


Produced by David Reed and David Widger



LETTERS OF PLINY

By Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus

Translated by William Melmoth


Revised by F. C. T. Bosanquet



GAIUS PLINIUS CAECILIUS SECUNDUS, usually known as Pliny the Younger,
was born at Como in 62 A. D. He was only eight years old when his father
Caecilius died, and he was adopted by his uncle, the elder Pliny, author
of the Natural History. He was carefully educated, studying rhetoric
under Quintilian and other famous teachers, and he became the most
eloquent pleader of his time. In this and in much else he imitated
Cicero, who had by this time come to be the recognized master of Latin
style. While still young he served as military tribune in Syria, but he
does not seem to have taken zealously to a soldier's life. On his return
he entered politics under the Emperor Domitian; and in the year 100 A.
D. was appointed consul by Trajan and admitted to confidential
intercourse with that emperor. Later while he was governor of Bithynia,
he was in the habit of submitting every point of policy to his master,
and the correspondence between Trajan and him, which forms the last part
of the present selection, is of a high degree of interest, both on
account of the subjects discussed and for the light thrown on the
characters of the two men. He is supposed to have died about 113 A. D.
Pliny's speeches are now lost, with the exception of one, a panegyric on
Trajan delivered in thanksgiving for the consulate. This, though diffuse
and somewhat too complimentary for modern taste, became a model for this
kind of composition. The others were mostly of two classes, forensic and
political, many of the latter being, like Cicero's speech against
Verres, impeachments of provincial governors for cruelty and extortion
toward their subjects. In these, as in his public activities in general,
he appears as a man of public spirit and integrity; and in his relations
with his native town he was a thoughtful and munificent benefactor.

The letters, on which to-day his fame mainly rests, were largely written
with a view to publication, and were arranged by Pliny himself. They
thus lack the spontaneity of Cicero's impulsive utterances, but to most
modern readers who are not special students of Roman history they are
even more interesting. They deal with a great variety of subjects: the
description of a Roman villa; the charms of country life; the reluctance
of people to attend author's readings and to listen when they were
present; a dinner party; legacy-hunting in ancient Rome; the acquisition
of a piece of statuary; his love for his young wife; ghost stories;
floating islands, a tame dolphin, and other marvels. But by far the best
known are those describing the great eruption of Vesuvius in which his
uncle perished, a martyr to scientific curiosity, and the letter to
Trajan on his attempts to suppress Christianity in Bithynia, with
Trajan's reply approving his policy. Taken altogether, these letters
give an absorbingly vivid picture of the days of the early empire, and
of the interests of a cultivated Roman gentleman of wealth.
Occasionally, as in the last letters referred to, they deal with
important historical events; but their chief value is in bringing before
us, in somewhat the same manner as "The Spectator" pictures the England
of the age of Anne, the life of a time which is not so unlike our own as
its distance in years might indicate. And in this time by no means the
least interesting figure is that of the letter-writer himself, with his
vanity and self-importance, his sensibility and generous affection, his
pedantry and his loyalty.



CONTENTS



LETTERS GAIUS PLINIUS CAECILIUS SECUNDUS

I -- To SEPTITTUS

II -- To ARRIANUS

III -- To VOCONIUS ROMANUS

IV -- To CORNELIUS TACITUS

V -- To POMPEIUS SATURNINUS

VI -- To ATRIUS CLEMENS

VII -- To FABIUS JUSTUS

VIII -- To CALESTRIUS TIRO

IX -- To SOCIUS SENECIO

X -- To JUNSUS MAURICUS

XI -- To SEPTITIUS CLARUS

XII -- To SUETONIUS TRANQUILLUS

XIII -- To ROMANUS FIRMUS

XIV -- TO CORNELIUS TACITUS

XV -- To PATERNUS

XVI -- To CATILIUS SEVERUS [27]

XVII -- To VOCONIUS ROMANUS

XVIII -- To NEPOS

XIX -- To AVITUS

XX -- To MACRINUS

XXI -- To PAISCUS

XXII -- To MAIMUS

XXIII -- To GALLUS

XXIV -- To CEREALIS

XXV -- To CALVISIUS

XXVI -- To CALVISIUS

XXVII -- To BAEBIUS MACER

XXVIII -- To ANNIUS SEVERUS

XXIX -- To CANINIUS RUFUS

XXX -- To SPURINNA AND COTTIA[53]

