As the letter is addressed to a learned man, it seems a suitable opportunity to explain why Antiquity reared this mighty pile. Accordingly a very long digression follows on the origin, progress, and decline of Tragedy, Comedy, and Pantomime. It is remarked incidentally that Pompeius seems to have derived his appellation _Magnus_ chiefly from the building of this wonderful theatre. The expense which Symmachus has been put to in these vast works is to be refunded to him by the _Praepositus Sacri Cubiculi_, that he may still have the glory of the work, but that the King may have done his due part in preserving the memorials of Antiquity. BOOK V. CONTAINING FORTY-FOUR LETTERS WRITTEN BY CASSIODORUS IN THE NAME OF THEODORIC. 1. KING THEODORIC TO THE KING OF THE VANDALS[370]. [Footnote 370: No doubt Thrasamund, who married Theodoric's sister. He reigned from 496 to 523.] [Sidenote: The King of the Vandals is thanked for his presents.] 'The swords which you have sent us are most beautiful: so sharp that they will cut other weapons; so bright that they reflect with a sort of iron light[371] the face of the beholder; with the two blades descending to their edges with such absolute equality of slope, that you would fancy them the result of the furnace rather than of the whetstone[372]; in the middle, between the blades, channels carved which are filled in with beautiful enamel of various colours[373]. [Footnote 371: 'Ut speculum quoddam virorum faciat ferream lucem.'] [Footnote 372: 'Quarum margines in acutum tali aequalitate descendunt, ut non limis compositae, sed igneis fornacibus credantur effusae.'] [Footnote 373: 'Harum media pulchris alveis excavata, quibusdam videntur crispari posse vermiculis, ubi tanta varietatis umbra concludit, ut intextum magis credas variis coloribus lucidum metallum.'] 'Along with these arms you have also sent us musical instruments of ebony, and slave boys of beautiful whiteness. 'We thank you heartily, send by A and B, our ambassadors, presents of equal value; and hope that mutual concord will always unite our States.' 2. KING THEODORIC TO THE HAESTI. [Sidenote: The Haesti, dwellers by the Baltic. Their present of amber.] [These are the Aestii of Tacitus, dwelling in or on the south border of the country which is still called Esthonia. Tacitus also mentions their quest of amber[374].] [Footnote 374: Germ. 45: 'Ergo jam dextro Suevici maris litore Aestiorum gentes alluuntur, quibus ritus habitusque Suevorum, lingua Britannicae propior.... Sed et mare scrutantur ac soli omnium sucinum quod ipsi glesum vocant, inter vada atque in ipso littore legunt.' Then follows an account of the nature of amber, and a history of its supposed origin, from which Cassiodorus has borrowed in this letter.] 'It is gratifying to us to know that you have heard of our fame, and have sent ambassadors who have pressed through so many strange nations to seek our friendship.