Letter 11014: Since the city of Comum [Como] is visited by many routes, its landowners report that they are so exhausted by the...

14. Senator, Praetorian Prefect, to Gaudiosus, Chancellor of the Province of Liguria. [1] Since the city of Comum [Como] is sought out by many travelers, its inhabitants represent that they have been so worn down by the constant demand for post-horses that they themselves are more worn out than the horses are by their excessive running. For these people we command, by royal indulgence, that the benefit be perpetually maintained, lest that city, by its situation gladly habitable, grow thin of inhabitants through the frequency of this injury. For it lies, beyond the trackless ways of the mountains and the expanse of a most pure lake, like a kind of wall to level Liguria. Although it is acknowledged to be a barrier and fortress of the province, it is brought to such beauty that it seems to have been established for delights alone. [2] Behind it, it sends across cultivated plains, fitted for pleasant outings and indulgently supplied with abundant provisions; in front, it enjoys for sixty miles the loveliness of the sweetest expanse of water, so that the spirit is satisfied with refreshing delight and the abundance of fish is not withdrawn by any storms. Rightly, therefore, has it received the name Comum [a play suggesting adornment], for it rejoices, adorned with such great gifts. Here indeed is a lake received in the depth of a most vast valley, which, gracefully imitating the shapes of shells, is painted with the whiteness of a foamy shore. [3] Around it the most beautiful summits of lofty mountains come together in the form of a crown, whose shores, gracefully adorned with the lights of country mansions, are surrounded as if by a sort of belt of Palladian woods [olive groves] with perpetual greenery. Above this, leafy vineyards climb the flank of the mountain. The very peak, however, curled as if with certain locks of hair by the density of chestnut trees, is painted by adorning nature. From here streams, gleaming with snowy brightness, descend with headlong steepness into the basin of the lake. [4] Into this bay, the river Addua [Adda], coming from the south, is received with open jaws. It received such a name [the doubled "Addua"] because, formed from two springs, it rolls down as if into its own sea; and it strikes the waves of the most vast expanse of water with such force that, retaining its name and color, it is reproduced toward the north in the fuller belly of its channel: you would think a certain darker line had been drawn in the whitening waters, and in a wondrous manner the differing nature of the inflowing water is observed, which is felt to be capable of mingling with a like liquid. [5] This also indeed happens in the sea-waves through the flooding of rivers; but the reason itself is commonly plain, namely that headlong torrents, fouled with muddy dregs, are of a different color from the glassy expanse. But this rightly will be reckoned astonishing: that you may see an element similar in such great qualities moving most swiftly through a sluggish pool, so that you would think the river runs down through solid fields, while you would not see that it could mingle in color with the foreign waters. [6] Wherefore the inhabitants of these places are rightly spared, since all pleasant things are tender against toils, and those who have been accustomed to enjoy sweet delights easily feel the burden of affliction. Let them therefore enjoy the royal gift in perpetuity, so that, just as they rejoice in their native feasts, so the bounty of their sovereign may make them exult.

XIIII. GAUDIOSO CANCELLARIO PROVINCIAE LIGURIAE SENATOR PPO. [1] Cum multis itineribus Comum civitas expetatur, ita se eius possessores paraveredorum assiduitate suggerunt esse fatigatos, ut equorum nimio cursu ipsi potius adterantur. quibus indultu regali beneficium praecipimus iugiter custodiri, ne urbs illa, positione sua libenter habitabilis, rarescat incolis frequentia laesionis. est enim post montium devia et laci purissimi vastitatem quasi murus quidam planae Liguriae. quae licet munimen claustrale probetur esse provinciae, in tantam pulchritudinem perducitur, ut ad solas delicias instituta esse videatur. [2] Haec post tergum campestria culta transmittit et amoenis vectationibus apta et victualibus copiis indulgenter accommoda: a fronte sexaginta milibus dulcissimi aequoris amoenitate perfruitur, ut et animus recreabili delectatione satietur et piscium copia nullis tempestatibus subducatur, merito ergo Comum nomen accepit, quae tantis laetatur compta muneribus. hic profecto lacus est nimis amplissimae vallis profunditate susceptus, qui concharum formas decenter imitatus spumei litoris albore depingitur. [3] Circa quem conveniunt in coronae speciem excelsorum montium pulcherrimae summitates, cuius ora praetoriorum luminibus decenter ornata quasi quodam cingulo Palladiae silvae perpetuis viriditatibus ambiuntur. super hunc frondosae vineae latus montis ascendunt. apex autem ipse quasi quibusdam capillis castanearum densitate crispatus ornante natura depingitur. hinc rivi niveo candore relucentes in aream laci altitudine praecipitante descendunt. [4] Huius sinibus ab austro veniens Addua fluvius faucibus apertis excipitur. qui ideo tale nomen accepit, quia duobus fontibus adquisitus quasi in proprium mare devolvitur, qui tanto impetu vastissimi aequoris undas incidit, ut nomen retinens et colorem in septentrionem obesiore alvei ventre generetur: putes quandam lineam fusciorem in aquis albentibus esse descriptam miroque modo influentis discolor natura conspicitur, quae misceri posse simili liquore sentitur. [5] Hoc et in marinis quidem fluctibus fluviorum inundatione contingit: sed ratio ipsa vulgariter patet, ut torrentes praecipites limosa faece corrupti vitreo sint aequori discolores. hoc autem iure putabitur stupendum, quod simile tantis qualitatibus elementum per pigrum stagnum videas ire celerrimum, ut amnem per solidos campos putes decurrere, quem se peregrinis undis non videas colore posse miscere. [6] Quapropter incolis harum rerum iure parcitur, quando amoena omnia delicata sunt ad labores et facile onus afflictionis sentiunt, qui uti suavibus deliciis consuerunt. fruantur ergo munere regali perpetuo, ut sicut gaudent nativis epulis, ita eos exultare faciat munificentia principalis.