Letter 11008: It was the custom of earlier ages to decree new laws, adding whatever seemed to have been overlooked for succeeding...

VIII. EDICT THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCES. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PREFECT. [1] It was the custom of the ancients to decree new laws, so that they might add to a succeeding generation something that seemed to have been left out; but now it is sufficient enough for our conscience to keep the decrees of the men of old. Formerly the race of men was anxious under this novelty, since they learned that the rule of their own life depended on another's will; but now each man knows as settled what he does not doubt was most fully established by the ancients. The laws are therefore sufficient for you, if only outstanding goodwill be not lacking. Why do you endure with attentive ears the voices of the heralds, the perilous pronouncements of the magistrates? [2] He sets a limit upon his own life who understands that he has been appointed judge over himself. Devote yourselves all to good deeds, and you will not know what is to be feared. Do not blaze up toward unlawful presumptions: love to live in quiet: conduct yourselves always harmless. Why do you confound honorable things with lawsuits? Why do you do the things that you may soon have cause to fear? If you seek profit, avoid rather ruinous litigation. If, however, some civil dispute should arise, be content with the laws of your fatherland: let no one rise up to seditious acts, let no one take refuge in violent ones. It is a kind of madness, in a peaceful age, to be eager for a turbulent course. [3] But because, regarding us as judges, a fear arises that, though not true, is nevertheless reasonable, since an untried power draws one rather toward dread, as far as concerns my own purpose, with God helping and the lords of affairs reigning, promise yourselves all things just, all things moderate. First, that which most of all dishonors a judge, foul trafficking shall not be known on my part. For my words are not put up for sale, hung out like garments. Only the need for goods will make you hope for anything from me, not malicious venality. Yet where there shall be a moderate ordinance that the season softens, we do not impose that anything be bought, nor do we drag to valuation things that are not held to be necessary. [4] Only be careful as to customary matters, secure as to novelty, because we have judged this alone to be our advantage, if, with the Lord helping, we keep you unharmed. No soldier shall shake you down according to his own will: no tax collector shall burden you with added inconveniences: we will keep harmless not only our own hands, but also those of our staff. Otherwise it is a useless good not to take from a judge, and to have furnished many others the license of taking. For they do not go forth from us in such a way that the things they have suffered may seem to have been rightly done to others. For with your love, bribes have been diminished, which until now were growing to the detriment of all. [5] We have shown, with God helping, self-restraint in ourselves, so that we may command it of the soldiers without shame. For a word cannot have authority that is not aided by example, since it is unjust to enjoin good things and not to have done such things. Our administration, therefore, will regard only the public benefit, not private thefts. We know what vows you have poured out on our behalf, with what anxiety you were held in suspense. It is unseemly for us to do such things that you may be less able to rejoice in your exultation. [6] With God favoring, our ears will lie open to receiving the desires of suppliants: the pleader of a case shall see us with his own eyes in freedom: a tongue not bought, but his own, shall speak. For neither shall servitude command us, nor shall venerable nobility be wearied by us. In short, no base act shall enter our praetorium, no one shall return from us less wealthy than he had come. Our private chamber has not known how to differ from the benches of judgment. Whoever observes me shall find me a judge, wherever he shall look. [7] Mindful of modesty, with God helping, we desire to act in such a way as we have received our commands from the lords of affairs. Be devoted to all just things, so that you may make me father of the provinces rather than judge, because he is again more grievously angered who is least taken into account for the doing of wicked deeds. For if you have offered compliance to injuries, what ought you to expend upon him whom you know to strive earnestly on your behalf? Let the customary perquisites of our office not be denied to the toiling soldiers, because he himself furnishes the way of going beyond bounds who does not allow just dues to be paid. [8] Render obedience also to our precepts with even-handed moderation. Let your own mind reasonably compel you, lest armed terror press upon you. He stirs up hatred for himself who resists just commands. Him whom I shall have once compelled, I will not love. For we wish all things that are to be done to be carried out in such a way that we cause you to be diminished by no compeller. We desire to be preserved for you the benefits granted long ago by the lords, torn away by no detestable presumption. We desire that you feel our office by gratitude alone, and that you ask good things for the reigning ones, who have shown themselves to have granted your desires. [9] Live now, rejoicing in the security you have attained. Whom it was not lawful to compel, you have been able to bind by voluntary pledges. For he who hesitates, under confidence in God, to promise just things, wishes to keep free the power to change what he has not promised. Hold, therefore, a fit pledge of my will, a mirror of my heart, an image of my purpose, so that, by those to whom I am not known by face, I may be recognized by the quality of my conduct. Behold me rather in this part, in which men present lie hidden. My absence is no loss to you: it is more useful to know a judge in mind than in body.

