[ULPIANUS libro quarto de officio proconsulis. ] §50.4.6.prRescripto diuorum fratrum ad Rutilium Lupum ita declaratur: 'Constitutio, qua cautum est, prout quisque decurio creatus est, ut ita et magistratum apiscatur, totiens seruari debet, quotiens idoneos et sufficientes omnes contingit.
[ULPIANUS, In the Fourth Book on the Office of Proconsul.] In the rescript of the deified brothers to Rutilius Lupus, it is declared as follows: "The constitution by which it is provided that, according as each person has been appointed a decurion, he should in like manner also obtain a magistracy, ought to be observed as often as it happens that everyone is suitable and sufficient.
ceterum si ita quidam tenues et exhausti sunt, ut non modo publicis honoribus pares non sint, sed et uix de suo uictum sustinere possint: et minus utile et nequaquam honestum est talibus mandari magistratum, praesertim cum sint qui conuenienter ei et suae fortunae et splendori publico possint creari.
But if some are so poor and exhausted that they are not only unequal to public honors, but can also scarcely support life from their own means, it is both less useful and by no means honorable for a magistracy to be entrusted to such persons, especially since there are those who can be appointed appropriately both to the office, to their own fortune, and to the public splendor.
sciant igitur locupletiores non debere se hoc praetextu legis uti et de tempore, quo quisque in curiam allectus sit, inter eos demum esse quaerendum, qui pro substantia sua capiant honoris dignitatem'. §50.4.6.1Debitores rerum publicarum ad honores inuitari non posse certum est, nisi prius in id quod debetur rei publicae satisfecerint.
Let the wealthier, therefore, know that they ought not to make use of this pretext of the law, and that the question concerning the time at which each was co-opted into the senate should only be raised among those who, according to their means, can sustain the dignity of the honor." It is certain that debtors to public bodies cannot be invited to honors unless they have first satisfied what is owed to the public body.
sed eos demum debitores rerum publicarum accipere debemus, qui ex administratione rei publicae reliquantur: ceterum si non ex administratione sint debitores, sed mutuam pecuniam a re publica acceperint, non sunt in ea causa, ut honoribus arceantur.
But we ought to accept as debtors to public bodies only those who are left with arrears from the administration of public affairs; whereas if they are debtors not from administration, but have received money on loan from the public body, they are not in such a position as to be excluded from honors.
plane uice solutionis sufficit, ut quis aut pignoribus aut fideiussoribus idoneis caueat: et ita diui fratres Aufidio Herenniano rescripserunt.
Clearly, instead of payment, it is sufficient for one to give security either by pledges or by suitable sureties; and the deified brothers replied in this sense to Aufidius Herennianus.
sed et si ex pollicitatione debeant, quae tamen pollicitatio recusari non potest, in ea sunt condicione, ut honoribus arceantur.
But even if they owe by virtue of a promise, provided that the promise cannot be refused, they are in the position of being excluded from honors.
§50.4.6.2Si quis accusatorem non habeat, non debet honoribus prohiberi, quemadmodum non debet is, cuius accusator destiterit.
If anyone does not have an accuser, he ought not to be barred from honors, just as he whose accuser has desisted ought not to be.
ita enim imperator noster cum diuo patre suo rescripsit.
For our Emperor, along with his deified father, replied in this sense.
§50.4.6.3Sciendum est quaedam esse munera aut personae aut patrimoniorum, itidem quosdam esse honores.
It must be known that some burdens are of the person and some of patrimony, and likewise that there are certain honors.
§50.4.6.4Munera, quae patrimoniis iniunguntur, uel intributiones talia sunt, ut neque aetas ea excuset neque numerus liberorum nec alia praerogatiua, quae solet a personalibus muneribus exuere.
Burdens which are imposed on patrimonies, or contributions, are of such a nature that neither age, nor the number of children, nor any other privilege which is accustomed to release one from personal burdens, excuses them.
§50.4.6.5Sed enim haec munera, quae patrimoniis indicuntur, duplicia sunt: nam quaedam possessoribus iniunguntur, siue municipes sunt siue non sunt, quaedam non nisi municipibus uel incolis.
But indeed these burdens which are imposed on patrimonies are of two kinds: for some are imposed on possessors, whether they are burgesses or not, and others only on burgesses or inhabitants.
intributiones, quae agris fiunt uel aedificiis, possessoribus indicuntur: munera uero, quae patrimoniorum habentur, non aliis quam municipibus uel incolis.
Contributions which are levied on lands or buildings are imposed on possessors; but burdens which are considered of patrimonies are imposed on none other than burgesses or inhabitants.