s, was
fought in 507; but the date of this letter is probably 506 (Dahn's
date) rather than 507, as there were no doubt some premonitory
symptoms before the war broke out.

Binding i. 181 (_n._ 608), and Pallmann ii. 55 _n._ 1, and 135 _n._ 2,
incline to a date somewhat earlier even than 506, thinking that there
may have been earlier threatenings of war, which Theodoric succeeded
for the time in averting.

The earlier the date the better will it suit the allusion to Clovis
(and Alaric) as 'Regii _Juvenes_' in the following letter. Clovis was
born in 466, and was therefore 41 years of age at the battle of
Vougle.]

2. KING THEODORIC TO GUNDIBAD, KING OF THE BURGUNDIANS.

[Sidenote: Dissuades Gundibad from war.]

Repeats the arguments in iii. 1 about the ill effects of war on the
fortunes of all, and says that it is Theodoric's part to moderate the
angry impulses of 'regii juvenes.' It becomes them to reverence
'senes,' such as Theodoric and Gundibad, although they are themselves
in the balmy vigour of the flower of their age.

Sends two ambassadors ('illum atque illum') with letters and a verbal
message, hoping that the wisdom of Gundibad may reflect upon what they
say to him [perhaps too delicate a matter to be committed to writing],
and find some way of preserving peace.

[It is remarkable that in this letter Theodoric, who was probably only
52, if the date of it be 506, and who may have been a year or two
younger, speaks of himself along with Gundibad as a _senex_, and of
Clovis, who could hardly be more than twelve years his junior, as
_regius juvenis_. Perhaps this is partly due to the fact that
Cassiodorus speaks from his own point of view. To him, now about 26
years of age, Theodoric might seem to be fitly described as 'senex.'

See Binding i. 181-183 on this letter and the reasons why it produced
no effect on Gundibad. See also Dahn ii. 144.]

3. KING THEODORIC TO THE KINGS OF THE HERULI, WARNI (GUARNI), AND
THURINGIANS.

[Sidenote: Attempt to form a Teutonic coalition on behalf of Alaric.]

[On the same subject.] If Clovis succeeds in his unprovoked aggression
on Alaric, none of his neighbours will be safe. 'I will tell you just
what I think: he who inclines to act without law is prepared to shake
the kingdoms of all of us[276].'

[Footnote 276: Compare the state of Europe during the wars of the
French Revolution, as expressed by Tennyson:

'Again their ravening eagle rose,
In anger