XXXI -- To JULIUS GENITOR

XXXII -- To CATILIUS SEVERUS

XXXIII -- To ACILIUS

XXXIV -- To NEPOS

XXXV -- To SEVERUS

XXXVI -- To CALVISIUS RUFUS

XXXVII -- To CORNELIUS PRISCUS

XXXVIII -- To FABATUS (HIS WIFE'S GRANDFATHER)

XXXIX -- To ATTIUS CLEMENS

XL -- To CATIUS LEPIDUS

XLI -- To MATURUS ARRIANUS

XLII -- To STATIUS SABINUS

XLIII -- To CORNELIUS MINICIANUS

XLV -- To ASINIUS

XLVI -- To HISPULLA

XLVII -- To ROMATIUS FIASIUS

XLVIII -- To LICINIUS SURA

XLIX -- To ANNIUS SEVERUS

L -- To TITIUS ARISTO

LI -- To NONIUS MAXIMUS

LII -- To DOMITIUS APOLLINARIS

LIII -- To CALVISIUS

LIV -- To MARCELLINUS

LV -- To SPURINNA

LVI -- To PAULINUS

LVII -- To RUFUS

LVIII -- To ARRIANUS

LIX -- To CALPURNIA[88]

LX -- To CALPURNIA

LXI -- To PRISCUS

LXII -- To ALBINUS

LXIII -- To MAXIMUS

LXIV -- To ROMANUS

LXV -- To TACITUS

LXVI -- To CORNELIUS TACITUS

LX VII -- To MACER

LXVIII -- To SERVIANUS

LXIX -- To SEVERUS

LXX -- To FABATUS

LXXI -- To CORNELIANUS

LXXII -- To MAXIMUS

LXXIII -- To RESTITUTUS

LXXIV -- To CALPURNIA[111]

LXXV -- To MACRINUS

LXXVI -- To TUSCUS

LXX VII -- To FABATUS (HIS WIFE'S GRANDFATHER)

LXXVIII -- To CORELLIA

LXXIX -- To CELER

LXXX -- To PRISCUS

LXXXI -- To GEMINIUS

LXXXII -- To MAXIMUS

LXXXIII -- To SURA

LXXXIV -- To SEPTITIUS

LXXXV -- To TACITUS

LXXX VI -- To SEPTITIUS

LXXXVII -- To CALVISIUS

LXXX VIII -- To ROMANUS

LXXXIX -- To ARISTO

XC -- To PATERNUS

XCI -- To MACRINUS

XCII -- To RUFINUS

XCIII -- To GALLUS

XCIV -- To ARRIANUS

XCV -- To MAXIMUS

XCVI -- To PAULINUS

XCVII -- To CALVISIUS

XCVIII -- To ROMANUS

XCIX -- To GEMINUS

C -- To JUNIOR

CI -- To QUADRATUS

CII -- To GENITOR

CIII -- To SABINIANUS

CIV -- To MAXIMUS

CV -- To SABINIANUS

CVI -- To LUPERCUS

CVII -- To CANINIUS

CVIII -- To Fuscus

CIX -- To PAULINUS

CX -- To FUSCUS

FOOTNOTES TO THE LETTERS OF PLINY]



CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

I -- TO THE EMPEROR TRAJAN[1001]

II -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

III -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

IV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

V -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

VI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

VII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

VIII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

X -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XIII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XIV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XV -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XVI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XVII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XVIII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XIX -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XX -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXIII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXIV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXVI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXVII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXVIII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXIX -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXX -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXXI -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XXXII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXXIII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XXXIV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXXV -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XXXVI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXX VII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XXXVIII To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XXXIX -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XL -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XLI -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XLII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XLIII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XLIV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XLV -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XLVI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XLVII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XLVIII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XLIX -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

L -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LI -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LIII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LIV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LV -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LVI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LVII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LVIII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LIX -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LX -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXI -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXIII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXIV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXV -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXVI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXVII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LX VIII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXIX -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXX -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXXI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXXII TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXXIII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXX IV -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXXV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXXVI -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXXVII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXXVIII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXXIX -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXXX -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXXXI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXXXII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXXXIII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXXXIV -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXXXV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXXXVI -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXXXVII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

LXXXVIII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

LXXXIX -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XC -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XCI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XCII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XCIII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XCIV -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XCV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XCVI -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XCVII To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

