Letter 4029: Even if personal and friendly petition were lacking, the force of public justice could not fail to support so...

Even if a private and friendly petition were lacking, the public authority [of your office] could not fail a just request. For what is so akin to justice as that the swindler of a most distinguished and praiseworthy woman, my mother, be deprived of the effect of his cunning, so that he may not make sport of another's interests by relying on the help of provincial patrons? It was the unrestrained power of these men that compelled my mother, a woman who shuns lawsuits, to fly for refuge to the judgment of your praetorian eminence. The matter at issue is of this kind: a very few months ago that man rented from my mother, at a slight charge, granaries situated in the territory of Aquileia and unknown to that most distinguished woman because of the distance of the journey, and he so abused them that, though for only a short time, he is said to have deliberately brought ruin upon those same premises. When she frequently approached him so that he should withdraw from the lease, she was repeatedly mocked through the man's contempt and the intervention of certain persons. Now, in need of aid, she longs for a twofold benefit from your favor: first, that this most wicked tenant be driven out by the surrender of the premises; and next, that, an estimate having been made of the deteriorated property, he acknowledge the cost of a just restoration. Since therefore we ask what is fair, I believe it will come to pass that your favor will smile upon the interests of my mother. Letter 69 (70), in the year 387.

Etiamsi petitio domestica et amica cessaret, pnblicus vigor iusto desiderio deesse Don posset. quid enim tam familiare iustitiae , quam ut circumscriptor clarissimae et laudabilis feminae parentis meae astutiae snae privetur effectu, ne commodis inludat 5 alienis provineialium patronorum fretus auxilio? quorum inpotentia conpulit, ut ma- 2 trona litium fugitans ad iudicium praetoriani culminis convolaret. res autem, qua de agitur, eiusmodi est : ante paucissimos menses ille a parente mea horrea in Aquileiensi sita et clarissimae feminae propter longinquitatem itineris incognita tenui mercede conduxit, atque his ita abusus est, ut parvo licet tempore iisdem locis labem consulto 10 intulisse dicatur. hunc ubi saepe convenit, ut conductione decederet, contemptu ho- 3 minis et interventu quorundam frequenter elusa est. nunc opis indiga geminum be- neficium vestri favoris exoptat : primo ut inprobissimus inquilinus locorum rfetentione pellatur; dehinc ut habita deterioratae rei aestimatione sumptum iustae instaurationis agnoscat. cum igitur aequa poscamus, credo confore, ut utilitatibus parentis meae i& favor vester adrideat. LXVim (LXX) a. 387.