Letter 6020: VARIAE, BOOK 6, FORMULA 20

20. FORMULA OF THE CONSULARITY [the office of consularis, a provincial governor]. [1] Although the testimonies of the name itself seem to declare that your dignity descends from the consuls, nevertheless such great insignia surround you that no one could doubt that you shine with the brightness of that lamp. For the axes and the fasces, which antiquity dedicated to the guardian-spirit of that office, seem to be assigned to your trappings, so that the jurisdiction granted to you may warn the provinces even when it is unspoken. But of what sort ought that thing to be for you which is shown to adorn the renowned curule chairs? Indeed the festal pomp of homage even sends before you the countenances of the reigning rulers, so that you may be adorned, heaped with reverence not only for the supreme judge, but also for the lords. [2] O invention of great balance! From the name of consul you are promised most clement, and from the image of the princes you are to be feared. In certain provinces, moreover, adorned with the traveling-cloak of the carriage, you are honored even with conveyance, so that by many tokens it may be declared, through the representations of things set forth, that you bear the alternations of a most exalted dignity. Consider that great is the office you take up, and may you be defiled by no casting-down into crimes. The author of your name is celebrated for conferring much: do you act, then, so that you may not be accused of any greed, so that, if you cannot prevail to give, you may at least hasten to wish to restrain yourself. For he is held next to the one who gives, of whom it can be said, 'he is continually abstinent from what belongs to another.' Surely it is a vice of the most foul contradiction to be eager for thefts and to bear the title of liberality. [3] Let this raise your spirits to praise, that you are so called. You assuredly do not make yourself unequal to your merits, if you trample down the offenses of most shameful ambition. For to conquer harmful errors, to overcome stained vices, this too is in very truth a consulship brought forth from one's conduct. For not in vain did the most prudent of the ancients impose such names upon things, when they sent to the provinces a consular as president of great self-restraint. Triumph over the public laws, bestow justice freely, and from the stronger part you have the power to imitate him whom you touch by the nearness of the name. A man of middling means can lack money; he cannot fail to have the talents of good character who is just. [4] Do not dread the lavish hands of the consuls: even good poor men have their own riches. That, therefore, is sought from you which is born in the human breast, not what is contained in the bowels of the earth. How much better it is to triumph from the treasury of the soul, whence repentance is never born, since you are not made poorer when you grant the more; rather, you are rendered just so much the wealthier as you know that you have scattered abroad the goods of a good conscience. Wherefore, allured by the praise of your reputation, we direct you, through such-and-such an indiction, to exercise the dignity of the consularity in such-and-such a province, so that what is proven hostile to the laws may not be acceptable to you. Love rather those things which the laws of equity commend. [5] Prove your name by your actions. Take counsel for the weary, and then you will truly be called a consular. But, that all things may be weighed with even moderation, resolve not to seek money, and you will recognize that abundant gifts come to you. For the divine powers have set this condition upon human affairs, that he may the more be able to grow rich who knows not to desire base gains. Unawares they receive who act well, because it is necessary that, while for a little while the ambition of the wicked is despised, more is bestowed by the heavenly gift.

XX. FORMULA CONSULARITATIS. [1] Quamvis dignitatem tuam a consulibus descendere nominis ipsius videantur testimonia declarare, tamen et insignia tanta circumstant, ut nullus possit ambigere te de illius lampadis claritate lucere. secures enim et fasces, quos illi dicavit genio antiquitas, tuis videntur phaleris deputata, ut iurisdictio concessa vel tacita possit ammonere provincias. sed quale tibi debet esse quod curules inclitas probatur ornare? vultus quin etiam regnantium geniata obsequii pompa praemittit, ut non solum summi iudicis, sed et dominorum reverentia cumulatus orneris. [2] O magnae temperationis inventum! de nomine consulis promitteris clementissimus et de principum imagine metuendus. in aliquibus adhuc provinciis ornatus paenula carpenti etiam subvectione decoraris, ut multis declaretur indiciis per expressas imagines rerum vices te praecelsae gerere dignitatis. considera magnum esse quod suscipis, et nulla criminum deiectione vitieris. nominis tui auctor multa conferendo praedicatur: tu age, ne ullis cupiditatibus accuseris, ut, si dare non praevales, certe te moderari velle festines. proximus enim habetur donanti, de quo potest dici 'abstinens est iugiter alieni'. certe foedissimae contrarietatis vitium est studere furtis et habere vocabulum largitatis. [3] Erigat ad laudem tuos animos, quod vocaris. non te profecto meritis imparem facis, si turpissimae ambitionis delicta calcaveris. nam errores noxios vincere, vitia maculosa superare, et iste re vera editus est de moribus consulatus. nec enim superflue prudentissimi veterum talia rebus nomina imposuerunt, dum continentiae magnae praesulem provinciis mitterent consularem. triumpha iura publica, largire iustitiam et ex fortiore parte imitari praevales, quem nominis proximitate contingis. pecuniis potest indigere mediocris, morum talenta non potest non habere, qui iustus est. [4] Non pavescas largas consulum manus: habent et boni pauperes divitias suas. illud ergo a te quaeritur, quod in pectore humano nascitur, non quod terrae visceribus continetur. quanto melius triumphare ex animi thesauro, unde numquam nascitur paenitudo, quia nec tenuis efficeris cum plura concedis, quin immo tantum locupletior redderis, quantum te bona conscientiae sparsisse cognoscis. quapropter opinionis tuae laude pellecti per illam indictionem in illa provincia consularitatis te praecipimus agere dignitatem, ut tibi non sit acceptum, quod legibus probatur inimicum. illa magis dilige, quae aequitatis iura commendant. [5] Nomen tuum actionibus proba. consule fessis et tunc vere diceris consularis. sed ut omnia aequabili moderatione pensentur, institue pecunias non quaerere et agnoscis munera tibi copiosa provenire. hanc enim condicionem humanis actibus divina posuerunt, ut ille magis possit ditescere, qui lucra turpia nescit optare. ignorantes accipiunt qui bene agunt, quia necesse est ut, dum parumper malorum ambitio contemnitur, superno munere plus donetur.