VIII. EDICTUM PER PROVINCIAS. SENATOR PPO. [1] Priscorum mos fuit nova iura decernere, ut succedenti populo aliquid quod omissum videbatur adiungerent: nunc autem sufficiens satis conscientiae veterum decreta servare. erat ante genus hominum sub hac novitate sollicitum, dum regulam vitae suae in aliena cognoscerent voluntate pendere: modo vero unusquisque novit fixum, quod ab antiquis plenissime non dubitat constitutum. sufficiunt ergo vobis iura, si non desit voluntas eximia. quid praeconum voces, quid periculosas sententias praesulum erectis auribus sustinetis? [2] Propriae vitae imponit modum, qui sibi se iudicem intellegit constitutum. studete cuncti actibus bonis et formidanda nescitis. nolite inardescere ad praesumptiones illicitas: amate vivere quieti: transigite semper innoxii. quid litibus honesta confunditis? cur facitis quae mox timere possitis? si quaeritis lucra, vitate potius damnosa litigia. si quod tamen emerserit civile certamen, legibus patriis estote contenti: nullus ad seditiosa consurgat, nullus ad violenta confugiat. furoris genus est in saeculo pacato turbulento studere proposito. [3] Sed quia de nobis iudicibus etsi non verus, tamen oritur rationabilis metus, dum inexperta potestas trahit potius ad timorem, quantum ad meum propositum pertinet, iuvante deo rerumque dominis regnantibus omnia vobis iusta, omnia moderata promittite. primum, quod maxime iudicem dehonestat, nundinatio a me foeda nescibitur. non enim mea verba more vestium suspensa venduntur. sperari a vobis aliquid sola specierum indigentia faciet, non malitiosa venalitas. ubi tamen erit quae tempus mitigat moderata praeceptio, non indicimus quod ematur nec ad taxationem trahimus quae necessaria non habentur. [4] Estote tantum ad consueta solliciti, de novitate securi, quia illud solum nobis iudicavimus esse commodum, si vos iuvante domino servemus illaesos. non vos quisquam militum pro sua voluntate concutiet: non exactor adiecticiis gravabit incommodis: non solum nostras, sed et officii innoxias custodibimus manus. alioquin inutile bonum est iudicem non accipere et multis accipiendi licentiam praebuisse. neque enim sic a nobis egrediuntur, ut ea quae passi fuerint aliis merito fecisse videantur. imminuta sunt enim vestro amore suffragia, quae hactenus omnium detrimento crescebant. [5] Ostendimus in nobis deo iuvante continentiam, ut eam militibus sine pudore imperare possimus. non enim potest auctoritatem habere sermo qui non iuvatur exemplo, dum iniquum sit bona praecipere et talia non fecisse. ordinatio igitur nostra utilitatem publicam tantummodo respiciet, non furta privata. scimus quae pro nobis vota fuderitis, qua fuistis anxietate suspensi. deforme nobis est talia facere, ut minus possitis in vestra exultatione gaudere. [6] Patebunt deo propitio aures nostrae ad suscipienda desideria supplicantum: actor causae suis nos oculis sub libertate visurus est: non redempta, sed propria lingua loquebitur. nobis enim nec servitus imperabit nec a nobis nobilitas veneranda fatigabitur. praetoria denique nostra nullus turpis actus intrabit, nemo a nobis quam venerat minus locupletior redit. nescivit domesticum penetrale a subselliis discrepare. iudicem me observans inveniet, quocumque respexerit. [7] Verecundiae memores iuvante deo sic agere nos optamus, quemadmodum a rerum dominis mandata suscepimus. vos ad omnia iusta estote devoti, ut me provinciarum patrem faciatis esse quam iudicem, quia iterum gravius irascitur, qui minime de pravitatum actione pensatur. nam si praebuistis laesionibus obsequium, quid illi impendere debetis, quem vobis magnopere studere cognoscitis? sollemnia commoda sedis nostrae laborantibus militibus non negentur, quia ipse praebet viam excedendi, qui non patitur iusta persolvi. [8] Praeceptis etiam nostris oboedientiam aequabili moderatione praestate. compellat rationabiliter proprius animus, ne vos urgeat terror armatus. odium sibi excitat, qui iustis resultat imperiis. quem iam coegero, non amabo. sic enim cuncta quae agenda sunt volumus explicari, ut vos nullo compulsore faciamus imminui. servari vobis cupimus concessa pridem dominorum beneficia nulla abominabili praesumptione distracta. honorem nostrum sola vos optamus gratulatione sentire et regnantibus bona petere, qui vestra desideria visi sunt praestitisse. [9] Vivite nunc adepta securitate gaudentes. quem fas non fuit cogere, potuistis voluntariis sponsionibus obligare. nam qui dubitat sub dei confidentia iusta promittere, vult habere liberum, quod non est pollicitus, immutare. tenete igitur arbitrii mei idoneum vadem, speculum cordis, imaginem voluntatis, ut quibus non sum facie notus, fiam morum qualitate recognitus. in hac me potius parte conspicite, qua latent praesentes. non est vobis damnum absentiae meae: utilius est iudicem mente nosse quam corpore.