40 (49.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
As to what is proper to be done in connection with the theatre, which has been commenced at Nicæa, you who are on the spot will be best able to consider and determine. I shall be satisfied to have intimated to me the opinion at which you arrive. The parts of the work due from private individuals, you will take care to exact from them, then only when the theatre, on account of which they have been promised, is built. These Greeklings are addicted to gymnasia; so perhaps the people of Nicæa have set about building theirs with too much zest; they must, however, be content with one which shall suffice for their necessities.
As to the advice to be given to the people of Claudiopolis, in connection with their baths (which they have commenced in what you describe as an unsuitable spot), it is for you to determine. You cannot be short of architects. There is no province which does not contain experienced and ingenious men of this kind; provided you do not suppose it is shorter to send them from Rome, when they are actually in the habit of coming to us from Greece.
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41. C. PLINIVS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Intuenti mihi et fortunae tuae et animi magnitudinem conuenientissimum uidetur demonstrari opera non minus aeternitate tua quam gloria digna, quantumque pulchritudinis tantum utilitatis habitura. 2 Est in Nicomedensium finibus amplissimus lacus. Per hunc marmora fructus ligna materiae et sumptu modico et labore usque ad uiam nauibus, inde magno labore maiore impendio uehiculis ad mare deuehuntur ... hoc opus multas manus poscit. At eae porro non desunt. Nam et in agris magna copia est hominum et maxima in civitate, certaque spes omnes libentissime aggressuros opus omnibus fructuosum. 3 Superest ut tu libratorem vel architectum si tibi videbitur mittas, qui diligenter exploret, sitne lacus altior mari, quem artifices regionis huius quadraginta cubitis altiorem esse contendunt. 4 Ego per eadem loca invenio fossam a rege percussam, sed incertum utrum ad colligendum umorem circumiacentium agrorum an ad committendum flumini lacum; est enim imperfecta. Hoc quoque dubium, intercepto rege mortalitate an desperato operis effectu. 5 Sed hoc ipso - feres enim me ambitiosum pro tua gloria - incitor et accendor, ut cupiam peragi a te quae tantum coeperant reges.
41 (50.) — TO TRAJAN.
When I contemplate the grandeur of your fortunes and of your mind, it seems to me in the highest degree appropriate to designate to you such works as shall be worthy no less of your immortality than of your glory, as shall be marked by their utility no less than by their excellence. On the borders of the Nicomedian territory there is an extensive lake, by means of which marble, agricultural produce, firewood, and building materials are conveyed, at small cost and labour, in ships to a road, and from that point with much labour, and still more expense, in wagons to the sea.... This work demands many hands, but these, to be sure, are not wanting, for there is a large supply of men in the country parts, and a still larger in the city, and we may confidently expect that all of them will with much alacrity engage in a work which will be of advantage to all. It remains for you, if you shall see fit, to send us a surveyor, or else an architect, who shall carefully examine whether the lake is higher than the sea — the experts in these parts contending that it is higher by forty cubits. I find that a trench was cut in this identical direction by the king; but it is uncertain whether this was done for the purpose of collecting the moisture from the surrounding country, or in order to turn the lake into the river. For it is not completed. And this, too, is doubtful, whether the king was arrested by death, or whether he despaired of carrying through the work. But this very circumstance (for you will suffer me to be ambitious on account of your glory) incites and stimulates me to wish that you may complete that which kings have only commenced.
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42. TRAIANUS PLINIO
Potest nos sollicitare lacus iste, ut committere illum mari velimus; sed plane explorandum est diligenter, ne si emissus in mare fuerit totus effluat certe, quantum aquarum et unde accipiat. Poteris a Calpurnio Macro petere libratorem, et ego hinc aliquem tibi peritum eius modi operum mittam.
42 (51.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
The lake which you mention is such as may possibly induce in us the desire to open it out to the sea. But a careful examination is evidently necessary, lest if its waters be sent down to the sea, they should be entirely drained off, and certainly as to the quantity of its waters and the source whence it derives them. You can ask for a surveyor from Calpurnius Macer, and I will send you from here some person experienced in this kind of work.
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43. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Requirenti mihi Byzantiorum rei publicae impendia, quae maxima fecit, indicatum est, domine, legatum ad te salutandum annis omnibus cum psephismate mitti, eique dari nummorum duodena milia. 2 Memor ergo propositi tui legatum quidem retinendum, psephisma autem mittendum putavi, ut simul et sumptus levaretur et impleretur publicum officium. 3 Eidem civitati imputata sunt terna milia, quae viatici nomine annua dabantur legato eunti ad eum qui Moesiae praeest publice salutandum. Haec ego in posterum circumcidenda existimavi. 4 Te, domine, rogo ut quid sentias rescribendo aut consilium meum confirmare aut errorem emendare digneris.
43 (52.) — TO TRAJAN.
