Letter 6004: Formula of the Urban Prefecture.

IV. FORMULA OF THE URBAN PREFECTURE. [1] Since in a dignity that has been entrusted the praise of the judge is always reckoned, and he ought to be held the more eminent than are those over whom he is known to preside, no one appears to be elevated more than the man to whom Rome could be committed. It is indeed a great thing to be a nobleman, but far greater to sit in judgment over noblemen. That senate, glorious in its marvelous repute, is shown to have a presiding officer whom the world looks up to as a framer of laws: and so it comes about that those men exercise complete authority in the senate who tremble to plead their own cases before you. [2] But this modesty too is recognized as worthy to be proclaimed, that they should choose to be bound by laws which they know could have been established by themselves. This matter is for our part entirely common to us: yet we are distinguished by this one consideration alone, that we who hold ourselves as judges cannot be made subject to another. [3] Consider so many learned men, and reflect on what kind of thing it is to say anything in their presence and not to dread the shame of error. You arbitrate concerning such men, whom you know to be more eminent than yourself. Conduct your office, therefore, in such a way that all may acknowledge you as the judge of an honored assembly. You sit, of course, above all the men of consular rank: you pronounce your opinion first: and you are beheld as a man to be revered in that Hall of Liberty, in which you are shown to hold the foremost men of the world as entrusted to you. [4] Who could now think of an obscure vice, who recognizes himself to be among so many lights of good character? Do you wish not to incur hatred? Banish from yourself any eagerness to grant favors. You must of necessity possess the public's love, if you promise nothing in secret. It will be, beyond doubt, a great and singular distinction, if judges do not take, in a place where there are men who strive to give much. [5] Not only has Rome been committed to your jurisdiction, although all things are contained within her, but the ancient laws also willed that you extend your authority within the hundredth milestone, lest a wall of ramparts should enclose the judge of so great a city, since Rome possessed all things. You also take cognizance, on appeal, of the provinces appointed by law. [6] Learned advocates serve you as soldiers, since in that fatherland it is not difficult to fill the offices of orators, where it has always fallen to men's lot to hear the masters of eloquence. You are conveyed in a carriage through the noble populace, the public vows accompany you, the most welcome cheers go forth in voice harmonious with you. Act well, since at your coming the peoples may even keep silent. You have in abundance the means by which you may win for yourself the favor of so great a city, if goods of various kinds are sold under no venal corruption, if the supply of the baths, wholesomely kindled, does not grow cool through the burning greed of plunderers, if the spectacle, which is furnished for pleasure, is not made the occasion of a lawsuit. For whoever in the contests of the factions turns aside from what is unjust sweetly compels the people to be grateful. [7] For so great is the power of glorious truth, that even in theatrical matters fairness is desired. Therefore, having run through the order of admonitions, we adorn you, for that indiction, with the apparel of the toga'd dignity, so that, clothed in the garb of Romulus, you may aspire to administer Roman laws. For if you prove equal to this dignity, there is nothing that you may not most fully obtain from us. For by such a recommendation you will be no less worthy of all things, if the senate praises your conduct. For the confidence in a matter is complete, when those who are shown to be of the highest rank are also agreed as witnesses.

IIII. FORMULA PRAEFECTURAE URBANAE. [1] Cum de dignitate commissa laus semper iudicis aestimetur et potior habendus est quam sunt illi quibus praeesse cognoscitur, nemo amplius videtur erigi quam cui potuit Roma committi. grande est quidem procerem esse, sed multo grandius de proceribus iudicare. senatus ille mirabili opinione gloriosus probatur habere praesulem, quem mundus suspicit iura condentem: eoque fit ut illi utantur in senatu potestate perfecta, qui apud te trepidant dicere proprias causas. [2] Verum haec quoque modestia cognoscitur esse praedicanda, ut optent se legibus teneri, quae ab ipsis sciuntur potuisse constitui. quae res pro parte nobis absolute communis est: sed hac sola ratione discreti, quod alteri subdi non possumus, qui iudices nos habemus. [3] Respice tot doctos viros et considera, quale sit his aliquid dicere nec erroris verecundiam formidare. de talibus disceptas, quos tibi cognoscis esse potiores. sic ergo locum tuum tracta, ut omnes te iudicem honoratae congregationis agnoscant. consides supra omnes scilicet consulares: sententiam primus dicis: et in illa Libertatis aula reverendus aspiceris, in qua commissos habere mundi primarios approbaris. [4] Quis iam de obscuro vitio cogitare possit, qui se inter tot morum lumina esse cognoscit? vis odium non recipere? studium a te gratificationis exclude. publicum amorem necesse est habeas, si secretius nil promittas. erit nimirum magnum et singulare praeconium, si iudices non accipiant, ubi sunt qui multum dare contendant. [5] Dicioni tuae non solum Roma commissa est, quamvis in illa contineantur universa, verum etiam intra centesimum potestatem te protendere antiqua iura voluerunt, ne tantae civitatis iudicem muralis agger includeret, cum Roma omnia possideret. tu etiam ex designatis lege provinciis ab appellatione cognoscis. [6] Advocati tibi militant eruditi, quando in illa patria difficile non est oratores implere, ubi magistros eloquentiae contigit semper audire. carpento veheris per nobilem plebem, publica te vota comitantur, favores gratissimi consona tecum voce procedunt. bene age, quia te veniente licet populis et tacere. habes copiose, unde tibi gratiam tantae civitatis adquiras, si merces diversae sub nulla venalitate vendantur, si exhibitio salubriter accensa thermarum rapinarum ardoribus non tepescat, si spectaculum, quod praebetur voluptati, non sit causa litigii. suaviter enim cogit gratum esse populum, quisquis in certaminibus partium declinat iniustum. [7] Tanta enim vis est gloriosae veritatis, ut etiam in rebus scaenicis aequitas desideretur. ammonitionum igitur ordine decurso per indictionem illam habitu te togatae dignitatis ornamus, ut indutus veste Romulea iura debeas adfectare Romana. nam si isti dignitati par fueris, nihil est quod a nobis minime consequaris. ad omnia enim tali suffragio eris nihilominus dignus, si actionem tuam laudet senatus. perfecta enim rei fides est, ubi consentanei testes probantur esse summates.