Finally, the government occasionally resorted to the method which was often used in the Near East: when in 782 the emperor ran out of money, he requested the merchants of the capital to "loan" him a large suma request which in fact was a special tax.

The problem of life is solved for me; I have solved it; but unless some day you will prove it for meBettythe problem of life is but a sorry suma total of ciphers without end....