Letter 5035: VARIAE, BOOK 5, LETTER 35

[1] When famine, wearing a grim face, struck the dwellings of Rome in a time of uncertainty, and though rare, any hunger in so great a city seemed deeply shameful, we judged it right to provide grain supplies from Spain, so that Rome under our rule might once again receive the ancient tribute of plenty. The distinguished Marcianus carried out our orders with praiseworthy diligence, but the execution of what was so well arranged fell short. The men who had taken on the transport, unable to endure the tedium of delays, are said to have sold the designated grain in Africa for their own profit. [2] Although this should not have gone unpunished -- that private greed should keep so many people hungry -- nevertheless, since it is our nature to forgive offenses that we can correct through careful planning, we have decided to send the capable men Catellus and Servandus. The ship captains are reported to have received 280 solidi for wheat and 758 solidi for shipping costs. If you can confirm the facts, let the total of 1,038 solidi be collected from them, so that even though we have waived punishment, we do not suffer the financial loss. In this matter, let your Sublimity apply due diligence, so that both justice and the public interest are served.

XXXV. LIVVIRIT COMITI ET AMPELIO V. I. THEODERICUS REX. [1] Cum pro incerti temporis eventu Romanas aedes inopia facie castigata pulsaret et quamvis rare, tamen tam pulchrae civitati videretur esse foedissima, aequum iudicavimus Hispaniae triticeas illi copias exhibere, ut antiquum vectigal sub nobis felicior Roma reciperet. iussis quidem nostris viri spectabilis Marciani laude digna servivit industria: sed parum diligenter impleta sunt, quae constat optime fuisse procurata. ii enim, qui portanda susceperant, morarum taedia non ferentes destinatum frumentum in Africae partibus pro suo dicuntur vendidisse compendio. [2] Quod quamvis inultum minime transire debuisset, ut amor proprii commodi tot populorum ieiuna vota suspenderet, tamen quia nobis insitum est culpas remittere, quas possumus cauta ordinatione corrigere, Catellum et Servandum viros strenuos credidimus esse dirigendos, ut, quia naucleri ducentos octoginta solidos in triticum et in naulis septingentos quinquaginta octo solidos accepisse perhibentur, si apud vos facti veritas innotescit, in summam ratione collecta, ab eis mille triginta octo solidorum quantitas inferatur, ut, qui vindictam remisimus, damna minime sentiamus. in qua parte ita se sublimitas vestra diligenter impendat, ut et iustitiae et publicis utilitatibus satisfecisse videatur.