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pubOne.info present you this new edition. YOU have frequently pressed me to make a select collection of my Letters (if there really be any deserving of a special preference) and give them to the public. I have selected them accordingly; not, indeed, in their proper order of time, for I was not compiling a history; but just as each came to hand. And now I have only to wish that you may have no reason to repent of your advice, nor I of my compliance: in that case, I may probably enquire after the rest, which at present he neglected, and preserve those I shall hereafter write. Farewell.

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Publié par	Pub One Info
Date de parution	06 novembre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9782819943495
Langue	English

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LETTERS GAIUS PLINIUS CAECILIUS SECUNDUS
I
To SEPTITTUS
YOU have frequently pressed me to make a selectcollection of my Letters (if there really be any deserving of aspecial preference) and give them to the public. I have selectedthem accordingly; not, indeed, in their proper order of time, for Iwas not compiling a history; but just as each came to hand. And nowI have only to wish that you may have no reason to repent of youradvice, nor I of my compliance: in that case, I may probablyenquire after the rest, which at present he neglected, and preservethose I shall hereafter write. Farewell.
II
To ARRIANUS
I FORESEE your journey in my direction is likely tobe delayed, and therefore send you the speech which I promised inmy former; requesting you, as usual, to revise and correct it. Idesire this the more earnestly as I never, I think, wrote with thesame empressenient in any of my former speeches; for I haveendeavoured to imitate your old favourite Demosthenes and Calvus,who is lately become mine, at least in the rhetorical forms of thespeech; for to catch their sublime spirit, is given, alone, to the“inspired few. ” My subject, indeed, seemed naturally to lenditself to this (may I venture to call it? ) emulation; consisting,as it did, almost entirely in a vehement style of address, even toa degree sufficient to have awakened me (if only I am capable ofbeing awakened) out of that indolence in which I have long reposed.I have not however altogether neglected the flowers of rhetoric ofmy favourite Marc-Tully, wherever I could with propriety step outof my direct road, to enjoy a more flowery path: for it was energy,not austerity, at which I aimed. I would not have you imagine bythis that I am bespeaking your indulgence: on the contrary, to makeyour correcting pen more vigorous, I will confess that neither myfriends nor myself are averse from the publication of this piece,if only you should join in the approval of what is perhaps myfolly. The truth is, as I must publish something, I, wish it mightbe this performance rather than any other, because it is alreadyfinished: (you hear the wish of laziness. ) At all events, however,something I must publish, and for many reasons; chiefly because ofthe tracts which I have already sent in to the world, though theyhave long since lost all their recommendation from novelty, arestill, I am told, in request; if, after all, the booksellers arenot tickling my ears. And let them; since, by that innocent deceit,I am encouraged to pursue my studies. Farewell.
III
To VOCONIUS ROMANUS
DID YOU ever meet with a more abject andmean-spirited creature than Marcus Regulus since the death ofDomitian, during whose reign his conduct was no less infamous,though more concealed, than under Nero's? He began to be afraid Iwas angry with him, and his apprehensions were perfectly correct; Iwas angry. He had not only done his best to increase the peril ofthe position in which Rusticus Arulenus1 stood, but had exulted inhis death; insomuch that he actually recited and published a libelupon his memory, in which he styles him “The Stoics' Ape”: adding,“stigmated2 with the Vitellian scar. ”3 You recognize Regulus'eloquent strain! He fell with such fury upon the character ofHerennius Senecio that Metius Carus said to him, one day, “Whatbusiness have you with my dead? Did I ever interfere in the affairof Crassus' or Camerinus'? ” Victims, you know, to Regulus, inNero's time. For these reasons he imagined I was highlyexasperated, and so at the recitation of his last piece, I got noinvitation. Besides, he had not forgotten, it seems, with whatdeadly purpose he had once attacked me in the Court of the Hundred.Rusticus had desired me to act as counsel for Arionilla, Titnon'swife: Regulus was engaged against me. In one part of the case I wasstrongly insisting upon a particular judgment given by MetiusModestus, an excellent man, at that time in banishment byDomitian's order. Now then for Regulus. “Pray, ” says he, “what isyour opinion of Modestus? ” You see what a risk I should have runhad I answered that I had a high opinion of him, how I should havedisgraced myself on the other hand if I had replied that I had abad opinion of him. But some guardian power, I am persuaded, musthave stood by me to assist me in this emergency. “I will tell youmy opinion, ” I said, “if that is a matter to be brought before thecourt. ” “I ask you, ” he repeated, “what is your opinion ofModestus? ” I replied that it was customary to examine witnesses tothe character of an accused man, not to the character of one onwhom sentence had already been passed. He pressed me a third time.