Letter 6013: VARIAE, BOOK 6, LETTER 13

XIII. FORM OF THE MASTER OF THE SCRINIUM [the imperial secretariat] WHICH IS TO BE GIVEN TO A COMITIACUS [an agent of the count's office] WHEN HE COMPLETES HIS SERVICE. [1] If honor is frequently conferred upon men who are idle, if at times either noble birth is the basis of selection or the mere favor shown to a person assists him in earning some reward, with what zeal ought those to be recompensed who have arrived at the prizes of their own contest? It must be considered with what labor the service was performed, and reward must be thought of accordingly. For the measure of these matters comes from the opposite consideration, since such a gift ought to be given to the obedient as could have been a danger to the undutiful. [2] Great are the things that those on watch endure: they compel stubborn persons to obey, they track down with shrewd cunning those hiding in their own bedchambers, they impose the moderation of equality upon the proud: thus what is briefly spoken by the judges is carried out by these men through their attending efficiency. It is known what dangers they endure when they are sent on cases that are not their own. If one acts too sluggishly, the petitioner complains; if too strictly, the one who is summoned cries out. Thus, between these two opposite parties, it is a rare praise to have found commendation. [3] By the leave of the dignities let us say it: it is easier to find a praised judge than a soldier who completes what is enjoined upon him without giving offense. For it is one thing merely to pronounce what is lawful, another to have brought justice to its conclusion. The good is indeed spoken of in a praiseworthy manner, but it is far more glorious when the decreed measures are carried out. Words alone are dispatched by the presiding officials, but from the soldiers the effect is demanded. After everything, they are subjected to dangers if, being constrained, they should make some plausible complaint. [4] Frequently the very integrity of one's conduct has harmed others. For many men whom they have striven to distress in the execution of their duty, those same men they afterward endured as judges set over them. For unknowingly they frequently give offense to those whom they must afterward obey, and while they keep faith in the cases of others, they sometimes incur dangers to their own well-being. But amid these things, does it not justly seem to be a miracle that a soldier has come away praised? [5] To such merits, therefore, a recompense must be rendered, so that we may rouse with granted compensations those who are growing sluggish from excessive labor. Use confidently, therefore, whatever the bountiful laws have granted to veterans, you who must be subjected to no base burden, since you have conducted yourself with the most upright manner of life. [6] You shall also claim for yourself, according to the imperial statutes, the rank of count of the first order, which hoary antiquity has assigned to those who have completed such service. [7] These things indeed you obtain by the benefit of the men of old, but you are fortified with perpetual protection by our name against uncivil assaults and contractual injuries, so that the office which, by our commands, has served us with special diligence may be seen to have been able to merit something more than the other soldiers. We also decree that a penalty of so many pounds of gold is to be inflicted, if anyone should believe that our statutes may be violated on any occasion whatsoever. Nor, however, do we permit anything to have force against you which may have been attempted by deceitful contrivance.

XIII. FORMULA MAGISTRI SCRINII QUAE DANDA EST COMITIACO, QUANDO PERMILITAT. [1] Si honor frequenter defertur otiosis, si interdum aut nobilitas eligitur aut ad promerendum aliquid personae tantum gratia suffragatur, quo studio remunerandi sunt, qui ad agonis sui praemia pervenerunt? considerandum, quali labore servitum est, et sic de remuneratione cogitandum. harum quippe rerum mensura de contrario venit, dum tale oboedientibus dari debet donum, quale indevotis potuit esse periculum. [2] Grandia sunt, quae sustinent excubantes: personas contumaces ad parendum cogunt, latentes in cubilibus suis prudenti sagacitate vestigant, superbis modestiam aequalitatis imponunt: ita quod a iudicibus breviter dicitur, ab ipsis efficacia famulante completur. notum est quae pericula sustineant, cum ad causas mittuntur alienas. si segnius agat, petitor queritur: si districte, pulsatus vociferatur. sic inter utrumque diversum rara laus est invenisse praeconium. [3] Dignitatum pace dicamus, facilius est laudatum iudicem reperire quam militem iniuncta sine offensione complere. aliud est enim tantum dicere legitima, aliud ad terminum deduxisse iustitiam. laudabiliter quidem bonum dicitur, sed multo gloriosius statuta complentur. verba tantum diriguntur a praesulibus, a militibus autem postulator effectus. post omnia periculis subduntur, si constricti aliquid verisimile conquerantur. [4] Frequenter nocuit aliis ipsa quoque integritas actionis. nam multos, quos in executione contristare nisi sunt, ipsos postea impensos iudices pertulerunt. offendunt enim frequenter ignari quibus sunt postea parituri et dum causis alienis fidem custodiunt, interdum pericula propriae salutis incurrunt. verum inter haec militem evasisse laudatum nonne iuste videtur esse miraculum? [5] Talibus igitur meritis vicissitudo reddenda est, ut nimio labore torpentes indultis compensationibus excitemus. utere igitur confidenter quicquid veteranis munifica iura tribuerunt, nulli sordido subiciendus oneri, qui te purissima conversatione tractasti. [6] Comitivam quoque tibi primi ordinis, quam tali militia perfunctis cana deputavit antiquitas, secundum statuta divalia vindicabis. [7] Haec quidem priscorum beneficio consequeris, sed nostri nominis contra inciviles impetus et conventionalia detrimenta perenni tuitione vallaris, ut officium, quod nostris iussionibus speciali sollicitudine famulatum est, amplius aliquid a militibus ceteris promereri potuisse videatur. multa quoque tot librarum auri percellendum esse censemus, si quis statuta nostra qualibet crediderit occasione violanda. nec tamen aliquid contra te valere permittimus, quod dolosa fuerit machinatione temptatum.