetur esse divinum. [3] Proinde per illum et illum legatos vestros solventes debitae salutationis affectum arma vestra libenter nos accepisse declaramus, quae bonae pacis studia transmiserunt: vicissitudinem muneris pro expensarum vestrarum consideratione tribuentes, quae tantum vobis reddantur accepta, quantum nobis vestra fuere gratissima. praestent divina concordiam, ut haec inter nos grata mente facientes gentium nostrarum velle iungamus et invicem solliciti mutuis possimus utilitatibus obligari.
II. HESTIS THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Illo et illo legatis vestris venientibus grande vos studium notitiae nostrae habuisse cognovimus, ut in Oceani litoribus constituti cum nostra mente iungamini: suavis nobis admodum et grata petitio, ut ad vos perveniret fama nostra, ad quos nulla potuimus destinare mandata. amate iam cognitum, quem requisistis ambienter ignotum. nam inter tot gentes viam praesumere non est aliquid facile concupisse. [2] Et ideo salutatione vos affectuosa requirentes indicamus sucina, quae a vobis per harum portitores directa sunt, grato animo fuisse suscepta. quae ad vos Oceani unda descendens hanc levissimam substantiam, sicut et vestrorum relatio continebat, exportat: sed unde veniat, incognitum vos habere dixerunt, quam ante omnes homines patria vestra offerente suscipitis. haec quodam Cornelio describente legitur in interioribus insulis Oceani ex arboris suco defluens, unde et sucinum dicitur, paulatim solis ardore coalescere. [3] Fit enim sudatile metallum, teneritudo perspicua, modo croceo colore rubens, modo flammea claritate pinguescens, ut, cum in maris fuerit delapsa confinio, aestu alternante purata vestris litoribus tradatur exposita. quod ideo iudicavimus indicandum, ne omnino putetis notitiam nostram fugere, quod occultum creditis vos habere. proinde requirite nos saepius per vias, quas amor vester aperuit, quia semper prodest divitum regum adquisita concordia, qui, dum parvo munere leniuntur, maiore semper compensatione prospiciunt. aliqua vobis etiam per legatos vestros verbo mandavimus, per quos, quae grata esse debeant, nos destinasse declaramus.

[11] 'You have often, amid universal acclamation, pronounced the praises of kings and queens. In twelve books you have compiled the History of the Goths, culling the story of their triumphs. Since these works have had such favorable fortunes, and since you have thus served your first campaign in literature, why hesitate to give these productions of yours also to the public?'

1. KING THEODORIC TO THE KING OF THE VANDALS.
'The swords which you have sent us are most beautiful: so sharp that they will cut other weapons; so bright that they reflect with a sort of iron light the face of the beholder; with the two blades descending to their edges with such absolute equality of slope, that you would fancy them the result of the furnace rather than of the whetstone; in the middle, between the blades, channels carved which are filled in with beautiful enamel of various colours. 'Along with these arms you have also sent us musical instruments of ebony, and slave boys of beautiful whiteness.
'We thank you heartily, send by A and B, and our ambassadors, presents of equal value; and hope that mutual concord will always unite our States.'
2. KING THEODORIC TO THE HAESTI.
'It is gratifying to us to know what you have heard of our fame, and have sent ambassadors who have pressed through so many strange nations to seek our friendship.
'We have received the amber which you have sent us. You say that you gather the lightest of all substances from the shores of the ocean, but how it comes thither you know not. But, as an author named Cornelius informs us, it is gathered in the inner-most islands of the ocean, being formed originally of the juice of a tree (whence its name succinum), and gradually hardened by the heat of the sun.
'Thus it becomes an exuded metal, a transparent softness, sometimes blushing with the colour of saffron, sometimes glowing with flame-like clearness. Then, gliding down to the margin of the sea, and further purified by the rolling of the tides, it is at length transported to your shores to be cast upon them. We have thought it better to point this out to you, lest you should imagine that your supposed secrets have escaped our knowledge.
'We sent you some presents by our ambassadors, and shall be glad to receive further visits from you by the road which you have thus opened up, and to show you future favours.'

25. KING ATHALARIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME (ON THE PROMOTION OF CASSIODORUS SENATOR TO THE PRAETORIAN PRAEFECTURE).
'Not satisfied with extolling living Kings, from whom he might hope for a reward, he drew forth the Kings of the Goths from the dust of ages, showing that the Amal family had been royal for seventeen generations, and proved that the origin of the Gothic people belonged to Roman history, adorning the whole subject with the flowers of his learning gathered from wide fields of literature.