Letter 5045: Quaestors of our order [quaestor-designates who were expected to sponsor elaborate public games as part of the...

The quaestors of our order have never paid the import duty [portorium] on their wild beasts; for it seemed harsh to our ancestors that an immoderate expense should be added for those who already bear the burdens of senatorial rank. This privilege was recently granted to me, when I was equipping a gladiatorial show, more in the name of the Roman people than in my own. Now from my brother Cynegius, a candidate for the quaestorship, the tax of the one-fiftieth [the two-percent levy] is being exacted, which only the dealers in bears, as men engaged in trade for profit, ought to acknowledge. The remedy of this injury awaits your moderating authority. Resist, I beg you, the greed of the tax-farmers, and cut away the losses of our colleagues. This matter will advance your twofold goodwill, if you honor the senate with the privilege and aid the candidates with relief.

Quaestores ordinis nostri numquam ferarum suarum portortum contulerunt; grave enim maioribus visum est, ut tolerantibus onera senatoriae dignitatis sumptus inmo- dicus adderetur. haec mihi proxime, cum gladiatorium munus instruerem, magis po- puli Romani quam meo nomine praerogativa delata est. nunc a fratre meo Cynegio 25 qoaestorio candidato quinquagesimae vectigal exigitur , quod solos ursorum nego- tiatores utpote quaestui servientes oportet agnoscere. huius iniuriae adfectio tuum moderamen expectat. resiste, quaeso te, publicanorum cupiditati et damna collega- rum recide. ad geminam tuam gratiam res ista proficiet, si privilegio honoraveris senatum, levamine iuveris candidatos. 1 inempta V inioiia V 11 Utius P 1 m. 12 tusasio P, tuis VF suocenserint eorr. ex succenseria P l m,y suocesaerit V snmmam F 17 saluare F, ualere F me opto te nnncio V diato// P 1 m,j gladiatorum P 2 m, 24 cinegio cu VMy cu. add, P 2 m. ef, p. 142, 27 25 quadra- gesimae Cagnai^ Reuue de pMlol, V p. 61 solus PV ^ursorum P 26 affectatio VM 142 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE LXin (LXI) a. 396—398.