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Correspondence With The Emperor TrajanPart XIII
Part XIII
CXXI
To the Emperor Trajan
I have hitherto never, Sir, granted an order for post-chaises to any
person, or upon any occasion, but in affairs that relate to your
administration. I find myself, however, at present under a sort of necessity
of breaking through this fixed rule. My wife having received an account of her
grandfather`s death, and being desirous to wait upon her aunt with all
possible expedition, I thought it would be unkind to deny her the use of this
privilege; as the grace of so tender an office consists in the early discharge
of it, and as I well knew a journey which was founded in filial piety could
not fail of your approbation. I should think myself highly ungrateful,
therefore, were I not to acknowledge that, among other great obligations which
I owe to your indulgence, I have this in particular, that, in confidence of
your favour, I have ventured to do, without consulting you, what would have
been too late had I waited for your consent.
CXXII
Trajan to Pliny
You did me justice, my dearest Secundus, in confiding in my affection
towards you. Without doubt, if you had waited for my consent to forward your
wife in her journey by means of those warrants which I have entrusted to your
care, the use of them would not have answered your purpose; since it was
proper this visit to her aunt should have the additional recommendation of
being paid with all possible expedition.
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