ller. They will
find their own profit in this, for there is no better customer for a
corn-merchant than a hungry man. He looks on all his other possessions
as dross if he can only supply the cravings of necessity. He who is
willing to sell to a man in this condition almost seems to be _giving_
him what he needs, and can very nearly ask his own price.'

[It will be seen that in this letter there is no attempt to fix a
maximum price, only to prescribe the kind of cargo, 'victuales
species,' which is to be carried to Gaul.]

6. KING THEODORIC TO SYMMACHUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PATRICIAN.

[Sidenote: The sons of Valerian to be detained in Rome.]

'The Spectabilis Valerian, who lives at Syracuse, wishes to return
thither himself, but that his sons, whom he has brought to Rome for
their education, may be detained in that City.

'Let your Magnificence therefore not allow them to leave the aforesaid
City till an order has been obtained from us to that effect. Thus will
their progress in their studies be assured, and proper reverence be
paid to our command. And let none of them think this a burden, which
should have been an object of desire[333]. To no one should Rome be
disagreeable, for she is the common country of all, the fruitful
mother of eloquence, the broad temple of the virtues: it is a striking
mark of our favour to assign such a City as a residence to any of our
subjects[334].'

[Footnote 333: 'Non ergo sibi putet impositum quod debuit esse
votivum. Nulli sit ingrata Roma, quae dici non potest aliena. Illa
eloquentiae foecunda mater, illa virtutum omnium latissimum templum.']

[Footnote 334: Cf. the very similar letter, i. 39.]

7. KING THEODORIC TO SENARIUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, COMES PRIVATARUM.

[Sidenote: Losses by shipwreck to be refunded to those who were
sending provisions to Gaul.]

'Any calamity which comes upon a man from causes beyond his control
ought not to be imputed to him as a fault. The pathetic petition of
the Superintendents of Grain[335] informs us that the cargoes which
they destined for Gaul have perished at sea.

[Footnote 335: 'Prosecutores frumentorum.' It would seem that these
are not merchants supplying the famine-stricken Provinces of Gaul as a
private speculation (according to iv. 5), but public officers who have
had certain cargoes of corn entrusted to them from the State
magazines, and who, but for this letter, would be bound to make good
the loss suffered under their management.]