Letter 12008: It seems a novel kind of bargain when those who ask gain something and those who provide suffer no loss.

VIII. Senator, Praetorian Prefect, to the Governor [literally: of consular rank] of the Province of Liguria. [1] It seems to be a new kind of profit when those who request gain something and those who grant it feel no loss. For it is received by one in such a way that it cannot be lost by the other: it is given without expense; it is yielded without diminution; and it bears the name of generosity, though it knows no surrender of an owner's rights. [2] For this reason, that man reports that the revenue of his farmsteads established in that province, which the brief schedule subjoined below enumerates, is harassed by the excessive demands of the tax-collectors, and he desires, without any diminution of the public interest, that he ought to pay the due assessment into our treasuries himself. And we, who are known to favor the losses of no one, provided that the dues owed to the fisc are discharged by reasonable satisfaction, gladly grant this, because to check honest desires is the same as to commit unlawful acts. [3] Concerning this matter, your Respectability [the official's title], having admonished the municipal councillors and the collectors, as well as those whose interest he knows to be involved, shall, from that levy [indiction], cause the exaction to be removed from the aforesaid farmsteads under this condition: that, if within those Kalends the sum which is due has not been paid in full to the treasury-officer, the customary exaction shall be carried out within the province; but, on the other hand, if he proves by the receipts of the treasury-officers that the pledge of his promise has been fulfilled, the designated estates shall be freed from all disturbance by the collectors, because those payments ought rather to be chosen which are proved to be offered with a willing mind, without any suspicion of loss. For an exaction made without the pressure of a collector is pleasing to us, and to make that a willing act which could scarcely be fulfilled under compulsion. And would that the landholder of his own accord might both relieve us of the necessity of delays and free himself from losses by his proper payments! For he himself makes the pressure necessary who has put off rendering the customary dues.

VIII. CONSULARI PROVINCIAE LIGURIAE SENATOR PPO. [1] Novum genus videtur esse compendii postulantes adquirere et praestantes nulla damna sentire. nam sic accipitur ab uno, ut perire non possit ab altero: donatur sine dispendio: ceditur sine imminutione et nomen habet munificentiae quod iura domini nescit exire. [2] Quapropter ille casarum suarum fiscum in illa provincia constitutarum, quas brevis subter conscriptus eloquitur, exactorum suggerit enormitate vexari, desiderans sine aliqua imminutione publicae utilitatis inferre se debere nostris arcariis debitam functionem. quod nos, qui nullorum damnis studere cognoscimur, dummodo fisco competentia rationabili satisfactione solvantur, libenter annuimus, quia hoc est bona desideria suspendere quod illicita perpetrare. [3] Qua de re spectabilitas tua commonitis curialibus vel compulsoribus nec non et his, quorum interesse cognoscit, ab illa indictione praedictis casis exactionem facies sub hac condicione removeri, ut, si intra illas kalendas summa quae competit non fuerit arcario persoluta, intra provinciam sollemnis exactio peragatur, minus ne, si fidem suae promissionis arcariorum apochis probaverit esse completam, ab omni inquietudine compulsorum designata praedia liberentur, quia illa magis debent eligi, quae sine suspicione damni libenti animo probantur offerri. grata enim nobis est sine instantia compulsoris exactio et hoc devotum facere, quod vix poterat coactus implere. atque utinam possessor ultroneus et nobis necessitatem morarum tolleret et sibi damna competentibus illationibus abrogaret! ipse enim imminentem necessarium facit, qui sollemnia praebere distulerit.