To Salvius: Farmers Harassed and Plundered

Courtroom passion ought to run at full heat during the hours of business in the law courts, for it is fitting that the arms of industry, struggling day after day, should show vigorous movement. But when loud-voiced eloquence has sounded the retreat and withdrawn to peaceful groves and pleasant homes, it is right to lay aside idle grumbling and stop making empty threats. We know that horses who have won the palm rest in perfect quiet in their stables once they have left the racecourse. Neither constant fear nor the uncertain palm of victory troubles them. At last, tethered at peaceful mangers, they no longer stand in awe of the master who drove them on, and they enjoy a sweet forgetfulness of the restless rivalry that had reigned. In the same way, let the boastful soldier, when his term of service is over, be glad to hang up his trophies and bear the burden of age with patience. [a]

But I do not quite understand why you take delight in frightening wretched farmers, and I do not see why you want to harass my country people with the fear of losing their living, as if I did not know how to comfort them, free them from fear, and show them that there is not as much reason for fear as you pretend. I admit that while we were busy in the plain, I was often frightened by the weapons of your eloquence; but I often returned you blow for blow, as far as I could. I certainly learned along with you by what right and in what order farmers are claimed back, who has the right to bring a lawsuit, and who has no right to the outcome of one. You say that the Volusians wanted you brought back, and in your anger you often repeat that you will take the country people away from my little stronghold. And you, the very man who, as I hope and wish, is bound to me by the ties of an old relationship, now rashly threaten to throw our agreement to the winds and seize my men. I ask your distinguished learning whether there is one law for advocates and another for private persons, whether one thing is just at Rome and something quite different at Matarum. [b]

Meanwhile, I do not know that you were ever owner of the Volusian property, since Dionysius is said to have kept the right of possession to it, and he never lacked heirs. While he lived, he used to hurl the poisoned jibes of his coarse tongue at a great many people. There was at that time a certain Porphyrius, the son of Zibberinus, and yet not properly called the son of Zibberinus. He kept the question of his birth hidden by military service, and to clear the cloud from his brow he made himself useful with eager services and willing acts of submission. He was much with me, both at home and in the forum, and he had often employed me as his defender before my father and as his advocate before the judge. Sometimes I even held Dionysius back, feeling that he ought not to pour vulgar abuse on Porphyrius for the sake of twenty acres. [e]

So here is the reason why your remarkable prudence threatened my agents, so that, though you are not the owner of the place, you speak of my farmers everywhere. But if you present yourself as the successor of Porphyrius, you must know that the narrow space of twenty acres certainly cannot be worked by one cultivator. Or if, mindful of your proper rank and determined to keep it, you shrink from calling yourself the heir of Porphyrius, then it is certain and obvious that the one who can bring proceedings is the one to whom that right belongs, so as to go to law with those who have no property in that land. But if you look carefully into the matter, you will see that the task of recovering it falls above all to me. So, my much esteemed lord and brother, it is right for you to be at peace, to return to friendship with me, and to be good enough to come to a private conference. Stop, I beg you, disturbing inactive and easily frightened people, and utter your boastful words at a distance. Believe me, though: I am delighted with your high spirit and not offended in the least, for we are neither harsh by nature nor without learning. Let Maximinus at least make you gentle. [f]