our powers.'

7. KING THEODORIC TO SURA (OR SUNA), ILLUSTRIS AND COMES.

[Sidenote: Embellishment of the City.]

'Let nothing lie useless which may redound to the beauty of the City.
Let your Illustrious Magnificence therefore cause the blocks of marble
which are everywhere lying about in ruins to be wrought up into the
walls by the hands of the workmen whom I send herewith. Only take care
to use only those stones which have really fallen from public
buildings, as we do not wish to appropriate private property, even for
the glorification of the City.'

8. KING THEODORIC TO BISHOP SEVERUS, VIR VENERABILIS.

[Sidenote: Compensation for damage done by troops on march.]

'None is more suitable than a member of the Priesthood to perform acts
of justice towards his flock.

'We therefore send your Holiness, by Montanarius, 1,500 solidi (L900),
for distribution among the Provincials, according to the amount of
damage which each one has sustained this year by the passage of our
army. See that the distribution is made systematically--not at
random--so that it may reach the right persons.'

9. KING THEODORIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAEPOSITUS.

[Sidenote: Allowance to a retired charioteer.]

'We always enjoy being generous. Compassion is the one virtue to which
all other virtues may honourably give way. Long ago we made the
charioteer Sabinus a monthly allowance of a solidus [twelve
shillings]. Now, as we learn from Histrius [or Historius] that this
former servant of the public pleasures is afflicted with the most
melancholy poverty, we have pleasure in adding _another_ solidus to
his monthly allowance. We are never so well pleased as when the
accounts of our expenditure show these items of charitable
disbursement.'

10. KING THEODORIC TO SPECIOSUS, VIR DEVOTUS, COMITIACUS [OFFICER OF
THE COURT].

[Sidenote: The abduction of Agapita.]

'The laws guarding the sanctity of the marriage bed[250] must be
carefully upheld.

[Footnote 250: 'Illud Humani generis procreabile Sacramentum.']

'Agapita[251] has explained to us that she was tempted away from her
husband by seducers, who promised to procure his death. From the time
of her leaving his company let all revenues which came to her under
the marriage contract (invalidated by her unfaithfulness) be given up
by her wrongful detainers[252] without any delay. It is too absurd
that men who ought to be severely punished for their wrong-doing
should even seek to make a prof