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15. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
Quia confido, domine, ad curam tuam pertinere, nuntio tibi me Ephesum cum omnibus meis ‘hyper Malean’ navigasse quamvis contrariis ventis retentum. Nunc destino partim orariis navibus, partim vehiculis provinciam petere. Nam sicut itineri graues aestus, ita continuae navigationi etesiae reluctantur.
15 (26.) — TO TRAJAN.
As I am convinced, sir, that the news will be of interest to you, I beg to announce that I have sailed past the promontory of Malea and reached Ephesus, with all my suite, though retarded by contrary winds. Now I propose to make for my province, partly by coasting-boats, partly by land conveyances. For as the excessive heats are an impediment to a land journey, so in like manner the Etesian winds oppose continuous navigation.
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16. TRAIANUS PLINIO
Recte renuntiasti, mi Secunde carissime. Pertinet enim ad animum meum, quali itinere provinciam pervenias. Prudenter autem constituis interim navibus, interim vehiculis uti, prout loca suaserint.
16 (27.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
You were quite right in reporting to me, my dearest Secundus. For I am greatly interested in the way you have taken for reaching your province. Your determination is prudent, too, to use ships at one time and land conveyances at another, as may be recommended by the localities.
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17 A. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Sicut saluberrimam navigationem, domine, usque Ephesum expertus ita inde, postquam vehiculis iter facere coepi, gravissimis aestibus atque etiam febriculis vexatus Pergami substiti. 2 Rursus, cum transissem in orarias nauculas, contrariis ventis retentus aliquanto tardius quam speraveram, id est XV Kal. Octobres, Bithyniam intravi. Non possum tamen de mora queri, cum mihi contigerit, quod erat auspicatissimum, natalem tuum in provincia celebrare. 3 Nunc rei publicae Prusensium impendia, reditus, debitores excutio; quod ex ipso tractatu magis ac magis necessarium intellego. Multae enim pecuniae variis ex causis a privatis detinentur; praeterea quaedam minime legitimis sumptibus erogantur. 4 Haec tibi, domine, in ipso ingressu meo scripsi.
17 A (28.) — TO TRAJAN.
Just as I experienced a very healthy voyage as far as Ephesus, sir, so when I had commenced my land journey from that point, I was troubled with the most scorching heats and even slight attacks of fever, and stopped at Pergamus. Again, on changing into the coasting-boats, I was retarded by contrary winds, and did not arrive in Bithynia till somewhat later than I had hoped, that is to say, on the seventeenth of September. I cannot, however, complain of the delay, since I was fortunate enough to be able to celebrate your birthday in the province, a most auspicious circumstance. Now I am examining into the expenditure, revenues, and debts due to the commonwealth of Prusa, and the inspection itself shows me more and more the necessity of this. For many sums of money are retained, on various pretexts, by private individuals; besides, some are laid out in expenditure that is anything but legitimate.
The above, sir, I wrote directly on my arrival.
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17 B. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Quinto decimo Kal. Octob., domine, provinciam intravi, quam in eo obsequio, in ea erga te fide, quam de genere humano mereris, inveni. 2 Dispice, domine, an necessarium putes mittere huc mensorem. Videntur enim non mediocres pecuniae posse revocari a curatoribus operum, si mensurae fideliter agantur. Ita certe prospicio ex ratione Prusensium, quam cum maxime tracto.
17 B. — TO TRAJAN.
On the seventeenth of September, sir, I came to my province, which I found in that state of submission and loyalty to you which you deserve on the part of mankind. Pray, sir, consider whether you deem it necessary to send here an architect. For it seems that no small amount may be got back from those in charge of the public constructions, if the measurements are faithfully executed. So I certainly foresee, from the accounts of the Prusenses, which I am at this moment examining.
