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8 (24.) — TO TRAJAN.
Your late imperial father, sir, having exhorted all citizens to the exercise of liberality, as well in an admirable discourse as by his own most noble example, I begged of him that some statues of emperors (which had been handed down to me through several successions, and which I was taking care of, just as I had received them, on some distant estates of mine) might, by his leave, be transferred to the chief town, with the addition of his own statue. This he accorded me, with the most ample expression of his approval, and I at once wrote to the Decurions to assign me a piece of ground on which I might build a temple at my own expense. They, in honour of the work itself, offered me the choice of a situation. But I was prevented first by my own and next by your father’s illness, and subsequently by the cares of the office which you and he imposed on me. Now, it seems to me that I can most conveniently make an excursion to the spot itself; for my month of attendance expires on the Kalends of September, and the following month has many holidays in it. I beg therefore, before all things, that you will permit me to embellish the work I am about to commence, by the addition of your statue; and next, in order that I may do this as soon as possible, that you will grant me a furlough. Yet it is not consistent with my straightforwardness to dissemble from your grace that you will incidentally render a great service to my private interests. For the lettings of the estates in my possession in this very district, besides that they exceed the sum of four hundred thousand sesterces, are so far from being a matter capable of being deferred that the new tenants must immediately prune the vines. Moreover, successive bad seasons compel me to think of making remissions, and I cannot calculate these except on the spot. I shall owe then, sir, to your favour both the acceleration of my pious project and the settlement of my affairs, if on both these accounts you grant me a furlough of thirty days. Indeed I cannot fix beforehand a shorter period, since the town and the estates of which I speak are beyond the hundred and fiftieth milestone from the city.
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9 (25.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
You have given me many reasons, public as well as private, for requesting a furlough. As far as I am concerned, however, your simple desire would have sufficed. For I do not doubt that you will return the moment you are able to a post which makes such calls on you as yours does. Though very sparing of honours of this description, yet I permit a statue to be erected to me in the place you wish, lest I should seem to impede the flow of your affection toward me.
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10 (5.) — TO TRAJAN.
I cannot express in words, sir, the joy communicated to me by your letters, from which I learnt that you had granted in addition the citizenship of Alexandria on Harpocras, my Iatraliptic doctor, though you had made it a rule, in accordance with the established custom of the emperors, to be cautious in bestowing it. I must now signify to you that Harpocras is from the district of Memphis, and must ask you therefore, most indulgent Emperor, to send me a letter for your friend Pompeius Planta, the Prefect of Egypt, according to promise. As I am going to meet you, my Liege, in order the sooner to enjoy the delight of your eagerly expected advent, I pray that you will permit me to go as far as possible to your encounter.
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11 (6.) — TO TRAJAN.
My recent illness, sir, has placed me under an obligation to Postumius Marinus, a physician, to whom I can make an equal return by your favour, if you shall comply with my prayers according to the habit of your grace. I beg then that you will confer the citizenship on his relations — Chrysippus, the son of Mithridates, and the wife of Chrysippus, Stratonica, the daughter of Epigonus; also on the sons of the same Chrysippus, Epigonus, and Mithridates, with the proviso of their being subject to their father, and a reservation of their rights as patrons over their freedmen. At the same time I beg you to grant naturalisation to L. Satrius Abascantus, P. Cæsius Phosphorus, and Pancharias Soteris. This I ask of you with the consent of their patrons.
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12 (7.) — TO TRAJAN.
I know, sir, that my prayers are implanted in that memory of yours, so retentive in the matter of kindly actions. Since, however, you have indulged me on this subject as well as on others, I must remind you and at the same time earnestly entreat you to deign to honour Accius Sura with the Prætorship whenever the post is vacant. To this hope, though otherwise a most retiring man, he is exhorted both by the splendour of his birth and the great integrity which he showed in poverty, and, above all, by the felicity of the times which invites and elevates the good consciences of your subjects to the experience of your kindness.
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13 (8.) — TO TRAJAN.
Since I know, sir, that it will pertain to the attestation and approval of my character to be distinguished by the judgment of so excellent a prince, I beg that you will deign to add to the dignity to which your favour has advanced me the post either of Augur or of Septemvir, seeing that they are vacant, that by right of my sacred office I may be able to pray to the gods for you publicly as I now pray to them in my private devotions.
