marshes of Decennonium, which are hereby granted to him, apparently
'sine fisco,' tax-free.

[But the meaning may be, 'the marshes which you drain _sine
fisco_'--without help from the Treasury.]

The chief point of difference between this and the previous letter is
that here Decius is allowed and encouraged to associate partners with
him in the drainage-scheme, whom he is to reward according to their
share of the work. Thus will he be less likely to sink under the
enterprise, and he will also lessen men's envy of his success.


34. KING THEODORIC TO ARTEMIDORUS, PRAEFECT OF THE CITY.

[Sidenote: Embezzlement of City building funds.]

'The persons to whom money was entrusted for the rebuilding of the
walls of Rome have been embezzling it, as was proved by your
examination of their accounts (discussio). We are very glad that you
have not hidden their misconduct from us (inclined as a generous mind
is to cover up offences), since you would thereby have made yourself
partaker of their evil deeds. They must restore that which they have
dishonestly appropriated, but we shall not (as we might fairly do)
inflict upon them any further fine. We are naturally inclined to
clemency, and they will groan at having to give up plunder which they
had already calculated upon as their own.'


35. KING THEODORIC TO TANCILA, SENATOR.