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Correspondence With The Emperor TrajanPart III
Part III
XXI
To the Emperor Trajan
Your generosity to me, Sir, was the occasion of uniting me to Rosianus
Geminus, by the strongest ties; for he was my quaestor when I was consul. His
behaviour to me during the continuance of our offices was highly respectful,
and he has treated me ever since with so peculiar a regard that, besides the
many obligations I owe him upon a public account, I am indebted to him for the
strongest pledges of private friendship. I entreat you, then, to comply with
my request for the advancement of one whom (if my recommendation has any
weight) you will even distinguish with your particular favour; and whatever
trust you shall repose in him, he will endeavour to show himself still
deserving of an higher. But I am the more sparing in my praises of him, being
persuaded his integrity, his probity, and his vigilance are well known to you,
not only from those high posts which he has exercised in Rome within your
immediate inspection, but from his behaviour when he served under you in the
army. One thing, however, my affection for him inclines me to think, I have
not yet sufficiently done; and therefore, Sir, I repeat my entreaties that you
will give me the pleasure, as early as possible, of rejoicing in the
advancement of my quaestor, or, in other words, of receiving an addition to my
own honours, in the person of my friend.
XXII
To the Emperor Trajan
It is not easy, Sir, to express the joy I received when I heard you had,
in compliance with the request of my mother-in-law and myself, granted
Coelius Clemens the proconsulship of this province after the expiration of his
consular office; as it is from thence I learn the full extent of your goodness
towards me, which thus graciously extends itself through my whole family. As I
dare not pretend to make an equal return to those obligations I so justly owe
you, I can only have recourse to vows, and ardently implore the gods that I
may not be found unworthy of those favours which you are repeatedly conferring
upon me.
XXIII
To the Emperor Trajan
I received, Sir, a despatch from your freedman, Lycormas, desiring me, if
any embassy from Bosporus^1 should come here on the way to Rome, that I would
detain it till his arrival. None has yet arrived, at least in the city^2 where
I now am. But a courier passing through this place from the king of
Sarmatia,^3 I embrace the opportunity which accidentally offers itself, of
sending with him the messenger whom Lycormas despatched hither, that you might
be informed by both their letters of what, perhaps, it may be expedient you
should be acquainted with at one and the same time.
[Footnote 1: The town of Panticapoeum, also called Bosporus, standing on the
European side of the Cimmerian Bosporus (Straits of Kaffa), in the modern
Crimea.]
[Footnote 2: Nicea (as appears by the 15th letter of this book), a city in
Bithynia, now called Isnik. M.]
[Footnote 3: Sarmatia was divided into European, Asiatic, and German Sarmatia.
It is not exactly known what bounds the ancients gave to this extensive
region; however, in general, it comprehended the northern part of Russia, and
the greater part of Poland, &c. M.]
XXIV
To the Emperor Trajan
I am informed by a letter from the king of Sarmatia that there are
certain affairs of which you ought to be informed as soon as possible. In
order, therefore, to hasten the despatches which his courier was charged with
to you, I granted him an order to make use of the public post.^4
[Footnote 4: The first invention of public couriers is ascribed to Cyrus, who,
in order to receive the earliest intelligence from the governors of the
several provinces, erected posthouses throughout the kingdom of Persia, at
equal distances, which supplied men and horses to forward the public
despatches. Augustus was the first who introduced this most useful institution
among the Romans, by employing post-chaises, disposed at convenient distances,
for the purpose of political intelligence. The magistrates of every city were
obliged to furnish horses for these messengers, upon producing a diploma, or a
king of warrant, either from the emperor himself or from those who had that
authority under him. Sometimes, though upon very extraordinary occasions,
persons who travelled upon their private affairs, were allowed the use of
these post-chaises. It is surprising they were not sooner used for the
purposes of commerce and private communication. Louis XI. first established
them in France, in the year 1474; but it was not till the 12th of Car. II.
that the post-office was settled in England by Act of Parliament. M.]
XXV
To the Emperor Trajan
The ambassador from the king of Sarmatia having remained two days, by his
own choice, at Nicea, I did not think it reasonable, Sir, to detain him any
longer: because, in the first place, it was still uncertain when your
freedman, Lycormas, would arrive, and then again some indispensable affairs
require my presence in a different part of the province. Of this I thought it
necessary that you should be informed, because I lately acquainted you in a
letter that Lycormas had desired, if any embassy should come this way from
Bosporus, that I would detain it till his arrival. But I saw no plausible
pretext for keeping him back any longer, especially as the despatches from
Lycormas, which (as I mentioned before) I was not willing to detain, would
probably reach you some days sooner than this ambassador.
