Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Younger (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics) Read online

  The above story I believe on the strength of those who affirm it. What follows I am myself in a position to affirm to others. I have a freedman, who is not without some knowledge of letters. A younger brother of his was sleeping with him in the same bed. The latter dreamt he saw some one sitting on the couch, who approached a pair of scissors to his head, and even cut the hair from the crown of it. When day dawned he was found to be cropped round the crown, and his locks were discovered lying about. A very short time afterwards a fresh occurrence of the same kind confirmed the truth of the former one. A lad of mine was sleeping, in company with several others, in the pages’ apartment. There came through the windows (so he tells the story) two figures in white tunics, who cut his hair as he lay, and departed the way they came. In his case, too, daylight exhibited him shorn, and his locks scattered around. Nothing remarkable followed, except, perhaps, this, that I was not brought under accusation, as I should have been, if Domitian (in whose reign these events happened) had lived longer. For in his desk was found an information against me which had been presented by Carus; from which circumstance it may be conjectured — inasmuch as it is the custom of accused persons to let their hair grow — that the cutting off of my slaves’ hair was a sign of the danger which threatened me being averted.

  I beg, then, that you will apply your great learning to this subject. The matter is one which deserves long and deep consideration on your part; nor am I, for my part, undeserving of having the fruits of your wisdom imparted to me. You may even argue on both sides (as your way is), provided you argue more forcibly on one side than the other, so as not to dismiss me in suspense and anxiety, when the very cause of my consulting you has been to have my doubts put an end to.

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  28. — TO SEPTICIUS.

  You say that certain folks have been finding fault with me in your presence, on the ground of my praising my friends immoderately at every opportunity. I plead guilty to the charge, and even hug it to my breast. What indeed can be more to one’s credit than the sin of goodnature? Yet who are these people who know my friends better than I do? However, suppose they do so know them, why grudge me a deception which is the cause of so much happiness to me? For though these friends be not such as they are proclaimed by me, yet I am fortunate in that they seem such to me. Let these persons, then, transfer their mischievous assiduities elsewhere. There is no lack of those who malign their friends under the plea of criticising them. Me they will never persuade to think that my friends are too much loved by me.

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  29. — TO MONTANUS.

  You will laugh, then you will be indignant, then you will laugh again, when you read what, unless you do read it, you never will believe. There stands on the road to Tibur, this side of the first milestone — I noticed it quite lately — a monument to Pallas, thus inscribed: “To him, the Senate, on account of his faithfulness and loyalty to his patrons, decreed the Prætorian insignia and a sum of fifteen million sesterces. He was contented with the honour merely.” In truth, I have never marvelled to see honours bestowed more frequently by fortune than by discernment; yet this inscription strongly reminded me how farcical and foolish are those which are at times thrown away on such dirt and filth as this; honours which, to crown the matter, this gallows-bird was impudent enough both to accept and to decline, and even, as a sample of modesty, to exhibit to posterity. But why this indignation? It is better to laugh, that these rogues may not fancy they have achieved any mighty result, when their good luck has merely carried them to the point of being subjects for laughter.

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  30. — TO GENITOR.

  I am much distressed at your having lost, as you write me word, a pupil of the highest promise. That his illness and death have impeded your studies is of course obvious to me, since you are so careful in the discharge of all friendly offices, and love with so much effusion all those who approve themselves to you. As for me, city business pursues me even to this place. For there are not wanting those who constitute me judge or arbitrator in their affairs. To this must be added the complaints of the rustics, who abuse my ears, as they have a right to do after my long absence. Then there is a pressing necessity for letting my farms, and a very disagreeable one, so rare is it to find suitable tenants. For these reasons I study when I can beg time; still I do study; for I both write and read somewhat. Yet, when reading, I am made sensible by the comparison how bad my own writings are; though you put good heart into me when you compare my treatise in vindication of Helvidius to the oration of Demosthenes against Midias. It is true that I had the latter in my hands while engaged in composing the former; not with the view of rivalling it (that would have been impudence, and almost madness); yet, at any rate, with the view of imitating and following it as far as the divergence between the two intellects — between a very great and a very small one — and the different character of my case would permit.

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  31. — TO CORNUTUS.