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18. TRAIANUS PLINIO
1 Cuperem sine querela corpusculi tui et tuorum pervenire in Bithyniam potuisses, ac simile tibi iter ab Epheso ei navigationi fuisset, quam expertus usque illo eras. 2 Quo autem die pervenisses in Bithyniam, cognovi, Secunde carissime, litteris tuis. Provinciales, credo, prospectum sibi a me intellegent. Nam et tu dabis operam, ut manifestum sit illis electum te esse, qui ad eosdem mei loco mittereris. 3 Rationes autem in primis tibi rerum publicarum excutiendae sunt; nam et esse eas vexatas satis constat. Mensores vix etiam iis operibus, quae aut Romae aut in proximo fiunt, sufficientes habeo; sed in omni provincia inveniuntur, quibus credi possit, et ideo non deerunt tibi, modo velis diligenter excutere.
18 (29.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
I wish you could have reached Bithynia without any damage to your slender frame or to your suite, and that your journey from Ephesus had resembled the sea-voyage which you had experienced up to that point. As to the day of your arrival in Bithynia, I was informed of that, dearest Secundus, by your letter. The provincials will, I trust, understand that I have had their interests in view. For you, for your part, will take care to make it plain to them that you have been selected to be sent to them as representing me.
Before all things, however, you should examine the public accounts, for that they are in a state of confusion is quite clear. As for architects, I have scarce enough of them even for the works which are being carried on in Rome and its vicinity. But in every province persons are to be found who can be trusted; so they will not fail you, if only you choose to make diligent search for them.
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19. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Rogo, domine, consilio me regas haesitantem, utrum per publicos civitatium servos, quod usque adhuc factum, an per milites asservare custodias debeam. Vereor enim, ne et per publicos parum fideliter custodiantur, et non exiguum militum numerum haec cura distringat. 2 Interim publicis servis paucos milites addidi. Video tamen periculum esse, ne id ipsum utrisque neglegentiae causa sit, dum communem culpam hi in illos, illi in hos regerere posse confidunt.
19 (30.) — TO TRAJAN.
I beg, sir, you would direct me by your counsel, who am in doubt whether I ought to intrust the custody of prisoners to the public slaves (which has been the custom to this time) or to soldiers. For I fear the public slaves may not guard them with sufficient fidelity, and on the other hand that this occupation may distract no small number of soldiers. Meanwhile, I have added a few soldiers to the public slaves. Yet I see there is a danger that this very arrangement may be a cause of negligence to both parties, each party making sure that they will he able to retort upon the others the neglect common to both of them.
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20. TRAIANUS PLINIO
1 Nihil opus sit, mi Secunde carissime, ad continendas custodias plures commilitones converti. Perseveremus in ea consuetudine quae isti provinciae est, ut per publicos servos custodiantur. 2 Etenim, ut fideliter hoc faciant, in tua severitate ac diligentia positum est. In primis enim, sicut scribis, verendum est, ne, si permisceantur servis publicis milites, mutua inter se fiducia neglegentiores sint; sed et illud haereat nobis, quam paucissimos a signis avocandos esse.
20 (31.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
There is no need, dearest Secundus, that a number of our fellow-soldiers should be transferred to the guard of prisoners. Let us persevere in the custom, which is that of your province, of guarding them by means of the public slaves. For indeed their doing this faithfully depends on your strictness and vigilance. The great fear certainly is, as you write, that by mixing up soldiers with public slaves, both parties, by trusting in each other, will be made more careless. And besides, let us not forget this, that the smallest possible number of soldiers should be called away from the standards.
Deta
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21. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Gavius Bassus praefectus orae Ponticae et reverentissime et officiosissime, domine, venit ad me et compluribus diebus fuit mecum, quantum perspicere potui, vir egregius et indulgentia tua dignus. Cui ego notum feci praecepisse te ut ex cohortibus, quibus me praeesse voluisti, contentus esset beneficiariis decem, equitibus duobus, centurione uno. 2 Respondit non sufficere sibi hunc numerum, idque se scripturum tibi. Hoc in causa fuit, quominus statim revocandos putarem, quos habet supra numerum.
