Letter 10014: The prefectural records require an imperial confirmation on a question of precedent; I set out the question in the...

Public necessities have this property, my lord Emperor, that they often press for things impossible; but there is need of caution, lest the harshness of a measure, its effect coming to nothing, should summon up resentments only-resentments which none ought to avoid more than a young man and a prince, whose favor with the people ought to grow together with his years. Therefore, weighing the reputation of Your Divinity and at the same time the difficulty of the matter, I have hesitated to summon the incorporated tradesmen, those limbs of the Eternal City, to the contribution of horses which you have commanded by letter, lest a public complaint should forestall the weighing of Your Clemency's judgment. The matter is still untouched: it yet awaits the soundness of more careful deliberation. Grant to justice what you will remit to ill-will. The things we are wary of come from precedent: since indeed the partner of heaven, the father of Your Clemency [the late emperor, Valentinian's deified predecessor], when he had attempted to lay a small burden upon this class of men, was moved by the people's freedom of speech and refrained. And surely that affair demanded the care of only a few men, and the service required was rather one of handling public money than the expense of contributing it. Yet he consulted his own glory, that he might command nothing against the people's will, and that most careful and serious emperor, like a man devoted to the people, pardoned the gain he had hoped for. Nor let Your Eternity suppose that a man next to God [the divine emperor] abandoned his undertaking without reason; he knew that the burdens of so great a city are sustained by the service of these corporations. This man is the importer of woolly cattle; that one drives in the herds for the people's sustenance; these are held by the duty of providing pork; one part carts in the wood to be burned in the baths; there are those who lend their craftsmen's hands to the august public works; through others chance fires are kept off. Then it is wearisome to enumerate the tavern-keepers and the bakers' attendants, the carriers of grain and of oil, and the many of that kind who serve their native city. In sum, it is plain that their ancient privilege costs the Romans at great expense; by unbroken service they have earned the name of exemption. But if unaccustomed burdens are added, perhaps the customary services will cease. Wherefore we set before you the example of your father's clemency. I have brought forward the pronouncement, that you, a dutiful successor, may imitate it. I beg and beseech you, do not class the people, whom in your triumphs you often revere, with the other cities. A better fortune will provide whatever the needs of the camp demand; by the merit of your humanity your necessity will be appeased.