  Claudius Pollio desires your affection, and deserves it from the very fact that he desires it, and next because he loves you of his own accord. And, indeed, none commonly claims this kind of sentiment, save he who himself experiences it. He is, besides, a man of virtue and integrity, free from ambition and modest to excess — if, however, any one can carry modesty to excess. “When we served together, I saw what he was made of, and that not merely in the capacity of his comrade in arms. He commanded a squadron of cavalry a thousand strong. I was ordered by the Consular Legate to examine the accounts of the squadrons and cohorts, in the course of which I discovered, not only the extensive and filthy rapacity of certain parties, but also the consummate integrity and scrupulous industry of my friend. Promoted subsequently to the most distinguished charges, he was seduced by no opportunity to deviate from his innate regard for disinterestedness. He was never puffed up by prosperity; never by reason of the variety of offices which he filled did he detract ought from his unvarying reputation for kindliness; and he supported his labours with the same strength of character as that with which he now bears his repose. This repose, however, he has, for a short time, greatly to his credit, broken in upon and laid aside, having been called to assist our friend Corellius, in consequence of the liberality of the Emperor Nerva, in the matter of buying and distributing lands for the public. What a glory, to be sure, to have especially attracted the choice of so distinguished a man, when there was such an ample field for selection. For the regard and the fidelity with which he cherishes his friends, you may trust to the last testamentary dispositions of many among them, and of this number Annius Bassus, a man of the highest respectability. The memory of this Bassus he preserves and prolongs by eulogies, which are, indeed, so full of gratitude, that he has published (for letters too, as well as the other liberal arts, are held in veneration by him) a volume containing his life. A noble thing this, and one to be approved for its very rarity, seeing that most people remember the dead just so far as to complain of them. This man, who, believe me, is so eager for your friendship, I would have you receive with open arms and cling to, ay, and welcome, and so love him as though you were repaying a favour. For in the office of friendship, he who has set the example is not one to be placed under an obligation, but rather to be remunerated.

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  32. — TO FABATUS, HIS WIFE’S GRANDFATHER.

  I am delighted that the arrival of my friend Tiro was a source of enjoyment to you; while, as to what you write me word — that the occasion of a Proconsul’s presence having offered itself, a number of persons received their freedom — I rejoice especially. For I desire that our native place should be increased in all things, but principally in the number of its citizens, since this forms the surest embellishment of cities. This, too, pleases me — not that I curry favour — but, at any rate, it does please me, to se
e you add that both you and I were honoured by the expression of thanks and by praise. For, as Xenophon says, “Praise is the sweetest hearing,” particularly if you think you deserve it.

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  33. — TO TACITUS.

  I augur, nor does my augury deceive me, that your histories will be immortal, hence all the more (I will candidly confess it) do I desire to find a place in them. For if it is usually a subject of concern to us that our countenances should be represented by the best artists, ought we not to desire that our deeds may he favoured with a writer and eulogist such as you? I will indicate to you, then, a matter which cannot, however, have escaped your diligence, since it is in the public records; I will indicate it, notwithstanding, that you may the more readily believe how agreeable it will be to me if a deed of mine, the credit of which was increased by its danger, should be set off by your genius and your testimony.

  The Senate had assigned me, in company with Herennius Senecio, as counsel for the province of Bætica, against Bæbius Massa, and, on the conviction of Massa, had decreed that his property should be in the custody of the state. Senecio, having ascertained that the Consuls would be at liberty to hear applications, came to me and said, “In the same spirit of harmony in which we have carried out the prosecution enjoined on us, let us go to the Consuls, and beg them not to suffer the property to be squandered which they ought to remain in charge of.” I replied, “As we were appointed counsel by the Senate, consider whether our functions have not been discharged, now that the Senate has concluded its investigation.” Said he, “Do you impose any limit on yourself that you choose, since there is no tie between you and the province except your own good service, and that a recent one. As for me, I was both born and have served as a Quæstor in it.” Thereupon I replied, “If this be your fixed determination, I will follow you, that if by chance any odium comes of it, it may not be confined to you.” We went to the Consuls, and Senecio spoke what the matter comported, to which I subjoined a few remarks. We had scarcely finished speaking, when Massa, crying out that Senecio was satisfying, not his engagement as an advocate, but his acrimony as a personal enemy, accused him of treason. All stood aghast. I, however, said, “I am afraid, most noble Consuls, that Massa by his silence must have taunted me with collusion, in that he did not accuse me too of treason.” This saying of mine was immediately taken up and afterwards much noised abroad. The late Emperor Nerva (for even while in a private station he paid attention to exhibitions of uprightness in public affairs), in a very weighty communication which he addressed to me, congratulated not only me, but the age, on being blessed with an example (it was thus that he wrote) of the antique kind.

