Letter 7017: It is a glorious service through which Rome is known to be adorned, since a man advances with us in proportion to...

XVII. FORMULA CONCERNING THE OVERSEER OF LIME. [1] It is a glorious work for one who serves, by which the city of Rome is shown to be adorned, since each man advances among us to the same degree that he has contributed by his own labor to the aforesaid City. There is no doubt that baked lime, which is the color of snow and lighter than sponges, is the greatest instrument of construction. The more it is dissolved by the burning of fire, the more from it the firmness of walls is strengthened: a dissolvable stone, a stony softness, a sandy rock, which is then rather kindled into flame when it is drenched with the most abundant waters: without it neither are stones held fixed nor are the small grains of sand made solid. And therefore it deserves to receive the greater attention, because it is known to hold the first place in the walls of Rome. [2] Wherefore our authority sets your industry, celebrated by the talk of many, over the baking and distribution of lime from the said indiction, so that it may suffice, abundantly provided, for both public and private constructions, and so that the minds of all may be stirred up to building, when they shall have seen that what is sought is ready at hand. The privileges of your office, indeed, you shall reasonably claim in accordance with our orders, so that you may be able to deserve greater things, if you complete well the duties delegated to you.

XVII. FORMULA DE PRAEPOSITO CALCIS. [1] Gloriosum opus est servienti unde Romana civitas probatur ornari, dum tantum quis apud nos proficit quantum pracdictae Urbi proprio labore contulerit. dubium non est coctilem calcem, quae est nivibus concolor, spongiis levior, instrumentum esse maximum fabricarum. haec quantum ignis adustione dissolvitur, tantum exinde parietum firmitas roboratur: petra solubilis, saxea mollities, harenacius lapis, qui tunc potius accenditur, quando aquis copiosissimis irrigatur: sine quo nec saxa fixa sunt nec harenarum minuta solidantur. et ideo maius studium meretur accipere, quod primum locum in Romanis moenibus noscitur optinere. [2] Quocirca industriam tuam multorum sermone celebratam ad coctionem distributionemque calcis ab indictione illa nostra praeponit auctoritas, ut tam publicis quam privatis fabricis abunde procurata sufficiat et ad aedificandum cunctorum animi concitentur, dum viderint paratum esse quod quaeritur. privilegia vero loci tui nostris iussionibus rationabiliter vindicabis, ut maiora mereri possis, si bene tibi delegata compleveris.