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94 (95.) — TO TRAJAN.
Suetonius Tranquillus, sir, is a most upright, honourable, and learned man. Having long been attracted by his character and studious pursuits, I have admitted him to my intimacy, and the more closely I have observed him, the more have I begun to cherish him. The rights enjoyed by those who have three children are rendered a necessity to him for two reasons. His deserts often obtain for him a mention in his friends’ wills, and at the same time his marriage has not turned out fruitful. It is from your bounty that he must obtain, through my intercession, what the malignity of Fortune has refused him. I know, sir, how great is the favour which I ask. But it is of you that I am asking it, you whose indulgence I experience in all my requests. You may, moreover, gather how ardent must be my desire in a matter which I should not ask you for, when absent from you, if that desire were merely of an ordinary character.
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95 (96.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
How sparing I am in bestowing such favours as these you must certainly remember, my dearest Secundus, seeing that I often declare in the Senate itself that I have not gone beyond the number of favoured persons which, in the presence of that illustrious assembly, I promised should suffice me. However, I have subscribed to your wishes, and have ordered it to be entered on my registers, that I have accorded to Suetonius Tranquillus the rights of those who have three children, on the usual conditions.
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96 (97.) — TO TRAJAN. (Emperor’s Instructions Regarding Christians)
It is with me, sir, an established custom to refer to you all matters on which I am in doubt. Who, indeed, is better able, either to direct my scruples or to instruct my ignorance?
I have never been present at trials of Christians, and consequently do not know for what reasons, or how far, punishment is usually inflicted or inquiry made in their case. Nor have my hesitations been slight: as to whether any distinction of age should be made, or persons however tender in years should be viewed as differing in no respect from the full-grown: whether pardon should be accorded to repentance, or he who has once been a Christian should gain nothing by having ceased to be one: whether the very profession itself if unattended by crime, or else the crimes necessarily attaching to the profession, should be made the subject of punishment.
Meanwhile, in the case of those who have been brought before me in the character of Christians, my course has been as follows: — I put it to themselves whether they were or were not Christians. To such as professed that they were, I put the inquiry a second and a third time, threatening them with the supreme penalty. Those who persisted, I ordered to execution. For, indeed, I could not doubt, whatever might be the nature of that which they professed, that their pertinacity, at any rate, and inflexible obstinacy, ought to be punished. There were others afflicted with like madness, with regard to whom, as they were Roman citizens, I made a memorandum that they were to be sent for judgment to Rome. Soon, the very handling of this matter causing, as often happens, the area of the charge to spread, many fresh examples occurred. An anonymous paper was put forth containing the names of many persons. Those who denied that they either were or had been Christians, upon their calling on the gods after me, and upon their offering wine and incense before your statue, which for this purpose I had ordered to be introduced in company with the images of the gods, moreover upon their reviling Christ — none of which things it is said can such as are really and truly Christians be compelled to do — these I deemed it proper to dismiss. Others named by the informer admitted that they were Christians, and then shortly afterwards denied it, adding that they had been Christians, but had ceased to be so, some three years, some many years, more than one of them as much as twenty years, before. All these, too, not only honoured your image and the effigies of the gods, but also reviled Christ. They affirmed, however, that this had been the sum, whether of their crime or their delusion; they had been in the habit of meeting together on a stated day, before sunrise, and of offering in turns a form of invocation to Christ, as to a god; also of binding themselves by an oath, not for any guilty purpose, but not to commit thefts, or robberies, or adulteries, not to break their word, not to repudiate deposits when called upon; these ceremonies having been gone through, they had been in the habit of separating, and again meeting together for the purpose of taking food — food, that is, of an ordinary and innocent kind. They had, however, ceased from doing even this, after my edict, in which, following your orders, I had forbidden the existence of Fraternities. This made me think it all the more necessary to inquire, even by torture, of two maid-servants, who were styled deaconesses, what the truth was. I could discover nothing else than a vicious and extravagant superstition: consequently, having adjourned the inquiry, I have had recourse to your counsels. Indeed, the matter seemed to me a proper one for consultation, chiefly on account of the number of persons imperilled. For many of all ages and all ranks, ay, and of both sexes, are being called, and will be called, into danger. Nor are cities only permeated by the contagion of this superstition, but villages and country parts as well; yet it seems possible to stop it and cure it. It is in truth sufficiently evident that the temples, which were almost entirely deserted, have begun to be frequented, that the customary religious rites which had long been interrupted are being resumed, and that there is a sale for the food of sacrificial beasts, for which hitherto very few buyers indeed could be found. From all this it is easy to form an opinion as to the great number of persons who may be reclaimed, if only room be granted for penitence.
