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Correspondence With The Emperor TrajanPart V
Part V
XLI
Trajan to Pliny
You will remember you were sent into Bithynia for the particular purpose
of correcting those many abuses which appeared in need of reform. Now none
stands more so than that criminals who have been sentenced to punishment
should not only be set at liberty (as your letter informs me) without
authority, but even appointed to employments which ought only to be exercised
by persons whose characters are irreproachable. Those, therefore, among them
who have been convicted within these ten years, and whose sentence has not
been reversed by proper authority, must be sent back again to their respective
punishments: but where more than ten years have elapsed since their
conviction, and they are grown old and infirm, let them be disposed of in such
employments as are but few degrees removed from the punishments to which they
were sentenced; that is, either to attend upon the public baths, cleanse the
common sewers, or repair the streets and highways, the usual offices assigned
to such persons.
XLII
To the Emperor Trajan
While I was making a progress in a different part of the province, a most
extensive fire broke out at Nicomedia, which not only consumed several private
houses, but also two public buildings; the town-house and the temple of
Isis, though they stood on contrary sides of the street. The occasion of its
spreading thus far was partly owing to the violence of the wind, and partly to
the indolence of the people, who, manifestly, stood idle and motionless
spectators of this terrible calamity. The truth is the city was not furnished
with either engines,^1 buckets, or any single instrument suitable for
extinguishing fires; which I have now, however, given directions to have
prepared. You will consider, Sir, whether it may not be advisable to institute
a company of firemen, consisting only of one hundred and fifty members. I will
take care none but those of that business shall be admitted into it, and that
the privileges granted them shall not be applied to any other purpose. As this
corporate body will be restricted to so small a number of members, it will be
easy to keep them under proper regulation.
[Footnote 1: It has been generally imagined that the ancients had not the art
of raising water by engines; but this passage seems to favour the contrary
opinion. The word in the original is sipho, which Hesychius explains (as one
of the commentators observes), "instrumentum ad jaculandas aquas adversus
incendia"; "an instrument to throw up water against fires." But there is a
passage in Seneca which seems to put this matter beyond conjecture, though
none of the critics upon this place have taken notice of it: "Solemus," says
he, "duabus manibus inter se junctis aquam concipere, et compressa ultrimque
palma in modum siphonis exprimere" (Q. N. l. ii. 16); where we plainly see the
use of this sipho was to throw up water, and consequently the Romans were
acquainted with that art. The account which Pliny gives of his fountains at
Tuscum is likewise another evident proof. M.]
XLIII
Trajan to Pliny
You are of opinion it would be proper to establish a company of firemen
in Nicomedia, agreeably to what has been practised in several other cities.
But it is to be remembered that societies of this sort have greatly disturbed
the peace of the province in general, and of those cities in particular.
Whatever name we give them, and for whatever purposes them may be founded,
they will not fail to form themselves into factious, assemblies, however short
their meetings may be. It will therefore be safer to provide such machines as
are of service in extinguishing fires, enjoining the owners of houses to
assist in preventing the mischief from spreading, and, if it should be
necessary, to call in the aid of the populace.
XLIV
To the Emperor Trajan
We have acquitted, Sir, and renewed our annual vows^1 for your
prosperity, in which that of the empire is essentially involved, imploring the
gods to grant us ever thus to pay and thus to repeat them.
[Footnote 1: This was an anniversary custom observed throughout the empire on
the 30th of December. M.]
XLV
Trajan to Pliny
I received the satisfaction, my dearest Secundus, of being informed by
your letter that you, together with the people under your government, have
both discharged and renewed your vows to the immortal gods for my health and
happiness.
XLVI
To the Emperor Trajan
The citizens of Nicomedia, Sir, have expended three million, three
hundred and twenty-nine sesterces^2 in building an aqueduct; but, not being
able to finish it, the works are entirely falling to ruin. They made a second
attempt in another place, where they laid out two millions.^3 But this
likewise is discontinued; so that, after having been at an immense charge to
no purpose, they must still be at further expense, in order to be accommodated
with water. I have examined a fine spring from whence the water may be
conveyed over arches (as was attempted in their first design) in such a manner
that the higher as well as level and low parts of the city may be supplied.
There are still remaining a very few of the old arches; and the square stones,
moreover, employed in the former building, may be used in turning the new
arches. I am of opinion part should be raised with brick, as that will be the
easier and cheaper material. But that this work may not meet with the same ill
success as the former, it will be necessary to send here an architect, or
someone skilled in the construction of this kind of waterworks. And I will
venture to say, from the beauty and usefulness of the design, it will be an
erection well worthy the splendour of your times.
[Footnote 2: About $132,000.]
[Footnote 3: About $80,000.]
XLVII
Trajan to Pliny
Care must be taken to supply the city of Nicomedia with water; and that
business, I am well persuaded, you will perform with all the diligence you
ought. But really it is no less incumbent upon you to examine by whose
misconduct it has happened that such large sums have been thrown away upon
this, lest they apply the money to private purposes, and the aqueduct in
question, like the preceding, should be begun, and afterwards left unfinished.
You will let me know the result of your inquiry.