“I do not now enquire, said he, ”your opinion of Modestus ingeneral, I only ask your opinion of his loyalty. “ ”Since you willhave my opinion then, “ I rejoined, ”I think it illegal even to aska question concerning a person who stands convicted. “ He sat downat this, completely silenced; and I received applause andcongratulation on all sides, that without injuring my reputation byan advantageous, perhaps, though ungenerous answer, I had notentangled myself in the toils of so insidious a catch-question.Thoroughly frightened upon this then, he first seizes uponCaecilius Celer, next he goes and begs of Fabius Justus, that theywould use their joint interest to bring about a reconciliationbetween us. And lest this should not be sufficient, he sets off toSpurinnz as well; to whom he came in the humblest way (for he isthe most abject creature alive, where he has anything to be afraidof) and says to him, ”Do, I entreat of you, call on Pliny to-morrowmorning, certainly in the morning, no later (for I cannot endurethis anxiety of mind longer), and endeavour by any means in yourpower to soften his resentment. “ I was already up, the next day,when a message arrived from Spurinna, ”I am coming to call on you.“ I sent word back, ”Nay, I will wait upon you; “ however, both ofus setting out to pay this visit, we met under Livia's portico. Heacquainted me with the commission he had received from Regulus, andinterceded for him as became so worthy a man in behalf of one sototally dissimilar, without greatly pressing the thing. ”I willleave it to you, “ was my reply, ”to consider what answer to returnRegulus; you ought not to be deceived by me. I am waiting forMauricus'7 return“ (for he had not yet come back out of exile), ”sothat I cannot give you any definite answer either way, as I mean tobe guided entirely by his decision, for he ought to be my leaderhere, and I simply to do as he says. “ Well, a few days after this,Regulus met me as I was at the praetor's; he kept close to me thereand begged a word in private, when he said he was afraid I deeplyresented an expression he had once made use of in his reply toSatrius and myself, before the Court of the Hundred, to thiseffect, ”Satrius Rufus, who does not endeavour to rival Cicero, andwho is content with the eloquence of our own day. “ I answered, nowI perceived indeed, upon his own confession, that he had meant itill-naturedly; otherwise it might have passed for a compliment.”For I am free to own, “ I said, ”that I do endeavour to rivalCicero, and am not content with the eloquence of our own day. For Iconsider it the very height of folly not to copy the best models ofevery kind. But, how happens it that you, who have so good arecollection of what passed upon this occasion, should haveforgotten that other, when you asked me my opinion of the loyaltyof Modestus? “ Pale as he always is, he turned simply pallid atthis, and stammered out, ”I did not intend to hurt you when I askedthis question, but Modestus. “ Observe the vindictive cruelty ofthe fellow, who made no concealment of his willingness to injure abanished man. But the reason he alleged in justification of hisconduct is pleasant. Modestus, he explained, in a letter of his,which was read to Domitian, had used the following expression,”Regulus, the biggest rascal that walks upon two feet :" and whatModestus had written was the simple truth, beyond all manner ofcontroversy. Here, about, our conversation came to an end, for Idid not wish to proceed further, being desirous to keep mattersopen until Mauricus returns. It is no easy matter, I am well awareof that, to destroy Regulus; he is rich, and at the head of aparty; courted8 by many, feared by more: a passion that willsometimes prevail even beyond friendship itself. But, after all,ties of this sort are not so strong but they may be loosened; for abad man's credit is as shifty as himself. However (to repeat), I amwaiting until Mauricus comes back. He is a man of sound judgmentand great sagacity formed upon long experience, and who, from hisobservations of the past, well knows how to judge of the future. Ishall talk the matter over with him, and consider myself justifiedeither in pursuing or dropping this affair, as he shall advise.Meanwhile I thought I owed this account to our mutual friendship,which gives you an undoubted right to know about not only all myactions but all my plans as well. Farewell.
IV
To CORNELIUS TACITUS
You will laugh (and you are quite welcome) when Itell you that your old acquaintance is turned sportsman, and hastaken three noble boars. “What! ” you exclaim, “Pliny! ”— Even he.However, I indulged at the same time my beloved inactivity; and,whilst I sat at my nets, you would have found me, not with boarspear or javelin, but pencil and tablet, by my side. I mused andwrote, being determined to return, if with all my hands empty, atleast with my memorandums full. Believe me, this way of studying isnot to be despised: it is wonderful how the mind is stirred andquickened into activity by brisk bodily exercise. There issomething, too, in the solemnity of the venerable woods with whichone is surrounded, together with that profound silence which isobserved on these occasions, that forcibly disposes the mind tomeditation. So for the future, let me advise you, whenever youhunt, to take your tablets al