Opera Omnia Vol. II: Vandal & Gothic Wars

...she sent for the ship, and while remaining in Ravenna, she strengthened her rule as securely as possible.

3. Now there was a man among the Goths named Theodatus, the son of Theoderic’s sister Amalafrida. He had already reached maturity, and although he had participated in Latin studies and Platonic dogmas philosophical teachings of Plato, he was completely inexperienced in warfare and far removed from any practical activity, though he was demonically obsessed with greed. 2. This Theodatus had become master of most of the lands in Tuscia Tuscany, and he was eager to seize the holdings of others by force as well. For it seemed a disaster to Theodatus to have a neighbor. 3. Amalasuntha was in a hurry to restrain this ambition of his, and because of this, he was always hostile and difficult toward her. Consequently, he planned to surrender Tuscia Tuscany to the Emperor Justinian 4. on the condition that he would receive much money and a title of the council from him, and live the rest of his life in Byzantium. 5. While Theodatus was planning these things, envoys from Byzantium arrived before the High Priest of Rome: Hypatius, the priest from Ephesus, and Demetrius from Philippi in Macedonia. They came for the sake of the reputation referring to the theological dispute regarding the nature of Christ that Christians dispute among themselves. 6. I know these disputed matters very well, but I shall mention them as little as possible. For I consider it a kind of insane madness to investigate the nature of God, to determine what it is.