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[1] At this same time, induced by sundry rumours, there came¹ a number of Egyptians, a contentious race of men, by custom always delighting in intricate litigation, and especially eager for excessive indemnification if they had paid anything to a collector of debts, either for the purpose of being relieved of the debt, or at any rate, to bring in² what was demanded of them more conveniently by postponing it; or eager to charge wealthy men with extortion and threaten them with court proceedings.

[2] All these, crowding together and chattering like jays, unseasonably interrupted the emperor himself, as well as the praetorian prefects, demanding after almost seventy years moneys that they declared that they had paid, justly or otherwise, to many individuals.

[3] And, since they prevented any other business from receiving attention, the emperor issued an edict, in which he bade them all go to Chalcedon; and he promised that he would himself also shortly come there, to settle all their claims.

[4] After they had crossed, orders were given to the captains of ships going to or coming from that port not to dare to give an Egyptian passage; and since that order was strictly observed, this obstinate attempt at blackmail vanished, and they all returned to their homes, disappointed in the hopes that they had entertained.

[5] Thereupon a law was passed, as if at the proposal of Justice herself, which provided that no advocate at court should be troubled about payments which it was recognised that he had justly received.³

Res Gestae. Ammianus Marcellinus. John C. Rolfe (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1935-1940.

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Current edition Perseus

History (English) (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Res Gestae Perseus (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).) — 22.6 focus

Qua arte complures litigatores Aegyptios, a quibus moleste interpellabatur, domum redire coegit.

[1] Per hoc idem tempus, rumoribus exciti variis, Aegyptii venere complures, genus hominum controversum et assuetudine perplexius litigandi semper laetissimum, maximeque avidum multiplicatum reposcere, si compulsori quicquam dederit, ut levari debito possit, vel certe commodius per dilationem inferre quae flagitantur, aut criminis vitandi formidine, divites pecuniarum repetundarum interrogare.

[2] Hi omnes densati denseti in unum,¹ principem ipsum, et praefectos praetorio, graculorum more strepentes, interpellabant incondite, modo non ante septuagensimum annum extorquentes, quae dedisse se iure vel secus plurimis affirmabant.

[3] Cumque nihil aliud agi permitterent, edicto proposito, universos iussit transire Chalcedona, pollicitus quod ipse quoque protinus veniet,² cuncta eorum negotia finiturus.

[4] Quibus transgressis, mandatum est navigiorum magistris, ultro citroque discurrentium, nequis transfretare auderet Aegyptium, hocque observato cura perpensiore,³ evanuit pertinax calumniandi propositum, et omnes spe praesumpta frustrati, redierunt ad lares.

[5] Unde velut aequitate ipsa dictante lex est promulgata, qua cavetur nullum interpellari suffragatorem, super his quae eum recte constiterit accepisse.

Notes on the current edition

History

1. To Constantinople.

2. I.e. pay.

3. For his services; these advocates were influential men at court, who appeared for men of humble rank when they brought petitions before the emperor. Evidently they were sometimes paid for their services. Julian’s law is to be found in Cod. Theod. ii. tit. 29.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 22.6

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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Qua arte complures litigatores Aegyptios, a quibus moleste interpellabatur, domum redire coegit.

Notes on the current edition

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