Letter 11012: If the idle populations of individual cities are kept in check by fair pricing, how much more should relief be...

XII. EDICT CONCERNING PRICES ALONG THE FLAMINIAN WAY. [1] If the idle populace of each of the cities is kept secure under the justice of fixed prices, how much more ought relief to be afforded to those who labor, lest the convenience of travelers be wounded by the hazards of chance occurrences! And therefore the reception of those passing through ought to be a respite from their cares, lest what is established to have been devised for relief should instead inflict a detestable burden. Let the guest be received at the prices laid down: let him who is invited toward kindness not suffer greedy injustice, since it is a shameful sort of entrapment to terrify by the monstrousness of a price and to coax by the reception. [2] He is like a brigand who, under an unjust intent, desires to fleece another: for it is established that both alike wish to plunder what belongs to others and to have no regard for justice. Do you not know how much you might gain by being moderate? Of their own accord they come to your advantage, who recognize that you are able to conduct yourselves with restraint. Let no one, therefore, suppose that he is protected by the forgetfulness that distance brings, which is always characteristic of those who are absent, since there come to us daily those who suffer at the hands of your trade. [3] Beware rather of the losses of fines, you who crave the greed of profits. For he shall know that he will incur a penalty of six solidi and is to be afflicted with the tearing of his body, if anyone shall have believed that goods are to be sold otherwise than as our soldier, dispatched for the purpose, shall have determined the prices to be, after deliberation has been held with the citizens and the bishops of those places. For honest profits from the citizens ought to suffice for all, lest the roads be seen to be beset rather by robbers.

XII. EDICTUM PRETIORUM PER FLAMINIAM. [1] Si otiosi populi urbium singularum sub pretiorum iustitia continentur, quanto magis debet laborantibus subveniri, ne utilitas commeantium saucietur discrimine fortuitorum! et ideo susceptio transeuntium requies debet esse curarum, ne quod ad levamen inventum esse constat, detestabile potius gravamen infligat. recipiatur hospes ad pretia definita: iniquitatem non patiatur avaram qui invitatur ad gratiam, quando turpis aucupatio est terrere enormitate pretii et susceptione blandiri. [2] Praedoni similis est, qui sub iniqua cupit voluntate distrahere: utrosque enim constat aliena velle diripere et considerationem iustitiae non habere. nescitis quanta possitis adquirere moderati? ultro ad commoda vestra veniunt, qui vos temperanter agere posse cognoscunt. nullus ergo se aestimet, quod est familiare semper absentium, longinquitatis oblivione defendi, quando ad nos cotidie veniunt qui vestra mercimonia patiuntur. [3] Cavete potius damna multarum, qui lucrorum aviditates appetitis. sex enim solidorum dispendium se noverit sustinere et laceratione corporis affligendum, si quis aliter vendendum esse crediderit, quam miles noster in rem directus pretia cum civibus atque episcopis locorum habita deliberatione censuerit. sufficere enim debent omnibus honesta lucra de civibus, ne obsessa potius itinera videantur esse latronibus.