Letter 12019: You can detect a royal arrival from the very frequency of the travelers preceding it, for a great event must always...

19. Senator, Praetorian Prefect, to Maximus, Vicar of the City of Rome. [1] You can indeed recognize the king's arrival from the very throng of those traveling to and fro, since a great affair must always send ahead its appropriate signs. The rising Morning Star shows that the day is coming; a favoring wind reveals that fair weather is to follow; we discern impending good things by a certain presaging of the mind, and a great event is hard to bring about which is not heralded by the advance running of signs. [2] Nevertheless we too necessarily admonish you to clothe the Tiberine waves ceremonially with the joining of a bridge, so that vessels, fixed by being chained together, may furnish an unwavering crossing, and from their own position grant us a swift passage. Let it not be set in motion by sluggish cables, as it used to be; let so great a mass not grow numb at the hands of those hauling it; let it rather, being fixed, confer the speed which, moving itself, it formerly did not provide. Let the crowds of those crossing assuredly walk, not sail; let the cut wave carry us across. So it is fitting that a lord be received, that he ought to rejoice in some novelty. [3] The joining of the planks, firmly bound fast, ought to provide the necessary solidity, so that it may take away the dread of the waves from those who hesitate, by a likeness to the land. Indeed, let it rather be wished to have been longer, since it is crossed harmlessly. Let the protection of railings be fittingly fitted on the right and on the left; a prosperous crossing is granted when a harsh mishap has been shut out. See in what manner you prepare the rest of the things pertaining to you, you who know that you are to meet him. For what a thing it is, amid so great a throng, not to have been able to be blamed! He who withdraws anything necessary for the king afflicts everyone, because, while he is gladly longed for by all, he saddens them all if he is shown to have been offended. [4] Add that it is so distinguished a thing to be praised amid so great a meeting of senators, to receive the prince in such a way that all understand nothing to be lacking, and that the lord himself, too, comes glad rather than confused by any trepidation. It is an unhoped-for good if he to whom the danger of deception pertains procures for himself an increase of favor. Know that for this matter we have directed that soldier of our see to you, who ought to keep close watch over you and your office, so that he may report back to us that all things are prepared; because that which is clearly assigned to our peril cannot be entrusted to chance.

XVIIII. MAXIMO VICARIO URBIS ROMAE SENATOR PPO. [1] Adventum quidem regium ex ipsa potestis cognoscere frequentia commeantum, quia necesse est ut res magna competentia praemittat semper indicia. venturum diem Lucifer demonstrat exortus: serena secutura favens ventus ostendit: imminentia bona quadam animi praesagatione dinoscimus et difficile magna res geritur, quae signorum praecursione minime declaretur. [2] Verumtamen et nos necessario commonemus, ut pontis iunctione Tiberinos fluctus sollemniter vestiatis, quatenus transitum praebeat intremulum fixum concatenatione navigium et de suo situ celerem nobis praestet excursum. non moveatur pigris funibus, ut solebat: non manibus trahentium moles tanta torpescat: celeritatem potius fixa conferat, quam se movens antea non praebebat. ambulent commeantium greges profecto, non navigent: incisa nos unda deportet. sic decet dominum suscipi, ut aliqua debeat novitate gratulari. [3] Tabularum fortiter iunctura constricta soliditatem debet praebere necessariam, ut pavorem undas dubitantium terrena similitudine possit auferre. optetur quin immo longior fuisse, cum transitur innocue. cancellorum tutamen dextra laevaque decenter aptetur: prosper datur transitus, cum fuerit casus asper exclusus. vide quemadmodum reliqua ad te pertinentia praepares, qui te occursurum esse cognoscis. quale est enim in tanta frequentia non potuisse culpari! universos affligit, qui regi aliquid necessarium subtrahit, quia, dum laetus optatur ab omnibus, cunctos contristat, si probetur offensus. [4] Adde quod sic praeclarum est sub tanta senatorum occursione laudari, principem sic suscipere, ut omnes intellegant nil deesse, ante ipsum quoque dominum venire laetum quam aliqua trepidatione confusum. insperatum bonum est, si is ad quem deceptionis pertinet periculum sibi gratiae procuret augmentum. in quam rem illum sedis nostrae militem nos direxisse cognosce, qui tibi officioque tuo debeat imminere, quatenus nobis omnia parata renuntiet, quia committi non potest casui, quod nostro periculo constat adscribi.