Letter 7013: VARIAE, BOOK 7, LETTER 13

13. FORM OF THE COUNTSHIP OF ROME [the office of Count of the City of Rome]. [1] If the most wicked desire is wont to lie in wait even against houses that are closed and fortified, how much more does it seem to be enticed in the city of Rome, where a man finds in the public squares something precious that can be carried off? For a certain most copious populace of statues, and likewise most abundant herds of horses, are to be preserved with such watchfulness as the care with which they appear to have been set in place; whereas, if there were any consideration in human affairs, the beauty of Rome ought to be guarded not by watchmen, but by reverence alone. [2] What shall we say of marbles, precious even before the metals? If a man were at leisure to snatch them away, rare is the hand that could keep itself from such things. Where are exposed the works that the general riches and the labor of the world were able to make, who amid such things would it befit to be negligent? Who in such a case suffers things to be put up for sale, when the gravest loss can occur in singular beauty? [3] On which account, through that indiction, we grant to you the dignity of the Countship of Rome with its privileges and rightful emoluments, so that with faithful zeal and great effort you may seek out wicked hands and those who lie in wait either against the fortunes of private persons or against the walls, and bring them to your court; and, the truth of the matter having been examined, that they may undergo a fitting punishment in accordance with the laws; because public grief justly pursues such men, who defile the comeliness of the ancients by the mutilation of their members [the dismembering of statues], and inflict upon public monuments what those monuments ought to suffer. [4] Compel your staff and the accustomed soldiers rather to keep watch by night; for in the daytime the city guards itself: he who is watchful through his own zeal does not need that of another. They do indeed make theft persuasive; but then the one caught in the act is easily seized, when the guard is least felt to be coming upon him. Statues are not altogether mute either, since, when struck by thieves, they seem to warn the guards by their ringing sounds. Accordingly may we perceive your diligence with praiseworthy devotion, so that to him on whom we now impose laborious burdens, we may afterward confer untroubled honors.

XIII. FORMULA COMITIVAE ROMANAE. [1] Si clausis domibus ac munitis insidiari solet nequissimum votum, quanto magis in Romana civitate videtur illici, qui in plateis pretiosum reperit quod possit auferri? nam quidam populus copiosissimus statuarum, greges etiam abundantissimi equorum, tali sunt cautela servandi, quali et cura videntur affixi, ubi, si esset humanis rebus ulla consideratio, Romanam pulchritudinem non vigiliae, sed sola deberet reverentia custodire. [2] Quid dicamus marmora metallis et ante pretiosa? quae si vacet eripere, rara manus est quae possit a talibus abstinere. ubi sunt exposita, quae facere potuerunt divitiae generales et labor mundi, quem inter ista deceat esse neglegentem? quis in causa tali patitur esse venalis, quando gravissimum damnum potest fieri in pulchritudine singulari? [3] Qua de re per illam indictionem comitivae Romanae cum privilegiis et iustis commodis suis tibi concedimus dignitatem, ut fideli studio magnoque nisu quaeras improbas manus et insidiantes aut privatorum fortunis aut moenibus ad tuum facias venire iudicium et rei veritate discussa congruam subeant de legibus ultionem, quia iuste tales persequitur publicus dolor, qui decorem veterum foedant detruncatione membrorum faciuntque illa in monumentis publicis, quae debent pati. [4] Officium tuum et milites consuetos noctibus potius invigilare compelle: in die autem civitas se ipsa custodit: vigilans enim studio non indiget alieno. furta quidem persuadent: sed tunc praesumptus facile capitur, cum custos minime supervenire sentitur. statuae nec in toto mutae sunt, quando a furibus percussae custodes videntur tinnitibus ammonere. proinde diligentiam tuam devotione laudabili sentiamus, ut cui nunc laboriosos fasces iniungimus, securos honores postea conferamus.