XCVIII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

XCIX -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

C -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

CI To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

CII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

CIII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

CIV -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

CV -- To TIlE EMPEROR TRAJAN

CVI -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

CVII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

CVIII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

CIX -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

CX -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

CXI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

CXII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

CXIII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

CXIV -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

CXV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

CXVI -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

CXVII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

CXVIII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

CXIX -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

CXX -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

CXXI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN

CXXII -- TRAJAN TO PLINY

FOOTNOTES TO THE CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE EMPEROR TRAJAN



LETTERS GAIUS PLINIUS CAECILIUS SECUNDUS



I -- To SEPTITTUS

YOU have frequently pressed me to make a select collection of my Letters
(if there really be any deserving of a special preference) and give them
to the public. I have selected them accordingly; not, indeed, in their
proper order of time, for I was not compiling a history; but just as
each came to hand. And now I have only to wish that you may have no
reason to repent of your advice, nor I of my compliance: in that case, I
may probably enquire after the rest, which at present be neglected, and
preserve those I shall hereafter write. Farewell.



II -- To ARRIANUS

I FORESEE your journey in my direction is likely to be delayed, and
therefore send you the speech which I promised in my former; requesting
you, as usual, to revise and correct it. I desire this the more
earnestly as I never, I think, wrote with the same empressment in any of
my former speeches; for I have endeavoured to imitate your old favourite
Demosthenes and Calvus, who is lately become mine, at least in the
rhetorical forms of the speech; for to catch their sublime spirit, is
given, alone, to the "inspired few." My subject, indeed, seemed
naturally to lend itself to this (may I venture to call it?) emulation;
consisting, as it did, almost entirely in a vehement style of address,
even to a degree sufficient to have awakened me (if only I am capable of
being awakened) out of that indolence in which I have long reposed. I
have not however altogether neglected the flowers of rhetoric of my
favourite Marc-Tully, wherever I could with propriety step out of my
direct road, to enjoy a more flowery path: for it was energy, not
austerity, at which I aimed. I would not have you imagine by this that I
am bespeaking your indulgence: on the contrary, to make your correcting
pen more vigorous, I will confess that neither my friends nor myself are
averse from the publication of this piece, if only you should join in
the approval of what is perhaps my folly. The truth is, as I must
publish something, I wish it might be this performance rather than any
other, because it is already finished: (you hear the wish of laziness.)
At all events, however, something I must publish, and for many reasons;
chiefly because of the tracts which I have already sent in to the world,
though they have long since lost all their recommendation from novelty,
are still, I am told, in request; if, after all, the booksellers are not
tickling my ears. And let them; since, by that innocent deceit, I am
encouraged to pursue my studies. Farewell.



III -- To VOCONIUS ROMANUS

DID YOU ever meet with a more abject and mean-spirited creature than
Marcus Regulus since the death of Domitian, during whose reign his
conduct was no less infamous, though more concealed, than under Nero's?
He began to be afraid I was angry with him, and his apprehensions were
perfectly correct; I was angry. He had not only done his best to
increase the peril of the position in which Rusticus Arulenus[1] stood,
but had exulted in his death; insomuch that he actually recited and
published a libel upon his memory, in which he styles him "The Stoics'
Ape": adding, "stigmated[2] with the Vitellian scar."[3] You recognize
Regulus' eloquent strain! He fell with such fury upon the
character of Herennius Senecio that Metius Carus said to him, one day,
"What business have you with my dead? Did I ever interfere in the affair
of Crassus[4] or Camerinus?"[5] Victims, you know, to Regulus, in Nero's
time. For these reasons he imagined I was highly exasperated, and so at
the recitation of his last piece, I got no invitation. Besides, he had
not forgotten, it seems, with what deadly purpose he had once attacked
me in the Court of the Hundred.[6] Rusticus had desired me to act as
counsel for Arionilla, Titnon's wife: Regulus was engaged against me. In
one part of the case I was strongly insisting upon a particular judgment
given by Metius Modestus, an excellent man, at that time in banishment
by Domitian's order. Now then for Regulus. "Pray," says he, "what is
your opinion of Modestus?" You see what a risk I should have run had I
answered that I had a high opinion of him, how I should have disgraced
myself on the other hand if I had replied that I had a bad opinion of
him. But some guardian power, I am persuaded, must have stood by me to
assist me in this emergency. "I will tell you my opinion," I said, "if
that is a matter to be brought before the court." "I ask you," he
repeated, "what is your opinion of Modestus?" I replied that it was
customary to examine witnesses to the character of an accused man, not
to the character of one on whom sentence had already been passed. He
pressed me a third time. "I do not now enquire,"