To the youth desirous of studying the law:
The imperial majesty should be armed with laws as well as
glorified with arms, that there may be good government in times
both of war and of peace, and the ruler of Rome may not only be
victorious over his enemies, but may show himself as scrupulously
regardful of justice as triumphant over his conquered foes.
With deepest application and forethought, and by the blessing
of God, we have attained both of these objects. The barbarian
nations which we have subjugated know our valour, Africa and
other provinces without number being once more, after so long an
interval, reduced beneath the sway of Rome by victories granted
by Heaven, and themselves bearing witness to our dominion. All
peoples too are ruled by laws which we have either enacted or
arranged. Having removed every inconsistency from the sacred
constitutions, hitherto inharmonious and confused, we extended
our care to the immense volumes of the older jurisprudence; and,
like sailors crossing the mid-ocean, by the favour of Heaven have