Letter 3039: Fairness demands that we maintain the ancient custom for those who celebrate public festivals -- especially when it...

Fairness demands that we maintain the ancient custom for those who celebrate public festivals -- especially when it comes from the consul, whose very purpose is to be praised for his generosity. It would be wrong for a dignity to promise one thing and a senator to deliver another. Under the reputation of a generous man, it does not do to be found stingy, because in a consul, the shadow of parsimony darkens his public reputation. Therefore, your illustrious greatness should know that the chariot drivers of Milan have come to us claiming that certain customary payments traditionally granted to them have been withheld in your time, even though long-standing custom in such matters has the force of law. If their claims are not tainted by falsehood, your sublimity should follow tradition, which by its own prerogative demands as debts what are given as gifts. What is given under the authority of antiquity, you cannot refuse.

XXXVIIII. FELICI V. I. CONSULI THEODERICUS REX. [1] Aequitatis ratio persuadet, ut exercentibus laetitiam publicam consuetudinem servemus antiquam, praesertim a consule venientem, cuius constat esse propositi, ut debeat ex liberalitate laudari, ne videatur aliud dignitas promittere et aliud senatorem velle complere. quocirca sub opinione munifici parcum non decet inveniri, quia inumbrat famam publicam in consule tenacitatis obscuritas. [2] Quapropter illustris magnitudo tua a Mediolanensibus aurigis nos aditos esse cognoscat illa sibi vestris temporibus fuisse subtracta, quae mos priscus indulserat, cum praestante tempore munificentia sit pro lege. proinde si nullo mendacio asserta vitiantur, sublimitatem vestram sequi convenit vetustatem, quae suo quodam privilegio velut debita quae donantur exposcit. nec licet negari, quod te cognoscis sub antiquitate largiri.