Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Younger (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics)
Page 129
3 B. TRAIANUS PLINIO
Et civis et senatoris boni partibus functus es obsequium amplissimi ordinis quod iustissime exigebat, praestando. Quas partes impleturum te secundum susceptam fidem confido.
3 B (21.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
You have discharged the part of a good citizen and a good Senator in yielding that compliance, which was so justly required of you, to the most honourable House. And I have full confidence that you will carry out this part in faithful accord with your undertaking.
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4. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Indulgentia tua, imperator optime, quam plenissimam experior, hortatur me, ut audeam tibi etiam pro amicis obligari; inter quos sibi vel praecipuum locum vindicat Voconius Romanus, ab ineunte aetate condiscipulus et contubernalis. 2 Quibus ex causis et a divo patre tuo petieram, ut illum in amplissimum ordinem promoveret. Sed hoc votum meum bonitati tuae reservatum est, quia mater Romani liberalitatem sestertii quadragies, quod conferre se filio codicillis ad patrem tuum scriptis professa fuerat, nondum satis legitime peregerat; quod postea fecit admonita a nobis. 3 Nam fundos emancipavit, et cetera quae in emancipatione implenda solent exigi consummavit. 4 Cum sit ergo finitum, quod spes nostras morabatur, non sine magna fiducia subsigno apud te fidem pro moribus Romani mei, quos et liberalia studia exornant et eximia pietas, quae hanc ipsam matris liberalitatem et statim patris hereditatem et adoptionem a vitrico meruit. 5 Auget haec et natalium et paternarum facultatium splendor; quibus singulis multum commendationis accessurum etiam ex meis precibus indulgentiae tuae credo. 6 Rogo ergo, domine, ut me exoptatissimae mihi gratulationis compotem facias et honestis, ut spero, affectibus meis praestes, ut non in me tantum verum et in amico gloriari iudiciis tuis possim.
4 (3.) — PLINY TO TRAJAN.
Your kindness, most noble Emperor, which is experienced by me to the full, prompts me to be so bold as to lie under obligation to you on behalf of my friends as well. Among these, Voconius Romanus claims for himself, I would say, even the first place, my schoolfellow and companion from early life; for which reasons I had already asked the deceased Emperor, your father, to promote him to senatorial rank. But this prayer of mine has been reserved for your grace, since the mother of Romanus had not yet completed, with due formalities, the gift of four hundred thousand sesterces, which she had undertaken to bestow on her son in a petition addressed to your father. This she did afterwards on my admonition; for she has made over to him certain estates, and has accomplished the remaining forms which are usually required for completing a transfer. Seeing, then, that what delayed my hopes is now settled, it is not without considerable assurance that I pledge you my credit for the character of my friend Romanus, set off as it is by literary acquirements, and by his remarkable family affection, which has deserved for him this very benefaction from his mother, as well as his immediate entrance on his father’s estate and his adoption by his stepfather. All this is enhanced by the splendour of his birth and of his paternal property, and I have such confidence in your kindness as to believe that these several matters will actually receive much additional recommendation from my prayers. I therefore beg, sir, that you will put me in possession of a much-coveted subject for rejoicing, and will grant to an affection, which is, I hope, an honourable one, the power of glorying in your judgments, not as regards myself only, but my friend as well.
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5. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Proximo anno, domine, gravissima valetudine usque ad periculum vitae vexatus iatralipten assumpsi; cuius sollicitudini et studio tuae tantum indulgentiae beneficio referre gratiam parem possum. 2 Quare rogo des ei civitatem Romanam. Est enim peregrinae condicionis manumissus a peregrina. Vocatur ipse Arpocras, patronam habuit Thermuthin Theonis, quae iam pridem defuncta est. Item rogo des ius Quiritium libertis Antoniae Maximillae, ornatissimae feminae, Hediae et Antoniae Harmeridi; quod a te petente patrona peto.
5 (4.) — TO TRAJAN.