On my calling for an account of the expenditure of the community of Byzantium (which has been very great), I learnt, sir, that an envoy is sent to pay his respects to you every year, bearer of a popular decree to that effect, and that twelve thousand sesterces are given him. So, bearing in mind your course of action, I deemed it right to keep back the envoy and to send on the decree, that at the same time the expense might be lightened and a public duty fulfilled. The same city was debited with three thousand sesterces, which, under the head of travelling expenses, were given annually to the envoy who went to pay his respects publicly to the Governor of Mœsia. These sums, I considered, ought for the future to be cut down. I beg, sir, that you would write me word what you think, and so deign either to confirm my judgment or to correct my mistake.
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44. TRAIANUS PLINIO
Optime fecisti, Secunde carissime, duodena ista Byzantiis quae ad salutandum me in legatum impendebantur remittendo. Fungentur his partibus, etsi solum psephisma per te missum fuerit. Ignoscet illis et Moesiae praeses, si minus illum sumptuose coluerint.
44 (53.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
You have acted admirably, dearest Secundus, in remitting to the inhabitants of Byzantium those twelve thousand sesterces which were spent on an envoy for the purpose of paying me their respects... although the decree alone shall have been sent through you. The Governor of Mœsia, too, will forgive them if they show their regard for him in a less expensive way.
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45. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
Diplomata, domine, quorum dies praeterit, an omnino observari et quam diu velis, rogo scribas meque haesitatione liberes. Vereor enim, ne in alterutram partem ignorantia lapsus aut illicita confirmem aut necessaria impediam.
45 (54.) — TO TRAJAN.
With regard to diplomas, sir, the date of which has expired, I would beg you to write whether you wish them to be regarded at all, and if so for how long? This will free me from doubt. For I fear that through ignorance I may make a mistake one way or the other, and either confirm what is unlawful or obstruct what is necessary.
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46. TRAIANUS PLINIO
Diplomata, quorum praeteritus est dies, non debent esse in usu. Ideo inter prima iniungo mihi, ut per omnes provincias ante mittam nova diplomata, quam desiderari possint.
46 (55.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
Diplomas, the date of which has expired, ought not to be in force. Consequently I make it one of my first rules to send new diplomas to all the provinces before they can possibly be required.
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47. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Cum vellem, domine, Apameae cognoscere publicos debitores et reditum et impendia, responsum est mihi cupere quidem universos, ut a me rationes coloniae legerentur, numquam tamen esse lectas ab ullo proconsulum; habuisse privilegium et vetustissimum morem arbitrio suo rem publicam administrare. 2 Exegi ut quae dicebant quaeque recitabant libello complecterentur; quem tibi qualem acceperam misi, quamvis intellegerem pleraque ex illo ad id, de quo quaeritur, non pertinere. 3 Te rogo ut mihi praeire digneris, quid me putes observare debere. Vereor enim ne aut excessisse aut non implesse officii mei partes videar.
47 (56.) — TO TRAJAN.
Upon my desiring, sir, to be made acquainted with the debts due to the State of Apamea, and its income and expenditure, I was told in reply that, while every one was anxious that the accounts of the colony should be inspected by me, yet that they never had been inspected by any of the pro-consuls, since they were in possession of a prerogative and a very ancient usage of administering the public affairs at their own discretion. I insisted upon all that they said and recited being included in a memorial, which I have sent to you just as I received it, though perceiving that much of its contents does not relate to the subject of inquiry. I beg you to deign to instruct me as to the course you deem it right for me to follow. For I fear lest I should seem either to have exceeded or not to have duly fulfilled the functions of my office.
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48. TRAIANUS PLINIO
1 Libellus Apamenorum, quem epistulae tuae iunxeras, remisit mihi necessitatem perpendendi qualia essent, propter quae videri volunt eos, qui pro consulibus hanc provinciam obtinuerunt, abstinuisse inspectatione rationum suarum, cum ipse ut eas inspiceres non recusaverint. 2 Remuneranda est igitur probitas eorum, ut iam nunc sciant hoc, quod inspecturus es, ex mea voluntate salvis, quae habent, privilegiis esse facturum.
48 (57.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
The memorial of the Apameni, which you have joined to your letter, has freed me from the necessity of carefully examining the reasons on the strength of which they wish it to appear that the Proconsuls who have governed their province have abstained from inspecting their accounts, since they have not opposed your inspecting them. Their probity should therefore be rewarded, and they should at once be told that in inspecting the accounts you will be acting by my orders, without prejudice to the prerogatives they enjoy.
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49. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Ante adventum meum, domine, Nicomedenses priori foro novum adicere coeperunt, cuius in angulo est aedes vetustissima Matris Magnae aut reficienda aut transferenda, ob hoc praecipue quod est multo depressior opere eo quod cum maxime surgit. 2 Ego cum quaererem, num esset aliqua lex dicta templo, cognovi alium hic, alium apud nos esse morem dedicationis. Dispice ergo, domine, an putes aedem, cui nulla lex dicta est, salva religione posse transferri; alioqui commodissimum est, si religio non impedit.
49 (58.) — TO TRAJAN.