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14 (9.) — TO TRAJAN.
I hail with congratulations, most excellent Emperor, both on your own account and that of the State, this victory of yours, so great, so noble, so worthy of antiquity! And I pray the immortal gods that all your counsels may be followed by a like happy event, that by your lofty virtues the glory of the empire may be renewed as well as increased.
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15 (26.) — TO TRAJAN.
As I am convinced, sir, that the news will be of interest to you, I beg to announce that I have sailed past the promontory of Malea and reached Ephesus, with all my suite, though retarded by contrary winds. Now I propose to make for my province, partly by coasting-boats, partly by land conveyances. For as the excessive heats are an impediment to a land journey, so in like manner the Etesian winds oppose continuous navigation.
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16 (27.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
You were quite right in reporting to me, my dearest Secundus. For I am greatly interested in the way you have taken for reaching your province. Your determination is prudent, too, to use ships at one time and land conveyances at another, as may be recommended by the localities.
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17 A (28.) — TO TRAJAN.
Just as I experienced a very healthy voyage as far as Ephesus, sir, so when I had commenced my land journey from that point, I was troubled with the most scorching heats and even slight attacks of fever, and stopped at Pergamus. Again, on changing into the coasting-boats, I was retarded by contrary winds, and did not arrive in Bithynia till somewhat later than I had hoped, that is to say, on the seventeenth of September. I cannot, however, complain of the delay, since I was fortunate enough to be able to celebrate your birthday in the province, a most auspicious circumstance. Now I am examining into the expenditure, revenues, and debts due to the commonwealth of Prusa, and the inspection itself shows me more and more the necessity of this. For many sums of money are retained, on various pretexts, by private individuals; besides, some are laid out in expenditure that is anything but legitimate.
The above, sir, I wrote directly on my arrival.
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17 B. — TO TRAJAN.
On the seventeenth of September, sir, I came to my province, which I found in that state of submission and loyalty to you which you deserve on the part of mankind. Pray, sir, consider whether you deem it necessary to send here an architect. For it seems that no small amount may be got back from those in charge of the public constructions, if the measurements are faithf
ully executed. So I certainly foresee, from the accounts of the Prusenses, which I am at this moment examining.
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18 (29.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
I wish you could have reached Bithynia without any damage to your slender frame or to your suite, and that your journey from Ephesus had resembled the sea-voyage which you had experienced up to that point. As to the day of your arrival in Bithynia, I was informed of that, dearest Secundus, by your letter. The provincials will, I trust, understand that I have had their interests in view. For you, for your part, will take care to make it plain to them that you have been selected to be sent to them as representing me.
Before all things, however, you should examine the public accounts, for that they are in a state of confusion is quite clear. As for architects, I have scarce enough of them even for the works which are being carried on in Rome and its vicinity. But in every province persons are to be found who can be trusted; so they will not fail you, if only you choose to make diligent search for them.
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19 (30.) — TO TRAJAN.
I beg, sir, you would direct me by your counsel, who am in doubt whether I ought to intrust the custody of prisoners to the public slaves (which has been the custom to this time) or to soldiers. For I fear the public slaves may not guard them with sufficient fidelity, and on the other hand that this occupation may distract no small number of soldiers. Meanwhile, I have added a few soldiers to the public slaves. Yet I see there is a danger that this very arrangement may be a cause of negligence to both parties, each party making sure that they will he able to retort upon the others the neglect common to both of them.
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20 (31.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
There is no need, dearest Secundus, that a number of our fellow-soldiers should be transferred to the guard of prisoners. Let us persevere in the custom, which is that of your province, of guarding them by means of the public slaves. For indeed their doing this faithfully depends on your strictness and vigilance. The great fear certainly is, as you write, that by mixing up soldiers with public slaves, both parties, by trusting in each other, will be made more careless. And besides, let us not forget this, that the smallest possible number of soldiers should be called away from the standards.
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21 (32.) — PLINY TO TRAJAN.
Gavius Bassus, the Prefect of the coast of Pontus, came to me most respectfully and dutifully, sir, and remained with me several days. As far as I could discern, he is an excellent man, and one worthy of your favour. I informed him of your orders, that out of the cohorts which you had been pleased to place me in command of, he must be contented with ten beneficiarii, two horsemen and one centurion. He replied that this number would not suffice him, and that he would write to you to that effect. This was the reason why I did not think it proper at once to recall those he has with him over the number.
