Res Gestae

In order to diminish their bluster and self-importance, the lawgivers of old were of the opinion that sometimes even some innocent persons should be punished with death. And this often happens when, because of the wrongdoings of any multitude, through the injustice of fate, some guiltless persons suffer; for that sometimes has applied to the trials of private citizens.

Now in Isauria bands of brigands were over-[*](368 A.D.) running the neighbouring places,[*](Cf. xiv. 2, 1 ff.; xix. 13, 1.) harassing towns and rich villas with unrestrained pillage, and inflicting great losses on Pamphylia and the Cilicians.[*](Cf. Zos. iv. 20.) Musonius, the deputy-governor[*](The lieutenant-governor was a subordinate of the pretorian prefect. In so far as the latter could not himself administer all the parts (dioceses) of his province, the vicarius took his place.) of Asia at that time, who had formerly been a teacher of rhetoric in Attic Athens, perceived that, since no one resisted them, they were devastating everything with utter destruction; so at last, finding the situation deplorable and that the luxury of the soldiers made their aid

When the brigands, highly elated by this success, with greater confidence extended their raids in various directions, at last our troops were called out and after killing some of them drove the rest to the rocky retreats in the mountains where they live. Then, since no opportunity was revealed there for taking rest or finding anything fit for food, they called a truce and asked that peace be granted them, following the advice of the Germanicopolitani,[*](Germanicopolis was the principal city of the free Isaurians; Seleucia, of Roman Isauria.) whose opinions were always decisive with them, as if they were those of the standard-bearers in battle. Then they gave the hostages that were demanded, and remained quiet for a long time, without venturing on any hostile act.

Meanwhile Praetextatus, who with high distinction acted as prefect of the city of[*](367–8 A.D.) Rome,[*](In A.D. 367; he was formerly proconsular governor in Achaia; cf. xxii. 7, 6.) through repeated acts of honesty and uprightness, for which he was famous from early youth, attained what rarely falls to a man’s lot; for although he was feared by his fellow-citizens, he did not lose their love, which as a rule is apt to be less strong towards officials who are dreaded.

Through his authority and his decisions based upon justice and truth the outbreak which was stirred up by the quarrels of the Christians[*](Cf. 3, 11 f.) was quelled, and after the banishment of Ursinus profound quiet reigned, which

For he removed all the Maeniana,[*](Balconies on houses, or colonnades, at first constructed for viewing the games in the Forum by a certain Maenius, and named from him; cf. Pseud.-Asconius on Cic. in Caecilium, 16, 50.) the building of which in Rome was forbidden by early laws also, and he separated from the sacred buildings the walls of private houses, which had been irreverently built against them. He established standard weights in every quarter of the city, since otherwise the greed of many, who rigged up their balances after their own inclination, could not be dealt with. And in the examination of legal cases he deserved above all others the distinction which Cicero mentions in the commendation of Brutus,[*](Orat. 10, 34.) that although he did nothing to gain favour, yet everything that he did was looked upon with favour.