Letter 2007: King Theodoric to Suna, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious], Count.

VII. King Theoderic to Suna, Distinguished Count. [1] It is not fitting that what can contribute to the adornment of a city should lie unused, since it is not the part of wisdom to despise things that will prove of benefit. And therefore let your illustrious eminence cause the squared blocks of marble, which lie scattered about in ruins and neglected, and to which this task seems to be assigned, to be allotted for the building of the walls, so that the ancient construction may be restored to public splendor and the stones lying about after the ruins may adorn something: yet on this condition, that it be shown to you by manifest proof that the materials themselves have fallen from public places, since, just as we do not wish the adornment of the city to be violated by anyone's presumption, so too we abhor that a wrongful seizure be inflicted for private gain.

VII. SUNAE V. I. COMITI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Sine usu iacere non decet, quod potest ad decorem crescere civitatis, quia non est sapientiae profutura contemnere. et ideo illustris sublimitas tua marmorum quadratos, qui passim diruti negleguntur, quibus hoc opus videtur iniunctum in fabricam murorum faciat deputari, ut redeat in decorem publicum prisca constructio et ornent aliquid saxa iacentia post ruinas: ita tamen, ut metalla ipsa de locis publicis corruisse apud te manifesta ratione doceatur, quia sicut nolumus ornatum urbis cuiusquam praesumptione temerari, ita privatis compendiis calurnniam detestamur inferri.