Letter 102.16

[The beginning is damaged.] ... that people called children of the earth - or rather children of the gutter - should snatch you away, and that so much money from the treasuries of Antoninus should be squandered for whatever pampered dependent that woman is, while Egatheus receives nothing. What hostile rumors, what complaints, will arise when the property is sold off under the Falcidian Law [a Roman inheritance law that limited legacies so heirs retained a share]? That famous and celebrated string of pearls, and all the other ornaments worth so much money - Faustina? Who, then, will buy the pearls left to your daughters? Will you strip your daughters' necks of those pearls so that some swollen throat may be adorned instead? Will Matidia's inheritance not be accepted by you? Shall a most noble woman, of the highest birth and wealth, who served you exceptionally well, be treated as though she died without a will? The exact result will be this: the woman to whom you granted a public funeral, you will have deprived of her testament. Up to now, in every case, you have shown yourself a just, serious, and scrupulous judge. Will you begin to judge wrongly in your wife's case? If so, you will imitate fire: you will scorch those nearest you while giving light to those far away.

To my Lord. . . . . that children of the earth, as the saying goes, or rather of the gutter, should snatch the booty: that so much wealth from the treasuries of Antoninus should be thrown away for that pampered protegee, whoever she is, to get, so that Egatheus will get nothing. What unfriendly comments however, what grumblings will arise, when the goods have been dispersed under the Falcidian Law? That celebrated string of pearls, which everyone talks of, and all the other ornaments of such value, who will buy them? If your wife buys them, she. will be said to have pounced upon the spoil and snatched them away at a very small price, and that so much the less had come to the legatees under the will. But you will say Faustina will not buy these ornaments. Who then will buy the pearls, which were left to your daughters? You will rob the necks of your daughters of these pearls that they may grace whose goitred gorge may I ask? Shall Matidia's inheritance not be taken up by you? Shall a most noble lady of the highest rank, of the greatest wealth, one who has deserved especially well of you, have thus died intestate? The precise result, therefore, will be, that you will have robbed of her will one to whom you have granted a public funeral. Hitherto in every cause without exception you have shewn yourself a just and weighty and righteous judge. Will you begin with your wife's case to give wrong judgment? Then will you indeed be like a fire, if you scorch those who are nearest and give light to those who are far off.

ad Anton.Imp. 2.1 [95 Hout; 2.94 Haines] <Domino meo Antonino Augusto Fronto.> 1 <...> abripere te praeut dicitur, immo cellae filios; tantam de thesauris Antonini pecunian prodigei quam nescio quae ista altilis alumna accipiat unde nihil Egatheus acceperit. Quanti vero rumores adversi quantae querimoniae exorientur bonis lege Falcidia distractis? Lineam istam famosam atque celebratam ceteraque tantae pecuniae ornamenta Faustina? Quis igitur emet margarita quae filiabus tuis legata sunt? Iis margaritis collos filiarum tuarum despoliabis, ut cujus tandem ingluvies turgida ornetur? 2 An hereditas Matidiae a vobis non adibitur? Summo genere, summis opibus nobilissima femina de vobis optime merita intestata obierit? Ita prosus eveniet, ut cui funus oublicum decreveris ei ademeris tastamentum. Adhuc usque in omnibus causis justum te et gravem et sanctum judicem exhibuisti: Ab uxorisne tuae causa prave judicare inchoabis? Tum tu quidem ignem imitaberis, si proximos ambures, longinquis lucebis.