'The post (_Cursus Publicus_) is evidently an institution of great public utility, tending to the rapid promulgation of our decrees.
'Care must therefore be taken that the horses are not allowed to get out of condition, lest they break down under their work, and lest the journey, which should be rapid, become tediously slow.
'Also any lands formerly appropriated to the _mutationes_ [places for changing horses] which have fallen into private hands must be reclaimed for the public service, the owners being sufficiently indemnified for their loss.'
30. KING THEODORIC TO THE SENATE OF THE CITY OF ROME.
[Sidenote: On the injury to public peace arising from the Circus rivalries.]
The Senators are exhorted not to allow their menials to embroil themselves with the populace, and thus bring their good name into disgrace. Any slave accused of the murder of a free-born citizen is to be at once given up, under penalty of a fine of 10 lbs. of gold (£400), and the King's severe displeasure for the master who disobeys this command.
'And do not you, oh Senators, be too severe in marking every idle word which the mob may utter amidst the general rejoicing. If there is any insult which requires notice, bring it before the "Praefectus Urbis"--a far better and safer course than taking the law into your own hands.'
[This letter, a very interesting and sensible one, is somewhat spoilt by a characteristic Cassiodorian sentence at the end:--
'Men in old time used always to fight with their fists, whence the word _pugna_, "a pugnis." Afterwards iron was introduced by King Belus, and hence came _bellum_, "a Belo."']
Gives similar good advice to that contained in the previous letter to the Senate.
'The Circus, in which the King spends so much money, is meant to be for public delight, not for stirring up wrath. Instead of uttering howls and insults like other nations [the populace of Byzantium?], whom they have despised for doing so, let them tune their voices, so that their applause shall sound like the notes of some vast organ, and even the brute creation delight to hear it.
'Anyone uttering outrageous reproaches against any Senator will be dealt with by the Praefectus Urbis.'
32. KING THEODORIC TO AGAPITUS, VIR ILLUSTRIS, PRAEFECTUS URBIS.