State from the assaults of its enemies,
will give us all tranquillity in our time, and will deign to make me
worthy of your love.

[Footnote 731: This was written, no doubt, when Athalaric was on his
deathbed.]

'Watch narrowly the acts of the subordinates whom I send among you,
and inform me of anything which they do amiss. I cannot be held
responsible for deeds of which I know nothing. And if they take bribes
they at least cannot justify themselves by saying that they have first
had to pay money for their offices.

'Continue to afford your wonted solace to the widow and orphan; yet
beware that your pity does not lead you to seek to set aside the laws
even for these. Oh, most holy men, banish to the home of all other
unclean spirits violence, avarice, hatred, rapine; and root out from
among your people luxury, which is the depopulator of the human race.
Let the Bishop teach, that the Judge may have a maiden assize[732]. If
only your preaching he continued, the penal course of law must
necessarily come to an end.

[Footnote 732: 'Episcopus doceat, ne judex possit invenire quod
puniat.']

'I therefore commend my dignity to your prayers, and end my letter
with a salutation of love and honour to your Holinesses.'

4. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PRAEFECT, TO HIS DEPUTY[733] AMBROSIUS, AN
ILLUSTRIS.

[Footnote 733: 'Agenti vices.' Bethmann Hollweg (Gerichtsverfassung
des sinkenden roemischen Reichs, pp. 49-50) remarks: 'The relation of
the _Vices Magistratuum agentes_ does not belong to the _Jurisdictio
mandata_. They are lieutenants (Stellvertreter) who are substituted
provisionally in the room of an ordinary official of the Empire or of
a Province, on account of his being temporarily disqualified or
suspended from office by the Emperor or Praetorian Praefect. The
municipal magistrates were also represented by _vices agentes_. But
the extant authorities give us no very clear information as to their
position.' Unfortunately this letter, relating to a _vices agens_ of
the Praetorian Praefect himself, does not add much to our
information.]

[Sidenote: Functions of the Praefect's Deputy.]

'We have formed a high opinion of you from long observation of your
career as an Advocate, and feel sure that you will justify that
opinion by your conduct in the office to which we are now calling you.
The Forum has long resounded to your eloquence: now your turn is come
to sit upon the magistrate's bench. Hitherto you have assisted