Last year, sir, being tormented by a severe disease, even to the peril of my life, I engaged a doctor on the Iatraliptic system, whose solicitude and zeal I can make an equal return for, only through favour of your kindness. Wherefore I pray you to grant him the Roman citizenship; for his status is that of a foreigner, and he was manumitted by a foreign lady. His own name is Harpocras. His patroness was Thermuthis, the wife of Theon, who is long since dead. At the same time, I would beg you to grant naturalisation to Hedia and Harmeris, the freedwomen of a most distinguished lady, Antonia Maximilla; a request which I make of you at the desire of their patroness.
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6. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Ago gratias, domine, quod et ius Quiritium libertis necessariae mihi feminae et civitatem Romanam Arpocrati, iatraliptae meo, sine mora indulsisti. Sed cum annos eius et censum sicut praeceperas ederem, admonitus sum a peritioribus debuisse me ante ei Alexandrinam civitatem impetrare, deinde Romanam, quoniam esset Aegyptius. 2 Ego autem, quia inter Aegyptios ceterosque peregrinos nihil interesse credebam, contentus fueram hoc solum scribere tibi, esse eum a peregrina manumissum patronamque eius iam pridem decessisse. De qua ignorantia mea non queror, per quam stetit ut tibi pro eodem homine saepius obligarer. Rogo itaque, ut beneficio tuo legitime frui possim, tribuas ei et Alexandrinam civitatem [et Romanam]. Annos eius et censum, ne quid rursus indulgentiam tuam moraretur, libertis tuis quibus iusseras misi.
6 (22.) — TO TRAJAN.
I thank you, sir, for granting, without delay, naturalisation to the freedwoman of a lady who is a friend of mine, as well as the Roman citizenship to Harpocras, my Iatraliptic doctor.§ But when I had given in the age and fortune of the latter, as you had bidden me to do, I was informed by persons of greater experience that, inasmuch as he was an Egyptian, I ought first to have obtained for him the citizenship of Alexandria, and afterwards that of Rome. For my part, however, owing to my thinking that there was no difference between Egyptians and other foreigners, I was content simply to write to you to the effect that he had been manumitted by a foreign lady, and that his patroness was long since dead. I will not complain of this ignorance of mine, since it has been the cause of my being under more frequent obligations to you on account of the same person. I beg, therefore, in order that your favour may be lawfully enjoyed by me, that you would accord him the citizenship of Alexandria as well as of Rome. His age and fortune (that there may be no fresh delay in the way of your kindness) I have sent in to those freedmen of yours to whom you ordered me to send them.
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7. TRAIANUS PLINIO
Civitatem Alexandrinam secundum institutionem principum non temere dare proposui. Sed cum Arpocrati, iatraliptae tuo, iam civitatem Romanam impetraveris, huic quoque petitioni tuae negare non sustineo. Tu, ex quo nomo sit, notum mihi facere debebis, ut epistulam tibi ad Pompeium Plantam praefectum Aegypti amicum meum mittam.
7 (23.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
I have made it a rule, in accordance with the established custom of the emperors, to be cautious in bestowing the citizenship of Alexandria; but since you have already obtained that of Rome for Harpocras, your Iatraliptic doctor, I cannot bring myself to refuse this further application of yours. You will have to inform me from what district he comes, that I may forward you a letter for my friend Pompeius Planta, the Prefect of Egypt.
