Letter 11016: It is my duty to energetically raise up those whom royal compassion has resolved to relieve — for where the lords'...
Cassiodorus→People of Liguria|c. 522 AD|Cassiodorus
barbarian invasionillness
From: Senator [Cassiodorus], Praetorian Prefect
To: The People of Liguria
Date: ~533-537 AD
Context: A follow-up to the Ligurians, addressing fraud in weights and measures and ordering supply preparations for the Gothic army.
It is my duty to energetically raise up those whom royal compassion has resolved to relieve — for where the lords' clemency has deigned to reach down, it is fitting that their subordinates also contribute from their own authority. Recently you thanked me for having given you hope of better things, if not yet tangible results. You invited me to act generously because you received my promises with such gratitude. I now fulfill the obligation of a judge who was bound by his word. What was foretold is now proven fulfilled.
I will begin, therefore, with the matter of the pound-weight [libra] — for where conscience must be examined, that is where a judge's speech should start. You have reported being cheated through weights and measures. My administration will ensure that no one's dishonesty can oppress you further in this regard. I consider it a serious crime for measures to exceed their proper amount or for the scale to lack the fairness of equal weight.
As for the soldiers attached to our office, and the collectors and receivers from whom you have complained of suffering severe losses — I have summoned them by my orders to produce detailed accounts. If any fraud is discovered, they shall pay it back without delay. Under my administration, I declare it intolerable that one person should profit from another's misfortune.
Now turn your attention to supplying the most flourishing army — providing everything without complaint or any delay. You bind me effectively to every generous act when you willingly carry out what has been ordered. Let the man obey gladly who is called upon for the common good. The only losses that should cause pain are those imposed by the spirit of greed. When something is ordered out of genuine necessity, a wise person is not aggrieved.
XVI.
LIGURIBUS SENATOR PPO.
[1] Studiose nos oportet erigere, quos statuit regalis pietas sublevare: nam quibus dominorum clementia voluit descendere, convenit his etiam subiectos de propria dignitate praestare. nuper mihi gratias retulistis, quod spem vobis bonorum quam fructum aliquem contulissem. invitastis me ad beneficia quia magna suscepistis gratulatione promissa. absolvimus votum iudicis obligati. quae fuerunt praedicta, nunc probantur impleta. [2] Initium igitur a libra faciemus, quia ubi conscientiam fas est intendere, inde debet sermo iudicis inchoare. hinc est, quod in ponderibus atque mensuris vos suggeritis ingravatos. et ideo nostra cura providebit, ut nullius vos ulterius ex ea parte vexare possit iniquitas, quia grave scelus esse iudicamus aut mensuras modum excedere aut libram aequissimi ponderis iustitiam non habere. [3] Milites etiam sedis nostrae nec non exactores atque susceptores, a quibus gravia vobis inferri dispendia suspirastis, praeceptis nostris fecimus conveniri, ut deductis ad liquidum ratiociniis si quid fraudis potuerit inveniri, sine aliqua dilatione persolvant: quia hoc nostris temporibus profitemur inimicum, ut alter alterius laetetur incommodo. [4] Nunc ad apparatum florentissimi exercitus vota convertite, universa sine querella vel tarditate aliqua procurantes. efficaciter enim me ad omnia benigna constringitis, si gratanter quae sunt iussa completis. laetus oboediat, quem causa generalitatis invitat. illa sola dolere debent dispendia, quae studio videntur cupiditatis imposita. nam quod pro rerum necessitate praecipitur, inde prudentum animus non gravatur.
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From:Senator [Cassiodorus], Praetorian Prefect
To:The People of Liguria
Date:~533-537 AD
Context:A follow-up to the Ligurians, addressing fraud in weights and measures and ordering supply preparations for the Gothic army.
It is my duty to energetically raise up those whom royal compassion has resolved to relieve — for where the lords' clemency has deigned to reach down, it is fitting that their subordinates also contribute from their own authority. Recently you thanked me for having given you hope of better things, if not yet tangible results. You invited me to act generously because you received my promises with such gratitude. I now fulfill the obligation of a judge who was bound by his word. What was foretold is now proven fulfilled.
I will begin, therefore, with the matter of the pound-weight [libra] — for where conscience must be examined, that is where a judge's speech should start. You have reported being cheated through weights and measures. My administration will ensure that no one's dishonesty can oppress you further in this regard. I consider it a serious crime for measures to exceed their proper amount or for the scale to lack the fairness of equal weight.
As for the soldiers attached to our office, and the collectors and receivers from whom you have complained of suffering severe losses — I have summoned them by my orders to produce detailed accounts. If any fraud is discovered, they shall pay it back without delay. Under my administration, I declare it intolerable that one person should profit from another's misfortune.
Now turn your attention to supplying the most flourishing army — providing everything without complaint or any delay. You bind me effectively to every generous act when you willingly carry out what has been ordered. Let the man obey gladly who is called upon for the common good. The only losses that should cause pain are those imposed by the spirit of greed. When something is ordered out of genuine necessity, a wise person is not aggrieved.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.