Letter 11037: The wisdom of antiquity rightly provided that those who serve the public interest should receive the just rewards of...

37. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PREFECT, TO LUCINUS, VIR CLARISSIMUS [most distinguished man], CANCELLARIUS [chancery officer] OF CAMPANIA. [1] It was well provided by the moderation of the ancients that those who serve the public interests should receive the wages of their labor, so that no one might be held passed over who had deserved praise for commendable service. For to what office would recompense be paid, if rewards for the labors of the praetorian staff were delayed? For nearly everything that is carried on in the commonwealth is accomplished by their energy; and—which is the most difficult kind of service, since one is compelled to fulfill all things in such a way that he is not permitted to overstep—he obeys the armies, he complies with armed men, and from there carries back gratitude, where another could find offense. [2] Why should we recount that the public revenues, gathered through troublesome small details, are collected by them with great precision, exacted from those whom they do not presume to offend? To their sweat also must be credited the fact that the provisions for sustenance, though indeed laid up far away, yet as though born in the royal city, are gathered together without complaint from the provincials, because when something is suitably sought at its proper season, the cost is not reckoned by the one who gives. [3] Their conduct is our glory, the reputation of the times, the visible excellence of our commands; and whatever we receive of gratitude for keeping all in good order, we justly attribute to their provident care. By the very practice they grow resplendent, assigned to labors, who render men ever well-trained: labors, I say, those forceful masters, those vigilant tutors, through whom one is made more cautious, while the dangers of stumbling are dreaded. Let one be instructed in the literature of the courts; let another be taught in whatever discipline you please: yet that man is rendered better trained who is educated by the practice of continuous devotion. [4] And therefore to such men there must be paid with honor what they deserve, so that he too may at some time receive for himself who was always acquiring for the advantages of the commonwealth. Wherefore we decree that you solemnly give to that man, primiscrinius [chief of the registry], now having discharged his term of military service, so many solidi out of the canon of the third assessment of the province of Campania, that he may both enjoy his just labors and his descendants may receive an example of free service, when they recognize that he was well treated on account of his fidelity.

XXXVII. LUCINO V. C. CANCELLARIO CAMPANIAE SENATOR PPO. [1] Bene antiqua moderatione provisum est, ut laboris sui pretia recipiant qui publicis utilitatibus obsecundant, ne quis haberetur praeteritus, qui probabili fuerat actione laudandus. nam cui officio remuneratio solveretur, si praetorianis laboribus praemia tardarentur? quicquid enim paene in re publica geritur, eorum strenuitate completur et, quod difficillimum serviendi genus est ‚ sic enim omnia cogitur implere, ut non permittatur excedere ‚, exercitibus paret, armatis obtemperat et inde reportat gratiam, ubi invenire potest alter offensam. [2] Quid publicas illationes per difficiles minutias referamus esse collectas, quas magna subtilitate compositas et ab illis exigunt, quos offendere non praesumunt? eorum est etiam sudoribus applicandum, quod victuales expensae longe quidem positae, sed tamquam in urbe regia natae sine querela provincialium congregantur, quia dum suis temporibus aliquid apte quaeritur, danti dispendium non putatur. [3] Actus ipsorum nostra gloria est, opinio temporum, virtus explicabilis iussionum, et quicquid pro continendis omnibus gratificationis accipimus, eorum iuste provisionibus applicamus. splendescunt usu ipso laboribus attributi, qui reddunt homines semper instructos: labores, inquam, violenti magistri, solliciti paedagogi, per quos cautior quis efficitur, dum incurri pericula formidantur. erudiatur quis forensibus litteris: alter qualibet disciplina doceatur: ille tamen instructior redditur, qui actu continuae devotionis eruditur. [4] Et ideo talibus cum honore solvendum est quod merentur, ut et sibi aliquando accipiat, qui semper rei publicae utilitatibus adquirebat. quocirca illi primiscrinio iam militiae labore perfuncto ex canone provinciae Campaniae tertiae illationis tot solidos sollemniter te dare censemus, ut et ille iustis laboribus perfruatur et posteri eius exemplum liberae famulationis accipiant, cum eum pro sua fide bene habitum fuisse cognoscunt.