I do not know for what reason former Emperors, who were all clad in purple, established the rule that nothing of this kind should be sold, and did not even allow anyone to either purchase or sell stuffs of this color. And, indeed, if they had forbidden the sale of entire rolls of purple cloth they would not have been thought to have acted unreasonably, but to prohibit the alienation of any cuttings, or small pieces, whose use would be productive of no inconvenience either to the vendor or the purchaser, they could have no other reason for doing this than jealousy of their subjects. For what evil could result, even if everyone wore purple, and the distinction of Imperial Majesty was thereby, to a certain extent, impaired? As We do not approve of this law, We hereby decree that the sale of small fragments and scraps of purple cloth, which afford means of ostentation to Our subjects, shall not be prohibited; for it is not becoming to the Emperor, who contributes so much to the welfare of his subjects, to envy the magnificence which they may desire to exhibit.