XLVIII
To the Emperor Trajan
The citizens of Nicea, Sir, are building a theatre, which, though it is
not yet finished, has already exhausted, as I am informed (for I have not
examined the account myself), above ten millions of sesterces;^1 and, what is
worse, I fear to no purpose. For either from the foundation being laid in
soft, marshy ground, or that the stone itself is light and crumbling, the
walls are sinking, and cracked from top to bottom. It deserves your
consideration, therefore, whether it would be best to carry on this work, or
entirely discontinue it, or rather, perhaps, whether it would not be most
prudent absolutely to destroy it: for the buttresses and foundations by means
of which it is from time to time kept up appear to me more expensive than
solid. Several private persons have undertaken to build the compartments of
this theatre at their own expense, some engaging to erect the portico, others
the galleries over the pit:^2 but this design cannot be executed, as the
principal building which ought first to be completed is now at a stand. This
city is also rebuilding, upon a far more enlarged plan, the gymnasium,^3 which
was burnt down before my arrival in the province. They have already been at
some (and, I rather fear, a fruitless), expense. The structure is not only
irregular and ill-proportioned, but the present architect (who, it must be
owned, is a rival to the person who was first employed) asserts that the
walls, although twenty-two feet^4 in thickness, are not strong enough to
support the superstructure, as the interstices are filled up with quarry -
stones, and the walls are not overlaid with brickwork. Also the inhabitants of
Claudiopolis^5 are sinking (I cannot call it erecting) a large public bath,
upon a low spot of ground which lies at the foot of a mountain. The fund
appropriated for the carrying on of this work arises from the money which
those honorary members you were pleased to add to the senate paid (or, at
least, are ready to pay whenever I call upon them) for their admission.^6 As I
am afraid, therefore, the public money in the city of Nicea, and (what is
infinitely more valuable than any pecuniary consideration) your bounty in that
of Nicopolis, should be ill applied, I must desire you to send hither an
architect to inspect, not only the theatre, but the bath; in order to consider
whether, after all the expense which has already been laid out, it will be
better to finish them upon the present plan, or alter the one, and remove the
other, in as far as may seem necessary: for otherwise we may perhaps throw
away our future cost in endeavouring not to lose what we have already
expended.
[Footnote 1: About $400,000. To those who are not acquainted with the immense
riches of the ancients, it may seem incredible that a city, and not the
capital one either, of a conquered province should expend so large a sum of
money upon only the shell (as it appears to be) of a theatre: but Asia was
esteemed the most considerable part of the world for wealth; its fertility and
exportations (as Tully observes) exceeding those of all other countries. M.]
[Footnote 2: The word cavea, in the original, comprehends more than what we
call the pit in our theatres, as it means the whole space in which the
spectators sat. These theatres, being open at the top, the galleries here
mentioned were for the convenience of retiring in bad weather. M.]
[Footnote 3: A place in which the athletic exercises were performed, and where
the philosophers also used to read their lectures. M.]
[Footnote 4: The Roman foot consisted of 11.7 inches of our standard. M.]
[Footnote 5: A colony in the district of Cataonia, in Cappadocia.]
[Footnote 6: The honorary senators, that is, such who were not received into
the council of the city by election, but by the appointment of the emperor,
paid a certain sum of money upon their admission into the senate. M.]
XLIX
Trajan to Pliny
You, who are upon the spot, will best be able to consider and determine
what is proper to be done concerning the theatre which the inhabitants of
Nicea are building; as for myself, it will be sufficient if you let me know
your determination. With respect to the particular parts of this theatre which
are to be raised at a private charge, you will see those engagements fulfilled
when the body of the building to which they are to be annexed shall be
finished. - These paltry Greeks^1 are, I know, immoderately fond of gymnastic
diversions, and therefore, perhaps, the citizens of Nicea have planned a more
magnificent building for this purpose than is necessary; however, they must be
content with such as will be sufficient to answer the purpose for which it is
intended. I leave it entirely to you to persuade the Claudiopolitani as you
shall think proper with regard to their bath, which they have placed, it
seems, in a very improper situation. As there is no province that is not
furnished with men of skill and ingenuity, you cannot possibly want
architects; unless you think it the shortest way to procure them from Rome,
when it is generally from Greece that they come to us.
[Footnote 1: "Graeculi. Even under the empire, with its relaxed morality and
luxurious tone, the Romans continued to apply this contemptuous designation to
a people to whom they owed what taste for art and culture they possessed."
Church and Brodribb.]
L
To the Emperor Trajan
When I reflect upon the splendour of your exalted station, and the
magnanimity of your spirit, nothing, I am persuaded, can be more suitable to
both than to point out to you such works as are worthy of your glorious and
immortal name, as being no less useful than magnificent. Bordering upon the
territories of the city of Nicomedia is a most extensive lake; over which
marbles, fruits, woods, and all kinds of materials, the commodities of the
country, are brought over in boats up to the highroad, at little trouble and
expense, but from thence are conveyed in carriages to the seaside, at a much
greater charge and with great labour. To remedy this inconvenience, many hands
will be in request; but upon such an occasion they cannot be wanting: for the
country, and particularly the city, is exceedingly populous; and one may
assuredly hope that every person will readily engage in a work which will be
of universal benefit. It only remains then to send hither, if you shall think
proper, a surveyor or an architect, in order to examine whether the lake lies
above the level of the sea; the engineers of this province being of opinion
that the former is higher by forty cubits.^1 I find there is in the
neighbourhood of this place a large canal, which was cut by a king of this
country; but as it is left unfinished, it is uncertain whether it was for the
purpose of draining the adjacent fields, or making a communication between the
lake and the river. It is equally doubtful too whether the death of the king,
or the despair of being able to accomplish the design, prevented the
completion of it. If this was the reason, I am so much the more eager and
warmly desirous, for the sake of your illustrious character (and I hope you
will pardon me the ambition), that you may have the glory of executing what
kings could only attempt.
[Footnote 1: A Roman cubit is equal to 1 foot, 5.406 inches of our measure.
Arbuthnot`s Tab. M.]
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