Before my arrival, sir, the inhabitants of Nicomedia had begun to add a new Forum to their old one, in a corner of which is a temple of the great mother of the gods, which must be either rebuilt or removed, particularly as it is much lower than the construction which is at the present moment rising. When I inquired whether the temple had been in any way formally consecrated, I learnt that the mode of dedication here differs from ours. Consider, then, sir, whether you think that a temple which has not been formally consecrated can be removed without prejudice to religion. In other respects, it would be most convenient to do so — if religion is no obstacle.
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50. TRAIANUS PLINIO
Potes, mi Secunde carissime, sine sollicitudine religionis, si loci positio videtur hoc desiderare, aedem Matris Deum transferre in eam quae est accommodatior; nec te moveat, quod lex dedicationis nulla reperitur, cum solum peregrinae civitatis capax non sit dedicationis, quae fit nostro iure.
50 (59.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
You may, dearest Secundus, without religious scruples — if the situation of the place seems to require it — remove the temple of the mother of the gods to one that is better accommodated to it. Nor need you be troubled about finding no form of dedication, since the soil of a foreign city does not admit of the kind of dedication which takes place under our laws.
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51. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Difficile est, domine, exprimere verbis, quantam perceperim laetitiam, quod et mihi et socrui meae praestitisti, ut affinem eius Caelium Clementem in hanc provinciam transferres. 2 Ex illo enim et mensuram beneficii tui penitus intellego, cum tam plenam indulgentiam cum tota domo mea experiar, cui referre gratiam parem ne audeo quidem, quamvis maxime possim. Itaque ad vota confugio deosque precor, ut iis, quae in me assidue confers, non indignus existimer.
51 (12.) — TO TRAJAN.
‘ It is difficult, sir, to express in words the great pleasure which I felt at your consenting, at the request of my mother-in-law and myself, to transfer her relative Cælius Clemens to this province. For hence I thoroughly understand the measure of your kindness, since I experience such full favour, with all my kindred — a favour I dare not attempt to make a like return for, even though I had it entirely in my power. So I fly to prayers, and entreat the gods that I may not be deemed unworthy of those things which you are so assiduous in conferring on me.
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52. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
Diem, domine, quo servasti imperium, dum suscipis, quanta mereris laetitia celebravimus, precati deos ut te generi humano, cuius tutela et securitas saluti tuae innisa est, incolumem florentemque praestarent. Praeivimus et commilitonibus ius iurandum more sollemni, eadem provincialibus certatim pietate iurantibus.
52 (60.) — TO TRAJAN.
We have celebrated, sir, the day on which you saved the Empire by taking it on yourself, with all the joy which you merit: and we prayed the gods to preserve you in life and prosperity to the human race whose safeguard and security depends on your welfare. We set the example to the troops, too, in swearing allegiance in the customary way, which the provincials did in the same form, and with emulous loyalty.
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53. TRAIANUS PLINIO
Quanta religione et laetitia commilitones cum provincialibus te praeeunte diem imperii mei celebraverint, libenter, mi Secunde carissime, agnovi litteris tuis.
53 (61.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
I have learnt with pleasure from your letter, my dearest Secundus, how religiously and joyfully the troops, together with the provincials, followed you in celebrating the day of my accession.
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54. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Pecuniae publicae, domine, providentia tua et ministerio nostro et iam exactae sunt et exiguntur; quae vereor ne otiosae iaceant. Nam et praediorum comparandorum aut nulla aut rarissima occasio est, nec inveniuntur qui velint debere rei publicae, praesertim duodenis assibus, quanti a privatis mutuantur. 2 Dispice ergo, domine, numquid minuendam usuram ac per hoc idoneos debitores invitandos putes, et, si nec sic reperiuntur, distribuendam inter decuriones pecuniam, ita ut recte rei publicae caveant; quod quamquam invitis et recusantibus minus acerbum erit leviore usura constituta.
54 (62.) — TO TRAJAN.
The public moneys, sir, are, through your forethought and our ministry, either already collected or in the course of collection; and I fear they will lie idle. For there are no opportunities, or else very rare ones, of buying land: nor are persons to be found who are willing to be debtors to the state, particularly at twelve per cent., the rate at which they can borrow from private individuals. Consider then, sir, whether you think that the rate of interest should be lowered, and by these means eligible borrowers be attracted, and if
even thus such persons are not to be found, whether the money should be distributed among the Decurions, on condition of their furnishing proper security to the state; which arrangement — though they may not like it, and may be for declining it — would be made less burdensome, in consequence of a lower rate of interest having been fixed.
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55. TRAIANUS PLINIO
Et ipse non aliud remedium dispicio, mi Secunde carissime, quam ut quantitas usurarum minuatur, quo facilius pecuniae publicae collocentur. Modum eius, ex copia eorum qui mutuabuntur, tu constitues. Invitos ad accipiendum compellere, quod fortassis ipsis otiosum futurum sit, non est ex iustitia nostrorum temporum.
55 (63.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
I myself can perceive no other remedy, my dearest Secundus, than that the rate of interest should be lowered, in order to facilitate the investment of the public moneys.
Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Younger (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics) Page 132
