Letter 12014: The citizens of Rhegium, at the farthest tip of Bruttium — whom the violent force of the sea long ago separated from...

14. SENATOR, PRAETORIAN PREFECT, TO ANASTASIUS, CHANCELLOR OF LUCANIA AND BRUTTIUM. [1] The citizens of Regium, the southernmost of the Bruttii, whom the violent onrush of the sea once separated from the body of Sicily (whence their city took its name, for a division is called 'region' in the Greek tongue), report to us that they are being worn down by the unjust presumption of the tax-collectors, imploring remedies known not to our ears but to our eyes, we who are able to know that their territory does not possess what is being demanded. For their land is exceedingly sparse with its mountain pebbles, dry for pasture, but flowing with vintages; hostile to grain crops, but suited to olives; and therefore all of its cultivation is done with the hoe, since its surface, being dry, has not the strength to nourish things growing above it. There the bare field, stripped of its covering, is clothed by industry rather than by nature. [2] For ground which is judged most arid in its soil is covered over with the greenness of the woods of Pallas [the olive]. For in such places those things thrive which descend by tall roots into the inner recess of the earth. The grain crops are irrigated so that they may live, and with the condition reversed, that is expended upon the ears of corn which is bestowed upon garden vegetables. How great is a crop that is tended by hand? Rarely there does the farmer come from the field weighed down upon his shoulders, so that he can not gather harvests into the granaries, but can scarcely fill a few baskets from the height of plenty. [3] In the gardens, however, a laborious band of rustics is maintained, because every vegetable there is full of flavor since it is sprinkled with the dew of the sea: what is wont to be brought about by human industry, this it received while it was being nourished. But, against the opinion of Maro [Virgil], the fibres of the endives there are most sweet, which, girt about with their twisting leaves, are gathered into a ball with a firm tenderness: whence something plucked off is broken in the manner of glass, while it is separated from the fertile turf. [4] In these provisions, if you wish to know, that region is fruitful: for it also enjoys the delights of the sea with abundant pleasure, because there the upper and the lower sea, joined together with their fronts inserted, bring the delicacies of either deep into one gathering by the rolling of its gulf. For it is necessary that the fish too hasten there, where it is established that the wave too can flow down. [5] The exormiston also, a royal kind among fishes, like the lampreys in body but differing in color, with bristly nostrils, endowed with the delicacy of the first milk, congealed with an oily and sweet liquid, an appetizing and pleasing fatness, when amid the floating foams it has begun to swim out into the borders of the air, knows not how to return to the lairs which it deserts: I believe either forgetful of its return or, softened by its utmost tenderness, it is unable, against the lifting waves, to sink itself down by an opposing struggle. It is borne along like a lifeless body, avoiding the peril by no exertions, by no art; and hence, destitute of strength, it is not believed to return, because it is not even perceived to be able to flee. This fish is plainly known to be of such great sweetness that no fish may be compared to it. [6] These are the things on the shore of Regium which we have described, which we have come to know with no other reporting it, even though we hold them by ocular proof. Wherefore we decree that the kinds of lard and wheat be at no times demanded thence under the name of compulsory purchase, because that is too calumniously sought which is not possessed by the bounty of the place. Furthermore, the defense of the truth and the testimony of the judge ought to suffice, because it is too execrable an evil if, when conscience knows one thing, the tongue should decree another. It is added also that it is wearied by so many arrivals of travelers, worn down by so great a tearing of those rushing through, that it ought reasonably to have been remitted to it even what might be established as able to be produced among them.

XIIII. ANASTASIO CANCELLARIO LUCANIAE ET BRUTTIORUM SENATOR PPO. [1] Regenses cives ultimi Bruttiorum, quos a Siciliae corpore violenti quondam maris impetus segregavit, unde civitas eorum nomen accepit divisio enim 'region' Graeca lingua vocitatur, iniqua suggerunt exactorum se praesumptione fatigari, implorantes non aurium, sed oculorum nostrorum nota remedia, qui possumus scire territorium eorum quod petitur non habere. est enim montanis lapillis terra rarissima, arida pascuis, sed undosa vindemiis: segetibus adversa, sed olivis accommoda: et ideo cultura eius omnis in sarculis est, quia superficies ipsius sicca nutrire non valet superne nascentia. tergore illic ager nudus industria potius quam natura vestitur. [2] Nam Palladiae silvae viriditate contegitur qui in solo aridissimus approbatur. talibus enim locis illa proficiunt, quae radicibus proceris ad humi penetrale descendunt. segetes rigantur, ut vivant et condicione mutata hoc aristis impenditur, quod oleribus exhibetur. quanta seges est, quae manu colitur? raro illic ab area venit umeris gravatus agricola, ut non messes in horreis colligere, sed vix possit aliquos cophinos de summa ubertate complere. [3] In hortis autem rusticorum agmen habetur operosum, quia holus illic omne saporum est dum marina inroratione respersum: quod humana industria fieri consuevit, hoc cum nutriretur accepit. contra Maronis autem sententiam intiborum illic fibrae dulcissimae sunt, quae praecinctae foliis tortuosis callosa teneritudine conglobantur: unde in morem vitri aliquid decerptum frangitur, dum a fecundo cespite segregatur. [4] His victualibus, si vis nosse, regio illa fecunda est: nam et marinis deliciis copiosa iucunditate perfruitur, quia ibi mare supernum atque infernum, insertis frontibus adunatum, delicias utriusque pelagi in unam congregationem sinus sui volubilitate perducit. necesse est enim illic et pisces properare, ubi constat et undam posse defluere. [5] Exormiston quoque, inter pisces regium genus, compar murenis corpore, sed colore distans, naribus setosis, colostrea delicatitudine praeditum, oleoso ac suavi liquore coagulatum, appetibilis grataque pinguedo, cum spumis fluctuantibus inter aeris confinia coeperit enatare, nescit ad cubilia redire quae deserit: credo aut immemor reversionis aut teneritudine summa mollitus nequit undis elevantibus contraria obluctatione demergere. fertur velut corpus exanime, nullis nisibus periculum, nulla arte devitans et hinc viribus destitutus redire non creditur, quia nec fugere posse sentitur. hic plane tantae dulcedinis esse dinoscitur, ut ei nemo piscium comparetur. [6] Haec sunt in litore Regino quae diximus, quod non alio referente cognovimus, etsi visuali probatione retinemus. quapropter laridi atque tritici species nullis temporibus coemptionis nomine inde decernimus postulari, quia nimis calumniose petitur, quod loci beneficio non habetur. deinde sufficere debet defensio veritatis et testimonium iudicis, quia nimis execrabile malum est, si, cum aliud noverit conscientia, aliud lingua decernat. additur etiam quod tantis commeantium fatigatur adventibus, tanta excurrentium laceratione deteritur, ut rationabiliter illi remitti debuisset vel quod apud ipsam nasci posse constaret.