Letter 4006: King Theodoric to Symmachus, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious], Patrician.

King Theodoric to Symmachus, Vir Illustris [Most Illustrious], Patrician. [Symmachus here is the senator and father-in-law of Boethius, not the 4th-century orator.] We gladly embrace the reasonable petitions of supplicants -- we who think about justice even when no one asks. For what is more worthy of our constant day-and-night deliberation than ensuring that our state is guarded by inviolable justice, just as it is defended by arms? The Respectable Valerianus, residing in the city of Syracuse, has petitioned to return to his own home, having brought his children to Rome for the sake of their studies. Your Illustrious Magnitude is to keep them in the aforementioned city by our command: they are not to be permitted to depart until we ourselves give the order. In this way both their advancement in study is secured and the authority of our command is maintained. Let him not consider imposed on him what should have been his wish. Let Rome be unwelcome to no one -- Rome, which cannot be called a foreign place: that fertile mother of eloquence, that vast temple of every virtue. Let the plain truth be felt: the man for whom so great a dwelling is provided is believed to enjoy no small favor.

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.