Letter 8032: We write to you again on the matter of Roman education, because the subject deserves our sustained attention.

King Athalaric to Severus, Vir Spectabilis. [1] When Nymphadius, vir spectabilis, was hastening to our most sacred court on business of his own, exhausted by the length of his journey and seeking to rest his weary animals, he chose to make his lodging at the fountain of Arethusa, situated in the territory of Scyllacium, because those places are both rich in abundant pastures and beautiful with the overflow of waters. For there is, as they say, beneath the foot of the hills above the sand of the sea, a fertile plain where a vast spring gushes forth and weaves the edges of its banks into the likeness of a crown with encircling reeds — a place altogether delightful, wonderful both for its shady rushes and for the remarkable power of its waters. [2] For when a silent man approaches in studied quiet, he finds the waters of the flowing spring so calm that they seem, like a pool, not so much to run as to stand still. But when a loud cough is let out or a somewhat clear voice sounds, by some unknown force the waters there are immediately stirred and leap up: you would see the mouth of that pool bubbling violently, as though you might think the still water had received the boiling of a heated pot — silent to a silent man, answering a speaker with noise and crashing, so that you marvel at it being so suddenly disturbed when no touch agitates it. [3] A strange force, an unheard-of property — that waters should be moved by the voice of men and, as if called upon, should answer, provoked by human speech, murmuring something unknown. You would believe some creature lay there sunk in sleep, which when roused responds to you with a great roar. Certain fountains are indeed recorded to bubble forth with various marvels — some, when drunk by animals, produce various colors; another makes flocks white; some convert wood they receive into stony hardness. But no reasoning grasps these causes, because what is attributed solely to the nature of things is recognized to be beyond human understanding. [4] But to return quickly to the complaint of the petitioner: when the aforementioned Nymphadius had made his lodging there, he claims that his horses were driven off by the ambushes of rustics — a thing unworthy of the discipline of our times, that the delight of that place should be made horrible by such a loss. We direct your alertness to investigate this with diligent examination, since you are seen to have gathered authority from our palace and justice from the laws, so that, like that fountain itself, you may seem to avenge the crime that was committed. [5] Let the thieves be sought out in utter silence; let them be held quietly in their homes until, the moment the officer cries out, their hearts are thrown into turmoil, they burst into cries, and confound themselves with terrible murmuring. Let them judge that those waters gave them omens of their own punishment. Let fitting vengeance therefore fall upon them, so that the roads may be safe: let the discipline imposed invite the eagerness of travelers, lest such a marvel, which is always known to gladden those who seek it, be avoided because of the outrages of brigands.

XXXII. SEVERO V. S. ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Cum Nymphadius v. s. pro causis suis ad comitatum sacratissimum festinaret, itineris longinquitate confectus, animalia fessa reparare contendens, ad fontem Arethusae in Scyllacino territorio constitutae elegit ponere mansionem, eo quod ipsa loca et pasturarum ubertate fecunda sint et aquarum inundatione pulchrescant. est enim, ut dicitur, sub pede collium supra maris harenam fertilis campus, ubi fons vastus egrediens cannis cingentibus in coronae speciem riparum suarum ora contexit, amoenus admodum et harundineis umbris et aquarum ipsarum virtute mirabilis. [2] Nam cum ibi tacitus homo et studiose silentiosus advenerit, aquas fontis irrigui reperit sic quietas, ut in morem stagni non tam currere quam stare videantur. at ubi concrepans tussis emissa fuerit aut sermo clarior fortasse sonuerit, nescio qua vi statim aquae ibidem concitatae prosiliunt: os illud gurgitis ebullire videas graviter excitatum, ut putes aquam rigentem succensae ollae suscepisse fervorum: silenti homini tacita, loquenti strepitu et fragore respondens, ut stupescas sic subito perturbatam, quam nullus tactus exagitat. [3] Nova vis, inaudita proprietas aquas voce hominum commoveri, et, quasi appellatae respondeant ita hominum sermonibus provocatae, nescio quid inmurmurant. credas ibi aliquod animal prostratum somno quiescere, quod excitatum magno tibi strepore respondeat. legitur quidem nonnullos fontium variis scaturrire miraculis, ut aliqui potati animalibus reddant varium colorem, alter greges albos efficiat, quidam in saxeam duritiam suscepta ligna convertant. sed has causas nulla ratio comprehendit, quia supra intellectum humanum esse cognoscitur quod tantum rebus naturalibus applicatur. [4] Sed ut ad querellam supplicantis cito redeamus, hic cum mansionem supradictus Nymphadius habuisset, insidiis rusticorum abactos sibi asserit caballos: quod temporum nostrorum habere non decet disciplinam, ut delectatio illius loci tali damno redderetur horribilis. quod vivacitatem tuam diligenti censemus examinatione discutere, quae et de palatio nostro auctoritatem et de legibus visa est iustitiam collegisse, ut more ipsius fontis scelus quod actum est videaris ulcisci. [5] Perquirantur fures summo silentio, teneantur in suis laribus quieti, dum, mox ut executor increpuerit, eorum corda turbentur, in voces prosiliant et se terribili murmuratione confundant. sic aquas suas omina sibi iudicent dedisse poenarum. sit ergo in eis competens vindicta, ut loca sint pervia: invitet posita disciplina studium commeantium, ne latronum excessibus vitetur tale miraculum, quod semper laetificare cognoscitur inquisitum.