Letter 7011: VARIAE, BOOK 7, LETTER 11

11. FORM FOR THE DEFENDER OF ANY CITY WHATSOEVER. [1] If, for carrying out the business of any private person, such a man is chosen as may be praised for his counsel and his seriousness, how much more outstanding ought you to be, who take up the business of a city? For if there is danger in deceiving one man, what will it be to have shown oneself unequal to the judgments of so many? For a cause well managed on behalf of many ennobles a man, since he is believed to act wholly with good intent who is felt to be present for the desires of the general public. [2] And so our authority grants to you the office of defender of that city for the indiction in question, prompted by the supplication of your fellow citizens, on the condition that you should be willing to do nothing venal, nothing dishonest, you who are designated by such a title. Arrange the trade of the citizens with an even-handed moderation according to the quality of the times. Keep fixed the things you have ordered, since it is no labor to set a ceiling on the sums of selling, except to guard most chastely the prices that have been established. For you fulfill in very truth the office of a good defender, if you allow your citizens neither to be oppressed by the laws nor to be consumed by costliness.

XI. FORMULA DEFENSORIS CUIUSLIBET CIVITATIS. [1] Si ad cuiuslibet negotium peragendum talis eligitur, qui consilio et gravitate laudetur, quanto praestantior esse debes, qui suscipis negotia civitatis? nam si periculum est unum decipere, quid erit imparem tantorum iudiciis extitisse? causa enim multorum bene acta nobilitat, quando totum bono proposito agere creditur, qui generalibus desideriis adesse sentitur. [2] Defensorem te itaque illius civitatis per indictionem illam, civium tuorum supplicatione permota, nostra concedit auctoritas, ut nihil venale, nihil improbum facere velis, qui tali nomine nuncuparis. commercia civibus secundum temporum qualitatem aequabili moderatione dispone. definita serva quae iusseris, quia non est labor vendendi summas includere nisi statuta pretia castissime custodire. imples enim re vera boni defensoris officium, si cives tuos nec legibus patiaris opprimi nec caritate consumi.