Letter 1034: VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 34

34. KING THEODERIC TO FAUSTUS, PRAETORIAN PREFECT. [1] The abundance of grain in a province ought first to benefit the place for which it is produced, since it is more just that its own fruitfulness should serve the inhabitants than that an eager covetousness should drain it away through foreign trade. For that which is left over ought to be expended upon foreign parts, and only then should there be consideration of outsiders, once the reckoning of one's own need has been satisfied. [2] And therefore let your illustrious magnificence cause those who are seen to have charge of the shores in each several place to be admonished that no one is to load foreign ships with grain, ships about to cross over to foreign shores, before the public expenditures can attain the supply that is desired.

XXXIIII. FAUSTO PPO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Copia frumentorum provinciae debet primum prodesse cui nascitur, quia iustius est, ut incolis propria fecunditas serviat quam peregrinis commerciis studiosae cupiditatis exhauriat. alienis siquidem partibus illud debet impendi quod superest et tunc de exteris cogitandum, dum se ratio propriae necessitatis expleverit. [2] Atque ideo illustris magnificentia tua per loca singula qui curam videntur habere litorum, faciat commoneri, ut non ante quispiam peregrinas naves frumentis oneret ad aliena litora transituras, quam expensae publicae ad optatam possint copiam pervenire.