Letter 4006: King Theodoric to Symmachus, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious], Patrician.
VI. SYMMACHO V. I. PATRICIO THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Rationales petitiones supplicum libenter amplectimur, qui etiam non rogati iusta cogitamus. quid est enim dignius quod die noctuque assidua deliberatione volvamus, nisi ut rem publicam nostram sicut arma protegunt, aequitas inviolata custodiat? spectabilis itaque Valerianus in Syracusana civitate consistens reverti se ad lares proprios supplicavit, qui studiorum causa liberos suos ad Romanam civitatem deduxit. [2] Quos illustris magnificentia tua ex nostra continens iussione in supra dicta urbe faciat commorari: nec illis liceat ante discedere, nisi hoc noster proloquatur affatus. ita enim et illis studiorum provectus adquiritur et nostrae iussionis reverentia custoditur. [3] Non ergo sibi putet impositum, quod debuit esse votivum. nulli sit ingrata Roma, quae dici non potest aliena, illa eloquentiae fecunda mater, illa virtutum omnium latissimum templum. sentiatur plane, quod clarum est: non sine gratia esse creditur, cui habitatio tanta praestatur.
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