Letter 7012: VARIAE, BOOK 7, LETTER 12

VARIAE, BOOK 7, LETTER 12 From: The Royal Chancery (Cassiodorus), on behalf of the King To: [Appointee to the office of Curator of a City] Date: ~523-527 AD Context: The appointment formula for the Curator Civitatis — a city manager responsible for market regulation and upholding local customs, one of the most important municipal offices in late Roman administration. [1] Although anyone who devotes even the slightest care to his own city is rightly considered honorable, and enjoys great reverence among his fellow citizens for professing to love them, nevertheless the honor conferred by our appointment is beyond question — because the person entrusted with something by the authority of the ruler is believed to be endowed with good qualities. [2] Therefore, from the current indiction, we wish the care of your city to belong to you: govern the praiseworthy order of the town council wisely, and see to it that fair prices are maintained by those responsible for them. The cost of goods must not rest solely in the power of the sellers — let an agreeable balance be preserved in all things. The richest harvest of civic goodwill is gathered when prices are kept in moderation. You will truly fulfill the office of curator when your constant concern is the welfare of everyone. Defend the local customs that your ancestors held in that place, with our authority behind you.

XII. FORMULA CURATORIS CIVITATIS. [1] Quamvis per se honorabilis habeatur, qui vel minimam sollicitudinem civitati propriae videtur impendere et inter suos magna reverentia perfruatur, qui cives se amare professus est, tamen indubitatus honor est qui nostra electione confertur, quia praeditus bonis institutis creditur, cui aliquid principis auctoritate delegatur. [2] Et ideo ab indictione illa illius civitatis curam ad te volumus pertinere, ut laudabiles ordines curiae sapienter gubernes, moderata pretia ab ipsis quorum interest facias custodiri. non sit merces in potestate sola vendentium: aequabilitas grata custodiatur in omnibus. opulentissima siquidem et hinc gratia civium colligitur, si pretia sub moderatione serventur, ut vere curatoris impleas officium, cum tibi sollicitudo fuerit de utilitate cunctorum. consuetudines autem tibi ex nostra auctoritate defende, quas in eodem loco tuos constat habuisse maiores.