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8. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Cum divus pater tuus, domine, et oratione pulcherrima et honestissimo exemplo omnes cives ad munificentiam esset cohortatus, petii ab eo, ut statuas principum, quas in longinquis agris per plures successiones traditas mihi quales acceperam custodiebam, permitteret in municipium transferre adiecta sua statua. 2 Quod quidem ille mihi cum plenissimo testimonio indulserat; ego statim decurionibus scripseram, ut assignarent solum in quo templum pecunia mea exstruerem; illi in honorem operis
ipsius electionem loci mihi obtulerant. 3 Sed primum mea, deinde patris tui valetudine, postea curis delegati a vobis officii retentus, nunc videor commodissime posse in rem praesentem excurrere. Nam et menstruum meum Kalendis Septembribus finitur, et sequens mensis complures dies feriatos habet. 4 Rogo ergo ante omnia permittas mihi opus quod incohaturus sum exornare et tua statua; deinde, ut hoc facere quam maturissime possim, indulgeas commeatum. 5 Non est autem simplicitatis meae dissimulare apud bonitatem tuam obiter te plurimum collaturum utilitatibus rei familiaris meae. Agrorum enim, quos in eadem regione possideo, locatio, cum alioqui CCCC excedat, adeo non potest differri, ut proximam putationem novus colonus facere debeat. Praeterea continuae sterilitates cogunt me de remissionibus cogitare; quarum rationem nisi praesens inire non possum. 6 Debebo ergo, domine, indulgentiae tuae et pietatis meae celeritatem et status ordinationem, si mihi ob utraque haec dederis commeatum XXX dierum. Neque enim angustius tempus praefinire possum, cum et municipium et agri de quibus loquor sint ultra centesimum et quinquagesimum lapidem.
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. TRAIANUS PLINIO
Et multas et omnes publicas causas petendi commeatus reddidisti; mihi autem vel sola voluntas tua suffecisset. Neque enim dubito te, ut primum potueris, ad tam districtum officium reversurum. Statuam poni mihi a te eo quo desideras loco, quamquam eius modi honorum parcissimus tamen patior, ne impedisse cursum erga me pietatis tuae videar.
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. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Exprimere, domine, verbis non possum, quanto me gaudio affecerint epistulae tuae, ex quibus cognovi te Arpocrati, iatraliptae meo, et Alexandrinam civitatem tribuisse, quamvis secundum institutionem principum non temere eam dare proposuisses. Esse autem Arpocran ‘nomou Memphitou’ indico tibi. 2 Rogo ergo, indulgentissime imperator, ut mihi ad Pompeium Plantam praefectum Aegypti amicum tuum, sicut promisisti, epistulam mittas. Obviam iturus, quo maturius, domine, exoptatissimi adventus tui gaudio frui possim, rogo permittas mihi quam longissime occurrere tibi.
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. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Proxima infirmitas mea, domine, obligavit me Postumio Marino medico; cui parem gratiam referre beneficio tuo possum, si precibus meis ex consuetudine bonitatis tuae indulseris. 2 Rogo ergo, ut propinquis eius des civitatem, Chrysippo Mithridatis uxorique Chrysippi, Stratonicae Epigoni, item liberis eiusdem Chrysippi, Epigono et Mithridati, ita ut sint in patris potestate utque iis in libertos servetur ius patronorum. Item rogo indulgeas ius Quiritium L. Satrio Abascanto et P. Caesio Phosphoro et Panchariae Soteridi; quod a te volentibus patronis peto.
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. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Scio, domine, memoriae tuae, quae est bene faciendi tenacissima, preces nostras inhaerere. Quia tamen in hoc quoque indulsisti, admoneo simul et impense rogo, ut Attium Suram praetura exornare digneris, cum locus vacet. 2 Ad quam spem alioqui quietissimum hortatur et natalium splendor et summa integritas in paupertate et ante omnia felicitas temporum, quae bonam conscientiam civium tuorum ad usum indulgentiae tuae provocat et attollit.
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. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
Cum sciam, domine, ad testimonium laudemque morum meorum pertinere tam boni principis iudicio exornari, rogo dignitati, ad quam me provexit indulgentia tua, vel auguratum vel septemviratum, quia vacant
adicere digneris, ut iure sacerdotii precari deos pro te publice possim, quos nunc precor pietate privata.
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. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
Victoriae tuae, optime imperator, maximae, pulcherrimae, antiquissimae et tuo nomine et rei publicae gratulor, deosque immortales precor, ut omnes cogitationes tuas tam laetus sequatur eventus, cum virtutibus tantis gloria imperii et novetur et augeatur.
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.