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97 (98.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
You have followed the right mode of procedure, my dear Secundus, in investigating the cases of those who had been brought before you as Christians. For, indeed, it is not possible to establish any universal rule, possessing as it were a fixed form. These people should not be searched for; if they are informed against and convicted they should be punished; yet, so that he who shall deny being a Christian, and shall make this plain in action, that is by worshipping our gods, even though suspected on account of his past conduct, shall obtain pardon by his penitence. Anonymous informations, however, ought not to be allowed a standing in any kind of charge; a course which would not only form the worst of precedents, but which is not in accordance with the spirit of our time.
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98 (99.) — TO TRAJAN.
The city of Amastris, sir, which is handsome and tastefully built, possesses among its finest constructions a very beautiful and at the same time very long boulevard, all along one side of which runs what indeed is called a river, but is in reality a very foul sewer, hideous with its filthy aspect, and equally pestilent from its disgusting odour. For this reason it is a concern of salubrity no less than of appearance, that it should be covered up. This shall be done, with your permission, on our undertaking that money too shall not be wanting for the execution of a work as important as it is necessary.
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99 (100.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
It stands to reason, my dearest Secundus, that the water in question which flows through the city of Amastris should be covered up, if in its uncovered state it is injurious to health. As to money not failing for the work, that I am confident you will see to with your customary diligence.
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100 (101.) — TO TRAJAN.
We have acquitted ourselves, sir, with joy and alacrity of the vows offered up last year, and have taken on ourselves fresh ones, troops and provincials vying with each other in loyal affection. We have prayed the gods to preserve you and the commonwealth in prosperity and safety, with all the favour which — in addition to your other great and numerous virtues — you have merited by your exemplary piety, submission, and
godliness.
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101 (102.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
I have been pleased to learn from your letter, my dearest Secundus, that troops and provincials have, with most cheerful consent, acquitted themselves of their vows for my safety to the immortal gods, yourself leading the way, and that they have offered fresh vows for the future.
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102 (103.) — TO TRAJAN.
We have celebrated, with due rites, the day on which the guardianship of the human race was transferred to you, by a most happy succession; commending to the gods, the ordainers of your rule, our public vows and our joys.
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103 (104.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
I have been pleased to learn from your letter that the day of my accession has been celebrated with due joyfulness and religious rites by the troops and provincials, yourself leading the way.
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104 (105.) — TO TRAJAN.
Valerius Paulinus, sir, has bequeathed to me the patronage of his freedmen, to the exclusion of Paulinus. Of these, I pray you to grant the Roman citizenship to three for the present; for I fear it would be exceeding the bounds to invoke your favour on behalf of all of them at the same time; a favour which it behoves me to be all the more modest in availing myself of, in proportion to the great fulness in which I experience it. These, however, for whom I am applying are, C. Valerius Astræus, C. Valerius Dionysius, and C. Valerius Axer.
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105 (106.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
It is most generous on your part to seek the speedy advantage, through my agency, of those who have been confided to your honour by Valerius Paulinus; accordingly, I have ordered an entry to be made in my registers to the effect that I have granted the Roman citizenship to those, for the present, for whom you have now asked it; and will do the same for others on behalf of whom you shall hereafter ask it.
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106 (107.) — TO TRAJAN.
Having been requested, sir, by P. Accius Aquila, a centurion of the Sixth Cavalry Cohort, to forward you a memorial, in which he implores your favourable consideration of his daughter’s status, I thought it hard to refuse him, knowing as I do the great patience and kindliness which you exhibit towards the prayers of soldiers.
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104 (108.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
I have read the memorial of P. Accius Aquila, a centurion in the Sixth Cavalry Cohort, which you forwarded to me, and, moved by his prayers, I have granted the Roman citizenship to his daughter. I have forwarded to you a certificate of the rescript, for you to hand to him.
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105 (109.) — TO TRAJAN.
I should be obliged, sir, by your writing me word as to the rights you would wish the cities of Bithynia and Pontus to enjoy, in respect to calling in moneys owing to them either in the shape of rent, or for sales of property, or for any other reason. For my part, I have found that a preference over other creditors has been accorded them by most of the proconsuls, and has obtained the force of law. I am of opinion, however, that some rule should be established, and ratified by your wisdom, of a kind to conduce to their permanent interests. For as for what has been instituted by others, wise as such grants may have been, yet they are but temporary, and wanting in stability, unless they should enjoy the advantage of your authorisation.
