Letter 1027: VARIAE, BOOK 1, LETTER 27

If we govern the customs of foreign peoples under law, if everything that is joined to Italy serves Roman law, how much more fitting is it that the very seat of civilized order should have a greater reverence for the laws, so that the grace of high offices may shine forth through the example of moderation? For where is one to seek a temperate spirit, if acts of violence dishonor patricians? It is therefore brought to our attention by a petition from the people of the Green faction that, while they were arranging to come to our court demanding the customary remedies, they suffered savage ambushes from the patrician Theodorus and from Importunus, an illustrious man and consul, so that one of their number is mourned as slain. This matter, if it is so, has moved us by the bitterness of its commission, that an armed fury should have pursued an innocent commons whom a citizen's affection ought to have cherished. But because the condition of lesser men implores the ruler's aid on equal terms, we decree by this present order that the aforesaid illustrious men be admonished, so that, with you pressing the case, they not delay to send instructed persons to the equally competent tribunal of the illustrious men Caelianus and Agapitus, in order that, the inquiry having been examined according to the laws, the matter may be concluded by their sentence. But lest perhaps the loquacity of the populace should have given offense to these magnificent men, a distinction must be made regarding this presumption. Let anyone be held to blame who, insolent, inflicted injury upon a most reverend senator as he passed by, if he wished ill when he ought to have spoken well. But who would demand grave conduct at the spectacles? Catos do not know how to gather at the circus. Whatever is said there by a rejoicing people is not considered an injury. It is a place that excuses excess. If the chattering of these people is patiently accepted, the very rulers too are shown to be adorned thereby. Let those who are occupied with such pursuits answer us plainly: if they wish their adversaries to be calm, surely they want them to be victors, since men leap forth to injuries precisely when they blush shamefully at being beaten. Why then do they wish to be angry at what, without doubt, they recognize they themselves desired?

XXVII. SPECIOSO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Si exterarum gentium mores sub lege moderamur, si iuri Romano servit quicquid sociatur Italiae, quanto magis decet ipsam civilitatis sedem legum reverentiam plus habere, ut per moderationis exemplum luceat gratia dignitatum? ubi enim quaeratur modestus animus, si foedent violenta patricios? [2] Populi nobis itaque partis prasini petitione suggeritur, dum ad nostrum disponerent venire comitatum remedia consueta poscentes, se truculentas insidias a patricio Theodoro et Inportuno viro illustri consule pertulisse, ita ut unus eorum defleatur extinctus. [3] Quod nos, si ita est, pro facti sui acerbitate commovit, ut innoxiam plebem furor persequeretur armatus, quam fovere civicus debuisset affectus. sed quia condicio minorum regnantis aequabiliter implorat auxilium, supra memoratos illustres viros ammoneri praesenti iussione censemus, ut ad Caeliani atque Agapiti illustrium virorum adaeque iudicium instructas destinare non differant te instante personas, quatenus legibus examinata cognitio eorum sententia terminetur. [4] Sed ne forsitan magnificos viros loquacitas popularis offenderit, praesumptionis huius habenda discretio est. teneatur ad culpam quisquis transeunti reverentissimo senatori iniuriam protervus inflixit, si male optavit, cum bene loqui debuit. [5] Mores autem graves in spectaculis quis requirat? ad circum nesciunt convenire Catones. quicquid illic a gaudenti populo dicitur, iniuria non putatur. locus est qui defendit excessum. quorum garrulitas si patienter accipitur, ipsos quoque principes ornare monstratur. respondeant nobis certe qui talibus studiis occupantur: si tranquillos optant adversarios suos, certe volunt eos esse victores, quando ad iniurias tunc prosiliunt, cum se superatos turpiter erubescunt. unde ergo irasci volunt, quod sine dubiu se optasse cognoscunt?