XXVI
To the Emperor Trajan
I received a letter, Sir, from Apuleius, a military man, belonging to the
garrison at Nicomedia, informing me that one Callidromus, being arrested by
Maximus and Dionysius (two bakers, to whom he had hired himself), fled for
refuge to your statue;^1 that, being brought before a magistrate, he declared
he was formerly slave to Laberius Maximus, but being taken prisoner by
Susagus^2 in Moesia,^3 he was sent as a present from Decebalus to Pacorus,
king of Parthia, in whose service he continued several years, from whence he
made his escape, and came to Nicomedia. When he was examined before me, he
confirmed this account, for which reason I thought it necessary to send^4 him
to you. This I should have done sooner, but I delayed his journey in order to
make an enquiry concerning a seal ring which he said was taken from him, upon
which was engraven the figure of Pacorus in his royal robes; I was desirous
(if it could have been found) of transmitting this curiosity to you, with a
small gold nugget which he says he brought from out of the Parthian mines. I
have affixed my seal to it, the impression of which is a chariot drawn by four
horses.
[Footnote 1: Particular temples, altars, and statues were allowed among the
Romans as places of privilege and sanctuary to slaves, debtors, and
malefactors, This custom was introduced by Romulus, who borrowed it probably
from the Greeks;` but during the free state of Rome, few of these asylums were
permitted. This custom prevailed most under the emperors, till it grew so
scandalous that the Emperor Pius found it necessary to restrain those
privileged places by an edict. See Lipsii Excurs. ad Taciti Ann. iii., c. 36.
M.]
[Footnote 2: General under Decebalus, king of the Dacians. M.]
[Footnote 3: A province in Dacia, comprehending the southern parts of Servia
and part of Bulgaria. M.]
[Footnote 4: The second expedition of Trajan against Decebalus was undertaken
the same year that Pliny went governor into this province; the reason
therefore why Pliny sent this Callidromus to the emperor seems to be that some
use might possibly be made of him in favour of that design. M.]
XXVII
To the Emperor Trajan
Your freedman and procurator,^1 Maximus, behaved, Sir, during all the
time we were together, with great probity, attention, and diligence; as one
strongly attached to your interest, and strictly observant of discipline. This
testimony I willingly give him; and I give it with all the fidelity I owe you.
[Footnote 1: Receiver of the finances. M.]
XXVIII
To the Emperor Trajan
After having experienced, Sir, in Gabius Bassus, who commands on the
Pontic^2 coast, the greatest integrity, honour, and diligence, as well as the
most particular respect to myself, I cannot refuse him my best wishes and
suffrage; and I give them to him with all that fidelity which is due to you. I
have found him abundantly qualified by having served in the army under you;
and it is owing to the advantages of your discipline that he has learned to
merit your favour. The soldiery and the people here, who have had full
experience of his justice and humanity, rival each other in that glorious
testimony they give of his conduct, both in public and in private; and I
certify this with all the sincerity you have a right to expect from me.
[Footnote 2: The coast round the Black Sea.]
XXIX
To the Emperor Trajan
Nymphidius Lupus,^1 Sir, and myself, served in the army together; he
commanded a body of the auxiliary forces at the same time that I was military
tribune; and it was from thence my affection for him began. A long
acquaintance has since mutually endeared and strengthened our friendship. For
this reason I did violence to his repose, and insisted upon his attending me
into Bithynia, as my assessor in council. He most readily granted me this
proof of his friendship; and without any regard to the plea of age, or the
ease of retirement, he shared, and continues to share, with me, the fatigue of
public business. I consider his relations, therefore, as my own; in which
number Nymphidius Lupus, his son, claims my particular regard. He is a youth
of great merit and indefatigable application, and in every respect well worthy
of so excellent a father. The early proof he gave of his merit, when he
commanded a regiment of foot, shews him to be equal to any honour you may
think proper to confer upon him; and it gained him the strongest testimony of
approbation from those most illustrious personages, Julius Ferox and Fuscus
Salinator. And I will add, Sir, that I shall rejoice in any accession of
dignity which he shall receive, as an occasion of particular satisfaction to
myself.
[Footnote 1: The text calls him primipilarem, that is, one who had been
primipilus, an officer in the army, whose post was both highly honourable and
profitable; among other parts of his office he had the care of the eagle, or
chief standard of the legion. M.]
XXX
To the Emperor Trajan
I beg your determination, Sir, on a point I am exceedingly doubtful
about: it is whether I should place the public slaves^2 as sentries round the
prisons of the several cities in this province (as has been hitherto the
practice) or employ a party of soldiers for that purpose? On the one hand, I
am afraid the public slaves will not attend this duty with the fidelity they
ought; and, on the other, that it will engage too large a body of the
soldiery. In the meanwhile I have joined a few of the latter with the former.
I am apprehensive, however, there may be some danger that this method will
occasion a general neglect of duty, as it will afford them a mutual
opportunity of throwing the blame upon each other.
[Footnote 2: Slaves who were purchased by the public. M."]
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