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22 (33.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
Gavins Bassus has written to me too, that the number of soldiers which I had directed to be assigned to him was insufficient. That you may know my reply, I have ordered it to be appended to this letter. It makes a great difference whether necessity requires, or whether people are merely wanting to extend their commands. For us, the public advantage is alone to be considered, and as far as possible care be taken that the soldiers be not absent from their standards.
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23 (34.) — TO TRAJAN.
The people of Prusa, sir, have public baths which are both mean and old. They desire, therefore, with your kind permission, to restore them. I, however, being of opinion that new ones should be built... it seems to me that you might indulge them in their desire. For there will be money out of which this may be done: first, that which I have already begun to call in and claim from private individuals; secondly, that which they themselves have been in the habit of expending on oil, and are now prepared to contribute towards the building of the baths. This is a work besides, which is demanded both by the importance of the city and the glory of your reign.
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24 (35.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
If the construction of new baths is not likely to burden the resources of the Prusenses, we are able to indulge them in their desire, provided always that in no way are they either to he taxed for this object, or have their means impaired for the future in respect to the necessary expenditure of the State.
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25 (10.) — TO TRAJAN.
Servilius Pudens, my lieutenant, sir, arrived at Nicomedia on the twenty-fourth of November, and freed me from the anxiety of a long expectation.
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26 (11.) — TO TRAJAN.
Rosianus Geminus, sir, has been attached to me with the closest bonds by means of the favour you have conferred on me. For I had him for my Quæstor during my consulship, when I found him a most loyal subordinate. Since my consulship he exhibits the same respect for me, and heaps private services upon the proofs he had given of our public friendship. I beg, then, that in accordance with his worth, and in compliance with my prayers, you will conceive a favourable opinion of one to whom, if you have any confidence in me, you will further exhibit marks of your kindness. He himself will take care, in the discharge of what you shall commit to him, to deserve still greater things. I am rendered more sparing in my praises of him by the hope that his integrity and virtue and industry are particularly known to you, not only from the offices which he has filled in the city under your eyes, but also from the fact of his having served in the army with you. The one thing which, in consequence of my affection for him, I do not seem to myself to have yet done fully enough, I must do again and again; that is, I must beg of you, sir, that it be your pleasure with all speed to cause me to rejoice at the advancement in dignity of my Quæstor, or, in other words, through him of myself.
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27 (36.) — TO TRAJAN.
Maximus, sir, your freedman and provincial agent, assures me that, besides the ten beneficiarii which you commanded me to assign to the worthy Gemellinus, he is himself likewise in want of soldiers... of these in the meanwhile.... I thought that the number I found should be left at his service, particularly as he was going to Paphlagonia to procure corn. Moreover, for the sake of protection, I added, at his desire, two horsemen. I would beg of you to write me word what practice you would have observed for the future.
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28 (37.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
On the present occasion, you have been quite right in furnishing my freedman Maximus with soldiers, as he was setting out to procure corn. For he, as well as they, was discharging an extraordinary office. But when he shall have returned to his pristine functions, he must be content with the two soldiers assigned him by you and the same number by Virdius Gemellinus, my agent, whose assistant he is.
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29 (38.) — TO TRAJAN.
Sempronius Cælianus, a young man of remarkable merit, has sent me two slaves discovered among the recruits. I have deferred their punishment in order to consult you, the restorer and establisher of military discipline, as to the nature of the penalty. My principal hesitation is on this account, that, though they had already pronounced the military oaths, they had not as yet been assigned to any corps. I beg then, sir, you would write me word what course I should follow, particularly as this pertains to example.
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30 (39.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
Sempronius Cælianus has acted in accordance with my instructions in sending to you persons concerning whom
it will be necessary to make inquiry whether they seem to have merited the extreme penalty. Now it is material whether they offered themselves as volunteers, or were chosen, or again were merely presented as substitutes. If they were chosen, the recruiting officers were in fault: if they were presented as substitutes, the blame is with those who so presented them: if they came spontaneously, with a knowledge of their condition, it will be proper to punish them. Nor is it of much consequence that they have not yet been assigned to a corps. For the very day they were passed, it was their duty to tell the truth about their origin.
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31 (40.) — TO TRAJAN.
Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Younger (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics) Page 33