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109 (110.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
As to the rights which the cities of Bithynia and Pontus should enjoy in the matter of moneys which shall he owing, on any account, to the commonwealth, this must be looked to, according to the laws of each city. For in case it possesses a privilege in virtue of which it is preferred to the remaining creditors, then that privilege must be observed; in case it does not possess it, it will not be proper that it should be granted by me, to the detriment of private individuals.
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110 (111.) — TO TRAJAN.
The Syndic of the city of Amisus, sir, has sued Julius Piso before me for a sum of about forty thousand denarii, a public grant made to him twenty years ago, with the consent of the Senate and assembled Commons: citing your ordinances by which donations of this kind are forbidden. Piso, in reply, said that he had contributed large sums, and, indeed, spent nearly the whole of his means, on behalf of the commonwealth. He pleaded further the lapse of time, and begged that he might not be forced to give back, to the ruin of his remaining fortunes, that which he had received in return for many services, and a long while ago. Upon this I have thought it right to adjourn the whole case, in order to consult you, sir, as to the course you would have pursued.
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111 (112.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
Although my ordinances forbid the making of largesses on public account, yet, to prevent the security of many persons from being undermined, when these have been made some time ago, it is not expedient that they should be reconsidered and their invalidity established. Whatever, then, shall have been done not less than twenty years before, in this case, must be passed over. For I desire to have regard for the individuals of each place, no less than the public moneys.
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112 (113.) — TO TRAJAN.
By the law of Pompey, sir, by which the inhabitants of Bithynia and Pontus are governed, such persons as are chosen into the council by the censors are not ordered to pay any fee. Those, however, whom your favour has permitted certain of the cities to add over and above the lawful number, have contributed sometimes a thousand, sometimes two thousand, denarii apiece. Upon this, the proconsul, Anicius Maximus, ordered such likewise as were chosen by the censors (that is to say, in a small number of cities) to pay fees of various amounts. It remains for you yourself to consider whether in all the cities all persons who shall hereafter be chosen councillors ought not to pay some fixed sum as an entrance fee; for it becomes you to make a permanent settlement, whose words and deeds immortality awaits.
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113 (114.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
It is impossible for me to lay down a general rule as to whether all persons who in every city of Bithynia are created councillors should, or should not, furnish an honorarium on their admission to the councilship. think, then — and this is always the safest course — that the law of each city should he followed....
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114 (115.) — TO TRAJAN.
By the law of Pompey, sir, it is permitted to the cities of Bithynia to enroll among their citizens any persons they please, provided they are not of any of the other cities in Bithynia. In the same law are enacted the grounds on which persons may be ejected from the Senate by the censors. Upon this, certain of the censors thought it right to consult me as to whether they ought to eject one who was from another city. Inasmuch as the law, though forbidding the enrolment of one from another city, yet did not order that this should be a ground of ejection from the Senate; moreover, since I was assured that in every city there were a number of councillors from other cities, and that much disturbance would be caused to many individuals and to many cities,... that part of the law which had long since become obsolete through a kind of general consent,... I have thought it necessary to consult you as to what you would have observed. I have appended to this letter the principal clauses of the law.
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115 (116.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
No wonder you were in doubt, dearest Secundus, as to the proper reply for you to make to the censors who consulted you.... For the authority of the law on
the one hand, and, on the other, the long usage which has obtained in opposition to the law, might well move you in opposite directions. I have decided upon thus compromising the matter: that we make no change in what is past, but that the citizens who have been naturalised, though illegally, of whatever city they be, shall remain where they arc; for the future, however, that Pompey’s law be observed. If we were for maintaining its provisions retrospectively as well, much disturbance would necessarily follow.
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116 (117.) — TO TRAJAN.
Persons who attain their majority, or contract a marriage, or enter on a public office, or inaugurate a public work, are in the habit of inviting the whole of the council, and even a considerable number of the population, and presenting them with a couple of denarii, and sometimes one, per man. I should be obliged by your writing me word whether you think these celebrations should be permitted, and if so, how far. For my part, although I am of opinion that the right to issue invitations should be conceded, especially on solemn occasions, yet at the same time I fear that those who invite a thousand individuals, and sometimes even more, may seem to exceed the bounds, and to fall into an appearance of distributing largesses.
Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Younger (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics) Page 37
