Letter 7044: There seems to be something grand in the promise of anyone who wishes to possess public property.

From: Cassiodorus (formula template) To: [Petitioner for public property -- competitiones] Date: ~522 AD Context: Template granting private ownership of derelict public land or buildings, requiring the new owner to improve the property. There seems to be something grand in the promise of anyone who wishes to possess public property. Such a grant should only be made if a neglected site is transformed into something better and what had long lain uncultivated is restored to beauty. Therefore, we grant you the designated site under private ownership, except for any bronze, lead, or marble that may be found concealed there. Act so that through you, what had lain neglected in careless decay may take on beauty. You will deserve the praise of a good citizen if you beautify the face of your city. You may also be confident in passing this on to anyone or to your heirs, since the more one proves oneself and one's predecessors have spent on improvement, the more securely one will possess such things.

XLIIII. FORMULA DE COMPETITIONIBUS. [1] Nescio quid grande de se videtur promittere, qui loca desiderat publica possidere. hoc enim ita fieri decet, si res squalida in meliorem loci faciem transferatur et revocetur ad ornatum quod pridem iacere videbatur incultum. atque ideo desideranti tibi illum locum proprietario iure concedimus, praeter aes aut plumbum vel marmora, si tamen ibi fuerint latere comperta. age itaque ut per te decorem sumat quod neglectum incuriosa vetustate iacuerat, quatenus boni civis laudem invenire merearis, si faciem tuae civitatis ornaveris, securus etiam ad quoslibet vel ad posteros transmissurus quod proprio fuerit labore compositum. quia tanto firmius unusquisque talia possidebit, quanto se auctoresque suos amplius expendisse probaverit.