21 (32.) — PLINY TO TRAJAN.
Gavius Bassus, the Prefect of the coast of Pontus, came to me most respectfully and dutifully, sir, and remained with me several days. As far as I could discern, he is an excellent man, and one worthy of your favour. I informed him of your orders, that out of the cohorts which you had been pleased to place me in command of, he must be contented with ten beneficiarii, two horsemen and one centurion. He replied that this number would not suffice him, and that he would write to you to that effect. This was the reason why I did not think it proper at once to recall those he has with him over the number.
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22. TRAIANUS PLINIO
1 Et mihi scripsit Gavius Bassus non sufficere sibi eum militum numerum, qui ut daretur illi, mandatis meis complexus sum. Cui quae rescripsissem, ut notum haberes, his litteris subici iussi. Multum interest, res poscat an hoc nomine eis uti latius velit. 2 Nobis autem utilitas demum spectanda est, et, quantum fieri potest, curandum ne milites a signis absint.
22 (33.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
Gavins Bassus has written to me too, that the number of soldiers which I had directed to be assigned to him was insufficient. That you may know my reply, I have ordered it to be appended to this letter. It makes a great difference whether necessity requires, or whether people are merely wanting to extend their commands. For us, the public advantage is alone to be considered, and as far as possible care be taken that the soldiers be not absent from their standards.
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23. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Prusenses, domine, balineum habent; est sordidum et vetus. Itaque magni aestimant novum fieri; quod videris mihi desiderio eorum indulgere posse. 2 Erit enim pecunia, ex qua fiat, primum ea quam revocare a privatis et exigere iam coepi; deinde quam ipsi erogare in oleum soliti parati sunt in opus balinei conferre; quod alioqui et dignitas civitatis et saeculi tui nitor postulat.
23 (34.) — TO TRAJAN.
The people of Prusa, sir, have public baths which are both mean and old. They desire, therefore, with your kind permission, to restore them. I, however, being of opinion that new ones should be built... it seems to me that you might indulge them in their desire. For there will be money out of which this may be done: first, that which I have already begun to call in and claim from private individuals; secondly, that which they themselves have been in the habit of expending on oil, and are now prepared to contribute towards the building of the baths. This is a work besides, which is demanded both by the importance of the city and the glory of your reign.
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24. TRAIANUS PLINIO
Si instructio novi balinei oneratura vires Prusensium non est, possumus desiderio eorum indulgere, modo ne quid ideo aut intribuatur aut minus illis in posterum fiat ad necessarias erogationes.
24 (35.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
If the construction of new baths is not likely to burden the resources of the Prusenses, we are able to indulge them in their desire, provided always that in no way are they either to he taxed for this object, or have their means impaired for the future in respect to the necessary expenditure of the State.
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25. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
Servilius Pudens legatus, domine, VIII Kal. Decembres Nicomediam venit meque longae exspectationis sollicitudine liberavit.
25 (10.) — TO TRAJAN.
Servilius Pudens, my lieutenant, sir, arrived at Nicomedia on the twenty-fourth of November, and freed me from the anxiety of a long expectation.
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26. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Rosianum Geminum, domine, artissimo vinculo mecum tua in me beneficia iunxerunt; habui enim illum quaestorem in consulatu. Mei sum observantissimum expertus; tantam mihi post consulatum reverentiam praestat, et publicae necessitudinis pignera privatis cumulat officiis. 2 Rogo ergo, ut ipse apud te pro dignitate eius precibus meis faveas. Cui et, si quid mihi credis, indulgentiam tuam dabis; dabit ipse operam ut in iis, quae ei mandaveris, maiora mereatur. Parciorem me in laudando facit, quod spero tibi et integritatem eius et probitatem et industriam non solum ex eius honoribus, quos in urbe sub oculis tuis gessit, verum etiam ex commilitio esse notissimam. 3 Illud unum, quod propter caritatem eius nondum mihi videor satis plene fecisse, etiam atque etiam facio teque, domine, rogo, gaudere me exornata quaestoris mei dignitate, id est per illum mea, quam maturissime velis.
