'So then, if the testimonials of the aforesaid water-finder and the results of his indications shall approve themselves to your wisdom, you may pay his travelling expenses and relieve his wants: he having to repay you by his future services. For though Rome itself is so abundantly supplied with aqueducts, there are many suburban places in which his help would be very useful. Associate with him also a mechanician who can sink for and raise the water when he has pointed it out. Rome ought not to lack anything which is an object of desire.' BOOK IV. CONTAINING FIFTY-ONE LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF THEODORIC. 1. KING THEODORIC TO HERMINAFRID, KING OF THE THURINGIANS. [Sidenote: Marriage of Theodoric's niece to the King of the Thuringians.] 'Desiring to unite you to ourselves by the bonds of kindred, we bestow upon you our niece [Amalabirga, daughter of Theodoric's sister; see 'Anon. Valesii' Sec. 70], so that you, who descend from a Royal stock, may now far more conspicuously shine by the splendour of Imperial blood[324]'. [A remarkable passage, as showing that Theodoric did in a sense consider himself to be filling the place of the Emperors of the West.] [Footnote 324: 'Nunc etiam longius claritate Imperialis sanguinis fulgeatis.'] The virtues and intellectual accomplishments of the new Queen of the Thuringians are described. 'We gladly acknowledge the price of a favour, in itself beyond price, which, according to the custom of the nations, we have received from your ambassadors: namely, a team of horses, silvery in colour, as wedding-horses should be. Their chests and thighs are suitably adorned with round surfaces of flesh. Their ribs are expanded to a certain width. They are short in the belly. Their heads have a certain resemblance to the stag, the swiftness of which animal they imitate. These horses are gentle from their extreme plumpness; very swift notwithstanding their great bulk; pleasant to look at, still better to use. For they have gentle paces, not fatiguing their riders by insane curvetings. To ride them is repose rather than toil; and being broken-in to a delightful and steady pace, they can keep up their speed, over long distances. 'We too are sending you some presents, but our niece is the fairest present of all. May God bless you with children, so that our lines may be allied in future.' 2. KING THEODORIC TO THE KING OF THE HERULI. [Adopting him as his son by right of arms.] [Sidenote: Herminafrid adopted as 'filius per arma' by Theodoric.] 'It has been always held amongst the nations a great honour to be adopted as "filius per arma." Our children by nature often disappoint our expectations, but to say that we esteem a man _worthy to be our son_ is indeed praise. As such, after the manner of the nations and in manly fashion, do we now beget you[325]. [Footnote 325: Notice the strong expression, 'Et ideo more gentium et conditione virili filium te praesenti munere _procreamus_.']