430 The pressure of debts 



the food needed to support the population ; and it is a convincing proof 

 of the superficiality of Sidonius as an observer of his age that he 

 practically ignores them. 



To attempt a full description of society in Roman Gaul of the fifth 

 century is quite beyond my scope. It has already been admirably done 

 by Sir Samuel Dill. But there are a few points remaining to be dis- 

 cussed as relevant to my subject. That the decline of the middle class, 

 and the passing of large areas of land into few hands, was a process 

 forwarded by inability to pay debts incurred, is extremely probable. 

 It had been going on for many centuries. But I do not see that the 

 evidence of Sidonius suggests that this evil was in his time especially 

 prevalent. The case cited 1 is peculiar. The borrower is expressly stated 

 not to have mortgaged any of his land. The loan was only secured by 

 a written bond which fixed the interest 2 at 12 / o per annum. This had 

 been ten years in arrear, and the total debt was now doubled. The 

 debtor fell ill, and pressure was put on him by officials employed to 

 collect debts. I infer that the lack of real security prompted this 

 dunning of a sick man, for fear the personal security might lapse by 

 his death. Sidonius, a friend of the creditor, undertook to plead with 

 him for at least some stay of action. This man had lately been ordained, 

 and Sidonius (not yet himself in orders, I think,) was evidently surprised 

 to note the simple religious life led by him in his country villa. And 

 he needed little entreaty, but acted up to what he considered his duty 

 to a brother Christian. He not only granted further time for payment, 

 but remitted the whole of the accrued interest, claiming only the prin- 

 cipal sum lent. Such conduct may have been, and probably was, ex- 

 ceptional ; but I cannot argue from it that heartless usurers were eating 

 up the small landowners of Gaul. 



So too the case of the young man 3 of good position who cast off a 

 slave mistress and wedded a young lady of good family, reputation, 

 and property, may have been exceptional. Sidonius takes it all very 

 coolly, and mildly improves the occasion. A far more interesting affair 

 is one in a lower station of life, of which I must say a few words. In 

 a brief letter 4 to his friend Pudens he says 'The son of your nurse has 

 raped my nurse's daughter: it is a shocking business, and would have 

 made bad blood between you and me, only that I saw at once you did 

 not know what to do in the matter. You begin by clearing yourself 

 of connivance, and then condescend to ask me to condone a fault com- 

 mitted in hot passion. This I grant, but only on these terms, that you 

 release 5 the ravisher from the status of a Sojourner, to which he belongs 



1 Dill p 220, citing epist iv 24. See Esmein pp 377-83 for the legal points of the case. 



3 centesima, that is i / per mensem, I suppose. 



3 epist ix 6. See Dill pp 174-5. 4 epist v 19. 



5 sub condicione concede^ si stupratorem pro domino iampatronusoriginalisolvas inquilinaiu. 