  All this, whatever its value, you will make better known, more celebrated, of greater import, though I do not require you to exaggerate what really took place. For not only is history bound not to depart from truth, but also for worthy deeds the truth is quite sufficient.

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  BOOK VIII.

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  1. — TO SEPTICIUS.

  I HAVE got to the end of my journey comfortably, with this exception, that some of my people have been rendered ill by the scorching heats. Encolpius, indeed, my reader, the delight of my serious as well as my sportive hours, had his throat so irritated by the dust that he spat blood. How sad this will be for himself, and how annoying to me, if one whose whole charm was derived from his literary pursuits, shall become unfitted for those pursuits! Moreover, who will there be to read my small productions as he does, and to take such a pleasure in them as he takes? However, the gods promise better fortune; the spitting of blood has ceased, and the pain has subsided. Add to this that the salubrity of the climate, our country quarters, our retired life, hold out as good a prospect of health as of repose.

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  2. — TO CALVISIUS.

  Others set out for their estates that they may return thence the richer; I, that I may return the poorer. I had sold my vintages to certain dealers, who had bought them after a competition. They were attracted by the actual, as compared with the prospective price, and their expectations deceived them. The simple course was to make an equal remission all round; but this would have been hardly fair. Now to me it seems in the highest degree excellent, as abroad so at home, as in great things so in small, as in things foreign so in one’s own, to be diligent in the practice of equity. For if our sins be all of equal importance, so must our good deeds be. Accordingly, I remitted an eighth part of the purchase-money, and that to all, “that none should leave without my bounty feeling,” next, I had regard, separately, for those who had invested the largest sums in their purchases, for these had at the same time profited me more, and themselves suffered a greater loss. Hence, in the case of those who had bought for more than ten thousand sesterces, to the above eighth part, which was common to all, and, so to speak, a public gift, I added a tenth part of the amount by which they had exceeded the ten thousand. I am afraid that I have not made myself sufficiently intelligible, and will explain my way of reckoning more clearly. Suppose any persons to have bought for fifteen thousand, these would have got back not only an eighth of fifteen thousand, but a tenth of five thousand. Further, on reflecting that some had paid me a considerable portion of what they owed, others a trifle, others nothing at all, it seemed to me by no means just that those who were not on a level in the discharge of their obligations should be put on a level in regard to the favour of abatement. So, again, I remitted to those who had made payments a tenth part of that which they had paid. For this seemed the most fitting means, with reference to the past, of requiting them singly, in proportion to the deserts of each; and, with reference to the future, of enticing them not only to buy but to make payment. This calculation of mine, or this act of complaisance (whichever it may have been), cost me a large sum, but it was worth the outlay. For, throughout the whole district, both the novelty of this remission, and also its form, are applauded. Even the people themselves, whom I treated, as the saying goes, not with one and the same measuring-rule, but with distinctions and gradations, left me all the more obliged to me, in proportion to the rectitude and probity of each, having experienced that it is not with me that —

  “The good and bad an equal honour find.”

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  3. — TO SPARSUS.

  You intimate that the book I last sent you is of all my works the one which pleases you most. Such is also the opinion of a friend of mine, a man of profound learning. And this is an additional inducement to me to believe that neither of you are mistaken, because it is not credible that both are mistaken, and because, in any case, I am ready to flatter myself. For I desire that my latest performances should always appear the most perfect, and hence, even at this moment, favour — as against the above book — an oration which I have lately published, and which shall be communicated to you so soon as I shall find a careful messenger. I have aroused your expectations, which I fear that the oration, when you have it in hand, will disappoint. Meanwhile, however, expect it as though it would be sure to please you — and perhaps it may please.

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