Letter 6014: I can see you're still wondering whether the confiscation of property followed Rufinus's punishment [Rufinus was a...

I can see you're still wondering whether the confiscation of property followed Rufinus's punishment [Rufinus was a powerful praetorian prefect whose spectacular downfall was a major political event]. The proof is right there, sealed in imperial decrees. And really, given the long record of that old plunderer, no one should have doubted that the treasury would reclaim the spoils he'd stripped from the empire. If only such great joy weren't spoiled by the grain shortage, which no new harvest has relieved. The quality of the food itself is horrifying and destroying people's health -- this kind of sustenance is worse than going hungry. What holds the people together is the hope of grain promised by the senators, and the pious generosity of the leading men keeps the city in harmony.

10 Dubitare vos video, an Kufini poenam secuta sit etiam publicatio facultatum. fides praesto est imperialibus signata praeceptis; et tamen praedonis annosi merita pendentibus non fuit ambigendum, quod spolia orbis desideraret aerarium. atque 2 utinam tanto gaudio non obstreperet defectus annonae, quem nulla producit novae firugis accessio. praeterea ipsius cibi qualitas gignit horrorem, cormmpit valetudinem i& corpomm, graviorque hominibus talis alimonia quam poena ieiunii. solatur inter haec 3 populum spes frumenti a patribus oblati, et religiosa optimatium voluntas tenet con- cordiam civitatis. nunc votis opus est, ut divina opitulatio invehat commeatus, dum salus civium privata conlatione producitur. XV (XVI) hieme 395/6.