Controversia II AD
Calpurnius Flaccus - Exc. (Calpurnius FlaccusExc.27)
Text
“Viro forti praemium”. “Desertor capite puniatur”. Pauper et dives inimici. Belli tempore dives se promisit fortiter facturum, si sibi mors pauperis decerneretur. Decreta est. Ambo processerunt in proelium: pauper fortiter fecit, dives deseruit. Petit pauper praemio divitis incolumitatem. Dives contradicit.
Translation
“A war hero shall receive a reward”. “A deserter shall be executed”. A poor man and a rich man were enemies. In war time the rich man guaranteed that he would fight heroically if the state would decree to suit his wishes the death of the poor man. It was so decreed. Both men went off to battle. The poor man fought heroically, but the rich man deserted. The poor man requests as his reward the rich man's immunity from punishment. The rich man opposes this.
Main Characters
Poor man, Rich man
Characters
Issues
Accusations
Immunity from punishment - reward
Narrative themes
Desertion, Heroism, War, Wealth and poverty
Legal references
Desertor capite puniatur - desertion, Viro forti praemium - hero