26 (11.) — TO TRAJAN.
Rosianus Geminus, sir, has been attached to me with the closest bonds by means of the favour you have conferred on me. For I had him for my Quæstor during my consulship, when I found him a most loyal subordinate. Since my consulship he exhibits the same respect for me, and heaps private services upon the proofs he had given of our public friendship. I beg, then, that in accordance with his worth, and in compliance with my prayers, you will conceive a favourable opinion of one to whom, if you have any confidence in me, you will further exhibit marks of your kindness. He himself will take care, in the discharge of what you shall commit to him, to deserve still greater things. I am rendered more sparing in my praises of him by the hope that his integrity and virtue and industry are particularly known to you, not only from the offices which he has filled in the city under your eyes, but also from the fact of his having served in the army with you. The one thing which, in consequence of my affection for him, I do not seem to myself to have yet done fully enough, I must do again and again; that is, I must beg of you, sir, that it be your pleasure with all speed to cause me to rejoice at the advancement in dignity of my Quæstor, or, in other words, through him of myself.
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27. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
Maximus libertus et procurator tuus, domine, praeter decem beneficiarios, quos assignari a me Gemellino optimo viro iussisti, sibi quoque confirmat necessarios esse milites sex. Hos interim, sicut inveneram, in ministerio eius relinquendos existimavi, praesertim cum ad frumentum comparandum iret in Paphlagoniam. Quin etiam tutelae causa, quia ita desiderabat, addidi duos equites. In futurum, quid servari velis, rogo rescribas.
27 (36.) — TO TRAJAN.
Maximus, sir, your freedman and provincial agent, assures me that, besides the ten beneficiarii which you commanded me to assign to the worthy Gemellinus, he is himself likewise in want of soldiers... of these in the meanwhile.... I thought that the number I found should be left at his service, particularly as he was going to Paphlagonia to procure corn. Moreover, for the sake of protection, I added, at his desire, two horsemen. I would beg of you to write me word what practice you would have observed for the future.
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28. TRAIANUS PLINIO
Nunc quidem proficiscentem ad comparationem frumentorum Maximum libertum meum recte militibus instruxisti. Fungebatur enim et ipse extraordinario munere. Cum ad pristinum actum reversus fuerit, sufficient illi duo a te dati milites et totidem a Virdio Gemellino procuratore meo, quem adiuvat.
28 (37.) — TRAJAN TO PLINY.
On the present occasion, you have been quite right in furnishing my freedman Maximus with soldiers, as he was setting out to procure corn. For he, as well as they, was discharging an extraordinary office. But when he shall have returned to his pristine functions
, he must be content with the two soldiers assigned him by you and the same number by Virdius Gemellinus, my agent, whose assistant he is.
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29. C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
1 Sempronius Caelianus, egregius iuvenis, repertos inter tirones duos servos misit ad me; quorum ego supplicium distuli, ut te conditorem disciplinae militaris firmatoremque consulerem de modo poenae. 2 Ipse enim dubito ob hoc maxime quod, ut iam dixerant sacramento, ita nondum distributi in numeros erant. Quid ergo debeam sequi rogo, domine, scribas, praesertim cum pertineat ad exemplum.
29 (38.) — TO TRAJAN.
Sempronius Cælianus, a young man of remarkable merit, has sent me two slaves discovered among the recruits. I have deferred their punishment in order to consult you, the restorer and establisher of military discipline, as to the nature of the penalty. My principal hesitation is on this account, that, though they had already pronounced the military oaths, they had not as yet been assigned to any corps. I beg then, sir, you would write me word what course I should follow, particularly as this pertains to example.
Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Younger (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics) Page 130