42. King Theodoric to Argolicus, Praefect of the City.

The sons of Velusian to have their property restored to them.

'Under a good King the loss even of a father should be less felt than with a different ruler, for the King is the father of his people.

'The petition of Marcian and Maximius, sons of Velusian (Patrician and Magnificus), sets forth that they lost their father at Easter; that thus the time of joy to all Christians became to them a season of sorrow; that while they were immersed in their grief and incapable of attending to their affairs, "the tower of the circus and the place of the amphitheatre[354]," which had belonged to their illustrious father, were by some heartless intriguer wrested from them, under the authority of the Praefect.

'Be pleased to enquire into this matter, and if those places truly belonged to Velusian , restore them to his sons. We wish to cherish rather than oppress the sons of illustrious men, who are the germ of our future Senate.'